Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[cross-check(1)] {v.} To test the truth of by examining in different ways or by seeing different reports about. •/ If you see something in a book that may not be true, be sure to crosscheck it in other books. /

[cross-check(2)] {n.} The testing of the truth of by checking one report against another or others. •/ A cross-check with other books will show us if this story is true. /

[cross fire] {n.} 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two or more places at once so that the lines of fire cross. •/ The soldiers on the bridge were caught in the crossfire coming from both sides of the bridge. / 2. Fast or angry talking back and forth between two or more people; also, a dispute; a quarrel. •/ There was a cross fire of excited questions and answers between the parents and the children who had been lost in the woods. / •/ The principal and the graduates quarreled about the football team, and the coach was caught in the cross fire and lost his job. /

[cross one’s fingers] {v. phr.} 1a. To cross two fingers of one hand for good luck. •/ Mary crossed her fingers during the race so that Tom would win. / 11b. or [keep one’s fingers crossed] {informal} To wish for good luck. •/ Keep your fingers crossed while I take the test. / 2. To cross two fingers of one hand to excuse an untruth that you are telling. •/ Johnny crossed his fingers when he told his mother the lie. /

[cross one’s heart]or [cross one’s heart and hope to die] {v. phr.} , {informal} To say that what you have said is surely true; promise seriously that it is true. — Often used by children in the longer form. Children often make a sign of a cross over the heart as they say it, for emphasis. •/ "Cross my heart, I didn’t hide your bicycle," Harry told Tom. / •/ "I didn’t tell the teacher what you said. Cross my heart and hope to die," Mary said to Lucy. /

[cross one’s mind]or [pass through one’s mind] {v. phr.} To be a sudden or passing thought; be thought of by someone; come to your mind; occur to you. •/ At first Bob was puzzled by Virginia’s waving, but then it crossed his mind that she was trying to tell him something. / •/ When Jane did not come home by midnight, many terrible fears passed through Mother’s mind. /

[cross one’s path] {v. phr.} To meet or encounter someone; to come upon someone more by accident than by plan. •/ Surprisingly, I crossed John’s path in Central Park one afternoon. /

[cross street] {n.} A street that crosses a main street and runs on both sides of it. •/ Elm Street is a cross street on Main Street and there is a traffic light there. / Compare: THROUGH STREET.

[cross swords] {v. phr.} , {literary} To have an argument with; fight. — Often used with "with". •/ Don’t argue with the teacher; you’re not old enough to cross swords with her. /

[cross the wire] {v. phr.} To finish a race. •/ The Russian crossed the wire just behind the American. /

[cross up] {v.} , {informal} 1. To block or upset; throw into confusion or disorder. •/ We were going to catch him at the gate, but he crossed us up by going in the back way. / •/ Father crossed up the surprise party we had planned for him by not getting back in time. / 2. To deceive or be false to. •/ George crossed up his partner by selling a lot of things secretly. /

[crow]See: EAT CROW.

[crow before one is out of the woods] {v. phr.} To be glad or brag before you are safe from danger or trouble. — Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb, "Don’t crow before you are out of the woods." •/ John thought his team would win because the game was almost over, but he didn’t want to crow before they were out of the woods. / Often used in a short form, "out of the woods". •/ Mary nearly died during the operation, and she is not out of the woods yet. /

[crown jewels] {n. pl.} The crown, staff, and jewels used for the crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels representing royal power and authority. •/ The crown jewels are handed down from one king to the next when the new king is crowned. /

[crow to pick]See: BONE TO PICK or CROW TO PICK.

[crust]See: UPPER CRUST.

[crux of the matter] {n. phr.} The basic issue at hand; the core essence that one must face. •/ The crux of the matter is that he is incompetent and we will have to fire him. /

[cry]See: FAR CRY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HUE AND CRY.

[cry]or [scream bloody murder] {v. phr.} To bitterly and loudly complain against an indignity. •/ Pete cried bloody murder when he found out that he didn’t get the promotion he was hoping for. /

[cry before one is hurt]or [holler before one is hurt] {v. phr.} , {informal} To complain when there is no reason for it; become upset because you are worried or afraid. — Used in negative sentences. •/ When Billy went to the barber, he began to cry before the barber cut his hair and his father told him not to cry before he was hurt. / — Often used as a proverb. •/ John was worried because he would soon have a new boss. His mother said, "Don’t cry before you’re hurt!" / Syn.: BORROW TROUBLE.

[cry buckets] {v. phr.} To shed an excessive amount of tears. •/ Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat. /

[cry for]or [cry out for] {v.} , {informal} To need badly; be lacking in. •/ It has not rained for two weeks and the garden is crying for it. / •/ The school is crying out for good teachers. /

[cry out] {v.} 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. •/ The woman in the water cried out "Help!" / 2. To complain loudly; protest strongly. — Used with "against". •/ Many people are crying out against the new rule. /

[cry out for]See: CRY FOR.

[cry over spilled milk]or [cry over spilt milk] {v. phr.} , {informal} To cry or complain about something that has already happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped. •/ After the baby tore up Sue’s picture book, Sue’s mother told her there was no use crying over spilled milk. / •/ You have lost the game but don’t cry over spilt milk. / Compare: MAKE ONE’S BED AND LIE IN IT, WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

[crystal ball] {n.} A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass) that is used by fortune-tellers. •/ The fortune-teller at the fair looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip next year. / 2. Any means of predicting the future. •/ My crystal ball tells me you’ll be making the honor roll. /

[crystal gazing] {n.} The attempt to predict future events. •/ The magician’s specialty was crystal gazing. /

[cry uncle]See: SAY UNCLE.

[cry wolf] {v. phr.} To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that you know is not there. •/ The general said that the candidate was just crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the country. / (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)

[cub scout] {n.} A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior branch of the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age. •/ Jimmie is only seven, too young to be a Cub Scout. /

[cucumber]See: COOL AS A CUCUMBER.

[cudgel]See: TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR.

[cudgel one’s brains]See: BEAT ONE’S BRAINS OUT.

[cue in] {v. phr.} , {informal} To add new information to that which is already known. •/ Let’s not forget to cue in Joe on what has been happening. /

[cuff]See: OFF-THE-CUFF, ON THE CUFF.

[culture vulture] {n.} , {slang} , {informal} A person who is an avid cultural sightseer, one who seeks out cultural opportunities ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a town visited, and brags about it. •/ Aunt Mathilda is a regular culture vulture; she spends every summer in a different European capital going to museums and operas. /

[cup]See: IN ONE’S CUPS.

[cup of tea]also [dish of tea] {n. phr.} , {informal} 1. Something you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation. Used with a possessive. •/ You could always get him to go for a walk: hiking was just his cup of tea. / Compare: DOWN ONE’S ALLEY. 2. Something to think about; thing; matter. •/ That’s another cup of tea. / Compare: KETTLE OF FISH.

[curb service] {n.} Waiting on customers while they sit in their cars. •/ Families with small children often look for hamburger stands that offer curb service. /

[curiosity killed the cat] {informal} Getting too nosy may lead a person into trouble. — A proverb. •/ "Curiosity killed the cat," Fred’s father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just before Christmas. /

[curl]See: PIN CURL.

[curl one’s hair] {v. phr.} , {slang} To shock; frighten; horrify; amaze. •/ Wait till you read what it says about you — this’ll curl your hair. / •/ The movie about monsters from another planet curled his hair. /

[curl up] {v.} 1a. To become curly or wavy. •/ Bacon curls up when it is cooked. / 1b. To roll oneself into a ball. •/ Tim curled up in bed and was asleep in five minutes. / 2. See: FOLD UP.

[current]See: SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT.

[curry favor] {v.} To flatter or serve someone to get his help or friendship. •/ Joe tried to curry favor with the new teacher by doing little services that she didn’t really want. / •/ Jim tried to curry favor with the new girl by telling her she was the prettiest girl in the class. / Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

[curve]See: THROW A CURVE.

[cut]See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.

[cut a class] {v. phr.} To be truant; to deliberately miss a class and do something else instead. •/ "If you keep cutting classes the way you do, you will almost surely flunk this course," John’s professor said to him. /

[cut a figure] {v. phr.} To make a favorable impression; carry off an activity with dignity and grace. •/ With his handsome face and sporty figure, Harry cuts quite a figure with all the ladies. /