Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[all the thing]or [all the rage], [the in thing] {n. phr.} The fashionable or popular thing to do, the fashionable or most popular artist or form of art at a given time. •/ After "The Graduate" Dustin Hoffman was all the rage in the movies. / •/ It was all the thing in the late sixties to smoke pot and demonstrate against the war in Vietnam. /

[all the time] {adv. phr.} 1. or [all the while]During the whole period; through the whole time. •/ Mary went to college in her home town and lived at home all the while. / •/ Most of us were surprised to hear that Mary and Tom had been engaged all year, but Sue said she knew it all the time. / 2. Without stopping; continuously •/ Most traffic lights work all the time. / 3. Very often; many times. •/ Ruth talks about her trip to Europe all the time, and her friends are tired of it. /

[all the way]or [the whole way] {adv. phr.} 1. From start to finish during the whole distance or time. •/ Jack climbed all the way to the top of the tree. / •/ Joe has played the whole way in the football game and it’s almost over. / 2. In complete agreement; with complete willingness to satisfy. — Often used in the phrase "go all the way with". •/ I go all the way with what George says about Bill. / •/ Mary said she was willing to kiss Bill, but that did not mean she was willing to go all the way with him. / •/ The bank was willing to lend Mr. Jones money to enlarge his factory but it wasn 't willing to go all the way with his plans to build another in the next town. / Compare: ALL OUT, GO THE WHOLE HOG.

[all the worse]See: ALL THE 2.

[all thumbs] {adj.} , {informal} Awkward, especially with your hands; clumsy. •/ Harry tried to fix the chair but he was all thumbs. /

[all told] {adv. phr.} , {informal} Counting or including everything. •/ Including candy sale profits we have collected $300 all told. /

[all to the good]See: TO THE GOOD.

[all up] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Near to certain death or defeat without any more chance or hope. •/ With their ammunition gone the patrol knew that it was all up with them. /

[all very well] {adj.} All right; very good and correct; very true. — Usually followed by a "but" clause. •/ It’s all very well for you to complain but can you do any better? / •/ It’s all very well if Jane comes with us, but how will she get back home? / Compare: WELL AND GOOD.

[all walks of life] {n. phr.} All socioeconomic groups; all professions and lines of work. •/ A good teacher has to be able to communicate with students from all walks of life. / •/ A clever politician doesn’t alienate people from any walk of life. /

[all wet] {adj.} , {slang} Entirely confused or wrong; mistaken. •/ When the Wright brothers said they could build a flying machine, people thought they were all wet. / •/ If you think I like baseball, you’re all wet. / Compare: OFF ONE’S ROCKER.

[all wool and a yard wide] {adj. phr.} Of fine character; especially, very generous and kind-hearted. •/ He’s a wonderful brother — all wool and a yard wide. /

[all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy]Too much hard work without time out for play or enjoyment is not good for anyone. — A proverb. •/ Bill’s mother told him to stop studying and to go out and play, because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. /

[all year round] {adv. phr.} Always; all the time; throughout all seasons of the year. •/ In California the sun shines all year round. /

[alone]See: LET ALONE or LEAVE ALONE, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE or LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE.

[along]See: ALL ALONG or RIGHT ALONG, COME ALONG, GET ALONG, GO ALONG, RUN ALONG, STRING ALONG.

[along for the ride] {adv. phr.} , {informal} Being in a group for the fun or the credit without doing any of the work. •/ He wants no members in his political party who are just along for the ride. /

[along in years]or [on in years] {adj. phr.} Elderly; growing old. •/ As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful. / •/ Our dog isn 't very playful because it is getting on in years. /

[alongside of] {prep.} 1. At or along the side of. •/ We walked alongside of the river. / 2. Together with. •/ I played alongside of Tom on the same team. / Compare: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SIDE BY SIDE. 3. {informal} Compared with or to; measured next to. •/ His money doesn’t look like much alongside of a millionaire’s. /

[a lot] {n.} , {informal} A large number or amount; very many or very much; lots. •/ I learned a lot in Mr. Smith’s class. / •/ A lot of our friends are going to the beach this summer. / — Often used like an adverb. •/ Ella is a jolly girl; she laughs a lot. / •/ Grandfather was very sick last week, but he’s a lot better now. / •/ You’ll have to study a lot harder if you want to pass. / — Also used as an adjective with "more", "less", and "fewer". •/ There was a good crowd at the game today, but a lot more will come next week. / — Often used with "whole" for emphasis. •/ John has a whole lot of marbles. / •/ Jerry is a whole lot taller than he was a year ago. / Compare: GOOD DEAL, GOOD MANY, A NUMBER. Contrast: A FEW, A LITTLE.

[aloud]See: THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.

[alpha wave] {n.} A brain wave, 8-12 cycles per second, associated with a state of relaxation and meditation and, hence, free of anxieties. •/ Try to produce some alpha waves; you will instantly feel a lot better. /

[alter]See: CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.

[always]See: GRASS is ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

[ambulance chaser] {n.} An attorney who specializes in representing victims of traffic accidents. By extension, a lawyer of inferior rank or talent. •/ Don’t hire Cohen; he’s just another ambulance chaser. /

[American plan] {n.} A system of hotel management in which meals are included with the room, as opposed to the European plan that does not include meals. •/ American tourists in Europe sometimes expect that their meals will be included, because they are used to the American plan. /

[amount to] {v.} Signify; add up to. •/ John’s total income didn’t amount to more than a few hundred dollars. /

[a must] {n.} 1. An inevitability; a necessity. •/ Visas in many foreign countries are a must. / 2. An extremely interesting or memorable event, such as a free concert given by an international celebrity. •/ Alfred Brendel’s Beethoven master classes are open to the public and are not to be missed; they’re a must. /

[anchor]See: AT ANCHOR.

[--- and ---]1. — And is used between repeated words to show continuation or emphasis. •/ When the children saw the beautiful Christmas tree they looked and looked. / •/ Old Mr, Bryan has known Grandfather for years and years, since they were boys. / •/ Billy dived to the bottom of the lake again and again, looking for the lost watch. / •/ Everyone wished the speaker would stop, but he talked on and on. / Compare: THROUGH AND THROUGH. 2. — When "and" is used between words with opposite meaning, it often emphasizes how much you mean. •/ Mr. Jones worked early and late to earn enough to live. / •/ The parents hunted high and low for the lost child. / Compare: DAY AND NIGHT, FROM — TO, INSIDE AND OUT.

[and all] {informal} And whatever goes with it; and all that means. •/ We don’t go out much nowadays, with the new baby and all. / •/ Jack’s employer provided the tools and all. /

[and how!] {interj.} , {informal} Yes, that is certainly right! — Used for emphatic agreement. •/ "Did you see the game?" "And how!" / •/ "Isn’t Mary pretty?" "And how she is!" / Syn.: YOU BET, YOU SAID IT. Compare: BUT GOOD.

[and so forth]or [and so on]And more of the same kind; and further amounts or things like the ones already mentioned. •/ The costumes were red, pink, blue, purple, yellow, and so forth. / Compare: WHAT HAVE YOU.

[and the like] {n. phr.} Things of a similar nature. •/ I like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the like. / •/ When I go out to the beach flake towels, a mat, suntan lotion, and the like. /

[and then some]And a lot more; and more too. •/ It would cost all the money he had and then some. / •/ Talking his way out of this trouble was going to take all his wits and then some. /

[and what not]See: WHAT NOT.

[angel dust] {n.} , {slang} Phencyclidine, an addictive hallucinatory narcotic drug extremely dangerous to the users' health, also called PCP. •/ Mike has gone from grass to angel dust; he will end up in the morgue. /

[another]See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE.

[answer back]See: TALK BACK.

[answer for] {v.} 1. To take responsibility for; assume charge or supervision of. •/ The secret service has to answer for the safety of the President and his family. / 2. To say you are sure that (someone) has good character or ability; guarantee: sponsor. •/ When people thought Ray had stolen the money, the principal said, "Ray is no thief. I’ll answer for him." / 3. Take the blame or punishment for. •/ When Mother found out who ate the cake, Tom had to answer for his mischief. /

[answer one’s calling] {v. phr.} To fulfill one’s destiny in terms of work or profession by doing what one has a talent for. •/ Don answered his calling when he became a chiropractor. Susy answered her calling when she became a violinist. /

[answer the call of nature]or [obey the call of nature] {v. phr.} , {slang} To go to the bathroom to relieve oneself by urinating or defecating. •/ Ted was hiking in the mountains when suddenly he had to answer the call of nature but since there was no bathroom in the woods, he excused himself and disappeared behind the bushes. /

[answer to] {v.} To be named; go by a certain name or designation; be accountable. •/ When you walk my dog, please remember that he answers to the name "Caesar." / •/ As head of the company she does not have to answer to anyone. /

[ante up] {v.} , {informal} To produce the required amount of money in order to close a transaction; to pay what one owes. •/ "I guess I’d better ante up if I want to stay an active member of the Association", Max said. /