Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[jump to a conclusion] {v. phr.} To decide too quickly or without thinking or finding the facts. •/ Jerry saw his dog limping on a bloody leg and jumped to the conclusion that it had been shot. / Contrast: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.

[junked up] {adj.} or {v. phr.} , {slang} , {drug culture} To be under the influence of drugs, especially heroine. •/ You can’t talk to Billy, he’s all junked up. /

[just about] {adv.} , {informal} Nearly; almost; practically. •/ Just about everyone in town came to hear the mayor speak. / •/ The dress came down to just about the middle of her knee. / •/ Has Mary finished peeling the potatoes? Just about. /

[just for the fun of it] {adv. phr.} Merely as a matter of amusement. •/ "I’ll bring a goat to class," Bob said to his classmates, "just for the fun of it; I want to see what kind of a face Professor Brown will make." /

[just for the hell of it]See: JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT.

[justice]See: DO JUSTICE TO.

[just in case] {adv. phr.} For an emergency; in order to be protected. •/ "Here are my house keys. Sue," Tom said. "I’ll be back in two weeks, but you should have them, just in case…" / See: IN CASE.

[just in time]See: IN TIME.

[just now] {adv. phr.} 1. Just at this moment; at this time. •/ Mr. Johnson isn’t here just now. Will you phone back later? 2. / {informal} A very short time ago; only a moment ago; only a little while ago. •/ "Where could that boy have gone so quickly? He was here just now!" / Compare: WHILE AGO.

[just so(1)] {adj.} Exact; exactly right. •/ Mrs. Robinson likes to keep her house just so, and she makes the children take off their shoes when they come in the house. /

[just so(2)] {conj.} Provided; if. •/ Take as much food as you want, just so you don’t waste any food. / Syn.: AS LONG AS(2).

[just so(3)] {adv. phr.} With great care; very carefully. •/ In order to raise healthy African violets you must treat them just so. /

[just the other way]or [the other way around] {adv. phr.} Just the opposite. •/ One would have thought that Goliath would defeat David, but it was the other way around. /

[just the same]See: ALL THE SAME.

[just what the doctor ordered] {n. phr.} , {informal} Exactly what is needed or wanted. •/ "Ah! Just what the doctor ordered!" exclaimed Joe when Mary brought him a cold soda. /

[kangaroo court] {n.} A self-appointed group that decides what to do to someone who is supposed to have done wrong. •/ The Chicago mob held a kangaroo court and shot the gangster who competed with Al Capone. /

[keel]See: ON AN EVEN KEEL.

[keel over] {v.} 1. To turn upside down; tip over; overturn. — Usually refers to a boat. •/ The strong wind made the sailboat keel over and the passengers fell into the water. / 2. {informal} To fall over in a faint; taint. •/ It was so hot during the assembly program that two girls who were standing on the stage keeled over. / •/ When the principal told the girl her father died, she keeled right over. /

[keen about]or [on] {adj. phr.} Very enthusiastic about someone or something. •/ It is well known that Queen Elizabeth is keen on horses. /

[keep abreast (of) someone]or [something] {v. phr.} To be informed of the latest developments. •/ It is difficult to keep abreast of all the various wars that are being waged on planet Earth. / Compare: KEEP STEP WITH.

[keep a civil tongue in one’s head] {v. phr.} To be polite in speaking. •/ He was very angry with his boss, but he kept a civil tongue in his head. / •/ The bus driver began yelling at the woman and she told him to keep a civil tongue in his head. /

[keep a close check on]See: KEEP TAB(S) ON.

[keep after] {v.} , {informal} To speak to (someone) about something again and again; remind over and over again. •/ Some pupils will do sloppy work unless the teacher keeps after them to write neatly. / •/ Sue’s mother had to keep after her to clean her bedroom. /

[keep an ear to the ground]See: EAR TO THE GROUND.

[keep an eye on]or [keep one’s eye on]or [have one’s eye on] {v. phr.} 1. To watch carefully; not stop paying attention to. •/ Keep an eye on the stove in case the coffee boils. / •/ You must keep your eye on the ball when you play tennis. / •/ A good driver keeps his eye on the road. / •/ The teacher had her eye on me because she thought I was cheating. / •/ Billy keeps a jealous eye on his toys. / •/ The lion tamer keeps a sharp eye on the lions when he is in the cage. / Compare: LOOK OUT, LOOK OVER. 2. To watch and do what is needed for; mind. •/ Mother told Jane to keep an eye on the baby while she was in the store. / •/ Mr. Brown told John to keep an eye on the store while he was out. / Syn.: TAKE CARE OF(1).

[keep an eye open]or [keep an eye out for]See: KEEP AN EYE ON.

[keep an eye out]See: EYE OUT.

[keep a stiff upper lip] {v. phr.} To be brave; face trouble bravely. •/ He was very much worried about his sick daughter, but he kept a stiff upper lip. / •/ Although he was having some trouble with the engine, the pilot kept a stiff upper lip and landed the plane safely. / Compare: KEEP ONE’S CHIN UP.

[keep a straight face]See: STRAIGHT FACE, DEADPAN.

[keep at] {v.} To continue to do; go on with. •/ Mary kept at her homework until she finished it. / Compare: KEEP ON(1), KEEP UP(1b).

[keep away] {v. phr.} To remain at a distance from. •/ Her mother advised Diane to keep away from men offering a ride. /

[keep back] {v. phr.} To refrain or be restrained from entering; remain back. •/ The police had a hard time keeping back the crowd when the astronauts came to town after walking on the moon. /

[keep body and soul together] {v. phr.} To keep alive; survive. •/ John was unemployed most of the year and hardly made enough money to keep body and soul together. / Compare: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.

[keep books] {v. phr.} To keep records of money gained and spent; do the work of a bookkeeper. •/ Miss Jones keeps the company’s books. /

[keep company] {v. phr.} 1. To stay or go along with (someone) so that he will not be lonely to visit with (someone). •/ John kept Andy company while his parents went to the movies. / •/ I’ll go shopping with you just to keep you company. / 2. To go places together as a couple; date just one person. •/ After keeping company for one year, Mary and John decided to marry. / •/ Who is Bill keeping company with now? / Compare: GO STEADY.

[keep cool] {v. phr.} Remain calm; remain unexcited. •/ The main thing to remember in an emergency situation is to not lose one’s head and keep cool. /

[keep down] {v.} Keep from progressing or growing; keep within limits; control. •/ The children could not keep their voices down. / •/ We hoe the garden to keep down the weeds. / •/ You can’t keep a good man down. / Compare: GET AHEAD.

[keeper]See: FINDERS KEEPERS.

[keep from] {v.} , {informal} To hold yourself back from; stop or prevent yourself from (doing something). •/ Can you keep from repeating gossip? / •/ Jill can’t keep from talking about her trip. / — Usually used with "can" in the negative. •/ You can’t keep from liking Jim. / Compare: CAN HELP.

[keep good time]See: KEEP TIME.

[keep house(1)] {v. phr.} To do the necessary things in a household; do the cooking and cleaning. •/ Since their mother died, Mary and her brother keep house for their father. /

[keep house(2)]also [play house] {v. phr.} , {informal} To live together without being married. •/ Bob and Nancy keep house these days. /

[keeping]See: IN KEEPING, OUT OF KEEPING.

[keep in mind]See: IN MIND.

[keep in touch with] {v. phr.} To remain in communication with; maintain contact with. •/ Don’t forget to keep in touch, either by letter or phone, when you’re in Europe! /

[keep late hours] {v. phr.} To go to bed late; habitually stay up (and work) late. •/ "If you always keep such late hours, your health might suffer," Tom’s doctor said. /

[keep off] {v. phr.} To refrain from entering; stay away from. •/ "Keep off the grass," the sign in the park indicated. /

[keep on] {v.} 1. To go ahead; not stop; continue. •/ The neighbors asked them to stop making noise, but they kept right on. / •/ Columbus kept on until he saw land. / — Often used before a present participle. •/ Relentlessly, the boy kept on asking about the birds and the bees. / •/ The boy kept on talking even though the teacher had asked him to stop. / Syn.: GO ON. Compare: KEEP AT, KEEP UP. 2. To allow to continue working for you. •/ The new owner kept Fred on as gardener. /

[keep one at a distance]or [keep one at arm’s length] {v. phr.} To avoid (someone’s) company; not become too friendly toward. •/ Mr. Smith is kind to the workers in his store but after work he keeps them at a distance. / •/ Betty likes Bill and is trying to be friendly, but he keeps her at arm’s length. / Compare: KEEP ONE’S DISTANCE, HOLD OFF(1a).

[keep (one) posted] {v. phr.} To receive current information; inform oneself. •/ My associates phoned me every day and kept me posted on new developments in our business. /

[keep one’s balance] {v. phr.} To stay even-tempered; not become overexcited. •/ Mike has the best personality to run our office; he always keeps his balance. / Contrast: LOSE ONE’S BALANCE.

[keep one’s chin up] {v. phr.} To be brave; be determined; face trouble with courage. •/ He didn’t think that he would ever get out of the jungle alive, but he kept his chin up. / Compare: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP.

[keep one’s distance] {v. phr.} To be cool toward someone; avoid being friendly. •/ Mary did not like her co-worker, Betty, and kept her distance from her. / Compare: KEEP ONE AT A DISTANCE.