Idioms, with definitions or synonyms

Examples

Translation

fall out of love - stop loving

They soon fell out of love and divorced.

разлюбить

false alarm - untrue signal, untrue rumor

I heard that he quit his job, but it was a false alarm.

ложная тревога

a far cry from something - very different, almost opposite, not as good

His second book wasn't bad, but it was a far cry from his first book.

далеко не такой хороший, как

feel it in one's bones - expect something bad to happen

I feel it in my bones that something terrible is going to happen.

нутром чувствовать, что случится плохое

feel like doing something - want to do, be inclined to do something

I feel like going for a walk. I don't feel like working now, I'm tired.

быть склонным к занятию чем-то

few and far between - rare, scarce

Her visits are few and far between.

слишком редкие

find fault with someone / something - criticize, complain about

He finds fault with everybody. She always finds fault with my cooking.

критиковать кого-то, что-то, придираться

first things first - important things come before others

First things first: how much money do we have to pay right away?

сначала главное

fly off the handle - get angry

He flew off the handle and yelled at me.

разозлиться (вдруг)

follow in someone's footsteps - do the same thing

Igor followed in his father's footsteps, he became a doctor too.

идти по стопам, делать то же самое

foot the bill - pay the bill

Her father footed the bill for the party.

заплатить по счету

for good - forever

After her death, he left town for good.

навсегда

for the time being - for now, at this time

For the time being, this house is all right for us.

на данное время

frame of mind - mental state

I can't do it in this frame of mind.

умонастроение

from A to Z - completely, from beginning to end

He knows this town from A to Z.

полностью, от начала до конца

from now on - now and in the future

From now on, I forbid you to go there.

впредь

from the word go - from the very beginning

He was lying to all of us from the word go.

с самого начала

get a grip on oneself - take control of one's feelings

Stop crying! Get a grip on yourself!

контролировать свои чувства

get carried away - get too excited and enthusiastic about something

He got carried away with opening a store and lost most of his money.

слишком увлечься чем-то

get cold feet - be afraid to do something

He wanted to try it. But he got cold feet at the last moment.

побояться сделать

get even with someone - have one's revenge

I'll get even with him for everything!

расквитаться с кем-то

get in touch with someone - contact someone

Get in touch with Mr. Smith for help.

связаться с кем-то

get lost - lose one's way

She got lost in the old part of town.

потерять дорогу

Get lost! (slang) - Lay off!

I don't want to see you again. Get lost!

Исчезни! Уйди!

get mixed up - get confused

I got mixed up, went the wrong way, and got lost.

перепутать

get off someone's back - stop bothering someone

Stop bothering me! Get off my back!

перестать приставать, отстать от кого-то

get one's foot in the door - get an initial opportunity, make the first step in something (e.g., in getting a job)

Nina was able to get her foot in the door because her friend worked in that company.

получить начальную возможность, сделать первый шаг в чем-то (например, в получении работы)

get on one's high horse - behave haughtily towards someone

Every time I ask her to help me with typing, she gets on her high horse.

вести себя высокомерно

get out of hand - get out of control, beyond control

If he gets out of hand again, call me right away. The situation is getting out of hand.

выйти из-под контроля

get rid of someone / something - dispose of, discard

He got rid of his old useless car.

избавиться от кого-то, чего-то

get to the bottom of something - know deeply

He usually gets to the bottom of things.

добраться до сути чего-то

get to the point - speak directly about the subject, come to the point

Please get to the point, I don't have much time now.

перейти к сути дела, начать говорить по существу

Give me a break! - Stop it! Enough!

Come on, stop it! Give me a break!

Прекрати! Хватит!

give someone a hand - help someone

Can you give me a hand with cooking?

помочь кому-то

give someone a lift / a ride - take to some place by car

Can you give me a lift to the bank? He gave her a ride in his new Porsche.

подвезти кого-то

give someone a piece of one's mind - criticize frankly

She lost my umbrella again, so I gave her a piece of my mind about her carelessness.

высказать, что на уме, критиковать

go back on one's word - break a promise

First he said he would help me, but then he went back on his word.

нарушить свое слово, обещание

go for it - try to do a new thing

If I were you, I would go for it.

пробовать новое дело

go from bad to worse - become much worse

His business went from bad to worse.

становиться все хуже

go out of one's way - try very hard

He goes out of his way to please her.

очень стараться

go to one's head - 1. make dizzy; 2. make too proud, conceited

1. Champagne went to her head right away. 2. His acting success went to his head.

1. вызвать головокружение; 2. возгордиться - Успех вскружил ему голову.

go to pieces - get very upset, fall apart

She went to pieces when she heard it.

сильно расстроиться

go with the flow - lead a quiet life

She always goes with the flow.

плыть по течению, жить без волнений

have a ball - have a good time

Yesterday we had a ball at the party.

отлично провести время

have a bone to pick with someone - complain or discuss something unpleasant

Mr. Brown, I have a bone to pick with you. My mail was lost because of you.

иметь претензии к кому-то

have a sweet tooth - love eating sweet things

He has a sweet tooth.

быть сластеной, любить сладкое

have a word with someone - talk to someone

Can I have a word with you?

поговорить с кем-то

have words with someone - argue with someone

I had words with my coworker today because he used my computer again.

крупно поговорить с кем-то

have it in someone - have the ability

Laura has it in her to be a good doctor.

иметь нужные качества

have no business doing something - have no right to do something

You have no business staying here without my permission.

нечего (вам) здесь делать, незачем здесь находиться и др.

have one's back to the wall - be hard-pressed, on the defensive

I had no choice, I had my back to the wall.

быть прижатым к стене, под давлением, вынужден защищаться

have one's hands full - be very busy

He has his hands full with hard work.

быть очень занятым

have one's heart set on something - want something very much

She has her heart set on going to New York. He has his heart set on Betty.

очень хотеть получить что-то

have pull - have influence

Does he have pull with the director?

иметь влияние

(not) have the heart to do something - (not) have the courage to do something unpleasant

I don't have the heart to tell him that he wasn't accepted, he'll be so unhappy.

(не) хватает духа сделать неприятное

hit the nail on the head - say exactly the right thing

You hit the nail on the head when you said that!

попасть в точку, сказать очень правильную вещь

(not) hold it against someone - (not) blame somebody for doing something

I lost his book, but he doesn't hold it against me.

(не) держать зла на кого-то

Hold it! - Stop! Wait!

Hold it! I forgot my key.

Остановитесь! Стойте!

hold one's own - maintain oneself in a situation, behave as needed

He can hold his own in any situation. We need men who can hold their own.

постоять за себя, утвердиться в чем-то

hold one's tongue - keep silent, refrain from speaking

She can't hold her tongue at all.

молчать, держать язык за зубами, придержать язык

ill at ease - uncomfortable

She felt ill at ease because of her cheap dress.

не по себе

in advance - well before

He told her about his plan in advance.

заранее

in a nutshell - in a few words

In a nutshell, my plan is to buy land.

кратко, вкратце

in care of - write to one person at the address of another person

I'm going to stay at Tom's house in Chicago. Write to me in care of Tom Gray, 321 Main Street, Chicago, Illinois.

писать адресату по адресу другого человека (у которого остановился)

in cold blood - mercilessly

He killed her in cold blood.

хладнокровно

in fact - actually, in reality

In fact, he works as a manager here.

фактически, в действительности

in general - generally, generally speaking

In general, he likes to be alone. He described the place only in general.

в общем, вообще, обычно

in hot water - in trouble, in a difficult situation (especially with the law or one's superiors)

He said a couple of unpleasant things about the boss's wife, and now he is in hot water.

в беде, в трудном положении (особенно с законом или начальством)

in one's element - what one likes

He's in his element when he's arguing.

в своей стихии

in other words - using other words

In other words, you left her when she needed your help.

другими словами

in plain English - in simple, frank terms

I didn't really like the concert. In plain English, the concert was terrible.

проще говоря, без обиняков

the ins and outs - all information about something

He knows the ins and outs of this business.

входы и выходы, вся информация о чем-то

in someone's shoes - in another person's position

I wouldn't want to be in his shoes now. He lost his job, and his wife is in the hospital.

на месте другого, в положении другого

in the long run - in the end

In the long run, it will be better to buy it.

в конечном счете

in the same boat - in the same situation

Stop arguing with me. We're in the same boat and should help each other.

в таком же положении

in the clear - free from blame

Pay the bill, and you'll be in the clear.

вне претензий

in time (to do something) - early enough, before something begins

I came in time to have a cup of coffee before class.

вовремя, заранее, чтобы успеть что-то сделать до начала чего-то

it goes without saying - should be clear without words

It goes without saying that he must pay what he owes right away.

не стоит и говорить, само собой

it's time - should do it right away

Hurry up, it's time to go.

пора (сделать что-то)

It's worth it. It's not worth it. It's (not) worth buying, visiting, watching, etc.

Watch this film, it's worth it. Don't buy this coat, it is not worth it. This museum is worth visiting. This film is not worth watching.

оно того стоит, оно того не стоит; (не) стоит покупать, посещать, смотреть и т.д.

jump at the opportunity / chance - accept the opportunity eagerly

His boss mentioned a job in Europe, and Peter jumped at the opportunity.

ухватиться за возможность

just as soon - prefer, would rather

I'd just as soon stay home, I'm tired.

предпочитать, охотно

just in case - to be on the safe side

Take an extra shirt, just in case.

на всякий случай

Just my luck! - Bad luck! / Hard luck!

They lost my job application. Just my luck!

Мне всегда не везет!

keep an eye on someone / something - take care of, watch, look after

Betty keeps an eye on my sons for me. I'll keep an eye on your dog.

последить за, присмотреть за

keep a straight face - try not to laugh

I tried to keep a straight face but failed.

стараться не рассмеяться, сохранять невозмутимый вид

keep company - accompany

She keeps me company quite often.

составить компанию

keep in mind - consider, remember

Keep in mind that he is not going to agree easily.

иметь в виду

keep in touch - keep in contact with someone by calling, visiting, sending messages

Good-by and don't forget to keep in touch! Keep in touch with us. We may have new openings next week.

держаться в контакте, поддерживать контакт с кем-то

keep one's word - fulfill a promise

You promised, now keep your word.

держать слово

keep someone posted - inform someone

Keep me posted about your plans.

держать кого-то в курсе событий

keep one's fingers crossed - hope that nothing will go wrong

I have a job interview today. Keep your fingers crossed for me, will you? I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

надеяться, что все пройдет гладко

kill time - fill / spend empty time

I went to the show to kill time.

убить время

(not) know the first thing about something - not have any knowledge about something

I don't know the first thing about nuclear physics.

ничего не знать по какой-то теме

know the ropes - be very familiar with some business

He knows all the ropes in this company.

знать все ходы и выходы

last-minute notice - a message (information, instruction) at the last moment leaving little or no time for preparation

His arrival was a last-minute notice, we didn't have time to prepare for it.

сообщение (информация, инструкция) в последний момент, из-за чего мало или нет времени на подготовку