Idioms, with definitions or synonyms

Examples

Translations

save one's breath - stop useless talk

There's no use talking to him about his spending habits, so save your breath.

не тратить слова попусту

scratch the surface - study something superficially

He examines all the facts closely, he doesn't just scratch the surface.

изучать поверхностно

search high and low - search everywhere

I searched high and low for my lost cat.

искать везде

see eye to eye - agree with each other

They see eye to eye on many things. I don't see eye to eye with him.

соглашаться друг с другом; сходиться во взглядах

see red - become very angry

She sees red every time she remembers how he lied to her about it.

приходить в ярость, очень сильно злиться

serve someone right - get what someone deserves

It serves him right that he didn't get this job, he despised all other candidates.

поделом кому-то

serve one's purpose - be useful for some purpose

I doubt that hiring this man will serve your purpose.

служить цели, отвечать цели, годиться

a shot in the dark - a wild guess

My answer was just a shot in the dark.

догадка, предположение, ответ наугад, наобум

show promise - be promising

This young actor shows promise.

подавать надежды

sleep on it - postpone a decision till next morning

Don't make a decision now, sleep on it.

отложить решение до следующего утра

a slip of the tongue - a mistake

It was just a slip of the tongue!

обмолвка (ошибка)

slip (from) one's mind - forget

It slipped my mind that she asked me to do it.

забыть

smell a rat - suspect something wrong

I'm not sure what it is, but I smell a rat.

подозревать обман, чуять недоброе

so far - up to now

So far, I have read three books by Stephen King.

до сих пор, пока, к настоящему моменту

so much the better - it's even better

If he can pay cash, so much the better.

еще лучше

spill the beans - tell a secret

Who spilled the beans about our plan?

проболтаться

(not) stand a chance - (not) have a chance

He doesn't stand a chance of getting it.

нет шансов

stand to reason - be obvious, logical, naturally true

It stands to reason that studying spelling will let you improve your writing skills.

очевидно, логично, что

straight from the shoulder - frankly, honestly, openly

Don't try to spare his feelings, give it to him straight from the shoulder.

честно, откровенно

take a dim view of something - disapprove of something

My sister takes a dim view of the way I raise my children.

не одобрять что-то

take a break - stop for rest

Let's take a break, I'm tired.

сделать перерыв для отдыха

take advantage of something - use for one's own benefit, to profit from

We took advantage of the low prices and bought a computer and a monitor.

воспользоваться возможностью с пользой для себя

take a stand (on something) - make a firm decision about something

People need to take a stand on the issue of nuclear weapons.

занять четкую позицию по какому-то вопросу

Take care! - Good-bye and be careful!

Take care now! See you tomorrow.

Всего хорошего! Берегите себя.

take care of someone / something - look after, see that something is done properly

Can you take care of my dog while I'm away? Tom takes good care of his car.

позаботиться о ком-то, чем-то, присмотреть за

take hold of something - hold, grasp something

Take hold of this rope and pull.

держать, взяться за, схватить

take into account - take into consideration, consider

You must take into account her old age.

принять во внимание

take it easy - relax, be calm

Take it easy, everything will be OK.

не волнуйся

take something for granted - accept as given

Mother's love is always taken for granted by children.

принимать как должное

take someone's breath away - to surprise, impress

That great view took my breath away.

захватить дух от впечатления

take one's time - do something without hurry

Don't hurry. Take your time.

делать что-то не торопясь

take someone's word for it - believe

Take my word for it, he won't go there.

поверить кому-то на слово

take pains - try hard to do it well

He took pains to make his report perfect.

прилагать усилия, чтобы сделать хорошо

take part in something - participate in something

Mary is going to take part in the show.

принять участие в чем-то

take place - happen

The accident took place on Oak Street.

иметь место, случиться

take one's mind off things - distract from fixed ideas or gloomy thoughts

Go to a concert or a movie to take your mind off things.

отвлечь(ся) от навязчивых идей или мрачных мыслей

take steps - take action, take measures

We need to take steps against it.

принимать меры

take the words right out of someone's mouth - say the same before someone else says it

I was about to say the same! You took the words right out of my mouth.

сказать то же самое чуть раньше, чем другой говорящий

take time - take a long time

It takes time to get used to a new place.

занять много времени

take time off - be absent from work

He took time off to attend the wedding.

взять отгул

take turns - alternate doing something one after another

We went to Minsk by car. We didn't get tired because we took turns driving

делать по очереди, меняться местами

That's just the point. - That's it.

That's just the point! I hate this job!

В этом-то и дело.

that will do - it's enough

Stop reading, that will do for now.

достаточно

the writing on the wall - a sign of future events (usually, trouble)

The plane crashed. Tim said he saw the writing on the wall about that flight.

предзнаменование (обычно, беды)

(not) think much of something - not think highly of something

I don't think much of her cooking.

быть невысокого мнения о чем-то

till one is blue in the face - try very hard

I repeated it till I was blue in the face!

стараться до посинения

to be on the safe side - not take any chances

Take an extra key, just to be on the safe side.

на всякий случай

to make a long story short - in short

To make a long story short, we won.

короче говоря

to say the least - to make the minimum comment about something

The film was boring and long, to say the least.

самое малое, что можно сказать

try one's hand at something - try to do something new

I want to try my hand at painting.

попробовать себя в чем-то

turn over a new leaf - make a fresh start in life, work

He promises to quit alcohol for good and turn over a new leaf.

начать заново (жизнь, новое дело)

turn the tables - reverse the situation (exchanging places with the opponent)

He beat me at chess twice last week. But now I hope to turn the tables (on him).

круто изменить ситуацию (поменявшись местами, ролями с противником)

turn the tide - reverse the course of events

The new evidence turned the tide, and the defendant was acquitted of charges.

резко изменить ход событий; повернуть вспять ход событий

twist someone's arm - make someone agree

They twisted his arm to sell the house.

выкручивать руки, давить на кого-то

under the weather - feeling a little ill, unwell

I'm a little under the weather today.

нездоровится

up-and-coming - showing promise of future success

He is an up-and-coming young lawyer who might help you with your case.

многообещающий, подающий надежды

up in arms - hostile to, in strong protest against something

The employees are up in arms about the new retirement rules.

протестовать против, сопротивляться

up in the air - undecided, unsettled

My vacation plans are still up in the air.

еще не определено

up to date - modern, latest, current

His reports are always up to date.

современный, с современными данными

(not) up to par - (not) equal in standard

His behavior isn't up to par.

(не) в норме, ниже нормы

used to do something - did something regularly in the past but not now

He used to live on Maple Street. I used to play the piano when I was in school (but I don't play it now).

в прошлом обычно делал что-то, но сейчас нет

walk on air - be very happy

He has been offered a great job. He is walking on air now.

летать от счастья

waste one's breath - speak uselessly, to no purpose

Don't waste your breath trying to make him do it, he won't change his mind.

тратить усилия зря, попусту тратить слова

watch one's step - behave prudently, be careful

You have to watch your step in this business.

поступать благоразумно, осмотрительно

wet blanket - a pessimist, a killjoy who dampens enthusiasm and spoils everyone's fun

Remember what a wet blanket he was last time? Please don't invite him again.

пессимист, зануда, который гасит энтузиазм и портит всем удовольствие

What's the matter? - What is it?

What's the matter? What happened?

В чем дело?

which way the wind blows - what the real situation is

He knows which way the wind blows and always acts accordingly.

какова реальная ситуация

white lie - unimportant lie

A white lie is told to spare your feelings.

невинная ложь

word for word - in the same words

Tell me word for word what he said.

дословно, дословный

would rather - prefer

I'd rather stay home today.

предпочитать