Чтение онлайн

показать, где раки зимуют (кому-л.)

to give someone what for; to give someone something to remember one by

The teacher gave her what for because she was so late.

If they don’t stop that noise I’ll give them something to remember me by!

показывать когти

to show one’s teeth

She has always been such a nice woman, but when I accidentally scratched her car she really showed her teeth.

показывать нос (кому-л.)

to cock a snook at someone; to thumb one’s nose at someone

As soon as the teacher turned his back, the boy cocked a snook at him.

She married a very rich man and thumbed her nose at those who previously looked down at her.

показывать пальцем (на кого-л.)

to point the finger (at someone )

I don’t want to point the finger at anyone, but somebody has to answer for the expenses.

показывать пятки

to show a clean pair of heels; to take to one’s heels

The thief quickly showed a clean pair of heels when the police found him breaking into a shop.

The boy saw me and took to his heels.

показывать свое настоящее лицо

to show one’s true colours

It is hard to tell what he is thinking. He never shows his true colours.

покупать кота в мешке

to buy a pig in a poke

Are you sure you are not buying a pig in a poke?

положить на обе лопатки (кого-л.)

to beat someone hollow

He is bad at tennis and you can beat him hollow on the court.

получать по мозгам

to get it in the neck

The boy got it in the neck for being late.

поменяться ролями (с кем-л.)

to turn the tables on someone

In the first game they beat us, but in the next game our team turned the tables and won 5–1.

попадать в переплет

to get into deep water

Kate had a premonition that she was getting into deep water.

попадать в точку

to hit the nail on the head; to hit the bull’s-eye; to hit the mark

You are one hundred percent correct, you’ve hit the nail on the head.

Your idea really hit the bull’s-eye.

It was a random guess, but it had hit the mark.

попадать впросак

to put one’s foot in it; to drop a clanger

She is always putting her feet in it, talking without thinking.

I think I dropped a clanger when I called her by her ex-husband name.

попадать не в бровь, а в глаз

to hit the nail on the head; to hit the bull’s-eye; to hit the mark

The moment he said it he knew he had hit the nail on the head.

Paul could usually hit the bull’s eye.

You certainly hit the mark when you said that the girl was very lazy.

попадать пальцем в небо

to be wide of the mark

His calculation was wide of the mark. He undervalued our car by nearly half.

попадаться на глаза (кому-л.)

to catch someone’s eye

When I got home, the first thing that caught my eye was the open book lying on the table.

попадаться на удочку

to rise to the bait

Whenever she wants to annoy her husband, she always says that she prefers the town to the country. He rises to the bait every time.

попытать счастья (в чем-л.)

to try one’s luck (at something )

He’d never been to a casino before, but just once he thought he’d try his luck.

пороть чепуху

to talk through one’s hat

He is talking through his hat. He has no proof.

порочный круг

a vicious circle

The roads are busy, so it’s not safe to walk; parents take their children by car, so the roads are busy – it’s a vicious circle.

портить обедню

to upset the applecart

I don’t want to upset the applecart, but I must tell you the truth about your brother.

после дождичка в четверг

when hell freezes over; when pigs fly

I’ll believe him when hell freezes over.

At some time they will appreciate all our hard work. – Certainly, when pigs fly.

последнее слово (в споре)

the last/final word

His wife is so argumentative. She always has to have the last word.

последнее слово (чего-л.)

the last word (in something )

Her new hat is the last word in fashion.

последняя капля

the last straw

This is the last straw. You have insulted my wife with your suspicions too many times before.

почить на лаврах

to rest on one’s laurels

Never rest on your laurels. Always try to be better.

правая рука (кого-л.)

one’s right hand

His secretary is his right hand.

правдами и неправдами

by hook or by crook; by fair means or foul

I intend to get that job by hook or by crook.

He followed his brother in the hope of making money by fair means or foul.

превозносить до небес (кого-л./что-л.)

to praise something/someone to the skies

The cake was very tasty. Everyone praised it to the skies.

превращаться в слух

to be all ears

Be careful of what you say. The children are all ears.

предавать мечу (кого-л.)

to put ( someone ) to the sword

He vowed to put all the inhabitants of the town to the sword in revenge for the death of his brother.

предоставлять самому себе (кого-л.)

to leave someone to one’s own resources

The boy was left entirely to his own resources.