Чтение онлайн

убивать время

to kill time

The train was late, so I read a newspaper to kill time.

убивать двух зайцев

to kill two birds with one stone

You can kill two birds with one stone by working and studying at the same time.

ударять в голову (кому-л.)

to go to someone’s head

He was tired and the wine he had drunk was going to his head.

указывать на дверь (кому-л.)

to show someone the door

He was rude to my wife and I simply showed him the door.

улыбаться во весь рот

to smile from ear to ear

‘I’m so happy to see you,’ she said smiling from ear to ear.

умывать руки

to wash one’s hands of someone/something

The boy is self-willed and unruly. From now on I wash my hands of him.

уничтожать в зародыше (что-л.)

to nip something in the bud

Cannabis cultivation is an increasing problem which must be nipped in the bud.

упрямый как осел

(as) stubborn as a mule

Diana will never change her mind – she is as stubborn as a mule.

упускать из виду (что-л.)

to lose sight of something

He always loses sight of the important things.

уступать место (чему-л.)

to give way to something

Summer gave way to autumn.

утереть нос (кому-л.)

to be one up on someone ; to get the better of someone

She was delighted with her new dress. She likes to be one up on her friends.

He was always letting somebody get the better of him when it came to business deals.

утечка мозгов

brain drain

Britain suffered a brain drain because wages in America were so much higher.

утопать в роскоши

live in the lap of luxury

When we were in France we stayed in a hotel living in the lap of luxury.

Фома неверующий a doubting Thomas

хвататься за соломинку

to clutch at straws

The poor man is hoping that this new treatment will help his wife, but I think he’s simply clutching at straws.

хватить через край

to lay it on thick

Tom is the best singer I’ve ever heard. – Don’t exaggerate, you’re laying it on rather thick.

хлеб насущный

one’s bread and butter

I can’t afford to give up my research. It’s my bread and butter.

ходить вокруг да около

to beat about the bush

Stop beating about the bush. What are you trying to say?

ходить на задних лапках (перед кем-л.)

to bow and scrape (to someone )

I can’t stand the way you bow and scrape to your uncle the whole time.

ходить по кругу

to go round in circles

We were going around in circles trying to decide what to do.

хозяин своего слова

a man of his word

My brother is a man of his word. If he says he will do a thing he will do it.

хоть глаз выколи

(as) dark as pitch

It was as dark as pitch at midnight.

хоть святых выноси

enough to try the patience of a saint; enough to make a saint swear

I don’t want to offend anybody, but your wife’s rudeness is enough to try the patience of a saint.

The constant noise was enough to make a saint swear.

хохотать до упаду

to laugh like a drain

It was a good film. I laughed like a drain most of the time.

худой как щепка

(as) thin as a rake

She had been ill for several weeks and was as thin as a rake.

цел и невредим

safe and sound; in one piece

After three days of searching for them, the kids were found safe and sound.

She was glad her son came home in one piece from his army training.

цены нет

beyond price

Her paintings are beyond price.

чем черт не шутит

you never can tell

I can’t see him as a teacher, but then you never can tell.

через голову (кого-л.)

over someone’s head

The customer went over the manager’s head and complained direct to the shop owner.

черепашьим шагом

at a snail’s pace

I’m sorry for being late. My bus went at a snail’s pace all the way.

черный список

black list

His name is on the bank’s black list of debtors.

Черт возьми!

Damn it!; I’ll be damned!

Damn it! She is late again!

Well, I’ll be damned, my watch has stopped again.

черта с два!

Like hell!

I’m going to take the car, Dad. – Like hell you will!

чертова дюжина a baker’s dozen

чесать языком

to chew the fat

We spent a pleasant evening in the pub chewing the fat.

Честное слово!

honest to God/goodness!

I didn’t take your car, honest to God!

читать между строк

to read between the lines

Reading between the lines of her last letters, I have the impression that she wasn’t satisfied with her work.

чудеса в решете

a turn-up for the book

I never thought to find you here. What a turn-up for the book!

чуть свет

at the crack of dawn

We had an early flight and had to leave at the crack of dawn.

шаг вперед

a step forwards; a step in the right direction

The success of his plan took Tom another step forwards.

We agreed that the research was a step in the right direction.

шаг за шагом

step by step, little by little

If you go through the procedure step by step you’re more likely to succeed.

шестое чувство

a sixth sense

A sixth sense warned me that there was someone hiding behind the curtain.

щедрой рукой

with an open hand

Mr Jones always treated us with an open hand.

этого еще не хватало

that’s all I need

That’s all I need, another telephone bill!

яблоко раздора

a bone of contention

The ownership of the house has been a bone of contention between us for the last twelve years.