Чтение онлайн

[it is an ill wind that blows nobody good] No matter how bad a happening is, someone can usually gain something from it. — A proverb. •/When Fred got hurt in the game John got a chance to play. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good./

[it never rains but it pours] One good thing or bad thing is often followed by others of the same kind. — A proverb, •/John got sick, then his brothers and sisters all got sick. It never rains but it pours./

[it’s a cinch]{informal sentence} It is very easy. •/"What about the final exam?" Fred asked. "It was a cinch" Sam answered./ Compare: PIECE OF CAKE.

[it’s a deal]{informal sentence} Consider it done; OK; it is agreed. •/"How much for this used car?" Bill asked. "Two thousand," the man answered. "I’ll give $1,500," Bill said. "It’s a deal!" the owner answered as they sealed the transaction./

[it’s been ---, it’s been real]{informal} Shortened form for "it has been real nice (being with you)" — used colloquially between very close friends.

[itself] See: END IN ITSELF.

[it’s high time]{informal sentence} It is overdue. •/It is high time for John Browning to be promoted to full professor; he has written a great deal but his books went unnoticed./

[Ivy League]{n.} A small group of the older and more famous eastern U.S. colleges and universities. •/Several Ivy League teams play each other regularly each year./ •/Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were the original Ivy League./

[Jack] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY.

[jack] See: EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK.

[jack of all trades]{n.}, {informal} (Often followed by the words "master of none.") A person who is knowledgeable in many areas. Can be used as praise, or as a derogatory remark depending on the context and the intonation. •/Peter is a jack of all trades; he can survive anywhere!/ •/"How come Joe did such a sloppy job?" Mary asked. "He’s a jack of all trades," Sally answered./

[jackpot] See: HIT THE JACKPOT.

[jack-rabbit start]{n.}, {informal} A very sudden start from a still position; a very fast start from a stop. •/Bob made a jack-rabbit start when the traffic light turned green./

[Jack Robinson] See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.

[jack up]{v.} 1. To lift with a jack. •/The man jacked up his car to fit a flat tire./ 2. {informal} To make (a price) higher; raise. •/Just before Christmas, some stores jack up their prices./

[jailbait]{n.}, {slang} A girl below the legal age of consent for sex; one who tempts you to intimacy which is punishable by imprisonment. •/Stay away from Arabella, she is a jailbait./

[jailbird]{n.}, {informal} A convict; someone who is in jail or has been recently released from prison. •/Because Harry was a jailbird, it was understandably hard for him to find a job after being imprisoned./

[jake flake]{n.}, {slang} A boring person whose company is usually not wanted. •/Please don’t invite Turner, he is a jake flake./

[jar on]{v. phr.} To irritate. •/The constant construction noise was beginning to jar on the nerves of the members of the meeting./

[jaw] See: GLASS JAW.

[jawbreaker]{n.} 1. A large piece of hard candy or bubblegum. •/Billy asked his mother for a quarter to buy some jawbreakers and a chocolate bar./ 2. [informal] A word or name that is hard to pronounce. •/His name, Nissequogue, is a real jawbreaker./

[jaw drop] or [jaw drop a mile]{informal} Mouth fall wide open with surprise. — Used with a possessive. •/Tom’s jaw dropped a mile when he won the prize./

[jaws tight]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Angry; uptight; tense. •/Why are you getting your jaws so tight?/

[jazz up]{v.}, {slang} To brighten up; add more noise, movement, or color; make more lively or exciting. •/The party was very dull until Pete jazzed it up with his drums./

[Jehu] See: DRIVE LIKE JEHU.

[jerk] or [jerker] See: SODA JERK or SODA JERKER.

[jerry-built]{adj.} 1. Built poorly or carelessly of cheap materials; easily broken. •/That jerry-built cabin will blow apart in a strong wind./ 2. Done without careful preparation or thought; planned too quickly. •/When the regular television program didn’t come on, a jerry-built program was substituted at the last minute./

[Jesus boots] or [Jesus shoes]{n.}, {slang} Men’s sandals, particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people. •/I dig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool./

[jig’s up] See: GAME’S UP.

[jim-dandy]{n.}, {slang} Something wonderful; something very good. •/Tommy’s new boat is really a jim-dandy! I wish I had one like it./