1500 русских и 1500 английских идиом, фразеологизмов и устойчивых словосочетаний

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.

преподносить на блюдечке с голубой каемочкой ( что-л. кому-л.)

to hand something to someone on a plate

Her father is the chairman of an insurance company; she was handed a good job on a silver plate.

пресекать в корне (что-л.)

to nip something in the bud

The government decided to nip the strike in the bud.

при ближайшем рассмотрении

at close quarters

Examining the picture at close quarters I saw the details I’d previously missed.

при закрытых дверях

behind closed doors

The decision to accept their offer was reached behind closed doors.

при последнем издыхании

at one’s last gasp

The old man had been ill for seven days and was at his last gasp.

прибирать к рукам (кого-л.)

to take someone in hand

John has been very badly behaved recently. Someone will have to take him in hand.

прибирать к рукам (что-л.)

to get one’s hands on something

I know that somebody got his hands on my money.