1500 русских и 1500 английских идиом, фразеологизмов и устойчивых словосочетаний

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.

ясно как день

(as) plain as the nose on your face; (as) clear as crystal

There’s no doubt that she’s unhappy here – it’s as plain as the nose on your face.

It makes everything as clear as crystal.

English idioms

a baker’s dozen

чертова дюжина

a bed of roses путь, устланный розами, безмятежная жизнь

a bee in one’s bonnet причуда, навязчивая мысль, пунктик

a big cheese/gun/noise/shot/wheel важная птица, большая шишка

a bitter pill (to swallow) горькая пилюля

a blessing in disguise неприятность, оказавшаяся благом

a bolt from the blue неожиданность, гром среди ясного неба

a bone of contention яблоко раздора

a chink in someone’s armour чье-л. слабое место

a close call опасное положение, смертельная опасность

a dark horse темная лошадка