1500 русских и 1500 английских идиом, фразеологизмов и устойчивых словосочетаний

дырявая голова

to have a head/memory like a sieve

I can’t remember her name – I’ve got a memory like a sieve.

дышать на ладан (быть при смерти)

to have one foot in the grave

His children treat him as though he has one foot in the grave.

дышать на ладан (существовать последние дни)

to be on one’s last legs

My fridge is on its last legs – I’ve had it twenty years.

если бы да кабы if wishes were horses, beggars would ride

если уж на то пошло

come to that

I haven’t seen Judy for a long time. Come to that, I haven’t seen her husband either.

ехать в Тулу со своим самоваром

to carry coals to Newcastle

Taking her flowers would be like carrying coals to Newcastle – she grows flowers in her own garden.

ждать, откуда ветер подует

to see how the wind blows; to see which way the cat jumps

Before we tell them about our plans, I think we should see which way the wind blows.

My husband always waits to see which way the cat is going to jump before making a decision.

жечь корабли

to burn one’s boats

I’ve burnt my boats by telling my boss that I was leaving, but I haven’t got another job.

Жив курилка! there is life in the old dog yet

жив-здоров

safe and sound; alive and kicking

Her son returned safe and sound from the war.

The last time I saw John, he was alive and kicking.

живого места не оставить (на ком-л.)

to beat someone black and blue; to beat the living daylights out of someone

The man beat Tom black and blue for stealing.

If you do that again, I’ll beat the living daylights out of you.

жить как кошка с собакой

to lead a cat and dog life

She and her brother lead a cat and dog life. They are always quarrelling.

жить не по средствам

to live beyond one’s means

No wonder the Browns are deeply in debt; they have been living beyond their means for years.

жребий брошен

the die is cast

I’m not sure that I’ll find a better job but the die is cast – I’ve told my boss I wanted to leave.

за спиной (у кого-л.)

behind someone’s back

She has been saying unpleasant things about you behind your back.

за деревьями леса не видеть

not to see the wood for the trees

When people get stressed they often can’t see the wood for the trees.

за здорово живешь

for kicks

The boy said that he had stolen the car just for kicks.

за плечами (у кого-л.)

under one’s belt

Gerald has a lot of experience under his belt.

за решеткой

behind bars

He spent five years behind bars after being convicted of forgery.

забот полон рот (у кого-л.)

to have one’s hands full; to have a lot on one’s plate

He has her hands full looking after four children.

Sorry, I can’t help you – I’ve got too much on my plate at the moment.

заводить волынку

to harp on the same string

I wish you’d stop harping on the same string every time I light a cigarette. I won’t give up smoking.

заговаривать зубы (кому-л.)

to spin someone a yarn

He managed to spin me a yarn about being ill to explain his lateness.

загонять в угол (кого-л.)

to box someone into a corner

Her convincing arguments quickly boxed me into a corner.

задавать головомойку (кому-л.)

to haul someone over the coals

The teacher hauled the boy over the coals for being late for school.

задавать тон

to set the pace; to call the tune

His work sets the pace for future experiments.

The secretary calls the tune in the office.

задевать за живое (кого-л.)

to cut someone to the quick; to hit/touch a (raw) nerve

Her angry words cut me to the quick.

I think I touched a nerve when I asked him about his children.

задирать нос

to put on airs and graces

Because they have a big house she is always putting on airs and graces.