1500 русских и 1500 английских идиом, фразеологизмов и устойчивых словосочетаний

как бельмо на глазу (у кого-л.)

to be a thorn in someone’s flesh/side

His sister had been a thorn in his flesh for many years, always criticising his manners and way of life.

как в воду кануть

to vanish/disappear into thin air

One day, without any warning, he disappeared into thin air.

как в воду опущенный

down in the dumps/mouth

Nancy has been down in the dumps ever since her dog died.

как в темном лесу

in the dark; (all) at sea

He might know what he was talking about, but the rest of us were completely in the dark.

When it comes to theoretical physics, I am all at sea.

как вкопанный

rooted to the spot

He shouted to her to run, but she stood rooted to the spot.

как говорится

as they say; as the saying goes

The examination was, as they say, as easy as pie.

Married life is, as the saying goes, not all beer and skittles.

как гром среди ясного неба

like a bolt from the blue

The news of his resignation came as a bolt from the blue.

как две капли воды

like two peas in a pod

The sisters are like two peas in a pod.

как красная тряпка для быка

like a red rag to a bull

Don’t talk to him about his son because it’s like a red rag to a bull.

как на (горячих) угольях

like a cat on hot bricks; on pins and needles; on tenterhooks

She was like a cat on hot bricks before her examination.

She was on pins and needles waiting for any news.

I’ve been on tenterhooks the whole morning waiting for my examination results.

как ошпаренный

like a bat out of hell; like a shot

She ran out of the room like a bat out of hell.

The boy saw me and ran like a shot.

как пить дать

(as) sure as eggs is eggs; (as) sure as hell

As sure as eggs is eggs, he’ll be back again next week asking for another loan of money.

It’s going to rain tonight, sure as hell.

как по мановению волшебной палочки

with a wave of one’s magic wand

She thought that he could put things right with a wave of his magic wand.

как рыба в воде

in one’s element

She is in her element when she is organising a party.

как с гуся вода

like water off a duck’s back

There is no point scolding that boy for his dishonesty – it’s like water off a duck’s back.

как сельди в бочке

packed like sardines

The bus was so full we were packed like sardines. I could hardly move my arms.

как сквозь землю провалиться

to vanish/disappear into thin air

The bank robbers seem to have disappeared into thin air.

как слон в посудной лавке

like a bull in a china shop

He accidentally knocked over the lamp – he really is like a bull in a china shop.

как снег на голову

out of the blue

His parents arrived out of the blue yesterday. We didn’t know they were in the area.

как сыр в масле кататься

to live in clover

She married a wealthy man and lived in clover for the rest of her life.

как угорелая кошка

like a scalded cat

She ran like a scalded cat when she saw a ghost.

Какая муха тебя укусила? What’s eating you?

каменное сердце

a heart of stone

You won’t get any sympathy from George – he has a heart of stone.

камень на шее (для кого-л.)

a millstone round someone’s neck

She regarded her brother-in-law as nothing but a millstone round her neck.

камень преткновения

a stumbling block

The scheme would be excellent, but money is the main stumbling block in any project of this size.

камень с души свалился (у кого-л.)

a load off someone’s mind

It’s a load off my mind to know that they’ve arrived safely.

камня на камне не оставить (от чего-л.)

to tear something to bits/pieces

The new director tore my work to bits.