Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[of die devil] See: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE APPEARS.

[of the first water]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Of the finest quality; superior; very good; best. •/The jeweler chose diamonds of the first water for the queen’s crown./ •/The dance program at graduation was of the first water./ Compare: FIRST-CLASS.

[of the same mind]{adv. phr.} In agreement; in consonance. •/It is a good thing when father and son are of the same mind regarding business and politics./

[oil] See: POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS.

[oil the wheels] See: GREASE THE WHEELS.

[ointment] See: PLY IN THE OINTMENT.

[old] See: CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE, COMMON AS AN OLD SHOE, OF OLD.

[old as the hills]{adj. phr.} Very old; ancient. •/"Why didn’t you laugh?" she asked. "Because that joke is as old as the hills," he answered./

[old boy network]{n. phr.} A system whereby men who went to the same school help each other to get good jobs, regardless of their ability or training. •/Peter got his lucrative job thanks to the old boy network rather than because of his qualifications./ Compare: OLD COLLEGE TRY.

[old boy] or [old chap]{n.}, {Chiefly British} One of the men educated at the same institution and bound by strong ties of loyalty to each other. •/He got the job because the boss was another old boy./

[old college try]{n. phr.} An attempt to win a favor from another by mentioning the fact that one had gone to the same college or university as the party from whom the favor is requested. •/Since he needed a job, he decided to use the old college try when he contacted Jerry, but it didn’t work./ Compare: OLD BOY NETWORK.

[old country]{n. phr.} Primarily Europe, but also any country other than the United States where one originally came from. •/Al’s wife was born in Chicago but Al himself is from the old country, Ireland./

[old flame]{n. phr.} An erstwhile lover. •/Did you know that Meg was one of Howard’s old flames?/

[old guard]{n. phr.} People whose ideas may be out of date, but who have been in power for a long time. •/There will not be any change in policy at the company, as long as the old guard still works here./

[old hand]{n. phr.} An experienced and highly skilled expert at some particular job. •/Uncle Joe is an old hand at repairing car engines./

[old hat]{adj.}, {informal} Old-fashioned; not new or different. •/By now, putting satellites in orbit is old hat to space scientists./ •/Andrea thought her mother’s ideas about dating were old hat./

[old maid]{n. phr.} A spinster; a woman who has never married. •/Because my old maid aunt is a terrific cook as well as a good-looking woman, nobody understands why she never married./

[old money] Contrast: NEW MONEY.

[Old Nick] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK.

[old school tie] See: OLD BOY NETWORK, OLD COLLEGE TRY.

[old story]{n.} An everyday occurrence; something that often happens. •/Jane’s temper tantrums were an old story./ •/It’s an old story when a woman divorces her husband for too much drinking./

[old-timer]{n.} An old person who remembers bygone days, matters, and personalities. •/There was an old-timer at the party who told us interesting details about World War II./ Contrast: OLD GUARD, OLD HAND.