Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[pain in the ass] or [pain in the neck]{n.}, {slang}, {vulgar with ass} An obnoxious or bothersome person or event. •/Phoebe Hochrichter is a regular pain in the neck (ass)./

[paint a gloomy picture]{v. phr.} To describe something in a gloomy, pessimistic way. •/We are sad because the weather forecast has painted a gloomy picture for all of next week when we go on vacation./

[paint oneself into a corner]{v. phr.} To get oneself into a bad situation that is difficult or impossible to get out of. •/By promising to both lower taxes and raise the defense budget, the president has painted himself into a corner./

[paint the lily] See: GILD THE LILY.

[paint the town red] or [paint the town]{v. phr.}, {slang} To go out to drink and have a good time; celebrate wildly; carouse. •/It was the sailors' first night ashore; they painted the town red./ Compare: ON THE TOWN(2).

[pair] See: TAKE TO ONE’S HEELS also SHOW A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS.

[pair off]{v.} 1. To make a pair of; put two together; associate; match. •/Mrs. Smith paired off her guests by age and tastes./ 2. To belong to a pair; become one of a pair. •/Jane paired off with Alice in a tennis doubles match./ 3. To divide or join into pairs. •/Later in the day the picnic crowd paired off for walks and boat rides./

[pair up]{v.} 1. To make a pair of; match. •/When she finished the mending, she paired up the socks./ 2. To form a pair; to be or become one of a pair. •/Not all the socks would pair up./ •/Joe paired up with Charlie to work on the lesson./

[pajamas] See: CAT’S MEOW or CAT’S PAJAMAS.

[pal] See: PEN PAL.

[pale] See: BEYOND THE PALE.

[pale around the gills] See: GREEN AROUND THE GILLS.

[palm] See: CARRY OFF THE PALM, GREASE ONE’S PALM, ITCHING PALM.

[palm off]{v.}, {informal} 1. To sell or give (something) by pretending it is something more valuable; to sell or give by trickery. •/He palmed off his own painting as a Rembrandt./ •/The salesman palmed off pine wood floors as oak./ Syn.: FOB OFF, PASS OFF. 2. To deceive (someone) by a trick or lie. •/He palmed his creditors off with a great show of prosperity./ Syn.: PUT OFF. 3. To introduce someone as a person he isn’t; present in a false pretense. •/He palmed the girl off as a real Broadway actress./

[pan] See: FLASH IN THE PAN, OUT OF THE PRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.

[Pandora’s box]{n. phr.}, {literary} A thing or problem that, if activated, will give rise to many unmanageable problems. •/If they insist on having that inquiry, they will open up a Pandora’s box./ Compare: CAN OF WORMS.

[pan gravy]{n.} Gravy made with meat drippings with seasoning and often a little water. •/His wife liked cream gravy, but he preferred pan gravy./ •/Pan gravy from country ham is often called red-eye gravy./

[panic] See: PUSH THE PANIC BUTTON.

[pan out]{v.}, {informal} To have a result, especially a good result; result favorably; succeed. •/Suppose the class tried to make money by selling candy. How would that pan out?/ •/Edison’s efforts to invent an electric light bulb did not pan out until he used tungsten wires./

[pant for]{v. phr.} To desire something very deeply. •/He is panting for his girlfriend, who went out of town to see her family./