Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[pat on the back(1)]{v. phr.} 1. To clap lightly on the back in support, encouragement, or praise. •/The coach patted the player on the back and said a few encouraging words./ 2. To make your support or encouragement for (someone) felt; praise. •/After he won the game, everyone patted him on the back for days./

[pat on the back(2)]{n. phr.} 1. An encouraging tap of the hand on someone’s back; a show of sympathy or support. •/I gave her a pat on the back and told her she had done fine work./ 2. A word or gesture of praise or other encouragement; applause. •/Pats on the back weren’t enough; he wanted hard cash./

[patrol] See: SHORE PATROL.

[Paul] See: ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.

[pause] See: GIVE PAUSE.

[pavement] See: POUND THE PAVEMENT.

[pave the way]{v. phr.} To make preparation; make easy. •/Aviation paved the way for space travel./ •/A good education paves the way to success./

[pay] See: DEVIL TO PAY.

[pay a call]{v. phr.} To visit someone. •/"Come and pay us a call some time, when you’re in town," Sue said to Henry./

[pay as one goes]{v. phr.} To pay cash; to pay at once; to avoid charging anything bought; to avoid debt entirely by paying cash. — Usually used with "you". •/It is best to pay as you go; then you will not have to worry about paying debts later./

[pay attention]{v. phr.} To listen to someone; hear and understand someone alertly. •/"Pay attention, children!" the teacher cried, "Here is your homework for next week!"/

[pay court to]{v. phr.} To woo; to shower with attention. •/He had been paying court to her for three long years before he worked up the courage to ask her to marry him./

[pay dirt]{n.}, {slang} 1. The dirt in which much gold is found. •/The man searched for gold many years before he found pay dirt./ 2. {informal} A valuable discovery. — Often used in the phrase "strike pay dirt". •/When Bill joined the team, the coach struck pay dirt./ •/Jean looked in many books for facts about her hometown, and finally she struck pay dirt./ Compare: STRIKE IT RICH.

[pay down]{v. phr.} 1. To give as a deposit on some purchase, the rest of which is to be paid in periodic installments. •/"How much can you pay down on the house, sir?" the realtor asked./ 2. To decrease a debt with periodical payments. •/I’d like to pay down the charges on my credit cards./ Compare: DOWN PAYMENT.

[pay for]{v.} To have trouble because of (something you did wrong or did not do); be punished or suffer because of. •/When Bob could not get a good job, he realized he had to pay for all the years of fooling around instead of working in school./ •/Mary was very mean to John because she wanted to make him pay for all the years in which he had ignored her./ Compare: MAKE UP(3b), PAY OFF.

[pay in advance] See: IN ADVANCE.

[pay lip service to] See: LIP SERVICE.

[payoff]{n.} Culmination point; climax. •/After many months of patient labor on your book, the payoff comes when you see the first printed copy./