Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[press conference]{n. phr.} A meeting with news reporters. •/The reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press conference./ •/The press conference with the senator was broadcast on television./

[press one’s luck] or [push one’s luck]{v. phr.} To depend too much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. •/When John won his first two bets at the race track, he pressed his luck and increased his bets./ •/If you’re lucky at first, don’t press your luck./

[press the flesh]{v.}, {slang} To shake hands with total strangers by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to raise one’s popularity during political elections. •/Incumbent Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different hotels./ Compare: BABY KISSER.

[pressure group]{n. phr.} An organization whose goal it is to create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. •/Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their selfish aims./

[pretty] See: SITTING PRETTY.

[pretty kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.

[pretty penny]{n. phr.} A large amount of money. •/Their new house is so big and modern that we’re sure it must have cost them a pretty penny./

[prevail upon] or [prevail on]{v.} To bring to an act or belief; cause a change in; persuade. •/He prevailed upon the musician to entertain instead of the absent speaker./ •/He prevailed upon me to believe in his innocence./

[prey on] or [prey upon]{v.} 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch for food. •/Cats prey on mice./ 2. To capture or take in spoils of war or robbery. •/Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just after the Revolutionary War./ 3. To cheat; rob. •/Gangsters preyed on businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited./ 4. To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. •/Ill health had preyed on him for years./ •/Business worries preyed on his mind./

[prey on one’s mind]{v. phr.} To afflict; worry. •/He couldn’t sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind./

[price on one’s head]{n. phr.} Reward offered to anyone who catches a thief or a murderer. •/The hotel manager learned that the quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a price on his head./

[prick] See: KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.

[prick up one’s ears]{v. phr.}, {informal} To come to interested attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. •/The woman pricked up her ears when she heard them talking about her./

[pride] See: SWALLOW ONE’S PRIDE.

[pride must take a pinch] One must endure the minor pains and hardships one encounters while being made pretty. — A proverb. •/"Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don’t you know that pride must take a pinch?"/

[pride oneself on]{v. phr.} To be proud ot, take satisfaction in; be much pleased by. •/She prided herself on her beauty./ •/He prided himself on his strength and toughness./ Compare: PLUME ONESELF.

[print] See: FINE PRINT, IN PRINT, OUT OF PRINT.

[private] See: IN PRIVATE.