Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[quick on the uptake]{adj. phr.} Smart; intelligent. •/Eleanor is very witty and quick on the uptake./

[quick study]{n. phr.} One who acquires new skills and habits in record time. •/Sue is new at her job but people have confidence in her because she is a quick study./

[quit] See: CALL IT QUITS.

[quite a bit] See: QUITE A LITTLE.

[quite a few] or [quite a number] also {formal}[not a few]{n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. •/Quite a few went to the game./ •/The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it./ — The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". •/Few people saw the play on the first night but quite a number more came on the second night./ — Sometimes used like an adverb. •/We still have quite a few more miles to go before we reach New York./ Syn.: GOOD MANY, NOT A FEW. Compare: A FEW, A NUMBER.

[quite a little] or {informal}[quite a bit] also {formal}[not a little]{n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large amount; rather much; more than a little. •/We are not finished; quite a little is left to do./ •/Cleaning the backyard needed quite a little work./ — The phrase "quite a bit" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". •/Six inches of snow fell today, and quite a bit more is coming tonight./ — Sometimes used like an adverb. •/Harry was sick quite a little last winter./ Compare: A LITTLE, A LOT, QUITE A PEW.

[quite a number] See: QUITE A FEW.

[quite the thing]{n. phr.} The socially proper thing to do. •/In polite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you note to one’s host or hostess after a dinner party./

R

[rabbit] See: JACK-RABBIT START.

[race] See: DRAG RACE, RAT RACE.

[race against time]{v. phr.} To be in a great hurry to finish a given project by a specified deadline. •/The workers were racing against time to finish the campus modernization project./

[race to stand still]{v. phr.} To be so far behind in one’s work that one must exert an effort similar to that needed to win a race in order simply not to fall even further behind. •/"Could you review this book for us, Professor Brown?" the editor asked. "Unfortunately, no," the professor answered. "I’m so behind in my work that I am racing to stand still."/

[rack and ruin]{n. phr.} Complete decay; condition of decline. •/The entire house had been so neglected that it had gone to rack and ruin./

[rack one’s brain]{v. phr.} To try your best to think; make a great mental effort; especially: to try to remember something you have known. •/Bob racked his brain trying to remember where he left the book./ •/Susan racked her brain trying to guess whom the valentine came from./ •/John racked his brain during the test trying to solve the problem./

[radio ham]{n. phr.} Someone whose hobby is the operating of shortwave radio. •/The code letters C.Q. are used by radio hams to invite other radio hams to join in the conversation./

[rag] See: CHEW THE FAT or CHEW THE RAG, GLAD RAGS.

[rag doll]{n.} A doll made of cloth and filled with soft stuffing. •/My baby brother won’t go to bed without his rag doll./

[ragged] See: RUN RAGGED.