Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[screen test]{n.} A short movie made to see if an actor or actress is good enough or the right one to play a part. •/Ellen acted well on the stage, but she failed her screen test./

[screw] See: HAVE A SCREW LOOSE, PUT ON THE SCREWS.

[screw around]{v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To hang around idly without accomplishing anything, to loaf about, to beat or hack around. •/You guys are no longer welcome here; all you do is screw around all day./

[screws] See: TIGHTEN THE SCREWS.

[screw up]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {semi-vulgar}, {best avoided} 1. To make a mess of, to make an error which causes confusion. •/The treasurer screwed up the accounts of the Society so badly that he had to be fired./ 2. To cause someone to be neurotic or maladjusted. •/Her divorce screwed her up so badly that she had to go to a shrink./

[screw-up]{n.} A mistake; an error; a confusing mess. •/"What a screw-up!" the manager cried, when he realized that the bills were sent to the wrong customers./

[screw up one’s courage] or [pluck up one’s courage]{v. phr.} To force yourself to be brave. •/The small boy screwed up his courage and went upstairs in the dark./ •/When his father came home in a bad mood, it took Pete some time to screw up his courage and ask him for a dollar./ Compare: WHISTLE IN THE DARK.

[scrimmage] See: LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

[scrounge around]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To search for an object aimlessly without having one clearly in mind. •/I don’t know what’s the matter with him, he is just scrounging around all day long./ 2. To look around for a way to get a free drink or a free meal. •/Sue and her husband are so broke they never eat properly; they just scrounge around from one place to the next until someone offers them something./

[sea] See: AT SEA, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HIGH SEAS, NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA, PUT TO SEA.

[sea legs]{n. phr.} 1. Adjustment to being in a boat that is rocking on the sea. •/This is my first transatlantic trip so give me a day to get my sea legs before you make me dance./ 2. Adjustment to a new job or situation. •/"I have just been transferred here and I haven’t found my sea legs yet," the new colleague joked./

[seam] See: BURST AT THE SEAMS.

[search] See: IN SEARCH OF.

[search me]{informal} I don’t know; how should I know? — May be considered rude. •/When I asked her what time it was, she said, "Search me, I have no watch."/

[search one’s heart] or [search one’s soul]{v. phr.}, {formal} To study your reasons and acts; try to discover if you have been fair and honest. •/The teacher searched his heart trying to decide if he had been unfair in failing Tom./ — [heart-searching] or [soul-searching]{n.} or {adj.} •/After much heart-searching, Jean told Beth she was sorry for the unkind things she had said./ •/The minister preached a soul-searching sermon about the thoughtless ways people hurt each other./

[search out]{v.} To search for and discover; find or learn by hunting. •/The police were trying to search out the real murderer./

[search with a fine-tooth comb] See: FINE-TOOTH COMB.

[season] See: HIGH SEASON, IN SEASON, LOW SEASON, OUT OF SEASON.