Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[seat] See: BACK SEAT DRIVER, FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE’S PANTS, HOT SEAT, JUDGMENT SEAT, TAKE A BACK SEAT.

[seat belt]{n.} A strong strap used to protect a person in a moving car or other vehicle by holding him in his seat. •/When the plane began to land, Billy and his mother fastened their seat belts./ •/Passengers in automobiles should wear seat belts for safety./

[second] See: PLAY SECOND PIDDLE, SPLIT SECOND.

[second best]{n.} Something that is lower than or not quite as good as the best. •/Tom liked the deluxe model bicycle; but he could afford only a second best./ •/Joan chose the best and Mary had to take the second best./ •/There were ten boys in the race. Jack won and Fred was a close second best./ Compare: RUNNER UP.

[second best]{adv.} Second; in second place. •/The team came off second best in the game./

[second-best]{adj.} Next to best; second in rank. •/Mary wore her second-best dress./ •/Bob was the second-best player on the team./ •/"I am the second-best student in this school because I was second best in the Milwaukee competition."/

[second childhood]{n. phr.} Senility; dotage. •/"Grandpa is in his second childhood; we must make allowances for him at the dinner table," my mother said, as Grandpa dropped food all over the place./

[second class]{n.} 1. The second best or highest group; the class next after the first. •/Joe was good enough in arithmetic to be put in the second class but was not good enough for the first./ Compare: FIRST CLASS. 2. The place or quarters, especially on a ship, train, or airplane which people travel who pay the next to the highest fare. •/Aunt May bought a ticket to travel in the second class on the boat trip./ Compare: FIRST CLASS, THIRD CLASS. 3. A class of mail that includes magazines and newspapers published at least four times a year and costs less for mailing than first class mail. Compare: FIRST CLASS.

[second-class(1)]{adj.} 1. Belonging in the class that is next to the highest or next best. •/He was only a second-class math student./ •/His parents traveled as second-class passengers on the boat./ •/The periodical came as second-class mail./ Compare: FIRST-CLASS, THIRD-CLASS. 2. Not so good as others; second-rate. •/They were never given full democratic rights but were always treated as second-class citizens./

[second-class(2)]{adv.} By second class. •/We went second-class on the train to New York./ •/I mailed the newspaper second-class./

[second cousin]{n.} A child of your father’s or mother’s first cousin. •/Mary and Jane are second cousins./

[second-guess]{v. phr.} 1. To criticize another’s decision with advantage of hindsight. •/The losing team’s coach is always second-guessed./ 2. To guess what someone else intends or would think or do. •/Television planners try to second-guess the public./

[secondhand]{adj.} Used; not new; preowned. •/Sometimes a secondhand car is just as reliable as a brand new one./

[second nature]{n.} Something done without any special effort, as if by natural instinct. •/Cutting tall trees has become second nature to the experienced lumberjack./

[second-rate]{adj.} Of mediocre or inferior quality. •/The movie received a bad review; it was second-rate at best./