Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[senior citizen]{n.} An older person, often one who has retired from active work or employment. •/Mrs. North, the history teacher, is a senior citizen./

[sense] See: COME TO ONE’S SENSES, HORSE SENSE, MAKE SENSE, OUT OF ONE’S HEAD or OUT OF ONE’S SENSES.

[separate the men from the boys]{v. phr.}, {informal} To show who has strength, courage and loyalty and find who do not. •/When the ship hit an iceberg and sank, it separated the men from the boys./ •/The mile run separates the men from the boys./

[separate the sheep from the goats] See SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS.

[serve] See: FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

[serve a sentence]{v. phr.} To be in jail. •/Charlie served four years of an eight-year sentence, after which he was paroled and released./

[serve notice]{v. phr.} 1. To notify one’s employer in a formal or legal manner that one is quitting the former’s employment. •/She gave notice to her boss that she was quitting because of marriage./ 2. To notify an employee or a tenant that one no longer needs their services or wishes to have them as tenants. •/The new landlady gave notice to several families in our building because they were late in paying their rent./

[serve one right]{v. phr.} To be what (someone) really deserves as a punishment; be a fair exchange for what (someone) has done or said or failed to do or say. •/He failed his exam; it served him right because he had not studied./ •/Bob said it served Sally right when she cut her finger; she had taken his knife without asking him./ Compare: ASK FOR, HAVE IT COMING.

[serve time] See: SERVE A SENTENCE.

[serve up]{v.} To prepare and serve (as a food). •/Father caught a trout and Mother served it up at dinner./

[service] See: AT ONE’S SERVICE, CURB SERVICE, LIP SERVICE, OF SERVICE, ROOM SERVICE.

[session] See: BULL SESSION.

[set] See: GET SET.

[set ablaze]{v. phr.} To cause to burn by lighting with a match or other incendiary device. •/The criminals poured gasoline on the house and set it ablaze with a small lighter./

[set about]{v.} To begin; start. •/Benjamin Franklin set about teaming the printer’s trade at an early age./ •/After breakfast, Mother set about her household duties./

[set afire] or [set on fire] See: SET ABLAZE.

[set aside]{v.} 1. To separate from the others in a group or collection. •/She set aside the things in the old trunk which she wanted to keep./ 2. To select or choose from others for some purpose. •/The governor set aside a day for thanksgiving./ 3. To pay no attention to (something); leave out. •/The complaint was set aside as of no importance./ 4. {formal} To refuse to accept; annul; cancel as worthless or wrong. •/The Supreme Court set aside the decision of the lower courts./

[setback]{n.} A disadvantage; a delay. •/We suffered a major setback when my wife lost her job./

[set back]{v.} 1. To cause to put off or get behind schedule; slow up; check. •/The cold weather set back the planting by two weeks./ 2. {informal} To cause to pay out or to lose (a sum of money); cost. •/His new car set him back over $3000./