Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[sit on a volcano]{v.}, {informal} 1. To be in a place where trouble may start or danger may come suddenly. •/Bob was in that part of South America before the revolution began. He knew he was sitting on a volcano./ •/The policemen who patrolled the big city slum area that summer were sitting on a volcano./

[sit on one’s hands]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do nothing; fail or refuse to do anything. •/We asked Bill for help with our project, but he sat on his hands./

[sit on the fence] See: ON THE FENCE.

[sit out]{v.} To not take part in. •/The next dance is a polka. Let’s sit it out./ •/Toby had to sit out the last half of the game because his knee hurt./

[sitter] See: ON THE FENCE also FENCE-SITTER.

[sitting on a powder keg] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO.

[sit through]{v.} To watch or listen until (something) is finished. •/The show was so boring that we could hardly sit through the first act./ •/Elaine liked the movie so much that she sat through three showings./

[sit tight]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make no move or change; stay where you are. — Often used as a command. •/Sit tight; I’ll be ready to go in a few minutes./ •/The doctor said to sit tight until he arrived./ •/The gangsters sat tight in the mountains while the police looked for them./ Compare: STAND PAT.

[sitting on top of the world] See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

[sitting pretty]{adj.}, {slang} To be in a lucky position. •/The new library is sitting pretty because a wealthy woman gave it $10,000 worth of reference books./ •/Mr. Jones was sitting pretty until his $25,000-a-year job was dropped by the company./

[sit up]{v.} 1. To move into a sitting position. •/Joe sat up when he heard the knock on his bedroom door./ 2. To stay awake instead of going to bed. •/Mrs. Jones will sit up until both of her daughters get home from the dance./ •/We sat up until two A.M. hoping for news from Alaska./ 3. {informal} To be surprised. •/Janice really sat up when I told her the gossip about Tom./

[sit-up]{n.} A vigorous exercise in which the abdominal muscles are strengthened by locking one’s feet in a fastening device and sitting up numerous times. •/Do a few sit-ups if you want to reduce your waist./

[sit up and take notice]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be surprised into noticing something. •/Grace had never impressed her teachers. Hearing that she had won the essay contest made them sit up and take notice./ •/George’s sudden success made the town sit up and take notice./

[sit up for]{v. phr.} To wait until after the usual bedtime for someone’s return. •/Mrs. Smith always sits up for her two daughters, no matter how late it is./

[sit up with]{v. phr.} To be with; particularly to keep someone ill company. •/Mrs. Brown sat up with her sick husband all night in the hospital room./

[sit well (with)]{v.} Find favor with; please. •/The reduced school budget did not sit well with the teachers./