Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[stab in the back(2)]{n. phr.}, {slang} An act or a lie that hurts a friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a friend. •/John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from his store./ •/My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher I was playing hooky when I was home sick./

[stab in the dark]{n. phr.} A random attempt or guess at something without previous experience or knowledge of the subject. •/"You’re asking me who could have hidden grandpa’s will," Fred said. "I really have no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark — I think my sister Hermione has it."/

[stack] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE’S STACK.

[stack the cards]{v. phr.} 1. To arrange cards secretly and dishonestly for the purpose of cheating. •/The gambler had stacked the cards against Bill./ 2. To arrange things unfairly for or against a person; have things so that a person has an unfair advantage or disadvantage; make sure in an unfair way that things will happen. — Usually used in the passive with "in one’s favor" or "against one." •/A tall basketball player has the cards stacked in his favor./ •/The cards are stacked against a poor boy who wants to go to college./

[stage] See: AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME, HOLD THE STAGE, ON THE STAGE, SET THE STAGE.

[stage fright]{n. phr.} The fear one feels before appearing in front of an audience. •/Many famous actors and actresses admit that they often have stage fright before the curtain goes up./

[stagestruck]{adj.} Desirous of becoming an actor or actress; enamored of the acting profession. •/Milly is so stagestruck that she waits for actresses at the stage door after each performance to get their signatures./

[stage whisper]{n. phr.} A loud whisper intended to reach other ears than those of the person(s) addressed. •/Some jokes should be told in a stage whisper./

[stag party] See: GO STAG. Contrast: HEN PARTY.

[stake] See: AT STAKE, PULL UP STAKES.

[stake a claim]{v. phr.} 1. To claim ownership of land by driving stakes to show boundaries. •/The gold hunters staked claims in the West./ 2. {informal} To claim a person or thing as your own by some sign. Usually used with "on". •/George staked a claim on Dianne by giving her his class ring./

[stamp] See: SAVINGS STAMP, TRADING STAMP.

[stamping ground]{n.}, {informal} A place where a person spends much of his time. •/Pete’s soda fountain is an afterschool stamping ground./ •/When John returned to his hometown many years later, he visited all of his old stamping grounds./

[stamp out]{v.} To destroy completely and make disappear. •/In the last few years, we have nearly stamped out polio by using vaccine./ •/The police and judges are trying to stamp out crime./ Compare: WIPE OUT.

[stand] See: GOAL LINE STAND, HAIR STAND ON END, HEART STAND STILL, LEG TO STAND ON.

[stand a chance] or [stand a show]{n. phr.} To have a possibility or opportunity; be likely to do or get something. •/Fred doesn’t stand a chance of being elected./ •/We stand a good chance of seeing Mary at the party./