Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[stand up and be counted]{v. phr.} To be willing to say what you think in public; let people know that you are for or against something. •/The equal rights movement needs people who are willing to stand up and be counted./ •/If you disagree with the group, you should be ready to stand up and be counted./

[stand up for] or {informal}[stick up for]{v.} To defend against attack; fight for. •/John always stands up for his rights./ •/When Mary was being criticized, Jane stuck up for her./ Compare: BACK UP, GO TO BAT FOR, STAND BY, STAND ONE’S GROUND, STICK TO ONE’S GUNS, GO TO BAT FOR.

[stand up to]{v.} To meet with courage. •/Mary stood up to the snarling dog that leaped toward her./ •/A soldier must stand up to danger./

[stand up with]{v.}, {informal} To be best man or maid of honor at a wedding. •/A groom often chooses his brother to stand up with him./

[star] See: FIVE-STAR, SEE STARS, HITCH ONE’S WAGON TO A STAR, LUCKY STAR, THANK ONE’S LUCKY STARS.

[starch] See: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF.

[stare in the face]{n. phr.} 1. To be about to meet or to happen to (you.) •/Grandmother became very sick and death was staring her in the face./ •/Defeat stared them in the face, but the soldiers fought on bravely./ 2. To be easy to see; be plain. •/Are you looking for your pencil? It’s on your desk, staring you in the face./ •/Their friends all knew that Mary loved John, but John did not see it even though it was staring him in the face./

[stars in one’s eyes]{n. phr.} 1. An appearance or feeling of very great happiness or expectation of happiness. •/Mary gets stars in her eyes when she thinks of her boyfriend./ 2. A belief in the possibility of quick and lasting reforms in people and life and an eagerness to make such changes. •/Some inexperienced people get stars in their eyes when they think of improving the world./ — [starry-eyed]{adj.} Very happy and excited, perhaps with little reason; eager and self-confident about improving human nature and general conditions of life. •/Young people are often starry-eyed and eager to improve the world; they do not know how hard it is./

[start] See: BY FITS AND STARTS, HEAD START, JACK-RABBIT START, RUNNING START.

[start from scratch] See: FROM SCRATCH.

[start in]{v.}, {informal} 1. To begin to do something; start. •/Fred started in weeding the garden./ •/The family started in eating supper./ Compare: GO AT. 2. To begin a career. •/Bob started in as an office boy and became president./ 3. To give a first job to. •/The bank started him in as a clerk./

[start out]{v.} 1. To begin to go somewhere. •/Bill started out for school on his bicycle./ •/Art started out on a voyage around the world./ Compare: SET OUT. 2. To begin a career or life. •/Harry started out as an errand boy in a business office./ •/We all start out in life as helpless infants./ Syn.: START IN. 3. {informal} To give one a first job. •/The garage man started Pete out as a grease rack man./ Syn.: START IN(3).

[start something]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make trouble; cause a quarrel or fight. •/John is always starting something./ •/Jack likes to play tricks on the other boys to start something./ Compare: MAKE SOMETHING OF.

[start the ball rolling] See: GET THE BALL ROLLING.