Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[up to the chin in] or [in --- up to the chin]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Used also with "ears", "elbows", "eyes" or "knees" instead of "chin", and with a possessive instead of "the". 1. Having a big or important part in; guilty of; not innocent of; deeply in. •/Was Tom mixed up in that trouble last night? He was up to his ears in it./ •/Mr. Johnson is up to the eyes in debt./ •/Mrs. Smith is in debt up to her chin./ Compare: TO THE HILT. 2. Very busy with; working hard at. •/Bob is up to his neck in homework./ •/They are up to their elbows in business before Christmas./ 3. Having very much or many of; flooded with. •/Mary was up to her knees in invitations to go to parties./ Compare: KNEE-DEEP.

[up to the hilt] See: TO THE HILT.

[up to the last minute]{adv. phr.} Until the last possible moment; until the very end. •/When I try to send in an important eyewitness report from the scene of a major accident, I must keep working up to the last minute./ Compare: TO THE BITTER END, UNDER THE WIRE.

[up to the mark] See: UP TO PAR(2).

[up-to-the-minute] See: UP-TO-DATE.

[urban homesteading]{n.}, {informal} Renovation and occupation through cooperative ownership by tenants of previously abandoned city apartment buildings. •/Urban homesteading is on the rise in many big American cities these days./

[use] See: NO USE, PUT TO USE.

[used to(1)]{adj. phr.} In the habit of or familiar with. •/People get used to smoking and it is hard for them to stop./ •/Farmers are used to working outdoors in the winter./ •/After my eyes became used to the dim light in the cave, I saw an old shovel on the ground./ •/On the hike Bob soon got tired, but Dick did not because he was used to walking./

[used to(2)] or [did use to]{v. phr.} Did formerly; did in the past. — Usually used with an infinitive to tell about something past. •/Uncle Henry used to have a beard, but he shaved it off./ •/Did your father use to work at the bank?/ •/People used to say that tomatoes were poison./ — Sometimes used without the infinitive. •/I don’t go to that school any more, but I used to./ •/We don’t visit Helen as much as we used to./ •/I used to go to the movies often. Did you use to?/

[used to be] or [did use to be]{v. phr.} Formerly or once was. •/Mary used to be small; but she has grown up./ •/Dick used to be the best pitcher on the team last year; now two other pitchers are better than he is./

[use every trick in the book]{v. phr.}, {informal} To avail oneself of any means at all in order to achieve one’s goal, not exclusive of possibly immoral or illegal acts. •/Algernon used every trick in the book to get Maxine to go out with him, but she kept refusing./

[use one’s head] or {slang}[use one’s bean] or {slang}[use one’s noodle] or {slang} use [one’s noggin]{v. phr.} To use your brain or mind; think; have common sense. — Often used as a command. •/If you used your bean you wouldn’t be in trouble now./ •/Never point a gun at anybody, John. Use your head!/