Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[barrel] See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

[barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.

[bar the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

[base] See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD THE BASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD BASE.

[base on balls]{n.} First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. •/He was a good judge of pitchers and often received bases on balls./

[basket] See: PUT ALL ONE’S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

[basket case]{n.}, {slang}, {also informal} 1. A person who has had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune. 2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. •/Stop drinking, or else you’ll wind up a basket case!/

[bat] See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF also RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

[bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash] {v. phr.}, {informal} To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. — Used in negative sentences. •/When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye./ •/Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true./ Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.

[bath] See: SPONGE BATH, THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH.

[bats in one’s belfry] or [bats in the belfry] {n. phr.}, {slang} Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion. •/When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in his belfry./

[bat the breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.

[batting average]{n. phr.} Degree of accomplishment (originally used as a baseball term). •/Dr. Grace has a great batting average with her heart transplant operations./

[battle] See: HALF THE BATTLE.

[battle of nerves]{n. phr.} A contest of wills during which the parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. •/It has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local state university./ See: WAR OF NERVES.

[bawl out]{v.}, {informal} To reprove in a loud or rough voice; rebuke sharply; scold. •/The teacher bawled us out for not handing in our homework./ Compare: HAUL OVER THE COALS, LIGHT INTO, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[bay] See: AT BAY, BRING TO BAY.

[be] See: LET BE, TO-BE.

[beach] See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

[beach bunny]{n.}, {slang} An attractive girl seen on beaches — mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn’t get into the water and swim. •/What kind of a girl is Susie? — She’s a beach bunny; she always comes to the Queen’s Surf on Waikiki but I’ve never seen her swim./

[bead] See: DRAW A BEAD ON.

[be a fly on the wall]{v. phr.} To eavesdrop on a secret conversation. •/How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance’s parents are saying about me!/

[be a good hand at]{v. phr.} To be talented, gifted, or skilled in some activity. •/Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building./

[beam] See: OFF THE BEAM, ON THE BEAM.

[bean] See: FULL OF BEANS, SPILL THE BEANS, USE ONE’S HEAD or USE ONE’S BEAN.

[be an item]{v. phr.} To be a couple; belong to one another. •/No one is surprised to see them together anymore; if is generally recognized that they are an item./

[be a poor hand at]{v. phr.} To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in some activity. •/Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to play with him./ Contrast: BE A GOOD HAND AT.