Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[below par]{adj.} or {adv.} Below standard. •/Bob was fired because his work has been below par for several months now./ Contrast: UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.

[below the belt]{adv. phr.} 1. In the stomach; lower than is legal in boxing. •/He struck the other boy below the belt./ 2. {informal} In an unfair or cowardly way; against the rules of sportsmanship or justice; unsportingly; wrongly. •/It was hitting below the belt for Mr. Jones’s rival to tell people about a crime that Mr. Jones committed when he was a young boy./ •/Pete told the students to vote against Harry because Harry was in a wheelchair and couldn’t be a good class president, but the students thought Pete was hitting below the belt./

[belt] See: BELOW THE BELT, SEAT BELT, TIGHTEN ONE’S BELT, UNDER ONE’S BELT.

[belt out]{v.}, {slang} To sing with rough rhythm and strength; shout out. •/She belted out ballads and hillbilly songs one after another all evening./ •/Young people enjoy belting out songs./

[be my guest]{v. phr.} Feel free to use what I have; help yourself. •/When Suzie asked if she could borrow John’s bicycle, John said, "Be my guest."/

[beneath one]{adj. phr.} Below one’s ideals or dignity. •/Bob felt it would have been beneath him to work for such low wages./

[bench] See: ON THE BENCH, WARM THE BENCH.

[bench warmer] See: WARM THE BENCH.

[bend over backward] or [lean over backward] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try so hard to avoid a mistake that you make the opposite mistake instead; do the opposite of something that you know you should not do; do too much to avoid doing the wrong thing; also, make a great effort; try very hard. •/Instead of punishing the boys for breaking a new rule, the principal bent over backward to explain why the rule was important./ •/Mary was afraid the girls at her new school would be stuck up, but they leaned over backward to make her feel at home./ Compare: GO OUT OF ONE’S WAY.

[benefit] See: GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

[bent on] or [bent upon] Very decided, determined, or set. •/The sailors were bent on having a good time./ •/The policeman saw some boys near the school after dark and thought they were bent on mischief./ •/The bus was late, and the driver was bent upon reaching the school on time./

[be nuts about]{v. phr.} To be enthusiastic or very keen about someone or something; be greatly infatuated with someone. •/Hermione is nuts about modern music./ •/"I am nuts about you, Helen," Jim said. "Please let’s get married!"/

[be off]{v. phr.} 1. {v.} To be in error; miscalculate. •/The estimator was off by at least 35% on the value of the house./ 2. {v.} To leave. •/Jack ate his supper in a hurry and was off without saying goodbye./ 3. {adj.} Cancelled; terminated. •/The weather was so bad that we were told that the trip was off./ 4. {adj.} Crazy. •/I’m sure Aunt Mathilda is a bit off; no one in her right mind would say such things./ 5. {adj.} Free from work; having vacation time. •/Although we were off for the rest of the day, we couldn’t go to the beach because it started to rain./