Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[brush off] or [give the brush off] {v. phr.} 1. To refuse to hear or believe; quickly and impatiently; not take seriously or think important. •/John brushed off Bill’s warning that he might fall from the tree./ •/I said that it might rain and to take the bus, but Joe gave my idea the brushoff./ •/Father cut his finger but he brushed it off as not important and kept working./ 2. {informal} To be unfriendly to; not talk or pay attention to (someone); get rid of. •/Mary brushed off Bill at the dance./ •/I said hello to Mr. Smith, but he gave me the brushoff./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: GET THE BRUSH OFF.

[brush up] or [brush up on] {v.} To refresh one’s memory of or skill at by practice or review; improve; make perfect. •/She spent the summer brushing up on her American History as she was to teach that in the fall./ •/He brushed up his target shooting./

[bubble gum music]{n.}, {slang} The kind of rock’n'roll that appeals to young teenagers. •/When will you learn to appreciate Mozart instead of that bubble gum music?/

[bubble trouble]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Tire trouble, flat tire. •/The eighteen wheeler ahead of me seems to have bubble trouble./

[buck] See: FAST BUCK or QUICK BUCK, PASS THE BUCK.

[bucket] See: KICK THE BUCKET, RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN BUCKETS.

[bucket of bolts]{n.}, {slang} A very old and shaky car that barely goes. •/When are you going to get rid of that old bucket of bolts?/

[buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN.

[buckle down] or [knuckle down] {v.} To give complete attention (to an effort or job); attend. •/They chatted idly for a few moments then each buckled down to work./ •/Jim was fooling instead of studying; so his father told him to buckle down./

[buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK.

[buck up]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make or become more cheerful; make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. •/After the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in a song./ •/Tom was disappointed that he didn’t make the team; but he soon bucked up./

[bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.

[bug-eyed]{adj.}, {slang} Wide-eyed with surprise. •/He stood there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./

[buggy-whip]{n.}, {slang} An unusually long, thin radio antenna on a car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. •/He’s very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./

[bughouse(1)]{n.}, {slang} An insane asylum. •/They took Joe to the bughouse./

[bughouse(2)]{adj.}, {slang} Crazy, insane. •/Joe’s gone bughouse./

[bug in one’s ear]{n. phr.}, {informal} A hint; secret information given to someone to make him act; idea. •/I saw Mary at the jeweler’s admiring the diamond pin; I’ll put a bug in Henry’s ear./

[build] See: JERRY-BUILT.

[build a fire under]{v. phr.} To urge or force (a slow or unwilling person) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. •/The health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license./