Adam Makkai: Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[as --- as ---] — Used with an adjective or adverb in a comparison or with the effect of a superlative. •/ John is as tall as his father now. / •/ I didn’t do as badly today as I did yesterday. / •/ John’s father gave him a hard job and told him to do as well as possible. / •/ The sick girl was not hungry, but her mother told her to eat as much as she could. / — Also used in the form "so --- as" in some sentences, especially negative sentences. •/ This hill isn’t nearly so high as the last one we climbed. / — Often used in similes (comparisons that are figures of speech). •/ The baby mouse looked as big as a minute. / •/ Jim’s face was red as a beet after he made the foolish mistake. / — Most similes in conventional use are cliches, avoided by careful speakers and writers.

[as best one can]{adv. phr.} As well as you can; by whatever means are available; in the best way you can. •/ The car broke down in the middle of the night, and he had to get home as best he could. / •/ George’s foot hurt, but he played the game as best he could. / •/ The girl’s mother was sick, so the girl got dinner as best she could. /

[as catch can]See: CATCH AS CATCH CAN.

[as far as]or [so far as]{adv. phr.} 1. To the degree or amount that; according to what, how much, or how far. •/ John did a good job as far as he went, but he did not finish it. / •/ So far as the weather is concerned, I do not think it matters. / •/ As far as he was concerned, things were going well. / 2. To the extent that; within the limit that. •/ He has no brothers so far as I know. / Compare: FOR ALL(2).

[as far as that goes]or [as far as that is concerned]or [so far as that is concerned]also [so far as that goes]{adv. phr.} While we are talking about it; also; actually. •/ You don’t have to worry about the girls. Mary can take care of herself, and as far as that goes, Susan is pretty independent, too. / •/ I didn’t enjoy the movie, and so far as that is concerned, I never like horror movies. / Syn.: FOR THAT MATTER, IN FACT. Compare: COME TO THINK OF IT.

[as follows]A list of things that come next; what is listed next. — Followed by a colon. •/ My grocery list is as follows: bread, butter, meat, eggs, sugar. / •/ The names of the members are as follows: John Smith, Mary Webb, Linda Long, Ralph Harper. / •/ The route is as follows: From City Hall go south on Main Street to Elm Street, east on Elm to 5th Street, and south on 5th two blocks to the school. /

[as for]{prep.} 1. In regard to; speaking of; concerning. •/ We have plenty of bread, and as for butter, we have more than enough. / 2. Speaking for. •/ Most people like the summer but as for me, I like winter much better. / Compare: FOR ONE’S PART.

[as good as]{adv. phr.} Nearly the same as; almost. •/ She claimed that he as good as promised to marry her. / •/ He as good as called me a liar. / •/ We’ll get to school on time, we’re as good as there now. / •/ The man who had been shot was as good as dead. / — Often used without the first "as" before adjectives. •/ When the car was repaired, it looked good as new. /

[as good as a mile]See: MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE.

[as good as one gets]See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS.

[as good as one’s promise]See: AS GOOD AS ONE’S WORD.

[as good as one’s word]or [good as one’s word]{adj. phr.} Trustworthy; sure to keep your promise. •/ The coach said he would give the players a day off if they won, and he was as good as his word. / •/ We knew she was always good as her word, so we trusted her. /

[as hard as nails]{adj. phr.} Very unfeeling; cruel, and unsympathetic. •/ Uncle Joe is as hard as nails; although he is a millionaire, he doesn’t help his less fortunate relatives. /

[aside]See: JOKING ASIDE, SET ASIDE.

[aside from]See: APART FROM.

[aside of]{prep.} , {dialect} Beside; by the side of. •/ Mary sits aside of her sister on the bus. /

[as if]or [as though]{conj.} 1. As (he, she, it) would if; in the same way one would if seeing to show. •/ The baby laughed as if he understood what Mother said. / •/ The book looked as though it had been out in the rain. / •/ The waves dashed on the rocks as if in anger. / 2. That. •/ It seems as if you are the first one here. /

[as if one has come out of a bandbox]See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.

[as is]{adv.} Without changes or improvements; with no guarantee or promise of good condition. — Used after the word it modifies. •/ They agree to buy the house as is. / •/ He bought an old car as is. / Compare: AT THAT(1).

[as it were]{adv. phr.} As it might be said to be; as if it really were; seemingly. — Used with a statement that might seem silly or unreasonable, to show that it is just a way of saying it. •/ In many ways children live, as it were, in a different world from adults. / •/ The sunlight on the icy branches made, as it were, delicate lacy cobwebs from tree to tree. / Compare: SO TO SPEAK.

[ask]See: FOR THE ASKING.

[ask for]{v.} , {informal} To make (something bad) likely to happen to you; bring (something bad) upon yourself. •/ Charles drives fast on worn-out tires; he is asking for trouble. / •/ The workman lost his job, but he asked for it by coming to work drunk several times. / Compare: HAVE IT COMING, SERVE RIGHT, SIGN ONE’S OWN DEATH WARRANT.

[ask for one’s hand]{v. phr.} To ask permission to marry someone. •/ "Sir," John said timidly to Mary’s father, "I came to ask for your daughter’s hand." /

[ask for the moon]or [cry for the moon]{v. phr.} To want something that you cannot reach or have; try for the impossible. •/ John asked his mother for a hundred dollars today. He’s always asking for the moon. / Compare: PROMISE THE MOON.

[asleep at the switch]{adj. phr.} 1. Asleep when it is one’s duty to move a railroad switch for cars to go on the right track. •/ The new man was asleep at the switch and the two trains crashed. / 2. {informal} Failing to act promptly as expected, not alert to an opportunity. •/ When the ducks flew over, the boy was asleep at the switch and missed his shot. /

[as likely as not]{adv. phr.} Probably. •/ As likely as not, he will disappear forever. /

[as long as]or [so long as]{conj.} 1. Since; because; considering that. •/ As long as you are going to town anyway, you can do something for me. / 2. Provided that; if. •/ You may use the room as you like, so long as you clean it up afterward. /

[as luck would have it]{adv. clause} As it happened; by chance; luckily or unluckily. •/ As luck would have it, no one was in the building when the explosion occurred. / •/ As luck would have it, there was rain on the day of the picnic. /