Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом - 8000 единиц

[back to the wall]or [back against the wall] {adv. phr.} In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. •/ The soldiers had their backs to the wall. / •/ He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall. / •/ The team had their backs to the wall in the second half. / Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, LAST DITCH, ON THE SPOT, UP AGAINST IT.

[back up] {v.} 1. To move backwards. •/ The train was backing up. / 2. To help or be ready to help; stay behind to help; agree with and speak in support of. •/ Jim has joined the Boy Scouts and his father is backing him up. / •/ The principal backs up the faculty. / •/ Jim told us what had happened and Bob backed him up. / Compare: BACK OF(3), STAND BY(4). 3. To move behind (another fielder) in order to catch the ball if he misses it. •/ The shortstop backed up the second baseman on the throw. /

[backward]See: BEND OVER BACKWARD or LEAN OVER BACKWARD; FALL OVER BACKWARDS or FALL OVER ONESELF.

[backward and forward]or [backwards and forwards] {adv. phr.} To the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. •/ He understood automobile engines backwards and forwards. / •/ He knew basketball rules backwards and forwards. / •/ I explained matters to him so that he understood backwards and forwards how it was. /

[bacon]See: BRING HOME THE BACON.

[bad]See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE’S BAD GRACES, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT HALF BAD, ON ONE’S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.

[bad actor] {n.} , {informal} A person or animal that is always fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. •/ The boy was a bad actor and nobody liked him. /

[bad blood] {n.} , {informal} Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. •/ There’s a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they’ll never talk to each other again. / Compare: BAD SHIT.

[bad egg] {n.} , {slang} A ne’er-do-well; good-for nothing; a habitual offender. •/ The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last. / Contrast: GOOD EGG.

[bad mouth (someone)] {v.} , {slang} To say uncomplimentary or libelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another’s reputation. •/ It’s not nice to had mouth people. /

[bad news] {n.} , {slang} An event, thing, or person which is disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. •/ What’s the new professor like? — He’s all bad news to me. /

[bad paper] {n.} , {slang} 1. A check for which there are no funds in the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. •/ Why are you so mad? — I was paid with some bad paper. /

[bad shit] {n.} , {vulgar} , {avoidable} An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation. •/ There is so much had shit between the two gangs that I bet there will he more killings this year. / Compare: BAD BLOOD.

[bad trip] {n.} , {slang} , {also used colloquially} A disturbing or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the influence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience in general. •/ Why’s John’s face so distorted? — He had a bad trip. / •/ How was your math exam? — Don’t mention it; it was a bad trip. /

[bag]See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

[bag and baggage] {adv.} , {informal} With all your clothes and other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. •/ If they don’t pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage. /

[baggage]See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.

[bail]See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.

[bail out(1)] {v.} 1. To secure release from prison until trial by leaving or promising money or property for a while. •/ When college students got into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail them out. / 2. {informal} To free from trouble by giving or lending money. •/ He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bail him out a couple of times. /

[bail out(2)] {v.} To jump from an airplane and drop with a parachute. •/ When the second engine failed, the pilot told everyone to bail out. /

[bail out(3)] {v.} To dip water from a filling or leaking boat; throw water out of a boat to prevent its sinking. •/ Both men were kept busy bailing out the rowboat after it began to leak. /

[bait]See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.

[bake]See: HALF-BAKED.

[baker’s dozen] {n.} , {informal} Thirteen. •/ "How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir? " the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it a baker’s dozen." /

[balance]See: HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.

[ball]See: BASE ON BALLS, CARRY THE BALL, FLY BALL, FOUL BALL, GET THE BALL ROLLING, SET THE BALL ROLLING, START THE BALL ROLLING, GOPHER BALL, GROUND BALL, HAVE A HALL, HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL, JUMP BALL, KEEP THE BALL. ROLLING, LONG BALL, ON THE BALL, PASSED BALL, PLAY BALL.

[ball game] {n.} , {slang} , also {informal} The entire matter at hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. •/ You said we can get a second mortgage for the house?! Wow! That’s a whole new ball game. /

[ball of fire] {n.} , {informal} A person with great energy and ability; a person who can do something very well. •/ He did poorly in school but as a salesman he is a ball of fire. / •/ The new shortstop is a good fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting. / Compare: HOT NUMBER, HOT ONE.

[balloon]See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.

[ballot stuffing]See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.

[ball up] {v.} , {slang} To make a mess of; confuse. •/ Don’t ball me up. / •/ Hal balled up the business with his errors. / — Often used in the passive. •/ He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming or going. / Compare: MIXED UP.

[baloney] {n.} , {informal} Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. •/ John brags that he’s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it’s just a lot of baloney. / •/ "Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney," Susie answered with a disgusted look. / •/ Do you still believe all that baloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China and Hungary. /

[banana oil] {n.} , {slang} Flattery that is an obvious exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive. •/ Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere! /

[band]See: BEAT THE BAND.

[bandbox]See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.