Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом - 8000 единиц

[band together] {v. phr.} To join a group to exert united force. •/ The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stop the company from building new smokestacks. /

[bandwagon]See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[bandy about] {v. phr.} To spread rumors or whisper secrets. •/ The news of Jim and Mary’s divorce was bandied about until everyone at the office had heard it. /

[bang up] {adj.} , {informal} Very successful; very good; splendid; excellent. •/ The football coach has done a bang-up job this season. / •/ John did a bang-up job painting the house. / Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.

[bank]See: PIGGY BANK.

[bank on] {v.} , {informal} To depend on; put one’s trust in; rely on. •/ He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if he could once prove the dirty work. / •/ The students were banking on the team to do its best in the championship game. / Syn.: COUNT ON.

[bar]See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.

[bargain]See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.

[bargain for]or [bargain on] {v.} To be ready for; expect. •/ When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he bargained for. / •/ The final cost of building the house was much more than they had bargained on. / Compare: COUNT ON.

[barge in] {v. phr.} , {informal} To appear uninvited at someone’s house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. •/ I’m sorry for barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere. / •/ I’m sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but could you please tell me where the nearest exit is? /

[bark up the wrong tree] {v. phr.} , {informal} To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. •/ If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree. / •/ He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck. / •/ The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat. /

[bark worse than one’s bite] {informal} Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. •/ The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite. / •/ The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite. / •/ She was always scolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite. /

[barn]See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

[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.

[be at pains] {v. phr.} To be extremely desirous to do something; to take the trouble to do something. •/ The captain was at pains to see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats. /

[bear]See: GRIN AND BEAR IT, LOADED FOR BEAR.

[bear a grudge] {v. phr.} To persist in bearing ill feeling toward someone after a quarrel or period of hostility. •/ Come on, John, be a good sport and don’t bear a grudge because I beat you at golf. / Contrast: BURY THE HATCHET.