to put in a good word for someone
My father is going to put in a good word for me in the hope that the boss will give me another chance.запеть на другой лад
to change one’s tune
She said she liked travelling by car, but when she saw the road she changed her tune.запретный плод
forbidden fruit
Forbidden fruit is always the most desirable.заразительный смех
an infectious laugh
His laugh was so infectious that we all joined in.заснуть вечным сном to be called to one’s eternal rest
застигать врасплох (кого-л.)
to take someone by surprise; to catch someone with one’s pants/trousers down
The news took us by surprise.
He asked me where I’d been last night and I was caught with my pants down.застигать на месте преступления (кого-л.)
to catch someone red-handed; to catch someone in the act
The police caught the burglars red-handed.
The thief was caught in the act of breaking into the shop.затаить дыхание
to hold one’s breath
She held her breath as she watched the attempt to save the drowning child.заткнуть за пояс (кого-л.)
to run rings round someone ; to put someone to shame
Jane is good at French but her brother David can run rings round her – he can speak Dutch and German as well.
I thought I was in good shape for this race but my friend Tom, who was much older than me, put me to shame.затыкать рот (кому-л.)
to shut someone’s mouth
They threatened to shut his mouth if he talks to the police.затянуть пояс потуже
to tighten one’s belt
If the crisis gets worse, we shall just have to tighten our belts.заходить (слишком) далеко
to go too far; to overstep the mark
He has always been a bully but this time he went too far and even his parents were ashamed of him.
You overstepped the mark when you shouted at the director.звонить во все колокола
to shout it from the rooftops
If I’d known you were going to shout it from the rooftops, I wouldn’t have told you about my work.здоров как бык
(as) sound as a bell
At the age of eighty her grandfather was as sound as a bell.зеленая улица
the green light
The government gave the green light to the minister’s plan for the new road.злой как черт
(as) cross as two sticks; like a bear with a sore head
The man was as cross as two sticks when his wife left without waiting for him.
When my brother has to get up early, he’s like a bear with a sore head.змея подколодная
a snake in the grass
Don’t be deceived by his friendliness – he’s a real snake in the grass.знать в лицо (кого-л.)
to know someone by sight
I know Gregory by sight but I’ve never met him.знать свое дело
to know one’s stuff/onions
He is a good worker and knows his stuff. I’d be sorry if he left our company.
We’ve worked with him in the past. He is a man who knows his onions.знать как свои пять пальцев (что-л.)
to know something like the back of one’s hand; to know something inside out
He knew Manchester like the back of his hand.
He is a very good plumber who knows his job inside out.знать свое место
to know one’s place
I knew my place and kept silent.знать, что к чему
to know what is what
You don’t have to worry about him – he knows what’s what.золотая середина
a happy medium
You can surely find some happy medium between exercising all the time and doing nothing.золотое дно
a gold-mine
The report represents a gold-mine of useful information.золотое правило
the golden rule
The golden rule of teaching is to be clear.золотое сердце
a heart of gold
His wife is a lovely woman. She has a heart of gold.золотой телец the golden calf
зондировать почву
to put out feelers
I wanted to get a new job, so I put out some feelers with our competitors.и глазом не успел моргнуть
before you can say Jack Robinson
I’ll catch a train and be there before you can say Jack Robinson.и дело с концом
that’s that
You are not going to the party alone, and that’s that.И не говорите!
you are telling me
It’s hot today, isn’t it? – You’re telling me.(и) туда и сюда
back and forth; up and down; to and fro; backwards and forwards
The wind moved the leaves gently back and forth.
We’ve been driving up and down the street looking for you.
She walked to and fro in the room waiting for the news.
The pendulum was moving slowly backwards and forwards.играть в кошки-мышки (с кем-л.)
to play cat and mouse with someone
If you continue to play cat and mouse with your boyfriend, he’ll break up with you.играть вторую скрипку
to play second fiddle
He was tired of playing second fiddle to his older brother.играть на руку (кому-л.)
to play into someone’s hands
I had an uncomfortable feeling that by leading my men into the valley I had played into the enemy’s hands.играть с огнем
to play with fire
She knew she was playing with fire by having an affair with her boss.Иди к черту! Go to hell!
идти в ногу (с чем-л./кем-л.)
to keep pace with something/someone
It is difficult to keep pace with current fashions.идти в ногу со временем
to move with the times
If we don’t move with the times, our customers will go elsewhere.идти в огонь и воду
to go through fire and water
He would go through fire and water to help us.идти на боковую
to hit the hay/sack
I think I’ll hit the hay now.идти на поправку
to be on the mend
She has been very ill, but she’s on the mend now.идти навстречу (кому-л.)
to meet someone halfway
The problem would be solved if you could meet us halfway.идти напролом
to stop at nothing
My sister will stop at nothing to get what she wants.идти насмарку
to come to nothing; to go down the drain; to go by the board
His plans to buy a new house came to nothing when he found out how much it would cost.
All my hard work went down the drain when the boss changed his priorities.
We didn’t have enough money so the holiday plans went by the board.идти по линии наименьшего сопротивления