Юлия Семенова, написавшая комментарий к посту «20 самых употребляемых английских идиом«, на последнем курсе Института Иностранных Языков писала диплом на тему “Обзор фразеологических словарей, собранных под руководством Альберта Борка”. Она предложила еще несколько употребительных английских выражений, которые также как и идиомы упомянутые в статье по ссылке выше очень частотны в английской речи:
1) “a dog in the manger” – собака на сене
(спасибо Lingvo): В английском языке словосочетание dog in the manger используется как прилагательное: a dog in the manger atttude/outlook/policy . В известной басне Эзопа собака, уютно устроившаяся в яслях (manger ), не позволила корове есть сено, несмотря на то, что оно собаке для еды не годилось. Это выражение описывает мировоззрение тех, кто ревностно хранит для себя совершенно не нужные им вещи, в то время как другие нуждаются в них. You are prepared to let these vegetables rot, rather than give them away to those who are hungry. I call that a dog in the manger attitude.
(начиная со следующего примера, все примеры из новостей)
Now he’s got Sir Alex Ferguson becoming all dog-in-the-manger over Manchester United’s players, not letting Pearce borrow them for the Olympics, apart from Ryan Giggs.
2) “have an itching palm” – заниматься взяточничеством
«An itching palm» is one that must be scratched with coins. Brutus’s dermatological metaphor implies that Cassius’s desire for gold—which leads to the sale («mart») of favors—is unconscious and compulsive. Cassius doesn’t think, he just scratches.
3) “to smell a rat” – почуять неладное
But Glenn Kessler, who writes The Washington Post’s Fact Checker column, smelled a rat.
Cassis had noticed that motorists in Detroit were being charged less for gas than were her suburban constituents in Novi and West Bloomfield, and she smelled a rat.
4) “to dig in your heels” – напрочь отказываться от выполнения просьбы
AI strikers dig in heels
“I know the community doesn’t like us fighting but frankly when I’m representing NSW I’m going to digmy heels in and get the best deals I can,”…
I couldn’t persuade her. She just dug her heels in and wouldn’t listen to anything I was saying.
5) “to sink one’s teeth into something” – погрузиться в дело с головой
Dark Shadows doesn’t suck, but Johnny Depp flick can’t sink its teeth into The Avengers
Supporters sink their teeth into Westminster dog park proposal
6) “to go bananas” – слететь с катушек
Man goes bananas, destroys offices: A MAN intending to sue the Ministry of Police released his rage by vandalising the offices of his lawyers in Pretoria after being told the case would not proceed.
I often wonder how many families have kept the glass milk bottles issued by Premier Dairies to celebrate the capital’s 1,000th birthday in 1988. Or the millennium 50 pence coins — anyone remember those? During that year, the country went bananas issuing commemorative collectables and my grandfather always told me to keep them safe as they «would be worth a mint» by the time I was 30.
Посмотрите небольшой ролик от BBC English по теме
7) “to bury the hatchet” – заключить перемирие (букв. закопать топор/большой нож/резак)
Best friends forever! Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton bury the hatchet (and not in each others backs)
Liam and Noel Gallagher bury the hatchet after Man City’s success brings the brothers together.
8) “to go to pieces” – выйти из строя, расклеиться, разрушиться, развалиться
… in the deciding game, the Swiss had a double break advantage in the second before his game went to pieces with a flurry of off-target shots.
The adoration of Princess Diana, before that fairytale went to pieces, was a low point for American fawning over British bluebloods.
9) “to hold all the cards” – быть в выгодном положении
Institutional shareholders hold all the aces (тузы) as James Packer seeks a seat at The Star table.
10) “to drive at something” – намекать на что-то
I don’t understand what you’re driving at
11) “to put on airs” – напустить на себя важный вид
Without doubt, Maimuna was the most beautiful, prettiest person I know. As most of us would have done, she could have used that to be manipulative and get what she wanted, had “fine girl drama” and put on airs and graces. Eventhough she was breath-takingly gorgeous, she had none of the personality flaws that usually come with that.
12) “at loose ends” – безработный человек
Katy Gottfriedson found herself at loose ends last year, wondering where she wanted to go in life and…
Большое спасибо Юле за прекрасный список! Я до того как написать этот пост, знала их этих выражений всего парочку…