Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[if it's not one thing it's another] If a certain thing doesn't go wrong, another most probably will. * /When John lost his keys and his wallet, and his car wouldn't start, he exclaimed in despair, "If it's not one thing it's another."/ Compare: ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER (ODTAA).

[if need be] <adv. phr.> If the need arises. * /If need be, I can come early tomorrow and work overtime./

[if only] I wish. * /If only it would stop raining!/ * /If only Mother could be here./ Syn.: WOULD THAT.

[if the hill will not come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the hill] If one person will not go to the other, then the other must go to him.
– A proverb. * /Grandfather won't come to visit us, so we must go and visit him. If the hill won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad will go to the hill./

[if the shoe fits, wear it] If what is said describes you, you are meant.
– A proverb. * /I won't say who, but some children are always late. If the shoe fits, Wear it./

[if worst comes to worst] If the worst thing happens that be imagined; if the worst possible thing happens; if troubles grow worse. * /If worst comes to worst and Mr. Jones loses the house, he will send his family to his mother's farm./ * /If worst comes to worst, we shall close the school for a few days./

[if you can't lick them, join them] If you cannot defeat an opponent or get him to change his attitude, plans, or ways of doing things, the best thing to do is to change your ideas, plans, etc. * /"The small car manufacturers are winning over the big car makers," the president of an American car factory said. "If we want to stay in business, we must do as they do. In other words, if you can't lick them, join them."/

[I'll bet you my bottom dollar] <interj.>, <informal> An exaggerated assertion of assurance. * /I'll bet you my bottom dollar that the Cubs will win this year./

[I'll say] or [I tell you] <interj.>, <informal> I agree with this completely.
– Used for emphasis. * /Did the children all enjoy Aunt Sally's pecan pie? I'll say!/ * /I'll say this is a good movie!/

[I'll tell you what] or [tell you what] <informal> Here is an idea. * /The hamburger stand is closed, but I'll tell you what, let's go to my house and cook some hot dogs./

[ill] See: IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, TAKE ILL.

[ill at ease] <adj. phr.> Not feeling at ease or comfortable; anxious; worried; unhappy. * /Donald had never been to a big party before and he was ill at ease./ * /When Joe first went to dancing school, he was ill at ease, not knowing how to act./ Contrast: AT EASE(2).

[ill-favored] <adj.> Ugly; unprepossessing. * /Oddly enough, the father had less trouble in marrying off his ill-favored daughter than her prettier sister./

[ill-gotten gains] <n. phr.> Goods or money obtained in an illegal or immoral fashion. * /The jailed criminal had plenty of time to think about his ill-gotten gains./

[image] See: SPITTING IMAGE or SPIT AND IMAGE.

[impose on] <v.> To try to get more from (a person who is helping you) than he or she intended to give. * /Don't you think you are imposing on your neighbor when you use his telephone for half an hour?/ * /You may swim in the Allens' pool so long as you do not impose on them by bringing all your friends./ Compare: TAKE ADVANTAGE.

[improve on] or [improve upon] <v.> To make or get one that is better than (another). * /Dick made good marks the first year, but he thought he could improve on them./ * /Charles built a new model racer for the derby race, because he knew he could improve upon his old one./

[I'm telling you] <informal> It is important to listen to what I am saying. * /Marian is a smart girl but I'm telling you, she doesn't always do what she promises./

[in a bad frame of mind] <adv. phr.> In an unhappy mood. * /Make sure the boss is not in a bad frame of mind when you ask him for a raise./ Contrast: IN A GOOD FRAME OF MIND.

[in a bad way] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In trouble or likely to have trouble. * /If you have only those two girls to help you, you are in a bad way./ * /Jerry has written only one sentence of his term paper that is due tomorrow, and he knows he is in a bad way./ * /Mrs. Jones has cancer and is in a bad way./ * /A new supermarket opened across the street, and the Peters' grocery business was soon in a bad way./

[in a big way] <adv. phr.>, <informal> As fully as possible; with much ceremony. * /Our family celebrates birthdays in a big way./ * /John likes to entertain his dates in a big way./

[in a bind] or [in a box] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Likely to have trouble whether you do one thing or another. * /Sam is in a bind because if he carries home his aunt's groceries, his teacher will be angry because he is late, and if he doesn't, his aunt will complain./ Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

[in a breeze] See: WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.

[in absentia] <adv. phr.>, <formal> When the person is absent. Used in graduation exercises when presenting diplomas to an absent student or during a court case. * /On Commencement Day, Joe was sick in bed and the college gave him his bachelor's degree in absentia./ (Latin, meaning "in absence.")

[in accordance with] <adv. phr.> In consonance with something; conforming to something. * /Employees at this firm are expected to always behave in accordance with the rules./

[in a circle] or [in circles] <adv. phr.> Without any progress; without getting anywhere; uselessly. * /The committee debated for two hours, just talking in circles./ * /If you don't have a clear aim, you can work a long time and still be going in circles./ * /He seemed to be working hard, but was just running around in circles./

[in addition] <adv. phr.> As something extra; besides. * /We saw a Mickey Mouse cartoon in addition to the cowboy movie./ * /Aunt Mary gave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition./ * /He has two cars and in addition a motorboat./

[in advance] or [in advance of] <adv. phr.> 1. In front; ahead (of the others); first. * /In the parade, the band will march in advance of the football team./ * /The soldiers rode out of the fort with the scouts in advance./ 2. Before doing or getting something. * /The motel man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance./ * /The paperhanger mixed his paste quite a while in advance so it would have time to cool./ * /It will be easier to decorate the snack bar if we cut the streamers in advance of the actual decorating./

[in a family way] or [in the family way] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Going to have a baby. * /Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is in the family way./ * /The Ferguson children are promising kittens to everyone because their cat is in a family way./ Compare: WITH CHILD.

[in a fix] <adv. phr.> In trouble. * /Last night Jack wrecked his car and now he is in a fix./ Compare: IN A JAM, IN A PICKLE.

[in a flash] also [in a trice] <adv. phr.> Very suddenly. * /We were watching the bird eat the crumbs; then I sneezed, and he was gone in a flash./ * /Bob was looking over his notes for English class and in a flash he knew what he would write his paper about./