Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[know one in high places] <v. phr.> To be connected with people in power. * /Ted's grandfather was the mayor of Chicago so he knows people in high places./

[know one is alive] <v. phr.> Not to notice a person.
– Used with negative or limiting words and in questions. * /She was a good-looking girl but she didn't know I was alive./ Compare: GIVE A HANG.

[know one's own mind] <v. phr.> To no( hesitate or vacillate; be definite in one's ideas or plans. * /It is impossible to do business with Fred, because he doesn't know his own mind./

[know one's place] <v. phr.> To be deferential to one's elders or superiors. * /Ken is a talented teaching assistant, but he has a tendency to tell the head of the department how to run things. Somebody ought to teach him to know his place./

[know one's way around] or [know one's way about] <v. phr.> 1. To understand how things happen in the world; he experienced in the ways of the world. * /The sailor had been in the wildest ports in the world. He knew his way around./ Compare: HAVE BEEN AROUND. 2. or <informal> [know one's onions] or [know one's stuff] To have experience and skill in an activity. * /Before trying to make any pottery, it is better to get advice from someone who knows his stuff in ceramics./ Compare: DRY BEHIND THE EARS.

[know something inside out] <v. phr.> To be extremely well conversant with something; be an expert in; have thorough knowledge of. * /Tom knows the stock market inside out./

[know the ropes] See: THE ROPES.

[know the score] See: THE SCORE.

[know what's what] See: KNOW SOMETHING INSIDE OUT.

[know which side one's bread is buttered on] <v. phr.> To know who can help you and try to please him; know what is for your own gain. * /Dick was always polite to the boss; he knew which side his bread was buttered on./

[know which way to turn] See: NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN.

[knuckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN, RAP ONE'S KNUCKLES.

[knuckle down] See: BUCKLE DOWN.

[knuckle under] <v. phr.> To do something because you are forced to do it. * /Bobby refused to knuckle under to the bully./ Compare: GIVE IN.

L

[labor movement] <n.> Groups which form, strengthen, and increase membership in labor unions. * /His father was connected with the labor movement in the 1920's./

[labor of love] <n. phr.> Something done for personal pleasure and not pay or profit. * /Building the model railroad was a labor of love for the retired engineer./

[labor the point] See: BELABOR THE POINT.

[labor under] <v. phr.> To be the victim of; suffer from. * /Ken is obviously laboring under the delusion that Jennifer will marry him out of love./

[lace into] or [tie into] <v.>, <informal> To attack physically or with words; begin to hit or criticize. * /The boxer laced into his opponent./ * /The critics laced into the new movie./ Syn.: LAY INTO, RIP INTO. Compare: GIVE IT TO.

[ladies' room] <n. phr.> A public toilet and restroom for women. * /Can you please tell me where the ladies' room is?/

[lady friend] <n.> 1. A woman friend. * /His aunt stays with a lady friend in Florida during the winter./ 2. A woman who is the lover of a man.
– Used by people trying to appear more polite, but not often used by careful speakers. * /The lawyer took his lady friend to dinner./ Syn.: GIRLFRIEND.

[lady-killer] <n.>, <informal> 1. Any man who has strong sex appeal toward women. * /Joe is a regular lady-killer./ 2. A man who relentlessly pursues amorous conquests, is successful at it, and then abandons his heartbroken victims. * /The legendary Don Juan of Spain is the most famous lady-killer of recorded history./ Compare: LADY'S MAN.

[lady of the house] <n. phr.> Female owner, or wife of the owner, of the house; the hostess. * /"Dinner is served," the lady of the house announced to her guests./

[lady's man] <n.> A man or boy who likes to be with women or girls very much and is popular with them. * /Charlie is quite a lady's man now./

[lake] See: GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.

[laid out] <adj.> Arranged. * /Her house is very conveniently laid out./

[laid up] <adj.> Sick; confined to bed. * /I was laid up for a couple of weeks with an ear infection./

[lam] See: ON THE LAM.

[lamb] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB, IN TWO SHAKES OF A LAMB'S TAIL.

[lame duck] <n.>, <informal> An elected public official who has been either defeated in a new election or whose term cannot be renewed, but who has a short period of time left in office during which he can still perform certain duties, though with somewhat diminished powers. * /In the last year of their second terms, American presidents are lame ducks./

[land] See: FAT OF THE LAND, LAY OF THE LAND also HOW THE LAND LIES.

[land all over] See: JUMP ON.

[landing ship] <n.> A ship built to land troops and army equipment on a beach for an invasion. * /The landing ship came near the beach, doors in the bow opened, and marines ran out./

[land-office business] <n.>, <informal> A great rush of business. * /It was a hot day, and the drive-ins were doing a land-office business in ice cream and cold drinks./

[land of nod] <n. phr.> Sleep. * /The little girl went off to the land of nod./

[land on] See: JUMP ON.

[land on one's feet] also [land on both feet] <v. phr.>, <informal> To get yourself out of trouble without damage or injury and sometimes with a gain; be successful no matter what happens. * /No matter what trouble he gets into, he always seems to land on his feet./ * /Mary lost her first job because she was always late to work, but she landed on her feet and soon had a better job./

[landslide] <n.> An overwhelming victory during a political election. * /Ronald Reagan won the election of 1980 in a landslide./

[lane] See: LOVERS' LANE.

[lap] See: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY, IN THE LAP OF THE GODS.

[lap up] <v.> 1. To eat or drink with the tip of the tongue. * /The kitten laps up its milk./ 2. <informal> To take in eagerly. * /She flatters him all the time and he just laps it up./ * /William is interested in rockets and space, and he laps up all he can read about them./ Syn.: EAT UP(3).

[lardhead] <n.>, <slang> A stupid or slow-witted person. * /You'll never convince Donald; he's a lardhead./