Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[line of scrimmage] <n. phr.> An imaginary line on a football field parallel to the goal lines where each play except the kickoff begins. * /The play was stopped at the line of scrimmage./

[line one's pockets] also [line one's purse] <v. phr.>, <informal> To get a lot of money unfairly; get rich by being dishonest. * /The policeman lined his pockets by taking bribes./ * /The inspector lined his pockets by permitting contractors to use poor building materials./ Compare: FEATHER ONE'S NEST.

[lineup] <n.> 1. An alignment of objects in a straight line. * /A lineup of Venus and the moon can be a very beautiful sight in the night sky./ 2. An arrangement of suspects through a one-way mirror so that the victim or the witness of a crime can identify the wanted person. * /She picked out her attacker from a police lineup./

[line up] <v. phr.> 1. To take places in a line or formation; stand side by side or one behind another; form a line or pattern. * /The boys lined up and took turns diving off the springboard./ * /The football team lined up in a "T" formation./ 2. To put in line. * /John lined up the pool balls./ 3. To adjust correctly. * /The garage man lined up the car's wheels./ 4a. <informal> To make ready for action; complete a plan or agreement for; arrange. * /Henry's friends lined up so many votes for him that he won the election./ * /Roger lined up a summer job before school was out./ * /The superintendent lined up all the new teachers he needed before he went on vacation./ 4b. <informal> To become ready for action; come together in preparation or agreement. * /The football schedule is lining up well; the coach has arranged all games except one./ * /Larry wanted to go to the seashore for the family vacation, but the rest of the family lined up against him./ Compare: GANG UP, SHAPE UP, TAKE SIDES.

[lining] See: EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING.

[link] See: MISSING LINK.

[lion's share] <n. phr.> A disproportionate share; the largest part. * /The manager always gets the lion's share of the company's profits./

[lip] See: BUTTON ONE'S LIP or ZIP ONE'S LIP, HANG ON THE WORDS OF or HANG ON THE LIPS OF, KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, SLIP OF THE TONGUE also SLIP OF THE LIP.

[lip service] <n.> Support shown by words only and not by actions; a show of loyalty that is not proven in action.
– Usually used with "pay". * /Bv holding elections, communism pays lip service to democracy, but it offers only one candidate per office./ * /Some people pay lip service to education, but don't vote taxes for better schools./

[liquid assets] <n. phr.> Those belongings that can be easily converted into cash. * /Herb asked for a loan and the bank manager told him to bring in proof of all his liquid assets./

[liquor up] <v. phr.>, <slang> To drink an excessive amount of liquor before engaging in some activity as if comparing oneself to a car that needs to be filled before a journey. * /Joe always liquors up before he takes Sue for a dance./

[list] See: SUCKER LIST, WAITING LIST.

[listen in] <v.> 1. To listen to a radio broadcast. * /We found them listening in to the president's speech./ 2. To listen to the talk of others, often to talk that is not intended for your ears; eavesdrop. * /When Mary talked to her boyfriend on the telephone, her little brother listened in./

[listen to reason] <v. phr.> To listen to and think about advice that you are given. * /Joe was stubborn and would not listen to reason./ * /It will save you a lot of trouble if you will just listen to reason./

[litterbug] <n.>, <slang>, <informal> A person who leaves garbage in a public place, such as a park or beach or a street; one who litters. * /Don't be a litterbug; keep the city clean!/

[little] See: A LITTLE, A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, MAKE LITTLE OF, NOT A LITTLE, QUITE A LITTLE or QUITE A LITTLE BIT, THINK LITTLE OF, TWIST AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER.

[little does one think] <v. phr.> To not realize; not expect; be hardly aware of. * /Little did Ed think that very soon he would be the father of twin daughters./

[little folk] or [little people] See: WEE FOLK.

[little frog in a big pond] or [small frog in a big pond] <n. phr.> An unimportant person in a large group or organization. * /In a large company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little frog in a big pond./ * /When Bill transferred to a larger high school, he found himself a small frog in a big pond./ Contrast: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.

[little pitchers have big ears] Little children often overhear things they are not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect they would notice.
– A proverb. * /Be especially careful not to swear in front of little children. Little pitchers have big ears./

[little theater] <n.> A theater, usually with nonprofessional actors and actresses, which presents plays more for personal pleasure and practice than for profit. * /Little theater groups are active in all parts of the United States./ * /Many famous actors began in little theaters./

[lit up like a Christmas tree] <adj. phr.>, <informal> To be drunk. * /On New Year's Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree./ Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.

[live] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.

[live and learn] You learn more new things the longer you live; you learn by experience.
– A proverb. * /"Live and learn," said Mother. "I never knew that the Indians once had a camp where our house is."/ * /Janet made her new dress from cheap cloth, and when she washed it, it shrank and was too little. Live and learn./

[live and let live] To live in the way you prefer and let others live as they wish without being bothered by you. * /Father scolds Mother because she wears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father because he smokes a smelly pipe. Grandfather says it's her hair and his pipe; live and let live./ Compare: GIVE AND TAKE(1), LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, FORGIVE AND FORGET.

[live down] <v.> To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter) by good conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or forgotten by not repeating it. * /John's business failure hurt him for a long time, but in the end he lived it down./ * /Frank was rather a bad boy, but he lived it down as he grew up./ * /Sandra called her principal the wrong name at the banquet, in front of everyone, and she thought she would never live it down./

[live from hand to mouth] <v. phr.> To live on little money and spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future; have just enough. * /Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family lived from hand to mouth when he had no job./ * /These Indians live from hand to mouth on berries, nuts, and roots./

[live high off the hog] or [eat high on the hog] See: EAT (LIVE) HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.

[live in] or [room in] <v.>, <informal> To live in the school you attend or the place where you work. * /Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college./ * /Many women advertise for mother's helpers to room in with families and help take care of children./

[live in a fool's paradise] <v. phr.> To deceive oneself; tell oneself unreal stories. * /His information is based on a lot of misunderstanding - the poor guy is living in a fool's paradise./