Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[back-to-back] <adv.> 1. Immediately following. * /The health clinic had back-to-back appointments for the new students during the first week of school./ 2. Very close to, as if touching. * /Sardines are always packed in the can back-to-back./ * /The bus was so full that people had to stand back-to-back./

[back to the salt mines] <informal> Back to the job; back to work; back to work that is as hard or as unpleasant as working in a salt mine would be.
– An overworked phrase, used humorously. * /The lunch hour is over, boys. Back to the salt mines!/ * /"Vacation is over," said Billy. "Back to the salt mines."/

[back to the wall] or [back against the wall] <adv. phr.> In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. * /The soldiers had their backs to the wall./ * /He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall./ * /The team had their backs to the wall in the second half./ Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, LAST DITCH, ON THE SPOT, UP AGAINST IT.

[back up] <v.> 1. To move backwards. * /The train was backing up./ 2. To help or be ready to help; stay behind to help; agree with and speak in support of. * /Jim has joined the Boy Scouts and his father is backing him up./ * /The principal backs up the faculty./ * /Jim told us what had happened and Bob backed him up./ Compare: BACK OF(3), STAND BY(4). 3. To move behind (another fielder) in order to catch the ball if he misses it. * /The shortstop backed up the second baseman on the throw./

[backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD or LEAN OVER BACKWARD; FALL OVER BACKWARDS or FALL OVER ONESELF.

[backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards] <adv. phr.> To the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. * /He understood automobile engines backwards and forwards./ * /He knew basketball rules backwards and forwards./ * /I explained matters to him so that he understood backwards and forwards how it was./

[bacon] See: BRING HOME THE BACON.

[bad] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE'S BAD GRACES, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE'S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT HALF BAD, ON ONE'S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.

[bad actor] <n.>, <informal> A person or animal that is always fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. * /The boy was a bad actor and nobody liked him./

[bad blood] <n.>, <informal> Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. * /There's a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they'll never talk to each other again./ Compare: BAD SHIT.

[bad egg] <n.>, <slang> A ne'er-do-well; good-for nothing; a habitual offender. * /The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last./ Contrast: GOOD EGG.

[bad mouth (someone)] <v.>, <slang> To say uncomplimentary or libelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another's reputation. * /It's not nice to had mouth people./

[bad news] <n.>, <slang> An event, thing, or person which is disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. * /What's the new professor like?
– He's all bad news to me./

[bad paper] <n.>, <slang> 1. A check for which there are no funds in the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. * /Why are you so mad?
– I was paid with some bad paper./

[bad shit] <n.>, <vulgar>, <avoidable> An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation. * /There is so much had shit between the two gangs that I bet there will he more killings this year./ Compare: BAD BLOOD.

[bad trip] <n.>, <slang>, <also used colloquially> A disturbing or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the influence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience in general. * /Why's John's face so distorted?
– He had a bad trip./ * /How was your math exam?
– Don't mention it; it was a bad trip./

[bag] See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

[bag and baggage] <adv.>, <informal> With all your clothes and other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. * /If they don't pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage./

[baggage] See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.

[bail] See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.

[bail out(1)] <v.> 1. To secure release from prison until trial by leaving or promising money or property for a while. * /When college students got into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail them out./ 2. <informal> To free from trouble by giving or lending money. * /He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bail him out a couple of times./

[bail out(2)] <v.> To jump from an airplane and drop with a parachute. * /When the second engine failed, the pilot told everyone to bail out./

[bail out(3)] <v.> To dip water from a filling or leaking boat; throw water out of a boat to prevent its sinking. * /Both men were kept busy bailing out the rowboat after it began to leak./

[bait] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.

[bake] See: HALF-BAKED.

[baker's dozen] <n.>, <informal> Thirteen. * /"How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir? " the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it a baker's dozen."/

[balance] See: HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.

[ball] See: BASE ON BALLS, CARRY THE BALL, FLY BALL, FOUL BALL, GET THE BALL ROLLING, SET THE BALL ROLLING, START THE BALL ROLLING, GOPHER BALL, GROUND BALL, HAVE A HALL, HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL, JUMP BALL, KEEP THE BALL. ROLLING, LONG BALL, ON THE BALL, PASSED BALL, PLAY BALL.

[ball game] <n.>, <slang>, also <informal> The entire matter at hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. * /You said we can get a second mortgage for the house?! Wow! That's a whole new ball game./

[ball of fire] <n.>, <informal> A person with great energy and ability; a person who can do something very well. * /He did poorly in school but as a salesman he is a ball of fire./ * /The new shortstop is a good fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting./ Compare: HOT NUMBER, HOT ONE.

[balloon] See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.

[ballot stuffing] See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.

[ball up] <v.>, <slang> To make a mess of; confuse. * /Don't ball me up./ * /Hal balled up the business with his errors./ - Often used in the passive. * /He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming or going./ Compare: MIXED UP.

[baloney] <n.>, <informal> Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. * /John brags that he's won the $10 million lottery, and I think it's just a lot of baloney./ * /"Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney," Susie answered with a disgusted look./ * /Do you still believe all that baloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China and Hungary./

[banana oil] <n.>, <slang> Flattery that is an obvious exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive. * /Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/