Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[run to] <v. phr.> To approximate; reach. * /It has been estimated that the casualties will run to over 300,000 killed by cholera and starvation in the crowded refugee camps./

[run to seed] See: GO TO SEED.

[run true to form] <v. phr.> To follow a usual way; act as expected; agree with how a person usually acts. * /The little boy's actions ran true to form. He bothered his mother until she gave him his way./ Compare: PAR FOR THE COURSE.

[run up] <v. phr.> 1. To add to the amount of; increase. * /Karl ran up a big bill at the bookstore./ 2. To put together or make hastily; sew quickly together. * /Jill ran up a costume for the party on her sewing machine./ 3. To pull (something) upward on a rope; put (something) up quickly. * /The pirates ran up the black flag./

[run up against] See: UP AGAINST.

[run wild] <v. phr.> To be or go out of control. * /The students ran wild during spring vacation./ * /The new supervisor lets the children run wild./ * /The violets are running wild in the flower bed./ Compare: RUN RIOT.

[run with the hare and hunt (ride) with the hounds] <v. phr.> To appear to support both parties in a conflict; to conduct things in ambiguous ways. * /Critics accused the king of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds./

[running commentary] <n. phr.> A continual series of remarks. * /My chiropractor gives me a running commentary on the health care debate while he is giving me a rubdown./

[rush] See: BUM'S RUSH.

[Russian roulette] <n.> A game of chance in which one bullet is placed in a revolver, the cartridge cylinder is spun, and the player aims the gun at his own head and pulls the trigger. * /Only a fool would risk playing Russian roulette./

[rust away] <v. phr.> To disappear gradually through the process of rust or corrosion. * /If you refuse to paint those metal bars on the window, they will soon rust away./

[rustproof] <adj.> Free from rusting or corrosion; permeated with anti-rust chemical agents. * /My new watch is rustproof and waterproof and I can wear it while swimming or taking a shower./

S

[saber rattling] or [sword rattling] <n.> A show of military strength usually to frighten; a threat of military force. * /The dictator marched his troops and tanks along the border of our country and did some saber rattling./

[sack] See: GET THE SACK at GET THE BOUNCE(2), GIVE THE SACK at GIVE THE BOUNCE(2), HIT THE HAY or HIT THE SACK, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG or LEAVE HOLDING THE SACK.

[sack in/out] <v.>, <slang> To go to sleep for a prolonged period (as in from night to morning). * /Where are you guys going to sack in/sack out?/

[sacred cow] <n.> A person or thing that is never criticized, laughed at, or insulted even if it deserves such treatment. * /Motherhood is a sacred cow to most politicians./ * /The bold young governor had no respect for the state's sacred cows./ * /Television respects too many sacred cows./

[sacrifice fly] <n.> A baseball hit high in the air that helps a runner score after it is caught. * /Mantle drove in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly./

[saddle] See: IN THE SADDLE.

[saddled with] <adj. phr.> Burdened with; handicapped. * /The business was so saddled with debt that the new owner had a hard time making a go of it for a couple of years./

[saddle shoe] <n.> A white shoe with a black or brown piece of leather shaped like a saddle across the top of the shoe. * /Mary wore bobby socks and saddle shoes./

[safe] See: PLAY SAFE.

[safe and sound] <adj. phr.> Not harmed; not hurt; safe and not damaged. * /The package arrived safe and sound./ * /The children returned from their trip safe and sound./ Compare: WITH A WHOLE SKIN.

[safety blitz] <n.> A defensive play in football in which the defensive safety man makes a quick run to tackle the offensive quarterback. * /Bob's safety blitz kept Tom from making a touchdown./

[safety glass] <n.> Two panes of glass with a sheet of plastic between them so that the glass will not break into pieces. * /Safety glass is used in cars because it does not break into pieces./

[safety in numbers] <n. phr.> Protection against trouble by being in a group. * /Peter said, "Stay in a group; there is safety in numbers."/

[safety island] or [safety zone] <n.> A raised area in a highway or road to be used only by people walking. * /John was half-way across the street when the light changed. He stayed on the safety island until it changed again./

[sail] See: SET SAIL, RAKE THE WIND OUT OF ONE'S SAILS.

[sail close to the wind] <v. phr.> To be on the borderline between legality and illegality. * /The wealthy tycoon sailed close to the wind during Prohibition./

[sail into] <v.>, <informal> 1. To attack with great strength; begin hitting hard. * /George grabbed a stick and sailed into the dog./ Compare: LAY INTO, PITCH INTO. 2. To scold or criticize very hard. * /The coach really sailed into Bob for dropping the pass./ Syn.: BAWL OUT, LAY INTO.

[sail (right) through] <v. phr.> To conclude easily and rapidly; finish something. * /The bright young man sailed through the bar exam in record time./

[sailor collar] <n.> A large square collar like those worn by sailors. * /Little Timmy's suit has a sailor collar./ * /Mary's blouse has a sailor collar./

[sail under false colors] <v. phr.> 1. To sail a ship, often pirate, under the flag of another country. * /The pirate ship flew the American flag until it got near, then raised the black flag./ 1. To pretend to be what you are not; masquerade. * /The garage hired Jones as a mechanic, but fired him when they found he was sailing under false colors./ * /They found out that Smith was an escaped convict who had been sailing under false colors as a lawyer./

[sake] See: FOR ONE'S SAKE.

[salad days] <n. phr.>, <informal> The period of one's youth; a period of inexperience. * /He was silly and immature during his salad days in high school./

[sale] See: NO DEAL or NO SALE, ON SALE, WHITE SALE.

[sales check] or [sales slip] <n.> A paper which the clerk gives the person who bought something; a paper that shows what you bought in a store and how much you paid for it. * /Mrs. Smith checked the sales slip with what she bought./ * /Mary brought the sales check when she returned the dress so she could get her money back./

[sales talk] <n.> A speech made to point out all the good reasons why the sale would help someone who might buy the product. * /Mrs. Goldsmith gave the man a good sales talk about the new house./ * /The coach gave a sales talk on exercise in the school assembly./

[Salisbury steak] <n.> A broiled or fried hamburger patty sometimes containing eggs, milk, bread crumbs, and seasoning. * /James ordered a Salisbury steak for lunch./

[salt] See: BACK TO THE SALT MINES, TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT also TAKE WITH A PINCH OF SALT, WORTH ONE'S SALT.