Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[cash in] <v.> 1. To exchange (as poker chips or bonds) for the value in money. * /He paid the bill by cashing in some bonds./ * /When the card game ended, the players cashed in their chips and went home./ 2. or [cash in one's chips] <slang> To die. * /When the outlaw cashed in his chips, he was buried with his boots on./ * /He was shot through the body and knew he was going to cash in./

[cash in on] <v.>, <informal> To see (a chance) and profit by it; take advantage of (an opportunity or happening). * /Mr. Brown cashed in on people's great interest in camping and sold three hundred tents./

[cash on the barrelhead] <n. phr.>, <informal> Money paid at once; money paid when something is bought. * /Father paid cash on the barrelhead for a new car./ * /Some lawyers want cash on the barrelhead./ Compare: COLD CASH.

[cast] or [shed] or [throw light upon] <v. phr.> To explain; illuminate; clarify. * /The letters that were found suddenly cast a new light on the circumstances of Tom's disappearance./ * /Einstein's General Theory of Relativity threw light upon the enigma of our universe./

[cast about] also [cast around] <v.>, <literary> 1. To look everywhere; search. * /The committee was casting about for an experienced teacher to take the retiring principal's place./ 2. To search your mind; try to remember something; try to think of something. * /The teacher cast about for an easy way to explain the lesson./ * /Jane cast around for a good subject for her report./

[cast down] <adj.> Discouraged; sad; unhappy.
– Used less often than the reverse form, "downcast". * /Mary was cast down at the news of her uncle's death./ * /Charles felt cast down when he lost the race./

[cast in one's lot with] <formal> See: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.

[castle in the air] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR.

[castles in Spain] See: CASTLES IN THE AIR.

[cast off] <v.> 1a. or [cast loose] To unfasten; untie; let loose (as a rope holding a boat). * /The captain of the boat cast off the line and we were soon out in open water./ 1b. To untie a rope holding a boat or something suggesting a boat. * /We cast off and set sail at 6 A.M./ 2. To knit the last row of stitches. * /When she had knitted the twentieth row of stitches she cast off./ 3. To say that you do not know (someone) any more; not accept as a relative or friend. * /Mr. Jones cast off his daughter when she married against his wishes./

[cast one's lot with] See: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.

[cast out] <v.>, <formal> To force (someone) to go out or away; banish; expel. * /After the scandal, he was cast out of the best society./ Compare: CAST OFF(3).

[cast pearls before swine] or [cast one's pearls before swine] <n. phr.>, <literary> To waste good acts or valuable things on someone who won't understand or be thankful for them, just as pigs won't appreciate pearls.
– Often used in negative sentences. * /I won't waste good advice on John any more because he never listens to it. I won't cast pearls before swine./

[cast the first stone] <v. phr.>, <literary> To be the first to blame someone, lead accusers against a wrongdoer. * /Jesus said that a person who was without sin could cast the first stone./ * /Although Ben saw the girl cheating, he did not want to cast the first stone./

[cast up] <v.>, <literary> 1. To turn or direct upward; raise. * /The dying missionary cast up his eyes to heaven and prayed./ 2. <archaic> To do sums; do a problem in addition; add. * /Cast up 15, 43, 27, and 18./ * /When John had all the figures, he cast them up./

[cat] See: COPY CAT, CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT, FRAIDY-CAT or FRAID-CAT or SCAREDY CAT OY SCARED-CAT, HOLY CATS, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY, PLAY CAT AND MOUSE WITH, RAIN CATS AND DOGS.

[catch] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM, FAIR CATCH, SHOESTRING CATCH.

[catch-as-catch-can(1)] <adv. phr.> In a free manner; in any way possible; in the best way you can. * /On moving day everything is packed and we eat meals catch-as-catch-can./

[catch-as-catch-can(2)] <adj. phr.> Using any means or method; unplanned; free. * /Rip van Winkle seems to have led a catch-as-catch-can life./ * /Politics is rather a catch-as-catch-can business./ Compare: HIT-OR-MISS.

[catch at] <v.> 1. To try to catch suddenly; grab for. * /The boy on the merry-go-round caught at the brass ring, but did not get it./ 2. To seize quickly; accept mentally or physically. * /The hungry man caught at the sandwich and began to eat./ * /Joe caught at Bill's offer to help./

[catch at a straw] See: GRASP AT STRAWS.

[catch cold] <v. phr.> 1. or [take cold] To get a common cold-weather sickness that causes a running nose, sneezing, and sometimes sore throat and fever or other symptoms. * /Don't get your feet wet or you'll catch cold./ 2. <informal> To catch unprepared or not ready for a question or unexpected happening. * /I had not studied my lesson carefully, and the teacher's question caught me cold./ * /The opposing team was big and sure of winning, and they were caught cold by the fast, hard playing of our smaller players./

[catch (someone) dead] <v. phr.>, <informal> To see or hear (someone) in an embarrassing act or place at any time. Used in the negative usually in the passive. * /You won't catch Bill dead taking his sister to the movies./ * /John wouldn't be caught dead in the necktie he got for Christmas./

[catch fire] <v. phr.> 1. To begin to burn. * /When he dropped a match in the leaves, they caught fire./ 2. To become excited. * /The audience caught fire at the speaker's words and began to cheer./ * /His imagination caught fire as he read./

[catch flat-footed] See: FLAT-FOOTED(2).

[catch forty winks] See: FORTY WINKS.

[catch hold of] <v. phr.> To grasp a person or a thing. * /"I've been trying to catch hold of you all week," John said, "but you were out of town."/ * /The mountain climber successfully caught hold of his friend's hand and thereby saved his life./

[catch it] or [get it] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be scolded or punished.
– Usually used of children. * /John knew he would catch it when he came home late for supper./ * /Wow, Johnny! When your mother sees those torn pants, you're going to get it./ Compare: GET WHAT'S COMING TO ONE. Contrast: GIVE IT TO(2).