Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[grandstand] <v.>, <slang>, <informal> To show off, to perform histrionics needlessly. * /Stop grandstanding and get down to honest work!/

[grandstander] <n.>, <slang>, <informal> A showoff, a person who likes to engage in histrionics. * /Many people think that Evel Knievel is a grandstander./

[granted] See: TAKE FOR GRANTED.

[grasp at straws] or [clutch at straws] <v. phr.> To depend on something that is useless or unable to help in a time of trouble or danger; try something with little hope of succeeding. * /To depend on your memory without studying for a test is to grasp at straws./ * /The robber clutched at straws to make excuses. He said he wasn't in the country when the robbery happened./

[grass] See: LET GRASS GROW UNDER ONE'S FEET, SNAKE IN THE GRASS.

[grasshopper] See: KNEE-HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER

[grass is always greener on the other side of the fence] or [grass is always greener on the other side of the hill] We are often not satisfied and want to be somewhere else; a place that is far away or different seems better than where we are. * /John is always changing his job because the grass always looks greener to him on the other side of the fence./

[grave] See: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, TURN IN ONE'S GRAVE or TURN OVER IN ONE'S GRAVE.

[graveyard shift] <n. phr.> The work period lasting from sundown to sunup, when one has to work in the dark or by artificial light. * /"Why are you always so sleepy in class?" Professor Brown asked Sam. "Because I have to work the graveyard shift beside going to school," Sam answered./

[gravy] See: PAN GRAVY.

[gravy train] <n.>, <slang>, <informal> The kind of job that brings in a much higher income than the services rendered would warrant. * /Jack's job at the Athletic Club as Social Director is a regular gravy train./

[gray] See: GET GRAY HAIR or GET GRAY, GIVE GRAY HAIR.

[grease-ball] <n.>, <slang>, <derogatory> (avoid) An immigrant from a southern country, such as Mexico, Italy, or Spain; a person with oily looking black hair. * /Mr. White is a racist; he calls Mr. Lopez from Tijuana a grease-ball because he has dark hair./

[grease monkey] <n., <slang> 1. A person who greases or works on machinery; a mechanic or worker in a garage or gasoline station. * /Hey, grease monkey, fill up my gas tank!/ * /The grease monkey was all dirty when he came out from under the car./ 2. Airplane mechanic. * /Jack was a grease monkey in the Air Force./

[grease one's palm] or [grease the palm] <slang> 1. To pay a person for something done or given, especially dishonestly; bribe. * /Some politicians will help you if you grease their palms./ 2. To give a tip; pay for a special favor or extra help. * /We had to grease the palm of the waiter to get a table in the crowded restaurant./

[grease the wheels] <v. phr.>, <informal> To do something or act to make something go smoothly or happen in the way that is wanted. * /Mr. Davis asked a friend to grease the wheels so he could borrow money from the bank./ * /William's father tried to grease the wheels for him to get a new job./

[greasy spoon] <n.>, <informal> Any small, inexpensive restaurant patronized by workers or people in a hurry; a place not noted for its excellence of cuisine or its decor. * /I won't have time to eat lunch at the club today; I'll just grab a sandwich at the local greasy spoon./

[great] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

[great deal] See: GOOD DEAL.

[great Godfrey] or [great guns] or [great Scott] <interj.>, <informal> A saying usually used to show surprise or anger. * /Great Godfrey! Uncle Willie is sitting on top of the flagpole!/ * /Great guns! The lion is out of his cage./ * /Great Scott! Who stole my watch?/

[great guns] <adv. phr.>, <informal> 1. Very fast or very hard. Usually used in the phrases "blow great guns", "go great guns". * /The wind was blowing great guns, and big waves beat the shore./ * /The men were going great guns to finish the job./ Compare: FAST AND FURIOUS. 2. Very well; successfully. * /Smith's new store opened last week and it's going great guns./

[great many] See: GOOD MANY.

[great oaks from little acorns grow] As great oak trees grow from tiny acorns, so many great people or things grew from a small and unimportant beginning, so be patient.
– A proverb. * /Many great men were once poor, unimportant boys. Great oaks from little acorns grow./

[Great Scott] See: GREAT GODFREY.

[green] See: GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL.

[green around the gills] or [pale around the gills] <adj. phr.>, <slang> Pale-faced from fear or sickness; sickly; nauseated. * /Bill's father took him for a ride in his boat while the waves were rough, and when he came back he was green around the gills./ * /The car almost hit Mary crossing the street, and she was pale around the gills because it came so close./ - Also used with other prepositions besides "around", as "about", "at", "under", and with other colors, as "blue", "pink", "yellow", "white".

[green-eyed monster] <n. phr.> Jealousy; envy. * /When John's brother got the new bicycle, the green-eyed monster made John fight with him./

[green power] <n.>, <slang>, <informal> The social prestige or power money can buy one. * /In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them./

[green thumb] <n.>, <informal> A talent for gardening; ability to make things grow.
– Considered trite by many. * /Mr. Wilson's neighbors say his flowers grow because he has a green thumb./

[green with envy] <adj. phr.> Very jealous; full of envy. * /Alice's girlfriends were green with envy when they saw her new dress./ * /The other boys were green with envy when Joe bought a second-hand car./ Compare: GREEN-EYED MONSTER.

[grief] See: COME TO GRIEF, GOOD GRIEF, GOOD NIGHT(2) or GOOD GRIEF.

[grin and bear it] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be as cheerful as possible in pain or trouble; do something without complaining. * /The doctor told Mrs. Howard that she had to stop eating sweets if she wanted to lose weight, and she tried to grin and bear it./ * /If you must have a tooth drilled, all you can do is grin and bear it./ Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF, PUT UP WITH.

[grind] See: AX TO GRIND.

[grindstone] See: KEEP ONE'S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE.

[grind to a halt] <v. phr.>, <informal> To slow down and stop like a machine does when turned off. * /The old car ground to a halt in front of the house./ * /The Cardinals' offense ground to a halt before the stubborn Steeler defense./

[grip] See: COME TO GRIPS WITH, LOSE ONE'S GRIP.

[groove] See: IN THE GROOVE.

[gross out] <v.>, <slang> To commit a vulgar act; to repel someone by saying a disgusting or vulgar thing. * /You are going to gross out people if you continue talking like that./