1500 русских и 1500 английских идиом, фразеологизмов и устойчивых словосочетаний - стр. 11
His children treat him as though he has one foot in the grave.
дышать на ладан (существовать последние дни)
to be on one’s last legs
My fridge is on its last legs – I’ve had it twenty years.
если бы да кабы
if wishes were horses, beggars would ride
если уж на то пошло
come to that
I haven’t seen Judy for a long time. Come to that, I haven’t seen her husband either.
ехать в Тулу со своим самоваром
to carry coals to Newcastle
Taking her flowers would be like carrying coals to Newcastle – she grows flowers in her own garden.
ждать, откуда ветер подует
to see how the wind blows; to see which way the cat jumps
Before we tell them about our plans, I think we should see which way the wind blows.
My husband always waits to see which way the cat is going to jump before making a decision.
жечь корабли
to burn one’s boats
I’ve burnt my boats by telling my boss that I was leaving, but I haven’t got another job.
Жив курилка!
there is life in the old dog yet
жив-здоров
safe and sound; alive and kicking
Her son returned safe and sound from the war.
The last time I saw John, he was alive and kicking.
живого места не оставить (на ком-л.)
to beat someone black and blue; to beat the living daylights out of someone
The man beat Tom black and blue for stealing.
If you do that again, I’ll beat the living daylights out of you.
жить как кошка с собакой
to lead a cat and dog life
She and her brother lead a cat and dog life. They are always quarrelling.
жить не по средствам
to live beyond one’s means
No wonder the Browns are deeply in debt; they have been living beyond their means for years.
жребий брошен
the die is cast
I’m not sure that I’ll find a better job but the die is cast – I’ve told my boss I wanted to leave.
за спиной (у кого-л.)
behind someone’s back
She has been saying unpleasant things about you behind your back.
за деревьями леса не видеть
not to see the wood for the trees
When people get stressed they often can’t see the wood for the trees.
за здорово живешь
for kicks
The boy said that he had stolen the car just for kicks.
за плечами (у кого-л.)
under one’s belt
Gerald has a lot of experience under his belt.
за решеткой
behind bars
He spent five years behind bars after being convicted of forgery.
забот полон рот (у кого-л.)
to have one’s hands full; to have a lot on one’s plate
He has her hands full looking after four children.
Sorry, I can’t help you – I’ve got too much on my plate at the moment.
заводить волынку
to harp on the same string
I wish you’d stop harping on the same string every time I light a cigarette. I won’t give up smoking.
заговаривать зубы (кому-л.)
to spin someone a yarn
He managed to spin me a yarn about being ill to explain his lateness.
загонять в угол (кого-л.)
to box someone into a corner
Her convincing arguments quickly boxed me into a corner.
задавать головомойку (кому-л.)
to haul someone over the coals
The teacher hauled the boy over the coals for being late for school.
задавать тон
to set the pace; to call the tune
His work sets the pace for future experiments.
The secretary calls the tune in the office.
задевать за живое (кого-л.)
to cut someone to the quick; to hit/touch a (raw) nerve
Her angry words cut me to the quick.
I think I touched a nerve when I asked him about his children.
задирать нос
to put on airs and graces