Ниже представлены идиомы, которые начинаются с буквы "А".
above board
Следует понимать как: честная сделка, что-то сделанное честно и в соответствии с законом
Пример:
I’m sure the deal was completely above board as I know James well and he’d never do anything illegal or corrupt.
above the law
Следует понимать как: вне закона, не подчиняющееся законам общества
Пример:
Just because his father is a rich and powerful man, he seems to think he’s above the law and he can do whatever he likes.
Achilles’ heel
Следует понимать как: ахиллесова пята, слабое место
Пример:
He’s a good golfer, but his Achilles’ heel is his putting and it’s often made him lose matches.
across the board
Следует понимать как: повсеместно, без исключений
Пример:
The company has promised to increase salaries across the board, so everyone will get a pay rise.
add fuel to the fire
Следует понимать как: подливать масла в огонь, ухудшать ситуацию
Пример:
People are already unhappy, and if the government allows oil prices to increase it’ll just be adding fuel to the fire.
add insult to injury
Следует понимать как: сыпать соль на рану
Пример:
He said my clothes didn’t suit me, and then to add insult to injury he said I needed to lose some weight!
against all odds | against all the odds
Следует понимать как: вопреки всему, несмотря ни на что
Пример:
He had a serious accident and was close to death but, against all odds, he recovered and now he’s fine.
agree to differ | agree to disagree
Следует понимать как: соглашаться остаться при своем мнении, признавать разные точки зрения
Пример:
We’re never going to think the same way about politics, so let’s just agree to differ and leave it at that.
ahead of the game
Следует понимать как: быть впереди всех, быть лучшим
Пример:
We got ahead of the game by employing the best people in our research laboratories.
all hell broke loose
Следует понимать как: все вышло из-под контроля, хаос
Пример:
I was walking through the station on my way to work when I heard this huge explosion, and then all hell broke loose.
all the rage
Следует понимать как: очень популярное, модное
Пример:
Can you remember when disco was all the rage and we’d go dancing all night in the clubs?
an acid test
Следует понимать как: последняя проверка, тест на качество
Пример:
Our new player has been doing well at training and in practice matches, but the acid test will come in her first real match.
an act of God
Следует понимать как: стихийное бедствие
Пример:
My daughter said that if disasters that kill lots of people are acts of God, why does He do it. I didn’t know what to say.
an ax to grind (американский вариант)
Следует понимать как: обида, которую человек часто обсуждает
Пример:
I have an ax to grind with Mitch. He owes me money and he’s been avoiding me.
an axe to grind (британский вариант)
Следует понимать как: иметь свое мнение и доказывать его при каждом удобном случае
Пример:
Billy’s had this axe to grind about globalisation recently and he’s always going on about it.
another string to your bow
Следует понимать как: иметь больше возможностей
Пример:
I’ve lost my job and I’ll have to retrain for something else. I wish I already had another string to my bow.
answer the call of nature
Следует понимать как: сходить в туалет
Пример:
Could we stop somewhere? I need to answer the call of nature.
around the clock
Следует понимать как: круглосуточно
Пример:
I have to finish this report by Tuesday, so I’ll be working around the clock until I get it done.
as soon as possible | asap
Следует понимать как: как можно скорее
Пример:
She said she’ll be here as soon as possible, so there’s no point calling her again. She’s coming as quickly as she can.
asking for trouble
Следует понимать как: напрашиваться на неприятности
Пример:
Running fast without warming up properly is asking for trouble, and could easily cause a muscle strain.
at a loose end
Следует понимать как: без дела, без работы
Пример:
If I’m ever at a loose end, I look for a good book to read.
at cross-purposes
Следует понимать как: недопонимание; ситуация, когда думаешь, что говоришь об одном и том же, но говоришь о разном
Пример:
I was talking to Kyle about Georgia, but we were at cross-purposes. I was talking about Georgia in Russia, and he was talking about Georgia in the U.S.A. We laughed when we realised we were talking about two different “Georgias”.
at loose ends
Следует понимать как: быть не при деле, скучать
Пример:
We tried limiting the time Jimmy could play computer games, but he gets restless and moody whenever he’s at loose ends, so we let him play.
at sea | all at sea
Следует понимать как: быть сбитым с толку, не знать, что делать
Пример:
For the first few days in her new job, Gail felt totally at sea. She didn’t know what to do or who to ask for help.
at the drop of a hat
Следует понимать как: делать что-то немедленно, без подготовки
Пример:
I’d quit my job at the drop of a hat if I didn’t have a family to support.
at your wits’ end
Следует понимать как: быть в отчаянии, испробовав все возможные решения
Пример:
I’m at my wits’ end! I’ve been trying to solve a problem with some software all morning and I still haven’t got it to work!
