Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[count one’s chickens before they’re hatched]{v. phr.}, {informal} To depend on getting a profit or gain before you have it; make plans that suppose something will happen; be too sure that something will happen. Usually used in negative sentences. •/When Jim said that he would be made captain of the team, John told him not to count his chickens before they were hatched./ •/Maybe some of your customers won’t pay, and then where will you be? Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched./

[count out]{v.} 1. To leave (someone) out of a plan; not expect (someone) to share in an activity; exclude. •/«Will this party cost anything? If it does, count me out, because I’m broke.»/ •/When the coach was planning who would play in the big game he counted Paul out, because Paul had a hurt leg./ 2. To count out loud to ten to show that (a boxer who has been knocked down in a fight) is beaten or knocked out if he does not get up before ten is counted. •/The champion was counted. out in the third round./ 3a. To add up; count again to be sure of the amount. •/Mary counted out the number of pennies she had./ 3b. To count out loud, (especially the beats in a measure of music). •/The music teacher counted out the beats «one-two-three-four,» so the class would sing in time./

[count to ten]{v. phr.}, {informal} To count from one to ten so you will have time to calm down or get control of yourself; put off action when angry or excited so as not to do anything wrong. •/Father always told us to count to ten before doing anything when we got angry./ Compare: KEEP ONE’S HEAD. Contrast: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE.

[county mounty]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s hand radio jargon} Sheriff’s deputy. •/The county mounties are parked under the bridge./

[courage] See: HAVE THE COURAGE OF ONE’S CONVICTIONS, SCREW UP ONE’S COURAGE.

[course] See: IN DUE COURSE, MATTER OF COURSE, OF COURSE, PAR FOR THE COURSE.

[court] See: DAY IN COURT, FRONT COURT, HOLD COURT, KANGAROO COURT.

[cousin] See: FIRST COUSIN, SECOND COUSIN.

[cover] See: FROM COVER TO COVER at FROM – TO(3), UNDER COVER.

[cover a lot of ground]{v. phr.} To process a great deal of information and various facts. •/Professor Brown’s thorough lecture on asteroids covered a lot of ground today./

[covered-dish supper] or [potluck supper] A meal to which each guest brings a share of the food. •/Dolly made a chicken casserole for the covered-dish supper./

[cover girl]{n.} A pretty girl or woman whose picture is put on the cover of a magazine. •/Ann is not a cover girl, but she is pretty enough to be./

[cover ground] or [cover the ground]{v. phr.} 1. To go a distance; travel. •/Mr. Rogers likes to travel in planes, because they cover ground so quickly./ 2. {informal} To move over an area at a speed that is pleasing; move quickly over a lot of ground. •/The new infielder really covers the ground at second base./ •/Herby’s new car really covers ground!/ 3. To give or receive the important facts and details about a subject. •/If you’re thinking about a trip to Europe, the airline has a booklet that covers the ground pretty well./ •/The class spent two days studying the Revolutionary War, because they couldn’t cover that much ground in one day./

[cover one’s tracks] or [cover up one’s tracks]{v. phr.} 1. To hide and not leave anything, especially foot marks, to show where you have been, so that no one can follow you. •/The deer covered his tracks by running in a stream./ 2. {informal} To hide or not say where you have been or what you have done; not tell why you do something or what you plan to do. •/The boys covered their tracks when they went swimming by saying that they were going for a walk./ Compare: COVER UP(1).

[cover the waterfront]{v. phr.} To talk or write all about something; talk about something all possible ways. •/The principal pretty well covered the waterfront on student behavior./

[cover up]{v.}, {informal} 1. To hide something wrong or bad from attention. •/The spy covered up his picture-taking by pretending to be just a tourist./ •/A crooked banker tried to cover up his stealing some of the bank’s money by starting a fire to destroy the records./ Compare: COVER ONE’S TRACKS(2). 2. In boxing: To guard your head and body with your gloves, arms, and shoulders. •/Jimmy’s father told him to cover up and protect his chin when he boxed./ 3. To protect someone else from blame or punishment; protect someone with a lie or alibi. – Often used with «for». •/The teacher wanted to know who broke the window and told the boys not to try to cover up for anyone./ •/The burglar’s friend covered up for him by saying that he was at his home when the robbery occurred./

[cover-up]{n.}, {slang} A plan or excuse to escape blame or punishment; lie, alibi. •/When the men robbed the bank, their cover-up was to dress like policemen./ •/Joe’s cover-up to his mother after he had been fighting was that he fell down./

[cow] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY COW, SACRED COW.

[cowboy]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who drives his car carelessly and at too great a speed in order to show off his courage. •/Joe’s going to be arrested some day – he is a cowboy on the highway./

[cow college]{n.}, {slang} 1. An agricultural college; a school where farming is studied. •/A new, bigger kind of apple is being grown at the cow college./ 2. A new or rural college not thought to be as good as older or city colleges. •/John wanted to go to a big college in New York City, not to a cow college./

[cows tail]{n.}, {dialect} A person who is behind others. •/John was the cow’s tail at the exam./ •/Fred was always the old cow’s tail for football practice./

[cozy up]{v.}, {slang} To try to be close or friendly; try to be liked. – Usually used with «to». •/John is cozying up to Henry so he can join the club./

[crack] See: HARD NUT TO CRACK or TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.

[crack a book]{v. phr.}, {slang} To open a book in order to study. – Usually used with a negative. •/John did not crack a book until the night before the exam./ •/Many students think they can pass without cracking a book./

[crack a bottle]{v. phr.} To open a new bottle of alcoholic beverage. •/On birthdays it is customary to crack a bottle and offer one’s best wishes./

[crack a joke]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make a joke; tell a joke. •/The men sat around the stove, smoking and cracking jokes./

[crack a smile]{v. phr.}, {informal} To let a smile show on one’s face; permit a smile to appear. •/Bob told the whole silly story without even cracking a smile./ •/Scrooge was a gloomy man, who never cracked a smile./ •/When we gave the shy little boy an ice cream cone, he finally cracked a smile./

[crack down]{v. phr.}, {informal} To enforce laws or rules strictly; require full obedience to a rule. •/After a speeding driver hit a child, the police cracked down./ – Often used with «on». •/Police suddenly cracked down on the selling of liquors to minors./ •/The coach cracked down on the players when he found they had not been obeying the training rules./

[crack of dawn]{n. phr.} The time in the morning when the sun’s rays first appear. •/The rooster crows at the crack of dawn and wakes up everybody on the farm./

[cracked up]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Favorably described or presented; praised. – Usually used in the expression «not what it’s cracked up to be». •/The independent writer’s life isn’t always everything it’s cracked up to be./ •/In bad weather, a sailing cruise isn’t what it’s cracked up to be./

[cracking] See: GET CRACKING – at GET GOING(2).

[crackpot]{n.}, {attrib. adj.}, {informal} 1. {n.} An eccentric person with ideas that don’t make sense to most other people. •/Don’t believe what Uncle Noam tells you – he is a crackpot./ 2. {attrib. adj.} •/That’s a crackpot idea./

[crack the whip]{v. phr.}, {informal} To get obedience or cooperation by threats of punishment. •/If the children won’t behave when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip./

[crack up]{v.} 1. To wreck or be wrecked; smash up. •/The airplane cracked up in landing./ •/He cracked up his car./ 2. {informal} To become mentally ill under physical or mental overwork or worry. •/He had kept too busy for years, and when failures came, he cracked up./ •/It seemed to be family problems that made him crack up./ 3. Burst into laughter or cause to burst into laughter. •/That comedian cracks me up./

[cradle] See: ROB THE CRADLE.

[cradle robber], [cradle robbing] See: ROB THE CRADLE.

[cramp] See: WRITER’S CRAMP.

[cramp one’s style]{v. phr.}, {informal} To limit your natural freedom; prevent your usual behavior; limit your actions or talk. •/He cramped his style a good deal when he lost his money./ •/Army rules cramped George’s style./

[crash dive]{n.} A sudden dive made by a submarine to escape an enemy; a dive made to get deep under water as quickly as possible. •/The captain of the submarine told his crew to prepare for a crash dive when he saw the enemy battleship approaching./

[crash-dive]{v.} 1. To dive deep underwater in a submarine as quickly as possible. •/We shall crash-dive if we see enemy planes coming./ 2. To dive into (something) in an airplane. •/When the plane’s motor was hit by the guns of the enemy battleship, the pilot aimed the plane at the ship and crash-dived into it./

[crash the gate]{v. phr.}, {slang} To enter without a ticket or without paying; attend without an invitation or permission. •/Bob got into the circus without paying. He crashed the gate./ •/Three boys tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn’t let them in./

[craw] See: STICK IN ONE’S CRAW.

[crawl up] See: RIDE UP.

[crazy] or [mad] or [nuts about]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Excessively fond of; infatuated with. •/Jack is totally nuts about Liz, but she is not too crazy about him./

[cream] See: VANISHING CREAM.

[cream of the crop]{n. phr.} The best of a group; the top choice. •/May Queen candidates were lovely, but Betsy and Nancy were the cream of the crop./ •/The students had drawn many good pictures and the teacher chose the cream of the crop to hang up when the parents came to visit./

[creature of habit]{n. phr.} A person who does things out of habit rather than by thought. •/Our boss is a creature of habit, so let us not confuse him with too many new ideas./

[credibility gap]{n.}, {hackneyed phrase}, {politics} An apparent discrepancy between what the government says and what one can observe for oneself. •/There was a tremendous credibility gap in the USA during the Watergate years./

[credit] See: DO CREDIT.

[creek] See: UP THE CREEK or UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.

[creep] See: THE CREEPS.

[creep up on]{v.} 1. To crawl towards; move along near the ground; steal cautiously towards so as not to be seen or noticed. •/The mouse did not see the snake creeping up on it over the rocks./ •/Indians were creeping up on the house through the bushes./ 2. or [sneak up on] To come little by little; arrive slowly and unnoticed. •/The woman’s hair was turning gray as age crept up on her./ •/Winter is creeping up on us little by little./ •/The boys didn’t notice the darkness creeping up on them while they were playing./ Compare: COME OVER.

[crew] See: SECTION GANG or SECTION CREW.

[crew cut] or [crew haircut]{n.} A boy’s or man’s hair style, cut so that the hair stands up in short, stiff bristle. •/Many boys like to get crew cuts during the summer to keep cooler./

[crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.

[crocodile tears]{n.} Pretended grief; a show of sorrow that is not really felt. •/When his rich uncle died, leaving him his money, John shed crocodile tears./ (From the old legend that crocodiles make weeping sounds to attract victims and then shed tears while eating them.)

[crook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK.

[crop] See: CASH CROP, CREAM OF THE CROP, STICK IN ONE’S CRAW or STICK IN ONE’S CROP.

[crop out]{v.} To appear at the surface; come through or show through from hiding or concealment. •/Rocks often crop out in New England pasture land./ •/A hidden hate cropped out in his words./

[cropper] See: COME A CROPPER.

[crop up]{v.} To come without warning; appear or happen unexpectedly. •/Problems cropped up almost every day when Mr. Reed was building his TV station./ •/Serious trouble cropped up just when Martin thought the problem of his college education was solved./ Compare: TURN UP.

[cross] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, CARRY ONE’S CROSS, DOUBLE CROSS, KEEP ONE’S FINGERS CROSSED at CROSS ONE’S FINGERS(1b).

[cross a bridge before one comes to it]{v. phr.} To worry about future events or trouble before they happen. – Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb. •/«Can I be a soldier when I grow up, Mother?» asked Johnny. «Don’t cross that bridge until you come to it,» said his mother./ Compare: BORROW TROUBLE.

[cross-check(1)]{v.} To test the truth of by examining in different ways or by seeing different reports about. •/If you see something in a book that may not be true, be sure to crosscheck it in other books./

[cross-check(2)]{n.} The testing of the truth of by checking one report against another or others. •/A cross-check with other books will show us if this story is true./

[cross fire]{n.} 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two or more places at once so that the lines of fire cross. •/The soldiers on the bridge were caught in the crossfire coming from both sides of the bridge./ 2. Fast or angry talking back and forth between two or more people; also, a dispute; a quarrel. •/There was a cross fire of excited questions and answers between the parents and the children who had been lost in the woods./ •/The principal and the graduates quarreled about the football team, and the coach was caught in the cross fire and lost his job./

[cross one’s fingers]{v. phr.} 1a. To cross two fingers of one hand for good luck. •/Mary crossed her fingers during the race so that Tom would win./ 11b. or [keep one’s fingers crossed]{informal} To wish for good luck. •/Keep your fingers crossed while I take the test./ 2. To cross two fingers of one hand to excuse an untruth that you are telling. •/Johnny crossed his fingers when he told his mother the lie./

[cross one’s heart] or [cross one’s heart and hope to die]{v. phr.}, {informal} To say that what you have said is surely true; promise seriously that it is true. – Often used by children in the longer form. Children often make a sign of a cross over the heart as they say it, for emphasis. •/«Cross my heart, I didn’t hide your bicycle,» Harry told Tom./ •/«I didn’t tell the teacher what you said. Cross my heart and hope to die,» Mary said to Lucy./

[cross one’s mind] or [pass through one’s mind]{v. phr.} To be a sudden or passing thought; be thought of by someone; come to your mind; occur to you. •/At first Bob was puzzled by Virginia’s waving, but then it crossed his mind that she was trying to tell him something./ •/When Jane did not come home by midnight, many terrible fears passed through Mother’s mind./

[cross one’s path]{v. phr.} To meet or encounter someone; to come upon someone more by accident than by plan. •/Surprisingly, I crossed John’s path in Central Park one afternoon./

[cross street]{n.} A street that crosses a main street and runs on both sides of it. •/Elm Street is a cross street on Main Street and there is a traffic light there./ Compare: THROUGH STREET.

[cross swords]{v. phr.}, {literary} To have an argument with; fight. – Often used with «with». •/Don’t argue with the teacher; you’re not old enough to cross swords with her./

[cross the wire]{v. phr.} To finish a race. •/The Russian crossed the wire just behind the American./

[cross up]{v.}, {informal} 1. To block or upset; throw into confusion or disorder. •/We were going to catch him at the gate, but he crossed us up by going in the back way./ •/Father crossed up the surprise party we had planned for him by not getting back in time./ 2. To deceive or be false to. •/George crossed up his partner by selling a lot of things secretly./

[crow] See: EAT CROW.

[crow before one is out of the woods]{v. phr.} To be glad or brag before you are safe from danger or trouble. – Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb, «Don’t crow before you are out of the woods.» •/John thought his team would win because the game was almost over, but he didn’t want to crow before they were out of the woods./ Often used in a short form, «out of the woods». •/Mary nearly died during the operation, and she is not out of the woods yet./

[crown jewels]{n. pl.} The crown, staff, and jewels used for the crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels representing royal power and authority. •/The crown jewels are handed down from one king to the next when the new king is crowned./

[crow to pick] See: BONE TO PICK or CROW TO PICK.

[crust] See: UPPER CRUST.

[crux of the matter]{n. phr.} The basic issue at hand; the core essence that one must face. •/The crux of the matter is that he is incompetent and we will have to fire him./

[cry] See: FAR CRY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HUE AND CRY.

[cry] or [scream bloody murder]{v. phr.} To bitterly and loudly complain against an indignity. •/Pete cried bloody murder when he found out that he didn’t get the promotion he was hoping for./

[cry before one is hurt] or [holler before one is hurt]{v. phr.}, {informal} To complain when there is no reason for it; become upset because you are worried or afraid. – Used in negative sentences. •/When Billy went to the barber, he began to cry before the barber cut his hair and his father told him not to cry before he was hurt./ – Often used as a proverb. •/John was worried because he would soon have a new boss. His mother said, «Don’t cry before you’re hurt!»/ Syn.: BORROW TROUBLE.

[cry buckets]{v. phr.} To shed an excessive amount of tears. •/Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat./

[cry for] or [cry out for]{v.}, {informal} To need badly; be lacking in. •/It has not rained for two weeks and the garden is crying for it./ •/The school is crying out for good teachers./

[cry out]{v.} 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. •/The woman in the water cried out «Help!»/ 2. To complain loudly; protest strongly. – Used with «against». •/Many people are crying out against the new rule./

[cry out for] See: CRY FOR.

[cry over spilled milk] or [cry over spilt milk]{v. phr.}, {informal} To cry or complain about something that has already happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped. •/After the baby tore up Sue’s picture book, Sue’s mother told her there was no use crying over spilled milk./ •/You have lost the game but don’t cry over spilt milk./ Compare: MAKE ONE’S BED AND LIE IN IT, WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

[crystal ball]{n.} A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass) that is used by fortune-tellers. •/The fortune-teller at the fair looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip next year./ 2. Any means of predicting the future. •/My crystal ball tells me you’ll be making the honor roll./

[crystal gazing]{n.} The attempt to predict future events. •/The magician’s specialty was crystal gazing./

[cry uncle] See: SAY UNCLE.

[cry wolf]{v. phr.} To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that you know is not there. •/The general said that the candidate was just crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the country./ (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)

[cub scout]{n.} A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior branch of the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age. •/Jimmie is only seven, too young to be a Cub Scout./

[cucumber] See: COOL AS A CUCUMBER.

[cudgel] See: TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR.

[cudgel one’s brains] See: BEAT ONE’S BRAINS OUT.

[cue in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To add new information to that which is already known. •/Let’s not forget to cue in Joe on what has been happening./

[cuff] See: OFF-THE-CUFF, ON THE CUFF.

[culture vulture]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who is an avid cultural sightseer, one who seeks out cultural opportunities ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a town visited, and brags about it. •/Aunt Mathilda is a regular culture vulture; she spends every summer in a different European capital going to museums and operas./

[cup] See: IN ONE’S CUPS.

[cup of tea] also [dish of tea]{n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Something you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation. Used with a possessive. •/You could always get him to go for a walk: hiking was just his cup of tea./ Compare: DOWN ONE’S ALLEY. 2. Something to think about; thing; matter. •/That’s another cup of tea./ Compare: KETTLE OF FISH.

[curb service]{n.} Waiting on customers while they sit in their cars. •/Families with small children often look for hamburger stands that offer curb service./

[curiosity killed the cat]{informal} Getting too nosy may lead a person into trouble. – A proverb. •/«Curiosity killed the cat,» Fred’s father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just before Christmas./

[curl] See: PIN CURL.

[curl one’s hair]{v. phr.}, {slang} To shock; frighten; horrify; amaze. •/Wait till you read what it says about you – this’ll curl your hair./ •/The movie about monsters from another planet curled his hair./

[curl up]{v.} 1a. To become curly or wavy. •/Bacon curls up when it is cooked./ 1b. To roll oneself into a ball. •/Tim curled up in bed and was asleep in five minutes./ 2. See: FOLD UP.

[current] See: SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT.

[curry favor]{v.} To flatter or serve someone to get his help or friendship. •/Joe tried to curry favor with the new teacher by doing little services that she didn’t really want./ •/Jim tried to curry favor with the new girl by telling her she was the prettiest girl in the class./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

[curve] See: THROW A CURVE.

[cut] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.

[cut a class]{v. phr.} To be truant; to deliberately miss a class and do something else instead. •/«If you keep cutting classes the way you do, you will almost surely flunk this course,» John’s professor said to him./

[cut a figure]{v. phr.} To make a favorable impression; carry off an activity with dignity and grace. •/With his handsome face and sporty figure, Harry cuts quite a figure with all the ladies./

[cut across]{v.} 1. To cross or go through instead of going around; go a short way. •/John didn’t want to walk to the corner and turn, so he cut across the yard to the next street./ 2. To go beyond to include; stretch over to act on; affect. •/The love for reading cuts across all classes of people, rich and poor./

[cut-and-dried]{adj. phr.} Decided or expected beforehand; following the same old line; doing the usual thing. •/The decision of the judge was cut-and-dried./ •/The ways of the king’s court were cut-and-dried./ •/People at the convention heard many cut-and-dried speeches./

[cut and run]{v.}, {informal} To abandon an unfavorable situation. •/When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors wanted to cut and run./

[cut a swathe]{v. phr.} 1a. To mow a path through a field. •/The farmer cut a swathe through the high grass with his scythe./ 1b. To cut down as if by mowing. •/The machine gun cut a swathe in the lines of enemy soldiers./ 2. {informal} To attract notice; make an impression; seem important. •/The movie star cut a wide swathe when he walked down the street./ •/John tries to show off and cut a big swathe with the girls./ Compare: GO OVER(6), MAKE A HIT.

[cut back]{v.} 1. To change direction suddenly while going at full speed. •/The halfback started to his left, cut back to his right, and ran for a touchdown./ 2. To use fewer or use less. •/After the big job was finished, the builder cut back the number of men working for him./ •/The school employed forty teachers until a lower budget forced it to cut back./

[cut back]{v. phr.} To diminish; lessen; decrease (said of budgets). •/The state had to cut back on the university budget./

[cutback]{n.} An act of decreasing monetary sources. •/The cutback in military spending has caused many bases to be closed./

[cut both ways] or [cut two ways]{v. phr.} To have two effects; cause injury to both sides. •/People who gossip find it cuts both ways./

[cut corners]{v. phr.} 1. To take a short way; not go to each corner. •/He cut corners going home in a hurry./ 2. To save cost or effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving. •/John’s father asked him to cut corners all he could in college./ 3. To do less than a very good job; do only what you must do on a job. •/He had cut corners in building his house, and it didn’t stand up well./

[cut down]{v.} To lessen; reduce; limit. •/Tom had to cut down expenses./ •/The doctor told Mr. Jones to cut down on smoking./

[cut down to size]{v. phr.}, {informal} To prove that someone is not as good as he thinks. •/The big boy told John he could beat him, but John was a good boxer and soon cut him down to size./ Syn.: PUT IN ONE’S PLACE.

[cut ice]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make a difference; make an impression; be accepted as important. – Usually used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. •/When Frank had found a movie he liked, what others said cut no ice with him./ •/Jones is democratic; a man’s money or importance never cuts any ice with him./ •/Does comfort cut any ice with you?/ •/I don’t know if beauty in a woman cuts any ice with him./

[cut in]{v.} 1. To force your way into a place between others in a line of cars, people, etc.; push in. •/After passing several cars, Fred cut in too soon and nearly caused an accident./ – Often used with «on». •/A car passed Jean and cut in on her too close; she had to brake quickly or she would have hit it./ •/The teacher beside the lunch line saw Pete cut in, and she sent him back to wait his turn./ 2. To stop a talk or program for a time; interrupt. •/While Mary and Jim were talking on the porch, Mary’s little brother cut in on them and began to tell about his fishing trip./ •/While we were watching the late show, an announcer cut in to tell who won the election./ Syn.: BREAK IN(2). 3. {informal} To tap a dancer on the shoulder and claim the partner. •/Mary was a good dancer and a boy could seldom finish a dance with her; someone always cut in./ – Often used with «on». •/At the leap year dance, Jane cut in on Sally because she wanted to dance with Sally’s handsome date./ 4. To connect to an electrical circuit or to a machine. •/Harry threw the switch and cut in the motor./ •/The airplane pilot cut in a spare gas tank./ 5. {informal} To take in; include. •/When John’s friends got a big contract, they cut John in./

[cut into]{v.} 1. To make less; reduce. •/The union made the company pay higher wages, which cut into the profits./ •/The other houses got old and shabby, and that cut into the value of his house./ •/At first Smith led in votes, but more votes came in and cut into his lead./ 2. To get into by cutting in. •/She heard the other women gossiping and cut into the talk./ •/While Bill was passing another car, a truck came around a curve heading for him, and Bill cut back into line quickly./

[cut loose]{v.} 1. To free from ties or connections, cut the fastenings of. •/The thief hastily cut the boat loose from its anchor./ Compare: LET LOOSE(1a). 2. {informal} To break away from control; get away and be free. •/The boy left home and cut loose from his parents' control./ 3. {informal} To behave freely or wildly. •/The men had come to the convention to have a good time, and they really cut loose./ •/When he got the news of his job promotion, Jack cut loose with a loud «Yippee!»/ Compare: LET GO(6).

[cut no ice]{v. phr.} To have no effect; achieve no result; be insignificant. •/The fact that the accused is a millionaire will cut no ice with this particular judge./

[cut off]{v.} 1. To separate or block. •/The flood cut the townspeople off from the rest of the world./ •/The woods cut off the view./ •/His rudeness cuts him off from friends he might have./ 2. To interrupt or stop. •/The television show was cut off by a special news report./ •/We were told to pay the bill or the water would be cut off./ 3. To end the life of; cause the death of. •/Disease cut Smith off in the best part of life./ 4. To give nothing to at death; leave out of a will. •/Jane married a man her father hated, and her father cut her off./ •/Frank’s uncle cut him off without a penny./ 5. To stop from operating; turn a switch to stop. •/The ship cut off its engines as it neared the dock./ Syn.: SHUT OFF, TURN OFF.

[cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face]{v. phr.} To suffer from an action intended originally to harm another person. •/In walking out and leaving his employer in the lurch, John really cut off his nose to spite his face, since no business wanted to hire him afterwards./

[cut offs]{n.}, {colloquial} Pants cut to the length of shorts and usually left unhemmed so as to look old and worn, e.g., considered cool and elegant. •/Jack always wears cut-offs during the summer./

[cut one’s eyeteeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).

[cut one’s losses]{v. phr.} To stop spending time, money, or energy on unprofitable projects and concentrate on what goes well. •/«Just cut your losses, Jim,» his father suggested, «and get on with the rest of your life.»/

[cut one’s teeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).

[cut one’s throat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To spoil one’s chances; ruin a person. •/He cut his own throat by his carelessness./ •/The younger men in the company were cutting each other’s throats in their eagerness to win success./ •/John cut Freddie’s throat with Mary by telling her lies./

[cut out(1)]{v.}, {slang} 1. To stop; quit. •/All right, now – let’s cut out the talking./ •/He was teasing the dog and Joe told him to cut it out./ Compare: BREAK UP(3). 2. To displace in favor. •/Tony cut Ed out with Mary./ •/John cut out two or three other men in trying for a better job./

[cut out(2)]{adj.} 1. Made ready; given for action; facing. •/Mary agreed to stay with her teacher’s children all day; she did not know what was cut out for her./ – Often used in the phrase «have one’s work cut out for one.» •/If Mr. Perkins wants to become a senator, he has his work cut out fur him./ 2. Suited to; fitted for. •/Warren seemed to be cut out for the law. It was clear very early that Fred was cut out to he a doctor./