Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

G

[gab] See: GIFT OF GAB or GIFT OF THE GAB.

[gaff] See: STAND THE GAFF.

[gain ground]{v. phr.} 1. To go forward; move ahead. •/The soldiers fought hard and began to gain ground./ 2. To become stronger; make progress; improve. •/The sick man gained ground after being near death./ •/Under Lincoln, the Republican Party gained ground./ Contrast: LOSE GROUND.

[gallery] See: PLAY TO THE GALLERY.

[gallon] See: TEN-GALLON HAT.

[gallows' humor]{n. phr.} Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc. •/When the criminal was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, «Nice way to start the week, eh?»/

[game] See: AHEAD OF THE GAME, LOVE GAME, NAME OF THE GAME, PLAY THE GAME, AT – STAGE OF THE GAME.

[game at which two can play]{n. phr.} A plan, trick, or way of acting that both sides may use. •/Rough football is a game two can play./ •/Politics is a game at which two can play./

[game is not worth the candle]{literary} What is being done is not worth the trouble or cost; the gain is not worth the effort. •/I don’t want to walk so far on such a hot day. The game is not worth the candle./

[game is up] or {slang}[jig is up] The secret or plan won’t work; we are caught or discovered. •/The game is up; the teacher knows who took her keys./ •/The jig’s up; the principal knows the boys have been smoking in the basement./ Compare: FAT IS IN THE FIRE.

[gang] See: ROAD GANG, SECTION GANG.

[gang up on] or [gang up against]{v. phr.}, {informal} To jointly attack someone, either physically or verbally; take sides in a group against an individual. •/The class bully was stronger than all the other boys, so they had to gang up on him to put him in his place./ Compare: LINE UP(4b).

[garbage down]{v. phr.}, {slang} To eat eagerly and at great speed without much regard for manners or social convention. •/The children garbaged down their food./

[garden apartment]{n.} An apartment with a garden near it. •/The couple live in a garden apartment./

[garment] See: FOUNDATION GARMENT.

[gas] See: STEP ON IT or STEP ON THE GAS.

[gasket] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW A GASKET.

[gas up]{v.}, {informal} 1. To fill the gasoline tank of. •/The mechanics gassed up the planes for their long trip./ 2. To fill the tank with gasoline. •/The big truck stopped at the filling station and gassed up./

[gate] See: GET THE BOUNCE or GET THE GATE, GIVE THE BOUNCE or GIVE THE GATE.

[gate crasher] See: CRASH THE GATE.

[gather] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.

[gather in]{v.}, {informal} To catch. •/The end gathered in the pass and went over for a touchdown./

[gauntlet] See: RUN THE GAUNTLET, THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET.

[gay nineties]{n.} The years between 1890 and 1900; remembered as a happy exciting time. •/Ladies wore large hats in the gay nineties./ •/Picnics were popular in the gay nineties./

[gaze] See: CRYSTAL GAZING.

[gear] See: HIGH GEAR, SLIP A COG or SLIP A GEAR, THROW OUT OF GEAR.

[geese] See: FOX AND GEESE.

[gee whiz]{interj.}, {informal} Used as an exclamation to show surprise or other strong feeling. Rare in written English. •/Gee whiz! I am late again./

[general] See: IN GENERAL.

[generation gap]{n.}, {informal}, {hackneyed phrase} The difference in social values, philosophies, and manners between children and their parents, teachers and relatives which causes a lack of understanding between them and frequently leads to violent confrontations. •/My daughter is twenty and I am forty, but we have no generation gap in our family./

[generous to a fault]{adj. phr.} Excessively generous. •/Generous to a fault, my Aunt Elizabeth gave away all her rare books to her old college./

[George] See: LET GEORGE DO IT.

[get] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM, GO-GETTER, TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF.

[get about] See: GET AROUND(1b).

[get a black eye]{v. phr.} 1. To receive a dark ring around the eye after being hit by someone’s fist or an object. •/In the fistfight Tom got a black eye from Pete./ •/Sue got a black eye when she ran into a tree./ 2. To have one’s character denigrated. •/Our firm received a black eye because of all the consumer complaints that were lodged against our product./

[get a break]{v. phr.} To receive a stroke of luck. •/Bill got a break when he won the lottery./

[get across]{v.} 1. To explain clearly, make (something) clear; to make clear the meaning of. •/Mr. Brown is a good coach because he can get across the plays./ Syn.: PUT ACROSS. 2. To become clear. •/The teacher tried to explain the problem, but the explanation did not get across to the class./

[get after]{v.}, {informal} 1. To try or try again to make someone do what he is supposed to do. •/Ann’s mother gets after her to hang up her clothes./ 2. To scold or make an attack on. •/Bob’s mother got after him for tracking mud into the house./ •/The police are getting after the crooks in the city./

[get ahead]{v.} 1. {informal} To become successful. •/Mr. Brown was a good lawyer and soon began to get ahead./ •/The person with a good education finds it easier to get ahead./ 2. To be able to save money; get out of debt. •/In a few more years he will be able to get ahead./ •/After Father pays all the doctor bills, maybe we can get a little money ahead and buy a car./

[get a load of]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take a good look at; see (something unusual or interesting.) – Often used to show surprise or admiration. •/Get a load of that pretty girl!/ •/Get a load of Dick’s new car!/ Compare: LOOK OVER. 2. To listen to carefully or with interest, especially exciting news. – Often used as a command: /Get a load of this: Alice got married yesterday!/

[get along] also [get on]{v.} 1. To go or move away; move on. •/The policeman told the boys on the street corner to get along./ 2. To go forward; make progress; advance, •/John is getting along well in school. He is learning more every day./ Syn.: GET AHEAD. 3. To advance; become old or late. •/It is getting along towards sundown./ •/Grandmother is 68 and getting along./ 4. To get or make what you need; manage. •/It isn’t easy to get along in the jungle./ •/We can get along on $100 a week./ Compare: DO WITHOUT(2), GET BY, MAKE DO. 5. To live or work together in a friendly way; agree, cooperate; not fight or argue. •/We don’t get along with the Jones family./ •/Jim and Jane get along fine together./ •/Don’t be hard to get along with./

[get a fix] or [give a fix]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} To provide (someone) with an injection of narcotics. •/The neighborhood pusher gave Joe a fix./ Contrast: GET A FIX ON.

[get a fix on]{v. phr.}, {informal} Receive a reading of a distant object by electronic means, as by radar or sonar. •/Can you get a fix on the submarine?/ Contrast: GET A FIX.

[get a grip on]{v. phr.} To take firm control of something. •/If Tim wants to keep his job, he had better get a grip on himself and start working harder./ Contrast: LOSE ONE’S GRIP.

[get a head start on]{v. phr.} To receive preliminary help or instruction in a particular subject so that the recipient is in a favorable position compared to his or her peers. •/At our school, children get a head start on their reading ability thanks to a special program./

[get a kick out of]{v. phr.} To be greatly thrilled; derive pleasure from. •/Tom and Many get a kick out of playing four hands on the piano./

[get a line on]{v. phr.} To receive special, sometimes even confidential information about something. •/Before Bill accepted his new position, he got a line on how the business was being run./

[get a move on]{informal} or {slang}[get a wiggle on]{v. phr.} To hurry up; get going. – Often used as a command. •/Get a move on, or you will be late./

[get a raise]{v. phr.} To receive an increment in salary. •/Because of his good work, Ted got a raise after May 1./

[get a rise out of]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To have some fun with (a person) by making (him) angry; tease. •/The boys get a rise out of Joe by teasing him about his girl friend./ 2. {vulgar}, {avoidable} To be sexually aroused (said of males) •/Jim always gets a rise out of watching adult movies./

[get (all) dolled up] See: DOLL UP.

[get along] or [on in years]{v. phr.} To age; grow old. •/My father is getting along in years; he will be ninety on his next birthday./

[get an earful]{v. phr.}, {informal} To hear more (of usually unwelcome news) than one expects or wishes to hear. •/I asked how Tim and his wife were getting along, and I certainly got an earful./ Contrast: SAY A MOUTHFUL.

[get around]{v.} 1a. To go to different places; move about. •/Mary’s father really gets around; Monday he was in Washington; Wednesday he was in Chicago; and today he is in New York./ •/Fred broke his leg, but he is able to get about on crutches./ 1b. or [get about] To become widely known especially by being talked about. •/Bad news gets around quickly./ 2a. {informal} To get by a trick or flattery what you want from (someone). •/Mary knows how to get around her father./ 2b. {informal} To find a way of not obeying or doing; escape from. •/Some people try to get around the tax laws./ •/John did not weigh enough to join the Navy, but he got around that; he drank a lot of water before his physical examination./

[get around to]{v.} To do (something) after putting it off; find time for. •/Mr. Lee hopes to get around to washing his car next Saturday./

[get at]{v.} 1. To reach an understanding of; find out the meaning. •/This book is very hard to get at./ 2. To do harm to. •/The cat is on the chair trying to get at the canary./ Compare: GET BACK AT. 3. To have a chance to do; attend to. •/I hope I have time to get at my homework tonight./ Compare: GET TO(2). 4. To mean; aim at; hint at. •/What was Betty getting at when she said she knew our secret?/ •/What the teacher was getting at in this lesson was that it is important to speak correctly./ Syn.: DRIVE AT. Compare: GET ACROSS.

[getaway car]{n. phr.} A vehicle parked near the scene of a crime in which the criminals escape. •/The police intercepted the getaway car at a major crossroads./

[get away]{v.} 1. To get loose or get free; become free from being held or controlled; succeed in leaving; escape. •/As Jim was trying the bat, it got away from him and hit Tom./ •/Someone left the door open, and the puppy got away./ •/Mary tried to catch a butterfly, but it got away from her./ •/The bank robbers used a stolen car to get away./ •/If Mr. Graham can get away from his store this afternoon, he will take Johnny fishing./ 2. To begin; start. •/We got away early in the morning on the first day of our vacation./ •/The race got away to a fast start./ Compare: GET OFF(3), START IN, START OUT.

[get away with]{v.}, {informal} To do (something bad or wrong) without being caught or punished. •/Some students get away without doing their homework./ See: GET BY(3).

[get away with murder]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do something very bad without being caught or punished. •/John is scolded if he is late with his homework, but Robert gets away with murder./ •/Mrs. Smith lets her children get away with murder./

[get a wiggle on] See: GET A MOVE ON.

[get a word in] or [get a word in edgewise] also [get a word in edgeways]{v. phr.} To find a chance to say something when others are talking. •/The little boy listened to the older students and finally got in a word./ •/Mary talked so much that Jack couldn’t get a word in edgewise./

[get back at]{v.}, {informal} To do something bad to (someone who has done something bad to you) hurt in return. •/John played a joke on Henry, and next day Henry got back at him./ •/The elephant waited many years to get back at the man who fed him red pepper./ Syn.: PAY BACK, SETTLE A SCORE, TIT FOR TAT. Compare: GET AT(2), GET EVEN.

[get back on one’s feet]{v. phr.} To once again become financially solvent; regain one’s former status and income, or health. •/Max got back on his feet soon after his open heart surgery. Tom’s business was ruined due to the inflation, but he got back on his feet again./

[get behind]{v.} 1. To go too slowly: be late; do something too slowly. •/The post office got behind in delivering Christmas mail./ Syn.: FALL BEHIND. Contrast: KEEP UP. 2. {informal} To support; help. •/A club is much better if members get behind their leaders. * /We got behind Mary to be class president./ Compare: BACK OF(3). 3. {informal} To explain; find out the reason for. •/The police are questioning many people to try and get behind the bank robbery./ Syn.: GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.

[get busy]{v. phr.} To accelerate the pace in one’s activities. •/We’ve got to get busy if we want to make the deadline./

[get by]{v.}, {informal} 1. To be able to go past; pass. •/The cars moved to the curb so that the fire engine could get by./ 2. To satisfy the need or demand. •/Mary can get by with her old coat this winter./ •/The janitor does just enough work to get by./ Syn.: GET ALONG(4). 3. Not to be caught and scolded or punished. •/The soldier thought he could get by with his dirty rifle./ •/The boy got by without answering the teacher’s question because a visitor came in./ Compare: GET AWAY WITH.

[get carried away with] See: CARRY AWAY.

[get couthed up]{v. phr.}, {slang} To get oneself dressed up neatly and look elegant and presentable. •/What are you getting all couthed up for?/ (This derives from «uncouth» («outlandish, ill-mannered») by leaving off the prefix «un-».)

[get cracking]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To hurry up, to start moving fast. (Used mostly as an imperative). •/Come on, you guys, let’s get cracking!/ (Let’s hurry up!) Compare: GET GOING 2.

[get credit for]{v. phr.} To be given points of merit, recognition, or praise for labor or intellectual contribution. •/Our firm got a lot of credit for developing parts of the space shuttle./ Contrast: GIVE CREDIT FOR.

[get one down]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone) unhappy; cause low spirits; cause discouragement. •/Low grades are getting Helen down./ •/Three straight losses got the team down./ 2. To swallow; digest. •/The medicine was so bitter I couldn’t get it down./ 3. To depress a person’s spirit. •/Working at such an awful job got Mike down./

[get down cold]{v. phr.} To memorize perfectly. •/Terry got the text of his speech down cold./

[get down off your high horse] See: OFF ONE’S HIGH HORSE.

[get down to]{v.}, {informal} To get started on, being on. •/Joe wasted a lot of time before he got down to work./ •/Let’s get down to work./ Compare: GET AT(3), GET GOING, GET TO.

[get down to brass tacks] also [get down to cases]{v. phr.}, {informal} To begin the most important work or business; get started on the most important things to talk about or know. •/The men talked about little things and then got down to brass tacks./ •/A busy doctor wants his patients to get down to brass tacks./

[get down to business] or [work]{v. phr.} To start being serious; begin to face a problem to be solved, or a task to be accomplished. •/Gentlemen, I’m afraid the party is over and we must get down to business./

[get down to work] See: GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

[get even]{v.}, {informal} 1. To owe nothing. •/Mr. Johnson has a lot of debts, but in a few years he will get even./ 2. To do something bad to pay someone back for something bad; get revenge; hurt back. •/Jack is waiting to get even with Bill for tearing up his notebook./ •/Last April First Mr. Harris got fooled by Joe, and this year he will get even./ Compare: GET BACK AT.

[get going]{v.}, {informal} 1. To excite; stir up and make angry. •/The boys' teasing gets John going./ •/Talking about her freckles gets Mary going./ 2. or {Chiefly British}[get cracking] To begin to move; get started. •/The teacher told Walter to get going on his history lesson./ •/The foreman told the workmen to get cracking./ •/Let’s get going. It’s almost supper time./ Compare: GET DOWN TO, STEP LIVELY.

[get gray hair] or [get gray]{v. phr.}, {informal} To become old or gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried. – Often used with «over». •/«If John doesn’t join the team, I won’t get gray hair over it,» the coach said./ •/Naughty children are why mothers get gray./ Compare: GIVE GRAY HAIR.

[get his or hers]{v. phr.} To receive one’s proper reward or punishment. •/Tim will get his when his wife finds out that he’s been seeing other women./

[get hitched]{v. phr.} To get married. •/After a long period of dating, Fred and Mary finally got hitched./

[get hold of]{v.} 1. To get possession of. •/Little children sometimes get hold of sharp knives and cut themselves./ 2. To find a person so you can speak with him. •/Mr. Thompson spent several hours trying to get hold of his lawyer./

[get in]{v. phr.} 1. To be admitted. •/Andy wants to go to medical school but his grades aren’t good enough for him to get in./ 2. To arrive. •/What time does the plane from New York get in?/ 3. To enter. •/«Get in the car, and let’s go,» Tom said in a hurry./ 4. To put in stock; receive. •/The store just got in a new shipment of shoes from China./

[get in on]{v. phr.} To be permitted to participate; become privy to; be included. •/This is your chance to get in on a wonderful deal with the new company if you’re willing to make an investment./

[get in on the ground floor]{v. phr.} To be one of the first members or employees to participate in the growth of a firm, educational institution, etc. •/Elliott got in on the ground floor and made a fortune at the company./ •/Mr. Smith who joined the new college as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, and wound up as its president after twenty years./

[get in on the] or [one’s act]{v. phr.} To do something because others are engaged in the same act; join others. •/John’s business is succeeding so well that both of his brothers want to get in on the act./

[get in one’s hair] See: IN ONE’S HAIR.

[get in one’s way] See: IN ONE’S WAY.

[get into] See: BE INTO SOMETHING.

[get into line]{v. phr.} To cooperate; conform. •/The maverick members of the party were advised to get into line unless they wanted to be expelled./ Contrast: OUT OF LINE.

[get in touch with] See: IN TOUCH.

[get involved with] See: BE INVOLVED WITH.

[get in with]{v. phr.} To join up with; begin to associate with; be accepted by. •/He got in with the wrong gang of boys and wound up in jail./ •/She got in with her father’s firm and made a successful career of it./

[get in wrong]{v. phr.} To incur the anger or dislike of someone; come into disfavor. •/Although he means well, Fred is always getting in wrong with someone at the office./

[get it]{v.} 1. See: CATCH IT. 2. To understand; comprehend; grasp. •/«I can’t get it,» John said. «Why do you spend so much on clothes.»/

[get it all together]{v. phr.} 1. To be in full possession and control of one’s mental faculties; have a clear purpose well pursued. •/You’ve sure got it all together, haven’t you?/ 2. Retaining one’s self-composure under pressure. •/A few minutes after the burglars left he got it all together and called the police./ 3. To be well built, stacked (said of girls and women.) •/Sue’s sure got it all together, hasn’t she?/

[get it in the neck] See: CATCH IT IN THE NECK.

[get it] or [something in] or [into one’s head]{v. phr.} To become possessed of an idea; develop a fixed idea. •/Jack got it into his head to become a marine and nothing we could say would make him change his mind./

[get lost]{v. phr.}, {slang} Go away! – Used as a command. •/Get lost! I want to study./ •/John told Bert to get lost./ Compare: DROP DEAD.

[get mixed up] See: MIXED UP.

[get next to] See: BE CLOSE TO.

[get off]{v.} 1. To come down from or out of. •/The ladder fell, and Tom couldn’t get off the roof./ •/The bus stopped, the door opened, and Father got off./ 2. To take off. •/Joe’s mother told him to get his wet clothes off./ 3. To get away; leave. •/Mr. Johnson goes fishing whenever he can get off from work./ •/William got off early in the morning./ 4. To go free. •/Mr. Andrews got off with a $5 fine when he was caught passing a stop sign./ 5. To make (something) go. •/The halfback got off a lung pass./ •/John got a letter off to his grandmother./ 6. To tell. •/The governor got off several jokes at the beginning of his speech./

[get off cheap]{v. phr.} 1. To receive a lesser punishment than one deserves. •/Ted could have been sentenced to fifteen years in prison; he got off cheap by receiving a reduced sentence of five years./ 2. To pay less than the normal price. •/If you had your car repaired for only $75, you got off cheap./ Contrast: GET AWAY WITH.

[get off easy]{v. phr.}, {informal} To have only a little trouble; escape something worse. •/The children who missed school to go to the fair got off easy./ •/John got off easy because it was the first time he had taken his father’s car without permission./

[get off it] See: COME OFF IT.

[get off one’s back]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To stop criticizing or nagging someone. •/«Get off my back! Can’t you see how busy I am?»/

[get off one’s case] or [back] or [tail]{v. phr.} To stop bothering and constantly checking up on someone; quit hounding one. •/«Get off my case!» he cried angrily. «You’re worse than the cops.»/ Contrast: ON ONE’S CASE.

[get off one’s chest] See: OFF ONE’S CHEST.

[get off one’s tail]{v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy, to start working. •/OK you guys! Get off your tails and get cracking!/

[get off on the wrong foot]{v. phr.} To make a bad start; begin with a mistake. •/Peggy got off on the wrong foot with her new teacher; she chewed gum in class and the teacher didn’t like it./

[get off the ground]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make a successful beginning; get a good start; go ahead; make progress. •/Our plans for a party didn’t get off the ground because no one could come./

[get off the hook] See: OFF THE HOOK.

[get off to a flying] or [running start]{v. phr.} To have a promising or successful beginning. •/Ron got off to a flying start in business school when he got nothing but A’s./

[get on] or [get onto]{v.}, {informal} 1. To speak to (someone) roughly about something he did wrong; blame; scold. •/Mrs. Thompson got on the girls for not keeping their rooms clean./ •/The fans got on the new shortstop after he made several errors./ Syn.: JUMP ON. 2. See: GET ALONG. 3. To grow older. •/Work seems harder these days; I’m getting on, you know./

[get one’s] See: GET WHAT’S COMING TO ONE.

[get one’s back up]{v. phr.}, {informal} To become or make angry or stubborn. •/Fred got his back up when I said he was wrong./ •/Our criticisms of his actions just got his hack up./

[get one’s brains fried]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {also used colloquially} 1. To sit in the sun and sunbathe for an excessive length of time. •/Newcomers to Hawaii should be warned not to sit in the sun too long – they’ll get their brains fried./ 2. To get high on drugs. •/He can’t make a coherent sentence anymore – he’s got his brains fried./

[get one’s dander up] or [get one’s Irish up]{v. phr.} To become or make angry. •/The boy got his dander up because he couldn’t go to the store./ •/The children get the teacher’s dander up when they make a lot of noise./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE.

[get one’s ducks in a row]{v. phr.}, {informal} To get everything ready. •/The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks in a row before they went to camp./ •/Mr. Brown got his ducks in a row for his trip./ Compare: LINE UP.

[get one’s feet on the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND.

[get one’s feet wet]{v. phr.}, {informal} To begin; do something for the first time. •/The party was at Bill’s house and when Ruth and I got there the party had already started. «Jump right in and don’t be afraid to get your feet wet,» said Bill./ •/«It’s not hard to dance once you get your feet wet,» said the teacher./

[get one’s fingers burned] See: BURN ONE’S FINGERS.

[get one’s foot in the door] See: FOOT IN THE DOOR.

[get one’s goat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make a person disgusted or angry. •/The boy’s laziness all summer got his father’s goat./ •/The slow service at the cafe got Mr. Robinson’s goat./

[get one’s hands on] See: LAY ONE’S HANDS ON.

[get one’s number] or [have one’s number]{v. phr.}, {informal} To find out or know what kind of person somebody is. •/The boys soon had the new student’s number./ •/The girls got their new roommate’s number the first week of school./

[get one’s rear in gear]{v. phr.}, {slang} To hurry up, to get going. •/I’m gonna have to get my rear in gear./

[get one’s second wind] See: SECOND WIND.

[get one’s teeth into] or [sink one’s teeth into]{v. phr.}, {informal} To have something real or solid to think about; go to work on seriously; struggle with. •/After dinner, John got his teeth into the algebra lesson./ •/Frank chose a subject for his report that he could sink his teeth into./

[get one’s tongue] See: CAT GET ONE’S TONGUE.

[get on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS.

[get on one’s good side]{v. phr.} To gain the favor of someone; flatter or please another. •/A clever lobbyist knows how to get on the good side of both the House of Representatives and the Senate./

[get on one’s nerves]{v. phr.} To make you nervous. •/John’s noisy eating habits get on your nerves./ •/Children get on their parents' nerves by asking so many questions./

[get on the ball] See: ON THE BALL.

[get on the bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[get on the good side of] See: ON THE GOOD SIDE OF.

[get on the stick]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To get moving; to stop being idle and to start working vigorously. •/All right, man, let’s get on the stick!/ Compare: ON THE BALL, GET OFF ONE’S TAIL.