Идиомы о животных
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as merry as a cricket
весёлый (как сверчок)Laura is a sunny person; she is always as merry as a cricket.
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like a bat out of hell
очень быстро, со всех ног, во весь опорThe thief left the house like a bat out of hell.
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as awkward as a cow on roller skates
быть очень неловким, "как корова на льду"Jane isn't much of a dancer, and she was as awkward as a cow on roller skates when Jim invited her.
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as conceited as a barber's cat
тщеславный, полный самомненияHaving won the award at the Annual Fair, Timothy became as conceited as a barber's cat.
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little bird told me
мне стало известно по секрету, "сорока на хвосте принесла"A little bird told me that my Mom would give me a nice present for my birthday.
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cock-and-bull story
неправдоподобная история, небылицаThe man gave the police a cock-and-bull story about how his car had been stolen.
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look like something the cat dragged in
выглядеть усталым, "быть выжатым как лимон"Wanda was very tired after the flight and looked like something the cat dragged in.
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as strong as a horse/lion/ox
сильный как быкCollin is as strong as an ox; he is the strongest among his friends.
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eat like a horse
много есть, есть как лошадьThe children spent most of their time outdoors, and when they came home in the evening they ate like horses.
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eager beaver
трудолюбивый человек, энтузиастSally is a very industrious and enthusiastic person; she is a regular eager beaver.
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as stubborn as a mule
упрямый, как осёлIf a person is as stubborn as a mule, it's impossible to make him change his mind.
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flog/beat a dead horse
зря тратить силы, попусту старатьсяI felt I was flogging a dead horse when I was trying to talk my friend out of the risky business.
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take the bull by the horns
решительно взяться за дело, "взять быка за рога"Margaret decided to take the bull by the horns and ask Desmond if he was going to marry her.
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have butterflies in one's stomach
чувствовать страх или внутреннее беспокойствоI had butterflies in my stomach while waiting for the results of the test.
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fine kettle of fish
неудобная, неудовлетворительная ситуацияIt was a fine kettle of fish when my boss called and told me to stay after office hours.
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drink like a fish
пить как сапожникMark is never sober; he drinks like a fish.
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not enough room to swing a cat
недостаточно местаLet's not have a party at Mary's place; there is not enough room to swing a cat in her apartment.
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bet on the wrong horse
выбирать неверный курс, "поставить не на ту лошадь""I am sure you are betting on the wrong horse when you try to support that project."
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dark horse
малоизвестный кандидатIt happens so that a dark horse candidate may get elected senator.
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kill two birds with one stone
убить двух зайцев", выполнить два действия сразуHe decided to kill two birds with one stone by purchasing a computer and having it serviced.
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as happy as a clam
счастливый и довольный (как двустворчатый моллюск)The little boy was as happy as a clam when he was given a new bicycle.
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you can lead a horse to water (but you can't make it drink)
можно предоставить кому-либо возможность, но нельзя заставить делать что-либо силойAlec was given the opportunity to study at a community college, but he decided not to enter the college. Well, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
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as fat as a pig
жирный как свинья"If you go on eating as much as you do now, you'll be as fat as a pig."
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as sly as a fox
хитрый как лисаOur neighbor Miss Cunning is as sly as a fox.
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chicken and egg situation
ситуация, при которой не ясно, где причина, а где следствиеIt was a chicken and egg situation; I didn't quite understand what caused problems with the computer.
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as quiet as a mouse
тихий как мышь, робкийThe child was playing with her toys and was as quiet as a mouse.
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as wise as an owl
очень мудрый (как сова)I often ask my Granny's advise because she is as wise as an owl.
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as slippery as an eel
скользкий как угорь, увёртливый, изворотливыйPaul is as slippery as an eel, and I am sure he cannot be trusted.
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as meek as a lamb
послушный, кроткий как ягнёнокOn the surface Kelly is as meek as a lamb, but I know that actually she is naughty and quarrelsome.
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serve as a guinea pig
быть подопытным кроликом"Is that a test you are going to perform? I don't want to serve as a guinea pig."
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as a duck takes to water
естественно, как рыба в водеSofia plunged into the water and started to swim easily and naturally, just as a duck takes to water.
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chickens come home to roost
беда бедою отзовётся (то плохое, что желаете другому, вернётся к вам)Margaret's chickens have come home to roost, and she has to take responsibility for what she has done.
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straight from the horse's mouth
услышать прямо из чьих-либо устI heard the news about my friend's promotion straight from the horse's mouth.
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eat crow
проглотить обиду, смириться"I guess I'll have to eat crow if I am defeated."
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there is more than one way to skin a cat
есть много способов добиться своего"How did you get your son to study so hard?" I asked my friend. "I disconnected the television set," she answered. "There's more than one way to skin a cat."