The most famous colloquial phrases with translation. Idioms and idiomatic expressions

Meaning: go straight to the point.

This expression has a very interesting history. Cut is a montage in a movie (transition from one frame to another), chase is a chase (for example, police after a criminal). In the past, the most interesting part of a film was the chase, but inexperienced screenwriters inserted too much boring dialogue into the tape, which had little effect on the plot. Later, the producers watched the tape and said: “This part is too boring. Let's cut it out and go straight to the chase." So the expression cut to the chase was fixed in the language.

Example. Look, I don't have time for this. Just cut to the chase already. - Look, I don't have time for this. Let's get straight to the point.

2. Backseat driver

Meaning: one who gives unsolicited advice.

Sometimes people in the back seat of the car begin to give advice to the driver, which not only does not help him in any way, but, on the contrary, annoys him. In modern English, this expression is used both literally and figuratively.

Example. You are too much of a backseat driver right now. I can do it myself, thanks! - You are now giving me too much advice that I do not need. I can handle it myself, thanks!

3. Pull someone's leg

Meaning: to play a joke on someone, to play a prank on someone.

In the 18th century in England, the streets were very dirty, so in those days such a joke was extremely popular: someone took a cane or a stick with a hook, tripped another person, and he fell face down in the mud. Literally, this expression translates as "pull someone by the leg."

Example. This can't be true. You must be pulling my leg! - Can't be. You're playing me!

4. So much for something

Meaning: that's all; something didn't go as planned.

Usually this expression is used to express disappointment about some situation that did not work out as planned.

Example. The weather is awful. So much for our walk in the park. - The weather is disgusting. You can't walk in the park.

5. You wish

Meaning: what more.

This expression is the equivalent of the Russian “yes right now” or “yeah, ran away”, that is, a sarcastic response to some kind of request.

Example:

Will you buy me the new iPhone? (Will you buy me a new iPhone?)
- Yeah, you wish! (Yeah, what else!)

6. No sweat

Meaning: don't worry, it's very easy.

This idiom is kind of synonymous with . The word sweat is translated as "sweat". The expression is used when talking about something light (this can be done without sweating at all). Also, the phrase is sometimes used as an informal response to "Thank you!"

Example:

Can you finish the project by Friday? (Will you finish the project by Friday?)
- No sweat boss! (No problem, boss!)

7. Go Dutch

Meaning: pay for yourself.

In the US, for example, when a couple goes on a date, it is common for everyone to pay for themselves, and this is considered polite and proper. The expression itself comes from the so-called Dutch doors (Dutch - "Dutch"), which are divided into two identical parts.

Example. Let's go out together! We'll go Dutch if you want. - Let's go on a date! If you want, we will pay equally.

8. Call it a day

Meaning: round off.

This expression is often used at work in the sense of "enough for today, let's finish."

Example. Alright, let's call it a day. - Enough for today.

9. Go off the rails

Meaning: go crazy, go crazy.

The comparison is very simple: just as a train derails, from its normal track, so does a person go crazy.

Example. Looks like Jim has gone off the rails. Jim looks like he's gone crazy.

10. Catch someone red-handed

Meaning: catch someone red-handed.

The history of the origin of the expression is rather trivial. If a person has red hands, then most likely they are in the blood. And if they are in the blood, then he is certainly guilty. Of course, today this expression is also used in a figurative sense.

Example. There is no point denying it, you were caught red-handed. - No point in denying you were caught red-handed.

Id i*om (d*m), n. – Dinfr. idiom. Trimis de gall, 09/13/2007. Sursa: DEX 98  IDIÓM s. v. dialect, grai, limbă. Trimis de siveco, 09/13/2007. Sursa … Dicționar Roman

Idioms- Sn Spracheigentümlichkeit, Phrase per. Wortschatzfach. (16. Jh.) Entlehnung. Uber ml. idiōma entlehnt aus gr. idíōma Eigentümlichkeit, besonders sprachliche Eigentümlichkeit (Sprachausprägung oder Phrase); dieses zu gr. idios eigen, selbst. In… Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

idiom- idìōm m G idióma DEFINICIJA 1. lingv. a. svaki od entiteta jezika koji se ne želi označiti ni kao jezik, ni kao dijalekt, ni kao govor b. poseban i prepoznatljiv govor nekog kraja or pojedinog govornika c. riječ or izraz svojstven nekom … Hrvatski jezični portal

idiom- n. [ Fr & LL: Fr idiome LL idioma Gr idiōma, peculiarity, idiom idios: see IDIO ] 1. the language or dialect of a people, region, class, etc. 2. the usual way in which the words of a particular language are joined… … English World dictionary

idiom- in the context of language has two principal meanings: (1) the manner of expression that characterizes a language, and (2) a group of words that has a meaning not deducible from the individual words. The first can therefore be seen as the sum… … Modern English usage

idiom- ((/stl 13))((stl 8))rz. mnż, D. u, Mc. idiommie ((/stl 8))((stl 20)) ((/stl 20))((stl 12))1. ((/stl 12))((stl 7)) Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

Idioms- (v. gr.), 1) Eigenthümlichkeit, bes. einer Sprache; 2) best immte Art des Ausdruckes; wozu auch die besondere Aussprache u. Ton, die Wörter u. ihre Bedeutung, die Wortfügung u. die ganze Verbindung der Rede gehören, z.B. I. der gebildeten Stände;… … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

Idiōm- (griech.), "Eigentümlichkeit", besonders einer Sprache oder einer Mundart, daher überhaupt soviel wie Sprache oder Mundart ... Meyers Grosses Konversations-Lexikon

Idioms- Idiōm (grch., d.i. Eigentümlichkeit), eigentümliche Sprechweise, Mundart, Dialekt; Idiomăta, die Wesenseigentümlichkeiten der beiden Naturen Christi; idiomātisch, das I. betreffend, dazu gehörig … Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

Idioms- Idiom, Eigenthümlichkeit, charakteristische Besonderheit in der Aussprache: Mundart. B–l … Damen Conversations Lexikon

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"Hold your horses!" is a rare case when an English idiom is translated into Russian word for word.

English idioms- this is an interesting, entertaining part of the language, but sometimes beginners pay too much attention to it. From this article, you will learn what idioms are, whether they are worth learning, what is the difference between the idiom and, and also where butterflies come from in the stomach and what kind of spoon it is, under which it sucks out of fear.

What are idioms?

Idioms or phraseological units- these are stable turns of speech, indecomposable combinations of words, understood, as a rule, in a figurative sense. The meaning of the entire expression is not determined by the meaning of its constituent words. Often the meaning of an idiom is difficult to guess, to understand from the words included in it, if you are not familiar with it.

For example: to be in the same boat. Literally, it means: “to be in the same boat,” but the meaning of the idiom is different: “to be in the same situation, experience the same difficulties.”

I understand your problem. We are in the same boat. - I understand your problem. I am in the same position as you.

Idioms are called stable, indecomposable combinations because they are used in an unchanged form. For example, no one says to sit together in the same boat or to be in the same vessel. An idiom is used as a ready-made figurative template for some typical situation.

You can probably guess the meaning of the expression about the boat, especially when you hear it in context, but there are idioms whose meaning is impossible to guess.

I want to buy a Saturday night special but I'm scared to own it.

I'm sorry, what-? I want to buy... a saturday night special? saturday night special? maybe I'm afraid to go to the Saturday sale?

"Saturday night special" is a small pistol or revolver. Very roughly, the expression can be translated as “Saturday evening special dish”. It originated in the 1960s (now little used) and came from the fact that often these cheap and affordable weapons were used during drunken brawls in bars, which most often happened on weekend evenings. Weapons were carried by many habitues of hot places, so it was not uncommon for someone to get a “special dish” during a conflict.

Sometimes insidious idioms come across - similar to Russian ones, but with a completely different meaning.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Literally, it means “moss does not grow on a rolling stone.” By mistake, one might think that this is an analogue of our “water does not flow under a lying stone”, but the idiom about moss has a different meaning: a person who often changes his place of residence, occupation, will never settle down, will not settle down. Accordingly, the equivalent will be as follows: "whoever does not sit still, he will not make good."

It's funny to compare Russian and English idioms describing the same phenomenon but in different words. For example, in Russian a bad swimmer is compared with an ax, and in English with a stone:

I'm not taking you to the river. You swim like a stone. “I won’t take you to the river. You swim like an axe.

In Russian, we say about those who like to chat on the phone “hanging” on the phone, and in English - “sitting”.

I couldn't call you. My sister was sitting on the phone. - I couldn't call you, my sister was on the phone.

How many idioms are there in English?

There are thousands of idioms in the English language, but it is impossible to give an exact number, just as it is impossible to name the exact number of words in a language. For example, in the Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms (Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms, M. McCarthy, 1998) there are 5782 dictionary entries, but in fact this number says little.

English idioms are no less living units of speech than words, their number is constantly changing. Some idioms live for centuries, while others fall into disuse very quickly.

English idioms, proverbs, colloquial formulas, phrasal verbs and other similar units of speech

Idioms are easy to confuse with proverbs, various speech patterns, phrasal verbs. Even scientists sometimes find it difficult to distinguish between them.

Idioms are a variety formulaiclanguage(this term can be roughly translated as “communication formulas” or “speech patterns”) - stable, indecomposable expressions that should be understood and taught as a single unit of speech, and not a group of words.

These templates include:

1. Greetings and wishes (greetings and good wishes)

• How are you? - How are you?
• Have a good day! - Have a good day!

2. Prepositional groups or set expressions with prepositions (prepositional phrases)

• In a minute - in a minute.
• Once in a while - from time to time.

3. Proverbs, sayings, aphorisms (sayings, proverbs, quotations)

• Bad news travels fast - bad news travels fast.
• Buy the best and you only cry once - the miser pays twice (literally: buy the best and cry only once).

4.

• To look for - look for.
• To sign in - register.

5. Set phrases, collocations

• Blond hair - blond hair (the word "blond" is strongly associated with "hair")
• Deeply disappointed - deeply disappointed (“deeply” is the first thing “disappointed” is associated with)

6. Conversational speech formulas

• You've gotta be kidding! - You must be joking!
• You see what I'm saying? – Do you understand what I mean?

7. Idioms (idioms)

• A penny for your thought - What are you thinking about?
• To give the green light - Give the green light (permission).

Note: classification from the textbook “English Idioms in Use: Intermediate. Self-study and classroom use.” Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell.

As you can see, the line between idioms and similar expressions is sometimes very difficult to draw. For example, the phrasal verb to look for(search) cannot be called an idiom in any way - there is nothing idiomatic in it, that is, some kind of figurative meaning. But the phrasal verb to sail through It is already easy to confuse with an idiom, because it has a figurative meaning.

To sail through- literally “sail through something”, that is, quickly overcome. Meaning: easy to handle. For example:

to sail through exams - easy to pass exams.

Another case is proverbs. A proverb is essentially a special case of an idiom; an idiom expressing a universally recognized truth based on the experience of many generations, common sense, folk wisdom.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Literally: A bird in the hands is worth two birds in the bushes.

Analogue: Better a tit in the hands than a crane in the sky.

Apparently, this is why in dictionaries, and even more so in various collections of idioms on the Internet, not only idioms are often found, but everything that even remotely resembles them has at least a hint of idiomaticity, including individual words in a figurative sense .

How important is it to know English idioms?

Sometimes I come across the opinion that idioms of English language- this is almost a knowledge of the essentials, because in English they are very common.

To be honest, not very often.

I think that know idioms are really useful and interesting, but learn they don't really make sense. Consider two cases: knowledge of idioms for their use in speech and for understanding speech or text.

1. The use of idioms in speech

Many idioms have a stylistic coloring, are used in informal speech, and are characteristic of some social or age groups. Let's take an example from the Russian language. Two ninth-graders are talking in a labor lesson:

- Why are you beating your ass? Help me make a stool.

- Hold your pocket wider!

Can you imagine ninth graders talking like that? I cant. Maybe 50 years ago, but not now. Here's a more realistic example:

- What are you doing bullshit? Help me make a stool.

- Yeah, right now, ran away!

Inappropriate use of idioms can "make the day" for your interlocutors. It seems like they were trying to show off their minds, but it turned out that they sat down in a puddle. Therefore, idioms in speech should be used with caution only if you know exactly what they mean and in what situations they can be used. Especially if the conversation is businesslike, official.

There is such a linguistic bike. One foreign diplomat in the USSR, before an official meeting, asked the guide about the meaning of the phrase “all over Ivanovskaya”. They explained to him what it means “loudly”, earlier on the Ivanovskaya Square of the Kremlin, heralds proclaimed royal decrees, and it was necessary to shout loudly so that everyone could hear. But they did not explain to him that the expression eventually acquired a comic connotation, and the diplomat at the reception, raising his glass, said that he wanted to proclaim a toast “to the whole of Ivanovskaya”.

2. Understanding idioms

From my own experience, I can say that when communicating with native speakers, idioms are rare. Often found:

• colloquial clichés (to take a shower - take a shower, to make a suggestion - make an offer),
• phrasal verbs(to look after - look after, to work out - play sports),
• prepositional groups (wait for a while - wait a bit).

But these are idioms, that is, stable turns with a figurative meaning, like it rains cats and dogs(like a shower), when pigs fly(when cancer whistles on the mountain) - rarely. Your interlocutors understand that English is not your native language and try to speak without much difficulty.

By the way, many have noticed that when you talk to a foreigner in a company, you understand him well, but when they talk to each other, nothing is clear. Between themselves, people speak their usual language, without making allowance for the “foreignness” of the interlocutor, so their speech can be full of slang and incomprehensible jokes.

In films, TV shows, books, idioms are sometimes found, but usually the meaning is guessed from the context. For example, out of context it is impossible to understand the meaning of the expression: “Put your John Hancock here”. Who is John Hancock? But in the film, I came across this expression in context.

According to legend, D. Hancock put such a sweeping signature that King George III could read it without glasses.

The doctor gives the patient a document, a pen, points to a place for painting and says: “Put your John Hancock here.” The patient takes a pen and signs. It is clear that John Hancock is the signature. Then I read that John Hancock was one of the American politicians who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, leaving the most noticeable (“ministerial”, as they say in Russian) painting. Therefore, in America, the expression "John Hancock" has become an informal synonym for the word "signature".

Although sometimes, especially in the text, the idiom is completely impossible to understand. If you read a phrase in which all the words are understandable individually, but together they form some strange nonsense like “pot calling the kettle black” (pot calling the kettle black - who would say, whose cow would moo), you have exactly an idiom . But this happens quite rarely, you do not have to go into the dictionary of idioms twice per page of text.

English idiom dictionaries online

The easiest way to find the meaning of an idiom is to surf it in Yandex and see 2-3 results, because sometimes not quite correct definitions come across. But besides this obvious way, there are also dictionaries of idioms, for example:

An online dictionary of English idioms, or rather, a section of the dictionary dedicated to idioms. Convenient search by keywords, there are examples of use. Everything is in English.

A dictionary of slang, which in a few years has actually grown to a dictionary of everything that even slightly smacks of slang, idiomatics, figurativeness: sayings, proverbs, idioms, Internet memes, aphorisms, and so on. The advantage of the dictionary: it is maintained in a wiki mode, i.e. it is ruled by whoever wants, so the style is alive, and the examples are life. But this is also a drawback: you can stumble upon low-quality information. The article rating system helps you choose the right option.

A small note about translating English idioms

If you suddenly need to translate an idiom from English into Russian or vice versa, you need to take into account an important point: idioms are extremely rarely translated verbatim, usually you need to select equivalent expression from another language, or translate descriptively, given the context.

I will give examples.

1. The idiom is translated literally.

To give the green light. - Give the green light.

In both languages, the expression means "give permission", the literal translation is the exact equivalent. But this is rare.

2. You can find an equivalent for an idiom.

When the pigs fly. - When the cancer on the mountain whistles; after the rain on Thursday.

Both options correspond exactly to the meaning of the expression “when the pigs fly”: never.

3. It is impossible or difficult to find an equivalent for an idiom.

There are idioms for which it is difficult to find an analogue. A classic example is Khrushchev's "Kuzkin's Mother". In 1959, Khrushchev told Nixon: “We have means at our disposal that will have dire consequences for you. We will show you Kuz'kin's mother!” The translator Viktor Sukhodrev was not at a loss and translated the expression allegorically: “We’ll show you what’s what” (we will show you what is what).

Do I need to learn idioms?

If you have recently started studying English, you still have a small vocabulary, and reading a page of English text causes headache, then actively learn, learn by heart English idioms are not needed. Idioms are a rather advanced part of the language, not a priority in initial stage. If you memorize a list of 100 or 200 idioms, in practical terms, this will give you very little, since they are not so common, so you will beat your head thoroughly.

However, idioms are perceived by many as an interesting, curious part of the language, something like amazing facts or “did you know what…?” In this case, idioms can simply be read at your leisure, as something entertaining.

If you actively read, listen in English, then you will sometimes come across idioms. I think they are worth it memorize at the level of understanding, but it makes no sense to teach so hard as to be able to freely apply in speech - these are not so common and necessary expressions.

Fortunately, remembering idioms at the level of understanding is quite simple, thanks to their brightness, imagery, and sometimes an entertaining story of origin, because it is the unusual and bright that is best imprinted in memory.

Popular English idioms with translation - a selection from personal experience

In conclusion, I will give a selection of idioms that I had to get acquainted with in practice: I did not read them in the textbook, but heard from someone, met them while reading, and for some reason I remembered them. Here is my personal list of popular idioms.

• piece of cake- simpler than simple, simpler than a steamed turnip, lit.: a piece of cake.

I learned this expression as a child. In the movie Terminator 2, John Connor, the future savior of mankind, breaks into an ATM using some kind of electronic device and steals money from it. “Piece of cake,”- John says and runs away, and the translator says: "Easier than a steamed turnip."

• To ring a bell- to remind something, about something, lit.: to ring a bell.

The expression is used in interrogative form, for example:

Look at this photo, does it ring a bell? Look at this photo, does it remind you of anything?

The idiom met several times in the movies, in detective stories, and was remembered because of the imagery. The ringing of a bell, symbolizing a sudden thought.

• Rule of thumb- a simple rule, an approximate method of evaluation, lit.: rule thumb.

Rule of thumb is a simple practical method for measuring something inaccurately. The expression likes to use the linguist Paul Nation - both in scientific papers and in lectures. For example (quoting from memory):

The rule of thumb is that a native speaker knows about 20,000 words. - An approximate guideline is this: a native speaker knows about 20,000 words.

Other examples:

I never weigh anything when I'm cooking. I just do it by rule of thumb. “I never weigh anything. I eyeball everything.

A good rule of thumb is that a portion of rice is two handfuls. – An approximate rule is this: a serving of rice is two handfuls.

The origin of the idiom is not precisely established. One version says that the “rule of thumb” came from the old way of measuring among carpenters - with a finger, not measuring instruments. Everyone's fingers, of course, are different, so this "roulette" was not very accurate, but it was easy to use. According to another version, the expression came from a law that allegedly existed in England, according to which a husband was allowed to beat his wife with a stick, but no thicker than his thumb.

• To have a crush on someone. - Fall in love with someone.

The expression is often found in teen comedies, teen literature, sitcoms such as "The Friends" or "How I met Your Mother".

Once the expression came across to me in a movie with a pirated translation. There was something like:

Billy had a crush on that girl. “One day Billy fell on that girl right on her head.

Well, how can you not remember that?

• Totally different ball game- Quite another matter, literally: another ball game.

I heard this expression only from one person, but many times. You know, some people have favorite words and phrases? Just such a case. One of my acquaintances in America, a kind elderly uncle who loved to utter wisdom and talk about the old days, very often said something like.

Las Vegas is fun but New Orleans is a totally different ball game! “Las Vegas is fun, but New Orleans is a whole different story!

• To make money- to earn, lit.: to make money.

I learned from the textbook that “to earn money” is “to earn money”. But when I began to communicate with foreigners, it turned out that they simply don’t speak like that. A much more common expression is: to make money.

You came here to make money, didn't you? You came to earn money, didn't you?

• To pay the bills- cover basic expenses, provide for oneself, lit.: pay bills.

In The Devil Wears Prada, a young journalist, Andrea, came to New York after university and got a job as an assistant to Miranda Priestley, the editor-in-chief of a popular fashion magazine. The job proved difficult and unpleasant due to Miranda's tough temper, but for Andrea it was a career opportunity.

While celebrating with friends, Andrea makes a toast: “To job that pays the rent”. The translation sounded like "for work that pays rent." Unsightly and strange toast, as it seemed to me.

Later I learned that there is an expression to pay the bills– cover basic expenses (housing, food, clothing). Moreover, it is usually used in the third person, in expressions like job that pays the bills- so they say about a job that may not be to their liking, but brings enough money to live on. In other words, about the work that you have to endure because of the money.

Being a waitress isn't so prestigious, but it pay the bills. - Working as a waitress is not so prestigious, but enough to live on.

Job that pays the rent- this is a variation of this expression (rent - rent for housing). At the party, Andrea complained that the work was not the most pleasant, and the boss was just the devil, but her friends convinced her that for this position “millions of girls are ready to kill”, it is worth suffering for the sake of future well-being. Andrea agreed and raised her glass to new job, which she is forced to endure in order not only to earn a living, but also to secure a bright future for herself.

• Don't give up the day job- literally: do not quit your job (for the sake of this occupation), meaning: you are not so good at it (to quit your job).

Under day job understand the basic work, as opposed to part time job(part-time work, side job). Expression “Don't give up the day job” literally means that you should not quit your main job in order to get another job or do something else. So they can say if a person shares plans to become, for example, a professional artist, to earn a living from this, but the interlocutor doubts his talent very much:

– I want to become an artist. – I want to become an artist.

– Don't give up your day job. Just don't quit your job just yet.

I came across the expression on one English-language site, where issues of various creativity were discussed and, in particular, making money through drawing, writing, etc. One of the participants advised everyone to “don't quit work”, for which he was pecked at by the offended community.

• Butterflies in the stomach- excitement, love, fading of the soul, goosebumps, sucked in the stomach, literally: butterflies in the stomach.

“Every time I see you, I get butterflies in my stomach. But it’s okay… The acid kills them almost instantly!”

“Butterflies in the stomach” is the case when a literally translated idiom has become entrenched in the language, has become common, and more recently.

A few years ago, I watched an interview with Natalia O'Shea (Helavisa), the leader of the Melnitsa group. Speaking, if I am not mistaken, about the creative process, she tried to explain a certain inspired state and said that it is difficult to describe, but in English there is a suitable expression “butterflies in the stomach” - butterflies in the stomach. Here it just conveys this feeling!

Later, the “butterflies” began to flutter through the pages in social networks and ceased to be a curiosity. Usually the newfangled Russian expression "butterflies in the stomach" is used in the sense of "feeling in love", although in English it has a broader meaning: a physical sensation in the stomach caused by excitement. That is, it can be not only love, but also, for example, excitement in front of the public.

Whenever I have to speak in public, I get butterflies in my stomach. - When I need to speak to the public, my soul stops with excitement.

In Russian there is an exact analogue of this expression: sucking under the spoon. In both cases, we mean quite a physiological sensation associated with compression of the gastric sac as a result of a reduction in blood flow (from stress, excitement, fear, etc.). However, depending on the context, it may be more appropriate to use a less anatomically accurate, but more appropriate equivalent: the soul freezes, goosebumps run, it takes your breath away.

• jump scare– in horror films: sudden frightening of the viewer, lit.: bouncing fright.

One of the most basic and powerful scary tools in the arsenal of horror movie and game creators, which is why I don't like this genre. In its most primitive form it looks like this.

The hero sneaks with a flashlight along the dark corridor of the castle\psychiatric hospital\vampire lair, the music pumps up a tense atmosphere. He goes to a large mirror on the wall, and then there is a rustle behind him and a shadow flickers. The hero turns around sharply and sees that it is just a mouse. He, exhaling, says: “Yes, it's just a damn mouse!”, Turns to the mirror, AND THERE !!! Plus a harsh, screeching sound effect. Such scarecrows make the viewer literally jump on the spot (apparently, this is where the name comes from).

The reception is hackneyed, among connoisseurs of the genre it is believed that it is resorted to in cheap horror films. In good horror, they scare in much more subtle, deep ways, forcing you not only to jump occasionally, dropping popcorn, but to sit in suspense throughout the film, and by the end, simply burning the nervous system to the ground.

I got acquainted with this movie term when I watched the walkthrough of the super-terrible PT game on YouTube. In the comments, someone wrote that frequent use jump scare he was disappointed - such a good game and such a cheap reception.

• The bottom line- essence, summary, lit.: bottom line, introductory line.

Expression bottom line similar to the Russian "drawing the line" and means about the same: conclusion, conclusion. For example, a long article may end with the paragraph "Conclusion" (conclusion) or "The Bottom Line" (conclusion, conclusion). In scientific papers, they don’t write like that, because the expression has a colloquial, informal connotation.

The bottom line can also mean:

1. Main idea, summary.

It's hard to explain but bottom line is that they don't get along. “It’s hard to explain, but the point is, they don’t get along with each other.

1. The total amount in the financial document, profit or loss for the year.

How will the rise in interest rates affect our bottom line? How will the increase in interest rates affect annual income?

I most often came across the expression in the meaning of “conclusion” in educational articles and videos.

• street smart- worldly mind, smart in a street way, knowing life, lit.: street mind.

I heard the expression in a conversation with the American journalist John Alpert. Talking about how he began to make documentaries, he noted that he had never been super smart (super smart), except perhaps in everyday, street smart (street smart).

street smart- this is the mind that is acquired not at school and with books, but on the street, in life, in everyday life. It is also understood in a narrower sense: the ability to survive on the street.

If you spend your life reading books, you are not going to last in the real world. You gotta be street smart to survive. - If you read books all your life, you will not last in real world. To survive, you need to know life.

The bottom line

Speaking about the beauty and richness of a particular language, they often turn to its phraseology, idioms, because idioms are closely related to the culture, history, and customs of native speakers. However, when studying foreign language, especially at the initial stage, there is no need to give great importance to idioms - there are things of higher priority. In addition, due to their figurativeness, brightness, curious etymology, idioms are remembered without much difficulty, and some are easily deciphered without a dictionary.

P.S.

If you know some interesting idioms, expressions, sayings that surprised you in some way, write in the comments!

When writing the article, materials from the book were used: “English Idioms in Use: Intermediate. Self-study and classroom use.” Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell.

How often did you come across expressions in English that simply did not make sense when translated into Russian? For example, when you hear the phrase "horse around", the first thing you think of is a horse. In fact, it was about fooling around.

And there are many such examples. Such expressions are called idioms, and the English use them quite often. By memorizing the most common of them, you can make your speech brighter and livelier.

So, let's look at some idioms that are most often found in English speech. Let's break them down by topic.

Weather

"When two English people meet, they first talk about the weather." This saying of Samuel Johnson, expressed several centuries ago, is relevant to this day. It is not surprising that a large part of the idioms is related to the topic of weather.

• rain cats and dogs- pour like a bucket
• face like thunder- darker than clouds
• storm in a teacup- a storm in a teacup, much ado about nothing
• chase rainbows- chase the unattainable
• lightning fast- lightning fast
• have one's head in the clouds- soar in the clouds
• be snowed under- be overworked
• be under the weather- to be unwell
• twist in the wind- languish
• under a cloud- under suspicion
• as right as rain- All right
• for a rainy day- for a rainy day
• bolt from the blue- like snow on the head
• throw caution to the winds- stop worrying
• weather the storm- survive hard times
• sail close to the wind- walk along the edge of the abyss
• on cloud nine- on the seventh heaven
• shoot the breeze- talk about nonsense
• in a fog- confused
• go down a storm- succeed

Money

An equally popular topic of interest is, of course, money. We offer you to get acquainted with the most common "money" idioms.

• a piece of the pie- share
• grave train- Easy Money
• bring home the bacon- to provide for the family, to succeed
• make ends meet- make ends meet
• hit the jackpot- break the jackpot
• be in the red- to be in debt
• make a bundle- make a lot of money
• bet your bottom dollar- guarantee something
• look like a million dollars- look your best
• cost a pretty penny- cost a lot of money
• go Dutch- pay your share
• nest eggs- stash
• golden handshake- big severance pay
• cheapskate- miser
• be flush with money- bathe in luxury
• at all costs- at any price
• live beyond one's means- living beyond one's means
• break the bank- spend a lot
• cost a fortune- cost a fortune
• on the breadline- below the poverty line

Time

"Time is money". This famous saying can often be heard among the English. It confirms their extremely careful attitude to time. No wonder many idioms are dedicated to him.

• once in a blue moon- very rarely
• behind the times- obsolete
• time flies- time flies
• the big time- big success
• around the clock- around the clock
• dwell on the past - live in the past
• have the time of one's life- have a great time
• crack of dawn- with sunrise
• run out of time- dry up
• in the blink of an eye- in an instant
• like clockwork- without interruption
• for donkey's years- from time immemorial
• pressed for time- be in a hurry
• give someone a hard time- scold
• be ahead of time- get ahead
• to have a whale of a time- have a great time
• go with the times- to keep up with the times
• on the spur of the moment- with a swoop
• broad daylight- in broad daylight
• catch unawares- be taken by surprise

Animals

There is hardly a people more loving pets than the British. Therefore, animals take pride of place not only in the homes of the British, but also in speech.

• monkey business- meaningless work
• smell a rat- smell bad
• top dog- winner
• cash cow- source Money, Milch cow
• eager beaver- hard worker, business sausage
• black sheep- White crow
• elephant in the room- I didn’t notice the elephant, it’s obvious
• when pigs fly- when the cancer hangs down
• like a cat on a hot tin roof- be out of your element
• in the dog house- out of favor
• be as busy as a bee- work like a bee
• let a cat out of the bag- let the cat out of the bag
• horse around- fool around
• as poor as a church mouse- poor as a church mouse, penniless
• lion's share of something- the lion's share
• eat like a horse- have a voracious appetite
• have a tiger by the tail- defy fate
• hear it straight from the horse's mouth- from the source
• butterflies in the stomach- neither alive nor dead
• like water off a duck's back- like water off a duck's back

Food

Despite the fact that English cuisine does not shine with variety, the number of idioms dedicated to food is considerable. We present you the most common "delicious" idioms.

• egghead- smart ass
• big cheese- influential person
• potato couch- loafer
• tough cookie- hooligan
• top banana- leader
• bad apple- scoundrel
• eat one's words- take back your words
• the apple of one's eye- apple of an eye
• hard nut to crack- hard task, tough nut to crack
• in a nutshell- briefly
• have egg on one's face- look stupid
• as cool as a cucumber- cold-blooded
• be full of beans- be energetic
• as slow as molasses- very slow
• chew the fat- sharpen fringes
• sell like hot cakes- to be a hot cake
• take something with a pinch of salt- do not trust
• bite off more than one can chew- overestimate your abilities
• cry over spilt milk- grieve about the irreparable
• hot potato - actual topic

We hope that these idioms will help you diversify your speech. And the teachers of our school will be happy to sort out with you all the subtleties of their use.

Big and friendly family EnglishDom

They also learned about the peculiarities of their translation from one language to another.

To refresh my memory, let me remind you:

Idiom (idiom) is a figure of speech, which is several inextricably linked words (usually two, three), which have a meaning completely different from the general meaning of these words.

Learn English idioms

Examples of idioms:

• To face the music(literal translation: facing the music) —
  Take responsibility for your misdeeds, clear up the mess

Completely unexpected value. Music usually evokes positive associations in us. And it's all about the origin of this idiom. Earlier in the British Army courts-martial were accompanied

orchestra play. From here we have: face to face with music - face to face with the judge and answer for what you have done.

• Wear one's heart on one's sleeve (literal translation: wear someone's heart on your sleeve) -
  Show your emotions, don't be able to hide your emotions

Such a strange clue to the idiom, again, lies in history. It is believed that in the distant medieval times, the knights tied a red ribbon on their sleeves, presented earlier by his lady, and thus expressed their feelings to her.

These well-established expressions are a kind of originality of each language. The English language is rich in such expressions. They are used daily and everywhere in the speech of English speakers. Today, the need for their knowledge is no longer in doubt. They make our speech more expressive, natural.

List of the most used idioms

There are thousands of different idiomatic expressions in the English language. However, many of them are used extremely rarely, and some are completely obsolete. I would like to offer you a small list of idioms that you might really need. You can download this list of 75 popular English expressions along with the translation and add freedom to your communication with English speakers

Idiom dictionary is your best assistant

Dictionary of idioms in English I want to recommend you a couple of books that can help you learn these amazing combinations of words and master the art of using them in speech. Why do you need a competent assistant? The fact is that main difficulty studying idioms is understanding their meaning. By literal translation you will not achieve an understanding of their meaning, in many cases such a translation is far from their real semantic load. In addition, it is not always clear what connotation, positive or negative, is expressed. As in the case of the expression "facing the music."

1. The Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms is one of the best resources for those who want to learn idiomatic expressions in depth. There are about 7000 English modern idioms in this dictionary. The dictionary helps students to understand the meaning of amazing stable combinations of words, as well as to use them correctly and confidently in speech.
2. Longman Pocket Dictionary (Longman Pocket Idioms Dictionary) - this dictionary contains about 3000 interesting idioms, which are arranged by keywords in alphabetical order, which makes it easier to find the necessary turn of speech. Another of its advantages is a convenient, compact size, such a small dictionary can be taken, for example, on a trip and in your free time from excursions to study, and then use it in communication with native English speakers
3. English-Russian dictionary of idioms, set expressions, Belinskaya N. - its feature is that you will find idioms in it along with a Russian translation and explanation while the two previous books offer interpretations of meanings in English. Suitable for different levels of language proficiency

Based on your level of English proficiency, as well as on what results you want to achieve in learning idioms, you can choose and download a book or purchase it in a store. This book will be your assistant in learning fancy word combinations. If your language level is not high enough, you should choose a dictionary where you can find the desired word combination with a Russian translation or equivalent. Good luck!