3. Idioms and Expressions

Match the following idioms with their definition and provide their Russian equivalents:

Chapter 11

to ace smth. (AmE)	to become friends with smb.
to pop corks	to make smb. seem guilty of a crime when they are not, for example by lying to the police or by producing false evidence
a catcall	smb. who annoys you or causes problems
(a) full-blown (associate)	smb. who spends a lot of money carelessly or risks a lot of money on games, races etc.
(to have)(an air of) cockiness	a loud whistling sound when smb. in an audience or a crowd wants to show that they do not like a person or a performance
to mind one’s own business	to do smth. very well
a high roller	in its most complete and developed form
a thorn (of a person)	is used to emphasize that smb. or smth. is very good, bad, big etc.
a helluva (lot worse)	to be overconfident, to be sure of yourself
to get chummy with smb.	to open bottles with wine or champagne; a cork makes a sudden noise like a small explosion when it comes out of a bottle
to get framed	to not ask questions about a situation that does not involve you

Chapter 12

to fool around	to be unable to stand steadily, for example because you are looking down from a high place or because you are ill
to call smb. collect (AmE)	a man who has a lot of sexual partners and who is very proud of his sexual ability
to feel dizzy	to have a sexual relationship with smb. else’s wife, boyfriend, etc.
a stud	when the person who receives the call pays for it (BrE=to reverse the charges)

Chapter 13

to start like wildfire	to ruin one’s health and stop being active through too much work, pressure, alcohol etc.
to burn oneself out	smb. who searches beaches for interesting or useful things
to take smth. in stride	to start doing smth. quickly and uncontrollably
a refuge from smb./smth.	smb. who tells secrets because they always talk too much
a blabbermouth	a shelter or protection from smb. or smth.
a beachcomber	to look at smb. in a way that shows you think they are sexually attractive
to make eyes at smb.	not to allow smth. to annoy, embarrass, or upset you

Chapter 14

to make a name for oneself	to read all of smth., even though it is boring and takes a lot of time
to plow through smth.	to end an argument because you want to stay friendly with smb.
“There is no love lost between them.”	a general feeling that you get from a person or place
to patch things up	become famous for smth.
(bad) vibes	to reduce speed, effort etc.
to slack off	the situation when two people dislike each other

Chapter 15

to put one’s foot down	to stop annoying smb. by asking a lot of questions
to pass out	a room in a hospital where women give birth
a labor room	when the front part of one vehicle hits the front part of another vehicle
to put one’s finger on smth.	to give you a very unpleasant and slightly frightened feeling
to make one’s skin crawl	to be serious in one's actions
to get off one’s back	to stop thinking about smth.
to dismiss the thoughts	to know or be able to explain what is wrong, different or unusual about a situation
to get hit head-on	to say firmly that smb. must do smth.
to play for keeps	to faint