3. Idioms and Expressions

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

Chapter 31

bits and pieces	not likely to be right
to be getting at smth.	to be similar to smth.
shaky (“It’s pretty shaky.”)	to be trying to say smth. in a way that is difficult for other people to understand
to be in line with	smth. that is not important
to be no big deal (“It’s no big deal.”)	any small things of various kinds
to go through the roof	to become friendly with smb. you have just met because you want to have sex with her
to pick up a woman	to suddenly become very angry

Chapter 32

to lose one’s cool	not to ask or take action about other people’s affairs
to mind one’s own business	smb. who is good at smth. and successful, especially young
a hotshot/hotshot (adj.)	boring work
to have a hunch	to lose your calmness and self-control
grunt work (AmE)	to use influence in order to get smth. you want
to pull every string	to have an idea based on feeling rather than on reason or facts

Chapter 33

one’s own turf	a severe, serious necessity; to be desperate
two times in a row	to be the worst, most shocking, or most annoying example of smth.
to help smb. out of a jam	to escape from prison
to be in dire need of	an area that you think of as being your own
to take the cake (BrE=to take the biscuit)	special influence, unfair personal advantage=блат
pull (unc.)	one after the other without a break
“It is up to you.”	to help smb. out of a difficult situation
to run/go over the wall	You must decide.

Chapter 34

to catch one’s breath	to be brave and determined
to have guts to do smth.	to run because you are in danger
to hit the road	an accidental or intentional spread of news, facts that ought to be secret
a dummy (slang)	is said before or after a phrase to emphasize that you don’t agree with it
a leak (of information)	to be about to do smth, or to experience smth.
“Quote unquote.”	a fool
to be on the verge of doing smth.	to take time to start to breathe normally again after physical exercise
to run for life	without getting the effect you wanted or intended
to crack up (“You are cracking up.”)	to leave, or to start a journey
to no avail	to become mentally ill; to suffer a complete loss of physical and especially mental strength and ability

Chapter 35

to hold one’s breath	a group of people
a bunch of folks	to know the type of person or thing that you want for a particular purpose
to be on the run	to be exhausted
to be in smth. up to one’s waist	to breathe in and not let the air out again for some time
to be dead tired	to be extremely busy doing smth.
to show up	to be trying to hide or escape from smb., especially the police
to have smth. in one’s mind	to arrive in a place where people are expecting you