Sahilə Mustafayeva - Everyday English Idioms with Azerbaijani Equivalents in Use.doc

English idioms

3

Azərbaycan Respublikası Təhsil Nazirliyi Azərbaycan Dillər Universiteti __________________________________________________

SAHILƏ MUSTAFAYEVA

EVERYDAY ENGLISH IDIOMS WITH AZERBAIJANI EQUIVALENTS IN USE İNGİLİS DİLİNDƏ İŞLƏK İDİOMLAR VƏ ONLARIN AZƏRBAYCAN DİLİNDƏ QARŞILIĞI 25 UNITS OF VOCABULARY REFERENCE AND PRACTICE SELF – STUDY AND CLASSROOM USE (WITH ANSWERS)

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Бакы – «Леттерпресс» – 2008 Redaktorlar:

English idioms İngilis dili üzrə Azərbaycan dili üzrə Rəyçilər:

4 Filologiya elmləri doktoru, professor D.N.Yunusov Filologiya elmləri doktoru, professor İ.Z.Qasımov Nəsimi adına Dilçilik İnstitutunun direktor müavini, filologiya elmləri doktoru, professor M.Mahmudov İngilis dilinin leksikologiyası kafedrasının dosenti, filologiya elmləri namizədi Ə.H.Hacıyeva

Korrektorlar:

İradə Vahabova Şəlalə Əliyeva

Mustafayeva Sahilə Bağır qızı Everyday English Idioms with Azerbaijani equivalents in use (dərs vəsaiti). Bakı, «Леттерпресс», 2008. – 344 səh. Kitabda ingilis dilində gündəlik işlədilən idiomlar və onların Azərbaycan dilində qarşılığı verilmişdir. Bu idiomların mənasını daha yaxşı mənimsəmək üçün müxtəlif ingilis dilli mənbələrdən misallar verilmişdir. Vəsait ali məktəb tələbələri, orta məktəb şagirdləri, ingilis dilini tədris edən müəllimlər və bu dili sərbəst öyrənənlər üçün nəzərdə tutulmuşdur. Грифли няшр, 2008.

Mustafayeva, 2008.

©

English idioms

5 Money spent on the brain is never spent in vain ÖN SÖZ

İngilis dilini öyrənənlər dilin qrammatikasını, fonetikasını öyrənməklə yanaşı, həm də zəngın söz ehtiyatına malik olmağa çalışırlar. Dil öyrənənlər adətən bədii nitqdə (literary speech) maneə ilə rastlaşmadan uğur qazanırlar. Amma məlum olduğu kimi, dilin lüğət tərkibini təşkil edən sözlərin həqiqi mənaları ilə yanaşı, məcazi mənaları da çoxluq təşkil edir. Hətta vurğulamaq istərdik ki, hal-hazırda dilin lüğət tərkibində bir sıra sözlər öz həqiqi mənalarını itirib, məcazi mənada daha çox istifadə olunur. Elə bu səbəbdən də bəzən dili öyrənənlər rast gəldikləri sözün və ya birləşmənin idiomatik ifadə olduğunu bilmədiklərindən çaşıb qalır, idiomlu ifadə ilə desək, başlarını itirirlər. Leksikologiya bizə idiomlar barədə geniş məlumat versə də, Azərbaycan dilində idiomları qruplaşdıran, ingilis dilindəki idiomların Azərbaycan dilində qarşılığını əks etdirən dərs vəsaitləri azlıq təşkil edır. Ali məktəb tələbələri gündəlik danışıqda idiomların istifadəsi zamanı müəyyən çətinliklərlə qarşılaşır, bəzən isə ümumiyyətlə, onlardan istifadə edə

English idioms

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bilmirlər. Orta məktəb şagirdləri də bu problemlə üzləşirlər. Bildiyimiz kimi, orta təhsil məktəblərinə aid dərsliklərdə qismən idiomatik ifadələrə rast gəlirik. Amma onların dilimizdə qarşılığını tapmaq şagirdlər üçün, hətta bəzən, müəllimlər üçün də çətinlik törədir. Bu problemləri nəzərə alaraq ingilis dilində çox işlək idiomatik birləşmələrin Azərbaycan dilində qarşılığını verən belə bir vəsaitin yaranmasına ehtiyac vardır. Məlum olduğu kimi, ingilis dili idiomatik birləşmələrlə zəngin bir dildir. Amma bir qrup idiomlar var ki, onlar kifayət qədər köhnəlmiş və dilin lüğət tərkibindən çıxmışdır. Bu səbəbdən də bu gün onlara ancaq klassik ingilis ədəbiyyatında rast gəlmək mümkündür. Təqdim olunan bu dərs vəsaitində verilmiş idiomlar və idiomatik birləşmələr müasir ingilis dilində ünsiyyət prosesində daha çox istifadə olunan birləşmələrdir. Biz bu idiomlara adi məişət dilində, qəzetlərdə, müasir və həmçinin klassik ingilis ədəbiyyatında, həm də həyatda rast gələ bilirik. Vəsaitə daxil edilmiş misallar gündəlik həyatda daha çox istifadə olunan danışıq üslubunda verilmişdir. Eyni zamanda, vəsaitdə həm klassik, həm də müasir ingilis ədəbiyyatından seçilmiş misallar da üstünlük təşkil edir. Dərs vəsaiti 25 bölmədən ibarətdir. Hər bölmədə müəyyən sayda idiom toplanmış və hər idioma aid misallar verilmişdir.

English idioms

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Bundan əlavə, vəsaitdə hər bölməyə aid leksik çalışmalar tərtib edilmişdir. Ümidvarıq ki, çalışmalar vəsaitdən istifadə edən hər bir oxucunun idiomları nə dərəcədə başa düşdüyünü, onlardan necə istifadə etdiyini yoxlamağa kömək edəcəkdir. Sözsüz, dərs vəsaiti ingilis dilini öyrənənlərin öyrəndikləri dilə marağını artırmaqda, nitqin rəvan və səlis olmasına, habelə təbii səslənməsinə yardımçı olacaqdır. Vəsaitin hazırlanmasında öz dəyərli məsləhətləri və tövsiyələri ilə bizə kömək etmiş fil.e.d., prof . Oruc Musayevə, ingilis dili üzrə redaktor fil.e.d., prof. Dünyamin Yunusova, Azərbaycan dili üzrə redaktor fil.e.d., prof. İkram Qasımova, rəyçilər fil.e.d., prof. Məsud Mahmudova, fil.e.n., dos. Kifayət Gözəlovaya,

fil.e.n.

Əminə

Hacıyevaya,

İngilis

dilinin

üslubiyyəti kafedrasının baş müəllimi İradə Vahabovaya və İngilis dilinin qrammatikası kafedrasının bütün əməkdaşlarına, xüsusilə

həmin

kafedranın

müəllimi

Şəlalə

Əliyevaya

minnətdarlığımızı bildiririk. Vəsait barədə tənqidi qeydlərini, arzu və təkliflərini bildirəcək şəxslərə də qabaqcadan öz təşəkkürümüzü bildiririk. Müəllif

English idioms

8 İDİOM NƏDİR?

İDİOMLARI ÖYRƏNMƏK NƏ ÜÇÜN LAZIMDIR? Hər bir dil üçün əsas material sözdür və dil öyrənmək istəyən hər kəs gündəlik olaraq yeni söz və söz birləşmələri öyrənir. Həmin söz birləşmələrinin tərkibində idiomlar xüsusi yer tutur. İngilis dili idiom və idiomatik birləşmələrlə zəngin bir dildir. İdiomlara bütün üslublarda rast gəlmək mümkündür: yazıda, danışıqda, bədii ədəbiyyatda və s. Hətta qəzetlər belə idiomatik ifadələrlə zəngindir. İdiomların öyrənilməsi nə üçün zəruridir? İlk əvvəl «idiom nədir?» sualına cavab tapmaq lazımdır. İdiomları təşkil edən sözlər bir yerdə öz əvvəlki mənalarını itirir və birləşmə tərkibində yeni məna çalarlığı yaradır. Məsələn: I could eat a horse. Dəhşətli dərəcədə acam. məc*. Acından ölürəm. (Acından bir qoyun da yeyə bilərəm). Money doesn’t grow on trees. Pulun qədrini bilmək lazımdır. məc. Pul yerdən yığılmır. (Pul özünə hörmət istər). We are all at sixes and sevens. Biz tamamilə çaş-baş qalmışıq. I got there in the nick of time. Mən ora ən son anda çatdım. məc.* - məcazi məna

English idioms

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İdiomları təşkil edən sözlərin çoxu məcazi məna daşıyır. Müasir ingilis dilində sözlərin həqiqi mənalarına nisbətən, məcazi mənalarından daha çox istifadə olunur. Məsələn: “to catch” feli həqiqi mənadan daha çox, məcazi mənada işlədilir. Misallara nəzər salaq: Həqiqi məna Məcazi məna I have been fishing, 1. Yesterday I caught the bus. but caught absolutely 2. Try to catch his eye. nothing!

3. You’ll catch your death of cold. 4. Wait while I catch my breathe.

Dilin lüğət tərkibində elə sözlər də var ki, onlar artıq öz bədii mənada işlədilmə halını itiriblər və ancaq məcazi mənada işlənirlər. Məsələn, “to plough” (əkmək, biçmək) feli. Bu fel müasir ingilis dilində həqiqi mənada demək olar ki, istifadə olunmur. Biz ona ancaq idiomatik birləşmələrin tərkibində məcazi mənada rast gələ bilərik. Məsələn: 1. He had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to get ready for his test. O, Amerika tarixindən testi vermək üçün yorulmadan çalışırdı/O, Amerika tarixindən testi vermək üçün kağızların arasında itib-batmışdı. 2. You can plough money into a business. Sən bu işə

English idioms

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sərmayə yatıra bilərsən/Sən bu işə pul buraxa bilərsən. 3. Profits can be ploughed back. Qoyulan sərmayə qazanc gətirə bilər. Və yaxud, “to rack” felini götürək. “Rack” çoxmənalı qədim ingilis sözüdür; “to torture”; “to exhaust”, yəni (əzab/əziyyət/işgəncə vermə) mənalarında istifadə olunur. Müasir ingilis dilində isə “rack” bu mənalarda öz istifadəsini itirib. Biz ona ancaq idiomatik birləşmələrin tərkibində rast gələ bilərik. Məsələn: “to rack your brain”. Bu idiomatik birləşmənin dilimizdə qarşılığı “bir şeyi xatırlamağa güclü səy göstərmək, yaddaşını eşələmək” kimi tərcümə olunur. Bu siyahını artırmaq mümkündür. Misalların təhlilindən belə nəticəyə gəlirik ki, biz sözlərin həqiqi istifadəsi ilə yanaşı, məcazi istifadəsini də bilməliyik. Əks təqdirdə, cümlə tərkibində rast gəldiyimiz sözün məcazi istifadəsini bilmiriksə, onun tərcüməsində çətinlik çəkəcəyik və tərcümə düzgün olmayacaq. Buna görə də idiomları və onları təşkil edən sözlərin həm həqiqi, həm də məcazi mənalarını öyrənmək zəruridir. İdiomatik vahidlərin həm quruluşca, həm də məna və ekpressivlik çalarlıqlarına görə rəngarəngliyi onların üslubi istifadə imkanlarının zənginliyini təmin edən əsas cəhətdir. İdiomlardan ədəbi dilin, demək olar ki, bütün üslublarında

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istifadə olunur. Lakin bu vahidlərin ən geniş istifadə meydanı, əlbəttə ki, bədii üslub və ictimai-siyasi üslubdur. Məhəbbət, nifrət, istehza, kinayə, gülüş, qəm-qüssə, eyham və s. məna çalarlıqlarının daha bariz olduğu idiomatik vahidlərə həm bədii üslubda, həm də ictimai-siyasi üslubda təsadüf edilir. Bədii üslubda təsirliliyi artırmaq, canlı və obrazlı səhnələr yaratmaq üçün epitet, metonimiya və digər çalarlıqlara malik olan idiomlardan istifadə edilir. Ümumiyyətlə idiomlar danışıq-məişət leksikasının böyük hissəsini təşkil edir və danışıq prosesində fikrin obrazlı, təsirli, bir sıra hallarda isə ironik-ekspressiv istifadəsinə xidmət edir. İdiomları öyrənmək ilk baxışdan asan görünsə də, əslində bu yolda bir sıra çətinliklərlə qarşılaşmalı oluruq. İdiomlar özlərinə məxsus quruluşa malik olan söz birləşmələridir. İdiomları təşkil edən sözlər bizə bəzən qəribə, qeyri-məntiqi və qrammatik cəhətdən düzgün görünməsələr belə, biz onlarda dəyişiklik apara bilmirik. Onlar dilin lüğət tərkibinə daxil olduqları kimi öyrənilməlidir. Beləliklə, idiomlar aşağıdakı quruluşa malik olan sözlərdir: • İdiomlar dilin lüğət tərkibinə daxil olduqları kimi istifadə olunmalıdır; biz onları dəyişə bilmərik. • İdiomları təşkil edən sözlər həm həqiqi, həm də məcazi mənaya malikdir.

English idioms • İdiomların

12 özlərinə

məxsus

dəyişməz

qrammatik

quruluşları olur (Biz onların quruluşunda ancaq zamanı və ya əvəzlikləri dəyişə bilərik). Beləliklə, ingilis dili idiom və idiomatik birləşmələrlə zəngindir və onları öyrənmək dil öyrənən hər bir şəxs üçün zəruridir. Bu yolda bizə istək, diqqət, zəhmət və təcrübə köməklik göstərəcək. Sonda bir ingilis misalını yada salmaq istəyirik: “Practice makes perfect and all things are difficult before they’re easy”.

English idioms

13 SECTION ONE ANIMAL IDIOMS Zoonimik idiomlar

♣ IT IS A ZOO OUT THERE swing a (informal) used to say

çox darısqal otaq; ayaq

cat

that a room is very

qoymağa yer yoxdur; boş

small and that there’s

yerin olmaması; haranın-

not enough space sa basırıq olması - What sort of flat are you looking for? - I need somewhere with a bit more space. There’s not enough room to swing a cat in my living room. smell a (informal) to be suspicious;

bir kəsdən/nədənsə

rat

şübhələnmək; gözü

feel that something is wrong

su içməmək ◘ Nick told me he was working late tonight. But there were no lights on when I passed. I smelt a rat, and called the police. ◘ Every time Tom visits me, one of my ashtrays disappears. I’m beginning to smell a rat. monkey (informal) to play in a way that is

meymun kimi

(horse)

noisy and not very careful so that

atılıb düşmək;

around

you could hurt sb or damage sth;

vurnuxmaq;

to join in rough teasing; play

ora-bura qaç-

English idioms

14

around maq - Would you please stop monkeying around? You’ll break something. - Oh, come on! We’re just having fun. go to the (informal) to be dağılmaq, korlanmaq; vardogs

ruined or

yoxdan çıxmaq, dilənçi ha-

destroyed; become lına/it kökünə düşmək; rundown müflis olmaq; alt-üst olmaq ◘ - This shopping centre used to be quite good but look at it now. - I know, it’s really gone to the dogs in the last few years. ◘ Poor devil, he’s gone to the dog’s altogether [32, p.189]. have ants (informal) to be very excited kürkünə birə düşin your

or impatient about sth and

mək; yerində sakit

pants

unable to stay still; nervous

otura bilməmək;

overactivity; restlessness nadinc olmaq He just won’t sit still in class. I think he’s got ants in his pants. keep the

(informal) to have

acından ölməmək, bir

wolf from

enough money to avoid

təhər keçinmək, özünü

the door going hungry, poverty bir təhər dolandırmaq - You get a company pension, don’t you? - Yes, it’s not very much but it helps to keep the wolf from the door. be (feel) a person who is out of özünü sudan çıxarılmış ba-

English idioms

15

like a

his proper place in

lıq kimi hiss etmək; özünü

fish out

life, someone who

naqolay/biçimsiz hiss et-

of water doesn’t fit in mək; yerində olmamaq I went to a disco for the first time in ten years last night. I looked and felt like a fish out of water. a pig (informal) a very çirkli/səliqəsiz yer; tör-tökünsty dirty or untidy place tü /pinti yer; donuz damı ◘ I wish you’d tidy your flat up! It’s like a pig sty! ◘ “Christ, the place is like a pig sty” [31, p.40]. to be unable to understand or solve çaş-baş qalmaq; foxed

sth; (of the paper of the old

kitabın və s. vərəq-

books or prints) covered with

lərinin saralması

brown spots I just didn’t understand. I didn’t know what to do. I was totally foxed! donkeywork (informal) the hard

işin ən çətin və zəhlə-

boring part of a job or tökən hissəsi; çirkli iş task I don’t see why I should do all the donkey work! get sth (straight) (informal) (of information) məlumatı from the horse’s given by sb who is directly

mötəbər

mouth

mənbədən

involved and therefore likely

to be accurate əldə etmək - Are you sure we’re getting a pay rise next month? Who told you? - I got it straight from the horse’s mouth. The manager

English idioms

16

himself told me. chicken (informal) a very

çox az pul; məc. cücə yemi,

feed small sum of money uşaq payı; cüzi məbləğ You can get between twenty and thirty thousand pounds a year as an office manager now. That’s chicken feed compared to what you can get in the States. bookworm a person who likes

kitab oxumağı xoşlayan

reading very much adam, kitab həvəskarı My sister is a real bookworm. She’s always reading a book. a wolf in a person who pretends saxtakarlıq edən adam; sheep’s

to be good but really is qoyun cildinə girmiş ca-

clothing

bad

navar; mələk cildinə gir-

miş şeytan I trusted the lawyer until I realized that he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. a dog’s a life of misery,

çətinliklə/problemlərlə dolu hə-

life

yat, yoxsulluq içində yaşamaq; it

poverty, and

unhappiness kimi yaşamaq, it həyatı sürmək ◘ Nowadays some people live a dog’s live. ◘ “… that he should lead a dog’s life in order to provide them with board and lodging ... ” [33, p.25]. a wild-goose a search for sth that is hədər yerə vaxt sərf chase

impossible for you to

edib sonda uğursuz-

find or that doesn’t

luqla üzləşmək; dər-

exist, that makes you

yada balıq sevdası;

waste a lot of time

xam xəyal

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17

◘ I went all over the place trying to get what I wanted, but I had no success at all. It was a wild-goose chase. ◘ I’ve sent them on a wild goose chase [30, p.49]. a frog in to lose your voice or be boğazı/nitqi tutulmaq; your

unable to speak clearly for qısa muddət danışa

throat a short time bilməmək Let me drink a glass of water. I have got a frog in my throat. a fly on a person who nəzərə çarpmadan ətrafdakılathe wall

watches others

rı müşahidə edən/izləyən adam;

without being

məc. pəncərədə quş; gözəgörün-

noticed məz ◘ I’d love to be a fly on the wall during their conversation. ◘ I wish I were a fly on the wall and heard what they’re talking about - Kaş pəncərədə quş olub, onların nə barədə danışdıqlarını eşidəydim. dog-eared (informal) worn, used a lot;

çox istifadədən

especially about pages in

sonra kitabın və-

books that have been turned

rəqlərinin çirk-

in to mark where the reader

lənməsi, əzilməsi;

has stopped əzik-üzük After a book has been used a lot, it tends to get a bit dogeared. dog doesn’t eat dog (saying) it-itin ayağını basmaz ◘ John had been constantly reprimanded for being negligent on the job. Finally, in desperation his supervisor exclaimed,

English idioms

18

“Shape up or ship out!” And when one of his friends began to defend him the supervisor cried nervously: “Dog doesn’t eat dog!” every dog

everyone will have his

hər şeyin öz vaxtı/za-

has his/its

chance or turn; everyone

manı var; həyatda

day

is lucky or popular at

hər kəsin bəxtinin

(saying)

some time in their life

gətirəcəyi, xoşbəxt

olacağı gün var - I feel sorry for Mike. He was feeling quite depressed when I ran into him. - Did he tell you what was bothering him? - Among other things, he informed me that he was fired from his job without any reason. - He had better be strong. Every dog has his day. when pigs (ironic) never; under no qum göyərəndə; fly

circumstances; used to show

dəvənin quyruğu

that you don’t believe sth will

yerə dəyəndə

ever happen I’ll accept his invitation when pigs fly. Be sure. go to the dogs (informal) to get sökülmək; dağılmaq; (go to hell in a

into a bad state;

sınıq-sökük; it kökünə

handbasket) become run-down düşmək - I think, their house needs repairing. It goes to dogs. - So do I. I guess with a little carpentry work and some paint it could look pretty decent.

English idioms

19

fishy going on

to become suspicious;

şübhələnmək; gö-

strange zü su içməmək Why are they having all those secret meetings behind closed doors? There’s something fishy going on. take the bull (informal) take işə ciddi girişmək, cəsarətini by the horns decisive action toplamaq, qəti addım atmaq; in a difficult

həlledici həlqədən yapışmaq

situation Take the bull by the horns and say to him what you think about of him. a horse of a

(informal) quite a

bu başqa məsələ; ta-

different colour different matter mamilə ayrı məsələ He likes to play jokes on his friends, but he makes sure that nobody is hurt of his pranks. A prank that hurts someone is a horse of a different color! be (strictly) (informal)

gərəksiz/lazımsız; heç bir

for the birds uninteresting and

dəyəri olmayan; gülünc,

meaningless axmaq They went to the cinema, but they were bored and restless. As far as they were concerned, it was for the birds! They left during an intermission. cat got your tongue you aren’t able or utandığından da(usually used about

willing to talk

nışa bilməmək;

children or as a

because of

dilini pişik yeyib

question to children) shyness - Come on, tell us what you think about the article?

English idioms

20

- Well, uh … - Was it exciting? - I, uh … - What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?

♣ CAT IDIOMS Everyone knows that cats are domestic animals. Most families have cats at home. It is not surprising that English has lots of idiomatic expressions based on cats. catty

(informal) (of a woman) başqa insanlar haqqın-

(cattier;

saying unkind things

da xoş olmayan sözlər

cattiest)

about other people;

danışmaq; sözbaz, söz-

bitchy, spiteful gəzdirən; kinli, qəzəbli When you speak to Mary be careful what you say to her. Last time I heard how you spoke to her. Some people might think that was a very catty remark! It is a very catty thing to Bu cür danışmaq amansızlıqsay! make the

dır! cause a

aləmi bir-birinə qatmaq;

“fur fly” disturbance qarışıqlıq/iğtişaş salmaq You should have seen what happened yesterday. There was a terrible fight between Anar and the boss. The fur was really

English idioms

21

flying! get your

(disapproving) if a woman kişini caynağına ke-

claws into

gets her claws into a man, çirmək; qadının ki-

somebody

she tries hard to make him şiyə zorla ərə getmarry her or to have a

məyə çalışması; bir

relationship with her; to

kəsi kəskin tənqid

criticize so severely etmək I’ve never seen her behave like this with him. At last she has got her claws into him! when the cat when one’s supervisor at work is özbaşınalıq / is away, the

gone, things loosen up and the

sərbəstlik et-

mice will

employees feel freer; when the

mək; at

play (saying) parents are gone, children take liberties that they would not if

ölüb, itlərin bayramıdır

the parents were at home Yesterday my parents weren’t at home. I invited my friends and we had a wonderful party. We did what we wanted: sang, danced, ate, etc. When the cat is away, the mice will play. stop pussyfooting to stop being too mus-mus deyinand say what you hesitant and careful in cə, birdəfəlik mean expressing opinion - Mary, I, I’m, hm …

«Mustafa» de

- Jeff, stop pussyfooting and say what you mean. there is more there’re different hər işin bir çarəsi/əlacı than one way ways of doing

var; ölumdən başqa hər

English idioms

22

to skin a cat something şeyə əlac var - I don’t’ know how to solve this problem. I can’t think about it any more. What can I do? - Don’t worry. There is more than one way to skin a cat. put/set the to say or do sth başını bəlaya salmaq; özünü cat among

that is likely to

işə salmaq; cəncələ düşmək;

the pigeons course trouble quzunu qurda tapşırmaq Is it real that you let the cat out of the bag? I don’t believe my ears. How can I speak to the boss now? That’s put the cat among the pigeons. let the to tell about something

sirri açmaq; ağzının

cat out of that is supposed to be a

qaytanı olmamaq; pişiyi

the bag secret torbadan buraxmaq ◘ I heard Marry is pregnant. But no one knows it yet. She asked me not to tell anyone. She wants to inform all herself. Please, don’t let the cat out of the bag. ◘ My elder sister was planning to give me a present for my birthday. But I knew about it, because my little sister let the cat out of the bag. curiosity getting too nosey

həddindən artıq maraq in-

killed the

may lead a person

sanın başını bəlaya salar;

cat

into trouble

başın girməyən yerə, bədə-

nini soxma - Sh, Sh. I don’t hear. They’re quarrelling again. Let me hear what they are arguing about.

English idioms

23

- Don’t do it. Mind your own business. Don’t forget: “Curiosity killed the cat”. not to have a not to succeed at what

boş yerə özünü yor-

cat in hell’s

maq; heç bir şansı

they are trying to do

chance olmamaq Don’t wait for him any longer. He won’t receive you today. You haven’t got a cat in hell’s chance. be the cat’s (informal) to be the özü haqqında yüksək fiwhiskers the best person, etc

kirdə olmaq, özündən

bee’s knees razı olmaq My sister thinks she’s the cat’s whiskers the bee’s knees. be raining (informal) to be güclü yağış yağır; məc; bir cats and

raining heavily

yağış yağır ucundan tut göyə

dogs çıx, leysan When I left home it was raining cats and dogs. Note: Some people consider black cats lucky, while others consider them unlucky. They used to be associated with the Devil.

♣ BIRD IDIOMS run around like to be very busy and

o tərəf, bu tərəfə

a headless

qaçmaq; yumurta-

active trying to do sth,

English idioms chicken

24 but not very organized,

sı tərs gəlmiş to-

with the result that you

yuq kimi vurnux-

do not succeed maq I’m supposed to be going on holiday tomorrow. I’ve been running round like a headless chicken all day trying to get ready. watch sb/sth

watch very closely

bir kəsə/şeyə diqqət

like a hawk yetirmək, göz qoymaq I made a personal call from the office and my boss found out about it. She’s watching me like a hawk now to make sure I don’t do it again. not say to be very shy or

utancaq olmaq; heç kimin xət-

“boo” to

gentle; to be too

rinə dəyməmək; qarışqani be-

a goose

shy to say

lə incitməmək; heç kimin to-

anything yuğuna kiş deməmək Really? I can’t believe Carol would say anything to upset you. She would not say boo to a goose. eat like a to eat very little; az yemək; iştahasız olmaq sparrow have little appetite I’m not surprised Andrea’s so thin. She eats like a sparrow. be as dead completely dead; no sıradan çıxmaq/xarab olas a dodo

longer interesting or

maq, hərəkətsiz olmaq

valid Do you know anything about computers? I’ve just switched mine on and nothing happened. It’s as dead as a dodo. as the crow by the most direct way; birbaşa, düz xətlə,

English idioms flies (in a

25

along a straight line

düz xətt üzrə, düzünə

crow line) between two places It’s only forty miles from here to Bristol as the crow flies, but it takes an hour by car because the roads are so bad. be as sick as to be very məyus/ümidsiz olmaq; ovqatı a parrot disappointed təlx, dərdli, qüssəli I’ve got tickets for the match on Saturday. Mark has to work and there’s no work he’s going to manage to get off. He is as sick as a parrot. take somebody to take care of and

bir kəsə himayədar-

under your

help sb who has less

lıq etmək; kimisə qa-

wing

experience of sth than nadı altına almaq

you My new boss has taken a special interest in my career. He’s taken me under his wing. fly the (of sb’s child) to leave home and evi tərk etmək; nest live somewhere else yuvadan uçmaq All my children have grown up and flown the nest. be an (humorous) a person who yuxudan tez duran, laearly

gets up, arrives, etc. very

zım olan yerə vaxtında

bird early; an early riser gələn adam My mother really is an early bird. She gets up at six every morning. swan (informal, disapproving)

özünü göstərmək; özünü

around

to go around enjoying

yekəxana aparmaq; qı-

yourself in a way that

nından çıxıb, qınını bə-

English idioms

26

annoys other people or

yənməmək

makes them jealous I don’t like people who return to their home town and swan around in expensive clothes and big cars. kill two to succeed in doing two bir güllə ilə iki dovbirds with things by only one action;

şan vurmaq; bir əldə

one stone

iki qarpız tutmaq

get two results from one

effort Let’s check the timetable and pick up the tickets at the same time. We might as well kill two birds with one stone. a little bird (informal) used to say that sb bir şeyi gizli told

told you sth but you don’t want

mənbədən öy-

(whispered) to say who it was; to have

rənmək/əldə

learned something from a

etmək; məc.

mysterious, unknown, or secret

qulağı çalmaq

source A little bird told me you had got engaged. Is it true? – Eşitmişəm (qulağım çalıb ki) nişanlanmısan. Doğrudur? be no spring (humorous) to be uşaqlıq yaşını aşmış olchicken

no longer younger maq; təcrübəli/dünyagör-

müş olmaq I know Sheila looks young, but I can tell you she’s no spring chicken. I should know! I was in her class at school. be a spring (slang) a very young gənc; təcrübəsiz cavan, chicken person sadəlövh/ürəyiaçıq Don't be angry with her. She is a spring chicken and doesn't

English idioms

27

know how to behave professionally. in (at) (literary) in one attack or one fell

bir göz qırpımında;

accident; in one bad blow; at bir anlıq; bir zərbə

swoop one time; at the same time ilə; eyni vaxtda One stupid comment to the media and your reputation can be destroyed in one fell swoop.

♣ HORSE IDIOMS on the

to do sth quickly and without giving it başdansovdu;

hoof

your full attention because you are

məsuliyyətsiz-

doing sth else at the same time cəsinə What I don’t like about this government is the way it makes up policy on the hoof. There isn’t enough planning. get the bit (informal) to become very özünü nəyə isə between

enthusiastic about sth that you

your teeth have started to do that you’re unlikely to stop until you’ve

məcbur etmək; dözmək; dişinidişinə sıxmaq

finished I started a new job last month. It was all a bit strange at first but I’ve got the bit between my teeth. saddle sb/ to give sb/yourself bir kəsə xoşagəlməz tapyourself with an unpleasant sth (often

şırıq vermək; məc. kimisə

responsibility, task, yükləmək; bir şeyi etmə-

English idioms passive)

28 debt, etc

yə məcbur olmaq; boynu-

na qoymaq ◘ I hate going to the airport to meet international clients but I always get saddled with it because I’m the one who can speak three foreign languages. ◘ … and Anabelle was constantly out, and always leaving Audrey saddled with her children [21, p.302]. put the things in wrong işi tərsinə/baş-ayaq görmək; cart before

order; something

kimisə tərs/səhv başa düş-

the horse

backwards or

mək; arxi hoppanmamiş

mixed up hop demək Listen, Jane, do you really think buying a wedding dress is a good idea? I mean, why not wait till he asks you? Aren’t you put the cart before the horse? bite your to force yourself to

hisslərini cilovlamaq; di-

lips

şini-dişinə sıxmaq; məc.

remain silent and not

to reveal your feelings dodaqlarını dişləmək ◘ When he saw her in the room he became very angry, but tried to bite his lips. ◘ I had to bite my lips to prevent myself from laughing [32, p.147]. be (get) on to behave in a way

özünü hər şeyi bilən kimi

your high

that shows you think ğöstərmək; lovğalanmaq;

horse

you are better than

iddia satmaq, təşəxxüslən-

other people

mək; meydan sulamaq; at

English idioms

29

oynatmaq Just because you’ve been to university and I haven’t, you think you can get on your high horse every time we discuss something. Well, you’re wrong! a dark unknown; a political candidate

hər hansı bir işdə

horse

little known to the general

az tanınan; məşhur

voting public; a candidate who

olmayan; seçkidə az

was not expected to run tanınmış namizəd Nobody really knows a lot about this team. They are the dark horse in this World Cup. wild horses used to say that nothing

heç kimin dediyi ilə

wouldn’t

would prevent sb from

oturub-durmamaq;

drag /make/

doing sth or make them

təsir altına düşmə-

stop, etc. sb

do sth they don’t want to mək; öz bildiyi kimi

(do sth) do hərəkət etmək ◘ I don’t know why you go to discos. You can’t have a conversation and they’re full of smoke and sweaty bodies. Wild horses couldn’t drag me into one of those places. ◘ Stu, if he really wanted to, wild horse couldn’t have stopped him [20, p.220]. horse to join in rough teasing;

vurnuxmaq; ortalıqda

around play around gəzmək, var-gəl etmək ◘ Stop horsing around. You’re going to break something. ◘ There was a photograph of all of them three Chrismases before, laughing, their arms around each other, horsing around

English idioms

30

while an exasperated photographer had begged them to be serious for a moment so he could take their picture [20, p.12]. hand the to retire voluntarily könüllü istefa vermək; reins over sükanı əldən vermək - So, you’ve decided to take early retirement, Jim? - Yes, I’ve been manager here for twenty years now, it’s time to hand the reins over to someone younger. be/get/ride (informal) to behave in özündən razı olmaq; your high

a way that shows you

məc; göylə getmək, gö-

horse

think you are better than zü ayağının altını gör-

other people məmək I don’t like his manners. He is riding his high horse when he speaks about his father’s position in society.

♣ FISHING IDIOMS English in particular is a language which is rich in idioms associated with fishing. there’s

there are many other

çox; itə daş atırsan

plenty

people or things that are

oğlana (qıza) dəyir;

more fish

as good as the one sb has

bir kəsin/şeyin çox

in the sea failed to get olması - He just phoned me and told me he didn’t want to see me

English idioms

31

again? - Oh, don’t worry! There’s plenty more fish in the sea. fish for to try to make someone tərifi xoşlamaq; tərif compliments pay a compliment - What do you think of my hair?

üçün ürəyi getmək

- Oh, you are fishing for complements, aren’t you? let sb to free sb or yourself from bir kəsin/özünün canını off the a difficult situation or a

qurtarmaq; təhlükədən

hook

/cəzadan xilas olmaq,

punishment

kiməsə kömək etmək ◘ - This is the first time John’s made a mistake. It was a oneoff. - Trust him. He’ll be more careful in future. I think we should let him off the hook. ◘ It was enough for her, if not for him, and she wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easy [19, p.358]. rise to to react when sb is deliberately

bir kəsin fitfa-

the bait trying to make you angry or get

sına getmək

you interested in sth Look, the unions want a strike. If we rise to the bait, we’ll be playing right into their hands. cast to consider a lot of

axtardığını əldə etmək üçün

your

different people,

fərqli insanlarla görüşmək,

net

activities, possibilities,

müxtəlif variantları nəzər-

wider

etc. when you are

dən keçirmək və s.; tilovu

English idioms

32

looking for sth uzağa atmaq This job is too important to advertise in the local papers. If we want to attract a top sales manager, we need to cast our net wider and advertise nationally. SECTION TWO BODY IDIOMS Bədən üzvləri ilə bağlı olan idiomlar ♣ THE BODY HAS MANY USES be on your final stages of physical son gunlərini yaşamaq, last legs

weakness before dying; axır günləri olmaq; yathe final stage of a

rarsız olmaq; səyahətin

journey son mərhələsi I love my old car, but I’m having more and more problems with it. I think it’s on its last legs. come to if you bring a situation to a

vəziyyətin/müna-

a head

head or if a situation comes to

sibətin son həddə

a head, you are forced to deal

çatması; ağ etmək;

with it quickly because it

kəlləçarxa çıxmaq

suddenly becomes very bad My boy friend and I have always argued quite a lot, but the situation came to a head last week. He accused me of lying. face the to accept that a difficult reallıqla barışmaq; hə-

English idioms fact

33

situation exists, although qiqətlə üzləşmək, həqi-

you would prefer not to qəti qəbul etmək I’m sorry, but we have to face the fact that we’re not getting on. talk

when one is absent; without

bir kəsin arxasınca

behind

one’s knowledge or consent;

danışmaq; qeybət

sb’s back in a dishonest way; secretly;

etmək

sneakily I can’t trust you any more. You’ve been talking about me behind my back. have an an experienced and highly bir işdə böyük təcrüold hand skilled expert at some

bəsi olan adam; məc.

particular job qoca qurd He is an excellent chairman. He’s an old hand at controlling difficult people. have/put a to pretend that you feel dözümlü/mətanətli/irabrave face confident and happy

dəli olmaq; çətinliyə sinə

when you don’t gərmək ◘ I know Jane is in a lot of pain, but she puts a brave face on it. ◘ Though he put a brave face on it, Julia felt that he was deeply mortified [31, p.45]. have a to have a special talent

hər hansı bir işdə baca-

good head in a certain area rıqlı/qabiliyyətli olmaq ◘ Ask Marianne to help you. She’s got a good head. ◘ She has a good sound head and her advice is always worth

English idioms

34

taking [33, p.99]. dip your (informal) to start

hər hansı bir işi ehtiyatla

toe in/ into doing sth very

görmək; ehtiyatı əldən

the water

carefully to see if it

verməyərək işə başlamaq;

will be

ilk addımlarını atmaq

successful

or not It’s the first time I’ve driven a car. I’m dipping my toe in the water. And I’m anxious. get on sb’s (informal) to

bir kəsin əsəbləri ilə oynamaq;

nerves annoy sb kimisə hirsləndirmək Stop it! You are getting on my nerves. to be (slang) too interested in things hər işlə maraqlannosey that don’t concern you, especially maq; burnunu hər other people’s affairs yerə soxmaq - Who was that man I saw you with last night? - Don’t be so nosey! It’s none of your business. to shoulder to accept the məsuliyyəti üzərinə/boynuna göresponsibilit

türmək, məc. çiynində ağır yük

y for sth daşımaq - She’s not her usual self at the moment. Is there something wrong? - I think it’s pressure of work. She has to shoulder a lot of responsibility. get sth off to talk about sth that has

dərdini bölüşmək,

your chest been worrying you for a

ürəyini boşaltmaq;

long time so that you feel

yüngülləşmək

English idioms

35

anxious Talk about it! It might help to get it off your chest. put your to speak carelessly and ehtiyatsızlıq etmək; foot in sth rudely; hurt one’s feelings səhv etmək; məc. without intending to

yaraya duz səpmək;

yaranı qanatmaq - Did you know that Alan and Moira have stopped seeing each other? - Yes, I do now, but I put my foot in it yesterday when I asked when they were getting married. shoot your (informal) to give

ağız dolusu danışmaq;

mouth off

opinions without

özünü öymək, təriflə-

(about sth)

knowing all the facts;

mək; özünü hər şeyi

talk as if you know

bilən kimi göstərmək

everything Jim doesn’t play tennis very much, but he’s always shooting off his mouth about how good he is. jump down (informal) to suddenly

qəfildən kiməsə hirs-

sb’s throat

lənmək, danlamaq,

become very angry at

someone; scold severely acıqlanmaq; bir kəsi or angrily dəng etmək ◘ - Don’t be late. You are to be here at 2:30. - I know dad. You don’t have to jump down my throat! I don’t intend to be late. ◘ My mother jumped down my brother’s throat when she

English idioms

36

found out that he got a bad mark. pull sb’s fool bir kəslə məzələnmək; kimisə axmaq/ legs someone gülünc vəziyyətə salmaq, ələ salmaq ◘ - I was invited to take part in this performance. - Oh, really? Come on, you’re pulling my leg! ◘ - No, honestly. Do you really think that I’m trying to fool you with a ridiculous story? - Well, you’ve told me foolish stories before. - Of course he was skillfully pulling their legs: the dirty dog [33, p.213]. shake a leg

(old-fashioned, informal) to

cəld olmaq; tələs-

hurry mək Hey, you always take such a long time to finish your make-up. Come on, shake a leg! be all (fingers awkward, especially

biçimsiz, yöndəmsiz,

and) thumbs

naqolay olmaq; əlləri

with your hands;

clumsy əsmək ◘ - Hey, Bea. Can you help me out? I don’t seem to be able to button up the back of my dress. - Sure. Let us see if I can do it for you. - I guess I’m all thumbs because I’m so nervous. I’m already late for my date. Well, I suppose that being so nervous would make you clumsy and awkward. ◘ She was unreal, like a picture, and yet had an elegance which made Kitty feel all thumbs [33, p.166].

English idioms

37

get off

(informal) to stop

bir kəsi tənqid etməkdən/

sb’s back

criticizing or nagging dəng etməkdən/zəhləsini

someone tökməkdən əl çəkmək ◘ - Come on, let’s go out and do something. -Sorry, I’m right in the middle of studying for a physics exam. -You’ve been studying for a long time. Take a break: Come on! Let’s go! Forget studying for a while! -Look! Get off my back! I can’t go anywhere! ◘ Get off my back! Açıl başımdan! Əl çək! be all (informal) to be waiting diqqətlə qulaq asmaq; çox ears

with interest to hear what

maraqlandığı bir məsələni

sb has to say; very eager

eşitməyə tələsmək; qulağı

to hear; very attentive bir kəsdə olmaq Go on! Tell me the gossip. What has happened between them. I’m all ears! hear sth by word by being told directly

öz qulağı ilə eşit-

of mouth mək I heard about their wedding by word of mouth. Everyone said it was good. poke/stick (informal) to try to

başqasının işinə qarış-

your nose

become involved in sth

maq, müdaxilə etmək;

into sth

that doesn’t concern you burnunu hər yerə sox-

maq Stop poking/sticking your nose into other people’s business! turn your (informal) to refuse köməkdən imtina etmək;

English idioms

38

nose up at sth, especially

özünü yekəxana aparmaq;

sth

because you don’t

hər şeyi özünə yaraşdırma-

think that it is good

maq; məc. burnunu dik

enough for you tutmaq You shouldn’t turn your nose up at 300 pounds a week. It’s better than nothing. in the teeth despite baxmayaraq, əksinə, ziddinə He achieved it in the teeth of serious opposition. by the skin of to escape a qəzadan güclə can qurtarmaq; your teeth disaster möcüzə nəticəsində sağ qalmaq He escaped disaster by the skin of his teeth. lying through to tell a bilərəkdən yalan danışmaq; your teeth

deliberate lie

gözünün içinə kimi yalan da-

nışmaq I think he is lying through his teeth. I’ve never said any such thing!

♣ EYE IDIOMS with your

having enough

eyes closed/ experience to be

hər hansı bir işdə böyük təcrübəsi olmaq; bir işi

shut able to do sth easily gözü yumulu edə bilmək I’ve driven from London to Edinburgh so many times now I could do it with my eyes closed. eyes in the ability to know what ehtiyatlı olmaq; hər şey-

English idioms back of

39

happens when your

your head back is turned

dən xəbərdar olmaq; məc. boynunun ardında da ğözü

olmaq You need eyes in the back of your head. in the widely known to many diqqət mərkəzində olan, public

people through

tez-tez ictimai tədbirlər-

eye

newspapers and

də/ekranda görünən, çox

television tanınan You wouldn’t want to be famous. You live your life in the public eye. be up to your

to have a lot of

çox çalışmaq, məşğul ol-

eyes in sth sth to deal with maq; işi başından aşmaq Sorry, but I’m afraid I have to cancel lunch. I’m up to eyes in work at the moment. How about next week? see eye to to agree fully; zövqləri üst-üstə düşmək, raeye on sth hold exactly the

zılaşmaq; hər şeyə eyni gözlə

same opinion baxmaq; ümumi dil tapmaq I get on very well with my husband. We see eye to eye on most things. out of the (informal) without looking

bir kəsə nəzərə çarp-

corner of at a person or thing

madan baxmaq, gizli

your eye

directly or openly; secretly; baxmaq; ğözucu bax-

without being noticed maq/ görmək ◘ I was lying in my bed when I noticed something moving out of the corner of my eye. I jumped up and turned the light on and saw a snake on my blanket.

English idioms

40

◘ I look out of the corner of my eye and there he is [16, p.145]. pull the

(informal) to fool

bir kəsi aldatmaq; məc.

wool over someone into thinking bir kəsin gözünə kül üfürsb’s eyes

well of you; deceive

mək; kiminsə başına co-

rab hörmək Don’t try to pretend you’ve been working late in the office. I rang and they told me you’d left early. You can’t pull the wool over my eyes. not bat an eyelid

don’t show

heç bir reaksiya verməmək;

(used in negative

surprise;

gözünü qırpmamaq; hisslə-

sentences) fearless rini biruzə verməmək - They offered you double your salary? What did you do? Fall off your chair? - No, I did not bat an eyelid, I looked straight at them and said it wasn’t enough. turn a to pretend not

ğöz yummaq; fıkır verməmək;

blind eye to see; not pay

bir şeyin üstündən keçmək; özü-

attention nü görməməzliyə vurmaq - He was rather rude to you yesterday, wasn’t he? Have you spoken to him? - No, I decided to turn a blind eye to it. He’s under a lot of pressure at work. keep an eye to watch carefully; fikir vermək; nəzarət eton

not stop paying

mək; gözü bir kəsin/şeyin

English idioms somebody/

41 attention to

something - Are you coming with us?

üstündə olmaq; muğayat olmaq

- No, I’ll stay here and keep an eye on our things. (not be able to) to find sb/sth so çox diqqət yetirmək; take your eyes interesting, attractive, gözünü bir kəsdən/ off sb/sth

etc. that you watch

şeydən çəkə bilmə-

them all the time mək; heyran olmaq - I think Steve rather likes Andrea, don’t you? He spent the whole evening talking to her and ignoring everyone else. - You can say that again! He couldn’t take his eyes off her. run your eye to look at or examine bir şeyə nəzər salmaq, over sth sth quickly gözdən keçirmək Leave your report here, I’ll run my eye over it. raise your (disapproval) to show bir şeyə təəccüblənmək; eyebrows

that you disapprove of

insanları şoka salmaq,

(at sth)

or are surprised by sth;

şübhələndirmək; məət-

(often

to shock people; cause

təl qoymaq/qalmaq;

passive)

surprise or disapproval məc. qaşlarını qaldır-

maq ◘ I think you should have kept quiet about the baby! It raised a few eyebrows. ◘ Eyebrows were raised when she informed that she was going to have a baby.

English idioms

42

♣ FACE IDIOMS do sth till (informal) to try to do sth

ciddi-cəhdlə bir şeyə

you are

as hard and as long as

nail olmağa çalışmaq;

blue in

you possibly can but

məc. nəfəsin kəsilənə

the face

without success; very

kimi; gözün kəllənə çı-

angry or upset; excited

xana kimi

and very emotional You can keep asking till you’re blue in the face. I’m not going to change my mind. take sth to believe that sth is what it

bir şeyi ğöründüyü

at face

appears to be, without

kimi/olduğu kimi qə-

value

questioning; the seeming

bul etmək, bir şeyin

worth or truth of sth görünən/zahiri tərəfi You can never take what she says at face value. to sb’s face to say directly sözün düzünü üzə demək; birbaşa demək Everybody knows he is a wrong person, but nobody says it to his face. fall flat on

to fail completely,

bir şeyin uğursuz alınması;

your face

usually causing

biabır olmaq, gülünc vəziy-

embarrassment yətə düşmək ◘ He once fell flat on his face as he was trying to give a major speech.

English idioms

43

◘ His final lecture fell flat on its face. be written (of a feeling) to be very

üzündən görün-

all over

mək, üzünə yazıl-

obvious to other people from

your face the expression on sb’s face maq ◘ It must have been you. It’s written all over your face. ◘ The magnitude of her loss was written all over her face, … [21, p.343]. disappear/vanish to disappear yoxa çıxmaq, qeyb olmaq; off the face of the completely

yerin altına girmək

earth Have you seen my keys? I put them down five minutes ago and now they’ve disappeared off the face of the earth. face the (informal) to go through trouble or danlanmaq; music

danger, especially because of sth you tənqidə tuş

did; accept your punishment gəlmək ◘ - He didn’t back up his computer last night and it crashed again. - He’s with the boss at the moment, no doubt facing the music. ◘ “I was thinking that it’s time for you to go back to Washington and face the music” [19, p.412]. get a long to look sad; kədərli görünmək, qaş-qabağını face

disappointed tökmək; məc. burnunu sallamaq

look Why have you got such a long face? Has something happened I don’t know about? put a face yaxından tanış olmaq; adını eşidib, üzünü

English idioms

44

to a name də görmək; bir kəslə əyani tanış olmaq It’s nice to meet you at last, Mr. Lee. It’s good to be able to put a face to a name. - Nəhayət ki, sizinlə tanış olduq, Cənab Li. Adınızı eşitmişdik, üzünüzü də görə bildik (Yüz eşitməkdənsə bir görmək yaxşıdır).

English idioms

45

♣ FINGERS AND THUMBS IDIOMS fingers

to believe in

uğura inanmaq (barmaqları çar-

crossed

luck

paz bir-birinin üstünə qoymaq və

işin uğurlu alınacağına inanmaq) - I’ve got my final exam tomorrow. - Good luck I’ll keep my fingers crossed. twist (wrap; (informal) to persuade bir kəsi təsir altına wind) sb round sb to do anything that

almaq; barmağına

your little

dolamaq, fırlatmaq

you want

finger - Danny and Sane have a strange relationship, she gets her own way all the time. - Oh, yes. She can twist him round her little finger. have to have the information, lazım olan məlumasomething knowledge, etc. that is

tın, biliyin əl altında

at your

olması; axtardığını

needed in a particular

finger-tips situation and be able to find it easily and use it

asanlıqla tapmaq və istifadə etmək

quickly - I see so, you can put all the data onto the computer network. - That’s right. Then any information you need is at your finger-tips immediately. green a talent for gardening;

bağbanlıq qabiliyyəti,

fingers

güllərdən baş çıxarma

ability to make things grow

English idioms

46

- I don’t know what I am doing wrong. My plants are dying. - Speak to Nina. She’s the one with green fingers. be under (of a person) obedient qorxaq/arvadağız olmaq; sb’s

to you; controlled by

bir kəsin təsiri altında ol-

thumb

you; under your power maq; bir kəsə itaət etmək;

qapazaltı olmaq - I’m going to ask Tony if he wants to come away with us on the golf weekend. - He won’t come. His wife won’t let him. He’s totally under her thumb. finger on to always be aware of the most məlumatlı olmaq; the pulse

recent developments in a

hər şeydən xəbəri

particular situation olmaq - Does anybody know who the new Personnel manager is going to be? - I have no idea. Ask Chris. He’s got his finger on the pulse. count the used to say that the bir kəsin/şeyin ümumi safingers of

total number of sb

yının az olması; barmaq

one hand /sth is very small hesabı saymaq, çox az ◘ - My boy friend took me out to a lovely restaurant last night. - Lucky you. I can count the fingers of one hand the number of times my husband’s taken me out for a meal recently. ◘ I love it here. It’s so peaceful. You can count the number of cars you see here in a week on the fingers of one hand.

English idioms

47

♣ FOOT IDIOMS think on

to think quickly; answer or

your feet act without waiting; know what to do or say right away

cəld cavab vermək, hazırcavab olmaq; gözüyumulu cavab

vermək People ask you the most unexpected questions in this job. You really have to think on your feet. fall/land to get yourself out of trouble

vəziyyətdən çıxmaq;

on your

without damage or injury

bəxti gətirmək; su-

feet

and sometimes with a gain;

dan quru çıxmaq

be successful no matter what happens ◘ - Has your sister found a job yet? - Didn’t I tell you? She’s got a wonderful job in the city company car, incentives, bonuses, etc. She’s really landed on her feet. ◘ No matter what trouble he gets into, he always seems to land on his feet. find your to become able to act

müstəqil və özünə

feet

inamlı addım atmaq;

independently and with

confidence şəraitə uyğunlaşmaq I’ve got a new job. I think it’ll take me a couple of weeks to

English idioms

48

find my feet. drag to be deliberately

bir işi/qərarı bilərəkdən

your feet slow in doing sth or

uzatmaq; ləng tərpənmək;

(or heels) in making a decision məc. ayaqlarını dartmaq/ sürümək ◘ I’m having my flat decorated at the moment. They’re supposed to finish it today but they’ve been dragging their feet so it’ll probably be Friday now. ◘ He had been thinking about doing a book about it, but he’d been dragging his feet about doing the research [20, p.250]. stand on your to depend on müstəqil həyata atılown feet

yourself; do things

maq, sərbəst yaşamaq,

(stand on your yourself; earn your

müstəqil olmaq; məc.

own two feet)

ayaqları üstə möhkəm

own living; be

independent dayanmaq You can’t live with your parents forever, Victor. You’re twenty-six. It’s time you were standing on your own two feet. put your to take a decided qəti addım atmaq; ölçü foot down

stand; be stubborn in götürmək; fikrində/möv-

decision qeyində möhkəm olmaq ◘ I don’t mind my son going to discos and clubs but I had to put my foot down when he started coming home as late as two or three in the morning. ◘ Micheal was always there to put his foot down [31, p.147]. get/start off (informal) to start a bir kəslə pis yola

English idioms

49

on the wrong

relationship badly;

getmək, yola getmə-

foot (with sb)

make a bad start; begin

mək; pis başlamaq

with a mistake I get on very well with my flat mate now but we got off on the wrong foot because she used to play her music so loud. It was fine after we’d talked about it. be dead very tired but still standing əldən düşmək, yorğun on your or walking; too tired to do olmaq; məc. ayaq üstə feet more; exhausted ölmək/güclə dayanmaq I worked for thirteen hours yesterday. I was dead on my feet when I got home. be rushed/ to be extremely busy; çox məşğul olmaq; işi run off

to have too many

başından aşmaq; başını

your feet things to do qaşımağa vaxtı olmamaq - Have you had a busy day? You look exhausted. - Yes, it was the first day of the sale. We were rushed off our feet. set foot in/ on

to step, walk, go; to

getmək/ baş çək-

sth (used with

enter or visit a place

mək; ayaq basmaq

negative) - So, you had a good time in the village, then? - Yes, but I hope I never set foot in that place again. There is lots of rain there. keep your feet an understanding nə etdiyini bilmək; ağlı on the ground of what can be

başında olmaq; ağlını itir-

English idioms

50

(used with a

done; sensible

məmək; yolunu azma-

possessive)

ideas

maq; məc. ayaq üstə möh-

kəm durmaq - It’s my first job, and they are giving me a company car! And the salary is twice what I expected. What do you think of that, then? - Just keep your feet on the ground, son! That’s all I can say!

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51

♣ HAND IDIOMS live from to live on little money and

qənaət edə bilməmək;

hand to

spend it as fast as it comes büdcədən yemək; güc-

mouth

in; live without saving for

lə dolanmaq

the future ◘ People who live from hand to mouth never save for tomorrow. ◘ These days are the hardest days of my life. We are just living from hand to mouth. We aren’t able to save anything, but we manage. have your

to be very busy

işi başından aşmaq; başını

hands full with lots to do qaşımağa vaxtı olmamaq ◘ If you have got your hands full, you are very busy with lots to do. ◘ - I wonder if you can help me about the house. I don’t feel well nowadays. - Normally I would, but I have got my hands full these days. My mother is in bed and I have to look after her. get out of out of control nəyisə əldən vermək, vəziyyətə hand nəzarət edə bilməmək ◘ If things get out of hand, they get out of control. ◘ - Come on, there is a fight between Farid and Anar. - Don’t worry. I’ll call the police if things get out of hand. have a it means that hər işdə əli olmaq; işlərin öhdə-

English idioms

52

big

you’ve had a lot

sindən gəlmək; rəhbərlik etmək;

hand

of influence over

böyük əməyi/zəhməti olmaq

sth - Thank you for organizing such an excellent meeting. - Thanks you, but don’t forget Maria. She had a big hand in all the planning as well. turn your hand it means you are able

əlini hər işə atmaq;

to something to everything hər işi bacarmaq He can turn his hand to almost anything; sport, painting, music. He’s good at everything. fall into sb’s right to be gained by sb

yaxşı əllərə düşmək

hands It is a good thing my papers have fallen into the right hands. fall into wrong (formal) to become pis əllərə düşmək hands controlled by sb This report is strictly confidential. If it fell into the wrong hands we would all be in serious trouble. (not) the right sağ əl, sol əlin nə iş gördüyünü bilmir; hand knows sağın soldan xəbəri yoxdur The problem with this company is communication. Half the time the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. take your to deal with a particular işləri öz əlinə/öhown hands situation because you are not happy with the way the others

dəsinə/himayəsinə götürmək

are dealing with I don’t care if you know who did this to your car, you shouldn’t

English idioms

53

deal with it yourself. Call the police. You can’t take the law into your own hands. change to change or transfer əldən-ələ keçmək, başqasının hands ownership əlinə keçmək; satılmaq - Let’s go to the Greek restaurant we went to last year. It was nice. - It’s a Chinese restaurant now. It changed hands last September. out of if you reject, etc. sth out of

oxumadan/müzakirə et-

hand hand, you do so immediately mədən bir şeyə etiraz without thinking about it

etmək; bir şeyin üzünə

fully or listening to other

baxmadan qaytarmaq,

people’s arguments əldən qaytarmaq My boss rejected my report out of hand. have time on your to have time to spare boş vaxtı olmaq hands - We’re repairing the house at the moment, it’s taking ages. - Don’t worry. I can give you a hand. I’ve got a bit of time on my hands. get your

to read everything and

əlinə keçəni oxumaq

hands on anything - I wonder how you have got the information. You can answer nearly everything what you are asked about. - I read very widely. In fact, I read everything I can get my hands on. give sb a hand

to give a hand; make

bir kəsə kömək

English idioms

54

(or lend a hand) yourself useful; help etmək/əl tutmaq Your luggage looks heavy. Let me give you a hand.

♣ HEAD IDIOMS have your

far from real life; to have

real həyatdan uzaq;

head in the ideas, plans, etc. that are

göylərdə uçmaq; xə-

clouds not realistic yala qapılmaq He is typical teenager. No sense of responsibility. He thinks he’ll walk into a job. I know he has got his head in the clouds most of the time. make head or tail of

to see the why of; başa düşmək/

(used in negative,

finding a

baş açmaq; bir

conditional, and

meaning in;

şeyin səbəbini

interrogative sentences) understand anlamaq - I’ve read the instruction booklet, but I couldn’t understand it. - I’ve looked at it too, and can’t make head or tail of it, either. do something (informal) to be able to do bir işi çox asanlıqla standing on

sth very easily and

etmək; gözü yumu-

your head

without having to think

lu edə bilmək

too much - Is it difficult to make a home page or a website? - Not really. I’ve done so many now I could do it standing on my head.

English idioms

55

be head and

to be much

digərlərindən fərqlənmək,

shoulders

better than

fərqli olmaq, başqa insan-

above sb/sth other people or

lardan/şeylərdən çox üstün

things olmaq; başbilən olmaq He is still top of the family. He is head and shoulders above the rest, as always. put/lay your to risk losing your

hərəkətləri/danışığı ilə

head/neck

özünü (işini) təhlükə al-

job, damaging your

on the block reputation, etc. by

tında qoymaq; başını

doing or saying sth cəncələ/bəlaya salmaq - Sorry about the mistakes, but none of them was very serious. - That’s easy for you to say, but it’s my head that’s on the block, not yours! go right not understandable; beyond

başa düşülməyən,

over your

your ability to understand;

başına batmayan,

head

too hard or strange for you

ağlı bir şey kəsmə-

to understand mək I listened to this problem of yours but it went right over my head. Nonsense! keep your to remain solvent; çulunu sudan çıxarmaq; güc head above manage to stay

-bəla ilə dolanmaq, birtəhər

water out of debt dolanmaq; borca düşməmək The first two years of running this business were very hard. We just about managed to keep our heads above water. need (to have) (informal) dəli olmaq; məc. ağlına dua yaz-

English idioms your head

56 to be crazy dırmaq; ağlı çaşmaq; başını hə-

examined kimə yoxlatmaq/göstərmək If you think I’m going to lend you money again, you need your head examined. bury/hide to refuse to admit təkidlə real faktları nəzərə alyour head that a problem in the

madan boyun qaçırmaq;

exists or refuse to məc. başını kola soxmaq; ba-

sand deal with it şının altına yastıq qoymaq This is a problem we have to face. We can’t bury our heads in the sand and hope it will go away. put to cooperate with bir yerə yığılıb məsləhətheads

someone else in order ləşmək, bir yerdə müzaki-

together to find the solution to a rə etmək; məc. külüngü given problem bir yerə vurmaq I’m sure we can find a solution to this problem if we all put our heads together.

♣ HEART IDIOMS The heart has always been seen as one of the most important organs in the body, perhaps the most important. close/dear/ having a lot of near to

bir kəsin qəlbinə yaxın olmaq,

importance and bir kəslə/şeylə maraqlanmaq,

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57

your heart interest for sb

marağına uyğun olmaq; nəyə

görəsə narahat olmaq You know, this problem has always been close to my heart. have a a kind, generous, or saf qəlbli olmaq, xeyirxah olheart of forgiving nature

maq, qızıl kimi qəlbi olmaq

gold ◘ - My mother is a great help to us. And she does so much for her neighbours as well. - Yes, people are always saying she’s got a heart of gold. ◘ They shared most of the same views, she had a heart of gold, ... [18, p.51]. have a heart a nature without

zalım, qəddar, daşürəkli

of stone pity olmaq ◘ He has a heart of stone. He often hits his wife. ◘ My mother has a mind like a whip, and a heart of stone [41, p.136]. heart used to say that you are bir şeyə aludə olmaq/ürəis (not) (not) very interested in in sth

yini qoymaq; bir şeyə istə-

or enthusiastic about sth yi/həvəsi olmaq (olma-

maq); maraqlanmaq - I’ve decided to give up my piano lessons. I just don’t seem to be getting anywhere. - Well, there’s no point continuing if your heart is not in it. in your heart deep down where it really qəlbinin dəof hearts

matters; in one’s innermost

rinliyində

feelings ◘ - The job in America came to nothing. Are you disappointed?

English idioms

58

- Not really. In my heart of hearts, I didn’t really want to leave Britain. ◘ And she prayed daily that He would let her keep her father, but in her heart of hearts, she knew that wasn’t going to happen [19, p.95]. have a if you have a change of heart, change

niyyətini/məq-

your attitude towards sth changes sədini/məramını

of heart usually making you feel more

dəyişmək

friendly, helpful, etc - Why are Tom and Julia going back to Australia? I thought they were going to stay for another six months. - That’s the plan but they’ve had a change of heart. They’re homesick. a man/woman a man/woman who

eyni şeyləri xoşlayan,

after your

likes the same things

eyni fikirdə olan, ar-

own heart

or has the same

zuları üst-üstə düşən

opinions as you ◘ - I like most sports really -

insanlar Mən idmanı

sevirəm,

-especially rugby.

xüsusilə reqbini.

- Oh, a man after my own

- Əsl mənim adamımsan.

heart. I really love rugby! Mən də reqbini sevirəm. ◘ He had an idea that everybody in the room was a man after his own heart, that everything was glorious, everything was perfect [22, p.27]. have heart- speaking freely and

dərdləşmək; səmimi

English idioms to-heart

59

seriously about

söhbət etmək; ürəyini

about sth something private bir-birinə açmaq - Where’s Lisa? She’s not at her desk. - She’s in David’s office. They’re having a heart-to-heart about her future. break sb’s to make sb feel

bir kəsi məyus etmək, kədər-

heart

ləndirmək; bir kəsin qəlbini

very unhappy or

hopeless sındırmaq/parçalamaq ◘ My car has finally come to the end of its life. I’ve had it for 20 years. It’ll break my heart to say good- bye to it. ◘ “Have you broken my heart and ruined my whole life just to keep me in your rotten theatre?” [31, p. 43]. not have to be unable to do sth because you ürəyi gəlməthe heart

know that it will make sb feel sad

(to do sth) or upset; not be insensitive or

mək; cürət etməmək

cruel ◘ Simon asked if he could play the piano at the wedding. I know he’s not very good but I didn’t have the heart to say no. ◘ Crystal was tired, but she didn’t have the heart to refuse her [19, p.169]. heart sink to lose hope, courage, or eagerness; be very

ümidini, cəsarətini itirmək; kədərlənmək; məc.

disappointed ürəyi düşmək ◘ My heart sank when I saw how much washing up there was in the kitchen.

English idioms

60

◘ Her heart sank because she knew she had lost something … [31, p.50].

English idioms

61 SECTION THREE CLOTHES IDIOMS Geyimlə bağlı işlənən idiomlar

♣ CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN AND THE WOMAN fit like a

to fit

yaraşmaq; əyninə oturmaq; üstünə

glove perfectly biçilmək, ölçüsünə uyğun olmaq This coat fits you like a glove. get/have/ to keep a plan or an idea gizli bir fikri və yaxud keep sth

secret; kept secrectly

planı olmaq; ehtiyatda

up your

ready for the right time

(boxçada) bir şey saxla-

sleeve

or for a time when

maq; ehtiyatlı olmaq;

needed

hər şeyi öz vaxtında is-

tifadə etmək ◘ It’s my sister’s birthday tomorrow, but I haven’t bought or planned anything yet, mother calms me because she always has got something up her sleeve. ◘ I think you are keeping something up your sleeve. What’s it? Come on. Tell me, I’m all ears. be in sb’s in or into bir kəslə eyni vəziyyətdə olmaq; özüshoes

one’s place nü kiminsə yerinə qoymaq, başqası-

(boots) or position nın vəziyyətini başa düşmək ◘ The director asked Kate to break the news to the people who

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62

are losing their jobs. Poor Kate. I wouldn’t like to be in her shoes. ◘ You know, it’s a very good plan to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes and ask yourself how you would act in his place [33, p.56]. on a (informal) using

çox az pul istifadə etmək/

shoestring very little money;

xərcləmək, az məbləğ pul ilə

with little money to işə başlamaq; bir işi özünü spend; on a very

sıxaraq (pul barədə) görmək

low budget - We just can’t compete with bigger companies. - I know. We have to do everything on a shoestring. get your to become angry, bərk əsəbiləşmək, acıqlanknickers

confused or upset

maq, özündən çıxmaq; məc.

in a twist tumanını başına çevirmək - The dinner is not ready. I still haven’t washed my hair. The place is mess, What am I going to do? - Just calm down! Don’t get your knickers in a twist. tighten to live on less money than qənaət etmək (pula, your belt usual; use less food and

yeməyə); məc. özünü

other things sıxmaq ◘ People are having to tighten their belt just to survive till better times return. ◘ When my husband lost his job we had to tighten our belts. fill sb’s to take the place of another bir kəsin vəzifəsini

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63

and do as well; to substitute (vakansiyasını) tutsatisfactorily for

maq; bir kəsin yerini

tutmaq She is going to a new job in New York. We are going to miss her. It won’t be easy to find someone to fill her shoes. pull your to try to do better, qolunu çırmayıb işə girişsocks up

either in terms of

mək/başlamaq; işi daha

one’s behaviour or at

yaxşı görmək üçün ciddi-

a task one is

cəhdlə çalışmaq

performing You are going to fail this course unless you pull your socks up. wear the (often disapproving) evin kişisi olmaq (qatrousers

(especially of a woman) to dın haq.); kişini (ərini)

(pants)

have a man’s authority;

qapazaltı etmək; evdə

be the boss of a family or

hökmranlıq etmək

household She’s the one who wears the trousers in their house. talk to say something without cəfəngiyyat danışthrough

knowing or understanding

maq; ağlına gələni

your hat

the facts; talk foolishly or

danışmaq, sayıqla-

ignorantly maq Don’t listen to what he’s saying. He’s talking through his hat.

English idioms a wet

64

(informal, disapproving)

blanket a person or thing that

darıxdırıcı adam; öz hərəkətləri ilə başqaları-

keeps others from

nın sevincini/kefini və s.

enjoying life; dull or

pozan adam; başqasının

boring person kefinə soğan doğrayan ◘ James was not invited to go on the outing with the rest of the group because he’s such a wet blanket. On many previous occasions he has kept others from enjoying themselves by his pessimism and lack of enthusiasm. It’s understandable that no one wants him around. ◘ He danced rottenly, he was a wet blanket at a party [33, p.50]. keep under keep sth a secret

bir şeyi sirr/gizli saxlamaq;

your hat tell nobody heç kimə heç nə deməmək Although the contestants were more anxious to know who won the prizes in the piano competition, the judges kept the results under their hats. They kept the results a secret so that the formal announcements could be made in public at the awards ceremony. dressed wear your finest

ziyafət paltarını geyinmək, ən

to kill

yaxşı/ağlı başdan alan paltarını

clothing

geyinmək The reception for the new Swedish ambassador at the Lennison’s was quite lavish. Naturally, everybody was dressed

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65

to kill. Everyone was dressed in their finest, most elegant clothes. blow/knock (informal) to surprise or

bir kəsi təəccüblən-

sb’s socks

dirmək, şoka sal-

impress sb very much;

off enthuse and excite - Hi, John. What’s new?

maq, çaşdırmaq

- Oh, nothing too much with me, but you ought to see Alfriedo’s new car. It’ll knock your socks off! - So, he finally got that Italian sports car he’s been dreaming. lose your lose a great deal of var-yoxdan çıxmaq; çox pul shirt money itirmək - I happened to bump into Doug at lunch yesterday afternoon. - What’s new with Doug these days? - He wasn’t doing so well. For one thing, he told me he lost his shirt at the races. - He has always liked to bet on the horses. I’m not surprised that he lost great deal of money. in (informal) laughing so

qəşş etmək; gülməkdən

stitches

ürəyi getmək; qarnını

hard that the sides ache;

laughing very hard tutana qədər gülmək Danny was hilarious at the party the other night. He had us all in stitches! I didn’t realize that he was such a comedian. dressed to dressed elegantly dəbdəbəli geyinmək; səthe teeth liqəli, eleqant geyinmək - Did you see Hilda at the party last night?

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66

- Yes, I did. She was really dressed to the teeth! - Well, she had on her finest, most elegant clothing because she was out to make a good impression on Bill.

English idioms

67 SECTION FOUR COLOUR IDIOMS Rəng adları ilə işlənən idiomlar

♣ BLACK/WHITE a white an innocent social excuse; not

yüngül yalan;

lie

qərəzsiz yalan

serious and sometimes saves

embarrasement - I think you didn’t like Anar’s new picture. Am I right? - Yes, you’re right, I didn’t want to upset him so I told him a white lie. be/look as (at the skin) pale because

solğun/xəstə görün-

white as a of emotion or illness

mək; rəngi solğun;

sheet kağiz kimi ağ olmaq - I don’t feel very well. I’d better go to bed. - Yes, go and lie. You look as white as a sheet. a white unwanted property, such as real artıq yük; lazımelephant estate, that is hard to sell sız (əşya, mülk) ◘ I should never have bought this piano. My children never play on it. It just takes up space. It’s a bit of a while elephant. Let’s sell it. ◘ … his truly English pragmatism, couldn’t help feeling that Micheal would be well rid of a white elephant [27, p.66]. a black look an angry one hirsli/qəzəbli/kinli baxış

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68

My father didn’t say a word to me as I came home late yesterday. He only gave me a black look. It was enough for me. a black spot

a dangerous road

təhlükəli yol/yer; ölüm

or corner nöqtəsi Be careful driving along here. It’s a real black spot. Three people were killed in an accident only last week. a black picture a depressing one qəmgin/kədərli mənzərə ◘ Things are bad, I’m afraid. We might have leave 50 workers this year and some of the others next year. Sorry to paint such a black picture, but that’s the reality. ◘ He painted such a black picture and he was so sorry for himself that his father had to laugh with gentle humor [19, p.324]. a black

unofficial and

qeyri-qanuni yolla qazanılan

economy illegal var-dövlət; qara iqtisadiyyat Every country has a black economy, but I think it is bigger in our country than others. the blackest a day of great

bir kəsin həyatının ən pis

day of one’s

günü; ən qara/kədərli gün

unhappiness; a

life disaster When I heard his death I became frightened. It was the blackest day of my life. in black in print or in writing; and white

yazılı formada, çap

words on paper, not spoken olunmuş formada; kağız üzərində

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69

- Good news, Andy. I’ve just heard we’re finally getting that pay rise we were promised-starting from next month. - I’ll believe it when I see it in black and white. black or white without milk; südsüz və ya südlə olan (of tea or coffee) with milk added - Can I have a coffee, please?

çay/kofe

- Certainly. Black or white? - Black, please.

♣ RED/BLUE once in a

very rarely; very

ayda/ildə bir dəfə, az-az,

blue moon seldom; almost never nadir hallarda I’ve a lot of work to do. I don’t have any time for entertainment. I even meet my close friends once in a blue moon. give a sign of special bir kəsi yaxşı qarşılamaq, someone a welcome or

üzünə xoş baxmaq; ayağının

red carpet attention for an

altına xalça döşəmək; ayağı-

treatment important visitor nın altında qurban kəsmək When we receive foreign presidents at the airport we give them the red carpet treatment. paint the to go out to drink yaxşı vaxt keçirmək; bir şeyi town red and have a good time; celebrate

geniş şəkildə qeyd etmək; səhərə kimi gəzib-dolaşmaq; içki

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70

wildly; carouse

məclisi düzəltmək, eyş-işrətlə

məşğul olmaq After my birthday party, I and my friends didn’t stay at home. We painted the town red. do sth till you (informal) to try to do sth as

nəfəsin kəsilə-

are blue in

hard and as long as you

nə kimi/gözün

the face

possibly can but without

kəllənə çıxana

success; very angry or upset;

qədər çalışmaq

excited and very emotional Look, you’ve asked me fifty times already and you can keep asking until you’re blue in the face, but the answer is still “No”. blue

to be caught

cinayət üstündə yaxalanmaq; oğur-

handed while stealing luq malı kiminsə əlində tutmaq - I’m sure that Robert stole my money. - How can you be sure of that? Did you see it? - One of my friends saw it. He was caught blue-handed. blue-eyed (informal, often disapproving) bir kəsin sevimlisi boy

a person treated with special

olan adam; bir

favour by sb kəsin əziz-xələfi - My brother is the director’s favourite worker. He never hurts him. Generally, all are nice to him at work. - Oh, yes. I know him. He can do no wrong. He is the blueeyed man. blue movies an obscene or pornographic

pornoqrafiya

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71

film/movie, etc - Will you watch this new late-night cinema?

filmi

- No, thanks. I heard that they show blue movies. I’m not interested in them. a red rag to a an extraordinarily

bir kəsi özündən çıxar-

bull (like

powerful irritant

maq/cırnatmaq; dəliyə

waving a red

that provokes

döndərmək; məc. cin

flag in front

violent reaction

atına mindirmək

of a bull) I become quite aggressive when my parents speak about their jobs at the dinner table. It’s like a red rag to a bull. a bolt something sudden and qəflətən, gözlənilməfrom/out

unexpected; an event that

dən baş verən hadisə;

of the

you did not see coming; a

şok hadisə; yaxşı və

blue/sky

great and unpleasant

ya xoş olmayan sür-

surprise; shock priz/xəbər ◘ - Didn’t you know about your promotion? - Of course, not. Totally unexpected. It was like a bolt out of the blue. ◘ “I always get the feeling you’re waiting for bolts of lightning to come down from the sky before you decide it’s right” [19, p.177]. be in the (informal) in an red

əli aşağı olmaq (pul barədə);

unprofitable way; so zərərdə olmaq, çox pul itiras to lose money

mək

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72

- What’s the matter with you? You look worried? Is everything OK? - Not really. I’m in the red again. I’m having real money problems. a red-letter a holiday; memorable unudulmaz/yadda qalan day

day (usually printed in gün; bayram günləri red on calendars)

(təqvimdə qırmızı ilə göstərilmiş günlər)

- Did you pass your final exam? - Oh, I passed it two days ago. It was really difficult. The day I passed was a red-letter day for me. I remember it like it was yesterday. see red (informal) to become acıqlanmaq, hövsələdən çıxvery angry

maq; məc. cin atına minmək;

ağlını itirmək, dəliyə dönmək ◘ My friend accused me of lying. Can you believe it? I just saw red and started shouting at her. ◘ Whenever anyone teased my sister about her weight, she saw red.

English idioms

73 SECTION FIVE

PEOPLE’S FEELINGS IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS Müxtəlif vəziyyətlərdə insan hisslərini əks etdirən idiomlar ♣ WHEN THINGS GO WRONG a lemon

(informal) a thing that is useless

bir şeyin qüsurlu

because it doesn’t work as it

/xarab olması

should; something defective ◘ - Have you seen Joanne’s new car yet? - Yeah. It looks good, but she’s had nothing but problems with it. - That’s too bad. It sounds like she got a real lemon. - She sure did! No sooner did she drive it home from the dealer’s than it proved defective and started breaking down. ◘ “Mother, our fridge is a lemon,” my sister bitterly complained. out of the woods out of danger təhlükəsiz, təhlükədən uzaq Although Eric was well on his way to recovering from his bout with pneumonia, he was still not out of the woods. get up on the to be bad-tempered for xüsusi səbəb olmadan wrong side of the whole day for no

bütün günü kefsiz ol-

the bed

particular reason; to

maq, yuxudan oya-

wake with a bad

nandan kefsiz/qaşqa-

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74

temper baqlı olmaq - What’s the matter with Bernard today? He started shouting from the moment he stepped into the office. - I don’t know. He usually doesn’t act that way at all. I guess he got up on the wrong side of the bed. out on a limb (informal) in a təhlükəli/riskli vəziyyətə risky position düşmək; işə düşmək The members of the committee realized that their position against expanding the student aid program was an unpopular one, and that they were going out on a limb by voting against the program. what’s eating

(informal) used

her, etc.?

to ask what sb is əsəbiliyinin səbəbini soannoyed or

bir kəsin narahatçılığının, ruşmaq; onun qəlbini di-

worred about dən nədir? ◘ - Hey, Alice. What’s been eating you lately? Don’t you realize how rude and irritable you’ve become? - I know. I’m really sorry for the way I’ve been acting. - Well, why don’t you tell me what has been bothering and upsetting you and maybe we can work your problem out together. ◘ “What’s eating you?” [19, p.215]. get the ax (informal) be torbası qoltuğuna verilmək; dismissed, fired

işdə/imtahanda və s. fırıldaq-

from a job

çılıq etdiyinə görə qovulmaq

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75

◘ - I feel sorry for Richard. He was feeling quite depressed when I ran into him. - Did he tell you what was bothering him? - Among other things he informed me that he got the ax at work. - That’s strange. He’s always been a conscientious worker. ◘ One of the students got caught cheating on his final exam and he got the ax by our dean Naila. ◘ Joe got the ax from Bessy. They won’t see each other again. be in a (informal) in debt; in borclu olmaq; borca düşmək; hole a difficult situation çətin vəziyyətdə olmaq ◘ Unfortunately, Peter had to sell his neighborhood hard-ware store. Because of competition from the bigger stores in the shopping center, he was going in the hole every month. ◘ It seemed only natural to help you when you were in a hole [31, p.145]. bite the (informal) endure in a

çətin/ağrılı vəziyyətə döz-

bullet difficult situation mək - We really had a frightening experience when we went hunting last month. - What happened? - We got lost in the wilderness and had to bite the bullet until help arrived. blow it fail at sth

kəsilmək (imtahandan), şansını əldən

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76

vermək ◘ - How did you do on the history exam? - I think I blew it! There was a section on the Civil War, and that’s the chapter in the book that I studied the least. ◘ That English test was so easy. I can’t understand how I could have blown it. be at the end to feel that you cannot

mübarizə aparmağa

of your rope deal with a difficult

gücü qalmamaq, bez-

(end of your situation any more

mək/yorulmaq/əldən

tether)

because you are too

düşmək, bir kəsin

tired, worried, etc; at

səbrinin tükənməsi;

the limit of one’s ability səbr kasasının daşto rope ması ◘ The Jone’s housekeeper was completely useless! Poor Mrs. Jones felt that she was at the end of her rope when she walked into the house and saw the children crying and unfed, dirty dishes in the sink, and clothes strewn all over the place. ◘ My brother was out of work and broke, and he was at the end of his rope. be on your sick and failing; last legs

miskin/xəstə/ümidsiz vəziyyət-

the final stage of də olmaq; son günlərini yaşa-

a journey maq; səyahətin son mərhələsi ◘ - Poor Mike. He was one of the greatest musicians I’ve ever known, but when I saw him the other day he looked like he was

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77

on his last legs. - Yeah. He hardly plays any more. - What made him give up his music? - Apparently he lost confidence in himself at some point in his career, and he’s been sick and failing ever since. ◘ The last leg of our journey was from London to Madrid. hot under (informal) hirsindən boğulmaq; son dərəcə the collar

extremely

əsəbi olmaq; məc. hirsindən çırt-

angree ma vursan qanı damar - Did you see how Bill came in to work this morning? - Did I ever! Boy, was he hot under the collar! - What brought that on? - He said that he was extremely angry because he got stuck in slow-moving traffic and arrived late for an important business meeting. be on the (informal) in danger of

bir şeyi itirmək təhlükə-

line being lost sində olmaq Lately Tom’s been more conscientious about the accuracy and quality of his work with the company. He was warned that his job was on the line because of his lack of concern for his duties.

♣ WHEN THINGS GO WELL

English idioms for a song

78

(informal) for very little

ucuz; çox az pula; su

money; very cheaply

qiymətinə

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79

- Sara, I picked up the perfect chair for the living room the other day. -That’s wonderful. I know you’ve been looking for some time. Where did you finally come across what you wanted? - I was really quite lucky. I got it for a song at a little furniture store. I was able to buy it for very little money because the owners of the store were right in the middle of their spring liquidation sale. have the be successful

çox xoşbəxt olmaq; özünü

world by the

dünyanın yiyəsi hiss etmək

and happy

tail Mark finished school at the top of his class and he was offered an excellent position with an accounting firm. Now he feels that he has the world by the tail. Everything has been working out for him lately, and it’s no wonder that he’s feeling so successful and happy. feel like a feel

özünü təzə anadan olmuş uşaq

million

kimi hiss etmək; özünü əla hiss

wonderfu

dollars l etmək - I bumped into Nick at the barbershop yesterday. He looked great, but I noticed that he had a slight limp when he walked. - I guess you didn’t know that he had an operation on his knee. - No, I didn’t. How’s he feeling? - He says he’s feeling like a million dollars now. Apparently,

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80

the pain in his knee is all gone. kick up (informal) to be

rahat nəfəs almaq; vaxtını

your heels

relaxed and

şən keçirmək; sevincdən gö-

enjoy yourself;

yə uçmaq; bir şeyi qeyd

celebrate etmək The prerequisites for admission to the Theater Arts School are quite demanding, and those students who were finally accepted had reason to kick up their heels. It was natural that those who made it through the exams and interviews would want to celebrate the occasion by going out and having a good time.

♣ PEOPLE DO THE STRANGEST THINGS bite the

(informal) to fail,

uğursuzluqla üzləşmək, məğ-

dust

or to be defeated

lub edilmək, dağıdılmaq; dö-

or destroyed yüşdə öldürülmək ◘ Andy did exceptionally well in all of the track events, but he bit the dust in the high jump competition. Much to the disappointment of his fans, he went down in defeat, losing to a competitor from the visiting team. ◘ Captain Jones discharged his gun and another guerrilla bit the dust. bend over

try very hard

dəridən-qabıqdan çıxmaq; çox

English idioms backwards

81 çalışmaq, əlləşmək; bir kəsə

kömək etməyə çalışmaq When Joan first started teaching she was afraid that she would have a lot of trouble getting used to the kids and to the faculty. Her tears turned out to be unfounded, since everybody bent over backwards to help her. Everyone tried very hard to help her feel comfortable and adjust to the school. cough sth (informal) give sth könülsüz vermək (pulu), up

unwillingly

boğazından kəsmək (pu-

(especially money) lu) - Say, Greg. Did you finally get that computer that you wanted so much? - Not yet. I needed to raise a couple of hundred dollars more. - Is it going to take you a while to raise the money? - It would have taken me forever, but dad said he’d cough up the money I need since I’m going to be using the computer for my school work. jump the gun to be hasty hövsələsizlik etmək, tələsmək Denise was planning on telling her grandparents that the doctor said she was going to have twins, but when her dad found out he jumped the gun and told them before Denise could say a word. He was so excited that he became hasty and revealed the news before Denise had a chance to tell them. scratch return a favour; to do bir kəsə etdiyi yaxşısb’s back

sth kind and helpful for

lığın əvəzini görmək;

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82

someone or to flatter

yaxşılığın əvəzini qay-

him in the hope that he

tarmaq; əl-əli yuyar,

will do sth for you əl də üzü - Hey, Bea. I need some help stacking these boxes. Would you please give me a hand? - Ok, and I need some help tidying up the house. How about your helping me out after that? - Ok. If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. hit the become very çox əsəbiləşmək; hirsindən divara ceiling

angry

dırmaşmaq; məc. başını divara

vurmaq Don’s father hit the ceiling when he was informed that his son had been detained by the police for disorderly conduct. turn disgust bir kəsdə ikrah/nifrət oyatmaq; someone off someone kimisə özündən iyrəndirmək - How was your date with Marty last night? - Well, it started Ok, but he really turned me off when we went for a snack after the movies. - Did he say or do something to annoy you? - Frankly, he disgusted me when he tried to talk with his mouthful. go fly a

(informal) go

“uç”; get saqqızını çeynə; çıx

(your) kite away get; açıl başımdan For the past three hours Jerry had been trying to convince Linda to go to the art exhibition with him. She had been

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83

refusing all along and finally in desperation she told him, “Go fly a kite!” Jerry didn’t like to be told to go away in such a forceful manner. Nevertheless, he finally stopped trying to get Linda to attend the exhibition. kick the (informal)

ölmək; o dünyaya getmək

bucket (humorous) to die It’s been said that the old man knew a buried treasure, but he kicked the bucket before telling anyone where it was. raise a protest bir şeyə kəskin etiraz etmək; tufan stink strongly qoparmaq; aləmi bir-birinə qatmaq Listen! Don’t try to use any of your sister’s clothes without asking her first. She’s reliable to raise a stink if she finds something missing.

♣ SUPRISES out of the blue without any warning; by

qəfildən, qəflətən,

surprise; unexpectedly gözlənilmədən My father has just arrived from London, completely out of the blue. It was a lovely surprise. the shock of to be surprised; to

matı-qutu qurumaq; təəc-

your life

cubdən ağzı açıq qalmaq;

fill with surprised

disgust, horror şoka düşmək - Didn’t she phone to say she was coming?

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84

- No, there was a knock at the door and there she was with her suitcase. I got the shock of my life. you’ve got (informal) used to tell sb

nəticə çıxarmağa tə-

another

that they are wrong about

ləsmək; bütün plan-

think

sth and must change their

ları alt-üst etmək,

coming plans and opinions aləmi qarışdırmaq - He says he’s taking next Monday off. He wants to go skiing on Scotland. - Well he hasn’t asked me about it. If he thinks he can take a day off without checking first, he’s got another think coming. pull the rug (informal) to withdraw gözləmədiyi halda zərfrom under

support unexpectedly

bə almaq; məc. bir kə-

sb’s feet

from; to spoil the plans sin ayağının altından

of yerin qaçması My boss started to criticize my work, which really pulled the rug from under my feet. take to appear in front of someone qəfildən/gözlənilsomebody

suddenly or to suddenly

by surprise discover him before he

mədən peyda olmaq; gözlənilməz

discovers you; appear before hadisə ilə üzləş(someone) unexpectedly

mək/çaş-baş qal-

maq - Congratulations on your promotion, Pat! Were you expecting it? - Not at all. It took me completely by surprise.

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85

come back (informal) to return, or to make

bir kəsi xəyal-

to earth

sb return, to a normal way of

dan ayıltmaq;

with a

thinking or behaving after a time göylərdən yerə

bump

when they’ve been very excited,

endirmək

not very practical, etc My brother had a great time on holiday last month. He came back to earth with a bump though. When he got home, he found his flat had been broken into. a blessing some unexpected good that

hər pis işin içində/

in disguise came about as the result of

sonunda bir xeyir

something bad or

var, hər şeydə bir

undesirable xeyir var - I heard you lost your job last month. That was a shock, wasn’t it? - Actually, it was a blessing in disguise. I have found something much better. harder than one to get more in a

gözlədiyindən da-

bargains for

ha ağır/ciddi və-

pejorative sense than

what one expected to get ziyyətlə üzləşmək - How was your exam? Was everything OK? - No, it was much harder than I had bargained for. not believe your eyes to not believe gözlərinə inanma(used with a negative or what one sees;

maq; gördüyünə

in an interrogative or

trust one’s

inana bilməmək

conditional sentences)

eyesight

English idioms

86

- What did you think of the dress Sandora was wearing last night? - Like everyone else, I couldn’t believe my eyes! Everyone thought she was so quiet and conservative.

♣ YOU DON’T SAY money

(informal) money can

hər şeyi pul həll edir; pul

talks influence people açmayan qapı yoxdur - We’ve been waiting for three months to get delivery on our car, and people who in their order after us have already gotten theirs. - Well, money talks. Why don’t you try giving the dealer a little something extra to move things along? - I know full well that money has the power to influence people, but I refuse to pay extra for a service that is owed to me as a client. let do not agitate a

hər şeyi olduğu kimi saxlamaq;

sleeping

yatan iti oyatmazlar; ağrımayan

potential source

dogs lie of trouble başına dəsmal bağlama You’d better not say anything to the owner of the building about painting your apartment. If I were you I’d let sleeping dogs lie. if the shoe fits, admit the truth həqiqəti etiraf etmək;

English idioms

87

wear it hər şeyi boynuna almaq - Joe feels rather badly because he’s always being criticized for his sloppy personal appearances. - With reason. “If the shoe fits, wear it”, I always say. Still, I can’t help feeling sorry for the guy. I know that what people say about him is true, and that he should admit it. different everyone has hərənin öz maraq daistrokes for

different interests

rəsi və zövqü var; hər

different folks and tastes aşığın öz havası var - It’s hard to understand my sisters. My elder sister goes in for sailing, but my little sister can’t stand to be on water. She enjoys jazz. - You know what they say: “Different strokes for different folks”. eyes are bigger than take more food sb’s stomach

çox yemək; acgözlük

than one can eat etmək; qarın doyur,

göz doymur - Chris, why don’t you finish eating that third helping of dessert? - I guess my eyes were bigger than my stomach when I said I wanted more. put your

follow through with a vədini həyata keçir-

money where

stated intention

mək; sözdən əmələ

your mouth is keçmək - You’ve been promising to take us to Disneyland 7 for the past

English idioms

88

two years. Since the kids are free, how about putting your money where your mouth is? - You don’t have to remind me. I have every intention of doing exactly what I promised. people who live one should

özün günahkar olduğun hal-

in glass houses

da, başqasına ağıl öyrətmə;

not criticize

shouldn’t throw when one is

öz gözündə tükü görmür,

stones

başqasının gözündə tir ax-

equally at

fault tarır My friend criticized me for driving too fast, but I tried to tell her that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, but it didn’t do much good. all’s well a successful outcome is

hər şey yaxşılığa doğru-

that ends

dur; hər işin sonunda

worth the effort

well xeyir var - After all, I’m happy to hear that things finally turned out satisfactorily for you. - Don’t you know, they say: “All’s well that ends well” - I’m happy, too. It was really worth the effort. pay through pay too high a soyulmaq (pul barədə); çox the nose price pul ödəmək/xərcləmək At last I found the coat I had been seeking for a long time. But, at once, I understood that I would have to pay through the nose in order to have it. Then I decided that I wouldn’t mind paying such a high price for something so rare.

English idioms

89

play it

(informal) to decide how

hadisələrin nə cür inkişaf

by ear

to deal with a situation as edəcəyi işin gedişindən it develops rather than by asılıdır; işin/hadisələrin

having a plan to follow ◘ - Let’s go to the movies, agreed?

gedişinə baxarıq

- Sure. And what’ll we do after that? - Oh, I don’t know. Let’s play it by ear. I think it’s always more fun not knowing what to expect and deciding what to do as we go along. ◘ Pearl played it by ear, as Crystal let herself drift into the music [19, p.166]. (not) have a to have no

özünü müdafiə etmək iqtidarın-

leg to stand good defense

da olmamaq; haqqını tələb edə

on

for one’s

bilməmək; hərəkətlərinə bəraət

opinions or

qazandıra bilməmək; məc. ayaq

actions üstə möhkəm dayana bilməmək I think that my wages is low for having worked overtime. However, I won’t have a leg to stand on, unless I can prove that I put in all those extra hours. I don’t stand a chance of getting my money without a strong foundation of facts to

support my

position. sell

underestimate bir kəsin qabiliyyətini lazımi qə-

someone

someone

short

dər qiymətləndirməmək; kiminsə haqqında pis fikrə düşmək

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90

- Just because he doesn’t say much is no reason to sell him short. - Actually, he’s a profounder thinker and a most talented writer. put sth away for safekeeping or later əl saxlamaq; fasilə eton ice

use; set aside for future use

mək; işi müvəqqəti

saxlamaq - We’ve been working on this project since morning. Don’t you think we should take a break for some dinner? - I’m kind of hungry too. Let’s put the project on ice awhile and grab a bite to eat.

♣ THAT’S NOT NICE sell someone

betray someone

kimisə (bir) qara qəpiyə

down the river satmaq; xəyanət etmək - I heard that poor Jud landed up in jail. - Yeah. His so-called girl-friend sold him down the river and claimed the reward on him. - I can’t understand that. I thought she was devoted to him. leave someone abandon bir kəsi tərk etmək; yarı yolda high and dry someone qoymaq; köməksiz qoymaq ◘- Say, Sill. I thought that John was going to help you do the dishes tonight. - So did I. But he left me high and dry.

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91

◘ I’m afraid, so I guess that leaves me high and dry here [20 p.265]. a snow job insincere talk

boş/qeyri-səmimi söhbət/danı-

şıq The salesman tried to convince a group of investors that the properties he was selling would soon be worth much more money that he was asking. However, no one bought anything from him because they felt he was giving them a snow job. spill the beans (informal) reveal sirri açmaq; məc. sözü a secret ağzından qaçırmaq - Did you know that Harry was going to take Kathy on a Caribbean cruise? - Yes, I did. He was planning on surprising her with the tickets for their anniversary, but someone spilled the beans. - What a shame! That was supposed to have been a surprise. feed someone deceive bir kəsi aldatmaq; məc. boş vəda line

someone

lər vermək; başının altına yastıq

qoymaq; başını bişirmək Mr. Jones had been telling Louise how efficient she was and how much he admired her work at the office. He had promised her a promotion in the near future, but she soon discovered that he was feeding her a line when he passed her by and gave the promotion to someone less capable.

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92

♣ DO YOUR BEST toot your

(informal) to praise your own

özündən razı ol-

own horn

abilities and achievements; to maq, lovğalan-

boast maq Michael’s last novel was a bestseller. He has no need to toot his own horn about his literary accomplishments. stick to your (informal) maintain öz sözünü yeritmək; guns one’s position dediyindən dönməmək In spite of the fact that it was inadvisable to have a controversial figure address the club, the chairman stuck to his guns and insisted that it would make good sense to hear the other side of the question before taking a vote on the issue. get the ball initiate bir işə başlamaq/girişmək; sözdən rolling

action

əmələ keçmək; vədini həyata keçir-

mək - Look! You’ve been talking about repairing the roof for weeks now. Don’t you think it’s about time to get the ball rolling? - I know, but I’ve been busy with other things. I promise I’ll get to it this weekend. mind your (informal) take care

danışığına fikir vermək;

P’s and Q’s in speeh and action

məc. sözü ağzında bişirib

çıxarmaq - Listen, Larry. If you want an invitation to Clarissa’s party you’d better mind your P’s and Q’s.

English idioms

93

- But I haven’t been doing anything to offend her. - I’ll tell you one thing. You’re going to have to be careful of what you say and how you act around Susan. give it your try very hard əlindən gələni etmək; çox best shot çalışmaq - Can you do anything about repairing this TV set? - I’m not much of an electrician, but I’ll give it my best shot. - Many thanks. I’d be most appreciative. make (both) to earn just enough ancaq zəruri olan şeyləri ends meet

money to be able to almaq imkanı olmaq; gücbuy the things you

lə/çətinliklə dolanmaq

need - It’s almost impossible trying to keep up with the high cost of living. - It’s true. Things are so expensive nowadays that it’s very difficult to make ends meet. You know, even with Lucie’s salary, our combined income is hardly enough to pay all the bills. get the jump

get the advantage

bir kəsdən zirək tərpən-

on someone over someone mək; qabağa düşmək - Did you have a nice time at the school dance last night? - To tell you the truth, I would have enjoyed myself more if I had been able to go with Teresa instead of Elena. - Why did not you ask Teresa in the first place? - I was about to, but Benito got the jump on me.

English idioms pull strings

to exert influence

94 bir kəsə təsir göstərmək;

dil tapmaq Steven had been unsuccessful in getting tickets for the opening game of the season. However, he pulled some strings with the manager of the team and got excellent seats. spread become involved in çox işdən yapışmaq, hər işə yourself

too many activities

əl atmaq/baş qoşmaq; yüz

too thin yerə qaçmaq Although Teresa has always been an excellent student, her marks have been going down lately because she is spreading herself too thin. go to bat (informal) help out and bir kəsi müdafiə etmək; for

support someone

məc. kiminsə qanının ara-

someone sına girmək - Is it true that Don got into some trouble at work last week? - Yes, he did. He was reproached for not turning in his sales reports, but his secretary went to bat for him. - What was she able to do? - She helped him out a great deal by admitting that she had misplaced the reports that he gave her to be typed. duck soup (informal) easy, çox asan; su içmək kimi asan effortless - Can you help me hook up my new stereo equipment? I’m having quite a bit of trouble with all these connections. - Sure. That’s duck soup for me.

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95

♣ ADVICE (POSITIVE) sit tight

to make no move or

səbirli/dözümlü olmaq;

change; stay where you

heç yerə tərpənməmək;

are yerində bərk oturmaq ◘ - I’m fed up with my job. I know they won’t rise my salary. - Don’t ask me who told me, but I heard they’re thinking of promoting you. So, I’d sit tight if I were you. ◘ My advice to you is to sit tight [33, p.20]. go for to put a lot of effort bir şeyi əldə etmək üçün something into sth, so that you get or achieve sth to

əlindən gələni etmək, bir işin dalınca düşmək;bir şey

choose sth üçün mübarizə aparmaq ◘ - I don’t have the qualifications. I’m probably too young. But I know I can do the job better than anyone. Do you think I should apply or am I wasting my time? - If you don’t take risks, life passes you by. Go for it. bide your to wait an opportunity; wait səbr etmək; münatime

patiently until your chance

sib vaxt/imkan göz-

comes ləmək Don’t bide your time. Try to get any position at your job. keep your to stay calm when təmkinli olmaq; sakitliyini wits/head/

there is trouble or saxlamaq; özünü/başını itir-

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96

about you danger məmək, ağlı başında olmaq ◘ - I’ve never driven in Britain before. Is it hard driving on the left? - Not really, but you need to keep your wits about you. ◘ When he heard the fire alarm he kept his head and looked for the nearest exit. take the take decisive action in a

cəsarətli/qətiyyətli ol-

bull by

maq; işə ciddi giriş-

difficult situation take

the horns decisive action in a

mək; məc. həlledici həl-

difficult situation qədən yapışmaq ◘ -I’d like to ask Helen to dine with me, but I hesitate. I’m not sure she’ll say yes. - There’s only one way for you, Mike. You have got to take the bull by the horns and ask her. ◘ Charlotte had finally taken the bull by the horns herself [21, p.258]. take one day to not think about what

hər günün qədrini

at a time will happen in the future bil; bu günlə yaşa Don’t waste your time being busy with lots of nonsense. Take one day at a time.

♣ ADVICE (NEGATIVE) don’t lose don’t worry about it;

narahat olmağa dəyməz;

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97

any sleep you needn’t worry

yuxunu qaçırmağa dəy-

over it about it məz; başını yorma - I hurt him. He won’t phone me any more. - I’m sure he’ll phone you one of these days. Don’t lose any sleep over it. don’t be stop being stupid or embarrasing,

axmaq olma;

silly

ağlına gələni

especially in a way is more typical

of a child than an adult danışma - I’m sure I failed. I was so nervous. And I know I made lots of mistakes. - Now, don’t be silly! You’ve probably passed with flying colours! Note: If you pass an exam with “flying colours”, it means you’ve passed it very well. In this idiom “colours” are, literally “flags”. don’t let sth/sb

heç kimə/nəyə imkan vermə ki, səni əzsin,

get you down məhv etsin, gücdən/qüvvədən salsın ◘ - I just don’t know what I can do to get rid of the flu. I’ve had it on and off for three weeks. - It’ll go away. Don’t worry. Just don’t let it get you down. ◘ You aren't going to let his affection get you down, are you? [16, p.66]. (not) throw

(informal) to lose sth that you

tələsmək; bir

English idioms

98

the baby out want at the same time as you are şeyi əldən buwith the

trying to get rid of sth that you

raxmaq; yüz

bathwater do not want ölç, bir biç ◘ Be careful, when you change things, not to lose some of the good old ideas. I advise: “Don’t throw the baby out with bathwater”. ◘ God knows that there are weaknesses in the program, but if we act too hastily we may throw the baby out with the bathwater. (don’t) take to believe sth is true hər deyilənə inanma; anything for

without first making

eşit, amma inanma

granted sure that it is ◘ - I think all food and drink is included when you go on a cruise. - Don’t take anything for granted. You don’t want to end up with a huge drinks bill on the last days of your holiday!

◘ He

was at ease, confident, but never so careless as to take anything for granted [14, p.278].

English idioms

99

♣ BEING POSITIVE Third time used when you’ve failed to do sth twice Atalar lucky!

and hope that you will succeed the

üçdən

third time deyib! - My sister failed her entrance exam this year again. That’s twice now. - Never mind. Third time lucky! You never used to emphasize a negative

Allahın işini

know! statement instead of “not” bilmək olmaz! ◘ - I think we don’t get a pay rise again this year. - You never know! I hope. ◘ - Why would something happen to you? - You never know [21, p.428]. It’ll be all used to say that a performance, an

Darıxma,

right on

event, etc. will be successful even if

hər şey yax-

the night!

the preparations for it have not gone şı olacaq!

well - I’m so nervous about speaking in public at the meeting tomorrow. - Don’t worry. It’ll be all right on the night! look on the to be careful or positive həyata ümidlə baxmaq; bright side about a bad situation

optimist olmaq; ruhdan düşməmək

English idioms

100

- I’ve lost everything during the earthquake. - Look on the bright side! Things can only get better! It’s not the end (informal) not the worst thing

Dünyanın

of the world! that could happen to sb axırı deyil! - When my brother’s wife left him I asked him not to worry. There’s plenty more fish in the sea. - You are absolutely right. It’s not the end of the world! light at the end the first sign of hope ümid yeri; işıq ucu of the tunnel

after a long period of (hər hansı bir işin

difficulties sonunda) ◘ I’ve got some difficulties at work. I’m so distressed. But I am pleased to say that at last there is light at the end of the tunnel. ◘ … and in spite of her talk with Tanya in Todd’s room that afternoon, for the moment, there was certainly no light at the end of the tunnel [20, p.77]. sb’s bark is (informal) used to say özünü hökmlü göstərən; worse than

that sb is not really

hədə-qorxu gələn; yalan-

their bite

as angry or

dan qışqıran; göründüyü

aggressive as they

kimi olmamaq

sound ◘ - I heard your boss’s voice. I think he’s got a hot temper. - Oh, he’s OK. His bark is worse than his bite. ◘ Our teacher speaks harshly to our students, especially when they fail to complete their homework assignment. But, we all

English idioms

101

know that his bark is worse than his bite. He threatens to keep them after school and to inform their parents, but he’s not really as bad-tempered as he appears. you win used to express sympathy canın sağ olsun; başına some, you for sb who has been

sadağa; qazanan da

lose some disappointed about sth sənsən, xərcləyən də sən - I bought this blouse for 30 manats last month and now it’s in the sale for only 20 manats. - Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

♣ AGREEING AND DISAGREEING no way

never, under no

heç vəchlə; bu barədə söhbət

circumstances belə gedə bilməz - Can I borrow your trousers for the night? - No way! Never again! Not after the state you returned it last time! it is out of

not worth considering;

bu barədə söhbət

the question unthinkable; impossible belə gedə bilməz - I was wondering if I could have tomorrow off to go to my mother’s birthday? - I’m afraid. It’s out of the question! You’ve already been to two mother’s birthdays last month. I wasn’t born yesterday, you know! over my

under no circumstances;

heç vəchlə, heç vaxt;

English idioms

102

dead body by no means

məc. meyidimin üstün-

dən - I think we should make Lala marry with Anar. - Over my dead body! They have different characters. I’m sure they won’t get on well together. on the contrary exactly the opposite; rather; əksinə; əvəzinə instead - I thought you believed in capital punishment. - On the contrary! I’ve always been dead against it! you must

used to show that you are very

zarafat edirsən;

be joking

surprised at what sb has just

nə danışırsan?

said - What about an ice-cream?

ola bilməz

- You must be joking! It’s minus ten outside. you’re

used to show that a thing is so

telling me clear that it need not be said, or

day demə; düz deyirsən

just to show strong agreement - This weather is incredible, isn’t it? It’s like the tropics! - You’re telling me! We’ll have to start thinking about air conditioning if it goes any longer. take the words to say what another is

bir kəsin ürəyindən

out of sb’s

just going to say; to

xəbər vermək; arzu-

mouth

put another’s thought

ları üst-üstə düşmək

into words - What about going to Turkey this year again? This will have

English idioms

103

been 5 years in a row! - You know, you took the words right out of my mouth! I think it’s time we took the kids abroad, don’t we? fair enough plausible, acceptable kifayət qədər ədalətli - Can I take the book for two weeks? - No, sorry. That’s the third time you’ve asked it. It’s not allowed here and it’s not fair to the others. - OK, fair enough! I see your point. Now this is the right attitude,

Axır ki, mən deyənə

you’re

now you’re on the right

gəldin! İndi düz yol-

talking!

track, this is the way to ...

dasan! (düzgün möv-

make sense qe/qərar) ◘ - I know I said that our maximum discount was 30%. - Well, I’ve spoken to my head office and we think we can go to 40%. - Now you’re talking! Well, we can do business after all! ◘ OK, I’ll try to overcome my fears and learn how to be a good pilot”, my brother said to our father, who replied, “Now, you’re talking!”

♣ ANNOYANCE AND FRUSTRATION get on sb’s (informal) to

bir kəsin əsəbləri ilə oynamaq;

nerves

bir kəsi əsəbiləşdirmək/acıqlan-

make you

English idioms

104

nerves dırmaq Do you stop biding your nails? It’s getting on my nerves. the last/final

a small trouble which

səbr kasasının aşıb-

straw (the

follows other troubles

daşması; bir kəsin

straw that

and makes one lose

səbrinin tükənməsi;

breaks the

patience and be unable

əsəblərin son həddə

camel’s back) to bear them çatması ◘ I’ve told my flat mate to find somewhere else. She never tidied the place or cooked. The last straw was when she brought a stray dog home. ◘ She was in a black rage. This was the last straw [31, p.107]. tear your hair to stay upset kədərlənmək, fəryad etout (pull your because of a

mək; qəm dəryasında

hair out over) frustrating event

qərq olmaq; məc. saçını

or situation yolmaq; başını itirmək ◘ - I heard they refused to give you a visa. - Yes, it’s so frustrating. I’m tearing my hair out trying to find out what the problem is. ◘ My sister was pulling her hair out over her husband’s drinking. drive sb to make sb very angry, round

bir kəsi dəli etmək;

crazy, etc. or to make them əsəbiləşdirmək/özün-

the bend do sth extreme

dən çıxarmaq

English idioms

105

- I see you got another letter from that book club. - Yes, it’s the third letter this month asking me to pay for books I never ordered. It’s driving me round the bend. run out of become annoyed

hövsələdən/özündən çıxmaq;

patience

səbrini itirmək; səbr kasası

about sth

aşıb-daşmaq - You still haven’t got your new furniture yet? - No, they phoned to say it still hasn’t been delivered. I think I’ll cancel the order and look somewhere else. I’m running out of patience. talk to a

to talk to sb uselessly

boş yerə danışıb özünü

brick wall yormaq When my brother doesn’t want to do anything, you can’t argue with him. It’s like talking to a brick wall. drive sb to so that you become upset, bir kəsi narahat etdistractions excited, or angry and not be able to think clearly

mək/dəli etmək; bir kəsin baş-beynini

aparmaq Our neighbours play really loud music even after midnight. They are driving us to distractions. We’ve spoken to them several times, but it’s like banging your head against a brick wall. drive

to irritate, frustrate, or

bir kəsi əsəbiləşdirmək

one up

tickle someone’s fancy so

/acıqlandırmaq/cinlən-

the wall badly that they think

dirmək; məc. hirsindən

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106

they’re going insane divara dırmaşmaq I wish we could do sth about the rats coming from the restaurant next door. They’re driving us up the wall.

♣ PEOPLE’S RELATIONSHIPS a shoulder a sympathetic person

bir kəsə təsəlli verən/

to cry on

dəstək olan adam; ətə-

who is willing to listen

to one’s complaints and yinə ağlaya biləcəyin/ troubles

ürəyini boşalda biləcə-

yin adam ◘ - Thanks for listening, Rose. I feel better after talking to you. - That’s OK. You can always come to me if you need a shoulder to cry on. ◘ “At last I can cry on his shoulders” [18, p.67]. fight like cat disagree or argue it-pişik kimi yola getand dog

violently, often

mək; yola getməmək

repeatedly My brother and elder sister fight like cat and dog. at each (two or more people, dalaşmaq, çox pis yola other’s

groups, etc.) fight a lot

getmək; məc. bir-biri-

throats nin boğazını gəmirmək - Is it true that Jeff and Laura are having problems? - I think so. They seem to be at each other’s throats most of

English idioms

107

the time these days. through

in bad times

bərkdən-boşdan çıxmaq; yaxşı

thick and and good

gündə də, pis gündə də bir yerdə

thin

olmaq; uzun müddət bir yerdə

times

olmaq My parents have been marred for 50 years. In those days people stayed together through thick and thin. there’s no they don’t like bir-birinə hörmət etməmək; love lost

each other

(arada) xətir-hörmətin qal-

between … maması ◘ - Why was there such a bad atmosphere in that meeting? - You’re new here. Didn’t you notice that there’s no love lost between George and Andrew? ◘ There is little love lost for him around here [14, p.62]. clear to remove angry məsələyə aydınlıq gətirmək, gərthe air feelings,

ginliyi azaltmaq, vəziyyəti yün-

misunderstanding, gülləşdirmək; gərginliyə soyuq or confusion su səpmək; havanı təmizləmək ◘ There is a bad atmosphere in our office. Some people aren’t talking to each other. Well, it’s time you had a meeting to clear the air. ◘ He nodded, and then he had to clear the air [18, p.73]. have ups vicissitudes; alternating arada dığ-dığın/sözand downs periods between good

söhbətin olması; xırda

English idioms

108

and bad times; change in problemlər; taleyin fortune dönüklüyü - You have had the same flat-mate for years, haven’t you? You must get on very well. - Well, we’ve had our ups and downs over the years but on the whole it’s worked very well. not see eye to not share the same

bir-biri ilə razılaşma-

to eye with views as sb about sth;

maq, eyni fikirdə olma-

sb (on sth) don’t agree

maq, zövqləri üst-üstə

düşməmək - How are you getting on with your new business partner? - Well, we don’t see eye to eye on everything, but that’s a good thing. It’s when we agree on something too quickly that mistakes are made. get/start off on (informal) to start a

bir kəslə yaxşı mü-

the right foot

nasibət yaratmaq,

relationship well

(with sb) yaxşı yola getmək I hope I’ll start off on the right foot with my boss.

♣ SUCCESS AND FAILURE IDIOMS burning

(of feelings, etc) very

əlçatmaz arzu; bir şeyi

ambition

strong; extreme

dəlicəsinə istəmək

English idioms

109

- I have always had a burning ambition. - And what’s that? - To visit the planet Mars. move heaven to try every way; do

axtarmaq; yerin altını-

and earth

üstünə çevirmək; əlin-

everything you can

dən gələni etmək Look, our customer needs the parts in Jakarta by Wednesday this week. I don’t care what it costs. We can’t afford to lose him. You have my permission to move heaven and earth to get these parts out there. leave no to try in every way; axtarmaq; əlindən gələni etstone

miss no chance; do mək, yerin altını-üstünə çe-

unturned everything possible virmək; hər bucağı ələk-vələk etmək ◘ The police said that they were confident of finding the escaped prisoners and would have no stone unturned. ◘ She would leave no stone inturned until she found the truth, the answer, the culprit [20, p.22]. stop at to be willing to do istədiyini əldə etmək nothing

anything to get what you

üçün hər alçaqlığa əl

want, even if it is

atmaq; vicdansız, utan-

dishonest or wrong; to be maz, abırsız olmaq unscrupulous He has determined to become a manager. He’ll stop at nothing

English idioms

110

until he gets the job. set (get) your want sth

bir şeyi beyninə yeritmək; bir

heart on sth very much şeyin arzusunda olmaq/istəmək My sister doesn’t want to go to university. She’s set her heart on becoming a top actress. pull your to try to do better either qolunu çırmayıb işə gisocks up

in terms of one’s

rişmək/başlamaq; işi da-

behavior or at a task

ha yaxşı görmək ücün

one is performing ciddi-cəhdlə çalışmaq You must pull your socks up or you’ll be in a bad situation. the be-all-and (informal) the most ən əhəmiyyətli bir histhe-end-all

important part/thing; sə/şey; nəyinsə əsası

(of something) all that matters His speech isn’t the be-all-and –the –end-all in the meeting. works/goes works goes/ runs bir şeyin ürəyin istəyən kimi / runs like

very well indeed

əla olması; nəyinsə yaxşı işlə-

a dream məsi; məc. yağ kimi gedir Our new car works/goes/runs like a dream; it’s fast, but so smooth and quiet.

♣ HAPPINESS AND SADNESS

English idioms

111

jump for be very happy and

çox sevinmək; sevincdən

joy

atılıb-düşmək; sevincdən

excited about sth that

has happened yerə-göyə sığmamaq My brother jumped for joy when he heard that he’d passed the final exam. something

something makes you bir şeyə sevinmək; xoş-

makes your feel very happy

bəxt/sevincli gün yaşa-

day maq It’s great to get a letter from him. It’s really made my day. feel on top feel very çox sevinmək; özünü dünyanın sahiof the

happy

bi kimi hiss etmək; özünü dünyanın

world yeddinci qatında hiss etmək ◘ When I saw my name in the winners’ list I felt on top of the world. ◘ He was his own person now, and there were times when he felt on top of the world, … [19, p.104]. be floating be very happy about something

çox sevinmək;

(walking)

sevincdən göyə

good that has happened

on air uçmaq She’s been walking on air ever since she and Anar got engaged. grin accept a situation you taleyə boyun əymək; vəziyyətlə and

don’t like because

bear you can’t change it

barışmaq; əzab-əziyyətə mətanətlə dözmək; gülərək öz əzabəziyyətini biruzə verməmək;

English idioms

112

qismətlə barışmaq ◘ If you don’t leave your job, you’d better just grin and bear it. ◘ ... but the only thing is to grin and bear it [31, p.45]. suffer from (informal) being jealous bir kəsə paxıllıq etsour grapes

about something you

mək; kiminsə paxıl-

can’t have lığını çəkmək I think my close friend is suffering from sour grapes because I’ll take part in the school competition. be a (very informal) someone pisniyyət adam; (hər şeymisery who complains all the

dən) şikayət edən; (hər

guts

şeydən) narazı olan; na-

time and is never happy

şükür My sister likes being a misery guts. She is always complaining about her every day.

English idioms

113

♣ ANGER rub someone

make someone

bir kəsin fikrini yayındır-

up the wrong

annoyed

maq/qarışdırmaq/çaşdır-

way maq My brother always manages to say something to rub our father up the wrong way. ruffle make someone

bir kəsi qıcıqlandırmaq/hirs-

somene’s

ləndirmək/narahat etmək;

annoyed

feathers hisslərinə toxunmaq She speaks without worrying about whether she might be ruffling anyone’s feathers. give someone tell someone

bir kəsə hirslənmək; kiməsə

an earful

how angry

qulaqburması vermək; dişi-

you are with

nin dibindən çıxanı demək

them The old lady gave the children an earful for nearly knocking her over. (not) be on

be so angry with each

bir-biri ilə danış-

speaking

other that they refuse to

mamaq; küsülü

terms speak to each other olmaq They aren’t on speaking terms at the moment, and I don’t know what they first quarreled about. ♣ HAVING PROBLEMS

English idioms

114

put your

said sth tactless

düşüncəsiz və utandırıcı hərə-

foot in

and embarrassing kət etmək; məc. bir kəsin

something yaralı yerinə toxunmaq When I said it to her I felt embarrassed. I wish I had not put my foot in it. be left (informal) to suddenly

uşaqla küçəyə atılmaq;

holding

öz məsuliyyətini başqa-

make sb responsible for

the baby sth important that is really sının üstünə yıxmaq, your responsibility; to be

məsuliyyətdən qaçmaq;

left by at herself to with a

tərk edilmək; meydan-

problem alone da tək qalmaq I have been left holding the baby, and I don’t know how to escape from this situation. dig someone to cause a problem into a hole

çətin və təhlükəli vəziy-

that will be difficult to yətə düşmək; (özünü)

escape from zibilə/işə salmaq You’d better stop talking or you’ll dig yourself into a deeper hole. spread

try to do too many things

çox iş görməyə çalış-

yourself

at the same time, with the

maq; yüz işdən yapış-

too thin

result not to give any of

maq; hər işə əl atmaq;

them the attention they

bir əldə iki qarpız tut-

need maq If you take on any more work, you’ll be spreading yourself far

English idioms too thin. be in dire

in a very difficult or

115 çox çətin və qorxulu

straits dangerous situation vəziyyətə düşmək Staying in a hotel with no money and luggage, we were all aware that we were in dire straits.

English idioms

116 SECTION SIX

INTELLIGENCE AND KNOWLEDGE Zəka və bilik idiomları ♣ KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY learn sth at

to learn something çox gənc yaşlarından hər

your mother’s as a very young

şeyi öyrənmək; anasının

knee child qarnında öyrənmək He had learned to count at his mother’s knee. go your to do what you want rather öz yolu ilə getmək; öz own way

than what everyone else

ağlı ilə hərəkət etmək

does or expects I believe in going my own way. rack your to think very hard bir iş barəsində ciddi fikirləşbrain(s)

or for a long time mək; məc. beynini qurdalamaq

about sth /eşələmək; baş sındırmaq ◘ He racked his brains all afternoon, but couldn’t remember his address. ◘ If she had racked her brains for a week she could not have thought of anything that would humiliate Tom more bitterly [31, p.108]. stuff sb’s

to give someone ideas about

bir kəsin başını

head with

something; teach someone

boş-boş şeylərlə

sth

(usually something useless or

doldurmaq

English idioms

117

wrong) Don’t stuff his head with nonsense. stuff sb’s to load sb’s bir kəsin beynini boş/lazımmemory with

memory with

sız şeylərlə doldurmaq/yük-

sth sth ləmək I don’t want to stuff your memory with too many details. hammer into to keep repeating sth bir şeyi dəfələrlə başa sb’s head

forcefully so that it

salmaq/təkrar etmək;

will have an effect on bir kəsin beyninə yeritpeople mək The teacher has been trying to hammer into their heads the importance of writing dearly. show promise to be likely to become

gələcək üçün ümid-

very good verici olmaq ◘ When she was young, she showed considerable promise as a teacher. ◘ Not that Sasha showed much greater promise [18, p.249]. be a walking someone who knows a canlı lüğət/ensiklopedictionary/

lot, and always has the diya olmaq; həmişə

encyclopedia

information that you

hər şeyi bilən adam

want haqqında If you need to learn sth ask him. He has always had the information you want. He is a walking dictionary. bear/reap to have a gördüyü işin bəhrəsini/səmərəsini the fruits of result of sth görmək; bir şeyin meyvəsini dərsth

mək

English idioms

118

He died before he could bear the fruits of all his hard work. turn a deaf to ignore what bir şeyi qulaq ardına vurmaq; ear to sth someone says əhəmiyyətsiz/etinasız yanaşmaq Young people sometimes seem to turn a deaf ear to the words of their parents and teachers. go in (at) one what has been

bir qulağından alıb, o biri

ear and out

qulağından vermək;

said is forgotten

(at) the other immediately əhəmiyyət verməmək You are speaking, but it just goes in his one ear and out the other, I’m sure. second something that you do nature

bir şeyi asanlıqla/gözü

very easily and naturally, yumulu etmək, bir şe-

(to do sth) because it is part of your character or you have

yə çox yaxşı bələd olmaq

done it so many times - Can you help me set up a database on my computer? - No trouble at all! I’ve done it so often I don’t even need to think about it. It’s second nature to me now. not to know to be totally heç bir məlumatı olmamaq; the first thing ignorant about

(hər hansı bir işdə) naşı ol-

about

maq/başı çıxmamaq

a certain issue

something - Do you know anything about washing machines? Mine’s got a problem. - Sorry. I can’t help you. I don’t know the first thing about

English idioms

119

them. know something

to know sth bir şeyi ətraflı bilmək; bir şe-

like the back of

throughly,

yi ovcunun içi kimi bilmək;

your hand inside out cikinə-bikinə bələd olmaq - Have you been to Oxford before? - Yes, I lived there for ten years. I know it like the back of my hand. be the first

the first time to

nə barədəsə ilk dəfə eşitmək

to hear of it be aware of it - Did you know that Lisa is planning to emigrate to Australia? - You’re kidding! That’s the first I’ve heard of it. know chalk to be very stupid; to be ağı qaradan seçə bilfrom cheese unable to distinguish

məmək; axmaq, ağıl-

valuable things from

sız olmaq

rubbish My friend will never amount to much; the poor guy doesn’t even know chalk from cheese. keep in the in ignorance; without

bir kəsi cəhalətdə saxla-

dark

maq; məlumatsız saxla-

information

maq; intizarda saxlamaq I wish you hadn’t kept me in the dark about your plans. learn the through or special bir şeyə yaxşı bələd ropes/get

knowledge of a job; how to olmaq, işi dəqiqliklə

on the

do something; the ways of

öyrənmək; cikini-

ropes people or the world bikini bilmək Don’t worry! You’ll soon learn the ropes.

English idioms common

120

to be sth that anyone knows,

hamının bildiyi

knowledge especially in a particular

bir şey; hamıya

community or group - Don’t talk about it to anybody.

aydın olan məsələ

- It is common knowledge. I needn’t. put your to say or do sth that upsets,

düşüncəsiz hərəkət

foot in

offends or embarrasses sb;

etmək, bir kəsin ya-

sb’s

hurt another’s feelings

ralı yerinə/ hisslərinə

mouth

without intending to; make

toxunmaq, pis vəziy-

a rude mistake yətə salmaq He put his foot in it with his remark about self-made men because Jones was one of them. a little knowledge (literary) a person who kamil bir palanis a dangerous

knows a little about

çı olsa da insan,

thing

something – may think

yaxşıdır yarım-

he knows it all and

çıq papaqçılıq-

make bad mistakes dan John has read a book on driving a car and now he thinks he can drive. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

♣ READING/EDUCATION be very well read (of a person) having bilikli/məlumatlı/çox (used after an

knowledge that has

oxumuş/mütaliə et-

English idioms adverb)

121 been gained from

miş adam olmaq

reading books, etc If you want to know anything ask Khuraman. She is very well read. turn over a to start afresh; to yeni səhifə açmaq (həyatınnew leaf

have a new

da); həyatının axarını dəyiş-

beginning mək - Why can you never find anything on your desk? - Because I am naturally untidy! I know. I am going to turn over a new leaf. I promise. (not) read to think that sth

bir şeyə fikir/əhəmiyyət ver-

too much

məmək; boş buraxmaq, ürə-

means more than

it really does yinə salmamaq - She completely ignored me this morning. I must have put my foot in it yesterday. - She’s just not in a good mood at the moment, that’s all. I wouldn’t read too much into it. be an if you describe sb or their life

ürəyində olan dilin-

open

as an open book, you mean that də olmaq, səmimi

book

you can easily understand them olmaq; hamıya məand know everything about

lum olan, açıq həyat

them sürmək What I like about Susanna is her openness and honesty. Yes, what you see is what you get. She’s an open book. read to understand all of bir kəsin hərəkətlərindən/dav-

English idioms between one’s meaning by

122 ranışından nə demək istədiyi-

the lines guessing at what he ni başa düşmək; sətraltı/eyhas left unsaid hamlı mənaları dərk etmək Everybody seems to be happy with the idea of Isabel’s joining our group, except Jack. He said he wasn’t against the idea, but reading between the lines I think he has got his doubts about her. (don’t)

(saying) used to

judge a say that you

insanı geyiminə görə qarşılayıb, ağlına görə yola salırlar; bir kə-

book by shouldn’t form an sin xarici görkəminə görə deyil, its

opinion about

əməllərinə görə nəticə çıxar-

corner

sb/sth from their

maq; anasına bax qızını al, qı-

appearance only rağına bax bezini al I was completely wrong about our new press officer. When I saw the pigtail, I thought, “What have we got here?” Well, you know what they say: “Never judge a book by its corner”. read sb to understand bir kəsi yaxşı başa düşmək; fiklike a

easily what sb is

rindəkiləri oxumaq; dabbaqxa-

book thinking or feeling nada gönünə bələd olmaq I could read my husband like a book.

English idioms

123 SECTION SEVEN

MIND AND MEMORY IDIOMS Ağıl və yaddaş idiomları have a

to consider doing;

nəzərdə tutmaq; bir şeyi

(good)

intend to with a high

etmək üzrə olmaq; bir işi

mind to degree of probability görməyə meylli olmaq ◘ - The service in that shop was terrible. The way that assistant talked to you! - Yes, I’ve got a good mind to write and complain. ◘ “I’ve got a good mind to have a shot at it myself,” said Michael [31, p.60]. on sb’s in one’s

müxtəlif fikirlərin beyni/ağılı məşğul

mind thoughts etməsi, beyni qarışıq olmaq - Jim seems to be very quiet today. He’s not his usual self. - No, I think he’s got something on his mind. take your to make you forget about sth fikrini dağıtmaq, mind off

unpleasant for a short time

yüngülləşmək

things - Sorry, Paul, I’m not very good company this evening. I can’t stop thinking about that argument I had with Sally at work. - Well, Why don’t we go out? It’ll take your mind off things. give someone a to scold angrily; bir kəsin başına ağıl qoypiece of your

say what you

maq; kimisə yerində

mind

really think to

oturtmaq; məsləhət ver-

English idioms

124

mək; danlamaq - Did you see that woman hit that little girl? - Hang on! I’m going to give her a piece of my mind. come/spring immediately cəld fikirləşmək, yadına salto mind

think of sth

maq; ağlına nəyisə/kimisə

gətirmək ◘ - Now, who could we get to chair the new committee? - Nobody springs to mind. I’m sorry to say. ◘ … and the memory of her two days there with Charlie sprang instantly to mind [21, p.246]. with an open wait until you’ve all the facts

ayıq başla;

mind before forming an opinion diqqətlə Before you read this report, I’m going to tell you there are things in which you’re going to disagree with. All I ask is that you read it with an open mind. mind over the power of mind over

ağılın/insan zəkası-

matter

nın qələbəsi; nəfsi-

physical matters, such as

illness, fear, etc nə güc gəlmək Giving up smoking is just a question of mind over matter. put sb’s to do or say sth to make bir kəsi sakitləşdirmək; mind at

sb stop worrying about

təsəlli vermək; rahatlaş-

rest sth maq I’m sure she’s arrived safely, but why not phone her to put your mind at rest. be bored out of extremely bored your mind

bezmək, yorulmaq

English idioms

125

She talked about nothing but only her husband all evening, I was bored out of my mind. slip your mind/ to forget about

yadından çıxarmaq,

memory something unutmaq ◘ I’m sorry, I forgot to give you a message. It completely slipped my mind. ◘ “Has it slipped your memory that I’ve got a first night tonight?” [31, p.196]. be in your accountable; sane or

ağlı başında olmaq; nə

right mind sober etdiyini bilmək ◘ Marry Karl? She’s mad. Nobody is in their right mind to marry with Karl. ◘ If you were in your right mind, you wouldn’t be saying such stupid things to our boss. be a load/ feel relieved because

rahatlaşmaq, yüngülləş-

weight off

mək; məc. yük altından

a worry is removed

your mind çıxmaq I have finally finished paying back my car loan. That’s a weight off my mind. jog your make you remember

yadına salmaq; yaddaşını

memory sth tərpətmək (silkələmək) ◘ - I don’t know anyone in your class. - Have a look at this photograph. Perhaps it will jog your memory. ◘ She had almost forgotten, her mother jogged her memory

English idioms

126

[18, p.291]. mind goes/ can’t think of anything

hər şeyi unutmaq;

becomes

yaddaşından silinmək

to say; unable to

blank remember anything ◘ I hate being asked questions. When they start asking difficult questions, my mind goes blank. ◘ As she sat to sleep, his mind became blank [22, p.80]. refresh to remind yourself sb or sth,

yaddaşını təzələ-

your

mək, yadına sal-

especially with the help of sth

memory that can be seen or heard maq, xatırlamaq - Are you sure you know the way to the museum from here? - I’ve been there but I need a little time to refresh my memory. ring a to make you remember bell

nəyisə xatırlamaq, qu-

something; sound familiar lağında cingildəmək; tanış gəlmək/səslənmək

◘ - Have you heard of Quasimodo? - Quasimodo? Yes, that name rings a bell. ◘ It rang another bell too, but he could’t remember what, … [21, p.282]. bear in the center of your

bir şeyi yadında saxla-

something

maq; beyninə həkk et-

thought; in your close

in mind attention mək - Don’t forget that Japanese people don’t like to talk about business straightway.

English idioms

127

- Thanks. I’ll bear it in mind. have a to remember qeyri-adi yaddaşı olmaq; hər photographic

everything/

şeyi/hər kəsi bir baxışdan ya-

memory

everyone

dında saxlamaq; göz yaddaşı-

na malik olmaq - If I want to remember anything, I have to write it down. - Me too, but my boss is incredible. He’s got a photographic memory. be on the tip

about to say something, such xatırlamağa ça-

of the tongue as a name, a telephone

lışmaq; dilinin

number, etc, but unable to

ucunda olmaq

remember it for the moment I am sure I know his name. It’s on the top of my tongue. get (hold of) the (informal) to misunderstand bir şeyi səhv/ wrong end of

something; to understand sth tərsinə başa

the stick in the wrong way düşmək No, you must have got the wrong end of the stick. I said we should meet outside the cinema, not at my house. go over not understandable; beyond başa düşülməyən the head

your ability to understand;

olmaq; yadda qal-

too hard or strange for you

mamaq; ağıla bat-

to understand mamaq I can’t understand anything in my physics class. All the explanation goes right over my head. lose someone to become bir kəsi çaşdırmaq/çaşmaq; başa confused

sala bilməmək

English idioms

128

- Push these two buttons, then this one and then these two at the same time. - Sorry, you’ve lost me! Can you show me again? get/talk/be if two people are at cross bir-birini başa düşat cross

purposes, they do not

məmək; hərənin öz

purposes

understand each other

aləmində olması; bi-

(pl)

because they are talking

rinin Leyli-Məcnun-

about or aiming at

dan, birinin Əsli-Kə-

different things, without

rəmdən danişması

realizing it I was talking about my cat and Chris thought I was talking about my mother. It wasn’t until I said something about the cat’s tail and we realised we’d been talking at cross purposes. can’t make to be unable to bir şeyi anlamamaq; başa head nor tail understand sth

düşməmək; baş çıxarmamaq

of smth - Do you understand this letter from the solicitor? - No, I can’t make head nor tail of it. take a stroll/trip remember some of keçmişdəki xoşbəxt down memory

the happy things

günləri yada salmaq/

lane you did in the past xatırlamaq We decided to visit the place where we’d spent our honeymoon and take a stroll down memory lane. be in/within can be remembered by yaddaşlarda yaşaliving memory

people still alive

maq; xatırlanmaq

English idioms

129

Streets lit by gas lamps are still within living memory. a train of a series of consecutive fikir düzümü/ardıcıllığı; thought thoughts məc. düşüncələrin qatarı ◘ Oh no! I’m losing my train of thought. ◘ He refolded the letter hastily and was in the act of replacing it in its envelope when his wife, who had no mail this morning, interrupted his train of thought [14, p.273]. commit make yourself

əzbərləmək, əzbər öyrənmək;

something to remember

yadda saxlamaq; yaddaşına

memory something yazmaq/köçürmək I never write exercise numbers down. I just commit them to memory.

English idioms

130 SECTION EIGHT LIFE AND DEATH IDIOMS

Həyat və ölümlə bağlı işlənən idiomlar bored to (informal) to be extremely

darıxmaq; cana

death bored or frightened doymaq; bezmək He talked about his adventures the whole evening I was bored to death. sick to to be bored to death; so

əldən düşmək, bezmək,

death ill/sick that you may die cana doymaq ◘ Please be quiet. I’m sick to death of your constant complaining. ◘ He was sick to death of them all, and even a little bit of Sasha [18, p.278]. dice with to risk your life by

ölümlə çilingağaç oynamaq;

death

ölümlə üz-üzə gəlmək, həya-

doing sth that you

know is dangerous tını təhlükəyə atmaq You should get the brakes fixed on you car. You’re dicing with death every time you go out on the road. not be able (informal) to be tənbəllikdən düşməninə “dato do sth

completely

yı” demək; heç bir işə yara-

save your

unable to do sth mamaq; tamamilə heç bir iş

life bacarmamaq I can’t believe my eyes! You are working! It must be a joke! You can’t work to save your life, can you?

English idioms life and

131

the liveliest, most attractive diqqət mərkəzində

soul of the person at a gathering of

olan; başqalarından

party

fərqlənən; həyat eş-

friends; the one to whom

most people pay attention qi ilə dolu olan My brother-in-low is normally quite quiet but when he has a couple of drinks he is the life and soul of the party. frighten the to make sb bir kəsi qorxutmaq/hürkütmək; life out of

suddenly

qorxudan ödü ağzından gəlmək;

someone feel afraid ürəyini qoparmaq - Hello? Who’s there? Is anyone there? - Oh, it’s you, Jack. You frightened the life out of me. make sb’s life to behave in a way that bir kəsin həyatını a misery

makes sb else feel very

cəhənnəmə çevir-

unhappy mək; incitmək I think my boss doesn’t like me. She makes my life a misery. the kiss (informal, especially humorous) təhlükəli/riskli of death

an event that seems good, but is

məsələ

certain to make sth else fail I don’t think it’s a good idea to go there at this very moment. That’s the kiss of death. be at (often humorous)

ölüm ayağında olmaq; ağır

death’s

vəziyyətdə olmaq; bir ayağı

very near death;

door dying qəbirdə olmaq I hear his father is out of hospital. He was at death’s door only last month, he’s made a remarkable recovery.

English idioms

132

♣ LIFE IS GAMBLING a bit of a

to take a risk with

riskli/təhlükəli/qumar oyu-

gamble

sth, hoping that you

nu kimi bir iş; sonu nə cür

will be successful olacağı bilinməyən iş - My brother is a lawyer and works self-employed. - Well, good luck! Working for yourself can be a bit of a gamble. play your

to use abilities and opportunities

imkanların-

cards right

so as to be successful; act

dan məha-

cleverly; make the best use of your rətlə istifadə place or skills ◘ - I’ve got a job at this office.

etmək

- Congratulations. They’re a good company to work for. Play your cards right, then you’ll do very well there. ◘ Tom Fennell had said that if she played her cards well with Roger it might easily lead to something [31, p.138]. when the said when a situation has həlledici an gəldikdə/ chips are

reached its most critical or çatdıqda; dar macal-

down worst point da - I think the company is having a bad year, from what I’ve heard. - Well, we’ll just have to work that bit harder. We usually do

English idioms

133

when the chips are down. put money to bet that a particular horse,

bir şeyə/kəsə pul

on sth/sb

dog, etc. will win a race; to

qoymaq; sərma-

feel very sure that sth is true

yə yatırmaq;

or that sb will succeed mərc gəlmək - The weather looks fine. I’d like to take the children on a picnic. I promised them one of these days. - I wouldn’t put money on it if I were you! You know what it can be like at this time of year. the luck of the fact that chance decides sth, in a

taleyin

the draw way that you cannot control qisməti - Why do you think I’ve been chosen to lead this course? - Don’t ask me! It’s just the luck of the draw. show your to make your plans öz planını/məqsədini bəlli hand/cards or intentions known etmək; kartını açmaq When you start negotiating, let the other person make the first offer. Never show your hand too early. bluff your to succeed in dealing with a

vəziyyətdən çıx-

way in/out

maq; sudan qu-

difficult situation by making

through sth other people believe sth which ru çıxmaq is not true - If you want my opinion, I’ll have to change your attitude. Get to work 5 minutes early, not 5 minutes late. Do you realize your job’s at stake. - Don’t worry. I can look after myself. I can always bluff my

English idioms

134

way out of trouble. take to take a risk or to use the

özünü real hə-

your

opportunities that you have and

yatda sınaqdan

chances

hope that things will

happen in çıxarmaq, bəxti-

the way that you like ni sınamaq My parents advised me to continue my study. But I decided to take my chances in the real world. a toss-up (for sth) (informal) to throw a

püşk/cöp atma;

coin in the air in order to decide

seçim arasında

sth, especially by guessing which

qalma; bığla

side, is facing upwards when it

saqqal arasında

lands; a situation in which either

qalma

of two choices, results, etc. is equally possible We can’t decide to spend our weekend in the country or to go abroad. It’s a toss-up between the country and abroad. hit the make or win a lot of money çoxlu pul qazanmaq; jackpot quickly or unexpectedly cekpotu udmaq I’ve passed my exam, got the travel grand, and been offered a fantastic job for when I get back. I guess I’ve hit the jackpot.

♣ LIFE IS JOURNEY be in a stick in an unchanging; boring

yerində addımla-

English idioms rut

135

job, marriage, or other situation

maq; qabağa get-

in life məmək ◘ I have been doing the same job for 15 years. I think I’m in a rut. I need a change. ◘ “Why is Mary so sad?” her brother Joe asked. “She feels that she is in a rut”, Mary’s husband replied. go to end a relationship with ayrılmaq, əlaqələrə son separate sb; to go in a different ways

qoymaq; vidalaşıb/gö-

direction from sb you have rüşüb ayrılmaq; öz yo-

been travelling with lu ilə getmək Our partnership didn’t last. In the end we agreed to go our separate ways. on the road changing; going from

sağalmağa başlamaq;

to recovery

yaxşılaşmaq; məc. kəfə-

one condition to

another ◘ I’m feeling much better now.

ni yırtmaq I’m well on the road to

recovery. ◘ My sister was sick for several weeks, but now she is on the road to recovery. (no) turning to return the way you have geriyə yol yoxdur back come is impossible You’ve made your decision, you realise there’s no turning back, don’t you? follow in sb’s to follow someone’s

bir kəsin yolunu da-

footsteps

vam etdirmək; kimin-

example; follow

English idioms

136

someone exactly sə davamçısı olmaq His father’s a doctor and it’s obvious Harry’s going to follow in his father’s footsteps. be at a at an important point in

yolayrıcında qal-

crossroads sb’s life or development

maq; həlledici anda/

məqamda olmaq I can’t make up my mind. It’s either stay where I am or apply for a job abroad. I seem to be at a crossroads in my present job. sb has

(informal) somebody has

xoşbəxt/bəxtli/bəxtəvər

arrived become successful olmaq; bəxti gətirmək Now he’s been given a new company car, he thinks he’s really arrived. go off the to start behaving in a

xoşagəlməz hərəkətlər

rails

strange or unacceptable

etməyə başlamaq; hər

manner, for example

şeydən əl çəkmək; cı-

drinking or taking drugs;

zığından çıxmaq; rels-

to lose control and stop

dən çıxmaq

functioning correctly His wife died last year. I’m afraid he just hasn’t come to terms with yet. And now he’s started drinking. I’m afraid he’s just gone right off the rails. not know to be so excited or

yerin altında, yoxsa

whether you’re confused that you

üstündə olduğunu

coming or going cannot behave or

hiss etməmək; çaş-

English idioms

137 think in a sensible

baş qalmaq

way I’ve got so much work on my desk. I’m really confused. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.

English idioms

138 SECTION NINE

NATURE AND WEATHER IDIOMS Təbiət və hava ilə bağlı işlənən idiomlar king’s/queen’s or very nice,

əla hava; xanlara

royal weather beautiful weather (bəylərə) layiq hava We’re having royal weather when we were on holiday. pour with rain to rain very hard leysan; güclü/şıdırğı yağış It’s pouring with rain. high summer the hottest part of yayın cırhacır vaxtı; yasummer yın ən isti vaxtı I’ll have to go on holiday in high summer. in the depths of the coldest time qışın oğlan çağı; winter qışın ən soyuq vaxtı It’s very terrible to be homeless in the depths of winter. the course the usual or natural təbiətin qanunu; təbiətof nature

way that something

də hər hansı bir hadisə-

happens, develops, or

nin təbii olaraq baş ver-

is done məsi In the course of nature winter gives way to spring. rain or shine whatever the istər gün olsun, istər yağış; weather is like hava necə olur-olsun We’ll go for a walk rain or shine. fine weather for the ducks rainy weather yağışlı hava This city has fine weather for the ducks. in the dead of in the middle of qışın ortası; qışın oğlan winter winter çağı She moved there in the dead of winter and it made everybody

English idioms

139

unhappy who heard it. wind and bad, windy weather

“zəhrimar” kimi hava; çox

weather pis küləkli hava It’s a large house, proof against wind and weather. warm to make sb/sth more bir kəsi/şeyi şövqə gətirmək, sb/sth

lively or enthusiastic;

ürəkləndirmək, canlandır-

up

to become more lively

maq, qızışmaq, qızışdırmaq

or enthusiastic - How was the office party?

(məclis və s.)

- A bit slow at first, but it soon warmed up when the boss left! warm (up) to to begin to bir kəsə isinişmək, öyrəşmək, somebody like sb meyl salmaq, dostlaşmaq ◘ - So, you met my old friend Garry yesterday. What do you think of him? - A great guy! Yes, I warmed up to him straightway. ◘ She didn’t warm up to no one [18, p.272]. cloud a sad or bir kəsi/şeyi kədərləndirmək, əhvalısomeone/

depress

nı pozmaq, qəmləndirmək, pərt ol-

something

news

maq; bir kəsin qanını qaraltmaq; ke-

finə soğan doğramaq; kefsiz olmaq - Did you have a good time last night? - Not really, Jill had some sad news which clouded the whole evening. brighten up to become, feel or look

çiçəyi çırtlamaq;

happier; to make sb look

seinmək, xoşbəxt

happier

olmaq/görünmək

English idioms

140

- She seemed a bit depressed this morning. - Oh, she’ll soon brighten up when I’ll tell her she’s being sent to Paris! give a frosty

sth that you do or say to

bir kəsi qaşqabaqlı

reception to

sb when they arrive,

qarşılamaq, soyuq

somebody

especially sth that makes

qarşılamaq; üzünə

them feel you aren’t

baxmamaq

happy to see them I felt sorry when I saw them. They gave us a very frosty reception. storm to go somewhere

bir kəsin üstünə hücum çəkmək,

into

gözlənilmədən içəri girmək; fır-

quickly and in an

angry, noisy way tına kimi soxulmaq He stormed into the room and shouted at me! give a sth that you do or say to sb bir kəsi mehribanwarm

when they arrive, especially

lıqla/gülərüzlə/sə-

welcome

sth that makes them feel you

mimiyyətlə qarşıla-

are happy to see them They gave me a very warm welcome. every cloud every sad or difficult has a silver

situation has a positive

lining (saying) side

maq hər işin sonunda bir xeyir var

English idioms

141 SECTION TEN HOUSE AND HOME IDIOMS Evlə bağlı işlənən idiomlar

hit/strike if a remark, etc. hits/strikes home, bir kəsin yaralı, home

it has a strong effect on sb, in a

zəif yerinə to-

way that makes them realize what xunmaq; kefinə the true facts of a situation are;

soğan doğra-

strike a vulnerable spot maq ◘ It wasn’t until I got home and sat down that the news about my job really hit home. Twenty-five years in the same factory and now it’s closing. ◘ And what she had said to him hit home [21, p.125). a few (usually pl.) a true but unpleasant xoşagəlməz/pis/ home

fact about a person, usually told to

acı həqiqət

truth them by sb else ◘ My flat mate never cleans or does the dishes. I think I am going to have to tell her a few home truths. ◘ “Now, Miranda, it’s time for a few home truth. If you think I’m your servant, you’re mistaken”. eat (informal) to eat

hər şeyi yeyib qurtarmaq;

someone

so much as to

kiminsə qonaqpərvərliyin-

out of

cause economic

dən sui istifadə etmək, hara-

house and

hardship; to

dasa uzun müddət qalmaq;

English idioms home

overstay one’s

142 bir kəsi talamaq, var-yox-

welcome dan çıxarmaq My brother and his family came to stay with us at Christmas. They nearly ate us out of house and home. We spent a fortune on food. till the cows until sunset; until the last

şər qarışana kimi;

come home çox gec saata kimi - He likes to talk, doesn’t he? It’s sometimes difficult to shut him up. - Yes, he’ll sit and talk until the cows come home if you let him. the lights are (humorous) used to describe sb axmaq/ağlı on but no one who is stupied, not thinking

başında ol-

at home clearly or not paying attention mayan adam - Pan can be a bit slow sometimes. I often have to explain things three times. - I know what you mean. I don’t like saying this, but sometimes it seems as if the lights are on but there’s no one at home. bring the to start an audience gurultulu alqışlara səhouse down laughing or clapping

bəb olmaq; uğur əldə

enthusiastically etmək ◘ Her last song brought the house down. ◘ It used to bring the house down [31, p.185]. nothing to nothing interesting or danışılası (qeyri adi) bir write home significant; nothing to şey yoxdur; adi, heç nəyi

English idioms

143

about brag about ilə fərqlənməyən - Have you seen Christine’s new boyfriend? What is he like? - Well, he’s OK, I suppose. But nothing to write home about. put your to sort out one’s özünə umac ova bilməyib, own house

own problems

başqasına əriştə kəsmək; öz

in order first problemləri ilə məşğul olmaq He needs to put his own house in order. Put your own house in order! Öz işinlə məşğul ol!

English idioms

144 SECTION ELEVEN POLITICS Siyasətlə bağlı işlənən idiomlar

rivet ['rivit]

when things rivet sb, they

bir kəsin

one’s attention

fascinate sb and hold sb’s

diqqətini

on (to) interest firmly and completely cəlb etmək World attention was riveted on the talks in Geneva. take to do things in order to ölçü götürmək; addım ataction

deal with or achieve

maq; bir şeyin qarşısını al-

something mağa çalışmaq The government is already taking action to stop the strike. get a new to consider a problem hər hansı bir məsələyə angle on

or situation, to change başqa tərəfdən baxmaq;

sth

one’s point of view of

yeni fikir nümayiş etdir-

sth mək He has got a new angle on the problem. agree to agree to accept the fact müxtəlif fikirdə olan to

that they will never have the adamların bir araya gəl-

differ same opinion about sth and məsi; razılaşmaq; birso stop arguing about it birinə güzəştə getmək Sometimes, where important matters are concerned, people agree to differ. hardly a question (problem)

hər il müzakirə olunan

annual discussed every year məsələ; çeynənmiş məsələ Readers are one more filling the columns of that newspaper

English idioms

145

with “Is the government’s policy a Failure?” The hardly annual attracts everybody’s attention this time. drive into the not to pay much bir şeyə əhəmiyyət verbackground

attention to sth, to

məmək, diqqət yetirmə-

find sth unimportant mək, bir şeyi arxa plana keçirmək This missile crisis drove again into the background, for a time, the social and political aspirations of the people. keep in the to try not gözdən yayınmağa çalışmaq; diqbackground

to be

qəti cəlb etməməyi/gözdən uzaq/

noticed arxa planda qalmağa çalışmaq He keeps himself very much in the background. on (upon) the under discussion; sth which hələ də müzaanvil ['anvil]

is still being considered and

kirə obyekti

talked about olan məsələ The new immigration laws are on the anvil. kill the bill to defeat a proposed təklif olunan qanun lanew law yihəsini rədd etmək The bill was killed by 230 votes to 150. lay down to stop fighting əl saxlamaq; vuruşmanı da(one’s) arms and surrender yandırmaq, təslim olmaq Having suffered a defeat, they laid down their arms. rise in arms to prepare to əldə silah üsyan etmək/ (take up arms

attack sb and

üsyana qalxmaq/silaha

against) fight against sb sarılmaq The people immediately took up arms against the invader. under if a country has people under arms, it döyüşə hazır

English idioms arms

146

has people trained to use weapons and əsgərlər

ready to fight a war At this time our country has more forces under arms than ever before. up in arms

to be very angry about

qəti etiraz etmək; nə-

over sth sth and protest strongly yinsə qəti əleyhinə The youth is really up in arms over an unpopular war in Iraq. big stick the threat of using bir kəsə hərbə-zorba policy/the military or political force

gəlmək, qorxutmaq;

big stick to get what one wants güc/dəyənək siyasəti What is their policy? Is it the big stick policy of their President? a carrot

the promise of

bir kəsi aldadaraq tələyə

and stick

reward and threat

salmaq; həm mükafat söz

policy/the

of punishment, both vermək, həm də hədə-qorxu

carrot and at the same time

gəlmək; sülh və güc siyasə-

the stick

ti; bişim-bişimlə öz istədiyi-

nə nail olma ◘ Their method of negotiating is a combination of the carrot and the stick. ◘ His father used the carrot and stick when he talked about his low grades. shuttle international talks, e.g. to try müxtəlif ölkələr diplomacy

to make peace, carried out by arasında sülh əldə someone who travels between etmək üçün apa-

English idioms

147

the countries concerned

rılan beynəlxalq

taking messages and

danışıqlar zamanı

suggesting answers to

vasitəçilik diplo-

problem matiyası We find Secretary Brown’s shuttle diplomacy very important. shirtsleeve informal and bağlı qapı arxasında aparıdiplomacy

direct diplomacy

lan danışıqlar; qeyri-rəsmi

və üzbəüz danışıq Two presidents continue their shirtsleeve diplomacy. political someone who is put in prison because siyasi prisoner

they oppose and criticize the government məhbus

of their own country The President says they have no political prisoners. political the right to remain safely in another

siyasi

asylum

country, for a person who cannot live

sığına-

safely in their own because of the political

caq

situation He is seeking political asylum. be at peace a situation in which there is no

sülh şəraitin-

with sb

də yaşamaq

war between countries or in a

country They’ve been at peace with Germany for many years. go into politics to become a politician siyasətçi olmaq He went into politics in his early thirties. under a during the period hər hansı bir hökumətin government of a government hakimiyyəti dövründə There were some changes in policy under the last

English idioms government. be in

148

to be governing a

hakimiyyətdə olmaq

government country How long has this president been in government?

English idioms

149 SECTION TWELVE LAW IDIOMS Qanunla bağlı işlənən idiomlar

go to to go to court in order to deal with a məhkəməyə mülaw dispute, or arrange to do this raciət etmək If he doesn’t agree to our terms, we’ll have to go to law. bring (take) a change or a matter for bir kəsə qarşı məhan action

consideration by a court

kəmə işi qaldırmaq

against sb of law I’m afraid, we must bring an action against him. the scene of a place where an event cinayət yeri; hadisəthe crime or action happens nin baş verdiyi yer They say that murderers always return to the scene of the crime. be behind bars

in prison dəmir barmaqlıqlar arxasında/

həbsxanada olmaq He has made a lot of crimes, now he is behind bars. aid and to help sb in cinayət ortağı olmaq; bir kəsə abet

criminal activities

cinayətdə köməklik göstər-

mək; cinayətdə əli olmaq He was accused of aiding and abetting the murderer. take the law to take no notice of müstəqil araşdırma into one’s

society’s rules and act

aparmaq, xəfiyyəlik

own hands alone, usually by force etmək He took the law into his own hands and shot the burglar. the (long) pomp., humor – justice, esp. in the form güclü

English idioms arm of the

150

of the police, considered as something

qanu-

law that criminals cannot escape from nun əli They were beyond the arm of the law. be called to become a barrister, a lawyer ali məhkəmədə to the Bar who has the right of speaking

danışmaq hüqu-

in the higher courts of law quna malik olmaq Your uncle is called to the Bar, isn’t he? hardened men who have been bir çox cinayətlərdə əli criminals guilty of many crimes olan; qatı cinayətkarlar Putting this man into prison alongside hardened criminals is the surest way to make him reoffend. The greater the serious crimes

Cinayət nə qədər

crime, the higher

must be punished

böyük olarsa, cəza

the gallows

severely

bir o qədər ağır olar

English idioms

151 SECTION THIRTEEN EATING IDIOMS Yeməklə bağlı işlənən idiomlar

eat a horse

to eat a lot;

çox yemək, acgözlüklə yemək;

eat hungrily bir oturuma bir qoyun yemək I’m hungry. I could eat a horse. eat your to take back something sözünü geri götürmək; words

you have said; admit

something is not true ◘ I made him eat his words.

sözündən qaçmaq; məc. tüpürdüyünü yalamaq

◘ He will eat his words with a fork and spoon [16, p.66]. have a to be excessively fond of şirniyyatı xoşlamaq; sweet

dessert items, such as ice

tooth cream, pies, etc - Will she have a dessert?

şirniyyatdan keçə bilməmək

- I’m sure she will. She always has a sweet tooth. bite sb’s to answer someone in bir kəsə acıqla/qeyzlə/ head off

great anger; answer

quduzcasına cavab ver-

furiously mək; it kimi qapmaq I had said nothing; I’ve no idea why he’s biting my head off. be in your what a person bir kəsin zövqünə uyğun taste likes or prefers olmaq; bir şeyi xoşlamaq I didn’t like the opera. It is not in my taste. Bu mənlik deyil. swallow your to take back something

qürurundan əl çək-

English idioms pride

152 you have said; admit

mək; güzəştə getmək

something is not true Just swallow your pride and accept their help. leave a bad (of events or experiences) bir kəsdə nifrət/iktaste in

to make you feel disgusted rah oyatmaq; pis

your mouth or ashamed afterwards təəssürat buraxmaq The whole experience has left a bad taste in my mouth. get your (informal) to have something bir işin qulpunteeth into real or solid to think about; go dan möhkəm yasth

to work on seriously; struggle

pışmaq; işə ciddi

with girişmək - I thought you liked your job. Why do you want a change? - I need a fresh challenge-something to get my teeth into. a second bite an opportunity to daha bir şans; yenidən at the cherry do sth cəhd göstərmək imkanı - I’ve failed my university entrance exam. I’m not sure if I can retake it. - I expect you can. You’re allowed a second bite at the cherry. bite off more to try to do more başından yekə iş görmək; than you can

than you can; be

bacarmadığı işdən yapış-

chew

too confident of

maq; burnu girməyən ye-

your ability rə başını soxmaq - I’m going to try to fix the car myself. - Well, if it is difficult, don’t do it. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

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153

♣ FOOD IDIOMS sb’s cup of (informal)

bir kəsin zövq aldığı və ya-

tea/dish of something you enjoy xud yaxşı bacardığı iş; hər tea (used

or do well at; a

hansı bir işə olan xüsusi

with a

special interest, or

maraq; sevimli məşğuliy-

possessive) favourite

yət, zövq, həvəs, meyl, ma-

occupation raq Going for a walk is his cup of tea. not sb’s cup of (informal) not what sb

bir kəsin xoşla-

tea (used with a

likes or is interested in;

madığı, maraq-

possessive)

something you don’t

lanmadığı iş

enjoy or don’t do well ◘ Going to the restaurants is not my cup of tea. ◘ But I’m not sure that’s my cup of tea at all [19, p.108]. a couch a person who is addicted bütün günü televizora potato

to watching television all

baxan adam; televizor

day aludəçisi My brother works hard during the week but at the weekends he spends most of his time lying on the sofa watching TV. He can be a real couch potato. bread the usual needs of

əsas gəlir mənbəyi, çörək ağacı;

and

life; food, shelter,

həyat üçün zəruri olan ehtiyac

butter

and clothing

(ərzaq, paltar və s.), yaşayış va-

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154

sitəsi ◘ - So you write novels poetry, do you? - Yes, but sports journalism’s my bread and butter. ◘ He’s got his bread and butter to think of, like the rest of us [33, p.56]. go (sell) to sell quickly or

əlüstü/dərhal satılmaq; göydə

like hot

qapmaq (mal), əlüstü alınıb

in great numbers

cakes qurtarmaq These T-shirts are sold like hot cakes. a piece of cake very easy çox asan; bir udum su kimi I went windsurfing for the first time on Saturday. I thought it was going to be a piece of cake but soon realized it was a lot more difficult than I’d expected. as cool as a very calm and sakit/soyuqqanlı/təmkinli/ cucumber controlled özünü itirməyən Did you see the way she handled that aggressive customer? She was as cool as a cucumber. go pear-shaped to go wrong

alt-üst olmaq, alınmamaq,

puç olmaq The whole peace settlement went pear-shaped when the terrorists planted a bomb in the main railway station. butter to try to get the favour or bir kəsə quyruq bulasomeone

friendship of (a person)

maq, yaltaqlanmaq;

up

by flattery or

məc. kimisə yağlamaq,

pleasantness başını bişirmək - Before we ask our boss for anything, we start being extra nice

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155

to him. - We do the same with our boss. We just butter him up a bit. It’s never failed yet! have (put) all to place all your efforts, bütün ümidlərini your eggs in

interests, or hopes in a

bir kəsə/şeyə bağ-

one basket single person or thing lamaq; risk etmək The golden rule with investments is to put our money in a variety of different companies. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. stew in your

to suffer from sth that

öz qazdığı quyuya

own juice

you have caused to

düşmək; öz cəzasını

happen yourself çəkmək - I’m going to phone Mike to see if he’s ready to say sorry about that argument. - No, don’t do that, it’s his fault, so let him stew in his own juice, for a while. egg on embarrassment; humiliation

utanmaq; biabır

sb’s face

caused by a claim made,

olmaq; pis vəziy-

which subsequently turns out

yətə düşmək; pərt

to be false ◘ We ended up with egg on our face.

olmaq

◘ My friend announced that she got the directorship of the firm. He sure had a lot of eggs on his face the next day, when it turned out that he was not even considered for the post. the icing something extra and not süd gölünə düşmə,

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156

on the

essential that is added to an

istədiyindən artığı-

cake

already good situation or

nı əldə etmə; doşab

experience and that makes it

alasan bal çıxa

even better I love my new job; the people, the work, the money. The fact they’ve given me the car of my dreams is just the icing on the cake. Fry your eggs!

Öz işinlə məşğul ol!

♣ MEALS eat sb’s

to live on sb, to live at the bir kəsin çörəyini ye-

bread

cost of someone else

mək; kiminsə hesabına

yaşamaq He likes to eat his parents’ bread. wine and to entertain or be bir kəsi yedirib-içirmək, dine sb

entertained with a

qonaqlıq vermək, bir kəsi

meal and wine qonaq etmək We wined and dined our guests until late into the night. make your to want to eat sth ağzının suyu axmaq; ağzı mouth water

very much

sulanmaq; bir şeyi çox is-

təmək ◘ What beautiful cakes! They really make my mouth water. ◘ Makes my mouth water just repeating the menu [23, p.305]. melt in your if food melts in your ağzında ərimək (bir

English idioms mouth

157 mouth, it is soft and

şeyin çox yumşaq və

delicious dadlı olması) These chocolates really melt in your mouth. smack to make a short loud noise with ağzını marçıldatyour

your lips because one is

maq; bir şeyin ləz-

lips

hungry, or to express how much zətli olduğunu gösyou’ve enjoyed eating some

tərmək

food He looked at the plate and smacked his lips. eat to eat a lot of hər şeyi yeyib qurtarmaq, somebody

someone’s supply bir kəsin qonaqpərvərliyin-

out of house of food, so that

dən sui istifadə etmək, məc.

and home

silib-süpürmək; hər şeyin

they have to buy

more (ərzaq) axırına çıxmaq When her children come home, they eat her out of house and home. Eat, drink and be enjoy life, because

Ye, iç, kef elə, dünya

merry (saying) it’s very short beş günlükdür I advise you eat, drink and be merry. We don’t know what we’ll face in future. big (light, fussy, someone who eats a lot, not

qarınqulu;

etc.) eater

çox yeyən

much, only particular things,

etc My friend has always been a big eater. to my (your, his, in a way that I zövqümə uyğun, ürəyimcə etc.) taste

like

olan; ürəyimə yatan

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158

There are many things to my taste here. I think I’ll stay here. eat like a to eat very little uşaq payı (az) yemək; yeməyi bird quş kimi dimdikləmək She is very thin. She eats like a bird.

English idioms

159 SECTION FOURTEEN FIRE IDIOMS Odla bağlı işlənən idiomlar

Fire has always been very important in all societies. It is not surprising that the image of fire is used in many situations, particularly in human relationships. burning

(of feeling) very

ambition strong; extreme

bir şeyi dəlicəsinə istəmək; bir işin həyata keçməsini çox arzu-

lamaq I want to be a teacher. I’ve got a burning ambition to teach children English in our village. heated a loud, often violent

alovlu/qızğın/səs-küylü

discussion discussion müzakirə I wouldn’t say we had an argument. It was just a heated discussion. get on like (informal) (of people)

bir kəslə yaxşı yola get-

a house on to become friends

mək; tez və asan əlaqə

fire

quickly and have a

yaratmaq, yaxşı ünsiy-

very friendly

yətdə olmaq; isti müna-

relationship sibət qurmaq ◘ I met Jackie at a conference and liked her immediately. We got on like a house on fire.¨ ◘ I know that you can act me off the stage, but we get on

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160

together like a house on fire, and … [31, p.36]. play with to act in a way that is risk etmək; məc. odla fire

not sensible and take

oynamaq, özünü təhlü-

dangerous risks kəyə atmaq You’re playing with fire. If the company finds out what you’ve done, you’ll be looking for a new job. go up in if your plans, hopes, etc. go

arzuların puç olma-

smoke

up in smoke, they fail

sı; bir şeyin tamami-

completely; disappear; fail;

lə yanıb kül olması;

not come true; to be

yoxa/boşa çıxması

completely burnt ◘ I was planning a quiet weekend, but Sally and Richard invited themselves round on Saturday, so all my plans went up in smoke. ◘ Our cottage went up in smoke last year. shoot to be very critical of bir kəsin ağzından vursomebody

sb’s ideas, opinions,

maq, sözünü ağzında

down in

etc

qoymaq; danışmağa

flames imkan verməmək Every time I have a new idea you just shoot me down in flames without really listening to what I have to say. sparks (usually plural) feeling of mübahisə, dava-dalaş, fly

anger or excitement

səs-küy; aləm bir-biri-

between people; argument nə dəyir Have you ever heard Kate and Tina discussing politics? The

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161

sparks really fly when they disagree about something. a baptism a difficult introduction to a cəhənnəm əzabı of fire new job or activity I can remember my first day in the classroom. I had to teach maths to a class of 30 very difficult sixteen - year-olds. It was a baptism of fire. burn to make a

tələsik qərar vermək; tələsik ad-

your

decision that

dım atmaq, geriyə yol qoymamaq,

bridges

you cannot

məc. öz körpüsünü/qayığını yan-

change - Are you resigning?

dırmaq; oturduğu budağı kəsmək

- Well, I’m looking for a change, but I’m not leaving this job till I’ve got something fixed up. I don’t want to burn my bridges. add more to make a bad matter aranı qatmaq; odun üsfuel to the

worse by adding to its tünə yağ tökmək; dala-

fire

cause; spread trouble

şanları qızışdırmaq; və-

increase anger or

ziyyəti daha da pisləş-

other strong feelings

dirmək, məc. altına od

by talk or action qoymaq - That’s the third government minister who’s resigned this week. - There’s been something funny going on for a long time. This just adds more fuel to the fire.

English idioms

162 SECTION FIFTEEN MEDICINE IDIOMS

Təbabətlə (səhhətlə) bağlı işlənən idiomlar alive and if someone or something is alive

həyat eşqilə do-

kicking

lu; sağ və sala-

and kicking, they are not only

still living or in existence, but are mat; gümrah also very active and lively Though my age I am alive and kicking and thinking of you. be a picture of to look very yanaqlarından qan damhealth healthy maq; çox sağlam görünmək When I saw him, he was a picture of health. be (as) right to be completely well özünə gəlmək; yenidən as rain and healthy again qaydasına düşmək Don’t worry! You’ll soon be as right as rain. a bag of bones/ very thin çox arıq; bir qucaq sür-sümük; skin and bone bir dəri, bir sümük My sister is very thin, just a bag of bones. feel like a very tired özünü əzgin hiss etmək; çox boiled/wet rag yorğun olmaq I’m just recovering from flu, and I don’t think there is any illness which makes one feel more like a wet rag than that does. feel like death

to feel very ill çox xəstə olmaq; məc. özü-

warmed up nü ölü kimi hiss etmək My wife feels like death warmed up much of the time. go to pieces to be nervous dəli-divanəyə dönmək

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163

◘ His nerves had gone to pieces when he heard this news. ◘ He plays a winning hand very well, but when he has bad cards he goes all to pieces [33, p.41]. go from bad to to become more difficult

pisləşmək (iş,

worse vəziyyət və s.) After that things went from bad to worse. between life an extremely serious, dangerous həyatla and death

situation when someone may die if

ölüm ara-

people don’t act immediately sında Phone an ambulance. She’s between life and death. It’s a matter of life and death. catch a to become ill with a sətəlcəm olmaq, soyuqlacold cold maq, özünü soyuğa vermək Don’t sit there. You’ll catch a cold. catch one’s death to be very cold and soyuqlamaq; =catch one’s death probably become very ill sətəlcəm olof cold maq Don’t go out in wet weather! You’ll catch your death of cold. sb’s days there only remains a short sayılı günləri qalare

time before sth unpleasant

numbered will happen to someone,

maq; ölümünə az qalmaq; can ver-

e.g. that someone will die mək, can üstə olmaq Me grandfather is terribly ill. His days are numbered. breathe your last to die canını tapşırmaq; son (breathe or gasp) ◘ He sighed and breathed his last.

nəfəsini vermək; ölmək

◘ … and then finally breathed his last, …[21, p.309].

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164

die a natural to die quietly of old age or illness

əcəli ilə

death

ölmək

rather than because of an accident,

in war He had been in action all through the war. But he died a natural death. die in your boots/die

to die while still

qəfildən olmək;

with your boots on working rahat ölmək I’d much rather die in my boots. hope against to hope for sth möcüzənin baş verəcəyinə/ hope

that seems

qeyri-mümkün olan bir işin

impossible düzələcəyinə ümid etmək We hoped against hope that my father would become better. But in vain. be a martyr

to suffer greatly/

bir şeydən çox əziyyət

of sth/die a

die, because of sth

çəkmək; bir şeyə düçar/

martyr to mübtəla olub ölmək She’s a martyr to severe headaches. take your to put oneself in həyatı ilə oynamaq; özünü life in your

danger of death

təhlükəyə/ölümün ağuşu-

own hands na/ atmaq Every time you cross this busy road you take your life in your hands. nurse sb

to nurse someone

xəstənin yatağından aralan-

back to

until they’re well

mamaq; sağalanadək xəstənin

health again qulluğunda durmaq My mother nursed my elder brother back to health. bring sb to make someone live, bir kəsi yenidən həyata

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165

to life regain consciousness qaytarmaq She was brought to life by the doctor.

♣ HEALTH IDIOMS a sore a weak or sensitive part; a subject or ağrılı məsələ; point/

thing about which someone

bir kəsin ağrılı

spot becomes angry or upset easily yeri Try not to mention baldness while he’s here. It’s a sore spot for him. give someone a to treat

bir kəsin sənə etdiyi

tastle/dose of

someone the

pisliyin /yaxşılığın əvəzini

their own

way he or she vaxtı gələndə çıxmaq; kiməsə

medicine

treats others

onun öz kartı ilə cavab

vermək When I refused to help him I tried to give him a tastle of his own medicine. sugar do sth to make something

gərginliyi azaltmaq

the pill unpleasant more acceptable My father has sugared the overtime pill by offering a large extra payment. a bitter pill something hard

xoşagəlməz məsələ/əhvalat;

to swallow

qəbul edilməsi ağır olan acı

to

accept;

disappointment

həqiqət

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166

◘ My brother wasn’t invited to the party as it was a bitter pill for him to swallow. ◘ At forty, cessation of menses is a bitter pill to swallow. have (informal) to want to bir yerdə qərar tuta bilməitchy

travel or move to a

mək; bir yerdə uzun müd-

feet

different place; to want

dət qala bilməmək; məc.

to do sth different ayağının altı qaşınmaq I’m leaving this place next week. As you know, I can’t stay in one place for more than a year without getting itchy feet.

English idioms

167 SECTION SIXTEEN DAILY PROGRAMME

Gündəlik işlərlə bağlı olan idiomlar be as regular

very

saat kimi dəqiq olmaq; hər hansı

as clock-work

regular

bir işi eyni vaxtda görmək; mün-

təzəm He phones me every evening, regular as clockwork. be as busy as a bee very busy arı kimi çalışqan olmaq; çox məşğul olmaq I don’t have time to help you. I’m as busy as a bee. be up to one’s to have a lot of work çox işi olmaq; işi baears in work şından aşmaq I’m up to my ears in work. have one’s to be very başını qaşımağa vaxtı olmamaq; hands full

busy or too

olduqca məşğul olmaq; əlində

busy çox işi olmaq I’m sorry I can’t come. I have my hands full with problems at home. a woman’s work is one has always never done

evin (qadının) işi

some housework to qurtarmaz; həmişə

do görüləsi işi olmaq I’ll do the cleaning and go to bed, I’m tired out. A woman’s work is never done. morning, noon used to emphasize that

səhər-axşam;

and night

daima

something happens a lot or

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168

continuously My sister is on the phone morning, noon and night. not sleep a wink/not not be able to yuxusuz qalmaq; get a wink of sleep

sleep at all

çimir almamaq;

göz yummamaq ◘ He looked tired. He never slept a wink that night. ◘ Eily couldn’t sleep a wink with worry and did her best to hide it from the others [30, p.38].

English idioms

169 SECTION SEVENTEEN BREAKING IDIOMS

Emosional hisslər ifadə edən idiomlar go to

to become very nervous or sick məhv olmaq; dünya

pieces

from nervousness; become wild başına fırlanmaq;

qəlbi parçalanmaq He went to pieces when he heard of his mother’s death. feel not strong and likely to özünü əzgin/xəstə hiss fragile become ill/sick etmək; kefsiz olmaq He’s feeling fragile this morning. He had a late night. handle to deal with sb in a very bir kəslə çox ehtiyatsomeone

careful way so that you do

la davranmaq; bi-

with kid

not

şim-bişimlə dav-

offend or upset them

gloves ranmaq Be very careful what you say to him. You have got to handle him with kid gloves. knock someone (informal) used gördüyündən şoka düşdown with a

to express

mək; sevincdən ürəyi get-

feather

surprise

mək; gözləri kəlləsinə çıx-

maq ◘ When I heard the news, you could have knocked me down with a feather. ◘ “You could have knocked me down with a feather”, she answered, so surprised that she looked at him blankly [33,

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170

p.34]. snap

to speak or say sth in an

bir kəsə kəskin/kobud/

back sb

impatient, usually angry

qaba tərzdə cavab ver-

voice mək; it kimi qapmaq “Do it yourself, if you think you can do it better!” he snapped back. put sb’s life

to come to

yenidən həyata qayıtmaq;

back together oneself özünə gəlmək After his wife’s death, it took him a long time to put his life back together. mend the to find a solution to a

bir kəsin könlünü al-

relationship problem or disagreement maq; münasibətləri yenidən bərpa etmək She wants a divorce, but Justin is trying to mend the relationship. pick up the to continue living life

hər hansı bir hadi-

pieces

normally after some

sədən sonra özünə

tragedy that put a major

gəlmək; yenidən

roadblock in one’s way həyata bağlanmaq It was terrible losing Mary, but I’m doing my best to pick up the pieces. need careful

to deal with sb in a

bir kəslə ehtiyatla rəftar

handling

very careful way

etmək; bir kəslə bişim-

bişimlə davranmaq He needs careful handling. He’s brilliant, but he’s a bit sensitive to criticism.

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171

break sb’s to discourage greatly; ruhdan düşmək, məyus heart

make very sad or

olmaq; bir kəsin qəlbini

hopeless sındırmaq/parçalamaq ◘ When her son was killed in the war, it broke her heart. ◘ “Have you broken my heart and ruined my whole life just to keep me in your rotten theatre?” [31, p.43].

English idioms

172 SECTION EIGHTEEN HOLIDAYS Istirahətlə bağlı işlənən idiomlar

get away to get loose or get free;

hamıdan, hər şeydən

from all

become free from being

qaçmaq/uzaqlaşmaq;

held or controlled;

baş götürüb qaçmaq,

succeed in leaving; escape - When are you on holiday?

aradan çıxmaq

- Tomorrow. - I can’t wait. I am really looking forward to getting away from it all. off the

not well known or often

gözdən uzaq yer; sakit

beaten

used; not gone to or seen

yer; tapdaq (ayaqaltı)

track by many people; unusual olmayan yer I like this town. It is so quiet. We are the only tourists. I prefer places off the beaten track. let your act freely and

azad nəfəs almaq; sərbəst

hair down

olmaq; dincəlmək, özünü

naturally; be

informal; relax sərbəst aparmaq Why do you always stay here? It is the best place to really let your hair down. have time of a very happy or your life wonderful time - How was your holiday?

həyatın ən gözəl dəqiqələrini yaşamaq

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173

- Wonderful. We had the time of our lives. in the middle in a deserted, çox uzaq, əlçatmaz yer; dünof nowhere

far away

yanın qurtaracağında/o başın-

place da ◘ - Where is the cottage you’re renting in Portugal? - Oh, it’s miles from anywhere in the middle of nowhere. ◘ When my car stopped on the highway in the middle of nowhere, it took forever to get help. ◘ To die all alone in the middle of nowhere, starved and with no family or friends [30, p.70]. have a whale to enjoy yourself very much;

əla vaxt keçir-

of a time to have a very good time mək; əylənmək - Did you like your skiing holiday? What was it like? - It was great. We had a whale of a time. what the (humorous) exactly zəruri/gərəkli olan doctor orders what sb wants or needs hər şey; quş iliyi can dərmanı - I see you had a good time? - Fantastic. Sun, sea and excellent food. It was just what the doctor ordered. recharge the to get back your

enerji yığmaq; güm-

batteries

rahlaşmaq; havasını

strength and energy

by resting for a while dəyişmək, istirahət etmək We are going to recharge our batteries, that is why we are

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174

here. pack everything

(humorous) a very

except the

large number of things, gördüyünü götür-

kitchen sink

probably more than is

əlinə keçəni, gözü

necessary - Are you sure everything is in the cases?

mək; hər şeyi yığıb-yığışdırmaq

- Yes, positive. We have packed everything except the kitchen sink. watch the to relax and watch

qaynar həyatı kənar-

world go by people in a public place dan seyr edərək zövq almaq - Have you been to Paris? - Yes, I love Paris, I love sitting in a cafe watching the world go by.

English idioms

175 SECTION NINETEEN SLEEP AND DREAM IDIOMS Yuxu və arzu idiomları

lose sleep to worry about

narahat olmaq; kürkünə birə

over something düşmək; yuxusu ərşə çəkilmək - I am a bit worried that I upset Amanda I didn’t mean to be rude. - It was just a misunderstanding. Don’t lose any sleep over it. be half asleep not fully awake ayaq üstə mürgüləmək; yarı yuxulu - Sorry? What did you say? I wasn’t listening. - What’s the matter with you this morning? You are half

asleep. a wish to have a dream or be sth, especially one that seems arzunun həyata keçcome true difficult to achieve məsi/gerçəkləşməsi - So, you’re off to America at the weekend? Have a good time. - I will. I’ve been waiting to go for years. It’s a dream come true. go like a

to work very well; to

yuxuya bənzəmək; əla

dream

happen without problems,

getmək/(iş, plan və s.)

in the way that you had

olmaq/işləmək

planned ◘ - How was your date with Richard? Is he Mr. Right? - It was wonderful. Everything was perfect. It went like a

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176

dream. ◘ Our new computer goes like a dream. sleep on (informal) to delay making a sth

götür-qoy etmək;

decision about sth until the next təxirə salıb (qərarı) day, so that you have time to

vaxtı uzatmaq/

think about it vaxt qazanmaq - Work in the Madrid office? Well, it sounds good, but it’s a big decision to have home for two years. - Sleep on it! You don’t have to decide now. We can talk again tomorrow. I wouldn’t

(informal)

dream of it!

I would never nu ağlımdan da keçirmirəm!

Bunu heç vaxt etmərəm! Bu-

do it - Do you allow yourself to have a drink when you’re driving? - No, I wouldn’t dream of it. I’d never forgive myself if I had an accident. sleep like a (informal) to sleep very

yaxşı yatmaq; ölü/daş

log/baby

kimi yatmaq, xorxaxor

deeply and soundly

yatmaq ◘ I feel great. I slept like a log last night. ◘ Every day I was up at dawn, clearing, working on my house, and at night when I threw myself on my bed it was to sleep like a log till morning [32, p.202]. dead to the world fast asleep

bərk yatmaq; dünyadan xəbəri olmamaq

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177

Someone said there was thunder last night, but I didn’t hear a thing. I was dead in the world. get/have a wink to be able to sleep

gözünün acısını al-

maq; mürgüləmək I sometimes stay in my office and have forty winks at my desk. look dead on very tired but still çox yorğun olmaq; məc. one’s feet

standing or walking

ayaq üstə ölmək

(yorğunluqdan) It is time you go to bed. You look dead on your feet.

English idioms

178 SECTION TWENTY SUITABILITY Münasibət bildirən idiomlar

feel at home

to feel comfortable,

relaxed, at ease - Is your son still living in Italy?

özünü evindəki kimi hiss etmək; rahat olmaq

- Yes, he feels very much at home there. fit (sb) like to fit əyninə biçilmək; boyuna/ölçüsünə a glove

perfectly

uyğun olmaq; məc. əyninə qutu kimi

oturmaq - How do these shoes feel? - Lovely. They fit like a glove. I’m just not sure about the colour. do the

to bring success in doing

trick

something; have a desired lu/yaxşı olmaq (nəticə

uğur gətirmək; uğur-

result haqda) - I’ve got a terrible headache. I’d better go home. - Try this medicine. It’ll do the trick! You’ll be feeling as right as rain again in a couple of minutes. fit/fill the bill to be what is needed

münasib olmaq; uyğun

in a particular

(yararlı) olmaq; tələblə-

situation or for a

rə cavab vermək

particular purpose ◘ - We’re looking for somebody to send to England.

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179

- What about Mr. Anar? I think he’d fill the bill, wouldn’t he? ◘ And Harcourt didn’t fit the bill either, though he was perfect for her sister [21, p.17]. tailor to make or adopt sth for

bir şeyi tələblərə

something to a particular purpose, a

uygun düzüb-qoş-

sb’s needs particular person, etc - My timetable is not suitable for me.

maq

- Don’t worry. That’s no problem. We can tailor it to your needs. out of in the wrong place or at the əlverişli/münasib olmaplace

wrong time; not suitable;

yan vəziyyət; biabırçı/

improper gülünc vəziyyət Everyone else was wearing fancy dress! I was the only one in a suit! I felt completely out of place. It’s (for) you! (me, used to say that sth belongs her, them, etc.) to or who it is intended for - Does this coat suit me?

Əsl sənin malındır!

-It’s you! Yes, it’s definitely you. a square peg a person who doesn’t fit

öz yerində olmayan

in a round

into a job or position;

adam; müqəvvaya

hole

someone who doesn’t

oxşayan/gülünc gö-

belong where he is rünən adam I’m sorry for Clive. He just doesn’t fit in around here. He is a square peg in a round hole. be in your doing what you are ürəyincə olan/zövq aldığın element

good at and enjoy

işi görmək, öz yerində ol-

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180

maq My sister works in the kindergarten. She loves children, and she is in her element. right up (informal) very suitable for bir kəs üçün əlverişli your

you because it is sth that

/münasib olan iş; bir

street

you know a lot about or

kəsin ürəyincə olan iş

are interested in Thanks for this job. It is right up my Bu işə görə çox sağ street.

olun. Əsl mənlikdir.

English idioms

181 SECTION TWENTY ONE

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES Oxşarlıq və fərq bildirən idiomlar be in the

in the same trouble, in the

eyni vəziyyətdə ol-

same boat

same fix; in the same bad

maq; eyni qara gün-

situation də/dərddə olmaq It’s not just you who are worried about losing their jobs. We’re all in the same boat. a/the world (informal) used to emphasize

yer-göy qədər

of difference how different two things are;

fərqli olmaq;

to be different çox fərqlənmək There is a world of difference between visiting a country and actually living there. one of a kind the only one

tayı-bərabəri olmayan; hamı-

like this dan (hər şeydən) fərqli olan I love my uncle. He’s a politician. I don’t know anybody quite like him. He’s one of a kind. (Ondan yoxdur). be poles completely different; to have tamamilə fərqli, ayrıapart no interests that you share ayrı fikirlərdə olmaq Anar and I are good friends but when it comes to politics we’re poles apart. a far cry from something very

fərqli/yer-göy qədər fərqli

different olmaq ◘ So here you are living in a luxury flat looking out at Buckingham Palace. It’s a far cry from the slums of Liverpool!

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182

◘ It was a far cry from her gentle loving family in Japan [19, p.26]. as different if two people or things are

çox fərqlənmək;

as chalk

like chalk and cheese, or as yer-göy qədər

and cheese

different as chalk and

fərqli olmaq; ayrı-

cheese, they’re completely

ayrı dünyanın in-

different from each other sanları olmaq - I think, you and your husband are very different characters, aren’t you? - Completely different. We are as different as chalk and cheese. a different

(informal) a completely

fərqli olmaq; hamı-

kettle of fish

different situation or

dan fərqlənmək; baş-

person from the one

qa adamlardan seçil-

previously mentioned mək - I only knew Mary’s sister Anne. She led a very quiet life. - Oh, you couldn’t accuse Mary of that! She was a different kettle of fish. stick out to be

barmaqla göstərilmək; gülünc

like a sore conspicuous;

vəziyyətə düşmək; diqqəti özünə

thumb

cəlb etmək; özünü gözə soxmaq

be different

from the rest (hərəkəti, geyimi və s. ilə) You can’t go to work wearing such a kind of tie! You’ll stick out like a sore thumb! be on a par as good, bad,

bir kəslə/şeylə bərabər,

English idioms with sb/ sth

183 important, etc. as

eyni vəziyyətdə olmaq;

sb/sth else fərqlənməmək I would say that the cost of living in London is on a par with Paris. Join the

(informal) used when sth bad

club!

that has happened to sb else has lüsən; sən də biz-

sən də bizim gün-

also happen to you lərdənsən - I’m absolutely fed-up! I’m over-worked and under-paid. - Join the club! You are not the one, you know! a carbon copy a person or thing that is bir kəsin/şeyin very similar to sb/sth else eyni This book is virtually a carbon copy of the last one.

English idioms

184 SECTION TWENTY TWO

ORGANIZATIONS ARE GARDENS Yaxşı plan işin yarısı deməkdir dig out to find by searching; bring out (sth) that was

bir şeyi araşdırmaq/üzə çıxarmaq/axtarıb tapmaq;

put away qazıb/eşib çıxarmaq I have got some difficulties with this account. Do you have a minute? If you can dig them out for me, I’ll be grateful to you. stem from originate kökünü/mənbəyini/başlangıcını göfrom türmək; yaranmaq, əmələ gəlmək; I’ll explain to you why you’ve got problems. All your problems stem from bad communication. You need to speak to each other once more. plough money

invest a lot of

pul/sərmayə qoymaq;

into money bir şeyə maya yatırmaq I don’t advise you to plough money into this project. Otherwise you’ll fail, I think. weed to remove what is

kənar etmək; təmizləmək;

out

təzələmək; köhnəni yenisi ilə

unwanted, harmful, or

not good enough from əvəz etmək; alaq etmək Some people have been doing the same thing at our work for a long time. We haven’t had any differences yet. I think we need to weed out our weaker ones and re-train our best staff. cut back on to reduce azaltmaq, aşağı salmaq, kəsmək We are in the middle of a recession. That means we all have to

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185

cut back on all unnecessary expense. branch expand and genişləndirmək; müxtəlifləşdirmək, out into diversify eyni şeyi cürbəcür şəkildə göstərmək They are planning to branch out into new markets in this part of the city. bear fruit

produce results

nəticə vermək/göstərmək;

bar vermək Two thousand replies this week! Our promotional campaign is beginning to bear fruit at last. dead people or things that have

yararsız; heç bir işə

wood become useless or

yaramayan adam/əş-

unnecessary in an

ya; köhnə-kürüş, cır-

organization cındır If we want to be more efficient, we have to get rid of the dead wood in middle management.

English idioms

186 SECTION TWENTY THREE FAMILY IDIOMS

Ailə üzvləri arasındakı münasibətləri əks etdirən idiomlar ♣ FAMILY LIFE baby of the

a younger child in a

ailənin sonbeşiyi;

family family, often the youngest evin kiçiyi I’ve got two brothers who are older than me and then my younger sister Susan who is 16. She is the baby of the family. be like two closely similar; almost iki alma kimi bir-bipeas in a pod

exactly alike

rinə oxşamaq; çox

oxşar olmaq They’ve got two sons and they look just the same. They’re like two peas in a pod. blood is persons of the same family ətini yesə də sümüyüthicker

are closer to one another

nü atmaz; qan çəkir;

than

than to others; relatives

(ailə üzvlərinin bir-bi-

water

are favored or chosen over rinə çox bağlı olması

outsiders haqda) ◘ Sam is not the best person for the job but his father made him head of marketing in the family business. As you know, blood is thicker than water. ◘ Mr. Brown hires his relatives to work in his store. Blood is

English idioms

187

thicker than water. ◘ She was his sister after all, and blood was thicker than water [18, p.93]. be your a close relative (as bir kəsin can-ciyəri (seown flesh

a father, daughter,

vimlisi) olmaq; yaxın qo-

and blood

brother); close

hum/eyni qandan olmaq

relatives ◘ My son’s in trouble with the policy. I normally have no sympathy with people who break the low but it’s different when it’s your own flesh and blood. ◘ They were flesh and blood, and he loved them [18, p.92]. fight like cat disagree or argue dalaşmaq; yola and dog

violently, often repeatedly getməmək; it-pişik

kimi dolanmaq My sister and her husband used to fight like cat and dog when they were younger. like father, (ironic) a son is usually like his

oğul atasına

like son father in the way he acts oxşayar My brother is mad about tennis, just like our father. You know what they say: “Like father, like son”. tie the to get married; to evlənmək; bir yerdə ömür sürknot

perform a wedding məyə qərar vermək; ömrünü

ceremony kiminləsə bağlamaq My brother and his girlfriend decided to tie the knot. They’re getting married in spring. a long-lost a long-lost relative is

uzun müddət xəbər-ətər

English idioms relative

188

one whom you haven’t çıxmayan qohum; itkin

seen for many years düşmüş qohum I have a long-lost relative in Persian. I didn’t even know he existed. I’m going to visit him this summer. runs in the to be a common family ailə ənənəsi; nəfamily (runs characteristic; be learned

sildən-nəslə ke-

in the blood) or inherited from your

çən ailə ənənəsi

family Everyone in our family plays a saz. Music runs in our family. be like to be completely bir-birindən fərqlənmək; chalk and

different from each bir-birinə oxşamamaq, yer-

cheese other göy qədər fərqli olmaq My sister and I look alike but when it comes to personality we’re like chalk and cheese. be/look the very be the spitting

bir kəsə çox bənzəmək;

picture of your

image of sb; to

elə bil atasının eynidir,

(father)

look like a

məc. elə bil atasının bur-

relative nundan düşüb My brother looks the very picture of our father. as pretty as a very pretty şəkil kimi gözəl; çox gözəl picture ◘ She is as pretty as a picture. I’m sure my brother will fall in love with her at the first sight. ◘ “And pretty as a picture, they tell me” [31, p.138]. keep one’s to continue to be özünü yaxşı saxlamaq looks

physically attractive

(xarici görünüşcə); yax-

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189

şı görünmək My boss keeps his looks even in the old age. beauty lies different people have Leyliyə Məcnunun in lover’s

different opinions about gözü ilə bax; hər kə-

eyes

what is beautiful

sin gözəllik haqda öz

fikri var I don’t not agree with you. I think, he is very handsome. Beauty lies in lover’s eyes. appearances something that is

insanı geyiminə görə

are

deceptive seems to

qarşılayıb, danışığına gö-

deceptive

be one thing but is

rə yola salarlar; xarici

in fact very different görkəm aldadıcı olur It’s usually best not to judge by appearances. They say, appearances are deceptive. in the flower to be at the time in your

bir kəsin həyatının

of life (one’s

life when you are the

çiçəkləndiyi dövr;

age); in the

strongest and most

kamillik dövrü

prime of life active He was about 40 years old, and in the prime of life. a chip off a person very like həm xasiyyət, həm də görüthe old

his or her mother or nüşcə valideynlərinə oxşa-

block

father in character/

maq; (atasını, anasını) itə-

appearance ləyib yerində durub “That daughter of hers”, observed the Colonel, “is a chip off the old block”. bear/carry off to look younger that yaşına görə cavan gö-

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190

your age well one actually is rünmək/yaxşı qalmaq - I wonder if you know how old she is. - I think she is in her thirties, but she carries off her age well. the apple of to be loved very bir kəsin sevimlisi/gözünün one’s eye much by someone işığı/göz bəbəyi olmaq My brother is always the apple of my parents. be a someone who is ailənin üz qarası; ailəyə biblack regarded by other

abırçılıq gətirən adam, ya-

sheep members of their family ramaz, bədzad, rəzil adam; or group as a failure or

bir dana bütöv naxırı kor-

embarrassment layır (atalar sözü) I think she’s the black sheep of the family, she always behaves badly. be a

to be an interesting

çox maraqlı və qeyri-adi

character

and unusual person

insan olmaq; şəxsiyyət ol-

maq He is quite a character. He has so many tales to tell.

English idioms

191 SECTION TWENTY FOUR GRAMMATICAL IDIOMS Qrammatik idiomlar

♣ “ALL” IDIOMS if it’s all the

to not be

əgər inciməsən; əgər sənin

same to you

important to sb

üçün fərqi yoxdursa; əgər etiraz etmirsənsə

- Let’s go by car, shall we? - Thanks for offering, but if it’s all the same to you, I’ll walk. I need some fresh air. all of a

suddenly; unexpectedly,

qəfildən; gözlənilmədən;

sudden without warning; abruptly bir göz qırpımında I was watching TV, having coffee and all of a sudden everything went black; the TV, the lights. There was a power cut. be all go

to be very busy or full of

çox məşğul olmaq;

activity fəaliyyətdə olmaq Sorry I haven’t been able to ring you earlier, but my phone stopped ringing since I got in the morning. It has been all go! all over completely finished; in tamamilə qurtarmış; every part; everywhere; in

hər tərəfdə/yerdə; hər

every way halda, necə olsa da ◘ If you don’t hurry, the cinema will be all over by the time we

English idioms

192

get there. ◘ I have a fever and aches all over. by all

people say; apparently

deyilənə görə/deyirlər

accounts ki,/söz-söhbət gəzir ki, - Have you been to the new art gallery? - No, I haven’t but, by all accounts, it’s excellent. be all for in favour of bir şeyin tərəfdarı olmaq; bir kəsi dəstəkləmək/tərəfində olmaq - People aren’t allowed to smoke here. But it’s true. People should be allowed to smoke wherever they want. This is a free country, after all. - Well, I’m all for of freedom, but you do have to respect other people’s health don’t you? when all is said the general

iş-işdən keçəndən sonra;

and done

başqa əlac olmayandan

conclusion

sonra/ əlac nədir?! ◘ I can’t say I like my job. There are things I don’t like about it, but it pays the bills. When all’s said and done, it’s better than having no job at all! ◘ … when all is said and done he was only the public [31, p.71]. all being well

if nothing goes

hər şey qaydasında olsa;

wrong bir əngəl çıxmasa I’ll visit you tomorrow, all being well. It partly depends on the weather.

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193

all in in summary;

bütünlükdə, ümumilikdə,

all

altogether; the person

ümumiyyətlə götürdükdə; se-

or thing that you love

vimli insan; misilsiz bir şey

most ◘ - I hope the weather didn’t ruin your holiday. - Well, it was very disappointing, but everything else was great. All in all we had a really good time. ◘ I was all in all to him. ◘ Football was his all in all. (Futbol onun üçün hər şey demək idi). all the (used to

than

üstəlik; hətta; daha

emphasize comparative

otherwise;

da; (yoxsa, əks təq-

adjectives, adverbs, and

even

dirdə; başqa cür, di-

nouns) gər halda) Opening the letter made the situation all the worse. all the go the latest fashion son dəb, dəbdə olan These trousers are all the go this winter. ♣ BINOMIALS (“AND” IDIOMS) Binomials are expressions (often idiomatic) where two words are joined by a conjunction (usually “and”). The order of the words is usually fixed. be sick feeling strong dislike for

cana doymaq;

English idioms and

194

something repeated or continued

bezmək, xəstəhal

tired too long; exasperated; annoyed - Stop telling me how to behave!

və yorğun olmaq

- I’m sick and tired of being treated like a child. time and again many times; repeatedly; dəfələrlə; dönəvery often dönə My sister keeps using my computer without asking me. It’s driving me mad. I’ve asked her time and again not to do it but she still does. get peace the state of being

rahatlıq tapmaq; dincəl-

and quiet calm or quiet mək; asudə nəfəs almaq The main reason I go to the countryside is to spare some time on my own. In fact, it’s the only time I get any peace and quiet. be out be able to go outside again xəstəlikdən sonra yeniand

after an illness; traveling

dən ayaq üstə olmaq;

about around a place gəzmək/dolaşmaq ◘ Don’t phone me at work tomorrow. I’m going to be out and about all day. Call me at home in the evening. ◘ She is better now, out and about again. have ups the mixture of good and bad ara sıra küsüb barışand

things in life or in a

maq; həyatın eniş-yo-

downs

particular situation or

xuşu ilə üzləşmək

relationship Don’t worry about yesterday’s. There’s no such thing as the perfect marriage. Every couple have their ups and downs. It’s the same for everyone.

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195

born and

born and having grown up in a

anadangəl-

bred

particular place with a particular

mə; anadan

background and education olandan I’m not English. I’m American born and bred. bright prompt and alert; on time təyin olunmuş vaxtand

and ready; cheerful and on

early time or before time - Be ready at six.

da və yüksək əhvalruhiyyədə

- OK. See you in the morning bright and early, then. go round to work hard at sth heç bir irəliləyişə nail oland round

or discuss sth

madan eyni işi görmək;

in circles

without making any

məc. yerində fırlanmaq/

progress saymaq This meeting is getting us nowhere. We just keep going round and round in circles. wear and deterioration

işlənib köhnəlmə, xarab olma;

tear

yeyilmə, aşınma; yıxılıb-dur-

through use

ma; kökdən düşmə ◘ After 75,000 miles there is usually a lot wear and tear on any car. ◘ I need an operation on my knee. It’s because of the wear and tear of playing football over the past 25 years. forget used to tell sb that sth is not qulaq ardına vurmaq; and

important and that they

göz yummaq, əhəmiy-

forget shouldn’t worry about it yət verməmək If I have an argument or fight with someone, I always try to

English idioms

196

forget and forget. It’s the only way to keep your friends. short and brief and to qısa və yığcam; mətləbdən uzaqlaşsweet

the point

madan; az danış, yaxşı danış;ucun-

dan tutub ucuzluğa getmədən If you’re going to make a report, my advice to you is: “Keep it short and sweet.” (Qısa və konkret ol!). cut and decided or expected əvvəldən hazırlanmış, dried

beforehand; following the

şablon, trafaret (nəti-

same old line; doing the

cə, fikir, mülahizə və s.

usual thing haq.) The solution to this problem isn’t going to be easy. I wish there was a cut and dried answer, but there isn’t! few and not many; few and ərşə çəkilmə, qeyb olma, yofar

scattered; not often

xa çıxma, azalma; nadir/ az

between met or found; rare rast gəlinən/tapılan Last year we picked a lot of apples, but this year they’re very few and far between. tried and to use, do or test sth in order

sınaqdan çıxarıl-

tested

mış; yoxlanılmış

to see if it is good, suitable,

etc. When I get a cold I go to bed with whisky and honey. The next day I’m fine. It’s a tried and tested remedy. search high and everywhere hər tərəfi axtarmaq; hər low yeri ələk-vələk etmək I can’t find my password. I’ve searched high and low for them, but I can’t find them anywhere.

English idioms

197

be home

to have done sth

azad/rahat nəfəs almaq;

and dry

successfully, especially

rahatlaşmaq; üstündən

when it was difficult yük götürülmək When I finish my final essay, hand it in, then I’ll be home and dry. day and age

now, in the modern

ilin-günün bu vaxtı; hal-

world hazırki vaxtda In our country it’s not usual in this day and age for couples to live together without getting married. Note: The order in these expressions is fixed. You can’t say I’m tired and sick of waiting or I need a bit of quiet and peace.

♣ IDIOMS WITH DEGREES OF ADJECTIVES (GOOD/BETTER/BEST; BAD/WORSE/WORST) do sb/sth the

to make sb feel much

bir kəsə/şeyə çox xeyri

world of good better; to improve sth dəymək/xeyir vermək I’ve just come back from a holiday. I’ve been top France, Madrid, etc. You should try it some day. It did me the world of good. be in sb’s (informal) used to

bir kəs haqqında yaxşı/pis fi-

good/bad

say that sb is

kirdə olmaq; bir kəsin qara

books

pleased/annoyed

siyahısına/qırmızı kitabına

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198

with you düşmək Shalalah has been doing very silly things recently. She is not in my good books. throw good to spend more money

pulu boş yerə xərclə-

money after

on sth, when you have mək; məc. pulu çölə at-

bad

wasted a lot on it

maq/havaya sovurmaq

already We needn’t to spend so much money on this project. It won’t work. We’re just throwing good money after bad. for your having a useful or kiminsə xeyrinə/yaxşıown good helpful effect on sb/ sth lığına I think you need to go on a diet. Believe me, it’s for your own good. Good for you!

(informal) used to praise

Afərin! Halaldır!

(sb, them, etc.) sb for doing sth well Bərəkallah! You’re trying to learn English at last! Good for you! What’s the good of doing …? …bunu etməyin nə mənası? - I’ve complained so many times about the noise from the next door. But they never pay any attention to my words. I’m absolutely fed up with them. - What’s the good of complaining any more? They just ignore us. it’s a

(informal) used to say that you are

good

pleased about a situation or that sb is rinə düşdü; nə

yaxşı oldu; ye-

job lucky that sth happened yaxşı ki It’s a good job I didn’t catch the two o’clock plane. That’s the

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199

one that crashed! at the best even when the circumstances are dünyanın düz of times very good vaxtı - It’s the most boring lesson I’ve ever had. He’s so dull. - Yes, he’s not very interesting at the best of times, but that day he was worse than usual. it’s probably used to say that although sth for the best

hər şey yaxşı-

appears bad or unpleasant now, lığa doğru-

it will be good in the end dur - Sorry, Jane. I have to cancel our meeting next Sunday. - Don’t worry. It’s probably for the best. I’m very busy myself. the best of your

as far as your

bir kəsin bildiyinə görə/

knowledge know məlumatına əsasən - What about Farid? Is he doing the same things? - To the best of my knowledge, he’s still working at the same office. make the best to accept a bad or of a bad job

vəziyyətlə razılaş-

difficult situation and maq/barişmaq; taleyə

do as well as you can boyun əymək ◘ It was difficult for me to leave my job, but soon I made the best of a bad job and began to enjoy it. ◘ -The food in this restaurant is awful. If I’d known it was going to be this bad, I’d never have come. - Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. Let’s just make

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200

the best of a bad job.

see

(usually of things) (always

yaxşı günlər görmək;

better

perfect tense form) to enjoy a vaxtilə daha yaxşı və-

days

better or happier life; to

ziyyətdə olmaq; köh-

become old, damaged or

nəlmiş/yararsız olmaq

useless ◘ - I hear you’ve got an old Volkswagen Bettle, What’s it like? - Well, it’s seen better days but it still runs very well. ◘ They had all seen better days, … [21, p.449]. know (than that/than to do bilməliydin; bir şeyi etməmişbetter sth) to be sensible

dən əvvəl nəticəsini anlamaq,

enough not to do sth başa düşmək, dərk etmək - Frank still hasn’t given me back the $50 I lent him. - You should know better than to lend him money. That’s typical of him. second best not as good as the thing ürəyincə olmamaq; you really want babat olmaq If you know what kind of job you want, you really shouldn’t settle for second best. give/get the have the advantages bir neçə şeydən zövq albest of both of two different

maq; bir kəsə dünyaları

worlds

things at the same

bəxş etmək (hər şeyin ən

time

yaxşısını dadmaq)

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201

Living in France and working in Switzerland gives them the best of both worlds – Swiss salaries and a French lifestyle. for the best unpleasant now but will turn yaxşılığa out well in the future doğru It may well be that the break-up of their relationship is for the best. be on your best make an effort to

özünü bacardığı qədər

behaviour

yaxşı aparmağa çalış-

behave as well as

possible maq My brother hates formal parties, but he has promised to be on his best behaviour at the reception tonight. give something stop sth mənasız hesab etdiyi işi yaup as a bad job because it’s not worth

rımçıq saxlamaq; davam etdirməyə lüzum görməmək;

continuing bir işdən vaz keçmək I was learning driving, but I have given it up as a bad job. if the worst if the situation əgər vəziyyət daha da piscomes to the

becomes very

ləşsə/ciddiləşsə; aləm qa-

worst difficult or serious rışsa/bir-birinə dəysə ◘ If the worst comes to the worst, we’ll sell the house and move back to our parents. ◘ He had said that he would stand by her, and if the worse came to the worse, well … [33, p.21].

♣ IDIOMS WITH “IT”

English idioms

it’s in

202

(informal) if sth is in the məc. çantada hazır olmaq

the bag bag, it is almost certain

(bir işin düzələcəyinə

to be won or gotten - Have you got the contract?

əmin olaraq söyləmək)

- Well, it hasn’t actually been signed, but I think we can safely say it’s in the bag. it’s up in not yet settled;

həll olunmamış, qərara alınma-

the air

mış; bir şeyin sual altında olma-

uncertain;

undecided sı; məc. havadan asılı qalmaq - Are Jim and Ann getting married or not? I hear they’re having second thoughts. - That’s right. They had a big argument about something, so it’s all up in the air at the moment. It’s (informal) something Bu heç kimin fərz/təxmin anyone’s that nobody can be

etmədiyi məsələdir; Bunu

guess certain abou heç kim dəqiq bilmir - We’ve been waiting for five hours and we still don’t know when the plane is going to leave. Do you think it’ll be tonight? - I’m sorry, sir. It’s anyone’s guess. We’re as much in the dark as you. As soon as we hear anything, we’ll make an announcement. it’s touch very dangerous and

çox təhlükəli/qeyri-

and go uncertain in situation müəyyən vəziyyət - How is your father? Is he still in hospital?

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203

- Yes, I’m afraid! It’s touch and go at the moment. We’ll know within 24 hours whether he’s going to pull through or not.

♣ NUMBER IDIOMS be at sixes

(informal) in confusion; not çaş-baş qalmaq;

and sevens well organized başını itirmək ◘ My husband is waiting for me in the taxi. We’re going to the cinema. But I’m not ready yet. I’ve lost my keys and can’t find my hand bag. I’m all at sixes and sevens. ◘ Everything was at sixes and sevens [22, p.426]. Third time used when you’ve failed to do sth

Atalar

lucky!

üçdən

twice and hope that you will succeed

the third time -I again failed my entrance exam. I’m so unhappy.

deyib!

- I’m sure you can do it next year. You know what they say: Third time lucky! two/ten a very common and

qara qəpiyə dəyməyən,

penny therefore not valuable dəyərsiz/adi I’m glad that you split up with your boyfriend. I never liked him. Men like him, are ten a penny. hit/knock to affect sb bir kəsə sarsıdıcı zərbə vurmaq, somebody

very deeply pis təsir göstərmək; bir kəsi şoka

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204

for six salmaq; yeddi qatından keçmək When I heard that they gave me the sack, it completely knocked me for six. be on cloud too happy to think of

göyün yeddinci qatında

nine

olmaq; çox sevinmək

anything else, very

happy His last books are best-seller, so he’s on cloud nine at the moment. at the eleventh

at the last possible time;

hour just in time - I think James is late. Let’s phone him.

son dəqiqədə; ən son anda

- Oh, don’t worry. He’ll be here soon. He always arrives at the eleventh hour. be in extremely

son dərəcə xoşbəxt olmaq, göyün yed-

seventh

dinci qatında olmaq; sevincdən uç-

happy

heaven maq, çox sevinmək She’s been invited over to Hollywood, so you can imagine she’s in seventh heaven! be back to start at the beginning again

hər şeyi yenidən

to square in an attempt to correct

başlamaq, nəzər-

one

dən keçirmək

whatever mistakes were made

initially I’ve just phoned some shops and nobody sells that wall-paper any more, so we’ll have to find another wall-paper. We’re back to square one. be in two to be unable to

iki fikir arasında qalmaq;

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205

minds about

decide what you

something

think about sb/sth, rəddüd etmək; məc. bığla or whether to do

qərara gələ bilməmək; təsaqqal arasında qalmaq

sth or not - So, what have you decided? Will you buy that car or not? - I’m not sure it. I’m in two minds about it. six of one and two things the ikisi də eynidir; fərq yoxdur; half a dozen of same; not a the other

həm bu həm o; hər ikisi; ke-

real choice; no çəl Həsən ya Həsən keçəl, difference

fərqi nədir?/ikisi də bir bezin

qırağıdır ◘ - Who is to blame – John or Ken? - It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. ◘ - Do you want to eat now or swim later or swim now and eat later? - Oh, I don’t care. It is six of one and a half a dozen of the other. two is company,

an informal way to

üçüncü adam

three is a crowd

express a situation when

artıqdır, çox-

two people desire privacy

luq “zibillik-

and a third one is present - Why don’t you come with me and Mary?

dir”

- No, no, two is company, three is a crowd. it takes co-operation is always necessary həm yaxşı, həm pis two to

in order to accomplish

işdə iki nəfərin ey-

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206

tango! something, whether good or bad ni dərəcədə iştirakı - My sister blames her husband, and he blames her. I don’t know who is guilty? - Well, these things are never one person’s fault. It takes two to tango. Bu işdə onların hər ikisinin günahı (əli) var! work work fast az vaxtda çox iş görməyə çalışagainst

because you only maq; vaxta/saata qarşı işləmək;

the clock have limited time vaxtı qabaqlamağa çalışmaq I’m working against the clock to get the report finished before the meeting. call it a decide to finish

işi qurtarmağa qərar vermək, işi

day

başqa günə saxlamaq, təxirə sal-

(usually finish

working) maq; münasibətlərə son qoymaq ◘ I’m really tired. Let’s call it a day now and come back to it next week. ◘ “We’ve had some very jolly times together, but don’t you think the moment has come to call it a day?” [31, p.146]. not have a to be çox məşğul olmaq; işi başından aşminute to call very

maq; adını belə yadına sala bilmə-

your own busy mək; başını qaşımağa vaxtı olmamaq My sister has not had a minute to call her own ever since her twins were born. nine times out of ten almost always demək olar ki, həmişə - Let’s try and speak to Mr. Anar, shall we? -Well, we can try, but nine times out of ten he’s too busy to meet anyone.

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207

from time to time sometimes, but not regularly

hərdənbir, bəzən

My father plays golf from time to time. feel like a million to feel özünü əla hiss etmək; məc. dollars

wonderful

özünü yenidən dünyaya gəl-

miş kimi hiss etmək ◘ My mother had a headache yesterday but she feels like a million dollars today. ◘ I feel like a million dollars [31, p.202].

♣ IDIOMS WITH “MILLION” OR “THOUSAND (S)”

Thank you for the flowers. Güllər üçün təşəkkür edirəm. You’re one in a million!

Səndən yoxdur! Səndən bir

dənədir! I wouldn’t have thought he Mən onun belə pis hərəkət edəwould have behaved so badly. cəyinə inanmazdım. O, bunu Not him! Not in a million edə bilməz! Heç vaxt! Dünyayears! sında inanmaram! Now, who is going to replace İndi kim onun yerində olmaq ishim? That’s the 64–thousand təyir? Bu ölüm-dirim məsələsidollar question!

dir!

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208

♣ “NO” IDIOMS no idea

(informal) used to emphasize

heç bir fikri/məlu-

that you don’t know sth matı olmamaq ◘ - Do you know where the meeting takes place? - Sorry, I’ve got no idea. (Çox təəssüf, amma mənim xəbərim yoxdur). ◘ She had no idea when to keep her own councle and defer to others [14, p.64]. no way not at all; never; under

heç vəchlə; mümkün de-

no circumstances yil; ola bilməz; çətin ki ◘ - I’m going to wear these jeans today’s meeting. What do you think? - Well, if you wear jeans, there’s no way they’ll let you in. They’ve got a strict no jeans policy. ◘ - Can I borrow your coat? - No way! no doubt without doubt; doubtless;

şübhəsiz; ehtimal ki

surely; certainly Something had happened, of that there was no doubt, but there seemed to be no way to get an explatation [40, p.15]. no joke without teasing; to be zarafat deyil, asan deyil; difficult or unpleasant çətin və xoş olmayan iş - If we miss the last bus we can walk home. No problem.

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209

- It isn’t problem for you. But walking that distance for me is no joke. no word

a thing that you say; a

heç bir xəbər yoxdur;

remark or statement xəbər-ətər yoxdur - What do you think how the just-married are going on together? - Heaven knows! There’s been no word from them since they left. no

an event, an action, a fact, etc that

heç bir əlamət/

sign

shows that sth exists is not

işarə/nişan yox-

happening or may not happen in the

dur; işıq ucu

future ◘ - He’s getting worse and worse, isn’t he?

yoxdur

- Yes, and here’s no sign of him getting better. ◘ But the lion still hasn’t heard, or if it has, it shows no sign [16, p.64]. no

a cause or an explanation for sth that

reason has happened or that sb has done ◘ - Be careful what you’re saying!

heç bir səbəb yoxdur

- Listen to me. I know you’re in a bad mood, there’s no reason to take it out on me! ◘ You guessed about mine, no reason why I can’t do the same [16, p.51]. no chance

a possibility of sth happening,

heç bir ümid

especially sth that you want

yoxdur

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210

- It’s already twenty past four. - Well, there’s no chance of us getting there in time. no point the purpose or aim of sth ehtiyac yoxdur; məsləhət deyil ◘ - Shall we send Anar a card? - There’s no point. He never says thank you and he never sends us one! ◘ There was no point in evasion any longer [14, p.71]. No such luck! Məndə o bəxt hanı! - Can you stay at home on Monday? Don’t go to work. - No such luck! I must be there in time. No hard a lack of resentment or Narahat olmağa dəyməz! feelings!

anger; a state of

Fikir vermə! Unut getsin!

peace and forgiveness

(bağışlamaq əlaməti ola-

raq) - Look, I’m really sorry about what I said yesterday. - No hard feelings! no end of so many, or so much of, as (problemin) ucu-bu(problems)

to seem almost endless;

cağı yoxdur; (prob-

very many or very much lem) qurtarmır; çox I have had no end of problems with my new car. No thanks to you! despite sb/sth; with no help Başına from sb/ sth dəysin! - Look, we found the way in the end, let’s get away from here. - No thanks to you! a no-go an area, especially in a city, which is

təhlükəli

English idioms area

211

dangerous for people to enter, or that the yer, giriş policy or army do not enter, often

qadağan

because it is controlled by a violent group olunan yer When I was in Naples years ago, they told me not to go near a certain area. They said it was a no-go area. It’s a real used to say that it is Heç cür mümkün deno-no! impossible to do sth yil! Həqiqətən olmaz! Whatever you do, don’t take Julia’s things. It’s a real no-no. She gets very angry about it.

♣ “OR” IDIOMS believe it often heard when one announces inanırsan inan, or not

that something unusual will be

inanmırsan inan-

communicated ma ◘ Believe it or not, I used to be a professional singer. ◘ “Believe it or not, I’m back in school again [19, p.30]. take it or to accept something without istəyirsən götür, isleave it

change or refuse it; decide

təmirsən götürmə;

yes or no özün bilərsən I’ll give you $50 for the blouse. That’s my final offer. Take it or leave it. like it used to say that it makes no

istəsən də, is-

or not difference to you if sb likes sth or not təməsən də ◘ There’s no point complaining about tax. You have to pay it

English idioms

212

whether you like it or not. ◘ “It means that, like it or not, you’re going to have to leave, laugh

Audrey” [21, p.195]. (informal) to be unable to decide

or cry

how to react to a bad or unfortunate lüm, yoxsa ağ-

bilmirdim gü-

situation layım I’ve just been to the travel agent. Can you believe it costs $700 to fly to South Africa? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when they told me. Hilary wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry [18, p.134]. sink or to succeed or fail by your own təkbaşına mübarizə swim

efforts; without help or

aparmaq; bir şeyə

interference from anyone else; təkbaşına nail olfail if you don’t work hard to

mağa çalışmaq;

succeed ölüm -dirim məsələsi ◘ When I started this new job, nobody told me how to do anything. I just had to learn quickly. It was a real sink or swim situation. ◘ When his parents died he was thirteen, and he was left by himself to sink or swim. sooner at some unknown

gec-tez, əvvəl-axır; gec ya da

or later

tez; nə vaxtsa, nəhayətdə; bir

time in the future;

sometime vaxt/zaman You can’t keep being rude to people, Tom. Sooner or later, somebody’s going to get really angry and hit you.

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213

rightly or wrongly

what is morally

düzdürmü ya səhv-

good or correct dirmi; düz ya səhv I believe, rightly or wrongly, that private schools should be abolished. neither here

not important to the thing being

məsələ bun-

nor there

discussed; off the subject; not

da deyil

mattering - You can’t complain about me being late. Lots of people were late today. - That’s neither here nor there. You are always the last to arrive. now or this is the right time to do something never

ya indi ya da

at other times the opportunity to carry heç vaxt; qaout such an activity will not be there

çırılası fürsət

deyil - I’m thinking of asking Sally to come out for a drink with me. - Here she comes now, Steve, go on! It’s now or never. for better used to say that sth cannot be yaxşı ya da pis, or worse

changed, whether the result is başqa yol yoxdur

good or bad ◘ - Do you think Jack is up to the job? - I hope so. For better or worse he’s the man we’ve appointed ◘ …and if not, she had lived with him for fourteen years … for better or worse … [18, p.416].

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214

either or used to show a choice of two things ya, ya da We are going to have to make a choice – increase wages or give them more holiday. This isn’t an either or situation. I’m afraid it’s “both and”.

♣ SOMETHING, ANYTHING, NOTHING IDIOMS something of to some degree bir növ When I was younger, I used to be something of an athlete. In fact, I won quite a few trophies. Do you want to see some photos? nothing but

only; no more/less than

… -dan/-dən; başqa

heç nə ◘ My computer has been nothing but trouble since the day I bought it! Something goes wrong with it every day. ◘ The fact was, Kitty supposed, that she cared for nothing but her children … [33, p.18]. nothing to presenting no serious asanlıqla həyata keçirilən/ challenge; easily

çətin olmayan iş; heç nə

accomplished Anyone can use this method. It’s easy. There is nothing to it! something against opposing or disagreeing bir kəsə qarşı somebody with sb/sth nə isə Have you got something against me, or have you got an attitude problem?

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215

not for nothing

for a very good reason

səbəbsiz deyil,

səbəbi var Mike? Oh yes, he’s a real pain in the neck. It’s not for nothing that nobody wants to share an office with him. there is/was something is/was not düz deyil; boş şeydir/ nothing in sth true söhbətdir There was a rumour she was leaving for London, but I think there was nothing in it. look for sth (informal) behave in a

heç nədən iş çıxar-

for nothing

maq; qaşınmayan

way that you seek

unpleasantness in vain yerdən qan çıxarmaq There’s always someone looking for something for nothing! make to make (sth/sb) daha irəli getmək, daha yaxsomething of seem important şısına nail olmaq, vəziyyəti (yourself) şişirtmək/böyütmək ◘ I wonder why Mike is working in a supermarket. He could really make something of himself if he wanted to. ◘ When the girls see another girl with a boy, they often try to make something of it. anything you can do as you

hər şey mümkündür; necə

goes

istəyirsən, o cür hərəkət edə

please; anything is

permissible bilərsən When I was young, women wore earrings, made-up and had long hair, and men didn’t. Nowadays, it seems anything goes! something so good as to be beyond qeyri-adi; tərifə sığelse

description; the

mayan; təsvir etmək

English idioms

216

ultimate; stupendous mümkün olmayan Did you see that seven-year-old dancing on TV last night? He’s something else, isn’t it? come to to end in failure;

boşa çıxmaq; nəticəsiz qurtar-

nothing fail; be in vain maq; məhv olmaq/dağılmaq After spending over a million researching the new engine, the whole thing came to nothing! It was scrapped. it is nothing of the to be wrong; elə şey yoxdur; qətiyyən besort it is not true lə deyil; heç də belə deyil Don’t believe people when they tell you the weather’s awful in England. It’s nothing of the sort. It’s just different! Different every day. it has nothing to to not be involved do with me with; not care about - Who broke the vase on the table?

mənimlə heç bir əlaqəsi yoxdur

- Was it you, Pat? - No, it has nothing to do with me! Ask Robert. there is nothing to both are the aralarında heç bir fərq choose between same yoxdur; ikisi də eynidir - So, which one do you advise me to take? The Sony or the Phillips? - To be honest, there’s nothing to choose between them. They’re both excellent systems.

♣ TO + INFINITIVE

English idioms

217

to cap used to introduce the final piece of

hələ bu harası-

it all

information that is worse than the

dır; bu azmış

other bad things that you’ve just

kimi; ən əsası/

mentioned başlıcası I found my brother sitting in my office with his feet on my desk, using my phone, and, to cap it all, he’d finished the crossword in my newspaper. to make matters the situation became

işin tərsliyindən;

worse very difficult ən pisi ◘ I left home late, the traffic was terrible and then, to make matters worse I had a puncture on the motorway. That’s why I’m so late. ◘ … and to make matters worse, in June they had a massive heat wave [21, p.488].. to say the to put it an understated way;

uzun sözün qı-

least without exaggerating at all sası; kəsəsi ◘ I was involved in an accident last week. My car was a write off. I only had a small cut on my face and a sprained ankle. I was lucky, to say the least. ◘ But he also found his manner difficult – abrasive, to say the least [14, p.175]. to put it in in a few words; briefly, bir sözlə; qısası a nutshell without telling all about it Increased sales, profits up, and a full order book; to put it in a nutshell, our best year ever!

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218

to add insult

to make bad

bu azmış kimi, ən pisi; daha

to injury

trouble

pisi, gözüm baxa-baxa; ağını

worse çıxarmaq They told me I was too old for the job, and then, to add insult to injury, they offered it to somebody who was less than a year younger than me! to be fair to be honest açığı; düzü; vicdanla desək - I don’t like Jerry at all, he’s loud and he’s often rude to other members of staff. - I know what you mean, but, to be fair, he’s one of the best workers here. to be honest what I really think is vicdanla/səmimi desək ◘ I’m not sure how many more rounds of this I can take, to be honest with you [20, p.41]. ◘ Do you like Japanese food? I don’t want to offend you, but to be perfectly honest, I don’t really. not to without ever needing to

üstəlik; bundan baş-

mention

qa; hələ ... demirəm

speak of; in addition to;

besides ◘ You know that Rachel’s rich; her clothes, her jewellery, not to mention, the brand new Mercedes. ◘ It can only be an embarrasment to them, not to mention painful [18, p.285]. nothing to write

nothing

heç nəyi ilə fərq-

home about or

interesting or

lənməyən; danışı-

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219

nothing to boast

significant;

lası/qeyri adi bir

about or nothing to

nothing to brag

şey yoxdur; elə

wire home about about bir şey deyil ◘ What do you think of your first big London musical? To be honest with you, it is nothing to write home about. I’ve seen better on Broadway. ◘ “ From what I’ve seen, there’s nothing much to write home about” [23, p.106]. to sum to put something into a few words;

xülasə;

up shorten into a brief summary; summarize bir sözlə Now, I’ve given you all the arguments for and against going into this new market. To sum up, and I can’t be more honest, I think you would be crazy to go ahead. to put it used to show that what you are talking

açığı; bir

mildly

az yumşaq

about is much more extreme, etc. than

your words suggest desək - I’m going to Cannes this summer. You’ve been there, haven’t you? - Yes, it’s expensive, to put it mildly, it’s a lovely place. ♣ THE FOLLOWING INFINITIVES ARE ALWAYS PASSIVE: remains

said when someone remains

gözləməkdən baş-

to be seen skeptical about a statement or qa çarə yoxdur

English idioms

220

promise made ◘ He said he’ll meet us outside the school no later than seven but whether or not he will, remains to be seen. He’s never on time. ◘ That remainded to be seen [21, p.116]. not to be good enough to be “hm” demək olmaz; şansniffed at accepted or considered sı əldən vermək olmaz seriously I’ll get an extra $75 if I work at weekends and that’s not to be sniffed at. leaves a to be highly flawed, qənaətbəxş/arzu edilən səviylot to be bad, unsatisfactory yədə deyil; istədiyini (arzuladesired dığını) əldə edə bilməmək The food in this restaurant leaves a lot to be desired. I won’t be back. there’s a lot to

there are good reasons

… yaxşı/müsbət

be said for for doing sth tərəfləri var There’s a lot to be said for working for a year before going to university. (Universitetə daxil olmamışdan əvvəl bir il işləməyin çox müsbət tərəfləri var).

♣ SIMILES (AS … AS) In this unit we look at idioms with as … as. As … as idioms

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221

make an adjective stronger/more intense. Remember, most of these similes are fixed. For example: as dead as a doornail; the whole phrase means “totally dead”. Use all these expressions with care and keep them generally as part of your receptive vocabulary. Try to memorize the keywords. They may help you to remember the whole idiom more easily. They also tell you something about what animals are associated with the British culture. be as blind anyone who is blind and has yarasa kimi kor olas a bat

difficulty in seeing; a person maq; görə bilməwith very thick glasses

mək; yaxşı görmə-

mək I am as blind as a bat during the night. be as busy as a to be very busy arı kimi çalışqan olmaq; bee çox işləmək Though his age my grandfather is as busy as a bee every day. be as to change one’s külək kimi gah bu tərəfə, gah o slippery

attitude; position; tərəfə əsmək; balıq kimi sürüş-

as an eel

constantly to

kən olmaq; mövqeyini tez-tez

escape control

dəyişmək; bir fikrə/məqsə-

də/qulluq etməmək I won’t ask his attitude. He is as slippery as an eel. be as sly to be very sly, tülkü kimi hiyləgər olmaq; yerin (cunning)

cunning

altını da, üstünü də bilmək

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222

as a fox If I were you, I wouldn’t trust her. She’s as sly/cunning as a fox. be as strong

to be very strong

öküz kimi güclü olmaq;

as an ox çox güclü I think his brother is as strong as an ox. be as plain as the very easy to see gün kimi aydın olmaq; nose on your face açıq-aşkar görünmək - I think there’s something strange goes between them. What do you think? - You’re right. It’s as plain as the nose on your face. be as ugly to be very ugly indeed adama oxşamamaq; as sin çox eybəcər olmaq Looks aren’t everything. It doesn’t matter if you marry someone who is as ugly as sin as long as you love each other. be as light as to be very light quş/lələk kimi yüngül olmaq a feather Don’t worry. My luggage is as light as a feather. be as heavy to be very heavy qurğuşun kimi ağır olmaq as lead Oh, I can’t carry this suitcase. It’s as heavy as lead. be as quiet to be very quiet, silent siçan kimi səssiz/sakit as a mouse olmaq My little son is as quiet as a mouse. be (as) hard not flabby or soft; strong dəmir kimi möhas iron /rock

and tough; not gentle or

kəm olmaq; daş

mild; rough; stern kimi bərk olmaq ◘ This chair is as hard as iron. I can’t sit on it.

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223

◘ Her eyes were hard as rocks, and he could feel his heart sink as he watched her [19, p.346]. as bold without showing həyasız, abırsız; utanmaz; üzü as brass

any respect,

(mis kimi) qırmızı; qırmızı-qır-

shame or fear mızı; həyasızcasına (zərf) She told him, as bold as brass, that she didn’t like him. as quick as a very fast, very çox cəld; işıq kimi sürətli flash quickly She answered the question as quick as a flash. be as red as bright red or pink utandığından/acığına beetroot

especially because you

dan qızarmaq; çuğun-

are angry, embarrassed

dur (pazı) kimi qıp-

or ashamed qırmızı olmaq When I told him about his affairs, his face went as red as a beetroot. be as sick as a dog vomiting ürəyi/ödü ağzına gəlmək The dinner was bad, and I felt as sick as a dog. be/feel as sick as a bad feeling of özünü ümidsiz/əlacparrot

disillusionment,

sız/zəif hiss etmək

frustration When I heard that she ran off with my money I felt as sick as a parrot.

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224

♣ IDIOMS WITH EXPRESSION “THERE IS NO …”

These are four common fixed expressions all starting with “There is no …”

there is no going

you won’t be able to

geriyə yol yoxdur

/turning back change your mind And once they began the trip, there would be no turning back [21, p.137]. there is no place

your country/home

gəzməyə qərib öl-

like home

is the best place to

kə, ölməyə vətən

live yaxşı there is no smoke if sth bad is being said od olmasa, without fire

about sb/sth, it usually has

tüstü çıxmaz

some truth in it there is no if there is no rhyme nor reason baş verən hadirhyme nor to/for sth, it happens in a way

sənin səbəbini

reason to/

that cannot be easily explained

heç cür başa

for sth

or understood; no emotional or düşmək, anlaintellectual substance

maq olmur

♣ IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS WITH PREPOSITIONS

English idioms

225

be/feel on top

feeling pleased and çox sevinmək, həyacan-

of the world

happy; feeling

lanmaq; göyün yeddinci

successful qatında olmaq ◘ My daughter’s getting married in a week. She is so excited. She’s on top of the world. ◘ I feel on the top of the world [31, p.202]. top of the list the highest or most əsas/ən vacib məimportant rank or position sələ; başlıcası - Have you found anywhere else to live, Joe? - Not yet. I’m not looking for too hard at the moment. Top of the list right now is finding a new job. from top to in one’s entirety əvvəldən axıradək, tamabottom

without skipping any

milə, bütünlüklə, büs-

detail; wholly; entirely bütün, başdan ayağa I couldn’t find my glasses. Though I’ve searched the house from top to bottom. be on top of standing or lying

bir-birinin üstündə/dar

each other

yerdə/darısqallıqda yaşa-

on; live very close

maq - This flat is too small for five of you, you need a bigger place to live, don’t you? - Yes, we need more space. Most of the time we’re on top of each other. over the (informal) (of a person) old and

“havası” çalın-

hill

mış/vaxtı keç-

therefore no longer useful or

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226

attractive; past one’s prime;

miş/qocalıb əl-

unable to function as one used to dən düşmüş ◘ - Our centre forward is useless. He’s only scored three goals this season. - Well, he must be about 35 now. If you ask me, he’s over the hill. ◘ I’m twenty-four years old, I’m not over the hill yet, … [19, p.316]. without a shadow of a doubt no doubt şübhəsiz It was John. I’m telling you I saw him. It was him - without a shadow of a doubt. be in a bit in a predicament; in

çətin/xoşagəlməyən/müş-

of a jam

kül vəziyyətdə olmaq; işə

a difficult situation

düşmək I’m in a bit of a jam. I’ve to go to the airport in an hour’s time and Helen’s got my car. Can I borrow yours? I’ll be back by 4.30, so you don’t need to worry. be (into, out, of) to be in özünü cəncələ salmaq; bəlaya/ in hot water

trouble

pis vəziyyətə düşmək; məc. oda

düşmək - I often use the office phone for personal calls. I don’t think it matters. - Well, if Helen finds out what you’ve been doing, you’ll be in hot water. out of my

in a situation in which one

mən girən kol de-

English idioms (his, etc.)

227

feels unprepared or not

yil; mənim səviy-

depth ready to react intelligently yəmdə deyil ◘ I had a great conversation with Kim and Kevin. The only problem was when the conversation got round to opera. They know about it very much. I was completely out of my depth. ◘ He never seemed out of his depth [14, p.72]. bottom dollar one’s last penny, bir kəsin son qəpiyi/axıone’s last dollar rıncı pulu I was down to my bottom dollar when I suddenly got the job offer. top

the head of any business

hər hansı bir təşkilatın

banana/ or organization; the most və ya kompaniyanın top dog

influential or most

başçısı; təşkilatın ən nü-

prestigious person in an

fuzlu/etibarlı/hörmətli

establishment adamı/başbiləni Who’s the top banana/dog of his company? on (the) top of in addition to; along with üstəlik; bu azmış that kimi Our company has faxed to say they’re going to be a month late with their payment. And on the top of that, they’ve asked for more discount. be (do sth) (informal) done to an

ağ olmaq; ağını

over the top

çıxarmaq

exaggerated degree and

with too much effort ◘ His speech was completely over the top. ◘ I think you’re going to do it a bit over the top at times.

English idioms rock-bottom

228 (informal) the

ən aşağı (qiymət, yer, səviy-

lowest point or

yə); ən pis vəziyyət; tamami-

level that is

lə bədbinlik/ruhdan düşmə

possible ◘ The rock-bottom price of this T-shirt is $ 20. ◘ My friend needs help. His wife has left him and he’s drinking heavily. He’s hit rock-bottom. thin on top without much hair on the head keçəl, daz My husband is 35, but he looks, at least ten years older than that. It’s because he’s going thin on top. off and on/on and off occasionally

hərdənbir, bəzən,

vaxtaşırı; ara-sıra ◘ - Do you go and see your parents very often? - Well, off and on. ◘ For the next two days it rained on and off [30, p.64].

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229

SECTION TWENTY FIVE MIXED IDIOMS Qarışıq idiomlar kick up a

to misbehave and

dava/qalmaqal salmaq;

row

disturb someone; to

aləmi bir-birinə qatmaq;

make a scandal aranı qarışdırmaq ◘ He’s a small fry. He won’t kick up a row. ◘ “… let Walter kick up a row if he chose” [33, p.21]. make a fuss to worry about; to be hay-küy qaldırmaq, (over

helpful toward a

vurnuxmaq, boş-bo-

somebody or

person or a pet; to

şuna əlləşmək, təşvişə

something)

argue about someone düşmək, panika ya-

or something ratmaq Don’t make a fuss. There’s nothing to worry about. get/touch to hurt somebody’s bir kəsin dərdini təzələmək;

English idioms

230

someone

feelings by talking yaranın üstünə duz səpmək;

on the

about something

kimin üçünsə ağrılı olan mə-

raw

which is painful to

sələdən danışmaq; bir kəsin

him/her hisslərinə toxunmaq When he talked his words got me on the raw. laugh at somebody to laugh at sb bir kəsi ələ salmaq; bir behind his back

without him/

kəsin arxasınca gül-

her knowing mək, rişxənd etmək It’s vulgar to laugh at a person behind his back. love with all one’s to love someone bütün qəlbi və heart and soul

dearly, passionately ruhu ilə sevmək;

ehtirasla sevmək ◘ When I was young I loved him with all my heart and soul. ◘ “He loves me with all his heart and soul” [33, p.66]. take somebody to protect, bir kəsi öz qanadı altına under your wing

help somebody

almaq; himayədarlıq etmək

◘ He took his niece under his wing. ◘ The people who worked there were friendly to her, and many of them, sensing how young she was, took her under their wing … [19, p.163]. drink to pay a lot of

bir kəsin sözlərini ciyərinə çək-

in sb’s attention to or

mək; diqqətlə və zövqlə qulaq as-

words enjoy something maq; ürəyinə yağ kimi yayılmaq They drank in their president’s words. read sb’s to guess what adamların ürəyini/fikrini

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231

thought someone is thinking oxumaq Tell us the truth. We can’t read your thoughts. set your hopes to rely on bir kəsə/şeyə ümid olmaq/ on someone/

someone or sth bel bağlamaq; bir kəsə ar-

something xalanmaq She set her hopes on her son. be to be so afraid çox qorxmaq, qorxudan nitqi frightened that one can

qurumaq; qorxudan adını ya-

out of your no longer

dından çıxarmaq; qorxudan ağ-

wits think clearly lı çaşmaq/ağlı başından çıxmaq She was frightened out of her wits by the terrible noise. pull to bring one’s emotions under hisslərini cilovyourself control so that one can behave

lamaq; özünü

together calmly and reasonably and think

ələ almaq

clearly Don’t be afraid. Try to pull yourself together, then speak. keep up to continue to dress and yalandan özüappearances behave in the way that people nü nümayiş have come to expect of this

etdirmək; göz-

person, especially when he

dən pərdə asıb

can no longer

özünü heç nə

afford it, but

he is too proud to admit it

olmamış kimi

(hide the true situation and

göstərmək/

pretend that everything was

aparmaq

going well) ◘ It was very expensive to buy this kind of car. But they kept

English idioms

232

up appearances. ◘ When they lost their money, they were determined to keep up appearances. take pains to make a great effort to özünü bir şeyi etməyə to do sth

do something

məcbur etmək; dişinidişinə sıxmaq

She took pains to tell the truth. do sth of your to do sth because you want to bir şeyi öz xoown free will

do it, you’re not forced to do şu ilə etmək

it He went to the party of his own will. cry for to want something əlçatmaz/qeyri-mümkün olan the

impossible to have

moon

bir şeyi istəmək/arzulamaq; göydən ulduz qoparmaq xül-

yasına düşmək There’s no use crying for the moon. beat to try to avoid söhbəti fırlatmaq; əsas about/

answering a question məsələdən deyil, ordan-

around

or saying something

burdan danışmaq, əsas

the bush

immediately and

məsələdən yayınmaq; gah

directly nala, gah da mıxa vurmaq ◘ Stop beating about the bush. Come straight to the point. ◘ There was no playing around with her, no beating around the bush, … [19, p.120]. come/get to discuss the basic məsələyə aydınlıq gətirdown to

and most important mək; işin əslini öyrən-

English idioms brass tacks

233 facts

mək, təfərrüata varmaq;

əsas məsələyə toxunmaq ◘ They are going to come down to brass tacks. ◘ I want to get down to brass tacks [31, p.184]. have your not to be sincere or serious qeyri-səmimi, tongue in

about what you say; in an

ikiüzlü olmaq

your cheek ironic or insincere manner ◘ I felt she had her tongue in her cheek when she told it to you. ◘ Kitty spoke with her tongue in her cheek, for she knew well … [33, p.33]. have your

to be sensible, to ağlı başında olmaq; yaxşı

head screwed have common

düşünmə qabiliyyətinə

on your

malik olmaq; sağlam dü-

sense

shoulders şüncə sahibi olmaq ◘ My mother has her head screwed on her shoulders. She can give you a good piece of advice. ◘ “No, but I flatter myself that I’ve got a head screwed on my shoulders” [33, p.16]. know which to know how to make oneself

özünü gözə

side your

liked by people in power or how soxmağı/is-

bread is

to gain their approval; to know tətməyi ba-

buttered what is one’s advantage carmaq ◘ Some of my colleagues know which side their bread is buttered.

English idioms

234

◘ Charlie was right when he suggested that Walter knew which side his bread is buttered [33, p.60]. keep your to be out of qara gün görməmək; ciddi çənose above

serious

tinliklə üzləşməmək; xəta-bəla-

water difficulty dan uzaq gəzmək/durmaq He’s spent his life keeping his nose above water. wash your to make unpleasant öz paxırını açıb tökmək; dirty linen

subjects in public

xoş olmayan məsələdən

in public

which ought to be

danışıb aləmə car çək-

kept private mək ◘ I think, you shouldn’t wash your dirty linen in public. ◘ Walter doesn’t give me the impression of a fellow who’d care to wash a lot of dirty linen in public [33, p.55]. burn the to work or be active from very gecə-gündüz işləcandle

early until very late; use up all mək; dincliyi olma-

at both

one’s strengths by trying to do maq; çox az dincəl-

ends

too many different things; get mək; istirahətin nə too little rest

olduğunu bilmə-

mək My boss is working very hard though he’s old. He’s burning the candle at both ends. burn your to destroy all means of keçmişin üstündən bridges

going back, so that one xətt çəkmək; pis olan

behind you

must go forward

hər şeyi arxada qoyub irəliyə baxmaq

English idioms

235

He decided to break off with his old friends and burn his bridges behind him.

♣ SWIMMING IDIOMS keep your

to deal with a difficult

güc-bəla ilə dolanmaq,

head above situation, especially

özünü çətinliklə dolan-

water

one in which you’ve

dırmaq, bir təhər do-

financial problems,

lanmaq/keçinmək, çu-

and just manage to

lunu sudan çıxarmaq

survive My wife’s just lost her job. If we’re careful with money, we should just about be able to keep our heads above water. swim against to agree with/oppose əksəriyyətə qarşı getthe tide

the attitudes or

mək/çıxmaq, zamanla

opinions that most

ayaqlaşmamaq, axına

other people have qarşı getmək You’ll have to agree in the end. You can’t go on swimming against the tide for much longer. going in or into an müflis olmaq, hər hansı işdə geri under unconscious state

getmək; iflasa uğramaq; məc.

batmaq If the recession continues for much longer, a lot of small businesses are in real danger of going under.

English idioms

236

be/drow

serious

bəlada/fəlakətdə/çətin/təhlükəli/çı-

in deep

trouble or

xılmaz vəziyyətdə olmaq; çətinliklə

water(s) difficulty qarşılaşmaq; çətinə/dara düşmək ◘ I’ve got some terrible news. Bill’s son has just been arrested. He’s been involved with some pretty shady business deals. He is in deep water. ◘ She was a nine-year-old child after all, and she was slowly drowning in deep waters [18, p.108]. make a (informal) to do sth in a way

diqqəti cəlb etmək;

splash

səs-küy qaldırmaq,

that attracts a lot of attention

or causes a lot of excitement sensasiya yaratmaq ◘ If you really want to make a splash with your new book, you’ll have to throw a few parties and give away a few thousand copies to the right people. ◘ I don’t want to make a splash when I go to the parties. Then I don’t feel comfortable. test the to find out what the

bir şeyi sınaqdan çıxar-

waters

maq/yoxlamaq/araşdır-

situation is before doing

sth or making a decision maq; tədbirli olmaq ◘ I think it would be a good idea to test the waters first before we spend any more money on the project. ◘ “I’d like you to come to America one day,” he said as though testing the waters, as he watched her eat [18, p38]. throw someone to help sb who bir kəsə yardım əli uzata lifeline

is in a debt

maq; köməklik göstərmək,

English idioms

237

borc vermək I wish someone would throw me a lifeline! With a loan of a couple of thousand pounds I could just about get myself out of trouble. be tread

to make no progress while you yerində saymaq,

water are waiting for sth to happen qabağa getməmək I don’t think I’m going to get promoted here. My job hasn’t changed for three years and I’m bored. I feel as if I’ve been tread water.

♣ DRIVING IDIOMS drive

to make sb very angry,

bir kəsi dəli etmək;

somebody

crazy, etc. or to make

hirsləndirmək, özün-

mad them do sth extreme dən çıxarmaq This new computer is driving me mad. be in a bit in a predicament; in zibilə/işə/çətinə düşmək; of a jam

a difficult situation

çətin vəziyyətdə olmaq,

ciddi problemlə üzləşmək I wonder if you could help me out. We’re in a bit of a jam. a dead- a hopeless situation, gələcəyi olmayan iş/məşğuliyend job

from which one is

yət; axırı yaxşı olmayan/ölü

unable to advance nöqtəyə dirənmiş bir iş I wish I could leave. This is a dead-end job. steer clear to stay away from; keep bir kəsdən/şeydən uzaq

English idioms of sb/ sth

238

from going near sb

(kənar) durmaq; gözunə

görünməmək Steer clear of him today, he is in a dreadful mood. go up a to go or move highest; irəliləmək; yüksəlmək; gear rise, to increase artmaq; qabağa getmək The team weren’t bad in the first half, but ten minutes into the second half they seemed to go up a gear. They won 3 nil. hit the to become a wanderer; to avara/səfil/sərsəri həyat road

live an idle life; become a

keçirmək; məc. küçələrə

tramp or hobo; to leave,

düşmək; yolu yarı etmək,

especially in a car yola düşmək (maşınla) ◘ Come on. It’s time to hit the road, Jack. ◘ When his wife died, he hit the road. turn the to pass a very important point in çətin/təhlükəli corner

an illness or a difficult situation

vəziyyətdən çıx-

and begin to move maq Last year was a bit difficult, but I think our company is turning the corner now. step on it to go faster; hurry; to push down on the gas pedal to make a car go faster Step on it! We’re going to be late. be in the not make progress as fast slow lane

əlli olmaq; tələsmək; qaz vermək (avtomobilə) yerində addımlamaq/

as other people, countries, saymaq; irəli getmə-

companies, etc. mək; geri qalmaq - I hear your company is not doing very well.

English idioms

239

- You’re dead right. We are in the slow lane going nowhere. go round in without any progress; söhbəti fırlatmaq; əsas circles

without getting

mətləbdən/məsələdən

anywhere; uselessly yayınmaq Let’s get to the point! For the last hour we’ve been going round in circles.

♣ PEOPLE ARE LIQUID a ripple of laughter a wave of laugh gülüş dalğası I started my speech with a joke. It worked. There was a ripple of laughter across the audience and then I started to relax and began to speak. stem the tide to resist; hold back

müqavimət göstərmək,

of sth (or sb) something of great

qarşı durmaq; tablaş-

pressure or strength

maq; məc. axının qarşı-

sını almaq ◘ I think the government has to find a way to stem the tide of refugees. ◘ ... but there was no stemming the tides of what she felt, and had felt since the first day she’d met him [21, p.280]. go with (informal) to be axınla getmək; hər şeyə qane the flow

relaxed and not

olmaq; zamanla ayaqlaşmaq;

worry about what palaza bürün ellə sürün (at. söz)

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240

you should do I never complain about sth. I just go with the flow. dry up to disappear or azalmaq; yoxa çıxmaq, məc. vanish as if by

qəhətə çıxmaq; qeybə çəkil-

evaporating mək; qeyb olmaq; qurumaq Nowadays, few people are studying Russian at university. Not surprisingly, the number of new Russian teachers applying for jobs is slowly starting to dry up. be (informal) a boring or stupid

quru/darıxdırıcı/can-

a drip person with a weak personality sıxıcı/gicbəsər olmaq Come on! Come and dance. It’s fun. Don’t be such a drip. a pool of a group of people available ehtiyatda olan bir somebody for work when needed dəstə/qrup insan Our football team has eleven permanent players and a pool of about 12 temporary players. We use them when we need them during the game.

♣ BUILDING IDIOMS get a

the first step toward getting ilk addımlarını atmaq

foot in or doing something; a start

(hər hansı bir işdə);

the

ayağına yer vermək;

toward success; opening

door əlini bir işə ilişdirmək - Why are you taking such a low paid job? I’m sure you could

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find something better. - I know but it’s a good company. I just want to get a foot in the door and with, any luck I can work my way up. (come down) (informal) very məc. bir kəsin üstünə “şığılike a ton of

heavily; very

maq”/düşmək; it kimi qap-

bricks

severely

maq; bir kəsə qarşı kəskin

davranmaq - Diana looks cross about something. - What’s happened? - I just asked if I could leave early tonight and she came down on me like a ton of bricks. hit the to become

tüstüsü təpəsindən çıxmaq;

roof/ceiling

vəhşiyə dönmək; hirsindən

violently angry;

go into a rage divara dırmaşmaq - My father wasn’t very pleased about my exam results. - Neither was mine. He hit the roof when I told him I’d failed maths. on (at) the/

very close; very near

bir addımlıqda; çox

your doorstep where you work or live yaxın; əlinin altında - I don’t know how you can live in the middle of town. It must be awful. - It is all right once you’re used to it. You’ve got everything right on your doorstep. get sth through the in an unfair or tanışlıqla/rüşvətlə bir back door

indirect way

şeyə nail olmaq

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- How did you manage to get a job with the bank? - Well, I got it through the back door, really. My dad plays golf with one of the directors. bang/set to be unable to make any bütün cəhdlərə baxyour back

progress because there is mayaraq istədiyinə

against a

a difficulty that stops you nail olmamaq; işləri

brick wall - You still haven’t got a job, then?

daşa dirənmək

- No, I’m afraid not. I’ve applied for maybe thirty and I haven’t had one interview. I feel as if I’m banging my head against a brick wall. be at death’s door

very near death; dying ölüm ayağında

olmaq I was so ill with flu last week. I thought I was at death’s door. have your (informal) to be in a trap, çətin/çıxılmaz vəziyback to the

with no way to escape; in yətə düşmək; tələyə

wall bad trouble düşmək ◘ Our business is not going too well at the moment. Financially, we’ve got our backs to the wall. ◘ The soldiers had their backs to the wall. go out of the window to go out of effect;

yaddan çıxmaq

be abandoned I’m supposed to be a diet at the moment. Whenever I have dinner with friends, it just goes out of the window. talk to a to talk to somebody boş yerə danışıb özünü brick wall

uselessly

yormaq; məc. daşa-diva-

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243

ra danışmaq You never listen to me. It’s like talking to a brick wall.

♣ METAL IDIOMS worth your

extremely useful

özü boyda qızıla dəy-

weight in gold or valuable mək; çox dəyərli olmaq I wish I had a secretary like yours. She’s got everything so well organized. I know, she’s worth her weight in gold. have nerves to have great iradəli/dözümlü olmaq; məc. of steel courage dəmirdən əsəbləri olmaq Look at that man working up there on that roof. I can’t even bear to look at him! He must have nerves of steel. have the a combination of abırsız/həyasız/utanmaz brass

confidence and lack of olmaq; hər şeyə üzü gəl-

neck respect mək I don’t know how he had the brass neck to ask for a rise after the mistakes he’s made this year. go over to fail to generate a

müsbət qarşılamamaq

like a lead positive response or

(hər hansı bir fikri);

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244

enthusiasm; to meet

bir şeyi narazılıqla,

with boredom or

könülsüz qarşılamaq

disapproval The minister’s suggested budgets cuts went over like a lead balloon.

♣ MONEY IDIOMS tighten

to live on less money than qənaət etmək (pula,

your belt

usual, use less food and

yeməyə və s.); özünü

other things sıxmaq - I’m afraid. Our rent is getting more and more expensive. - Well, we’ll just have to be careful what we spend. We should tighten our belts a bit. go halves to share half or equally

bir işi şərikinə/yarı-

become partners yarıya görmək - Let’s go to the restaurant. I’ll pay for this. - No, it’ll be expensive. Let’s go halves. save money a time of need; especially, a qara gün üçün for a rainy

time when you really need

pul yığmaq; qə-

day money naət etmək I’m not going to spend the money I’ve got. I’m going to save it for a rainy day. put money to save

kənara pul qoymaq; bir şey üçün

aside

pul yığmaq, qənaət etmək

money

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245

- Every year you go on holiday. How can you manage it? - Easy! I just put a bit of money aside each month just for my holiday. live on the it is the situation where breadline

çətin/dözülməz vəziy-

you are just able to feed yətdə yaşamaq; güclə yourself and your family dolanmaq; yarı ac, ya-

rı tox yaşamaq Millions of people in this country are still living on the breadline, just surviving. buy and sell to have a lot

bir kəsi pulla satın ala bilmək;

someone

çox dövlətli olmaq; məc. pula-

of money

pul deməmək The old man next door looks like a down-and-out, but he’s a millionaire. He could buy and sell you. live in the well supplied with var-dövlət içində yaşalap of

luxuries; having most

maq; yağ-bal içində ya-

luxury

things that money can

şamaq, süd gölündə üz-

buy mək My brother has just got a teaching job in Brunei; big tax, free salary, all expenses paid. He’s living in the lap of luxury. short of a usual, customary, normal (orta) səviyyədə bob or two ordinary, routine yaşamaq I wouldn’t say I am rich. Let’s just say I’m living short of a bob or two. Note: The informal word for the old British “coin” known as

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246

a shilling (5 p) was a bob.

♣ SHOPPING buy for a

(informal) to buy something

bir şeyi çox ucuz/

song very cheaply lap havayı almaq They bought their house for a song some years ago. cost a pretty penny cost a lot of money çox baha olmaq That car cost a pretty penny! pin a small amount of money that qara gün üçün yığımoney you can spend on yourself rather than on necessary

lan/saxlanılan pul; son qəpik-quruş

things What a selfish girl she is? I can’t understand her. She spent her pin money on a dress. spend money to spend too

çox pul xərcləmək; pulu su

like water

kimi xərcləmək; pulu sağına

much money

-soluna xərcləmək Her mother will be angry with her, I’m sure. She spends money like water. burn a if money is burning a hole

pulu tez xərcləməyə

hole in

in your pocket, it means you çalışmaq; kasıb pul

your

want to spend it as soon as

tapdı, qoymağa yer

pocket you can tapmadı That $100 is burning a hole in my pocket. (O yüz dollar

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247

cibimi cırır). buy sth to buy sth and put more

bir kəsin başinin üs-

over sb’s

money than someone

tündən iş görmək;

head

else in order to get it

kimdənsə xəbərsiz iş

görmək He bought the house over his brother’s head. have money to burn/ to have a dövlətli olmaq; dam doluflush with money/

lot of

su pulu olmaq; pulu

have deep pockets

money

başından aşmaq/pulunu

qoymağa yer tapmamaq They must have money to burn. it’s not worth a about sth which is qara qəpiyə dəyməz farthing/penny worthless, useless What an ugly dress you’ve bought! It is not worth a farthing. be a good/bad to be worth or to be not verdiyin pula buy worth the price you paid dəyər/dəyməz This wine is a good buy at $3.50. dirt cheap extremely low in price çox ucuz; lap havayı These shoes are dirt cheap.

♣ “VERY” IDIOMS In English there are some different words used as intensifiers. They make an adjective stronger. For example: totally, different, absolutely ridiculous, utterly stupid. Some

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248

adjectives have their own intensifiers which very often go with them. Some are very obvious: bone dry, razor sharp, paper thin. Others are less obvious: shark naked, brand new. They all have one thing in common. You can’t guess them. You have to learn the words together as a single expression. broad

(in) the clear light of day, when

günün günorta

daylight it is easy to see çağı My sister was robbed in the street last week in broad daylight. stone-deaf showing no signs of life; completely tamam kar deaf You have to shout at my grandmother. She’s stone deaf. pitch black totally, completely dark göz-gözü görməyən qaranlıq I can’t see a thing. Switch the light on. I can’t find the light switch. It’s pitch black in here. paper thin very thin kağız kimi nazik, çox nazik The walls of my flat are paper thin. You can hear everything. wide awake fully awake tamamilə oyaq; oyanmış, ayıq - It’s been a long day. You must be very tired. - Actually, I feel wide awake. bone dry very dry çox quru, odun kimi quru; qup-quru -These clothes are probably still a bit wet, aren’t they? -No, actually, they’re bone dry. razer sharp very sharp ülgüc kimi iti, çox iti Be careful with that knife, it’s razer sharp. rock hard extremely hard or strong çox bərk; daş kimi

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249

bərk This bread is lovely when it’s fresh but next day it goes rock hard. brand-new

as new or fresh as when

qatı açılmamış;

just made and sold by the

istifadə olunma-

manufacturer; showing no mış; təp-təzə; yeni use or wear ◘ - Can I borrow your camera for the weekend? - OK, but please be careful with it, It’s brand-new. ◘ Everything was brand-new between them [19, p.247]. dead easy very easy çox asan, su içmək kimi asan - I’m really worried about my oral. - Oh, don’t worry. It’s dead easy. It’s the composition you need to worry about!

♣ “LIKE” IDIOMS look like death

to look or feel xəstə/ümidsiz/rəngi solgun

warmed up

very sick/ill or görünmək; məc. öluyə oxşa-

tired maq - I feel terrible. I think I need to consult a doctor. - Yes, go home. You look like death warmed up. treat sb to treat sb with bir kəsi adam yerinə qoymamaq; like dirt

no respect at

məc. kimisə əski hesab etmək, bir

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250

all kəsə hörmət etməmək ◘ - Did you see the way Robert spoke to his wife last night? Disgusting, wasn’t it? - Yes, but it didn’t surprise me. He treats her like dirt. ◘ “… who used to come to our house at home that here we should be treated like dirt” [33, p.19]. eat like a horse to eat a lot; eat çox yemək; camış kihungrily - I see Peter’s put more weight on.

mi/acgözlüklə yemək

- I am not surprised. He eats like a horse. drink like a to drink (alcoholic beverages) in

çox içmək,

fish

ayıq vaxtı

great quantities, to be addicted to

alcohol olmamaq - I could smell alcohol on Gerry’s breath this morning. Does he drink a lot? Didn’t you know? - He’s got a problem. He drinks like a fish. have memory (informal) to have a very

huşsuz olmaq;

like a sieve

məc. quşbeyin

bad memory; to forget

things easily olmaq - Surely you remember Monica. She’s the teacher you met at Cardin’s house. - Sorry. I’ve got memory like a sieve. smoke like to smoke very heavily çox siqaret çəkmək; a chimney

and continuously

məc. baca kimi tüstülə-

mək - I suppose I smoke about ten cigarettes a day.

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251

- That’s nothing compared to my brother. He smokes like a chimney. spend like there

to spend

is no tomorrow

much money xərc olmaq; çox pul xərc-

sabahı düşünməmək; bəd-

ləmək My sister has always short of cash. She spends like there is no tomorrow. drive like to drive dangerously

dəli kimi maşın sürmək

a maniac Never get into a car with Gerry. He drives like a maniac. speak something to speak hər hansı bir dildə ana dili kimi like a native fluently danışmaq, çox yaxşı danışmaq You should hear Simon’s Spanish. He speaks it like a native.

♣ “WAY” IDIOMS “Way” is a very common word in English with many uses and different meanings: 1. You can see the literal meaning in “Could you tell me the way to the nearest shop?” 2. “Way” can also mean “distance”. It’s a long way to Madrid. 3. It can also mean “method” or “style” as in Frank Sinatra’s famous song “I’ll do it my way”.

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252

work your

(informal) rise, move, to cəmiyyətdə/işdə özünə

way to the

more responsible

yer tutmaq, mənsəbə

top

positions by one’s own

çatmaq, pillə-pillə bö-

efforts yümək, artmaq It’s taken me a long time to get where I am in the company. I started as an office clerk and slowly worked my way to the top. It took a lot of hard work. meet to give up part of what you want someone

qarşılıqlı gü-

or to do your share in reaching an zəştə/kompro-

halfway agreement with someone misə getmək $400 is too much so I’ll meet you halfway. Let’s say $350. have a way to be talented at başqasını fikrindən dawith words

speech; be able to

şındımaq; yolundan

influence others by

döndərmək; sözlə ilanı

expressing oneself

yuvasından çıxarmaq;

succinctly and

məc. yağlı dili olmaq

persuasively My mother can persuade people to do almost anything. She has a way with words. stand in sb’s to prevent sb

bir kəsi fikrindən daşındır-

way (in the

from doing sth, maq; mane olmaq; məc. qa-

way of sth)

stop sth

ratikan kimi kiminsə yolu-

happening

nun üstündə bitmək; yolunu kəsmək

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253

◘ I personally think you should go to university. But if you really want to leave school and get a job, I won’t stand in your way. ◘ Naturally, I don’t want to stand in her way [31, p.195]. go out of to make an extra əlindən gələni etmək, bir kəsə your way

effort; do more

yardım əli uzatmaq, köməklik

than usual

göstərmək; dəridən-qabıqdan

çıxmaq I’m never going to help him again. I went out of your way to make time to help him fix his car yesterday and not a word of thanks. Nothing at all. keep out of to stay out;

bir kəsin gözünə görünmə-

sb’s way remain out of mək; bir kəsdən uzaq olmaq Martin is in a bad mood, so I would keep out of his way if I were you. have

two incompatible

bir əldə iki qarpız tutmaq;

something

approaches to the

bir araya sıgmayan, uyuş-

both ways

same problem can

mayan iki iş görmək; bir

not happen at the

əldə iki qarpız tutmaq

same time ◘ You’ll have to choose between a wage rise or shorter hours. You can’t have it both ways. ◘ John wants to keep both his wife and his mistress; he doesn’t understand that he must choose. He can’t have it both ways. come a to show much improvement; uzun və şərəfli bir

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254

long way make great progress yol keçmək - I remember the days our company employed only five people, and that included you and your wife! Now it’s around two thousand, isn’t it? - That’s right. We’ve come a long way since those early days.

♣ “WORD” IDIOMS be a man

who keeps his promises and sözünə əməl etmək;

of word

does the things he agrees to sözünün ağası oldo; a man who can be

maq; sözünün üstün-

trusted də durmaq I don’t think you need to worry about him changing his mind. He’s a man of his word. from the word go from the

əvvəldən; başlanğıcdan

beginning Never buy anything second-hand. I bought a second-hand fridge a month ago and it was trouble from the word go. word for word in exactly the same sözbəsöz; olduğu words kimi, eyni ilə He has got an amazing memory for what people say. She can repeat what you said last week word for word. be lost for to be surprised, confused, deməyə söz tapmawords

etc. that you don’t know

maq (təəccübdən,

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255

what to say çaşqınlıqdan və s.) I told Kevin I was leaving because I’d never worked for anyone as stupid as him. He didn’t say anything at all. For once he was lost for words. too awful very

dəhşətli/çox təsirli mənzərə; sözlə

for words terrible

deyiləsi/təsvir ediləsi olmayan hadisə

accident I saw a motorbike accident yesterday. It was terrible. I feel sick when I think about it. It was too awful for words. take the to say what another is bir kəsin qəlbni oxuwords right just going to say; to

maq; fikirləri üst-üstə

out of sb’s

put another’s thought

düşmək; bir kəsin söy-

mouth

into words

ləmək istədiyini ondan

qabaq demək - I don’t know about you, but I think we should stop for lunch. - You took the words right out of my mouth. famous issued as a warning after an optimistic boş söz; məc. last

statement indicating that the person

deyilişi gözəl

words

with the optimistic outlook could easily sözlər

be wrong ◘ - Don’t worry, the meeting will be finished no later than four o’clock. - Famous last words! We’ll be lucky to be out of here by seven. ◘ - He will be OK, don’t worry.

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256

- Famous last words!

♣ “TIME” IDIOMS at the crack the time in the morning of dawn

səhər sübhdən; gün

when the sun’s rays first doğanda; dan yeri sö-

appear küləndə When I’m on holiday and the weather is good, I love to get up at the crack of dawn. once in a very rarely; very

tək-tük/çox az/nadir hal-

blue moon seldom; almost never larda; ayda ildə bir dəfə Although we work at the same university, we only see each other once in a blue moon. in this day and now, in the modern

ilin-günün bu vaxtı;

age world müasir dövrdə I can’t believe there are so many homeless and unemployed people in this day and age. The government should do something about it. at the last the latest possible time

lap son anda; məc. bı-

minute before an important event çaq sümüyə dirənəndə I’m never early, and I’m never late, but I do admit doing things at the last minute. long time greeting; I haven’t seen you for çoxdandır görünno see

quite a long while - a joking

mürsən, aya-günə

imitation of Pidgin English

dönmüsən

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257

Where’ve you been for the past six mouths? Long time no see. there’s no this is the right time to do fürsəti fövtə vertime like

something; at other times the

the present opportunity to carry out such

mə; dəmiri isti-isti döyərlər; vaxtı

an activity won’t be itirmək olmaz Here’s the number of my dentist. Ring him and make an appointment. Go on, there’s no time like the present. Tomorrow used to say to sb to be Gecənin xeyrindən is another

patience and not to lose

gündüzün şəri yaxşı-

day!

hope or the ability to

dır! Allah kərimdir!

stay calm Ümidini üzmə! Just forget everything that’s happened today. Tomorrow is another day!

♣ SEEING IS UNDERSTANDING see through to think about

bir şeyə başqasının gözü ilə

sb’s eyes

baxmaq; özünü bir kəsin ye-

and see sth the

way that another rinə qoymaq, başqasının vəperson sees it

ziyyətini başa düşməyə çalış-

maq Try to see the situation through my eyes. I simply can’t accept his invitation. with eyes fully aware of the

düşünülmüş şəkildə, nə-

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258

wide open possible problems or results of a particular

ticələri nəzərə alaraq hər şeyi götür-qoy edərək

course of action Jane and Fred are both in their forties, so they are going into marriage with their eyes wide open. see past the end not to be burnunun ucundan uzağı of your nose

clever

görməmək; ağıl-sız olmaq

enough My boss is really selfish and small-minded. He can’t see past the end of his nose. open to make a person see or

bir kəsi ayıltmaq;

sb’s

understand the truth; make a

başa salmaq; məc.

eyes

person realize; tell a person

bir kəsin gözünü

what is really happening or

açmaq, qəflət yuxu-

what really exists sundan ayıltmaq I think you need to change your job. They make you work all hours. It’s time you opened your eyes. see to think or act sensibly,

razılaşmaq; yola

reason especially after realizing what the gəlmək; məc. daşı facts are on a certain matter and

ətəyindən tökmək

accepting advice about it It took a long time to persuade him, but he finally saw reason. EXERCISES

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259

ANIMAL IDIOMS Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with one of these idioms: a. monkey around; b. swing a cat; c. ants; pants; d. a pig-sty; e. gone to dogs; f. a little bird told (whispered) 1. - I heard they’d moved in a new flat. What’s the matter? - Oh, they found a room with a bit more space. There wasn’t enough space

in their flat.

2. Will you stop 3. A

? You’ll break something!

me you’re going to London. Is it true?

4. My little boy just can’t sit still while eating. It always makes me angry. I often say to him: “Do you have

in your____?”

5. - Their house used to be quite good but look at it now. - I know. It’s really

in the last few years.

6. Did you see her flat? I just couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like

!

Exercise 2. Without using a dictionary, guess the meaning of the underlined idioms. 1. I don’t like this character of yours. You always make up decisions on the hoof. 2. I’m very hungry. I can eat a horse. 3. Why do you want to make me visit him? Wild horses can’t

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260

drag me to his house again! 4. My daughter is so thin. She eats like a sparrow. 5. Be careful! Don’t think that your mother doesn’t see you. She has eyes like a hawk. 6. My boss has taken me under his wing. Exercise 3. Use each of the following animals as a verb by putting it in a suitable form in its correct space in the sentences below. a. fox; b. monkey; c. worm; d. hound; e. dog; f. ram; g. duck; h. badger 1. The thief in the stolen car refused to stop so the police were forced to

it with their own car.

2. This machine is complicated and dangerous so don’t about with it. 3. The children

their father to buy them a dog until he

finally gave in and did so. 4. He complained that because of his political beliefs he had been

by the press.

5. To avoid being seen he

down behind the hedge.

6. He tried to avoid telling me but after half an hour I managed to

the truth out of him.

7. He managed to

his pursuers by changing cars three

times and then escaping in disguise.

English idioms 8. All through her life she was

261 by misfortune.

Exercise 4. Add the missing words: 1. Fight like cat and … . 2. Stop … ! 3. A cat in … chance. 4. A … remark. 5. When the cat’s … . 6. Put the cat … . 7. Let the cat out of the … . 8. The cat’s … . BODY IDIOMS Exercise 5. Put each of the following idioms in its correct place in the sentences below. a. a brave face b. a good head c. to talk behind somebody’s back d. to pull somebody’s leg e. to find somebody’s feet f. a heart of gold 1. Hey, Nicy, my heart went to pieces when I heard that you _____. 2. - I want to ask her for help, but I can’t take the bull by the

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262

horn. - If I were, I’d do it. She has

.

3. I know after her mother’s death she’s so sad and helpless, but she

on it.

4. Mike always makes fun of me, but I don’t take him too seriously. I know he only

.

5. - How is your new job going? - I don’t know yet. I’m still

.

6. If I’m in a difficult situation I always ask Irada .She has _____ for everything. Exercise 6. How we call the following situations with the idioms. 1. if something irritates you? 2. if you’re trying something for the first time? 3. if you pay for something? 4. if you really don’t feel like doing it? Exercise 7. Comment on the meaning of each of the idioms. Try to give their equivalents in Azerbaijani and use them in situations of your own. 1. Get on everyone’s nerves. 2. Dip someone’s toe in the water. 3. Foot the bill. 4. To have eyes in the back of someone’s head.

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Exercise 8. The following parts of the body are used as verbs in the sentences below. Put each one in its correct place. a. shin

d. finger

g. head

i. back

b. head

e. back

h. foot

j. elbow

c. mouth

f. thumb

1. I think we’d better

for the station. Our train leaves in

half an hour. 2. It is your fault! Don’t leave me to

all the blame!

3. There was a crowd of people there. I’d to

my way

through. 4. They decided to

their way round Europe. They’re

experienced hitch-hikers. 5. If customers

a book a lot, it gets dirty.

6. I’m having my house painted. It’s very expensive. I don’t know how I’m going to

the bill.

7. Bob couldn’t hear me because of the noise, so I had to what I wanted to say. 8. He’s very fit and strong. Watch him

up that tree like a

monkey. 9. It’s been announced that the Foreign Minister will delegation to visit China next month. 10. A large manufacturing firm has offered to

the

English idioms

264

Himalayan Expedition. Exercise 9. Rewrite each underlined idiom with a literal expression that has the same meaning. Use a dictionary if necessary. 1. She said some very hurtful things to me, but I just bit my tongue, because I didn’t want to show her I was upset. 2. He doesn’t have any notes. He will just play it by ear, and he’ll be great. 3. When I lent him some money he turned his nose up at it and returned it back. 4. We were all ears when she told some gossip about Ted and Lily? 5. I wish you wouldn’t poke your nose into other people’s affairs. 6. The table was piled high with mouth-watering desserts. CLOTHES IDIOMS Exercise 10. Rewrite these sentences using an idiom instead of the underlined bits. The following idioms will help you. 1. Don’t listen to what your brother is saying. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. 2. I love my native country. If I could get a job here, I’d stay here, without planning.

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265

3. He wanted to tell me a secret, but he made me promise to tell nobody. 4. We never use type-writers now. They are old-fashioned. 5. My husband is going to repair his car by himself. I admire. I’m sure he isn’t able to do it without professional help. (through somebody’s hat; at the top of a hat; keep it under somebody’s hat; old hat; I take my hat off to him) Exercise 11. Can you think of a situation where you might … 1. have to pull your socks up? 2. have to tighten your belts? 3. have to keep something under your hat? 4. have to do everything on a shoe-string? 5. have to get your knickers in a twist? 6. don’t feel like to be in anybody’s shoes? COLOUR IDIOMS Exercise 12. Put each of the following color idioms in its correct place in the sentences below. a. out of the blue b. once in a blue moon c. green fingers d. in black and white

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266

e. a black sheep f. a white elephant 1. The offer of a holiday sounded very good, but I couldn’t believe it till I had it

.

2. We have a beautiful garden. My grandfather is a successful gardener. He has

.

3. Your friend is always in trouble, unlike the rest of the family. I’m afraid he is

.

4. Tourists often visit our country to see Maiden Tower, but we only go

there.

5. - I think this piano just takes up space. Am I right? - Right. We’re going to sell it. It’s a bit of

.

6. I had lost touch with my friend, and yesterday I met him right in the street

. What a surprise!

Exercise 13. Match the idioms on the left-hand box with their non-literal meanings on the right-hand box:

English idioms

267

1. A black spot is

a. unofficial and illegal.

2. A black look is

b. not serious and sometimes

3. The black economy is

saves embarrassment.

4. A white lie is

c. a dangerous road or corner.

5. A black picture is

d. an angry one.

6. A black sheep is

e. different from the rest of the

7. In black and white means

family. f. in writing. g. a depressing one.

Exercise 14. Write the missing colour. 1. They painted the town

after the exam.

2. My brother is a

– eyed boy. Everyone loves him at

work. 3. That’s like a

rag to a bull.

4. You may ask till you’re

in the face, but I won’t

change my decision. 5. It was a

– letter day.

6. My mother-in-law got a

carpet treatment when she

came to us. 7. I do my morning exercises once in a 8. She was caught

– handed.

moon.

English idioms IDIOMS

EXPRESSING

268 PEOPLE’S

FEELINGS,

RELATIONSHIPS …, IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS Exercise 15. Here are some idioms that can be grouped as expressing either positive or negative feelings. Try to group them using a dictionary if necessary. 1. to be over the moon 2. to feel/be a bit down 3. to keep somebody’s chin up 4. to be in a (black) mood 5. feel like a million dollars 6. kick up one’s heels 7. paint the town red 8. get away clean 9. at the end of one’s rope 10. face the music Exercise 16. Choose suitable idioms to fill the gaps in the following sentences. a) sell someone down the river b) leave someone high and dry c) sell someone short d) spill the beans e) on ice f) burning ambition

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269

g) pull the rug from under somebody’s feet h) light at the end of the tunnel i) have something up one’s sleeve j) knock someone down with the feather k) out of the blue 1. I had lost touch with Jack, and then one night he arrived at my flat right _____. What a surprise! 2. We’re going to Mum’s birthday. I don’t worry. I’ve got ______. 3. It’s been a long, hard struggle, but I think at last we can see ____ . 4. When my boss began to criticize my work it really ______. 5. I saw Jody’s car yesterday. It 6. My

.

is to climb Mount Everest. Can you believe it?

7. We’ve been working since morning. I’m hungry. Let’s put the notes

awhile and grab a bite to eat.

8. I’ve bought a present for Irada. I wanted to make her a surprise. But someone

.

9. Just because he doesn’t say very much is no reason to

.

10. I thought my sister was going to help me do the washing up, but she

.

11. I never liked my brother’s girlfriend. When I heard that his so-called girlfriend

I didn’t get surprised.

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270

Exercise 17. Which idiom would you use in these situations? The following idioms will help you. 1. if somebody’s panicking about the future? 2. if you encourage a friend to try something? 3. if somebody wants to take some exercise? 4. if you encourage someone to take control of a situation and take action? 5. if you tell someone to wait patiently and take no action? 6. if you tell someone not to worry about a situation? 7. if you tell someone to be careful? 8. if you tell someone not to assume that something will happen? (take one day at a time; go for it; don’t overdo it; take the bull by the horns; sit tight; don’t lose any sleep over it; don’t take anything for granted; keep your wits about you). ADVICE (POSITIVE) Exercise 18. Fill in the following verbs in the idiomatic expressions below: go; bide; take (2); sit; make; speak; tread; keep (2). a. … your mind b. … the most of it c. … your wits about you

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271

d. … the bull by the horns e. … your time f. … tight g. … carefully h. … one day at a time i. … a low profile j. …. for it ADVICE (NEGATIVE) Exercise 19. Match each idiom on the left with its definition on the right.

English idioms

272

1. don’t throw the baby out a. say what you are thinking with the bath water

b. don’t worry about it

2. don’t lose any sleep over c. be careful, when you change it

things, not to lose some of the

3. don’t over do it

good old ideas

4. don’t beat about the d. slow down and stop doing so bush

many things

HAPPINESS AND SADNESS Exercise 20. Correct the mistakes in each of these sentences. 1. My brother was thrilled for bits to have his photo in the paper. 2. I felt as if I was floating in air as I ran down the hill into his arms. 3. Why does he look so out of sort today? 4. Don’t make such fuss. It’s not the finish of the world! 5. Your telephone call has really done my day! 6. Anar said he was on cloud seven and we agreed that he was in ninth heaven. 7. Why does Mark always have to be such a miserable guts? 8. He is said to be over the sun.

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273

ANGER Exercise 21. Group these pairs of idioms which mean more or less the same thing: go off the deep end; give him an earful; put his back up; do his nut; drive him up the wall; rub him up the wrong way; give him a piece of her mind; send him round the bend; SUCCESS AND FAILURE IDIOMS Exercises 22. Rewrite the underlined parts using success and failure idioms. 1. At first we thought the new road would spoil our village, but in fact it was a positive development and the village shops are doing more business. 2. I sprayed the stain remover onto my jacket and it had an immediate positive result. 3. This is not the absolute best and most complete cookery book, but it does have recipes from 100 different countries. 4. The school has got better and better since the new head teacher took over. 5. Getting new curtains has changed my flat in a positive way. It feels like a new one.

English idioms

274

HAVING PROBLEMS Exercise 23. Match the beginning of each idioms on the left with its ending on the right. 1. left holding the

a. wall

2. brick

b. music

3. dire

c. baby

4. draw a

d. barrel

5. have you over a

e. straits

6. face the

f. blank

READING IDIOMS Exercise 24. Look back at the reading idioms and fill in the missing nouns: 1. I’m turning over a new … 2. You’ve got to read between the … 3. It’s just a … of tripe. 4. I read it from cover to … 5. I can’t make head nor … of this. 6. I didn’t read the small ... 7. It takes a … to get going. 8. Never judge a book by its …

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275

EDUCATION Exercise 25. Match the following idioms to their respective dictionary definitions. ◘ Learn something at one’s mother’s knee ◘ Show promise ◘ In one ear and out the other ◘ Live and learn ◘ Stuff sb’s memory with sth ◘ Follow in sb’s footsteps

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276

◘ To load sb’s memory with sth ◘ To learn sth as a very young child ◘ To do the same things as sb did earlier ◘ To

increase

one’s

knowledge

by

experience ◘ To be likely to be very good ◘ What

has

been

said

is

forgotten

immediately

Exercise 26. The following sentences all contain an idiom with one key word missing. Choose one of the four alternatives to complete the idiom. 1. The factory owner’s turned a

(dead, deaf, deep, deft)

ear to the demands of the workers. 2. I think if I work hard I’ll

(bar, bare, bear, beard) the

English idioms

277

fruits of my work. 3. My little sister agreed to go to the dentist under (presage, press, pressing, pressure). 4. Our dean knows a lot about everything. I think she’s a (working, waking, walking, wanting) dictionary. 5. My mother tries to

(ham, hamper, hammer, hamstring)

the facts into our heads every day. 6. Don’t

(stumble, stump, stuff, stun) the child’s head with

this nonsense. Exercise 27. Add the missing word to these idioms: a. He’s got his … screwed on. b. He can turn his … to anything. c. He knows what’s …. d. He hasn’t got a …. e. He’s learning the …. f. He hasn’t got the … of it yet. g. He doesn’t know one … of a car from the other. h. It’s common …. (end; hang; clue; what; knowledge; ropes; head; hand). Exercise 28. Without using a dictionary, guess the meaning of these idioms. 1. My brother knows a thing or two about computers. 2. We’ll soon get the hang of it.

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278

3. My boss is an old hand at the university. 4. I think you know it like the back of your hand. 5. Don’t worry! You’ll soon learn the ropes. 6. She’s got her heard screwed on. 7. It’s second nature to me now. MIND AND MEMORY IDIOMS Exercise 29. Try to complete these expressions using memory or mind idioms. Use a dictionary if necessary. 1. Out of sight, out of _____. 2. The class reunion gave us a great opportunity for a trip down _____ lane. 3. I’m sorry I forgot to post your letters. It just slipped my _____. 4. You can’t remember what you did last night? Let me jog your _____. 5. Please, bear me in _____ if you need someone to work on this project. 6. I was so embarrassed that my _____ just went blank. 7. It never crossed my ______ to tell Nigel about our meeting. 8. Streets full of horse – drawn carriages are still within living ____ just! 9. I wanted to give her a surprise, but nothing suitable came to

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279

______. 10. Try to commit your mobile phone number to ______. NATURE AND WEATHER IDIOMS Exercise 30. Rewrite these sentences using an idiom from this section. 1. It was raining very hard when I got up yesterday. …………………………………………………………………. 2. It is rainy weather. ………………………………………………………………… 3. I hope they’ll start early in the morning. ………………………………………………………………… 4. I hope, they’re having very nice, beautiful weather in the village at the moment. ………………………………………………………………… 5. Last year we had mild, snowless winter. ………………………………………………………………… 6. I’ll go to the match whatever the weather is like. ………………………………………………………………… 7. She will be operated on in the hottest part of summer. ………………………………………………………………… Exercise 31. Try to work out the meaning of the idioms from the context. If you can’t, then check their meaning in

English idioms

280

a dictionary or in a dictionary of idioms. 1. I was shaking like a leaf as I waited to hear if I had passed the exam. 2. I slept like a log last night. It was so quiet and the bed was very comfortable. 3. I hate making big decisions. I usually prefer to just go with the flow. 4. It goes against the grain for him ever to say he was wrong. It is not in his character to admit that he has made a mistake. 5. The news has come as a breath of fresh air for students worried about the level of fees. 6. The discussions have not solved the problem, but they have helped to clear the air to a certain. HOUSE AND HOME IDIOMS Exercise 32. Match the idiomatic expressions on the lefthand box with the non-idiomatic equivalents on the righthand box: 1. She’s nothing to write home a. about.

Sort

out

your

own

problems first.

2. They ate us out of house and b. We liked each other a lot.

English idioms

281

home.

c. We had no food left.

3. Put your own house in d. The audience applauded a order.

lot.

4. He brought the house down.

e. She’s not specially good-

5. We got on like a house on

looking.

fire. POLITICS Exercise 33. Decide which version of the idioms is correct in the following sentences. 1. The citizens of the country are making/taking action to stop the war. 2. The war drives many problems into the background /underground. 3. I’m afraid they’ll kill/fill the bill. 4. We’re against the arms race/pace. 5. Our president is famous for his shuttle/shutter diplomacy. 6. We’ll hold a round/ground table discussion next month. Exercise 34. Match the following English idioms to their respective dictionary definitions: ◘ Get a new angel on sth

◘ Promises and treats

◘ Make arrangements

◘ Informal and direct diplomacy

English idioms

282

◘ Hardly annual

◘ Become a politician

◘ Shirtsleeve diplomacy

◘ Have the power to take all the

◘ Go into politics

important decisions

◘ The carrot and the stick

◘ Change one’s point of view

◘ Hold the balance

◘ Make plans and preparations

◘ Kill the bill

◘ To defeat a proposed new law

LAW IDIOMS Exercise 35. Here are some idioms connected with law. Can you translate them into your own language? 1. If he doesn’t repay his debts, we’ll have to go to law. 2. He was accessory after the fact. 3. Everybody looked at the prisoner at the bar. 4. They became hardened criminals. 5. Crime doesn’t pay. 6. Yesterday they broke jail. 7. We had to take the law into our own hands. FIRE IDIOMS Exercise 36. Add the missing words in the following fire idioms. 1. … the world on fire 2. … a blazing row

English idioms

283

3. … with fire 4. … on like a house on fire 5. … fuel to the dire 6. … the imagination 7. … up in smoke 8. … your bridges MEDICINE IDIOMS Exercise 37. A. Match the following medicine idioms to their respective dictionary definitions. ◘ Alive and kicking

◘ To become ill with a cold

◘ Catch one’s death

◘ To look very healthy

◘ Breathe one’s last

◘ Very thin

◘ Die in one’s boots

◘ To be nervous

◘ Sb is a picture of ◘ To be very active and lively health

◘ To die

◘ Bring sb to life

◘ To die while still working

◘ Catch a cold

◘ To make someone live, regain

◘ A bag of bones ◘ Go to pieces

consciousness ◘ To be very cold and probably become very ill

B. Use some idioms to make up a story. A student starts it

English idioms

284

with “Good health is above wealth”. HEALTH IDIOMS Exercise 38. Match each statement on the left with the most likely response on the right. 1. Failing the driving test a. Why? You should give her a was

a

bitter

pill

to

swallow. 2. I don’t think I’ll tell her what I think of her. 3. I think she’s got itchy feet. 4. Be very attentive while

dose of her own medicine. b. Don’t worry. You’ll soon get over it. c. Don’t worry. I know it is a sore spot for him. d. Where would she like to go this time?

speaking to her. Her son is deaf. Exercise 39. Put each of the following idioms in its correct place in the sentences. a. death warmed up b. recharge one’s batteries c. a bitter pill to swallow d. sore spot

English idioms

285

e. have itchy feet 1. Try not to mention the merger to him; it’s a bit of a _____ for him. 2. Telling Farida what you feel may be a _____, but you owe it to her nevertheless. 3. Watching travelling programmes on TV always gives me _____. 4. Have you seen Lala? She looks like _____ ! 5. A good game of golf at the weekend always helps to _____ my brother’s_____. DAILY PROGRAMME Exercise 40. Try guessing from the context what the underlined daily programme idioms mean. Use a dictionary if necessary. 1. All work and no play makes my brother a dull boy. 2. The students haven’t done a stroke of work. 3. Evidently, we don’t have time to burn. 4. “Go to bed with the lamb and rise with the lark!” – my grandmother used to say to me when I was young. 5. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. 6. Hurry up! We don’t have all day! Exercise 41. Read the following passages and choose the

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286

correct key word to complete daily programme idioms. Use your dictionary to check your answers. Translate the passages into Azerbaijani. 1. Julia and Charles dined at the Savay. They had come late, they dined well, and by the time Charles had finished his brandy people were already beginning to come in for supper. “Good gracious, are the theatres out already?” he said, glancing at his watch. “How quickly the time

(flights/flies) when

I’m with you.” [31]. 2. Julia and Gimmie had no sooner sat down to table than he went straight to the point, “I never slept a

(wing/wink)

all night for thinking of you”, he said. [31]. 3. How are you today, Sydney? You’re looking very well. Busy as a

(beetle/bee) as usual, I suppose. You’re

simply amazing. [34]. HOLIDAYS Exercise 42. Rewrite each sentence with a suitable idiom in this section. 1. It was exactly what I needed. 2. I like going to quiet and unusual places. 3. I had a wonderful time. 4. I’m ready to come back to work.

English idioms

287

Exercise 43. Add the missing words: 1. A … is as good as a ... 2. I need to get … from it ... 3. There’s … place like … 4. We had a … of a … 5. It was … what the … ordered. 6. We had the … of our … SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES Exercise 44. Here are some idioms that can be grouped as expressing a similar meaning or a different meaning. Try to group them, using a dictionary if necessary. a far cry from in the same boat the odd one out the spitting image on a par with carbon copy poles apart six of one and half a dozen of the other a world of difference one of a kind

English idioms

288

GRAMMATICAL IDIOMS Something/Anything/Nothing idioms Exercise 45. Put each of the following idioms in its correct place in the sentences bellow. a. nothing to write home about b. something against c. nothing of the sort d. something for nothing e. there’s nothing to it f. nothing … trouble g. there’s nothing to choose h. anything goes 1. - Have you seen Farida’s new boyfriend? How is he like? - Handsome enough, but

!

2. My new computer has been

but ___since the day I

bought it! I think something is wrong with it. 3. Everyone can drive nowadays. There’s 4. I think you’ve got

.

me, or why you’re speaking like

this. 5. When I was a pupil, we wore uniforms, didn’t make-up while going to school, read much. Nowadays it seems,

!

6. Don’t believe people when they tell you that the weather’s

English idioms fine in Russia in winter. It’s

289 . It’s just different everyday!

7. There’s always someone looking for

!

8. - I don’t know whether to buy Ford or Jeep. Which one do you recommend? - Honestly, there’s

between them. They’re both

excellent cars. GOOD/BETTER/BEST BAD/WORSE/WORST Exercise 46. Complete each of these idioms with good, bad, better, best, worse or worst. 1. As I learned Japanese it stood me in _____ stead when I visited there. 2. He has been in quiet a _____ way ever since he had flu in March. 3. I didn’t want to have a karaoke machine at our party, but against my _____ judgments, I agreed. 4. People who live here enjoy the _____ of both worlds: the peace of the countryside, and fast and frequent rail connections with the city. 5. The situation at the scene of the disaster seems to be going from ______ to ______. Exercise 47. Put the words in correct order and make sentences.

English idioms

290

1. else/to/better/Sona/has/one/go/everyone/always/than. 2. to/to/worse/going/be/bad/conditions/seem/from. 3. the/tried/to/best/we/was/make/bad/a job/weather/the/of/bad/ but. 4. it/I/I/the/of/her/better/nearly/thought/told/but/truth. 5. the/happens/whatever/for/best/happens. IDIOMS WITH “TO+INFINITIVE” Exercise 48. Put each of the following words in its correct place. a) it all b) the truth c) the record straight d) insult to injury e) a long f) the least h) matters worse i) in a nutshell 1. to cut … 2. to say … 3. to make … 4. to put it … 5. to cap … 6. to set … 7. to add … 8. to tell you … Exercise 49. A. Try to group the following idioms whether they’re used in the active or in the passive. 1. to put it mildly 2. to be honest

English idioms

291

3. not to be sniffed at 4. to be fair 5. leaves a lot to be desired 6. to add insult to injury 7. a lot to be said for 8. nothing to speak of 9. remains to be seen B. Comment on the meaning of each of them. Use any of these idioms in situations of your own. BINOMIALS Exercise 50. Join the following idiomatic expressions with “and”. Then check in a dictionary that you’ve the right word order and meaning. bright round pick early

dry outs ins round

ups choose about

up high downs

Now use them to fill the gaps in these sentences. 1. I’ll meet you in the morning

and

.

2. If I were you I shouldn’t pay much attention to it. All have their

and

at work.

3. This meeting is getting us nowhere. We just keep going

English idioms and

292

in circles.

4. My brother is in bed with flu, but I think he’s over the worst. He’ll be

and

in no time.

5. I’m thinking of setting up my own business, but I need to speak to someone who knows the

and

of how to get

started. 6. If you’re going to publish a book,

and

, you

need to be sure you’ve got some financial advice. 7. I was left

and

, with no one to help me.

“OR” IDIOMS Exercise 51. Match words from the left-hand box with words from the right-hand box to form idioms with “or”. Use a dictionary if necessary. give; take; it; like it; wrongly; sooner; laugh;

leave it; later; rightly; Or

believe it; sink; make

cry; not; swim; take; not; break

Now use these idioms in the sentences below. 1.

, I have been to London twice.

2. I’ll pay for this blouse 20 manats. That’s my final offer. ______!

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293

3. Our business has been going down-hill for a while now. The next few months are

for us.

4. When I heard that the ticket to London cost $500, I didn’t know whether to

.

5. It’ll take three months for your new passport to arrive a week. 6. I believe,

, that private schools should be abolished.

7. If you go on being rude to people,

, somebody will

really get angry and hit you. 8. There’s no point to complaining about meeting. We have to take place whether we

.

9. When I started my job, nobody told me how to do anything. I just had to learn everything by myself. It was a real situation. SIMILES Exercise 52. Look back at the expressions with similes and add the missing words: 1. as quick as a … 2. as red as a … 3. as flat as a … 4. as bold as … 5. as quiet as a …

English idioms

294

6. as dry as a … 7. as hard as… Exercise 53. Different similes contain the same word. Fill the gaps with the appropriate words. 1. Don’t worry. I think it is as easy as… off a log. 2. After eating that awful chicken I was as sick as a … 3. I knew she had deceived me. I felt as sick as a … 4. My grandmother’s hair is as white as … 5. Her face suddenly went as white as a … “NO” IDIOMS Exercise 54. Try guessing from the context what the underlined idioms mean. 1. I have had no end of problems with my new car. 2. When I was in Paris, I was told not to go near a certain area. They said it was a no-go area. 3. Whatever you do, don’t touch Sona’s things. It’s a real nono. She gets very annoyed about it. 4. - I found the book you asked, didn’t I? - No thanks to you! It’s not the same book. 5. - Hey, Nicy, I’m really sorry about what I said yesterday. - No hard feelings!

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295

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS WITH PREPOSITIONS Exercise 55. Add the missing prepositions. 1. His company has gone _____ strength _____ strength in the last six months. He’s making a lot of money now. 2. The flood ruined our old kitchen, but it was a blessing ____ disguise, because the insurance company paid for a completely new one. 3. This new model is not the be – all – and- end – all – digital cameras, but it certainly has many technical features that others do not have. 4. Your offer to drive us to the airport makes all the difference _____ our travel plans. 5. Your plan to persuade Lala to join the committee worked _____ magic. Exercise 56. Write the idioms in this section opposite the meanings using the words in brackets: 1. absolutely certain (bet)

………………………………

2. as a guess (head)

………………………………

3. find the truth (bottom)

………………………………

4. looked everywhere (search) 5. exaggerated (top)

……………………………… ………………………………

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296

6. as emotionally low as possible (rock)

………………………………

7. not much hair (thin)

………………………………

NUMBER IDIOMS Exercise 57. Complete the following idioms with numbers. 1. Two’s company, 2. I’m in

minds about it.

3. It’s first come, 4. It was

served.

of one and half a dozen of the other.

5. It takes 6. I put

a crowd!

to tango. and

together.

7. Two heads are better than

.

Exercise 58. Put each of the following idioms in its correct place in the sentences bellow. a. to have second thoughts b. in her seventh heaven c. at the eleventh hour d. knocked me for six e. on cloud nine f. third time lucky 1. Our financial problems were so great that we thought we’d have to sell our house, but my father-in-law lent us some

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297

money ------. 2. At first I liked him, but now I’m beginning 3. My sister was

.

when she actually met her favorite singer.

4. When I heard that they refused to take you, it completely

.

I wasn’t expecting it. 5. My brother was ____ when he heard that he’d won the competition. 6. I always repeat: “____!” when I fail to do something. Exercise 59. Complete each of these idioms. 1. It runs like ____. 2. We set off at the crack ____. 3. We were working against ____. 4. I’ve had enough. Let’s call ____. 5. It happens this way nine ____. Exercise 60. Complete these idioms with prepositions. 1. … scratch. 2. once … a lifetime. 3. once and … all 4. … time …time. 5. work … the clock. 6. nine times … … ten.

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MIXED IDIOMS Exercise 61. Can you think of a situation where you might … 1. be willing to pay through the nose for tickets? 2. have to take somebody under your wing? 3. have to drink in somebody’s words? 4. have to read somebody’s thoughts? 5. find it hard beat about the bush? 6. have to know which side your bread is buttered? Exercise 62. Here are some idioms. Comment on the meaning of each of them. Use them in situations of your own. 1. Wash one’s dirty linen in public. 2. Be in the air. 3. Keep one’s nose above water. 4. Burn the candle at both ends. 5. Burn one’s bridges (behind one). “VERY” IDIOMS Exercise 63. Try guessing from the context what the underlined “very” idioms mean. 1. I’ve been working since morning and I feel wide awake. I’d

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better go to bed. 2. When my brother wanted to borrow my car, I asked him to be careful with it because it was brand new. 3. I don’t think these clothes are a bit wet. They’re bone dry. 4. My mother-in-law couldn’t eat the bread because it was rock hard. 5. You have to shout at my grandmother. She’s stone deaf. 6. The walls of our flat are paper thin. You can hear everything. 7. My mother was robbed in the street yesterday in broad daylight. 8. I watched an awful film last night. I should have just switched it off but I watched it until the bitter end to see what happened. “WAY” IDIOMS Exercise 64. A. Try to complete these “way” idioms. 1. either … 2. to … thinking 3. the other … 4. … way 5. that … 6. by …

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7. come … B. Now use them in your own sentences and try to give their equivalents in your own language. Exercise 65. A. Try giving the equivalents of the following “way” idioms in your native language. 1. either way 2. the way of thinking 3. the other way round 4. on the way 5. that way 6. by the way 7. in a way 8. come a long way B. Make up a story using any of these idioms. “LIKE” IDIOMS Exercise 66. What can you say about … 1. a person who sees everything and never misses a thing? 2. a plan or course of action that works very well? 3. someone who eats and drinks a great deal? 4. someone with a very bad memory? 5. someone who has been very active and busy all day?

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“WORD” IDIOMS Exercise 67. Look back at the “word” idioms and add the missing words: 1. I’ll take your word ____ it. 2. ____ word of mouth. 3. put ____ a good word for you. 4. get a word ____ edgeways. 5. ____ a word – no. 6. ____ the word go. 7. word ____ word. 8. a man ____ his word. 9. lost ____ words. 10. _____ other words. “MONEY” IDIOMS Exercise 68. Put the words in right order and make sentences. 1. is/a killing/his/job/new/in/Anar. 2. I/put/the/position/had/I/was/in/but/no choice/pick up/to/the tap. 3. spent/we/the/hotel/at/in/living/a/weekend/lap/the/of/luxury. 4.

our/spent/neighbours/small/a/conservatory/fortune/on/new/

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their. 5. we/to/had/pay/nose/the/through/get/to/tickets/match/the/for. FOOD IDIOMS Exercise 69. Choose one of the alternatives to complete each sentence. 1. Although it was too slow-moving for my taste, I sat through the film to the bitter/sour/sweet end. 2. Watching that cookery programme on TV has really watered/wetted/whetted my appetite for trying some new recipes. 3. Staying in a hotel room that Elvis Presley had once used was really the icing on the biscuit/cake/ sugar. 4. As Shalalah has such a sweet mouth/tongue/tooth it makes very difficult for her to lose weight. 5. The wonderful smells from the kitchen are really making my eyes/mouth/nose water. Exercise 70. Comment on the meaning of each of the following idioms. Use them in situations of your own. 1. bread and butter 2. eat a horse 3. eat sb out house and home 4. egg on one’s face

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5. bear fruit DWELLING IDIOMS Exercise 71. A. Rewrite the following text in idiomatic English. My parents are good at receiving guests. They’re houseproud. I think, they make a great effort to make our house as interesting and attractive as possible. Everything is perfectly arranged in our house. My parents are wealthy. They have enough money to buy everything they want. They like to see our friends in our house. They welcome visitors at any time. Our friends say our place is as pleasant and comfortable as their own house. My parents say their home is the best place in the world for them. B. Use any of the dwelling idioms to make up a story. A student starts it with “An Englishman’s home is his castle”.

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304 SOME KEYS TO EXERCISES

Dear reader, as many of your answers will depend on your own particular interests and needs, some keys to exercises have been given undone. Exercise 1: 1. to swing a cat, 2. monkey around, 3. a little bird told, 4. ants; pants, 5. gone to dogs, 6. a pig-sty. Exercise 2: 1. to do sth quickly and without giving it your full attention, 2. to eat a lot, 3. nothing would prevent sb from doing sth or make them do sth they do not want to do, 4. to eat very little, 5. to watch sb very closely, 6. to take care of and help sb who has less experience of sth than you. Exercise 3: 1. ram, 2. monkey, 3. badgered, 4. hounded, 5. ducked, 6. worm, 7. fox, 8. dogged Exercise 4: 1. dog, 2. pussyfooting around, 3. hell’s, 4. catty, 5. away; the mice will play, 6. bag, 7. whiskers. Exercise 5: 1. are talking behind my back, 2. a heart of gold, 3. puts a brave face, 4. pulls my leg, 5. finding my feet, 6. a good heard.

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Exercise 6: 1. get on sb nerves, 2. dip your toe in the water, 3. foot the bill, 4. heart is not in sth. Exercise 8: 1. head, 2. shoulder, 3. elbow, 4. thumb, 5. finger, 6. foot, 7. mouth, 8. shin, 9. head, 10. back. Exercise 9: 1. to stop yourself from saying sth that might upset sb or cause an argument, although you want to speak, 2. to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops rather than by having a plan to follow, 3. to refuse sth, 4. to be waiting with interest to hear what sb has to say, 5. to try to become involved in sth that does not concern you, 6. food looks or smells so good that you want to eat it immediately. Exercise 10: 1. talk through his hat, 2. go at the drop of a hat, 3. to keep under your hat, 4. old hat, 5. I take my hat off to him. Exercise 12: 1. in black and white, 2. green fingers, 3. a black sheep, 4. once in a blue moon, 5. a white elephant, 6. out of the blue. Exercise 13: 1. c, 2. d, 3. a, 4. b, 5. g, 6. e, 7. f.

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Exercise 14: 1. red, 2. blue, 3. red, 4. blue, 5. red, 6. red, 7. blue, 8. blue. Exercise 15: Positive: 1. to be over the moon, 2. Feel like a million dollars, 3. Paint the town red, 4. Get away clean, 5. To keep somebody’s chin up, 6. kick up one’s heels. Negative: 1. to feel/be a bit down, 2. to be in a black mood, 3. at the end of one’s rope, 4. face the music. Exercise 16: 1. out of the blue, 2. sth up my sleeve, 3. light at the end of the tunnel, 4. pull the rug under my feet, 5. knock me down with the feather, 6. burning ambition, 7. on ice, 8. spill the beans, 9. sell him short, 10. leave me high and dry, 11. sell him down the river. Exercise 18: a. speak, b. make, c. keep, d. take, e. bide, f. sit, g. tread, h. take, i. keep, i. go. Exercise 19: 1. c, 2. b, 3.d, 4. a.

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Exercise 20: 1. for - to, 2. in - on, 3. sort - sorts, 4. finish - end, 5. done made, 6. seven - nine, 7. miserable - misery, 8. sun - moon. Exercise 21: 1. went off the deep end/did his nut, 2. give him an earful/give him a piece of her mind, 3. drive him up the wall/send him round the bend, 4. put his back up/rub him up the wrong way. Exercise 22: 1. it was a blessing in disguise, 2. worked like magic/did the trick, 3. the be-all-end all, 4. has gone from strength to strength, 5. made all the difference. Exercise 23: 1.c, 2.a, 3. e, 4. f, 5. d, 6. b. Exercise 24: 1. leaf, 2. lines, 3. a load of tripe, 4. cover, 5. tail, 6. print, 7. while, 8. corner. Exercise 26: 1. deaf, 2. bear, 3. pressure, 4. walking, 5. hammer, 6. stuff. Exercise 27: a. head, b. hand, c. what, d. clue, e. ropes, f. hang, g. end, h. knowledge. Exercise 29: 1. mind, 2. memory, 3. mind, 4. memory, 5. mind, 6. mind, 7.

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mind, 8. memory, 9. mind, 10. memory. Exercise 33: 1. taking, 2. background, 3. fill, 4. race, 5. shuttle, 6. round. Exercise 36: 1. set, 2. have, 3. play, 4. get, 5. add, 6. fire, 7. go, 8. burn. Exercise 41: 1. flies, 2. wink, 3. bee. Exercise 43: 1. change, rest, 2. away, all, 3. no, home, 4. whale, time, 5. just, doctor, 6. time, lives. Exercise 44: Meaning similar: in the same boat the spitting image on a par with carbon copy six of one and half a dozen of the other Meaning different: a far cry from the odd one out one of a kind poles apart a world of difference

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Exercise 45: 1. a, 2. f, 3. e, 4. b, 5. h, 6. c, 7. d, 8. g. Exercise 46: 1. good, 2. bad, 3. better, 4. best, 5. bad, worse. Exercise 47: 1. Sona always has to go one better than everyone else. 2. Conditions seem to be going from bad to worse. 3. The weather was bad, but we tried to make the best of a bad job. 4. I nearly told her the truth, but I thought better of it. 5. Whatever happens, happens for the best. Exercise 50: bright and early pick and choose up and about ups and downs round and round high and dry ins and outs Exercise 51: give or take take or leave it like it or not

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rightly or wrongly sooner or later believe it or not sink or swim laugh or cry make or break Exercise 52: 1. a flash, 2. a beet-root, 3. a pancake, 4. brass, 5. a mouse, 6. a bone, 7. rock. Exercise 53: 1. falling, 2. dog, 3. parrot, 4. snow, 5. sheet. Exercise 56: 1. I can bet you bottom dollar, 2. off the top of my head, 3. get to the bottom of this, 4. I’ve searched from top to bottom, 5. over the top, 6. hit the rock, 7. thin on top. Exercise 57: 1. three, 2. two, 3. first, 4. six, 5. two, 6. two, two, 7. one. Exercise 58: 1. c, 2. a, 3. b, 4. d, 5. e, 6. f. Exercise 59: 1. clockwork, 2. of dawn, 3. the clock, 4. it a day, 5. times out of ten.

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Exercise 60: 1. from, 2. in, 3. for, 4. from… to, 5. against, 6. out of. Exercise 64: 1. way, 2. my way of, 3. way round, 4. on the, 5. way, 6. the way, 7. a long way. Exercise 66: 1. like a hawk, 2. like clockwork, 3. like a horse, like a fish, 4. like a sieve, 5. like a bee. Exercise 67: 1. for, 2. by, 3. in, 4. in, 5. in, 6. from, 7. for, 8. of, 9. for, 10. in. Exercise 68: 1. Anar is making a killing in his new job. 2. I was put in the position where I had no choice but to pick up the tap. 3. We spent a weekend at the hotel living in the lap of luxury. 4. Our neighbors spent a small fortune on their new conservatory. 5. We had to pay through the nose to get tickets for the match. Exercise 69: 1. bitter, 2. watered, 3. cake, 4. tooth, 5. mouth.

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312 LITERATURE ƏDƏBİYYAT

Azərbaycan dilində 1. Bayramov

H.A.

Azərbaycan

dilinin

frazeologiyasının

əsasları. Bakı, 1978. 2. Cahangirov F.F. İngilis dilindən leksik çalışmalar toplusu. Bakı, Nurlan, 2003. 3. Hacıyev E.İ. Müasir İngilis və Azərbaycan dillərində köməkçi

nitq

hissələrinin

funksional-semantik

xüsusiyyətləri. Bakı, Mütarcim, 2006. 4. Hacıyeva Ə.H. İngilis və Azərbaycan dillərində somatik frazeologizmlərin struktur-semantik xüsusiyyətləri. Bakı, Nurlan, 2004. 5.

Hacıyeva A.K. İngilis-Azərbaycan zoo-metaforizmlər lüğəti. Bakı, Nurlan, 2004.

6. Xanbutayeva L. İngilis dilində qrammatik omonimlik və onlara aid çalışmalar toplusu. Bakı, ADU-nun nəşriyyatı, 2007. 7. Qurbanov A. Müasir Azərbaycan dilinin frazeologiyası. Bakı, 1963. 8. Musayev O.İ. İngiliscə-Azərbaycanca lüğət. Bakı, “Qismət” Nəşriyyat-Poliqrafiya, 2003.

English idioms 9. Musayev

313 O.İ.

Azərbaycanca-İngiliscə

lüğət.

Bakı,

Azərbaycan Dövlət Nəşriyyatı, 1996. 10. Nəbiyeva N. Bir daha ingilis dilindəki а-prefiksli sözlər haqqında. Azərbaycan Təhsil Nazirliyi. BSU, Humanitar elmlərin məcmusu. Bakı, 2003. 11. Vahabova İ.Ə. Müasir Azərbaycan və ingilis dillərində idiomlar və onların bəzi üslubi imkanları. Humanitar Elmlərin öyrənilməsinin aktual problemləri. Bakı, 2000. 12.

Vəliyeva

N.Ç.

Frazeoloji

birləşmələrin

linqvistik təhlili (Azərbaycan, İngilis və Rus

müqayisəli dillərinin

materialları əsasında). Bakı, Ünsiyyət, 2001. İngilis dilində 13. Adam Makkai, M.T.Boatner, J.E.Gates. A Dictionary of American Idioms. Printed in the United States of America, 2004. 14. Anne Perry. Cain His Brother. 15. Arnold I., Smirnitsky A., Kunin A. A dictionary of phraseology. Moscow, 1995. 16. Charles Baxter. First Light. 17. Collins V.H. A book of English Idioms. London, L. 960. 18. Danielle Steel. Kaleidoscope. 19. Danielle Steel. Star.

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20. Danielle Steel. The Ranch. 21. Danielle Steel. Wanderlast. 22. David Herbert Lawrence. The Rainbow. 23. Faye Kellerman. Grievous Sin. 24. Harry Collins. 101 American-English Idioms. USA, 1994. 25. Hornby A.S. Oxford Advanced Leaners Dictionary of Current English. Oxford University Press, 2005. 26. Jennifer Seidl, W.Mc.Mordie. English Idioms and how to use them. Moscow, 1968. 27. John Galsworthy. The Silver Spoon. 28. Jon Wright. Idioms Organizer. Printed in England by Commercial Colour Press. London E 7. 29. Maharramov L., Abdullayeva F. Many A Little Makes A Mickle. Bakı, Təhsil, 2002. 30. Marita Conlon-McKenna. Under the Hawthorn Tree. 31. Maugham W.S. Theatre. 32. Maugham W.S. The Moon and Sixpence. 33. Maugham W.S. The Painted Veil. 34. Maugham W.S. Services Rendered. 35. Micheal McCarthy, Felicity O’ Dell. English Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge University Press, Second Edition 2002. 36. Micheal McCarthy, Felicity O’ Dell. English Idioms in Use. Cambridge University Press, 2002.

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37. Thomas B.J. Advanced Vocabulary and Idiom. England, 1995. 38. Yunusov D.N. A Guide to English Grammar. Bakı, Mütarcim, 2006. 39. Yunusov D.N. Constancy and Variety of Complex Syntactic Units in languages of different systems. Istanbul Ekizler Publishing House, 2007. 40. Danielle Steel. Remembrance. 41. John Le Carre. Single and Single. Rus dilində 42. Винарева Л.А., Янсон В.В. Английские идиомы. Moсквa, 2005. 43. Кевиселевич Д.И. Русско-английский фразеологический словарь. Moсква, 2000. 44. Кунин А.В. Англо-русский фразеологический словарь. Moсква, 1967. 45. Seredina K.Q., Qwmlwnovic A.K., Krasnanskaya N.A. Idiom Speech. Leningrad, 1971.

English idioms CONTENTS Ön söz ............................................................................. İdiom nədir? Idiomları öyrənmək nə üçün lazımdır? Section 1. Animal idioms …………………………….. It is a zoo out there …………………………………… Cat idioms …………………………………………….. Bird idioms …………………………………………… Horse idioms …………………………………………... Fishing idioms ………………………………………… Section 2. Body idioms ……………………………….. The body has many uses ………………………………. Eye idioms …………………………………………….. Face idioms ……………………………………………. Fingers and thumbs idioms ……………………………. Foot idioms …………………………………………….. Hand idioms …………………………………………… Head idioms ……………………………………………. Heart idioms …………………………………………… Section 3. Clothes idioms …………………………….. Clothes make the man and the woman ………………… Section 4. Colour idioms ……………………………... Black/white …………………………………………….. Red/blue ……………………………………………….. Section 5. People’s feelings in particular situations ... When things go wrong ………………………………… When things go well ………………………………… People do the strangest things …………………………. Suprises ………………………………………………... You don’t say ………………………………………….. That is not nice ………………………………………… Do your best …………………………………………... Advice (positive) ………………………………………. Advice (negative) ……………………………………… Being positive …………………………………………..

316 3 6 11 11 19 23 27 31 33 33 40 44 47 49 53 56 59 64 64 70 70 72 77 77 82 84 87 90 95 97 100 102 105

English idioms Agreeing and disagreeing ……………………………… Annoyance and frustration …………………………….. People’s relationships ………………………………….. Success and failure idioms …………………………….. Happiness and sadness ………………………………… Anger …………………………………………………... Having problems ………………………………………. Section 6. Intelligence and knowledge ……………… Knowledge and ability ………………………………… Reading/Education ……………………………………. Section 7. Mind and memory idioms ………………... Section 8. Life and death idioms …………………….. Llife is gambling ………………………………………. Life is journney ………………………………………... Section 9. Nature and weather idioms …………….... Section 10. House and home idioms …………………. Section 11. Politics ……………………………………. Section 12. Law idioms ……………………………….. Section 13. Eating idioms …………………………….. Food idioms ……………………………………………. Meals …………………………………………………... Section 14. Fire idioms ……………………………….. Section 15. Medicine idioms …………………………. Health idioms ………………………………………….. Section 16. Daily programme ………………………... Section 17. Breaking idioms …………………………. Section 18. Holidays ………………………………….. Section 19. Sleep and dream idioms ………………… Section 20. Suitability ………………………………… Section 21. Similarities and differences …………….. Section 22. Organizations are gardens ……………… Section 23. Family idioms ……………………………. Family life ……………………………………………... Section 24. Grammatical idioms ……………………..

317 107 110 113 115 118 120 121 123 123 128 131 139 141 144 148 152 155 160 162 164 168 171 175 178 181 183 186 189 192 195 198 200 200 206

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“All” idioms …………………………………………… Binomials ……………………………………………… Idioms with degrees of adjectives ……………………... Idioms with “It” ………………………………………... Number idioms …………………………………….…... Idioms with “million” or “thousand (s) ………………...

206 209 213 218 219 224

“No” idioms ……………………………………………. “Or” idioms ……………………………………………. Something/anything/nothing idioms …………………... To + Infinitive …………………………………………. The following infinitives are always passive ………….. Similies (as … as) ……………………………………... Idioms with the expression “There’s no …” …………... Idiomatic expressions with prepositions ………………. Section 25. Mixed idioms …………………………….. Swimming idioms …………………………………… Driving idioms …………………………………………. People are liquid ……………………………………….. Building idioms ………………………………………... Metal idioms …………………………………………… Money idioms ………………………………………….. “Shopping” idioms …………………………………….. “Very” idioms …………………………………………. “Like” idioms ………………………………………….. “Way” idioms ………………………………………….. “Word” idioms ………………………………………… “Time” idioms …………………………………………. Seeing is understanding ………………………………... Exercises ………………………………………………. Some keys to exercises ………………………………... Literature ……………………………………………...

225 229 232 235 239 240 244 245 250 257 259 262 264 266 267 269 271 273 275 278 280 282 284 328 336