Vydáno dne 13.02.2012
Další idiomy obsahující jména zvířat. Víte například, co znamená spojení ‚piggy bank‘ nebo ‚monkey business‘?
IDIOMY jsou zažitá spojení, která v doslovném překladu nedávají většinou smysl, proto je jejich pochopení docela komplikované, ne-li nemožné. Více si o problematice idiomů přečtěte v článku Idiomy v angličtině.
smell a rat/smel ə 'ræt/ – větřit podraz
Did you see the look in his eyes? I smell a rat.
*1*1
Stop! I'm sure I closed the door before going out. And now it's open. I smell a rat.*2*2
straight from the horse's mouth/streɪt frɒm ðə hɔ:sɪz 'maʊθ/ – z první ruky / z dobrého zdroje
I heard straight from the horse's mouth that our boss resigned this morning.
*3*3
We have a test tomorrow. – Where did you hear that? – It came straight from the horse's mouth. Our teacher told me.*4*4
bet on the wrong horse/'bet ɒn ðə rɒŋ 'hɔ:s/ – vsadit na špatného koně
He's betting on the wrong horse if he thinks that by flattering the CEO's assistant he'll get a better job.
*5*5
I'm afraid you are betting on the wrong horse by putting all your money into their stocks.*6*6
take the bull by the horns/teɪk ðə bʊl baɪ ðə 'hɔ:nz/ – poprat se s problémem / postavit se k něčemu čelem
Why don't you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave immediately?
*7*7
I took the bull by the horns and confronted him about his drinking.*8*8
like a bull in a china shop/laɪk ə bʊl ɪn ə 'tʃaɪnə ˌʃɒp/ – jako slon v porcelánu
I was like a bull in a china shop as a child. I never knew how to talk to girls.
*9*9
Jessica is like a bull in a china shop sometimes. Don't let her near the glass vases.*10*10
hit the bull's eye/'hɪt ðə ˌbʊlz 'aɪ/ – trefit (se) do černého
The producer hit the bull's eye with the film music too.
*11*11
He threw the spear and hit the bull's eye.*12*12
until the cows come home/ənˌtɪl ðə 'kaʊz kʌm həʊm/ – až do aleluja
We can talk until the cows come home this weekend at my place.
*13*13
I can explain this to you until the cows come home but you're just never going to get it.*14*14
in the dog house/ɪn ðə 'dɒg ˌhaʊs/ – v průšvihu
Steve came home late last night and his wife found a lipstick mark on his collar. He is definitely in the doghouse now.
*15*15
Sorry, I need to get going. I promised my wife that I would come before five and help her with the shopping. I want to stay out of the doghouse you know.*16*16
bookworm/'bʊkwɜ:m/ – knihomol
Their son never leaves home if it's not necessary. All he does is read, read and read. He is such a bookworm.
*17*17
She was wearing a very strange dress and bookworm glasses.*18*18
make a mountain out of a molehill/meɪk ə ˌmaʊntən aʊt əv ə 'məʊlhɪl/ – dělat z komára velblouda
Come on, it's not such a big deal. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
*19*19
You're making a mountain out of a molehill now. If he can't pay you back this month, I'm sure he will do it next month.*20*20
monkey business/'mʌŋki bɪznɪs/ – lumpárny, vylomeniny
Cut out the monkey business at once, Steve!
*21*21
Focus. There's no time for monkey business.*22*22
piggy bank/'pɪgi bæŋk/ – prasátko (pokladnička)
Well, you will have to break your piggy bank, Tommy, if you want that ball.
*23*23
You want to spend all the money now? Why don't you put it in your piggy bank?*24*24
cold turkey/ˌkəʊld 'tɜ:ki/ – absťák (go cold turkey = přestat brát drogy apod.)
Kevin wrapped himself in a blanket in front of the TV, soothing his cold turkey by watching his favourite shows.
*25*25
He went cold turkey on cigarettes a month ago and feels much better now.*26*26
Pozn.: Může mít také význam “ze dne na den” – I've decided to quit smoking cold turkey.
black sheep/ˌblæk 'ʃi:p/ – černá ovce
Circumstances which made someone, perhaps fifty years ago, considered to be the black sheep of the family, aren't necessarily the same now.
*27*27
The term is used negatively, but the black sheep of the family may be an attractive person, someone with courage to be different.*28*28
the last straw/ðəˌlɑ:st'strɔ:/ – poslední kapka (únosnosti)
Běžně se dá použít pouze the last straw, ale celá fráze je the last straw that broke the camel's back.
And her disappearing for a week was the straw that broke the camel's back. He filed for divorce.
*29*29
When his daughter refused to go to bed after midnight, he started shouting at her like a mad man. It was the last straw that broke the camel's back.*30*30