Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц — страница 8 из 206

We haveplenty of bread, and as for butter, we have more than enough./ 2. Speakingfor. •/Most people like the summer but as for me, I like winter muchbetter./ Compare: FOR ONE’S PART.

[as good as]{adv. phr.}Nearly the same as; almost. •/She claimedthat he as good as promised to marry her./ •/He as good as called me aliar./ •/We’ll get to school on time, we’re as good as there now./•/The man who had been shot was as good as dead./ — Often used without thefirst "as" before adjectives. •/When the car was repaired, it looked good asnew./

[as good as a mile] See: MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE.

[as good as one gets] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS.

[as good as one’s promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE’S WORD.

[as good as one’s word] or [good as one’s word]{adj. phr.}Trustworthy; sure to keep your promise. •/The coach said he would give theplayers a day off if they won, and he was as good as his word./ •/We knewshe was always good as her word, so we trusted her./

[as hard as nails]{adj. phr.} Very unfeeling; cruel, andunsympathetic. •/Uncle Joe is as hard as nails; although he is a millionaire,he doesn’t help his less fortunate relatives./

[aside] See: JOKING ASIDE, SET ASIDE.

[aside from] See: APART FROM.

[aside of]{prep.}, {dialect} Beside; by the side of. •/Mary sitsaside of her sister on the bus./

[as if] or [as though]{conj.} 1. As (he, she, it) would if; in thesame way one would if seeing to show. •/The baby laughed as if he understoodwhat Mother said./ •/The book looked as though it had been out in therain./ •/The waves dashed on the rocks as if in anger./ 2. That. •/Itseems as if you are the first one here./

[as if one has come out of a bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF ABANDBOX.

[as is]{adv.} Without changes or improvements; with no guarantee orpromise of good condition. — Used after the word it modifies. •/They agreeto buy the house as is./ •/He bought an old car as is./ Compare: ATTHAT(1).

[as it were]{adv. phr.} As it might be said to be; as if it reallywere; seemingly. — Used with a statement that might seem silly orunreasonable, to show that it is just a way of saying it. •/In many wayschildren live, as it were, in a different world from adults./ •/Thesunlight on the icy branches made, as it were, delicate lacy cobwebs from treeto tree./ Compare: SO TO SPEAK.

[ask] See: FOR THE ASKING.

[ask for]{v.}, {informal} To make (something bad) likely to happento you; bring (something bad) upon yourself. •/Charles drives fast onworn-out tires; he is asking for trouble./ •/The workman lost his job, buthe asked for it by coming to work drunk several times./ Compare: HAVE ITCOMING, SERVE RIGHT, SIGN ONE’S OWN DEATH WARRANT.

[ask for one’s hand]{v. phr.} To ask permission to marry someone.•/"Sir," John said timidly to Mary’s father, "I came to ask for yourdaughter’s hand."/

[ask for the moon] or [cry for the moon]{v. phr.} To wantsomething that you cannot reach or have; try for the impossible. •/John askedhis mother for a hundred dollars today. He’s always asking for the moon./Compare: PROMISE THE MOON.

[asleep at the switch]{adj. phr.} 1. Asleep when it is one’s duty tomove a railroad switch for cars to go on the right track. •/The new man wasasleep at the switch and the two trains crashed./ 2. {informal} Failingto act promptly as expected, not alert to an opportunity. •/When the ducksflew over, the boy was asleep at the switch and missed his shot./

[as likely as not]{adv. phr.} Probably. •/As likely as not, he willdisappear forever./

[as long as] or [so long as]{conj.} 1. Since; because; consideringthat. •/As long as you are going to town anyway, you can do something forme./ 2. Provided that; if. •/You may use the room as you like, so long asyou clean it up afterward./

[as luck would have it]{adv. clause} As it happened; by chance;luckily or unluckily. •/As luck would have it, no one was in the buildingwhen the explosion occurred./ •/As luck would have it, there was rain onthe day of the picnic./

[as much]{n.} The same; exactly that. •/Don’t thank me, I would doas much for anyone./ •/Did you lose your way? I thought as much when youwere late in coming./

[as much as]{adv. phr.} 1. or [much as] Even though; although.•/As much as I hate to do it, I must stay home and study tonight./ 2. or[so much as] Just the same as; almost; practically; really. •/By runningaway he as much as admitted that he had taken the money./ •/You as much aspromised you would help us./ •/The clerk as much as told me that I was afool./ Compare: AS GOOD AS. 3. See: FOR AS MUCH AS.

[as of] prep. At or until (a certain time). •/I know that as of last weekhe was still unmarried./ •/As of now we don’t know much about Mars./

[as one goes] See: PAY AS ONE GOES.

[as one man]{adv. phr.} Unanimously; together; involving all. •/Theaudience arose as one man to applaud the great pianist./

[as regards]{prep.} Regarding; concerning; about. •/You needn’tworry as regards the cost of the operation./ •/He was always secretive asregards his family./

[as soon as]{conj.} Just after; when; immediately after. •/As soonas the temperature falls to 70, the furnace is turned on./ •/As soon as youfinish your job let me know./ •/He will see you as soon as he can./

[as the crow flies]{adv. clause} By the most direct way; along astraight line between two places. •/It is seven miles to the next town as thecrow flies, but it is ten miles by the road, which goes around the mountain./

[as the story goes]{adv. phr.} As the story is told; as one has heardthrough rumor. •/As the story goes, Jonathan disappeared when he heard thepolice were after him./

[as though] See: AS IF.

[as to]{prep.} 1. In connection with; about; regarding. •/There isno doubt as to his honesty./ •/As to your final grade, that depends on yourfinal examination./ Syn.: WITH RESPECT TO. 2. According to; following; goingby. •/They sorted the eggs as to size and color./

[as usual]{adv. phr.} In the usual way; as you usually do or as itusually does. •/As usual, Tommy forgot to make his bed before he went out toplay./ •/Only a week after the fire in the store, it was doing business asusual./

[as well]{adv. phr.} 1. In addition; also, too; besides. •/The booktells about Mark Twain’s writings and about his life as well./ •/Tom iscaptain of the football team and is on the baseball team as well./ 2. Withoutloss and possibly with gain. •/After the dog ran away, Father thought hemight as well sell the dog house./ •/Since he can’t win the race, he may aswell quit./ •/It’s just as well you didn’t come yesterday, because we wereaway./

[as well as]{conj.} In addition to; and also; besides. •/Hiking isgood exercise as well as fun./ •/He was my friend as well as my doctor./•/The book tells about the author’s life as well as about his writings./

[as yet]{adv. phr.} Up to the present time; so far; yet. •/We knowlittle as yet about the moon’s surface./ •/She has not come as yet./

[as you please] 1. As you like, whatever you like or prefer; as you choose.•/You may do as you please./ 2. {informal} Very. — Used after anadjective or adverb often preceded by "as". •/There was Tinker, sittingthere, cheerful as you please./ •/She was dressed for the dance and shelooked as pretty as you please./

[at a blow] or [at a stroke] or [at one stroke]{adv. phr.}Immediately; suddenly; with one quick or forceful action. •/The piratescaptured the ship and captured a ton of gold at a blow./ •/A thousand menlost their jobs at a stroke when the factory closed./ •/All the prisonersescaped at one stroke./ Compare: AT ONCE, AT ONE TIME.

[at all]{adv. phr.} At any time or place, for any reason, or in anydegree or manner. — Used for emphasis with certain kinds of words orsentences. 1. Negative •/It’s not at all likely he will come./ 2. Limited•/I can hardly hear you at all./ 3. Interrogative •/Can it be done atall?/ 4. Conditional •/She will walk with a limp, if she walks at all./Syn.: IN THE LEAST.

[at all costs]{adv. phr.} At any expense of time, effort, or money.Regardless of the results. •/Mr. Jackson intended to save his son’s eyesightat all costs./ •/Carl is determined to succeed in his new job at allcosts./

[at all events] See: IN ANY CASE.

[at all hazards]{adv. phr.} With no regard for danger; at any risk;regardless of the chances you must take. •/The racer meant to win the500-mile race at all hazards./

[at all hours]{adv. phr.} Any time; all the time; at almost any time.•/The baby cried so much that we were up at all hours trying to calm herdown./

[at a loss]{adj. phr.} In a state of uncertainty; without any idea;puzzled. •/A good salesman is never at a loss for words./ •/