COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH IDIOMS_by Frederick T Wood.pdf

Colloquial

English

Idioms

Бз № 60 — 1970

— №5

4 И (Англ) (07)

FOREWORD

The aim of this book is to supply a number of colloquial

English idioms classified, explained and illustrated by examples

drawn mainly from modern English and American authors. It

will be noticed that the term "idiom" is used here in its broader

sense, embracing both idioms proper and so-called "non-

idiomatic" word groups. Only colloquial phrases are included in

the book; a few idioms marked "slangy" are more for

recognition than actual use. W. Ball's classification of colloquial

idioms (see below), though greatly changed, is partially used in

this book.

The definitions and explanations are taken mainly from the

following sources:

1. The Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current

English, by A. S. Hornby, E. V. Gatenby, H. Wakefield,

2. A Concise Dictionary of English Slang, by W. Freeman.

3 A Practical Guide to Colloquial Idiom, by W. J.

Ball.

4. English Idioms and How to Use Them, by

W McMordie

5. English Idioms for Foreign Students, by A. J.Worrall.

DIFFICULTIES AND TROUBLE

A general phrase for "(to be) in difficulties or trouble" is: (to

be) up against it — (to be) confronted by formidable

difficulties or trouble

"Well, old girl, "she murmured, "you're up against

it this time, and no mistake." ( K . M.)

You were a brick to me when I was up against

it. (J. G.)

We are properly up against it here, Chris. We've

paid out every stiver we've got. (A. C.)

(To be) in for it (trouble) is similarly used, meaning (to be)

involved in trouble.

He grabbed the knob and pulled vigorously. It had

closed. Heavens! He was in for it now, sure enough.

(Th. D.)

Quickly I got in before Brown and said they might

be in for another kind of trouble. (C. S.) If you

break the school windows, you'll be in for trouble.

(A. H.)

Having (getting into) trouble (difficulties) is colloquially

expressed by these phrases:

(to be) in a jam — (to be) in a difficulty or in an awkward

situation

Well, Dad, I'm in a bit of a jam again. (J. M.)

Connie was all right. She'd been in plenty of jams

herself. She wouldn't turn up her nose. (N. C.) He

was in a bit of a jam, that was all. (N. C.)

(to be) in a fix — in a difficulty (or dilemma)

Then she'ld be in just the same old fix, only worse.

(H. W.)

His cart has stuck in the river, so that he is in a bad

fix. (W. M.)

I should like to see the fix I'd be in in this house if I

started laying down that law. (L. A.)

to be in (get into) a scrape — to be in (get into) trouble

(difficulty)

She perceived she was in a scrape, and tried in vain

to think of a way of escape. (H. W.) If he'd get into a

scrape, or break his leg. (J. G.) I'll do anything you

like to help you out of the scrape if you're in one.

(H. W.)

(to be) in a hole — (to be) faced with what appears to be a

disastrous difficulty, an insurmountable trouble

You'd think to judge from the speeches of the

"leaders", that the world had never been in a hole

before. The world's always in a hole, only in the old

days people didn't make a song about it. (J. G.)

(to be) in the soup (cart) — (to be) in disastrously serious

trouble

What if she declared her real faith in Court,

and left them all in the soup! (J. G.)

"He's got himself properly in the soup, he has, "

he said thickly. (N. C.)

"No good crying before we're hurt, " he said,

"the pound's still high. We're good stayers."

"In the soup, I'm afraid." (J. G.)

"Now we're really in the cart, " she said. (A. Chr.)

(to be) in hot water or to get into hot water — to have (get

into) trouble, especially as the result of foolish behaviour

You'll get into hot water if you type the wrong

addresses on the envelopes again. (W. B.) It often

happens that a young wife is in hot water as long as

her mother-in-law lives in the same house. (W. M.)

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