IT\ related\ idioms\ p\.1

Дата публикации: Aug 29, 2017 9:52:12 AM

bells and whistles

Additional features, perhaps trendy or fancy ones, that are not required for an object's proper functioning.

This darn car has so many bells and whistles that I can't figure out how to open the gas tank!

Do you have any cell phones with fewer bells and whistles? I really don't need anything fancy.

between the hammer and the anvil

between the devil and the deep blue sea

Facing two equally unpleasant, dangerous, or risky alternatives, when the avoidance of one ensures encountering the harm of the other.

I was between the devil and the deep blue sea, for if I didn't take out another loan—and go deeper into debt—I could not pay off the debts I already owed.

The police knew with certainty he had drugs in his car, so he became trapped between the hammer and the anvil: either lie to the police, or admit that the drugs belonged to him.

the rock on which we split

камень преткновения; причина всех бед

It is on this rock that so many clever people split. (S. Butler, ‘The Way of All Flesh’, ch. V) — Это камень преткновения для многих умных людей.

...work up your physics. That's the rock you'll split on, unless you work jolly hard. (SPI) — ...готовься к экзамену по физике. Если не будешь как следует заниматься, на этом экзамене срежешься.

drink from a fire hose

to take on or be inundated by more of something (i.e., work, responsibility, information, etc.) than one is capable of handling.

My first day on the job was like drinking from a fire hose—they threw so much at me that I don't know how I'll remember any of it.

I'm still drinking from a fire hose, learning all about working in this new world that I find myself in.

I've been drinking from a fire hose this semester, trying to pass all these chemistry courses.

get stuck in a rut - погрязнуть в рутине

don't touch the holy cow - не трожь святое

end up in the dog house - поссориться с женой

fish out of water - не в своей тарелке

someone who is uncomfortable in a specific situation:

I felt like a fish out of water at my new school.

round peg in a square hole

square peg in a round hole

Fig. someone who is uncomfortable or who does not belong in a particular situation.

Also the cliché: trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, trying to combine two things that do not belong or fit together.)

I feel like a square peg in a round hole at my office.

Everyone else there seems so ambitious, competitive, and dedicated to the work, but I just want to make a living.

Trying to teach me math is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

I'm convinced my brain is not built right to understand algebra.

put house on fire - устроить переполох

easy peasy - плевое дело

see Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy

a white elephant in the room

If you say there is an elephant in the room, you mean that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about.

once in a blue moon - раз в сто лет

when pigs will fly - когда рак на горе свистнет

every dog has its day - будет и на моей улице праздник

wear one's heart on one's sleeve - открыто выражать свои мысли

have one's heart on one's sleeve

Fig. to display one's feelings openly and habitually, rather than keep them private.

John always has his heart on his sleeve so that everyone knows how he feels.

Because she wears her heart on her sleeve, it's easy to hurt her feelings.

my flesh and blood - моя кровинушка

last resort - последняя надежда

the tip of the iceberg - вершина айсберга

be at your wits' end - уже не знать что и делать

to be so worried, confused, or annoyed that you do not know what to do next:

I'm at my wits' end. I don't know how to help him.

grasping at straws

Fig. to depend on something that is useless; to make a futile attempt at something.

John couldn't answer the teacher's question. He was just grasping at straws.

There I was, grasping at straws, with no one to help me.

catch-22 - замкнутый круг

an impossible situation where you are prevented from doing one thing until you have done another thing that you cannot do until you have done the first thing:

a catch-22 situation

the crux of the matter - корень зла

Also, heart of the matter. The basic, central or critical point of an issue. For example, In this trial the bloodstains represent the crux of the matter, or We think the second clause is the heart of the matter. Although crux is Latin for "cross," in English it means "difficulty" or "puzzle," and it is from the latter that this expression is thought to be derived. The variant employs heart in the sense of "a vital part" (as it is in the body). The first term dates from the late 1800s, the variant from the early 1500s.

works like a charm - работает как часы

work like magic

to be very effective, possibly in a surprising way:

Flattery usually works like a charm on him.

not a walk in the park - тот еще гемморой

a walk in the park - something that is very easy to do, and usually pleasant:

He's used to hard physical work - this is a walk in the park to him.

shoot yourself in the foot - пилить сук на котором сидишь

to do something without intending to which spoils a situation for yourself

devil is in the details - дьявол кроется в деталях, гладко было на бумаге, вся суть в мелочах

boil the ocean

melt the stone

To attempt something that is way too ambitious, effectively impossible. An idea too broad in scope to accomplish.

a drop in the ocean

us a drop in the bucket

a very small amount compared to the amount needed:

My letter of protest was just a drop in the ocean.

from soup to nuts

Also, from A to Z or start to finish or stem to stern . From beginning to end, throughout, as in We went through the whole agenda, from soup to nuts, or She had to learn a whole new system from A to Z, or It rained from start to finish, or We did over the whole house from stem to stern. The first expression, with its analogy to the first and last courses of a meal, appeared in slightly different forms (such as from potage to cheese) from the 1500s on; the precise wording here dates only from the mid-1900s. The second expression alludes to the first and last letters of the Roman alphabet; see also alpha and omega. The third comes from racing and alludes to the entire course of the race; it dates from the mid-1800s. The last variant is nautical, alluding to the front or stem, and rear or stern, of a vessel.

now we are even - теперь мы квиты

be even (with someone)

1. To not be indebted (to someone) for something; to not owe (someone) anything.

I helped Sarah set up the community center for her casino night in return for her helping me move, so she and I are even now.

Tell you what: buy me dinner this Friday. That way, you'll be even with me for the money I lent you.

2. To no longer have cause to seek revenge (against someone).

You broke the tail light on my car, so I slashed your tires—now we're even.

still all up in the air - вилами по воде писано

up in the air

If a matter is up in the air, it is uncertain, often because other matters have to be decided first:

The whole future of the project is still up in the air.

fender bender - небольшая авария