Phrasal Verbs (Part 2)

call a spade a spade — use plain, direct words

называть вещи своими именами

He always tells the truth and calls a spade a spade.

call it a day — consider work finished for the day

считать работу законченной

We’ve been working for 10 straight hours. Let’s call it a day.

call off — cancel

отменить, отозвать

The police called off the search.

carry out — fulfill

доводить до конца

She never carries out her plans.

carry weight — be important

иметь вес

His advice always carries weight here.

cast down — depressed, sad

повергнуть в уныние

He was cast down by the bad news.

castles in the air — daydreaming about success

(строить) воздушные замки

Instead of working hard, he spends time building castles in the air.

catch one’s eye — attract attention

привлечь внимание

This picture caught my eye.

catch one’s breath — stop and rest

перевести дух

I can’t run, I need to catch my breath.

catch someone off guard — catch someone unprepared

застать врасплох

He caught me off guard with his question.

catch someone red-handed — find smb. in the act of doing wrong

поймать за руку, когда делал плохое

The manager caught the boy red-handed when he was stealing cigarettes.

catch up — become not behind

догнать

He needs to catch up with the others.

close call — a narrow escape, a bad thing that almost happened

что-то плохое, что едва не случилось

The speeding car almost hit the man. That was really a close call.

come across — meet by chance

наткнуться на

I came across that article yesterday.

come down with — become ill

заболеть чем-то

I’m coming down with a cold.

come to one’s senses — start acting reasonably, intelligently

взяться за ум, придти в себя

He finally came to his senses, started to work hard, and passed his exams.

come true — become reality

осуществиться

My dream came true when I met Pat.

come up with — suggest

предложить

Mike came up with a brilliant idea.

count on — depend on

рассчитывать на

You can always count on me for help.

cut corners — to take a short-cut; to limit one’s spending

срезать углы; ограничить расходы

He ran fast, cutting corners where he could. I have to cut corners this week.

cut down on — reduce

сократить потребление

You have to cut down on chocolate.

cut out to be /cut out for it — have the ability to do something

быть созданным для какой-то работы

She isn’t cut out to be a surgeon. He’s cut out to be a leader.

do one’s best — try very hard

сделать все, что смог

I did my best to help him in his work.

do one’s bit — do what’s needed

сделать положенное

I’ll do my bit, you can count on me.

do over — do again

сделать заново

This work is not good, do it over.

do someone good — be good for

принести пользу

Fresh air and exercise will do you good.

do something behind one’s back — do (harmful) things secretively

делать (вредные) дела за спиной

I hate people who do things behind my back. He did it behind my back again.

do without — live without

обходиться без

I’ll have to do without a car for a while.

down to earth — practical

приземленный

He’s quiet, sensible and down to earth.

draw the line — fix a limit

ограничить (предел)

He drew the line for her at $100 a day.

dress up — put on the best clothes

нарядиться

What are you dressed up for?

drop off — deliver somewhere

подвезти до, подбросить до

Can you drop me off at the bank?

drop out — quit (school)

быть отчисленным

He dropped out of school last year.

duty calls — must fulfill obligations

долг обязывает

He said, «Duty calls» and left for work.

easier said than done

легче сказать, чем сделать

It’s easier said than done, but I’ll try to do it.

eat one’s words — take back words

брать назад слова

He had to eat his words after her report.

even so — nevertheless, but

тем не менее

I work hard. Even so, I like my job.

every now and then -occasionally

время от времени

Every now and then I visit my old aunt.

every other — every second one

через один

She washes her hair every other day.