to see the wood for the trees
When people get stressed they often can’t see the wood for the trees.
за здорово живешь
for kicks
The boy said that he had stolen the car just for kicks.
за плечами (у кого-л.)
under one’s belt
Gerald has a lot of experience under his belt.
за решеткой
behind bars
He spent five years behind bars after being convicted of forgery.
забот полон рот (у кого-л.)
to have one’s hands full; to have a lot on one’s plate
He has her hands full looking after four children.
Sorry, I can’t help you – I’ve got too much on my plate at the moment.
заводить волынку
to harp on the same string
I wish you’d stop harping on the same string every time I light a cigarette. I won’t give up smoking.
заговаривать зубы (кому-л.)
to spin someone a yarn
He managed to spin me a yarn about being ill to explain his lateness.
загонять в угол (кого-л.)
to box someone into a corner
Her convincing arguments quickly boxed me into a corner.
задавать головомойку (кому-л.)
to haul someone over the coals
The teacher hauled the boy over the coals for being late for school.
задавать тон
to set the pace; to call the tune
His work sets the pace for future experiments.
The secretary calls the tune in the office.
задевать за живое (кого-л.)
to cut someone to the quick; to hit/touch a (raw) nerve
Her angry words cut me to the quick.
I think I touched a nerve when I asked him about his children.
задирать нос
to put on airs and graces
Because they have a big house she is always putting on airs and graces.
закатывать истерику
to have/throw a fit
She’ll have a fit when she knows you’ve broken her vase.
закидывать удочку
to put out feelers
They put out feelers to see if anyone was interested in buying the shop.
закон джунглей
the law of the jungle
закрывать глаза (на что-л.)
to close one’s eyes to something; to turn a blind eye to something
She chose to close her eyes to her son’s rude behaviour.
The director always turned a blind eye to her mistakes in order to prevent trouble.
закрыть лавочку
to shut up shop; to put up the shutters
They’d worked hard all morning and at half past three they decided to shut up shop and go home.
During the war many shops had to put up the shutters.
закусить удила
to take the bit between one’s teeth
There was a lot of work to be finished, so he took the bit between his teeth and stayed late at the office.
зализывать раны
to lick one’s wounds
Tom was still licking his wounds from his marriage break-up.
заметать следы
to cover one’s tracks
The criminals have covered their tracks very cleverly.
замолвить словечко (за кого-л.)
to put in a good word for someone
My father is going to put in a good word for me in the hope that the boss will give me another chance.
запеть на другой лад
to change one’s tune
She said she liked travelling by car, but when she saw the road she changed her tune.
запретный плод
forbidden fruit
Forbidden fruit is always the most desirable.
заразительный смех
an infectious laugh
His laugh was so infectious that we all joined in.
заснуть вечным сном
to be called to one’s eternal rest
застигать врасплох
