Common American Slang

612 Pages·2015·8.17 MB·English

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Американский сленг (Common American Slang)
WORD / PHRASE MEANING
awesome very good, interesting, or appealing
important event; may be used sarcastically to refer to something that is
big deal
not important
blast or It’s going to be a
It’s going to be a lot of fun
blast!
bomb to be unsuccessful
blow it off to ignore or avoid someone or something
blue or have the blues feel depressed
bogus 1) nonexistent, fake 2) bad, awful, unsatisfactory
1) to hurry up or do something very quickly 2) to reserve a ticket to an
to book
event or on transportation
born again to hold strong, fundamentalist, Christian beliefs
bounce a check to overdraw a checking account
broke having no money
buddy friend
bum a cigarette to borrow a cigarette
bummed out depressed
bummer unpleasant experience
burned rejected, insulted, or otherwise negatively treated
burned out 1) exhausted 2) dull or lifeless as a result of excessive work or drug use
1) to be caught by anyone in authority while misbehaving, or by the
busted
police while using drugs 2) to be “broke” or out of money
check out 1) to sign out materials from a library 2) to try to find out something
check it out to look over a situation
chill out or cool it a command to stop what you are doing, relax
cop out to not face the issue
a lazy person who spends a large amount of time (perhaps on a couch)
couch potato
watching television
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cram To study frantically the night before a test
1) to stay overnight in someone else’s dwelling, usually without notice or
crash
formal arrangement 2) to go to sleep after becoming extremely tired
cruising Driving around for pleasure with no particular destination
to have a crush on
To be extremely infatuated with someone
someone
cut it out! Stop it!
dead 1) very tired 2) not living
dork an unfashionable and awkward male
dorm dormitory
dough money
down in the dumps depressed
drop in to visit unexpectedly
dude a fashionable man
fire up to get excited about something; to motivate
fix up to arrange a date for a friend
fed up or sick of disgusted with; tired of
freak out to lose control of oneself
device used by some motorists to determine when police are using radar
fuzzbuster
to detect drivers who are speeding
geek unattractive, unstylish, socially inept person
get a kick out of
find someone or something amusing or enjoyable
someone/something
get on someone’s case to annoy
get off someone’s case to stop annoying a person
give someone a break to stop criticizing or teasing
Give me a break! Expresses disbelief
Give someone a buzz, a
to call someone on the telephone
ring
goofing off acting silly; doing something that has no particular purpose
give up to quit
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go bananas to be so excited that one loses control of oneself
gross something crude, usually unpleasant
hang in there keep trying; do not be discouraged
hang out 1) to waste time 2) a regular meeting place for friends
hang-up fear; phobia or worry
1) a problem or inconvenience 2) cause another person to have a
hassle
problem or inconvenience
head another name for the bathroom or toilet facilities
someone from a small town or rural area (usually uncomplimentary
hick
meaning unsophisticated)
hit the road to leave a place
hit the sack or turn in to go to bed
hitch a ride to get a ride from another person
hung up to be in conflict over a problem
ID identification card
in a nutshell very briefly and concisely
jerk person who cannot do things correctly; a mildly derogatory term
jock an athlete or athletic person, or one who is not very intelligent
john another name for the toilet or bathroom facilities; head
Stop doing that! Usually expressed when you are doing something
Knock it off!
annoying
Lighten up! Relax, don’t be so serious
someone who has had too much to drink; someone who has a lot of
loaded
money
Loosen up! Relax
lose it to lose control of oneself
luck out or get lucky to have something good happen due to luck or chance
Don’t mess with me! Leave me alone
Do not ask questions or make statements about this matter; it is my
Mind your own business!
concern and not yours
to borrow frequently and/or take things from others, usually without the
mooch
intention of returning or repaying
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nerd a strange or socially inept person
on the house free, no cost
Oops! An exclamation used when a small mistake is made
to be open to be accepting of something or someone; to speak frankly about oneself
out of one’s mind (head) 1) crazy 2) doing something ridiculous
out of it tired and not concentrating
pal friend
pig out overeat
pop, soda pop, soda, or
carbonated beverage (Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, et al)
soft drink
psych up prepare oneself mentally or emotionally for something
psyched up enthusiastic
pull someone’s leg to tease
put someone on to tease or try to fool
take a raincheck postpone; accept the same invitation but for a later date
raunchy vulgar, crude
relationship a close affiliation with someone, usually romantic
right-hand an important and reliable assistant
rip off 1) steal 2) anything too expensive and not worth the price
rowdy noisy, loud, obnoxious
scoop gossip, recent news
see eye-to-eye having the same opinion
show television program, movie, film, or theater performance
shush! Be quiet, don’t make so much noise
slam insult a person
1) a lazy, fat person 2) a person who is not dressed neatly 3) an untidy
slob
person
spaced out unable to concentrate
split to leave
stood up to be left waiting for someone who never arrives
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tacky in poor taste
Take a hike! Go away and leave me alone
to be crazy about to like someone or something very much
to be into something to be very interested in or concerned with something
touch base verify information with someone
tough luck it’s too bad that happened to you
turn over a new leaf adopt a better course of conduct
unreal unbelievable
uptight worried, tense
Way to go! That’s very good! Sometimes used sarcastically
What’s up? What’s
happening? What’s going What event is taking place? What are you doing?
on?
wimp weakling
zero in on to focus or concentrate on
zonked or zonkered completely exhausted

Английские пословицы и поговорки с объяснением их
употребления на английском языке

Proverb Explanation / Meaning

Absence makes the heart grow When you are away from someone you love, you love
A
fonder. them even more.
Accidents will happen. Some unfortunate events must be accepted as inevitable.

What a person actually does is more important that what
Actions speak louder than words.
they say they will do.

Advice is cheap. It doesn't cost anything to offer advice.
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Advice is least heeded when most When a problem is serious, people often do not follow the
needed. advice given.

Advisers run no risks. It's easier to give advice than to act.

All cats are grey in the dark. People are undistinguished until they have made a name.

All good things come to those who
Patience brings rewards.
wait.

All that glitters is not gold. Appearances can be deceptive.

All days are short to Industry and
Time goes by slowly when you have nothing to do.
long to Idleness.

All is fair in love and war Things that are done in love or war can often be excused.

There is a solution to everything even though there are
All's well that ends well
doubts.

All that glitters is not gold. What look good on the outside may not be so in reality.

All things grow with time - except
As time goes by, grief subsides little by little.
grief.

All things are difficult before they
With practice things become easier.
are easy.

All work and no play makes Jack a Everybody needs a certain amount of relaxation. It is not
dull boy. good to work all the time.

Eating an apple every day can help to keep you healthy.
An apple a day keeps the doctor
Other interpretation : A small preventive treatment wards
away.*
off serious problems.
An empty purse frightens away When one's financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to
friends. disappear.

An Englishman's home is a place where he feels safe,
An Englishman's home is his castle.
enjoys privacy and can do as he wishes.

An idle brain is the devil's workshop. When you work you avoid temptation.

*A humoristic version of "an apple a day..."
An onion a day keeps everyone
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away.*
An ounce of prevention is worth a It is easier to prevent something from happening than to
pound of cure. repair the damage or cure the disease later.

Anger is the one thing made better When you are angry, it is best not to speak or act
by delay. immediately.

Any time means no time. If the date of an event remains vague, it will never happen.

Something bad or unpleasant today may bring good things
April showers bring May flowers.
in the future.

A bad tree does not yield good
A bad parent does not raise good children.
apples.

Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for
A bad workman blames his tools.
lack of skill.

A bird in hand is worth two in a It's better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by
bush. searching for something better.

A broken friendship may be soldered Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be
but will never be sound. as strong as before.

A burden of one's own choice is not Something difficult seems easier when it is done
felt. voluntarily.

A bad experience will make people stay away from certain
A burnt child dreads the fire.
things.

1) Cats can survive many accidents because they land on
A cat has nine lives. their feet without injury. 2) Three lives = 3 years to play, 3
years to stray, 3 years to stay.
A chain is no stronger than its The strength of a group depends on each individual
weakest link. member.

A change in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a
A change is as good as a rest.
holiday.

A dry March, a wet April and a cool
May fill barn and cellar and bring Harvest predictions according to the weather.
much hay.
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A fault confessed is half redressed. Confession is the beginning of forgiveness.

A flower blooms more than once. If you miss an occasion, you can avail of it at another time.

A fool and his money are soon
A foolish person usually spends money carelessly.
(easily) parted.

If a person hasn't matured by the age of 40, they never
A fool at forty is a fool forever.
will.

Someone who helps you when you are in trouble is a real
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
friend.

Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none of them
A friend to all is a friend to none.
feel special.

A friend's eye is a good mirror. A real friend will tell you the truth.

A good example is the best sermon. Giving an example is better than giving advice.

A good beginning makes a good If a task is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it
end. will be done well.

A good conscience is a soft pillow. You sleep well when you have nothing to feel guilty about.

A guilty conscience needs no
accuser.

It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant person to become
A leopard cannot change its spots.
good or pleasant.

A loaded wagon makes no noise. Really wealthy don't talk about money.

A loveless life is a living death.

A man can die but once.

A man is as old as he feels himself
to be.

A man is known by the company he A person's character is judged by the type of people with
keeps. whom they spend their time.

A monkey in silk is a monkey no No matter how someone dresses, it's the same person
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less. underneath.
A new broom sweeps clean. A newly-appointed person makes changes energetically.

A problem shared is a problem It will be easier to deal with a problem if you discuss it with
halved. someone.

A rising tide lifts all boats. Describes something that will be helpful to all.

If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain
A rolling stone gathers no moss. neither friends nor possessions. Another interpretation is
that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down!
A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence
A rotten apple spoils the barrel.
on a group.

A smooth sea never made a skilled
Overcoming adversity leads to competence.
mariner.

It's better to deal with a problem at an early stage, to
A stitch in time saves nine.
prevent it from getting worse.

Correcting a small mistake may help you to avoid making
A stumble may prevent a fall.
a bigger one.

A swallow does not make the
One good event does not mean that everything is alright.
summer.

A tree is known by its fruit. A man is judged by his actions.

If you wait anxiously for something, it seems to take a long
A watched pot never boils
time.

If you don't work, you won't have any money when you're
A young idler, an old beggar.
old.

After dinner rest a while, after Today 'dinner' is usually called 'lunch', and 'supper' more
supper walk a mile. often called 'dinner'.

As you sow, so shall you reap You have to accept the consequences of your actions.

Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no
There are subjects I'd rather not discuss.
lies.
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People tend to circulate bad news (accidents, illness etc.)
B Bad news travels fast.
very quickly.
A person's character is more important than their
Beauty is only skin deep.
appearance.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Different people have different tastes.

Beauty is the wisdom of women.
Wisdom is the beauty of men.

Be swift to hear, slow to speak. Listen carefully before speaking.

Better be alone than in bad
Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with.
company.

Better be the head of a dog then the It's better to be the leader of a small group than a
tail of a lion. subordinate in a bigger one.

Better flatter a fool than fight him. It's better to avoid disputes with stupid people.

Better the devil you know than the It's better to deal with somebody difficult but familiar, than
devil you don't know change and risk dealing with somebody worse.

It's better to do something, even if it's late, than not do it at
Better late than never.
all.

Better lose the saddle than the It's better to stop and accept a small loss, rather than
horse. continue and risk losing everything.

It's better to be too careful than to be careless and regret it
Better safe than sorry
later.

Better to drink the milk than to eat Be careful not to destroy the source of your income or
the cow. welfare.

Better untaught than ill-taught It's better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. Don't trust your enemies.

Birds of a feather flock together. People of the same sort are usually found together.

Family relationships are stronger than relationships with
Blood is thicker than water
other people.