# Essential British English Expressions

Inspired by the series of videos by Linguaspectrum. Please see credits at the bottom of the page.

## Содержание

## at the drop of a hat

[ət ðə drɒp əv ə hæt]

внезапно, на ровном месте

> In a war, soldiers will kill other solders at the drop of a hat simply because they’re the enemy.

> Most doctors prescribe drugs at the drop of a hat because their patients expect them to.

## the lion’s share

[ðə ˈlaɪənz ʃeə]

львиная доля

> She was beginning to regret marrying a man with such a hairy chest, the way he used the lion’s share of the sun cream.

> His attempts to persuade his wife that it was only natural that she did the lion’s share of the housework seemed to fall on deaf ears.

## chock-a-block

[ˌtʃɒk ə ˈblɒk]

впритык

> Sometimes the bridge is so chock-a-block with pedestrians that it’s difficult to get to work.

> It was impossible to find anywhere to park as the car park was chock-a-block with cars.

## faggot

[ˈfæ.ɡət]

фрикаделька

> Faggots are traditionally enjoyed with peas, potatoes and gravy.

> If you’re not up to making faggots yourself, you can buy them ready-made.

## spotted dick

[ˈspɒ.tɪd dɪk]

пудинг с изюмом

> Clarissa can’t get enough spotted dick.

> It’s such a British favourite that they even make a tinned version of spotted dick.

## fortnight

[ˈfɔːt.naɪt]

две недели

> I estimate the journey will take around two weeks, so I’ll need supplies to last a fortnight.

> The only way off the island is the fortnightly flight to the mainland

## stomach bug, tummy bug

[ˈstʌ.mək ˈtʌ.mi bʌɡ]

диарея, понос

> Travellers are warned they might pick up a stomach bug in foreign countries.

> You might pick up a tummy bug if you travel to an exotic country.

## perishing

[ˈpe.rɪʃ.ɪ?]

ужасный

> Salads! Healthy? These perishing greens will be the death of me.

> The dashed train’s late again! What a perishing nuisance!

## shambles

[ˈʃæm.bl?z]

кавардак

> Greedy bankers had created a shambles of the world’s economy by 2008.

> Whenever she cooks, she leaves the kitchen in a complete shambles.

## skivvy

[ˈskɪ.vi]

домработница

> Skivvy? Me? Not on your life! I wouldn’t know one end of a duster from the other.

> I’m not much more than a skivvy really, but at least it’s a job.

## snog

[snɒɡ]

целоваться и обниматься

> The newly married couple were often seen snogging in public.

> The Americans make out, but the British snog.

## sod off

[sɒd ɒf]

Отвали!

> They’re smiling, but they really want to tell this salesman to sod off and leave them in peace.

> Why don’t you just sod off and leave me alone! You know I don’t fancy you!

## Sod’s Law

[sɒdɪz lɔː]

закон подлости

> Of course I missed from ten feet away. It’s Sod’s law!

> Any IT professional will tell you that Sod’s law is the order of the day with servers.

## as long as your arm

[əz ˈlɒ? əz jər ɑːm]

длинный (список дел)

> As far as these British English expressions are concerned, I have a list of videos to make as long as your arm.

> Let’s get on with it, then. We’ve got a list of things to do as long as your arm.

## middle of nowhere

[ˈmɪd.l? əv ˈnəʊ.weə]

глухомань

> There’s this old, rundown shack in the middle of nowhere. It’s hard to believe that anyone ever lived here.

> I found a beautiful old castle just sitting there in the middle of nowhere.

## big girl’s blouse

[bɪɡ ɡɜːlz blaʊz]

ныть как баба

> Stop acting like a big girl’s blouse. It’s a flesh wound!

> There are plenty more fish in the sea so stop being such a big girl’s blouse.

## go pear shaped

[ɡəʊ peə ʃeɪpt]

пойти наперекосяк

> I was cleaning the bathroom with some strange chemical and it all went pear shaped.

> You could see it was going to go pear shaped before he even began.

## get your knickers in

[ˈɡet jə ˈnɪkəz ɪn]

расстраиваться

> So, it’s not a diamond ring, but don’t get your knickers in a twist over it.

> You’re always getting your knickers in a twist over some little thing. You need to relax more.

## bodge job

[bɒdʒ dʒɒb]

халтура

> Whoever put this roof on did a real bodge job, I’m afraid. It’ll all have to come off.

> There’s a reason for using experts and the reason is avoiding bodge jobs.

## a bunch of fives

[ə bʌntʃ əv faɪvz]

заехать по физиономии

> My brother can be a bit of a plonker, but that’s no reason to give him a bunch of fives, especially on holiday.

> He was supposed to have fixed this! I’ve a good mind to give him a bunch of fives when I next see him.

## all ears

[ɔːl ɪəz]

весь во внимании

> Tell me more about this business idea of yours. I’m all ears.

> The boss is all ears wanting to know why you hired so many cranes when we’re only building a shed.

## fell off the back of

[fel ɒf ðə ˈbæk ɒv]

приобретен незаконно

> I know they’re not cheap, but at this price, well, you can be sure they didn’t fall off the back of a lorry.

> Designer handbags at what price? Well, they must have fallen off the back of a lorry.

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