Word that means not good at something

When something is neither good nor bad, it can be hard to know which word best describes it. However, this article will help you understand a few good choices to describe this idea. Let’s look into some of the options available to you!

Which Words Can Describe Being “Neither Good Nor Bad”?

When something is not good or bad, it’s hard to know what to say. But, we recommend you try out one of these words to see which words for you:

  • Benign
  • Indifferent
  • Moderate
  • Standard
  • Ordinary
  • Average
  • Medium
  • Somewhere in between
  • Mediocre
  • Passable

Best Words To Describe “Neither Good Nor Bad”

The preferred version is “benign.” It works well to show that something is between “good” and “bad.” It’s harmless in most ways, and it’s not likely that it’ll ever be viewed as anything more than either good or bad depending on the people looking at it.

Benign

“Benign” works well to show that something is neither good nor evil. It’s common to use when talking about medical issues like tumors that are not harmful or deadly. They are “bad” because they’re a problem in the body, but they are “good” because they cause no damage.

The definition of “benign,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not harmful or severe.”

Check out these examples to see how it works:

  • The benign tumor in my brain seems like it’s going to stick around. I wish I could do something to change that!
  • I wish you didn’t have to have such a benign problem! I can’t stand listening to your boring problems anymore!
  • It’s not as benign as you think it is, though I can appreciate why you do. Maybe we can work on communicating better next time?

Indifferent

“Indifferent” shows a lack of care or allegiance to either “good” or “bad” things. Since we do not care where something is placed on a “goodness scale,” we simply put it in the middle to show it’s between the two.

The definition of “indifferent,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not thinking about or interested in someone or something.”

These examples will help you with “indifferent:”

  • I’m indifferent about these matters because I know they won’t affect my family or me.
  • I’m too indifferent to make a decision on this, so I’ll leave it to you. I trust that you’ll make the right one!
  • The indifference shown by the public makes it clear that we’re doing our jobs wrong!

Moderate

“Moderate” works well to show that something is neither “good” nor “bad.” We can use the word to show that something is between the two values, and there isn’t a true way for us to measure the goodness or badness that might come from it.

The definition of “moderate,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “neither small nor large in size, amount, degree, or strength.”

Check out these examples if you want to see it in action:

  • I feel like this is far more moderate than you realize, which is why it won’t affect my decision.
  • This was a moderate outcome. I guess I expected it, but I’m still somewhat disappointed that you all chose it.
  • This was far too moderate for me to want to recreate! Come up with a better idea that might turn heads next time!

Standard

“Standard” works well to show how things should be. Ideally, “good” and “bad” are things that we should strive for or avoid. However, if something is “standard,” it means it should be acceptable to all, and we should all try and get those outcomes.

The definition of “standard,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “usual rather than special, especially when thought of as being correct or acceptable.”

Check out these examples to help you with it:

  • Honestly, their response was standard. It wasn’t helpful, but it wasn’t wasted on me either.
  • You can expect them to contact you in the standard amount of time. They won’t get in touch sooner than that.
  • I wouldn’t worry about the standard they set for you. Just do whatever you feel works best, mate!

Ordinary

“Ordinary” is a great word to use to show that someone or something is not different or special. Therefore, we can show that they are just “average” and somewhere between “good” and “bad.”

The definition of “ordinary,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “not different or special or unexpected in any way; usual.”

Check out these examples to see how it works:

  • You’re nothing short of ordinary, Patrick.
  • I think the politics in this government are ordinary, and we do not have to fear them.
  • Trust me; this is all far too ordinary to put a single care into!

Average

“Average” works to show that something is standard and between two values. Typically, we can look at “good” and “bad” as a scale, and “average” things tend to sit somewhere in the middle with no real clarification.

The definition of “average,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a standard or level that is considered to be typical or usual.”

Some of these examples might be useful to you:

  • I think you’ve found something that’s entirely average. That’s good to know.
  • Your ideas are average, which is why I keep you here. You’ll never challenge my power.
  • I think you’ve found an average to go to, and I’ll work with what you’ve chosen.

Medium

“Medium” works well when we want to show that a value is between two amounts. In this case, the “amounts” are “good” and “bad.” This helps us to demonstrate that something is firmly in the middle and has no positive or negative effects.

The definition of “medium,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “being in the middle between an upper and lower amount, size, degree, or value.”

Why not try some of these examples to see how it works:

  • I believe there’s a happy medium that is neither good nor bad.
  • You should look into a medium that everyone will accept with minimal consequences.
  • Don’t forget to try and bargain on the medium that you get from the deal.

Somewhere In Between

“Somewhere in between” is a useful phrase for this situation. It works to show that there is a middle ground that a person or object occupies. They are neither good nor bad, so it’s up to us to place them in the middle based on their actions.

Here are some examples to help you:

  • I think Jack is somewhere in between morally corrupt and morally just; I just can’t figure it out.
  • This company is somewhere in between good and evil. I don’t know how I feel about that.
  • You’re certainly somewhere in between the two.

Mediocre

“Mediocre” works well to show that something is acceptable but not good or bad. It works to show that we can talk about things that have no profound positive or negative effect on somebody or something.

The definition of “mediocre,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “just acceptable but not good; not good enough.”

Here are some examples:

  • I expected something mediocre from you, and you managed to deliver.
  • I’m not as mediocre as many people seem to think I am.
  • I like the mediocre decisions they’re making because they have a very limited impact on the running of my company.

Passable

“Passable” works well to show that something is happily in between good and bad. It shows that something is good, but not great or bad, but not terrible. It’s the perfect happy medium that many people look for in most objects.

The definition of “passable,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “satisfactory but not excellent.”

Check out these examples to see how it works:

  • I think it’s fairly passable, which is why I’ve allowed it to go on.
  • Their politics are passable enough, and they don’t really affect me.
  • Your ideas are passable, so I think you should take them to the boss.

What Does “Neither Good Nor Bad” Mean?

Now that we’ve seen all the best words let’s check out what it means when something is neither good nor bad.

“Neither good nor bad” means that something is often harmless. It might not be the most sightly or “good” thing in nature, but it also doesn’t have a profoundly negative effect on the people or things that it’s near.

You might be a little confused about how things can be somewhere in between the scale of “good” or “bad.” The truth is, it’s a subjective matter. Many people might see certain things as “good,” while others see them as “bad,” and even more see it as somewhere in the middle.

It’s best to develop your own opinion to see what you think fits into the category of “indifference” or being “benign.”

What Are Examples Of Something That Is “Neither Good Nor Bad”?

There are a few good examples of things that are “neither good nor bad.” To help get your head around it, you could look into the following:

  • A malignant tumor (harmless, but tumors are not “good”)
  • Actors in different movie roles
  • Many scientific practices that might me morally unbalanced

You may also like:
10 Words For Something That Appears Good But Is Actually Bad
Can You Use “Nor” Without “Neither”? (Helpful Examples)

martin lassen dam grammarhow

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.

Subject + be verb + good at + noun…

  • She is good at math.
  • He is good at art.
  • They are good at baseball.
  • Mark is good at everything.
  • Tina is good at computer programming.

We can also use gerunds.

Subject + be verb + good at + gerund…

  • She is good at skating.
  • We are good at working together.
  • He is good at debating.
  • Stacy and Jane are good at designing clothes.
  • They are good at cooking Italian food.

We can add adverbs before “good” to add more feeling or detail.

  • I am very good at drawing.
  • She’s pretty good at Jiujitsu.
  • They’re kind of good at negotiating.
  • Paula is extremely good at bowling.
  • Ben is unbelievably good at persuading other people.

We can make a negative sentence by using “not good at”.

  • He is not good at baseball.
  • She isn’t good at cooking.
  • I’m not good at giving presentations.

If we use the expression “not great at”, then this means that we are okay at doing something. Our skill level is average.

  • I am not great at singing, but I am okay.
  • She is not great at expressing her feelings.
  • We are not great at working together.

Bonus Tips and Points

1. We can replace the word “good” with any similar word.

  • She is excellent at persuading others.
  • He is great at golf.
  • They are amazing at dancing.
  • She is fantastic at dealing with angry customers.
  • He is skilled at giving presentations.
  • She is wonderful at dealing with children.

2. We can also use the word “okay” or “not bad at” to show an average skill or ability.

  • She is okay at singing.
  • I am okay at dancing.
  • They are not bad at writing.
  • He is not bad at English.

3. Here are some examples of questions.

  • Are you good at painting?
  • Are you good at boxing?
  • Is he good at his job?
  • Is she good at public speaking?
  • Are they good at working with others?
  • What are you good at?
  • How are you so good at English?

Real-World English Conversations

A) Are you good at English?
B) Not really. I am just okay at English, but my sister is amazing at English.
A) Could she help me prepare for my test?
B) She would if you paid her.

A) What are you good at?
B) I don’t think I am good at anything.
A) Come on. Everybody is good at something.
B) I guess I am good at cooking.

A) Is she good at her job?
B) Yes. She is very good. She might be the best salesperson in our company.

Use these free English lessons to learn the most common sentence patterns in the English language. If you learn these sentences and questions, it will help you speak English well. Study the lessons thoroughly, practice making your own sentences, and come back to review often. If you do these three steps, your English speaking will improve quickly and you will be able to have natural English conversations.

English Sentence Patterns for Speaking Index

Любое слово в любом языке не существует само по себе, оно должно сочетаться с другими словами. Английский язык не исключение, в нем это явление называется word collocation (сочетаемость слов). Как правило, у изучающих английский больше всего трудностей вызывает именно сочетаемость предлогов с разными частями речи, ведь она может сильно отличаться от сочетаемости в русском языке. Согласно исследованиям, прилагательное good – самое употребляемое в английском языке. В этой статье мы и рассмотрим, как употреблять good с предлогами at, with и for.

Как употребляются good at, good with и good for

Иногда слово может сочетаться с несколькими предлогами, от которых будет зависеть его значение. У прилагательного good есть множество значений, одно из них – знающий, умеющий, способный что-то делать. В этом значении good используется с предлогами at и with.

Разберемся, как употребляются эти предлоги:

  • Good at = деятельность, практика.

    Мы употребляем прилагательное good с предлогом at, когда человек умеет что-то делать хорошо, обладает какими-то практическими навыками и умениями. В таких случаях мы используем конструкции good at something и good at doing something.

    Jason is good at baseball. – Джейсон хорошо играет в бейсбол.

    She is not good at dancing. – Она не очень хорошо танцует.

    He is good at learning physics. – Ему легко дается физика.

  • Good with = инструмент, отношение.

    Good with используется по отношению к людям и конкретным предметам, а не к областям знаний и сферам деятельности (как предыдущая конструкция). Это выражение значит, что мы знаем, как обращаться с чем-то или как ладить с людьми. В таких случаях мы используем конструкцию good with something/somebody.

    Annie is good with children. She is so kind. – Энни хорошо ладит с детьми. Она такая добрая.

    John is an accountant. He must be good with figures. – Джон бухгалтер. Он должен хорошо считать.

    She is good with household appliances. – Она умеет обращаться с бытовой техникой.

    Для большей наглядности приведем в качестве примера выражение to be good with one’s hands – хорошо работать руками. В этом выражении мы рассматриваем слово hands как инструмент, с помощью которого мы можем что-то сделать.

    Hugh is good with his hands. He repaired a leaky faucet all by himself. – Хью хорошо работает руками. Он сам починил капающий кран.

  • Good for = похвала, польза.

    В данном значении good употребляем с предлогом for. Good for часто используется в выражении Good for you! (Молодец!, Рад за тебя!).

    – I’ve passed the exam and got the best grade in the class. – Я сдал экзамен и получил лучшую оценку в классе.
    – Wow, good for you! – Ух ты, молодец!

    If he wants to beat me out, well hey, good for him! – Если он хочет победить меня, ну что ж, удачи!

    Другое значение good for somebody – полезный для кого-либо.

    You work hard, a long vacation will be good for you. – Ты много работаешь, продолжительный отпуск пошел бы тебе на пользу.

Чертовски хорош: как усилить высказывание с good for, good at и good with

Из-за того что появился предлог, слово good не потеряло своего актуального значения: у него по-прежнему есть степени сравнения, с ним сочетаются другие слова.

Jerome is an Englishman, so he is better at cricket than at baseball. – Джером англичанин, поэтому он лучше играет в крикет, чем в бейсбол.

Ознакомьтесь с небольшим списком наречий, часто сопровождающих прилагательное good.

  • Very good (not very good) – очень хорошо (не очень хорошо).

    They are not very good at history of England. – Они не очень хорошо знают историю Англии.

  • Really good (not really good) – действительно хорошо (не особо хорошо).

    Healthy diet will be really good for you now. – Здоровое питание пошло бы тебе на пользу сейчас.

  • Extremely good – невероятно, чрезвычайно хорошо.

    He is extremely good with people. – Он чрезвычайно хорошо ладит с людьми.

  • Fairly/Pretty/Quite good – достаточно, довольно хорошо

    Ivy is fairly good at clay modelling. – Айви достаточно хорошо лепит из глины.

Прилагательное bad работает по тому же принципу, что и good. Мы можем сказать, что человек bad at something, если он плохо что-то делает, или использовать bad for somebody, если что-то окажется не совсем полезным для человека. Но с предлогом with прилагательное bad не используется.

He is extremely bad at saving money. – У него очень плохо получается копить деньги.

She is quite bad at math. – Она довольно плохо понимает математику.

Spending a lot of time in social media is bad for you. – Проводить много времени в социальных сетях вредно для тебя.

Теперь вы знаете все о прилагательном good с предлогами at, with и for. Не забудьте пройти тест, чтобы удостовериться, что вы отлично поняли эту тему.

Тест

Good at, good with и good for: выбираем правильный предлог

Если вы нашли ошибку, пожалуйста, выделите фрагмент текста и нажмите Ctrl+Enter.

INDEX:

1. able to do something well

2. very good at doing something

3. good at something because you have experience or training

4. having a natural ability to do something well

5. likely to become good at something

6. good at doing a lot of different things

7. the ability to do something well

8. something that you are especially good at

RELATED WORDS

opposite

↑ BAD AT DOING STH

see also

↑ GOOD AT

↑ CAN/CAN’T

↑ KNOW/NOT KNOW

↑ BEST

↑ BETTER

◆◆◆

1. able to do something well

▷ be good at /biː ˈgʊd æt/ [verb phrase]

to be able to do something well :

▪ When she was at school she was good at art.

▪ She loves her job, and she’s very good at it.

be good at doing something

▪ You’ve never been much good at lying.

▪ Robson is particularly good at dealing with people, and should make an excellent manager.

▷ good /gʊd/ [adjective]

able to do something well :

▪ The school orchestra is surprisingly good.

good singer/player/teacher etc

▪ Frank had always been a good football player, and it was no surprise when he was chosen for the team.

▪ I can refer you to a good dentist.

be good with somebody/something

be good at dealing with someone or something

▪ Mrs. Hill is very good with children.

▪ The two Drew girls are unusually good with animals.

be good with your hands

be good at making or repairing things with your hands

▪ Jeremy’s good with his hands — he built our kitchen cupboards.

▷ proficient /prəˈfɪʃ ə nt/ [adjective] formal

having reached an acceptable standard in something, by learning or practising it :

proficient in

▪ Before you can study at a British university, you have to be proficient in English.

proficient skier/climber/actor etc

▪ The black runs are for proficient skiers only.

proficiency [uncountable noun]

▪ Once children have achieved a certain proficiency in reading, they prefer to read silently rather than aloud.

▷ able /ˈeɪb ə l/ [adjective usually before noun]

good at doing something, especially at doing a difficult or important job that involves a lot of responsibility :

▪ Mrs Thomas is a very able teacher.

▪ She was widely regarded as one of the most able members of the president’s staff.

▷ capable /ˈkeɪpəb ə l/ [adjective]

someone who is capable can be trusted to do a job or piece of work well and without needing other people’s help or advice :

▪ Mr. Young is a very capable attorney.

▪ The team desperately needs a capable quarterback.

▷ competent /ˈkɒmpɪtənt, ˈkɒmpətəntǁˈkɑːm-/ [adjective]

someone who is competent has enough skill and knowledge to be able to do something to a high or satisfactory standard :

▪ Competent skiers should find no difficulty with the course.

▪ Though the country is poor, the doctors and nurses are qualified and competent.

highly competent

very competent

▪ Tomita is a highly competent translator.

competent in

▪ New students are expected to be competent in mathematics.

2. very good at doing something

▷ great /greɪt/ [adjective only before noun]

great actor/player/scientist etc

one of the best actors, players etc in the world, and famous and respected because of this :

▪ Olivier was a great actor.

▪ Some of the world’s greatest athletes will be competing in the Olympic Games.

▪ McEnroe was possibly the greatest tennis player of all time.

the greats [plural noun]

▪ Fitzgerald is one of the all-time jazz greats.

▷ brilliant /ˈbrɪljənt/ [adjective]

extremely clever and skilful at something, so that people admire you a lot :

▪ Have you seen her dance? She’s absolutely brilliant.

▪ Paganini was a brilliant violinist, famous for his technical skill in both playing and composing music.

brilliant at

especially British

▪ She’s brilliant at handling difficult clients.

brilliance [uncountable noun]

▪ Hendrix’s brilliance as a rock guitarist remains unsurpassed, even to this day.

▷ excellent /ˈeks ə lənt/ [adjective usually before noun]

extremely good at something :

▪ Andrew had always been an excellent student.

▪ She’s enthusiastic and hardworking and has the potential to be an excellent teacher.

▷ outstanding /aʊtˈstændɪŋ/ [adjective]

so good at doing something that you are noticeably much better than other people who do the same thing :

▪ Woods is an outstanding golfer.

▪ The book is a series of interviews with outstanding artists and writers.

▪ A lot of my teachers were good, but Farley was outstanding.

3. good at something because you have experience or training

▷ skilful British /skillful American /ˈskɪlf ə l/ [adjective]

someone who is skilful does something very well because they have had a lot of training or experience :

▪ the artist’s skillful use of color

▪ Success in business depends on skilful management.

▪ Skilful and confident, Donaldson should become one of the game’s best players.

▷ skilled /skɪld/ [adjective]

someone who is skilled at a particular job has the training and skill to do it well :

▪ There is a demand for carpenters and other skilled craftsmen.

skilled job/work

requiring special skill, especially when you use your hands

▪ Shoeing a horse is a skilled job, and no unskilled person should try it.

highly skilled

very skilled

▪ Keeping highly skilled sailors in the Navy is a priority.

skilled at doing something

▪ Our advisors are skilled at dealing with financial problems.

▷ expert /ˈekspɜːʳt/ [adjective]

extremely skilful at doing something because you have gained a lot of knowledge or experience of this particular subject or activity over a long period of time :

▪ Students learn to cook French food with the help of expert chefs.

▪ My grandmother was an expert dressmaker.

expert at/in

▪ Politicians are usually expert at turning a crisis to their advantage.

expert help/advice/opinion etc

given by someone who knows a lot about it

▪ Tennis coaches will be available to provide expert advice.

expertly [adverb]

▪ The campaign was well-publicised and expertly co-ordinated.

▷ know what you’re doing /ˌnəʊ wɒt jɔːʳ ˈduːɪŋ/ [verb phrase] spoken

use this to say that someone is good at doing something and you admire and trust them because of this :

▪ Kids can tell if a teacher doesn’t know what he’s doing.

▪ You seem to know what you’re doing — I’ll leave you to it.

▷ adept /ˈædept, əˈdeptǁəˈdept/ [adjective]

good at doing something that needs care and skill, for example dealing with people or with difficult social situations :

adept at/in

▪ Of all our staff, Peter is the most adept at dealing with difficult customers.

▪ McCrea was equally adept in comedy and drama.

▷ accomplished /əˈkʌmplɪʃtǁəˈkɑːm-, əˈkʌm-/ [adjective]

someone who is very good at writing, acting, or other artistic skills, especially as a result of a lot of practice and training, but who does not usually have a special natural ability for it :

▪ His two daughters are both accomplished athletes.

highly accomplished

▪ Johann Sebastian Bach had three sons who all became highly accomplished musicians and composers.

▷ have a good command of /hæv ə ˌgʊd kəˈmɑːnd ɒvǁ-ˈmænd-/ [verb phrase not in progressive]

to know a subject, especially a language, well and be good at it :

▪ Candidates should have good typing skills and a good command of English.

▪ She has an excellent command of all the facts.

▷ can do something in your sleep /kən ˌduː something ɪn jɔːʳ ˈsliːp/ [verb phrase] informal

to be able to do something very easily because you have done it a lot of times before :

▪ I’ve played this piece so often I can practically do it in my sleep.

4. having a natural ability to do something well

▷ talented /ˈtæləntɪd, ˈtæləntəd/ [adjective]

very good at doing something because you have a lot of natural ability :

▪ The show has talented actors, but the writing is poor.

highly talented

very talented

▪ The Brazilian team includes some highly talented young players.

▪ The musicians are talented and enthusiastic about their new venture.

▷ gifted /ˈgɪftɪd, ˈgɪftəd/ [adjective]

very good at doing something, especially art, music, or sport, because you were born with natural ability :

▪ Picasso was one of the most gifted artists who ever lived.

▪ It’s a difficult subject, even for a writer as gifted as Mathers.

gifted children

▪ Most school systems offer programs for gifted children.

highly gifted

very gifted

▪ He is a highly gifted young singer, who combines a beautiful voice with unusual musical sensitivity.

▷ a natural /ə ˈnætʃ ə rəl/ [singular noun]

someone who has a natural ability to do something and thinks it is easy as soon as they start to do it :

▪ His sense of humor made him a natural for the TV talk shows.

a natural at

▪ McAvoy is a natural at public relations.

natural/natural-born [adjective only before noun]

▪ She is a natural leader.

▪ a natural-born story teller

▷ have an aptitude for /ˌhæv ən ˈæptə̇tjuːd fɔːʳ ǁ-tuːd-/ [verb phrase not in progressive]

to have a natural ability to learn a particular subject or skill very easily and quickly :

▪ The school is for children who have an exceptional aptitude for math and science.

▷ have a gift for /ˌhæv ə ˈgɪft fɔːʳ/ [verb phrase not in progressive]

have a gift for languages/painting/music/dancing etc

have a special natural ability to do something very well, especially something artistic :

▪ Mozart had a gift for music even when he was very young.

▪ As a director, he has a gift for inspiring his actors to give their best performances.

▷ born /bɔːʳn/ [adjective only before noun]

born leader/teacher/writer etc

someone who clearly has a natural ability to lead, teach etc well, so that it seems as if they do not need to be taught how to do it :

▪ When I read his first essays I knew that he was a born writer.

▪ He seemed to be a born leader, someone who inspired confidence and loyalty.

5. likely to become good at something

▷ promising/shows promise /ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ, ˈprɒməsɪŋǁˈprɑː-, ˌʃəʊz ˈprɒmə̇sǁ-ˈprɑː-/ []

someone who is promising or shows promise, especially someone who is young, is good at something and seems likely to become very good and successful at it :

▪ The new England team members show a lot of promise.

promising actor/musician/player etc

▪ Promising researchers are allowed to take time off teaching and administrative duties.

▷ potential /pəˈtenʃ ə l/ [uncountable noun]

natural ability that could be developed so that you become extremely good at something :

▪ Stephen is a player with real potential.

have/show potential

▪ He’s young but he shows a lot of potential.

▪ She may not be a great violinist yet but she has potential.

potential to do/be something

▪ One of their children has the potential to be a brilliant scientist.

▷ have the makings of /ˌhæv ðə ˈmeɪkɪŋz ɒv/ [verb phrase]

to have the qualities or skills needed to become a particular type of person or thing :

▪ They have the makings of a good team this year.

6. good at doing a lot of different things

▷ versatile /ˈvɜːʳsətaɪlǁ-sətl/ [adjective]

good at doing a lot of different things and able to learn new skills quickly and easily :

▪ Meryl Streep is a wonderfully versatile actress.

▪ Few musicians are as versatile as he is: he plays, composes, arranges, and teaches.

▷ all-rounder /ˌɔːl ˈraʊndəʳ/ [countable noun usually singular] British

someone who is good at doing a lot of different things :

▪ We’re looking for a good all-rounder — someone who can run the office, deal with customers’ complaints, and so on.

▪ At the school, children were encouraged to be ‘all-rounders’ — they were to aim for success in games as well as study.

7. the ability to do something well

▷ skill /skɪl/ [countable/uncountable noun]

the ability to do something well especially because you have learned and practised it :

▪ Most of us learn the knowledge and skills needed to drive a car fairly easily.

▪ The Australians played with great skill and determination.

computer/management/language etc skills

▪ You need good communication skills for this job.

skill in

▪ On the course you will develop skills in business management.

with skill

▪ Price handles the role of the angry wife with great skill.

▷ ability /əˈbɪlɪti, əˈbɪləti/ [uncountable noun]

the ability to do something well, either because you have learned how to do it or because you are naturally good at it :

▪ Maria will be a fine musician; she shows a lot of ability.

ability to do something

▪ No one doubts his ability to get work done quickly.

spelling/reading/writing etc ability

the level of ability in spelling, reading etc

▪ The children are divided into groups according to their reading ability.

▷ talent /ˈtælənt/ [countable/uncountable noun]

a natural ability to do something very well :

▪ John Lennon’s talent as a songwriter was matched by McCartney’s talent as a composer.

have a talent for doing something

▪ Porter has a talent for making a difficult subject understandable and interesting.

talent for

▪ Teachers soon recognized and encouraged his talent for sculpture.

hidden talents

ones that people do not know about

▪ I never knew you were so good at making speeches. Do you have any other hidden talents?

▷ flair /fleəʳ/ [singular/uncountable noun]

a special ability to do something very well and in a way that shows a lot of imagination :

▪ Being a good salesman requires skill, flair, and a good knowledge of your product.

▪ One of the best new players, he shows flair and creativity at the game.

have a flair for something

▪ If you have a flair for languages, there are some good career opportunities in Europe.

▷ have a knack /ˌhæv ə ˈnæk/ [singular noun]

to have a special skill or ability that you usually gain by practice :

have a knack for doing something

▪ She has a knack for making everyone feel comfortable and relaxed.

have a knack for

▪ The family seems to have a knack for success in business.

▷ craftsmanship /ˈkrɑːftsmənʃɪpǁˈkræfts-/ [uncountable noun]

the special skill that someone uses to make something beautiful with their hands :

▪ Hopi baskets are beautiful in both color and craftsmanship.

▪ Fabergé eggs are famous for their intricate craftsmanship.

8. something that you are especially good at

▷ strength /streŋθ, strenθ/ [countable noun]

something that you are particularly good at in your job, in a sport, or in your life in general :

▪ Before choosing a career you should spend time identifying your personal strengths and weaknesses.

▪ His ability to charm people is one of his greatest strengths.

▷ be somebody’s forte /biː somebodyˈs ˈfɔːteɪǁ-ˈfɔːrt/ [verb phrase]

to be the activity that you are best at :

▪ Love songs have become Bolton’s forte.

▪ She’s much better in the longer races. Short distances are not her forte.


Longman Activator English vocab.

     Английский словарь Longman активатор .
2012

“I’m not good at anything…”

Does this thought frequently creep its way into your head?

Stop it!

It’s not true.

Most people, including myself, have felt like this from time to time.

Life moves around us so quickly, that you often sit back and just watch people around you are achieving and wondering why you aren’t having the same success.

But this feeling that creeps in, can actually taint us.

You start believing it’s true.

You can even spiral into depression if you let it get the better of you.

So, what can you do if you feel this way?

First, understand that everyone has strengths (yes, even you)

So many of us focus on character weaknesses. Why? Because it’s easy to focus on the negative and ignore the positive.

This is especially the case for those who have abilities that aren’t obvious.

Look at me for example. It took me years to figure out that these 3 things are what I’m good at:

1) Grit and the ability to keep going with a task even if I’m failing. I don’t easily give up.

2) I’m not gullible and I don’t jump to conclusions easily. I realize there are multiple sides to any story.

3) I’m a kind and caring person who thinks about other people and how they’re feeling.

Now sure, these traits are good, but they’re not as obvious as someone like Tom Brady who noticeably has great hand-eye coordination and is excellent at football.

When people look at Tom Brady, they think they are less talented. But this is not true.

If everyone were like Tom Brady, then society wouldn’t function very well. Everyone would have been busy playing football and exercising!

Society and groups require all types of people with different talents and interests.

So, while your strengths may be less obvious to the eye, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have any strengths.

You just need to have a think about what you’re good at.

Here are a few ways to do that.

1) Have a look at these 16 different personality types. It will help you understand different types of traits and tidbits that you have. You might realize that you have some traits that other people don’t.

2) Ask your friends or family members what they like about you. You might be surprised by what you hear.

3) What can do you do, or do you do, that others simply can’t or they can’t stand doing? Think deeply about your daily interactions and activities. What’s different about you?

See, the problem is, most people correlate what they’re good at to an obvious skill like tennis.

But you need to think deeper and more broadly than that. Human beings are incredibly complex and we have many different personality traits and skills.

QUIZ: What’s your hidden superpower? We all have a personality trait that makes us special… and important to the world. Discover YOUR secret superpower with my new quiz. Check out the quiz here.

What “I’m not good at anything” really means

We’re all good at something. It’s easy to sit there in a funk and believe with all your might that you have no talent or skills to share with the world. But it’s simply not true.

There is at least one thing you do well. The trick is to realize, though, that this one thing, might not be the thing you wish it was.

For example, a lot of moms long for something more in their lives besides being “Mom”.

And while that sounds crazy to admit out loud, millions of women struggle with their “Mom” identities all over the world, especially when “Mom” replaced CEO or COO in their lives.

So you might be thinking I’m not good at anything, but what you really mean is that something is something in your life is not as you had hoped and you are blanketing your entire life with that single thought.

Next time you hear your inner voice say, “I’m not good at anything…”, use these 10 tips to push past that voice.

1) Take a break from social media

Social media is a great tool when it comes to connecting with others and sharing lives.

But it can also make you feel inadequate.

The thing is, social media is only portraying one truth. Yet we convince ourselves that everyone else has a much better life than we do.

That photo of the smiling kid? It probably took 10 minutes, screaming and a bit of bribery to get!

That selfie of your best friend? Likely one of 100 shots with a variety of filters applied.

Don’t believe everything you see.

It can be hard not to compare ourselves to others. When you’re feeling down and you start feeling that you’re not good at anything, it might be time to take a step away from the socials.

This will not only get you away from the ‘perfect’ lives everyone posts about but will also give yourself time to focus on your own life and finding something you are good at.

You don’t have to go off socials for good. We all know how addictive it can be. Instead, stay off them until you are in a better headspace.

If you’re finding certain posts are making you feel bad about yourself, then you need a break.

Once your head is clear again, you’ll be able to jump back without spiraling into a negative headspace.

Let’s face it, we could all do with a little break from social media every now and then. You can free up that time spent endlessly scrolling to actually achieve something.

You may find something you’re good at after all.

2) Don’t believe yourself

Speaking of our minds, it can often lead us astray.

They can become our own worst enemy when we go through hard times.

Whether you’re going through a relationship breakdown, just lost your job, been duped by your friends, or lost someone you love, negative thoughts can creep their way into our head and lead us into a downward spiral.

Your mind is a powerful tool and a dangerous one.

It can leave you feeling that you aren’t good enough. Aren’t smart enough. Aren’t pretty enough. Aren’t enough full stop.

If you’re struggling with these thoughts and can’t seem to pull yourself out of this funk, stand up for yourself.

If you heard friends or family telling themselves they weren’t good at anything, wouldn’t you step in and tell them otherwise? You should also be doing the same for yourself.

Of course, this can be hard. You might need a little help from those close to you.

Then it’s time to turn to your loved ones.

Lean on them when times are hard and talk to them. Even just having a shoulder to cry on or vent to can do wonders when it comes to clearing our minds and dumping all the negativity.

You can even ask them to share what they think your best qualities are.

They love you for a reason and will be more than happy to share.

This small boost in self-esteem could be all you need to clear your mind and fight these negative thoughts.

Don’t be afraid to ask – that’s what friends and family are for. Plus, you can let them know you’re there for them whenever they need it as well.

Friendship and family are a two-way street.

3) Build your resilience

When you feel like you’re not good at anything, it’s because you’ve given up. You’ve accepted it as the truth.

You may not be good at something the first time around – Leonardo Da Vinci didn’t paint the Mona Lisa straight off the bat – but with practice and dedication you absolutely will find an area you succeed in.

But there’s one thing that will get you through the inevitable disappointment and setbacks:

Resilience.

Without resilience, most of us give up on the things we desire. Most of us struggle to create lives worth living.

I know this because until recently I had a tough time dealing with not knowing what to do with my life. I too felt like nothing I did went right. 

That was until I watched the free video by life coach Jeanette Brown

Through many years of experience as a life coach, Jeanette has found a unique secret to building a resilient mindset, using a method so easy you’ll kick yourself for not trying it sooner. 

And the best part?

Unlike many other life coaches, Jeanette’s entire focus is on putting you in the driver’s seat of your life.

To find out what the secret to resiliency is, check out her free video here.

4) Accept you may never be the best

Sometimes, we can feel like we aren’t good at anything because we are bored in our lives and need a bit of change.

If you’re a perfectionist, it’s easy to feel like you’re never good enough.

You can go to an art class and feel intimidated by all the painters who are better than you.

You can go to an exercise class and feel out of place with all those who are fitter than you.

Right now, it’s time to accept defeat.

You simply may never be the best at something.

And that’s okay!

That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it.

Go to that art class and that exercise class and give it your best shot. Tell yourself that’s enough.

As long as you enjoy it, who cares whether or not you’re the best! You probably had the most fun!

By letting go of perfectionism and just diving in and having a go, you can shake those feelings of not being good at anything.

You are getting out there and having a go – which at the end of the day, is all that matters.

QUIZ: Are you ready to find out your hidden superpower? My epic new quiz will help you discover the truly unique thing you bring to the world. Click here to take my quiz.

5) Give yourself time

You simply may not have discovered what you’re good at yet.

There are so many different things people are good at. It stands to reason it can take a while for you to explore them all to discover your strengths.

Many people are happy just doing what they do and have zero aspirations to find the things they’re best at.

For others, it’s a drive within them to achieve.

If you really want to find what you’re good at, then get started!

Make a list of all the things you enjoy and start making your way through them.

The important thing is not to rush it. You’re never going to find what you’re good at if you don’t even give it a chance.

Sign up for that cooking class, take a swing class, do some pottery or sculpting. The sky is your limit and you have no idea what hidden skills you might find there.

It takes time.

You need to convince yourself you will get there, but in the meantime, you’re just out to have a bit of fun.

Think of all the people you’ll meet and friends you’ll make along the way. This will make it all worth it in the end.

How does the saying go,

“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

Instead of striving for perfection and success, focus on the progress along the way. Every day, you’re making small accomplishments that you should be proud of.

Instead of berating yourself for messing up and stumbling backward, give yourself a pat on the back for trying, making progress, and coming as far as you have.

6) Be honest with yourself

If you’re feeling this way, there is usually more to it than just not being good at something.

It might be worth doing some soul-digging and working out why you’re feeling so down.

Is there something specific you’re trying to achieve and feel like you’re failing at?

It might be time to ask yourself why you are so focused on this achievement and whether it’s worth it considering the way it’s making you feel.

Could it be time for you to let go and find something new to focus on?

Is there a particular person you’re jealous of and want to show up?

Jealousy is a very normal feeling but there is no point trying to outdo someone else.

Instead, consider other things you have that they don’t — to give yourself that self-esteem boost you need, instead of dragging yourself down because of it.

Do you simply just feel down about all aspects of your life?

It’s worth getting your mental health checked and perhaps looking at whether you should be taking any supplements to improve your health.

You need to work out where these thoughts are stemming from. Is it a simple matter of wanting to be good at something or is there more going on in your life?

Having a good, honest conversation with yourself to work out what it is you need.

7) Find something you’re good at

Take your negative thinking as a challenge and turn it around.

Instead of sitting back and accepting that you’re not good at anything, go on the hunt for something you are good at.

Everyone is good at something, it might just take a little digging to find it.

So, how do you go on the hunt?

Start by making a list of all the things you enjoy doing: painting, drawing, writing, photography…

Have you ever pursued any of these?

Now’s the time! Take them on one by one and attend some classes.

Keep at it and push through, you might be amazed to find you have a hidden talent there.

Just remember, people don’t just become good at something overnight. They usually study/practice and put their mind to it in order to achieve.

They may seem to pick things up naturally but these people are rare.

More often than not, it comes from dedication and hard work. So if you do truly want to find something you’re good at, you need to put in the time and effort to get there.

You might also need to think outside the square:

  • I’m good at listening.
  • I’m good at helping.
  • I’m good at cheering others up.
  • I’m good at laughing.

Often, we get so fixated on finding a skill we’re good at that we lose track of exactly what it means to be good at something.

Not everyone can be a math whiz or an English nerd, just like not everyone is compassionate and understanding of others.

It’s about finding your strengths and going from there.

So how can you overcome this insecurity that’s been nagging you?

The most effective way is to tap into your personal power

You see, we all have an incredible amount of power and potential within us, but most of us never tap into it. We become bogged down in self-doubt and limiting beliefs. We stop doing what brings us true happiness. 

I learned this from the shaman Rudá Iandê. He’s helped thousands of people align work, family, spirituality, and love so they can unlock the door to their personal power. 

He has a unique approach that combines traditional ancient shamanic techniques with a modern-day twist. It’s an approach that uses nothing but your own inner strength – no gimmicks or fake claims of empowerment. 

Because true empowerment needs to come from within.

In his excellent free video, Rudá explains how you can create the life you’ve always dreamed of and increase attraction in your partners, and it’s easier than you might think.

So if you’re tired of living in frustration, dreaming but never achieving, and of living in self-doubt, you need to check out his life-changing advice.

Click here to watch the free video

8) Choose what you want to be good at

You may be feeling like you’re not good at anything because there’s a particular skill you want to master that you’ve been having no luck with.

This is enough to get anyone down.

You might simply be at that pivotal point of your journey at which you don’t know whether to keep going or to give up and try something new.

You keep going, of course!

We all reach this bump in the road when we’re trying to achieve. This is our drive that ends up pushing us even further.

You may just need to reconsider your approach.

Go to the library and borrow books on the subject. Watch TV shows on the subject. Jump on YouTube and learn more.

If you’re really serious, then you need to dedicate a certain number of hours each week to this subject so you have time to improve and get better.

At the same time, you also need to celebrate the little wins along the way. This will keep you motivated and on track to achieving your goal.

Often, when you’re in the thick of it, you don’t even notice how far you’ve actually come.

It’s important to look back and see where you started and where you’re today. It might just surprise you!

Give yourself a good pat on the back and keep on going.

9) Ignore the negativity

We often have these thoughts and turn to friends and family to validate them.

As a result, they agree with you. Thinking they are supporting you in your realization and helping you through it.

In reality, you were looking for a confidence boost and they have instead reinforced your failures.

Don’t fall into this trap!

Your family and friends don’t think you’re not good at all. They’re simply trying to be supportive and going about it in the wrong way.

You end up getting yourself into a cycle of self-loathing that isn’t even warranted.

Does this sound familiar?

It’s time to take a look at why you’re asking friends and family in the first place.

If you approach them with negativity, they’re going to agree with you to help you move on and past this.

10) Be a jack of all trades

What’s the fun of being really good at one thing, when you can be OK at a huge variety of things?

How much more fun is that?

Jack of all trades – master of none.

Some people are just naturally a Jack of all trades and are good at a variety of different things.

You may feel like you’re not good at anything, but trust me, everyone else views you differently.

They see you taking on so many different activities and are in awe of how much you balance and do well at them.

Embrace it. Stop trying to find that one hidden talent and just accept you’re better at dabbling in a bit of everything. That’s a pretty good skill to have.

Everyone is good at something.

QUIZ: What’s your hidden superpower? We all have a personality trait that makes us special… and important to the world. Discover YOUR secret superpower with my new quiz. Check out the quiz here.

In conclusion

While these 10 tips are a great way to lift you up when you’re feeling like you aren’t good at anything, the bigger picture is that everyone is good at something.

Everyone.

You just might have to do a little digging to uncover it.

If you’re struggling, think about things you enjoy…

Cycling, being with the kids, reading, writing, puzzles…

It’s likely you enjoy these things because you’re quite good at them.

It may not compare to that person on Facebook who is a math whiz, but it’s your own unique thing you are good at.

You could simply be good at being happy! That’s a skill many struggle to master.

Still struggling to think of something you’re good at? You can create something.

Start volunteering for people in need and become good at helping others.

Being good at something does take skill, but if you think outside of the box, there are some skills anybody can learn if they’re willing.

Imagine how the world would be if everyone was good at being kind and helping?

The trick is, to stop comparing yourself to others.

People love to brag about their lives but they leave out all the other details. You never really know what’s going on in someone’s life.

That person who showed off her photography skills on Facebook could be going through her own mental health issues and this is her way of expressing herself.

You just never know what’s going on behind closed doors.

Next time you find your mind wandering and saying, “I’m not good at anything”, respond straight away.

“Yes, I am. I’m good at baking/reading/puzzles and that’s enough. I’m also good at being happy.”

How an average guy became his OWN life coach

I’m an average guy.

I’ve never been one to try and find meaning in religion or spirituality. When I feel directionless, I want practical solutions.

And one thing everyone seems to be raving about these days is life coaching.

Bill Gates, Anthony Robbins, Andre Agassi, Oprah and countless other celebrities go on and on about how much life coaches have helped them achieve great things.

Good on them, you may be thinking. They can certainly afford one!

Well I’ve recently stumbled upon a way to receive all the benefits of professional life coaching without the expensive price tag.

Because not long ago, I was feeling rudderless in my own life. I knew I needed a rocket in the right direction.

I set about researching life coaches online. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that one-on-one life coaches can be VERY expensive.

But then I found the perfect solution.

Turns out you can actually be your OWN life coach.

Click here to learn more about how I became my own life coach. I also outline 3 powerful exercises you can start doing today.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Hack Spirit review team. In our reviews, Hack Spirit highlights products and services that you might find interesting. If you buy them, we receive a small commission from that sale. However, we only ever recommend products that we have personally investigated and truly feel could be valuable to you. Read our affiliate disclosure here. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

Did you like my article? Like me on Facebook to see more articles like this in your feed.

On this side of the card, you have the tasks (most of them are from the book p 11). First, discuss them together, complete them, somebody should type your answer to the Shared Notes in the BBB. Then turn the card to check. If you have any questions, write them down to the shared notes. Don’t forget to copy the text from shared notes before leaving the breakout room!

Click the card to flip 👆

Profile Picture

On this side of the card, you have the tasks (most of them are from the book p 11). First, discuss them together, complete them, somebody should type your answer to the Shared Notes in the BBB. Then turn the card to check. If you have any questions, write them down to the shared notes. Don’t forget to copy the text from shared notes before leaving the breakout room!

3a Find words in the article that mean the following. Don’t forget the phrases from 2b! some words can be there.

1 describe something again, and in a better way (paragraph 2)
2 not understand correctly (paragraph 2)
3 not as good as some people think or say (paragraph 2)
4 used something in the wrong way or for a wrong purpose (paragraph 4)
5 a person who used to be very successful and powerful in business (paragraph 4)

type your answer to the Shared Notes in the BBB, then check the answers on the other side of the card

4b Think of a word with a prefix that means the same as the UPPER CASE words in these sentences.

1 He was always TOO CONFIDENT.
2 His team PLAYED MUCH BETTER than the other team.
3 She asked her FORMER BOSS for advice.
4 His mother’s French and his father’s Italian, so he’s ABLE TO SPEAK TWO LANGUAGES FLUENTLY.
5 He told me to WRITE the essay AGAIN.
6 His ability was NOT AS GREAT AS PEOPLE BELIEVED.
7 She DID NOT CORRECTLY UNDERSTAND the lecturer.
8 I DON’T LIKE people who don’t listen when I’m talking.

type your answer to the Shared Notes in the BBB, then check the answers on the other side of the card

One word for 3 sentences!
There will be 5 cards like that. All the words are from the previous exercises.

1 There must be some reason why some small businesses ______________ others that decade .
2 Traditionally, girls have ______________ boys in reading and writing.
3 The company has consistently ______________ its larger competitors.

type your answer to the Shared Notes in the BBB, then check the answers on the other side of the card

Other sets by this creator

Verified questions

vocabulary

Verified answer

literature

Verified answer

vocabulary

Verified answer

Recommended textbook solutions

By
Last updated:

December 6, 2022

Are you tired of always saying “good”?

Looking forward to using more vivid and creative ways to describe people, places and experiences that you enjoy?

After reading the descriptions and examples we have below, you’ll be able to move beyond just describing everything as “good.”

Contents

  • Cool
  • Excellent
  • Wonderful
  • Perfect
  • Fantastic
  • Exceptional
  • Terrific
  • Outstanding
  • Pleasant
  • Awesome


Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Cool

In addition to being used to describe temperature, “cool” also means very good or fashionable. For example, you might describe stylish clothes as “cool” or a performance by a musician that you really enjoy.

It can also be used to express acceptance when someone makes a suggestion. For example, if someone suggests meeting to go to a movie, you could say “Cool! I’ll see you at 6 p.m.” Like “awesome,” “cool” is a popular expression for younger people, and you shouldn’t use it in more formal conversations.

Excellent

“Excellent” is used to describe something very good or of high quality. Almost anything you can describe as “good,” you can also describe as excellent. It can be used when speaking to friends, family, or coworkers when you want to emphasize that something is not just ok or good, but very good.

If someone asks “how are you,” you can respond “excellent.” Or, similar to this restaurant review, you could say “Have you been to the new restaurant downtown? The food there is excellent.”

Wonderful

“Wonderful” means great or very good. People can be wonderful, experiences can be wonderful and things can be wonderful. You can use this word in both formal and casual settings.

For example, you could say “The paintings at the art exhibition last night were wonderful,” or “I think you’ll like her. She’s a wonderful person.”

Perfect

Perfect describes something that is flawless or exactly matching the need in a particular situation.

If you have a very good day and everything happens exactly as you want it to, you could describe it as a “perfect day.” A hotel could be “perfect for families” or an actor in a movie could be “perfect for the role.” If someone suggests an idea that you like, you can say “That’s perfect” or “That sounds perfect.”

Fantastic

The word “fantastic” is used to describe something very good or exciting. It can be used in both formal and informal situations. It’s a very enthusiastic, positive word, so you should say it with some emphasis or exclamation.

For example, if someone asks you about your trip to Thailand, you could say “It was fantastic!”

Exceptional

“Exceptional” means that someone or something is above average. This adjective has a slightly more formal tone, and it’s a good word to use when you want to sound a little more sophisticated.

For example, you could say “I think Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The scenery is exceptional.”

Terrific

“Terrific” means very good or great. You can use it the same way you use “good.” It’s another very enthusiastic adjective, so only use it if you’re describing something you really like a lot.

You could describe someone’s idea or performance as “terrific,” such as “I’m very happy with the results. She did a terrific job on this project.”

Keep in mind that “terrific” can also be used to describe something very bad depending on the noun it’s paired with. For example, you could also talk about a “terrific storm” or a “terrific explosion.”

Outstanding

“Outstanding” describes something that “stands out” or is noticeably better than the alternatives. An “outstanding” book is better than all the other books you’ve read recently, or an “outstanding” hotel is one of the nicest hotels you’ve ever stayed in. This adjective is appropriate to use in casual or formal conversations.

Note that “outstanding” can also mean “unpaid” depending on the situation. So if you have an “outstanding” bill, it means that you have a bill that needs to be paid, not a “very good” bill.

How do you know which meaning is being used? Context is super important for this. That’s why when you’re learning new words, you should try to learn them in sentences. You can also use immersion programs to see words in different scenarios. On FluentU, for example, you can search for specific words in the program’s library of authentic videos to see how they’re used by native English speakers.

Pleasant

“Pleasant” describes something that is enjoyable or likable. It can be used to describe people, places, or experiences. “Pleasant” is a little less strong than words like “outstanding,” “terrific” or “fantastic” and it can be a good word to use if something was nice, yet not the absolute best thing imaginable.

For example, you could say “We had a nice time at dinner. It was a very pleasant evening.”

Awesome

Technically, “awesome” describes something that inspires awe or wonder. Typically, however, “awesome” is used to describe people, experiences or places that are very good or impressive.

For example, you could say “I love your new watch. It looks awesome.” It’s an adjective that is particularly popular with younger people, and it’s not an expression that you would want to use in a formal or business situation.

Say goodbye to “good!” Now you have some awesome, terrific, wonderful synonyms to improve your English vocabulary way beyond the basics.


Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Потому что мы говорим не словами, а устойчивыми фразами, раз за разом используя привычные словосочетания. Именно построение фразы выдаёт иностранца, говорящего так, словно он читает газету. У носителя же языка готовые словесные обороты выскакивают сами собой.

Фактрум публикует самые важные английские идиомы с переводами и примерами их употребления.

Идиомы с трактовкой и синонимами Перевод Пример after all — despite, nevertheless все-таки I knew it! After all, I was right! all along — all the time все время, всегда I knew about his little secret all along. all ears — eager to listen весь внимание I am all ears. all of a sudden — suddenly неожиданно All of a sudden, he refused to pay. all the same — no difference все равно, без разницы If it’s all the same to you, let’s start at two. all thumbs — clumsy неуклюжий, неумелый He can’t fix anything, he’s all thumbs. apple of discord — subject of envy or quarrel яблоко раздора This question is an apple of discord in our family. as a rule — usually как правило As a rule, we offer a 5% discount. as far as I am concerned — in my opinion что касается меня, по моему мнению As far as I am concerned, both the book and the movie are good. as for me/as to me — in my opinion по моему мнению As for me, you can rely on his support. as well — also, too тоже, также He knows math, and physics as well. at all — (not) in the smallest degree совсем (не) He doesn’t know French at all. I don’t like it at all. at random — without order наугад, без плана He chose those places at random. at this point — at this time на данном этапе At this point, we can’t turn back. be about to — ready (to do) готов сделать I was about to leave when you called. be after someone — insist, press настаивать, чтобы сделал His mother is always after him to study. be all in — be extremely tired очень устать I’m all in, I’d better go to bed now. be back on one’s feet — healthy again or better financially встать на ноги после трудного времени He’s back on his feet after a long period of debt and unemployment. beat around the bush — avoid giving a clear/definite answer ходить вокруг да около Stop beating around the bush! Get to the point! be beside oneself — be very upset, nervous, worried, etc. быть вне себя от волнения, горя и др. She was beside herself with worry / with grief. be better off — be in a better situation (financially) в лучшей ситуации (материально) He’ll be better off with a new job. be broke — have no money at all быть «на мели» (без денег) I spent all my money, I’m broke. be hard on something /someone — treat roughly не беречь что-то My son is hard on shoes, they don’t last long with him. Life was pretty hard on Tom. be high on one’s list — be one of the most important things быть в начале списка нужных вещей A new car is high on my list of priorities. A new TV is not high on my list. be in charge of — be responsible for быть ответственным за He is in charge of marketing. be in the red — be in debt быть убыточным Our sales were in the red last year. be into smth. — be interested in увлекаться чем-то He is into computers. She is into sports. bend over backwards — try hard очень стараться I bent over backwards to help her. be on one’s way Я уже еду. I’m on my way. be on the safe side — not to take any chances на всякий случай Take an extra key, just to be on the safe side. be out of — be without нет в наличии We are out of bread, cheese, and sugar. be out of shape — be physically unfit быть не в форме He needs to exercise, he is out of shape. be out of sorts — in bad humor не в духе Leave him alone, he’s out of sorts today be pressed for time / money — be short of; not have enough не хватать времени или денег I’m pressed for time now. We are pressed for money at the moment. beside the point — off the point не по существу, не относится к делу What I said to him privately is beside the point. be to blame — be responsible for a mistake / something wrong винить за ошибку, неправильные действия Who is to blame for this awful mistake? Tom is to blame for this mix-up. be touch and go — be uncertain of the result на грани; неясно, куда повернется He was very sick, and for some time it was touch and go, but he is better now. be up against — be opposed by, have problems, be in danger иметь серьезные проблемы в чем-то, с чем-то Our company is up against serious attempts of hostile takeover. be up and around/about — able to be out of bed after an illness встать на ноги, поправиться He was sick for a month, but now he is up and around. be up to one’s ears — very busy по уши I’m up to my ears in work. be up to something — do mischief задумать, затеять I have to check what the kids are up to. be up to someone — be one’s own decision or responsibility на ваше усмотрение, под вашу ответственность It’s up to you to decide. It’s up to you to close the office every day at 8 o’clock. be used to — be accustomed to быть привычным к I’m used to hard work. He’s used to heat. big shot — important person важная персона He is a big shot around here. bite off more than one can chew — try to do more than one can переоценить свои силы I couldn’t handle two jobs and family. I really bit off more than I could chew. bite one’s tongue — stop talking прикусить язык I almost told her, but bit my tongue. bite the dust — die, be defeated умереть, падать ниц Many of them bit the dust in that war. black sheep — a good-for-nothing member of the family паршивая овца Their second son is the black sheep of the family, he is good for nothing. blind date — a meeting of a man and woman arranged by friends свидание вслепую She refuses to go on a blind date again because she had bad experience. blow it — lose the chance потерять шанс He understood that he blew it. blow over — pass, end стихнуть, пройти Wait here till his anger blows over. bottom line — main result/factor итог, основной момент The bottom line is, I don’t have enough money. break into — enter by force ворваться (в дом) силой The police broke into the robber’s house. break one’s heart — hurt deeply разбить сердце The news of her death broke his heart. break the ice — overcome shyness in making the first step сломать неловкость при знакомстве The party was dull until someone broke the ice with a joke and we all laughed. break the news — tell new facts сообщить важную новость CNN is breaking the news right now. bring home the bacon — earn the living for the family обеспечить семью He works very hard at several places to bring home the bacon. brush off — give no attention to отмахнуться от The boss brushed off my project again. brush up on — review освежить в памяти You need to brush up on the tenses. by all means -definitely, certainly обязательно, конечно Do you need my help? — By all means. by heart — by memorizing наизусть Learn this poem by heart for tomorrow. by hook or by crook — by any means possible любым путем, любым способом She will get what she wants by hook or by crook. by the way — incidentally кстати By the way, Ann is coming back today. 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. fall behind — lag behind отстать от The little boy fell behind the older boys. fall in love — begin to love влюбиться Tom fell in love with Sue at first sight. fall out of love — stop loving разлюбить They fell out of love and divorced soon. false alarm — untrue rumor ложная тревога I heard he quit but it was a false alarm. a far cry from something — very different, almost opposite (neg.) далеко не такой хороший, как His second book wasn’t bad, but it was a far cry from his first book. feel it in one’s bones — expect something bad to happen чувствовать, что случится плохое Something bad is going to happen, I feel it in my bones. feel like doing something — want to do, be inclined to do smth. быть склонным к занятию чем-то I feel like going for a walk. I don’t feel like working now, I’m tired. feel up to — be able to do в состоянии сделать I don’t feel up to cleaning the house. few and far between — rare, scarce слишком редкие Her visits are few and far between. find fault with — criticize критиковать He always finds faults with everybody. find out — learn or discover узнать, обнаружить I found out that Maria left town. firsthand — directly from the source из первых рук, достоверная информация You can trust it, it’s firsthand information. first things first — important things come before others сначала главное First things first: how much money do we have to pay right away? fly off the handle — get angry разозлиться (вдруг) He flew off the handle and yelled at me. follow in someone’s footsteps — do the same thing идти по чьим-то следам, делать то же Igor followed in his father’s footsteps, he became a doctor, too. foot in the door — a special opportunity for a job получить шанс на работу Nina got a foot in the door because her friend works in that company. foot the bill — pay the bill заплатить по счету Her father footed the bill for the party. for good — forever навсегда After her death, he left town for good. for the time being — at this time на данное время For the time being, this house is all right for us. frame of mind — mental state умонастроение I can’t do it in this frame of mind. from A to Z — completely от начала до конца He knows this town from A to Z. from now on — now and in the future впредь From now on, I forbid you to go there. get a grip on oneself — take control of one’s feelings контролировать свои чувства Stop crying! Get a grip on yourself! get along with — have good relations быть в хороших отношениях, ладить Ann gets along with most coworkers, but doesn’t get along with Laura. get away with — not be caught after doing wrong уйти от наказания The police didn’t find the thief. He got away with his crime. get carried away — get too excited and enthusiastic about something слишком увлечься чем-то He got carried away with opening a store and lost most of his money. get cold feet — be afraid to do побояться сделать I wanted to try it but got cold feet. get even with — have one’s revenge расквитаться с кем-то I’ll get even with him for everything! get in touch with — contact связаться с кем-то Get in touch with Mr. Smith for help. get lost — lose one’s way потерять дорогу She got lost in the old part of town. Get lost! — Lay off! Исчезни! I don’t want to see you again. Get lost! get mixed up — get confused перепутать I got mixed up, went the wrong way and got lost. get off one’s back — leave alone отстать от кого-то Stop bothering me! Get off my back! get on one’s high horse — behave haughtily towards someone вести себя высокомерно Every time I ask her to help me with typing, she gets on her high horse. get on (the bus, train, plane) сесть на (транспорт) I got on the bus on Oak Street. get off (the bus, train, plane) сойти с (транспорта) I got off the bus at the bank. get out of hand — get out of control выйти из-под контроля If he gets out of hand again, call me right away. get over — recover after an illness or bad experience поправиться, преодолеть что-то I can’t get over how rude he was to me. She got over her illness quite quickly. get rid of — dispose of, discard избавиться He got rid of his old useless car. get together — meet with собираться вместе My friends and I get together often. get to the bottom — know deeply добраться до сути He usually gets to the bottom of things. get to the point — get to the matter дойти до сути дела Get to the point! Give me a break! — spare me с меня хватит Come on, stop it! Give me a break! give someone a hand — help помочь кому-то Can you give me a hand with cooking? give someone a lift /a ride — take to some place by car подвезти кого-то Can you give me a lift to the bank? He gave her a ride in his new Porsche. give someone a piece of one’s mind — criticize frankly высказать, что на уме, критиковать She lost my umbrella again, so I gave her a piece of my mind about her carelessness. give up — stop doing something, stop trying to do something отказаться от чего-то, прекратить попытки I gave up smoking. I gave up trying to fix my old car. go back on one’s word — break a promise нарушить свое слово, обещание First he said he would help me, but then he went back on his word. go for it — try to do a new thing пробовать новое дело If I were you, I would go for it. go from bad to worse — be worse становиться все хуже His business went from bad to worse. go out — go to parties, movies пойти развлекаться Do he and his wife go out often? go out of one’s way -try very hard очень стараться He goes out of his way to please her. go to one’s head — make too proud успех вскружил голову His acting success went to his head. go to pieces — get very upset, fall apart сильно расстроиться She went to pieces when she heard it. go with the flow — lead quiet life плыть по течению She always goes with the flow. grow on someone — become liked постепенно понравиться When she knew him more, he grew on her. had better — should лучше бы, а то… You look ill, you’d better see a doctor. have a ball — have a good time отлично провести время Yesterday we had a ball at the party. have a bone to pick — complain or discuss something unpleasant иметь счеты с кем-то, претензии к кому-то Mr. Brown, I have a bone to pick with you. My mail was lost because of you. have a word with someone — talk to поговорить о чем-то Can I have a word with you? have words with someone — argue with someone about something крупно поговорить I had words with my coworker today because he used my computer again. have it in him — have the ability иметь нужные качества Laura has it in her to be a good doctor. have no business doing something — have no right to do нечего вам здесь делать, быть и др. You have no business staying here without my permission. have one’s back to the wall — be hard-pressed, on the defensive быть прижатым к стене I had no choice, I had my back to the wall. have one’s hands full — very busy быть очень занятым He has his hands full with hard work. have one’s heart set on something — want something very much очень хотеть получить что-то, кого-то She has her heart set on going to New York. He has his heart set on Betty. have pull — have influence on иметь влияние на Does he have pull with the director? (not) have the heart — (not) have the courage to do smth. unpleasant (не) хватает духа сделать неприятное I don’t have the heart to tell him that he wasn’t accepted, he’ll be so unhappy. high and low — everywhere везде (искать и т.д.) I searched high and low for my lost cat. hit the nail on the head — say exactly the right thing попасть в точку You hit the nail on the head when you said our company needs a new director. hit upon something — to discover обнаружить ценное They hit upon gold. I hit upon a plan. hold it against someone — blame somebody for doing something (не) держать зла на кого-то I lost his book, but he doesn’t hold it against me. Hold it! — Stop! Wait! Остановитесь/Стойте! Hold it! I forgot my key. Hold on! — Wait! Подождите! Hold on! I’ll be back in a minute. hold one’s own — maintain oneself in a situation, behave as needed постоять за себя, утвердиться в чем-то He can hold his own in any situation. We need men who can hold their own. hold up — rob using a weapon грабить с применением оружия This bank was held up twice last year. ill at ease — uncomfortable не по себе She felt ill at ease because of her cheap dress. in advance — well before заранее He told her about his plan in advance. in a nutshell — in a few words кратко, вкратце In a nutshell, my plan is to buy land. in care of someone — write to one person at the address of another адресату по адресу другого человека (у кого остановился) I’m staying at Tom’s house. Write to me in care of Tom Gray, Chicago, Illinois. in cold blood — mercilessly хладнокровно He killed her in cold blood. in fact — actually, in reality фактически In fact, he works as a manager here. in general — generally, generally speaking в общем, вообще In general, he likes to be alone. He described the place only in general. in one’s element — what one likes в своей стихии He’s in his element when he’s arguing. in other words — using other words другими словами In other words, you refused to do it for her. in plain English — in simple, frank terms проще говоря I didn’t really like the concert. In plain English, the concert was terrible. the ins and outs — all info about входы и выходы He knows the ins and outs of this business. in someone’s shoes — in another person’s position на месте другого, в положении другого I’d hate to be in his shoes now. He lost his job, and his wife is in the hospital. in the long run — in the end в конечном счете In the long run, it’ll be better to buy it. in the same boat — in the same situation в таком же положении Stop arguing with me, we’re in the same boat and should help each other. in the clear — free from blame вне претензий Pay the bill and you’ll be in the clear. in time (to do something) — before something begins придти вовремя, чтобы успеть что-то сделать (до начала чего-то) I came in time to have a cup of coffee before class. it goes without saying — should be clear without words не стоит и говорить, само собой It goes without saying that he must pay what he owes right away. It’s on the tip of my tongue. вертится на языке His name is on the tip of my tongue. it’s time — should do it right away пора Hurry up, it’s time to go. It’s worth it. / It’s not worth it. It’s (not) worth buying, visiting, watching, etc. оно того стоит /оно того не стоит; (не) стоит покупать, посетить, смотреть и т.д. Watch this film, it’s worth it. Don’t buy this coat, it is not worth it. This museum is worth visiting. This film is not worth watching. it will do — it’s enough достаточно Stop reading, it will do for now. jump at the opportunity/chance — accept the opportunity eagerly ухватиться за возможность His boss mentioned a job in Europe, and Peter jumped at the opportunity. just as soon — prefer this one предпочел бы (это) I’d just as soon stay home, I’m tired. just in case — to be on the safe side на всякий случай Take an extra shirt, just in case. Just my luck! — Bad / Hard luck! Мне всегда не везет! They lost my job application. Just my luck! keep an eye on — take care of, watch, look after последить за, присмотреть за Betty keeps an eye on my sons for me. I’ll keep an eye on you! keep a straight face — not to laugh стараться не смеяться I tried to keep a straight face, but failed. keep company — accompany составить компанию She keeps me company quite often. keep one’s word — fulfill a promise держать слово You promised, now keep your word. keep someone posted — inform держать в курсе событий Keep me posted about your plans. keep your fingers crossed — hope that nothing will go wrong надеяться, что все пройдет гладко I have a job interview today. Keep your fingers crossed for me, will you? kill time — fill/spend empty time убить время I went to the show to kill time. (not) know the first thing about — not to have any knowledge about ничего не знать по какой-то теме I don’t know the first thing about nuclear physics. know the ropes — be very familiar with some business знать все ходы и выходы He knows all the ropes in this company. last-minute notice — little or no time to prepare for something сообщение в последний момент His arrival was a last-minute notice, we didn’t have time to prepare for it. lay one’s cards on the table — be frank and open сказать честно, открыть карты Finally, we asked him to lay his cards on the table and tell us about his plans. lay one’s life on the line — put oneself in a dangerous situation ставить жизнь на карту He laid his life on the line to fulfill this task, but nobody appreciated his efforts. lead a dog’s life — live in misery вести собачью жизнь He leads a dog’s life. lead someone on — make someone believe something that isn’t true заставить кого-то поверить неправде They suspect that you are leading them on. You led me on! leave it at that — accept reluctantly оставить как есть Leave it at that, what else can you do? leave word — leave a message оставить сообщение He left word for you to meet him at the airport at 6. let bygones be bygones — forget and forgive bad things in the past не ворошить прошлое Why don’t you let bygones be bygones and forget about what he said? let go of — release the hold отпустить, не держать Let go of my hand or I’ll call the guard. let (it) go — forget bad experience, return to normal life освободиться от тяжелого переживания He’s still in despair and can’t let (it) go. You can’t change anything, so let it go. let one’s hair down — be relaxed and informal with other people держаться неофициально She is always so formal. She never lets her hair down. let someone down — disappoint, fail someone подвести кого-то Don’t let me down this time! let someone know — inform известить Let me know when you find a job. like father, like son — be like one’s parent in something какой отец, такой и сын Paul won a prize in a chess tournament. Great! Like father, like son! little by little — step by step понемногу Little by little, he got used to Tokyo. look for — search for искать What are you looking for? look forward to — expect with pleasure ожидать с нетерпением I’m looking forward to your letter. Mary is looking forward to the party. look out — be careful, watch out остерегаться Look out! The bus is coming! look up — check with /in a dictionary or a reference book посмотреть в словаре или справочнике If you don’t know this word, look it up in the dictionary. lose one’s temper — become angry разозлиться He loses his temper very often. lose one’s way — get lost потерять дорогу I lost my way. Can you help me? lose track of — not to know where someone or something is потерять из виду I lost track of him years ago. lucky break — a lucky chance счастливый случай He got his lucky break when he got this job. make a living — earn money to provide for life зарабатывать на жизнь He works hard. His family is big, and he has to make a living somehow. make allowance for — take into consideration when judging учитывать, делать скидку на Don’t criticize him so hard, make (an) allowance for his inexperience. make a point of — be sure to do something intentionally считать обязательным для себя сделать что-то Make a point of asking about his wife. Make it a point to be here by 10. make ends meet — to have and spend only what one earns сводить концы с концами His doesn’t get much money. I wonder how he manages to make ends meet. make friends — become friends подружиться Anton makes new friends easily. make fun of — laugh at, joke about высмеивать He made fun of her German accent. make no bones about it — say/do openly, without hesitation сказать прямо, не скрывая отношения I’ll make no bones about it: I don’t like your attitude to work. make room for — allow space for освободить место для We can make room for one more dog. make sense — be logical имеет смысл What you say makes sense. make the most of smth — do the best in the given situation извлечь лучшее из Let’s make the most of our vacation. make up — become friends again помириться I’m tired of fighting. Let’s make up. make up for smth — compensate компенсировать I’ll make up for the time you spent on it. make up one’s mind — decide принять решение When will you go? Make up your mind. make yourself at home — be comfortable, feel at home будьте как дома Come in please. Make yourself at home. man of his word — one who keeps promises, is dependable хозяин своего слова, держит слово You can depend on his promise to help. He’s a man of his word. mean well — have good intentions хотеть сделать, как лучше He meant well, but it turned out that he spoiled a couple of things for me. might as well — a good idea может быть неплохо I might as well telephone him now. missing person — someone who is lost and can’t be located пропавший человек (в розыске) The little boy disappeared. The police registered him as a missing person. meet someone halfway — compromise with others идти на компромисс с кем-то He’s reasonable and tries to meet his coworkers halfway, when possible. never mind — it doesn’t matter неважно, ничего Thank you. — Never mind. not to mention — in addition to не говоря уж We have three dogs, not to mention two cats. no wonder — not surprising неудивительно, что He ate three big fish. No wonder he’s sick. now and again — occasionally время от времени I meet them now and again at the bank. odds and ends — a variety of small unimportant things or leftovers мелочи, остатки, обрезки I needed to buy some odds and ends for the kitchen. off the cuff — without preparation без подготовки Off the cuff, I can give you only a rough estimate. off the point — beside the point не относится к делу What I think about him is off the point. off the record — not for the public, unofficially не для публики, неофициально Strictly off the record, I think the director is going to get married soon. once and for all — decidedly однажды и навсегда You must quit smoking once and for all. on credit — not pay cash right away в кредит He bought a car on credit. on edge — nervous, irritable нервный, раздраженный He’s been on edge ever since she left. on guard — on the alert настороже, бдительный He’s cautious and always on guard. on hand — available под рукой Do you have a calculator on hand? on one’s own — alone, by oneself самостоятельно, один, сам по себе She likes to live and work on her own. on one’s toes — alert, attentive, prepared for difficulties бдительный, собранный He was on his toes and produced a very good impression on them. on purpose — intentionally нарочно, с целью I didn’t do it on purpose, it just happened so. on second thought — after thinking again по зрелом размышлении I’d like to sit on the aisle. On second thought, I’d like a window seat. on the alert — on guard начеку, настороже He’s cautious and always on the alert. on the carpet — called in by the boss for criticism вызвать на ковер Yesterday the boss called her on the carpet for being rude to the coworkers. on the go — busy, on the move в движении, на ходу He is always on the go. on the off chance — unlikely to happen, but still маловероятно, но на всякий случай On the off chance that you don’t find him at work, here’s his home address. on the other hand — considering the other side of the question с другой стороны I’d like to have a dog. On the other hand, my wife likes cats better. on the spot — right there на месте, сразу I decided to do it on the spot. on the spur of the moment — without previous thought / plan под влиянием момента He bought this car on the spur of the moment, now he regrets it. on time — punctual в назначенное время Jim is always on time. out of one’s mind — crazy сумасшедший If you think so, you’re out of your mind. out of one’s way — away from someone’s usual route не по пути I can’t give you a lift to the bank, it’s out of my way today. out of the question — impossible не может быть и речи Paying him is out of the question! pack rat — a person who saves lots of unnecessary things тот, кто не выбрасывает старые ненужные вещи Why does she keep all those things she never uses? — She is a pack rat. pay attention — be attentive обратить внимание Pay attention to his words. pick a fight — start a quarrel начать ссору He often tries to pick a fight with me. pick up — take, get подобрать, взять I’ll pick you up at 7. play one’s cards right — choose the right steps in doing something сыграть правильно If you play your cards right, he’ll agree to your plan. potluck supper — a surprise meal, where nobody knows what dishes other guests will bring ужин вскладчину, никто не знает, что принесут другие You know what happened at our last potluck supper? Everybody brought macaroni and cheese, apples, and beer! pull oneself together — brace oneself, summon your strength cобраться с силами Stop crying and complaining! You have to pull yourself together now. pull the wool over someone’s eyes — deceive, mislead someone обмануть, ввести в заблуждение Are you trying to pull the wool over my eyes? It won’t do you any good. put a damper on — discourage охладить пыл She always puts a damper on my plans. put in a word for someone — say positive things about someone замолвить словечко I’d be very grateful if you could put in a word for me when you speak to him. put off — postpone откладывать Don’t put it off till tomorrow. put one’s foot down — object strongly решительно воспротивиться Her father put his foot down when she said she wanted to marry Alan. put one’s foot in it — do the wrong thing, make a fool of oneself сделать/сказать глупость He put his foot in it when he told the boss his daughter wasn’t pretty. put up with — accept, tolerate мириться с, терпеть I can’t put up with your bad work! quite a bit of — much, a lot of много I had quite a bit of trouble with that car. quite a few — many, a lot of много He wrote quite a few good stories. rack one’s brain — try hard to think напрячь мозги He racked his brain to solve the puzzle. read between the lines — find or understand the implied meaning читать между строк His books are not easy to understand; you have to read between the lines. remember me to — say hello to передать привет от Please remember me to your family. right away — immediately сразу же, немедленно It’ very important to do it right away. ring a bell — remind someone of something familiar /half-forgotten напоминает что-то знакомое Annabel Lee? Yeah, it rings a bell, but I can’t place it right now. rock the boat — make the situation unstable раскачивать лодку, вести к нестабильности Peter always rocks the boat when we discuss company’s spending policy. rub shoulders with — meet with близко общаться с He doesn’t rub shoulders with the rich. rub someone the wrong way — irritate, annoy, make angry раздражать, злить кого-то His remarks rub many coworkers the wrong way. run into — meet by chance случайно встретить I ran into an old friend yesterday. save face — try to change the negative impression produced спасать репутацию He said a stupid thing and tried to save face by saying he misunderstood me. save one’s breath — stop useless talk не трать слова попусту There’s no use talking to him about his spending habits, so save your breath. scratch the surface — study something superficially изучать поверхностно He examines all the facts closely, he doesn’t just scratch the surface. see about — make arrangements for позаботиться о чем-то I have to see about our plane tickets. see eye to eye — agree сходиться в мнении We don’t see eye to eye any longer. serve someone right — get what someone deserves поделом It serves him right that he didn’t get this job, he despised all other candidates. serve one’s purpose — be useful to someone for his purpose отвечать цели I doubt that hiring this man will serve your purpose. show promise — be promising подавать надежды This young actor shows promise. show up — appear появиться I waited for hours but he didn’t show up. size up — evaluate someone оценить, составить мнение It took me 5 minutes to size up that man. sleep on it — postpone a decision till next morning отложить решение до следующего утра Don’t decide now, sleep on it. a slip of the tongue — a mistake обмолвка (ошибка) It was just a slip of the tongue! slip (from) one’s mind — forget забыть It slipped my mind what she asked me. smell a rat — suspect something подозревать недоброе I’m not sure what it is, but I smell a rat. so far — up to now до сих пор, пока So far, I have read 3 books by King. so much the better — it’s even better еще лучше If he can pay cash, so much the better. spill the beans — tell a secret проболтаться Who spilled the beans about our plan? stand a chance — have a chance нет шансов He doesn’t stand a chance of getting it. stand out — be noticeable выделяться He stands out in any group of people. stand to reason — be logical логично, что It stands to reason that he apologized. straight from the shoulder — speak frankly честно, откровенно Don’t try to spare my feelings, give it to me straight from the shoulder. take a dim view of something — disapprove of something не одобрять My sister takes a dim view of the way I raise my children. take a break — stop for rest сделать перерыв Let’s take a break, I’m tired. take advantage of — use for one’s own benefit, to profit from воспользоваться возможностью We took advantage of the low prices and bought a computer and a monitor. take after — be like one of the parents быть похожим на родителей (родителя) Tom takes after his father in character, and after his mother in appearance. take a stand on something — make a firm opinion/decision on smth. занять четкую позицию, мнение People need to take a stand on the issue of nuclear weapons. take care of — look after, protect, see that smth. is done properly позаботиться о ком-то, чем-то, присмотреть за Can you take care of my dog while I’m away? Tom takes good care of his car. take hold of something — take, hold взять, держать Take hold of this rope and pull. take into account — consider smth. принять во внимание You must take into account her old age. take it easy — relax, be calm не волнуйся Take it easy, everything will be OK. take (it) for granted — accept as given принимать как должное Mother’s love is always taken for granted by children. take one’s breath away захватить дух That great view took my breath away. take one’s time — do slowly делать не торопясь Don’t hurry. Take your time. take one’s word for it — believe поверить на слово Take my word for it, he won’t go there. take pains — try hard to do it well прилагать усилия He took pains to make his report perfect. take part in smth. — participate in принять участие Mary is going to take part in the show. take place — happen иметь место, случиться The accident took place on Oak Street. take someone’s mind off things — distract from fixed ideas/thoughts отвлечь от навязчивых мыслей Go to a concert or a movie to take your mind off things. take steps — take action /measures принимать меры We need to take steps against it. take the words right out of one’s mouth — say the same before somebody else says it сказать то же самое чуть раньше, чем другой говорящий I was about to say the same! You took the words right out of my mouth. take time — take a long time занять много времени It takes time to get used to a new place. take time off — be absent from work взять отгул He took time off to attend the wedding. take turns — alternate doing something one after another делать по очереди, меняться местами We went to Minsk by car. We didn’t get tired because we took turns driving talk back — answer rudely дерзить Don’t talk back to the teacher! talk it over — discuss обсудить с кем-то I’ll talk it over with my family. tell apart — see the difference различить, отличить от Can you tell the twins apart? That’s just the point. — That’s it. В этом-то и дело. That’s just the point! I hate this job! the writing on the wall — a sign of future events (usually, trouble) предзнаменование (обычно, беды) The plane crashed. Tim said he saw the writing on the wall about this flight. not think much of — think low невысокого мнения I don’t think much of her cooking. think over — consider carefully обдумать Think over your answer. Think it over carefully. till one is blue in the face — try hard стараться до посинения I repeated it till I was blue in the face! to make a long story short — in short короче говоря To make a long story short, we won. to say the least — to make the minimum comment about smth. самое малое, что можно сказать The film was boring and long, to say the least. try on — put on new clothes to test them for size or look примерить одежду (перед покупкой) Try on this leather coat, it’s very good. She tried it on, but it didn’t fit her at all. try one’s hand at something — try попробовать себя в I want to try my hand at painting. turn on / off — switch on / off включить/выключить Turn on the radio. Turn off the water. turn out to be — result/end this way оказаться He turned out to be a very good actor. turn over a new leaf — make a fresh start in life, work, etc. начать (жизнь, новое дело) заново He promises to turn over a new leaf and quit alcohol for good. turn the tide — reverse the course of events повернуть вспять ход событий The new evidence turned the tide, and the defendant was acquitted of charges. twist one’s arm — make to agree выкручивать руки They twisted his arm to sell the house. under the weather — feel ill нездоровится I’m a little under the weather today. up-and-coming — showing promise of future success многообещающий, подающий надежды He is an up-and-coming young lawyer who might help you with your case. up in arms — hostile to, in strong protest against something протестовать против, сопротивляться The employees are up in arms about the new retirement rules. up in the air — undecided еще не определено My vacation plans are still up in the air. (not) up to par — equal in standard (не) в норме His behavior isn’t up to par. used to — did often in the past, but not now в прошлом делал, сейчас нет I used to play the piano when I was in school (but I don’t play it now). walk on air — be very happy летать от счастья He got the job and is walking on air now. waste one’s breath — speak uselessly, to no purpose не трать усилия зря Don’t waste your breath trying to make him do it, he won’t change his mind. watch one’s step — be careful быть осмотрительным Watch your step! watch out — look out, be careful остерегаться Watch out for that car! Watch out! wet blanket — a kill-joy, who spoils everybody’s fun тот, кто портит всем удовольствие Remember what a wet blanket he was last time? Please don’t invite him again. What’s the matter? — What is it? В чем дело? What’s the matter? What happened? which way the wind blows — what the real situation is какова реальная ситуация He knows which way the wind blows and always acts accordingly. white lie — unimportant lie невинная ложь A white lie is told to spare your feelings. word for word — in the same words дословно, дословный Tell me word for word what he said. would rather — prefer предпочитать I’d rather stay at home today.

Помогите отгадать кроссворд, очень надо 1 — what scientists do to find out something about a topic 2 — after something (eg a crime.

An accident) has happened .

We carry out this 3 — to create something for the firs time 4 — machines and tools that we use to do jobs 5 — a mobile phone needs one of these to work 6 — to improve something which already exists 7 — whithout this, a car wouldn’t go anywhere 8 — a piece of equipment that does a specific job(eg a fridge) 9 — without this, we couldn’t turn on the lights at home 10 — to find something which existed but no — one knew about before.

Вы зашли на страницу вопроса Помогите отгадать кроссворд, очень надо 1 — what scientists do to find out something about a topic 2 — after something (eg a crime?, который относится к
категории Английский язык. По уровню сложности вопрос соответствует учебной
программе для учащихся 5 — 9 классов. В этой же категории вы найдете ответ
и на другие, похожие вопросы по теме, найти который можно с помощью
автоматической системы «умный поиск». Интересную информацию можно найти в
комментариях-ответах пользователей, с которыми есть обратная связь для
обсуждения темы. Если предложенные варианты ответов не удовлетворяют,
создайте свой вариант запроса в верхней строке.

Like this post? Please share to your friends:
  • Word that means not giving up
  • Word that means not funny
  • Word that means not fair
  • Word that means not confident
  • Word that means not able to be understood