Proper Name Idioms and Their Origins. Словарь именных идиом

Citation preview

Л. Ф. Шитова

PROPER NAME IDIOMS

and Their Origins СЛОВАРЬ ИМЕННЫХ ИДИОМ

Санкт-Петербург

ББК 81.2Англ Ш55

По вопросам приобретения продукции издательства обращайтесь: ООО «Антология»: тел.: (812) 328-14-41 e-mail: [email protected] www.anthologybooks.ru Огромный выбор учебной и методической литературы в интернет-магазине

www.bookstreet.ru

Шитова Л. Ф. Ш55

Proper Name Idioms and Their Origins = Словарь именных идиом. – СПб. : Антология, 2013. – 192 с. ISBN 978-5-94962-217-9 Последняя из тематического цикла книга идиом, содержащая на сей раз имена собственные, заимствованные из Библии, мифологии, истории, литературы и реальной жизни. Богатый справочный материал, сопровождающий устойчивые выражения, призван удовлетворить читательский интерес и помочь активному использованию идиом в речи.

ББК 81.2Англ

ISBN 978-5-94962-217-9

© Шитова Л. Ф., 2013 © ООО «Антология», 2013

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. (W. Shakespeare, “Romeo and Juliet”, Act II, Scene 2) Что в имени? Как розу ни зови – В ней аромат останется всё тот же. (В. Шекспир, «Ромео и Джульетта», действие 2, сцена 2) Что в имени тебе моем? (романс Н. А. Римского-Корсакова на слова А. С. Пушкина)

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ В продолжение издаваемой серии книг по идиоматике («350 идиом и их происхождение» и «350 географических идиом») выходит настоящая книга идиом и устойчивых выражений, содержащих имена собственные. Как правило, здесь не рассматриваются эпонимы (т.е. названия явлений, понятий, структур или методов по имени человека, впервые обнаружившего или описавшего их, например, свеча Яблочкова). Что же остаётся в сфере наших интересов? Широкий спектр рассматриваемых единиц составляют персонажи библейских и мифологических сюжетов, а также имена персонажей, пришедшие из художественной литературы и ставшие именами нарицательными. Значительное место занимают разговорные выражения, содержащие имя собственное. Каждая словарная единица сопровождается описанием её значения, происхождения и употребления. Сопровождающий текст выполняет разъяснительную функцию. Так, мы старались подробно комментировать имена, события или даты, появляющиеся в объяснительном тексте, для облегчения восприятия прочитанного. 3

Предисловие

Источником собранного материала послужили словари, перечисленные в соответствующем разделе, а также многочисленные интернет-ресурсы. Иногда возникающая спорность предлагаемых интерпретаций снималась сравнением как минимум трёх различных источников и выбором либо преобладающей трактовки, либо приведением нескольких толкований, имеющих, на наш взгляд, равные шансы считаться адекватными значению и/или происхождению идиомы. При наличии идиоматического эквивалента в русском языке он приводится после английского выражения; при отсутствии эквивалента предлагается подробное объяснение выражения для успешного употребления идиомы говорящим, что непременно сделает его речь более богатой и запоминающейся. Не секрет, что уместное использование в речи библейских, литературных или мифологических аллюзий несомненно повышает рейтинг говорящего, свидетельствует о его интеллектуальном уровне и может способствовать его карьерному росту. Кроме того, новые знания станут вашим личным багажом, приобретённым, надеемся, без больших усилий.

Abbreviations a.k.a. – also known as Am – American Austr – Australian Br – British c./ca. – circa (around) disappr – disapproving facet – facetious

humil – humiliating inf – informal Lat – Latin New Zeal – New Zealand sl – slang usu – usually

Сокращения амер. – американский астр. – астрономия архит. – архитектурный библ. – библейский бот. – ботанический букв. – буквально воен. – военный жарг. – жаргон ирон. – иронично искаж. – искажённый ист. – исторический карт. – карточный книжн. – книжный миф. – мифологический мор. – морской неполиткор. – неполиткорректный обыкн. – обыкновенно особ. – особенно / – слово-синоним // – синонимичное выражение (...) – пояснения, дополнения

первонач. – первоначально посл. – пословица презр. – презрительный пренебр. – пренебрежительный прил. – прилагательное проф. – профессиональный разг. – разговорный редк. – редко собир. – собирательный ср. – сравните сущ. – существительное устар. – устаревшее фольк. – фольклорное фр. – французский шутл. – шутливый экон. – экономика юр. – юридический

A Aaron’s rod – жезл Аарона; символ власти; страсть к обогащению In the culture of the Israelites, the rod would be a natural symbol of authority, as the tool used by the shepherd to correct and guide his flock. The rods of both Moses and Aaron, the older brother of Moses and a prophet of God, were endowed with miraculous power during the Plagues of Egypt. In Exodus 7 God sends Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh, instructing Aaron that when Pharaoh demands to see a miracle, he is to “cast down his rod” and it will become a serpent. When he does so, Pharaoh’s sorcerers counter by similarly casting down their own rods, which also become serpents, but Aaron’s rod/serpent swallows them all. Walt Whitman (1819–1892), an American poet, essayist and journalist, indicates the type of reference in modern times: “the magician’s serpent in the fable ate up all the other serpents, and money-making is our magician’s serpent, remaining sole master of the field.” D.H. Lawrence (1885– 1930), an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter entitled a novel, Aaron’s Rod, in 1922. Also, the name given to various flowering plants. Abelard and Heloise – Абеляр и Элоиза; символ бессмертной трагической любви Pierre Abelard (1079–1142) was a brilliant French philosopher and scholastic theologian, and a very popular lecturer at Notre-Dame. He espoused Aristotelian logic over Platonic theory. But his popular fame rests in his tragic love affair with Heloise. They were secretly married, over 6

Achilles’ heel

Heloise’s objections, after the birth of their son. When the affair became known, Heloise became a nun and Abelard a monk. Their correspondence survives. Centuries after, in 1817, the lovers were buried in a single tomb. They are included today in references to immortal, tragic lovers.

According to Cocker – «согласно Кокеру»; правильно, точно, по всем правилам Edward Cocker (1631–1676) was an English engraver, who also taught writing and arithmetic. Cocker was the reputed author of the famous Arithmetick, the popularity of which has added a phrase (“according to Cocker”) to the list of English proverbialisms. Cocker’s Arithmetick, the fiftysecond edition of which appeared in 1748, and which passed through over 100 editions in all, was not published during the lifetime of its reputed author, the first impression being dated 1678. According to Hoyle – «согласно Хойлу»; согласно строгим правилам In accord with the highest authority; in accord with a strict set of rules. The life and views of the celebrated but controversial English astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle has led many to suggest that this phrase refers to him. Although Fred Hoyle might be a plausible initial guess when tracing the origin of this phrase, the Hoyle in question here is Edmond Hoyle (1672–1769), the English barrister and writer who was the author of several works on card-games. He was, and still is, cited as the final authority when disputes on the rules of card games arose: His divinely inspired plan had gone exactly according to Hoyle. He’d fooled them. Achilles’ heel – (миф.) ахиллесова пята; слабое, легко уязвимое место A person’s weak spot is their Achilles’ heel. It is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength that can actually or potentially lead to downfall. In Greek mythology, when Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would die in battle 7

Adam style

from an arrow in the foot. To prevent his death, his mother took Achilles to the River Styx which was supposed to offer powers of invincibility and dipped his body into the water. But as she held Achilles by the heel, his heel was not washed over by the water of the magical river. Achilles grew up to be a man of war who survived many great battles. But one day, a poisonous arrow shot at him was lodged in his heel, killing him shortly after. Still, Achilles is remembered as one of the greatest fighters who ever lived. The use of Achilles’ heel as an expression used for “area of weakness, vulnerable spot” dates only to 1840.

Adam style – (архит.) «стиль Адама», английская неоклассика Adamesque and Style of the Brothers Adam is an 18th century neoclassical style of interior design and architecture, as practiced by the three Adam brothers from Scotland. The Adam brothers were the first to advocate an integrated style for architecture and interiors. Commonly and mistakenly known as “Adams Style,” the proper term for this style of architecture and furniture is the “Style of the Brothers Adam.” The Adam style found its niche from the late 1760s in upper-class and middle-class residences in 18th-century England, Scotland, Russia (where it was introduced by Scottish architect Charles Cameron), and postRevolutionary War United States. Adam’s ale/wine – (шутл.) вода A cant phrase for water as a beverage. Adam’s ale is a jokey reference to the only drink available to Adam – the first man, in the biblical and koranic traditions. It alludes to the simplicity and purity of life in the biblical Eden before the fall. This is in contrast to the association of strong drink with evil and the devil. “The demon drink” was a metaphor frequently used by supporters of the Temperance Movement. The term is now used less than previously, although it was in common use until the mid- to late 20th century. Also known as Adam’s wine. 8

Alice band

Adam’s apple – адамово яблоко; кадык The Adam’s apple is a bulge in the throat, mostly seen in men. Adam’s rib – (ирон.) женщина; адамово ребро “And the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh; And the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man, made He a woman. And Adam said, This is now the bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.” (Genesis 2:2123). This story is the origin of the false notion that men have one rib fewer than women. Today, a lightly ironic term for woman. Aladdin’s lamp – волшебная лампа Аладдина (талисман, выполняющий желания своего владельца); символ богатства и власти Aladdin, meaning “glory of religion” is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the most famous tales in “The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights)”. The hero of the tale gets hold of a magic lamp that contains a genie who will do Aladdin’s bidding. Through the genie Aladdin amasses great wealth and in the end marries the sultan’s daughter. Aladdin’s lamp is symbolic of any vehicle that will bring instant power and fortune: To people of the time an electric light was a blazing miracle – “a little globe of sunshine, a veritable Aladdin’s lamp”, as a journalist reported. Alice band – лента Алисы; цветная головная повязка или лента; обруч, ободок Headbands are a clothing accessory worn in the hair or around the forehead, usually to hold hair away from the face or eyes. They are used for both fashion and practical/ utilitarian purposes. Horseshoe-shaped headbands are sometimes called Alice bands after the headbands that Alice is often depicted wearing in “Through the Looking-Glass”.

9

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland – Алиса в стране чудес The book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (commonly shortened to “Alice in Wonderland”) is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson who invented the pen name “Lewis Carroll” by translating his first two names “Charles Lutwidge” into Latin as “Carolus Lodovicus”, then anglicising and reversing their order. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world (Wonderland) populated by peculiar creatures. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. Although he was a mathematician, he is best known as the author of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865) and “Through the Looking Glass” (1872), children’s books that are among the most popular of all time. Dodgson wrote mathematical works under his own name but for his children’s books he used his pen name Lewis Carroll. All my eye and Betty Martin (sl) – Сущий вздор! Чепуха! The origin of this dated phrase is unknown, but may be nautical, meaning rubbish, humbug. The phrase or saying, all my eye and Betty Martin means that something is total and complete nonsense. It is found in British English from the eighteenth century on, but is hardly known today. By the 1780s, the phrase was clearly well established. All my eye, with the same sense, is at least half a century older. As for Betty Martin, it was pretty obviously tacked on to the end of the existing all my eye some time later. In similar vein, Londoners created all my eye and elbow, all my eye and grandmother, and all my eye and Tommy, among others, as well as shortening it to the exclamation my eye!, which remained common, especially in the US, until comparatively recently. All Sir Garnet (inf dated) – полный порядок Highly satisfactory. Sir Garnet Wolseley (1833–1913), leader of several successful military expeditions, was associated with major reforms in the army. His reputation for efficiency led to the late 19th-century English phrase everything’s all Sir Garnet, meaning “all is in order”. He was 10

Alnaschar dream

the model for the modern Major-General in Gilbert and Sullivan’s1 “The Pirates of Penzance”.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (saying) – Мешай дело с бездельем, проживёшь век с весельем It is a proverb meaning that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring. Though the spirit of the proverb had been expressed previously, the modern saying appeared first in James Howell’s Proverbs in English, Italian, French and Spanish (1659), and was included in later collections of proverbs. Some writers have added a second part to the proverb, as in Harry and Lucy Concluded (1825) by the Irish novelist Maria Edgeworth: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy. Alnaschar/Al-Naschar dream – пустые мечты, фантазии (по имени героя одной из сказок «Тысячи и одной ночи»); цыплят по осени считают The phrase renders the idea of a parable about counting your chickens before they are hatched. Alnaschar in the “Arabian Nights” daydreamt of the wealth he would make by selling his glassware. In the story, Alnaschar was lying at a high perch and daydreaming, with the basket containing glassware at his feet. He would sell his glassware to make profit, invest the money to buy more glassware and sell it to make more profit. This process would go on and on till he became rich enough to marry the Sultan’s daughter. In his dream Alnaschar had a tiff with his wife and gave her a kick. Only in reality he kicked the basket containing glassware which fell from the high perch and the glassware tinkled into pieces: Coleridge (1772–1834), an 1

Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900). The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado are among the best known.

11

Andromeda nebula

English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher has been called Alnaschar of Modern Literature, because he “dreamt” his “Kubla Khan”, and wrote it out next morning.

Andromeda nebula xñåDÇêmãèÇèz – (астр.) туманность Андромеды The phrase may refer to: • Andromeda Galaxy, a spiral galaxy in the Andromeda constellation • “Andromeda”, a 1957 science fiction novel by Ivan Efremov • “The Andromeda Nebula”, a 1967 Russian film based on the above novel. Andromeda is a princess from Greek mythology who, as divine punishment for her mother’s bragging, the Boast of Cassiopeia, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. She was saved from death by Perseus, her future husband. Anna Kournikova – Анна Курникова, бывшая российская теннисистка и фотомодель, бывшая первая ракетка мира, ныне гражданка США; (неполиткор.) коктейль с обезжиренным молоком A variation of a White Russian cocktail made with skim milk is known as an Anna Kournikova. Annie Oakley – Анни Оукли, американская женщинастрелок; (устар.) пригласительный билет или пропуск, контрамарка Annie Oakley (1860–1926), born Phoebe Ann Moses, was an American sharpshooter. Oakley’s amazing talent and timely rise to fame led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar. Oakley’s most famous trick is perhaps being able to repeatedly split a playing card, edge-on, and put several more 12

Appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober

holes in it before it could touch the ground, while using a .22 caliber rifle, at 90 feet. She would throw six glass balls and shoot them before they fell to the ground. She was phenomenal! A musical called Annie, Get Your Gun, the story of her life, was later produced on Broadway.

Another Richmond in the field – «Ещё один Ричмонд на поле боя» (о неожиданно появившемся, нежданном человеке; иногда о конкуренте) The phrase alludes to Henry of Richmond (later Henry VII of England), chronicled in Shakespeare’s “Richard III” (Act V, Sc. 4): I think there be six Richmonds in the field; five have I slain today. Whatever the origin, today it simply refers to an unforeseen participant or attendant. Any Tom, Dick or Harry – обычные, заурядные люди; первый встречный, всякий, каждый, все без разбора, каждый встречный и поперечный (ср. Иванов, Петров, Сидоров) If something could be done by any Tom, Dick or Harry, it could be done by absolutely anyone. The phrase Tom, Dick and Harry is a placeholder for multiple unspecified people or it plays the same role for one unspecified person. The phrase most commonly occurs as every Tom, Dick and Harry, meaning everyone, and any Tom, Dick or Harry, meaning anyone. Sometimes, the name Harry is replaced by the name of the person being spoken to, for the sake of implying that said person is not a cut above the rest or doesn’t deserve something that is being talked about: Football scholarships aren’t awarded to just any Tom, Dick or Matthew (“Matthew” being the person spoken to). Appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober – просить кого-л. о пересмотре принятого им необдуманного решения When Philip became the king of Macedonia, he soon showed that he was a wise ruler. He treated his people with fairness, and they became very fond of him. One day, after he had been drinking, he was acting as a judge and gave a 13

Applejack

decision against a woman. His sentence seemed so unfair to her that she thought he was under the influence of liquor. “I appeal,” she cried. “I am the king. To whom do you appeal?” asked Philip. “I appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober,” she replied. The next day Philip considered her case again and decided in her favor.

Applejack – яблочная водка, самогон It is a strong alcoholic beverage produced from apples, popular in the American colonial period. Applejack was historically made by concentrating hard cider. The term derives from jacking, freeze distillation. The modern product sold as applejack is no longer produced using this traditional process: Rick came up to us with a bottle of applejack that he claimed to have brewed himself with fruit from his grandfather’s orchard. Archimedes’ Law/Principle – закон Архимеда: на всякое тело, погружённое в жидкость, действует сила, равная весу вытесненной им жидкости Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC) was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Law of buoyancy, discovered by Archimedes states that any object that is completely or partially submerged in a fluid at rest is acted on by an upward, or buoyant, force. The magnitude of this force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. There was involved a bathtub and a crown in which gold had been replaced by silver and of course Archimedes himself behaving as a streaker and shouting “Eureka”. Around Robin Hood’s barn – вокруг амбара Робин Гуда; кружными путями; обходной дорогой All over the place; the long way around; a roundabout or circuitous route. Reference to Robin Hood, the legendary outlaw, whose barn was simply the fields and pastures 14

Ask Paxton

surrounding Sherwood forest, his home: When Celia is the driver, we go all around Robin Hood’s barn.

As game as Ned Kelly (Austr) – отчаянный как Нед Келли Very brave. Ned Kelly (1855–1880) was a famous Australian outlaw, the leader of a band of horse and cattle thieves and bank raiders operating in Victoria. He was so “game” or tenacious, that he impressed everyone in the country – rather like Robin Hood and became a folk hero. He was eventually hanged at Melbourne.

The Robin Hood Memorial in Nottingham

As old as Methuselah – стар как Мафусаил; долгожитель Methuselah (“Man of the dart/spear”) is the oldest person whose age is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Extra-biblical tradition maintains that he died at the age of 969, seven days before the beginning of the Great Flood. According to the Bible (Genesis 7:4), God delayed the Flood specifically because of the seven days of mourning in honor of the righteous Methuselah. Methuselah was the son of Enoch and the grandfather of Noah. The name Methuselah, or the phrase old as Methuselah, is commonly used to refer to any living thing reaching great age. Now proverbial for longevity, this idiom is from W. Shakespeare. As tight as Dick’s hatband – тесный как лента/креп на шляпе Дика Very tight: I’ve got to lose some weight. My belt is as tight as Dick’s hatband. * This window is stuck tight as Dick’s hatband. Ask Paxton – «Спросите Пэкстона» (ср.: Спроси что-нибудь полегче) This catchphrase arose for any problem that proved intractable. Joseph Paxton was the creator of the Crystal 15

Astonish the Browns

Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. Paxton was very lucky in his timing, for just at the moment of the Great Exhibition, glass suddenly became available in a way it never had before. Glass had always been a tricky material. It was not particularly easy to make, and really hard to make well, which is why for so much of its history it was a luxury item. The finished building was precisely 1,851 feet long (in celebration of the year), 408 feet across, and almost 110 feet high. Yet thanks to Paxton’s methods, the final cost came in at an exceedingly agreeable £80,000. From start to finish, the work took just under thirty-five weeks. By the way, St Paul’s Cathedral had taken thirty-five years.

Astonish the Browns – удивить Браунов; бросить вызов укоренившимся в обществе предрассудкам Do or say something regardless of the annoyance it may cause or the shock it may give to Mrs Grundy (see p. 115); challenge deep-rooted social prejudice. All to Astonish the Browns (extract from a street ballad by John Ashton, 1888) Whatever was done by the B’s, The C’s tried to do more than equal, But as they had not the same means, They failed, as you’ll see by the sequel. Jokery, jeering, quiz, Many folks in this world’s ups and downs, Very often astonish themselves, When they try to astonish the Browns.

Augean stables – (миф.) авгиевы конюшни; запущенное, загрязнённое место; clean the Augean stables – расчистить авгиевы конюшни, т.е. внести коренные изменения, совершить радикальные перемены In Greek mythology, Augeas is best known for his stables, which housed the single greatest number of cattle in the country and had never been cleaned. The fifth Labor of Heracles was to clean the Augean stables. This assignment 16

Aunt Sally

was intended to be both humiliating and impossible, since the livestock were immortal. However, Heracles succeeded by rerouting two rivers to wash out the filth. Augeas was irate because he had promised Heracles one tenth of his cattle if the job was finished in one day. As he refused to honor the agreement, Heracles killed him after completing the tasks. Hence, the task of clearing up a gigantic mess is termed cleaning the Augean stables; sometimes applied to the efforts of a reform government upon succeeding a corrupt one.

Augustan Age – век Августа; золотой век литературы и искусства The phrase may refer to: • The period in Roman history when Caesar Augustus was the first emperor. • The period in the history of the Latin language when Caesar Augustus was emperor and Golden-age Latin was in use. • Augustan literature and Augustan poetry, the early 18th century in British literature and poetry, where the authors highly admired and emulated the original Augustan Age. Aunt Jemima/Jane/Mary/Sally/Thomasina – негритянкаподхалимка; (амер. презр.) негритянка, предающая интересы негров A black woman who “kisses up” to whites, a “sellout”, female counterpart of Uncle Tom (see p. 167). The phrase is taken from the popular syrup of the same name, where “Aunt Jemima” is represented as a black woman. Aunt Sally – «тётка Салли» (ярмарочная игра); предмет насмешек или оскорблений; подставной объект для критики A traditional throwing game played in British pubs and fairgrounds. An Aunt Sally was originally a figurine head of an old woman with a clay pipe in her mouth, or subsequently a ball on a stick. Also, Aunt Sally is a character in Mark 17

Average/Ordinary/Regular Joe

Twain’s novel “the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” who attempts to adopt and civilize Huck. The term Aunt Sally is sometimes used in Great Britain as a colloquial political idiom, indicating a false adversary or straw man set up purely for attracting negative attention and wasting an opponent’s energy. So, the term is often used metaphorically to mean something that is a target for criticism.

Average/Ordinary/Regular Joe (Br) – обыкновенный человек An ordinary man. The terms Average Joe, Ordinary Joe, Joe Sixpack (for males) and Ordinary, Average, or Plain Jane (for females), are used primarily in North America to refer to a completely average person, typically an average American. Parallel terms in other languages for local equivalents exist worldwide. Average Joes are common fodder for characters in television or movies, comics, novels or radio dramas.

B Babbittry (Am) – мещанство; (книжн.) мораль и вкусы среднего американского буржуа An excessive feeling of self-satisfaction, bourgeois mentality, provincialism, small-mindedness, smugness. “Babbitt”, first published in 1922, is a novel by Sinclair Lewis. Largely a satire of American culture, society, and behavior, it critiques the vacuity of middle-class American life and its pressure on individuals toward conformity. George F. Babbitt is the principal character of the novel. Bacchus has drowned more men than Neptune – Вакх утопил больше людей, чем Нептун (т.е. вино погубило больше людей, чем море) Bacchus, Roman God of Wine has “drowned” more men than the God of the Sea. This is not literal but means that 18

Barmecide feast

many more men have ruined themselves through alcohol abuse than have drowned in the sea.

Baedeker – Бедекер (название популярных путеводителей по разным странам) Karl Baedeker is a Germany-based publisher and pioneer in the business of worldwide travel guides. The guides, often referred to as simply Baedekers (sometimes the term is used about similar works from other publishers, or in reference to any kind of guide), contain important introductions, descriptions of buildings, of museum collections, etc., written by the best specialists, and are frequently revised in order to be up to date. For the convenience of travelers, they are in a handy format and in small print. Barbie Doll – кукла Барби: привлекательный, но глупый человек (мужчина или женщина) An attractive but mindless person (man or woman). Barkis is willing – «Баркису хочется»; символ желания или готовности сделать что-л. This idiom means that someone is willing to get married. The expression first appeared in Charles Dickens’ wellknown classic “David Copperfield” (1850). Barkis is the name of one of the characters in the novel. He keeps sending a message through David to Clara Peggotty, the maid of David’s mother. The message that David is to give Clara is Barkis is willing. In other words, Barkis is willing to marry Clara. The expression is used nowadays to indicate one’s willingness or readiness to do something. Barmecide feast – бармецидов пир, видимость угощения; притворное гостеприимство; любая привлекательная иллюзия Plentiful or abundant in appearance only; illusory. From a tale in the “Arabian Nights” in which Barmecide, a wealthy Bagdad nobleman serves empty plates to beggars, alleging that they held sumptuous food. 19

Beau Brummell

Beau Brummell – Красавчик Браммел; щёголь, денди, законодатель мод The model dandy in British society was George Bryan “Beau” Brummell (1778–1840), in his early days, an undergraduate student at Oxford. Brummell was not from an aristocratic background; indeed, his greatness was based on nothing at all. Immaculately bathed and shaved, and dressed in a plain dark blue coat, he was always perfectly brushed and fitted. From the mid-1790s, Beau Brummell was the early incarnation of “the celebrity”, a man chiefly famous for being famous. By the time William Pitt (1708–1778), a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years’ War, taxed hair powder in 1795 to help pay for the war against France, Brummell had already abandoned wearing a wig, and had his hair cut in the Roman fashion, “а la Brutus”. In 1799, upon coming of age, Beau Brummell inherited from his father a fortune of thirty thousand pounds, which he spent mostly on costume, gambling, and high living. In 1816 he suffered bankruptcy, the dandy’s stereotyped fate. He fled his creditors to France, where he lived the remainder of his life. He died penniless and insane from strokes in Caen in 1840. A statue of Brummell was erected on London’s Jermyn Street in 2002. Bed of Procrustes // Procrustean bed – (миф.) прокрустово ложе; мерка, под которую искусственно подгоняются искажаемые явления и факты; подгонка под произвольные стандарты In Greek mythology, Procrustes or “the stretcher” was a rogue smith and bandit from Attica who physically attacked people by stretching them or cutting off their legs, so as to force them to fit the size of an iron bed. He had the bed, in which he invited every passer-by to spend the night, and where he set to work on them with his smith’s hammer, to 20

Before you can/could say Jack Robinson

stretch them to fit. In later tellings, if the guest proved too tall, Procrustes would amputate the excess length; nobody ever fitted the bed exactly, because secretly Procrustes had two beds. Procrustes continued his reign of terror until he was captured by Theseus, travelling to Athens along the sacred way, who “fitted” Procrustes to his own bed. Killing Procrustes was Theseus’s last adventure on his journey. In general, when something is Procrustean, different lengths or sizes or properties are fitted to an arbitrary standard.

Becky Sharp – Бекки Шарп, персонаж сатирического романа В. Теккерея «Ярмарка тщеславия»; авантюристка, охотящаяся за богатым мужем The anti-heroine of William Makepeace Thackeray’s satirical novel “Vanity Fair” (1847–48). A cynical social climber who uses her charms to fascinate and seduce upperclass men. Her name (“sharp” having connotations of a “sharper” or con-man) and function suggest that Thackeray intended her to be unsympathetic, and yet she became one of his most popular creations. Before you can/could say Jack Robinson – быстрее, чем успеешь сказать «Джек Робинсон»; очень быстро, немедленно, моментально, в два счёта, в мгновение ока; и ахнуть/опомниться не успел; не успел и глазом моргнуть The term Jack Robinson represents a short amount of time. When you do something before you can say Jack Robinson, you do it very quickly. The phrase is of unknown origin, but of course, there are several theories as to how it came to be. The most popular seems to be that it refers to a man who paid such brief visits to friends and neighbors, that it was impossible to say his name before he went back out the door. The term appeared in Grose’s “1785 Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue”. A song entitled “Jack Robinson” appeared in the early 19th century, and somewhat later it became a slang term for penis.

21

Bend the bow of Ulysses

Bend the bow of Ulysses – (миф.) согнуть лук Улисса; выполнить исключительно трудную работу Penelope, Ulysses’ wife, promised her numerous suitors (who were taking advantage of the fact that her husband was missing, presumably dead) that she would marry the one who would make the best shot, using her husband’s bow. None of them even managed to bend it (in order to shoot the arrow), let alone hit the target. The modern day meaning of the phrase to be unable to bend Ulysses’ bow is that there is an extremely challenging task ahead of you. Benjamin of the family – поскребыш; последний, поздний ребенок в семье; любимчик The Benjamin of the family is a phrase used in several languages to refer to the youngest son – especially when he is much younger than his brothers; sometimes the name is chosen for a son born to mature parents unlikely to have more children. Both of these usages derive from the biblical son of Jacob of that name, who occupied that position in his family. Benjamin is a popular given name for males. Like many biblical names, it is popular in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths alike. Benjamin’s portion/mess – (библ.) порция Бенджамина, самая большая порция; львиная доля (в назидание людям довольствоваться тем, что у них есть); избегать фаворитизма, быть беспристрастным In the Bible, Benjamin was the youngest son of the Jewish patriarch Jacob. When Jacob’s sons encountered their long-lost brother Joseph (the Messiah) in Egypt, where he had become a high official, they failed to recognize him, but Joseph generously entertained them: And he took and sent messes (servings of food) unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs (Genesis 43:34). Joseph showed special regard for Benjamin to see whether his brethren would envy him. It must be our rule, to be content with what we have, and 22

Bess o’ Bedlam

not to grieve at what others have. On the other hand, our children (or loved ones) can become idols and favoring one over others is sin. God does not show partiality.

Bertie Wooster – Берти Вустер (молодой английский аристократ в произведениях П. Г. Вудхауса), (добродушный и глуповатый) богатый бездельник Bertram Wilberforce Wooster, Bertie Wooster, is a recurring fictional character in the Jeeves novels of P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975), a British humorist, whose body of work includes novels, short stories, plays, poems, song lyrics, and numerous pieces of journalism. He enjoyed enormous popular success during a career that lasted more than seventy years and his many writings continue to be widely read. Bertie Wooster, an English gentleman, one of the “idle rich” appears in his books alongside his valet, Jeeves, whose genius manages to extricate Bertie or one of his friends from numerous awkward situations. Bess o’ Bedlam – Бесс из Бедлама; сумасшедшая, безумная, помешанная (прозвище неизлечимых сумасшедших, которых отпускали из Бедлама, лондонского дома умалишенных, просить милостыню) A female lunatic vagrant. Bedlam is a common name for a madhouse, and Bess is a national name for a woman, especially of the lower order. The male lunatic is a Tom o’ Bedlam. The Bethlem Royal Hospital is a lunatic hospital located in London. Although no longer based at its original location, it is recognized as the world’s first and oldest institution to specialize in mental illnesses. It has been variously known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlem Hospital, and from colloquial pronunciation, Bedlam. So, the word bedlam, meaning uproar and confusion, is derived from the hospital’s prior name. Although the hospital is now at the forefront of humane psychiatric treatment, for much of its history it was notorious for cruelty and inhumane treatment.

23

Betty lamp

Betty lamp – лампа Бетти, керосиновая лампа (самой простой конструкции) The Betty lamp is thought to be of German, Austrian, or Hungarian origin. They were commonly made of iron or brass and were most often used in the home or workshop. Betty lamps are being made today as they are popular with living history buffs. The Betty lamp came over to America on the “Mayflower”, was improved upon by Benjamin Franklin and today is prized by collectors. This better lamp design, named the Betty, from the German word, “besser” or “bete”, meaning “to make better”, produced a very good light for its time. The Betty lamp was used widely by the American colonists and by Europeans. In rural areas it was in use until the end of the 19th century. Between Scylla and Charybdis – (миф.) между Сциллой и Харибдой; в безвыходном положении; между двух огней Being between Scylla and Charybdis is an idiom deriving from Greek mythology. Several other idioms, such as “between the devil and the deep blue sea”, “between the hammer and the anvil”, and “between a rock and a hard place” express the same meaning of “having to choose between two evils”: So I’m sailing between the Scylla of protecting the wholly reasonable privacy of friends and colleagues and the Charybdis of causing you, the reader, to sick up (Steven Fry, 2011). Scylla and Charybdis were mythical sea monsters noted by Homer; later Greek tradition sited them on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland. Scylla was rationalized as a rock shoal (described as a six-headed sea monster) on the Italian side of the strait and Charybdis was a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily. They were regarded as a sea hazard located close enough to each other that they posed an inescapable threat to passing sailors; avoiding Charybdis meant passing too close to Scylla and vice versa. According to Homer, Odysseus was forced to choose which monster to confront while passing through the strait; he opted to pass by Scylla and lose only a few sailors, rather than risk the loss of his entire ship in the whirlpool. 24

Big Bertha

Big Ben – Большой Бен (часы на здании английского парламента) The nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. The clock tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest freestanding clock tower. It celebrated its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The tower was completed on 10 April 1858 and has become one of the most Big Ben is in the Clock prominent symbols of both London Tower (Elizabeth Tower) and England. The main bell, officially known as the Great Bell, is better known by the nickname Big Ben. It was named in honor of Sir Benjamin Hall, the President of the Board of Works, during whose tenure of office it was cast, and his name is inscribed on it. On 10 May 1941, a German bombing raid damaged two of the clock’s dials. Despite the heavy bombing the clock ran accurately and chimed throughout the Blitz. Unfortunately, the Big Ben clock tower has been tilting as a result of the excavation of tunnels near Westminster. The tower has tilted an additional 0.9 mm each year since 2003, and the tilt is now visible to the naked eye. In June 2012, the clock tower was renamed ‘Elizabeth Tower’ in honor of the sixty-yearlong reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Big Bertha – Толстая Берта, прозвище гаубицы времён Первой мировой войны Dicke Bertha (German); literal translation “Thick (Fat) Bertha”. The name of a type of super-heavy howitzer developed by the famous armaments manufacturer Krupp in Germany on the eve of World War I. 25

Big John

Big John (Am) – (воен. жарг.) новобранец; просторное туалетное сиденье American military slang for a recruit. Also, a roomy toilet seat. Bill Jim – (воен. жарг.) Билл Джим (прозвище австралийских солдат) A nickname for Australian soldiers. Bird of Jove – орёл Any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight; eagle. Bird of Juno – павлин A very large terrestrial south-east Asian pheasant often raised as an ornamental bird. Bird of Minerva – сова A nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes; bird of night, owl. Bismarck herring – сельдь Бисмарка, маринованная сельдь (филе) The history of the original Stralsund Bismarck herring begins in the 19th century when the trader and brewer Johann Wiechmann established his fish cannery. In the backyard his wife Karoline aside other goods manufactured a specialty. She pickled fresh, filleted Baltic herring and dispatched it in small wooden barrels. Because Wiechmann much admired Otto von Bismarck he sent him a barrel of pickled herrings to his birthday. Bismarck expressed his thanks in a personal writing. On the occasion of the establishment of the German Reich in 1871 another barrel was sent to the Imperial Chancellor – this time together with a letter from Wiechmann. In this he “subserviently” asked for allowance to sell his pickled herring as Bismarck herring in future. In his reply Otto von Bismarck agreed and so the Bismarck herring from Stralsund was born. 26

Blind Tom

Black-eyed Susan – (бот.) рудбекия, гибискус; черноглазая Сьюзен Besides the flower, the phrase may refer to the names of songs and plays and films and people. Black Jack – чёрный пиратский флаг The black pirate flag. Black Maria – тюремная карета; тюремный автомобиль; «чёрный ворон», «воронок», «маруся» The police or prison van is American in origin. The Boston story is about Maria Lee, a large black woman who kept a boarding house in the 1820s with such severity that she became more feared than the police, who called on her to help them catch and restrain criminals. The story almost certainly became attached to her much later because she was well-known, black, and was named Maria, but there’s no evidence that she was actually the source of the name for the police vans. The first reference we have to such a vehicle in Boston is dated 1847, which might seem to be rather too long after her heyday for there to be a direct connection. Also, this name had Thomas Edison’s movie production studio in West Orange, New Jersey. It is widely referred to as America’s First Movie Studio. Blind Tom – слепой Том, афро-американский пианиствундеркинд; жмурки (игра) Blind Tom had a national reputation and appeared in New York City and other large cities each year for about 40 years. Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins (1850–1908), who was born a slave, became an African American autistic savant and musical prodigy on the piano. Little is known about his early training, nor of the gift of repeating musical selections. He was also supposed to be able to “play two melodies simultaneously.” He was born in 1850, of slave parents, near Columbus, Georgia, and gave his first exhibition about 1861. He had numerous original compositions published and had a lengthy and largely successful performing career throughout the United States. During the 19th century, he was one of the 27

Bloody Mary

most well-known American performing pianists. Also, another name for a children’s game “blind-man’s-buff”.

Bloody Mary – кровавая Мэри; одноименный коктейль из водки и томатного сока It may refer either to the Queen of England and Ireland in the Tudor era, Daughter of Henry VIII, or to Bloody Mary, a ghost said to appear in mirrors when summoned. The most common way to make her appear is to stand before a mirror in the dark and repeat her name three times. In some versions of the legend, the summoner must say, “Bloody Mary, I killed your baby.” In these variants, Bloody Mary is often believed to be the spirit of a young mother whose baby was stolen from her, making her mad with grief, eventually committing suicide. In stories where Mary is supposed to have been wrongly accused of killing her children, the querent might say “I believe in Mary Worth.” A Bloody Mary is a popular cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, beef consomme or bouillon, horseradish, celery, olive, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt. It has been called “the world’s most complex cocktail.” Bobbsey twins – близнецы Бобси, ироничное прозвище неразлучных друзей; (ср.: Бобчинский и Добчинский, персонажи комедии Н. В. Гоголя «Ревизор») A facetious name for two people who are often seen together and look or act alike. From the central characters in a series of children’s books by Laura Lee Hope, pen name of a literary syndicate. The first of 72 books was published in 1904, the last in 1979, with a separate series of 30 books published from 1987 through 1992. The books related the adventures of the children of the middle-class Bobbsey family, which included two sets of fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, who were 12 years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who were six: We called them the Bobbsey twins, because they always had the same opinions. 28

Brand/Curse/Mark of Cain

Bob’s your uncle – И дело с концом! Вот и всё! И все дела! Everything is fine, problem solved. This expression is commonly used mainly in Britain and Commonwealth nations. Typically, someone says it to conclude a set of simple instructions to mean, “And there you have it”, or “You’re all set”. For example, “To make a ham sandwich, just put a piece of ham between two slices of buttered bread, and Bob’s your uncle”. It is sometimes elaborately phrased Robert is your father’s brother or similar for humorous effect. Bow down in the house of Rimmon – (библ.) кланяться в доме Риммона; подчиниться действиям, которые не одобряешь, поступить вопреки своим принципам; подчинить свои религиозные убеждения политической необходимости Rimmon was the name of a Syrian god – the Bible verse refers to someone bowing to worship that god. Thus, to bow down in the house of Rimmon implies to conform to a reprehensible custom to save one’s life. Box and Cox – то Бокс, то Кокс; делать что-либо поочередно (особ. a Box and Cox arrangement/existence/ life/etc.) Take turns. The term comes from the comic play Box and Cox – A Romance of Real Life in One Act, by John Maddison Morton (1811–1891). This was first produced at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, London, in November 1847. Box and Cox were two lodgers who shared their rooms – one occupying them by day and the other by night: These two opponents lived a Box and Cox existence in the city. Brand/Curse/Mark of Cain – (библ.) проклятие Каина, Каинова печать (особый знак Каина, убившего Авеля и проклятого богом за братоубийство) Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain, the elder, killed his brother out of jealousy that God seemed to favor him more. The two are therefore the archetype of brotherly discord, and Cain appears throughout literature as 29

Break Priscian’s head

the personification of the original sin of murder. The mark/ curse/brand of Cain, though placed on him by God to protect him and warn others that killing Cain would provoke the vengeance of God (Genesis 4:5), is now used to mean an identifying stigma.

Break Priscian’s head – ломать голову; (редк.) нарушать правила грамматики Write or speak false grammar. Priscian was a famous Latin grammarian, who flourished at Constantinople in the year 500; the author of “Grammatical Commentaries” in 18 books, a standard work during the Middle Ages, and in universal use at that time. The grammar is divided into eighteen books, of which the first sixteen deal mainly with sounds, word-formation and inflexions; the last two deal with syntax. He was so devoted to his favorite study that to speak false Latin in his company was as disagreeable to him as to break his head. Brother Jonathan – (пренебр.) янки, американец; (собир.) янки (об американской нации) A fictional character created to personify the entire United States, in the early days of the country’s existence. Brother Jonathan was usually depicted as a typical American revolutionary, with tri-cornered hat and long military jacket. A popular folk tale about the origin of the term holds that the character derives from Jonathan Trumbull (1710– 1785), Governor of Connecticut. It is said that George Washington often uttered the words: We must consult Brother Jonathan when faced with a difficult question; however, that origin is doubtful, as neither man made reference to the story during their lifetimes. The character was adopted by Americans from 1783 to 1815. During the War of 1812, the term Uncle Sam appeared. Soon the increasingly popular Uncle Sam (see p. 168) replaced Brother Jonathan. Indeed, this character can be seen as an intermediate step between Yankee Doodle and Uncle Sam as a representation of the everyday American. However, 30

Buckley’s chance

Brother Jonathan, and variants of the name Jonathan continued to be used as slang references to Americans through the American Civil War.

Brown Bess – кремнёвое ружьё (состоявшее на вооружении английской армии в XVIII веке) A nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army’s Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire and acquired symbolic importance at least as significant as its physical importance. It was in use for over a hundred years with many changes in its design. One hypothesis is that the Brown Bess was named after Elizabeth I of England, but this lacks support. More plausible is that the term Brown Bess derived from German, as King George I who commissioned its use was from Germany. Another suggestion is that the name is simply the counterpart to the earlier Brown Bill. Brown, Jones and Robinson – Браун, Джоунз и Робинсон; простые, рядовые англичане (ср.: Иванов, Петров, Сидоров) Brown, Jones and Robinson can be identified with lower classes, humbler classes, rank and file, the crowd, the peasantry, proletariat, etc. In the pages of “Punch”, a British weekly magazine of humor and satire established in 1841, they are three middle-class Englishmen on their travels abroad. Buckley’s chance (Austr, New Zeal inf) – шанс Бакли; тщетная надежда; дохлый номер A forlorn hope; no chance at all. The phrase is often shortened simply to Buckley’s. Who or what Buckley was remains uncertain: the name is sometimes said to refer to William Buckley, a convict transported to Australia in 1802 who escaped and lived with the Aborigines for many years, despite dire predictions as to his chances of survival.

31

Buggins’ turn

Buggins’ turn – черёд Баггинза; получить повышение по службе по возрасту или ротации, а не за успехи в работе The method of appointing people to positions based on rotation rather than on merit. Unlike the Hobson of Hobson’s choice (see p.71), Buggins wasn’t a real person. Buggins is one of the generic names, like John Smith, Joe Blow etc., that were given to the typical man in the street: No man likes to be known as Buggins, or Noggs, or Shufflebottom (“The New York Times”, 1859). There’s something of a negative connotation about a position gained by this method – the implication being that, after everyone of merit has had a go, now it is Buggins’ turn. Mayors of English towns and cities have long been selected this way. Each year a new mayor is appointed and isn’t chosen by the people or on merit but simply by picking the next from the list of the town’s notables. The name Buggins may have been coined by sailing folk. The first instances of the term Buggins’ turn in print come from the British admiral John Fisher, who used it more than once in his letters. Burden/Labor of Sisyphus xëfòfDÑ^ëz – (миф.) сизифов труд; тяжёлый и бесплодный труд In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king. He promoted navigation and commerce but was avaricious and deceitful. He also killed travelers and guests, violating the hospitality laws of the goddess named Xenia. He took pleasure in these killings because they allowed him to maintain his iron-fisted rulership. King Sisyphus was punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity. Hence, a ceaseless and fruitless task that must be repeated is called a burden/labor of Sisyphus or a Sisyphean task. Buridan’s ass – буриданов осёл; философский парадокс свободы выбора An illustration of a paradox in philosophy in the conception of free will. It refers to a hypothetical situation 32

By Jove/George

wherein an ass is placed precisely midway between a stack of hay and a pail of water. Since the paradox assumes the ass will always go to whichever is closer, it will die of both hunger and thirst since it cannot make any rational decision to choose one over the other. The paradox is named after the 14th century French philosopher Jean Buridan, whose philosophy of moral determinism it satirizes. A common variant of the paradox substitutes two identical piles of hay for the hay and water; the ass, unable to choose between the two, dies of hunger. Political cartoon c. 1900, showing the United States Congress as Buridan’s ass, hesitating between a Panama route or a Nicaragua route for an Atlantic-Pacific canal.

Busy Lizzy – «деловая Лизи», комнатное растение семейства бальзаминовых; разновидность герани A type of flower belonging to the genus Impatiens, of the balsam family, having irregular, spurred flowers; so called because the elastic capsules burst when touched, and scatter the seeds with considerable force; called also touch-me-not. By Jove/George – Клянусь! Exclamation of astonishment or determination: By Jove/ George I’ll do my best! Jove is probably an anglicization of the Old Latin Jovis which translates into English as Jupiter, the Roman King of Gods. Even today young English people may be taught Roman history directly from original Latin texts which is why the name Jove for God has probably continued to flourish in some circles. The Greeks call him Zeus. The expression seems first to have appeared in the 1500s. Putting it into a simpler way, it is like saying My God / By God! 33

By the Lord Harry!

By the Lord Harry! – Чёрт возьми! (Lord Harry – шутливое прозвище дьявола) Can be used as an expletive. Lord Harry and Old Harry are yet more veiled reference to Satan. Sources are split over whether it is a corruption of Hairy (from satyr-like depictions) or from the same root as harry and harrow in their torment, ravage, pillage senses.

C Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion (saying) – Жена Цезаря вне/выше подозрений; человек, занимающий высокую должность, должен быть безупречен, чтобы даже подозрение не могло на него пасть Pompeia (born 1st century BC) was the second wife of Julius Caesar. In 62 BC she hosted the festival of the Bona Dea (“good goddess”), which no man was permitted to attend, in their house. However Clodius, a young patrician, managed to gain admittance disguised as a woman, apparently for the purpose of seducing Pompeia. He was caught and prosecuted for sacrilege. Caesar gave no evidence against him at the trial, and he was acquitted. Nevertheless, Caesar divorced Pompeia, saying that “my wife ought not even to be under suspicion.” Hence the modern expression that, like Caesar’s wife, a person in high office must act in such a way that no suspicion can fall on them. Calamity Jane (Am) – «паникёрша Джейн»; человек, вечно делающий пессимистические предсказания; пессимист, паникер Pessimistic, panicking, panic-stricken person; prophesying disaster. The phrase is better known related to Martha Jane Cannary (or Canary) Burke (1852–1903), nicknamed Calamity Jane. She was an American frontierswoman and professional scout who gained fame fighting Native Americans. She is said to have also 34

Cassandra warnings

exhibited kindness and compassion, especially to the sick and needy. This contrast helped to make her a famous and infamous frontier figure. Born in Princeton, Missouri in 1852, she would later grow up to look and act like a man, shoot like a cowboy, drink like a fish, and exaggerate the tales of her life to any and all who would listen. It was in 1873 that Calamity Jane reportedly earned her name. As Calamity told the story, it happened at Goose Creek, Wyoming. Captain Egan was in command of the Post and the troops were ordered out to quell an Indian uprising. After a couple of days, when the soldiers were heading back to camp, they were ambushed by a large group of Indians. Captain Egan was the first to be shot and fell from his horse. Calamity Jane was riding in advance, Calamity Jane, 1895 but upon hearing gunfire, she turned in her saddle and saw the Captain fall. Galloping back, she lifted him onto her horse and got him safely back to the Fort. Captain Egan on recovering, laughingly said, I name you Calamity Jane, the heroine of the plains.

Cask of Danaides – (миф.) бочка Данаид; бездонная бочка According to Greek mythology, the fifty daughters of Danaus, who at their father’s command murdered their bridegrooms on their wedding night, were condemned in Hades to pour water eternally into a jar with a hole in the bottom: The concern was like the cask of Danaides into which the public had been pleased to pour its deposits. Cassandra warnings – (миф.) предостережения Кассандры; дар предвидения; предостережения, которыми неразумно пренебрегают The Cassandra metaphor/syndrome/complex is a term applied in situations in which valid warnings or concerns are 35

Catch Jesse

dismissed or disbelieved. The term originates in Greek mythology. Cassandra was a daughter of Priam, the King of Troy. Struck by her beauty, Apollo provided her with the gift of prophecy, but when Cassandra refused Apollo’s romantic advances, he placed a curse ensuring that nobody would believe her warnings. Cassandra was left with the knowledge of future events, but could neither alter these events nor convince others of the validity of her predictions. Thus, while Cassandra foresaw the destruction of Troy, she was unable to do anything to forestall the tragedy since no one believed her. The metaphor has been applied in a variety of contexts such as psychology, politics, science, the corporate world, and in philosophy, and has been in circulation since at least 1949 when French philosopher Gaston Bachelard coined the term Cassandra Complex referring to a psychological phenomenon in which an individual’s accurate prediction of a crisis is ignored or dismissed.

Catch Jesse (Am sl) – «поймать Джесси», получить нагоняй; быть избитым (см. Give somebody Jesse, с. 61) Can be used in such phrases as If you don’t watch out, you are going to catch Jesse. The origin of the term is obscure. Charles’s Wain // The Big Dipper (Am) – Большая Медведица (созвездие) The Big Dipper is an asterism of seven stars that has been recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures from time immemorial. The component stars are the seven brightest of the constellation Ursa Major. The Dipper is significant because the North Star (Polaris) can be found using it. Polaris is part of the “Little Dipper”, Ursa Minor. Known as Charles his waine in some areas of England, the Dipper was formerly called by the old name Charles’ Wain (“wain” meaning “wagon”), as it still is in Scandinavia, Karlsvognen. A folk etymology holds that it was named after Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, King of the Franks from 768 AD and Emperor of the Romans.

36

Chippendale (feet)

Charlie – Чарли, уменьшительное имя от Чарльз (Charles) • (Br inf) a silly person; fool (shortened from Charlie Hunt, rhyming slang for cunt (obscene)) • (Electronics & Computer Science/Communications & Information) a code word for the letter C • (Drugs sl) cocaine Cheap Jack/John (Am sl) – ночлежка, бардак, кабак Cheapjack/cheapjohn – (сущ.) странствующий торговец, лоточник; (прил.) дешёвый, низкого пошиба; «дешёвка» As a noun, it means a haggling huckster, a dealer in cheap merchandise, a peddler. As an adjective, it means shabby, or low quality: The street was lined with cheap-john shops. Checkpoint Charlie / Checkpoint C – контрольно-пропускной пункт «Чарли» The name given by the Western Allies to the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. The Soviet Union prompted the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 to stop Eastern Bloc emigration westward through the Soviet border from East Berlin to West Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie became a symbol of the Cold War, representing the separation of east and west. Soviet and American tanks briefly faced each other at the location during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. After the dissolution of the Eastern Bloc and the reunification of Germany, the building at Checkpoint Charlie became a tourist attraction. It is now located in the Allied Museum in Berlin. Chippendale (feet) – ножки Чиппендейла (характерная форма ножек стульев работы этого мастера) Chippendale furniture is named after Thomas Chippendale of England. Chippendale was a cabinetmaker by trade and was well known for his mastery in wood carving and design. A very distinct feature of Chippendale furniture 37

Cleopatra’s needle

is the ball and claw foot: The world may one day produce better chair makers than Chippendale, but it will never produce finer chairs.

Cleopatra’s needle – «Игла Клеопатры» (прозвище египетских обелисков, установленных в Лондоне, Париже и Нью-Йорке) The popular name for each of three Ancient Egyptian obelisks re-erected in London, Paris, and New York City during the nineteenth century. The London and New York ones are a pair, while the Paris one comes from a different original site, where its twin remains. Although the needles are genuine Ancient Egyptian obelisks, they are somewhat misnamed as they have no particular connection with Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt, and were already over a thousand years old in her Cleopatra’s Needle in Paris lifetime. The London “needle” at the Place de la Concorde is one such example and it was falsely named Cleopatra’s needle. The Paris “needle” was the first to be moved and reerected and the first to acquire the nickname. Clever Dick (Am) – самоуверенный всезнайка; наглец, нахал, хлыщ (see Smart Alec, p. 152) Coal-oil Johnny (Am sl) – мот, транжира John Washington Steele (1843–1920), also known as Coal Oil Johnny, was one of the first oil millionaires acquiring their wealth from the oil discovered in Pennsylvania in the mid-19th century. In 1864, soon after wealth came to him through inheritance from the McClintocks, his foster or adoptive family, the orphan John Steele left the farm and began a lavish and picturesque life, rapidly spending his way through his fortune. He was often 38

Cracker Jack/jack

seen in Philadelphia riding in his carriage with “the picture of an oil derrick, an oil tank, and a flowing well” painted on its doors. After his lavish lifestyle, Steele fell into bankruptcy. He shuttled around, moving to the Mid-West, eventually becoming a railroad station agent. According to his autobiography, written in 1901, after his fall he was hounded by the public and the press and became a recluse to avoid them.

Colonel Blimp (Br old-fashioned) – полковник Блимп, самодовольный реакционер An extremely conservative, pompous, reactionary person, opposed to reform. After Colonel Blimp, a cartoon character invented by David Low (1891–1963). An old man who has old-fashioned ideas and believes he is important: He’s very much a Colonel Blimp with his comments about foreign influences dividing our society. Cordelia’s gift – дар Корделии; тихий, нежный женский голос, подобный голосу Корделии – героини трагедии В. Шексира «Король Лир» The phrase refers to a soft, gentle, woman’s voice: It is her voice that he hears prevailing over those of the rest of the company, for she has not Cordelia’s gift. Cracker Jack/jack // crackajack – (прил.) отличный, блестящий, классный; (сущ.) отличный парень, классная штука; первый американский джанк-фуд This term dates back to the late 1800s, and means “superb” or “excellent”. A person who is particularly noteworthy for his or her ability, deserving admiration; a person or thing of exceptional quality or ability; something excellent of its kind: He drifted into seal hunting and became a crackerjack. Also, Cracker Jack is a US brand of snack 39

Crêpe Suzette

consisting of popcorn and peanuts, well known for being packaged with a prize of nominal value inside. Some food historians consider it the first junk food. In 1896 the name was trademarked for the caramel popcorn product. In 1908 Jack Norworth wrote the lyrics for Take Me Out to the Ballgame, which mentioned the name of the candy propelling it to fame.

Crêpe Suzette – блинчик Сюзетт; тонкий блинчик, жареный на масле, политый горящим ликёром, с ягодной начинкой Crêpe Suzette is a French dessert. The most common way to make Crêpe Suzette is to pour liqueur (usually Grand Marnier) over a freshly cooked crêpe with sugar and light it. This will make the alcohol in the liqueur evaporate, resulting in a fairly thick, caramelized sauce. In a restaurant, a Crêpe Suzette is often prepared in a chafing dish in full view of the guests. The origin of the dish and its name is somewhat disputed. One claim is that the dish was created out of a mistake made by a fourteen-year-old assistant waiter in 1895 at Monte Carlo’s Café de Paris. He was preparing a dessert for Edward, Prince of Wales, the son of Queen Victoria, whose guests included a beautiful French girl named Suzette. The other claim states Crêpe Suzette was named in honor of French actress Suzanne Reichenberg (1853–1924), who worked professionally under the name Suzette. In 1897, Suzette appeared in the Comédie Française in the role of a maid, during which she served crêpes on stage. Monsieur Joseph, owner of Restaurant Marivaux, provided the crêpes. He decided to flambé the thin pancakes to attract the audience’s attention and keep Crêpe Suzette with raspberries the food warm for the actors consuming them.

40

Cut the Gordian knot

Cup of Joe (Am sl) – чашка кофе How American coffee came to be called joe is not well documented, but the leading theory connects it to the oncepopular song Old Black Joe written by Stephen Collins Foster (author of “Oh! Susannah” and “Camptown Races”) in 1860. The name joe appears to have been primarily used in the military, and particularly the navy, during the first half of the twentieth century: Coffee is the marine’s best friend and the Corps might well adopt the good old “joe-pot” for its emblem. Lately, Agent Cooper used to buy cherry pie and a cup of joe from Shelly on “Twin Peaks” (1990–1992). Cut the Gordian knot // Alexandrian solution – (миф.) рассечь/разрубить гордиев узел; быстро и кардинально решить проблему Solve a difficult problem quickly and boldly. The legend is associated with Alexander the Great. The phrase is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem solved by a bold stroke (cutting the Gordian knot). At one time the Phrygians were without a king. An oracle decreed that the next man to enter the city driving an ox-cart should become their king. A peasant farmer named Gordias drove into town on an ox-cart and was declared king by the priests. Out of gratitude, his son Midas dedicated the ox-cart to the Phrygian god and either tied it to a post or tied its shaft with an intricate knot of cornel bark. The ox-cart still stood in the palace of the former kings of Phrygia at Gordium in the fourth century BC when Alexander arrived. In 333 BC, while wintering at Gordium, he attempted to untie the knot. When he could not find the end to the knot to unbind it, he sliced it in half with a stroke of his sword (the so-called Alexandrian solution). That night there was a violent thunderstorm. Alexander’s prophet took this as a sign that Zeus was pleased and would grant Alexander many victories.

41

Daniel come to judgment

D Daniel come to judgment – «Дэниел рассудит» (шекспировское выражение); честный, проницательный, праведный, нелицеприятный судья (в современ. яз. обыкн. употр. ирон.) Someone who makes a wise judgment about something that has previously proven difficult to resolve. This phrase doubtless alludes to the Biblical character Daniel, who was attributed with having fine powers of judgment (Daniel 5:14). The first use of the phrase as we now know it is from Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”, 1596: A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! Darby and Joan – Дарби и Джоан, старая любящая супружеская чета (имена героев баллады Г. Вудфолла, опубликованной в 1735 году) A proverbial phrase for a married couple content to live a quiet shared life; an archetypal elderly couple. The term Darby and Joan used to be common in the UK to denote a devoted old couple who are living out their retirement years in quiet, if impoverished, contentment. It may also be used disparagingly to describe younger people who are perceived to favor spending their evenings in or to follow pursuits seen as middle-aged. In England, the use of the phrase declined somewhat towards the end of the 20th century but is still used, notably in the name of the numerous Darby and Joan old people’s social clubs which still flourish. It has long been wondered whether Darby and Joan were fictitious or real people and various attempts to link the term to actual individuals have been made. Darby isn’t a common surname in England, which gives some credence to the idea 42

Davey/Davy Jones’s locker

that the couple were real. The most frequently repeated attribution is that Darby and Joan was coined by the English printer Henry Woodfall (c. 1686–1747) whose employer John Darby was married to Joan Darby.

David and Jonathan – (библ.) Давид и Ионафан; неразлучные друзья David and Jonathan were heroic figures of the Kingdom of Israel. Jonathan was the son of Saul, king of Israel, and David was the son of Jesse of Bethlehem and Jonathan’s presumed rival for the crown. David became king. The agreement the two men had formed eventually led to David graciously seating Jonathan’s son, a cripple, at his own royal table instead of eradicating the former king Saul’s line. The biblical text does not explicitly depict the nature of the relationship between David and Jonathan. The traditional and mainstream religious interpretation of the relationship has been one of platonic love and an example of homosociality. Some later Medieval and Renaissance literature drew upon the story to underline strong personal friendships between men, some of which involved romantic love. Davey/Davy Jones’s locker (usu facet) – (мор. жарг.) рундук Дейви Джоунза; могила в море An idiom for the bottom of the sea; the resting place of drowned mariners. For obscure reasons, 18th-century seamen gave the name Davy Jones to the ruler of the evil spirits of the sea. It is used as a euphemism for death at sea (to be sent to Davy Jones’s locker). The origins of the name are unclear and many theories have been put forth, including incompetent sailors, a pub owner who kidnapped sailors, or that Davy Jones is another name for the devil – as in “Devil Jonah.” None of these is supported by any evidence – they are little more than guesses. This nautical superstition was popularized in the 19th century: ...seamen would have met a watery grave; or, to use a seaman’s phrase, gone to Davy Jones’s locker. * My camera fell overboard and went to Davy Jones’s locker. 43

Dead as Julius Caesar

Dead as Julius Caesar – мёртв как Юлий Цезарь; без каких-либо признаков жизни, бездыханный; погиб окончательно, «крышка»; утративший силу, вышедший из употребления; исчезнувший без следа Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Gaius Julius Caesar died on the Ides of March. Despite the overwhelming public favor of the great leader, he was assassinated by men who were thought to be his allies. It is estimated that the conspirators numbered around 60, but only 16 were known. A man named Cimber knelt at Caesar’s feet to plead for his brother’s recall from banishment. When Caesar irritably refused him, Cimber yanked Julius’ toga down from his neck and the other conspirators began to stab Caesar. When they were finished, Caesar lay dead with 23 wounds. The phrase can be used for both people and things: Illinois’s death penalty is now dead as Julius Caesar. Dear John letter (humor) – прощальное письмо о прекращении отношений, начинающееся словами «Дорогой Джон» A letter that you send to a man telling him you want to end a romantic relationship with him: I’ve always thought Dear John letters a cowardly way of ending a relationship. Dine with Duke Humphrey – (эвфемизм) отобедать с герцогом Хэмфри; остаться без обеда Go without dinner. The phrase to dine with Duke Humphrey was used by poor people in Elizabethan times to avoid mentioning that they did not have the money to pay for food. At dinnertime they would excuse themselves by saying they would be eating with the Duke. Duke Humphrey’s Walk was the name of an aisle in Old St Paul’s Cathedral near Duke Humphrey’s tomb, an area frequented by thieves and beggars. Hector Hugh Munro (1870–1916), a British writer, updates the phrase by referring to a Duke 44

Dirty Dick’s

Humphrey picnic, one without food, in his short story “The Feast of Nemesis”. Duke Humphrey, or Humphrey of Lancaster (1390–1447), also known as Humphrey Plantagenet, was “son, brother and uncle of kings”, being the fourth and youngest son of King Henry IV. He was a paragon for Eton College, an exemplar for Oxford, accomplished, diplomatic, with political cunning. Unlike his brothers, he was not naturally brave, but opinionated, fervent and judgmental. He exaggerated his own achievements, but idolized his brother Henry V.

Dirty Dick’s – «Грязнуля Дик», знаменитый лондонский паб Before the beginning of the 19th century, the pub on Bishopsgate was called “the Old Jerusalem”, when it got its current name, Dirty Dick’s. The original Dirty Dick was Richard, or some say Nathaniel, Bentley, a prosperous city merchant living in the middle of the 18th century, who owned a hardware shop and warehouse, and is said to be the inspiration for Miss Havisham in Dickens’ “Great Expectations’. Bentley had been quite a dandy in his youth, but following the death of his fiancée, he refused to clear up or clean anything. His house, shop and warehouse became so filthy that he became a celebrity of dirt. Any letter addressed to ‘the Dirty Warehouse, London’, would be delivered to Bentley. He stopped Dirty Dick’s has been a pub since 1804 trading in 1804 and died in 1809. The warehouse was later demolished. But the successive pub owners capitalized on the legend. By the end of the 19th century, they were producing commemorative booklets and promotional material to advertise the pub. For years it kept the cobwebs, dead cats and other disgusting things in the cellar bar, but these have now been tidied up to a glass display case. 45

Do a Lord Lucan

Do a Lord Lucan – «свалить как лорд Лукан»; исчезнуть, испариться; (разг.) сбежать, слинять, смыться If someone disappears without a trace or runs off, they do a Lord Lucan, who disappeared after a murder. Richard John Bingham, popularly known as Lord Lucan, and sometimes colloquially called “Lucky” Lucan, was a British peer, who disappeared in the early hours of 8 November 1974, following the murder of Sandra Rivett, his children’s nanny, the previous evening. There has been no verified sighting of him since then, so he was declared legally dead in October 1999. Do a Melba (Austr, New Zeal inf) – устроить затянувшееся прощание, долгий уход со сцены Return from retirement; make several farewell appearances. The Australian operatic soprano Nellie Melba (the stage name of Helen Porter Mitchell, 1861–1931) made repeated “farewell” appearances. Australian soprano primarily with London’s Covent Garden (1888–1926) and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City (1893–1910). Doctor Fell – доктор Фелл, человек, вызывающий к себе невольную антипатию John Fell (1625–1686) was an English churchman and influential academic. He served as Dean of Christ Church College, Oxford, and later concomitantly as Bishop of Oxford. He was the most zealous man of his time for the Church of England and he made many converts from the Roman Catholics and Nonconformists. He was a disciplinarian, and possessed a talent for the education of young men, many of whom he received into his own family. Tom Brown, author of “The Dialogues of the Dead”, about to be expelled from Oxford for some offence, was pardoned by Fell on the condition of his translating ex tempore the 32nd epigram of Martial, a Latin poet from Hispania: Non amo te, Sabidi, nec possum dicere – quare; Hoc tantum possum dicere, non amo te. To which he immediately replied with the well-known lines: I do not love thee, Dr Fell, The reason why I cannot tell; 46

Don Quixote

But this I know, and know full well, I do not love thee, Dr Fell. As Vice-Chancellor, Fell personally visited the drinking taverns and ordered out the students. He entirely suppressed “coursing,” i.e. disputations which commonly ended in blows and disturbances. Figuratively the phrase refers to a person you feel antipathy to.

Dolly Varden – Долли Варден, яркая кокетка, персонаж романа Ч. Диккенса «Барнеби Радж»; форель Аляски The original Dolly Varden is a character in the Charles Dickens’s novel “Barnaby Rudge” and was well known as being quite flirtatious, wearing her flashy attire and colorful dresses. Somehow the name was passed on to a fish from the Arctic Char Family who has the same flashy appearance: Dolly Varden trout. Don Juan – Дон Жуан; донжуан, обольститель Don Juan (Spanish) or Don Giovanni (Italian) is a legendary, fictional libertine whose story has been told many times by many authors. Among the best known works about this character today are Molière’s play “Dom Juan ou le Festin de Pierre” (1665), Byron’s epic poem “Don Juan” (1821), and many others. The most influential version of all is “Don Giovanni”, an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, first performed in Prague in 1787 (with Giacomo Casanova probably in the audience) and itself the source of inspiration for works by E. T. A. Hoffmann, Alexander Pushkin, George Bernard Shaw and Albert Camus. Don Juan is used synonymously for “womanizer”, especially in Spanish slang. Don Quixote xÇmå=âgDÜçsígz= – Дон Кихот; пустой мечтатель, идеалист “Don Quixote”, fully titled “The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha”, is a novel written by Miguel de Cervantes. The novel follows the adventures of Alonso Quijano, who reads too many chivalric novels, and sets out 47

Dorian Gray

to revive chivalry under the name of Don Quixote. Published in two volumes a decade apart, in 1605 and 1615, Don Quixote is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age. In one such list, Don Quixote was cited as the “best literary work ever written”. Don Quixote has selective vision of the real world. Windmills are giant brutes, sheep are attacking armies, and slaves are oppressed gentlemen. Quixote is an idealist seeing things through rose-colored glasses at times. He fights impossible symbolic battles while the rest of the world says it can’t be done and mocks him for trying. It is ironic that a crazy man is showing humanity the “right way” to live. This character has survived the centuries demonstrating his universal appeal to all.

Dorian Gray – Дориан Грей; самовлюблённый эгоист “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is the only novel by Oscar Wilde, published in April 1891. The novel tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian (whimsically) expresses a desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait Basil has painted would age rather than him. Dorian’s wish is fulfilled, plunging him into debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with each sin displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is considered a work of classic Gothic fiction with a strong Faustian theme. Dorothy/Dolly bag – сумочка Доротеи/ Долли, сумочка невесты; ридикюль, дамская сумочка-мешочек A woman’s handbag gathered at the top by a drawstring and hung from the wrist. Unfortunately, this entry lacks etymological information. The Dolly bag, originally called the Dorothy bag, was carried by the bridesmaid to carry their confetti in. Throwing 48

Douglas-fir

confetti is a former fertility rites tradition. Variations occur throughout the world: flowers, petals, grain, cakes, sugar almonds and rice are all used. The modern use is as a convenience wedding accessory for carrying some of the bride’s or bridesmaids personal effects.

Double jack // doublejack – кувалда; американское пиво; крепкий напиток; грубый секс The phrase may refer to a sledge hammer with two heads; a popular kind of American beer; a strong alcoholic drink made of Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Yukon Jack Canadian whisky; obscene behavior in sexual intercourse. Doubting/A very Thomas – (библ.) Фома неверный/неверующий; скептик; человек, которого трудно заставить поверить чему-л., который отказывается верить без явного доказательства A skeptic; a person who refuses to believe without clear proof. The term is based on the Biblical account of Thomas the Apostle, a disciple of Jesus who doubted Jesus’ resurrection and demanded to feel Jesus’ wounds before being convinced (John 20:24-29). After seeing Jesus alive and being offered the opportunity to touch his wounds, according to the author of the Gospel of John, Thomas then professed his faith in Jesus. For this reason he is also called Thomas the Believer. The Biblical account then reports that Jesus said, Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Douglas-fir – ель Дугласа, распространённое название вечнозелёных хвойных деревьев One of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees. The common name Douglas-fir honors David Douglas, the Scottish botanist who is known for introducing many North American native conifers to Europe. The hyphen in the name indicates that Douglas-firs are not true firs.

49

Drive like Jehu

Drive like Jehu (inf) – бешено мчаться, нестись сломя голову (на машине) Drive very fast, carelessly, or recklessly. Drive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore and alternative rock band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. Jehu as a noun may refer to a king of Israel noted for his furious chariot attacks; also, jehu is a fast driver or the driver of a cab or coach. Dryasdust – «г-н Сухарь», сухой и педантичный человек (по имени вымышленного лица, которому Вальтер Скотт посвятил ряд романов) Dr Jonas Dryasdust was Sir Walter Scott’s (1771–1832) own creation. He pretends to dedicate the novel to him for supplying him with dry historical details. At the beginning of the novel “Ivanhoe”, Sir Walter Scott writes: DEDICATORY EPISTLE TO THE REV. Dr DRYASDUST, F.A.S. Since then the derisory term is used to describe anyone who presents historical facts with no feeling for the personalities involved, making the story dull, dry, or boring. Duke of Exeter’s Daughter – (ист.) «дочь герцога Эксетерского»; дыба, орудие пыток (изобретение этого орудия приписывают герцогу Эксетерскому в царствование Генриха VI) (см. Scavenger’s Daughter, с. 147) The Duke of Exeter’s daughter was a torture rack in the Tower of London. Its presence is said to have been due to John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, the Constable of the Tower in 1447, whence it got its name. The trial by rack is utterly unknown to the law of England, though once when some ministers of Henry VI designed to introduce the civil (i.e. Roman) law into the kingdom as the rule of government, for a beginning thereof they erected a rack for torture, which was called in derision the Duke of Exeter’s daughter, which still remains in the Tower of London. In Queen Elizabeth’s 50

Dumb Dora

reign it was used as an engine of state, not of law, more than once. But when in the reign of Charles I, upon the assassination of the 1st Duke of Buckingham by John Felton, it was proposed to put the assassin to the rack, in order to discover his accomplices, the judges declared unanimously that no such proceeding was allowable by the laws of England.

Dumb Dora (Am sl) – «Дура Дора», глупая девушка, дура Dumb Dora is considered to be 1920s American slang for a completely idiotic woman. The phrase was made popular from the vaudeville acts of George Burns and Gracie Allen (who played the actual role of Dumb Dora), eventually becoming a name of a classic comic strip. The comic strip was discontinued in 1935 despite being given a new lease of life in the 1970s on a CBS game show called Match Game, extending the routine to audience participation. Members who were watching in the studio would shout the phrase How dumb is she? in total unison. Flappers1 during the 1920s shared many of the same common characteristics of a dumb Dora.

1

Flapper in the 1920s was a term applied to a “new breed” of young Western women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior. Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms. Flappers took their name from a tendency of young women in the late 1910s and early 1920s to leave their galoshes unfastened (“flapping” as they walked).

51

Eisenhower jacket

E Eisenhower jacket – китель «эйзенхауэр» (до пояса, с нагрудными карманами) The Eisenhower jacket or “Ike” jacket is a waist-length, military jacket of World War II origins. Called the Jacket, Field, Wool, M-1944, it was commissioned by then General Dwight Eisenhower as a new field jacket for the US Forces in Northern Europe. The WWII-era jacket was based on the British Army tailor-made officer’s “Battle Dress” jacket of the same era. Eisenhower jacket Eisenhower was born in 1890, the third of seven boys. All of the boys were called “Ike”, such as “Big Ike” (Edgar) and “Little Ike” (Dwight); the nickname was intended as an abbreviation of their last name. By World War II, only Dwight was still called “Ike”. Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961. “Et tu, Brute?” – «И ты, Брут?» (предсмертные слова Юлия Цезаря) A Latin phrase often used poetically to represent the last words of Roman dictator Julius Caesar to his friend Marcus Brutus at the moment of his assassination. It can be variously translated as “Even you, Brutus?”, “And you, Brutus?”, “You too, Brutus?”, etc. Immortalized by Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” (1599) (Act III, Sc. 1), the quotation is widely used in Western culture to signify the utmost betrayal. On March 15 (the Ides of March), 44 BC, Caesar was attacked by a group of senators, including Marcus Junius Brutus, Caesar’s close friend. Caesar initially resisted his attackers, but when he saw Brutus, he supposedly spoke those words and resigned himself to his fate. Caesar’s last words are not known with certainty and are a contested subject among scholars and historians alike. The version best known in the English52

Every Tom, Dick and Harry

speaking world is the Latin phrase, which actually forms the first half of a macaronic line: Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar! Shakespeare in turn was making use of a phrase already in common use in his time.

Even Stephen/Steven/Stevens – ровный счёт (в спорте, играх и т.д.); равные шансы на успех и неудачу; поровну, одинаково, справедливо, честно (при дележе) It is a situation in which all the persons concerned have an equal chance of finally winning or succeeding: an evenSteven transaction. If everything is equal between people, they are even Stevens. As for the origin of the phrase, there was an unstoppable and very famous Australian horse called Even Stevens and in a major race the odds offered were even. In 1962 this horse won the Melbourne cup. Today, people from Australia do say It’s even Stevens. Though the horse story is true, there is no evidence that the horse’s name was the origin of the phrase rather than the other way around. In the US, it is even Steven and it is much older than 1962. Most probably, even plus the name Steven is used as rhyming slang. Also, Even Stevens is a popular American comedy television series that aired on Disney Channel from 2000 to 2003. Every man jack (of us/them) (old-fashioned) – все до одного; как один (человек), все без исключения Every single person: If you sack me, the others will walk out too, every man jack of them. Every Tom, Dick and Harry – обычные, заурядные люди; первый встречный, всякий, каждый, все без разбора, каждый встречный и поперечный (ср.: Иванов, Петров, Сидоров) If every Tom, Dick and Harry knows about something, then it is common knowledge. The phrase means everyone, and implies common or ordinary people. It was used in America as early as the late 1500s. Shakespeare writes, Tom, Dick, and Frances in “Henry IV”. 53

Fabian policy/tactics

F Fabian policy/tactics – тактика Фабия; осторожная, выжидательная политика в борьбе с противником (по имени римского полководца Фабия Кунктатора, прозванного «Медлителем») A policy of delays and cautions. Fabian policy, a policy like that of the Roman general Fabius Maximus, who, by carefully avoiding decisive contests, foiled Hannibal, harassing his army by marches, countermarches, and ambuscades. Feast of Lucullus – Лукуллов пир, роскошный пир (по имени древнеримского богача Лукулла, прославившегося необычайной роскошью) The phrase relates to lavish, luxurious, sumptuous Lucullus banquets. Lucius Licinius Lucullus was the Roman general and consul (110–56 BC). Though a Lucullan feast has passed into proverb, Lucullus was not a mere conspicuous consumer. He formed a fine library and kept it open to scholars, wrote himself and supported writers. His garden was filled with works of art, particularly Greek sculpture, both originals and copies of the Old Masters, and has thus been a rich archaeological source of ancient sculpture. Florence Nightingale – Флоренс Найтингейл, английская медсестра времен Крымской войны Florence Nightingale (1820– 1910) was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing in military hospitals during the Crimean War (1853–1856), where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed “The Lady 54

Florence Nightingale

Frankenstein’s monster

with the Lamp” after her habit of making rounds at night. An Anglican, Nightingale believed that God had called her to be a nurse.

Follow somebody like St Anthony’s pig – идти как тень за кем-л.; неотступно, по пятам следовать за кем-л. St Anthony the Abbot is the patron saint of butchers, as well as of pigs and those who raise them. For Pete’s sake // For the love of Pete/Mike – Ради бога! This is used as an exclamation to show exasperation or irritation. Usually used in exasperation, as in Oh, for the love of Pete! Both phrases are euphemisms for “For Christ’s sake” and “For the love of God” respectively and stem from a time when using God’s name in that way was considered blasphemy. There are several theories as to who Pete was, the most common being that he was St Pete, though it may be that the expression for pity’s sake evolved into for Pete’s sake. Frankenstein’s monster – чудовище Франкенштайна; символ изобретения, восставшего против своего изобретателя “Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus” is a novel written by Mary Shelley about an experiment that produces a monster. The first edition was published anonymously in London in 1818. Shelley’s name Boris Karloff appears on the second edition, as Frankenstein’s published in France in 1823. A monster fictional character is often referred to as Frankenstein, but in the novel the creature has no name. Victor Frankenstein builds the creature in his laboratory through methods of science (he was a chemistry student) and alchemy which are not clearly described. Immediately upon bringing the creature to life, Frankenstein flees from it in 55

Freudian slip

horror and disavows his experiment. Abandoned, frightened, and completely unaware of his own identity, the monster wanders through the wilderness searching for someone who would understand and shelter him. Rejected, he turns on his maker and, destroying everyone he loves, hounds him to his death. Symbolically, the phrase means the creation that turns on its creator. Many people blame marketing for the mistake of the creature’s name. There are movie posters featuring a picture of the monster with FRANKENSTEIN written in bold letters across the neck. Due largely to this, the monster is now generally known as Frankenstein.

Freudian slip – оговорка по Фрейду (речевая ошибка, вызванная действием подсознания) Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis. If someone makes a Freudian slip, they accidentally use the wrong word, but in doing so reveal what they are really thinking. Also called parapraxis, it is an error in speech, memory, or physical action that is interpreted as occurring due to the interference of some unconscious, subdued wish, conflict, or train of thought. In general use, the term Freudian slip means something you say that is different from what you intended to say, and is supposed to show your hidden emotions or thoughts, especially about sex: She: What would you like – bread and butter, or cake? He: Bed and butter. Friend of Dorothy (inf euphemistic) – дружок Доротеи, гомосексуалист A homosexual person. In gay slang, a friend of Dorothy (occasionally abbreviated FOD) is a term for a gay man. The phrase dates back to at least World War II, when homosexual acts were illegal in the United States. Stating that, or asking if, someone was a friend of Dorothy was a euphemism used for discussing sexual orientation without others knowing its meaning. A similar term “friend of Mrs King” (i.e. Queen) was used in England, mostly in the first half of the 20th century. The precise origin of the term is 56

Full Monty

unknown and there are various theories. Most commonly, it is stated that friend of Dorothy refers to the film “The Wizard of Oz” because Judy Garland, who starred as the main character Dorothy, is a gay icon. In the film, Dorothy is accepting of those who are different. Others claim that the phrase refers to celebrated humorist and critic Dorothy Parker, who included some gay men in her famous social circle.

From John o’Groats to Land’s End // From Land’s End to John o’Groats – от Джона О’Гроутса до края земли; от севера до юга Англии, с одного конца страны до другого John o’Groats is a village in Scotland. It is popular with tourists because it is usually regarded as the most northerly settlement of mainland Great Britain, although this is not a claim made by the inhabitants and is false. It is, though, one end of the longest distance between two inhabited points on the British mainland, Land’s End being the other. The town takes its name from Jan de Groote, a Dutchman who obtained a grant for the ferry from the Scottish mainland to Orkney. Local legend has the name John o’Groats termed to reflect the Dutch ferryman’s charge of one groat payment for the John o’Groats House ride to the islands. The phrase Land’s End to John o’Groats is frequently heard both as a literal journey (being the longest possible in Great Britain) and as a metaphor for great distance. Full Monty – с полной выкладкой; по полной программе; джентльменский набор (всё, что положено в какойлибо ситуации); (амер.) раздеться догола The full Monty is a British slang phrase of uncertain origin. It is generally used to mean everything which is 57

(Be) Full of the Old Nick

necessary, appropriate, or possible and has been in common usage in the north of England for many years: Apparently, Pam’s wedding’s going to be the full Monty – a long white dress for the bride, morning dress for the men, four bridesmaids in matching satin and so on. An American equivalent might be the phrase the whole nine yards. Since the 1997 film “The Full Monty”, which features a group of men in Sheffield learning to strip, the phrase has acquired an additional usage, unique to the United States, meaning removing every item of clothing. Possible origins of the phrase include: • the huge Eighth Army commanded by Field Marshal Montgomery during the desert campaign in WWII (1941–1943). • rigorous training by Field Marshal Montgomery: We suddenly knew that we were going to be put through the full Monty treatment. • the large breakfasts eaten by Field Marshal Montgomery1. • a full three-piece suit with waistcoat and a spare pair of trousers (as opposed to a standard two-piece suit) from the British tailor Montague Burton. When the British forces were demobilized after WWII, they were issued with a “demob suit”. The contract for supplying these suits was fulfilled by Montague Burton, so the complete suit of clothes issued to the servicemen was known as the full Monty.

(Be) Full of the Old Nick (inf) – шалить, озорничать, шкодить Always making trouble; naughty; bad: That boy is full of the Old Nick. 1

58

Bernard Montgomery was the senior British military commander at D-Day and retained that position until the war ended. The landings of the Allied invasion of Normandy started on June 6, 1944 (D-Day). The ‘D’ in D-Day does not stand for anything, it is just a name the military use when planning an event.

Gerrymander

G Gallup poll/polling (Am) – анкетный опрос населения по различным вопросам, проводимый Институтом общественного мнения Гэллапа, США George Gallup founded the American Institute of Public Opinion in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1935. He wished to objectively determine the opinions held by the people. To ensure his independence and objectivity, Dr Gallup resolved that he would undertake no polling that was paid for or sponsored in any way by special interest groups such as the Republican and Democratic parties, a commitment that Gallup upholds to this day. In 1936 Gallup successfully predicted that Franklin Roosevelt would defeat Alfred Landon for the US presidency; this event quickly popularized the company. The Gallup Poll is the division of Gallup that regularly conducts public opinion polls in more than 140 countries around the world. Gallup Polls are often referenced in the mass media as a reliable and objective audience measurement public opinion. Gallup Polls are best known for their accuracy in predicting the outcome of United States presidential elections. Gerrymander – (предвыборные) махинации The word gerrymander is an American political term. To gerrymander is to divide an area into election districts so as to give one political party a majority in many districts. The word gerrymander is a portmanteau from the name of Elbridge Gerry and salamander. Gerry was the governor of Massachusetts when he signed a bill in 1812 to redraw the district boundaries to favor the Democrats and weaken the Federalists. The shape of the district he formed was likened in appearance to a salamander, and political cartoonists emphasized that appearance to denigrate the Democrats. Gerry did not sponsor the bill in question and was said to have signed it reluctantly, but his name has gone into history as that of a villain. Also, there is a pronunciation issue regarding the 59

Get/Have a Charlie horse

word gerrymander. Governor Gerry’s name was pronounced with a hard g, and in the nineteenth century gerrymander was likewise pronounced with a hard g. However, by analogy with the common name Jerry (sometimes spelled Gerry), this word is now almost always pronounced with a soft g, and is sometimes even spelled jerrymander. The word was first found in 1812.

Get/Have a Charlie horse – ногу свело; судорога (болезненный мышечный спазм) Develop a cramp in the arm or leg, usually from strain. A Charley horse or Charlie horse is a popular North American colloquial term for painful spasms or cramps in the leg muscles. Such an injury is known in the United Kingdom, United States, and many Commonwealth countries as a “dead leg”, “granddaddy”, or “chopper”. In Australia it is also known as a corked thigh or “corky.” It often occurs in sports when an athlete’s limb moves in a way it shouldn’t, in a manner like the kick of a horse, perhaps the reason for its name. The condition is common among hockey players. The term may date back to American slang of the 1880s, possibly from the pitcher Charlie “Old Hoss” Radbourn who is said to have suffered from cramps: Don’t work too hard or you’ll get a Charlie horse. Gibson Girl – девушка Гибсона, идеальная молоденькая американка конца XIX века The Gibson Girl was the personification of a feminine ideal as portrayed in the satirical pen-and-inkillustrated stories created by Charles Dana Gibson during a 20-year period spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the United States. Some people argue that the Gibson Girl was the first national standard for feminine beauty. For the next two decades, Gibson’s fictional images were extremely 60

GI Joe

popular. There was merchandising of “saucers, ashtrays, tablecloths, pillow covers, chair covers, souvenir spoons, screens, fans, umbrella stands”, all bearing her image.

Girl Friday – надёжная, преданная офисная сотрудница (особенно секретарша) A very dependable and helpful female office worker; especially a secretary: There was an advertisement in the newspaper for a girl Friday. Give somebody Jesse/jessie (Am sl) – крепко отругать; сильно избить, исколошматить кого-л. (см. Catch Jesse, с. 36) Punish or scold; reprimand or castigate. In this expression, Jesse may refer to the father of David (Isaiah 11:1, 10), a righteous and valiant man. It is more likely, however, that the reference is to the sport of falconry in which a jess, or jesse, a strap used to secure a bird by its leg to a falconer’s wrist, was used as a punishment for poor performance: Just as soon as I go home I’ll give you jessie. (Alice Cary “Married”, 1856) GI Jane (Am) – женщина-солдат; «Солдат Джейн», американский фильм G.I. Jane is a 1997 American action film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Demi Moore. The film tells the fictional story of the first woman to undergo training in US Navy Special Warfare Group. Moore’s performance earned her the 1997 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress. GI Joe (Am) – американский солдат, «джи-ай»; популярная игрушка «солдатики» GI, an American soldier. The term G.I. stands, in popular usage, for Government Issued and after the First World War (1917) became a generic term for US soldiers, especially ground forces. For much of the twentieth century, GI has been the common designation for the American fighting man 61

Gladstone bag

or woman. The G.I. Joe trademark has been used by the toy company Hasbro producing a line of action figures. GI Joe’s appeal to children have made it somewhat of an American icon among toys.

Gladstone bag – кожаный саквояж Глэдстоуна A Gladstone bag is a small portmanteau suitcase built over a rigid frame which could separate into two equal sections. Unlike a suitcase, a Gladstone bag is “deeper in proportion to its length.” They are typically made of stiff leather and often belted with lanyards. The bags are named after William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898), the four-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Go/Gone for a Burton/burton (Br inf) – отдать концы, погибнуть; сбегать за пивом Meet with disaster; be ruined, destroyed, or killed. This phrase first appeared in mid-20th century air force slang, meaning “be killed in a crash”. There are two main interpretations of the phrase: • Go for a burton refers to the beer brewed in the Midlands town of Burton-upon-Trent, which was and still is famous for its breweries. In the late 1930s, advertisements for the beer showed a group of drinkers with one missing and the sign said “Gone for a Burton”. So, gone for a burton is a euphemistiс phrase meaning literally “gone for a drink”. Also, RAF (Royal Air Force) pilots who crashed, especially those who crashed into the sea, i.e. “in the drink”, were said to have “gone for a burton”. • Go for a burton is a reference to the suits made by Montague Burton, who supplied the majority of the demobilization suits that British servicemen were given on leaving service after WWII (see the Full Monty, p. 57). This phrase is now 62

Gordon Bennett

rather archaic and began fading from general use during the later part of the 20th century. It hasn’t quite “gone for a burton” but it is certainly well on its way.

(Be) Going Jesse (Am) – успешное предприятие If something is going Jesse, it’s a viable, successful project or enterprise. Good Jack makes a good Jill (saying) – если Джек хорош, то и Джилл будет хороша (ср.: У хорошего мужа жена хорошая) If a husband or man wants his wife or girlfriend to be respectful and loving to him, he should be respectful and loving to her. Don’t blame your wife for being shorttempered with you; you’ve been so unpleasant to her lately. Another variant of the proverb is A good husband makes a good wife. Gordian knot – гордиев узел; любая сложная проблема The Gordian Knot is a legend associated with Alexander the Great. It is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem solved easily by cheating or thinking outside the box, i.e. thinking differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective. An intricate knot tied by Gordius in the thong which connected the pole of the chariot with the yoke. An oracle having declared that he who should untie it should be master of Asia, Alexander the Great averted the ill omen of his inability to loosen it by cutting it with his sword. Hence, a Gordian knot is an inextricable difficulty, and to cut the Gordian knot is to remove a difficulty by bold and energetic measures: W. G. Sebald in “The Rings of Saturn” recounts the episode of Joseph Conrad who was shot or shot himself in the chest allowing him to cut the gordian knot of a stormy love affair. Gordon Bennett – Гордон Беннет! Чёрт подери! James Gordon Bennett, a newspaper baron, liked to announce his arrival in a restaurant by yanking the tablecloths from all the tables he passed. He would then hand 63

Granny Smith

the manager a wad of cash with which to compensate his victims for their lost meals and spattered attire. His name lives in the cry “Gordon Bennett!” which is actually an expletive, or a minced oath.

Granny Smith – Грэнни Смит, бабуля Смит (популярный сорт яблок) The Granny Smith apple gets its name from its founder, Mrs Mary Ann (Granny) Smith (1799–1870). Granny Smith apples are crisp, juicy, and tart which makes them perfect for either baking in pies, stewed in sauces or eating out of hand. They are also great in salads because once cut, they keep their color longer than other apples. The Granny Smith green apple originated in Australia in 1868. Widely propagated in New Zealand, it was introduced to the United Kingdom in 1935 and the United States in 1972. The advent of the Granny Smith Apple is celebrated annually in Eastwood (Australia) with the Granny Smith Festival. Great Caesar (’s Ghost)! – Боже мой! Видит бог! Вот те на! Вот так-так! Честное слово! Ого! Не может быть! (восклицание, выражающее удивление, досаду и т.п.) Caesar refers to Julius Caesar, the famous Roman politician assassinated after he took complete power in the Roman Republic. In William Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar”, his ghost appears to Brutus, one of the assassins. As for the expression Great Caesar’s Ghost, it is a rather old expression that is a euphemism for “good God”, in the days when saying “God” as an oath was considered very rude. It is rarely used these days: I hopped in and shook off the towel, and great Caesar’s ghost, I almost stepped on Injun Joe’s hand! Great Godfrey! (inf) – выражение удивления или гнева A saying usually used to show surprise or anger: Great Godfrey! The lion is out of his cage.

64

Guinness

Great Scot(t)! – выражение удивления, недоумения, тревоги, испуга (то же, что Great Caesar’s!) An exclamation of surprise, amazement, or dismay. The origin of the expression is uncertain, with several plausible sources. A likely source is as a reference to American Civil War commander-in-chief of the US Army, General Winfield Scott. The general, known to his troops as Old Fuss and Feathers, weighed 300 pounds (21 stone or 136 kg) in his later years and was too fat to ride a horse. In an 1871 issue of the “Galaxy”, the expression itself is quoted: Great Scott! he gasped in his stupefaction, using the name of the then commander-in-chief for an oath, as officers sometimes did in those days. In England the expression is sometimes humorously extended to Great Scotland Yard! Greenwell’s glory – предмет гордости Гринуэлла; наживка для рыбалки The most beloved of trout flies. First dressed in 1854 on the River Tweed by Canon William Greenwell of Durham, the Greenwell’s Glory has since become one of the most well known and widely used of all British trout flies. Grow like Topsy – расти как Топси; очень быстро расти; расти как на дрожжах; взяться ниоткуда/неизвестно откуда Grow very fast. A small black girl character in the novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1851–52) by Harriet Beecher Stowe. When somebody asks her whether she knows who made her (that is, whether she has heard of God), she replies “I expect I grow’d” (= grew). People say something “just grew, like Topsy” when they are talking about something whose real origin is not known or about something that has gradually become very large: The government must decide how to allocate health-care resources in the face of demand that is growing like Topsy. Guinness – Гиннес, крепкий ирландский портер A popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness (1725–1803) at Dublin. Guinness is directly 65

Guinness World Records

descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost 50 countries and available in over 100 countries. A distinctive feature is the burnt flavor which is derived from the use of roasted unmalted barley. For many years a portion of aged brew was blended with freshly brewed product to give a sharp lactic flavor. Although the palate of Guinness still features a characteristic “tang”, the company has refused to confirm whether this type of blending still occurs. The thick creamy head is the result of the beer being mixed with nitrogen when being poured. It is popular with Irish people both in Ireland and abroad, and, in spite of a decline in consumption since 2001, is still the best-selling alcoholic drink in Ireland where Guinness & Co. makes almost €2 billion annually.

Guinness World Records – книга рекордов Гиннеса Known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records, it is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world. The book itself holds a world record, as the best-selling copyrighted book series of all time. It is also one of the most frequently stolen books from public libraries in the United States.

H “Hamlet” with Hamlet left out/without the Prince of Denmark – «Гамлет» без Гамлета / принца Датского (т.е. что-л., лишённое самого важного, основного, самой своей сути; ср.: Яичница без яиц) The phrase indicates an event from which the principal performer or star attraction is absent. The reference is to the play “Hamlet” in which the central character is the prince of Denmark, namely Hamlet himself. It was Wordsworth, an English Romantic poet, who first noted in a letter of 1793, 66

Happy as Larry

the story of a company of strolling players who advertised a performance of “Hamlet” and announced, at the beginning of the performance, that they hoped the audience would forgive the omission of the character of the prince, who as it happened ran away with an innkeeper’s daughter: Hamlet without the prince of Denmark: How development has disappeared from today’s ‘development’ discourse.

Handy Andy – ловкач Энди; мастер на все руки, готовый на всяческие проделки After Handy Andy Rooney, hero of the novel Handy Andy by the Irish novelist Samuel Lover (1842). From the day he was born, Andy Rooney was a mischievous troublemaker. When he was old enough to work, his mother took him to Squire Egan of Merryvale Hall, who hired him as a stableboy. His literal mind and naive ways frequently caused his superiors great agitation. One day, Squire Egan sent Andy to the post office to get a letter. Thinking the postage unduly high, Andy stole two other letters in order to get his money’s worth. This idiom may refer to: • Handy Andy, a comedic 1842 novel by Samuel Lover. The hero of Lover’s is “handy” Andy Rooney, a likable enough guy who has an unfortunate knack • Handy Andy (tools), a brand of children’s carpentry tools • Handy Andy (film), a 1934 film starring Will Rogers • Handy Andy (supermarket chain) • Handy Andy (comic strip), a strip in the British comic “Krazy” Happy as Larry – (Austr, New Zeal sl) довольный как слон When you are as happy as Larry, you are very happy indeed. The phrase seems to have originated as either Australian or New Zealand slang sometime before 1875. The Oxford Dictionary of New Zealand English has traced it to a writer named G. L. Meredith, who wrote in about 1875: We would be as happy as Larry if it were not for the rats. Unlike 67

Heath Robinson

other odd phrases – the Australian happy as a boxing kangaroo in fog time and the New Zealand happy as a sick eel on a sandspit – it was meant positively: extremely happy or content. There’s a suggestion that it comes from the name of the nineteenth-century Australian boxer Larry Foley (1847–1917), though why he was especially happy nobody now seems able to say. But this origin is far from certain. The phrase is more likely to come from an English dialect source, larrie, joking, jesting, a practical joke, or larrikin for a mischievous youth. Another possible link is with the Australian and New Zealand term larrikin for a street rowdy or young urban hooligan, recorded from the late 1860s. Either of these sources could afterwards have been reinforced through a supposed connection with Larry Foley.

Heath Robinson (Br) – чудо-юдо; чудо морское; непрактичное изобретение; диковинка One of the eponyms, i.e. words coined after people’s names. If a machine or system is described as Heath Robinson, it is absurdly complex and fancifully impractical. The term was coined after W. Heath Robinson (1872–1944), a British artist known for drawing ingeniously complicated devices. He was a superbly inventive cartoonist who created wonderful “Modern Times” (1936), and pointless contraptions which Charles Chaplin, Eating Machine sent up the 20th century’s lust for technology. To say that Robinson was a lover of the absurd is a gross understatement, as he drew very complicated machines that performed simple tasks: The ancient church of St John the Baptist in Clayton, East Sussex, has a bat problem. Several devices of a Heath Robinson nature are suggested – boards to deflect the trajectory of urine and droppings, flashing lights, ultra-sound, unpleasant smells, stuffed owls, rustling aluminum foil and helium-filled balloons. 68

Herculean Labour(s)

Hector – (миф.) Гектор; отважный воин; задира, хулиган, забияка, хвастун; грозить, запугивать, задирать, хвастать, бахвалиться; гроза на большой высоте In Greek Mythology, a Trojan prince, the eldest son of Priam and Hecuba, killed by Achilles in Homer’s “Iliad”. Used as a common noun, means a bully; as a verb – to intimidate or dominate in a blustering way, to behave like a bully; swagger. Also, Hector or “Hector the Convector” is known as one of the world’s most consistently large thunderstorms reaching heights of approximately 20 kilometers (66,000 ft). Hemingway Solution – способ самоубийства, примененный Хемингуэем Commit suicide via shotgun blast administered beneath the chin or inside the mouth, as mentioned in Stephen King’s novel “Dreamcatcher”. If the shotgun is particularly long, the trigger is often pulled by a toe: Damn it, why did he have to go and use the Hemingway Solution in my room? Now there’s brain matter all over my ceiling.* The old guy in ‘the Hills Have Eyes’ used the Hemingway Solution. Herculean Labour(s) – (миф.) геркулесов труд; подвиги Геракла; исключительно трудное дело The goddess Hera, determined to make trouble for Hercules, made him lose his mind. In a confused and angry state, he killed his own wife and children. When he awakened from his “temporary insanity,” Hercules was shocked and upset by what he’d done. He prayed to the god Apollo for guidance, and the god’s oracle told him he would have to serve King Eurystheus for twelve years, in punishment for the murders. Eurystheus ordered Hercules to perform ten labors. He accomplished these tasks, but Eurystheus refused to recognize two: the cleansing of the Augean stables, because Hercules was going to accept pay for the labor; and the killing of the Lernaean Hydra, as Hercules’ nephew had helped him burn the stumps of the heads. Eurystheus set two more tasks, which Hercules 69

Hercules’ Pillars

performed successfully, bringing the total number of tasks to twelve. By the end of these Labors, Hercules was, without a doubt, Greece’s greatest hero. His struggles made him the perfect embodiment of an idea that the Greeks called pathos, the experience of virtuous struggle and suffering which would lead to fame and, in Hercules’ case, immortality.

Hercules’ Pillars – (миф.) геркулесовы столбы/столпы; Гибралтарский пролив The phrase was applied in Antiquity to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The northern Pillar is the Rock of Gibraltar in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. A corresponding North African peak in Morocco not being predominant, the identity of the southern Pillar has been disputed through history. According to some Roman sources, while on his way to the island of Erytheia Hercules had to cross the mountain that was once Atlas. Instead of climbing the great mountain, Hercules used his superhuman strength to smash through it. By doing so, he connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and formed the Strait of Gibraltar. One part of the split mountain is Gibraltar and the other is either Monte Hacho or Jebel Musa of Morocco. These two mountains taken together have since then been known as the Pillars of Hercules. A Greek historian, however, held that instead of smashing through an isthmus to create the Straits of Gibraltar, Hercules narrowed an already existing strait to prevent monsters from the Atlantic Ocean from entering the Mediterranean Sea. Renaissance tradition says the pillars bore the warning Non plus ultra (“nothing further beyond”), serving as a warning to sailors and navigators to go no further. Figurative meaning: going to absurd. Hillbilly // Hill Jack // hilljack – деревенщина Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered 70

Hobson’s choice

derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of Appalachian heritage. Origins of the term “hillbilly” are obscure. The Appalachian region was largely settled in the 18th century by the Scotch-Irish. The most credible theory of the term’s origin is that it derives from the linkage of two older Scottish expressions, “hill-folk” and “billie” which was a synonym for “fellow”, similar to “guy” or “bloke”. The use of the term outside the Appalachians arose in the years after the American Civil War (1861–1865), when the Appalachian region became increasingly bypassed by technological and social changes taking place in the rest of the country. As the frontier pushed further west, the Appalachian country retained its frontier character, and the people themselves came to be seen as backward, quick to violence, and inbred in their isolation.

Hippocratic oath – клятва Гиппократа; клятва верности высокому моральному облику и этическому поведению врача An oath attributed to Hippocrates, “the father of medicine”, and enjoined upon his followers, setting up a canon of behavior, integrity and loyalty for doctors. One version begins with the words, “I swear by Apollo, the physician, by Aesculapius, by Hygeia, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses…” The so-called Hippocratic oath taken by the medical profession today is much shorter and somewhat different although the intent is in many respects the same. Hobson’s choice – выбор Хобсона (по имени владельца конюшни), выбор поневоле; видимость выбора A Hobson’s choice is a free choice in which only one option is offered. As a person may refuse to take that option, the choice is therefore between taking the option or not; “take it or leave it”. The phrase is said to originate with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England. Hobson had an extensive stable of some 40 horses. This gave the appearance to his customers 71

Holy Joe

of having their choice of mounts when in fact there was only one. In order to rotate the use of his horses, Hobson offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in the stall nearest the door or taking none at all.

Holy Joe (Am sl) – святой Джо (прозвище военных священников); ханжа, лицемер, фарисей A minister or chaplain; any sanctimonious or selfrighteous person. Holy Moses (inf) – святой Моисей; выражение удивления, удовольствия или гнева Used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure, or anger. Home, James (home, and don’t spare the horses)! – Гони домой, Джеймс, и коней не жалей! Home, James has been an expression for a very long time, but it is difficult to find its precise origin. One source, Oxford’s English Dictionary, places it in 1927. It seems to have found a large part of its popularity from the 1934 song by Fred Hillebrand. This is a clichéd way of telling the chauffeur, a privately employed driver of a vehicle to start driving: Okay, Watson, drive on. Home, James, and don’t spare the horses. Homeric laughter – гомерический хохот; неудержимый, громовой хохот Boisterous, loud and unrestrained laughter, prolonged belly laughing, as that of the gods. The Homer referred to in this expression is the Greek poet who is believed to have written the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey”, and not the leading character in the well-known television show, “The Simpsons”. People laugh differently. Some laugh silently, while others tend to guffaw. ‘Homeric laughter’ refers to 72

Honest/Old Abe

laughter of the latter kind. Such belly shaking laughter is called Homeric laughter because this is how the gods laughed in Homer’s classics. When you think about it, this is how the crazy Homer Simpson laughs as well!

Homer sometimes nods – (букв.) и Гомер может клевать носом; каждый может ошибиться; на всякого мудреца довольно простоты; и на старуху бывает проруха This is an expression which is not heard very often these days. Homer is the Greek poet who wrote two great epics: the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey”. The word “nod” in this context means to “fall asleep”. What the idiom means is “nobody is perfect”: even someone as great as Homer ended up making mistakes in his two epics. The idiom is actually a translation of a line from the Roman poet Horace, who in his “De Ars Poetica”, wrote: “I think it is a shame when the worthy Homer nods: but in so long a work it is allowable if drowsiness comes on.” What happens when you are at work and feel drowsy? As you are unable to think clearly, you begin to make numerous mistakes: When I told Jill there were a couple of errors in her report, she replied that even Homer sometimes nods. Honest/Old Abe (Am) – честный/старый Эйб (прозвище президента Авраама Линкольна) Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and promoting economic and financial modernization. Abraham Lincoln had many nicknames during his lifetime – the Rail Splitter, The Great Emancipator, The Liberator, Father Abraham, Uncle Abe – but perhaps none of these is as widely recognized and referenced today as the nickname, Honest Abe. Innumerable incidents are related of Lincoln, who sprang to protect defenseless women from insult, or feeble children from tyranny; for in the rude community in which he lived, the rights of the defenseless 73

Honest Injun

were not always respected as they should have been. On one occasion, when he worked as a general store clerk, finding late at night, when he counted over his cash, that he had taken a few cents from a customer more than was due, he closed the store, and walked a long distance to make good the deficiency. Lincoln’s integrity and insistence on honesty became even more apparent in his law practice.

Honest Injun (Am dated) – «честный индеец», клятва верности Honestly, really; an oath of honesty. Honest Injun as an asseveration of truthfulness first recorded in 1876 in “Tom Sawyer”; a slang term used to emphasize the truth of a statement; sometimes considered offensive; meaning “honest Indian”, where “Indian” is usually pronounced “Injun”. Hooverville (Am) – Гувервиль, бидонвиль; поселок безработных; лачуги из фанеры, ящиков и т.п. A Hooverville was the popular name for shanty towns built by homeless people during the Great Depression. They were hundreds throughout the country, each testifying to the housing crisis that accompanied the employment crisis of the early 1930s. Hooverville was a deliberately politicized label, emphasizing that President Herbert Hoover and the Republican Party were to be held responsible for the economic crisis and its miseries. House that Jack built – «дом, который построил Джек»; рассказ с повторениями (намёк на известные детские стихи) It is a popular British nursery rhyme and cumulative tale. It is unsure who “Jack” really is, but it is believed that he may have been Jesus, since Jesus was a carpenter. The phrase can imply some repetitive story and used derisively. This is the house that Jack built This is the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. 74

If the mountain will not come to Mahomet,..

This is the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. Mother Goose

I I’m all right, Jack (Br inf) – Я в порядке, Джек! (выражение самоуверенности и самодовольства) Used to express or to comment upon selfish complacency; a remark indicating smug and complacent selfishness. Originally: Fuck you, Jack, I’m all right! – described the bitter dismay of sailors (“jacks”) returning home after wartime in the Navy to find themselves not treated as patriots or heroes, but ignored or sneered at by a selfish, complacent, get-ahead society. I’m All Right, Jack is a 1959 British comedy film, a satire on British industrial life in the 1950s. The trade unions, workers and bosses are all seen to be incompetent or corrupt to varying degrees: The manager has got a pay increase and it’s a case of I’m all right, Jack. He’s not bothered about the workers’ pay. If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain (proverb) – Если гора не идёт к Магомету, то Магомет идёт к горе If one cannot get one’s own way, one must bow to the inevitable. The earliest appearance of the phrase is from 75

In a Pickwickian sense

Chapter 12 of the “Essays” of Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer and pioneer of the scientific method (1561–1626), published in 1625: Mahomet made the people believe that he would call a hill to him, and from the top of it offer up his prayers, for the observers of his law. The people assembled; Mahomet called the hill to come to him, again and again; and when the hill stood still, he was never a whit abashed, but said, If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill. It was published in John Ray’s 1670 book of English proverbs. Though widely attributed to Muhammad, the prophet of Islam who lived in Arabia in 6th century, there is no written or oral tradition that traces this phrase back to him.

In a Pickwickian sense – (шутл.) в пиквикском смысле; в переносном смысле; в безобидном значении (диккенсовское выражение) This word Pickwickian has two completely different meanings, one being straightforward, means simple and kind, marked by generosity, naivete, or innocence: Pickwickian uncle; but the other with very interesting variances in its shades of meaning, perhaps not properly captured by the dictionaries, means not intended to be taken in a literal sense, the opposite of what it would literally seem, an insult whitewashed: a word used in a Pickwickian manner. Mr Pickwick is the hero of Charles Dickens’ novel “The Pickwick’s Papers” (1837). The unsophisticated, innocent founder of the Pickwick Club, Mr Pickwick embarks on a series of delightful excursions with his friends, meeting all sorts and conditions of men in 19th-century England. In the novel Mr Pickwick and Mr Blotton call each other names and it appears later that they were using the offensive words only in a Pickwickian sense and had the highest regard for each other. Hence the phrase in a Pickwickian sense is descriptive of word usage that departs from the sense commonly understood: Now, anybody reading that would realize that is a deadline only in a kind of Pickwickian sense. It’s not a real deadline. 76

Is Saul also among the prophets?

In like Flynn –«А Флинн уж там»; (посл.) наш пострел везде успел; проворный человек Refers to Errol Flynn’s popularity with women in the 40s. He was a famous actor and his ability to attract women was well known throughout the world. There are other claims for the origin of the phrase, one of them being that it refers to Edward Flynn, a campaign manager during Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency (1933–1945). Flynn’s machine was so successful at winning elections that his candidates seemed to be in office automatically. (Be) In the arms of Morpheus – (оказаться) в объятиях Морфея; уснуть Asleep: I’ll be in the arms of Morpheus as soon as I turn out the light. Morpheus was the ancient Greek god of dreams. Is Saul also among the prophets? – Саул во пророках; человек с неожиданно выявившимся дарованием It’s a biblical idiom used when somebody known for something bad appears all of a sudden to be doing something very good. Paul the Apostle (c. AD 5 – c. AD 67), variously referred to as the “Apostle Paul” or “Saint Paul”, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries. According to the writings in the New Testament, Paul was known as Saul prior to his conversion, and was dedicated to the persecution of the early disciples of Jesus in the area of Jerusalem. While traveling from Jerusalem to Damascus on a mission, the resurrected Jesus appeared to him in a great light. Saul was struck blind, but after three days his sight was restored, and Paul began to preach that Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah and the Son of God.

77

Jack and John

J Jack and John – Джек и Джон, наиболее распространённые английские мужские имена As the most common English man’s name since the Middle Ages, John, along with its nickname Jack, can be found in hundreds of expressions. The only individuals they refer to are John Doe or John Q. Public, i.e. a generic man. Examples are johnny-come-lately and Johnny Reb for a Confederate soldier. Jack is generally used to refer to the male of a species, thus jackass and jackdaw. The jackrabbit is said to have gotten its name because it has ears resembling a jackass. Then there are things that, in the words of the Oxford English Dictionary “in some way take the place of a lad or man, or save human labor.” Examples are jackhammer, jackknife, jacklight, jackboot and the jack that props up an automobile. Crackerjack, flapjack and jack-o’lantern also refer to the generic Jack. Applejack, brandy derived from apple cider, was not invented by a person named Jack. It was so named because the first people to make it used John-apples which were given that appellation because they ripened around St John’s Day, June 24. Applejohn evolved into the more friendly sounding apple-jack, except in parts of New England where it remains apple-john. Jack Tar, meaning a sailor, probably does not refer to anyone of that name, but to the tar-splattered clothing some sailors sported when working in the bowels of ships. Jack Frost has been mentioned as the personification of cold weather since 1826. Frost is a real last name, and there are, therefore a few real Jack Frosts out there. According to William and Mary Morris’ “Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins”, the expression jackpot meaning a large prize comes from poker where the stakes accumulate until the player “opens the pot” often with a jack. The word hijack probably comes from something a robber might say – “Stick ’em up high, Jack!” or “Up high, Jack!” Hijack evolved into carjack. Paperjacking, an information age version has been recently 78

Jack and John

identified. Paperjackers copy real Web pages to their own sites. The toy known as a jack-in-the-box took its name from a 16th-century container which was designed to fool the person who opened it into thinking there was something valuable inside. So the name Jack can refer to: Jack – уменьшительно-ласкательное имя от Jacob; человек, ведущий правильный образ жизни This hypocorism for Jacob has come to denote any individual person. It was used as a generic name for a “regular guy” as early as the 14th century. Jack – пятифунтовая купюра A five pound note. Origin: Cockney rhyming slang: Jack’s alive. Jack – домкрат An instrument for lifting up a motor car or other heavy weight: You should always keep a jack in the car in case you need to change a wheel. Jack – игральная карта, валет The playing-card between the ten and queen, sometimes called the knave; one of the face cards in a deck bearing the picture of a young prince: The jack, queen and king are the three face cards. Jack – осёл A male donkey Jack – корабельный флаг для идентификации судна A small flag indicating a ship’s nationality Jack – хлебное дерево An immense East Indian fruit resembling breadfruit; it contains an edible pulp and nutritious seeds that are commonly roasted. Jack – работяга Someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor Jack – моряк, матрос A man who serves as a sailor 79

Jack and Jill/Gill

Jack – Ни черта! A small worthless amount; “You don’t know jack” Jack up – ублажить, уговорить кого-л.; поднять цену; поднять машину домкратом • Motivate someone, stimulate someone to do smth: I guess I’ll have to jack up the carpenter again to repair my stairs. • Raise the price: The electric company jacked up the price for electricity. • Raise a motor car and keep it supported, with a jack: You need to jack up the car before you try to remove the wheel.

Jack and Jill/Gill – Джек и Джилл, юноша и девушка “Jack and Jill” is a classic nursery rhyme in the English speaking world. The origin of the rhyme is obscure and there are several theories that attempt to interpret the lyrics. The rhyme is known to date back to at least the 18th century. The earliest publication of the lyrics was in the 1760s in John Newbery’s Mother Goose’s Melody. As a result, Jack and Jill are considered part of the canon of “Mother Goose” characters. The song is sometimes titled Jack and Gill, particularly in early versions. Common modern version of the rhyme includes: Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after. “Jack and Jill” is a 2011 comedy film starring Adam Sandler. In the film, Jack Sadelstein is a successful advertising executive in Los Angeles with a beautiful wife and kids, who dreads one event each year: the Thanksgiving visit of his “identical” twin sister Jill. Jill’s neediness and passive-aggressiveness is maddening to Jack, turning his normally tranquil life 80

Theatrical release poster

Jack of all trades

upside down. Also, the phrase Jack and Jill is Cockney (East End London) rhyming slang for Till, the place where a shop keeper keeps his money.

Jack around – тратить время впустую Waste time. Jack is no judge of Jill’s beauty // If Jack is in love, he’s no judge of Jill’s beauty – Джек не судья красоте Джилл (Это высказывание Бенджамина Франклина каждый понимает по-своему: попробуйте и Вы!) Benjamin Franklin wrote many words of wisdom. He used his printing press to share his wisdom with his fellow Americans. He hoped that his wise sayings would give people guidance for living their daily lives. Jack-leg/Jackleg (lawyer, electrician, etc.) (Am humil) – необученный, неквалифицированный, неумелый, любительский; беспринципный, недобросовестный; временный Unskilled or untrained for one’s work; amateur: a jackleg electrician. Unscrupulous, dishonest or without the accepted standards of one’s profession: a jackleg lawyer. Designed as a temporary expedient, makeshift: He did such a jackleg installation of that door frame that now the door won’t shut. Jackleg or jack-leg is a native American colloquialism (since 1837) that was often applied to doctors and lawyers in the Old West. Jack of all trades // Jack-of-all-trades – мастер на все руки; человек, который может выполнить любую работу A person who is able to do many different manual jobs. The expression a Jack of all trades came into use in 1618. It was a complimentary expression referring to a person who could do anything. Jack is an informal word for trade laborer. It was much later that and master of none, became attached to it. 81

Jack of all trades but/and/is master of none

Jack of all trades but/and/is master of none – за всё браться, ничего не сделать; мастер-ломастер Much later master of none was added to the original, signifying that a person who does everything may be mediocre in all skills. The longer version started being used in the latter half of the 19th century: How come Joe did such a sloppy job? – He’s a jack of all trades (but master of none). Jack-in-office – «Джек в офисе», самонадеянный, важничающий чиновник, мелкий служащий; чинуша, бюрократ A self-important petty official: If there is anything that is not to be tolerated on any terms, anything that is a type of Jackin-office insolence and absurdity, anything that represents in coats, waistcoats, and big sticks our English holding on by nonsense after every one has found it out, it is a beadle. (“Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens) Jack-in-the-box – «Джек в коробочке», детская заводная игрушка; беспокойный человек; сеть быстрого питания Jack-in-the-box is a children’s toy that outwardly consists of a box with a crank. When the crank is turned, it plays a melody, often Pop Goes the Weasel. At the end of the tune there is a “surprise”, the lid pops open and a figure, usually a clown or jester, pops out of the box. Jack in the Box is among the nation’s leading fast-food hamburger chains, with more than 2200 quick-serve restaurants in 19 states. In 1951, Oscar Peterson opened a restaurant on the Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach, with a giant clown’s head atop the building. Called Jack in the Box, this hamburger stand offered the innovation of a two-way intercom system, allowing much faster service through the drivethrough window – while one customer’s car was at the window, a second and even a third customer’s 82

Jackpot

order could be taken and prepared. Quick service made the new location very popular. But the success came to a halt in the 1990s because of two main factors: the national recession of 1990–91 and more importantly, the E. coli (Escherichia coli, a bacterium that can cause serious infections) incident of 1993, in which four children died and hundreds of others became sick after eating undercooked and contaminated meat from Jack in the Box.

Jackass – осёл (обыкн. самец ); осёл, болван, дурак A jackass is a male donkey. A foolish or stupid person, a blockhead, a person who lacks good judgment: Hey, I’m going to run before I make more of a jackass. Jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks. Jackboot – сапог выше колена; (ист.) ботфорт; кованый сапог; грубое давление, грубая сила, насилие; человек, использующий грубую силу A stout military boot that extends above the knee; a person who uses bullying tactics, especially to force compliance; arbitrary, cruel, and authoritarian rule or behavior. (A) Jackdaw in peacock’s feathers – ворона в павлиньих перьях A jackdaw, puffed up with foolish pride, picked up some peacock feathers and put them on trying to join the lovely peacock flock, scorning his fellow jackdaws. The peacocks, however, tore the feathers off him and pecked him until he went away. He sadly returned to his own folk, but he was cast out once again and suffered the pain of public humiliation. That is how Aesop teaches us to live our own lives (“Aesop’s Fables”).

Jackpot // Hit the jackpot – (карт.) джекпот, банк; выигрыш всех монет в игральном автомате; лучший результат, которого можно добиться; главный приз, 83

Jackrabbit start

крупная победа, необыкновенный успех; сорвать куш; попасть в точку; добиться потрясающего успех A large pot (as in poker) formed by the accumulation of stakes from previous play; a combination on a slot machine that wins a top prize or all the coins available for paying out; the sum so won: The lottery jackpot is up to one million dollars; an impressive often unexpected success or reward. First known use of jackpot is 1879. Jackrabbit start (inf) – рвануть; резко тронуться, сорваться с места A very sudden fast start from a stop: Bob made a jackrabbit start when the traffic light turned green. Jackroller (Am sl) – вор, грабящий пьяных; проститутка, обирающая клиентов One who robs a drunken or sleeping person; a prostitute who robs her customers. Jack Frost (who paints windows) // Uncle Frost – Мороз Красный нос A sprite-like character with roots in Viking lore. There, he is known as Jokul Frosti (“icicle frost”). In Britain and United States, Jack is a variant of Old Man Winter and is held responsible for frosty weather, for nipping the nose and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, and leaving fernlike patterns on cold windows in winter. Although he has no connection with Christianity, he is sometimes hijacked to appear in modern secular Christmas entertainments, usually as a member of Santa Claus’s entourage. He sometimes appears in literature, film, television, song, and video games as a sinister mischief maker. Jack-o’-lantern – фонарь из тыквы с прорезанными отверстиями в виде глаз, носа и рта; блуждающий огонёк It is a light made from a carved hollow pumpkin with holes cut into the sides like the eyes and mouth of a person’s face inside which there is a candle. It is associated chiefly 84

Jane Doe

with the holiday of Halloween and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called jack-o’-lantern. In a jack-o’lantern, typically the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced. It is typically seen during Halloween.

Jack Tar – (мор. жарг.) матрос, старый моряк, морской волк Two jack-o’-lanterns illuminated from within Jack Tar was a common English by candles term used to refer to seamen of the Merchant or Royal Navy, particularly during the period of the British Empire. Both members of the public, and seafarers themselves, made use of the name in identifying those who went to sea. It was not used as an offensive term and sailors were happy to use it to label themselves. There are several plausible etymologies for the reference to tar. Seamen were known to tar their clothes before departing on voyages, in order to make them waterproof. Later they frequently wore coats and hats made from a waterproof fabric called tarpaulin. This may have been shortened to tar at some point. Jack the Lad (Br sl) – самодовольный, самоуверенный молодой человек Jack the Lad is a young man who behaves in a conspicuously overconfident way. An irresponsible young man, seeking personal pleasure without regard to responsibilities. A rogue: You seem to think you’re a bit of a jack the lad, don’t you? Jane Doe – (юр.) Джейн Доу, условное наименование лица женского пола, чьё имя не известно или по тем или иным причинам не оглашается; «имярек» Jane Doe is a name given to an unidentified female who may be party to legal proceedings, or to an unidentified person in hospital, or dead. John Doe is the male equivalent. 85

Janus-faced

Janus-faced (Lat Janus Bifrons) – двуликий Янус; двойственный, неоднозначный; двуличный Having two contrasting aspects or qualities. In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, thence also of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a two-faced god since he looks to the future and the past. The concepts of January and janitor are both based A statue representing Janus Bifrons in the Vatican on aspects of Janus. Museums

Jeez/Geez Louise! – Неужели? О боже! Да ты что? (выражение удивления, возмущения и т.д.) Exclamation of surprise, excitement, or being extremely mad/pissed off. A mild oath. Roughly equivalent to saying “Jesus Christ” as an oath, but less severe, and used so as not to get stricken down for blasphemy. The words rhyme to imply a sense a humor and may have started as a line in some comedy or movie: Geez Louise! I can’t believe this definition isn’t in here yet! Jeeves – Дживз (безупречный камердинер в произведениях П. Г. Вудхауса); идеальный слуга A man who is a personal servant for another man. Reginald Jeeves is a fictional character created by British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse. Jeeves is mainly the servant to Bertie Wooster, a rich, foolish, foppish but good-hearted post-First World War bachelor. He uses his nearomniscience to get Bertie out of tricky situations, usually out of unsuitable engagements. He is well-known for his convoluted speech and for quoting from, among other things, the plays of Shakespeare and famous Romantic Poets. Jeeves has been portrayed on television series by Stephen Fry in the early 1990s. 86

Jeroboam

Jekyll and Hyde (personality) – двойственная личность, проявляющая то хорошие, то дурные качества (по имени героя романа Р. Л. Стивенсона «Доктор Джекилл и мистер Хайд»); синдром раздвоения личности A person who has two very different parts to their character, one good and one bad. “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” is the original title of a novella written by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson that was first published in 1886. The work is commonly known today as simply “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”. It is about a London lawyer who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll, and the misanthropic Edward Hyde. The good Dr Jekyll invents a drug which transforms him into the evil Mr Hyde, along with an antidote which will return him to his better self. Ultimately, Mr Hyde is driven to murder, and when he is unable to make the antidote, he commits suicide. Jekyll and Hyde has come to refer to the “split personality”, the rare mental condition wherein within the same person there are at least two distinct personalities. The novella’s impact is such that it has become a part of the language: One day he is charming, the next he is very rude. He’s a real Jekyll and Hyde. Jenny – Дженни The name may refer to a popular feminine given name; a term for a female donkey; any female animal; the cotton spinning machine Jeremiah – Иеремия, библейский пророк; пессимист A pessimist (a biblical reference to the Lamentations of Jeremiah): My neighbor’s a Jeremiah who says that the economic situation is going to get even worse. Jeroboam xdcêèDÄçs?èãz – (библ.) Иеровоам; (разг.) бутылка шампанского; большая чаша для вина; винная бутыль ёмкостью 4.5 галлона (20 литров) Jeroboam was the first king of the northern Israelite Kingdom who reigned for 22 years. The name also refers to 87

Jerry

a wine bottle used for holding wine, generally made of glass. The bottles come in a large variety of sizes, several named for Biblical kings, and other figures. The standard bottle contains 750 ml. Jeroboam is also known as Double Magnum.

Jerry – (воен. жарг.) немец, немецкий солдат, фриц; немецкий самолёт; ночная ваза

• A German, especially a German soldier (chiefly Br sl) • Short for jeroboam (see above) • The Germans (collectively): Jerry didn’t send his bombers out last night.

• An offensive term for a person of German descent • An informal word for chamber pot (Br) Jerry-built/jerry-building – построенный на скорую руку, непрочно, кое-как (ср.: «хрущобы», пятиэтажные жилые дома, построенные в СССР в 60-х гг. во времена Н. С. Хрущёва) The phrase means a temporary or shoddy construction, dates to 1869. It may derive from the name of a builder who was notorious for poor construction, for he constructed flimsy homes from inferior materials. An 1884 source (unconfirmed) says that the phrase is in reference to a particular construction project on the Mersey River in Britain. Something that is jerrybuilt is deliberately constructed of inferior materials to turn a quick buck. Jesus boots/shoes (sl) – мужские сандалии Men’s sandals, particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people: I dig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool. Jim Crow – (презр.) Джим Кроу (кличка, данная неграм американскими расистами); расовая дискриминация, расизм By 1830s, most Americans preferred to think of blacks as happy-go-lucky, childlike creatures who wanted nothing more from life than something good to eat and a chance to 88

Jingling Johnny

sing and dance. The popular image was captured in the song Jim Crow, popularized in the mid-1830s: Come, listen all you gals and boys, I’se just from Tucky hoe; I’m goin’ to sing a little song, My name’s Jim Crow. The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities in Southern states of the former Confederacy, with a supposedly separate but equal status for black Americans. The separation led to treatment, financial support and accommodations that were usually inferior to those provided for white Americans, systematizing a number of economic, educational and social disadvantages. Some examples of Jim Crow laws are the segregation of public schools, public places, and public transportation, and the segregation of restrooms, restaurants, and drinking fountains for whites and blacks. The US military was also segregated. State-sponsored school segregation was declared unconstitutional in 1954. The remaining Jim Crow laws were overruled in the 60s.

Jim-dandy (chiefly Am sl) – первоклассный, шикарный Excellent, outstanding. Something that is a very superior example of its kind of thing: Tommy’s new boat is really a jimdandy! I wish I had one like it. Jingling Johnny (Am) – ударный музыкальный инструмент типа бубна Also called Turkish Crescent, a musical instrument consisting of a pole ornamented with a canopy, a crescent, and other shapes hung with bells and metal jingling objects, and often surmounted by horsetails. It possibly originated as the staff of a Central Asian shaman, and it was part of the Turkish military band that stimulated the late 18th-century European vogue for Turkish music. The jingling Johnny was used in European military bands in the 19th century and survives, somewhat altered, in Germany. 89

Job’s comforter

Job’s comforter xdèsÄòz= – (библ.) утешитель Иова; гореутешитель Someone who says they want to comfort, but actually discomforts people is a Job’s comforter. The phrase is from the Bible (Job 16.2) where Job’s supposed friends came to him in his greatest afflictions and tried to explain his misery as the result of his sins, offering advice that was not helpful. Job rejected their interpretations. Hence, any comforters who add salt to one’s wounds: Only a Job’s comforter would try to argue that yesterday’s stock fall announcement could bring anything good. Joe Bloggs – государственный служащий, должностное лицо The names Joe Bloggs and Fred Bloggs are commonly used as placeholder names in United Kingdom, Irish, Australian and New Zealand teaching, programming, and other thinking and writing. The surname Bloggs on its own is sometimes used in the same way. Joe Blow // Joe Doakes (Am) – рядовой гражданин An average citizen; a hypothetical average man. Joe College – типичный американский студент 30-х годов XX века A personification of a typical male US college student, especially in the 1930s, modeled on Joe Blow. Joe Schmo(e) – рядовой гражданин An ordinary man. This nickname implies a lower-class citizen (from the Yiddish schmo: simpleton, or possibly Hebrew sh’mo: (what’s-his-name). Joe Sixpack – рядовой гражданин; работяга, который без труда выпьет шесть банок пива Any man; an average man; a drinking working man: It is great that normal Joe Sixpack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency. 90

John Barleycorn

Joe Zilch/Storch (Am sl) – ноль, пустое место (о человеке) Any man; an average man. The word zilch implies someone of no importance, a nobody. A man whose name one does not know or can not remember. John – любовник, клиент проститутки; туалет A prostitute’s client; a toilet. John-a-dreams – мечтатель A nickname for a dreamer; a dreamy, idle fellow; a man who is a daydreamer and therefore inactive: Like John-adreams, unpregnant of my cause (Like a dreamer, not thinking about my cause. W. Shakespeare “Hamlet”, Act II, Sc. 2). John Barleycorn – Джон Ячменное Зерно (воплощение пива); (собир.) алкогольные напитки; зелёный змий John Barleycorn is an English folksong. The character of John Barleycorn in the song is a personification of the important cereal crop barley and of the alcoholic beverages made from it, beer and whisky. In the song, John Barleycorn is represented as suffering attacks, death and indignities that correspond to the various stages of barley cultivation, such as reaping and malting. Robert Burns “John Barleycorn” a ballad, 1782 (extract): John Barleycorn was a hero bold, Of noble enterprise; For if you do but taste his blood, ’twill make your courage rise. ’twill make a man forget his woe; ’twill heighten all his joy; ’twill make the widow’s heart to sing, Tho’ the tear were in her eye. 91

John Bull

Then let us toast John Barleycorn, Each man a glass in hand; And may his great posterity Ne’er fail in old Scotland!

John Bull – Джон Буль, насмешливое прозвище англичан, получившее широкое распространение в XVIII веке; типичный англичанин; английский народ A typical Englishman; the English people. John Bull is a national personification of Britain in general and England in particular, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged, country dwelling, jolly, matter-of-fact man. As a literary figure, John Bull is well-intentioned, frustrated, full of common sense, and entirely of native country stock. Unlike American Uncle Sam later, he is not a figure of authority but rather a yeoman who prefers his small beer and domestic peace, possessed of neither patriarchal power nor heroic defiance: This was the age of John Bull, the most red-faced, overfed, coronary-ready icon ever created by any nation in the hope of impressing other nations. John Doe (and Richard Roe) – (юр.) воображаемый истец (и ответчик) в английском судопроизводстве первой половины XIX века; безымянный средний гражданин; безликий, рядовой человек. John Doe is a name given to an unidentified male who may be party to legal proceedings, or to an unidentified person in hospital, or dead; an unnamed person in legal proceedings; an anonymous average citizen. Jane Doe is the female equivalent: brilliant intellectuals and plain John Does. John/Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon – цветы, закрывающиеся днём (куриная слепота) 92

John Q. Public

John Hancock (Am) – Джон Хэнкок; собственноручная подпись John Hancock means a signature and his signature on the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence is very prominent. John Hancock was President of the Continental Congress. Whether that was the reason why his signature is also the largest, or whether he was just bigheaded is a matter of conjecture. Some say he added his name when all others had written theirs. What is beyond any doubt is that it tops the list. Today the phrase can be used both as a noun meaning a person’s signature and a verb: Could you john hancock it here? John Henry (Am folk) – Джон Генри, негритянский богатырь; собственноручная подпись An American folk hero and tall tale. Henry worked as a steel-driver – a man tasked with hammering and chiseling rock in the construction of tunnels for railroad tracks. In the legend, John Henry’s prowess as a steel-driver was measured in a race against a steam powered hammer, which he won only to die in victory with his hammer in his hand. The story of John Henry has been the subject of numerous songs, stories, plays, and novels. The phrase can also refer to your signature; your name in writing: Joe felt proud when he put Statue of John Henry his John Henry on his very first in West Virginia driver’s license. John Q. Public // John Q. Citizen (Am) – средний, рядовой американец A typical, average person. It is a generic name in the United States to denote a hypothetical member of society deemed a common man. He is presumed to represent the randomly selected man on the street. In the United States the term John Q. Public is used by law enforcement officers to refer to an individual with no criminal bent. Similar terms include John 93

Johnny Appleseed

Q. Citizen and John Q. Taxpayer, or Jane Q. Public, Jane Q. Citizen, and Jane Q. Taxpayer for a woman. The name John Doe is used in a similar manner. For multiple people, Tom, Dick and Harry is often used. Roughly equivalent are the names Joe Sixpack, Joe Blow, and Joe Shmoe. The term John Q. Public was the name of a character created by a cartoonist for the “Chicago Daily News”, in 1922. The character was described as “bespectacled, mustachioed, fedora-wearing”.

Johnny Appleseed – Джонни Яблочное Зёрнышко Johnny Appleseed (1774–1845), born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He became an American legend while still alive, largely because of his kind and generous ways, his great leadership in conservation, and the symbolic importance he attributed to apples. The popular image is of Johnny Appleseed spreading apple seeds randomly, everywhere he went. In fact, he planted nurseries rather than orchards, built fences around them to protect them from livestock, left the nurseries in the care of a neighbor, and returned every year or two to tend the nursery. Though apples grown from seed are rarely sweet or tasty, the orchards with sour apples were popular among the settlers because apples were mainly used for producing hard cider and applejack. In some periods of the settlement of the Midwest, settlers were required by law to plant orchards of apples and pears in order to uphold the right to the claimed land. For these reasons Johnny Appleseed’s pre-planted orchards made for popular real estate on the frontier. Johnny-come-lately – человек, пришедший в последнюю минуту или слишком поздно; новичок, выскочка, парвеню; человек, примкнувший к уже победившей группе, партии и т.д. The phrase may refer to: • A brash newcomer, a recruit, a novice, an upstart. • A late arrival or participant: She might take offense if some Johnny-come-lately thinks he can do a better job. 94

Jolly Roger

• A newcomer: She may be a Johnny-come-lately on the board, but she’s doing a fine job with publicity.

Johnny on the spot // Johnny-on-the-spot – человек, который всегда готов, всегда на месте; человек, на которого можно рассчитывать A person who is always available, ready, willing, and able to do what needs to be done. An unknown writer on the “New York Sun” in April 1896 penned an article on this phrase. The piece is headed “JOHNNY ON THE SPOT – A New Phrase Which Has Become Popular in New York”. Its author says: “The expression Johnny on the spot has come into popularity very suddenly”. “Johnny” here must be a general name for any young male and doesn’t refer to a real person: Here I am, Johnny-on-the-spot. I told you I would be here at 12.20. Johnny One Note // Johnny one-note (Am disappr) – человек с узким кругозором; заладил своё и долбит/твердит одно и то же; (проф. жарг.) «гудошник» A person (or organization) who often expresses a strong opinion or viewpoint on a single subject or a few particular subjects. It is someone who constantly talks about the same thing over and over again as if they had no idea that they were notorious for talking about the same thing over and over again. Johnny One Note is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical “Babes in Arms”. The lyrics tell a story of a male vocalist named Johnny who sang with a band and could sing only one note, but sang that note extremely well. Jolly Roger – «Весёлый Роджер», чёрный пиратский флаг The Jolly Roger is any of various flags flown to identify a ship’s crew as pirates. The flag most commonly identified as the Jolly Roger today is the skull and crossbones. This design was used by several pirates, including Captains Edward England and John Taylor. Despite its prominence in popular 95

Jonah

culture, plain black flags were often employed by most pirates in the 17th–18th century. Historically, the flag was flown to frighten pirates’ victims into surrendering without a fight, since it conveyed the message that the attackers were outlaws who would not consider themselves bound by the usual rules of engagement. Since the decline of piracy, various military units have used the Jolly Roger, usually in skull-and-crossbones design, as a victory flag to ascribe to themselves the proverbial ferocity and toughness of pirates.

Jonah – Иона, библейский пророк; человек, приносящий несчастье Someone who brings bad luck (a biblical reference to the book of Jonah): His workmates regard him as a Jonah. Things always go wrong when he’s around. Judas kiss – (библ.) поцелуй Иуды; предательский поцелуй According to the Synoptic Gospels, Judas identified Jesus to the soldiers by means of a kiss. This is the Kiss of Judas, also known (especially in art) as the Betrayal of Christ, which occurs in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper, and leads directly to the arrest of Jesus by the police force. More broadly, a Judas kiss may refer to an act appearing to be an act of friendship, which is in fact harmful to the recipient. Jumping Judas! (Am) – удивлённое восклицание An expression of surprise or shock. For want of the origin of the phrase, it may be interesting to learn about the existence of Judas Jump, a British short-lived prog rock supergroup, formed in 1969. They released one album and three singles before disbanding in 1971. They are best known for their various members who had success before and after Judas Jump.

96

Keep up with the Joneses

K Katy, bar the door! – Кэти, запри дверь! The phrase may come from the Scottish ballad, “Get up and Lock the Door”, in which a husband and wife who have gone to bed realize that they hadn’t locked the door. Neither wants to get up to do it until robbers come in. Finally the husband cries out, and his wife informs him that he lost the argument and has to get up and lock the door. The more popular theory is that the idiom stems from an event in Scottish history involving King James I of Scotland and the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Catherine Douglas (a.k.a. Kate Barlass). The King was staying in Perth, when a band of murderers burst in, intent on killing him. There was no lock or bar on the door of the King’s chamber, so Catherine attempted to bar the door with her arm. Unfortunately, the men broke her arm and killed the King. The phrase, Katy, bar the door is taken from “The King’s Tragedy”, a poem by Gabriel Dante Rossetti, written in 1881. Keep up with the Joneses – не отставать от Джоунзов; стараться достичь такого же социального и материального положения, как у соседей или знакомых; не хуже, чем у людей Make sure that you are not outdone in wealth, smartness or possessions by your neighbors; try to achieve the same social position and wealth as your neighbors or acquaintances. In 1913 a popular comic strip called Keeping up with the Joneses appeared in many American newspapers. The cartoon was about the experiences of a newly married young man, and the cartoonist based it on his own life. He chose the name Jones because it was a popular name in America. The name of the comic strip became a popular expression that meant to try hard to follow the latest fashion and live the style of those around you.

97

King Charles’s head

King Charles’s head – голова короля Карла, наваждение, идея-фикс A fixed idea; personal obsession. This expression alludes to the character of Mr Dick, in Charles Dickens’ novel “David Copperfield”, who could not write or speak on any matter without introducing the subject of King Charles’s head into all discussions. After Charles I, king of England, who was beheaded in 1649: …that King Charles’s head of modern America, the menace of Communism.

L Lady Bountiful – леди Баунтифул (персонаж пьесы Джорджа Фаркара, ирландского драматурга XVII века); (ирон.) благодетельница, дама-благотворительница A woman who enjoys showing people how rich and kind she is by giving things to poor people. Bountiful means generous: I’ve got a lot of clothes that they might make use of but I’m worried they might see me as some sort of Lady Bountiful. Lady Bracknell – леди Бракнелл (персонаж пьесы Оскара Уайльда «Как важно быть серьёзным»); чопорная и самовлюблённая аристократка Wilde embodied society’s rules and rituals artfully into Lady Bracknell: minute attention to the details of her style created a comic effect of assertion by restraint. Oscar Wilde’s imperious monster of manners, Lady Bracknell, has a history of being played by men. There are few lines in British drama so famous that people can quote them even when they’ve not read the play. One is To be or not to be from “Hamlet”. Another is A handbag?, Lady Bracknell’s astounded contemplation of the first home of her prospective son-inlaw Jack in Oscar Wilde’s great comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest”. 98

Lazy Susan

Lady Luck – госпожа Удача Chance personified as a controlling power in human affairs. The personification of luck as a lady bringing good or bad fortune: It seemed Lady Luck was still smiling on them. * Lady Luck was against us and we lost the game. Lady/Lord Muck (Br inf) – дама/господин с большим самомнением Someone with an exaggerated idea of his or her own importance. A haughty or socially pretentious person: It’s that woman, Lady Muck herself – who does she think she is? The Oxford English Dictionary places “muckety-muck” (an important and often arrogant person) as a US phrase from the 1920s and cites Lady/Lord Muck from a little earlier – around 1900, and of Australian origin: Ever since he was elected to the Town Council, he thinks he’s Lord Muck! Laurence bids wages (saying) – ничего не хочется делать, лень одолевает The phrase invites to idleness; a proverbial saying for to be lazy. A lazy person (lazy Laurence is also used); this association of the personal name with the quality is first recorded in the proverbial Laurence bids wages (1828), meaning that the attractions of idleness are tempting. It has been suggested that there is an allusion to the heat prevalent around the time of the feast of St Lawrence (10 August). Another conjecture is that there was a joke to the effect that when the martyr St Lawrence told his torturers to turn him round on his gridiron, it was because he was too lazy to move by himself. Lazy Susan – (шутл.) ленивая Сюзанна; вращающийся поднос для кушаний и т.п.; небольшой столик для бутербродов и закусок A rotating tray, usually circular, placed on top of a table to aid in moving food on a large table or countertop. The term Lazy Susan made its first written appearance in a 99

Let George do it

“Good Housekeeping” article in 1906, although their existence dates back to the 18th century. Prior to the use of the term Lazy Susan, they were referred to as dumbwaiters, a term today applied to a small elevator for transporting food. There is no clear evidence as to the origin of the Susan part of Lazy Susan. The Lazy Susan can be made from a variety of materials, commonly plastic, wood, or glass.

Let George do it – «пусть Джордж сделает это»; поручите это кому-нибудь другому; кто хотите, только не я Expect someone else to do the work or take the responsibility. The phrase was for a time, probably in the 1940s, a kind of fad expression. Whenever it could be worked into the conversation it was. There was no particular George ever associated with the phrase, as far as it is known: I don’t know if I can handle the mountain of dishes I’ll find when I get home. Let George do it. Let her go, Gallagher! (Am) – Начинайте, действуйте! Не мешайте, не задерживайте! Let’s go; let’s get started without delay. The Gallagher to whom this advice is given may be one or none of the legendary people cited in various folklore explanations. He may have been a cab driver in Australia, a hangman in Galveston (Texas), a warden in St Louis, the owner of a broken-down nag (horse) in Texas, a street-car operator in New Orleans; or any of an almost endless list of folk heroes named Gallagher. Most likely, Gallagher was chosen because it is close in sound to let ’er go. In spite of the amorphous nature of this Gallagher, the expression has enjoyed international popularity for more than a hundred years. Another interpretation of the origin of the phrase we can find in “The Evening News”, July 17, 1888. “During a strike on one of the street railroads in the East, a man named Gallagher agreed to drive one of the car teams, and took his position on the platform of the car which stood at the entrance and waited for the order to drive out. The command came from one of the officers of the company, who, in a loud 100

Little Mary

voice, called out, Let her go, Gallagher! This is the origin of the phrase which has become so common.”

Levis/Levi’s – «Ливайзы», джинсы (фирменное название) In 1853, the California gold rush was in full swing, and everyday items were in short supply. Levi Strauss xägî~f Dëíêiëz, a 24-year-old German immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of dry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother’s New York dry goods business. Shortly after his arrival, a prospector wanted to know what Mr Levi Strauss was selling. When Strauss told him he had rough canvas to use for tents and wagon covers, the prospector said, “You should have brought pants!” Levi Strauss had the canvas made into waist overalls as the original jeans were known as. Miners liked the pants, but complained that they tended to chafe. Levi Strauss substituted a twilled cotton for cloth from France called “serge de Nimes.” The fabric later became known as denim and the pants were nicknamed blue jeans. The two-horse brand design was first used in 1886. The red tab attached to the left rear pocket was created in 1936 as a means of identifying Levi’s jeans at a distance. All are registered trademarks that are still in use. The company briefly experimented (in the 1970s) with a public stock listing, but remains owned and controlled by descendants and relatives of Levi Strauss’s four nephews. Little Mary – малышка Мери (по названию пьесы Д. Барри); (шутл.) желудок Sir James Matthew Barrie (1860–1937) was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. The child of a family of small-town weavers, he was educated in Scotland. He moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and playwright. There he met the Llewelyn Davies boys who inspired him in writing about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens. Also, Little Mary is a slang expression for stomach, belly. 101

Live/Lead the life of Riley

Live/Lead the life of Riley – вести жизнь Райли; вести праздную, сладкую жизнь (богатого человека) Since the 19th century there have been songs and later television characters to support the idea that a person called Riley once lived a rich and carefree existence, but no historical figure has been found. Probably Riley was supposed to be the archetypal Irishman and prejudiced English people characterized him as a cheerful sponger. In America, the phrase first appeared in print in 1918, but it was a 1940s radio program “Living the life of Riley” which later evolved into a television show that made the phrase common there: The treasurer took our money to Mexico where he lived the life of Riley until the police caught him. Lloyd’s Coffee House on Lombard Street – кофейня Ллойда на Ломбард-стрит Lloyd’s Coffee House, opened by Edward Lloyd around 1688 in Tower Street, London; the oldest and most famous coffee house in London (before tea was brought to England). This establishment was a popular place for sailors, merchants, and ship owners, and Lloyd catered to them with reliable shipping news. Just after Christmas 1691, the coffee shop relocated to Lombard Street (a blue plaque commemorates this location). This arrangement carried on until 1774, long after Lloyd’s death in 1713, when the participating members of the insurance arrangement formed a committee and moved to the Royal Exchange as The Society of Lloyd’s. Due to the focus on marine business, one of the primary sources of Lloyd’s business was the insurance of ships engaged in slave trading, as Britain rapidly established itself as the chief slave trading power in the Atlantic. The dangers involved necessarily meant that insurance of slave-trade shipping was a major concern.

102

Lot’s wife

Long Eliza // long-eliza – «долговязая Эльза», синяя с белым китайская ваза, на которой изображены высокие женские фигуры Attenuated figure of a Chinese woman seen as a decoration on 18th-century Chinese porcelain, some Dutch and English delftware, and on Worcester porcelain of the 1760s. The name comes from the Dutch Lange Leizen. The Chinese name for the lady was mei yen, or pretty lady. Long johns (Am sl) – тёплое бельё Long underwear, also called long johns, or thermal underwear, is a style of two-piece underwear with long legs and long sleeves that is normally worn during cold weather. It is commonly worn by people in cold countries. In 2004, Michael Quinion, a British etymologist and writer, postulated that the john in the item of apparel may be a reference to John Lawrence Sullivan (1858–1918), the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing, and the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing, who wore a similar-looking garment in the ring. He was the first American sports hero to become a national celebrity and the first American athlete to earn over one million dollars. This explanation, however, is uncertain and the word’s origin is ultimately unknown. Long Tom – длинный Том, дальнобойное орудие (воен. жарг.) The 155 mm Gun M1 and M2, widely known as Long Tom, were 155 millimeter calibre field guns used by the United States armed forces during World War II and Korean War. Lot’s wife – (библ.) жена Лота, превращённая в соляной столб; (мор. жарг.) соль A character in the Book of Genesis. She is described as turning into a pillar of salt for failing to heed the orders of

Lot’s Wife pillar, Mount Sodom, Israel

103

Lynch Law

the angels of deliverance while fleeing from the city of Sodom. The Jewish historian Josephus claimed to have seen the pillar of salt which was Lot’s wife. Its existence is also attested to by the early Church Fathers. Today, many tourist maps point out “Lot’s Cave” that can be found just beneath the pillar. Also, sailors’ slang name for table-salt.

Lynch Law // Lynching (Am) – закон или суд Линча; линчевание, самосуд, зверская расправа без суда и следствия (предположительно по имени Чарльза Линча, мирового судьи конца XVIII века в штате Виргиния) Lynching, the practice of killing people by extrajudicial mob action, occurred in the United States chiefly from the late 18th century through the 1960s. The term Lynch’s Law apparently originated during the American Revolution (1775– 1783) when Charles Lynch, a Virginia justice of the peace, ordered extralegal punishment for Loyalists. In the South, members of the abolitionist movement and other people opposing slavery were often targets of lynch mob violence before the Civil War (1861–1865). Lynchings reached a peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Southern states changed their constitutions and enacted a series of segregation and Jim Crow (see p. 88) laws to reestablish white supremacy. Notable lynchings of civil rights workers during the 1960s in Mississippi contributed to galvanizing public support for the Civil Rights Movement and civil rights legislation.

M Mae West – «Ми Уэст», надувной спасательный нагрудник; спасательная куртка лётчиков (по имени американской актрисы) An inflatable life jacket in the form of a collar extending down the chest that was worn by fliers in World War II. First known use: 1940. Mae West (1893–1980) was an American 104

Mark Tapley

actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol noted for her full figure.

Maggie Ann (Br) – маргарин The wartime nickname for margarine: During the war, foodstuffs were rationed, in short supply or even unavailable – for instance, a wartime cook had to replace the instinct for butter with the instinct for margarine known in wartime as “Maggie Ann”. Make one’s jack (Am inf) – достичь своей цели; много заработать The expression, which dates back to about 1700, may be related to the American slang term “jack” meaning “money”. An earlier American phrase, “to make one’s jack”, meaning simply to succeed, may have evolved into the current meaning. Man Friday – Пятница, верный, преданный слуга (по имени слуги в романе Д. Дефо «Робинзон Крузо» Friday is one of the main characters of Daniel Defoe’s novel “Robinson Crusoe”. Robinson Crusoe names the man, with whom he cannot at first communicate, Friday because they first meet on that day. The character is the source of the expression Man Friday, used to describe a male personal assistant or servant, especially one who is particularly competent or loyal. Mao jacket – китель Мао; полувоенный френч тёмно-синего цвета A plain, high-collared, shirtlike jacket customarily worn by Mao Zedong and the people of China during his regime. Mark Tapley – Марк Тэпли, человек, не унывающий ни при каких обстоятельствах The body-servant to Martin Chuzzlewit, in Dickens’s novel of the name. Mark’s catchphrase is that “There’s no 105

Marquis of Queensberry rules

credit in being jolly” under benign circumstances and so he constantly urges himself to find a more challenging set of circumstances in order to test his good spirits. Figuratively, means a person who never loses heart.

Marquis of Queensberry rules // Queensbury rules – правила Квинзбери, общепринятые правила боксерских поединков; порядочность, мужество, стойкость A code of generally accepted rules in the sport of boxing. They were named so because Sir John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquis of Queensberry publicly endorsed the code in 1869. The code of rules on which modern boxing is based, the Queensberry rules were the first to mention gloves in boxing. The Queensberry rules are intended for use in both professional and amateur boxing matches. In popular culture the term is sometimes used to refer to a sense of sportsmanship and fair play. Mary Jane (sl) – марихуана Mary Jane is a common nickname for marijuana; the slang or street word used in the world of drugs; if inhaled, causes hallucinations. Mason jar – банка Мейсона, стеклянная банка с металлической крышкой A glass jar with a metal lid. A Mason jar is a glass jar used in canning to preserve food. It was invented and patented by John Landis Mason, a Philadelphia tinsmith in 1858. They are also called Ball jars, after Ball Corp., a popular and early manufacturer of the jars; fruit jars because they are often used to store fruit; jam jars or generically glass canning jars. While largely supplanted by other methods for commercial mass-production, they are still Mason jar filled with jam commonly used in home canning.

106

McDonald’s

Maverick – Мэверик, инакомыслящий, диссидент, «белая ворона»; человек, не принадлежащий ни к одной партии; бездомный человек, бродяга; неклеймёный телёнок Maverick is someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action. Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803–1870) was a Texas lawyer, politician, land baron and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. His name is the source of the term maverick, first cited in 1867, which means “independently minded.” Various accounts of the origins of the term held that Maverick came to be considered independently minded by his fellow ranchers because he refused to brand his cattle. In fact, Maverick’s failure to brand his cattle had little to do with independent mindedness, but reflected his lack of interest in ranching. The phrase also refers to an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick. He is the grandfather of US Congressman Maury Maverick, who coined the term gobbledygook (1944). McCormick reaper – косилка МакКормика, в корне изменившая сельское хозяйство США Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. (1809–1884) was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans. Although McCormick is often called the inventor of the mechanical reaper, it was based on work by others, including his family members: The McCormick reaper permitted the mass production of grain, which in turn allowed America to produce livestock on an industrial scale. McDonald’s – МакДональдс, сеть ресторанов быстрого питания In 1954 a salesman named Ray Kroc became curious as to why a small hamburger stand on the edge of the desert in California would need eight Multimixers – enough to make 40 milkshakes at a time – and decided to fly out and have a look. When Kroc came along, the McDonald brothers were 107

Meek as Moses

already legendary, at least in the trade. By 1961, the year he bought the brothers out for $2.7 million, there were two hundred McDonald’s restaurants, and the company was on its way to becoming a national institution. The McDonald brothers never married and lived together in the same house. They had no special interest in wealth and fame. The McDonald’s one indulgence was to buy a pair of new Cadillacs every year on the day that the new models came out. They were single-mindedly devoted to achieving perfection in their chosen area, and created something from which others would derive greater credit and fame. The McDonald’s of today is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 33,000 local restaurants serving nearly 68 million people in 119 countries each day.

Мeek as Moses – (библ.) смиренный как Моисей Very meek. This expression is a biblical allusion to Numbers 12:3: “Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” The source of this statement has been the subject of much speculation, since it would seem oxymoronic for Moses, the traditional author of the book of Numbers, to have had it written about himself. Perhaps this statement was added to the text by Moses’ disciple Joshua, who worked closely with Moses for forty years before succeeding his mentor as the human leader of Israel. Merry Andrew – весёлый Эндрю, шут, фигляр, гаер Clown, buffoon, tomfool. In the Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer (1810–1897) states that Merry Andrew was so called from Andrew Borde, physician to Henry VIII. To vast learning he added great eccentricity, and in order to instruct the people used to address them at fairs and other crowded places in a very vulgar way. Those who imitated his wit and drollery were called Merry Andrews, a term now signifying a clown or buffoon. In an early passage of “A Journal of the Plague Year” Daniel Defoe mentions merry andrews while describing the effects of the plague on London society: “… and the jack-puddings, merry-andrews, 108

Mickey Mouse

puppet-shows, rope-dancers, and such-like doings, which had bewitched the poor common people, shut up their shops, finding indeed no trade; for the minds of the people were agitated with other things, and a kind of sadness and horror at these things sat upon the countenances even of the common people.”

Mickey/Mike (Michael)/mick – Микки, Майк – уменьшительно-ласкательные формы имени Майкл; (неполиткор.) прозвище ирландцев These hypocorisms derived from very common first names are now the generic name for an Irishman. Derogatory word for Irish people (politically incorrect). The origin of the word is disputed. Some beliefs are that mick comes from the common “Mc” in many Irish names: McSorley, McNeil, McFlannagan, etc. Others believe it is related to the sound of a drunken hiccup: I was the captain * mick * of a ship * mick * for 3 years! Mick is also used between Irish friends and relatives in a playful and joking way: Joey, you stupid mick. Mickey Finn (sl) – напиток с подмешанным наркотиком A drugged drink (see Slip someone a Mickey Finn, p. 151): They gave him a Mickey Finn, and when he was unconscious they tied him up. Mickey Mouse – Микки Маус, персонаж мультипликационных фильмов Уолта Диснея; (амер. разг.) путаница, неразбериха, чепуха, ерунда; лёгкий курс, учебный предмет, не требующий усидчивости Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerk at The Walt Walt Disney, the coDisney Studio. Mickey is a black creator of Mickey Mouse mouse and typically wears red shorts, and founder of the Walt large yellow shoes, and white gloves. Disney Company, was the He is one of the most recognizable original voice of Mickey 109

Midas touch

cartoon characters in the world and is the mascot of The Walt Disney Company, the world’s largest media conglomerate. In 1928 Mickey debuted in the animated cartoon Steamboat Willie. He went on to appear in over 130 films. Nine of Mickey’s cartoons were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 1978, Mickey became the first cartoon character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also, if something is Mickey Mouse, it is intellectually trivial or not of a very high standard.

Midas touch – (миф.) прикосновение Мидаса, баснословно богатый человек; способность превращать в золото всё, к чему прикасаешься Once, as Ovid relates in Metamorphoses, for bringing the satyr Silenus back to Dionysus, king Midas was offered his choice of whatever reward he wished for. Midas asked that whatever he might touch should be changed into gold. He rejoiced in his new power and as soon as he got home, he ordered the servants to set a feast on the table. “But when he beheld his food grow rigid and his drink harden into golden ice then he understood that this gift was a bane and in his loathing for gold, cursed his prayer” (Claudian, “In Rufinum”). Now, Midas hated the gift he had coveted. He prayed to Dionysus, begging to be delivered from starvation. Midas, now hating wealth and splendor, moved to the country and became a worshipper of Pan, the god of the fields and satyr. Also, if someone has the Midas touch, they make a lot of money out of any scheme they try. A person who is very successful in business, with whose involvement “everything turns to gold”, is said to Illustration of Walter Crane from “A Wonder-Book have the Midas touch: All his firms are extremely profitable. He has the for Girls and Boys” (1893) by Nathaniel Hawthorne Midas touch. 110

Molly Coddle

Miranda rights/warning – права Миранды (право не отвечать на вопросы, дающие материал для обвинения самого себя; показания, невыгодные для самого свидетеля) A warning given by police in the United States to criminal suspects in police custody before they are interrogated. After placing the suspect under arrest, the officer will say something similar to: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Should the suspect not speak English, these rights must be translated to make sure they are understood. The Miranda warning is intended to protect the suspect’s Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer self-incriminating questions. In March 1963, Ernesto Miranda was arrested at his home in Arizona for the count of rape. The police then took him down to the police station and started interrogating him. Miranda, not informed of his rights, eventually signed a written confession of kidnapping and rape. Then Miranda appealed his case to Supreme Court. Based on testimonies given, it was evident that Miranda had never been told of his rights. In 1966, Supreme Court ruled in favor of Miranda in Miranda vs. Arizona. In the end, Miranda was retried and convicted based on other evidence. Mister/Mr Right // Miss/Ms Right (inf) – подходящая партия для брака; будущий муж/будущая жена; прекрасная пара The person one would like to marry; a perfect match; the perfect man or woman for you to marry: She waited for years and years, hoping someday to find Mister Right. Molly Coddle // Miss Molly // Miss Nancy – неженка, «девчонка», «баба» The verb to coddle means to treat somebody in an overprotective way, as though he or she were an invalid. The 111

Molotov cocktail

verb in this sense is not recorded before the early part of the 19th century – its first appearance is in Jane Austen’s “Emma”: “Be satisfied with doctoring and coddling yourself.” The first bit of the phrase is easy enough, since it is from the pet form of the given name Mary. But Molly has also had a long history in several different but related senses associated with low living. As either molly or moll, from the early 17th century on, it was often used to describe a prostitute. As molly it was also a common 18th-century name for a homosexual man, often in the form Miss Molly, and a molly house was a male brothel. As a noun, it was used particularly of a man who had been over-protected in childhood. For example, William Makepeace Thackeray wrote in “Pendennis” in 1849: You have been bred up as a molly-coddle, Pen, and spoilt by the women.

Molotov cocktail – (воен. разг.) коктейль Молотова, бутылка с горючей смесью The Molotov cocktail, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons. Due to the relative ease of production, they are frequently used by non-professionally equipped fighters and others who cannot afford, manufacture, or obtain hand grenades. They are primarily intended to set targets ablaze rather than instantly destroy them. The name Molotov cocktail was coined by the Finns during the Winter War. The name is an insulting reference (not a tribute) to Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov, who supposingly was responsible for the partition of Finland. The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty. Morton’s Fork – вилка Мортона, видимость выбора при его реальном отсутствии A choice between two equally unpleasant alternatives (in other words, a dilemma), or two lines of reasoning that lead 112

Mother Hubbard

to the same unpleasant conclusion. It is analogous to the expressions between the devil and the deep blue sea, between a rock and a hard place. It is said to originate with the collecting of taxes by John Morton (1420–1500), Archbishop of Canterbury in the late 15th century and chief minister of Henry VII, who held that a man living modestly must be saving money and could therefore afford taxes, whereas if he was living extravagantly then he was obviously rich and could still afford them. Morton gave a statement, later known as Morton’s Fork that no one was to be exempt from taxes. We call the option a Morton’s Fork, an apparent choice that in fact is no choice at all. It is the choice between giving up your left leg or your right arm. In contemporary culture, the film “Sophie’s Choice” offers the best known example: the two options offered the protagonist are equally tragic and morally heinous.

Mother Bunch – мамаша Банч, гадалка (по имени английской гадалки XVI века) A fortune-teller. Several Elizabethan writers allude jokingly to a notorious Mother Bunch who sold strong ale, kept a brothel, and seems to have been proverbial for coarse humor; various traditional jests and bawdy anecdotes were ascribed to her. Later, her name was put to different uses; from the 17th century onwards there were chapbooks where she figures as a wise old countrywoman, teaching a medley of charms and magical recipes. Mother Hubbard – матушка Хаббард (персонаж детской песенки); длинное платье, длинная женская одежда Old Mother Hubbard is an English language nursery rhyme, first printed in 1805 and among the most popular publications of the 19th century. The exact origin and meaning of the rhyme is disputed. The lyrics originally published in 1805 have remained largely unchanged. The book was immediately popular, possibly in part because it was believed to be a political commentary, but it is not clear exactly what readers thought was being satirized. 113

Mr Big

Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard, To give the poor dog a bone: When she came there, The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none. She went to the tavern For white wine and red; When she came back The dog stood on his head.

1819 UK depiction

The Dame made a curtsy, The dog made a bow; The Dame said, Your servant; The dog said, Bow-wow. She gave him rich dainties Whenever he fed, And erected this monument When he was dead.

1889 US depiction

A Mother Hubbard dress is a long, wide, loose-fitting gown with long sleeves and a high neck. Intended to cover as much skin as possible, it was introduced by missionaries in Polynesia to “civilize” those whom they considered halfnaked savages of the South Seas islands. Although this Victorian remnant has disappeared elsewhere in the world, it is still worn by Pacific women. The author Somerset Maugham refers to this dress many times in his novels and short stories about the Pacific.

Mr Big – важная персона; главарь банды, «пахан» The important or leading person in an organization; the most important man in a group of people, especially a group involved in criminal activities. Often used humorously about a criminal leader: Police have arrested a man they believe is the Mr Big of Brighton’s drug scene.

114

Mrs Jellyby

Mr Clean (sl) – «мистер Чистюля»; честный и неподкупный политик An honorable or incorruptible politician. A man, especially a public figure, who adheres to the highest standards of personal and professional conduct (from Mr Clean, a brand name and mascot fully owned by Procter & Gamble used for a cleaning solution and related products). Mr Nice Guy – очень порядочный, дружелюбный человек A very decent, friendly man. Mrs Grundy – миссис Гранди, олицетворение устоев английского общества (ср.: «Что станет говорить княгиня Марья Алексевна?» А. Грибоедов, «Горе от ума») A term expressive of the prudishness of the English character. From the phrase in Tom Morton’s “Speed the Plough” (1798): What will Mrs Grundy say? that is, what will the proper-thinking neighbors say. Mrs Grundy now epitomizes the rigid and Puritanical-minded person who condemns the slightest departure from conventional behavior. A tendency to be overly fearful of what the respectable might think is referred to as Grundyism: The old woman’s a Mrs Grundy who objected to the young couple kissing in the park. Mrs Jellyby – миссис Джеллиби (персонаж романа Ч. Диккенса «Холодный дом»); женщина, излишне увлечённая общественной деятельностью в ущерб своим детям и дому As usual, Dickens drew upon many real people and places but imaginatively transformed them in his novel. The “telescopic philanthropist” Mrs Jellyby, who pursues distant projects at the expense of her duty to her own family, is a criticism of women activists like Caroline Chisholm who was a progressive 19th-century English humanitarian known mostly for her involvement with female immigrant welfare in Australia. Mrs Jellyby is obsessed with an obscure African tribe but having little regard to the notion of charity beginning at home. 115

Mrs Mopp

Mrs Mopp – миссис Мопп, уборщица помещений A charlady or charwoman (someone hired to do household cleaning). In the British radio comedy series “It’s That Man Again”, Dorothy Summers played the part of the cockney cleaning woman character Mrs Mopp. The office char’s catch phrase was “Can I do you now, Sir?” (i.e., “May I clean your office now, Sir?” but with an obvious double entendre): In the evenings Olga worked as a Mrs Mopp. Murphy’s Law – закон Мёрфи, шуточный философский принцип, иностранный аналог русского «закона подлости», «закона бутерброда» и «генеральского эффекта» Murphy’s law is a humorous rule that says: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. There are other rules like this that are often called Murphy’s Laws, such as: Nothing is as easy as it looks, and Everything takes longer than you think it will. Although many people have ideas about who Murphy might be, no one is sure: Why is the traffic always worst when you’re already late? – Murphy’s law. Used in order to say that the worst possible thing always seems to happen when it is most annoying.

N Nancy boy (derog sl) – педераст, гомосексуалист Sissy, gay. A homosexual male or an effeminate man; what gay men were called back in the days when gay meant happy; also written nancy-boy, nancy: That feller was always a little funny, if you know what I mean. A real nancy boy. Nervous Nellie/Nelly – нервная Нелли; мнительный, нервный, робкий, неуверенный в себе человек Excessively nervous, worried, timid, or apprehensive person is a Nervous Nellie; a constantly worried person, male or female: Sue is such a nervous Nellie. She should calm down. 116

Nobel Prize

An unduly timid or anxious person, as in He’s a real nervous Nellie, calling the doctor about every little symptom. This term does not allude to a particular person named Nellie; rather, the name was probably chosen for the sake of alliteration. The phrase originated in 1925–1930.

Nice Nelly/Nellie (inf) – образцово-показательный (человек) Someone who acts too good to be true; a prude; a prig: We took him for a nice Nelly when he wouldn’t fight. Used as an adjective, the phrase means someone too careful not to say or do anything wrong or improper; too proper; prudish: Her nice Nellie behavior made her unpopular at school. Nobel Prize – Нобелевская премия The Nobel Prize (Swedish pronunciation: xåçDÄcäz) is a set of annual international awards bestowed in a number of categories by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and/or scientific advances. The will of the Swedish philanthropist inventor Alfred Nobel established the prizes in 1895. The Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, while the other prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nobel Prize is widely regarded as the most prestigious award available in the fields of literature, medicine, physics, chemistry, peace, and economics. Each recipient, or laureate, receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a sum of money which is decided by Nobel Foundation yearly. As of 2012, each prize was worth 8 million SEK1 (c. US$1.2 million, €0.93 million). The prize is not awarded posthumously; however, if a person is awarded a prize and dies before receiving it, the prize may still be presented.

1

SEK – Swedish Krona (Currency of Sweden)

117

No more Mr Nice Guy

No more Mr Nice Guy – перестать миндальничать и начать принимать жёсткие меры Used to suggest that you will stop being lenient and begin to adopt more severe measures. Nice guy is a term in the general public discourse and in popular culture describing an adult or teenage male with friendly yet unassertive personality traits in the context of a relationship with a woman. A typical nice guy believes in putting the needs of others before his own, avoids confrontations, does favors, gives emotional support, and generally acts nicely towards women. “Nice guy,” as in “Mr Nice Guy,” connotes weakness. No more Mr Nice Guy is a warning before retaliation, the end of passive acceptance of unfairness or harsh treatment. This gloves-off warning was popularized in the 1970s. Richard Nixon was asked by “The Washington Post” in 1977 about his response to Vietnam War protests: When was the moment when in effect, you said, “OK, no more Mr Nice Guy”? No way, Jose! – ни за что, ни за какие коврижки Absolutely not; never. This slang expression originated in America sometime around the 1960s. In Chapman and Kipfer’s “Dictionary of American Slang” no way is listed as a 1960s phrase and no way Jose as originating in Village Voice. Unfortunately, they don’t present any other details to check that assertion. The first verified citation is found from “The Washington Post”, December 1979: I’ve got nothing against robots. But no way, Jose, is this guy going to win. Why Jose? There’s no reason to think that Jose was an actual person. The name was probably chosen for the rhyme with “no way”, which predates the longer phrase. Noah’s ark – Ноев ковчег A vessel appearing in the Book of Genesis and the Quran. These narratives describe the construction of a large, seagoing ark by the Patriarch Noah at God’s command to save himself, his family, and the world’s animals from the Great Flood. In the narrative of the ark, God sees the wickedness of man and is grieved by his creation, resolving 118

Not know someone from Adam

to send a great flood to cleanse the Earth. However, God chose a man named Noah and “counted it righteous to him” to live and also to preserve his creation mankind through Noah’s family. When Noah and the animals are safe on board, God sends the Flood, which rises until all the mountains are covered and all life on Earth is destroyed. At the height of the flood, the ark rests on mountaintops, before the waters recede and dry land reappears. Noah, his family, and the animals leave the ark to repopulate the Earth. Although the account of the ark was traditionally accepted as historical, by the 19th century the growing impact of scientific investigation and biblical interpretation had led many people to abandon a literal view in favor of a more metaphoric understanding. Biblical literalists continue to explore the mountains of Ararat in present-day Turkey, where the Bible says the ark came to rest, in search of archaeological remnants of the vessel.

Nosy/Nosey Parker – любопытная Варвара; человек, который всюду суёт свой нос, не в меру любопытный The person most often associated with the phrase nosy parker is Matthew Parker, who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 to 1575. In a systematic attempt to obtain a detailed account of the qualifications and activities of the clergy he ordered several unpopular inquiries. This, and the good archbishop’s impressively prominent nose, might be thought more than enough for his peers to have nicknamed him nosy Parker. The problem with this story is that his peers did no such thing. The phrase nosy parker dates from the end of the 19th century. Not know Jack about something – ни черта не знать о чём-л. Not know someone from Adam – не отличить от Адама; совершенно не знать кого-л., не иметь о ком-л. понятия, представления Have never met someone and not know anything about them; be unable to recognize someone; not know what 119

Occam’s/Ockham’s razor

someone looks like: Why should I lend him money? I don’t know him from Adam. * The actress is well-known in her own country, but in America they don’t know her from Adam.

O Occam’s/Ockham’s razor – лезвие Оккэма, отсекающее в суждениях всё лишнее; (экон. и бизнес) закон минимума допущений This principle takes its name from the English philosopher William of Occam (c. 1289–1349): the image is that of the razor cutting away all extraneous assumptions. The term Occam’s razor first appeared in 1852 in the works of Sir William Hamilton (1788–1856), centuries after Ockham’s death. Ockham did not invent this “razor”; its association with him may be due to the frequency and effectiveness with which he used it. The most useful statement of the principle for scientists is: When you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better. In other words, keep things simple! (As) Old as Adam – старо как мир; быльём поросло; очень старый; древний как мир Generally used as a reproof for stating as news something well known: That joke is as old as Adam, or was known as far back as the days of Adam (see As old as Methuselah, p. 15). According to the creation myth, found in the Book of Genesis and the Quran, he is the first human. In the Genesis, he was created by the god of Israel, though the term “adam” can refer to both the first individual person, and to the general creation of humankind. Christian churches differ on how they view Adam’s subsequent behavior (often called the Fall of man), and to the consequences that those actions had on the rest of humanity. Christian and Jewish teachings sometimes hold Adam and Eve (the first woman) to a 120

Old Tom

different level of responsibility for the Fall, though Islamic teaching holds both equally responsible. In addition, Islam holds that Adam was eventually forgiven, while Christianity holds that no such redemption occurred.

Old Bill (Br inf old-fashioned) – старик Билл, английская полиция The police: The Old Bill was round here yesterday, asking where you were. Old Grog – прозвище британского адмирала Эдварда Вернона The word grog refers to a variety of alcoholic beverages. This word originally referred to a drink made with water or “small beer” (a weak beer) and rum, which British Vice Admiral Edward Vernon introduced into the Royal Navy. On 21 August 1740 he ordered the alcoholic mixture to be served, instead of pure spirits, to sailors. Vernon wore a coat of grogram cloth and was nicknamed Old Grogram or Old Grog. Modern versions of the drink are often made with hot or boiling water, and sometimes include lemon juice, lime juice, cinnamon or sugar to improve the taste. Old Harry – сатана, дьявол Another word for the Devil or Satan. There are several explanations for the phrase: • Henry VIII has been said to be the original “Old Harry” or “Lord Harry”; for his cruel deeds caused his people to regard him as the Devil incarnate. • From the personal name but with some allusion to the word “harry,” meaning to plunder, harass, lay waste, torment: Jones is grinding the beans now, sir: the cook’s had Old Harry of a time keeping the stove alight (1800). Old Tom – старый Том, название сорта крепкого джина Old Tom Gin (or Tom Gin or Old Tom) is a lightly sweetened gin popular in the 18th-century England that now is rarely available. The name Old Tom Gin purportedly 121

On one’s Jack Jones / jack jones

came from wooden plaques shaped like a black cat (an Old Tom) mounted on the outside wall of some pubs above a public walkway in the 18th-century England. Owing to a scandalous news report of a tragedy involving a murdered family, gin was outlawed and went underground, changing from a cloudy liquid to its modern clear form so as to appear like water. After a pedestrian deposited a penny in the cat’s mouth, they would place their lips around a small tube between the cat’s paws. From the tube would come a shot of gin, poured by the bartender inside the pub.

On one’s Jack Jones / jack jones (Br inf) – сам по себе, в одиночку An example of Cockney Rhyming Slang, a type of slang in which words are replaced by words or phrases they rhyme with. So the phrase “On your Jack (Jones)” means “alone”: You’re on your Jack Jones. Ben’s deserted you. On Shank’s mare – на своих двоих, пешком; «пёхом» Shanks’/shanks’s mare (or nag or pony) derives from the name of the lower part of the leg between the knee and ankle – the shank, nowadays more often known as the shinbone. The early form of this term – shank’s nag – originated in Scotland in the 18th century. When it crossed the Atlantic, the expression migrated into shank’s mare, which remains the common form in the USA. It was first referred to there in the 1860s. In the UK and Australia the term is commonly shanks’ pony. It is sometimes capitalized as Shank’s pony as some reports claim it to have derived from an individual called Shanks, or from the Shanks & Company Ltd., who previously manufactured lawn-mowing machines. One such horse-drawn mower had no seat and the driver had to walk behind it. Examples of these machines still exist and this would be a plausible theory if it weren’t for the clear pre-dating of the 122

Out-Herod Herod

Scottish references. An alternative version of this phrase is “the horse of ten toes”.

Oscar – «Оскар», ежегодная премия Американской академии киноискусств и наук; приз, награда за творческие достижения An Academy Award (Oscar) is an award bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The Oscar statuette is officially named the Academy Award of Merit. The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. The cost of guest tickets for that night’s ceremony was $5. Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors and other personalities of the filmmaking industry. The Oscar statuette is made of goldplated alloy of tin and copper and depicts a knight rendered in Art Deco style holding a crusader’s sword standing on a reel of film with five spokes. The five spokes each represent the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians. A Mexican film director and actor Emilio “El Indio” Fernández, reluctant at first, was finally convinced to pose nude to create what today is known as the “Oscar”. The root of the name Oscar is contested. One biography of Bette Davis claims that she named the Oscar after her first husband. The trophy was officially dubbed the Oscar in 1939. Out-Herod Herod – превзойти самого Ирода в жестокости; переусердствовать Herod the Great appears in the Gospel of Matthew (2.116), which describes an event known as the Massacre of the Innocents. According to this account, after the birth of Jesus, Magi from the East visited Herod to inquire the whereabouts of “the one having been born king of the Jews”, because they had seen his star in the east and therefore wanted to pay him homage. Herod, as King of the Jews, was alarmed at the prospect of a usurper. He assembled the chief priests and 123

Painted Jezebel

asked them where the “Anointed One” was to be born. They answered, in Bethlehem. Herod therefore sent the Magi to Bethlehem, instructing them to search for the child and, after they had found him, to “report to me, so that I too may go and worship him”. However, after they had found Jesus, the Magi were warned in a dream not to report back to Herod. When Herod realized he had been outwitted by the Magi, he gave orders to kill all boys of the age of two and under in Bethlehem and its vicinity. Regarding the Massacre of the Innocents, although Herod was certainly guilty of many brutal acts, including the killing of his wife and two of his sons, no other known source from the period makes any reference to such a massacre. Modern biographers of Herod tend to doubt the event took place. He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere. The phrase is from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”: I would have such a fellow whipp’d for o’erdoing Termagant; it out-herods Herod (Act III, Sc. 2).

P Painted Jezebel – (библ.) крашеная Иезавель; хитрая, бесстыжая женщина A painted Jezebel is a shameless, immoral, scheming woman. She was the wife of Ahab, king of Israel (9th century BC), portrayed in the Bible as a power behind the throne. Her court officials were incited to murder the queen via defenestration and leave her corpse to be eaten by dogs. The name Jezebel came to be associated with false prophets, and further associated by the early 20th century with fallen or abandoned women. In some interpretations, her dressing in finery and putting on makeup before her death led to the association of use of cosmetics with “painted women” or prostitutes. In Christian lore, a comparison to Jezebel suggested that a person was a pagan or an apostate masquerading as a servant of God. By 124

Paparazzi

manipulation and/or seduction, she misled the saints of God into sins of idolatry and sexual immorality. In particular, Jezebel has come to be associated with promiscuity. In his two-volume Guide to the Bible (1967 and 1969), Isaac Asimov describes Jezebel’s last act: dressing in all her finery, make-up and jewelry, as deliberately symbolic, indicating her dignity, royal status and determination to go out of this life as a Queen.

Pandora’s box – (миф.) ящик Пандоры, источник всяческих бедствий If you open a Pandora’s box, something you do causes all sorts of trouble that you hadn’t anticipated. To open Pandora’s box means to create evil that cannot be undone. In classic Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman on earth. Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, to create her, so he did – using water and earth. The gods endowed her with many gifts: Athena clothed her, Aphrodite gave her beauty, and Hermes speech. With her, Pandora was given a beautiful jar which she was not to open under any circumstance. Impelled by her curiosity given to her by the gods, Pandora opened the jar, and all evil contained escaped and spread over the earth. She hastened to close the lid, but the whole contents of the jar had escaped, except for one thing that lay at the bottom, which was Hope. Pandora was deeply saddened by what she had done, and was afraid that she would have to face Zeus’ wrath, since she had failed her duty; however, Zeus did not punish her, because he knew this would happen: When I asked Jane about her problems, I didn’t know I had opened Pandora’s box. Paparazzi xéoéèDêoíëáz – папарацци; фоторепортёры, снимающие сцены из личной жизни звёзд шоу-бизнеса и других знаменитостей без их ведома и согласия If you were to see a casual photographer around town and called him a paparazzi, beware; he might be tempted to throw his camera at you, especially if he considers himself to be a 125

Pareto’s Rule/Principle

photojournalist. Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of athletes, celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people. Paparazzi photographers are often described as an unacceptable annoyance by celebrities. They are reported to be rude, pushy and ignorant. Many celebrities complain about paparazzi on how much they get into their personal space. Some have even filed restraining orders against them. The word “paparazzi” is an eponym originating in the 1960 film La Dolce Vita directed by Federico Fellini. One of the characters in the film is a news photographer named Paparazzo. Fellini is said to have taken the name from an Italian dialect word that describes a particularly annoying noise, that of a Statue of paparazzo in buzzing mosquito. As Fellini Bratislava, Slovakia said in his interview to “Time” magazine, “Paparazzo… suggests to me a buzzing insect, hovering, darting, stinging.” By the late 1960s, this word, usually in the Italian plural form paparazzi, had entered English as a generic derogatory term for intrusive photographers.

Pareto’s Rule/Principle // 80/20 rule – закон Парето, закон распределения доходов The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Business-management consultant Joseph M. Juran suggested the principle and named it after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who observed in 1906 that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population; he developed the principle by observing that 20% of the pea pods in his garden contained 80% of the peas. It is a common rule of thumb in business; e.g., “80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients”. Pareto developed this concept in the 126

Patience of Job

context of the distribution of income and wealth among the population.

Parkinson’s Law – (шутл.) закон Паркинсона, согласно которому объём работы растёт пропорционально отпущенному на него времени This law claims that work tends to be extended till the time allowed for its completion. The adage was first articulated by Cyril Northcote Parkinson as the first sentence of a humorous essay published in “The Economist” in 1955: Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. It was later reprinted together with other essays in the book “Parkinson’s Law: The Pursuit of Progress” (1958). He derived the dictum from his extensive experience in the British Civil Service. He explains the growth of bureaucracies by two forces: An official wants to multiply subordinates, not rivals and Officials make work for each other. When in 1986, Alessandro Natta (Italian politician and secretary of the Italian Communist Party) complained about the swelling bureaucracy in Italy, Mikhail Gorbachev responded that “Parkinson’s Law works everywhere.” Patience of Job – терпение Иова; долготерпение, ангельское терпение; адское терпение If something requires the patience of Job, it requires a great amount of patience. Job is the central character of the “Book of Job” in the Hebrew Bible. Also, Job is listed as a prophet of God in the Koran. The phrase refers to Job’s refusal to condemn God when Satan was allowed to destroy his family and his livestock, essentially turning him from a rich man into a childless pauper overnight. Instead he entered into a series of dialogs that culminated in a fascinating conversation with God Himself. In the end, Job saw the error in his ways, sought forgiveness, and everything was restored. The main idea running through the “Book of Job” is that when we justify ourselves, by saying that we don’t deserve to experience catastrophic loss, we condemn God, 127

Paul Pry

in effect accusing Him of being unjust. Had Job not been a sinner, God could not have authorized Satan to torment him, and through his patient attempts to understand this, we learn valuable lessons.

Paul Pry – Пол Прай, человек, сующий нос в чужие дела Paul Pry (1825), a farce in three acts, was the most notable play written by a 19th-century English playwright John Poole. It premiered in London on 13 September 1825 at the Haymarket Theatre and ran 114 performances. The play continued to be popular until the early 1870s. The storyline is centered on a comical, idle, meddlesome and mischievous fellow consumed with curiosity. Unable to mind his own business, he is an interfering busybody who conveniently leaves behind an umbrella everywhere he goes in order to have an excuse to return and eavesdrop. In the end, however, Pry becomes a hero for rescuing papers from a well that incriminate more serious troublemakers. Peeping Tom – любопытный Том; человек, который тайком подглядывает за другими; чересчур любопытный человек Someone who tries to look through other people’s windows without being seen in order to spy on people in their homes. Peeping Tom – a voyeur; a person who secretly watches other people undressing. After the tailor that, according to legend, sneakily tried to peep at Lady Godiva when she rode naked through Coventry. Lady Godiva was the lady, wife of Leofric. Earl Leofric was a lord who ruled England under the Danish King Canute. Lady Godiva was a rich landowner in her own right and one of her most valuable properties was Coventry. Leofric was a tyrant, he tyrannized the Church and did not hold the same religious Lady Godiva (1898) by John Collier convictions as his wife. 128

Peter Principle

He mercilessly demanded from the people of Coventry an oppressive tax. Lady Godiva pleaded with Leofric to stop this hated tax and he is reputed to have said, “You will have to ride naked through Coventry before I will change my ways”. He was quite sure that his wife would never do such a thing. But Lady Godiva took him at his word, and on Market Day in Coventry she rode naked, veiled only by her long golden hair. Leofric was so stunned by the whole incident that he immediately freed the town from paying the hated tax and at the same time ceased his persecution of the Church. After this incident he and Godiva funded a Benedictine monastery in Coventry where they were both buried. Unfortunately all traces of this monastery have long since disappeared.

Peter Principle – принцип Питера (о границах карьерного роста) Peter Principle claims that people are promoted until they reach their level of incompetence. It is based on the notion that employees will get promoted as long as they are competent, but at some point will fail to get promoted beyond a certain job because it has become too challenging for them. The Peter Principle was first observed by Dr Laurence J. Peter and published in his book “The Peter Principle” in 1968. He sums up the Peter Principle with the saying: …the cream rises until it sours. “The Peter Principle” was a best-seller when it was first published. A satiric treatise on workplace incompetence, it touched a nerve with readers because it was so funny. And so true. When people do their jobs well, Dr Peter argued, society can’t leave well enough alone. We ask for more and more until we ask too much. Then these individuals – promoted to positions in which they are doomed to fail – start using a bag of tricks to mask their incompetence. They distract us from their crummy work with giant desks, 129

Peter’s needle

replace action with incomprehensible acronyms, blame others for failure, cheat to create the illusion of progress. If Dr Peter were alive today, he would find that a new lust for superhuman accomplishments has helped create an almost unprecedented level of incompetence.

Peter’s needle – иголка святого Петра, игольное ушко; pass/go through St Peter’s needle – понести суровое наказание, получить нагоняй; небо с овчинку показалось “There was a rich man named Onesiphorus who said: ‘If I believe, shall I be able to do wonders?’ Peter said: ‘I tell you this: it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ Onesiphorus was angry and said, ‘If you show me this sign, I and the whole city will believe but if not you shall be punished.’ Peter was troubled and stood and prayed: ‘Lord, help us at this hour, for thou hast entrapped us by thy words.’ The Saviour appeared in the form of a boy of twelve years, wearing a linen garment, and said, ‘Fear not: let the needle and the camel be brought.’ When it was brought, Peter saw a camel coming and stuck the needle in the ground and cried: ‘In the name of Jesus Christ crucified under Pontius Pilate I command thee, camel, to go through the eye of the needle.’ The eye opened like a gate and the camel passed through; and yet again, at Peter’s bidding. Onesiphorus cried out, convinced and said: ‘Listen. I have lands and vineyards and 27 librae of gold and 50 of silver, and many slaves: I will give my goods to the poor and free my slaves if I may do wonders like you.’ Peter said: ‘If you believe, you shall.’ Yet he was afraid he might not be able, because he was not baptized, but a voice came: ‘Let him do what he will.’ So Onesiphorus stood before the needle and camel and commanded it to go through and it went as far as the neck and stopped. And he asked why. ‘Because you are not yet baptized.’ He was content, and the apostles went to his house, and 1,000 souls were baptized that night.” (“The Apocryphal New Testament”, Oxford 1924, p. 459). 130

Plain Jane

Peter’s penny – (ист.) лепта святого Петра (ежегодная подать в папскую казну) The phrase refers to St Peter, considered as the first pope. Historically, an annual tax, originally of one penny, formerly levied for the maintenance of the Papal See (holy chair), abolished by Henry VIII in 1534. Either, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics in many countries for the same purpose. Pistol Pete (Am) – Пит Пистолет, меткий стрелок, ковбой, помощник начальника полицейского участка Frank Boardman Pistol Pete Eaton (1860–1958) was an American author, cowboy, scout, Indian fighter, and Deputy US Marshal. Eaton was born in 1860 in Connecticut, and soon moved with his family to Kansas. When Eaton was eight years old, his father was shot in cold blood by six former Confederates. In 1868, his father’s friend said to Frank, “My boy, may an old man’s curse rest upon you, if you do not try to avenge your father.” That same year, he taught him to handle a gun, but it would take nineteen years for Frank to avenge his father. At the age of fifteen, he decided to visit a cavalry fort in Oklahoma, to Frank “Pistol Pete” learn more about handling a gun. Eaton Although too young to join the army, he outshot everyone at the fort and competed with the cavalry’s best marksmen, beating them each time. After many competitions, the fort’s commanding officer gave Frank a marksmanship badge and a new nickname. From that day forward, Frank would be known as Pistol Pete. Plain Jane/jane – простушка Джейн; дурнушка (о некрасивой и не очень умной девушке) A woman who has an average appearance. Plain jane describes a girl that is plain, ordinary and not exceptionally 131

Platonic love

smart or special. It can also mean an object that is unadorned or unembellished.

Platonic love – платоническая, чистая любовь Plato xDéäèfíçsz (424/423 BC – 348/347 BC) was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the foundations of Western philosophy and science. In its modern popular sense, the phrase refers to a non-sexual affectionate relationship. At the same time, this interpretation is a misunderstanding of the nature of the Platonic ideal of love which from its origin was that of a chaste but passionate love, based not on lack of erotic interest but on spiritual transmutation of the sex force, opening up vast expanses of subtler enjoyments than sex. Play hell and Tommy – устроить скандал; перевернуть всё вверх дном; довести человека до крайности, до нищеты; разрушить, погубить Thoroughly upset things; destroy or pillage, wreck, devastate, demolish, bring into chaos: Drug addiction soon played hell and Tommy with his career. An English proverbial expression for violence or outrage, sometimes held to be a corruption of Hal and Tommy, Hal being the diminutive of Henry. “The Henry here meant is the remorseless brute Henry VIII, and Tommy is Thomas Lord Cromwell, the tyrant’s congenial agent in seizing and rifling the religious houses and turning out their helpless occupants to starve.” (W. Walsh “Handy-book of Literary Curiosities”, 1909). But perhaps a likelier origin is that it is a corruption of “Hell and Damn me”. Play Old Harry (with) // Give Old Harry/Harrington – играть с огнём, гневить бога, ругать, дразнить Damage or affect greatly. Old Harry has been a nickname for the devil in Northern England since the 18th century; the 132

Pope Joan

phrase is still in use. Thus play old Harry with, give old Harry, give old Harrington means to play the Devil with, to make mischief, to tease or scold.

Play the Jack with somebody – мошенничать, обманывать, надувать кого-л., плутовать; подло, низко поступать в отношении кого-л.; подложить свинью кому-л. Swindle somebody; do the dirty on somebody: Monster, your fairy, which you say is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us (W. Shakespeare “The Tempest”, Act IV, Sc. 1). (As) Pleased as Punch – доволен как Панч/Петрушка, очень доволен, рад-радёшенек; преисполнен самодовольства; довольный как слон Very pleased. The phrase As pleased as Punch derives from the Mr Punch puppet character. Punch’s name itself derives from Polichinello (spelled various ways, including Punchinello), a puppet used in the 16th century Italian Commedia dell’arte. As pleased as Punch is now the most common form of the expression. When the term was coined it was just as usual to say ‘as proud as Punch’. Charles Dickens used the two terms interchangeably in his novels: I am as proud as Punch to think that I once had the honor of being connected with your family (“David Copperfield”, 1850). When Sissy got into the school, her father was as pleased as Punch (“Hard Times”, 1854). Pope Joan – Папесса Иоанна, карточная игра по имени женщины, якобы занимавшей папский престол в девятом веке Pope Joan, a once popular Victorian family game, is an 18th-century English round game of cards for three to eight players. Pope Joan was a legendary female Pope who allegedly reigned for a few years some time during the Middle Ages. The story first appeared in 13th-century chronicles, and subsequently spread and embellished throughout Europe. It was widely believed for centuries, 133

Potemkin/Potyomkin villages

though modern religious scholars consider it fictitious. Most versions of her story describe her as a talented and learned woman who disguises herself as a man, often at the behest of a lover. In the most common accounts, due to her abilities, she rises through the church hierarchy, eventually being elected pope. However, while riding on horseback she gives birth, thus exposing her gender. In most versions, she dies shortly after, either being killed by an angry mob or from natural causes. Her memory is then shunned by her successors.

Potemkin/Potyomkin villages – Потёмкинские деревни; лживая попытка произвести благоприятное впечатление The idiom is based on a historical myth. According to the myth, there were fake settlements purportedly erected at the direction of Russian minister Grigory Potemkin to fool Empress Catherine II during her visit to the Crimea in 1787. According to this story, Potemkin, who led the Crimean military campaign, had hollow facades of villages constructed along the desolate banks of the Dnieper River in order to impress the monarch and her entourage with the value of her new conquests, thus enhancing his standing in the empress’s eyes. So he ordered a number of sham villages to be built for the Empress Catherine II’s tour of the Crimea. Prince Albert (Am) – длиннополый сюртук (по имени принца Альберта, супруга королевы Виктории) A frock coat is a man’s coat characterized by kneelength skirts all around the base, popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. The double-breasted style is sometimes called a Prince Albert (after the consort to Queen Victoria), who is usually credited with popularizing the frock coat. During the Victorian era, the frock coat rapidly became universally worn in Britain, Europe and America as standard formal business dress, or for formal daytime events.

134

Prometheus fire

Formal black frock coat with silk-faced lapels, Cashmere striped trousers and button boots (left) Prince Albert wearing a black frock coat and bow tie (right)

Prometheus fire xéêèDãgqáèëz – (миф.) Прометеев огонь; божественный огонь в душе человека In Greek mythology, Prometheus was the creator of mankind. The goddess Athene taught him architecture, astronomy, mathematics, navigation, medicine, and metallurgy, and he in turn taught them to humans. Zeus, the chief of the Greek gods, became angry at Prometheus for making people powerful by teaching them all these useful skills. To punish Prometheus, Zeus withheld fire from men. “Let them eat their flesh raw,” he declared. In response, Prometheus, snuck up to Mount Olympus, lit a torch from the sun, and hid a burning piece of charcoal in a hollow stalk. He slipped away with it and thus delivered fire to mankind. This further enraged Zeus, who had Prometheus chained naked to a pillar in the Caucasian mountains, where his liver is eaten daily by an eagle. Years later, the Greek hero Heracles (Hercules) slays the eagle and frees Prometheus from his chains. The myth is one of the deepest significance, reflecting an old belief that the world was made for man and not man for the world. Prometheus is properly the incarnation of the divine fire latent from the beginning in the soul of man.

135

Proper Charlie

Proper Charlie – человек, которому не хватает здравого смысла; глупец In Britain someone called Charles is often familiarly called Charlie, but a Charlie, in full a proper Charlie or a right Charlie, is also a person lacking in common sense, a fool. The term refers to pensioners (soldiers no longer fit for service) in the service of Charles II, who were generally thought to lack sense: Arlene made a proper Charlie of herself last night. Pullman car – пульмановский вагон, спальный вагон в поездах дальнего следования A railroad passenger car with convertible berths for sleeping, also Pullman car. The man who ultimately made the sleeping car business profitable in the United States was George Pullman, who began by building a luxurious sleeping car (named Pioneer) in 1865. The Pullman Company owned and operated most sleeping cars in the United States until the mid-20th century. George Pullman was born in 1831. He traveled on numerous occasions, and like most travelers of the time was unhappy with the uncomfortable, inadequately heated and ventilated wooden coaches of the time, with having to lug his baggage from one train to another at junction points, and having to spend the night in seedy hotels. George Pullman created and refined the sleeping car that dominated railroad travel for decades. One possibly unanticipated consequence of the rise of Pullman cars in the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries was their effect on civil rights and African American culture. Each Pullman car was staffed by a uniformed porter. These were almost always AfricanAmericans and, by convention, were often addressed as “George” by passengers. Although this was servant’s work, it was relatively well paid and prestigious, and so “Pullman porters” were in a position to become leaders in the black communities where they lived, contributing to the nucleus of the nascent black middle class.

136

Queen Anne is dead!

Pyrrhic victory – пиррова победа; победа, стоившая громадных жертв, почти равная поражению; успех, губительный для победителя A victory where the loss is bigger than the gain. The phrase is named after King Pyrrhus whose army suffered irreplaceable casualties in defeating the Romans in 280 BC during the Pyrrhic War. After the last battle of the war, Plutarch relates: “...the armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus referred to the battle that gave him joy of his victory that one more such victory would utterly undo him. For he had lost a great part of the forces he brought with him, and almost all his particular friends and principal commanders; there were no others there to make recruits. On the other hand… the Roman camp was quickly and plentifully filled up with fresh men… gaining new force and resolution to go on with the war”. Although the phrase is most closely associated with a military battle, the term is used by analogy in fields such as business, politics, law, literature, and sports to describe any similar struggle which is ruinous for the victor: Winning the court case turned out to be a Pyrrhic victory, as his health was shattered by the experience and he died shortly afterwards.

Q Queen Anne is dead! – (разг. ирон.) Открыл Америку! (в ответ на устаревшую новость) The reply made to the teller of stale news. Anne (1665– 1714) ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, the kingdoms of England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain. Despite seventeen pregnancies, Anne died without surviving children and was the last monarch of the House of Stuart. She was succeeded by her second cousin George I of the House of Hanover.

137

Raise Cain/Ned/Jack

R Raise Cain/Ned/Jack (Am old-fashioned) – буянить, скандалить; устроить скандал, поднять шум; учинить разнос, отругать If someone raises Cain, they make a big fuss publicly, causing a disturbance as if raising up or evoking the turbulent spirit of the first murderer; complain angrily about something causing trouble or creating an uproar: They know that the children’s parents will raise Cain if they’re excluded from classes. Cain was the first murderer according to Cain and Abel scriptural accounts in the Bible by José Vergara Gimeno (Genesis 4) and in the Koran (5:27– (18th century) 32). The biblical account tells of how Cain and Abel, the two sons of Adam and Eve, bring offerings to God, but only Abel’s is accepted. Cain kills Abel in anger and is cursed by God. Real McCoy – настоящий МакКой; настоящая, оригинальная, не поддельная вещь, не имитация; без подделки, без дураков; подлинный, настоящий Something that is the real McCoy is the genuine article, not a fake; the real thing – not a substitute or an imitation. The real McCoy is an idiom and metaphor used in much of the English-speaking world. It is a corruption of the Scots the real MacKay, first recorded in 1856 as a drappie o’ the real MacKay (a drop of the real MacKay), which clearly refers to the McKay (or Mackay) whisky and is widely accepted as the origin of the phrase. How it came to be McCoy is unclear – it is believed that the first recording with this spelling occurred in Canada in 1881. The phrase has been the subject of numerous fanciful folk etymologies ever since. There are several people and things that the phrase has 138

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s

been applied to – which came first is uncertain. Here are some most popular interpretations of the phrase: • McCoy is derived from Mackay, referring to Messrs. Mackay, Edinburgh, who made a brand of fine whisky from 1856 onwards and which they promoted as “the real MacKay” from 1870. • After Kid McCoy (Norman Selby, 1873–1940), American welterweight boxing champion. The story goes, and there are various versions of it, that a drunk challenged Selby to prove that he was McCoy and not one of the many lesser boxers trading under the same name. After being knocked to the floor, the drunk rose to admit that Yes, that’s the real McCoy. • McCoy is a corruption of Macao which was the source of a pure and sought-after class of heroin.

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s – (библ.) Кесарево кесарю // Кесарю кесарево, а Богу богово (т.е. каждому воздайте должное) “Render unto Caesar…” is the beginning of a phrase attributed to Jesus which reads in full, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”. “When Jesus asked the Pharisees to show him the money in which the tax is paid, they handed him a silver piece. Jesus asked, ‘Whose head is this, and whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s’, they replied. He said to them, ’then pay Caesar what is due to Caesar, and pay God what is due to God.’ This answer took them by surprise, and they went away and left him alone.” (Matthew 22:21) This phrase has become a widely quoted summary of the relationship between Christianity and secular authority. The original message, coming in response to 139

Rich as Croesus

a question of whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar, gives rise to multiple possible interpretations.

Rich as Croesus xDâêgëèëz – богат, как Крёз Someone who is rich as Croesus is very wealthy indeed. In Greek and Persian cultures the name of Croesus became a synonym for a wealthy man. Croesus’ wealth remained proverbial beyond classical antiquity: in English, expressions such as rich as Croesus or richer than Croesus are used to indicate great wealth to this day. Croesus (595 BC – c. 547 BC) was the king of Lydia from 560 to 547 BC until his defeat by the Persians. Croesus was renowned for his wealth – Herodotus noted his gifts preserved at Delphi. Richard is himself again – Ричард воспрянул духом (ср. русск. жив курилка) Alive and kicking; still going strong. Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is rarely performed unabridged; often, certain peripheral characters are removed entirely. In such instances extra lines are often invented or added from elsewhere in the sequence to establish the nature of characters’ relationships. The range of interpretation has been startling, with many actors also taking liberties with the text. The words Richard is himself again are not in Shakespeare’s “Richard III”, but were interpolated later. Among the most memorable Richards are Alec Guinness and Laurence Olivier. Richard Roe – Ричард Роу/Ру; истец/ответчик в судебном процессе (употребляется нарицательно о человеке, настоящее имя которого неизвестно) The name Richard Roe or Roo, along with John Doe, often spelled Doo, were regularly invoked in English legal instruments to satisfy technical requirements of jurisdiction, beginning perhaps as early as the reign of England’s King Edward III (1312–1377). Other fictitious names for a person 140

Rob Peter to pay Paul

involved in litigation under English law were John-aNoakes/John Nokes and John-a-Stiles/John Stiles. This particular use became obsolete in the UK in 1852. The Doe names are often, though not always, used for anonymous or unknown defendants. Another set of names often used for anonymous parties, particularly plaintiffs, are Richard Roe for males and Jane Roe for females. However, to avoid possible confusion, if two anonymous or unknown parties are cited in a specific case or action, the surnames Doe and Roe may be used simultaneously; for example, John Doe vs. Jane Roe.

Rip van Winkle – Рип ван Винкль (герой одноименного рассказа В. Ирвинга, проспавший двадцать лет); отсталый, косный человек; человек, отставший от жизни; ретроград The central character to Washington Irving’s most popular story. Sometime before the Revolutionary War, Rip and his dog get lost in the Catskill Mountains. Rip falls asleep and awakens 20 years later, an old man. He returns to his hometown to find his shrewish wife has died, his daughter has married, and other local changes have taken place. He is typical of persons who are out of step with their times. So if someone is a Rip van Winkle, they are behind the times and out of touch with what is happening now. Washington Irving (1783–1859), the author of the Rip van Winkle story was one of the first notable fiction writers of the American romantic movement. Rob Peter to pay Paul – ограбить Петра, чтобы рассчитаться с Павлом; поддерживать одно в ущерб другому; взять у одного, чтобы отдать другому; отдать одни долги, а влезть в другие (ср.: Тришкин кафтан) (выражение восходит к старому обычаю духовенства передавать из богатых церквей разную церковную утварь бедным церквам) Borrow or take from one to give to another; discharge one debt by incurring another. The expression was well enough established in English and has been considered proverbial by 141

Rob Roy

John Heywood when he published his book of English proverbs in 1546: Rob Peter and pay Paul: thou sayest I do; But thou robbest and poulst Peter and Paul too. The precise date is not the only aspect of this phrase that is uncertain. Scholars also disagree as to the thinking of whoever coined it. It has been suggested that the primary reason for Peter and Paul is the alliteration. But the similarities between Saint Peter and Saint Paul go deeper than their sharing of the letter P. The expression was coined at a time when almost all English Peter and Paul (1487) people were Christian and they by Bartolomeo Vivarini would have been well used to hearing Peter and Paul paired together. They were both apostles of Christ, both martyred in Rome. The essence of the meaning of rob Peter to pay Paul is the pointlessness of taking from one only to give to another who was similar. There are many churches of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in England and throughout Europe. It may not be the case, as it was asserted, that the phrase arose from the borrowing of money from one church to fund another, but from the familiarity of the notion of Peter and Paul being alike and inseparable.

Rob Roy – Роб Рой, шотландский Робин Гуд; герой одноименного романа Вальтера Скотта; фильм-номинант на премию «Оскар»; алкогольный коктейль The Scottish Robin Hood. Robert Roy MacGregor (1671– 1734), usually known simply as Rob Roy or alternately Red MacGregor, was a famous Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the early 18th century, who is sometimes known as the Scottish Robin Hood. In the highlands of Scotland in the 1700s, Rob Roy tries to lead his small town to a better future, by borrowing money from the local nobility to buy cattle to herd to market. When the money is stolen, Rob is forced into a Robin Hood 142

Rogerian argument

lifestyle to defend his family and honor. Rob Roy became a legend in his own lifetime, and George I was moved to issue a pardon for his crimes. The publication of Rob Roy, by Sir Walter Scott in 1817, further added to his fame and fleshed out his biography. The 1995 Rob Roy film was nominated for Oscar. There are many cocktails bearing people’s names, e.g.: Admiral Benbow, Aunt Jamima, Bloody Mary, and others. In 1894 at the Waldorf Hotel in New York, a cocktail was invented and named the Rob Roy in honor of MacGregor. Out of the four listed cocktails it is the only whisky-based one. Admiral Benbow is a mix of gin and dry vermouth. Aunt Jemima is made of brandy, crème de cacao and Benedictine. Bloody Mary is made with either vodka or tequila, Worcestershire sauce, tabasco and lots of tomato juice. Rob Roy is made of 1.5 oz. (ounces) Scotch and 0.5 oz. sweet vermouth.

Robin Goodfellow – (фольк.) Робин Добрый Малый (проказник-домовой) Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, is a character in William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream that was based on the ancient figure in English mythology, also called Puck. Puck is a clever and mischievous elf and personifies the trickster or the wise knave, on whom were blamed all sorts of domestic mishaps. In the play, Shakespeare introduces Puck as the “shrewd and knavish sprite” and “that merry wanderer of the night” and jester to Oberon, the fairy king: Eiher I mistake your shape and making quite, Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Call’d Robin Goodfellow: are not you he That frights the maidens of the villagery. (Act II, Sc. 1) Rogerian argument – аргументация Роджерса, переговорная стратегия, направленная на достижение компромисса с учетом противоположных взглядов и общих целей A conflict solving technique based on finding common ground instead of polarizing debate. American psychologist Carl R. Rogers (1902–1987) described his “principles of 143

Roland for an Oliver

communications,” a form of discussion based on finding common ground. He proposed trying to understand our adversary’s position, by listening to them. This form of reasoning attempts to find compromise between two sides. In this type of argument, the goal is to validate your own point of view by making concessions to the opposing side. In practice, this type of discussion is extremely useful in emotionally charged topics since it downplays emotional and highlights rational arguments.

Roland for an Oliver – достойный ответ; око за око; give somebody a Roland for an Oliver – удачно отпарировать, ответить ударом на удар An effective or appropriate retort or response; a blow for a blow; tit for tat (archaic). The phrase alludes to the evenly matched single combat between Roland and Oliver. Neither man was victorious and a strong friendship subsequently developed between them. Once Roland was in command of the rearguard of Charlemagne’s army when it was ambushed in 778; despite the urging of Oliver that he should blow his horn to summon aid, Roland refused to do so until too late, and they were slain at Roncesvalles along with the rest of the rearguard. Rube Goldberg (Am inf) – чудо-юдо, диковинка, вычурный проект Reuben Lucius Goldberg (1883–1970) was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer and inventor. He is best known for a series of popular cartoons depicting complex gadgets that perform simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways. A Rube Goldberg piece of equipment or plan is very complicated and not very practical, as you can see in some Charlie Chaplin’s films: The city is not well served by this Rude Goldberg scheme for economic development. 144

Sam Browne belt

S Sally Lunn – Сэлли Ланн; сладкая булочка Sally Lunn, a young French refugee, arrived in England over 300 years ago. She found work at what is now known as Sally Lunn’s House and began to bake a rich round and generous bread now known as the Sally Lunn Bun. This bun became a very popular delicacy in Georgian England as its special taste and lightness allowed it to be enjoyed with either sweet or savory accompaniments. It is often lightly scented with lemon, and is traditionally served sliced horizontally, spread with butter or whipped or clotted cream and reassembled. It is still produced commercially in Bath. Sam Browne belt – ремень Сэма Брауна Sam Browne belt is a wide belt, usually leather, which is supported by a strap going diagonally over the right shoulder. It is most often seen as part of a military or police uniform. Sam Browne was a British army officer serving in India in the 19th century. In those days officers always carried a sword into battle. However, the scabbard tended to slide around a lot when they charged the enemy, so it had to be steadied with the left hand before being drawn. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Captain Sam Browne was attacked and received two sword cuts, one on the left knee and one which severed his left arm at the shoulder. He survived the injuries but without a left hand, he found that he was now unable to control or draw his sword. Browne came up with the idea of wearing a second belt which went over his right shoulder and held the scabbard in just the spot he wanted. Other cavalry officers in the Indian Army began wearing a similar rig and soon it became part of the standard uniform. During the Boer War, the rig was copied by Imperial and Commonwealth troops and eventually became standard issue.

145

Santa Claus

Santa Claus x?ëñåíèDâäiòz – Санта-Клаус, Дед Мороз Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply Santa, is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children on Christmas Eve, December 24. Santa Claus is generally depicted as a portly, joyous, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children’s books and films. According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior (“naughty” or “nice”) and to deliver presents, including toys, and candy to all of the well-behaved children in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. Scavenger’s Daughter – (ист.) «дочь Скевинджера» (искаженная фамилия Скевингтона, коменданта Тауэра, который в царствование Генриха VIII изобрёл это орудие пытки); тиски (орудие пытки, по своему действию противоположное дыбе) The Scavenger’s Daughter was invented as an instrument of torture in the reign of Henry VIII by Sir Leonard Skeffington, Lieutenant of the Tower of London. It was an A-frame shaped metal rack to which the head was strapped to the top point of the A, the hands at the mid-point and the legs at the lower spread ends; swinging the head down and forcing the knees up in a sitting position so compressed the body as to force the blood from the nose and ears. The Scavenger’s Daughter was conceived as the perfect complement to the Duke of Exeter’s Daughter (the rack). The Scavenger’s Daughter is rarely mentioned in the documents 146

Sham Abraham/Abram

and the device itself was probably not much used. There is a Scavenger’s daughter on display in the Tower of London museum.

Schooner Jenny – шхуна «Дженни», британская историческая шхуна The Jenny was a British schooner that reportedly became frozen in an ice-barrier of the Drake Passage in 1823, only to be rediscovered years later by a whaling ship, the bodies aboard being preserved by the Antarctic cold. Scrooge – Скрудж (персонаж «Рождественских рассказов» Ч. Диккенса); скряга; жестокий, грубый человек Scrooge is a common English term for a miserly person. Ebenezer Scrooge, the selfish, repulsive skinflint in Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel “A Christmas Carol”. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold-hearted, tight-fisted and greedy man, who despises Christmas and all things which give people happiness. Dickens describes him thus: “The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue, and he spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice ...” His last name has come into the English language as a byword for miserliness and misanthropy. The tale of his redemption has become a defining tale of the Christmas holiday. Sham Abraham/Abram – (первонач. мор. жарг.) притворяться больным, симулировать болезнь; в XVI веке – прозвище бродяг, содержащихся в палате «Эйбрем» Бедлама, сумасшедшего дома, которым в определенные дни разрешалось нищенствовать Pretend illness or distress, in order to get off work; feign sickness, malinger: hence a malingerer is called, in sailors' cant, Sham Abram, or Sham Abraham (Webster’s 1913). The phrase possibly appeared in allusion to the parable of the beggar Lazarus in Luke XVI. Abram-Man could be one of a set of vagabonds who formerly roamed through England, feigning lunacy for the sake of obtaining alms. 147

Sheila’s Maid

Sheila’s Maid – горничная Шейлы, подвесная сушилка для белья с креплением на потолке A Sheila’s Maid is a traditional laundry airer that can still be found and used in British households for over 100 years. It dries your clothes by using a pulley to raise the Sheila Maid to ceiling height where rising warm air dries your clothes in no time at all. Shirt/Tunic of Nessus // Nessus’ shirt – хитон Нессуса, источник неизбежного несчастья; роковой подарок In Greek mythology, there was a poisoned shirt that killed Heracles. It is the shirt (chiton) daubed with the tainted blood of the centaur Nessus that Hercules’ wife naïvely gave Hercules, burning him, and driving him to throw himself onto a funeral pyre. Metaphorically, it represents a source of misfortune from which there is no escape; a fatal present. Major-General Henning von Tresckow, one of the primary conspirators in the July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, famously referred to the Robe of Nessus following the realization that the assassination plot had failed and that he and others involved in the conspiracy would lose their lives as a result: None of us can complain about our own deaths. Everyone who joined our circle put on the “Robe of Nessus”. It was once a popular reference in literature. In Act 4, Sc. 12 of Shakespeare’s play “Antony and Cleopatra”, Mark Antony is in a rage after losing the Battle of Actium and exclaims: The shirt of Nessus is upon me. Simon Legree (inf) – Саймон Легре, работорговец; суровый начальник A strict person, especially a boss, who makes others work very hard; a cruel employer who demands excessive work from the employees. After Simon Legree, a cruel slave dealer in the anti-slavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe: Don’t talk on the job; the boss is a real Simon Legree. (Real) Simon Pure // simon-pure – Саймон Пьюр (квакер в пьесе XVIII века); реальное лицо; подлинная вещь; 148

Simple Simon

честный, незапятнанный; лицемерно добропорядочный From the phrase the real Simon Pure, name of a character in the play “A Bold Stroke for a Wife” (1717) by Susannah Centlivre, who is impersonated by another character in some scenes. The name Simon Pure soon became a noun for a quality in a person. In its adjective form, the compound gained a hyphen and lost its capitals. The fact that there were two Simon Pures on stage is probably the reason the term became a confusing one. Depending on how it is used, it can mean either an honest man or a hypocrite who makes a great show of virtue. Modernly, Simon Pure has become the source of two expressions: The real Simon Pure, meaning “the real man”; and the adjective simon-pure, meaning either “of genuine, untainted purity or integrity” or “pretentiously, superficially or hypocritically virtuous”. Simple Simon – простак Саймон A popular English language nursery rhyme. The rhyme is as follows: Simple Simon met a pieman, Going to the fair; Says Simple Simon to the pieman, Let me taste your ware. Says the pieman to Simple Simon, Show me first your penny; Says Simple Simon to the pieman, Indeed I have not any. Simple Simon went a-fishing, For to catch a whale; All the water he had got, Was in his mother’s pail. Simple Simon went to look If plums grew on a thistle; He pricked his fingers very much, Which made poor Simon whistle.

Illustration of W. W. Denslow, 1902 “Simple Simon and the pie man”

149

Since Adam was a boy

The verses used today are the first of a longer chapbook history first published in 1764. The character of Simple Simon may have been in circulation much longer, possibly appearing in an Elizabethan chapbook.

Since Adam was a boy (Am inf) – очень давно, с давних пор, с незапамятных времён A person is told of some extraordinary occurrence and exclaims: Well, such a thing as that was never before heard of since Adam was a boy. This expression is very general. Singer (sewing machine) – (швейная машина) «Зингер» In 1846 Elias Howe, a young Boston native, produced the first workable sewing machine. So revolutioanary was Howe’s machine that he couldn’t find a clothing mill willing to try it. Depressed by his failure, he suffered a nervous breakdown and traveled to England in the hope for a more congenial reception. It was not. After two years of tramping the streets, he arrived penniless to Boston to discover that in his absence one Issac Singer had stolen his patent and set up a sewing machine factory and was making money hand over fist. Howe took Singer to court, where two things became clear: Singer was nothing more than a thief, but now an extremely rich one who could afford to hire the sharpest lawyers. After a long fight, Singer was eventually compelled to pay Howe a handsome royalty on every machine built. Nonetheless, it is Singer’s name, not Howe’s, that is Singer House, Saint Petersburg associated in the popular mind with the sewing machine. Also, Singer House (Дом компании «Зингер»), widely known as House of Books (Дом книги) is a historical landmark building located at an intersection of Nevsky Prospekt with Griboyedov Canal, just opposite the Kazan Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is officially 150

Sloppy Joe

recognized as an object of Russian historical and cultural heritage.

Slip someone a Mickey Finn – подсунуть коктейль с наркотиком для оболванивания клиента Give someone a drugged or otherwise adulterated drink. Recorded from the 1920s, this expression is sometimes said to be the name of a notorious Chicago barkeeper. In December 1903, several Chicago newspapers document that a Michael “Mickey” Finn was accused of using knockout drops to incapacitate and rob some of his customers. A Mickey Finn (or simply Mickey) is a slang term for a drink laced with a drug given to someone without his knowledge. The first known written example (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) of the use of the term Mickey Finn is in 1915. But alcoholic drinks producers claim that the legendary Mickey Finn was an Irishman who emigrated to the USA when times were hard at home. Mickey started his own bar and used unique Mickey Finn cocktails to attract customers to his bar. The secret of Mickey’s success? He used only the finest natural ingredients and real fruit juices. Today Mickey Finn has the same commitment to quality and uses the juice pressed from over 40 apples to make every liter of sour apple liqueur. Mickey Finn is currently No. 2 to Baileys in Ireland.

Sloppy Joe – неряха Джо, сэндвич с говядиной; поджаренный говяжий фарш с острым соусом; неряха, грязнуля (о мужчине); просторный женский свитер A Sloppy Joe is an American dish of ground beef, onions, sweetened tomato sauce or ketchup and other seasonings, served on a hamburger bun. Contradictory lore suggests that the original Sloppy Joe Sandwich was invented at Sloppy Joe’s 151

Smart Alec(k)

Bar in Key West, Florida, or by a cook named Joe at a café in Sioux City, Iowa.

Smart Alec(k) // Clever Dick (Am inf) – самоуверенный всезнайка; наглец, нахал, хлыщ A smart Alec is a conceited person who likes to show off how clever and knowledgeable they are. The origin is often attributed to British humorist J.B.Morton’s character Dr Smart-Allick. However Morton was born in 1893, and the term has been around since the mid-1800s. The more popular theory is that the police gave the name to Aleck Hoag, a New York conman, in the 1840s. He ran a scam but avoided arrest by paying off the police, but later decided to cut them out of the deal, and they took him in, nicknaming him Smart Aleck. Socratic irony – сократический метод ведения спора (путем постановки ряда вопросов, основанных якобы на незнании спрашивающего и выявляющих невежество собеседника) When someone says something that conveys a message that contradicts the literal words. The Socratic irony, named after the classical Greek philosopher Socrates, is a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas. In the case of Socratic irony, Socrates might pretend to think his students wise or he might denigrate his own intelligence, as by pretending he doesn’t know the answer. Sod’s Law (sl) – закон подлости, закон бутерброда Sod’s law is a name for the axiom of “bad fortune will be tailored to the individual” and “anything that can go wrong, will”. “Toast will always land butter side down” is often given as an example of Sod’s law in action. The phrase is seemingly derived, at least in part, from the colloquialism an “unlucky sod”, a term used to describe someone who has had some bad unlucky experience, and is usually used 152

Speedy Gonzales

as a sympathetic reference to the person. The term is still commonly used in Britain, though in North America the newer eponymous Murphy’s law has become more popular. Sod’s law is similar to, but broader than, Murphy’s law (“Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”): It’s Sod’s Law that on the one occasion when the train arrives on time, I’m late!

Somewhere to the right of Genghis Khan – ещё более правых взглядов чем Чингиз-хан Be politically “to the right of Genghis Khan” (or “to the right of Attila the Hun” or “to the right of Ivan the Terrible”) means to be very far to the right. The three warrior kings did not necessarily share the same “politically right” philosophy of government. The phrase means that these famous people are extreme, and a person to their right would be even more extreme. The phrase is often associated with Arizona Republican Senator Barry Goldwater (1909–1998), but it is not clear when he first used it. The “Ivan the Terrible” version is cited in print from 1961, the “Genghis Khan” version from 1965, and the “Attila the Hun” version from 1969. Genghis Khan (1162–1227), the founder of the Mongol empire, is used here as a supreme example of a repressive and tyrannical ruler. The name of the early 5th century warlord Attila the Hun is sometimes substituted for that of Genghis Khan in this expression. So does the name of Ivan IV (1530–1584), the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar, who is also known as Ivan the Terrible. Speedy Gonzales – шустрый мышонок Гонзалес, персонаж американского мультфильма Speedy Gonzales (also known as “Speedy”) is an animated caricature of a mouse in the Warner Brothers “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies” series of cartoons. He is portrayed as “The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico” with his major traits being the ability to run extremely fast and speaking with an exaggerated Mexican accent. He usually wears an oversized 153

Sphinx’s riddle

yellow sombrero, white shirt and trousers, and a red kerchief. To date there have been 46 cartoons made either starring or featuring this character.

Sphinx’s riddle – (библ.) загадка сфинкса; очень трудная загадка, проблема In Greek mythology, the Sphinx is said to have guarded the entrance to the Greek city of Thebes, and to have asked a riddle of travelers to allow them passage. If the traveler failed to solve the riddle, then the Sphinx killed them. And if the traveler answered the riddle correctly, then the Sphinx would destroy herself. The exact riddle asked by the Sphinx was not specified by early tellers of the stories, and was not standardized as the one given below until late in Greek history. The riddle: What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening? The Sphinx strangled and devoured anyone unable to answer. Oedipus solved the riddle by answering: Man – who crawls on all fours as a baby, then walks on two feet as an adult, and then walks with a cane in old age. Bested at last, the tale continues, the Sphinx then threw herself from her high rock and died. Thus Oedipus can be recognized as a threshold figure, helping effect the transition between the old religious practices, represented by the death of the Sphinx, and the rise of the new, Olympian gods. Spinning Jenny/jenny – (ист.) прядильная машина «Дженни» A device used in the textile industry, where Jenny is possibly a corruption of engine. James Hargreaves was a weaver living in Lancashire. It is claimed that one day his daughter Jenny accidentally knocked over the family spinning wheel. The spindle continued to revolve and it gave Hargreaves the idea that a whole line of spindles could be worked off one wheel. In 1764 Hargreaves built what became known as the Spinning-Jenny. The machine used eight spindles onto which the thread was spun from a corresponding set of rovings. By turning a single wheel, the 154

(Carry out) St Bartholomew’s Day massacre

operator could now spin eight threads at once. Hargreaves did not apply for a patent for his Spinning Jenny until 1770 and therefore others copied his ideas without paying him any money. It is estimated that by the time James Hargreaves died in 1778, over 20,000 Spinning-Jenny machines were being used in Britain.

(Carry out) St Bartholomew’s Day massacre – Варфоломеевская ночь; устроить Варфоломеевскую ночь/разнос/ выволочку кому-л.; отругать In 1572 there was a group of assassinations, followed by a wave of Roman Catholic mob violence, both directed against the Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants), during the French Wars of Religion. Instigated by Catherine de’ Medici, the mother of King Charles IX, the massacre took place six days after the wedding of the king’s sister Margaret to the Protestant Henry III of Navarre (the future Henry IV of France). This marriage was an occasion for which many of the most wealthy and prominent Huguenots had gathered in largely Catholic Paris. The massacre began on 23 August 1572 (the eve of the feast of Bartholomew the Apostle). The king ordered the killing of a group of Huguenot leaders, including Coligny, and the slaughter spread throughout Paris. Lasting several weeks, the massacre expanded outward to other urban centres and the countryside. Modern estimates for the number of dead vary widely, from 5,000 to 30,000. Though by no means unique, it was the worst of the century’s religious massacres. Throughout Europe, it printed on Protestant minds the indelible conviction that Catholicism was a bloody and treacherous religion. St Bartholomew’s Day massacre (1572–84) by François Dubois

155

St Luke’s summer

St Luke’s summer – лето святого Луки, золотая осень; бабье лето St Luke’s Day is often at the centre of a spell of particularly fine weather known as St Luke’s (Little) Summer. It refers to a period of unseasonably warm weather occurring around the time of St Luke’s feast day: October 18. The unexpected arrival of a St Luke’s Summer (or, as it is also called Indian Summer) ups the already bitter-sweet ante of autumn. St Luke’s Day is also known as Dog Whipping Day, when all the stray dogs in the streets had to be whipped out of town. Traditionally a day when girls could have some insight into their future marriage prospects. Before going to bed they must put on their faces a mixture of spices, honey and vinegar, and once in bed they must say the following rhyme: St Luke, St Luke, be kind to me, In dreams let me my true love see. St Martin’s summer – лето святого Мартина, золотая осень; бабье лето In former times in Europe, “Indian summer” was called Saint Martin’s Summer, referring to St Martin’s day, November 11, when it was supposed to end. The phrase Saint Martin’s Summer is still widely used in France, where Saint Martin of Tours died on November 8, AD 397. His corpse was claimed by people of two provinces. The latter pilfered him and brought him on a boat by the river Loire to Tours where he was and still is buried. Legend has it that the river banks flowered as his corpse went by from Candes (now called Candes-Saint-Martin) to Tours. St Nicholas’ clerk (archaic) – рыцарь святого Николая; вор, бандит с большой дороги Thief, highwayman. In the Middle Ages robbers and thieves always called themselves Knights or Clerks of St Nicholas. St Nicholas of Myra was a patron saint of travelers. An ambiguous term; a word susceptible of different significations; equivoque on the word Nick. 156

Stand Sam

St Valentine’s Day – день святого Валентина (14 февраля, день обмена любовными посланиями и т.д.) Often simply Valentine’s Day, it is observed on February 14 each year. Today Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it remains a working day in all of them. All the modern romantic connotations were added by poets. Modern Valentine’s Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. The Emperor decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine decided this decree just wasn’t fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine’s actions he had him put to death. Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first “valentine” himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it “Your Valentine”, words still used on cards today. Perhaps we’ll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St Valentine, but February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages. Stand Sam – платить за всех (за угощение, особенно вино); проставиться Stand Sam is to pay for refreshment or drink, or indeed anything. The term originated in the letters US on the knapsacks of the US soldiers, standing for Uncle Sam. Politicians are also responsible for the phrase. Before the expenses of federal employees began to receive today’s close scrutiny, it was common practice among high-level federal workers to wine and dine the friends and relatives and to make Uncle Sam stand (pay) for it by way of expense accounts. For such abuse we got the expression standing Sam. 157

Stanley (knife)

Stanley (knife) – (нож) Стэнли One of the most popular types of workplace utility knife consisting of a thick hollow metal handle with a short, very sharp, replaceable blade inserted at one end. They are designed to be lightweight and easy to carry and use. In British, Australian and New Zealand English, along with Dutch and Austrian German, the utility knife is known as a Stanley knife. This combination has become such a standing phrase that it is now practically a generic noun. There of course are similar “names” that have become a kind of generic name, e.g. a Cartier being a watch. This name is a trademark named after Stanley Works, a manufacturer of such knives. In Israel and Switzerland, these knives are known as Japanese knives. Stetsons hat – cтетсон, ковбойская шляпа; широкополая фетровая шляпа Stetsons are the brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company. Founded in 1865, John B. Stetson Company began when the founder headed west and created the original hat of the West, the “Boss of the Plains”. This Western hat would become the cornerstone of Stetson’s hat business and is still in production today. Stetson eventually became the world’s largest hat maker, producing more than 3.3 million hats a year in Philadelphia. In addition to its Western and fashion hats, Stetson is also known today for its fragrance, apparel, footwear, eyewear, belts, bourbon and a range of other products evoking the historic American West. Stetson University and Stetson University College of Law in Florida were named after John B. Stetson in 1899 for his contributions to the school.

158

Sweet William

Sweet Fanny Adams – «милашка Фанни Адамс»; ничего, пустое место Fanny Adams (1859–1867) was a young English girl murdered by solicitor’s clerk Frederick Baker in Alton, Hampshire. The murder of eight year-old Fanny Adams that shocked and appalled the nation, still remains the most vicious and barbaric crime ever perpetrated against a child in British history. In 1869, soon after the famous murder case, new rations of tinned mutton were introduced for British seamen. They were unimpressed by it, and decided it must be the butchered remains of Fanny Adams. So, the expression sweet Fanny Adams has come, through British naval slang, to mean “nothing at all”. It is often abbreviated in speech to sweet FA, which is vulgarly understood to be a euphemism for the taboo phrase fuck all. Sweet William – «славный Вильям», турецкая гвоздика; цветок королевского свадебного букета невесты принца Уильяма, Кейт Миддлтон In addition to traditional wedding flowers of hyacinth and lily-of-the-valley, Kate Middleton’s wedding bouquet included myrtle and sweet William; myrtle has been part of royal wedding bouquets since Queen Victoria’s daughter carried it in her wedding bouquet in 1858. In addition, the bride apparently chose to add sweet William to her bouquet in homage to her new husband. Sweet William is a herbaceous biennial or perennial plant. The five-petaled flowers of sweet William are clustered at the top of the stem and are fragrant; the wild plant has red flowers with a white base. Sweet William is native to southern Europe but is also a popular British garden flower. According to the official Royal Wedding 2011 website, Kate Middleton chose the flowers for her bridal bouquet in part based on the meaning of each flower in the 159

Sword of Damocles

Victorian language of flowers. The Victorian language of flowers allowed lovers to communicate messages to each other through flowers instead of words. The following flower meanings are given by the official Royal Wedding 2011 website: • Sweet William – gallantry • Lily-of-the-Valley – return of happiness • Hyacinth – constancy of love • Myrtle – love.

Sword of Damocles – (миф.) дамоклов меч; жизнь в постоянном страхе Damocles (literally: “Fame of the People”) is a figure featured in a single moral anecdote commonly referred to as the Sword of Damocles. The figure belongs properly to legend rather than Greek myth. The Roman orator Cicero tells the story of the Sword of Damocles in his “Tusculan Disputations”, by which means it passed into the European cultural mainstream. Damocles was an obsequious courtier in the court of Dionysius II of Syracuse, a fourth-century BC tyrant of Syracuse, Italy. Pandering to his king, Damocles exclaimed that, as a great man of power and authority surrounded by magnificence, Dionysius was truly extremely fortunate. Dionysius then offered to switch places with Damocles, so that he could taste that very fortune first hand. Damocles quickly and eagerly accepted the King’s proposal. He sat down in the king’s throne surrounded by every luxury, but Dionysius arranged that a huge sword should hang above the throne, held at the pommel only by a single hair of a horse’s tail. Damocles finally begged the tyrant that he be allowed to depart, because he no longer wanted to be so fortunate. By doing that, Dionysius had successfully conveyed a sense of the constant fear in which the great man lives. Cicero uses this anecdote for reaching the conclusion that virtue is sufficient for living a happy life. Cicero asks: Does not Dionysius seem to have made it sufficiently clear that there can be nothing happy for the person over whom some fear always looms?

160

Tin Lizzie

T Tail-end Charlie (Br inf) – «хвост Чарли»; замыкающий в патрульной колонне; последний Someone who is last in a competition, series or group of people; a person or thing that brings up the rear in a group or formation. Royal Air Force slang for a member of the crew of a military aircraft who operates a gun from a compartment at the rear: My daughter won’t be out of school yet – she’s always a tail-end Charlie. Take the Mickey/Mick (out of someone or something)(Br) – дразнить, высмеивать кого-л. If you take the Mickey, you tease or make fun of someone. There are various forms of this: take/extract the Mick/Mickey/Michael, although the take the Mickey version is most often used in print. It is now more generally accepted that the phrase came about as rhyming slang. “Taking the piss” does play its part as the rhyming slang refers to a (yet to be identified) character called Mickey Bliss. So, “taking the piss” became taking the Mickey Bliss and then just taking the Mickey: He is always taking the mickey out of his little brother. Thomas/Tom/Tommy Atkins (inf) – английский/британский солдат; типичный английский служака Tommy Atkins, term for a common soldier in the British Army. The first known Thomas Atkins was an English politician during the reign of Elizabeth I. He was the Member of Parliament for Gloucester from 1571 to 1593. A quite common English forename and surname. Tin Lizzie – «жестяная Лиззи», дешёвый автомобиль, фордик, «жестянка» An automobile that was produced by Henry Ford’s Ford Motor Company from September 1908 to October 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car 161

Tom and Dick

that opened travel to the common middle-class American; some of this was because of Ford’s innovations, including assembly line production instead of individual hand crafting. The Ford Model T (Tin Lizzie) was named the world’s most influential car of the 20th century in an international poll. Henry Ford said of the vehicle: “I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one – and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God’s great open spaces”. In the 1920s, the economic power and high employment of the United States allowed Americans to spend more extravagantly on entertainment. War veterans returned home seeking relaxation and comfort, instead of returning to their factory or agricultural duties. Watching movies and listening to the newly invented radio became increasingly popular during this period, which further encouraged the desires of people for Hollywood style lives of indulgence and ease. This extravagance was ignited by the introduction of a new automobile, the Ford Model T. This automobile won the approval of millions of Americans, who affectionately dubbed it Tin Lizzie.

Tom and Dick (rhyming sl) – больной Cockney Rhyming Slang, said instead of sick. Tom and Jerry (Am) – популярные персонажи мультфильмов; крепкий пунш (по имени двух действующих лиц в книге П. Игена) Tom and Jerry is a series of theatrical animated cartoon films created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for 162

Tom/John/Jack Drum’s entertainment

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, centering on a never-ending rivalry between a cat (Tom) and a mouse (Jerry) whose chases and battles often involved comic violence (though sometimes they become allies to defeat a “greater enemy” such as a dog). Hanna and Barbera ultimately wrote and directed 114 Tom and Jerry shorts at the MGM cartoon studio in Hollywood between 1940 and 1957, when the animation unit was closed. The original series is notable for having won the Academy Award for Animated Short Film seven times. A longtime television staple, Tom and Jerry has a worldwide audience that consists of children, teenagers and adults. Also, Tom and Jerry is a hot spiced rum cocktail with eggs; a traditional Christmastime cocktail in the United States, invented by sports writer Pierce Egan in the 1820s.

Tom/John Collins (Am) – «Том/Джон Коллинз», напиток из содовой воды, джина, сахара, лимонного сока и льда A Collins cocktail (named after a 19-th century London bartender) is made from gin and soda water with sugar and lemon/lime juice. First memorialized in writing in 1876 by “the father of American mixology” Jerry Thomas, this drink is typically served in a Collins glass over ice. In 1874, people in New York, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere in the United States would start a conversation with “Have you seen Tom Collins?” After the listener predictably reacts by explaining that they did not know a Tom Collins, the speaker would assert that Tom Collins was talking about the listener to others and that Tom Collins was “just around the corner”, “in a [local] bar”, or somewhere else near. The conversation about the nonexistent Tom Collins was a proven hoax of exposure. (ср.: « А что вы читали Добермана Пинчера?») Tom/John/Jack Drum’s entertainment – развлечение Тома/ Джона/Джека Драмма; лечение цинги There is an old phrase, a very old phrase, which speaks of Tom Drum’s, or sometimes John Drum’s entertainment, meaning thereby scurvy treatment (1825). 163

Tom, Dick and Harry

Tom, Dick and Harry – Том, Дик и Гарри; всякий, любой, первый попавшийся, каждый встречный и поперечный (см. Any/Every Tom, Dick and Harry, с. 12) Anybody, any person regardless of specifics: Next time lock the door! Any Tom, Dick and Harry could have walked in here and stolen my money. Tom-noddy/tomnoddy – простак, дурак A full, a dunce, a noddy. Tom Thumb – Мальчик-с-пальчик; карлик, лилипут; (презр.) ничтожество, пигмей; карликовый (о растениях) A character of English folklore. The History of Tom Thumb was published in 1621, and has the distinction of being the first fairy tale printed in English. Tom is no bigger than his father’s thumb, and his adventures include being swallowed by a cow, tangling with giants, and becoming a favorite of King Arthur. Also, a dwarf variety of a cultivated flower or vegetable. Tom Tidler’s / Tiddler’s Ground – территория Тома Тидлера; золотое дно (выражение происходит от названия старинной детской игры); неопределенный, неуверенный, колеблющийся An ancient children’s game in which one player, Tom Tidler, stands on a heap of stones, gravel, etc. Other players rush onto the heap, crying Here I am on Tom Tidler’s ground, while Tom tries to capture the invaders or keep them off. Tom Tiddler’s Ground is also used in modern English as a euphemism for having an uncertain status, for example, I asked her why her performance review was late and I could tell she was on Tom Tiddler’s Ground. Tom Tyler – Том Тайлер; любой, обыкновенный человек; муж, находящийся под башмаком/каблуком/пятой у жены The anonymous comedy Tom Tyler and his Wife cannot have been written later than the beginning of Elizabeth’s 164

Tricky Dick

reign, and probably goes back further. The play is in effect a domestic drama of low life, showing how Tom suffers tribulation at the hands of his shrewish wife, and how, even when a friend has tamed her by drastic methods, he weakly surrenders the fruits of the victory which has been won for him. It has the idea that a man cannot escape his fate, however unpleasant it may be. As Tom Tyler ruefully exclaims: If Fortune will it, I must fulfil it If Destiny say it, I cannot denay it.

Tomfool – (сущ.) дурак, шут; (гл.) дурачиться, валять дурака A foolish person; to fool about/around Tom/John Long the carrier – человек, медлящий с доставкой чего-л. (ср.: Его только за смертью посылать) Tommy (Br inf) – рядовой британской армии; помидор A British soldier, usually a private; tomato Tommy-rot/tommyrot (Br inf) – дикая чушь, вздор, нелепость Nonsense, rubbish: Don’t believe a thing he says, he’s talking absolute tommyrot! Tricky Dick – «ловкий Дик», «пройдоха Дик»; прозвище скандально известного американского президента Ричарда Никсона The nickname of a controversial USA president. Richard Milhous Nixon (1913–1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office. Although Nixon initially escalated the war in Vietnam, he subsequently ended US involvement in 1973. Nixon’s visit to the People’s Republic of China in 1972 opened diplomatic relations between the two nations, and he initiated détente and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union the same year. Among other things, he initiated wars on cancer and drugs, imposed wage and price 165

Twelve labours of Hercules

controls, enforced desegregation of Southern schools and established the Environmental Protection Agency. He was reelected by a landslide in 1972. Nixon’s second term saw a continuing series of revelations about the Watergate political scandal that occurred as a result of the June 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The scandal escalated in spite of the Nixon administration’s attempted cover-up of its involvement, costing Nixon much of his political support. On August 9, 1974, he resigned in the face of almost certain impeachment and removal from office. Nixon remains a source of considerable interest among historians and the public.

Twelve labours of Hercules – (миф.) двенадцать подвигов Геракла; геркулесов труд; исключительно трудное дело The phrase refers to a work arduous, slow, and carried forward under great difficulties and often in blind ignorance of the forces released and of the results to be achieved. But step by step the aspirant is led along the path of selfknowledge. Heracles was the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose name was later romanized as Hercules. Extraordinary strength, courage, ingenuity, and sexual prowess were among his characteristic attributes. Driven mad by Hera, Heracles slew his own children. To expiate the crime, Heracles was required to carry out ten labors set by his archenemy, Eurystheus who had become king in Heracles’ place. If he succeeded, he would be purified of his sin and, as myth says, he would be granted immortality. Heracles accomplished these tasks, but Eurystheus did not accept the cleansing of the Augean stables because Heracles was going to accept pay for the labor. Neither did he accept the killing of the Lernaean Hydra as Heracles’ nephew had helped him burn the stumps of the heads. Eurysteus set two more tasks, which Heracles performed successfully, bringing the total number of tasks up to twelve.

166

Uncle Tom

Typhoid Mary (Am inf) – «Тифозная Мэри», инфекционный больной, переносчик инфекции; чума, зараза (о человеке) Mary Mallon (1869–1938), better known as Typhoid Mary, was the first person in the United States identified as the first healthy typhoid carrier. She was presumed to have infected some 51 people, three of whom died, over the course of her career as a cook. She was forcibly isolated twice by public health authorities and died after nearly three decades altogether in isolation. Today, Typhoid Mary is a generic term for anyone who, knowingly or not, spreads something undesirable.

U Uncle Sam (Am) – «дядя Сэм» (ироническое прозвище США); шутливая расшифровка букв US (United States) The government of the USA; the USA. The phrase is apparently a humorous interpretation of the letters stamped on army supply boxes of 1812, i.e. US. The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. Uncle Tom – «дядя Том», прозвище человека, заискивающего перед более сильным; персонаж романа Г. БичерСтоу «Хижина дяди Тома» A derogatory term for a person who perceives themselves to be of low status, and is excessively subservient to authority figures; particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people. The term comes from the title character of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. Critical and popular views of both the character and the novel have shifted over time, leading to a shift in the term’s use. The current sense of the phrase is argumentative as the real Uncle Tom was a black man born into slavery who gave his life to protect other 167

(Old) Uncle Tom Cobley/Cobleigh and all

slaves. When his story was turned into a movie, the writers re-worked the script making Uncle Tom’s character the opposite; a slave who was loyal to his master. Unfortunately, this has become the most commonly known image of Uncle Tom. Because of the film, the term “Uncle Tom” has become synonymous with “sellout”, degrading the real Uncle Tom.

(Old) Uncle Tom Cobley/Cobleigh and all – дядюшка Том Кобли и все остальные; и все прочие; и так далее; и примкнувшие к ним; «и т.д. и т.п.» The phrase is used in British English as a humorous or whimsical way of saying et al. (and others), often to express exasperation at the large number of people in a list. It comes from a Devon folk song “Widdicombe Fair”. Its chorus ends with a long list of people: Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan’l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. It came last on the long list of men in this English song (c. 1800). Union Jack (Br inf) – «Юнион Джек» (государственный флаг Великобритании) The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas territories. The current design dates from the Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. Uriah Heep – Юрая Хип (персонаж романа Ч. Диккенса «Дэвид Копперфилд»); лицемер, ханжа, соглашатель; знаменитая одноименная английская рок-группа One of the best-known in literature, Uriah Heep is a fictional character created by Charles Dickens in his novel “David Copperfield” (1850). He is notable for his cloying humility, obsequiousness, and insincerity, making frequent references to his own “humbleness”. His name has become 168

Vandyke collar

synonymous with being a “yes” man. Also, Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969, regarded as one of the seminal hard rock acts of the early 1970s. Uriah Heep’s audience declined by the 1980s, though the band maintains a significant following and performs at arena-sized venues in the Balkans, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia and Scandinavia. They have sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

V Van Dyke/Van Dyck/Vandyck beard – борода Ван Дейка; бородка клинышком A style of facial hair named after 17th-century Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck (Dutch pronunciation: xînå DÇcfâz. A Van Dyke specifically consists of any growth of both a moustache and goatee with all hair on the cheeks shaven. The style was worn by Van Dyck himself, and by many of the sitters for his portraits, including King Charles I of England. The style is sometimes called a “Charlie” after the King, who was painted by Van Dyck with this type of beard. This style of beard was popular in Europe in the 17th century. It died out in Britain with the Restoration, when French styles and wigs became popular. It became popular in the United States in the 19th century. A Chicago Chronicle columnist condemned this style, along with the goatee, as indicative of a man “who was selfish, sinister, and pompous as a peacock.” It had a revival in the 19th century and was worn by several well-known figures. Vladimir Lenin also wore a Van Dyke. Vandyke collar – воротник Ван Дейка; большой кружевной или полотняный воротник с фестонами, зубцами A large collar of linen or lace having a deeply indented or scalloped edge. After Sir Anthony Van Dyke.

169

Vicar of Bray

Vicar of Bray xîfâèêz (Br) – ренегат, приспособленец, беспринципная личность (по имени викария XVII века, четыре раза менявшего религию) A Vicar of Bray is a person who changes their allegiances and views in accordance with what is suitable at the time to stay popular with people above them. A vicar (Simon Aleyn) appointed to the parish of Bray in Berkshire during Henry VIII’s reign who changed his faith to Catholic when Mary I was on the throne and back to Protestant when Elizabeth I succeeded and so retained his living. Also, a satirical 18th century ballad, The Vicar of Bray, recounts the career of a vicar of Bray, and his contortions of principle in order to retain his ecclesiastic office despite the changes through the course of several monarchs from Charles II to George I, and restoration of Charles II.

W (Hookey) Walker! – Врёшь! Не может быть! Как бы не так! Вы серьёзно? Да пошёл ты! The full expression was originally Hookey Walker, which starts to appear in the early 19th century. It was an exclamation of disbelief or of an opinion that something was all humbug. There are several stories about where it came from. One of them (C. Brewer “Dictionary of Phrase and Fable”, 1894) says that John Walker was an out-door clerk and was noted for his eagle nose, which gained him the nickname of Old Hookey. Walker’s duty was to keep the workmen to their work, or report them to the principals. Of course, it was the interest of employees to throw discredit on Walker’s reports, and the poor man was so badgered and ridiculed that he had to quit, but Hookey Walker still means a tale not to be trusted. Also, Walker is a dismissive term, a colloquialism meaning something like get lost, take a hike or yeah, rright! Charles MacKay, a Scottish poet, journalist, and song writer, 170

War of Jenkins’ Ear

wrote this about Hookey Walker in 1841: “In the course of time the latter word alone became the favourite, and was uttered with a peculiar drawl upon the first syllable, and a sharp turn upon the last. If a lively servant girl was importuned for a kiss by a fellow she did not care about, she cocked her little nose, and cried ‘Walker!’ If a dustman asked his friend for the loan of a shilling, and his friend was either unable or unwilling to accommodate him, the probable answer he would receive was ‘Walker!’”

Walter Mitty (derog) – Уолтер Митти; человек, предающийся героическим мечтам и вводящий людей в заблуждение относительно своей карьеры A person who makes up stories to make his life seem more exciting than it really is; the main character of a short story by James Thurber “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (1939). The name of the main character has entered the English language denoting an ineffectual person who spends more time in heroic daydreams than paying attention to the real world, or more seriously, one who intentionally attempts to mislead or convince others that he is something that he is not. In military circles, this usually refers to people who try to fake an impressive career: I had come to the conclusion that he was a Walter Mitty whose accounts of his past history were almost entirely imaginary. Waltz/Walk Matilda (Austr, New Zeal inf) – навьючить на себя свою поклажу Carry a bundle of your personal possessions/belongings as you travel the roads. Matilda is an informal, archaic word for a bushman’s bundle/swag. Originates in late 19th century from the given name Matilda. The expression was famously used by A. B. Paterson in his 1903 song “Waltzing Matilda”. War of Jenkins’ Ear – война из-за уха Дженкинса; раздутый конфликт; делать из мухи слона A conflict between Great Britain and Spain that lasted from 1739 to 1748, with major operations largely ended by 171

Wear Joseph’s coat

1742. Its unusual name, coined in 1858 by Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881), a Scottish writer, essayist, historian and teacher, relates to Robert Jenkins, captain of a British merchant ship, who exhibited his severed ear in Parliament following the boarding of his vessel by Spanish coast guards in 1731. This affair and a number of similar incidents sparked a war against the Spanish Empire.

Wear Joseph’s coat – (библ.) не поддаваться искушению, устоять перед соблазном The phrasal meaning is to resist temptation. Joseph’s father Jacob favored him and gave Joseph the coat as a gift; as a result, he was envied by his brothers, who saw the special coat as an indication that Joseph would assume family leadership. His brothers’ suspicion grew when Joseph told them of his two dreams (Genesis 37:11) in which all the brothers bowed down to him. The narrative tells that his brothers plotted against him when he was seventeen, and would have killed him had not the eldest brother interposed. He persuaded them instead to throw Joseph into a pit and secretly planned to rescue him later. However, while he was absent, the others planned and sold him to a company of merchants for 20 pieces of silver. The brothers then dipped Joseph’s coat in goat blood and showed it to their father, saying that Joseph had been torn apart by wild beasts. Weary Willie – неэнергичный, апатичный, вялый, хилый, слабосильный человек; тот, кто не любит работу или избегает её One who avoids or dislikes work; Willie, nickname for William: Weary Willie may say that he hates work, and quite willing to take less. Wellington boots // wellingtons – сапоги Веллингтона, высокие сапоги; резиновые сапожки (женские, детские) The Wellington boots, also known as rubber-boots, wellies, wellingtons, topboots, billy-boots, rainboots, etc. 172

When Queen Anne was alive

are a type of boot based upon leather Hessian boots. They were worn and popularized by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. This novel Wellington boot became a staple of hunting and outdoor wear for the British aristocracy in the early 19th century. The Duke of Wellington instructed his shoemaker to modify the 18thcentury Hessian boot. The boot was dubbed “the Wellington” and the name has stuck in British English language ever since. Portrait of Duke of Wellington (1829), by George Dawe

When Adam delved (and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?) – «Когда Адам пахал и пряла Ева, где родословное стояло древо?» (один из лозунгов крестьянской войны 1381 года, приписываемый сподвижнику Уота Тайлера монаху Джону Боллу). В современном языке говорится иронически человеку, кичащемуся своей родословной. This rhyme is one of the oldest known English rhymes and can be dated to the English Peasant Revolt of 1381 headed by Walter “Wat” Tyler. The peasants realized that they were now important in society. This seemingly innocent rhyme was uttered and muttered by the peasants of the land. Like many political rhymes this was easy to remember and makes use of the simple riddle. The seeds of an English Revolution had been sown. The peasants felt oppressed and called for the abolition of feudal obligations – serfdom. They wanted freedom from servitude, controlled wages, and unfair taxes.

When Queen Anne was alive – при королеве Анне (ср.: при царе Горохе); во время оно (употребляется как реак173

Wild Bill

ция на запоздавшую новость; шекспировское выражение из комедии «Виндзорские проказницы») W. Shakespeare used the phrase when Queen Anne was alive in “the Merry Wives of Windsor”. Wild Bill – «Дикий Билл», популярный герой американского Дикого Запада James Butler Hickok (1837–1876), better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized. Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach driver, then became a lawman in the frontier territories of Kansas Wild Bill Hickok in 1869 and Nebraska. He fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War, and gained publicity after the war as a scout, marksman, actor, and professional gambler. Between his law-enforcement duties and gambling, which easily overlapped, Hickok was involved in several notable shootouts. He was shot and killed while playing poker in the Number Ten Saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Wild Bill’s present-day grave site monument. Territory (now South Dakota). William Crichton – Уильям Кричтон, символ веры в справедливость и естественный отбор лидеров; достойный восхищения The butler in James M. Barrie’s “The Admirable Crichton” (1902), he believes in the justice of the social order and the natural selection of leaders. His own abilities make him leader of a group of upper-class people stranded on an island. “The Admirable Crichton” is a 1957 British comedy film based on J. M. Barrie’s stage comedy of the same name. 174

Yankee Doodle

Barrie’s satirical jabs at class consciousness were less relevant in 1957; thus, “The Admirable Crichton” concentrates on the story’s farcical and romantic elements.

Willy-boy (Am sl) – «девчонка» (о мальчике), маменькин сынок The slang expression willie-boy, meaning sissy. (As) Wise as Solomon – мудрый как царь Соломон A very wise person. Solomon, a King of Israel from 960 BC to 922 BC and according to the Talmud one of the 48 prophets, is identified as the son of David. The Hebrew Bible credits Solomon as the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem and many splendid palaces, and portrays him as great in wisdom, wealth, and power. Solomon is the subject of many other later references and legends. In the Koran, he is a Prophet, known as Suleiman, the Magnificent. The wisdom of Solomon is proverbial: If you are in trouble, get Chris to advise you. He’s as wise as Solomon.

X Xanthippe xòñåDqféfz / Xantippe xòñåDíféfz – Ксантиппа, жена Сократа; сварливая жена/женщина The wife of Socrates (c. 469 BC – 399 BC), proverbial as a scolding, shrewish and quarrelsome woman; any nagging, peevish, or irritable woman.

Y Yankee Doodle – «Янки Дудл» (песня времён Войны за независимость); американец A well-known Anglo-American song, the origin of which dates back to the Seven Years’ War (the French and Indian 175

Yellow Jack

War, 1756–1763). It is often sung patriotically in the United States today and is the state anthem of Connecticut. The first verse and refrain, as often sung today, runs: Yankee Doodle went to town, Riding on a pony; He stuck a feather in his hat, And called it macaroni. Traditions place its origin in a pre-Revolutionary War song originally sung by British military officers to mock the disheveled, disorganized colonial Yankees with whom they served in the French and Indian War. As a term Doodle first appeared in the early 17th century, and is thought to derive from the Low German dudel or dödel, meaning “fool” or “simpleton”. The Macaroni wig was an extreme fashion in the 1770s and became contemporary slang for foppishness.

Yellow Jack (Am sl) – (мед.) жёлтая лихорадка Slang term for Yellow fever. An acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The yellow fever virus is transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes (the yellow fever mosquito), and is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa, but not in Asia. The origin of the disease is most likely to be Africa, from where it was introduced to South America through the slave trade in the 16th century. Since the 17th century, several major epidemics of the disease have been recorded in the Americas, Africa and Europe. In the 19th century, yellow fever was deemed one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. In some patients, liver damage with jaundice (a yellow color in the skin, giving the name of the disease) can occur and lead to death. Yeti – Йети, «снежный человек» The Yeti or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Tibet. The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology. Stories of the Yeti first emerged as a facet of

176

Yeti

Western popular culture in the 19th century. The scientific community generally regards the Yeti as a legend, given the lack of conclusive evidence, yet it remains one of the most famous creatures of crypto-zoology. The Yeti may be considered a sort of parallel to the Bigfoot of North America. The word Yeti is derived from Tibetan for bear.

Selected Bibliography 1. Ayto J. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford University Press, 2010. 2. Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. London: Wordsworth Reference, 2006. 3. Gulland D., Hinds-Howell D. The Penguin Dictionary of English Idioms. London: The Penguin Dictionary of English Idioms, 2001. 4. Kirkpatrick B. Book of Common Phrases. Geddes & Grosset, 2004. 5. Pocket Idioms Dictionary: Longman, 2001. 6. Интернет-ресурсы. 7. Кунин А.В. Англо-русский фразеологический словарь. М.: 1967.

List of Illustration Sites 1. www.wikimedia.org 2. www.xploreandxpress.blogspot.com 3. www.about.com 4. www.theatlantic.com 5. www.smithsnewentauctions.co.uk 6. www.vistetedenovia.es 7. www.navsource.org 8. www.radikal.ru 9. www.bbc.co.uk 10. www.vejatv.com 11. www.dustymusic.com 12. www.etsy.com 13. www.deguisement-carnaval.net 14. www.fotocommunity.de 15. www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk 16. www.flickriver.com 17. www.thewhiskyexchange.com 18. www.novascotia.ca 19. www.geolocation.ws 20. www.richmondmarketing.com 21. www.allensboots.com 22. www.usmagazine.com 23. www.classicandsportscar.com

List of Idioms A Aaron’s rod 6 Abelard and Heloise 6 According to Cocker 7 According to Hoyle 7 Achilles’ heel 7 Adam style 8 Adam’s ale/wine 8 Adam’s apple 9 Adam’s rib 9 Aladdin’s lamp 9 Alexandrian solution 41 Alice band 9 Alice in Wonderland 10 All my eye and Betty Martin 10 All Sir Garnet 10 All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy 11 Alnaschar/Al-Naschar dream 11 Andromeda nebula 12 Anna Kournikova 12 Annie Oakley 12 Another Richmond in the field 13 Any Tom, Dick or Harry 13 Appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober 13 Applejack 14 Archimedes’ Law/Principle 14 Around Robin Hood’s barn 14 As game as Ned Kelly 15 As old as Methuselah 15 As tight as Dick’s hatband 15 Ask Paxton 15 Astonish the Browns 16 Augean stables 16 Augustan Age 17 Aunt Jemima/Jane/Mary/Sally/ Thomasina 17 Aunt Sally 17 Average Joe 18

179

List of Idioms

B Babbittry 18 Bacchus has drowned more men than Neptune 18 Baedeker 19 Barbie Doll 19 Barkis is willing 19 Barmecide feast 19 Beau Brummell 20 Bed of Procrustes 20 Becky Sharp 21 Before you can/could say Jack Robinson 21 Bend the bow of Ulysses 22 Benjamin of the family 22 Benjamin’s portion/mess 22 Bertie Wooster 23 Bess o’ Bedlam 23 Betty lamp 24 Between Scylla and Charybdis 24 Big Ben 25 Big Bertha 25 (The) Big Dipper 36 Big John 26 Bill Jim 26 Bird of Jove 26 Bird of Juno 26 Bird of Minerva 26 Bismarck herring 26 Black-eyed Susan 27 Black Jack 27 Black Maria 27 Blind Tom 27 Bloody Mary 28 Bobbsey twins 28 Bob’s your uncle 29 Bow down in the house of Rimmon 29 Box and Cox 29 Brand of Cain 29 Break Priscian’s head 30 Brother Jonathan 30 Brown Bess 31 Brown, Jones and Robinson 31 Buckley’s chance 31 Buggins’ turn 32

180

List of Idioms Burden of Sisyphus 32 Buridan’s ass 32 Busy Lizzy 33 By Jove/George 33 By the Lord Harry! 34

C Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion 34 Calamity Jane 34 Cask of Danaides 35 Cassandra warnings 35 Catch Jesse 36 Charles’s Wain 36 Charlie 37 Cheap Jack/John 37 Cheapjack/cheapjohn 37 Checkpoint Charlie // Checkpoint C 37 Chippendale (feet) 37 Cleopatra’s needle 38 Clever Dick 38, 152 Coal-oil Johnny 38 Colonel Blimp 39 Cordelia’s gift 39 Cracker Jack/jack // crackajack 39 Crêpe Suzette 40 Cup of Joe 41 Curse of Cain 29 Cut the Gordian knot 41

D Daniel come to judgment 42 Darby and Joan 42 David and Jonathan 43 Davey/Davy Jones’s locker 43 Dead as Julius Caesar 44 Dear John letter 44 Dine with Duke Humphrey 44 Dirty Dick’s 45 Do a Lord Lucan 46 Do a Melba 46 Doctor Fell 46 Dolly Varden 47 Don Juan 47

181

List of Idioms Don Quixote 47 Dorian Gray 48 Dorothy/Dolly bag 48 Double jack // doublejack 49 Doubting/A very Thomas 49 Douglas-fir 49 Drive like Jehu 50 Dryasdust 50 Duke of Exeter’s Daughter 50 Dumb Dora 51

E Eisenhower jacket 52 “Et tu, Brute?” 52 Even Stephen/Steven/Stevens 53 Every man jack (of us/them) 53 Every Tom, Dick and Harry 53

F Fabian policy/tactics 54 Feast of Lucullus 54 Florence Nightingale 54 Follow somebody like St Anthony’s pig 55 For Pete’s sake // For the love of Pete/Mike 55 Frankenstein’s monster 55 Freudian slip 56 Friend of Dorothy 56 From John o’Groats to Land’s End // From Land’s End to John o’Groats 57 Full Monty 57 (Be) Full of the Old Nick 58

G Gallup poll/polling 59 Gerrymander 59 Get a Charlie horse 60 Gibson Girl 60 Girl Friday 61 Give Old Harry/Harrington 132 Give somebody Jesse/jessie 61 GI Jane 61 GI Joe 61 Gladstone bag 62

182

List of Idioms Go/Gone for a Burton/burton 62 (Be) Going Jesse 63 Good Jack makes a good Jill 63 Gordian knot 63 Gordon Bennett 63 Granny Smith 64 Great Caesar (’s Ghost)! 64 Great Godfrey! 64 Great Scot(t)! 65 Greenwell’s glory 65 Grow like Topsy 65 Guinness 65 Guinness World Records 66

H “Hamlet” with Hamlet left out/without the Prince of Denmark 66 Handy Andy 67 Happy as Larry 67 Have a Charlie horse 60 Heath Robinson 68 Hector 69 Hemingway Solution 69 Herculean Labour(s) 69 Hercules’ Pillars 70 Hillbilly // Hill Jack // hilljack 70 Hippocratic oath 71 Hit the jackpot 83 Hobson’s choice 71 Holy Joe 72 Holy Moses 72 Home, James (home, and don’t spare the horses)! 72 Homeric laughter 72 Homer sometimes nods 73 Honest Abe 73 Honest Injun 74 Hooverville 74 House that Jack built 74

I I’m all right, Jack 75 If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain 75 In a Pickwickian sense 76

183

List of Idioms In like Flynn 77 (Be) In the arms of Morpheus 77 Is Saul also among the prophets? 77

J Jack and John 78 Jack and Jill/Gill 80 Jack around 81 Jack is no judge of Jill’s beauty // If Jack is in love, he’s no judge of Jill’s beauty 81 Jack-leg/Jackleg (lawyer, electrician, etc.) 81 Jack of all trades // Jack-of-all-trades 81 Jack of all trades but/and/is master of none 82 Jack-in-office 82 Jack-in-the-box 82 Jackass 83 Jackboot 83 (A) Jackdaw in peacock’s feathers 83 Jackpot 83 Jackrabbit start 84 Jackroller 84 Jack Frost (who paints windows) 84 Jack-o’-lantern 84 Jack Tar 85 Jack the Lad 85 Jane Doe 85 Janus-faced 86 Jeez/Geez Louise! 86 Jeeves 86 Jekyll and Hyde 87 Jenny 87 Jeremiah 87 Jeroboam 87 Jerry 88 Jerry-built/jerry-building 88 Jesus boots/shoes 88 Jim Crow 88 Jim-dandy 89 Jingling Johnny 89 Job’s comforter 90 Joe Bloggs 90 Joe Blow // Joe Doakes 90 Joe College 90 Joe Schmo(e) 90

184

List of Idioms Joe Sixpack 90 Joe Zilch/Storch 91 John 91 John-a-dreams 91 John Barleycorn 91 John Bull 92 John Doe (and Richard Roe) 92 John/Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon 92 John Hancock 93 John Henry 93 John Q. Public / John Q. Citizen 93 Johnny Appleseed 94 Johnny-come-lately 94 Johnny on the spot // Johnny-on-the-spot 95 Johnny One Note // Johnny one-note 95 Jolly Roger 95 Jonah 96 Judas kiss 96 Jumping Judas! 96

K Katy, bar the door 97 Keep up with the Joneses 97 King Charles’s head 98

L Labor of Sisyphus 32 Lady Bountiful 98 Lady Bracknell 98 Lady Luck 99 Lady/Lord Muck 99 Laurence bids wages 99 Lazy Susan 99 Let George do it 100 Let her go, Gallagher! 100 Levis/Levi’s 101 Little Mary 101 Live/Lead the life of Riley 102 Lloyd’s Coffee House on Lombard Street 102 Long Eliza // long-eliza 103 Long johns 103 Long Tom 103 Lot’s wife 103 Lynch Law // Lynching 104

185

List of Idioms

M Mae West 104 Maggie Ann 105 Make one’s jack 105 Man Friday 105 Mao jacket 105 Mark Tapley 105 Mark of Cain 29 Marquis of Queensberry rules 106 Mary Jane 106 Mason jar 106 Maverick 107 McCormick reaper 107 McDonald’s 107 Meek as Moses 108 Merry Andrew 108 Mickey/Mike (Michael)/mick 109 Mickey Finn 109 Mickey Mouse 109 Midas touch 110 Miranda rights/warning 111 Miss Molly // Miss Nancy 111 Mister/Mr Right // Miss/Ms Right 111 Molly Coddle 111 Molotov cocktail 112 Morton’s Fork 112 Mother Bunch 113 Mother Hubbard 113 Mr Big 114 Mr Clean 115 Mr Nice Guy 115 Mrs Grundy 115 Mrs Jellyby 115 Mrs Mopp 116 Murphy’s Law 116

N Nancy boy 116 Nervous Nellie/Nelly 116 Nessus’ shirt 148 Nice Nelly/Nellie 117 Nobel Prize 117 No more Mr Nice Guy 118

186

List of Idioms No way, Jose! 118 Noah’s ark 118 Nosy/Nosey Parker 119 Not know Jack about something 119 Not know someone from Adam 119

O Occam’s/Ockham’s razor 120 Old Abe 73 (As) Old as Adam 120 Old Bill 121 Old Grog 121 Old Harry 121 Old Tom 121 On one’s Jack Jones / jack jones 122 On Shank’s mare 122 Ordinary Joe 18 Oscar 123 Out-Herod Herod 123

P Painted Jezebel 124 Pandora’s box 125 Paparazzi 125 Pareto’s Rule/Principle // 80/20 rule 126 Parkinson’s Law 127 Patience of Job 127 Paul Pry 128 Peeping Tom 128 Peter Principle 129 Peter’s needle 130 Peter’s penny 131 Pistol Pete 131 Plain Jane/jane 131 Platonic love 132 Play hell and Tommy 132 Play Old Harry (with) 132 Play the Jack with somebody 133 (As) Pleased as Punch 133 Pope Joan 133 Potemkin/Potyomkin villages 134 Prince Albert 134 Procrustean bed 20

187

List of Idioms Prometheus fire 135 Proper Charlie 136 Pullman car 136 Pyrrhic victory 137

Q Queen Anne is dead! 138 Queensbury rules 106

R Raise Cain/Ned/Jack 138 Real McCoy 138 Regular Joe 18 Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s 139 Rich as Croesus 140 Richard is himself again 140 Richard Roe 140 Rip van Winkle 141 Rob Peter to pay Paul 141 Rob Roy 142 Robin Goodfellow 143 Rogerian argument 143 Roland for an Oliver 144 Rube Goldberg 144

S Sally Lunn 145 Sam Browne belt 145 Santa Claus 146 Scavenger’s Daughter 146 Schooner Jenny 147 Scrooge 147 Sham Abraham/Abram 147 Sheila’s Maid 148 Shirt/Tunic of Nessus 148 Simon Legree 148 (Real) Simon Pure // simon-pure 148 Simple Simon 149 Since Adam was a boy 150 Singer (sewing machine) 150 Slip someone a Mickey Finn 151 Sloppy Joe 151 Smart Alec(k) 152

188

List of Idioms Socratic irony 152 Sod’s Law 152 Somewhere to the right of Genghis Khan 153 Speedy Gonzales 153 Sphinx’s riddle 154 Spinning Jenny/jenny 154 (Carry out) St Bartholomew’s Day massacre 155 St Luke’s summer 156 St Martin’s summer 156 St Nicholas’ clerk 156 St Valentine’s Day 157 Stand Sam 157 Stanley (knife) 158 Stetsons hat 158 Sweet Fanny Adams 159 Sweet William 159 Sword of Damocles 160

T Tail-end Charlie 161 Take the Mickey/Mick (out of someone or something) 161 Thomas/Tom/Tommy Atkins 161 Tin Lizzie 161 Tom and Dick 162 Tom and Jerry 162 Tom/John Collins 163 Tom/John/Jack Drum’s entertainment 163 Tom, Dick and Harry 164 Tom-noddy/tomnoddy 164 Tom Thumb 164 Tom Tidler’s / Tiddler’s Ground 164 Tom Tyler 164 Tomfool 165 Tom/John Long the carrier 165 Tommy 165 Tommy-rot/tommyrot 165 Tricky Dick 165 Twelve labours of Hercules 166 Typhoid Mary 167

U Uncle Frost 84 Uncle Sam 167

189

List of Idioms Uncle Tom 167 (Old) Uncle Tom Cobley/Cobleigh and all 168 Union Jack 168 Uriah Heep 168

V Van Dyke/Van Dyck/Vandyck beard 169 Vandyke collar 169 Vicar of Bray 170

W (Hookey) Walker! 170 Walter Mitty 171 Waltz/Walk Matilda 171 War of Jenkins’ Ear 171 Wear Joseph’s coat 172 Weary Willie 172 Wellington boots // wellingtons 172 When Adam delved (and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?) 173 When Queen Anne was alive 173 Wild Bill 174 William Crichton 174 Willy-boy 175 (As) Wise as Solomon 175

X Xanthippe 175

Y Yankee Doodle 175 Yellow Jack 176 Yeti 176

Шитова Лариса Феликсовна

PROPER NAME IDIOMS

and Their Origins

СЛОВАРЬ ИМЕННЫХ ИДИОМ

Художественный редактор А. А. Неклюдова Корректор Е. Г. Шабалова Компьютерная верстка А. Б. Ткаченко

Подписано в печать 21.01.2013. Формат 84x108/32. Гарнитура Times. Печать офсетная. Бумага офсетная. Объем 6 п.л. Заказ _______ . Издательство «Антология» 199053, Санкт-Петербург, В.О., Средний пр., д. 4 тел.: (812) 328-14-41 www.anthologybooks.ru Отпечатано по технологии CtP, в ООО «Ленинградское издательство» 194044, Санкт-Петербург, ул. Менделеевская, д. 9. Телефон / факс: (812) 495-56-10

Издательство «Антология» представляет Шитова Л. Ф. Digital Idioms Числительные в идиомах и устойчивых словосочетаниях на самом деле лишь повод для того, чтобы больше узнать об английском языке, истории, культуре и традициях стран, говорящих на нём. Каждая статья состоит из цифровой идиомы, её эквивалента или перевода на русский язык, истории возникновения выражения и примера, иллюстрирующего идиому.

Шитова Л. Ф. 350 Idioms with Their Origin Каждому английскому выражению соответствует: • Адекватный русский эквивалент или свободный пояснительный перевод. • Образное выражение проиллюстрировано примером его употребления в речи. • Подробно описано значение и происхождение каждой единицы. • Помещенные в книге рисунки подчеркивают пародоксальность ситуации.

Шитова Л. Ф. Carry Coals to Newcastle. 350 Geographical Idioms and More Идиомы и другие устойчивые словосочетания разбиты на 4 группы, объединяющие: I – реки, озера, моря, океаны, острова и горы; II – улицы, города, страны и континенты; III – стороны света; IV – языки и национальности. Знакомство с представленными идиомами поможет расширить географические, исторические, этимологические и фразеологические представления читателей.

Приглашаем Вас посетить книжный интернет-магазин

www.BookStreet.ru