Читать «Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц» онлайн - страница 94

[circus] See: THREE-RING CIRCUS.

[citizen] See: SENIOR CITIZEN.

[civil] See: KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE’S HEAD.

[claim] See: STAKE A CLAIM.

[claim check]{n.} A ticket needed to get back something. •/The man at the parking lot gave Mrs. Collins a claim check./ •/The boy put the dry cleaning claim check in his billfold./ •/The man told Mary the pictures would be ready Friday and gave her a claim check./

[clamp down]{v.}, {informal} To put on strict controls; enforce rules or laws. •/After the explosion, police clamped down and let no more visitors inside the monument./ •/The school clamped down on smoking./ •/When the crowds became bigger and wilder, the police clamped down on them and made everyone go home./

[clam up]{v.}, {slang} To refuse to say anything more; stop talking. •/The suspect clammed up, and the police could get no more information out of him./

[class] See: HIGH-CLASS, SECOND CLASS.

[clay] See: FEET OF CLAY.

[clay pigeon]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A popular target at practice shooting made of clay and roughly resembling a pigeon; an easy target that doesn’t move. •/All he can shoot is a clay pigeon./ 2. A person who, like a clay pigeon in target practice, is immobilized or is in a sensitive position and is therefore easily criticized or otherwise victimized. •/Poor Joe is a clay pigeon./ 3. A task easily accomplished like shooting an immobile clay pigeon. •/The math exam was a clay pigeon./

[clean] See: COME CLEAN, KEEP ONE’S NOSE CLEAN, MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF, NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN, TAKE TO ONE’S HEELS, also SHOW A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS.

[clean bill of health]{n. phr.} 1. A certificate that a person or animal has no infectious disease. •/The government doctor gave Jones a clean bill of health when he entered the country./ 2. {informal} A report that a person is free of guilt or fault. •/The stranger was suspected in the bank robbery, but the police gave him a clean bill of health./

[clean break]{n. phr.} A complete separation. •/Tom made a clean break with his former girlfriends before marrying Pamela./

[cleaners] See: TO TAKE TO THE CLEANERS.

[clean hands]{n. phr.}, {slang} Freedom from guilt or dishonesty; innocence. •/John grew up in a bad neighborhood, but he grew up with clean hands./ •/There was much proof against Bill, but he swore he had clean hands./

[clean out]{v.} 1. {slang} To take everything from; empty; strip. •/George’s friends cleaned him out when they were playing cards last night./ •/The sudden demand for paper plates soon cleaned out the stores./ 2. {informal} To get rid of; remove; dismiss. •/The new mayor promised to clean the crooks out of the city government./

[clean slate]{n. phr.} A record of nothing but good conduct, without any errors or bad deeds; past acts that are all good without any bad ones. •/Johnny was sent to the principal for whispering. He had a clean slate so the principal did not punish him./ •/Mary stayed after school for a week, and after that the teacher let her off with a clean slate./ Compare: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.