Meaning: a collection of things; a lot, pack, or group Translation: вся куча, всё вместе Reason: A funny-sounding phrase used by Scoty in "The Trouble with Tribbles", when he explains how he got rid of tribbles: "Before they [Klingons] went into warp, I transported the whole kit and caboodle into their engine room".
Since Scotty is a Scotsman, at first I thought that this might be a Scottish expression. But it seems that, though used in the UK as well, the phrase is of American origin.
Meaning: a (fiction) film character who dies soon after being introduced. Wikipedia informs that the term originated because of a Star Trek tradition: in many episodes "red-uniformed security officers and engineers accompanying the main characters on landing parties quickly die." Reason: Watched too much Star Trek for one day, I guess:)
Воскресенье, 12 Декабря 2010 г. 23:37
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As happy as a clam (at high tide)
Translation: счастливый, довольный Meaning: happy, with the feeling of safety. The idea is that clams are very difficult to find at high tide, so this is quite safe and happy time for them. Here is a nice explanation of the origin and the meaning of this American expression. Reason: I came across this in a movie script and got intrigued by the comparison, because a clam is not among associations I"d have with happiness.
Translation: торф Reason: To know what's written on the bottle you drink from:)
Also: Peated malt* - "distillers malt that has been smoked over burning peat in order to add a dark aroma and flavor characteristic of Islay whisky and some Irish whiskey. Some recent brewers have also included peated malt in interpretations of Scotch ales <...>. When used in large amounts, the resulting beer tends to have a very strong earthy and smoky flavour which most mainstream beer drinkers would find repulsive" (from here).
Translation: по направлению к центру (Диска) Meaning: The main idea is that if you are standing on a disc, and face the hub or center of the disc, then you are oriented hubwards. The opposite orientation is rimwards (quoted from here). Derives, obviously, from hub - "the center, focal point" Reason: One more Pratchett's super-descriptive word, used to explain the geography of the Discoworld. I didn't mark the place in the book where I met this word, so will supply the example later.
To screw up Meaning: to mishandle or make a mess (of) something Translation: испортить, напортачить Reason: Сначала в "House M.D." сто тыщ раз повторили (в диалогах типа "We screwed up." -- "No, you screwed up!"), а потом еще и у Пратчетта встретилось, уже в виде существительного:
"Yeah, but the thing about screw-ups, Nobby, is that it's hard for you to be, you know, precise. You might think you're making a little screw-up and then it blows up in your face and it turns out to be in fact a big screw-up, and in those circumstances, Nobby, I'm sort of worried that what His Lordship might take away from me wouldn't just be the job."