base on balls
First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone.
He was a good judge of pitchers and often received bases on balls.
be a fly on the wall
To eavesdrop on a secret conversation.
Наблюдать за ситуацией, будучи незаметным.
How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance's parents are saying about me!
I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the management discusses my project.
Я бы хотел понаблюдать, когда наше руководство обсуждает мой проект.
be on the ball
get on the ball
have on the ball
Paying attention and doing things well. Used after is or get.
Ben is really on the ball in school.
The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team.
Jim was the only one who caught that serious error in the bookkeeping statements. He’s really on the ball.
Ella was certainly on the ball when she remembered to reconfirm our flight arrangements. All the rest of us would have forgotten.
John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball.
The coach was eager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball.
That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. Used after have.
I can't believe Molly got that report done so quickly - she really has something on the ball.
I'm so glad that my assistant has something on the ball because I'm too scatterbrained to manage my schedule on my own.
beat all hollow
beat hollow
To do much better than; to beat very badly.
We beat their team all hollow.
As a speaker, he beats us all hollow.
beat all
beat the Dutch
To be strange or surprising.
John found a box full of money buried in his garage. Doesn't that beat all!
It beats the Dutch how Tom always makes a basket.
beat one's head against a wall
To struggle uselessly against something that can't be beaten or helped; not succeed after trying very hard.
Trying to make him change his mind is just beating your head against a wall.
behind the eight-ball
behind the eight ball
In a difficult position; in trouble.
В трудном положении; неприятности; в безвыходной ситуации.
Mr. Thompson is an older man, and when he lost his job, he found he was behind the eight-ball.
Мистер Томсон пожилой человек, когда он потерял свою работу, он оказался в затруднительном положении.
Bill can't dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight-ball with the girls.
I'm really behind the eight ball at work. I have too much work to do but we can't afford to hire anyone to help out.
Я в безвыходной ситуации на работе. У меня слишком много работы, а компания не может позволить себе нанять сотрудника в помощь.
big frog in a small pond
big fish in a small pond
An important person in a small place or position; someone who is respected and honored in a small company, school, or city; a leader in a small group.
Важная или высокопоставленная персона, которая работает в маленькой группе или организации.
As company president, he had been a big frog in a small pond, but he was not so important as a new congressman in Washington.
He could get a job with a big company but he enjoys being a big fish in a small pond.
Он мог бы получить работу в большой компании, но ему нравится быть большой рыбой в маленьком пруду.