lay one's hands on
get one's hands on
To seize in order to punish or treat roughly.
If I ever lay my hands on that boy he'll be sorry.
To get possession of.
He was unable to lay his hands on a Model T Ford for the school play.
To find; locate.
He keeps a file of letters so he can lay his hands on one whenever he needs it.
left-handed compliment
pay one a left-handed compliment
An ambiguous compliment which is interpretable as an offense.
I didn't know you could look so pretty! Is that a wig you're wearing?
She said my new pants really make my legs look much slimmer. What a left-handed compliment!
left-handed
Using the left hand habitually.
She is left-handed.
Crooked; phoney; homosexual.
Morris is such a left-handed guy.
Clumsy; untoward; awkward.
Grab that hammer and stop acting so left-handed.
leg to stand on
A firm foundation of facts; facts to support your claim. Usually used in the negative.
Jerry's answering speech left his opponent without a leg to stand on.
Amos sued for damages, but did not have a leg to stand on.
lend a hand
give a hand
bear a hand
To give help; make yourself useful; help.
Оказывать помощь; помогать; протягивать руку помощи.
The stage manager asked some of the boys to lend a hand with the scenery.
Dick saw a woman with a flat tire and offered to give her a hand with it.
This box is heavy. Could you lend me a hand?
Эта коробка тяжелая. Ты не мог бы мне помочь?
Would you give me a hand lifting this heavy box?
When Terry’s car broke down at night on the highway, no one would stop to lend her a hand.
let one's left hand know what one's right hand is doing
To make a show of your kindness or help to others. Used in the negative.
The Bible tells us not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing when we give to the poor.
To let everyone taking part in something know what each is doing; encourage cooperation in working. Often used in the negative.
Tom told Fred and Bill to meet him in town, but he forgot to tell them where. Next time he'll let his left hand know what his right hand is doing.
Our team lost today because the coach and captain did not let the left hand know what the right was doing, and the players were all mixed up.
lick and a promise
A careless, hasty job; an unsatisfactory piece of work.
You didn't wash your hands. You just gave them a lick and a promise.
The boys didn't cut the grass properly. All it got was a lick and a promise.
life of the party
life and soul of the party
A person who makes things enjoyable or interesting for a group of people.
Человек, который делает что-то интересным для группы людей; душа компании.
Bill is the life of the party at school. He is always making us laugh.
I'm so glad we invited Santa Clause. He was the life and soul of the party!
Я так рад, что мы пригласили Санту. Он был звездой вечеринки.