China syndrome
From the title of the movie with Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon. The possibility that an industrial nuclear reactor might explode, literally affecting the other side of the planet (as if by eating a hole through the earth all the way to China.)
Antinuclear demonstrators are greatly worried about the China syndrome.
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb
A person who is already helpless will not have more trouble; you will not have more trouble than you can bear.
After Mr. Smith lost his job, the Smith's house caught fire, but the fire was put out before much harm was done. Mr. Smith said, "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."
I'm telling you
It is important to listen to what I am saying.
Marian is a smart girl but I'm telling you, she doesn't always do what she promises.
Indian giver
A person who gives one something, but later asks for it back. An ethnic slur; avoidable.
John gave me a beautiful fountain pen, but a week later, like an Indian giver, he wanted it back.
Indian sign
A magic spell that is thought to bring bad luck; curse; jinx; hoo-doo. Used with the, usually after have or with; and often used in a joking way.
Bill is a good player, but Ted has the Indian sign on him and always beats him.
Father says that he always wins our checker games because he has put the Indian sign on me, but I think he is joking.
Indian summer
A dry and warm period of time late in the fall, usually in October.
Период потепления осенью - бабье лето.
After the cold and foggy weather, we had a brief Indian summer, during which the temperature was up in the high seventies.
Indian summer can persist for a few days or extend to a week or more.
Бабье лето может длиться несколько дней или растянуться на неделю или больше.
Pidgin English
A jargon that consists of some mispronounced English words and some foreign words used by Orientals in talking with Westerners.
You can conduct a lot of business in Pidgin English in the Far East.
Rome wasn't built in a day
Great things are not accomplished overnight; great deeds take a long time. A proverb.
A takes a long time to write a successful novel, but don't worry; Rome wasn't built in a day, as the saying goes.