nip in the bud
To check at the outset; prevent at the start; block or destroy in the beginning.
The police nipped the plot in the bud.
The teacher nipped the disorder in the bud.
no hard feelings
A lack of resentment or anger; a state of peace and forgiveness.
"No hard feelings," he said. "You should feel free to make constructive criticism any time."
no kidding
Without jokes or teasing; honestly spoken.
"You actually won the lottery?" Dick asked. "No kidding," Joe replied. "I really did."
no pain, no gain
"Не попотеешь, не заработаешь". Русские аналоги: "под лежачий камень вода не течет", "без труда не вытащишь и рыбку из пруда".
If you want to be successful you should work hard. No pain, no gain.
Если хочешь быть успешным, нужно усердно работать. Без труда не вытащишь и рыбку из пруда.
no spring chicken
A person who is no longer young.
Even though she is no spring chicken anymore, men still turn their heads to look at her.
nodding acquaintance
have a nodding acquaintance with
Less than casual acquaintance.
Шапочное знакомство.
I have never spoken to the chancellor; we have only a nodding acquaintance.
Я никогда не разговаривал с канцлером, у нас только шапочное знакомство.
I see my neighbor in passing, and while we greet each other, we’re really just nodding acquaintances.
Проходя мимо, я вижу своего соседа, и хотя мы приветствуем друг друга, на самом деле мы просто киваем друг другу.
At the conference, I had a nodding acquaintance with several industry leaders, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to them in depth.
На конференции я познакомился с несколькими лидерами отрасли, но мне не удалось толком поговорить с ними.
He has a nodding acquaintance with classical music, enough to recognize a few famous composers, but he wouldn't consider himself an expert.
Он поверхностно знаком с классической музыкой, достаточно хорошо знает нескольких известных композиторов, но не считает себя экспертом.
nodding terms
Шапочное знакомство.
We haven't made any friends yet but we're on nodding terms with out neighbours.
Мы еще ни с кем не подружились, но здороваемся с соседями.
nose in a book
Busy interest in reading. Used with a possessive.
Mother can't get Mary to help do the housework; she always has her nose in a book.