on a shoestring
With little money to spend; on a very low budget.
Быть стесненным в денежных средствах.
The couple was seeing Europe on a shoestring.
When I was a student I lived on a shoestring.
Когда я был студентом я жил почти впроголодь.
on cloud nine
Too happy to think of anything else; very happy.
Быть слишком счастливым, чтобы думать о чем-нибудь другом.
Ada has been on cloud nine since the magazine printed the story she wrote.
We were on cloud nine when our team won the state championship.
When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine!
Когда начальник сообщил о моем повышении, я был в восторге.
on one's mind
In one's thoughts.
I'm glad you want to talk about this. It's been on my mind for weeks.
What's on your mind?
on pain of
under pain of
At the risk of; under penalty of.
The workers went on strike on pain of losing their jobs.
The rebels had to swear under pain of death never to confess where their comrades were hiding.
on pins and needles
Worried; nervous.
Быть обеспокоенным, встревоженным; "быть на иголках".
Jane's mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school.
Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play.
Scott was on pins and needles while he waited for the results of the exams.
Скотт был, как на иголках, пока ждал результаты экзамена.
on the blink
Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative.
I need to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blink again.
on the brain
Filling your thoughts; too much thought about; almost always in mind.
Mary Ann has boys on the brain.
Joe's hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most of the time.
on the brink of
Facing a new event that's about to happen.
"I am on the brink of a new discovery," our physics professor proudly announced.