chinese whispers
Пересказанная много раз и искаженная информация, история.
First Sally told James, James told Tom and so on – it was real Chinese whispers.
Сначала Сэлли рассказала Джеймсу, Джеймс передал Тому – получился настоящий сломанный телефон.
chip in
kick in
To give together with others, contribute.
The pupils chipped in a dime apiece for the teacher's Christmas present.
All the neighbors kicked in to help after the fire.
Lee chipped in ten points in the basketball game.
Joe didn't say much but chipped in a few words.
chisel in on
muscle in on
To illegitimately and forcefully intrude into someone's traditional sales or professional arena of operation.
Tim has a good sales territory, but he is always afraid that someone might chisel in on it.
Las Vegas casino owners are concerned that the Mafia might muscle in on their territory.
The eastern Mafia muscled in on the western Mafia's turf and a shooting war was started.
chow line
A line of people waiting for food.
The chow line was already long when John got to the dining hall.
The soldiers picked up trays and got into the chow line.
cigar-store Indian
A wooden statue of an Indian which in the past was placed in front of a cigar store.
A cigar store Indian used to mean a cigar store in the same way a barber pole still means a barber shop.
cling to one's mother's apron strings
tied to one's mother's apron strings
tied to one's wife's apron strings
tied to somebody's apron strings
hang on to one's mother's apron strings
let go of one's mother's apron strings
Not independent of your mother; not able to do anything without asking your mother.
Быть зависимым от матери или кого-то еще в возрасте, когда уже надо быть самостоятельным.
Even after he grew up he was still tied to his mother's apron strings.
All his decisions are influenced by his mother. He's still tied to her apron strings.
На все его решения влияет его мама, он все еще держится за ее юбку.
George never comes out with the rest of us - he's tied to his wife's apron strings.
Джордж никогда не ходит с остальными отдыхать – он подкаблучник.
clinging vine
A very dependent woman; a woman who needs much love and encouragement from a man.
Mary is a clinging vine; she cannot do anything without her husband.
clip joint
tourist trap
A low-class night club or other business where people are cheated.
The man got drunk and lost all his money in a clip joint.
The angry woman said the store was a clip joint.