a brain like a sieve
Дырявая память. Девичья память.
Oh, I forgot to buy bread - I’ve got a brain like a sieve these days!
Ой, я забыл купить хлеб – в последнее время ничего не помню!
against the grain
go against the grain
Across rather than with the direction of the fibers (as of wood or meat).
He sandpapered the wood against the grain.
So as to annoy or trouble, or to cause anger or dislike. Usually follows go.
His coarse and rude ways went against the grain with me.
It went against the grain with him to have to listen to her gossip.
beat one's brains out
beat one's brains
cudgel one's brains
To try very hard to understand or think out something difficult; tire yourself out by thinking.
Пытаться очень напряженно в чем-либо разобраться; ломать голову над чем-то.
It was too hard for him and he beat his brains out trying to get the answer.
Some students are lazy, but others beat their brains and succeed.
That’s the last time I’ll beat my brains out trying to cook a nice dinner for you.
Я в последний раз буду ломать голову, пытаясь приготовить прекрасный ужин для тебя.
blow one's brains out
To shoot yourself in the head.
Mr. Jones lost all his wealth, so he blew his brains out.
To work very hard; overwork yourself.
The boys blew their brains out to get the stage ready for the play.
Mary is not one to blow her brains out.
brain bucket
A motorcycle helmet.
If you want to share a ride with me, you've got to wear a brain bucket.
brain drain
The loss of the leading intellectuals and researchers of a country due to excessive emigration to other countries where conditions are better.
Утеря страной ведущих мыслителей и исследователей из-за эмиграции в другие страны, в которых лучше условия работы - утечка мозгов.
Britain suffered a considerable brain drain to the United States after World War II.
Британия пережила «утечку мозгов» в США после второй мировой войны.
An activity requiring great mental concentration resulting in fatigue and exhaustion.
Деятельность требующая большого умственного напряжения, в результате которой появляется усталость и внутреннее опустошение.
That math exam I took was a regular brain drain.
That math exam Jane took was a real brain drain.
Тот экзамен по математике, который сдавала Джейн, был настоящим перенапряжением для ее ума.
brain trust
A group of specially trained, highly intelligent experts in a given field.
Группа специально обученных, одаренных экспертов в какой-либо области.
Albert Einstein gathered a brain trust around himself at the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies.
Our company had troubles with taxes so our boss had to hire a brain trust.
У нашей компании были проблемы с налогами, поэтому нашему начальнику пришлось нанять группу экспертов.
brain-storm
brainstorm
To have a discussion among fellow researchers or co-workers on a project in order to find the best solution to a given problem.
Организованное обсуждение проблемы исследователями, коллегами чтобы найти наилучшее решение какой-либо проблемы - мозговой штурм.
Dr. Watson and his research assistants are brain-storming in the conference room.
He suggested us to have a brainstorming upon this matter.
Он предложил нам провести мозговую атаку по этому вопросу.
A sudden insight; a stroke of comprehension.
Listen to me, I've just had a major brainstorm, and I think I found the solution to our problem.