bughouse
An insane asylum.
They took Joe to the bughouse.
Crazy, insane.
Joe's gone bughouse.
burn one's house to get rid of the mice
Дословно: сжечь дом, чтобы избавиться от мышей. Потратить много средств для достижения малой цели, обычно по глупости.
He got into troubles. He could burn his house to get rid of the mice.
Он попал в неприятности. Он мог пожертвовать многим, чтобы избавиться от незначительной неприятности.
cathouse
A house of ill repute, a house of prostitution.
Massage parlors are frequently cathouses in disguise.
cause eyebrows to raise
To do something that causes consternation; to shock others.
When Algernon entered Orchestra Hall barefoot and wearing a woman's wig, he caused eyebrows to raise.
cry over spilled milk
cry over spilt milk
no use crying over spilled milk
no use crying over spilt milk
To cry or complain about something that has already happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped.
After the baby tore up Sue's picture book, Sue's mother told her there was no use crying over spilled milk.
You have lost the game but don't cry over spilt milk.
eat one out of house and home
To eat so much as to cause economic hardship.
Our teenaged sons are so hungry all the time that they may soon eat us out of house and home.
To overstay one's welcome.
We love Bob and Jane very much, but after two weeks we started to feel that they were eating us out of house and home.
excuse oneself
To think of reasons for not being to blame; think yourself not at fault.
John excused himself for his low grades on the ground that the teacher didn't like him.
To ask to be excused after doing something impolite.
John excused himself for his tardiness, saying his watch was wrong.
To ask permission to leave a group or place.
The committee meeting lasted so long that Mr. Wilkins excused himself to keep an appointment.
John had to go to the dentist's, so he excused himself and left the classroom.
fun house
A place where people see many funny things and have tricks played on them to make them laugh or have a good time.
The boys and girls had a good time looking at themselves in mirrors in the fun house.