crocodile tears
Pretended grief; a show of sorrow that is not really felt.
(From the old legend that crocodiles make weeping sounds to attract victims and then shed tears while eating them.)
(From the old legend that crocodiles make weeping sounds to attract victims and then shed tears while eating them.)
When his rich uncle died, leaving him his money, John shed crocodile tears.
cup of tea
dish of tea
not one's cup of tea
not one's scene
Something you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation. Used with a possessive.
You could always get him to go for a walk: hiking was just his cup of tea.
Something to think about; thing; matter.
That's another cup of tea.
go steady
To go on dates with the same person all the time; dale just one person.
At first Tom and Martha were not serious about each other, but now they are going steady.
Jean went steady with Bob for a year; then they had a quarrel and stopped dating each other.
instead of
in place of
in lieu of
In the place of; in substitution for; in preference to; rather than.
I wore mittens instead of gloves.
The grown-ups had coffee but the children wanted milk in place of coffee.
The boys went fishing instead of going to school.
The Vice-President talked at the meeting in place of the President, because the President was sick.
The magician appeared on the program in lieu of a singer.
let off steam
blow off steam
To let or make steam escape; send out steam.
The janitor let off some steam because the pressure was too high.
To get rid of physical energy or strong feeling through activity; talk or be very active physically after forced quiet.
After the long ride on the bus, the children let off steam with a race to the lake.
When the rain stopped, the boys let off steam with a ball game.
Bill's mother was very angry when he was late in coming home, and let off steam by walking around and around.
Bill had to take his foreman's rough criticisms all day and he would blow off steam at home by scolding the children.
not for all the coffee in Brazil
not for all the tea in China
not for anything in the world
not for love or money
not for love nor for money
not for the world
not for worlds
Not at any price; not for anything.
Ни за какие деньги, ни за что на свете, и т.д.
I wouldn't hurt his feelings for the world.
Not for worlds would he let his children go hungry.
No I won't do it - not for all the tea in China.
Нет, я не буду делать этого, – ни за какие коврижки.
I will not marry him not for love nor money.
Я не выйду за него ни за какие деньги.
rip into
tear into
To start a fight with; attack.
The puppy is tearing into the big dog.
To quarrel with; scold.
Mrs. Brown ripped into her daughter for coming home late.
slip away
sneak away
steal away
To leave unnoticed.
The party was such a bore that we decided to quietly slip away.