Unit 52.

To be in the doldrums

Быть в депрессии

In the 19th century, 'doldrum' was a word meaning 'dullard; a dull or sluggish fellow' and this probably derived from 'dol', meaning 'dull' with its form taken from 'tantrum'. That is, as a tantrum was a fit of petulance and passion, a doldrum was a fit of sloth and dullness, or one who indulged in such.

To be in a flap

Быть в восторге

To be on the up and up

Становиться более успешным финансово

Its exact origins are mysterious, though it dates from the late 19th century, is likely American, and appears to come from sports betting

To split the difference

Согласиться на средней цене (между двумя предложенными)

To be at sixes and sevens

Быть в замешательстве

The phrase was originally to set on six and seven and is thought to have derived in the 14th century from the game of dice.

To get pin money

Получить карманные деньги

Catharine Howard, wife of Henry VIII., introduced pins into England from France. As they were expensive at first, a separate sum for this luxury was granted to the ladies by their husbands. Hence the expression “pin-money.”

To be cheap at the price

Что-либо настолько хорошее, что цена не имеет значения

To be in the black (opp.: to be in red)

Иметь прибыль

In many instances, the name of the game is to always seek to be in the black. When current liabilities exceed the assets on hand, the status is considered to be in the red. This dates back to the old accounting process of recording credits in black ink, while debits were recorded in red ink. At the end of the day, the balance sheet was expected to show a final tally that was written in black ink, indicating the presence of a profit, or at least a state of breaking even.

To get smth on a shoestring

Делать что-то со скудным бюджетом

In the late 1800s when a shoestring broke, the remaining one was often used to bundle items.

To hit the roof

Выйти из себя

It is a version of a 16th-century locution, up in the house roof or house-top, meaning enraged

To take smb to the cleaners

Обсчитать кого-либо

Take to the cleaners is a more recent term for the 19th century term 'cleaned out' - being stripped clean of everything of value.

To hit the jackpot

Сорвать куш

A combination on a slot machine that wins a top prize or all the coins available for paying out: the sum so won. A large fund of money or other reward formed by the accumulation of unwon prizes.

To spend a penny

Ходить по нужде

This refers to the (former) use of coin operated locks on public toilets. It was used mostly in the UK and mostly by women (men's urinals were free of charge). Such locks were first introduced, at a public toilet outside the Royal Exchange, London, in the 1850s.

To spend money like water

Бросать деньги на ветер

To hold the purse strings

Распоряжаться расходами

This idiom has its origins in a time when purses to hold money were usually closed with a draw-string.

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