* Данный текст распознан в автоматическом режиме, поэтому может содержать ошибки
I
in someone’s bad / black books в чёрном списке M E A N I N G : to be out of favor Ever since he forgot about her birthday, he has been in her black books. ORIGIN: The original expression referred to black books and meant literally a book which contained a list of disgraced persons, such as was kept by some Oxford colleges in the eighteenth century. in the altogether в чём мать родила M E A N I N G : a euphemism for altogether naked He was just standing there in the altogether. ORIGIN: The phrase dates from the end of the nineteenth century. in the limelight в центре внимания M E A N I N G : at the center of attention James loves to be in the limelight. Wait until he sees his picture on the front page. ORIGIN: All theatres today have powerful electric spotlights that throw bright beams of light on featured performers. In many theatres, beginning in the 1840s, the beam was created by heating lime, a form of calcium oxide, until it produced brilliant white light. A strong lens directed it onto the dancer, juggler, actor, or singer onstage. Anyone in the limelight was the center of the audience’s attention.
60
