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the most powerful Words are, of course, drug used by mankind. Rudyard Kipling IDIOMS AND COLOURFUL WORDS A a back-handed compliment сомнительный комплимент • He said he liked me a lot better than the last time he met me, which I thought was rather a back-handed compliment. a backwater «болото» • Our town is a cultural backwater. a bad patch полоса невезения • He went through a very bad patch last year: he lost his job and his wife left him for another man. a bag of bones (inf) кожа да кости • All the plump­ ness she'd acquired in middle age had gone. She was a bag of bones. a bag/bundle of nerves комок нервов • Monica cannot work under pressure - she's just a bag/bundle of nerves. a baker's dozen чертова дюжина • "How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir?" the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it a baker's dozen." 5 a ball and chain путы; оковы • Our national debt is an economic ball and chain drag¬ ging us down, keeping longer-term interest rates high. a ball of fire (inf) сгусток энергии • Sally is a real ball of fire - she works late every night. a baptism of/by fire боевое крещение • I was given a million-dollar project to manage in my first month. It was a real bap­ tism of fire. • Can you remember your first day in the classroom, Pat? - Yes, I had to teach maths to a class of 30 very difficult sixteen-year-olds. It was a baptism of fire, I can tell. a bash тусовка • They would like to attend the NewYear's Eve bash in Times Square. • We were invited to the big bash for Marjory Strider's opening. a bear garden базар (шумное сборище) • This office is a bear garden when the boss is away.