She walked to and fro in the hospital waiting room.
We’ve been running up and down the street looking for you.
The pendulum was moving slowly backwards and forwards.
взбредать в голову (кому-л.)
to take it into one’s head
Ann took it into her head to become an actress.
взвешивать свои слова
to weigh one’s words
I had to weigh my words carefully before asking my boss for more pay.
видать виды (много испытать)
to see the world; to go through the mill
He had the appearance of a man who has seen the world.
The young soldiers really went through the mill during the first two months of their training.
видать виды (поношенный)
have seen better days
My old hat has seen better days.
видеть насквозь (кого-л.)
to read someone like a book
You won’t deceive me with your lies. I can read you like a book.
видеть свет в конце туннеля
to see the light at the end of the tunnel
видит Бог
honest to God/goodness!
I didn’t break the window, honest to God!
винтика в голове не хватает (у кого-л.)
to have a screw loose; to have bats in the belfry
He must have a screw loose to walk around barefoot.
The poor old woman had bats in the belfry.
висеть на волоске
to hang by a thread
His life was hanging by a thread.
висеть над головой (у кого-л.)
to hang over one’s head
The threat of dismissal hung over my head.
витать в облаках
to have one’s head in the clouds
The new secretary must be in love. She has her head in the clouds most of the time.
вить веревки (из кого-л.)
to twist/wrap someone round one’s little finger
His wife can twist him round her little finger.
владеть собой
to keep one’s temper
You should learn to keep your temper.
власти предержащие
the powers that be
The powers that be have decided to demolish the old building to make space for a car park.
влетать в копеечку (кому-л.)
to cost someone a pretty penny
That house must have cost them a pretty penny.
вместе с водой выплеснуть и ребенка
to throw the baby out with the bath water
I know there are weaknesses in the programme but we shouldn’t act too hastily and throw the baby out with the bath water.
вне себя
beside oneself
She was beside herself with joy when she heard the news about her son.
вносить свою лепту
to do one’s bit
We must all do our bit to finish this job in time.
во весь голос
at the top of one’s voice
He was shouting at the top of his voice.
во весь опор
at full tilt; for all one is worth
The boy was running at full tilt down the street.
I ran to the station for all I was worth to catch the last train.
во все глаза
all eyes
The children were all eyes, taking in every detail of their new house.
во всю мочь
with all one’s might
He struggled with all his might to open the stiff door but it stayed shut.
во всю прыть
like greased lightning; like a bat out of hell
He ran out of the room like greased lightning.
The dog ran after the cat like a bat out of hell.
во плоти
in the flesh
I’ve never seen the Queen in the flesh.
во что бы то ни стало
at all costs; at any price
You must at all costs avoid an argument with your employer.
He was determined to get his freedom at any price.
водить за нос (кого-л.)
to lead someone up the garden path; to take someone for a ride
He never realised that she had been leading him up the garden path.
The people who have invested their money in this project have been taken for a ride.
водой не разольешь
as thick as thieves
Mary and Tom are as thick as thieves. They go everywhere together.
возводить на пьедестал (кого-л.)
to put someone on a pedestal
He has put his wife on a pedestal and won’t listen to a word of criticism against her.
возлагать надежды (на кого-л./что-л.)
to pin one’s hopes on someone/something
We are pinning our hopes on the new advertising campaign.
возродиться