ball of fire сгусток энергии (об активном и энергичном человеке) Though my Aunt Lora is 75 she is a ball of fire; she is still very active.
bang/beat one’s head against the wall биться головой о стену, делать что-либо безнадёжное Jim gave up trying to prove his innocence; he didn’t want to bang his head against the wall.
beat the clock закончить до срока The lecturer decided to beat the clock and finish the lecture ten minutes before the bell.
bend over backwards (to do something) очень стараться сделать что-то Elena had to bend over backwards to marry Joe.
between a rock and a hard place быть в очень трудном положении (между молотом и наковальней) The sailors were between a rock and a hard place trying to save their boat in the storm.
between the devil and the deep blue sea между двух огней (в очень трудном положении) Maria was between the devil and the deep blue sea in her efforts to make peace in the family.
black sheep of the family паршивая овца в стаде, недостойный член семьи Nelson was the black sheep of the family. He was so different that it caused problems.
blessing in disguise нет худа без добра; неприятность, оказавшаяся благом Sam’s interference in my private life turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
blood, sweat and tears кровью и потом (об огромных усилиях) I put much blood, sweat and tears into writing the essay.
born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth родиться с серебряной ложкой во рту, родиться в богатой семье They say she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but her mouth is so big it must have been a ladle.
break fresh/new ground начать новое дело, прокладывать новые пути The scientists have been able to break new ground in their research on diabetes.
bring down the house вызвать громкий смех, вызвать бурю аплодисментов I remember that joke well; it used to bring down the house.
bring home the bacon работать на семью, зарабатывать, преуспевать Sam’s wife is always complaining that her husband isn’t any good at bringing home the bacon.
build castles in the air/in Spain строить воздушные замки, планировать невозможное “Stop building castles in the air and get down to real work.”
bull in a china shop слон в посудной лавке (о неловком человеке) David is very clumsy; he is like a bull in a china shop.
burn the midnight oil засиживаться за книгами до поздней ночи Leonard has been fooling around too long and now he has to burn the midnight oil for the exam tomorrow.
buy (something) for a song купить что-либо очень дёшево (купить за пятак) It’s a very cheap house; we practically bought it for a song.
buy a pig in a poke купить кота в мешке, купить что-то наобум “Why didn’t you have a better look at the camera? Don’t you think you’ve bought a pig in a poke?”
by and large в целом By and large, they had a good party in the garden even though it was a bit cold outside.
by hook or by crook любым способом, любыми средствами I believe Ron wants to get these disks by hook or by crook.
by the skin of one`s teeth чудом, едва-едва, еле-еле The team won the game by the skin of their teeth.