Смысл: can't

can't[kɑ:nt]
разг. сокр. от cannot

can't Идиома

beggars can't be choosers

people who receive free things should not expect the best "When they complained about the shabby coats, he said, ""Beggars can't be choosers."""

can't believe my ears

cannot believe what I hear, it is unbelievable The cat is babysitting the kids? I can't believe my ears!

can't believe my eyes

cannot believe what I see, it is unbelievable When you walked into that cafe, I couldn't believe my eyes.

can't have it both ways

"you have to choose one or the other; cannot have your cake..." When children are allowed to make choices, they learn that they can't have it both ways.

can't help

cannot prevent, cannot stop I can't help crying at weddings. They make me feel sad.

can't hold a candle

(See hold a candle)

can't make heads or tails of something

" can't understand something at all;"

can't put my finger on it

cannot remember the exact words I know the answer, but I can't put my finger on it.

can't put my hands on it

cannot remember exactly where it is Your book is in my office, but I can't put my hands on it now.

can't see for looking

cannot see because I have been looking too long Will you try to find my glove? I can't see for looking.

can't see the forest for the trees

I am so close that I cannot see the whole picture or the big picture I'm so involved in teaching that I've lost my view of education. I can't see the forest for the trees.

can't stand

does not like, hate Don can't stand love songs. He thinks the words are silly.

if you can't cut it, you can't stay

"if you cannot do the work you will have to leave; shape up or ship out" "When I complained about long days, the foreman said, ""If you can't cut it, you can't stay."""

if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitche

"if you do not like the pressure you can leave; if you can't cut it, you can't stay" In the boardroom someone had written on the flip chart If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

you can lead a horse to water but you can't make h

you can provide what they need but you cannot force them to use it We provide information, but I wonder if they read it. You can lead a horse to water... .

you can run but you can't hide

you can run away but you cannot hide from your past or your problems "When I told a priest I was going away to forget my past, he said, ""You can run, but you can't hide."""

you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

"you cannot improve the quality of junk; cannot make gold from iron" "When Hal put a Mercedes star on his Ford, I said, ""You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."""

you can't teach an old dog new tricks

old dogs and old people do not like to change or learn, die hard Our senior employees don't like computer training - you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

you can't tell a book by its cover

the cover or surface does not reveal its contents, beauty is only skin deep If you buy a car because it looks nice, remember this: you can't tell a book by its cover.

can't be arsed

can't be bothered

You can't take it with you

Idiom(s): You can't take it with you

Theme: MONEY

You should enjoy your money now, because it is no good when you're dead.
• My uncle is a wealthy miser. I keep telling him, "You can't take it with you."
• If you have money, you should make out a will. You can't take it with you, you know!

You can't please everyone

Idiom(s): You can't please everyone.

Theme: DISAGREEMENT

It is not possible to make everyone happy. (Said when someone has made a complaint or when someone has pointed out a flaw that cannot be fixed.)
• When Jean complained about the choices on the dinner menu, the waiter said, "Sorry. You can't please everyone."
• Jerry reported that many of his friends had noticed that the colors of the walls in the living room clashed. His mother said, "Oh, well. You can't please everyone."

not able to / can't help

Idiom(s): not able to/can't help sth

Theme: CONTROL - DIMINISH

unable to prevent or control something. (Not able to is often expressed as can't.)
• I'm sorry about being late. I wasn't able to help it.
• Bob can't help being boring.

can't stand the sight of

Idiom(s): can't stand (the sight of) someone or something AND can't stomach someone or something

Theme: DISGUST

[to be] unable to tolerate someone or something; to dislike someone or something extremely. (Also with cannot.)
• I can't stand the sight of cooked carrots.
• Mr. Jones can't stand the sight of blood.
• None of us can stand this place.
• Nobody can stand Tom when he smokes a cigar.
• I can't stomach your foul language.
• I just cannot stomach Mr. Smith.

can't see one's hand in front of one's face

Idiom(s): can't see one's hand in front of one's face

Theme: VISION

[to be] unable to see very far, usually due to darkness or fog. (Also with cannot.)
• It was so dark that I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
• Bob said that the fog was so thick he couldn't see his hand in front of his face.

can't see beyond the end of one's nose

Idiom(s): can't see beyond the end of one's nose

Theme: VISION

[to be] unaware of the things that might happen in the future; not farsighted; self-centered. (Also with cannot.)
• John is a very poor planner. He can't see beyond the end of his nose.
• Ann can't see beyond the end of her nose. She is very self-centered.

can't make heads or tails of

Idiom(s): can't make heads or tails (out) of sb or sth

Theme: UNDERSTANDING

[to be] unable to understand someone or something. (Also with cannot.)
• John is so strange. I can't make heads or tails of him.
• Do this report again. I can't make heads or tails out of it.

can't hold a candle to

Idiom(s): can't hold a candle to sb

Theme: SIMILARITY - LACKING

not [to be] equal to someone; unable to measure up to someone. (Also with cannot.)
• Mary can't hold a candle to Ann when it comes to auto racing.
• As for singing, John can't hold a candle to Jane.

can't help but do

Idiom(s): can't help but do sth

Theme: MOTIVATION

[to be] unable to choose any but one course of action. (Also with cannot.)
• Her parents live nearby, so she can't help but go there on holidays.
• Bob is a tennis fan and can't help but travel to Wimbledon each year.

can't do anything with

Idiom(s): can't do anything with sb or sth

Theme: CONTROL - LACKING

not [to be] able to manage or control someone or something. (Also with cannot.)
• Bill is such a problem. I can't do anything with him.
• My hair is such a mess. I just can't do anything with it.

can't carry a tune

Idiom(s): can't carry a tune

Theme: MUSIC

[to be] unable to sing a simple melody; lacking musical ability. (Almost always negative. Also with cannot.)
• I wish that Tom wouldn't try to sing. He can't carry a tune.
• Listen to poor old John. He really cannot carry a tune.

can't stomach

Don't bark if you can't bite.

Don't complain if you can't enforce your point of view.

Can't dance and it's too wet to plow

(USA) When you can't dance and it's too wet to plow, you may as well do something because you can't or don't have the opportunity to do anything else.

Can't do it for toffee

If you can't so something for toffee, you are incapable of doing something properly or to any sort of standard.

Can't hack it

Unable to perform an act, duty, job etc. (example I have to quit my job as a computer technician; I just can't hack it.)

Can't see the forest for its trees

If someone can't see the forest for its trees, they are too focused on specific details to see the picture as a whole.

Leopard can't change its spots

This idiom means that people cannot change basic aspects of their character, especially negative ones. ("A leopard doesn't change its spots" is also used.)

You can choose your friends, but you can't choose

Some things you can choose, but others you cannot, so you have to try to make the best of what you have where you have no choice.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make

This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it.

You can't fight City Hall

This phrase is used when one is so cynical that one doesn't think one can change their Representatives. The phrase must have started with frustration towards a local body of government.

You can't have cake and the topping, too

(USA) This idiom means that you can't have everything the way you want it, especially if your desires are contradictory.

You can't have your cake and eat it

This idiom means that you can't have things both ways. For example, you can't have very low taxes and a high standard of state care.

You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

This idiom means that in order to achieve something or make progress, there are often losers in the process.

You can't unring a bell

This means that once something has been done, you have to live with the consequences as it can't be undone.

A Leopard Can't Change His Spots

You cannot change who you are.

Can't Cut The Mustard

Someone who isn't adequate enough to compete or participate.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover

Decisions shouldn't be made primarily on appearance.

can't stand the sight of someone

to not like someone: "She can't stand the sight of him any more!"

beggars can't be choosers|beggar|beggars|chooser|c

People who can not choose what they will have, must accept what they get; if you are not in control, you must take what you can gel. We wanted to leave on the train in the morning but it doesn't go until afternoon, so we must go then. Beggars can't he choosers. Mary got a red dress from her sister, although she didn't like red. She kept it because she said beggars should not be choosers.
Compare: LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.

More Idioms/Phrases

bee in one's bonnet beef about beef up before long before one can say Jack Robinson before you know it beg off beg the question beggars can't be choosers begin with behind bars behind one's back behind the eight-ball behind the scenes behind the times behind time belabor the point

English Vocalbulary

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