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 из пепла

to rise from the ashes

He bought the firm when it was bankrupt. Now it has risen from the ashes and is in profit.

войти в историю

to go down in history

I’m sure that his name will go down in history.

волк в овечьей шкуре

a wolf in sheep’s clothing

I always suspected that he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

волосы становятся дыбом (у кого-л.)

one’s hair stands on end

When the boy heard that sound, his hair stood on end.

вольная птица

(as) free as a bird

He felt as free as a bird when he escaped to his country house.

вооруженный до зубов

armed to the teeth

The robber was armed to the teeth and ready to fight.

I arrived for the interview armed to the teeth with letters of recommendation.

вопрос жизни и смерти

a matter of life and death

Go and get the doctor. Tell him it’s a matter of life and death.

воротить нос (от чего-л.)

to turn one’s nose up at something

She always turns her nose up at my cooking.

ворошить прошлое

to rake over the ashes/coals

Jim has already made an apology for his rude behaviour, so there’s no need to rake over the ashes.

воскрешать в памяти (что-л.)

to call something to mind

I know this actor but I can’t call his name to mind.

воспрянуть духом

to take heart

The soldiers took heart when they heard the news.

вот тебе и раз!

well, did you ever!; I say!

Well, did you ever! Mrs Smith has finally decided to move house.

I say! What a surprise!

впадать в детство

to be in one’s second childhood

He was acting very strange, as if he was in his second childhood.

впадать в немилость

to fall from grace

He was one of the president’s closest advisers for several years but fell from grace when the fraud was discovered.

впадать в уныние

to lose heart

After so many unsuccessful attempts to win the championship, he began to lose heart.

впитать с молоком матери (что-л.)

to imbibe something with one’s mother’s milk

We imbibed a love for music with our mother’s milk.

врать как сивый мерин

to lie through one’s teeth

When he said he was not married he was lying through his teeth but I pretended to believe him.

время от времени

from time to time; (every) now and again/then; (every) once in a while

From time to time he sends me flowers.

I drink coffee every now and then.

We go to the cinema every once in a while.

все до одного

one and all

I would like to invite you to dinner, one and all.

всей душой