Lesson The article. The indefinite article. The absence and omission of the article

Nouns in set expressions used without an article.
out of doors — на дворе, на улице, вне дома
The children spent most of the time out of doors.
to take to heart — принимать близко к сердцу
Don't take things too much to heart.
to take offence — обижаться
If he had heard your remark, he would have taken offence.
to give (to get, to ask) permission — дать (получить, просить) разрешение
I asked permission to keep the book a little longer.
to lose heart — терять мужество, приходить в уныние
Не found the subject very difficult at first, but he did not lose heart. He went on working hard and finally mastered it.
at present — в настоящее время
You may go home, we don't want you at present.
from morning till night — с утра до вечера
Не worked in his little garden from morning till night.
from head to foot — с головы до ног
She was dressed in furs from head to foot.
from beginning to end — с начала до конца
The whole story is a lie from beginning to end.
at first sight — с первого взгляда He fell in love with her at first sight.
by chance — случайно They met quite by chance.
by mistake — по ошибке
I have brought the wrong book by mistake.
for hours — часами
He could read for hours.
for ages — целую вечность
I have not seen you for ages.
by land, by air, by sea — сушей, по воздуху, морем I like travelling by sea.
to go to sea — стать моряком
My sister wants to be a doctor, and my brother wants to go to sea.
on deck — на палубе We spent hours on deck.
to keep house — вести хозяйство Her sister keeps house for her.
at sunrise — на рассвете We left the town at sunrise.
at sunset — на закате
We arrived at the village at sunset.
at work — за работой
Whenever I come, he is always at work.
at peace — в мире
We want to be at peace with all countries.
by name — по имени
His cat, Snowball by name, was playing on the carpet.
in debt — в долгу
Mr. Micawber was always in debt.
in translation — в переводе
The book loses something in translation.