The use of the definite article with nouns in set expressions

1. it is out of the question — об этом не может быть и речи	“Will you go to the theatre tonight?” “It’s out of the question. I have lots of things to do.”
2. to take the trouble to do something — потрудиться	You had a difficult text to translate and you did not take the trouble to consult the dictionary.
3. in the original — в оригинале	You know English well enough to read Dickens in the original.
4. to play the piano (the violin, the harp) — играть на рояле (скрипке, арфе)	She plays the piano very well.
5. to keep the house — сидеть дома	She has a cold and will have to keep the house for a couple of days.
6. to keep the bed — соблюдать постельный режим	She has a bad cold and will have to keep the bed for a couple of days.
7. on the whole — в целом	On the whole Tom is a pleasant fellow, but sometimes he has whims.
8. the other day (refers to the past) — на днях	I met him the other day.
9. on the one hand…on the other hand — с одной стороны...с другой стороны	On the one hand he certainly excites suspicion, but on the other hand we have not enough evidence against him. (Oppenheim)
10. to tell (to speak) the truth — говорить правду; to tell the truth — по правде говоря	He always speaks (tells) the truth. To tell the truth, I don’t like the girl.
11. to be on the safe side — для верности	I am almost sure of the pronunciation of this name, but to be on the safe side let us consult the pronouncing dictionary.