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Idioms
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Nghĩa
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Ví dụ
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rain cats and dog
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rain heavily: Mưa tầm tã, Mưa nặng hạt
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It’s raining cats and dogs = It’s raining heavily
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chalk and cheese
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very different from each other: Khác biệt
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I don’t have anything in common with my brother. We’re like chalk and cheese.
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here and there
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everywhere
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I have been looking here and there for the gift I bought for my girlfriend
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a hot potato
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something that is difficult or dangerous to deal with (vấn đề nan giải, nóng hổi)
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The abortion issue is a political hot potato in the US.
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at the drop of a hat
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immediately, instantly, without hesitation or reasons (Ngay lập tức, không do dự, không có lý do rõ ràng)
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If you need me, just call me. I can come at the drop of a hat.
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back to the drawing board
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time to start from the beginning; it is time to do
plan something over again (bắt đầu lại)
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My plans to create a tiny car made of glasses were unsuccessful, so I guess it’s back to the drawing board for me.
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beat about the bush
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avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the issue (nói vòng vo, lạc đề)
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Stop beating about the bush and answer my question.
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best/ greatest thing since sliced bread
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= be excellent
a good invention or innovation, a good idea or
plan (ý tưởng hay, tốt)
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Portable phones are marketed as the best thing since sliced bread; people think they are extremely good.
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burn the midnight oil
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to stay up working, especially studying late at night (thức khuya làm việc, học bài)
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I will have a big exam tomorrow so I’ll be burning the midnight oil tonight.
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caught between two stools
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when someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives (lưỡng lự, không biết lựa chọn cái nào, do dự)
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I was caught between two stools when I had to choose which shirt to hang out with my girlfriends.
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break a leg
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good luck! ( thường dùng để chúc may mắn )
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I have heard that you're gonna take a test tomorrow, break a leg, my friend!
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hit the books
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Study with concentrated effort (học cực kỳ tập trung)
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I can’t go out tonight. I’ve got to hit the books. I’m having an exam tomorrow.
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let the cat out of the bag
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to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident ( để lộ bí mật)
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It’s a secret. Try not to let the cat out of the bag.
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when pigs fly
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something will never happen (chuyện viễn vông, không tưởng)
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I think he’ll pay you back your money – when pigs fly
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scratch someone’s back
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help someone out with the assumption that they
will return the favor in the future (giúp đỡ người khác với hy vọng họ sẽ giúp lại mình)
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“You scratch my back and I will scratch yours later,” the customer said when we talked about the new sales contact.
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hit the nail on the head
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do or say something exactly right (nói chính xác, làm chính xác)
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Mike hit the nail on the head when he said most people can use a computer without knowing how it works.
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take sb/sth for granted
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coi thường, không coi trọng
(2)coi nhẹ
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One of the problems with relationships is that after a while you begin to take each other for granted!!
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take sth into account/consideration
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to remember to consider
something (tính đến cái gì, xem xét việc gì)
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We will take your long year of service into account when we make our final decision.
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put sb/sth at somebody’s disposal
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to make someone or
something available to someone (có sẵn theo ý muốn của ai)
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I’d be glad to help you if you need me. I put myself at your disposal.
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splitting headache
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a severe headache (đau đầu như búa bổ)
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I’ve got a splitting headache. I’m going upstairs for a nap.
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on the house
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= free (không phải trả tiền)
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I went to a restaurant last night. I was the ten thousandth customer, so my dinner was on the house.
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off the peg
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may sẵn (quần áo)
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If I buy trousers off the peg, they’re always too short.
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hit the roof = go through the roof = hit the ceiling
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to suddenly become angry (giận dữ)
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I’m afraid he will hit the roof when he finds out our vacation is canceled
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bring the house down
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make an audience respond with great enthusiasm, typically as shown by their laughter or applause (làm cho cả khán phòng vỗ tay nhiệt liệt)
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G-Dragon brought the house down. He really brought down the house with his fantastic song
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pay through the nose
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to pay too much for something (trả giá quá đắt)
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If you want a decent wine in a restaurant , you have to pay through the nose for it.
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by the skin of someone’s teeth
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sát sao, rất sát
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I got through calculus math by the skin of my teeth.
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pull someone’s leg
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chọc ai
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You don’t mean that. You’re just pulling my leg.
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it strike someone as/that strange
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lấy làm lạ
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It strikes me as strange that he failed the exam because he is so smart and diligent a student.
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high and low = here and there
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everywhere
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I have been searching high and low for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.
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the more, the merrier
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càng đông càng vui
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Can I bring some friends with me? Yeah sure, the more, the merrier.
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spick and span
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ngăn nắp, gọn gàng
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The kitchen was spick and span as ever, every surface wiped down and everything in its place.
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every now and then
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sometimes
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Every now and then, I want to be alone.
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part and parcel
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integral, crucial (quan trọng, thiết yếu)
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Being recognised in the street is all part and parcel of being famous.
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go to someone’s head
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khiến ai kiêu ngạo
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Too much success will go to her head.
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once in a blue moon
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rất hiếm (rare)
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Once in a blue moon, I stop thinking about her. If only she knew how much I loved her.
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few and far between
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rare (hiếm gặp)
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Go and tell her that you love her! That kind of girl is really few and far between
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be on the wagon
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kiêng rượu
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Bob’s old drinking buddies complained that he was no fun when he went on the wagon
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on the spot
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immediately (ngay lập tức)
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I will be there on the spot.
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on the verge of = on the brink of = on the edge of
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bên bờ vực
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We have to protect elephants. They are on the verge of extinction.
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led someone by the nose
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to control someone and make them do exactly what you want them to do (nắm đầu, dắt mũi ai)
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They simply didn’t know what they were doing and they were led by the nose by a manipulative government
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the eleventh hour
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phút chót
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She always turned her term paper in at the eleventh hour.
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find fault with
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chỉ trích, kiếm chuyện, bắt lỗi
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It is very easy to find fault with the work of others.
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off and on/ on and off
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không đều đặn, thỉnh thoảng
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We don’t often go there- just off and on.
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make believe
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giả bộ, giả vờ
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I tried to make believe she was happy, but knew deep down it was not true.
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make good time
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di chuyển nhanh, đi nhanh
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We made good time and were at the hotel by lunch time.
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look daggers at someone
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giận dữ nhìn ai đó
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Their relationship is not free and easy but at least he is no longer looking daggers at her.
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be out of the question
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= impossible không thể được
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You cannot get married until you are 18, it’s out of the question.
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all at once
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suddenly: bất thình lình
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All at once, there was a loud banging on the door.
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blow someone’s trumpet
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bốc phét, khoác lác
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Anyone will tell you she’s one of the best journalists we’ve got, although she’d never blow her trumpet.
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sleep on it
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suy nghĩ thêm về điều gì đó
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You don’t have to give me your decision now. Sleep on it, and let me know tomorrow.
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fight tooth and claw/nail
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đánh nhau dữ dội, cấu xé nhau
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We fought tooth and claw to retain our share of business.
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play tricks/jokes on
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chọc phá, trêu ghẹo, chơi khăm
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The kids are always play jokes on their teachers
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down the drain
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đổ sông đổ biển (công sức, tiền bạc)
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It’s just money down the drain.
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