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Một số thành ngữ common và uncommon (IELTS, TOEFL...) sưu tầm từ các nguồn trên internet Một số thành ngữ common và uncommon (IELTS, TOEFL...) sưu tầm từ các nguồn trên internet Một số thành ngữ common và uncommon (IELTS, TOEFL...) sưu tầm từ các nguồn trên internet Một số thành ngữ common và uncommon (IELTS, TOEFL...) sưu tầm từ các nguồn trên internet Một số thành ngữ common và uncommon (IELTS, TOEFL...) sưu tầm từ các nguồn trên internet Một số thành ngữ common và uncommon (IELTS, TOEFL...) sưu tầm từ các nguồn trên internet Một số thành ngữ common và uncommon (IELTS, TOEFL...) sưu tầm từ các nguồn trên internet Một số thành ngữ common và uncommon (IELTS, TOEFL...) sưu tầm từ các nguồn trên internet
T.D.D - AMA DES ENGLISH IDIOMS as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake") Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree It seems as easy as pie to me! be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand") Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work Let's go out tonight and have fun bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!) Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage" Example: John is so far behind in his studies Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew broke means "to have no money" Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad Right now, I'm broke change one's mind means "decide to something different from what had been decided earlier" Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind I'll extra work on the weekend instead Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad" Example: That noise is really annoying Cut it out! drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone" Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again Drop me a line when you have time figure something out means "come to understand a problem" Example: I don't understand how to this problem Take a look at it Maybe you can figure it out 10 fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away" Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me 11 in ages means "for a very long time" Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages 12 give someone a hand means "help" Example: I want to move this desk to the next room Can you give me a hand? 13 hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack") Example: It's after 12 o'clock I think it's time to hit the hay T.D.D - AMA DES 14 in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable" Example: Our business is really improving We've been in the black all year 15 in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable" Example: Business is really going poorly these days We've been in the red for the past three months 16 in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!" Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine! 17 keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying" Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up It will get better soon 18 know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well" Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions I know this part of town like the back of my hand 19 once in a while means "sometimes, not very often" Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while I usually stay home and watch TV 20 sharp means "exactly at a that time" Example: I'll meet you at o'clock sharp If you're late, we'll be in trouble! 21 sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision" Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision 22 take it easy means "relax" Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer I think I'll just take it easy 23 to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big" Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling 24 up to the minute means "the most recent information" Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city We need more up to the minute news 25 twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time" Example: You can access our web site 24/7 It's very convenient! T.D.D - AMA DES 26 all of a sudden means "unexpectedly", used to describe something that happens very quickly Example: He had just gone to bed when all of a sudden the phone rang 27 be all ears means "eager and ready to listen" Example: Go ahead and speak I'm all ears! 28 be fed up with means "to hate something now, even though I may have liked it before" Example: I'm fed up with my job! I think I should start looking for a new one 29 to bug means "to bother someone" (American English) Example: Hey, stop tapping your fingers It's really bugging me! 30 a cinch means something that is very easy to Example: I didn't think I could run five kilometers, but with the right preparation, it was a cinch 31 cost an arm and a leg means "very expensive" Example: I'd really like a new car, but they all cost an arm and a leg 32 to cram means "to study hard a few days before a test" Example: If you had studied hard for the past four months, you wouldn't have to cram so much this weekend 33 fresh out of something means "to have no more of something" Example: I have to go buy some more milk It seems we're fresh out now 34 to get it (often negative) means "to understand" Example: What did the teacher say? I didn't get it Did you? 35 got a minute? means "Do you have time right now?" Example: Hey, Joe, got a minute? I have something to show you 36 give someone a hand means "help someone" Example: Could you give me a hand moving this table? It's quite heavy 37 grab a bite to eat means "quickly go get something to eat" Example: I'm going to go grab a bite I'll be back in a few minutes 38 drive someone up a wall (or "drive someone crazy") means "to make someone very angry" Example: My neighbor practices the piano every night, but he's terrible It's driving me up the wall! 39 to hang on means "to wait" Example: Hang on a few minutes I have to make a phone call and then I'll be able to join you for lunch T.D.D - AMA DES 40 hard headed means "stubborn" or "unwilling to change an opinion or idea Example: I can't work with Joe any more He's so hard headed! 41 have a change of heart means "change a previous decision" Example: I thought I would change jobs, but now that my boss is treating me with more respect, I've had a change of heart 42 have mixed feelings about something means "to be uncertain" Example: I have mixed feelings about Joe He's a very good teacher, but he has a very strange sense of humor! 43 head out for means "to start on a long trip" (but it could be within a big city) Example: We're heading out for the countryside to pick some apples Would you like to join us? 44 How come? means "Why?" Example: How come we don't go to the movies any more? I guess we're too busy to enjoy ourselves these days 45 keep in touch (or "stay in touch") means "do not stop communicating - send letters or call sometimes" Example: Don't forget to keep in touch I want to know how you're doing while you're away 46 be kidding means "to joke or tease someone in a playful way" Example: No, I don't really have three wives - I was just kidding! 47 look down on means "think somone or something is not good enough" Example: We shouldn't look down on people just because they don't have as much money as we 48 make ends meet (often used negatively) means "to have enough money to buy everything we need" Example: Even though I make more money than last year, we just can't seem to make ends meet 49 miss the boat means "to miss an opportunity" Example: The sale ends today at noon If we don't hurry, we're going to miss the boat! 50 next to nothing means "to cost very little" Example: I went to the new discount store and bought these new shoes for only five dollars That's next to nothing! T.D.D - AMA DES 1.A slap on wrist: trừng phạt nhẹ These four students got caught sneaking a cow into the dean's office Three got expelled but the fourth only got a slap on the wrist, a week's suspension People say his dad is a wealthy man who has given the school the money to build a new gymnasium 2.Eat crow: rút lại lời tuyên bố These four students got caught sneaking a cow into the dean's office Three got expelled but the fourth only got a slap on the wrist, a week's suspension People say his dad is a wealthy man who has given the school the money to build a new gymnasium 3.To short circuit: hành động ngăn chặn My mother stayed up all night cooking for all our relatives and friends But when the day came, a terrible thunderstorm short circuited all our plans and we had to eat inside the house 4.To pull strings: giật dây, dùng quyền uy At first, they said that I wasn't qualified enough to get the job However, after my rich uncle who owns stocks in the company called there and pulled strings, I was hired right away 5.To string sb along: -đồng ý làm theo sb -(bị) người khác đánh lừa The salesman assured me that the used car I was buying was in perfect condition But on the way home, the car broke down That guy was stringing me all along the whole time 6.To hold the purse strings: nắm quyền sử dụng tiền bạc I can't buy anything without my father's approval He is the one who holds the purse strings in the family and he is very stingy with his money I think it's time for me to get a job Second string: dở, tệ The Lakers have been forced to use second string players ever since their stars were hurt early in the season The team has hardly won a game since They are really lousy Eyes bigger than your stomach: tham lam, thấy nhiều thức ăn không ăn hết Every time we have pizza I take way too much Last time I couldn’t finish it, but I still ate so much I had to throw up I guess you could say my eyes are bigger than my stomach T.D.D - AMA DES Bellyache: than vãn When I asked Joe to type the report, he complained to me about sore fingers Then when I asked him to run an errand downtown he said his feet hurt When I invited him to the office party he said parties always depress him That guy’s always bellyaching about something 10 Belly up: phá sản, sập tiệm I used to work for a company that always made money so I thought my job was safe But the company ran into hard times and finally went belly up So now I have to find another job 11.Bone of contention: vấn đề tranh chấp người, nhóm Who got to use the family car was a bone of contention between Joe and Betty from the day they got back from their honeymoon In fact it was one of the reasons for their divorce 12.Make no bones about it: bày tỏ ý kiến thẳng thắn, không giấu giếm When Mary asked me what I thought of her poetry I made no bones about it I told her that it’s too gloomy and pessimistic and needs more polish Now of course she is mad at me 13 Have a bone to pick: có vấn đề chưa hài lòng, cần bàn luận Joe, I’m afraid that I have a bone to pick with you Frankly I don’t like this last ad you designed for us What’s a good time for you to come over to my office to talk about it? 14 To feel in one’s bones: linh cảm I feel in my bones that Tim will imprint his name in history some day Not only is he brilliant in his own field, but he also has this rare sense of responsibility to all humanity 15 To bone up: học gạo, chuẩn bị cho kỳ thi I hear how hard those Asian students have to bone up for their college entrance exams They study a lot more than us with very little time for fun But I guess the results are probably worth it 16 To throw sb a bone: trao phần thưởng T.D.D - AMA DES The company gave another man the promotion Brian expected But they threw him a bone They sent him out to head up a branch office way off in Iowa And that's a dead-end job nobody wanted.\ 17 All that: có thứ Hey, I tell you I am all that I've got the best looking girlfriend, the nicest car, the biggest house and the most friends Did I also mention that I am incredibly modest?\ 18 To perpetrate: hành động cách gian dối, giả tạo 19 Buy a pig in a poke: mua đồ giả, bị lừa My brother bought a pig in a poke He bought some ocean front property in Florida from a phony salesman It was on the ocean all right In fact, at high tide it was six feet under water 20 Buy for a song: mua thứ tốt rẻ You have to be careful when you buy a used car But I bought this Ford 91 for a song, about half of what I expected to pay And I’ve had good luck with it It runs like a new car 21 Buy the farm: chết cách thảm khốc Bill was the best pilot I knew when I was in the Air Force But he bought the farm when his plane was hit by anti aircraft fire two days before the end of the war 22 Hard sell: dùng áp lực mạnh bắt người khác mua hàng I want a cheap car without a lot of extras But the salesman gave me a hard sell so I ended up with stuff I didn't need like leather seats, a sun roof, and a lot of other things 23 Sell a bill of goods: đánh lừa (trong trị) My friends, my opponent is selling a bill of goods when he promises to spend more on schools and cut taxes too You ask him how he can spend more money without raising taxes! 24 Sell down the river: phản bội, bán đứng người T.D.D - AMA DES Our boss promised he'd never sell our company to another firm But when he got a good offer, he sold us down the river, and the new owners brought in their own people and fired us 25 Sell sb short: có quan điểm sai lầm người (chỉ thấy khuyết điểm người đó) Don't sell that man short He may not look like it, but he's one of the smartest lawyers in town You'd be wise to hire him if you're in trouble He seldom loses a case 26 Tell a fib: nói dối (chẳng có hại cho cả) Johnny tells everybody he got straight A’s last September I’m afraid he’s telling a fib I happen to know he got at least one B, but he is too embarrassed to admit it 27 Tell a white lie: lời nói dối đáng I told Sally a white lie when she asked me how I liked her new party dress I didn’t like the color or the design but when I saw how happy she was with it, I told her it looked great 28 Lie in your teeth: nói dối trắng trợn (để chạy tội hay hại người khác) When the defendant says he didn’t shoot the woman, he’s lying in his teeth His fingerprints were on the gun and he was standing over the body when the police arrived.\ 29 Tell a whopper: nói dối, không ngượng mồm Joe went fishing on Moon lake He came back all wet without his rod and reel and told us a real whopper He said he caught a fish so big it pulled him out of the boat and swam off with his rod and reel 30 Hunker down: tâm làm việc = apply oneself to sth/ V-ing I still remember my college days Most of us had a lot of fun during our first two years But after that we really had to hunker down and study hard to graduate 31 Hold the high ground: chiếm ưu = dominate I know we can win this election fight We hold the high ground because we have more campaign money and a more popular candidate than the other party 32 Trench Warface (adj): đấu tranh gay go, sống khó khăn T.D.D - AMA DES Tony lost both his parents very young and was brought up by his uncle in a poor neighborhood where crime and drugs are common Life was trench warfare for him, always a struggle 33 First out of gate: người làm việc 34 Fling yourself into: làm việc cần đầu tư nhiều lượng 35 Hang on by fingernails: kiên trì làm việc (mặc dù khó khăn) 36 Pull out all the stops: làm thứ để thành công 37 Buckle down: dồn lực sth 38 Slapdash (adj): cẩu thả John, I'm afraid I have to give you a failing grade for your term paper I'm sorry but it's too slapdash It looks like you wrote it at the last minute without any serious research 39 Across the board: tất trường hợp Across the board wage increases tăng lương cho tất công nhân; hay Across the board airfare increases tăng giá vé máy bay đủ hạng 40 Back of the envelope: đoán, chừng Mrs Wood, if you ask me what it will cost you to put in these cabinets, my back of the envelope figure will be about $1,500 It could be more, of course depending on the design you want 41 Out to lunch: xa vời thực tế, mơ mộng John, you really have to pay more attention I just went over that topic You must have been out to lunch with your mind a thousand miles away Okay I’ll go over it one more time 42 Backed into the corner: tiến thoái lưỡng nan, bị kẹt không lối thoát With the government cutting jobs these days, I’m backed into a corner My job as manager is most likely to be abolished Either I retire early or get pushed down to a lower grade 43 Spell out: nói rõ chữ một, giải thích cặn kẽ T.D.D - AMA DES 10 Mr Brown, you say our compay’s policy might change in the near future to adjust to the needs of the market As staffers, we‘re concerned Could you spell out what plans you have in mind? 44 In cahoots with: thỏa thuận ngấm ngầm làm việc xấu The warehouse security guard was in cahoots with the gang that stole hundreds of cases of cigarettes and whiskey He gave them the key to the building and in return they paid him well 45 Lip service: lời hứa trống rỗng, hứa mà không làm I'm sure the mayor of our city will lose in his reelection bid this fall He's simply failed to carry out his election promises All he gives to those solemn promises now is lip service 46 Hare - brained: tính nông A lot of people thought it was a hare-brained scheme to try to send people to the moon But on July 20,1969 the whole world watched two astronauts set foot on earth's neighbor planet 47 Go bananas: trở nên giận dữ, điên rồ (như khỉ) I was on the freeway the other day in this terrible traffic jam Suddenly, the guy in the car next to me just went bananas He was screaming and yelling and then he crashed his Mercedes into my new BMW! Totally out of control! 48 Compare apples and Oranges: so sánh không cách Dave says Madonna is the world's greatest performing artist but Sarah thinks that Yo Yo Ma is the best I say they are comparing apples and oranges Madonna is a pop singer and Yo Yo Ma is a classical cellist.\ 49 Hear through the Grapevine: nghe tin đồn không thống I heard through the grapevine that Mark and Julie just broke up I can't believe it I thought they were going to get married Julie's sister called this morning to give me the bad news 50 Down to the Wire: giây phút cuối cùng, định người thắng T.D.D - AMA DES 11 The race is going down to the wire tonight with all the candidates on radio and television making their last appeal to people to vote for them when the polls open tomorrow 51 In over one’s head: tình trạng gặp khó khăn không đủ tài cáng John was very good as vice president of our company But when he was promoted to president he found himself in over his head He simply couldn't handle all the extra responsibilities ... times and finally went belly up So now I have to find another job 11.Bone of contention: vấn đề tranh chấp người, nhóm Who got to use the family car was a bone of contention between Joe and Betty... need like leather seats, a sun roof, and a lot of other things 23 Sell a bill of goods: đánh lừa (trong trị) My friends, my opponent is selling a bill of goods when he promises to spend more on... campaign money and a more popular candidate than the other party 32 Trench Warface (adj): đấu tranh gay go, sống khó khăn T.D.D - AMA DES Tony lost both his parents very young and was brought