STT |
Idiom |
Nghĩa |
Ví dụ |
1 |
rain cats and dog |
rain heavily (Mưa tầm tã, Mưa nặng hạt) |
Don’t forget to take your umbrella – it’s raining cats and dogs |
2 |
chalk and cheese |
very different from each other (Khác biệt) |
Marry and her sister are chalk and cheese |
3 |
here and there |
everywhere |
I have been looking here and there for the book I received from my friend yesterday |
4 |
a hot potato |
something that is difficult or dangerous to deal with (vấn đề nan giải, nóng hổi) |
The abortion issue is a political hot potato in the US. |
5 |
at the drop of a hat |
immediately, instantly, without hesitation or reasons (Ngay lập tức, không do dự, không có lý do rõ ràng) |
If you need me, just call me. I can come at the drop of a hat. |
6 |
back to the drawing board |
time to start from the beginning; it is time to doplan something over again (bắt đầu lại) |
My plans to create a tiny car made of glasses were unsuccessful, so I guess it’s back to the drawing board for me. |
7 |
beat about the bush |
avoiding the main topic, and not speaking directly about the issue (nói vòng vo, lạc đề) |
Stop beating about the bush and answer my question. |
8 |
best/ greatest thing since sliced bread |
= be excellenta good invention or innovation, a good idea orplan (ý tưởng hay, tốt) |
Portable phones are marketed as the best thing since sliced bread; people think they are perfect. |
9 |
burn the midnight oil |
to stay up working, especially studying late at night (thức khuya làm việc, học bài) |
I will have an English exam tomorrow so I’ll be burning the midnight oil tonight. |
10 |
caught between two stools |
when someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives (lưỡng lự, không biết lựa chọn cái nào, do dự) |
I was caught between two stools when I had to choose which university to attend. |
11 |
break a leg |
good luck! (thường dùng để chúc may mắn ) |
I have heard that you’re going to take part in a contest tomorrow, break a leg, my friend! |
12 |
hit the books |
Study with concentrated effort (học cực kỳ tập trung) |
I can’t go out tonight. I’ve got to hit the books because I’m having an exam tomorrow. |
13 |
when pigs fly |
something will never happen (chuyện viễn vông, không tưởng) |
I think he’ll pay you back your money – when pigs fly |
14 |
scratch someone’s back |
help someone out with the assumption that theywill return the favor in the future (giúp đỡ người khác với hy vọng họ sẽ giúp lại mình) |
“You scratch my back and I will scratch yours later,” the customer said when we talked about the new sales contact. |
15 |
hit the nail on the head |
do or say something exactly right (nói chính xác, làm chính xác) |
John hit the nail on the head when he said most people can use a computer without knowing how it works. |
16 |
take sb/sth for granted |
coi thường, không coi trọng |
She always takes his friends for granted |
17 |
take sth into account/consideration |
to remember to considersomething (tính đến cái gì, xem xét việc gì) |
We will take your long year of service into account when we make our final decision. |
18 |
put sb/sth at somebody’s disposal |
to make someone orsomething available to someone (có sẵn theo ý muốn của ai) |
I’d be glad to help you if you need me. I put myself at your disposal. |
19 |
splitting headache |
a severe headache (đau đầu như búa bổ) |
I’ve got a splitting headache. I’m going upstairs for a nap. |
20 |
on the house |
= free (không phải trả tiền) |
I went to a restaurant last night. I was the ten thousandth customer, so my dinner was on the house. |
21 |
off the peg |
may sẵn (quần áo) |
If I buy trousers off the peg, they’re always too short. |
22 |
hit the roof = go through the roof = hit the ceiling |
to suddenly become angry (giận dữ) |
I’m afraid he will hit the roof when he finds out our vacation is canceled |
23 |
bring the house down |
make an audience respond with great enthusiasm, typically as shown by their laughter or applause (làm cho cả khán phòng vỗ tay nhiệt liệt) |
G-Dragon brought the house down. He really brought down the house with his fantastic song |
24 |
pay through the nose |
to pay too much for something (trả giá quá đắt) |
You have to pay through the nose for a new car. |
25 |
by the skin of someone’s teeth |
sát sao, rất sát |
I got through calculus math by the skin of my teeth. |
26 |
pull someone’s leg |
chọc ai |
Are you just pulling my leg? |
27 |
it strikes someone as/that strange |
lấy làm lạ |
It strikes me as strange that he failed the exam because he studied hard. |
28 |
high and low = here and there |
everywhere |
I have been searching high and low for the new shirt |
29 |
the more, the merrier |
càng đông càng vui |
Can I bring some friends with me? Yeah sure, the more, the merrier. |
30 |
spick and span |
ngăn nắp, gọn gàng |
The kitchen was spick and span as ever, every surface wiped down and everything in its place. |
31 |
every now and then |
sometimes |
Every now and then, I want to be alone. |
32 |
part and parcel |
integral, crucial (quan trọng, thiết yếu) |
Being hard-working is a part and parcel of success. |
33 |
go to someone’s head |
khiến ai kiêu ngạo |
Too much success will go to her head. |
34 |
once in a blue moon |
rất hiếm (rare) |
Once in a blue moon, I stop thinking about her. If only she knew how much I loved her. |
35 |
few and far between |
rare (hiếm gặp) |
Go and tell her that you love her! That kind of girl is really few and far between |
36 |
be on the wagon |
kiêng rượu |
Bob’s old drinking buddies complained that he was no fun when he went on the wagon |
37 |
on the spot |
immediately (ngay lập tức) |
I will be there on the spot. |
38 |
on the verge of = on the brink of = on the edge of |
bên bờ vực |
We have to protect elephants. They are on the verge of extinction. |
39 |
led someone by the nose |
to control someone and make them do exactly what you want them to do (nắm đầu, dắt mũi ai) |
They simply didn’t know what they were doing and they were led by the nose by a manipulative government |
40 |
the eleventh hour |
phút chót |
She always turned her term paper in at the eleventh hour. |
41 |
find fault with |
chỉ trích, kiếm chuyện, bắt lỗi |
It is very easy to find fault with the work of others. |
42 |
off and on/ on and off |
không đều đặn, thỉnh thoảng |
We don’t often go there- just off and on. |
43 |
make believe |
giả bộ, giả vờ |
I tried to make believe she was happy, but knew deep down it was not true. |
44 |
make good time |
di chuyển nhanh, đi nhanh |
We made good time and were at the hotel by lunch time. |
45 |
look daggers at someone |
giận dữ nhìn ai đó |
Their relationship is not free and easy but at least he is no longer looking daggers at her. |
46 |
be out of the question |
impossible (không thể được) |
You cannot get married until you are 18, it’s out of the question. |
47 |
all at once |
suddenly (bất thình lình) |
All at once, there was a loud banging on the door. |
48 |
blow someone’s trumpet |
bốc phét, khoác lác |
I believe in you because you’d never blow your trumpet. |
49 |
sleep on it |
suy nghĩ thêm về điều gì đó |
You don’t have to make your decision now. Sleep on it. |
50 |
fight tooth and claw/nail |
đánh nhau dữ dội, cấu xé nhau |
We fought tooth and claw to retain our share of the business. |