english idioms advanced in use unit 27: PEOPLE-CHARACTER AND BEHAVIOUR

a mine of information

someone who has a lot of knowledge

• You should ask Amanda for advice about your cake recipe—she's _ about baking.

• Her book is _ valuable _.

man of many parts

A man who is capable of doing many things.

Steve is a _—he's a good student, a talented musician, and a great football player.

→ người làm được nhiều việc, người đa nghề

whizz kid

a young person who is very clever and successful:

They've taken on some financial _.

The 20-year-old _ is in line to become Britain's youngest-ever Formula 1 racing driver.

SYN child prodigy

get-up-and-go

the quality of being positive and having a lot of new ideas, determination, and energy:

This job needs someone with a lot of _.

= energy + enthusiasm + initiative

→ những người có nhiều sáng kiến, nỗ lực và năng nổ trong công việc

have another/more than one string to your bow

to have more than one interest, skill, or resource that you can use if you need to:

I enjoy my work, but I'd like to _ in case I lose my job.

She is a multi-talented woman with many _.

→ Có nhiều kỹ năng, tài năng hoặc phương án để dựa vào; không chỉ phụ thuộc vào một thứ.

be a glutton for punishment

to be someone who seems to enjoy doing something that you consider unpleasant:

• He's a real _, taking on all that extra work without getting paid for it.

• He volunteered to organize the school trip again? He really is _.

→ Chỉ người tình nguyện nhận nhiều việc khó khăn, vất vả, hoặc không dễ chịu, thường vì họ thích thử thách hoặc hơi… tự hành xác → tự chuốc cái khổ

highly strung

very nervous and easily upset:

• a _ young woman

• a _ racehorse

→ Chỉ người quá nhạy cảm, dễ bị căng thẳng, lo âu hoặc dễ xúc động. Họ thường không thoải mái, hay lo lắng về mọi thứ.

act/play the fool

to behave in a silly way, often intentionally to make people laugh:

• Stop _, I'm trying to talk to you.

• He loves _.

• I'm happy to _ if it makes my kids laugh.

look out for number one

To put one's own needs, concerns, or responsibilities before those of anyone else.

• The only way you're going to get ahead in this business is if you _.

• It doesn't make you a selfish person if you _ from time to time.

→ đặt bản thân lên hàng đầu, mặc kệ những người khác; nghĩ bản thân là người quan trọng nhất

eat someone for breakfast

to be able to very easily control or defeat someone:

• He _ people like you _.

• If anyone can write a term paper in one night, it's Rich—he _ assignments like that _!

→ có thể dễ dàng kiểm soát, đánh bại ai

love rat

Rats are not a favorite animal of many people and when they appear in idioms, they are used to refer to a person who is flirtatious and unfaithful to their partner.

• John has had affairs with several women. He 's definitely _ !

• She’s a lot less trusting of men since her second husband turned out to be as much of _ as her first.

→ người lăng nhăng, ko chung tình

SYN two-time

wet blanket

a person who says or does something that stops other people enjoying themselves

I hate to be a _, but I thought the show was terrible.

→ Người ta thường dùng một cái chăn ướt để dập tắt một đám cháy → chỉ một người chuyên làm người khác mất vui, giống như dội 1 gáo nước lạnh

loose cannon

someone who behaves in an uncontrolled or unexpected way and is likely to cause problems for other people:

• He's seen as something of _ by other team members.

• I don't think we can take a risk on _ like him running our country.

→ đại bác (bắn) bừa bãi → nghĩa là người có thiên hướng hành động khó lường/không thể đoán trước được hoặc rất dễ mất bình tĩnh và cáu bẳn.