Thẻ ghi nhớ: 30/4 - năm 2025

chink in someone’s armour

(n.) /tʃɪŋk/
- English: a fault in someone's character or an argument that may cause problems for them
- Tiếng Việt: vết nứt, khe hở, điểm yếu/lỗ hổng (trong phòng thủ/tính cách)
- Ví dụ: Despite his confidence, his inability to handle criticism was a chink in his armour.

clean bill of health

(n. phr.) /kliːn bɪl əv helθ/
- English: a certificate or statement confirming that someone or something is healthy or functioning properly
- Tiếng Việt: giấy chứng nhận khỏe mạnh / sự xác nhận không có vấn đề sai phạm
- Ví dụ: The company audit revealed no financial issues, giving them a clean bill of health.

blanket ban

(n. phr.) /ˈblæŋ.kɪt bæn/
- English: an official rule or restriction that affects all cases or groups equally without exception
- Tiếng Việt: lệnh cấm toàn diện, cấm vơ đũa cả nắm không ngoại lệ
- Ví dụ: Due to security concerns, the airline introduced a blanket ban on large electronic devices.

bring someone down a peg or two

(idiom) /brɪŋ ˈsʌm.wʌn daʊn ə peɡ ɔːr tuː/
- English: to make someone realize that they are not as important or clever as they think
- Tiếng Việt: hạ bớt sự kiêu ngạo của ai, dằn mặt cho bớt kiểng
- Ví dụ: The star player was getting too cocky, but the coach's criticism brought him down a peg or two.

negotiate the corner

(v.) /nəˈɡəʊ.ʃi.eɪt/
- English: to find a way over or through an obstacle or difficult route
- Tiếng Việt: vượt qua (khúc cua, địa hình khó khăn) bằng sự khéo léo
- Ví dụ: The bus driver expertly negotiated the corner, despite the tight space.

hold court

(idiom) /həʊld kɔːt/
- English: to be the center of attention in a group, often entertaining others with stories
- Tiếng Việt: làm tâm điểm chú ý, say sưa kể chuyện/được vây quanh tán tụng
- Ví dụ: The famous actor would occasionally hold court with fans, sharing behind-the-scenes stories.

turn tail

(idiom) /tɜːn teɪl/
- English: to run away from a difficult or dangerous situation in cowardice
- Tiếng Việt: cúp đuôi chạy trốn, tháo chạy vì sợ hãi
- Ví dụ: The soldiers saw they were outnumbered and decided to turn tail and retreat.

break even

(idiom) /breɪk ˈiː.vən/
- English: to reach a state in which business neither makes a profit nor loses money
- Tiếng Việt: hòa vốn (không lãi cũng không lỗ)
- Ví dụ: We need to sell at least 500 tickets just to break even on this event.

entertain possibility

(v.) /en.təˈteɪn/
- English: to give attention to or consider an idea, feeling, or suggestion
- Tiếng Việt: cân nhắc, nhen nhóm, nuôi dưỡng một ý tưởng/khả năng
- Ví dụ: Even though the evidence was weak, the detective had to entertain the possibility of a hidden suspect.

eke out

(phr. v.) /iːk aʊt/
- English: to make a supply of something last longer by being careful, or to manage to live with difficulty
- Tiếng Việt: xoay sở, chắt chiu kiếm sống qua ngày
- Ví dụ: With only a small pension, she managed to eke out her expenses by selling crafts.

chicken feed

(n. phr.) /ˈtʃɪk.ɪn fiːd/
- English: a very small and insignificant amount of money
- Tiếng Việt: số tiền ít ỏi, không đáng kể (như tiền thức ăn cho gà)
- Ví dụ: Compared to the company's billion-dollar revenue, the fine was nothing but chicken feed.

fill someone in on

(phr. v.) /fɪl ɪn ɒn/
- English: to give someone missing information or details about something
- Tiếng Việt: cập nhật thông tin, bổ sung chi tiết cho ai biết về việc gì
- Ví dụ: When Jake returned from vacation, we had to fill him in on everything that happened.

go cold

(phr. v.) /ɡəʊ kəʊld/
- English: (of a trail or clue) to become abandoned or unsuccessful because no new evidence is found
- Tiếng Việt: (dấu vết/manh mối) đi vào ngõ cụt, phai nhạt dần không tìm ra thêm
- Ví dụ: After he changed identities, the trail went cold.

jaundiced

(adj.) /ˈdʒɔːn.dɪst/
- English: affected by bitterness, resentment, or cynicism, usually due to past bad experiences
- Tiếng Việt: có cái nhìn thành kiến, hoài nghi, cay đắng (do từng bị tổn thương)
- Ví dụ: Having been scammed once, he now approached every deal with a jaundiced eye.

zero in on

(phr. v.) /ˈzɪə.rəʊ ɪn ɒn/
- English: to direct all attention or focus toward a specific target or objective
- Tiếng Việt: nhắm thẳng mục tiêu, tập trung hoàn toàn vào cái gì
- Ví dụ: The sniper carefully zeroed in on his target before taking the shot.

drained

(adj.) /dreɪnd/
- English: completely exhausted of energy, strength, or resources
- Tiếng Việt: kiệt sức, cạn kiệt năng lượng
- Ví dụ: Her energy drained after the long day, she collapsed onto the bed.

take the edge off

(n.) /edʒ/
- English: to make something unpleasant have less of an effect on someone:
- Tiếng Việt:là một thành ngữ tiếng Anh có nghĩa là làm giảm bớt, xoa dịu hoặc làm cho một việc/cảm giác khó chịu trở nên nhẹ nhàng, đỡ gay gắt hơn (chứ không làm mất hẳn)
- Ví dụ: Drinking water before a meal helps take the edge off your appetite.

commit sth to memory

(v.) /kəˈmɪt/
- English: to pledge or bind oneself to a certain course or memory task
- Tiếng Việt: ghi nhớ kỹ, cam kết khắc ghi vào tâm trí
- Ví dụ: He committed his speech to memory, so he wouldn't need cue cards.

collect one’s thought

(v.) /kəˈlekt/
- English: to regain control of one's thoughts, emotions, or composure
- Tiếng Việt: bình tĩnh lại, lấy lại sự điềm tĩnh/tập trung
- Ví dụ: After losing his wallet, he had to call the bank to collect his thoughts and report cards.

make capital out of

(n.) /ˈkæp.ɪ.təl/
- English: advantage or profit gained from a situation
- Ví dụ: Some companies make capital out of environmental concerns by marketing eco-friendly products.

star turn

(v.) /tɜːn/
- English: the main performer in a film, play, or other show, or an extremely good performance by someone
- Tiếng Việt: màn biểu diễn chính, tiết mục xuất sắc của ngôi sao tại sự kiện
- Ví dụ: The comedian's star turn at the festival had the audience roaring with laughter.

give or take

(idiom) /ɡɪv ɔːr teɪk/
- English: more or less approximately (used when stating an amount or time)
- Ví dụ: The infant's weight is about seven pounds, give or take a few ounces.

everyone has their price

(n.) /praɪs/
- English: said to mean that everyone can be persuaded to do something dishonest or immoral, if they are offered a large enough amount of money
- Ví dụ: She claimed she couldn't be bribed, but he believed everyone has their price.

hail from

(ve.) /heɪl/
- English: to signal, welcome, or originate from a place with acclaim
- Tiếng Việt: xuất thân từ, đến từ đâu
- Ví dụ: Hailing from Paris, she has an innate appreciation for art and fashion.

sporadically

(adv.) /ˌspɒrˈæd.ɪ.kəl.i/
- English: at irregular intervals or only in few places; spasmodically
- Tiếng Việt: thỉnh thoảng, không thường xuyên, rải rác
- Ví dụ: Her son visits her sporadically, but usually she's all alone.

with the proviso that

(prep.) /wɪð/
- English: accompanied by or subject to a particular condition or stipulation
- Tiếng Việt: đi kèm với điều kiện/điều khoản gì
- Ví dụ: The money was given to the museum with the proviso that it was spent on operating costs.

get sbd talking about sth

(n./gerund) /ˈtɔː.kɪŋ/
- English: the act of speaking or engaging in conversation
- Ví dụ: Once you get her talking about her travels, she never stops.

pipe dream

(n. phr.) /paɪp driːm/
- English: an unattainable or fanciful plan or hope
- Tiếng Việt: giấc mơ hão huyền, ảo tưởng không thể thực hiện
- Ví dụ: Without funding, starting her own business remained a pipe dream.

if needs be

(idiom) /ɪf niːdz biː/
- English: if it is necessary
- Tiếng Việt: nếu cần thiết
- Ví dụ: If needs be, we'll wait for better weather before making any travel plans.

as it were

(idiom) /əz ɪt wɜːr/
- English: so to speak; used to comment on a phrase by softening its exactness
- Tiếng Việt: có thể nói là, coi như là (dùng để nói giảm nói tránh/ví von)
- Ví dụ: It's still in its infancy, as it were, so we need to be patient.

impunity

(n.) /ɪmˈpjuː.nə.ti/
- English: exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action
- Tiếng Việt: sự miễn phạt, thoát tội, vô sự trước hình phạt
- Ví dụ: Trolls spread misinformation online with impunity. (Từ gốc: PUNISH)

imperturbable

(adj.) /ˌɪm.pəˈtɜː.bə.bəl/
- English: unable to be upset or excited; calm
- Tiếng Việt: điềm tĩnh, bình thản, không nao núng
- Ví dụ: He remained imperturbable and never lost his temper despite teasing. (Từ gốc: PERTURB)

non-linear

(adj.) /ˌnɒnˈlɪn.i.ər/
- English: not proceeding in a straight line or direct chronological sequence
- Tiếng Việt: phi tuyến tính, không theo thứ tự thời gian thẳng tắp
- Ví dụ: The movie had a non-linear storyline, jumping back and forth. (Từ gốc: LINE)

freemium

(adj.) /ˈfriː.mi.əm/
- English: a business model providing basic services for free while charging for premium features
- Tiếng Việt: mô hình kinh doanh miễn phí cơ bản, thu phí nâng cao
- Ví dụ: Spotify operates on a freemium basis, providing free music with ads. (Từ gốc: FREE)

fence-sitter

(n.) /ˈfensˌsɪt.ər/
- English: someone who remains neutral, refuses to take a side in a dispute
- Tiếng Việt: người ba phải, đứng trung lập không chịu chọn phe
- Ví dụ: Being a fence-sitter might keep you out of trouble, but won't earn respect. (Từ gốc: FENCE)

make economies

(n.) /ɪˈkɒn.ə.mi/
- English: careful management of available resources; frugality
- Tiếng Việt: sự tiết kiệm, quản lý tài chính tằn tiện
- Ví dụ: In times of financial crisis, families often have to make economies. (Từ gốc: ECONOMIST)

sensationalist

(adj.) /senˈseɪ.ʃən.əl.ɪst/
- English: presenting information in a way that is intended to provoke public interest or excitement, at the expense of accuracy
- Tiếng Việt: giật gân, câu khách (báo chí/tiêu đề)
- Ví dụ: Some journalists believe that sensationalist headlines damage credibility. (From: SENSATION)

cold-call

(v./n.) /ˌkəʊld ˈkɔːl/
- English: make an unsolicited call on someone, trying to sell something
- Tiếng Việt: gọi điện thoại tiếp thị bất ngờ cho người lạ
- Ví dụ: I never answer my phone if I suspect it's a cold-call from a telemarketer. (Từ gốc: CALL)

incommunicado

(adj./adv.) /ˌɪn.kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkɑː.dəʊ/
- English: not able, wanting, or allowed to communicate with other people
- Tiếng Việt: bị cách ly hoàn toàn, không thể liên lạc với bên ngoài
- Ví dụ: The prisoner was held incommunicado with no access to the outside world. (Từ gốc: COMMUNICATE)

castaway

(n.) /ˈkɑːs.tə.weɪ/
- English: a person who has been shipwrecked and stranded in a lonely place
- Tiếng Việt: người bị đắm tàu trôi dạt đảo hoang, người bị bỏ rơi
- Ví dụ: The novel tells the story of a castaway who learns to live in the wild. (Từ gốc: CAST)

single-handed

(adj./adv.) /ˌsɪŋ.ɡəlˈhæn.dɪd/
- English: done without help from anyone else
- Tiếng Việt: một mình tự làm, đơn thương độc mã
- Ví dụ: The artistic maturing of the cinema was a single-handed achievement of Griffith. (Từ gốc: hand)

stationary

(adj.) /ˈsteɪ.ʃən.ər.i/
- English: not moving or staying in one place
- Tiếng Việt: đứng yên, không di chuyển (máy quay cố định)
- Ví dụ: Photography consisted of placing the actors before a stationary camera. (From: station)

close-up

(n.) /ˈkləʊz.ʌp/
- English: a photograph or movie shot taken at close range and magnified
- Tiếng Việt: cảnh quay cận cảnh ( có thể đếm được )
- Ví dụ: By 1910 he was using close-ups to reveal significant details. (Từ gốc: closeness)

spectacle

(n.) /ˈspek.tə.kəl/
- English: a visually striking performance or display
- Tiếng Việt: cảnh tượng hoành tráng, màn trình diễn mãn nhãn
- Ví dụ: Extreme long shots to achieve a sense of spectacle and distance. (Từ gốc: spectacular)

significantly

(adv.) /sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt.li/
- English: in a sufficiently great or important way as to be worthy of attention
- Tiếng Việt: một cách đáng kể, rõ rệt
- Ví dụ: He could significantly vary the emphasis from camera shot to shot. (Từ gốc: signify)

juxtapose

(v.) /ˈdʒʌk.stə.pəʊz/
- English: to deal with things side by side for contrasting effect
- Tiếng Việt: đặt cạnh nhau (để làm nổi bật sự tương phản)
- Ví dụ: By juxtaposing images and varying the speed, he controlled intensity. (Từ gốc: position)

reluctance

(n.) /rɪˈlʌk.təns/
- English: unwillingness or disinclination to do something
- Tiếng Việt: sự miễn cưỡng, không đành lòng, chần chừ
- Ví dụ: Despite the reluctance of his producers, who feared public rejection... (Từ gốc: reluctant)

cinematic

(adj.) /ˌsɪn.əˈmæt.ɪk/
- English: relating to motion pictures or filmmaking
- Tiếng Việt: thuộc về điện ảnh, mang tính chất điện ảnh
- Ví dụ: Griffith experimented with cinematic syntax that became standard ever since. (From: cinema)

chronological

(adj.) /ˌkrɒn.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/
- English: starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred
- Tiếng Việt: theo đúng trình tự thời gian
- Ví dụ: Narrative that was not chronological allowed broader emotional exploration. (Từ gốc: chronology)

heighten

(v.) /ˈhaɪ.tən/
- English: to make or become more intense or pronounced
- Tiếng Việt: làm tăng lên, đẩy mạnh, khuếch đại
- Ví dụ: Crosscut between two parallel actions to heighten suspense and excitement. (Từ gốc: high)

spread oneself too thin

(idiom) /spred wʌnˈself tuː θɪn/
- English: to try to do too many things at the same time, resulting in reduced effectiveness
- Tiếng Việt: ôm đồm quá nhiều việc cùng lúc dẫn đến kiệt sức/giảm hiệu quả
- Ví dụ: Having expanded into various areas, the company has spread itself too thin. (Từ gốc: THIN)

run round in circles

(idiom) /rʌn ɪn ˈsɜː.kl̩z/
- English: to spend time and effort doing something without achieving any progress
- Tiếng Việt: quay mòng mòng tại chỗ, tốn công vô ích không tiến bộ
- Ví dụ: We would not have run in circles had you given us more details. (Từ gốc: CIRCLES)

close at hand

(idiom) /kləʊz æt hænd/
- English: near in time or position; accessible
- Tiếng Việt: ở ngay gần bên, thuận tiện đi lại
- Ví dụ: That apartment building is conveniently located with all amenities close at hand. (Từ gốc: CLOSE)

duck out of

(phr. v.) /dʌk aʊt ɒv/
- English: to avoid doing something that you should do, especially by being cunning
- Tiếng Việt: trốn tránh, lẩn tránh làm việc gì (như tăng ca)
- Ví dụ: It was by making up a family emergency that Peter could duck out of working overtime. (Từ gốc: DUCK)

own up to

(phr. v.) /əʊn ʌp tuː/
- English: to admit to having done something wrong or embarrassing
- Tiếng Việt: thú nhận, nhận trách nhiệm về việc sai trái
- Ví dụ: The politician is reported to have owned up to his involvement in the scandal. (Từ gốc: UP)

put in an appearance

(idiom) /pʊt ɪn ən əˈpɪə.rəns/
- English: to go to an event or social gathering for a short time
- Tiếng Việt: ghé qua một chút, xuất hiện xã giao tại sự kiện
- Ví dụ: Boring as the party sounds, I'd better put in an appearance. (From: IN)

the tide turns + land a good job

(idiom) /tɜːn fɔːr ðə ˈbet.ər/
- English: to start improving or changing for the better
- Tiếng Việt: tình thế xoay chuyển theo chiều hướng tốt hơn

-English: successfully obtaining desirable employment

-Tiếng Việt : tìm được công việc tốt
- Ví dụ: The tide turned for the poor girl when she landed a good job at a top firm. (Từ gốc: LANDED)

be/get bogged down

(phr. v.) /bɒɡ daʊn/
- English: to become stuck in details or prevented from making progress
- Tiếng Việt: bị sa lầy, vướng bận quá sâu vào tiểu tiết
- Ví dụ: Don't let yourself get bogged down in minor details. (Từ gốc: BOGGED)

have time to spare

(phr.) /hæv taɪm tuː speər/
- English: to have extra time available without being rushed
- Tiếng Việt: có dư dả thời gian, không bị gấp gáp
- Ví dụ: There's no point in rushing through the assignment when we still have time to spare. (Từ gốc: IN)

deal a blow to

(idiom) /diːl ə bləʊ tuː/
- English: to shock or upset someone; to cause serious damage or a major setback
- Tiếng Việt: giáng một đòn chí mạng, gây tổn thất lớn cho ai/cái gì
- Ví dụ: Losing that client must have dealt a blow to the corporation. (Từ gốc: DEALT)