C1 - C2 English efficiency

Dentistry (n)

ngành nha khoa

• Dr.Hank should just stick to family and dentistry 

Strictly speaking

Nói một cách chính xác

• Strictly speaking, a tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable. 

Speak very highly of someone / something

to express strong admiration or praise.

• The critic speaks very highly of the new movie.

State its aim

to clearly define its purpose or objective. / To state your purpose / goal.

• The report clearly states in its aim at the beginning. 

• The campaign failed because they didn’t state its aim properly. 

State one’s business. 

to express one’s purpose or intention clearly.

• Before entering the building, they had to state their business to the receptionist at the front.

• The security of the lab refuses to let them in until they state their business.

Give ( Gave) an account of something (to someone). 

to provide a detailed explanation or narrative about an event or situation to another person.

• The assistant gave an account of what was happening in the meeting.

• Alice gave an account of her trip to her best friend.

Impart knowledge / wisdom 

to communicate or convey information or insights to others.

• The old doctor wants to impart herbal medicine knowledge to his adoptive daughter.

Divulge

confidential or secret information.

• He refused to divulge his source of information with outsiders.

Disseminating information (n) + on ( about) something / someone.

the act of spreading or distributing information widely.

• The government disseminated information on new safety measures.

Protest one’s innocence

to declare or assert that one is not guilty of a wrongdoing or accusation.

• Despite the compelling evidence, the suspect is still protesting his innocence.

The urgent takeaway 

from a situation that requires immediate attention or action.

(Điều quan trọng / điều cần được lưu ý).

• The urgent takeaway from the movie is that unchecked ambition can destroy a person.

The cultural aftermath

of an event or action that results in significant change or impact on a community or society.

(tác động về mặt văn hoá )

• Colonialism left its cultural aftermath in the country.

Pro-theft (n)

describing attitudes or actions that support or endorse stealing.

• The article was criticized for its pro-theft stance.

Collective consciousness (n)

a set of shared beliefs, ideas, and moral attitudes that operate as a unifying force within society.

(ý thức chung / nhận thức chung )

• The protest reflected the collective consciousness of the younger generation.

Pediatric dentistry (n) 

a branch of dentistry that deals with the oral health and treatment of children from infancy through the teenage years.

(khoa nhi)

• The district’s clinic has a department dedicated to pediatric dentistry. 

Make a living

to earn enough income to support oneself financially through work or other means.

• He makes a living by working as a freelance designer.

• Many people make a living from online businesses nowadays.

Aspects of the job

Refers to the different parts, areas, or elements that makes up someone’s work

• One of the most challenging aspects of the job is dealing with angry customers.

• Time management is an important aspect of the job for manager.

Go ( went) part-time

Change from full-time work or study to a reduced, fewer-hours schedule.

He went part-time so he could finish his degree.

To do a job share

Two people share the duties and hours of one full time Job,

• Job sharing allows employees to maintain work-life balance.

• Two teachers are doing a job share in that class this year.

To carve a niche for oneself. 

To build a unique, specialized position in a field by focusing on what you are especially good at.. 

• He carved a niche for herself in the fashion industry by designing eco-friendly clothing. 

• My family has carved out a niche for itself in the market.

Opposite number

Someone doing the same job but different locations ( very formal / using a lot in formal writing).

• Working in the field for 12 years, he surely has opposite numbers in the field.

Take (took) up the post

to accept a position or job.

• He will take up the post of manager next month

• He took up the post of ambassador in 2019 but had to resign after a horrendous triangle-love scandal.

Practiced (the job) 

hành nghề / thực hiện công việc 

• He has practiced law for over 20 years. 

• The language expertise practiced in several organization before opening his own English center. 

Open to offers

Willing to consider job opportunities or proposals.

• The house is for sale and open to offers.

• After going aboard for 2 years, he finally is open to offers again.

Put on a fast-track scheme

system for rapid training and promotion of talented staff.

• The company offers a fast-track scheme for talented staffs and interns.

• He applied for the fast-track visa scheme to the government.

Move up the ladder

to achieve career advancement or promotion in a job or organization.

• She works hard to move up the ladder in the company.

• If you want to move up the ladder quickly, you need to take responsibility and tasks.

Have a change of heart

Personal attitude or mood change 

• I was not going to the party, but I had a change of heart. 

• He had a change of her and decided to help her. 

To get my priorities right

Give importance to the right aspects.

I need to get my priorities right and get further education for the sake of my future.

Take priority over

• ensuring student well-being should take priority over purely educational achievements.

• Safety should be taken priority over convenience. 

Hand in

(đưa cho) ( gửi nộp)

• Please hand in your assignment by Friday.

• After considering for a long time, she finally handed in her resignation and travelled around the world.

Under a lot of / considerable pressure

feeling stressed or overwhelmed due to demands on time, effort, or attention.

• He has to make a decision under considerable pressure from his family.

Fit the job description

a daunting taks

that requires significant effort or skill to complete, often causing feelings of intimidation.

• We have to narrow the list from 20 to 5m which is a cruel and daunting task.

narrow the list down 

o reduce the number of candidates or options by filtering through them based on specific criteria. 

• We need to narrow the list down from 10 to 3 people in the list.

Take up references.

= to check someone’s references (employment history, recommendations)

• The company will take candidate’s references before making the final decision.

Take on responsibility + For N

(Chịu trách nhiệm / đảm nhận trách nhiệm)

• He has to take on the responsibility for the case as a team leader.

Take industrial action 

người lao động (thường là công đoàn) thực hiện hành động tập thể để phản đối hoặc đòi quyền lợi từ người sử dụng lao động.

• The workers decided to take industrial action due to low payment and lack of safety condition in the workplaces. 

  • The union threaten to take industrial action if their demand not met. 

Professional misconduct (n)

Hành vi sai trái trong nghề nghiệp / hành xử không đúng đạo đức trong công việc.

• There have been several cases of professional misconduct in the company,

Relieved of one’s duties

Bị miễn nhiệm khỏi trách nhiệm

• He was certainly relieved of his duties at the previous company under mysterious circumstances.

Wrongfully dismissed (n)

Hành động sa thải không đúng quy định hoặc không công bằng

• Employees who are wrongfully dismissed by their previous company can be entitled to take the case to court and sue them.

To lose one’s livelihood

Đánh mất nguồn thu nhập hoặc nghề nghiệp của mình.

• Many workers lost their livelihood when the factory bankrupted and closed.

• The hurricane destroyed all the fishing boats of the entire village, the whole village is facing with the risk of losing their livelihood.

Pencil in a meeting 

Ghi chú một cuộc họp tạm thời

• Let pencil in a meeting for the next Thursday and wait everyone to confirm the firm’s schedule later.

• I have penciled in a meeting for you at 3PM, but depending on a myriad circumstance It might change.

Clear one’s deck 

Giải quyết tất cả công việc hoặc nhiệm vụ còn lại.

• I need to clear my desk before the end of the day.

To be accused of + doing something 

Bị buộc tội vì đã làm điều gì đó.

He has been accused of disseminating qualified information within the company to outsiders. 

To be involved in misconduct (phrase) 

Bị liên quan đến hành vi sai trái hoặc vi phạm quy định.

• They protested their innocence, insisting that they were not involved in any misconduct. 

Immediate reform (n)

Cải cách diễn ra ngay lập tức nhằm khắc phục vấn đề hiện tại.

• The urgent takeaway from the report is that we need to make immediate reform in our antiquated education system.

The tip of the ice berg 

A small, visible part of a much larger problem or issue.

• The recent scandals are just the tip of the ice berg, there are more serious hidden issues beneath.

From the cradle to the grave

From birth to death

• She has been working in the company from the cradle to the grave.

• Education should be supported from the cradle to the grave.

Out of one’s own pocket

(Pay by one’s own fund) (lấy tiền túi trả).

• Many students are still having to buy expensive textbooks out of their own pocket.

• She bought the ingredients out of her pocket and cooked to help homeless in the area.

Like a bear with a sore head

Very irritable or grumpy / having a bad mood.

• Don’t talk to him this morning, he is like a bear with a sore head.

To clip someone’s wings.

To limit someone's freedom or potential.

• Because of his family’s restrictions and isolated, his family clipped his wings by never engaging and supporting him whenever he needed it. 

Spirit of adventure 

(a person who is enthusiasm for adventurous activities ) 

• She has real spirit of adventure, always seeking new experiences and challenges.

Up-to- the- minute 

Current, latest, or up-to-date information or developments.

• The website provides up to the minute news and various types of events across the globe.

• She always up to the minute with fashion trends.

Be at a loss for words

To be unable to think of anything to say, often due to surprise or shock.

• He was at a loss for words, feeling confused at her question.

• He was at a loss for words when he heard the news.

Make a mountain out of a molehill

( Exaggerating a small issue into a serious problem ) ( bé xé ra to)

• Stop making a mountain out of a molehill, it is just a small scratch on the car.

• She tends to make a mountain out of a molehill when someone disagrees with her idea.

On the same wavelength

Having a mutual understanding or agreement with someone, often in thoughts or feelings.

• I’m glad that we are on the same wavelength on this issue.

Fringe benefits (n)

something extra you get because of your job in addition to your pay

• This company comes with a good salary and fringe benefits.

• Health insurance and good retirement plans are the examples of fringe benefits.

To burn a hole in one’s pocket 

spending money on something due to desire / impulsive spending 

• Ever since I got paid, the money is burning a hole in my pocket.

Silhouette

a shadow or outline of a person . ( hình bóng)

• “Yoga will not make you more muscular, but it will change your general silhouette.”

Homey

Cozy and chill atmosphere.

• The cafe giving me a homey atmosphere.

Upkeep

Maintaining equipment or property, keeping them in a good condition.

• For museums, upkeep the property is expensive, so a modest amount of fee would be fined.

To see eye to eye

to agree on the same opinion or viewpoint .

• We don’t usually to see eye to eye, but we respects each other point of view.

Sit on the fence

to remain neutral and avoid taking sides in a dispute or decision. = in the middle ( debate / conversation)

• You cannot sit on the fence any longer - please choose which option you willing to take.

Back to square one

To return to the starting point after failing

• The outcome was not good, so we went back to square one and redid the project.

Right off the bat

immediately or without delay.

• He knew right off the bat that something was wrong.

• Right off the bat- she impressed everyone with the excellent presentation.

land a (new) job

to successfully obtain employment or a position, especially after a job search.

• After months of searching, he finally land a new job from different regions.

• It is more difficult to land a good job in the current economic climate.

Heavy workload (n)

The amount of work that a person had to do - leading to stress and exhaustion

• He has got a terribly heavy workload at the new workplace - I don’t think he will keep up with that place for long.

Unsocial hours (n)

Working hours that out of standards (9-5)

• Doctors and nurses usually has to work unsocial hours - leading to health degradation.

Menial tasks (n)

Simple, repetitive, and often low-skilled work that requires little training or education.

• Most of the time, interns have to do some menial tasks such as filling or photocopy before engaging with a bigger project.

• It was such menial task that no one batted an eye at it.

Living wage (n)

A wage that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living.

• His salary is below the living wage.

• The company offers a living wage to its employees. ("công ty trả mức lương đủ sống).

Throw a sickie

To call in sick when it is not actually ill.

• He threw a sickie to avoid going to the meeting.

Get the sack

To be dismissed from one's job or position.

• The company will call in receivers at the end of this year, leading to employees getting the sack at that time as well.

To be prospect for (something)

To be considered as a potential candidate or opportunity for something.

• He is a strong prospect for promotion next year.

• They are strong prospect for victory this season.

Sweated labour (n)

Work that is poorly paid and involves hard physical effort, often in harsh conditions. ‘

• Many high-fashion brands have been criticized for using sweated labour, including children under sixteen.

To realize one’s potential

To achieve or develop one's abilities and capabilities fully.

• Maybe with proper guidance in this field, I could realize my potential sooner in life.

High turnover of staff (n)

High staff turn over

A situation where employees leave a company frequently, leading to constant hiring and training of new staff.

• The company notorious for their high turnover of staff it won’t be easy for her to stay the course.

• The company is suffering of high staff turn over.

Stay the course

To continue doing something till the end, despite difficult and hardships.

• Despite the company’s high staff turnover, he wants to stay the course with it.

Certified teacher (n)

A qualified individuals in teaching, qualifications and skills

• To become a certified teacher, you need to go through a training and study to get the basic knowledge of becoming a teacher, but with the current job market, it is still depending on your luck and personal experience.

Contentment (n)

a state of happiness and satisfaction

• Many people believe that achieving personal goals and earning a way to hold on to their belief is so much more contentment than just material possession.

A full-blown life crisis.

a severe, intense period of personal or emotional difficulty, often affecting many areas of life.

He went through a full-blown life crisis after losing his job.

a dismal state

a very bad, depressing, or hopeless condition or situation.

• He is in a dismal financial state / condition / situation after getting the sack form his previous job.

Linchpin

a crucial element or person that holds everything together.

• Trust is the linchpin of any strong relationship.

• The character is the linchpin of the movie, without him, the movie would be totally plain and boring.

Wear one’s insecurities on one’s sleeves

to openly display and express their insecurities to anyone can see.

• The family in the movie wear their insecurities on their sleeves and that trait can be rather off putting.

To the brink of collapse

a situation that almost fall and break down.

• The company with the failure of the previous products-they are on the brink of collapse.

The shortsighted scheme (n)

a plan or strategy that lacks foresight and fails to consider long-term consequences.

• The actor’s shortsighted scheme to get quick fame backfired at him terribly.

Conflate

to combine or blend two ideas into one - often using in negative meaning.

• People often conflated wealth with happiness for long life - but I think that a common misconception.

Unrelentingly (adv)

in a manner that shows no signs of stopping or yielding.

• Sometimes, life can be unrelentingly cruel.

• He works unrelentingly for his dream.

Poor judgement (n)

the inability to make sound decisions, often leading to negative outcomes.

• Driver in that awful weather condition is a sigh of poor judgement.

Pass judgment (on) + someone / something.

to form an opinion or decision about someone or something, often in a critical manner.

• People tend to pass judgement on someone without knowing their true story. In many cases, this can lead to misunderstandings and unfair assessments.

Against one better judgement

You do something despite the knowledge that thing is a bad idea.

• I finally agreed to go out with him, against my better judgement.

• Against my better judgement - I lended him money.

A lack of judgement (n)

someone is not using good sense or is making poor decisions.

• Drinking and driving is a clear sign of a lack of judgement.

• Making a comment like that on someone’s appearance shows a serious sign of a lack of judgement on his part.

Error of judgement / judgment.

a mistake or miscalculation in decision-making

• Promoting Alec was a serious error of judgement.

Thinking laterally (n)

t’s similar to creative thinking or out-of-the-box thinking.

• Thinking laterally can help you overcome the creativity blocks.

Fertile imagination (n)

the ability to think creatively and generate innovative ideas. / trí tưởng tượng phong phú

• The writer’s fertile imagination led to many brilliant stories.

Wrestle with a problem

to struggle to find a solution or understanding of an issue.

• He has been wrestling with financial issue for 3 months now- trying to find a viable solution

A nagging doubt (n)

một nỗi nghi ngờ dai dẳng, cứ lởn vởn trong đầu và không biến mất

• I had a nagging doubt that I had forgotten something important.

• Despite his success, a nagging doubt remained in his mind.

Fuelling speculation (n)

the act of causing or encouraging conjecture / khiến cho tin đồn, sự suy đoán hoặc giả thuyết lan rộng hơn và mạnh hơn.

• The minister’s sudden resignation fuelled speculation about internal conflicts in the government system.

Jump to conclusions (n)

to make assumptions or form opinions based on insufficient evidences.

• It is easy to jump to conclusions when emotions run high.

Fierce competition (n)

the intense rivalry in the marketplace or any sectors.

• There is a fierce competition in the tech industry.

• The students are in fierce competition to secure scholar ships.

Go into production

to begin manufacturing and designing new products. 

• They expects to go into production in the spring after some intensive tests.