idioms/fixed phrase cpe use of english 1

all in

exhaust

for all

in spite of

for all i know

as far as i know

in the air

uncertain

on the air><off the air

broadcasting

on this/that account

for this/that reason

cost a bomb

very expensive

drop a brick

say sth tactlessly

above board

honest

be broke

have no/very little money

brainwave

sudden clear idea/thought

browned off

fed up;bored

buttle sb up

ninh not ai

a red-letter day

a very important day

cur sb dead

ignore sb

grey matter

brains;intelligence

hand in glove with sb

be in very close contact with sb

have a job to do sth

find sth difficult to do

have many irons in the fire

have lots of plans/possibilities in progress at the same time

stew in one’s own juice

suffer the consequences of one’s ownn action

strike gold

come across as useful

fair and square

within the rules

be sound asleep

sleep deeply

be the perfect image of sb

look exactly like sb

before one can say Jack Robinson

extremely quickly

eat one’s heart out

feel jealous/sad about sth

bring to one’s knees

destroy,humble

fine kettle of fish

1 tình huống trớ trêu rắc rối

out in the open

(of secrets) revealed,known

status symbol

property/posession that shows sb’s high social rank wealth etc

feel/be down in the mouth

feel discouraged/depressed

lose one’s nerve

lose courage

make hay while the sun shines

take advantage of favourable circumstances

put sb’s name forward

nominate sb

at close quaters

from a short distance

cut sb to the quick

deeply hurt sb’s feelings

keep sth quiet

keep sth secret

on the quiet

secretly

open to debate

not decided/settled

work to rule

adhere strictly to the rules as a form of protest

in the offing

likely to happen

a long shot

a wild guess/risk

be/get soaked to the skin

be/get very wet

does it show?

it is obvious?

give sb the slip

escape from sb

frosty welcome

unfriendly reception

be as thick as a brick

be stupid

be tickled pink

be really pleased

in a tick

shortly,soon

be born yesterday

be easily deceived/naive

black tie

formal clothing

the pot calling the kettle black

accusing sb of a fault one has oneself

be all very well

appear satisfactory but in fact not be

be on the up and up

improve steadily

make a dog’s dinner of sth

make a mess of sth

a different kettle of fish

a totally different situation etc from the one just mentioned

dog-eared

sách bị cong,gấp lại

swim like a fish

bơi giỏi

mutton dressed as lamb

già mà tỏ ra vẻ

get nowhere fast

make no/little progress

wash sb’s hands of sb

refuse to be involved with sb

have a cheek/nerve

trơ tráo,mặt dày