TỪ VỰNG CÓ GẠCH NỐI

wishy-washy (adj)

lacking strength or determination; feeble (mềm yếu, thiếu quyết đoán) | His ______ leadership failed to inspire the team.

namby-pamby (adj)

weak, timid, or sentimental (yếu đuối, nhút nhát, ủy mị) | That ______ apology didn't convince anyone.

hoity-toity (adj)

pretentiously self-important; haughty (kiêu kỳ, trịch thượng) | She gave us a ______ look and walked away.

airy-fairy (adj)

vague, impractical, unrealistic (mơ hồ, viển vông) | His ______ business plan had no financial details.

artsy-fartsy (adj)

trying too hard to be artistic (làm màu nghệ thuật) | The gallery was full of ______ photos of nothing.

arty-farty (adj)

exaggerated artistic pretension (màu mè kệch cỡm) | I can't stand his ______ opinions about modern dance.

loosey-goosey (adj)

too relaxed, not strict (lỏng lẻo, thoải mái quá mức) | The rules are too ______ for this competition.

lovey-dovey (adj)

overly affectionate (tình cảm sến súa) | They were being all ______ at the party.

happy-clappy (adj)

enthusiastic worship style (sôi nổi, vỗ tay hát hò) | She goes to a ______ church every Sunday.

goody-goody (adj)

trying to appear good (tỏ ra ngoan ngoãn) | He's such a ______ student that others dislike him.

goody-two-shoes (n)

person who is annoyingly virtuous (người đạo đức giả) | My sister is a real ______ who never breaks rules.

fuddy-duddy (n)

old-fashioned person (người cổ hủ) | Don't be such a ______—come to the concert!

hurly-burly (n)

noisy activity (sự huyên náo) | He got lost in the ______ of the train station.

helter-skelter (adv)

in a disorderly way (hỗn loạn) | The kids ran ______ down the hill.

higgledy-piggledy (adv)

in a messy way (lộn xộn) | Books were piled ______ on the floor.

harum-scarum (adj)

reckless (liều lĩnh) | His ______ driving scared everyone.

topsy-turvy (adj)

completely disordered (đảo lộn) | The room was ______ after the children's party.

pell-mell (adv)

in a rushed, confused way (vội vã hỗn độn) | The crowd rushed ______ toward the exit.

willy-nilly (adv)

whether you like it or not (tùy tiện, bừa bãi) | You cannot just change the rules ______.

herky-jerky (adj)

moving unevenly (giật cục) | The video was ______ due to a bad connection.

nitty-gritty (n)

essential details (điều cốt lõi) | Let's get down to the ______ of the contract.

razzle-dazzle (n)

showy display (phô trương hào nhoáng) | The ______ of the casino hid its dark side.

hocus-pocus (n)

trickery (trò bịp bợm) | The magician's ______ amazed the children.

hanky-panky (n)

dishonest behavior (hành vi mờ ám) | The manager was fired for ______.

jiggery-pokery (n)

dishonest manipulation (sự gian dối) | There's been some ______ with the election results.

hugger-mugger (adj)

secretive and confused (bí mật lộn xộn) | The whole affair was conducted in a ______ way.

argy-bargy (n)

noisy argument (cuộc cãi vã) | There was a bit of ______ at the pub last night.

argle-bargle (n)

confused argument (cãi lộn lộn xộn) | I'm tired of all this ______ over nothing.

flim-flam (n)

nonsense or deception (chuyện nhảm nhí) | Don't believe his ______ about hidden riches.

mumbo-jumbo (n)

confusing language (ngôn ngữ vô nghĩa) | His explanation was just ______.

clap-trap (n)

nonsense talk (ba hoa khoác lác) | The speech was full of ______.

sing-song (adj)

monotonous, rhythmic (đều đều, ê a) | She spoke in a ______ voice to the baby.

hole-and-corner (adj)

secretive, often shameful (bí mật mờ ám) | Their ______ deal was exposed by the media.

hole-in-the-corner (adj)

secretive and dishonest (lén lút, mờ ám) | I don't like this ______ arrangement.

penny-ante (adj)

trivial, unimportant (vụn vặt, tầm thường) | This is just ______ crime; we need the big fish.

cock-and-bull (adj)

implausible, exaggerated (khó tin, bịa đặt) | He told us a ______ story about missing luggage.

woolly-headed (adj)

confused thinking (mơ hồ, lú lẫn) | That's a ______ idea with no plan.

strait-laced (adj)

strict in morals (khắt khe, nghiêm nghị) | Her ______ parents didn't approve of rock music.

half-cocked (adj)

poorly prepared (chưa chín chắn) | He made a ______ decision that cost us dearly.

devil-may-care (adj)

reckless, carefree (bất cần) | His ______ attitude worries his family.

happy-go-lucky (adj)

carefree (vô tư) | She's a ______ person who enjoys every day.

fly-by-night (adj)

unreliable (không đáng tin) | That's a ______ company; don't pay upfront.

catch-as-catch-can (adj)

using any method (bất chấp) | We had a ______ meal with leftovers.

cloak-and-dagger (adj)

mysterious, espionage-like (bí mật kiểu gián điệp) | He loves ______ novels.

rough-and-ready (adj)

crude but effective (thô sơ nhưng hiệu quả) | We built a ______ shelter from branches.

rough-and-tumble (adj)

aggressive and disorderly (hỗn loạn, thô bạo) | He enjoys ______ football.

cut-and-dried (adj)

clear and routine (rõ ràng, có sẵn) | The procedure is ______; just follow it.

hard-and-fast (adj)

fixed, unchangeable (cứng nhắc) | There's no ______ rule about this.

free-and-easy (adj)

relaxed, informal (thoải mái) | The party was ______, without formal dress.

down-at-heel (adj)

shabby, poor (tiều tụy) | He lived in a ______ apartment.

down-and-out (adj)

destitute (cùng khốn) | The film is about a ______ boxer.

out-and-out (adj)

absolute (hoàn toàn) | That's an ______ lie.

through-and-through (adv)

completely (hoàn toàn) | He is a gentleman ______.

rank-and-file (adj)

ordinary members (thành viên thường) | The ______ soldiers supported the change.

run-of-the-mill (adj)

ordinary (tầm thường) | It's just a ______ action movie.

middle-of-the-road (adj)

moderate (ôn hòa) | He holds ______ views.

off-the-cuff (adj)

unprepared (ứng khẩu) | His ______ remarks caused a scandal.

spur-of-the-moment (adj)

impulsive (bộc phát) | It was a ______ trip.

matter-of-fact (adj)

unemotional (thực tế) | She spoke in a ______ voice.

tongue-in-cheek (adj)

ironic (mỉa mai) | His remark was ______.

over-the-top (adj)

excessive (quá mức) | The effects were ______.

under-the-table (adj)

illegal, secret (ngầm) | They made ______ payments.

behind-the-scenes (adj)

hidden (hậu trường) | She did ______ work.

state-of-the-art (adj)

modern (hiện đại nhất) | This hospital has ______ equipment.

up-to-date (adv)

current (cập nhật) | Please bring your computer ______.

out-of-date (adj)

obsolete (lỗi thời) | This milk is ______.

new-fangled (adj)

new and disliked (tân thời khó chịu) | I don't understand these ______ phones.

high-falutin (adj)

pompous (khoa trương) | He gave a ______ speech.

high-minded (adj)

moral (cao thượng) | Her ______ ideals were admirable.

low-minded (adj)

vulgar, coarse (thô tục) | I hate his ______ jokes.

high-handed (adj)

overbearing (độc đoán) | His ______ manner annoyed the staff.

heavy-handed (adj)

clumsy or oppressive (vụng về, nặng tay) | The government's ______ response backfired.

even-handed (adj)

fair (công bằng) | We need an ______ judge for this case.

open-minded (adj)

willing to consider ideas (cởi mở) | Be ______ about alternative medicine.

narrow-minded (adj)

intolerant (hẹp hòi) | ______ people resist change.

small-minded (adj)

petty (nhỏ nhen) | Her ______ gossip hurt everyone.

single-minded (adj)

focused (tập trung cao) | He was ______ in his pursuit of gold.

strong-willed (adj)

determined (ý chí mạnh) | She is too ______ to give up.

iron-willed (adj)

extremely determined (kiên định) | An ______ leader saved the company.

weak-willed (adj)

easily influenced (yếu đuối) | He was ______ and gave in.

pig-headed (adj)

stubborn (cứng đầu) | He was too ______ to ask for directions.

bull-headed (adj)

stubborn and rash (ngoan cố) | ______ tactics won't solve this.

stiff-necked (adj)

proud and stubborn (cứng cổ) | The ______ official refused to compromise.

hare-brained (adj)

foolish (ngớ ngẩn) | That's another ______ scheme.

scatter-brained (adj)

disorganized (đãng trí) | I'm too ______ to study today.

half-baked (adj)

poorly planned (nửa vời) | That ______ plan will never work.

time-honored (adj)

traditional (lâu đời) | They follow ______ traditions.

time-worn (adj)

old and worn (cũ kỹ) | The ______ steps were dangerous.

age-old (adj)

very old (cổ xưa) | This is an ______ problem.

world-weary (adj)

tired of life (chán đời) | He gave a ______ sigh.

war-weary (adj)

tired of war (chán chiến tranh) | The ______ soldiers wanted peace.

weather-beaten (adj)

worn by weather (dày dạn sương gió) | His ______ face showed his years at sea.

care-worn (adj)

tired from worry (mệt mỏi vì lo lắng) | The mother looked ______.

thin-skinned (adj)

sensitive (nhạy cảm) | Don't be so ______.

thick-skinned (adj)

insensitive (chai lì) | You need to be ______ in sales.

sharp-tongued (adj)

harsh in speech (cay độc) | Her ______ reply made him cry.

silver-tongued (adj)

persuasive (hùng biện) | The ______ salesman closed every deal.

honey-tongued (adj)

flattering (ngọt ngào giả tạo) | He used ______ words to win her favor.

mealy-mouthed (adj)

evasive (ỡm ờ) | His ______ apology meant nothing.

tight-lipped (adj)

secretive (kín miệng) | She remained ______ about her past.