english idioms advanced in use unit 32: MONEY

be quids in

to be making a profit:

• If this deal goes ahead, we'll _.

• We'll _ in if that company buys our software!

be laughing all the way to the bank

to be earning a lot of money easily:

• We'll be _ if this deal works out.

• That movie is dumb, but it's a big hit, and the studio executives will _.

→ kiếm được bộn tiền một cách dễ dàng

money for old rope

money you get for doing something very easy:

• Babysitting is _ if the children don't wake up.

• Teaching kids basic English online is _ for me. I only need to talk for an hour a day and earn a decent amount.

→ kiếm tiền một cách rất dễ dàng, gần như không cần tốn công sức hay nỗ lực

be rolling in it

to be extremely rich:

• If they can afford a yacht, they must be _.

• Sarah is _ now after winning the lottery.

→ rất là giàu có

on a shoestring

If you do something _, you do it with a very small amount of money:

• The film was made _.

• My family has five people and only my father can go to work, so we need to live _.

→ việc gì đó được thực hiện với ngân sách eo hẹp, hoặc dùng rất ít tiền

SYN live from hand to mouth, on the breadline

breadwinner

the member of a family who earns the money that the family needs:

• Men were often expected to be the _ in a family.

• The _ works hard to support the family.

→ người trụ cột, nuôi sống gia đình

bring home the bacon

to earn money for a family to live on:

• I can't sit around all day - someone's got to _.

• He worked hard all week to _ for his family.

→ kiếm tiền để nuôi gia đình, hay còn có cái nghĩa gần gũi hơn là “mang tiền về cho mẹ”

SYN make ends meet, keep the wolf from the door

strapped for cash

having very little money, or less money than you need:

I'm a bit _ at the moment.

Most schools are pretty _ these days.

→ có rất ít tiền, ko có đủ tiền

take someone to the cleaner's

to get a lot of money from someone, usually by cheating them:

• Paul was really _ on that deal.

• It was my first time playing poker at the casino, and the more experienced players definitely _ me _.

→ lấy tiền từ ai đó bằng cách gian dối, lừa đảo

SYN take someone for a ride, lead someone up the garden path

sell one's own grandmother/mother

To do anything, especially unprincipled or illegal, in order to obtain what one desires.

She's so greedy, isn't she? She would _.

→ làm mọi thể để có thể đạt dc ước nguyện (nhưng thường là phạm pháp luật hoặc ko thể chấp thuận)

SYN give your right arm, go to any/great lengths

down the drain

If work or money is or goes ~, it is spoiled or wasted:

• If the factory closes, that will be a million dollars' worth of investment _.

• Buying such an expensive car was like throwing money _ because he hardly ever drives it.

→ phung phí, đổ sông đổ biển hoặc bị hủy hoại

for a song

very cheaply:

She bought the bed _ at an auction.

Because the shop's closing down, most of the stock is going _ (= being sold very cheaply).

→ rất là rẻ

rags-to-riches

used to describe what happens to a person who was poor but becomes rich:

a _ story

The film is a _ story of a beggar who goes on to find fame and fortune with his amazing singing voice.

→ từ nghèo thành giàu

scrimp and save

If you ~, you manage to live on very little money in order to pay for something:

• I've been _ all year to pay for our holiday.

• My parents _ to pay for my education.

• They _ but still they couldn't afford an apartment.

= Bủn xỉn và keo kiệt → chắt chiu, sống với đồng tiền ít ỏi để có thể trả đủ tiền cho cái gì

SYN tighten your belt

over the odds

more than something is really worth:

• It's a nice enough car but I'm sure she paid _ for it.

• A lot of consumers end up paying _ to get the newest smartphones. I always wait a few months, because they're inevitably a good bit cheaper then.

→ Trả tiền nhiều hơn so với giá trị thực của một cái gì đó

penny-pinching

unwilling to spend money:

I became tired of his _ friends.

= nhéo đồng xu lại → không sẵn sàng để chi tiền → keo kiệt, bủn xỉn

cheap and cheerful

cheap but good or enjoyable:

• There's a restaurant round the corner that serves _ food.

• He has designed a collection of _ sportswear.

→ bổ và rẻ

break the bank

to cost too much:

It only costs $2. That's not going to _.

→ rẻ hều, giá không quá cao đâu (gọi là ổn so với mặt bằng chung)

have money to burn

to spend a lot of money on things that are not necessary:

I don't know what her job is but she certainly seems to _.

= đốt tiền → chi tiền vào những thứ không đáng

no expense is spared

If ~ in arranging something, a lot of money is spent to make it extremely good:

_ in making the guests feel comfortable.

→ chi nhiều tiền để làm gì đó để cho vật gì đó đạt chất lượng tốt nhất