english idioms advanced in use unit 55: LIFE AND LIVE

the time of your life

an extremely enjoyable experience:

• We had _ at the party.

• I had _ in college. I wish I could go back to those carefree days!

→ một cái trải nghiệm, khoảnh khắc vô cùng đáng nhớ và thú vị.

get the shock of (one's) life

To have an extreme and sudden sensation of shock, surprise, or fear.

• Mary _ when that car swerved right in front of her.

• I _ when I noticed someone standing right behind me in the cellar.

→ bị sốc, sợ, hoặc là bất ngờ

scare/frighten the life out of someone

to frighten someone very much

That car accident seems to have _ Janet. She's still pretty badly shaken by it.

→ làm ai sợ, làm ai hoảng hồn.

risk life and limb

to do something that is very dangerous

They _ to pull the child from the river.

→ liều mạng, đánh đổi cả tính mạng và sự an toàn.

the life and soul of the party

someone who is energetic and funny and at the centre of activity during social occasions

Everyone was unenthusiastic until Frank turned up. He’s actually _,

→ ai đó là trung tâm, linh hồn của bữa tiệc (do học rất năng động và hài hước).

within an inch of someone's/something's life

until someone or something is almost dead:

• She had been robbed and beaten -.

• Soldiers were filmed beating the detainee to _.

→ làm điều gì tới chết mới thôi.

a new lease of life

an occasion when you become more energetic and active than before:

His grandchildren have given him _.
→ một làn hơi thở mới → cái dịp mà bạn trở nên hấng khởi và nhiệt huyết hơn lúc trước.

see life

to experience many different and often unexpected things:

As a volunteer on the childcare project, I really _.

→ nhìn thấu sự đời, trải qua nhiều thăng trầm trong cuộc đời.

make somebody’s life a misery

to cause so much trouble for someone that they cannot enjoy their life 

• Competitive mothers can _ their daughters’ _.

• Tom has been _ ever since he found out I'd snitched on (nói xấu ai) him to the boss about taking office supplies.

→ gây ra nhiều vấn đề khó cho ai mà điều đó khiến học không thể tận hưởng cuộc sống họ nữa (nói vắn tắt là làm khó ai).

do anything for a quiet life

Strongly prefer or try very hard to avoid problems or conflict.

• Ted always agrees with his wife because he would _.

• Why wouldn't I _? Who wants to fight with people all the time?

→ cố gắng rất nhiều để tránh xa những vấn đề, cuộc cãi vả.

be (living) in a dream world

to have hopes and ideas that are not practical or possible:

If he thinks I'll forgive him, he's _.

→ có những hy vọng và ý tưởng không thiết thực và chắc chắn.

lead/live a charmed life

to be very lucky in life, often escaping dangerous situations without being hurt:

For many years, he _, working on movie projects all over the world.

Despite all her wealth, Harris hardly _.

→ rất là may mắn trong cuộc sống (thường xuyên tránh được những tình huống nguy hiểm mà không bị thương gì cả).

live a lie

to live in a way that is dishonest because you are pretending to be something that you are not, to yourself or to other people:

She doesn't know you're married? You have to stop _ and tell her.

→ sống một cách thiếu thành thực bởi vi bạn giả vờ gắn lên cho mình một vỏ bọc (không phải là bạn).

live out of a/(one's) suitcase

not have a permanent place to live:

• Since starting his new job, he’s been _, traveling from city to city

• After a month sleeping on a friend’s floor, Becky is tired of _.

→ không có một nơi cố định để ở (thường xuyên thay đổi chỗ ở).

live on borrowed time

to continue to exist longer than expected:

• It is unlikely that serious decisions will be made by a CEO _.

• The government is _ at the moment and is unlikely to survive the next election.

→ tồn tại, sống sót, hoặc kéo dài lâu hơn so với dự kiến/thường lệ.

SYN with its days numbered

live to tell the tale

to successfully deal with or continue to live despite a difficult situation or experience:

• We had a horrific journey, but we _.

• I was nearly hit by a truck, but luckily I _.

→ sống để còn kể lại câu chuyện (vượt qua khỏi một trải nghiệm hoặc tình huống khó khăn).

live and let live

said to mean that people should accept the way other people live and behave, especially if they do things in a different way

I wouldn’t want to have as many pets as they do but, hey, _.

→ cứ mặc kệ, chấp nhận cách sống của người khác.