ATTiTUDES

49 - 54

1. live and breath sth (id)

2. be in one’s element

1. spend so much time doing something

2. feel comfortable and free with the situation

throw oneself into sth

to do sth with a lot of energy and enthusiasm

Eg: She throws herself into this new job.

1. take sth like a duck to water

2. there’s no stopping us/…

3. be/ get carried away

1. be familiar with sth quickly

2. being unstoppable

3. so excited and amazed that cannot control the feeling.

come one’s way (id)

điều gì đến/xảy ra với bạn, cái gì đó trở thành vật sở hữu, bạn nắm giữ nó tạm thời hoặc vĩnh viễn.

Eg: Good opportunities always seem to come my brother's way, whether he works hard for them or not.

write sth/someone off (as sth)

to decide that a particular person or thing will not be useful, important, or successful

Eg: A lot of companies seem to write people off if they're over 50.

luck is one somebody’s side

if luck is on someone’s side, things go well for them 

Eg: Luck was on my side; all the traffic lights were green.

1. dwell on/upon sth

2. put sb down

1. dừng lại, suy nghĩ hoặc nói quá lâu về một điều gì đó, thường là điều tiêu cực hoặc gây phiền muộn

Eg: In his speech, he dwelt on the plight of the sick and the hungry.

2. criticize sb, making them feel embarrassed and silly

take a chance on sth

take risk doing sth

Eg: They took a chance and cast an unknown actor in the lead role.

be glued to sth

to be unable to stop watching something

Eg: I was literally glued to Lisa’s performance.

nothing to get excited about

nothing to write home about

be very mediocre or unexceptional

Eg: Their performance was nothing to write home about.

not be my idea of fun

sth that other enjoy but you don’t enjoy that much.

be in the bag

If something is in the bag, you are certain to get it or to achieve it:

Eg: Once we'd scored the third goal, the game was pretty much in the bag.

be with in the chance (of doing sth) (collocations)

If you are in with a chance, you have a possibility of doing or getting what you want

Eg: You're definitely in with a chance of getting the job.

take some doing

require a lot of efforts, time and endeavor

quite the opposite/reverse

far from it

used to say the opposite of sth

Eg: People say that i'm quiet and shy when in fact, I am quite the opposite.

like water off a duck’s back

have no effect on sb

feel/be hard done by

To feel unfairly treated or wronged.

Eg: Many workers feel hard done by during the recent pay cuts.

do one’s own thing

do sth that you pleases

be miles away

to not be conscious of what is happening around you because you are thinking about something else

Eg: You could tell by the expression on her face that she was miles away, thinking about home.

1. there nothing to it

2. that figures

3. not in the least

4. that’s an idea

1. =that’s very easy

2. sth seems logical and sensible

3. not at all

4. reply in a positive way to a suggestion.

With (all due) respect

used to express polite disagreement in a formal situation

Eg: With all due respect, Sir, I cannot agree with your last statement.

in large part = in large measure (phrase)

=to an important extent

Eg: How quickly we can finish the project depends in a large part on when we get the payments through.

We were able to get the job finished early thanks in large part to Tom's efforts.

I owe my appreciation of food in large part to my mother.

lay something (to) waste

to completely destroy sth

Eg: The bomb laid the city centre to waste.

have the honor of (doing sth(

A phrase used when one is very pleased about something that has been bestowed upon them.

Eg: The city of Columbus has the honor of hosting the next All-Star Game.

on the threshold of sth

at the beginning of sth

Eg: We are on the threshold of a new era in global relations.

-heed (v)

-pay heed to = take heed of sth

-chú ý đến cái gì

-to give careful attention to someone’s advice or warning

Eg: People should pay no heed to these ill-informed views.

She paid no heed to our warning.

-They took no heed of his advice.

beyond the call of duty

more than what someone can be expected to do as their duty

Eg: We want to reward emergency workers who go beyond the call of duty to help others.

The teachers were coming in on Saturdays, which is really was beyond the call of duty.

pay tribute to sb

show respect to sb in a specified way

Eg: The community gathered to pay tribute to the local hero.

Schools often organize events to pay tribute to teachers' hard work.

be in sb’s debt

be in debt to sb

Schools often organize events to pay tribute to teachers' hard work.

Eg: I’m in the senator’s debt for getting my husband a visa.

sth hold sway (over) sth

sth be under someone’s spell

(put sb under spell)

to have power or a very strong influence

Eg: Fundamentalist beliefs hold sway over whole districts, ensuring the popularity of religious leaders.

under the influence

drunk or affected by drugs

Eg: Driving under the influence is a very serious offence.

take the liberty of doing sth

to do something that will have an effect on someone else, without asking their permission

Eg: I took the liberty of booking theatre seats for us.

not take kindly to something

to not like something

Eg: After years of being looked after by his mother, he didn't take kindly to being told to cook for himself.

by virtue of sth

= because of…

1. in conjunction with sth/sb (collocation)

2. in accordance with sth

1. together with

2. conforming to sth

   Eg: Her actions were in accordance with company policy.

at liberty (to do sth)

have permission to do sth

in good faith (id)

f something is done in good faith, it is done sincerely and honestly

Eg: She was acting in good faith for her client.

enter into sth

to start to become involved in something, especially a discussion or agreement:

Eg: They refuse to enter into any discussion on this matter.

The Council's opinion doesn't enter into it - it's up to us to make the decision.

1. of one’s own free will

2. abide by sth (rules or order)

1. willing to take action

2. obey to sth

be sb’s undoing

to cause someone shame, failure, embarrassment

Eg: In the end, drink was his undoing.

be under false pretences

If you do something under false pretences, you lie about who you are, what you are doing, or what you intend to do, in order to get something:

He was deported for entering the country under false pretences.

deprive sb/sth of something

contend with

take sth/ sb away of sb

=struggle against, deal with

=argue that, claim that,…

1. impinge on/upon sb/sth = have a bearing on

2. resign oneself to (doing) sth unpleasant = unnecessary evil

1. to have an effect on something, often causing problems by limiting it in some way:

   Eg: The government's spending limits will seriously impinge on the education budget.

2. accept sth unpleasant

   Eg: He resigned to living alone

allude to someone/sth

refer to someone/sth subtly (nói bonga gió/ ám chỉ)

Eg: he alluded to some bad things that happened in his speech

amount to

call on/upon sb/sth

1. To be the same as something

   Eg: The total expenses amount to $500 for the community project.

2. add up to a particular amount.

   Eg: Her donations amount to a significant contribution to the charity.

3. ask for sb/sth

dispense with sth/sb

to get rid of or stop using something or someone that you do not need:

They've had to dispense with a lot of luxuries since Mike lost his job.

1. in the direction of something

2. in sb’s direction

1. facing something or towards something

   Eg: He took a step in the direction of the car.

   The tourists waved wildly in the direction of the people on shore.

2. according to what sb decides or wishes to do

1. on the production of sth

2. at your earliest convenience

3. keep one’s distance.

1. when you show something 

   Eg: Entrance is only permitted on production of a ticket.

2. as soon as you like or can

3. giữ khoảng cách (với ai/ cái gì)

reserve the right to do something

if you reserve the right to do something, you will do it if you think it is necessary (sẽ làm ở một lúc nào đó trong tương lai)

Eg: Human beings reserve the right to alter and change views on environmental issues.

soak up the atmosphere

absorbing it into our senses, body, and mind

spill over

The violence could spill over into neighbouring areas. = spread and begin to affect other areas.

His emotions spilled over after his big win. = he was unable to control his emotions.

stand back

You should stand back and consider your future. = think about t as if you are not involved in it.

1. wrap up

2. a warp-up on sth

1. accomplish sth

   Eg: The police have wrapped up the enquiry. = INF completed the enquiry (also wrap up a meeting / a deal).

2. an ending mark of sth

(do) hatchet job (on)

a cruel written or spoken attack on someone or something

Eg: Fleck was certainly not the only critic to do a hatchet job on his latestnovel.

1. a hot potato

2. a lame duck

1. an issue that causes angry debate and is difficult to deal with.

2. A lot of time and effort goes into supporting employees who are essentially lame ducks.