english idioms advanced in use unit 21: SHAKESPEARE

the green-eyed monster

(informal)

1. ​used as a way of talking about being jealous

• After seeing her friend’s new car, Maria felt the _ creeping up inside her.

• The promotion at work unleashed the _ among colleagues.

  → quái vật mắt màu xanh lá cây → nỗi ghen tị

at/in one fell swoop

all at the same time; in a single action, especially a sudden or violent one

• If the new law is passed, it will remove press freedom _.

• I got all my Christmas shopping done _.

→ swoop (v): ngã, bổ nhào xuống

→ trong một cú ngã bổ nhào → quyết định/ hành động được thực hiện nhanh chóng, cùng một lúc

eat somebody out of house and home

​(informal, often humorous) to eat a lot of somebody else’s food

• How much longer is he staying? He’s _ us _.

→ ăn đến nỗi ai phải sạt nghiệp vì mình

make somebody’s hair stand on end

1. ​(informal) to shock or frighten somebody

   • a chilling tale that will _.

     SYN jump out of your skin, make someone's blood run cold

in the twinkling of an eye

very quickly

synonym instant

• Suddenly, _, her whole life had been turned upside down.

SYN in the blink of an eye

wild goose chase

​a search for something that is impossible for you to find or that does not exist, that makes you waste a lot of time

• The police had been sent on a _.

• After two hours spent wandering in the snow, I realized we were on a _.

lay it on with a trowel

1. ​(informal) to talk about somebody/something in a way that makes them or it seem much better or much worse than they really are; to exaggerate something

   • He was _ the flattery _.

• She went on and on about how she admired his work - _, if you ask me.

→ trowel (n): cái bay

→ phóng đại; thổi phồng, tán dương hết lời; quan trọng hóa vấn đề

star-crossed /ˈstɑːr krɔːst/

(literary)

1. ​not able to be happy because of bad luck or fate

   • Shakespeare’s _ lovers, Romeo and Juliet

the course of true love never did run smooth

There will always be issues or problems in a romantic relationship

→ những người yêu nhau thường phải vượt qua nhiều gian nan, vất vả để được ở bên nhau

Jill: What am I going to do? My boyfriend's job is transferring him to Texas, and I have to stay here.

Jane: _.

(have, get, want, etc.) your pound of flesh

1. ​the full amount that somebody owes you, even if this will cause them trouble or difficulty

   • You’re determined to have your _, aren’t you?

→ quyết tâm giành lại những gì thuộc về mình một cách chính đáng

send somebody packing

1. ​(informal) to tell somebody clearly or rudely to go away

   • She tried to interfere but I _.

• There were some kids at the door asking for money but I _.

→ đuổi ai đi một cách thẳng thừng và có phần thô lỗ