CHANEL NUMBER 2: CONFUSING WORDS

BRIDGING THE GAP I HATE

from the word go

from the start of something:

We got on well from the word go.

be the talk of the town

to be what everyone is talking about:

The new statue in the park is the talk of the town.

at length

for a long time:

at great length George went on at great length about his various illnesses.

to coin a phrase

something you say before using an expression that has been very popular or used too much:

I was, to coin a phrase, gobsmacked!

idle

(adj): without any particular purpose

idle chatter/gossip/speculation

an idle glance

This is no idle threat.

no something to speak of

not enough of something to make it worth talking about:

There was no snow to speak of this winter.

figure of speech

biện pháp tu từ

say sth to yourself

to think something

you don’t say!

used either to express surprise or lack of surprise in a humorous and slightly unkind way:

"He's lost his job." "You don't say!"

have a say in

to be involved in making a decision about something:

When he's 18, he'll begin to have a/some say in the running of the family business.

you can say that again!

used to show that you completely agree with what someone has said

talk sense

to speak in a reasonable way:

It's good to hear someone finally talking sense on this issue.

talk somebody out of something

to persuade someone not to do something:

[ + -ing verb ] Her parents tried to talk her out of getting engaged.

have words with sb

to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong :

Her father would have had words with her about that.

give your word

to promise:

He gave his word that he would marry her and she had no cause to doubt him.

eat your words

to admit that something you said before was wrong:

Sam said it would never sell, but when he sees these sales figures he'll have to eat his words.

turn of phrase

cách diễn đạt

rumor has it

people are saying:

rumour has it (that) Rumour has it (that) you're going to be the next managing director. Is it true?

have a (good) head for something

to have a natural ability to do something well:

Kim has a head for numbers.

lost cause

lost cause

as a matter of course

If something is done as a matter of course, it is a usual part of the way in which things are done and is not special:

Safety precautions are observed as a matter of course.

chief

most important/main

doubtless

used to mean that you are certain that something will happen or is true:

They will doubtless protest, but there's nothing they can do. [formal]

fight tooth and nail

to try very hard to get something you want:

We fought tooth and nail to get the route of the new road changed.

hold your tongue

to not speak:

Hold your tongue, young man!

make sb’s blood boil

to make someone extremely angry:

The way they have treated those people makes my blood boil.

a bone of contention (between)

something that two or more people argue about strongly over a long period of time

bite your lip

to prevent yourself from showing your reaction to something by speaking or laughing:

I really wanted to laugh - I had to bite my lip.

be glad to see the back of sb/sth

If you are pleased to see the back of someone or something, you are pleased that you no longer have to be involved with him, her, or it:

glad to see the back of someone/something The hotel staff were glad to see the back of such a difficult guest.

bone idle

extremely lazy:

He never does any exercise - he's bone idle.