IDIOMS

be like chalk and cheese

= completely different from each other

I don’t have anything in common with my brother. We are like chalk and cheese.

here and there

= everywhere

I have been looking here and there for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.

a hot potato

= a problem, situation, etc. that is difficult to deal with and causes a lot of disagreement (vấn đề nan giải)

The issue is a political hot potato in the United States.

at the drop of a hat

= immediately without stopping to think about it (ngay lập tức, không do dự)

The company can’t except me to move my home and family at the drop of a hat.

back to the drawing board

= back to the beginning of a process to start it again, because it is not working (bắt đầu lại từ đầu)

They rejected our proposal, so it’s back to the drawing board.

beat about the bush

= to avoid talking about what is important (nói vòng vo, không tập trung vào vấn đề chính)

Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.

be the best thing since sliced bread

= a good invention or innovation, a good idea or plan (ý tưởng hay, tốt)

Portable phones are marketed as the best thing since sliced bread; people think they are extremely good.

be caught between two stools

= when sb finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives (lưỡng lự, không biết lựa chọn cái nào)

I was caught between two stools when I had to choose which shirt to hang out with my girlfriend.

when pigs fly = pigs might fly

= said when you think that there is no chance at all of something happening (chuyện viển vông)

"I'll have finished it by tomorrow." "And pigs might fly!"

scratch someone’s back

= used to tell someone that if they help you, you will help them (giúp ai với mong muốn sau này họ sẽ giúp lại mình)

“You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours,” the customer said when we talked about the new sales contact.

hit the nail on the head

= to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem (nói trúng phóc, nói đúng tim đen, chính xác, chuẩn không cần chỉnh)

I think Mick hit the nail on the head when he said that what's lacking in this company is a feeling of confidence.

the black sheep

a person who is different from the rest of their family or another group, and who is considered bad or embarrassing (nghịch tử)

the black sheep of the family

blue in the face

to try to do something as hard and as long as you possibly can but without success (mãi mãi, lâu đến vô vọng)

You can argue till you're blue in the face, but you won't change my mind.

red-letter day

an important day, or a day that you will remember, because of something good that happened then (ngày đáng nhớ)

It was a red-letter day for United, who won a place in Saturday’s final.

white as a ghost/sheet

If someone is (as) white as a sheet, their face is very pale, usually because of illness, shock, or fear.

once in a blue moon

= very rarely

Once in a blue moon, there's an issue I can't resolve.

black and white

A black-and-white subject or situation is one in which it is easy to understand what is right and wrong (rõ ràng)

Disarmament isn't a black-and-white issue for me.

have a yellow streak

có tính nhát gan

get/give the green light

to give permission for someone to do something or for something to happen (bật đèn xanh)

The council has given the green light to the new shopping centre.

out of the blue

If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected (hoàn toàn bất ngờ)

One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.

paint the town red

to go out and enjoy yourself by drinking alcohol, dancing, laughing with friends, etc. (ăn mừng)

I'm ready to paint the town red with a few of my closest friends.

keep st quiet

= keep st secret

They managed to keep the school's problems quiet for a while.

keep one’s head = keep a clear/cool head

to remain calm in a difficult situation

She needed to keep her head if she was to remain in control.

make room/space/way (for sth)

allow enough free space

I was wondering if I could make room for a grand piano somewhere in my house.

feel/be/look worn out

feel/be/look exhausted

I've been working all night and I'm worn out.

lose one’s head

= panic, lose self-control

He usually stays quite calm in meetings but this time he just lost his head.

lose heart

become discouraged, stop believing that you can succeed

Don't lose heart, there'll be plenty more chances for promotion.

tell the world

tell everybody

When Kelly agreed to marry him, he was so happy that he wanted to tell the world.

spend money like water

spend money quickly or in large amounts

The Government is spending money like water and has no real plan.

save st for a rainy day

save for future time of need

Luckily she had saved some money for a rainy day.

(do st) behind one’s back

act without sb else’s knowledge

I dread to think what they say about me behind my back.

in the pink

in very good health

lend color to sth

to make something, especially something unusual, appear likely or true (chứng minh)

We have new evidence that lends colour to the accusation of fraud.

splitting headache

a severe headache

Twelve Melissa slept late and awoke with a splitting headache.

make one’s blood boil

to make someone extremely angry

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

pay through the nose

to pay too much money for something (trả giá quá đắt)

We paid through the nose to get the car fixed.

by the skin of one’s teeth

only just succeed in doing st, and very nearly failed to do it (sát sao, rất sát)

He escaped from the secret police by the skin of his teeth.

pull one’s leg

to try to persuade someone to believe something that is not true, as a joke (chọc ai)

Is it really your car or are you pulling my leg?

fight tooth and claw/nail

to try very hard to get something you want (đánh nhau dữ dội, cấu xé nhau)

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

not bat an eye/eyelash

to show no sign of surprise or worry when something unexpected happens (không tỏ ra ngạc nhiên hay sốc)

She told him she'd spent all her savings but he didn't bat an eye.

go to one’s head

st makes that person think that they are very important and makes them a less pleasant person (khiến ai kiêu ngạo)

Don't let fame/success go to your head.

get/have cold feet

to suddenly become too frightened to do something you had planned to do, especially something important (mất can đảm, chùn bước)

I was going to try bungee jumping, but I got cold feet.

lead sb by the nose

to control someone and make them do exactly what you want (nắm đầu, dắt mũi ai)

Politicians think they can easily lead people by the nose.

be off one's head + Ving

to be crazy (điên, loạn trí)

You must be off your head going out in this weather!

put one’s foot in it

to say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone (gây nhầm lẫn, bối rối, phạm sai lầm gây bối rối)

I really put my foot in it – I asked her if Jane was her mother, but she said Jane is her sister.

stay/keep/be on one’s toes

always directing all your attention and energy to what you are doing (thận trọng, cảnh giác)

Investment changes all the time and you have to stay on your toes to keep up with it.

have in mind

to have a plan or intention (cân nhắc, suy tính, dự định)

Did you have anything in mind for Helen's present?

at heart

basically, fundamentally

He had dozens of friends, but he was a private person at heart.

face the music

to accept criticism or punishment for something you have done (chịu trận)

If she lied to me, then she'll just have to face the music.

(know something) like the back of one’s hand

to have very good and detailed knowledge of something (rõ như lòng bàn tay)

I know this area like the back of my hand.

the twinkling of an eye

st happens very quickly (trong nháy mắt)

Microprocessors do the calculations in the twinkling of an eye.

on the tip of (one’s) tongue

about to be said if you can remember it (dùng khi diễn tả ai đó không thể nhớ ra st mặc dù đã chắc chắn biết về nó)

I know her - her name is on the tip of my tongue, but it won't come to me.

put one’s foot in one’s mouth

to say or do something that you should not have, esp. something that embarrasses someone else (làm điều gì ngu ngốc làm xúc phạm người khác) = say the wrong things

I really put my foot in my mouth – I asked her if Jane was her mother, but she said Jane is her sister.

poke/stick one’s nose into one’s business

to try to discover things that are not really related to you (chúi mũi vào việc của người khác)

I wish he'd stop sticking his nose into my personal life!

feel st in one’s bones

to believe something strongly although you cannot explain why (cảm nhận rõ rệt)

It's going to be a good summer - I can feel it in my bones.

a real pain in the neck

someone or something that is annoying or difficult to deal with (sốc, nghiêm trọng)

One of my students is a real pain in the neck.

see eye to eye with sb

totally agree

My sisters don't see eye to eye with me about the arrangements.

keep one’s head above the water

to just be able to manage, especially when you have financial difficulties (xoay xở)

The business is in trouble, but we are just about keeping our heads above water.

have egg on one’s face

look stupid because of something that sb have done (xấu hổ)

This latest scandal has left the government with egg on its face.

word of mouth

(adj) given or done by people talking about something or telling people about somethin (đồn đại, truyền miệng)

We get most of our work through word-of-mouth recommendations.

heart to heart

(n) talk honestly about their feelings (chân thành)

We had a heart-to-heart over a bottle of wine.

body and soul

every part of you, including your mind and your emotions, wholeheartedly (hết lòng, hết dạ)

He dedicated himself body and soul to the education of young men.

flesh and blood

(n) someone from your family (người có máu mủ ruột thịt)

I was surprised at how much I cared for this girl who wasn't even my flesh and blood.

skin and bones

extremely thin (da bọc xương)

Your brother is just skin and bones - has he been sick?

trip over one’s big feet

tự vấp ngã   

in one's capable hands

being dealt with by the person mentioned (trong quyền giải quyết)

I'm going away next week, so I'll be leaving everything in your capable hands.

up to your eye in sth

to be very busy doing something

I'm up to my eyes in homework this week.

have a head for st

to have a natural ability to do something well (giỏi về cái gì)

Kim has a head for numbers.

(have st) at one’s fingertips

If you have information at your fingertips, you can get it and use it very easily ((có st) trong tầm tay)

He has all the latest statistics at his fingertips.

get/have butterflies in one’s stomach

to feel very nervous, usually about something you are going to do (cảm thấy bồn chồn)

I had terrible butterflies before I gave that talk in Venice.

have a bee in one’s bonnet (about sth)

to keep talking about something again and again because you think it is very important (ám ảnh về sth)

She never stops talking about healthy eating - she's got a real bee in her bonnet about it.

huddle into a pen

túm tụm lại, lại gần nhau

The sheep were huddled into a pen to protect them from overnight frosts

kill two birds with one stone

to succeed in achieving two things in a single action (một mũi tên trúng hai đích)

I killed two birds with one stone and picked the kids up on the way to the supermarket.

a big fish in a small pond

someone who has a lot of influence only over a small area (thắng chột làm vua xứ mù, một nhân vật quan trọng và có ảnh hưởng trong một cộng đồng nhỏ hay phạm vi hẹp)

Since she was so popular and well-known within the walls of her small high school, Jennifer was used to being a big fish in a small pond.

(like) water off a duck’s back

criticisms of or warnings to a particular person that have no effect on that person (nước đổ đầu vịt)

I've told him that he's heading for trouble, but he doesn't listen - it's just water off a duck's back.

don’t count your chickens before they hatch

you should not make plans that depend on something good happening before you know that it has actually happened (đừng vội làm gì khi chưa chắc)

She wanted to buy a dress in case someone asked her to the dance, but I told her not to count her chickens before they hatched.

the early bird catches the worm

a saying that means someone will have an advantage if they do something immediately, or before other people do it (nắm bắt cơ hội)

This is still a nation that believes the early bird catches the worm.

be in the doghouse

If you are in the doghouse, someone is annoyed with you and shows their disapproval (ai đó đang khó chịu với bạn vì điều bạn đã làm)

I'm in the doghouse - I broke Sara's favourite vase this morning.

don’t/never look a gift horse in the mouth

said to advise someone not to refuse something good that is being offered (đừng đòi hỏi giá trị khi nhận được quà)

I know Aunt Jean isn't your favorite person, but she gave you that beautiful sweater as a present, so don't look a gift horse in the mouth!

cock-and-bull (+story)

a story that is obviously not true, especially one given as an excuse (bịa đặt, vẽ vời ra)

He gave me some cock-and-bull story about having to be at his cousin's engagement party.

change horse in midstream

to stop using one system and start using another one, or to stop supporting one person and start supporting someone else (thay đổi giữa chừng)

I think we were very wise not to change horses in midstream.

be in/get into deep water

trong tình huống khó khăn

The director knew he'd be in deep water if he didn't mention his wife in his acceptance speech.

be in/get into hot water

to be in or get into a difficult situation in which you are in danger of being criticized or punished (gặp rắc rối)

He found himself in hot water over his comments about immigration.

better safe than sorry

phòng ngừa trước hơn hối tiếc sau

Make sure you take an umbrella – I know it's sunny now, but better safe than sorry.

the grass is always green on the other side of the fence

đứng núi này trông núi nọ

You might think you'd be happy if you were working in my company, but, well, the grass is greener on the other side.

once bitten, twice shy [SAYING]

said when you are frightened to do something again because you had an unpleasant experience doing it the first time (chim phải đạn sợ cành cong)

A: Are you going to invest in that startup this time?
B: Not really. I lost a lot of money the last time I did.
A: But this one seems more promising.
B: Still, once bitten, twice shy. I’m being extra careful now.

honesty is the best policy

said to advise someone that it is better to tell the truth than to lie (thật thà là thượng sách)

He realized honesty is the best policy and told them what really happened to their car.

a woman gives and forgives, a man gets and forgets = forgive and forget

to completely stop blaming or being angry with someone for something they have done, and to stop thinking about it (đàn bà cho đi và tha thứ, còn đàn ông nhận lại và quên đi)

A quarrel is only over when both sides can forgive and forget.

no roses without a thorn

hoa hồng nào cũng có gai, hiếm có việc gì hoàn hảo tất cả

Our teacher is usually very supportive and patient, but if you mess around in her class, she'll tear you a new one. There's no rose without thorns, I guess.

it’s an ill bird that fouls its own nest

vạch áo cho người xem lưng/tốt đẹp khoe ra xấu xa che lại

don’t trouble trouble till trouble troubles you

không nên lo lắng thái quá, tránh lo xa

Don't trouble trouble till trouble troubles you—just wait and see how she treats you at the birthday party.

still waters run deep [SAYING]

said about a person who says little, but who might in fact know a lot (tẩm ngẩm tầm ngầm mà đấm chết voi)

Jill: I get the impression that Nathan is not very smart. He never says anything.

Jane: Don't be so sure. still waters run deep, you know.

men make houses, women make homes

đàn ông xây nhà, đàn bà xây tổ ấm

When William moved into his own apartment, his mother insisted on choosing and arranging the furniture and decorations for him. "Men make houses, women make homes," she said

penny wise pound foolish/be penny-wise and pound-foolish

to be extremely careful about small amounts of money and not careful enough about larger amounts of money (tham bát bỏ mâm)

I know you don't want to pay for this expensive course of treatment, but when ignoring your health lands you in the hospital, you'll see that you were penny-wise and pound-foolish.

(money) make(s) the mare go

có tiền mua tiên cũng được

the die is cast

said when a situation is certain to develop in a particular way because decisions have been taken that cannot be changed (bút sa gà chết, số phận đã được định đoạt)

From the moment the negotiations failed, the die was cast and war was inevitable.

two can play that game

something that you say when you intend to harm someone in the same way as they harmed you (ăn miếng trả miếng)

When I found out that my husband had been having an affair, I thought "two can play at that game!"

practice makes perfect = diligence is the mother of success/good luck

có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim

You want to have the same excellent opportunities as your sister? Work hard, because diligence is the mother of good luck.

ignorance is bliss

said to emphasize that sometimes it is better for you if you do not know all the facts about a situation (không biết thì dựa cột mà nghe)

Sometimes I just decide to ignore the news for a few days. Ignorance is bliss, I tell you.

no pain, no gain

có làm mới có ăn

The road to becoming a doctor is long, hard, and exhausting, not to mention expensive! But no pain, no gain.