english idioms in use inter unit 39

bite the bullet

1. ​(informal) to start to deal with an unpleasant or difficult situation which cannot be avoided

   • I wasn’t happy with the way my career was going so I decided to _ and look for another job.

~ Nhẫn nhục chịu đựng trong tình cảnh khó khăn, “cắn răng chịu đựng”

jump the gun

to do something too soon, before you have thought about it carefully:

Don't you think you're _ a bit - you've only known him for six weeks!

stick to your guns

to continue to have your beliefs or continue with a plan of action, even if other people disagree with you:

Despite harsh criticism, she's _ on this issue.

glare/look daggers at somebody

to look at somebody in a very angry way

When Sarah arrived late for the meeting, her boss _ her, clearly displeased with her tardiness.

put/stick the knife in | put/stick the knife into somebody

1. ​(informal) to behave towards somebody in an unfriendly way and try to harm them

She _ him after he failed to keep his promise.

turn/twist the knife (in the wound)

1. ​to say or do something unkind deliberately; to make somebody who is unhappy feel even more unhappy

   • Marcia laughed as she _ still deeper.

   • Just to _, the filmmakers have provided a surprise ending.

~ làm trầm trọng thêm vấn đề, đổ thêm dầu vào lửa

be in the firing line

1. ​to be in a position where you can be shot at

   • attempts to prevent civilians from being _

2. ​to be in a position where people can criticize or blame you

   • The employment secretary found himself _ over recent job cuts.

~ Ở trong tình huống dễ bị chỉ trích hoặc tấn công

call the shots

~ đưa ra quyết định, chỉ huy hoặc kiểm soát một tình huống

• In this company, the boss _.

• She likes to _ in every relationship.

caught in crossfire

hit accidentally when bullets are fired towards you from different directions but are not intended to hit you:

Her husband was a teacher who got _.

Three of the victims were civilians _.

hang/hold fire

to delay or be delayed in taking action

• The project had _ for several years for lack of funds.

(be) up in arms (about/over something)

1. ​(informal) (of a group of people) to be very angry about something and ready to protest strongly about it

be your own worst enemy

1. ​to be the cause of your own problems

   • Her indecisiveness makes her _.

   • Some dancers become _, criticizing themselves for every imperfection.

(fight) a losing battle

​(to try to do) something that you will probably never succeed in doing

• I’m _ against the mess in this house!

• She wanted him to take some responsibility for his actions, but she knew it was _.

~ Tham gia vào một cuộc vật lộn có khả năng thất bại hoặc khó có thể thành công

burn your boats/bridges

1. ​to do something that makes it impossible to return to the previous situation later

   • Think carefully before you resign–you don't want to _.

~ Cắt đường lui

if/when it comes to the crunch

if/when a situation becomes extremely serious and a decision must be made:

_ and you and your husband do split up, you can always stay with us.

a chink in somebody’s armour

​a weak point in somebody’s argument, character, etc., that can be used in an attack

A single _ at the negotiating table means we could lose out badly.

have an axe to grind

1. to have a strong personal opinion about something that you want people to accept and that is the reason why you do something:

   Environmentalists have no political _ - they just want to save the planet.