english idioms advanced in use unit 52: NO

in next to no time

very quickly or very soon:

The kids ate their dinner _.

We'll be home _.

→ rất sớm, nhanh.

SYN in a row

no end of something

a lot of:

If you don't want the job, there's _ people willing to take your place.

I found _ bargains in the sales.

→ vô vàn, rất nhiều.

no end

very much:

It would please Granny _ if you wrote to her occasionally.

→ rất nhiều (dùng trong kiểu mấy câu giúp đỡ hay làm ai đó vui, buồn, …)

like there’s no tomorrow

as much or as fast as possible, without planning or thinking first:

The minute he got paid, he started spending money _.

→ như thể không có ngày mai → nhanh nhất có thể, không thèm lên kế hoạch hay suy ngẫm trước.

will not take no for an answer

to not allow someone to refuse what you have offered:

I told Steve I'm not interested, but he keeps asking me out - he won't _.

→ không cho phép ai từ chối những gì bạn đã ngỏ lời yêu cầu.

no prizes for guessing something

something you say when it is very easy to guess something:

_ where Daniel is.

→ cái gì rất là dễ để đoán.

there's no time like the present

said to encourage someone to take action immediately instead of waiting

Let’s ask her now. _.

→ Giờ làm luôn đi thay vì chờ đợi.

no ifs or buts

something that you say to a child to stop them arguing with you when you want them to do something:

• I want _ - just get on and tidy your room now.

• Go and wash your hands. _.

→ không nhưng nhị/lí do lí trấu gì hết.

no strings (attached)

If there are ~ to an offer or arrangement, there is nothing that is unpleasant that you have to accept:

• I'll drive you home - _.

• I’ll help you. _, I promise.

→ không có điều kiền ràng buộc nào.

there's no such thing as a free lunch

said to emphasize that you cannot get something for nothing:

"I get to travel with my job but the downside is I have to give talks." "Well, _."

→ không có gì là miễn phí cả.

no-go area

an area, especially in a town, where it is very dangerous to go, usually because a group of people who have weapons prevent the police, army, and other people from entering

Some parts of the city are _ at night.

→ khu vực nguy hiểm, nơi mà một nhóm người thường xuyên cầm vũ khí chống đối cảnh sát và những người khác.

no news is good news

said to make someone feel less worried when they have not received information about someone or something, because if something bad had happened, they would have been told about it:

We haven't heard anything from the hospital today, but I suppose _.

→ Chắc là mọi chuyện đều ổn, Không có tin gì thì chắc mọi thứ đang tiến triển tốt.

in no uncertain terms

in a very clear way:

She told him what she thought of his behaviour _ (= she made her disapproval very clear).

I told her, _, that she was to be back here at six o'clock and not a minute later.

→ một cách thẳng thắn, không vòng vo.

be no oil painting

to not be attractive:

She's _ but she's got an attractive personality.

→ không thu hút (gọi informal hơn là không đẹp, xấu).

SYN ugly, not pretty

spring chicken

a young person; usually used in negative contexts to say someone is no longer young:

• He's no _ anymore.

• Getting fit takes time and commitment and if you're no _, you have to take it easy along the way.

→ không còn trẻ và khỏe như xưa.

be no fool

to not be stupid or easily deceived:

• I notice Ed didn't offer to pay for her - he's _.

• She's _. She knew it was in her interests to take the deal.

→ đâu có ngu mà để bị lừa.

be no joke

to be serious or difficult:

It's _ driving on icy roads.

→ nghiêm trọng và khó khăn.

be no picnic

to be a difficult or unpleasant situation:

Being a single parent is _, I can tell you.

→ rất là khó khăn và không mấy dễ chịu.