PART 14 - IDIOMS AND COLLOCATIONS

step up a gear

to start working or performing with more energy and effort (tăng tốc, tăng cường độ)

foaming at the mouth

to be extremely angry (vô cùng tức giận)

land on your feet

to be lucky or successful after being in a difficult situation (gặp may mắn sau khó khăn)

you name it

used to say that there are many things to choose from (đủ thứ, đủ cả)

a glutton for punishment

someone who seems to enjoy doing things that are difficult or unpleasant (người thích tự hành xác)

gravy train

a way of getting a lot of money with little effort (nguồn lợi dễ dàng)

can't take your eyes off

to find someone or something so attractive or interesting that you keep looking (không thể rời mắt)

foot the bill

to pay for something (trả tiền, thanh toán)

pack a punch

to have a very powerful effect (có tác động mạnh mẽ)

pound of flesh

a very harsh payment or punishment that is demanded (sự đòi hỏi khắt khe, không khoan nhượng)

put somebody's mind at rest

to stop someone from worrying (trấn an, làm ai yên lòng)

be two a penny

to be very common and therefore not valuable (thứ gì đó rất phổ biến, rẻ mạt)

a little bird told me

used to say you know something but will not say how you found out (chim lồng mách bảo)

a load off your mind

a feeling of relief because a worry has been removed (trút được gánh nặng)

play cat and mouse

to try to defeat someone by tricking them into making a mistake (chơi trò mèo vờn chuột)

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

it is better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get more (được voi đòi tiên)

cross your mind

to suddenly think of something (thoáng qua trong đầu)

be like two peas in a pod

to be very similar (giống nhau như hai giọt nước)

men in grey suits

people who have power but are not famous, especially in business or politics (những kẻ quyền lực ngầm)

dice with death

to do something very risky (liều mạng)

just my luck

used to say that something bad that has happened is typical of what happens to you (đúng là cái số tôi)

on a collision course

likely to have serious trouble because of opposing aims (trên đà đối đầu)

work like a dream

to work very well (hoạt động trơn tru, hoàn hảo)

deal somebody a bad hand

to give someone unfair disadvantages in life (bị đối xử bất công, số phận kém may mắn)

have stars in your eyes

to be excited and hopeful about the future, often in an unrealistic way (mơ mộng hão huyền)

shed crocodile tears

to show sadness that is not sincere (nước mắt cá sấu)

hook, line and sinker

completely (hoàn toàn, không chút nghi ngờ)

be up to your ears in work

to be very busy (bận ngập đầu)

all in the mind

existing only in the imagination (chỉ là tưởng tượng)

give somebody a break

to stop criticizing or putting pressure on someone (tha cho ai đi)

in seventh heaven

extremely happy (cực kỳ hạnh phúc)

last but not least

important, despite being mentioned at the end (cuối cùng nhưng không kém phần quan trọng)

have something on the brain

to not be able to stop thinking about something (bị ám ảnh, me hoac bởi điều gì)

a list as long as your arm

a very long list (một danh sách dài dằng dặc)

variety is the spice of life

new and exciting experiences make life more interesting (sự đa dạng là gia vị của cuộc sống)

don't get me wrong

used when you do not want someone to misunderstand you (đừng hiểu lầm tôi)

fair's fair

used to say that a situation or decision is acceptable because it is just (thế mới công bằng)

light years away

a very long time in the past/future (còn rất lâu nữa)

make a pig's ear of something

to do something very badly (làm hỏng bét, làm một cách vụng về)

step on it

to drive or move faster (đi nhanh lên)

frighten the living daylights out of somebody

to frighten someone very much (làm ai sợ xanh mặt)

play hardball

to be very determined to get what you want, without caring about others (chơi trò cứng)

no such luck

used to say that something you had hoped for did not happen (chẳng được như mong đợi)

listen with half an ear

to not listen carefully (nghe nửa vời)

six of one and half a dozen of the other

used to say two alternatives are the same (năm mươi bước trăm bước)

sing from the same hymn sheet

to show that you are in agreement (nói cùng một quan điểm)

on the wrong track

thinking or behaving in the wrong way (sai lầm trong suy nghĩ)

open somebody's eyes to something

to make someone aware of something (mở mắt cho ai thấy điều gì)

people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

you should not criticize others for faults that you have (ốc không mang nổi mình ốc)

all's fair in love and war

in love and war, people are not bound by rules of fair behavior (trong tình yêu và chiến tranh, mọi thứ đều được chấp nhận)