Idioms (4)

DesC1C2

put two and two together

to guess the truth about a situation from what you have seen or heard

put two and two together and make five

to understand a particular situation wrongly, often in a way that is more shocking or exciting than the truth

put your feet up

to sit or lie down and relax, especially with your feet resting on something

quick/ slow on the uptake

understand things easily/ with difficulty

recharge your batteries

to rest so that you can get your energy back

red tape

official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results

reinvent the wheel

to waste time trying to create something that someone else has already created

ring a bell/ any bells

to sound familiar

satellite town (n)

A smaller town located near a large city, developed to ease congestion in the main city (một thị trấn nhỏ nằm gần thành phố lớn)

sb is only human

Used to say that it’s natural for someone to make mistakes or have emotions

see eye to eye (with sb)

agree with

have (got) set your heart on

to want something very much, so that you would be very disappointed if you do not get it

six of one (and) half a dozen of the other

said when you think that neither of two choices is better than the other

speak volumes

To convey a lot of meaning without words

split hairs

to argue about small details of something

steal the show/ scene

to be the most popular or the best part of an event or situation

stick to your guns (on)

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

stop (dead) in your tracks

to suddenly stop moving or doing something

take a shortcut

To travel along a route that is faster or more direct than the customary or original one

take a shortcut

To pursue some course of action that reduces the time, resources, or effort needed to accomplish something

take stock (of)

to examine a situation carefully

take the scenic route

to choose a longer, less direct route for the purpose of enjoying the scenery or the experience of traveling rather than the fastest path

tell tales

to give away secret or private information about the ( usually wrong) actions of others

have the edge on/ over

to have an advantage over

the luck of the draw

to be the result of chance and something that you have no control over

the other day

a few days ago

the powers that be

important people who have authority over others

the tools of the trade

something you need to use to do your job

throw the book at sb

to severely punish someone

tidy sum/ amount

a large number or amount or extent

under sb’s thumb

under someone's control

touch wood

said after a confident or positive statement, to express a hope for one's good luck to continue

turn over a new leaf

to start behaving in a better way

up in arms about

to be very angry

variety is the spice of life

new and exciting experiences make life more interesting.

your (own) flesh and blood

relation