Idioms and collocations 15/9

pay one's last respect to sb (v)

to show final tribute to someone who has died /// tỏ lòng thành kính lần cuối với ai /// I'd like to have _________ to his father.

pie in the sky (n)

something impossible or unrealistic /// điều không thể /// Hard as we tried, our plan was just __________.

beyond the pale (adj/idiom)

unacceptable, outside normal standards /// không thể chấp nhận được /// His comments are sometimes __________.

draw one's fire (v)

receive criticism from someone /// nhận sự chỉ trích /// I object to always having to __________ when things go wrong.

bury one's head in the sand (v)

pretend to ignore a problem /// giả vờ làm ngơ /// The adults shouldn't have __________ about the kids' problems.

be required of sb (v)

be someone's responsibility /// là trách nhiệm của ai đó /// It hasn't been made clear to me what is __________ of me in the new job.

hold/keep/stand one's ground (v)

maintain one's position /// giữ vững lập trường /// He managed to __________ against his adversary.

dawn on sb (v)

suddenly realize /// chợt nhận ra /// The meaning of a "freebie" suddenly __________ me.

as an alternative to sth (phr)

as a replacement for something /// như một sự thay thế cho /// Most stores accept a credit card __________ cash.

make a getaway (v)

escape, especially from crime /// tẩu thoát /// The bank robbers __________ in a stolen car.

make a mountain out of a molehill (v)

exaggerate a small problem /// chuyện bé xé ra to /// Don't __________ over something so trivial.

subscribe to sth (v)

agree with an opinion /// đồng ý với /// I do not __________ the opinion that nature and nurture are equally significant.

stand head and shoulders above (v)

be much better than /// vượt trội /// Thailand no longer __________ all other countries in football.

sweep sth under the carpet (v)

hide something embarrassing /// che giấu /// He __________ the matter under the carpet.

go to any lengths (v)

do everything possible to achieve something /// làm mọi thứ để đạt được /// He would __________ to obtain the contract.

have the guts to V (v)

have courage to do something /// có gan làm gì /// I didn't __________ tell the truth because my father was there.

take sb by surprise/aback (v)

shock or surprise someone /// khiến ai ngạc nhiên /// His sudden proposal __________ her.

no great shakes as (adj)

not very good at something /// không giỏi /// She was __________ a researcher.

do away with sth (v)

get rid of, abolish /// thủ tiêu, bãi bỏ /// The accused may plan to __________ the witness.

come to/draw the conclusion that (v)

decide something is true /// đi đến kết luận rằng /// Don't __________ this job is easy.

at odds with sb (adj)

in disagreement /// bất đồng /// Russ was __________ his fellow workers over the new policy.

have butterflies in one's stomach (v)

feel nervous /// bồn chồn lo lắng /// The young actress __________ before the audition.

have a reputation for (v)

be known for something /// có tiếng về /// Margaret __________ being a very good cook.

cope with sth (v)

manage a difficult situation /// giải quyết /// Most salaried people can't __________ the rising prices.

there is little likelihood that (phr)

it is unlikely that /// không có khả năng /// There is __________ the television will blow up.

the tip of the iceberg (n)

a small part of a much bigger problem /// phần nổi của tảng băng /// These problems are just __________.

make sth plain sailing (v)

make something easy /// làm cho thuận lợi /// The new line will __________ commuting.

keep sb in the dark about sth (v)

keep someone uninformed /// giấu ai về /// Thomas was __________ the company's new project.

lack the courage to V (v)

not be brave enough /// thiếu can đảm /// I __________ tell him what I really thought.

on suspicion of (phr)

because of being suspected /// vì nghi ngờ /// The diplomat was arrested __________ spying.

at the crack of dawn (phr)

very early in the morning /// tờ mờ sáng /// He got up __________ this morning.

fall out (v)

argue and stop being friends /// cãi nhau /// Despite their differences, they hadn't __________.

look down one's nose at sb (v)

treat someone as inferior /// coi thường ai /// She clearly __________ me.

as luck would have it (phr)

fortunately /// thật may /// __________, his route took him near their house.

make both ends meet (v)

earn just enough to live /// kiếm đủ sống /// Many people struggle to __________.

fed up with (adj)

bored or annoyed with /// chán /// I'm __________ going to the same place.

in the teeth of (phr)

despite strong opposition /// bất chấp /// Dark clouds appeared __________ optimistic signs.

rain cats and dogs (v)

rain very heavily /// mưa xối xả /// It was __________ all afternoon.

safe and sound (adj)

unharmed and healthy /// bình an vô sự /// They arrived __________.

catch sb red-handed (v)

catch someone in the act /// bắt quả tang /// The burglar was __________.

be attributed to sb/sth (v)

be believed to be caused or created by /// được cho là do /// The manuscript is thought to be __________ a 14th century scholar.

happen to V (v)

do something by chance /// tình cờ /// You don't __________ see my glasses anywhere, do you?

on no account (phr)

under no circumstances /// tuyệt đối không /// __________ must you enter my office without permission.

get sth off the ground (v)

start something successfully /// bắt đầu thành công /// A small loan can help __________ your business.

down to a fine art (phr)

become very skilled at /// thành thạo /// I've got missing the rush hour __________.

be dead set against V-ing (phr)

be completely opposed to /// hoàn toàn phản đối /// He was __________ playing cricket but agreed in the end.

cast one's mind back to (v)

remember something /// nhớ lại /// I tried to __________ what happened years ago.

up in arms about sth (phr)

very angry about something /// tức giận /// My parents are __________ me getting a tattoo.

fall into disrepute (v)

lose good reputation /// mang tiếng /// The company has __________ since the scandal.

curry favour with sb (v)

try to gain someone's approval /// lấy lòng /// We __________ our teacher at Katie's insistence.

have a chip on one's shoulder (v)

feel resentful about something /// cáu bẩn, tự ái /// The young man seemed to __________ about his family background.

thin on the ground (adj)

very few or rare /// hiếm thấy, khó tìm /// Travellers to this area are advised to carry water lest wells should be __________.

fed up to the back teeth with (adj)

extremely annoyed with /// rất chán /// He was __________ being criticized in public all the time.

hit the nail on the head (v)

say exactly the right thing /// nói trúng /// You have __________ about the real cause of the problem.

stamp/iron/rule out (v)

eliminate /// loại bỏ /// The stadium was designed in such a way as to __________ hooliganism.

a blessing in disguise (n)

something that seems bad but later brings good /// trong cái rủi có cái may /// Losing one's job turned out to be __________ for some people.

drive a hard bargain (v)

demand a lot when making a deal /// hay mặc cả /// He's friendly, but he always __________ in business.

in one's prime (n)

in the best period of life/career /// thời kỳ đỉnh cao /// As a champion swimmer, she is __________ now.

do justice to sth (v)

represent or show the true quality of /// thể hiện đúng /// A summary cannot __________ this wonderful book.

draw someone's attention to sth (v)

make someone notice /// thu hút sự chú ý /// The inspector __________ four potential health hazards.

nothing whatsoever (phr)

nothing at all /// hoàn toàn không /// There was __________ the emergency services could do to save her.

make ends meet (v)

earn enough for basic living /// kiếm đủ sống /// Despite working hard, he couldn't __________.

look set to V (v)

appear likely to do something /// có vẻ sẽ /// Frozen __________ win the award despite fierce competition.

on a par with (adj)

equal to /// ngang bằng /// Her latest novel isn't __________ her previous one.

tamper with (v)

interfere with /// can thiệp vào /// Her son __________ her computer, so she blew her stack.

much jubilation (n)

great happiness /// nhiều sự vui sướng /// There was __________ when the government lost the election.

behind closed doors (phr)

in secret /// bí mật /// The board met __________ to discuss changes in policy.

in hot water (phr)

in trouble /// gặp rắc rối /// Peter was __________ for missing the project deadline.

give sb the sack (v)

dismiss someone /// sa thải /// She let it be known that she had been __________ by the company.

drop sb a line (v)

send a short message /// liên lạc /// In the event of a problem, please __________ at all costs.

have the gift of the gab (v)

be very good at talking /// giỏi ăn nói /// Sluggish as he is, the manager still __________.

unless (conj)

if not /// nếu không /// George won't lend his tape recorder to you __________ you promise to return it.

could hardly V (v)

almost could not /// hầu như không thể /// Jerry __________ solve the riddle.

be critical of sth (v)

criticize /// chỉ trích /// Our representatives have been __________ the new concept.

it doesn't matter whether (phr)

it makes no difference /// không quan trọng /// It __________ they paint the board white or yellow.

at last (phr)

finally /// cuối cùng /// The new prime minister has been appointed __________.

take it as read that (v)

accept something as certain /// coi là hiển nhiên /// Can I __________ you are coming to the party, Miriam?

try in vain (v)

try unsuccessfully /// cố gắng nhưng thất bại /// The fox __________ to reach the grapes.

go to great lengths (v)

make a big effort /// cố gắng hết sức /// Yvonne __________ to ensure the trip was successful.

at odds with sb (phr)

disagree with /// bất đồng với /// Russ was __________ his fellow workers over the new policies.

do everything within one's power to V (v)

make every possible effort /// làm mọi thứ trong khả năng /// I __________ prevent this problem from arising.

show no remorse for (v)

feel no regret /// không hối tiếc /// The accused __________ the crime he committed.

bring sb out in sth (v)

cause a rash or reaction /// khiến ai nổi mẩn /// Eating seafood __________ my brother in a terrible rash.

put in long hours (v)

work for a long time /// làm việc nhiều giờ /// Journalists are expected to __________ at night.

be in store for sb (v)

be waiting to happen /// chờ đợi ai /// Little did he know what was __________ when he entered the room.

miss out on sth (v)

fail to take advantage of /// bỏ lỡ /// I wouldn't __________ such an experience for the world.

make off with sth (v)

steal and escape /// cuỗm đi /// The thieves were seen __________ the jewels.

one by one (adv)

separately, in turn /// từng người một /// Mary talked to the children __________ to find the truth.

take sth amiss (v)

be offended by /// phật ý /// Please don't __________ Minnie's comments; she meant well.

be spoilt for choice (v)

have many options /// có nhiều lựa chọn /// Nowadays we are __________ with ethnic cuisine.

put sb in a quandary (v)

cause uncertainty or dilemma /// đẩy ai vào thế khó /// The undercooked chicken __________ Ray whether to tell his host.

of great import (adj)

very important /// rất quan trọng /// His contribution was __________ to the project's success.

come as a terrible blow (v)

be a great shock /// là cú sốc /// The news __________ to him.

plenty of room for improvement (n)

much possibility to improve /// còn nhiều chỗ để cải thiện /// Public transport still has __________.

make amends for sth (v)

compensate for /// bù đắp cho /// He bought flowers to __________ his bad behaviour.

set one's heart/sights on sth (v)

be determined to get/do sth /// quyết tâm /// Our hearts were __________ prolonging our stay.

no sooner had S p2 than S Ved (phr)

immediately after /// vừa mới...thì /// __________ Sandy won the race than she began training again.

all the toing and froing (n)

a lot of back-and-forth movement /// nhiều qua lại /// It's the __________ with luggage that I can't stand on holidays.

be subject to sth (v)

likely to experience or suffer /// phải chịu /// Some international flights are __________ delay due to bad weather.

turn over a new leaf (v)

start to behave better /// cải tà quy chính /// Bill has __________ since he left prison.