Unit 12+13+14+15

nail a lie

to prove that something really is a lie

The journalist _ by presenting undeniable proof of the corruption scandal.

work to rule

to arrange and perform a work-to-rule:

So far, the refuse collectors have not resorted to a strike but are working to rule.

→ làm việc theo quy định một cách tuyệt đối

hit the bottle

to start to drink too much alcohol

After losing his job, he started to _.

stew (in your own juice)

to think about or suffer the results of your own actions, without anyone giving you any help

I told him not to make that investment, but he wouldn't listen. Now he's left to _.

grease someone's palm

to secretly give someone money in order to persuade them to do something for you

If you want to secure that building permit quickly, you might have to _ the inspector's _.

set your face against

to be very determined that something should not happen

The government has _ raising taxes.

put someone's nose out of joint

to offend or upset someone, especially by getting something that that person wanted for himself or herself:

John's _ when Jane was promoted and he wasn't.

→ làm ai đó phật ý, mất lòng, khó chịu, cảm thấy bị coi thường hoặc bị lép vế, thường vì người khác được chú ý hoặc ưu ái hơn.

have your back to/against the wall

to have very serious problems that limit the ways in which you can act:

He owes money to everyone - he really _ now.

get it in the neck

to be punished or severely criticized for something that you have done:

Poor old Bob _ for being late.

be more to this than meets the eye

If _, it is more difficult to understand or involves more things than you thought at the beginning.

Don't blindly trust everything you heard. There's always _.

→ nhìn vậy chứ không phải vậy (serious hơn)

stand/stick out like a sore thumb

khác biệt với mọi người xung quanh

Everyone else was in jeans and T-shirts and I had my office clothes on - I _.

freak of nature

a person, animal, thing, or event that is extremely unusual and rare:

• The pearl is so big that it has been described as a _.

• He was a _, with incredible physical power and athleticism.

→ sự độc đáo của thiên nhiên

a horse of a different color

a very different thing or issue

That's what we'll do when he gets here. But if he doesn't show up … well, that's _.

quirk of fate

a strange and unexpected event:

By some _, we came to live in the same town.

a load of cobblers

nhảm nhí, vớ vẩn

My husband thinks astrology is _.

a spot of bother

một chút rắc rối

I am in _ with this essay. I just can't seem to get the first paragraph right.

ward of court

= một người (thường là trẻ vị thành niên) được tòa án đặt dưới sự bảo hộ trực tiếp của mình.

No one could take the child abroad because she was _.

neck of the woods

part of a particular area:

We don't often see you in this _.

sleight of hand

speed and skill of the hand when performing tricks:

Most of these conjuring tricks depend on _.

bend someone's ear

to talk to someone for a long time, especially about a problem, or to ask for something

I dread it every time she calls me because she always _ about how her children don't appreciate her.

→ nói chuyện với ai trong một khoảng thời gian dài về một vấn đề nào đó

cramp someone's style

to prevent someone from having a good time, especially by going somewhere with them

→ kiểu restrict style của ai đó

take liberties with something

to change something, such as a piece of writing or information, often in a way that people disagree with:

There have been several legal clashes when other artists have _ the melodies.

I don't like it when writers _ historical facts.

→ thay đổi theo hướng mà ai cũng phản đối

lay something (to) waste

to completely destroy something:

The bomb _ the city centre _.