Nature, the universe and the environment + Idioms related to animals and elements (1)

heatwave (n) [C]

• A long summer heatwave had caused most of the crops to die.

• Last summer, our city experienced a heatwave lasting for two weeks, with temperatures reaching 100°F.

​a period of unusually hot weather - đợt nắng nóng kéo dài

reptile (n)

• Did you know that tortoises are also considered reptiles because they have cold blood and scales?

any animal that has cold blood and skin covered in scales, and that lays eggs; those incluse snakes and crocodiles - bò sát

wildlife (n) [UNC]

• policies designed to protect wildlife

• Development of the area would endanger wildlife.

• a wildlife habitat

• a wildlife refuge/sanctuary

​animals, birds, insects, etc. that are wild and live in a natural environment - động vật hoang dã

lightning (n) [UNC]

• a flash of lightning

• a violent storm with thunder and lightning

• He was struck by lightning and killed.

• Lightning strikes caused scores of fires across the state.

​a flash, or several flashes, of very bright light in the sky caused by electricity - tia chớp, sét

thunderbolt (n)

• We watched in awe as a powerful thunderbolt illuminated the dark sky during the storm.

• (figurative) The news hit them like a thunderbolt (= was very shocking).

​a flash of lightning that comes at the same time as the noise of thunder and that hits something

thunder (n) [UNC]

• Meaning 1:

  • the rumble of distant thunder

  • a clap/crash/roll of thunder

  • Thunder crashed in the sky.

• Meaning 2:

  • the thunder of horses' hooves

  • The thunder of gunfire announced the beginning of the attack.

1. the loud noise that you hear after a flash of lightning, during a storm

2. a loud noise like thunder

sấm

blow up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1:

  • The bomb blew up.

  • A police officer was killed when his car blew up.

• Meaning 2:

  • A storm was blowing up.

  • A crisis has blown up over the president's latest speech.

1. ​to explode; to be destroyed by an explosion

2. ​to start suddenly and with force

build up (to sth) (phr.v)

• All the pressure built up and he was off work for weeks with stress.

• The music builds up to a rousing climax.

​to become greater, more powerful or larger in number

clear up | clear sth ←→ up (phr.v)

• I'm fed up with clearing up after you!

• Clear up your own mess!

​to make sth clean and neat

clear up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: I hope it clears up this afternoon.

• Meaning 2: Has your rash cleared up yet?

1. ​(of the weather) to become fine or bright

2. (of an illness, infection, etc.) to disappear

clear sth ←→ up

• to clear up a mystery/misunderstanding

• I hope this explanation clears up any confusion.

​to solve or explain sth - giải quyết, giải trình, giải thích

go out (phr.v)

• Meaning 1 (doing sth): He goes out drinking most evenings.

• Meaning 2: Have the invitations gone out yet?

• Meaning 3: Word went out that the director had resigned.

• Meaning 4: The fire in the fireplace slowly went out as the night grew colder.

1. to leave your house to go to a social event

2. ​to be sent

3. to announce or publish sth (usually news or information)

4. (of a fire or light) to stop burning or shining

keep out (of sth) (phr.v)

• The sign said ‘Private Property—Keep Out!’

​to not enter a place; to stay outside

keep sb/sth ←→ out (of sth)

• Keep that dog out of my study!

​to prevent sb/sth from entering a place

put down (phr.v)

• He put down in a field.

(of an aircraft or its pilot) to land

put sth ←→ down (phr.v)

• Meaning 1:

  • Put that knife down before you hurt somebody!

  • (figurative) It's a great book. I couldn't put it down (= stop reading it).

  • (BrE) She put the phone down on me (= ended the call before I had finished speaking).

• Meaning 2: The meeting's on the 22nd. Put it down in your diary.

• Meaning 3: We put a five per cent deposit down on the house.

• Meaning 4:

  • to put down a rebellion

  • The military government is determined to put down all opposition.

1. to stop holding sth and place it on a table, shelf, etc.

2. ​to write sth; to make a note of sth

3. to pay part of the cost of sth

4. to stop sth by force (syn.: crush)

put sth ←→ out (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: (BrE) to put the rubbish out | (NrAE) to put the garbage/trash out

• Meaning 2: Have you put out clean towels for the guests?

• Meaning 3:

  • to put out a candle/cigarette/light

  • Firefighters soon put the fire out.

• Meaning 4: The factory puts out 500 new cars a week.

• Meaning 5: The rise in interest rates put our estimates out by several thousands.

• Meaning 6: Police have put out a description of the man they wish to question.

• Meaning 7: A lot of the work is put out to freelancers.

1. to take sth out of your house and leave it, for example, for sb to collect

2. to place sth where it will be noticed and used

3. to stop sth from burning or shining

4. ​to produce sth, especially for sale

5. ​to make a figure, result, etc. wrong

6. to publish or broadcast sth

7. to give a job or task to a worker who is not your employee or to a company that is not part of your own group or organization

put up sth (phr.v)

• Meaning 1:

  • They surrendered without putting up much of a fight.

  • The team put up a great performance (= played very well).

• Meaning 2: to put up an argument/a case/a proposal

1. ​to show a particular level of skill, determination, etc. in a fight or contest

2. to suggest an idea, etc. for other people to discuss

put sb ←→ up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: We can put you up for the night.

• Meaning 2:

  • The Green Party hopes to put up more candidates in the next election.

  • We want to put you up for club treasurer.

1. to let sb stay at your home

2. ​to suggest or present sb as a candidate for a job or position (syn.: nominate - ig?)

put sth ←→ up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: to put up a building/fence/memorial/tent

• Meaning 2: to put up a notice

• Meaning 3:

  • to put up a flag

  • She's put her hair up.

• Meaning 4: They've put up the rent by £20 a month.

• Meaning 5: A local businessman has put up the £500 000 needed to save the club.

1. to build sth or place something somewhere

2. to fix sth in a place where it will be seen (syn.: display)

3. to raise sth or put it in a higher position

4. ​to raise or increase sth

5. ​to provide or lend money

smog (n) [UNC, C]

• attempts to reduce smog caused by traffic fumes

• The streets are clean, there's no traffic, and there's no smog to block out the sunshine.

a form of air pollution that is or looks like a mixture of smoke and fog, especially in cities - khói bụi, sương khói

fog (n) [UNC, C] (thicker than mist)

• Meaning 1:

  • Dense/thick/heavy fog is affecting roads in the north and visibility is poor.

  • Freezing fog will make driving conditions very treacherous.

  • Patches of fog will clear by mid-morning.

  • The town was covered in a thick blanket of fog.

  • The fog finally lifted (= disappeared).

• Meaning 2: He went through the day with his mind in a fog.

1. ​a thick cloud of very small drops of water in the air close to the land or sea that is very difficult to see through - sương mù

2. a state in which things are not clear and seem difficult to understand

smoke (n)

• Meaning 1 [UNC]:

  • cigarette/tobacco smoke

  • Plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the area.

  • Clouds of thick black smoke billowed from the car's exhaust.

  • His eyes were smarting from the smoke from the fire.

  • The majority of people who die in fires die of smoke inhalation.

  • Check your smoke detectors for dead batteries.

  • The witch disappeared in a puff of smoke.

• Meaning 2 [C, usually SIN] (inf):

  • Are you coming outside for a smoke?

  • He's in the back garden having a smoke.

1. the grey, white or black gas that is produced by something burning

2. an act of smoking a cigarette

khói

mist (n) [UNC, C] (less thick than fog)

• The hills were shrouded in mist.

• Early morning mist patches will soon clear.

• The origins of the story are lost in the mists of time (= forgotten because it happened such a long time ago).

• (figurative) She gazed at the scene through a mist of tears.

a cloud of very small drops of water in the air just above the ground, that make it difficult to see - sương mù

waste (n)

• Meaning 1 [UNC, SIN]:

  • I hate to see good food go to waste (= be thrown away).

  • The report is critical of the department's waste of resources.

• Meaning 2 [SIN] (of sth):

  • These meetings are a complete waste of time.

  • They believe the statue is a waste of taxpayers' money.

• Meaning 3 [UNC] [plural: wastes]:

  • household/garden/industrial waste

  • hazardous/toxic/radioactive waste

  • Landfills for solid wastes have started reaching their capacity.

  • waste disposal (= the process of getting rid of waste)

  • The private sector plays a significant role in waste management.

1. the act of using sth carelessly or unnecessarily, causing it to be lost or destroyed

2. a situation in which it is not worth spending time, money, etc. on sth

3. materials that are no longer needed and are thrown away

litter (n)

• Meaning 1 [UNC]:

  • Please do not leave litter after your picnic.

  • Pick up your litter and take it home with you.

  • There will be fines for people who drop litter.

• Meaning 2 [SIN] - litter of sth: The floor was covered with a litter of newspapers, clothes and empty cups.

• Meaning 3 [UNC]: cat litter | (also especially NrAE) kitty litter

1. small pieces of rubbish such as paper, cans and bottles that people have left lying in a public place

2. a number of things that are lying in an untidy way

3. a dry substance that is put in a shallow open box for pets, especially cats, to use as a toilet when they are indoors

rubbish (n) [UNC]:

• Meaning 1:

  • a rubbish bag/bin

  • a rubbish dump/heap

  • garden/household rubbish

  • The rubbish is collected on Tuesdays.

  • Weeks have gone by without a rubbish collection, and the stench is terrible.

• Meaning 2:

  • They said I was a rubbish boss.

  • The film was absolute/complete rubbish.

• Meaning 3:

  • You're talking a load of rubbish.

  • He described the claims as utter rubbish and nonsense.

1. (especially BrE) things that you throw away because you no longer want or need them

2. (BrE, inf) (also used as an adjective) sth that you think is of poor quality

3. (BrE, inf) comments, ideas, etc. that you think are stupid or wrong (syn.: nonsense)

garbage (n) [UNC]

• Meaning 1:

  • garbage collection

  • Don't forget to take out the garbage.

• Meaning 2: Throw it in the garbage.

• Meaning 3: ‘You mean you believe all that garbage?’ he said.

1. (especially NrAE) waste food, paper, etc. that you throw away (usually food and other wet material)

2. (especially NrAE) a place or container where waste food, paper, etc. can be placed

3. (inf) sth stupid or not true (syn.: nonsense)

trash (n) [UNC]

• Meaning 1:

  • The subway entrance was blocked with trash.

  • What are these letters doing in the trash?

  • (figurative) His theories were relegated to the trash heap of history.

• Meaning 2:

  • What's this trash you're watching?

  • (especially BrE) He's talking trash (= nonsense).

1. ​(NrAE) things that you throw away because you no longer want or need them (usually paper, card and dry material)

2. ​(inf, disapproving) objects, writing, ideas, etc. that you think are of poor quality

pour (v) [I, T]

• The rain continued to pour down.

• (BrE) It's pouring with rain.

• (NrAE) It's pouring (down) rain outside.

when rain ____s down or when it’s ____ing (with) rain, rain is falling heavily - mưa như trút

flood (v)

• Meaning 1 [I, T]:

  • The cellar floods whenever it rains heavily.

  • If the pipe bursts, it could flood the whole house.

  • The station was flooded with water and mud following heavy rain.

• Meaning 2 [I, T]:

  • When the Ganges floods, it causes considerable damage.

  • The river flooded the valley.

1. if a place ____s or sth ____s it, it becomes filled or covered with water - ngập lụt

2. to become so full that it spreads out onto the land around it

drizzle (v) [I]

• It was drizzling outside.

• When they left it was beginning to drizzle.

to rain lightly - mưa nhẹ

environment (n)

• Meaning 1 [SIN] the environment:

  • The government should do more to protect the environment.

  • to preserve/pollute/harm the environment

  • damage to the natural environment

• Meaning 2 [C]:

  • Hospitals/Schools have a duty to provide a safe working/ a pleasant learning environment for all staff.

  • They have created an environment in which productivity should flourish.

1. the natural world in which people, animals and plants live

2. the conditions in which a person, animal or plant lives or operates or in which an activity takes place

môi trường

surroundings (n) [plural]

• to work in pleasant surroundings

• The buildings have been designed to blend in with their surroundings.

everything that is around or near sb/sth - xung quanh

wind (n) [C, UNC]

• strong/high/gale-force/light winds

• a chill/cold/biting wind from the north

• gusty/howling winds

• The wind is blowing from the south.

• The trees were swaying in the wind.

• A gust of wind blew my hat off.

• The weather was hot, without a breath of wind.

• The wall gives some protection from the prevailing wind (= the direction the wind blows from most often).

• The wind is getting up (= starting to blow strongly).

• The wind has dropped (= stopped blowing strongly).

air that moves quickly as a result of natural forces - gió

air (n)

• Meaning 1 [UNC]:

  • Let's go out for some fresh air.

  • a blast of hot air

  • currents of warm air

  • She was gasping for air as she ran out of the burning house.

  • whales coming up for air (= to breathe)

• Meaning 2 [UNC]:

  • Music filled the night air.

  • Wave your hands in the air!

  • I kicked the ball high into the air.

  • I remember flying through the air on my garden swing.

• Meaning 3 [UNC]:

  • It only takes three hours by air (= in a plane).

  • air travel/traffic

  • air defence systems (= weapons that defend against attacks from the air)

  • A surprise air attack (= from aircraft) was launched at night.

1. the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that we breathe - không khí

2. the space above the ground or that is around things - không trung

3. the space above the earth where planes fly - không trung

reservoir (n)

• Meaning 1:

  • The water content of the country's reservoirs had fallen to less than 50% of their capacity.

  • They got up early and went for a swim in the reservoir.

• Meaning 2: We can tap into the vast reservoir of information available on the internet.

1. a natural or artificial lake where water is stored before it is taken by pipes to houses, etc. - hồ chứa, đập chứa nước

2. (f) a large amount of sth that is available to be used

lake (n)

• We swam in the lake.

• There were a number of boats on the lake.

• We stayed in a hotel on the edge of Lake Ontario.

• (figurative) a wine lake (= a large supply of wine that is not being used)

a large area of water that is surrounded by land - hồ

puddle (n) [C]

• Peppa and George loves jumping on the puddles.

• After the storm, a small puddle formed on the sidewalk, reflecting the streetlights.

a small amount of water or other liquid, especially rain, that has collected in one place on the ground - vũng nước

pond (n) [C]

• a fish pond

• The children enjoyed feeding the ducks at the pond in the park.

a small area of still water, especially one that is artificial - hồ (nhân tạo)

global (adj) [usually before noun]

• a global financial/economic crisis

• the struggle to stay competitive in global markets

• the country's ability to compete on a global scale

• global trade/capitalism

relating to the whole world

worldwide (adj, adv)

• an increase in worldwide sales

• The show has a worldwide audience of 115 million viewers.

• a worldwide terrorist network

existing or happening in all parts of the world

plain (n) [C]

• the flat coastal plain of Thassos

• Millions of buffalo used to roam freely across the Great Plains.

​a large area of flat land - đồng bằng

land (n)

• Meaning 1 [UNC]:

  • The new project will reclaim the land from the sea.

  • Some animals can live both on land and in water.

  • We travelled by land, though flying would have been cheaper.

  • We can organise air transport, land transport and all accommodation for your trip.

• Meaning 2 [UNC] (also lands [plural]):

  • agricultural/arable/fertile land

  • Changes in land use can have significant effects on the local wildlife.

  • a piece/plot of land

  • They are not permitted to build on the surrounding green belt land (= open land around a city).

• Meaning 3 [UNC] (also formal: lands [plural]):

  • public/private land

  • to own/buy/purchase/sell land

  • He acquired a parcel of several acres of land.

  • The college owns vast tracts of land.

• Meaning 4 - the land [UNC]:

  • At the beginning of the 20th century, almost a third of the population lived off the land (= grew or produced their own food).

  • Many people leave the land to find work in towns and cities.

  • Her family had farmed the land for generations.

• Meaning 5 [C] (literary):

  • She longed to return to her native land.

  • They dreamed of travelling to foreign lands.

1. the surface of the earth that is not sea

2. an area of ground, especially of a particular type or used for a particular purpose

3. the area of ground that sb owns, especially when you think of it as property that can be bought or sold

4. used to refer to the countryside and the way people live in the country as opposed to in cities

5. used to refer to a country or region in a way that involves the emotions or the imagination

đất

field (n)

• Meaning 1 [C]:

  • We camped in a field near the village.

  • People were working in the fields.

  • We saw golden fields of wheat.

  • a rice/wheat field

• Meaning 2 [C]: a landing field

• Meaning 3 [C]: the discovery of the oil and gas fields in the North Sea

1. an area of land in the country used for growing crops or keeping animals in, usually surrounded by a fence, etc. - cánh đồng

2. (usually in compounds) an area of land used for the purpose mentioned - khu đất

3. (usually in compounds) a large area of land covered with the thing mentioned; an area from which the thing mentioned is obtained - khu vực

minefield (n) [C]

• Meaning 1:

  • The navy cleared the minefield in the harbour to ensure safe passage for incoming ships.

  • The soldiers cautiously advanced through the minefield, aware that one wrong step could be fatal.

• Meaning 2:

  • Tax can be a minefield for the unwary.

  • You will first have to pick your way through the minefield of professional advice.

1. ​an area of land or water where mines (= bombs that explode when they are touched) have been hidden - mìn đất, mìn nước

2. ​a situation that contains hidden dangers or difficulties

call for sth (phr.v)

• Meaning 1:

  • The situation calls for prompt action.

  • ‘I've been promoted.’ ‘This calls for a celebration!’

• Meaning 2:

  • They called for the immediate release of the hostages.

  • The opposition have called for him to resign.

1. to need sth

2. to publicly ask for sth to happen (syn.: require, demand)

call sth ←→ off (phr.v)

• to call off a deal/trip/strike

• They have called off their engagement (= decided not to get married).

​to cancel sth; to decide that sth will not happen

clear up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: I hope it clears up this afternoon.

• Meaning 2: Has your rash cleared up yet?

1. ​(of the weather) to become fine or bright

2. ​(of an illness, infection, etc.) to disappear

cut sb ←→ off (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: We were cut off in the middle of our conversation.

• Meaning 2: He cut his son off without a penny.

1. to interrupt somebody who is speaking on the phone by breaking the connection

2. to refuse to let somebody receive any of your property after you die (opp.: come into sth (ig))

cut sb/sth/yourself off (from sb/sth) (phr.v) [often passive]

• The army was cut off from its base.

• She feels very cut off living in the country.

• He cut himself off from all human contact.

• They were completely cut off from the outside world.

to prevent sb/sth from leaving or reaching a place or communicating with people outside a place - làm cô lập

cut sth ←→ off (phr.v)

• They cut off the enemy's retreat.

• The new factory cuts off our view of the hills.

​to block or get in the way of sth

die down (phr.v)

• The flames finally died down.

• When the applause had died down, she began her speech.

​to become gradually less strong, loud, easy to notice, etc.

do sth ←→ up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: He never bothers to do his jacket up.

• Meaning 2: She was carrying a package done up in brown paper.

• Meaning 3: He makes money by buying old houses and doing them up.

1. ​to fasten a coat, skirt, etc. (opp.: undo)

2. to make sth into a package (syn.: wrap) - đóng gói

3. to repair and decorate a house, etc.

face up to sth (phr.v)

• She had to face up to the fact that she would never walk again.

• You have to face up to your responsibilities.

​to accept and deal with sth difficult or unpleasant - chấp nhận đối diện

get sb down (phr.v)

• Don’t let it get you down too much.

• The chaos in his house was starting to get him down.

(informal) to make sb feel sad or depressed (syn.: discourage, dishearten (ig)) - làm mất hy vọng

put sth down to sth (phr.v)

• What do you put her success down to?

• She put down her constant fatigue to the long hours she had been working.

to consider that sth is caused by sth (syn.: attribute)

put sb out (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: I hope our arriving late didn't put them out.

• Meaning 2 - be put out: He looked really put out.

• Meaning 3: These pills should put him out for a few hours.

1. ​to cause sb trouble, extra work, etc.

2. to be upset or offended

3. ​to make sb unconscious

set in (phr.v)

• The rain seemed to have set in for the day.

• If you get bitten by a dog, you have to make sure the wound is cleaned well, or an infection could set in.

(of rain, bad weather, infection, etc.) to begin and seem likely to continue

stand for (phr.v) [no passive]

• Meaning 1: ‘The book's by T.C. Smith.’ ‘What does the ‘T.C.’ stand for?’

• Meaning 2: I hated the organisation and all it stood for (= the ideas that it supported).

• Meaning 3 - not stand for sth: I'm not standing for it any longer.

1. (not used in the progressive tenses) to be an abbreviation or symbol of sth

2. to support or represent something

3. to not let sb do sth or sth happen (syn.: not accept, not put up with, not tolerate)

tear sth ←→ down

• They’re tearing down these old houses to build a new office block.

• The old factory was torn down to make way for a new shopping center.

​to pull or knock down a building, wall, etc. (syn.: destroy, demolish)

throw sth ←→ away (phr.v)

• Meaning 1 (also throw sth ←→ out):

  • I don't need that—you can throw it away.

  • That old chair should be thrown away.

• Meaning 2:

  • to throw away an opportunity

  • You must take the exam—you can't throw away all that work!

1. to get rid of sth that you no longer want - vứt bỏ

2. ​to fail to make use of sth; to waste sth - vứt bỏ, lãng phí, không tận dụng

crop (n)

• Meaning 1 [C]:

  • What are the benefits of growing GM crops?

  • food crops

  • crop yield/production

  • to grow/plant/harvest crops

  • The crops are regularly sprayed with pesticides.

• Meaning 2 [C]:

  • a fall in this year’s coffee crop

  • Australia's wheat crop is likely to be lower than forecast this year.

  • We are looking forward to a bumper crop (= a very large one).

  • We had a very good crop of apples last year.

• Meaning 3 [SIN] - crop (of sth):

  • the current crop of trainees

  • She is really the cream of the crop (= the best in her group).

  • a crop of disasters/injuries

1. a plant that is grown in large quantities, especially as food - cây trồng

2. the amount of grain, fruit, etc. that is grown in one season (syn.: harvest) - vụ mùa

3. a group of people who do sth at the same time; a number of things that happen at the same time

drought (n) [C, UNC]

• Meaning 1:

  • Farmers are facing ruin after two years of severe drought.

  • one of the worst droughts on record

  • The country’s entire grain harvest has been hit by drought.

• Meaning 2: The team is desperate to end a ten-game goal drought.

1. a long period of time when there is little or no rain - hạn hán

2. ​a long period of time when there is a lack of sth that is needed or wanted - sự thâm hụt, thiếu hụt

fossil fuel (n) [C, UNC]

• Carbon dioxide is produced in huge amounts when fossil fuels are burned.

• Fossil fuel reserves are rapidly being depleted.

• Gas is the only fossil fuel without environmental problems.

fuel such as coal or oil that was formed over millions of years from parts of dead animals or plants - nhiên liệu hóa thạch

greenery (n)

• The room was decorated with flowers and greenery.

• The park was filled with lush greenery, creating a peaceful and refreshing atmosphere.

attractive green leaves and plants

habitat (n) [C, UNC]

• The panda's natural habitat is the bamboo forest.

• The marshes provide a rich habitat for water plants.

• the destruction of wildlife habitat

​the place where a particular type of animal or plant is normally found - môi trường sống, nơi sinh sống

hurricane (n) [C, UNC]

• A powerful hurricane hit the Florida coast.

• Hurricane Sandy devastated the area.

a violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western Atlantic Ocean (Đại Tây Dương) - bão lốc

cyclone (n) [C]

• The cyclone hit the coastal town with its powerful winds, causing widespread destruction.

• The cyclone struck the village late last night.

​a violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle - bão

typhoon (n) [C]

• The plantation was devastated by a typhoon.

• Earthquakes, typhoons and other natural disasters are frequent in that part of the Pacific.

• The hottest time of year coincides with the typhoon season.

a violent tropical storm with very strong winds - bão

tornado - tordanoes/tornados (n) [C]

• Tornadoes ripped into the southern United States yesterday.

• She burst in to the room like a tornado.

a violent storm with very strong winds that move in a circle. There is often also a long cloud that is narrower at the bottom than the top. - lốc xoáy

tsunami (n) [C] (from Japanese)

• A tsunami early warning system was set up in Hawaii.

• The tsunami caused immeasurable damage.

​an extremely large wave in the sea caused, for example, by an earthquake - sóng thần

tidal wave (n) [C]

• According to one account, the explosion caused a tidal wave 65 feet high.

• Several villages were destroyed by a huge tidal wave.

​a very large ocean wave that is caused by a storm or an earthquake, and that destroys things when it reaches the land

blizzard (n) [C]

• Meaning 1:

  • blizzard conditions

  • The blizzard struck the north-east yesterday, causing serious damage.

  • a raging/howling blizzard

• Meaning 2: a blizzard of documents

1. a snowstorm with very strong winds - bão tuyết

2. ​a large quantity of things that may seem to be attacking you

avalanche | snowslide (also in NrAE) (n) [C]

• alpine villages destroyed in an avalanche

• He was killed in an avalanche while skiing.

• (figurative) We received an avalanche of applications in reply to our advertisement.

​a mass of snow, ice and rock that falls down the side of a mountain - lở tuyết, sạt lở

chance on/upon sb/sth

• One day he chanced upon Emma's diary and began reading it.

• While hiking in the forest, I chanced upon a hidden waterfall that took my breath away.

​(formal) to find or meet sb/sth unexpectedly or by chance (syn.: come across)

take sb’s breath away

• My first view of the island from the air took my breath away.

• The sheer audacity of the man took my breath away.

• While hiking in the forest, I chanced upon a hidden waterfall that took my breath away.

to be very surprising or beautiful

cool down/off (phr.v)

• Meaning 1:

  • We cooled off with a swim in the lake.

  • He went for a swim to cool off.

• Meaning 2:

  • He's cooled down somewhat since this morning,

  • Let things cool off for a while.

• Meaning 3: Growth in the market has started to cool down.

1. to become cool or cooler

2. ​to become calm, less excited or less enthusiastic

3. ​(business) to slow down or decrease

hạ nhiệt

cut sth ←→ back (phr.v)

• Meaning 1 (also cut back (on sth)):

  • If we don't sell more, we'll have to cut back production.

  • to cut back on spending

• Meaning 2: to cut back a rose bush

1. to reduce sth

2. ​to make a bush, etc. smaller by cutting branches off (syn.: prune) - cắt tỉa

die out (phr.v)

• This species has nearly died out because its habitat is being destroyed.

• Many ancient languages have died out over time, leaving behind only fragments of their existence.

to become weaker or less common and then disappear completely

dig sth ←→ up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: They are digging up the football field to lay a new surface.

• Meaning 2: An old Roman vase was dug up here last month.

• Meaning 3: Tabloid newspapers love to dig up scandal.

1. to break the ground into small pieces before planting seeds, building sth, etc.

2. to remove sth from the ground by digging

3. to discover information about sb/sth (syn.: unearth)

dry up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: During the drought the river dried up.

• Meaning 2:

  • I found that offers of acting work started to dry up.

  • Funds have completely dried up.

1. ​(of rivers, lakes, etc.) to become completely dry

2. ​if a supply of sth _____, there is gradually less of it until there is none left

get through sth (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: We got through a fortune while we were in New York!

• Meaning 2:

  • Let's start—there's a lot to get through.

  • I can get through a lot more work when I'm on my own.

1. ​to use up a large amount of sth

2. ​to manage to do or complete sth

get sb through sth (phr.v)

• I don't know how I got through the first couple of months after Andy's death.

• We need to conserve our supplies to get through the winter.

to deal with a difficult or unpleasant experience, or to help sb do this

heat up (phr.v)

• Meaning 1: The oven takes a while to heat up.

• Meaning 2: The election contest is heating up.

1. to become hot or warm (syn.: warm)

2. (BrE also hot up) to become more exciting or to show an increase in activity

heat sth ←→ up (phr.v)

• Just heat up the food in the microwave.

​to make sth hot or warm (syn.: warm)

act of God

• The airline is not responsible for flight delays due to an act of God, such as severe weather.

• Primitive people regarded storms as an act of God.

an event such as a flood, lightning or an earthquake produced by natural forces, and that people have not control over - thảm họa thiên nhiên

come rain, come shine | (come) rain or shine

• He goes jogging every morning, rain or shine.

• We work outside every day, come rain, come shine.

used for saying that sth always happens or sb always does sth whether there is rain or sun or whatever happens

be down on your luck

• In the movie, they play two jazz musicians who are down on their luck.

• He's been down on his luck recently.

​(inf) to have no money because of a period of bad luck

get the short end of the stick (NrAE) | draw the short straw (BrE)

• Mike drew the short straw and had to clean the bathroom.

to be chosen to do sth unpleasant

green fingers (n) (BrE) [plural] | green thumb (n) (NrAE) [C]

• My grandmother has green fingers; her garden is always filled with vibrant flowers and lush greenery.

• Sarah's green fingers are evident in her ability to revive even the most withered plants.

if you are said to have _____, you are good at making plants grow

eat like a horse (inf.)

• She may be thin, but she eats like a horse.

to eat a lot

be raining cats and dogs

• I can't go out for a walk right now, it's raining cats and dogs outside.

(inf) to be raining heavily

curiosity killed the cat

• When my nosy neighbor asked about my personal life, I reminded her that curiosity killed the cat.

(saying) used to tell sb not to ask questions or try to find out about things that do not involve them

fight like cat and dog (BrE) | fight like cats and dogs (NrAE)

• In our childhood Irina and I fought like cat and dog.

​(of two people) to be always arguing with each other

let the cat out of the bag

• I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.

​to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake

like a cat on a hot tin roof | like a cat on hot bricks (BrE)

• She was like a cat on a hot tin roof before her driving test.

very nervous

like a cat that’s got the cream (BrE) | like the cat that got/ate/swallowed the canary

• She looked like a cat that’s got the cream. She was almost purring with pleasure.

very pleased with yourself (syn.: smug) - tự mãn, tự đắc

like herding cats (inf.)

• Managing a political party is a lot like herding cats.

​used to describe a very difficult task, especially one that involves organizing people