Comprehensive Study Guide to Idioms and Collocations (Part 12)

Confessions, Tactics, and Temporal Trends

The idiom make a clean breast of describes the action of confessing something completely (thú nhận hoàn toàn). This is often used when a person decides to reveal the truth about their actions, as seen in the example where an individual decided to make a clean breast of his mistakes. When one decides to change your tack, it signifies an attempt to use a different method or strategic approach (đổi chiến thuật). For instance, if persuasion is ineffective, a person might change their tack by threatening to leave. The phrase wax and wane indicates a cycle where strength or popularity increases and then decreases over time (lúc mạnh lúc yếu, thịnh rồi suy). This is frequently applied to the popularity of groups, such as a band whose fame waxed and waned over several decades. Something described as the flavour of the month refers to a trend or item that is immensely popular for a very short duration (trào lưu nhất thời), similar to a specific diet that is currently the flavour of the month. Finally, the phrase if push comes to shove is utilized to describe what will happen if a situation becomes extremely difficult or urgent (nếu tình hình trở nên tồi tệ). An example of this is the decision that if push comes to shove, a family can always sell their car.

Social Standing, Emotional States, and Economic Hardship

To be thrilled to bits is to experience extreme pleasure or happiness (cực kỳ vui sướng), such as when a person is thrilled to bits with a birthday present. In organizational contexts, being a big fish in a small pond refers to an important person within a small organization who may seem less significant in a larger environment (cá lớn trong ao nhỏ). This is illustrated by an employee who was a big fish in a small pond at his old company but is considered just average at his new, larger workplace. The expression as poor as a church mouse is used to describe someone who is very poor (nghèo rớt mồng tơi), like an artist who remains happy despite being as poor as a church mouse. If someone is said to turn your nose up, it means they show a belief that something is not of high enough quality for them (coi thường, không thèm), exemplified by a person who turned her nose up at a bottle of cheap wine. The proverb while the cat's away, the mice will play suggests that people, specifically subordinates or children, will misbehave when the authority figure is absent (vắng chủ nhà gà mọc đuôi tôm). For example, students might become very noisy when their teacher is gone.

Domestic Transitions, Family Ties, and Cognitive Efforts

The term fly the nest is used to describe the occasion when a person leaves their parents' home for the first time to live independently (ra ở riêng), such as when all children in a family have finally flown the nest. The proverb blood is thicker than water emphasizes that family relationships are more important and enduring than any others (một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã). This manifests when a person consistently prioritizes helping their brother over others. When one needs to think very hard or struggle to recall information, they rack your brains (vắt óc suy nghĩ), as one might do when trying to remember a specific name. To make ends meet means to have just enough money to pay for essential needs (kiếm đủ sống), a task that many people struggle with daily. Conversely, to steer clear of someone or something is to actively avoid them (tránh xa), such as advising someone to steer clear of a dangerous part of town at night.

Avoidance, Abandonment, and Risks

When plans or ideas are abandoned or rejected, they are said to go by the board (bị bỏ qua, bị hủy bỏ). An example is when careful plans go by the board due to the sudden arrival of a storm. The phrase your own flesh and blood refers specifically to close relatives (máu mủ ruột thịt), highlighting the gravity of betraying someone so closely related. To scrimp and save involves spending as little money as possible to accumulate funds (dành dụm, tằn tiện), much like a couple who scrimped and saved for years to purchase a house. If an event is on the cards, it is considered likely to happen (có khả năng xảy ra), such as a promotion being on the cards for an employee during the current year. Living in an ivory tower refers to a state of being unaware of the realities and problems of ordinary life (tháp ngà), a criticism often leveled against academics.

Collaboration, Performance, and Decision-Making

Being at the cutting edge means utilizing the most recent and advanced technology or methods available (đi đầu, tiên phong), such as a company involved in genetic research. To fight like cat and dog describes two people who argue violently and constantly (cãi nhau như chó với mèo), often used to describe siblings. The phrase better safe than sorry suggests it is wiser to be cautious than to take unnecessary risks (cẩn tắc vô áy náy), illustrated by someone choosing to carry an umbrella even if rain is only a possibility. To hold all the cards means to possess every advantage in a specific situation or negotiation (nắm mọi quân bài, nắm thế thượng phong). When a situation is hang in the balance, it is in a precarious or uncertain state (ở trong tình trạng bấp bênh), such as a patient's life hanging in the balance. The proverb many hands make light work implies that a task is completed more quickly and easily when many people assist (nhiều người chung sức thì việc khó mấy cũng xong). To bring the house down is to elicit enthusiastic laughter or applause from an audience (làm cả khán phòng vỡ òa), like a joke that is exceptionally well-received. Conversely, to not set the world on fire describes something or someone that is not particularly exciting or unusually good (không có gì đặc sắc, xuất sắc). Being in two minds indicates an inability to decide (phân vân, lưỡng lự) between two options. Finally, to bite your tongue means to stop oneself from speaking, usually to avoid conflict (cắn lưỡi, nín nhịn).

Facilitation, Budgeting, and Timing

To oil the wheels is to help a process happen smoothly and without complications (làm trơn tru, dễ dàng), such as a good meal facilitating a difficult negotiation. Acting against your better judgement means doing something despite the internal feeling that it is not a wise idea (trái với lẽ phải, trái với suy nghĩ), such as lending money against one's initial instincts. To live on a shoestring means to survive on a very small budget (sống với ngân sách eo hẹp), a common experience for university students. The expression at the crack of dawn refers to the very early morning hours (vừa tảng sáng, rạng sáng), often necessary for catching early flights. Information described as music to your ears is very pleasant or satisfying to hear (tin vui, âm thanh êm dịu), such as the sound of the bell signaling the end of a class.

Secretive Conduct, Examples, and Cumulative Hardship

The phrase my lips are sealed is a promise to keep a secret (tôi sẽ giữ bí mật). To pay over the odds means to pay a price higher than the actual value of an item (trả giá cao hơn giá trị thực), such as overpaying for a vehicle. A case in point refers to a clear, specific example of a topic being discussed (một ví dụ điển hình), such as a person's current lateness serving as a case in point for their general lack of punctuality. Mind over matter describes the power of the mind to control physical conditions or limitations (tinh thần chi phối vật chất), often cited in the context of finishing a marathon. A double whammy occurs when two negative events happen simultaneously (cú đúp đen đủi), such as losing a job and experiencing a car breakdown at the same time.

Social Expectations, Conflicts, and Immediate Impact

The phrase when the chips are down refers to a moment of significant difficulty or crisis (vào lúc khó khăn), which reveals the true nature of friendships. To fall short of means failing to reach a required standard or expectation (không đạt được), such as a movie failing to meet expectations. To keep up appearances is to hide a true, often negative, situation to maintain a public image of well-being (giữ thể diện). Something occurring across the board affects everyone or everything within a specific system (toàn diện, trên mọi mặt), such as company-wide pay cuts. A call to arms is a powerful request for people to take immediate action (lời kêu gọi hành động), such as a speech directed at environmentalists. When the gloves are off, it means that people are prepared to fight or argue in a serious, non-restrained manner (bắt đầu chiến đấu quyết liệt). To knock into shape means to improve an organization or project by properly structuring it (sắp xếp lại cho quy củ). A Pandora’s box is a source of many unforeseen and complicated troubles (nguồn gốc của nhiều rắc rối hoặc vấn đề không lường trước được). Doing something at one fell swoop means accomplishing several things or causing one massive result all at once (cùng một lúc).

Harsh Demands, Distance, and Unexpected Events

A pound of flesh is a very harsh or non-negotiable payment or punishment that is strictly demanded (sự đòi hỏi khắt khe, không khoan nhượng), such as a bank's strict demands when a loan is defaulted upon. The back of beyond describes a location that is extremely remote and difficult to access (nơi hẻo lánh, xa xôi). Doing something on the off chance implies taking an action because of a very slight possibility of success (nhân tiện, phòng khi), like calling a friend on the off chance they are available for lunch. A bolt from the blue is a complete and sudden surprise (tin sét đánh), such as the unexpected news of a resignation. Finally, something happening in broad daylight occurs openly during the day where others can see (giữa thanh thiên bạch nhật), like a robbery. To hit the road is to begin a journey or leave a place (lên đường).