You are on page 1of 12

A

A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush: A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush = mt con chim trong tay c gi tr hn hai con chim trn tri "Dan has asked me to go to a party with him. What if my boyfriend finds out?" Reply: "Don't go. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." A cash cow: A product or service which is a regular source of income for a company is called a cash cow. "His latest invention turned out to be a real cash cow." A Drop In The Bucket: A Drop In The Bucket = ht mui b bin "I'd like to do something to change the world but whatever I do seems like a drop in the bucket." A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted: A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted = 1 k ngc khng gi c tin lu "Her husband can't seem to hold onto any amount of money; he either spends it or loses it. A fool and his money are easily parted." A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned: A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned = 1 xu tit kim cng nh 1 xu lm ra "I'm going to give you $20 but I want you to put it in the bank; a penny saved is a penny earned!" A Piece Of Cake: A Piece Of Cake = d nh n cho "Do you think you will win your tennis match today?" "It will be a piece of cake." Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder: Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder = s vng mt lm tnh yu ngt ngo hn "The time we spend apart has been good for us; absence makes the heart grow fonder." Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Actions Speak Louder Than Words = hnh ng c gi tr hn li ni "Don't tell me how to do this; show me! Actions speak louder than words." Add Fuel To The Fire: Add Fuel To The Fire = thm du vo la "I would like to do something to help, but I don't want to add fuel to the fire." All Thumbs: All Thumbs = vng v, hu u "Hey! You are pouring my coffee on the table!" Reply: "Oh, I'm so sorry! I have been all thumbs today." Arm In Arm: Arm In Arm = tay trong tay "What a nice afternoon. We walked arm in arm along the beach for hours.

Page | 1

B
Back-of-the-envelope calculation: This expression refers to quick approximate calculation done informally, as on the back of an envelope. "I don't need the exact amount. Just give me a back-of-the-envelope calculation." Be paid peanuts: If you are paid peanuts, you have a very low salary. "Anne has a very interesting job but she's paid peanuts. Her salary is very low." Beating Around The Bush: Beating Around The Bush = vng vo tam quc "If you want to ask me, just ask; don't beat around the bush." Bet your bottom dollar: If you bet your bottom dollar on something, you are absolutely certain of it. "Jack is very punctual. You can bet your bottom dollar he'll be here at 9 o'clock on the dot." Better Late Than Never: Better Late Than Never = th tr cn hn khng "Sorry I was late for the meeting today; I got stuck in traffic." "That's okay; better late than never." Between A Rock And A Hard Place: Between A Rock And A Hard Place = ng gia 2 la chn kh khn "I'd like to help you but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place." Birds Of A Feather Flock Together: Birds Of A Feather Flock Together = ngu tm ngu, m tm m "Look; the volleyball players are eating at the same table together, as always." "Birds of a feather flock together." Bite Off More Than You Can Chew: Bite Off More Than You Can Chew = khng lng sc "I thought I could finish this report within one month, but it looks like I have bitten off more than I can chew." Bite Your Tongue: Bite Your Tongue = c gng im lng "Whenever that professor says something I don't like, I have to bite my tongue." Blood Is Thicker Than Water: Blood Is Thicker Than Water = 1 git mu o hn ao nc l "When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother; blood is thicker than water." Burn Your Bridges: Burn Your Bridges = t cu ca mnh, tc l t lm mt i c hi ca mnh "I wish you hadn't been rude to that man just now; he is very important in this town and you shouldn't go around burning bridges."
Page | 2

Burn your fingers: If you burn your fingers (or get your fingers burnt), you suffer financially as a result of foolish behaviour. "Jack got his fingers burnt playing on the stock market."

Burning The Candle At Both Ends: Burning The Candle At Both Ends = vt kit sc ra lm vic "Ever since this new project started I have been burning the candle at both ends. I can't take much more of it."

C
Call It Off: Call It Off = hy b "Tonight's game was called off because of the rain." Cash in your chips: If you cash in your chips, you sell something, especially shares, either because you need the money or because you think the value is going to fall. "Andy cashed in his chips as soon as business started to slow down." Cost An Arm And A Leg: Cost An Arm And A Leg = tr 1 ci gi ct c, tn rt nhiu tin If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive! "The house cost us an arm and a leg, but we have no regrets." Cross Your Fingers: Cross Your Fingers = ng tc c tin l s em li s may mn "Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best!" Curiosity Killed The Cat: Curiosity Killed The Cat = s t m c th rt nguy him "Hey, I wonder what's down that street; it looks awfully dark and creepy." "Let's not try to find out. Curiosity killed the cat."

D
Don't Count Your Chickens Until They're Hatched: Don't Count Your Chickens Until They're Hatched = trng cha n m g "Next Friday I will be able to pay you back that money I owe you." "I won't be counting my chickens..." Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket: Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket = ng b tt c trng vo 1 r, tc hy chia u nhng nguy c ra nhiu ni gim ri ro "The best way to gamble is to only bet small amounts of money and never put all your eggs in one basket."
Page | 3

E
Everybody Is On The Same Page: Everybody Is On The Same Page = mi ngi u hiu vn "Before we make any decisions today, I'd like to make sure that everyone is on the same page."

F
Feather your nest: To say of someone that they are feathering their nest is to say that they are taking advantage of their position in order to obtain money so as to have a comfortable life. Feel the pinch: When someone feels the pinch, they begin to suffer from a lack of money. "With the drop in tourism, hotels and restaurants are beginning to feel the pinch." From Rags To Riches: From Rags To Riches = t ngho kh tr thnh c ph If you go from rags to riches, you start off being very poor and become very rich and successful "By renovating old houses in the right places, he went from rags to riches."

G
Get Over It: Get Over It = vt qua, qua khi "I was very sick yesterday, but I got over it quickly." Go Dutch: To go Dutch with somebody means to share the cost of something, such as a meal or a concert. "Young people today tend to go Dutch when they go out together." Golden handcuffs:
Page | 4

The term golden handcuffs refers to a large sum of money or a generous financial arrangement granted to an executive as an incentive to stay in their job, or to ensure long-term cooperation after their departure. Golden handshake: A golden handshake is a generous sum of money given to a person when they leave a company or retire(sometimes given to encourage early retirement).

Great Minds Think Alike: Great Minds Think Alike = t tng ln gp nhau

"I have decided that this summer I am going to learn how to scuba dive." "Me too! I have already paid for the course. Great minds think alike!"

H
Hard up: If you are hard up, you have very little money. "We were so hard up we had to sleep in the car." Have No Idea: Have No Idea = khng h bit, khng c khi nim no "I can't find my keys. I have no idea where I put them."

I
It Is All Greek to me: It Is All Greek to me. = Ti chng hiu g c. (m ch ch vit hoc ting ni) "Did you understand what he just said?" "Nope. It was all Greek to me." It Takes Two To Tango: It Takes Two To Tango = c la mi c khi "Her husband is awful; they fight all the time." "It takes two to tango."

K
Keep An Eye On: Keep An Eye On = xem chng, trng chng, mt n "I have to run to the bathroom. Can you keep an eye on my suitcase while I am gone?" Keep the wolf from the door: In order to keep the wolf from the door, you need to have enough money to buy food and other essentials. "My grandparents earned barely enough to keep the wolf from the door." Keep your head above water: To keep one's head above water means to try to survive by staying out of debt, for example a small business. Kickback: This expression refers to money paid illegally for favourable treatment. "The property developers were accused of giving kickbacks to the local authorities."

Page | 5

L
Laugh all the way to the bank: A person who makes a lot of money easily, especially through someone else's stupidity, is said to laugh all the way to the bank. "If we don't succeed in renewing the contract, our competitors will be laughing all the way to the bank" Let Sleeping Dogs Lie: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie = ng gi li nhng chuyn khng hay "I wanted to ask her what she thought of her ex-husband, but I figured it was better to let sleeping dogs lie." Licence to print money: This expression refers to an officially authorized activity which enables people to make a lot of money without much effort. "The contract to supply computers to schools was a licence to print money." Live beyond one's means: If someone lives beyond their means, they spend more money than they earn or can afford. "The cost of living was so much higher in New York that he was soon living beyond his means." Look/feel like a million dollars: If you look/feel like a million dollars, you look/feel extremely good. "With a tan and a new hairstyle, she looked like a million dollars." Lose your shirt: If you lose your shirt, you lose all your money or possessions, especially as a result of speculation or gambling. "He lost his shirt when the bank went bankrupt."

M
Make a killing: If you say that someone has made a killing you mean that they have had great financial success "He made a killing on the stock market." Money burns a hole in your pocket: To say that money burns a hole in somebody's pocket means that they are eager to spend it quickly or extravagantly. "As soon as she's paid she goes shopping. Money burns a hole in her pocket!" Money doesn't grow on trees:

Page | 6

To say that money doesn't grow on trees means that it is not plentiful or easily obtained. "Be careful how you spend your money David. It doesn't grow on trees you know!" Money for old rope: This expression refers to money earned from a task that requires very little effort. "Getting paid for watering the garden is money for old rope!" Money spinner: If an activity is a money spinner, it is a very successful way of making money. "Washing cars was quite a money spinner when I was a student."

Money talks: Money talks means that people with a lot of money have power and influence. Money to burn: People who have money to burn have so much money that they can spend it on anything they want. More money than sense: If you have more money than sense, you have a lot of money which you waste by spending it in a foolish manner. "He celebrated the birth of the baby by buying a sports car. He's got more money than sense!"

N
Neither A Borrower, Nor A Lender Be: Neither A Borrower, Nor A Lender Be = ng cho mn tin, cng ng mn tin "Could you lend me twenty dollars?" "Sorry, neither a borrower nor a lender be." Nest egg: If you have a nest egg, you have a reserve of money which you put aside for future needs. "Our parents consider the money from the sale of their house as a nest egg for their old age." Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You: Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You = ng bao gi cn vo bn tay t cho ta n "We have been your best customers for years. How could you suddenly treat us so rudely? You should never bite the hand that feeds you."

Page | 7

O
Off The Hook: Off The Hook = mt, phin, cng khe "You're lucky; it turns out that Dad never heard you come in late last night." "Great, that means I'm off the hook!" On a shoestring: If you do something on a shoestring, you do it with very little money. "When I was a student I lived on a shoestring." On the breadline: People who live on the breadline have a very low income or barely enough money to survive. "Due to the recent crisis, there are more people on the breadline than ever before. On the house: Something which is "on the house" is offered free of charge, usually in a bar or restaurant. "The new owner offered us a drink on the house." Other side of the coin: When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect of a situation, you refer to the other side of the coin. "The house is lovely and spacious, but the other side of the coin is that it is far from shops and schools." Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind = xa mt cch lng "I meant to read that book, but as soon as I put it down, I forgot about it." "Out of sight, out of mind."

P
People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones: People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones = bn thn mnh khng ng th ng ch ngi khc sai "Look at what time it is... you are late again!" "Hey, how often are you not on time? People who live in glass houses should not throw stones." Pick up the tab: If you pick up the tab, you pay the bill or pay the cost of something. "There was a celebration lunch for the group and Bill picked up the tab." Practice Makes Perfect: Practice Makes Perfect = cng tp luyn nhiu cng gii

Page | 8

"You see how quickly you are getting better at the piano! Practice makes perfect!" Pretty penny: If something costs you a pretty penny, it costs you a lot of money. "That new car must have cost him a pretty penny!" Price oneself out of the market: If you price yourself out of the market, you charge such a high price for your goods or services that nobody buys them.

"He was so eager to make money that he priced himself out of the market." Put money where your mouth is: To put money where your mouth is means to give financial support to activities or causes that you believe are right. Put Your Foot In Your Mouth: Put Your Foot In Your Mouth = t h ming mc quai, ni l li "Let's all be very careful what we say at the meeting tomorrow. I don't want anyone putting their foot in their mouth."

R
Rake in the money: If you rake in the money, you make money in large quantities. "Bob's business is so successful, he's raking in the money." Rob Peter to pay Paul: If a person robs Peter to pay Paul, they pay one debt with money borrowed from somewhere else, thus creating another debt. "David borrowed money from a friend to cover his overdraft; a typical case of robbing Peter to pay Paul!" Rome Was Not Built In One Day: Rome Was Not Built In One Day = Thnh La M khng phi c xy trong 1 ngy "It is taking me a long time to write this computer program." "Rome was not built in one day." Rub Salt In An Old Wound: Rub Salt In An Old Wound = Xt mui vo vt thng cha lnh "Oh please, let's not rub salt in old wounds!"

S
Second Nature: Second Nature = vic d dng "It has always been second nature for me to draw with both hands."
Page | 9

See the colour of somebody's money: If you want to see the colour of somebody's money, you want to make sure that the person in question has enough money to pay you before you accept to do something. "I want to see the colour of his money before shipping the goods." Set you back: The sum of money something sets you back is the amount it costs you. "Changing the heating system would set us back about $5 000."

Splash out: If you splash out on something, you spend a lot of money on it. "Sarah's parents really splashed out on her wedding." Start From Scratch: Start From Scratch = bt u t u, bt u t con s khng "How are you going to build your business?" "Just like everyone else does: starting from scratch."

T
The Pros And Cons: The Pros And Cons = nhng mt li v nhng mt hi "I've considered the pros and cons and I've decided: it is going to be expensive, but I still want to go to college." The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back = git nc lm trn ly "You've been rude to me all day, and I've had it. That's the last straw!" The Writing On The Wall: The Writing On The Wall = tn hiu r rng bo hiu s thay i "Can't you see the writing on the wall?" Third Wheel: Third Wheel= k d tha, k cn mi "You two go on ahead without me. I don't want to be the third wheel." Throw money at something: If you throw money at something, you try to solve a problem by spending money on it, without using any other methods. "The refugee problem cannot be solved just by throwing money at it." Tie The Knot: Tie The Knot = kt hn "Did you hear about Dan and Jenny? They finally decided to tie the knot!" Tighten your belt: If you need to tighten your belt, you must spend your money carefully. "Another bill? I'll have to tighten my belt this month!" To make ends meet:
Page | 10

To make ends meet means enough money to live on.

to

have

Turn Over A New Leaf: Turn Over A New Leaf= quyt tm thay i cuc i "I'm turning over a new leaf; I've decided to quit smoking."

Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right: Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right = hai ci sai khng lm nn 1 ci ng "That boy pushed me yesterday and I am going to get him back today!" "No you are not! Two wrongs do not make a right."

U
Under The Weather: Under The Weather = khng khe trong ngi, b bnh nh do thi tit "What's wrong?" "I'm a bit under the weather." Up Against: Up Against = ng u vi "We have been up against stronger opponents in the past."

W
Water Under The Bridge: Water Under The Bridge = chuyn qua ri "Aren't you still angry about what he said?" "No, that was a long time ago. It's all water under the bridge." When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do: When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do = nhp gia ty tc "Are you sure we should eat this with our hands?" "Why not? All of these people are eating it that way. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!" When Pigs Fly: When Pigs Fly = cn khuya, khng bao gi c chuyn u "Would you ever take her on a date?" "Sure- when pigs fly!" Without A Doubt: Without A Doubt = chc chn, khng cn nghi ng g na "Are you going to watch the game tomorrow?" "Without a doubt!" Word Of Mouth: Word Of Mouth = s truyn ming "Where did you hear about that?" "Just word of mouth."

Page | 11

Y
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover: You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover = o ca sa khng lm nn thy tu, ng nh gi da trn v b ngoi "He dresses in plain clothing and drives an ordinary car. Who would know he is the richest man in town? You can't judge a book by its cover!"

Page | 12

You might also like