After years of arguing about who would be the first heir, all the members of the family

agreed to forget their differences.

Who WOULD BE THE FIRST HEIR has been settled among ALL MEMBERS OF THE
FAMILY by BURYING THEIR HATCHET.

BURY THE HATCHET

- to stop arguing and become friends again

He seems to be more active because he has won a scholarship to study overseas.

(LEASE)
That he has won a scholarship to study overseas GIVES HIM A NEW LEASE OF LIFE.

GIVE SB A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

- to make sb more energetic and active than before

Sometimes I have got a bad memory, so most importantly I need regular practice.
First and foremost I need regular practice because I have got a MEMORY/MIND LIKE
A SIEVE

MEMORY/MIND LIKE A SIEVE

- to be very absent-minded

* Maldivies attract hordes of tourists to its beach resorts and 24-hour bustling nightlife.
(CLOCK)
It is Maldivies' beach resorts and ROUND-THE-CLOCK nightlife that tourists are
attracted to.

* The company tried unsuccessfully to secure a bank loan. (AVAIL)

The company's efforts were TO NO AVAIL IN securing a bank loan.

TO NO AVAIL (in sth)

- in vain
- without success

* If Mary were feeling well, she would have come to Tom's party. (SINCE)
Mary must be ill SINCE she didn't come to Tom's party.

* In my opinion, computers are more trouble than they're worth. (HINDRANCE)

In my opinion, computers are more of a HINDRANCE than a help.

HINDRANCE
- something that causes trouble and difficulty

There was hardly any movement in the traffic in front of us. (INCHED)
The traffic INCHED ALONG in front of us.
INCH
- to move very slowly

* The letter arrived completely unexpectedly this morning. (BLUE)

The letter arrived completely OUT OF THE BLUE this morning.

Sam was really anxious, waiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket team.
(TENTERHOOKS)
Sam was ON TENTERHOOKS, waiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket team.

ON TENTERHOOKS
- worried/anxious/nervous
- sitting on pins and needles
- at wits' end

Harry was disappointed to hear the news that the match had been cancelled.
News of the cancellation of the match CAME AS A DISAPPOINTMENT to Harry.

At this time of year, the area often affected by violence storm.

At this time of year, the area often FEELS THE EFFECTS OF the violence storm

*** The tree blown down in the storm were not cleared away for weeks.
It WAS WEEKS BEFORE the tree blown down in the storm were cleared away.

* There were very little paper left in the printer.

The printer had almost RUN OF OUT paper.

* Without access to the statistics, I will not be able to complete the report. (HOLD)
Unless I GET HOLD OF the statistics, the report will not be completed.

GET HOLD OF STH

- to find sb/sth
- to obtain sth

* The suspect could not explain why he had sand in his boots. (ACCOUNT)
The suspect could not ACCOUNT FOR why he sand in his boots.

* He is too irresponsible to run the department. (CHARGE)

He is not responsible to be IN CHARGE OF the department.

* Sheila is worried about the proposed changes at work. (PROSPECT)

The PROSPECT of changes at work makes Sheila worry.

I can recommend you to the manager; I'm a friend of his. (WORD)

I can PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR you to the manager; I'm a friend of his.
Martine cannot go any higher in his career. (PINNACLE)
Martine has REACHED THE PINNACLE OF his career.

REACH THE PINNACLE OF STH

- to reach the most successful part of sth

* The board had a secret meeting in order to discuss changes in the company. (DOORS)
The board met BEHIND CLOSED DOORS in order to discuss changes in the company.

He got up very early this morning. (CRACK)

He got up AT THE CRACK OF DAWN this morning.

AT THE CRACK OF DAWN

- very early in the morning
~ the small hours

* Even though Simon rarely has a lot of money, he always buys his mom a birthday
present.
HOWEVER short of money Simon is, he always buys his mom a birthday present.

* It would have taken a miracle to save the paintings from the fire.
NOTHING short of a miracle would have saved the paintings from the fire.

* If the pay were not good, I wouldn't stay in this job.

BUT for the good pay, I wouldn't stay in this job.

I'm going to write and complain to the council.

I intend to make A WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO THE COUNCIL.

We don't think you should have done that.

We'd rather YOU HADN'T DONE THAT.

Mary's performance in last week's test was nowhere near as good as it was in today's.
Mary performed MUCH BETTER IN TODAY'S TEST THAN IN LAST WEEK'S.

* You mustn't open the lid of the machine until it has stopped making that noise.
Only when IT HAS STOPPED MAKING THAT NOISE ARE YOU ALLOWED TO
OPEN THE LID OF THE MACHINE.

I have searched everywhere for my purse.

I have SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW for my purse.

SEARCH HIGH AND LOW (for sth)

- to search here and there and everywhere
* After her cry, she felt calmer and more in control.
After her tears had RUN ITS COURSE, she felt calmer and more in control.

RUN ITS COURSE

- to develop and finish naturally

** After a long hard journey, I cheered up when I saw my home. (SPIRITS)

After a long hard journey, my SPIRITS LIFTED when I saw my home.

Don't tell them what to do any more since they have grown up. (DEVICES)
LEAVE THEM TO THEIR OWN DEVICES since they have grown up

LEAVE SB TO THEIR OWN DEVICES: để tự quyết định

- to allow sb to make their own decisions

* It seems that no one predicted the final outcome of the negotiation.

NO ONE seems to have predicted the outcome of the negotiation.

They often went to the zoo with their parents as children.

THEIR PARENTS WOULD take them to the zoo as children.

We would have preferred them not to have stayed so long, that's true.
WE WOULD SOONER they hadn't stayed so long, that's true.

Her remarks simply made his rage more uncontrollable.

The remarks simply ADDED FUEL TO THE FIRE OF his rage.

ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE (of sth): thêm dầu vào lửa

We found it easy to do the test. (NO)

We had NO difficulty doing the test.

The new plans for the road have been approved by the local authority. (MET)
The new plans for the road have MET WITH THE APPROVAL OF the authority.

* We all discussed the issue at length, but came to no decision. (HAD)

We HAD a long discussion, but came to no decision.

I haven't seen John for a long time. (EYES)

I haven't CLAPPED/LAID/SET EYES ON John for a long time.

CLAP/LAY/SET EYES ON STH

- to see sb

Whenever we go out for meals, we share the cost. (HALF)

Whenever we go out for meals, we GO HALF AND HALF.
GO HALF AND HALF: 50/50

* It was inevitable that they should feel personally degraded.

THEIR personal feeling of degradation was INEVITABLE.

* Summerhill seldom has a case of homesickness.

AT SUMMERHILL SELDOM is there a case of homesickness.

* They'll arrive soon.

IT won't be long before they arrive.

It's not useful feeling sorry about something which has already happened.
IT'S NO USE CRYING OVER SPILT MILK.

She ran down the steps with a group of journalists following her very closely. (HOT)
She ran down the steps with a group of journalists HOT ON HER HEELS.

HARD/HOT/CLOSE ON YOUR HEELS

- following sb very closely

He's asking for trouble by lying to the police. (ICE)

He's SKATING ON THIN ICE by lying to the police.

SKATING ON THIN ICE

- on the line
- putting/laying sth on the line
- playing with fire
- sailing close/against the wind

Hal found something unexpected when he cleared out the attic. (DISCOVERY)
Hal MADE AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY when he cleared out the attic.

Kira didn't say anything about her illness last night. (MADE)
Kira MADE NO MENTION OF her illness last night.

MADE NO MENTION OF STH

- to make no reference to sth

Paul and Pete share so many similar interests. (COMMON)

Paul HAS SO MUCH IN COMMON WITH Pete.

It would be in your interests to take an early train on Sunday. (OFF)

You would be BETTER OFF TAKING an early train on Sunday.

* Nobody approved of the new law when it was introduced. (APPROVAL)

The new law didn't MEET WITH ANYONE'S APPROVAL.

I promised my mum I would work hard this year.

I made A PROMISE TO MY MUM that I would work hard this year.

*** The witness thought I was a thief, but realized she was wrong.
The witness MISTOOK me for the thief, but realized she was wrong.

* The fourth time he asked her to marry him, she accepted.

ONLY ON the fourth proposal did she accept to marry him.

* The Mayor hoped to have a good day for the parade.

THE MAYOR WAS IN the hope of having a good day for the parade.

IN THE HOPE OF DOING STH

- with a view to doing sth

* We missed the bus because we had overslept. (CONSEQUENCE)

We missed the bus AS A CONSEQUENCE OF over-sleeping.

AS A CONSEQUENCE OF STH
- as a result of sth
- due to
- because of
- owing to
- on account of

If ever student dared to ask a question, the professor would sigh heavily.
IN THE EVENT OF a student daring to ask a question, the professor would sigh heavily

IN THE EVENT OF STH

- if

* The soldier entered the castle while it was dark.

UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, the soldier entered the castle.

They suddenly decided to go away for the weekend.

They decided ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT to go away for the weekend.

ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT

- on a whim
- on an impulse
- on a caprice
- on the spot

* There was loud applause as he left the stage. (ACCOMPANIMENT)

He left the stage TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF loud applause.

TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF STH

- with sth

Harry was close to winning the big race.

Harry was WITHIN AN ACE OF winning the big race.

WITHIN AN ACE OF DOING STH

- close to doing/being sth

They only reimbursed us because we took legal advice.

WE WOULDN'T have been reimbursed if we hadn't taken legal advice.

*** The inhabitants were far worse-off twenty years ago than they are now.
THE INHABITANTS ARE NOWHERE near as badly-off as they were twenty years ago.

BADLY OFF - WORSE OFF - WORST OFF

* When I noticed it was a formal dress, it was too late.

NOT until I noticed it was a formal dress was it too late.

I need someone to take my place at the ceremony. (IN)

I need someone to STAND IN FOR my place at the ceremony.

STAND IN FOR SB'S PLACE: thế chỗ

* Mass tourism has been one of the cause of the problem. (BLAME)
Mass tourism was PARTLY TO BLAME for the problem.

The regiment's reputation was really damaged by his outrageous conduct. (HARM)
His outrageous behavior DID GREAT HARM TO the regiment's reputation.

DO HARM TO SB
- to inflict harm to sb

*** Going to and fro with all the cases is what I can't stand about holidays. (TOING)
It's all the TOING AND FROING with all the cases that I can't stand about holidays.

TOING AND FROING: đi đi lại lại

- the act of repeatedly going from one place to another

Her primus stove ceased to function on the last day. (GASP)

Her primus stove GAVE ITS LAST GASP on the last day.

GIVE ITS LAST GASP

- stand on its last legs
- in very bad condition
- dead

* The tourists were unharmed after the train cash.

The tourists were NONE THE WORSE FOR their experience in the train crash.

# none the worse FOR sth

* Besides mapping the mountain ranges, there were many other reasons for the
expedition. (MORE)
There was MORE TO THE EXPEDITION THAN simply mapping the mountain ranges.

# MORE TO A THAN B

In the end they left me to settle up with the restaurant. (FOOT)

In the end I was left to FOOT THE RESTAURANT BILL.

The effects of the gale were felt mainly along the South coast. (BRUNT)
The South coast BORE THE BRUNT OF THE gale.

BEAR/TAKE THE BRUNT OF STH: chịu ảnh hưởng

- to take/bear the main force of sth unpleasant

*** As a result of bad weather, there may be delay to some international flights.
(SUBJECT)
Due to bad weather, some international flights are SUBJECT TO possible delay.

SUBJECT TO STH
- likely to be affected by sth bad

* The film was so controversial that it was banned in several parts of the world.
(CAUSED)
Such was controversy CAUSED by the film that it was banned in several parts of the
world.

It's HIGHLY likely that the house will be pulled down. (LIKELIHOOD)
There is A STRONG LIKELIHOOD that the house will be pulled down.

In summer the volume of traffic creates problems for local traders. (DIFFICULT)
The volume of traffic MAKES IT DIFFICULT for traders to go about their work.

* I felt relaxed at Gita's house because her parents greeted me so warmly.

Gita's parents MADE ME FEEL AT EASE WITH THE WARMTH OF THEIR
GREETINGS.
*** His whole life was one of deceit and treachery. (HE)
THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE HE WAS DECEITFUL AND DANGEROUS.

"It's none of your business what I do with my money!", Daisy informed her father.
(CONCERN)
Daisy informed her father that what she did with her money was NO CONCERN OF
HIS.

* No matter what happens, we will never do business with that firm again. (EVER)
Under no circumstances will we EVER do business with that firm again.

* Philip's inability to make decisions dates from his accident.

EVER since his accident, Philip's been unable to make decisions.

A government official leaked the story to the world press. (WIND)

The world press GOT WIND OF the story FROM a government official.

GET WIND OF STH (from sb): nghe phong thanh

Julia soon calmed down and explained her problem. (PULLED)

Julia soon PULLED HERSELF TOGETHER and explained her problem.

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER

- to calm down (and act normally)
1. The way he behaves LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED. (Cái cách anh ta hành xử thật
không thể nào chấp nhận nổi.)
To leave a lot/ something/ much to be desired: rất tồi/ không thể chấp nhận được.
2. What she lacked in size she MADE UP (FOR) in strength. (Những gì cô ấy thiếu mất
trong kích thước, cô ấy bù đắp lại về mặt sức lực – dịch hơi khô, các bạn thông cảm.)
To make up for: bù đắp cho = make amends for = atone for (đền tội cho)
3. With the CLOSED-DOWN of the company, more than 300 workers were THROWN ON
THE SCRAP HEAP. (Cùng với sự đóng cửa của công ti, hơn 300 công nhân đã bị đào
thải).
A company closes down: công ti đóng cửa -> the close-down: sự đóng cửa, ngừng hoạt
động.
To throw sb on the scrap heap: làm ai trở nên dư thừa/ vô dụng = to make sb redundant
4. His performance did not GO DOWN WELL WITH the audience. (Màn trình diễn của anh
ta không được khán giả đón nhận/ Hay nói cách khác là khán giả không thích màn trình
diễn của anh ta.)
To go down well/ badly with sb: được đón nhận nồng nhiệt/ không tốt bởi sb.
5. Upset as she was, revenge was THE LAST THING ON HER MIND. (Dù có buồn bực
nhưng trả thù là điều cuối cùng mà cô ta nghĩ đến).
To be the last thing on one’s mind: ai đó không hề có ý định làm gì đó.
6. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, the project is NEARNING COMPLETION.
(Theo như tôi biết thì dự án sắp sửa hoàn thành.)
To the best of my knowledge: theo những gì tôi biết
To near + n: gần đạt đến cái gì đó.
7. Injury PUT HIM OUT OF CONTENTION FOR the title.
(Chấn thương lấy mất cơ hội dành danh hiệu của anh ta)
To be in/ out of contention for sth: có cơ hội giành lấy sth
To put sb out of contention for sth: lấy mất cơ hội của sb
8. It is crucial for us to KEEP A TIGHT REIN ON the juvenile inmates.(Chúng ta cần kiểm
soát chặt chẽ những tên tội phạm vị thành niên)
To keep a tight rein on sth: kiểm soát chặt chẽ sth
Nhân tiện có từ curb: kiểm soát, kiềm chế (hay dùng với birth rate/ tax evasion, …. hay
hơn từ control)
9. The inhabitants are NOWHERE NEAR AS BADLY-OFF AS they were twenty years ago.
(Người dân không còn nghèo như 20 năm về trước)
To be nowhere near as … as = nothing like as … as : không được … như (dùng trong so
sánh bằng để nhấn mạnh)
Badly-off >< well-off : nghèo >< giàu.