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IDIOMS AND PHRASAL VERBS

TOPIC FAMILY
Why do families argue ?
What is it about your own flesh and blood? I’ve got two sisters. They used to fight like cat and dog
when they were kids, and there’s little love lost between them now. But as soon as an outsider criticizes
either of them, they immediately close ranks and turn on them. It’s a bit the same with me and my wife.
When we’re together we argue, but when we’re apart, we’re miserable as sin. How do you account for
that? I guess living on top of each other for granted a lot of the time. But families are strange!

Glossary
your own flesh and blood a person or people that you are related to.
người cùng máu mủ
fight like cat and dog (of two people) often have angry fights.
Đánh nhau như chó với mèo
there’s little/no love lost between them they don’t like each other.
họ không thích nhau
close ranks if people close ranks, they join together to protect
cùng bảo vệ nhau themselves, especially when they are being criticized.

turn on sb attack sb suddenly and unexpectedly.

quay lại (lật mặt)

(as) miserable as sin used to emphasize that sb is very unhappy.

khốn khổ, không hạnh phúc
account for sth be the explanation or cause of sth.
giải thích cho việc gì, là nguyên nhân của
việc gì
take sb for granted be so accustomed to sb that you don’t appreciate them.
không biết trân trọng

on top of sb/sth: có nhiều nghĩa khác nhau.

Ex 1. They live on top of each other. = very close to each other (which often causes problems).
Họ sống gần nhau (dễ nảy sinh các vấn đề).
Ex 2. He gets commission on top of his salary. = in addition to his salary.
(Ngoài tiền lương ra anh ấy còn nhận được hoa hồng.)
EX 3. The books were piled on top of one another. = on, over, or covering one another.
(Những quyển sách được xếp chồng lên nhau.)