Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nhi Nguyen
đột nhiên
thực ra
4. as blind as a bat: not able to see well because of very bad eyesight
mù tịt
rất đói
rất dễ hiểu
Ms. Nhi Nguyen
12. as quiet as a mouse: making almost no noise, being shy and no talking much
bệnh nặng
16. as stubborn as a mule: not willing to change one’s mind, very set in one’s ideas
yếu
thoạt đầu
19. back and forth: from one place to another and back to the first place
lui tới
vô lý
21. (to) bark up the wrong tree: to make the wrong choice and waste one’s efforts
22. (to) beat around the bush: to waste time by not giving a direct answer
26. (a) big mouth: a person who talks too much and does not keep secrets
thành đạt
28. (a) bitter pill to swallow: something difficult and unpleasant to experience
29. (the) black market: the market not controlled by the government, where things
are sold in private and often against the law
30. blood is thicker than water: relatives are the most important people
mọt sách
bắt chuyện
điều dễ làm
34. (to) bring down the house: to make an audience clap and laugh enthusiastically
thường thì
thuộc lòng
sợ hãi, nhát
43. (a) copycat: a person who wants to do the same thing as other people
trả tiền
chần chừ, do dự
rẻ mạt
52. (to) drive someone up to the wall: to make someone angry or crazy
53. (an) early bird: the first person to be somewhere, a person who gets out of bed
early
ăn như hổ/trâu
dù thế
56. every other: this one but not the next, then the next but not the one after that,
and so on
cách nhau
58. (a) fair-weather friend: a person who doesn’t help when a friend is in trouble
Ms. Nhi Nguyen
thấy buồn
61. (to) feel it in one’s bones: to know something, often before seeing it or before it
happens
đáng ngờ
63. (a) flash in the pan: something that starts out well but that may not continue
trước hết
67. for the time being: temporarily, just for the present moment
chợp mắt
kẻ bảo thủ
Ms. Nhi Nguyen
70. full of hot air: talking a lot but never doing what one says
73. (to) get one’s foot in the door: to take the first steps to start something, to get an
opening
khởi sự điều gì
74. (to) to give someone a taste of her/ his own medicine: to do something bad to
someone after the other person has done the same bad thing
hòn bấc ném đi, hòn chì ném lại; giáng trả
phát điên
77. (to) go Dutch: to share the cost, to pay one’s own bill
78. (to) go fly a kite: to go away or stop annoying someone, usually said in anger
79. a good sport: someone who does not complain if he or she loses or who does not
boast if he or she wins
82. (to) handle someone with kid gloves: to be careful not to anger someone
83. (to) have a lot of nerve: to act so badly and impolitely that it actually courage to
do so
liều lĩnh
điên
85. (to) have a sweet tooth: to like sweet foods very much
hảo ngọt
86. (to) have one’s head in the cloud: not to know or understand what is going on
đã đến lúc
đi ngủ
giận
bí mật
nhanh chóng
có tiền
bị mắc nợ
107. (a) jack of all trades: a person who can do many things
người đa năng
giữ bí mật
109. (to) keep one’s shirt on: not to get angry, to be patient
110. (to) keep the ball rolling: to make something continue to happen
tiếp tục
111. (to) keep up with the Joneses: to want the same nice things that other people
have
112. (to) kill time: to waste time waiting for something else to happen
113. (the) last straw: the final thing after a series of bad things, the thing that finally
makes one angry
cú quyết định
114. (a) lemon: something that does not work, usually an electrical appliance or
mechanical item
thứ đồ bỏ
118. (to) make time: to do something although you did not plan it and you are
already busy
119. (a) man/girl Friday: someone who does a large variety of tasks on the job
người giàu có
hầu như
123. mumbo jumbo: language that can not easily be understood, jargon
đừng lo chi
125. (to) nip something in the bud: to stop something when it’s just beginning
không, vô phương
Ms. Nhi Nguyen
127. nosey: always wanting to know other people business and what other people
are doing
rất điên
130. odds and ends: a variety of small items, the pieces left over
sai
cố ý
137. on second thought: changing one’s mind after thinking more about something
138. on the ball: very good at doing things, effective and efficient
Ms. Nhi Nguyen
nói chung
thỉnh thoảng
mới đây
150. (a) pain in the neck: something or someone that annoys or bothers a person
Ms. Nhi Nguyen
số tiền ít ỏi
việc dễ làm
bướng bỉnh
156. pitter- patter: sound of quick, light taps, like the sound of rain or children’s feet
bữa ăn tự túc
trêu đùa ai
159. (to) to put one’s cards on the table: not to hid anything, to explain the situation
fully and honestly
nói thẳng không che giấu gì cả, lật ngửa ván bài
160. (to) put two and two together: to finally understand something, to come to a
conclusion
nhiều
vật thật
164. (the) red carpet: special honors for a special or important person
an toàn
170. (to) save something for a rainy day: to prepare for trouble, usually by saving
money
chuẩn bị đối phó với khó khăn, tiết kiệm phòng khi cơ nhỡ
bản năng thứ hai, điều khó nhưng dễ làm với một số người
tuyệt hảo
nhanh lên
175. sick and tired: very annoyed, very tired of doing something
177. six of one, half a dozen of the other: no difference, either choice is okay
178. sixth sense: a special feeling for something, or a special understanding of things
179. (a) smart aleck: someone who acts as if he or she knows everything and is often
rude about it
182. soap opera: a drama on TV or radio that continues over time and in which the
characters have many problems
lâm li bi đát
183. (a) song and dance: a long explanation, a long excuse that is often not true
Ms. Nhi Nguyen
rất sạch sẽ
186. (to) sponge off: to take money or hospitality and never pay anything back
187. (a) stuffed shirt: someone who lives by the rules and is very formal
con người nguyên tắc, cứng nhắc, người thích hình thức
đừng vội
làm điều gì
192. (to) to take turns: first you do it, then someone else does it, then you, then the
other person, and so on
194. through the grapevine: from what one person said to another, by rumor
tin đồn
Ms. Nhi Nguyen
rất để nhỏ của một chuyện lớn, bề nổi của tảng băng chìm
tốt nhất
hỗn loạn
202. (to) turn over a new leaf: to start over again, to start a new and better life
làm lại từ đầu, làm lại cuộc đời, lật sang trang mới
203. under the table: secretly, usually doing something again the law
bệnh
205. up a tree: in a difficult situation from which you cannot find the way out
208. (to) weather the storm: to wait and be patient until things get better
chờ hết cơn mưa trời lại sáng, hết cơ bỉ cực tới hồi thái lai
209. (a) wet blanket: a person who doesn’t enjoy things and keeps others from
enjoying them
210. (a) wheeler-dealer: something that is not true but that causes no harm
211. (a) white lie: something that is not true but that causes no harm
213. (a) wise guy: someone who acts as if he or she knows everything and is often
rude about it