IDIOMS IN MCQs

A GUIDE FOR SUCCESS - GCSE PREPARATION – IDIOMS
ENGLISH IDIOMS – THÀNH NGỮ

I. MOST COMMON LIFE ENGLISH IDIOMS (THÀ NH NGỮ CUỘ C SỐ NG)
01. Stuck between a rock and a hard place (Tiến thoái lưỡng nan)
Eg. Learning business is so boring but I can’t quit it. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard
place.
Học kinh doanh thật là chán nhưng tôi không thể bỏ đượC. Tôi đang trong tình thế tiến thoái
lưỡng nan.
02. Cost an arm and a leg (Rất đắt đỏ)
Eg. A diamond ring costs an arm and a leg. Mộ t chiếc nhẫ n kim cương có giá rấ t đắ t đỏ .
03. Easier said than done (Nói thì dễ làm thì khó)
Eg. Being the best student in the class is easier said than done.
Trở thành học sinh giỏi nhất trong lớp là một việc nói dễ hơn làm.
04. Bite the hand that feeds you (Ăn cháo đá bát)
Eg. Never bite the hand that feeds you! Đừng bao giờ ăn cháo đá bát!
05. Driving one crazy (Làm ai đó khó chịu)
Eg. Would you please turn down the music? It’s driving me crazy!
Bạn làm ơn cho nhỏ nhạc đi được không? Nó làm tôi phát điên lên đấy!
06. In a bad mood (Cảm thấy không vui)
Eg. I just got bad grades. I’m in a bad mood. Tôi vừa bị điểm kém. Tôi đang không vui lắm.
07. Judge a book by its cover (Trông mặt mà bắt hình dong)
Eg. Don’t judge a book by its cover. He is very rich despite his appearance.
Đừng trông mặt mà bắt hình dong. Khác với vẻ bề ngoài, anh ta là một người rất giàu.
08. A friend in need is a friend indeed (Hoạn nạn mới biết bạn hiền)
Eg. John helped me so much when I lost my job. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
John giúp đỡ tôi rất nhiều khi tôi mất việc. Đúng là hoạn nạn mới biết bạn hiền.
09. Work like a dog (Làm việc chăm chỉ)
Eg. I work like a dog for 14 hours a day. Tôi làm việc quần quật trong 14 giờ một ngày.
10. Look on the bright side (Nhìn vào mặt tích cực)
Eg. Don’t be so sad after failing the exam. Look on the bright side! At least you tried so
hard.
Đừng quá buồn khi trượt bài kiểm tra. Hãy nhìn vào mặt tích cực đi! Ít ra là bạn đã rất cố
gắng.
11. When pigs fly (Không bao giờ)
Eg. When do you think I’ll be rich? – When pigs fly! You are too lazy to work for money.
Anh nghĩ bao giờ thì tôi sẽ giàu? – Không bao giờ! Anh quá lười để kiếm tiền.
12. Beat around the bush (Vòng vo)
Eg. Stop beating around the bush! What do you want? Đừng vòng vo nữa! Cô muốn gì?
13. A drop in the ocean (Muối bỏ bể)
Eg. Your work alone is like a drop in the ocean. You need to gather as many people as you
can.
Chỉ có mình bạn thì như muối bỏ bể vậy. Bạn cần phải kêu gọi nhiều người nhất có thể.
14. Sit on the fence (Chần chừ không quyết)
Eg. He doesn’t know what to choose. He is sitting on the fence.
Anh ta không biết phải chọn cái gì. Anh ta đang lưỡng lự.
15. By all means (Bằng mọi giá)
Eg. I will pass the test by all means. Tôi sẽ vượt qua bài kiểm tra bằng mọi giá
16. Save for a rainy day (Làm khi lành để dành khi đau)
Eg. Don’t spend them all. Save some for a rainy day.
Đừ ng sử dụ ng hết. Tiết kiệm mộ t ít đề phò ng sau nà y.
17. Like father like son (Cha nào con nấy)
Eg. John is going to be an engineer like his dad. – Well, like father like son.
John sẽ trở thà nh mộ t kỹ sư như bố củ a anh ý – Chà , đú ng là cha nà o con nấ y.
18. Practice makes perfect (Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim)
Eg. Don’t give up. Practice makes perfect.
Đừ ng bỏ cuộ C. Có cô ng mà i sắ t có ngà y nên kim.
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19. The more the merrier (Càng đông càng vui)
Eg. Hey, can I join the party? – Of course, the more the merrier.
Tôi có thể tham gia bữa tiệc được chứ? – Tất nhiên rồi, càng đông càng vui mà.
20. Make a mountain out of a molehill (Việc bé xé ra to)
Eg. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Just relax and everything will be fine.
Đừng có việc bé xé ra to. Cứ thoải mái đi và mọi chuyện sẽ ổn thôi.
21. Take it easy (Thư giãn nào)
Eg. Don’t worry about the test. Take it easy. Đừng lo về bài kiểm trA. Hãy cứ thư giãn thôi.
22. No pain no cure (Thuốc đắng giã tật)
Eg. Don’t worry about him. No pain no cure. He will learn a lot from this lesson.
Đừng lo về anh ta. Thuốc đắng dã tật mà. Sau vụ này anh ta sẽ rút ra nhiều bài học thôi.
23. Every Jack must have his Jill (Nồi nào vung nấy)
Eg. Jane is mean just like his brother. – Well every Jack must have his Jill.
Jame xấu tính y như anh trai cô ta vậy – Đúng là nồi nào vung nấy.
24. Rain cats and dogs (Mưa như trút nước)
Eg. You should bring an umbrellA. It’s raining cats and dogs.
Bạn nên mang theo ô. Trời đang mưa như trút nước.
25. Silence is golden (Im lặng là vàng)
Eg. Sometimes you shouldn’t express your opinions. Silence is golden.
Đôi khi bạn không nên bày tỏ ý kiến của mình ra. Im lặng là vàng.
II. MOST COMMON LITERAL ENGLISH IDIOMS (THÀ NH NGỮ VĂ N CẢ NH)
IDIOMS MEANING & ILLUSTRATIONS
IDIOMS RELATED TO NATURAL FACTORS – THÀNH NGỮ LIÊN QUAN ĐẾN TỰ NHIÊN
01. Under the "Trái gió trở trời" - Theo nghĩa đen, bạ n có thể "ở dướ i thờ i tiết"??? Điều nà y
weather thự c sự khô ng có ý nghĩa gì cả . Nếu bạ n cả m thấ y "Under the weather", có nghĩa
là cơ thể bạ n đang có chú t bấ t ổ n, có thể bạ n đang cả m thấ y mình "bị ố m". Bạ n bị
ố m nhưng khô ng thự c sự nghiêm trọ ng, có thể do thờ i tiết thay đổ i thấ t thườ ng
hoặ c bạ n bị mệt và đau đầ u do thứ c đêm là m việc nhiều...
"What's wrong with Ly, Tony?
"She’s feeling a little under the weather so be quiet and let her rest.”
02. A storm is Thà nh ngữ nà y có nghĩa "sẽ có rắ c rố i hoặ c khó chịu về cả m xú c sắ p diễn ra"
brewing “She decided to go ahead with their wedding, even though all they’ve been doing
lately is arguing. I can sense a storm is brewing.”
03. Calm Nó i đến mộ t khoả ng thờ i gian "yên tĩnh khá c thườ ng" trướ c khi mộ t bấ t ổ n ậ p
before the đến (biến độ ng và hỗ n loạ n). e.g. The strange quietness in town made her feel
storm peaceful. Little did she know, it was just the calm before the storm.
04. Weather Khi đố i mặ t vớ i nhữ ng khó khă n hay thấ t bạ i nhưng bạ n vẫ n luô n kiên cườ ng
a storm vượ t qua chú ng. E.g. Last year, they had some financial difficulties when her
husband was fired. Together, they weathered the storm and figured out how to
keep going.
05. When it Khi nhữ ng điều tồ i tệ xả y ra liên tiếp và khiến nhữ ng khủ ng hoả ng lớ n ấ p đến.
rains, it “First he was laid off, then his wife got into a car accident. When it rains, it
pours pours.“
06. Chasing Theo đuổ i ướ c mơ, cố gắ ng là m điều gì đó nhưng khô ng thể đạ t đượ c.
rainbows “His paintings have neither style nor imagination, but he insists on being a
professional painter. He’s always chasing rainbows.”
07. Rain or Đâ y là mộ t trong nhữ ng thà nh ngữ hiếm hoi thườ ng đượ c sử dụ ng theo nghĩa
shine đen. Dù ng để chỉ mộ t điều gì đó chắ c chắ n sẽ xả y ra cho dù mưa hay nắ ng.
“I’ll see you at the airport, rain or shine.”
08. Under the Dù ng để đề cậ p đến mọ i thứ trên trá i đấ t: biển cả , ngọ n nú i, hò n đả o, khu rừ ng...
sun Thườ ng sử dụ ng để so sá nh mộ t thứ gì đó vớ i nhữ ng thứ khá c dướ i dạ ng so sá nh
bậ c nhấ t. e.g. Phu Quoc must be one of the most beautiful islands under the sun.
09. Once in a Chỉ mộ t sự kiện gì đó "rấ t hiếm", hà nh độ ng gì đó "rấ t hiếm" khi xả y ra
blue moon “He used to call his grandma once in a blue moon. Now that she has passed
away, he regrets not making more of an effort to keep in touch.”
10. Every Trong mọ i tình huố ng xấ u hay tồ i tệ nhấ t luô n có nhữ ng mặ t tố t củ a nó
cloud has a “Don’t worry about losing your job. It’ll be okay. Every cloud has a silver lining!“
silver lining
11. A rising "Nước nổi thuyền nổi"- Khi mộ t nền kinh tế đang tă ng trưở ng tố t thì tấ t cả cá c cá
tide lifts all nhâ n tổ chứ c trong nền kinh tế đó đều cù ng đượ c hưở ng lợ i
boats “When the economy showed the first signs of recovering, everyone started
investing and spending more. A rising tide lifts all boats.“
12. Get into Gặ p rắ c rố i! Rấ t giố ng vớ i thà nh ngữ ở trên mà chú ng ta đã thả o luậ n ở trên.
deep water Nhưng thà nh ngữ nà y có nghĩa trá i ngượ c chỉ nhữ ng điều "rắ c rố i"
“He got into deep water when he borrowed a lot of money from a loan shark.”
13. Pour oil Cố gắ ng giú p xoa dịu nhữ ng cuộ c cã i vã củ a mọ i ngườ i, giú p mọ i ngườ i cả m thấ y
on troubled tố t hơn và thâ n thiện lạ i, hò a giả i vớ i nhau.
waters “She hated seeing her two best friends arguing, so she got them together
and poured oil on troubled waters.”
14. Make Là m thay đổ i mộ i thứ mộ t cá ch kịch tính và gâ y sự chú ý, tạ o sự lan truyền.
waves “She likes to make waves with her creative marketing campaigns. They get a lot
of attention from customers.”
15. Go with "Thuyền đến đầu cầu ắt sẽ thẳng" hoặ c "Nơi nào có nước chảy, ở đó sẽ hình thành
the flow dòng chảy". Mộ t sự thư giã n, thuậ n theo tự nhiên cho dù bất cứ điều gì đang xả y
ra.
“Quite often in life, good things happen when you don’t make plans. Just go with
the flow and see what happens!”
16. Lost at Bị nhầ m lẫ n về mộ t cá i gì đó hoặ c khô ng chắ c chắ n về nhữ ng việc phả i là m.
sea “I am lost at sea with this new system at work. I just can’t understand it.”
17. Sail close "Không được vượt ra khỏi ranh giới". Chỉ đượ c hà nh độ ng trong giớ i hạ n, trong
to the wind khuô n khổ củ a nhữ ng quy tắ c, hợ p phá p hoặ c đượ c xã hộ i chấ p nhậ n.
“They fired their accountant because he sailed too close to the wind.”
18. Make a Để phó ng đạ i mứ c độ nghiêm trọ ng củ a mộ t tình huố ng.
mountain out “She shouted at him angrily for being five minutes late, but it really didn’t matter
of a molehill that much. She really made a mountain out of a molehill.”
19. Gain Mộ t sự tiến lên, là m cho phổ biến.
ground “As Airbus gains ground in many cities all over the world, many locals complain
that they can no longer find a place to live. Landlords would rather rent their
places out to tourists and earn more money.”
20. Walking Rấ t vui mừ ng và hạ nh phú C. Bạ n có thể sử dụ ng nhữ ng cụ m từ khá c như “Over
on air the moon,” “on cloud nine,” “in seventh heaven” và “in good spirits” để nó i về
niềm vui sướ ng và hạ nh phú c.
“She’s been walking on air since she found out that she’s pregnant.”
21. Many Đâ y là mộ t trong nhữ ng thà nh ngữ tiếng anh có sự trang trọ ng và có tính lịch sử .
moons ago Bạ n có thể nghe thấ y nó trong nhữ ng câ u chuyện, hoặ c ai đó đang cố gắ ng tạ o ra
hiệu ứ ng gâ y chú ý, kịch tính
“Many moons ago, we used to be two very close friends. Now we’ve gone separate
ways and lost contact.”
22. Castle in Mộ t giấ c mơ hoặ c mộ t niềm huy vọ ng trong cuộ c số ng, nhưng điều đó khó có thể
the sky trở thà nh sự thậ t.
“World traveling used to be a castle in the sky for most people a few decades ago,
but with cheap flight tickets and the global use of English, many youngsters are
living that dream.”
23. Down to Nhằ m nó i đến sự thự c tế và hợ p lý, khô ng mơ mộ ng.
earth “It’s a stereotype, but Dutch people are known for being down to earth.”
24. Salt of the Thà nh thậ t và tố t bụ ng
earth “My father is the salt of the earth. He works hard and always helps people who
are in need.”
25. The tip of "Phần nổi của tảng băng chìm" - Nhữ ng thứ đượ c nhìn thấ y chỉ là mộ t phầ n nhỏ
the iceberg củ a mộ t cá i gì đấ y lớ n hơn nhiều.
“Exceptionally long drought periods are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes
to the global impact of climate change.”
26. Break the Cố gắ ng vượ t qua khoả ng cá ch, sự ngạ i ngù ng để kết bạ n vớ i ai đó .
ice “He made a weather joke to break the ice.”
27. Sell ice to Để có thể bá n bấ t cứ thứ gì cho bấ t cứ ai; thuyết phụ c mọ i ngườ i đi ngượ c lạ i lợ i
Eskimos ích tố t nhấ t củ a họ hoặ c chấ p nhậ n mộ t cá i gì đó khô ng cầ n thiết thậ m chí vô lý.
Từ Eskimos dù ng để chỉ nhữ ng ngườ i bả n địa số ng ở nhữ ng vù ng rấ t lạ nh, có
tuyết quanh nă m, xung quanh toà n bă ng giá do đó họ khô ng cầ n thêm bấ t kỳ
tả ng bă ng nà o nữ a. Nếu bạn có thể bán đá được cho họ, bạn có thể bán được bất
cứ thứ gì cho bất cứ ai. Nhưng cũ ng lưu ý là từ Eskimos cũ ng bị nhiều ngườ i coi
là xú c phạ m, thô lỗ . Bạ n cầ n biết để hiểu nhữ ng thà nh ngữ tiếng anh thô ng dụ ng
nhưng hã y cẩ n thậ n khi sử dụ ng.
“He’s a gifted salesman, he could sell ice to Eskimos.”
28. Bury your Cố gắ ng trá nh mộ tình huố ng nà o đó bằ ng cá ch giả vờ như nó khô ng tồ n tạ i.
head in the “Stop burying your head in the sand. You haven’t been happy with him for
sand years, why are you staying together?”
29. Let the Là m cho mộ t tình huố ng trở nên bình tĩnh hoặ c bình thườ ng trở lạ i sau khi mộ t
dust settle điều gì đó thú vị hoặ c bấ t thườ ng xả y ra.
“You just had big news yesterday, let the dust settle and don’t make any decisions
yet.”
30. Clear as Khô ng dễ hiểu, khô ng rõ rà ng chú t nà o.
mud “He’s a great scientist, but I find his explanation of bacteria and microbes as clear
as mud.”
31. As cold as Rấ t lạ nh lù ng và vô cả m.
stone “In the Victorian times, many women were told to suppress their feelings and, thus,
appeared as cold as stone.”
32. Between Mộ t tình huố ng rấ t khó khă n, phả i đưa ra mộ t sự lự a chọ n giữ a hai lự a chọ n
a rock and a khô ng thỏ a đá ng.
hard place “I can understand why she couldn’t make up her mind about what to do. She’s
really between a rock and a hard place.”
33. Nip Ngă n chặ n nhữ ng tình huố ng xấ u xả y ra ngay từ giai đoạ n đầ u củ a sự phá t triển
something in củ a tình huố ng đó .
the bud “When the kid shows the first signs of misbehaving, you should nip that bad
behavior in the bud.”
34. Barking Là m điều gì đó vô nghĩa khô ng đem lạ i kết quả như mong muố n.
up the wrong “If you think she’s going to lend you money, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
tree She never lends anyone anything.”
35. Out of the Phầ n khó khă n nhấ t củ a mộ t cá i gì đó đã quA. Tình hình đang trở nên cả i thiện
woods và dễ chịu hơn.
“The surgery went very well and he just needs to recover now, so he’s officially out
of the woods.”
36. Can’t see Khô ng thể nắ m bắ t đượ c cá i tổ ng thể hoặ c nhìn rõ đượ c nhữ ng tình huố ng vì
the forest for bạ n đang đi quá sâ u và o nhữ ng chi tiết nhỏ .
the trees As conflicts aroused, they couldn’t see the forest for the trees.
37. Hold out Quyết định giả ng hò a (vớ i đổ i thủ hoặ c kẻ thù )
an olive “After years of rivalry with her cousin, she decided to hold out an olive
branch branch and go have fun together.”
38. Beat Dà nh thờ i gian dà i lan man, vò ng vo, khô ng đi và o điểm chính nhữ ng gì bạ n đang
around the cầ n nó i.
bush “I don’t have much time, so stop beating around the bush and tell me what
actually happened.”
COMMON IDIOM WITH VERBS – ĐỘNG TỪ TRONG THÀNH NGỮ
39. Hit the Theo nghĩa đen, đá nh nhữ ng quyển sá ch có nghĩa là đá nh vậ t lý hoặ c đấ m và o
books quyển sá ch củ a bạ n. Đâ y là câ u thườ ng đượ c cá c sinh viên sử dụ ng, nhữ ng ngườ i
có rấ t nhiều việc phả i họ c, phả i là m. Nó đơn giả n là mộ t cá ch bạ n nó i vớ i bạ n bè
rằ ng "Bạn sẽ học". Bạ n phả i họ c cho mộ t bà i kiểm tra cuố i cù ng, mộ t bà i kiểm tra
giữ a kỳ hoặ c thậ m chí là mộ t bà i kiểm tra tiếng anh.
“Sorry but I can’t watch the game with you tonight, I have to hit the books. I have
a huge exam next week!”
40. Hit the Cũ ng giố ng như thà nh ngữ trên, nghĩa đen là đá nh vậ t lý hoặ c đậ p và o bao tả i.
sack Nhưng thự c ra là "đi ngủ". Bạ n sẽ dù ng cụ m nà y để nó i vớ i gia đình hoặ c bạ n bè
rằ ng bạ n thực sự mệt mỏi, vì vậy bạn sẽ đi ngủ. Thay vì nó i "Hit the sack" bạ n
cũ ng có thể nó i "Hit the hay"
“It’s time for me to hit the sack, I’m so tired.”
41. Twist Nghĩa đen là nắ m lấ y cá nh tay củ a mộ t ngườ i và xoay nó . Hà m ý bên trong nghĩa
someone’s là ai đó đã là m rấ t tố t việc thuyết phụ c bạ n là m điều gì đó mà bạ n khô ng muố n
arm là m. Và nếu bạ n "Twist someone’s arm", điều đó có nghĩa là bạ n rấ t giỏ i thuyết
phụ c mọ i ngườ i là m theo ý bạ n.
Jake, you should really come to the party tonight!”
“You know I can’t, I have to hit the books (study).”
“C’mon, you have to come! It’s going to be so much fun and there are going to be
lots of girls there. Please come?”
“Pretty girls? Oh all right, you’ve twisted my arm, I’ll come!”
42. Hit the Thà nh ngữ nà y sử dụ ng khi muố n mô tả chính xá c điều gì gâ y ra tình huố ng hoặ c
nail on the vấ n đề.
head “He hit the nail on the head when he said this company needs more HR support.”
43. Stab "Đâm sau lưng" - Nếu hiểu theo nghĩa đen thì bạn sẽ gặp rắc rố i vớ i cảnh sát đấy.
someone in Tuy nhiên thành ngữ "Stab someone in the back" có nghĩa là làm tổ n thương mộ t
the back ngườ i gần gũ i vớ i chú ng ta và tin tưở ng chú ng ta bằng cách phản bộ i họ trong bí
mật.
“Did you hear that Sarah stabbed Kate in the back last week?”
“No! I thought they were best friends, what did she do?”
“She told their boss that Kate wasn’t interested in a promotion at work and Sarah
got it instead.”
“Wow, that’s the ultimate betrayal! No wonder they’re not friends anymore.”
44. Lose your Nghĩa đen có nghĩa là bạ n khô ng cò n khả nă ng chạ m và cả m nhậ n bằ ng ngó n tay
touch cũ ng như bà n tay bạ n. Hà m ý bên trong là bạ n mấ t đi khả nă ng mà bạ n trướ c đâ y
rấ t giỏ i và từ ng sở hữ u. "Lose your touch" sử dụ ng khi bạ n rấ t giỏ i mộ t kỹ nă ng
và có tà i nă ng, nhưng về sau đó mọ i thứ dầ n mai mộ t và khô ng cò n tố t nữ a, cả m
nhậ n và sự tinh tế bắ t đầ u giả m.
“I don’t understand why none of the girls here want to speak to me.”
“It looks like you’ve lost your touch with the ladies.”
“Oh no, they used to love me, what happened?”
45. Sit tight Mộ t ví dụ tuyệt vờ i về lý do tạ i sao bạ n khô ng thể dịch thà nh ngữ bằ ng tiếng anh.
Điều nà y có nghĩa là bạ n ngồ i xuố ng và xiết chặ t cơ thể và điều đó sẽ rấ t khó
chịu, chưa kể bạ n trô ng sẽ rấ t kỳ lạ . Nhưng nếu mộ t ngườ i bả o bạ n "sit tight", họ
muố n bạ n kiên nhẫ n chờ đợ i và khô ng có bấ t kỳ hà nh độ ng nà o khá c cho đến khi
có thô ng bá o mớ i.
“Mrs. Carter, do you have any idea when the exam results are going to come out?”
“Who knows Johnny, sometimes they come out quickly but it could take some
time. You’re just going to have to sit tight and wait.”
46. Pitch in Cụ m từ nà y thự c sự khô ng có ý nghĩa nếu bạ n cố gắ ng hiểu theo nghĩa đen. Tuy
nhiên, nghĩa bó ng củ a nó có nghĩa là kêu gọ i mọ i ngườ i hay cá i gì đó cù ng tham
gia. Vì vậ y, Nếu mẹ củ a bạ n nó i vớ i gia đình rằ ng, bà ấ y muố n tấ t cả mọ i ngườ i
"Pitch in" và o cuố i tuầ n nà y để dọ n dẹp nhà cử A. Điều đó có nghĩa là bà ấ y muố n
tấ t cả thà nh viên trong gia đình cù ng tham gia và nỗ lự c dọ n dẹp nhà cử a, giú p
cô ng việc hoà n thà nh nhanh chó ng.
“What are you going to buy Sally for her birthday?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have much money.”
“Maybe we can all pitch in and buy her something great.”
47. Quit cold Thà nh ngữ nà y có nghĩa là độ t nhiên từ bỏ hoặ c ngừ ng nhữ ng hà nh vi gâ y
turkey nghiện nguy hiểm như hú t thuố c hoặ c uố ng rượ u.
“Shall I get your mom a glass of wine?” “No, she’s stopped drinking.”
“Really, why?” “I don’t know. A few months ago, she just announced one day she’s
quitting drinking.” “She just quit cold turkey?” “Yes, just like that!”
48. Face the Nghĩa đen là đố i mặ t vớ i â m nhạ C. Nhưng nếu mọ i ngườ i bả o bạ n "Face the
music music" thì bạ n chuẩ n bị đố i mặ t vớ i ý nghĩa khắ c nghiệt đấ y. Thà nh ngữ nà y có
nghĩa là phả i đố i mặ t vớ i thự c tế, chấ p nhậ n mọ i hậ u quả dù tố t hay xấ u. Có thể
bạ n sẽ trá nh đố i mặ t vớ i điều đó , vì bạ n cả m thấ y khô ng chắ c chắ c và sợ kết quả
sẽ khô ng đượ c tố t. Có thể bạ n đã nó i dố i giá o viên củ a mình và cô ấ y phá t hiện ra
sự thậ t và bâ y giờ bạ n phả i "face the music" và chấ p nhậ n hình phạ t.
“I can’t understand why I failed math.”
“You know you didn’t study hard, so you’re going to have to face the music and
take the class again next semester if you really want to graduate when you do.”
49. Ring a Nghĩa đen có nghĩa là tiếng chuô ng. Thà nh ngữ nà y có nghĩa ai đó đề cậ p đến cá i
bell gì đó quen thuộ c vớ i bạ n. Nó i cá ch khá c, khi ai đó nó i điều gì đó mà bạ n tin rằ ng
bạ n đã nghe thấ y trong quá khứ . "Ring a bell" bắ t đầ u vang lên và bạ n cố gắ ng
nhớ tạ i sao tên hoặ c địa điểm đó nghe có vẻ quen thuộ c.
“You’ve met my friend Amy Adams, right?”
“Hmmm, I’m not sure, but that name rings a bell. Was she the one who went to
Paris last year?”
50. Blow off Xả hơi" - Trong thự c tế bạ n khô ng thể thổ i hơi nướ c. Đâ y là cô ng việc củ a nhữ ng
steam thiết bị như chiếc ấ m điện. Vậ y có nghĩa là gì khi mộ t ngườ i "Blow off steam"?
Nếu bạ n đang cả m thấ y tứ c giậ n, că ng thẳ ng hoặ c đang trả i qua mộ t số cả m xú c
tiêu cự c mạ nh mẽ và bạ n muố n loạ i bỏ chú ng để bạ n cả m thấ y tố t hơn, bạn sẽ
"Blow off steam" bằ ng cá ch làm mộ t việc gì đó như tập thể dụ c để thoá t khỏ i că ng
thẳ ng.
“Why is Nick so angry and where did he go?”
“He had a fight with his brother, so he went for a run to blow off steam.”
51. Cut to the Khi ai đó bả o bạ n "cut to the chase", có nghĩa là bạ n đang nó i quá lâ u, lan man và
chase khô ng thể hiểu đượ C. Khi mộ t ngườ i sử dụ ng thà nh ngữ nà y, họ muố n bả o bạ n
nhanh lên và đi đến phầ n quan trọ ng. Nhưng hã y cẩ n thậ n khi bạ n sử dụ ng
thà nh ngữ nà y, vì khi bạ n nó i chuyện vớ i sếp hoặ c giả ng viên chẳ ng hạ n, điều đó
có thể là thô lỗ và thiếu tô n trọ ng.
“Hi guys, as we don’t have much time here, so I’m going to cut to the chase. We’ve
been having some major problems in the office lately.”
52. Break a Khô ng phả i là muố n bẻ gã y châ n ai đó đấ u nhé. Thà nh ngữ nà y là mộ t lờ i "chú c
leg may mắ n" (thườ ng đượ c nó i vớ i nhữ ng ngườ i chuẩ n bị bướ c lên sâ n khấ u biểu
diễn) e.g. Break a leg Sam, I’m sure your performance will be great.
53. When Mộ t điều gì đó sẽ khô ng bao giờ xả y ra.
pigs fly “When pigs fly she’ll tidy up her room.”
IDIOMS RELATED TO MONEY – THÀNH NGỮ VỚI TIỀN BẠC
54. Look like Chẳ ng phả i thậ t tuyệt sao nếu như bạ n "trông như một triệu đô la". Nhưng hà m ý
a million là mộ t lờ i khen. Nếu ai đó nó i vớ i bạ n rằ ng "Look like a million dollars/bucks",
dollars/buck đó sẽ là mộ t lờ i khen rấ t lớ n rằ ng bạ n trô ng hoà n toà n tuyệt vờ i và thự c sự hấ p
s dẫ n.
Đâ y là thà nh ngữ thườ ng đượ c sử dụ ng để khen ngợ i phụ nữ , nhưng đô i khi ta
cũ ng sử dụ ng nó cho cá c chà ng trai.
“Wow, Mary, you look like a million dollars/bucks this evening. I love your
dress!”
55. Born with Mộ t ngườ i xuấ t thâ n từ mộ t gia đình già u có và thà nh đạ t.
a silver “John was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His parents bought him
spoon in everything he wanted and sent him to the best private schools.”
one’s mouth
56. Go from Phấ n đấ u từ nghèo khó đến khi già u sang.
rags to riches “Actor Jim Carrey went from rags to riches. At one time, he was living in a van,
but he continued to work hard and eventually became one of the highest-paid
comedians in the world.”
57. Pay/ cost Mộ t cá i gì đó "đắt cắt cổ", bạn phải trả nhiều tiền cho thứ đó bạn có thể nói rằng
an arm and a "it costs an arm and a leg"
leg for “The price of chocolate has doubled. I nearly paid an arm and a leg for a small
something candy bar.” “Chocolate costs an arm and a leg now.”
58. Have Trở thà nh mộ t tên trộ m. e.g The manager fired the cashier because he had sticky
sticky fingers fingers. He stole more than $200 in a month.
59. Give a run Thự c sự là m việc thậ t chă m chỉ cho chiến thắ ng
for one’s “Joe really gave me a run for my money in the chess tournament. He almost
money beat me!”
60. Pony up Trả tiền cho mộ t cá i gì đó hoặ c giả i quyết khoả n nợ .
“Pony up and give me the $5 you owe me.”
“I told my roommate Jane to pony up her portion of the rent money.”
61. Ante up Để trả tiền cho mộ t ai đó , như thà nh ngữ tiếng anh ở trên.
“You’d better ante up and give me that $10 I loaned you last week.”
62. Break Hò a vố n, khô ng bị mấ t tiền. “The trip to the beach cost me $100, but I
even almost broke even after winning $90 in a contest.”
63. Break the Mộ t thứ rấ t đắ t đắ t tiền. “Taking a week-long vacation would break the bank.
bank There’s no way I could afford to do it.”
64. Be Mộ t ngườ i khô ng muố n tiêu tiền. Giố ng như keo kiệt vậ y.
closefisted Although he was wealthy, he was closedfisted.
65. Go Dutch Đi ă n "tiền ai người nấy trả" - "cam - pu -chia"
“We had a date last night and we went Dutch. I paid for my coffee and she paid
for her salad.”
66. Shell out Bỏ rấ t nhiều tiền để trả cho mộ t cá i gì đó (thườ ng đắ t tiền)
money/to “I wish I didn’t buy that new car now that I’m shelling out $1,000 a month in
fork over payments.”
money “She had to fork over a lot of money for traffic fines last month.”
67. Midas Khả nă ng kiếm tiền dễ dà ng. Thà nh ngữ nà y xuấ t phá t từ câ u chuyện về vua
touch Midas, ngườ i đã biến mọ i thứ ô ng chạ m và o thà nh và ng.
“Jane really has the Midas touch. Every business she starts becomes very successful.”
68. In the In the red có nghĩa là bạ n đang chi nhiều hơn nhữ ng gì bạ n kiếm đượ c
red/In the “I’m in the red this month after paying that speeding ticket. I’ll need to find some
black work over the weekend for extra money.”
In the black có nghĩa là bạ n đã kiếm đượ c nhiều hơn số tiền bạ n đã chi ra.
“After working a couple of small jobs over the weekend, I earned an extra $500
and am back in the black.”
69. Receive a Nhậ n tiền bấ t hợ p phá p/ nhậ n hố i lộ
kickback “The police chief was arrested after the news reported he wasreceiving
kickbacks from criminals to ignore certain crimes.”
“The traffic cop receives kickbacks for not writing tickets to politicians.”
70. Living Số ng mà khô ng có nhiều tiền, cuộ c số ng khó khă n, thiếu thố n.
hand to “Billy paid his Harvard Law School tuition with cash. His family is loaded.”
mouth
71. Be loaded Căng thẳng làm thế nào để có nhiều tiền. Có nhiều tiền rồ i có khi nà o bạ n lạ i thắ c
mắ c "nhiều tiền để làm gì" như bá c Đặ ng Lê Nguyên Vũ .
“Billy paid his Harvard Law School tuition with cash. His family is loaded.”
72. Make Kiếm nhữ ng khoả n tiền cầ n thiết để trả tiền cho thự c phẩ m và hó a đơn.
ends meet “I don’t make much from my job as a cashier, but I’m able to make ends meet. I
always have enough money for rent and groceries.”
73. As Mộ t thà nh ngữ Mỹ đượ c sử dụ ng mộ t cá ch mỉa mai cá i gì đó là hà ng giả .
genuine as a Khi mộ t cá i gì đó chính hã ng, điều đó là nó rõ nguồ n gố c xuấ t xứ và đã có bả n
three-dollar quyền. Nhưng Hoa Kỳ khô ng bao giờ thự c hiện nhữ ng hó a đơn 3 đô la cho hà ng
bill hó a chính hã ng. Ví dụ , bứ c tranh củ a nà ng Mona Lisa đượ c treo ở bả o tà ng
Louvre ở Phá p. Nếu trườ ng đạ i họ c củ a bạ n cũ ng có mộ t bứ c tranh nà ng Mona
Lisa trong thư viện, thì đâ y chính là bả n sao. Bả n sao ở trườ ng bạ n chính là As
genuine as a three-dollar bill.
“That man tried to sell me a Lamborghini from 1953. He said it was the first
Lamborghini model ever made but the company didn’t exist until 10 years
later. His car was as genuine as a three-dollar bill.”
BODY PART - BỘ PHẬN CƠ THỂ
74. Rule of Nghĩa đen có nghĩa là quy tắ c ngó n tay cá i. Khi ai đó nó i "Rule of thumb" điều đó
thumb có nghĩa đâ y là quy tắc chung, quy tắc bất thành văn cho bấ t cứ điều gì họ
đang nó i. Nhữ ng quy tắ c nà y khô ng dự a trên khoa họ c hay nghiên cứ u. Đơn giả n
đó là mộ t quy tắ c chung mà tấ t cả mọ i ngườ i phả i tuâ n theo.
“As a rule of thumb you should always pay for your date’s dinner.”
“Why? There’s no rule stating that!” “Yes, but it’s what all gentlemen do.”
75. Keep your "Ngẩng cao đầu" - Bạ n vừ a trả i qua mộ t sự thấ t bạ i? Bạ n cả m thấ y buồ n và có
chin up chú t chá n nả n phả i khô ng? - Trong tình huố ng nà y, mộ t ngườ i bạ n có thể nó i vớ i
bạ n rằ ng "Keep your chin up". Họ muố n thể hiện sự ủ ng hộ củ a họ dà nh cho bạ n.
Và đó là cá ch nó i "hã y mạ nh mẽ lên, bạ n sẽ vượ t qua điều nà y". Đừ ng để chú ng
ả nh hưở ng đến bạ n quá nhiều
“Hey, Keiren, have you had any luck finding work yet?”
“No, nothing, it’s really depressing, there’s nothing out there!”
“Don’t worry, you’ll find something soon, keep your chin up buddy and don’t
stress.”
76. Find your Bạ n đang tìm cá i châ n củ a bạ n? Khô ng thể nà o, chú ng gắ n liền vớ i cơ thể bạ n!
feet Vậ y điều nà y có nghĩa là gì? Nếu bạ n đang trong mộ t mô i trườ ng, cuộ c số ng mớ i,
ví dụ số ng ở mộ t đấ t nướ c xa lạ và phả i là m quen vớ i trườ ng đạ i họ c và nhữ ng
ngườ i bạ n mớ i. Bạ n có thể nó i rằ ng "find my feet". Có nghĩa là "Bạn vẫn đang tự
điều chỉnh để hòa nhập với môi trường mới".
“Lee, how’s your son doing in America?”
“He’s doing okay. He’s learned where the college is but is still finding his
feet with everything else. I guess it’ll take time for him to get used to it all.”
GROCERIES - THỰC PHẨM
77. Spice Điều nà y có nghĩa là là m cho cá i gì đó thú vị hơn.
things up “Instead of just buying Sam a birthday gift, let’s spice things up by taking him
out for dinner.”
78. A piece of "Chuyện nhỏ như con thỏ" - "dễ như ăn bánh" - Thà nh ngữ nà y đến đến mộ t cô ng
cake việc hay nhiệm vụ dễ dà ng hoà n thà nh
“I expected the English test to be difficult but it was a piece of cake.”
79. Cool as a Dưa chuộ t có mộ t hương vị tươi má t, cho bạ n mộ t cả m giá c tươi má t, bình tĩnh
cucumber khi ă n. Vì vậ y, nếu bạ n "cool as a cucumber" có nghĩa bạ n là ngườ i rấ t bình tĩnh
và thoả i má i đấ y.
“My friend is nervous about taking his driving test but I’m cool as a cucumber.”
80. A couch Thà nh ngữ nà y nó i đến mộ t ngườ i dà nh nhiều thờ i gian để ngồ i ghế xem tivi.
potato “After my uncle retired from his job, he became a couch potato.”
81. Bring Thà nh ngữ nà y nó i đến mộ t ngườ i phả i là m việc kiếm số ng để nuô i gia đình.
home the “Ever since her father was injured, she’s been working two jobs to bring home the
bacon bacon.”
82. In hot "Nước sôi lửa bỏng" - Khi ai đó "in hot water", họ đang ở trong tình huố ng xấ u
water hoặ c gặ p rắ c rố i nghiêm trọ ng.
“My brother is in hot water for failing all his college classes.”
83. Compare Tá o khá c cam cả về ngoạ i hình lẫ n mù i vị. - Thậ t khó để so sá nh hai thứ khô ng
apples and giố ng nhau. Vì vậ y, thà nh ngữ nà y nó i đến việc so sá nh hai thứ thự c tế đã rấ t
oranges khá c nhau, khô ng nên so sá nh.
“I’m not sure which I enjoy more—pottery or dancing. It’s like comparing apples
and oranges.”
84. Not one’s Nếu thứ gì đó khô ng phả i là "tá ch trà " củ a bạ n, thì đó là hoạ t độ ng bạ n khô ng
cup of tea hứ ng thú , khô ng đam mê hoặ c khô ng là m tố t. eg. Camping is really not my cup
of tea so I’m going to visit my friend in New York instead.
85. Eat like a Mộ t con chim thì ă n đượ c bao nhiêu? Khô ng nhiều phả i khô ng? Vì vậ y nó i "eat
bird like a bird" có nghĩa là ă n rấ t ít. Eg. He looks fat, but he eats like a bird.
86. Eat like a "Ăn khỏe như trâu bò" - "ăn như heo" - Bâ y giờ , mộ t con ngự a lớ n hơn nhiều so
horse vớ i mộ t con chim. Vậ y bạ n nghĩ mộ t con ngự a ă n bao nhiêu? Đú ng vậ y, "eat like a
horse" có nghĩa là ă n mộ t lượ ng lớ n thứ c ă n.
“My mother cooks a lot of food when my brother comes to visit. He eats like a horse.”
87. Butter "Nịnh hót - bợ đỡ" - Thà nh ngữ tiếng anh nà y có nghĩa là là m hà i lò ng hoặ c tâ ng
[someone] up bố c ai đó để nhậ n đượ c sự ủ ng hộ từ ngườ i đó .
“Everyone seems to be trying to butter up the new boss hoping to become her
favorite.”
88. Food for Điều nà y đề cậ p đến mộ t cá i gì đó cầ n phả i suy nghĩ cẩ n thậ n, kỹ lưỡ ng.
thought “Moving to another state is food for thought for many of those affected by the
recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida.”
89. A smart Điều nà y muố n nó i đến mộ t ngườ i thô ng minh sá ng dạ .
cookie “It shouldn’t be hard too hard for a smart cookie like you to learn Spanish.”
90. Packed "Chật cứng, đông đúc" - Bạ n thấ y gì khi mở mộ t hộ p cá mò i? Vâ ng, cá nhồ i nhét
like sardines bên trong lon. Vì vậ y thà nh ngữ nà y mô tả mộ t địa điểm hoặ c mộ t tình huố ng
nà o đó rấ t đô ng đú c ngườ i (hoặ c vậ t, độ ng vậ t).
“Were you at the football game last night? The stadium was packed like
sardines.”
91. Spill the Bạ n vô tình là m đổ mộ t bá t đậ u và tấ t cả đều vă ng ra ngoà i. Hã y nghĩ về hình ả nh
beans nà y và nhớ rằ ng "spill the beans" có nghĩa là vô tình hoặ c sớ m đưa ra thô ng tin
đượ c cho cầ n phả i giữ bí mậ t.
“We were planning a surprise birthday party for Joyce this weekend. But this
morning, Owen spilled the beans and now it’s no longer a surprise.”
92. A bad Hã y tưở ng tượ ng mộ t giỏ tá o và có mộ t quả bị thố i bên trong. Thà nh ngữ tiếng
apple anh nà y muố n nó i đến ngườ i tạ o ra nhiều vấ n đề tiêu cự c có thể ả nh hưở ng xấ u
đến nhữ ng ngườ i khá c trong nhó m.
“Instead of focusing on college, he spends his time hanging out with bad apples.”
93. Bread Bá nh mì và bơ là mộ t loạ i thự c phẩ m cơ bả n mà nhiều ngườ i Châ u Â u và Mỹ ă n.
and butter Vì vậ y thà nh ngữ nà y đề cậ p đến mộ t cô ng việc giú p bạ n có thể trang trả i đượ c
cho cuộ c số ng cơ bả n như thự c phẩ m, nhà ở ,...
“Fishing is the bread and butter of the friendly people I met on the island.”
94. Buy a Thà nh ngữ tiếng anh nà y có nghĩa là bạ n bỏ nhiều tiền để mua mộ t cá i gì đó
lemon nhưng khô ng có nhiều giá trị.
“The car looked so new and shiny I had no way of knowing I was buying a
lemon.”
95. A hard Đề cậ p đến nhữ ng ngườ i khó tiếp xú c, là m quen hoặ c đố i đầ u, đố i phó .
nut to crack “I tried to be friendly with her but I was told she’s a hard nut to crack.”
96. Have a Bạ n có thích ă n bá nh kẹo và nhữ ng đồ ă n có vị ngọ t khá c khô ng? Nếu bạ n thích
sweet tooth ă n chú ng thì có thể nó i bạ n có "have a sweet tooth"
“Yes, I definitely have a sweet tooth. I can never walk past a bakery and not stop
to buy myself a slice of chocolate cake.”
IDIOMS WITH PREPOSITIONS – THÀNH NGỮ VỚI GIỚI TỪ
97. Up in the Khi chú ng ta thự c sự nghĩ về mộ t cá i gì đó "bay lên khô ng trung", điều nà y có
air nghĩa nhữ ng điều chú ng ta định là m là khô ng chắ c chắ n. Mộ t kế hoạ ch nhấ t định
chưa chắ c đã đượ c thự c hiện.
“Jen, have you set a date for the wedding yet?”
“Not exactly, things are up in the air and we’re not sure if our families can make it on
the day we wanted. Hopefully we’ll know soon and we’ll let you know as soon as
possible.”
98. On the Nếu bạ n nhìn và o cụ m từ nà y theo nghĩa đen, nó có nghĩa là đứ ng hoặ c ngồ i trên
ball mộ t quả bó ng. Hà m ý trong thà nh ngữ tiếng anh nà y là bạ n rấ t nhanh hiểu đượ c
nhữ ng điều nhấ t định hoặ c phả n ứ ng nhanh vớ i mộ t tình huố ng.
“Wow, you’ve already finished your assignments? They aren’t due until next week,
you’re really on the ball. I wish I could be more organized.”
99. Get over Nếu bạ n nghĩ về nó , bạ n hoà n toà n có thể "vượ t qua mộ t cá i gì đó ", ví dụ như
something cưỡ i ngự a vượ t qua hà ng rà o. Nhưng hà m ý bên trong khô ng chỉ đơn giả n như
vậ y.
Hã y tưở ng tượ ng bạ n có mộ t khoả ng thờ i gian thự c sự khó khă n hoặ c khủ ng
hoả ng. Nhưng khi thờ i gian trô i qua bạ n đã thự c sự vượ t qua đượ c điều đó ,
khô ng cò n lo lắ ng và để nó ả nh hưở ng theo cá ch tiêu cự c.
“How’s Paula? Has she gotten over the death of her dog yet?”
“I think so. She’s already talking about getting a new one.”
100. The best Thà nh ngữ nà y có nghĩa bạ n có thể tậ n hưở ng hai cơ hộ i khá c nhau cù ng mộ t lú c.
of both “By working part-time and looking after her kids two days a week she managed to
worlds get the best of both worlds.”
III. MOST COMMON ACADEMIC ENGLISH IDIOMS (THÀ NH NGỮ HỌ C THUẬ T)

Tổng hợp các idioms thường gặp trong đề thi THPT Quốc Gia
01. Rain dogs and cats: rain heavily (Mưa nặng hạt)
E.g. It’s raining cats and dogs. = It’s raining heavily.
02. Chalk and cheese: very different from each other (rất khác nhau)
E.g. I don’t have anything in common with my brother. We’re like chalk and cheese.
03. Here and there: everywhere
E.g. I have been searching here and there for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.
04. A hot potato: something that is difficulut or dangerous to deal with (vấn đề nan giải)
E.g. The abortion issue is a hot potato in the US.
05. At the drop of a hat: immediately, instantly (Ngay lập tức)
E.g. If you need me, just call me. I can come at the drop of a hat.
06. Back to the drawing board: time to start from the beginning; it is time to to plan something
over again (bắ t đầ u lạ i)
E.g. My plans to create a tiny car made of glasses were unsuccessful, so I guess it’s back to
the drawing board for me.
07. Beat about the bush: avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the issue (nói vòng
vo, lạc đề)
E.g. Stop beating about the bush and answer my question.
08. Best thing since sliced bread: a good invention or innovation, a good idea or plan (ý kiến hay)
E.g. Portable phones are marketed as the best thing since sliced bread; people think they
are extremely good.
09. Burn the midnight oil: to stay up working, especially studying late at night (thức khuya làm
việc, học bài)
E.g. I will have a big exam tomorrow so I’ll be burning the midnight oil tonight.
10. Caught between two stools: when someone finds it difficult to choose between two
alternatives (tiến thoái lưỡng nan)
E.g. He couldn’t decide his mind which course to take. It seemed he was caught between two
stools.
11. Break a leg: good luck! (chúc may mắn )
E.g. I have heard that you’r gonna take a test tomorrow, break a leg, dude!!! (sounds funny
hah???)
12. Hit the books: to study (học)
E.g. I can’t go out tonight. I’ve got to hit the books. I’m having an exam tomorrow.
13. When pigs fly: something will never happen (điều vô tưởng, không thể xảy ra, nhớ là “pigs”
đừng nhầm với con vật khác nhé)
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E.g. “When pigs fly she’ll tidy up her room.”
14. Scratch one’s back: help someone out with the assumption that they will return the favor in
the future (giúp đỡ người khác với hy vọng họ sẽ giúp lại mình)
E.g. “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours later,” the customer said when we talked
about the new sales contact.
15. Hit the nail on the head: do or say something exactly right (nói chính xác, làm chính xác)
E.g. Mike hit the nail on the head when he said most people can use a computer without
knowing how it works.
16. Take s.b/s.t for granted: coi nhẹ
E.g. One of the problems with relationships is that after a while you begin to take each other
for granted!!
17. Take into account/consideration: to remember to consider something (tính đến cái gì, xem
xét việc gì)
E.g. We will take your long year of service into account when we make our final decision.
18. Put s.b/s.t at one’s disposal: to make someone or something available to someone (có sẵn
theo ý muốn của ai)
E.g. I’d be glad to help you if you need me. I put myself at your disposal.
19. Splitting headache: a severe headache (đau đầu như búa bổ) (khi ra thi sẽ hỏi từ “Splitting”)
E.g. I’ve got a splitting headache. I’m going upstairs for a nap.
20. On the house: không phải trả tiền
E.g. I went to a restaurant last night. I was the ten thousandth customer, so my dinner was on
the house.
21. Hit the roof = Go through the roof = Hit the ceiling: to suddenly become angry (giận dữ)
E.g. I’m afraid he will hit the roof when he finds out our vacation is canceled.
22. Make one’s blood boil: làm ai sôi máu, giận dữ
E.g. The boys kept chatting noisily that made the lady’s blood boil.
23. Bring down the house: làm cho cả khán phòng vỗ tay nhiệt liệt
E.g. G-Dragon brought the house down. He really brought down the house with his fantastic song.
24. Pay through the nose: to pay too much for something (trả giá quá đắt)
E.g. If you want a decent wine in a restaurant, you to have to pay through the nose for it.
25. By the skin of one’s teeth: sát sao, rất sát
E.g. I got through calculus math by the skin of my teeth.
E.g. I got to the airport a few minutes late and missed the plane by the skin of my teeth.
26. Pull one’s leg: chọc ai
E.g. You don’t mean that. You’re just pulling my leg.
27. It strike s.b as/ that a strange: lấy làm lạ
E.g. It strikes as a strange to me that he failed the exam because he is so smart and diligent a
student.
28. Take it amiss: to understand as wrong or insulting, or misunderstand (hiểu lầm)
E.g. Would you take it amiss if I told you I thought you look lovely? I was afraid you’d take it
the wrong way.
29. High and low = Here and there: everywhere
E.g. I have been searching high and low for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.
30. The more, the merrier: càng đông càng vui
E.g. Can I bring some friends with me? Yeah sure, the more, the merrier.
31. Spick and span: ngăn nắp gọn gàng
E.g. She lived in a small flat which looked spick and span.
32. Every now and then: sometimes
E.g. Every now and then, I want to be alone.
33. Part and parcel: integral, crucial (thiết yếu, quan trọng)
E.g. Honesty and patience are part and parcel in this job.
34. Go to one’s head: khiến ai kiêu ngạo
E.g. Too much success will go to her head.
35. Once in a blue moon: rất hiếm (rare)
E.g. Once in a blue moon, I stop thinking about her. If only she knew how much I loved her.
36. Few and far between: rare (hiếm gặp)
E.g. Go and tell her that you love her! That kind of girl is really few and far between.
37. On the spot: (1) immediately (ngay lập tức)
E.g. I expect you to be on the spot when and where trouble arises.
(2): in trouble; in a difficult situation (gặp rắc rối)
E.g. I hate to be on the spot when it’s not my fault.
38. On the verge of= On the brink of = In the edge of: trên bờ vực
E.g. Unless we take measures to protect tigers, they will be on the verge of extinction.
39. It never rains but it pours: good or bad things do not just happen a few at a time, but in large
numbers all at once (họa vô đơn chí)
E.g. First of all it was the car breaking down, then the fire in the kitchen and now Mike’s
accident. It never rains but it pours.
40. Be/Go on the wagon: kiêng rượu
E.g. Bob’s old drinking buddies complained that he was no fun when he went on the wagon.
41. Lead by the nose: to control someone and make them do exactly what you want them to do
(nắm đầu, dắt mũi ai)
E.g. They simply didn’t know what they were doing and they were led by the nose by a
manipulative government.
42. At the eleventh hour: vào phút chót
E.g. She always turned her term paper in at the eleventh hour.
42. Sell/Go like hot cakes: bán đắt như tôn tươi
E.g. The book has only just been published andcopies are already selling like hot cakes in
both Britain and America.
43. Find fault with: chỉ trích, kiếm chuyện, bắt lỗi
E.g. It is very easy to find fault with the work others.
44. Off and on/ on and off: không đều đặn, thỉnh thoảng
E.g. We don’t often go there- just off and on.
45. Make believe: giả bộ, giả vờ
E.g. I tried to make believe she was happy, but knew deep down it was not true.
46. Make good time: di chuyển nhanh, đi nhanh
E.g. We made good time and were at the hotel by lunch time.
47. Look daggers at: giận giữ nhìn ai đó
E.g. Their relationship is not free and easy but at least he is no longer looking daggers at her.
48. Out of the question: không thể được
E.g. You cannot get married until you are 18, it’s out of the question.
49. All at once = suddenly: bất thình lình
E.g. All at once, there was a loud banging on the door.
50. Blow one’s trumpet: bốc phét, khoác lác
E.g. Anyone will tell you she’s one of the best journalist we’ve got, although she’d never blow
her trumpet.
51. Sleep on it: suy nghĩ thêm về điều gì đó
E.g. You don’t have to give me your decision now. Sleep on it, and let me know tomorrow.
52. Fight tooth and claw/ nail: đánh nhau dữ dội, cấu xé nhau
E.g. We fought tooth and claw to retain our share of business.
53. Play jokes on: chọc phá, trêu ghẹo, chơi khăm
E.g. The kids are always play jokes on their teachers.
54. Down the drain: đổ sông đổ biển (công sức, tiền bạc)
E.g. It’s just money down the drain.
55. Smell a rat: hoài nghi, linh cảm chuyện không ổn
E.g. The minute I came in, I smelled a rat.
56. The last straw: giọt nước tràn ly
E.g. When she showed up late a third time, that was the last straw. We had to fire her.
57. Get the hand of s.t: nắm bắt được, sử dụng được
E.g. After three weeks of using this computer, I think I’ve finally got the hand of it.
58. Hard of hearing: lãng tai, nặng tai
E.g. Tom is hard of hearing. Therefore, we have to speak loudly so that he can hear us.
59. Keep an eye on: coi chừng, ngó chừng
E.g. Please keep an eye on my baby while I’m out for a while.
60. Have a bee in one’s bonnet about: đặt nặng chuyện gì, chấp nhất chuyện gì
E.g. She has a bee in her bonnet about going to America.
61. Get/Have cold feet: mất hết can đảm, chùn bước
E.g. I’m worried my members in this page may be getting cold feet about the university
entrance exam. Therefore, I will try my best to help them overcome this severe exam.
62. On second thoughts: suy nghĩ kĩ
E.g. On second thoughts, it was a dumb movie.
63. In vain: uổng công, vô ích
E.g. Government agents tried in vain kidnap him.
64. Chip in: khuyên góp, góp tiền
E.g. If everyone chips in, we will be able to buy her a nice present.
65. Off one’s head: điên, loạn trí
E.g. The old man has been off his head for at least a year.
66. Run an errand: làm việc vặt
E.g. I’ve got to run an errand. I’ll be back in a minute.
67. Jump the traffic lights: vượt đèn đỏ
E.g. They ignore people who jumps the traffic lights.
68. Fly off the handle: dễ nổi giận, phát cáu
E.g. No one will fly off the handle for no reason.
69. The apple of one’s eyes: đồ quý giá của ai
E.g. You are the apple of my eyes.
70. Bucket down: mưa xối xả, mưa to
E.g. It’s been bucketing down all day.
71. A close shave = A narrow escape: thoát chết trong gang tấc
E.g. Phew, that was a close shave. I was so lucky.
72. Drop a brick: lỡ lời, lỡ miệng
E.g. I dropped a brick when talking with my best friend, and now she doesn’t want to talk to
me.
73. Get butterflies in one’s stomach: cảm thấy bồn chồn
E.g. I always get butterflies in my stomach when it comes to taking test.
74. Off the record: không chính thức, không được công bố
E.g. What the president said is not to be printed. It’s off the record.
75. One’s cup of tea: thứ mà ta thích
E.g. SNSD is my cup of tea. They are so beautiful and talenteD. Especially Seohyun, she looks so
cute.
76. Cut it fine: đến sát giờ
E.g. Only allowing half an hour to get from the station to the airport is cutting it fine, isn’t it?
77. Golden handshake: món tiền hậu hĩnh dành cho người sắp nghỉ việc
E.g. The manager got early retirement and a 600,000$ golden handshake when the
company was restricted.
78. Put on an act: giả bộ, làm bộ
E.g. We’ve known you are a good swimmer – stop putting on an act.
79. Come to light: được biết đến, được phát hiện, được đưa ra ánh sáng
E.g. Four soldiers have faced charges since the scandal came to light last fall.
80. Take things to pieces: tháo ra từng mảnh
E.g. Men like to take things to pieces and put them together.
81. Put one’s foot in it: gây nhầm lẫn, bối rối, phạm một sai lầm gây bối rối
E.g. I really put my foot in it when I asked her about her job. I didn’t know she’d just been fired.
82. Pull one’s weight: nỗ lực, làm tròn trách nhiệm
E.g. The rest of the team complained that Sarah wasn’t pulling her weight.
83. Make ends meet: xoay sở để kiếm sống
E.g. I have to work at two jobs to make ends meet.
84. Get hold of the wrong end of the stick: hiểu nhầm ai đó
E.g. I think I must explain to her that she got hold of the wrong end of the stick again.
85. Cut-and-dried: cuối cùng, không thể thay đổi, rõ ràng, dễ hiểu
E.g. Although a deal has been agreed, it is not yet cut-and-dried.
86. Keep/Stay on one’s toes: cảnh giác, thận trọng
E.g. We had better keep on our toes while we’re walking along the dark portions of this
street.
87. See eye to eye: đồng tình
E.g. I’m glad that they see eye to eye on the matter of the conference location.
88. Have in mind: đang suy tính, cân nhắc
E.g. I don’t want to see a movie now, I have in mind going to the park.
89. A lost cause: hết hy vọng, không thay đổi được gì
E.g. It seems that Charles will give it up. I suppose he is a lost cause.
90. Be bound to: chắc chắn
E.g. You’re bound to be late if you don’t hurry.
91. At heart: thực chất, cơ bản (basically, fundamentally)
E.g. James sometimes seems quite unfriendly but at heart he’s a good person.
92. Know by sight: nhận ra (recognize)
E.g. The woman said that she would know the thief by sight if she ever saw him again.
93. Now and then = Now and again = At times = From time to time = Off and on = Once in a
while = Every so often: sometimes (thỉnh thoảng, không thường xuyên)
E.g. At times, he’d like to go to the pub.
94. Take pains: làm việc cẩn thận và tận tâm
E.g. She takes pains to do everything well.
95. Make do with: xoay sở, đương đầu (to manage, to cope)
E.g. During difficult economic times, many people have to make do with less.
96. Close call = Close shave = Narrow escape: thoát được nguy hiểm trong gang tấc, mém chết!
E.g. James had a fatal accident, but he had a close shave thanks to the air bags n his car.
97. Sell s.o short: đánh giá thấp
E.g. If he keeps selling his opponent short, he’ll be defeated soon.
98. Face the music: chịu trận
E.g. Mary broke a dining-room window and had to face the music when her father got home.
99. Let the cat out of the bag: to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident (để lộ bí mật)
E.g. It’s asecret. Try not to let the cat out of the bag.
100. On probation: trong thời gian quản chế/ thực tập
E.g. While Anne was on probation, she reported to the police regularly.
IV. PRACTICE EXERCISE
Exercise 1. Choose the best answer among A, B, C, or D to complete each of the followings:
01. To say that someone has told a secret, we use the idiom, ‘You’ve let the________ out of the bag!’
A. cat B. mouse C. goose D. dog
02. Someone who is inexperienced is________.
A. red B. blue C. black D. green
03. The sheep were huddled into a________ to protect them from overnight frosts.
A. cage B. pen C. kennel D. hutch
04. My English is progressing________.
A. odds and ends B. leaps and bounds C. bounds and leaps D. ends and odds
05. When you do something, you should________.
A. get through to B. turn over a new leaf
C. weigh up the prosand cons D. go down well with
06. The weather is going to change soon; I feel it in my________.
A. body B. legs C. skin D. bones
07. As it was very hot in summer, sales of bottles of water went________ the roof.
A. through B. to C. above D. over
08. She is the black________ of her family.
A. goat B. deer C. sheep D. sleep
09. She comes to see me once in a________ moon.
A. red B. glouse C. blue D. green
10. She is walking on the________ she doesn’t know how to say.
A. air B. road C. street D. garden
11. Her husband is a rich and successful businessman, so she eats________ and dresses________
without hard work.
A. delicious/nice B. well/beautifully C. good/beautiful D. well/beautiful
12. He takes after his father very much. It is like father like________.
A. son B. children C. father D. girl
13. He travels________ for 20 years and then he decided to return home.
A. father away B. far and wide C. far from it D. farthest of all
14. Enjoy your meal! Home grow, home________.
A. make B. made C. makes D. making
15. After running up the stairs, I was________ breath.
A. without B. out of C. no D. away from
16. I know his name, but I can’t recall it at the moment. It’s on the tip of________.
A. tongue B. brain C. mind D. memory
17. The sixth time he called me at night was the________.
A. last cause B. last straw C. touch and go D. hot air
18. Now that they have read it in________, they believe me.
A. red and blue B. blue and red C. white and black D. black and white
19. Just keep________ on the baby while I cook the supper, will you?
A. a look B. a glance C. an eye D. a care
20. Remember to appreciate what your friends do for you. You shouldn’t take them________.
A. as a rule B. as usual C. out of habit D. for granted
01. I couldn't believe that they were brothers. They were as different as________.
A. Mars from Jupiter B. chalk from cheese C. salt and sugar D. milk from honey
02. It is raining________.
A. cats and mice B. goats and sheep C. horses and goats D. cats and dogs
03. The children went________ with excitement.
A. wild B. wildly C. wilderness D. wildlife
04. In order to avoid boredom, the most important thing is to keep oneself________.
A. occupation B. occupant C. occupied D. occupational
05. I’ve never really enjoyed going to the ballet or the opera; they’re not really my________.
A. piece of cake B. sweets and candy C. biscuit D. cup of tea
06. "Where did you hear about that?" - "Just word of________."
A. eyes B. nose C. mouth D. ears
07. "What's wrong?"- "I'm a bit________ the weather."
A. in B. under C. at D. off
08. "You've been rude to me all day, and I've had it. That's the last________!"
A. moment B. second C. minute D. straw
09. "Let's all be very careful what we say at the meeting tomorrow. I don't want anyone putting
their________ in their mouth."
A. arm B. hand C. fingure D. foot
10. I wanted to ask her what she thought of her ex-husband, but I figured it was better to let
sleeping________ lie."
A. cat B. dog C. fish D. cow
11. "I have to run to the bathroom. Can you keep an eye________ my suitcase while I am gone?"
A. on B. at C. off D. in
12. "Her husband is awful; they fight all the time but I think it takes________ to tango."
A. one B. two C. three D. four
13. "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________ alike!"
A. think B. hear C. listen D. tell
14."When my girl friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother because blood
is________ than water."
A. thinner B. thicker C. better D. more
15. "Whenever that professor says something I don't like, I have to bite my________."
A. tougue B. mouth C. lips D. eyes
16. "Sorry I was late for the meeting today; I got stuck in traffic." - "That's okay; better late
than________."
A. never B. no C. not D. none
17. "If you want to ask me, just ask; don't beat________ the bush."
A. for B. around C. round D. towards
18. "Don't tell me how to do this; show me because actions speak louder than________."
A. words B. speech C. work D. jobs
19. The time we spend apart has been good for us because absence makes the heart
grow________."
A. fonder B. founder C. louder D. sounder
20. "Do you think you will win your tennis match today?" - "It will be a piece of________."
A. cake B. sweet C. candy D. bitcuit
01. I'd like to do something to change the world but whatever I do seems like a drop in
the________."
A. bucket B. garbage C. rubbish D. river
02. Jack has egg________ because he couldn't remember how to spell "Batman"!
A. on his teeth B. on his face C. on his shirt D. on his fingers
03. He seems like a good________ I'll take a chance on him.
A. yolk B. leave C. egg D. ink
04. I'm afraid hip hop isn't my cup of________.
A. tea B. java C. coffee D. wine
05. Just a moment... I've got the answer on the________ of my tongue.
A. top B. tap C. tip D. back
06. Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I guess I really put my________ in my mouth.
A. foot B. hand C. elbow D. knee
07. Sharon always sticks her________ into everyone else’s business.
A. head B. lips C. nose D. mouth
08. In Florida, the temperature drops below freezing only once in a________ moon.
A. green B. purple C. blue D. middle
09. Brady’s surprise party is going to be great if you don’t let the________ out of the bag.
A. dog B. mouse C. bat D. cat
10. Liam had________ in his stomach before he went on stage to play the violin.
A. butterflies B. geese C. mice D. insects
11. I'll be back in the twinkling of________.
A. an eye B. a lighting bolt C. a smile D. a laugh
12. We don't go there often - just________ and on.
A. of B. off C. on D. over
13. During the days when the temperature dropped under 10 C, electric heaters sold like
o
hot________ in the Northern cities of Vietnam.

A. dogs B. cakes C. sandwiches D. foods
14. It is very easy to find________ with the work of others.
A. error B. fault C. mistake D. foul
15. Ranieri returned, saw the mess, and hit the________.
A. roof B. ceiling C. wall D. A and B
16. I tried to make________ I was happy, but knew deep down it wasn't true.
A. fun B. bed C. believe D. mess
17. Drop me a________ when you get there.
A. line B. note C. letter D. both A and B
18. This is where I grew up. I know this area like the back of my________.
A. arms B, hand C. legs D. foot
19. He never seems to be serious when talking with me. He is always trying to pull my________.
A. foot B. leg C. legs D. hands
20. Tommy is the________ sheep in his family: he is the only member who has not made a success of his life.
A. black B. grey C. yellow D. white
01. He argued with her until he was________ in the face.
A. black B. grey C. yellow D. blue
02. It was a________ -letter day when she finally received her graduation diploma.
A. black B. grey C. red D. white
03. My sister became________ as a ghost when she saw the man at the window.
04. She passed her exam with flying________ and now wants to go out and celebrate.
A. colors B. colours C. bays D. objects
05. My sister was always the teacher's________ when she was in the first grade at school.
A. pets B. cats C. dogs D. doves
06. As the maestro lifted his baton the theater was so still you could hear________.
A. his heartbeat B. a pin drop C. bird wings D. the drum beating
07. I think I understand the nuts and________ of the operation.
A. screws B. hammer C. nails D. bolts
08. I think he’ll pay you back your money – when_________ fly.
A. birds B. cats C. cocks D. pigs
09. I don't mind driving this time-she's scratched my_________ plenty of times.
A. head B. back C. stomach D. heart
10. Duncan Smith hit the nail on the_________ when he said that the Prime Minister promised so
much and yet changed so little.
A. head B. back C. leg D. foot
11. At school, people always used to take the_________ out of him for having red hair.
A. cat B. dog C. mickey D. rat
12. They_________ their car at our disposal for our entire stay.
A. had B. took C. put D. got
13. I'm sorry, I can't. I have a_________ headache.
A. splitting B. biting C. sleeping D. chipping
14. This food is_________ the house, you don’t have to pay for it.
A. at B. on C. in D. at
16. When I hear stories of cruelty to animals, it makes my_________ boil.
A. stomach B. oil C. blood D. head
17. She is a rising star as a standup comedian, always able to bring down the_________ during each
performance.
A. house B. rain C. roof D. kennel
18. We paid through the_________ to get the car fixed.
A. head B. nose C. lips D. mouth
19. Stop_________ about the bush, John! Just tell me exactly what the problem is.
A. rushing B. hiding C. beating D. moving
20. I usually buy my clothes_________. It’s cheaper than going to a dress- maker.
A. off the peg B. on the house C. in public D. on the shelf
01. I caught the last bus by the skin of my_________.
A. mouth B. leg C. neck D. teeth
02. It was a joke! I was pulling your .
A. thumb B. hair C. toe D. leg
03. I always get_________ in my stomach before visiting the dentist.
A. worms B. butterflies C. crabs D. hedgehogs

04. Those smart phones are selling like_________. If you want one, you’d better buy one now before
they’re all gone.
A. shooting stars B. fresh bread C. hot cakes D. wild oats
05. I haven’t had an accident yet but I’ve had a number of_________ shaves.
A. narrow B. near C. close D. tiny
06. My father refused to eat meat that had been fired. He had_________ in his bonnet about causing
cancer.
A. bug B. a bee C. a bull D. an ant
07. I dropped a_________ when talking with my best friend, and now he doesn't want to talk to me.
A. rock B. stone C. brick D. sand
08. What the president said is not to be printed. It's_________ the record.
A. on B. of C. off D. without
09. I can’t stand Mr. Brian. He’s always blowing his own_________ - telling everyone how good he
is at everything.
A. balloon B. breath C. mind D. trumpet
10. He could always find_________ with something, either in my writing or in my personality.
A. error B. fault C. mistakes D. wrong
11. The two groups of bullies fought tooth and_________ before the police came last night.
A. claw B. nail C. feet D. both A and B
12. The complaints he received were like water off a duck’s_________.
A. back B. wings C. feather D. body
13. I couldn't think of a way to present my view so that no one would take it_________.
A. miss B. amiss C. easy D. relax
14. They are getting married. They have just_________ the news to their friends.
A. told B. informed C. broken D. had
15. Don't let all this praise go to your_________.
A. mind B. brain C. head D. mouth
16. He was arrested on the_________ on the way to the airport.
A. spot B. sport C. slot D. top
17. It never rains but it_________.
A. clouds B. pours C. storms D. dries
18. She always turned her term paper in at the eleventh_________.
A. minute B. second C. hour D. time
19. We don't go there often - just off_________ on.
A. or B. and C. but D. then
20. We_________ good time and were at the hotel by lunchtime.
A. have B. made C. spent D. took
01. If everyone chips_________, we'll be able to buy her a really nice present.
A. on B. at C. in D. out
02. It’s a_________ date. I have never gone out with him before.
A. hot B. blind C. secret D. first
03. I don’t have anything in common with my brother. We’re like chalk and_________.
A. cheese B. butter C. milk D. bread
04. If you need me, just call me. I can come at the drop of a_________.
A. hat B. bag C. cat D. rag
05. They simply didn’t know what they were doing and they were led by the_________ by a
manipulative government.
A. head B. hand C. leg D. nose
06. The old man has been_________ his head for at least a year.
A. on B. off C. in D. at
07. They ignore people who_________ the traffic lights.
A. pass B. jump C. get D. play
08. The political candidate knew the issue was a hot_________, so he deferred to his chief of staff,
who directed questions to the committee chairman.
A. tomato B. potato C. pot D. dog
09. No one will_________ off the handle for no reason.
A. fly B. turn C. put D. cut
10. Only allowing half an hour to get from the station to the airport is cutting it_________, isn’t it?
A. good B. nice C. fine D. well
11. The manager got early retirement and a 600,000$ golden_________ when the company was restricted.
A. handshake B. ring C. crown D. money
12. Don't let my mother watch any of those sappy movies - she cries at the drop of a_________.
A. hat B. bag C. cat D. rag
13. When yourprogramme first started I thought it was the best thing since sliced_________.
A. cake B. break C. bread D. bead
14. I really put my_________ in it when I asked her about her job. I didn’t know she’d just been fired.
A. head B. foot C. feet D. minds
15. The rest of the team complained that Sarah wasn’t_________ her weight.
A. pushing B. pulling C. losing D. gaining
16. I have to work at two jobs to make_________ meet.
A. end B. ends C. ending D. ended
17. I think I must explain to her that she got hold of the wrong_________ of the stick again.
A. end B. ends C. ending D. ended
18. Although a deal has been agreed, it is not yet_________ -and-dried.
A. fried B. tried C. cut D. run
19. We had better keep on our_________ while we’re walking along the dark portions of this street.
A. eyes B. ears C. toes D. faces
20. I don’t want to see a movie now, I have_________ mind going to the park.
A. on B. in C. at D. of
01. It seems that Charles will give it up. I suppose he is a lost_________.
A. cause B. reason C. aim D. purpose
02. You’d better_________ the books if you want to pass your exam on Friday.
A. hit B. beat C. stab D. bite
03. James sometimes seems quite unfriendly but_________ heart he’s a good person.
A. at B. by C. in D. on
04. She takes_________ to do everything well.
A. paints B. pains C. rains D. chances
05. Mary broke a dining-room window and had to face the_________ when her father got home.
A. wall B. music C. stick D. water
06. Tommy is the_________ sheep in his family: he is the only member who has not made a success of his
life.
07. He argued with her until he was_________ in the face.
A. black B. grey C. yellow D. blue
08. It was a_________ -letter day when she finally received her graduation diploma.
A. black B. grey C. red D. white
09. My sister became_________ as a ghost when she saw the man at the window.
10. She passed her exam with flying_________ and now wants to go out and celebrate.
A. colors B. clouds C. bays D. objects
11. My sister was always the teacher's_________ when she was in the first grade at school.
A. pets B. cats C. dogs D. doves
12. Drop me a_________ when you get there.
A. line B. note C. letter D. both A and B
13. This is where I grew up. I know this area like the back of my_________.
A. arms B. hand C. legs D. foot
14. I'll be back in the twinkling of_________.
A. an eye B. a lighting bolt C. a smile D. a laugh
15. I'm afraid hip hop isn't my cup of_________.
A. tea B. java C. coffee D. wine
16. Just a moment... I've got the answer on the_________ of my tongue.
A. top B. tap C. tip D. back
17. Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I guess I really put my_________ in my mouth.
A. foot B. hand C. elbow D. knee
18. Sharon always sticks her_________ into everyone else’s business.
A. head B. lips C. nose D. mouth
19. In Florida, the temperature drops below freezing only once in a_________ moon.
A. green B. purple C. blue D. middle
20. Brady’s surprise party is going to be great if you don’t let the_________ out of the bag.
A. dog B. mouse C. bat D. cat
01. In the future, the robot will not cost a(n)_________ and a leg.
A. arm B. hand C. foot D. nail
02. The sheep were huddled into a_________ to protect them from overnight frosts.
A. cage B. pen C. kennel D. hutch
03. My English is progressing_________.
A. odds and ends B. leaps and bounds C. bounds and leaps D. ends and odds
04. When you do something, you should_________.
A. get through to B. turn over a new leaf
C. weigh up the pros and cons D. go down well with
05. The weather is going to change soon; I feel it in my_________.
A. body B. legs C. skin D. bones
06. As it was very hot in summer, sales of bottles of water went_________ the roof.
A. through B. to C. above D. over
07. She’d had such a good birthday party. She felt on top of the_________.
A. hill B. world C. tree D. earth
08. She is walking on the_________ she doesn’t know how to say.
A. air B. road C. street D. garden
09. They thought that she didn’t want to go to the disco because she didn’t like dancing. But they
were barking up the_________ tree. It was because she didn’t like the flashing lights.
A. mistake B. wrong C. untrue D. false
10. She was very shy when she first went to her new school, but she soon came out of her_________.
A. snail B. house C. nest D. shell
11. He takes after his father very much. It is like father like_________.
A. son B. children C. father D. girl
12. Enjoy your meal! Home grow, home_________.
A. make B. made C. makes D. making
13. I’ve never really enjoyed going to the ballet or the opera; they’re not really my_________.
A. piece of cake B. sweets and candy C. biscuit D. cup of tea
14. He travels_________ for 20 years and then he decided to return home.
A. father away B. far and wide C. far from it D. farthest of all
15. Remember to appreciate what your friends do for you. You shouldn’t take them_________.
A. as a rule B. as usual C. out of habit D. for granted
16. - I think the main problem in this area is the lack of a good bus service.
- You’re right. You’ve hit the_________ on the head.
A. nail B. wall C. lips D. hand
17. The sixth time he called me at night was the_________.
A. last cause B. last straw C. touch and go D. hot air
18: Now that they have read it in_________, they believe me.
A. red and blue B. blue and red C. white and black D. black and white
19. How did you get on at your single group?
- We were all a bit embarrassed; because it was the first time we had met. But Tom broke
the_________ by getting us all to say our names and what our favourite TV programs were.
A. record B. window C. land D. ice
20. You're playing with_________ if you get involved with that gang.
A. water B. ghost C. fire D. land
01. He seems like a good________ I'll take a chance on him.
A. yolk B. leave C. egg D. ink
02. As the maestro lifted his baton the theater was so still you could hear________.
A. his heartbeat B. a pin drop C. bird wings D. the drum beating
03. I think I understand the nuts and________ of the operation.
A. screws B. hammer C. nails D. bolts
04. He likes being a big________ in a small pond.
A. cat B. snail C. shark D. fish
05. Honesty and patience are part and________ in this job.
A. smart B. card C. parcel D. hard
06. While Anne was________ probation, she reported to the police regularly.
A. on B. in C. at D. off
07. Tom was stealing the car when the police drove by and caught him________.
A. alive B. right C. red-handed D. wrong
08. I think Jim has a________ streak about watching horror movies, but he doesn't want to admit it.
A. white B. yellow C. grey D. blue
09. They've just been given the________ light to build two new supermarkets in the region.
A. blue B. red C. white D. green
10. I sent off my application to the company, but heard nothing. Then completely out of the________
they sent me a letter.
11. They went out last night and really painted the town________ - they didn't come home until 5 a.m.
12. You have to cut through a lot of________ tape to get proposals accepted in this company.
13. Jack has egg________ because he couldn't remember how to spell "Batman"!
A. on his teeth B. on his face C. on his shirt D. on his fingers
14. The woman said that she would know the thief by_________ if she ever saw him again.
A. chance B. mistake C. sight D. accident
15. I had meant to enter that competition. But the date for entries has passed now. I________ the boat.
A. missed B. took C. lost D. gave
16. "Where did you hear about that?" - "Just word of________."
A. eyes B. nose C. mouth D. ears
17. "What's wrong?"- "I'm a bit________ the weather."
A. in B. under C. at D. off
18. I'm worried she may be getting cold_________ about our trip to Patagonia.
A. blood B. head C. heart D. feet
19. Denise has been burning the midnight_________ trying to finish this report, so she must be exhausted.
A. lamp B. candle C. oil D. gas
20. I was excited to start taking night classes after work, but now, without enough time to devote
either to school or to my job, I feel like I am falling between_________ stools.
A. one B. two C. three D. four
Exercise 10. Choose among A, B, C, or D to indicate the SYNONYM to the underlined part:
01. No wonder she is jumping for joy, she has just been given promotion.
A. very jumpy B. very silly C. very happy D. very noisy
02. I know it didn’t look like that, but the truth is they only did it for fun.
A. as a joke B. as humour C. as funny D. as joking
03. They decided to move away from the city to the countryside for the sake of the children.
A. speaking about B. talking about C. dreaming about D. thinking about
04. They tried in vain to save enough money to buy a house and so finally they rented one.
A. without money B. without trial C. without success D. without work
05. Although Romeo and Juliet were deeply in love, they still managed to kill themselves.
A. loved each other often B. loved each other very much
C. loved each other most of the time D. loved each other mostly
06. By the way, did you manage to see that film last night?
A. Conveniently B. Actually C. clearly D. Incidentally
07. Between you and me, so don’t tell anyone, I am sure he will lose the election.
A. In truth B. In confidence C. In fact D. In conclusion
08. You want to know why I have got a bee in my bonnet?
A. a headache B. a fly in my head
C. a problem on my mind D. a difficulty with my hair
09. I wish I could trust you again, but all you ever did to me was to let me down.
A. make me cry B. make me angry C. despite me D. disappoint me
10. I love you from the bottom of my heart.
A. deeply B. truly C. madly D. abundantly
11. As she is new to the job I would ask you to keep an eye on her for the time being.
A. look at B. consider C. check D. observe
12. You shouldn’t worry about the exam because you have prepared well and you will probably
find it a piece of cake.
A. easy to digest B. easy to read C. easy to start D. very easy
13. My son would love to have a Buzz Lightmonth toy for his birthday. Do you have any at your
store?-Sorry, madam. They are out of stock.
A. bankrupt B. broken C. not available D. stacked
14. You certainly couldn’t call him modest because he is always blowing his own trumpet.
A. saying how fit he is B. saying how healthy he is
C. saying how clever he is D. saying how tall he is
15. We have lost a lot of money and have little income and so we are finding it difficult to make
ends meet.
A. examine B. contribute C. convene D. survive
16. Have you seen that long queue outside the supermarket? Whatever they are selling is going
like hot cakes.
A. selling very slowlyB. selling very often C. selling very strangely D. selling very well
17. I invested all my money in that failed company and now I find my whole investment has gone
down the drain.
A. has been overtaken B. has been confirmed
C. has been wasted D. has been confused
18. As far as Alex was concerned this was the last straw and he vowed he would never risk
money on a horse ever again.
A. the final decision B. the final moment C. the final disaster D. the final occasion
19. I would advise you to do that as well and in that way you will kill two birds with one stone.
A. get things done twice B. get something done two times
C. get two things done at the same time D. get two things done twice
20. I shouldn’t go outside without a raincoat because it is raining cats and dogs.
A. it’s just started to rain B. it’s going to rain C. it’s raining heavily D. it’s raining a little
01. Mom, can you tell Todd to stop making fun of me?
A. mocking B. lying to C. flattering D. flirting
02. So, George…Have you made up your mind where you want to go for your internship?
A. decided B. conjured up C. told your mom D. postponed
03. Everyone thought Jane and Elly were a happy couple, but it was all just make believe.
A. modesty B. pretending C. reality D. denial
04. You have to raise your voice a little when talking to him. He is a little hard of hearing.
A. stubborn B. quite when he speaks C. deaf D. distracted
05. We need to do something about it! This situation is getting out of hand!
A.too big B. too organized C. out of control D. out of order
06. New evidence came to light at the end of the trial.
A. was hidden B. was sheathed C. was concealed D. was revealed
07. I suppose she was the apple of your eye at the time.
A. your favourite fruit B. your favourite meal
C. your favourite person D. your favourite book
08. As they only had a few minutes to get to the station, they ran all the way and finally caught the
train by the skin of their teeth.
A. just in time B. just for time C. just on time D. just by time
09. Don’t forget to drop me a line when you are away.
A. telephone me B. call me C. write to me D. send me a telegram
10. She never shouts at her children.
A. makes conversation with B. calls out to C. talks in a loud voice to D. speaks quickly to
11. She had never been to Paris before.
A. heard of B. read about C. tried D. visited
12. We are fed up with the bad weather.
A. very tired of B. full of C. interested in D. unhappy with
13. You will never see your money again because I am afraid he has gone home for good.
A. clearly B. permanently C. quickly D. slowly
14. They are very generous in that museum- not only is the entrance fee reasonable but they give
you a brochure for free.
A. at no cost B. at little cost C. at some cost D. at low cost
15. Yes, we went away on holiday last week but it rained day in, day out.
A. every single day B. every other day C. every second day D. every two days
16. I think the time has now come when we'll simply have to call it a day.
A. stop trying B. stop thinking C. stop working D. stop going
17. All right then if you like I'll put my cards on the table.
A. tell you a story B. tell you what to do
C. tell you something D. tell you my honest opinion
18. Well in the first place all the windows are broken, which is a real pain in the neck.
A. a bad ache B. a serious ache C. a serious problem D. a bad shock
19. Yes, I agree but at the same time it's not the end of the world.
A. worth worrying about B. worth talking about
C. worth looking at D. worth speaking about
20. I prefer to talk to people face to face rather than to talk on the phone.
A. in person B. facing them C. looking at them D. seeing them
01. He does not really go around with many people because he's a bit of a lone wolf.
A. single person B. lonely person C. unhappy person D. simple person
02. He is like a fish out of water whenever he goes to the party.
A. feels uncomfortable B. feels dry C. feels thirty D. feels silly
03. He will be all right soon because any criticism is usually like water off a duck’s back to him.
A. of no importance B. of some importance
C. of great importance D. of such importance
04. No one mentions him because he is regarded as the black sheep of the family.
A. the one with the sense of humor B. the one with a bad reputation
C. the one who is always late D. the one who never washes
05. I wouldn’t say I never see eye to eye with my employers but sometimes they can make
extraordinary demands.
A. totally side B. totally work C. totally agree D. totally disagree
06. It was a serious operation but he made a complete recovery and was soon as fit as a fiddle.
A. in careful health B. in easy health C. in quiet health D. in good health
07. Since she won the lottery last week she has been feeling on the top of the world.
A. very proud B. very happy C. very excited D. very wealthy
08. Chales is having a lot of problems with his business but at least he is keeping his head above
the water.
A. not downing B. keeping dry C. managing to survive D. trying to swim
09. In the end she lost her temper and told her daughter to hold her tongue.
A. stand still B. speak up C. start speaking D. be quiet
10. Where were you? I have been looking for you high and low.
A. here and there B. everywhere C. nowhere D. both A and B
11. My little house is spick and span.
A. neat B. clean C. well looked after D. all are correct
12. You’d better leave now if you want to arrive early for theexam. Break a leg!
A. good luck B. Good night C. Good bye D. Good job
13. Working irregular hours is all part and parcel of being a journalist.
A. integral B. crucial C. essential D. all are correct
14. The opposition will be elected into government at the next election, without a_________ of a
doubt
A. shade B. shadow C. benefit D. hue
15. He didn’t hat an eye when he realized he failed the exam again.
A. didn’t want to see B. didn’t show surprise C. wasn’t happy D. didn’t care
16. My parents are going to hit the roof if they find out we had a party here.
A. become angry B. become sad C. become worried D. become nervous
17. I could see the finish line and thought I was home and dry.
A. hopeless B. hopeful C. unsuccessful D. successful
18. Boss: So, Rita, you left work early yesterday?
Worker: Yeah, and did I ever get in hot water for that!
A. be in trouble. B. take a warm bath. C. get so tired D. be sorry
19. A: What did you think of Chuck? B: Oh, we hit it off right away.
A. argued as soon as they met. B. quickly became friends.
C. didn’t like each other. D. stopped talking soon.
20. I’ve got to run an errand. I’ll be back in a minute.
A. manage the company B. do the household chores
C. work on a night shift D. do the homework
01. We’ve known you are a good swimmer – stop putting on an act.
A. making believe B. pretending C. lying D. both A and B
02. Four soldiers have faced charges since the scandal came to light last fall.
A. hidden B. revealed C. believed D. relieved
03. They tried in vain to save enough money to buy a house and so finally they rented one.
A. without money B. without trial C. without success D. without work
04. You certainly couldn’t call him modest because he is always blowing his own trumpet.
A. saying how fit he is B. saying how healthy he is
C. saying how clever he is D. saying how tall he is
05. I invested all my money in that failed company and now I find my whole investment has gone
down the drain.
A. has been overtaken B. has been confirmed C. has been wasted D. has been confused
06. You shouldn’t worry about the exam because you have prepared well and you will probably
find it a piece of cake.
A. easy to digest B. easy to read C. easy to start D. very easy
07. I would advise you to do that as well and in that way you will kill two birds with one stone.
A. get things done twice B. get something done two times
C. get two things done at the same time D. get two things done twice
08. I suppose she was the apple of your eye at the time.
A. your favourite fruit B. your favourite meal
C. your favourite person D. your favourite book
09. My son would love to have a Buzz Lightmonth toy for his birthday. Do you have any at your
store?-Sorry, madam. They are out of stock.
A. bankrupt B. broken C. not available D. stacked

10. Charles is having a lot of problems with his business but at least he is keeping his head above
the water.
A. not downing B. keeping dry C. managing to survive D. trying to swim
11. I think the time has now come when we'll simply have to call it a day.
A. stop trying B. stop thinking C. stop working D. stop going
12. All right then if you like I'll put my cards on the table.
A. tell you a story B. tell you what to do
C. tell you something D. tell you my honest opinion
13. Well in the first place all the windows are broken, which is a real pain in the neck.
A. a bad ache B. a serious ache C. a serious problem D. a bad shock
14. Yes, I agree but at the same time it's not the end of the world.
A. worth worrying about B. worth talking about
C. worth looking at D. worth speaking about
15. I prefer to talk to people face to face rather than to talk on the phone.
A. in person B. facing them C. looking at them D. seeing them
16. I wouldn’t say I never see eye to eye with my employers but sometimes they can make
extraordinary demands.
A. totally side B. totally work C. totally agree D. totally disagree
17. It was a serious operation but he made a complete recovery and was soon as fit as a fiddle.
A. in careful health B. in easy health C. in quiet health D. in good health
18. Since she won the lottery last week she has been feeling on the top of the world.
A. very proud B. very happy C. very excited D. very wealthy
_________HẾ T__________

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A GUIDE FOR SUCCESS - GCSE PREPARATION – IDIOMS

ENGLISH IDIOMS – THÀNH NGỮ

III. MOST COMMON ACADEMIC ENGLISH IDIOMS (THÀ NH NGỮ HỌ C THUẬ T)

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hot________ in the Northern cities of Vietnam.

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