ĐỘC LẠ VOCAB

Idioms/Phrases/Collocations: OF (part 1)
Of a kind - Used to describe something that exists but is not very good:
➔ The school had a swimming pool of a kind, but it was too small for
(idiom)
most classes to use.
- Poor quality; not what somebody/something should be:
➔ They gave us meat of a kind, we could hardly eat it.
Similar: of a sort, of a type

Of your own accord - If you do something of your own accord, you do it without being
asked to do it:
(phrase)
➔ She came of her own accord. No one asked her to come.
- Voluntarily or without outside intervention:
➔ No, I didn’t tell him to bring anything to dinner. He did that of his
own accord.

Of two minds - Unable to make a decision:

(UK in two minds) ➔ I was of two minds about whether to invite him to the wedding.
- Simultaneously holding two competing belief, views, opinions,
(idiom)
etc.:
➔ I'm really of two minds about higher education. On one hand, a
degree is required for most jobs, but, on the other, it's far too
expensive for the value.
- Consider two options equally:
➔ I was of two minds whether or not to come this morning.
- Being undecided about someone or something:
➔ I'm of two minds about where to go.
Similar: doubt, ambivalent, waver

Of the old school - Traditional and old-fashioned:

➔ He came of the old school, in which men did not weep in front of
(idiom)
other men.
- Having views or subscribing to values or traditions from an earlier
era, typically describes one who is resistant to change or new
ways of doing things:
➔ My grandmother is of the old school, so she would never make gravy
with something out of a jar.
- Following old methods, standards, etc.:
➔ As a builder of the old school, he did not always see eye to eye with
designers of new houses.
Of the first order - To a very great degree or of an extremely good kind:
➔ Austen is a writer of the first order.
(phrase)
➔ The whole event was a debacle of the first order.
- Of the greatest importance, significance, or magnitude:
➔ You have to study Shakespeare because he is a poet of the first
order.
➔ We need to close the highway immediately - this is an emergency of
the first order.

Of the moment - The person or thing that is the most important and successful at a
particular time:
(idiom)
➔ Jack was man of the moment during the crisis.
- Currently popular or of importance:
➔ The topic of the moment is whether the senator will try to distance
himself from his brother's remarks.
➔ That color is really of the moment - you'll see it on a lot of runways
this month.

Of all - Used to express the idea that a particular person/thing/place is

unlikely or surprising:
people/things/places
➔ Donna, of all people, is the last one I'd expect to see at the gym.
(idiom)
➔ And why did you choose Iceland for a holiday, of all places?
- Used to emphasize that the person/place/thing is the most or least
likely in the circumstances:
➔ When he retired, he took up painting, of all things. He had never
even picked up a paintbrush before that!
➔ You of all people should be sympathetic, having just had a similar
accident yourself.
➔ If it’s a rest they need, then why go to New York of all places?

Of every stripe/all - Of all types:

➔ Governments of every stripe have a bad habit of interfering in state
stripes
broadcasting.
(idiom)
- Of many varieties or types:
➔ You meet people of all stripes when you live in a big city.

Of little/no consequence - Not important:

➔ For healthy people, a little too much salt or sugar is of no
(phrase)
consequence.
- Completely unimportant; having no significance or value:
➔ This issue is really of no consequence to the board, so let's please
skip it for the sake of everyone's time.
Out of the blue - If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected:
➔ One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
(idiom)
- Suddenly and unexpectedly:
➔ She had no idea that anything was wrong until he announced out
of the blue that he wanted a divorce.

Of choice - Your thing or person of choice is the one that you usually choose
in a particular situation:
(idiom)
➔ Botox is now the drug of choice in Hollywood.
- Preferred above others of the same kind or category:
➔ I used to drink mostly beer, but red wine is my drink of choice these
days.

Of great moment - Very important:

➔ When there were matters of great moment to discuss, his opinion
(phrase)
was frequently sought.
- Of much importance or significance; momentous:
➔ This is an issue of great moment for every person on the planet.

Of your dreams - The best that you can imagine:

➔ We promise you'll find the wedding dress of your dreams in our
(phrase)
boutique.
- That one most desires or has hoped for:
➔ I never expected to get married again, but meeting the man of my
dreams completely changed my mind.
➔ I can't turn down this offer - it's the job of my dreams!

Of your own making - Your own fault:

➔ The Prime Minister, however, is now caught in a trap of her own
(idiom)
making.
- Used about a problem or difficulty caused by you rather than by
somebody/something else:
➔ I know you're angry that you won't be able to compete in the
tournament, but this whole mess is of your own making!

Of sorts - Used to describe something that is not a typical or good example

of something:
(idiom)
➔ They have had an education of sorts.
- Having inferior, mediocre, or incomplete characteristics of
something:
➔ The office has a gym of sorts, but it's in such disrepair that no one
really uses it.
A head of steam - A situation in which a person or an activity starts to become very
active or successful:
(idiom)
➔ They're really beginning to build up a head of steam for their
campaign.
- Momentum; the energy needed to move forward:
➔ You can't make the jump standing still - you'll need to build up a
head of steam.

Be nothing short of - Used to emphasize a situation, quality, or type of behaviour:

➔ The party was nothing short of a disaster.
(idiom)
- At or near the same level of; equivalent to; exemplary of:
➔ Her latest book is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Of all time - That has ever lived or existed:

➔ She's been called the greatest singer of all time.
(idiom)
- Ever; in all of history, often used sarcastically, ironically, or
hyperbolically:
➔ You are the worst manager of all time, do you know that?

Out of action - If a machine or vehicle is out of action, it is not working or cannot

be used:
(idiom)
➔ I'm afraid the TV's out of action.
➔ Mom called the repairman because our dishwasher is out of action
again.
- If a person is out of action, they are injured or ill and cannot do
things they usually do:
➔ Jackson's torn ligaments will keep him out of action for the rest of
the season.
- Unable to do one's normal activities due to being ill or injured:
➔ I was out of action there for a while, but I'm feeling much better
after my hospital stay.

Come of age - To reach the age when you are legally recognized as an adult; to
reach adulthood:
(idiom)
➔ He’ll inherit the money when he comes of age.
- If something has come of age, it has reached its full successful
development:
➔ Mozart's music came of age when the baroque style was at its
height.
- To develop or progress fully:
➔ It will take time for this program to come of age - try not to lose
faith in the meantime.
Make an issue of - To make something seem more important than it should be, or to
argue about it:
something
➔ It's upsetting when people make an issue of his weight.
(phrase)
- To exaggerate or treat a minor issue in a way that makes it seem
like a major one:
➔ You got one B and you're acting like you're failing the class - don't
make an issue of nothing.

The mists of time - Used to show that something happened a very long time ago and
is difficult to remember clearly:
(idiom)
➔ The precise details of what happened have been lost in the mists of
time.
- Long periods of time, such as lead to confusion, obscurity, or
oblivion:
➔ For all that we've learned about these ancient structures, their
purpose remains lost in the mists of time.

Be of the same mind - To have the same opinion; to be in agreement:

(also be of one mind) ➔ We're of the same mind on most political issues.
➔ Doctors are of one mind about the dangers of smoking.
(idiom)
Similar: agree, concur, see eye to eye

Be of no/little account - To not be important; to be of no or very little importance,

significance, or worth:
(phrase)
➔ He knew his father would be angry, but it was of little account.
➔ Seeing as his contributions to this institution have been of no
account, we're considering cutting his funding.

Be of like mind - When people are of like mind, they agree:

➔ Everyone at the meeting was of like mind about how to proceed.
(idiom)
- To share a similar viewpoint, as within a group of people:
➔ My fiancé and I are of like mind on many things, but we just can't
agree on how many guests to invite to our wedding.

Be of service - To help someone:

➔ A: “Thank you so much for that.”
(to someone)
B: “I'm glad to have been of service.”
(idiom)
- To be ready to help or be useful:
➔ Therefore, the staff must unite to be of service — not only to their
customers, but to each other as well.
Be of sound mind - Not to be mentally ill:
➔ She claims that her father was not of sound mind when he changed
(idiom)
his will.
- To have full, unimpaired thought, memory, and cognitive
understanding; able to think and understand for oneself:
➔ My grandfather may be in a wheel-chair at 94, but he's still of sound
mind - sharper than a lot of people I know, actually!
- (Law) To be fully mentally competent and thus able to stand trial
or be otherwise legally responsible:
➔ The state-appointed psychiatrist determined that the defendant
was not of sound mind when signing the contract, and thus is not
legally bound to honor the terms therein.

Be of the essence - To be the most important thing:

➔ In any of these discussions, of course, honesty is of the essence.
(phrase)
- To be a key consideration, of great importance, or absolutely
necessary:
➔ Has anyone called an ambulance? Time is of the essence with this
man's injuries!

Of no fixed - To not have a permanent home:

➔ I was of no fixed abode, but I'd finished my time so they still let me
abode/address
go.
(idiom)
- Having no home or haven:
➔ They are not able to get a job interview because they are of no fixed
address.

Out of bounds - If an area is out of bounds, people are not allowed to go there:
➔ The garden is open to the public, but the house is out of bounds.
(idiom)
- If a ball is out of bounds, it is not within the playing area:
➔ He hit his first two shots out of bounds.
- (Sports) Outside the boundary of a playing field or court and
therefore not in play or legal:
➔ One of the players booted the ball out of bounds.
- Outside the boundary of where one is allowed to be; in a
forbidden or unauthorized place:
➔ The research lab is out of bounds for first-year students.
- In violation of acceptable rules or standards, as of decency:
➔ The guest's behaviour was out of bounds.
Out of favour (with - Investments, products, or services that are out of favour are no
longer popular with investors or consumers:
somebody/something)
➔ Airline stocks are currently out of favour with institutional investors
(US out of favor)
because of the global economic slowdown.
(idiom)
- Not supported, preferred, or highly regarded by someone any
longer:
➔ John had been out of favor with his boss ever since he managed to
drive away the firm's most lucrative client.

Out of condition - Not healthy enough for hard physical exercise, as a result of not
taking part in sport or other physical activities:
(phrase)
➔ The short run made me realize that I was more out of condition
than I thought.
- Not in good physical health; not especially strong, healthy, or fit:
➔ I've gotten pretty out of condition from working behind this desk for
10 years.

Make a mountain out of - To make a slight difficulty seem like a serious problem:
➔ You're making a mountain out of a molehill. You wrote one bad
a molehill
essay - it doesn't mean you're going to fail.
(idiom)
- To cause something unimportant to seem important:
➔ Stop worrying! You're making a mountain out of a molehill.
- To exaggerate or put too much focus on a minor issue and make it
seem like a major one:
➔ She was only five minutes late! You're making a mountain out of a
molehill.

Nothing of the kind - Used to emphasize a negative statement:

(UK nothing of the sort) ➔ Mrs Adamson said that she was extremely sorry, in tones that made
it clear that she was nothing of the sort.
(idiom)
- Nothing that is similar to, close to, or like what was said or is in
question:
➔ A: “Did you tell Mary that we were buying her a puppy for
Christmas?”
B: “I said nothing of the kind! I just asked her if it was something she
might like.”

Have/take pride of place - To have the most important position in a group of things:
➔ This stamp’s extremely rare, and takes pride of place in my stamp
(idiom)
collection.
- To be prominently displayed:
➔ Once I get my diploma, it will definitely have pride of place in my
office.
Act of God - A natural event that cannot be controlled or prevented by
humans, especially one that causes a lot of damage, such as an
(idiom)
earthquake or a flood:
➔ Acts of God, such as lightning strikes, were traditionally excluded
from insurance policies.
- A natural disaster, or any similar large-scale event beyond human
control:
➔ I don't care about a little rain - only an act of God will keep us from
getting married today.

A piece of work - A very unkind or unpleasant person:

➔ He is obviously a nasty piece of work but, like many bullies, not
(phrase)
without charm.
- A remarkably difficult, malicious, unpleasant, or objectionable
person:
➔ Please tell me Mr. Stewart won't be at the benefit tonight - that
guy's a piece of work.

Have a change of heart - If you have a change of heart, you change your opinion or the way
you feel about something:
(idiom)
➔ She was going to sell her house but had a change of heart at the
last minute.
- To experience a change in one's opinion or feelings on a matter:
➔ She was going to take that job offer in California, but after thinking
about how much she would miss her friends and family in
Delaware, she had a change of heart.
- To change one's attitude or decision, usually from a negative to a
positive position:
➔ I had a change of heart at the last minute and gave the beggar
some money.

Life and soul of the - Someone who is energetic and funny and at the centre of activity
during social occasions:
party
➔ He was regularly seen attending nightclubs and discos, and was
(idiom)
generally the life and soul of the party.
- Someone who brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to a social
event:
➔ Bill is definitely the life and soul of the party - he's currently trying to
get everyone up to dance!
On the tip of your - If a remark or question is on the tip of your tongue, you want to
say it, but stop yourself:
tongue
➔ It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him he'd have to ask Charlie.
(idiom)
But I said nothing.
- If something such as a word, answer, or name is on the tip of your
tongue, you know it and can almost remember it, but not quite:
➔ What's the quickest way to remember a name that's on the tip of
your tongue, but you just can't recall?

Out of character - If a person’s behavior is out of character, it is very different from

the usual way that person behaves:
(idiom)
➔ It was out of character for Charles not to offer to help.
- Very unlike the way someone would normally speak or behave:
➔ I had no idea her grades were getting so low - that's so out of
character for Jane.
- Inappropriate for the character that an actor is playing:
➔ You're playing an 18th-century princess - saying "totally awesome" is
a bit out of character, don't you think?

The luck of the draw - To be the result of chance and something that you have no control
over:
(idiom)
➔ You can't choose who you play against - it's just the luck of the
draw.
- If something is the luck of the draw, it depends on chance and
there is nothing you can do to influence it:
➔ Sometimes you can see a doctor immediately, and sometimes you
have to wait for hours. It's the luck of the draw really.

The moment of truth - An occasion when something important happens that tests
someone or something and that will have an effect on the future:
(idiom)
➔ Lift-off is always the moment of truth for a new rocket.
- The moment of truth is the time when you learn the true facts of a
situation or make an important decision:
➔ It's the moment of truth - this letter will tell me whether I got into
my dream school or not.

By virtue of something - As a result of something:

➔ They were excluded from voting by virtue of being too young.
(idiom)
- Due to something; because of something; by reason of something:
➔ By virtue of your years of hard work and experience, we think you
would be well-suited to a managerial role.
Similar: by dint of
By the name of - Called:
➔ She turned out to be a very pleasant young woman by the name of
something
Dom White.
(phrase)
- Using the specific name (that is then stated):
➔ My daughter Margaret has now decided that she goes by the name
of Calliope.

Price yourself out of the - If a company prices itself out of the market, it charges so much for
a product or service that no one wants to buy it:
market
➔ They've really priced themselves out of the market by selling the
(idiom)
new model at such a high price.
- To change the price of something in such a way that the market
becomes no longer competitive or viable for oneself, someone, or
something:
➔ At £150,000 for a season, he really is pricing himself out of the
market.

Make a clean breast - To tell the truth about something:

➔ Julia finally made a clean breast of it and admitted that she had
of it
stolen the money.
(idiom)
- To confess one's misdeeds or wrongdoings:
➔ I felt so guilty about cheating on the test that I had to make a clean
breast of it to my teacher.

Marriage of convenience - A marriage in which the partners have married not because they
love each other, but in order to get an advantage, such as the
(phrase)
right to live in the other partner's country:
➔ In order to remain in the country, she was forced to enter into a
marriage of convenience.
- A legal marriage that happens primarily or solely for practical
purposes, rather than love:
➔ Back when homosexuality was illegal, many gay men and women
entered into marriages of convenience to protect them from public
scrutiny.

Of one’s word - Someone who keeps their promises:

➔ You can trust him - he's a man of his word.
(idiom)
- Displaying personal dependability:
➔ If Tammy said that she'll help you move, then she'll definitely be
here - she's a woman of her word.
A man/woman of action - Someone who prefers to do things rather than think about and
discuss them:
(idiom)
➔ He was a man of action who believed that to achieve things in life
you had to be prepared to fight for them.
- A person who prioritizes actions and deeds over discussion or
contemplation:
➔ I promise to be a woman of action if elected to office - I intend to get
things done!