100 IDIOMS TIẾNG ANH QUAN TRỌNG STT
IDIOMS
MEAN
1
CATS AND DOGS
Rain heavily
2
CHALK AND CHEESE
Very different from each other
3
HERE AND THERE
Everywhere
4
A HOT POTATO
Something that is difficult ordangerous to deal with
5
AT THE DROP OF THE HAT
Immediately, instantly
6
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
7
BEAT ABOUT/AROUND THE BUSH
8
BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD
9
BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL
10
CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO STOOLS
11
BREAK A LEG
12
HIT THE BOOKS
Time to start from the beginning ; it is time toplan something over again Avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the issue
NGHĨA
EXAMPLE It’s rainingcats and Mưa nặng hạt dogs = It’s raining heavily I don’t have anything in common with my Khác biệt brother. We’re like chalk and cheese. I have been looking here and there for Mọi nơi thegift I bought for my girlfriend. The abortion issue is a Vấn đề nan political hot potatoin giải, nóng hổi the US. Ngay lập tức, tức thì
Bắt đầu lại từ đầu
Nói vòng vo, không vô vấn đề chính
If you need me, just call me. I can come atthe drop of a hat. My plans tocreate a tiny car made of glasses were unsuccessful, so I guess it is back tothe drawing board. Stop beatingabout the bush and answer myquestion.
Portable phones are A good marketed as the inventionor Ý tưởng hay, bestthing since sliced innovation; a good tốt bread; people think idea or plan. they are extremely good. To stay up I will have a big exam Thức khuya working,especially tomorrow so I’ll làm việc, học studying late at beburning the midnight bài night oil tonight. I was caught between When someone Lưỡng lự, two stools when I hadto findsit difficult to không biết lựa choose which shirt to choose between chọncái nào, hang out with my two alternatives do dự girlfriends. Chúc may Good luck mắn Study Học tập
LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG
To reveal a secret or a surprise by accident
Để lộ bí mật
WHEN PIGS FLY
Something will never happen
Chuyện viễn vông, không tưởng
15
SCRATCH SOMEONE’S BACK
Helpsomeone out with the assumption that they will return the favor in the future
Giúp ai với mong muốn sau này người ta sẽ giúp lại mình
16
HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
Do or say something exactly right
Đoán, nói trúngphóc
17
TAKESOMEONE/SOMETHING FOR GRANTED
Disregard
Coi nhẹ
18
TAKE SOMETHINGINTO ACCOUNT/CONSIDERATION
Toremember to consider something
Tính đến cái gì
19
KEEP AN EYE ON SB/STH
20
PUT SOMEONE/SOMETHING AT SOMEONE’S DISPOSAL
13 14
Attention, to whom To make someone or something available to someone
It’s asecret. Try not to let the cat out of the bag.
Để ý, để tâm đến ai
“You scratch my back and I will scratchyours,” the customer said when we talked about the new sales contact. Mike hit thenail on the head when he said most people can use a computer without knowinghow it works. One of theproblems with relationships is that after a while you begin to take each otherfor granted. We will take your long years of service intoaccount when we make our final decision. Please keep an eye on my baby while I amout.
Có sẵn cho ai sử dụng theo ý muốn
I’d be glad to help you if you need me. Iput myself at your disposal.
21
SPLITTING HEADACHE (N)
a severe headache
Đau đầu như búa bổ
22
OFF THE PEG
Ready-made
May sẵn (quần áo)
23
ON THE HOUSE
No pay, free
Không phải trả tiền
24
HIT THE ROOF = GO THROUGH THE ROOF = HIT THECEILING
To suddenly become angry
Giận dữ
25
BRING DOWN THE HOUSE
Make the audience applause warmly
Làm cho cả khán phòng
I’ve got asplitting headache. I’m going upstairs for a nap. If I buytrousers off the peg, they’re always too short. I went to arestaurant last night. I was the ten thousandth customer, so my dinner was onthe house. I’m afraid he will hit the roof when hefinds out our vacation is cancelled. Bin’s voice brought the house down. Hereally
vỗ tay nhiệt liệt 26
PAY THROUGH THE NOSE
To pay too much for something
Trả giá đắt
27
BY THE SKIN OFONE’S TEETH
Too close
Sát sao
28
PULL SOMEONE’SLEG
Poke someone
Chọc ai
29
IT STRIKE SB AS/THAT A STRANGE
Strange
Lấy làm lạ
30
HIGH AND LOW = HERE AND THERE
Everywhere
Mọi nơi
31
THE MORE, THE MERRIER
The more crowded, the happier
Càng đông, càng vui
32
SPICK AND SPAN
Tidy
Ngăn nắp, gọn gàng
33
EVERY NOW ANDTHEN
Sometimes
Thỉnh thoảng
34
PART AND PARCEL
Integral, crucial
Quan trọng,thiết yếu
35
GO TO ONE’S HEAD
Make someone arrogant
Khiến ai kiêu ngạo
36
BE ON THE WAGON
Abstain from alcohol
Kiêng rượu
37
ONCE IN A BLUEMOON
Very rare
Rất hiếm
brought down the house with his fantastic song. If you wantdecent wine in a restaurant, you will have to pay through the nose for it. 1. I gotthrough calculus class by the skin of my teeth. 2. I got to theairport a few minutes late and missed the plan by the skin of my teeth. You don’t mean that.You’re just pulling my leg. I stroke me as a strange when he came toclass early this morning. I have been searching high and low for thegift I bought for Hà An for a whole day. Of courseyou can have a ride with us! The more, the merrier. The kitchenwas spick and span as ever, every surface wiped down and everything in itsplace. Every nowand then, I want to be alone. Being recognised in the street is all partand parcel of being famous. 1. Don’t let all this praises go to your head. 2. Too much success will go to her head. Bob’s olddrinking buddies complained that he was no fun when he went on the wagon. Once in ablue moon, I stop thinking about her. If only she knew how
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40
41
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45
46
47
48 49
50 51
much I love her. I will bethere on the Immediately Ngay lập tức ON THE SPOT spot. Go and tell her that you love her! That kindof Rarely Hiếm gặp FEW AND FAR BETWEEN girl is really few and far between. On the verge (be Bên bờ vực We have to protect careful with the (cẩn thận với elephants. They are ON THE VERGE OF = ON THE preposition "on" giới từ “on” onthe verge of BRINK OF = IN THE EDGE and "in")! và “in” nhé!) extinction. To control They simply didn’t someone and know what they were make them do Nắm đầu, dắt doing and they were led LEAD SOMEBODY BY THE exactly what mũi ai by the nose by NOSE youwant them to amanipulative do government. She alwaysturned her At the last minute Vào phút chót term paper in at the AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR eleventh hour. Chỉ trích, It is very easy to find Criticism, talk, kiếm chuyện, fault with the FIND FAULT WITH make mistakes bắt lỗi workothers. Không đều Not regularly, We don’t often go đặn, thỉnh OFF AND ON/ ON AND OFF sometimes there- just off and on. thoảng I tried to make believe she was happy, butknew Pretend, pretend Giả bộ, giả vờ MAKE BELIEVE deep down it was not true. Di chuyển We made good time and Move fast, go fast. nhanh, đi were at the hotel MAKE GOOD TIME nhanh. bylunch time. Their relationship is Angry keep Giận giữ nhìn not free and easy butat LOOK DAGGERS AT SOMEONE watching someone ai đó least he is no longer looking daggers at her. You cannot get married Không thể until you are 18,it’s out BE OUT OF THE QUESTION được of the question. All at once, there was a Suddenly Bất thình lình loud banging on ALL AT ONCE thedoor. Anyone will tell you she’s one of the Bragging, Bốc phét, bestjournalist we’ve BLOW ONE’S TRUMPET bragging khoác lác got, although she’d never blow her trumpet. Think about Suy nghĩ You don’thave to give SLEEP ON IT
me your decision now. Sleep on it, and let me know tomorrow. Đánh nhau dữ We foughttooth and Fighting violently, dội, cấu xé claw to retain our share tear each other nhau of business. Chọc phá, The kids arealways Fighting, teasing, trêu ghẹo, play jokes on their hoax chơi khăm teachers. Pouring down the Đổ sông đổ It’s just money down river (work, biển (công the drain. money) sức, tiền bạc) Hoài nghi, Doubt, linh cảm The minute I came in, I inspirational story chuyện smelled a rat. not khôngổn When sheshowed up Drops of water Giọt nước late a third time, that overflow tràn ly was the last straw. We had to fire her. After threeweeks of Nắm bắt using this computer, I Capture, use được, sử dụng think I’ve finally got the được hand of it. Tom is hardof hearing. Ear infection, Lãng tai, nặng Therefore, we have to severe ear tai speak loudly so that he can hear us. Please keep an eye on Coi chừng, Watch out, look my baby while I’m out ngó chừng for a while. Đặt nặng Put on heavy She has a bee in her chuyện gì, things, accept bonnet about going to chấp nhất anything America. chuyện gì I’m worriedmy friends may be getting cold feet about the university Mất hết can Lose all courage, entrance đảm, chùn shrink exam.Therefore, I will bước try my best to help them overcome this severe exam. On secondthoughts, it Think about it Suy nghĩ kĩ was a dumb movie. All thedoctor’s efforts Uổng công, Unhappy, useless were in vain and the vô ích man soon died. Donations, Khuyên góp, If everyone chips in, we something.
52
FIGHT TOOTH ANDCLAW / NAIL
53
PLAY TRICKS /JOKES ON
54
DOWN THE DRAIN
55
SMELL A RAT
56
THE LAST STRAW
57
GET THE HANG OF SOMETHING
58
HARD OF HEARING
59
KEEP AN EYE ON
60
HAVE A BEE IN ONE’S BONNET (ABOUT SOMETHING)
61
GET/HAVE COLD FEET
62
ON SECOND THOUGHTS
63
IN VAIN
64
CHIP IN
thêm về điều gì đó.
will be able to buyher a nice present. The old man has been Crazy, deranged Điên, loạn trí off his head for atleast a year. I’ve got torun an Doing small Làm việc vặt errand. I’ll be back in a things minute. They ignorepeople who Crossing red lights Vượt đèn đỏ jumps the traffic lights. Easy to get angry, Dễ nổi giận, No one willfly off the irritated phát cáu handle for no reason. Đồ quý giá You are the apple of my Whose valuables của ai eyes. <3 Heavy rain, heavy Mưa xối xả, It’s been bucketing rain mưa to down all day. Escaped dead in a Thoát chết Phew, that was a close pinch trong gang tấc shave. I was so lucky. I dropped abrick when talking with my best Missing words, Lỡ lời, lỡ friend, and now he miss your mouth miệng doesn’t want to talk to me. I always getbutterflies Cảm thấy bồn Feeling restless in my stomach when it chồn comes to taking test. Không chính What the president said Could not policy, thức, không is not to beprinted. It’s not published được công bố off the record. SNSD is my cup of tea. They are so Thứ mà ta What I like beautifuland talented. thích Especially Seohyun, she looks so cute. Onlyallowing half an hour to get from the Stay close Đến sát giờ station to the airport is cutting itfine, isn’t it? The managergot early Món tiền hậu retirement and a Good money for hĩnh dành cho 600,000$ golden people going to người sắp handshake when the leave nghỉ việc company wasrestructed. We’ve known you are a Giả bộ, làm Pretend, make good swimmer – stop bộ putting on an act. Known, Được biết Four soldiers have discovered, come đến, được faced charges since contributions
65
OFF ONE’S HEAD
66
RUN AN ERRAND
67
JUMP THETRAFFIC LIGHTS
68
FLY OFF THE HANDLE
69
THE APPLE OF ONE’S EYES
70
BUCKET DOWN
71
CLOSE SHAVE = NARROW ESCAPE
72
DROP A BRICK
73
GET BUTTERFLIESIN ONE’S STOMACH
74
OFF THE RECORD
75
ONE’S CUP OF TEA
76
CUT IT FINE
77
GOLDEN HAND SHAKE
78
PUT ON AN ACT
79
COME TO LIGHT
góp tiền
to light
80
phát thescandal came to hiện,được đưa light last fall. ra ánh sáng. Men like to take things Tháo ra từng to pieces and put them mảnh together. Gây nhầm I really putmy foot in it lẫn, bối rối, when I asked her about phạm một sai her job. I didn’t know lầm gây bối she’d just beenfired. rối The rest ofthe team Nỗ lực, làm complained that Sarah tròn trách wasn’t pulling her nhiệm weight.
TAKE THINGS TO PIECES
Remove pieces
81
PUT ONE’S FOOT IN IT
Confused, embarrassed, made a mistake embarrassment
82
PULL ONE’SWEIGHT
Effort, fulfillment of responsibility
83
MAKE ENDS MEET
Turn to earn a living, managed to make a living
Xoay sở để kiếm sống
I have towork at two jobs to make ends meet.
84
GET THE HOLD OF THE WRONG END OF THE STICK
Misunderstanding someone
Hiểu nhầm ai đó
I think I must explain to her that she gothold of the wrong end of the stick again.
CUT AND DRIED
Finally, can not be changed, clear, easy to understand
Cuối cùng, không thể thay đổi,rõ ràng, dễ hiểu
Although a deal has been agreed, it is notyet cut-and-dried.
86
STAY/KEEP ON ONE’S TOE
Watch out, be careful
87
SEE EYE TO EYE
Sympathy, concurred
88
HAVE IN MIND
Pondering, Is contemplating, consider
89
A LOST CAUSE
No hope, no change
90
TO BE BOUND TO
Sure
91
AT HEART
Basically, fundamentally
92
TO KNOW BYSIGHT
Recognize
85
We hadbetter keep on our toes while we’re walking along the dark portions of thisstreet. I’m gladthat they see eye to eye on the matter Đồng tình of the conference location. I don’t wantto see a Đang suy movie now, I have in tính, cân nhắc mind going to the park. Hết hy vọng, It seems that Charles không thay will give it up. Isuppose đổi được gì he is a lost cause. You’re bound to be late Chắc chắn if you don’t hurry. Jamessometimes seems Thực chất, cơ quite unfriendly but at bản heart he’s a good person. The womansaid that Nhận ra she would know the thief by sight if she ever Cảnh giác, thận trọng
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
94
TO TAKE PAINS
Careful and dedicated
Làm việc cẩn thận và tận tâm
95
TO MAKE DO
To manage, tocope
96
SELL SOMEONE/ SOMETHING SHORT
Underestimate
97
FACE THE MUSIC
Scapegoat
98
LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG
To reveal the secret
99
ON PROBATION
During probation
100
SELL/ GO LIKE HOT CAKES
Sell expensive as fresh shrimp
101
IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS
Good or bad things do not just happen a few at atime, but in large numbers all at once
102
SALT ANDPEPPER
103
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
Having a mixture of black and white A way of askingwhat someone is thinking
She takes pains to do everything well.
During difficult economic times, many peoplehave to make do with less. When you saythat John isn’t interested in music, you’re selling Đánh giá thấp him short. Did you know heplays the violin quite well? Mary broke adiningroom window and had Chịu trận to face the music when her father got home. I was tryingto keep the party a secret, but Jim Để lộ bí mật went and let the cat out of the bag. While Anne was on Trong thời probation, she reported gian quản chế tothe police regularly. The book has only just been published Bán đắt như andcopies are already tôm tươi selling like hot cakes in both Britain and America. First of allit was the car breaking down, then the fire in the Họa vô đơn kitchen and now chí! Mike’saccident. It never rains but it pours! Màu tóc hoa He has asalt and râm pepper beard. For several minutes Dùng để hỏi they sat silently, ai đó xem họ thenfinally she looked đang nghĩ gì at him and said, “A Xoay sở, đương đầu
104
HOME AND DRY (adj)
Have been successful
105
DOWN AND OUT (adj)
Loss of property
penny for your thoughts, Walter.” (Trong vài phút, họ ngồi im lặng, rồi cuối cùng cô nhìn anh và nói: “Anh đang nghĩ gìmà mê mải thế, Walter.”) Êm xuôi, I just have to finish the hoàn thành placement exam,I’m trót lọt home and dry. True friends always Thất cơ lỡ vận stand by you when you’redown and out.