Tổng hợp Idioms – Collocations thi chuyên Anh (part 2)

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TỔNG HỢP IDIOMS – COLLOCATIONS THI CHUYÊN (PART 2) No. Idioms/Collocations Definition Example
to be likely to get or be considered for
She is in line for a promotion after her successful 1 be in line for
something (sắp được nhận, có khả năng được project. xem xét)
to avoid forming an opinion or making a
Let's keep an open mind until we've heard all the 2 keep an open mind
decision until you know all the facts (giữ một evidence. tâm trí cởi mở)
to do something that makes it impossible to
He burned his bridges with his old company by 3 burn your bridges
return to a previous situation (đốt cháy cầu,
insulting his boss on the way out. đoạn tuyệt)
to make you desire something more, especially
The preview was designed to whet your appetite 4 whet your appetite
food or knowledge (kích thích sự thèm muốn, tò for the new film series. mò)
to avoid someone or something completely
After the bad meeting, I've been avoiding the 5
avoid something like the plague (tránh như tránh tà)
manager like the plague.
I can't watch the game; the TV is on the blink 6 on the blink
not working properly (hỏng, chập chờn) again.
to make a strange expression with your face,
The child pulled a face when he was given 7 pull a face
especially to show dislike (nhăn mặt) broccoli. 2
Don't lose heart; we still have a good chance of 8 lose heart
to become discouraged (nản lòng) winning.
to criticize or express doubts about someone's
He cast aspersions on my professionalism simply 9 cast aspersions on
character or reputation (đặt điều, gièm pha)
because I was five minutes late.
the most important fact in a situation (điều quan The bottom line is that we need to increase sales 10 the bottom line
trọng nhất, vấn đề cốt lõi)
or the business will fail.
to be too slow to take advantage of an
I missed the boat on buying those shares before 11 miss the boat
opportunity (lỡ mất cơ hội) the price skyrocketed.
to challenge someone to prove what they say is
He said he'd quit, so I called his bluff and 12 call somebody's bluff
true (bắt ai chứng minh lời nói dối của họ)
accepted his resignation.
to gradually become worse (trở nên tệ đi, xuống The service at that restaurant has really gone 13 go downhill dốc)
downhill since it changed owners.
to suddenly become very angry or emotional
My dad went off the deep end when he saw the 14 go off the deep end
(nổi điên, mất kiểm soát cảm xúc) dent in the car.
for a very long time; since the beginning of time My family has lived in this village from the year 15 from the year dot
(từ rất lâu rồi, từ thuở khai thiên lập địa) dot.
to be in a situation you enjoy because you are 16 be in your element
She's in her element when she's teaching.
good at it (như cá gặp nước)
to not be being dealt with now, but left for later
We've had to put the expansion plans on the back 17 be on the back burner
(tạm hoãn, chưa giải quyết ngay)
burner until we secure more funding. 3
to never be able to make people forget about 18
never live something down
something embarrassing you did (không sống
If I fail the test, I'll never live it down.
nổi với việc gì)
to be a serious situation (chuyện nghiêm túc, 19 be no laughing matter
Climate change is no laughing matter.
không phải để đùa)
to try hard to do something when there is no
I'm fighting a losing battle trying to keep this 20 fight a losing battle
chance of succeeding (làm một việc chắc chắn
kitchen clean with three kids around. thất bại)
happening only once in a person's life (cơ hội
A trip to the Galapagos is a once-in-a-lifetime 21 once in a lifetime ngàn năm có một) experience.
the movement of highly skilled people from
The country's brain drain is a major problem for 22 brain drain
their country to another (chảy máu chất xám)
its economic development.
the movement of highly skilled people into a
The new policy aims to reverse brain drain and 23 brain gain
country (thu hút chất xám) create a brain gain. 24 be as dry as a bone
to be very dry (khô như ngói)
The soil in the desert is as dry as a bone.
to become very angry and upset (nổi cơn thịnh 25 throw a fit
My mom will throw a fit if she sees this mess. nộ)
in a secret or indirect way (một cách bí mật,
He got the job through the back door because his 26 through the back door không chính thức) father knows the CEO. 4
a situation where you can enjoy the advantages
Living in a small town with good rail links gives 27
the best of both worlds
of two different things (được cả hai, được việc
you the best of both worlds. đôi đường) 28 make up your mind
to decide (quyết định)
I can't make up my mind about which car to buy.
to have a very successful beginning (khởi đầu
The project got off to a flying start with a large 29
get off to a flying start
thuận lợi, khởi đầu tốt đẹp) donation.
similar in type or style; roughly (đại loại như,
He said something along the lines of, "I need 30
along the lines of something tương tự như) more time to decide."
to finish all your work so you are ready to start
I need to clear the decks before I go on vacation 31 clear the decks
something new (dọn dẹp, chuẩn bị sẵn sàng) next week.
to have the qualities needed to become
That young player has all the makings of a 32
have all the makings of
something (có đầy đủ tố chất để trở thành) champion.
opinions or interests shared by each of two or
Despite their arguments, they found common 33 common ground
more parties (điểm chung)
ground on environmental issues.
it is your turn to make a decision or take action 34
the ball is in your court
I've made my offer; now the ball is in your court.
(đến lượt bạn phải hành động)
to suddenly return to a normal reality after a
After the wonderful holiday, I came back down to
come back down to earth with a 35
period of excitement (tỉnh mộng, trở về với thực earth with a bump when I saw my overflowing bump tại) inbox.
a state of great excitement and activity (cực
Excitement reached fever pitch as the band came 36 fever pitch
điểm của sự phấn khích) on stage. 5
to not know anything at all about something
I don't have the foggiest idea how to fix this 37
not have the foggiest idea
(hoàn toàn không biết gì) engine.
to embarrass yourself by behaving stupidly in
He got drunk and made an exhibition of himself 38
make an exhibition of yourself public (tự làm mình xấu hổ trước công chúng) at the wedding.
everywhere; in a disorganized state (khắp nơi;
My notes are all over the place. I can't find 39 all over the place
lộn xộn, không có trật tự) anything.
to do something slowly because you do not want The government is dragging its feet on the issue 40 drag your feet
to do it (chần chừ, câu giờ) of tax reform.
to make a bad situation worse (vừa bị thiệt lại
To add insult to injury, the airline made us pay for 41 add insult to injury vừa bị mắng)
our own hotel rooms after canceling the flight.
without anyone else suggesting or ordering you 42 off your own bat
She organized the meeting off her own bat.
to do it (tự động, tự mình)
to get yourself into a difficult situation (tự đào
He kept lying and digging himself deeper into a 43
dig yourself into a hole hố chôn mình) hole.
a very small amount compared to what is
The donation was generous, but it's just a drop in 44 a drop in the ocean
needed (muối bỏ bể)
the ocean compared to what we need. 45 sleep like a log
to sleep very well (ngủ say như chết)
After the long hike, I slept like a log.
The fans were screaming their heads off when the 46 scream your head off
to scream very loudly (hét toáng lên) band started playing.
to take a risk even though you are likely to fail
I didn't think I'd get the job, but I chanced my arm 47 chance your arm
(liều, đánh cược) and applied anyway. 6
to refuse to change your opinion or decision
I've tried to negotiate, but he won't budge an inch 48 not budge an inch
(không nhân nhượng dù chỉ một ly) on the price.
to have no effect on someone (như nước đổ đầu
I tried to criticize his work, but it was like water 49
be like water off a duck's back vịt) off a duck's back.
My dad will blow a fuse when he sees what we've 50 blow a fuse
to become very angry (nổi trận lôi đình) done to the car.
to set a limit on what you will do or accept
I don't mind helping, but I draw the line at doing 51
draw the line at something
(vạch ra giới hạn) everything myself.
to make someone very annoyed or bored (làm ai The constant noise from the construction is 52
drive somebody round the bend phát điên)
driving me round the bend.
to be very obvious or easy to see (quá rõ ràng, lộ 53 stick out a mile
It sticks out a mile that they're in love. liễu)
to be in a bad condition because of being old or
This sofa has seen better days; we should get a 54 have seen better days
much used (đã qua thời hoàng kim, cũ kỹ) new one.
to be uncertain and not yet decided (chưa được 55 be up in the air
Our vacation plans are still up in the air.
quyết định, còn bỏ ngỏ)