1: throw in the towel, cry uncle

1. throw in the towel: chp nhn tht bi . I thought General Jones would make a good candidate. But after a long campaign and poor election results he threw in the towel. His political career is over. Ti tng tng Jones s l mt ng c vin c nhiu trin vng. Tuy nhin sau mt cuc vn ng di v nhng kt qu yu km trong cuc bu c ng chp nhn tht bi, v s nghip chnh tr ca ng chm dt. * candidate: ng c vin, campaign: cuc vn n. . Mary is sick of everything in the house smelling like cigars. Its in the furniture and in her clothes. She wants her husband to smoke outside but he says its his house too and he refuses to throw in the towel. C Mary qu chn ngy nn khi thuc x g khp mi ni trong nh. Khi thuc trn bn gh v c trong qun o ca c. C mun chng c ht thuc bn ngoi nh nhng anh y ni nh ny cng ca anh y na nn anh y khng chu thua. 2. cry uncle: chp nhn tht bi . Some stores will not have any discounts before the holiday but others will have before-Christmas sales. Thats because last year the stores were doing so poorly that the week before Christmas they finally cried uncle. Mt s ca hiu s khng bn h gi trc l ging sinh nhng nhiu hiu khc s bn h gi. l v nm ngoi cc ca hiu bun bn qu m nn cui cng h nh phi chu thua thit. . When I play chess with my brother he sometimes says he doesnt want to play anymore because the game is boring. Actually he simply does not want to admit defeat. He doesnt want to cry uncle. Khi ti nh c vi em trai ti i khi n ni n khng mun chi na v tr chi ny chn qu. Tht ra th n ch khng mun th nhn l n s b thua.

2: jazz up, bells and whistles

1. jazz up: lm cho mt iu g c ti p hn, sinh ng hn . Are you tired of making the same boring rice for dinner? Then jazz it up with New Orleans Style Rice. It features a unique blend of seasonings and spices. So dont eat the same old thing, jazz it up with Orleans Style Rice tonight. Va ri l li qung co mt loi go mi. Bn c chn nu cm nh thng l cho bui n ti khng? Bn nn lm cho n ngon hn vi loi go kiu New Orleans. N gm c nhng gia v pha trn rt c bit. V th bn ng nn n cng mt th cm mi ngy m nn dng cm New Orleans ti nay. * unique: c bit . Well, I think your presentation needs to be jazzed up a bit more. Add a few interesting visuals, and perhaps some other statistics!

Ti cho rng bui thuyt trnh ca anh cn phi c sa i cho hp dn hn. Chn hn nh phi cho thm nhng hnh nh c sc, v c l thm my s thng k khc na. * presentation: thuyt trnh hay trnh di; visual: hnh nh. 2. bells and whistles: nhng th xa x, khng cn thit lm * whistle: ci ci . I want to buy a computer but I cant make up my mind about all those bells nd whistles such as an extra CD burner, or a wireless mouse. Sinh vin ny ni: Ti mun mua mt my vi tnh nhng vn khng th quyt nh l c nn mua thm nhng th xa x nh thm mt ghi CD, hay mt con chut khng dy hay khng. . Mary just loved the leather interior, the sunroof and the satellite radio. John said hed really like to get a car with all those bells and whistles, but that he could not afford them right now. Maybe next time. C Mary rt thch gh da bn trong xe, chic ca knh trn mui v mt ci radio iu khin qua v tinh. Anh John ni anh cng thch nhng th xa x nh vy nhng hin gi th anh cha c tin mua nhng th y. Chc phi i n k ti vy.

3: get one's act together, roll with the punches

1. get one's act together: chnh n li cch lm vic ca mnh . Its too bad we just lost a match even though we did the best we could. Were going to have to get our act together if the team wants to qualify for the finals. Tht ng tic chng ta va thua mt trn u mc du c gng ht sc. Chng ta s phi chnh n li cch lm vic nu i bng ca chng ta mun lt vo vng chung kt. * finals: vng chung kt. . John, I noticed that you havent cleaned your room or done your homework like I asked you. Listen, youd better get your act together or youre not borrowing the car tomorrow night. Ny John, m thy con vn cha dn sch phng ca con m cng cha lm bi tp nh li m dn. Hy nghe y, con phi sing nng lm ngay nhng g m dn i, nu khng th m s khng cho con mn chic xe t vo ti mai u. 2. roll with the punches: thay i cch lm vic thch ng vi hon cnh mi * punches: nhng c m. . The economy has been very difficult but our airline seems to have rolled with the punches. We had to cut a lot of costs and find ways to provide better service for less. Kinh t rt kh khn nhng cng ty hng khng ca chng ti phi thch ng vi hon cnh mi. Chng ti phi ct gim rt nhiu chi ph v tm cch cung cp dch v tt hn vi gi h hn. . My brother and his wife are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. A lot has happened in 30 years. Of course there were some tough times but they learned to roll with the punches and stayed together. Congratulations!

V chng anh ch ti ang lm l mng 30 nm ngy kt hn vi nhau. Rt nhiu chuyn xy ra trong 30 nm qua. D nhin cng c nhng lc gp kh khn nhng anh ch tm c cch gii quyt vn v tip tc chung sng vi nhau. Xin chc mng. * tough: kh khn.

4: leave someone holding the bag, pull the plug on

1. leave someone holding the bag: buc ngi no phi chu trch nhim v nhng g do ngi khc gy ra . It was a great party and it was sure going to take a while to clean up. But all my coworkers made some excuses and went back to their desks leaving me holding the bag. Bui tic din ra tht vui v chc chn l chng ti cn nhiu th gi dn dp. Nhng cc bn ng nghip ca ti vin c ny n quay v bn giy lm vic v cho ti phi lnh trn vic dn dp. *excuse: l do hay ci c. . I dont know why we have to pay higher taxes for the new bridge. I suppose after the city spent too much on the new convention hall we were left holding the bag. Ti khng hiu ti sao chng ta li phi tr thm thu xy chic cu mi. Ti cho rng sau khi chnh quyn thnh ph chi tiu qu nhiu tin xy phng hi mi th by gi chng ta phi b lnh trch nhim b p vo ch thm ht. * convention: hi ngh. 2. pull the plug: hy b, nh ch hay ngng mt chng trnh, mt d n * plug: ci phch cm vo in. . There was too much controversy about that program. We tried editing it again but it was too late. I just got the call that the network pulled the plug. Chng trnh gy qu nhiu tranh lun. Chng ti c sa cha li chng trnh nhng qu mun. Ti va nhn c mt c in thoi cho bit l mng li truyn hnh hy b chng trnh ny. * controversy: cuc tranh lun, tranh ci, network: mng li truyn hnh. . Your wife has been in a coma for several weeks. We did everything we possibly could, and now I have to say I honestly doubt shell ever wake up. You have a very difficult decision to make. You may have to pull the plug on her life support. Bc s ni: V ng b hn m trong nhiu tun l. Chng ti lm ht sc mnh, v by gi ti thnh tht tin rng b y s khng bao gi tnh li. ng s phi a ra mt quyt nh ht sc nghim trng. C l ng s phi cho php ngng mi vic cha tr cho b y. * coma: hn m

5: get it off one's chest, spill one's guts

1. get it off one's chest: th nhn mt li lm *get off: ly ra khi. . I know something is bothering you. Why dont you just tell me. Im sure you will feel better if you get it off your chest. C gio ni: Ti bit c mt iu g ang lm em phi bn khon. Sao em khng ni ra cho ti bit? Ti oan chc rng em s cm thy d chu hn nu em th l ra. . Youve been acting funny all night. At first I thought you were going to break up with me and didnt know how to get it off your chest. I couldnt believe that you and our friends would throw me such a wonderful birthday party ! C gi ni: Anh c x c v l lng sut ti nay. Thot u em tng l anh nh chia tay vi em m khng bit lm sao ni ra iu . Em khng ng l anh v cc bn t chc cho em mt bui tic sinh nht ht sc vui ! * break up: chia tay, tan v. 2. spill one's guts: khai ra nhng iu b mt * spill: ra hay lm trn ra ngo; guts: rut gan. . Why do you have to tell Carol about our personal problems? The last time you spilled your guts she ended up telling all of our friends about our fight! ng chng ni: Ti sao em phi ni cho Carol bit v nhng chuyn xch mch ring ca mnh ? Ln cht em th l tm tnh cho c y nghe, c y i ni vi tt c bn b ca chng ta v v ci c ca mnh. . This is your last chance. Tell me where the money is and youll go to jail for two years. If you spill your guts and let me know who really was behind the robbery you may get probation. iu tra vin ni: y l c hi cui cng cho anh. Anh ni cho ti bit s tin u th anh s b t c 2 nm. Cn nu anh khai ht ra v cho ti bit ai l ngi thc s ng ng sau v n cp ny th anh c th s c qun ch. * probation: ch tm tha hay qun ch.

6: show one the ropes, clue one in

1. show one the ropes: ch dn hay c vn . That reminds me of when I started working at the Voice of America several years ago. I was lucky to have met John who showed me the ropes and told me about all the procedures that I had to follow. iu ny lm ti nh li hi ti bt u lm vic ti i Ting Ni Hoa k cch y nhiu nm. Ti may mn gp c anh John l ngi ch dn cho ti v cho ti bit mi th tc m ti phi lm. * procedure: th tc

. My daughter says shes ready to go car shopping. Since she doesnt know much about warranties and the latest consumer information Id better show her the ropes. B m ni: Con gi ti cho bit c y sn sng i mua xe t. V con ti khng bit nhiu v nhng giy bo hnh v nhng thng tin mi nht dnh cho gii tiu th cho nn ti s ch dn cho con gi ti v nhng iu ny. * warranty: giy bo hnh 2. clue in: ch dn hay c vn * clue in: cung cp thng tin, hay ch dn. . I was so frustrated when I got stuck in the middle of a traffic jam this morning. But I found out the problem when my friend Mary clued me in and said there was a peace demonstration going on across from the White House. Ti rt bt mn khi ti b mc kt vo gia mt v n tc xe sng nay. Nhng ti bit c nguyn nhn gy ra vn ny khi bn ti c Mary cho ti bit l c mt cuc biu tnh i ha bnh din ra trc ta Bch c. * frustrated: bc mnh, bt mn; demonstration: mt cuc biu tnh. . Over there, ladies and gentlemen, one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, and why is she wearing those red shoes with that green bag? I think someone should clue her in - It isn't Christmas!! Nh ph bnh ny ni: Tha qu v ng kia l mt trong cc n minh tinh p nht Hollywood, m sao c y li mang i giy km vi ti xch mu xanh l cy ? Ti cho rng mt ngi no nn ch dn cho c y bit by gi khng phi l ma Ging Sinh!!

7: dump on someone, give one the cold shoulder

1. dump on someone: kch hay ch trch gay gt mt ngi no * dump: vt b v dng nh rc chng hn. . My friend's boss can be such a bigot ! He's always dumping on Southerners. And he is not alone. Many people think that the Southerners are poor and stupid. Well, I have some friends from Texas he ought to meet. That would surely change his attitude. ng xp ca bn ti tht l mt ngi c chp v hp hi. ng y lun lun kch gay gt ngi min Nam. V ng y khng phi l ngi duy nht ngh nh vy. C nhiu ngi cho rng dn min Nam ngho v ngu dt. Ti c mt vi ngi bn gc min Nam tiu bang Texas m ng y nn gp. Chc chn h s lm cho ng y thay i thi . * bigot: ngi c chp, khng dung th quan im ca ngi khc . Look, mom. I know I don't make a lot of money, but why do you have to dump on me all the time? Tha m. Con bit l con khng lm c nhiu tin, nhng ti sao m li phi ch trch con hoi vy?

2. give one the cold shoulder: t ra lnh nht hay khng m xa n mt ngi no * cold shoulder: mn tht vai ca con b hay con cu. . A recent university study suggests that teachers may be giving female students the cold shoulder. According to the report, while males tend to be called on frequently, females are given less attention and encouragement. Mt cuc nghin cu ca mt trng i hc cho thy rng cc thy gio c th t ra l l i vi n sinh. Theo bn phc trnh, trong khi nam sinh thng c gi n, n sinh li t c ch ti v cng t c khuyn khch. * encouragement: s khuyn khch. . Don't feel too bad about not getting into that exclusive golf club. They are even giving Bill Clinton the cold shoulder. Apparently they don't want a former U.S president because security is too much of a problem. Anh ng nn qu bun v v khng c nhn vo cu lc b c quyn . H cn khng chu nhn ng Bill Clinton na. R rng l h khng mun nhn mt cu tng thng M v an ninh l mt vn qu ln lao. * exclusive: ring bit, dnh ring, hay c quyn

8: the whole ball of wax, everything but the kitchen sink

1. the whole ball of wax: tt c mi th . I am afraid the union is making demands again. This time they not only want higher wages, but also pension plans and job security, the whole ball of wax. Ti e rng cng on li a ra nhiu i hi khc na. Ln ny khng nhng h mun c lng bng cao hn m cn i c chng trnh hu bng,v bo m cng n vic lm, tc l khng b sa thi. * union: cng on; pension: tin hu bng. . Dear Confused, you say you are in love,but I wonder if you know what's involved. Being in love means commitment, sacrifice, patience, understanding, the whole ball of wax. Good luck. Ny anh bn ang thc mc. Bn ni l bn ang yu, nhng ti phn vn khng hiu bn c bit tnh yu i hi nhng g khng. Tnh yu c ngha l cam kt tn ty vi nhau, l hy sinh, nhn ni, hiu bit, v bao gm tt c nhng iu . Xin chc bn may mn . * commit: cam kt, tn tm; sacrifice: hy sinh 2. everything but the kitchen sink: tt c mi th . This event has everything but the kitchen sink _ hundreds of performers, music from around the world, fireworks. You won't want to miss it ! Bui l ny s bao gm tt c mi th. C hng trm din vin, m nhc t khp ni trn th gii, pho bng..v..v..Qu v s khng mun b qua bui trnh din ny. * performer: din vin

. These cookies are so moist and flavorful. There are oats, coconut, chocolate chips, cashew nuts, and vanila in them, everything but the kitchen sink. Nhng ci bnh ny va mm li va thm. Trong c tt c mi th nh yn mch, da, mnh vn Scla, ht iu, v vani. * moist: t, c nc, hay mm mi; flavorful: c hng v; chip: mnh vn.

9: wired, a basket case

1. wired: b cng thng, ho hc, nn nao . It's three in the morning and I am still up. Obviously the waiter didn't serve me decaf coffee after dinner last night. I've been wired ever since. By gi l ba gi sng m em vn cn thc. R rng l ngi phc v khng mang cho em c ph khng c cht cafin sau ba n ti hm qua. Em bn chn thao thc t lc ti gi. * decaf = decaffeinated: loi b cht cafin. . My kids are not usually this wired. They are only excited because their grandparents just invited them on a trip to Disneyland! Cc con ti thng thng khng ln xn nh th ny. Chng n ch ho hc nh vy bi v ng b chng va mi chng i chi khu gii tr Disneyland ! 2. a basket case: mt ngi hay mt iu g gp kh khn n khng cn hot ng hu hiu na * case: bnh nhn. . What a wedding ! First the groom couldn't find the ring, then his ex-girlfriend showed up. By the time she left on her honeymoon the bride was a basket case! Qu tht l mt m ci k l ! Thot tin ch r khng tm c chic nhn ci, ri sau c bn gi c ca anh y l din m ci. V th n khi c du ln ng hng tun trng mt th c y hu nh hon ton t lit v b cng thng qu . . The country is struggling with high unemployment, and bankruptcies are widespread. Is Germany the basket case of Europe? Nc c ang vt ln vi nn tht nghip cao, v nn ph sn ang lan trn. Nc c c phi l nc bn cng ca u chu hay khng?

10: under the weather, sick as a dog

1. under the weather: kh chu trong ngi, khng c khe . John called and said hes under the weather and cant make it. Hes got something that will go away soon, like a cold or a headache. Anh John c gi in thoi v cho bit rng anh y b m v khng th n hp c. Anh y b cm hay nhc u g v chc s nhanh chng khi bnh.

. Do you often feel under the weather? Try Vi-tabs, the extra strength vitamins that help keep your body strong and healthy. Stay well, stay active, try Vi-tabs today. Qu v c thng cm thy mt mi au yu hay khng ? Hy dng th sinh t Vi-tabs, loi vitamin cc mnh gip c th ca qu v c cng trng, khe mnh. Hy gi gn sc khe, hy nng hot ng, v dng th Vi-tabs hm nay. 2. sick as a dog: b au nng . My boyfriend made beef stew last night and I dont know what was in it, but I was sick as a dog all night. Bn trai ti nu mn tht b hm ti hm qua v ti khng bit c nhng g trong , nhng ti b au sut m. * stew: mn tht hm nh. . Last night Mary had the chills. Now shes got a fever and she feels nauseous. She is sick as a dog. Maybe I should get her to the doctor. Ti hm qua c Mary b n lnh. By gi c y ln cn st v bun nn. C y bnh kh nng. C l ti phi a c y n gp bc s. * chills :cn n lnh

11: get down to brass tacks, get down to the nitty-gritty

1. get down to brass tacks: ch trng ti nhng chi tit ct yu hay c bn * brass: cht ng thau; tack: ci inh u bt dng gn ln bng en gi giy t. . I get so tired of these meetings that go on and on. Perhaps we should elect someone who can get down to brass tacks. We need someone who can focus on the practical details. Maybe then our meetings would be shorter. Ti chn ngy nhng bui hp ko di v tn ny. C l chng ta nn bu mt ngi no ch trng n nhng vn c bn. Chng ta cn mt ngi no c th tp trung vo nhng chi tit thc tin. C l lc cc bui hp s ngn hn. * practical: thc tin . Now that I have given you an overview of the direction I think the company should move in, Id like to get down to brass tacks: this year we must increase sales by 40%. Ti trnh by vi qu v v chiu hng khi qut m ti cho rng cng ty ny phi theo ui, by gi ti mun cp n vn then cht. l nm nay chng ta phi tng s hng bn ra ln 40% ! * overview: ci nhn khi qut; direction: chiu hng, phng hng 2. get down to the nitty-gritty: ch trng ti nhng chi tit ct yu hay c bn * nit (n) nitty (adj): trng chy hay trng rn * grit (n) gritty (adj): nhng ht sn nh hay bt ng, tc l nhng ci g nh nht.

. I was going to be a guitarist for a rock band, but once I got down to the nitty-gritty I realized it took too much practice. Now Im an accountant. Ti c nh tr thnh mt nhc s nh ghi-ta cho mt ban nhc rock, nhng khi i su vo chi tit ti nhn thy rng ngh ny i hi qu nhiu tp luyn. By gi ti l mt nhn vin k ton. . Thats all great, but we still havent gotten down to the nitty-gritty. How much is this all going to cost ? Money is a fundamental consideration here. Mi th nghe hay lm, nhng chng ta vn cha bn ti nhng chi tit c bn. Tt c nhng th ny s tn km bao nhiu? Tin bc l mt vn phi cn nhc y. * fundamental: c bn; consideration: iu cn nhc, cu xt

12: get on the bandwagon, give one carte blanche

1. get on the bandwagon: ng h mt xu hng hay mt phong tro ang thnh hnh * get on: tro ln, leo ln * bandwagon: mt toa xe la trn c mang theo mt dn nhc m cc ng c vin ti M dng vo cui th k th 19 i vn ng tranh c. . Many trends in the U.S. such as buying cellphones with built-in cameras or cars with greater fuel efficiency are becoming very popular. Many people want to get on the bandwagon. Nhiu xu hng M chng hn nh mua in thoi cm tay trong c c my chp nh, hay mua xe t dng t xng ang ngy cng tr nn rt ph thng. Nhiu ngi thch tham gia khuynh hng ny. * trend: chiu hng, khuynh hng; efficiency: nng xut; popular: ph thng, c nhiu ngi a thch. . Even Congress is getting on the bandwagon. Just yesterday they passed a new clean air legislation. Ngay c Quc hi cng i theo chiu hng ny. Mi hm qua h thng qua mt d lut mi v khng kh trong sach. * Congress: quc hi; legislation: d lut. 2. give one carte blanche: cho mt ngi no ton quyn hnh ng * carte blanche (Php): mt t giy trng. . Usually museums are rather predictable looking, but this one is unique. The community wanted something creative so they gave architects and designers carte blanche. Thng thng cc vin bo tng trng c v ging nhau, nhng vin bo tng ny rt c o. Dn trong cng ng mun xy mt ci g c tnh cht sng to nn h cho cc kin trc s v cc nh thit k ton quyn hnh ng. * predictable: c th tin on c; unique: c o. . Investigators of this terrorist attack were given carte blanche. As a result, they were able to interview hundreds of citizens, city officials, and fire and rescue workers.

Cc nh iu tra cuc tn cng khng b ny c ton quyn hnh ng. V th h c th phng vn hng trm cng dn, gii chc thnh ph, nhn vin cu ha v nhn vin cp cu.

13: pick someone's brain, give someone the third degree

1. pick someone's brain: hi kin ca mt ngi no . Im fresh out of ideas for decorating my living room. Let me pick your brain. What color would make the room seem larger? Which style of furniture do you think would look good? Ti ht sch c kin v trang tr phng khch ca ti. Ti mun tham kho kin vi ng v vic ny. Mu no s lm cho cn phng c v rng hn ? Kiu bn gh no s trng p? . The boss invited me out for coffee after work. Although he started out making casual conversation, he soon began picking my brain about who I thought should be fired from the company ! ng sp mi ti i ung c ph sau gi lm vic. Tuy lc u ng ni chuyn bnh thng, nhng sau ng bt u hi kin ti l nhng ai nn b sa thi khi cng ty ! * casual: bnh thng, khng c bit 2. give someone the third degree: dng li l gay gt iu tra hay thm vn mt ngi no * degree: chng ch hay cp bc. . When my husband came home late last night with the smell of another womans perfume on him and lipstick on his collar, you can bet I gave him the third degree. He had a lot of explaining to do! Khi chng ti v nh mun ti hm qua m c mi nc hoa ca mt ngi n b khc trn ngi ng v vt son trn c o ng, bn c th tin chc l ti hi ti ng y. ng y cn phi gii thch rt nhiu th ! . When the detective realized the suspect had a motive and an opportunity to commit the murder, he brought her into the police station and proceeded to give her the third degree REE. After two hours, she broke down and confessed. Khi thm t nhn thy rng nghi can c mt ng c v mt c hi git ngi, ng a nghi can vo bt cnh st v bt u thm vn b ta. Sau hai ting ng h, b ta khng t ch c v th ti. * detective: thm t, suspect: nghi can, motive: ng c, hay l do, confess: th ti.

14: give the green light, say/give the word

1. give the green light: bt en xanh . It took four years before our town council finally gave the green light for construction of a new library. Why the delay ? What took them so long to approve such a worthwhile project? Phai mt 4 nm hi ng thanh ph cua chung ta cui cung mi cho phep xy mt th vin mi. Tai sao lai tri hoan nh th? iu gi a khin ho mt nhiu thi gi nh vy chp thun mt d an ang gia nh vy ?

* council: hi ng, approve: chp thun, worthwhile: ang gia, ang cng . The university has recently given Dr. Smith the green light to study how dogs understand human language. Now that he has received authorization, he will soon begin testing his theories. Trng ai hoc va chp thun cho giao s Smith nghin cu vn loai cho hiu ting ngi nh th nao. Vi giao s a c phep nn ng se bt u th nghim cac ly thuyt cua ng trong mt ngay gn y. * authorization: quyn lam vic 2. say the word: ra du hiu ngi khac lam mt vic gi . Since we broke up, my life has been empty without you. You know how much Ive always loved you. Just say the word and Ill be back by your side. Call me tonight, please ? ! K t khi chung minh chia tay nhau, i anh a qua trng trai vi khng co em. Em bit la anh lun lun yu em nhiu bit bao nhiu. Em hay noi ln mt li la anh se tr v bn em. Hay goi anh m nay em nhe?! * break up: ct t quan h, tan v . When I give the word, I want all of you to get up out of your seats and quickly head to the exit nearest our classroom. Do not take your books and other belongings, and do not push anyone on your way out. Is everyone ready? Go ! Khi ti ra hiu, ti mun tt ca cac em ng dy ra khoi gh va nhanh chong tin ti li ra gn lp nht. ng mang theo sach v hay ac gi khac, ma cung ng x y ngi khac khi chay ra. Cac em sn sang cha? i i !

15: run of the mill, every (any) Tom, Dick and Mary
1. run of the mill: tm thng, khng c g c bit * run: s lng hng ha c sn xut trong mt khong thi gian no ; * mill: mt nh my sn xut giy hay hng vi. . Why was the rock concert cancelled ? Many fans complained that they were no longer willing to spend a lot on tickets only to see run of the mill bands. Perhaps next time concert organizers will get better talent. Ti sao bui trnh din nhc Rock li b hy b ? Nhiu ngi hm m than phin rng h khng cn mun tr nhiu tin mua v ch xem nhng ban nhc tm thng. C l k ti nhng ngi t chc nhc hi s chn cc ti nng kh hn. . I think John is a great guy and so considerate. Hes certainly not your run of the mill neighbor the way hes always helping everyone. But as far as his guitar playing ? If I were him, I wouldnt quit my day job ! Ti cho rng John l mt anh chng rt tt, n cn, v chu o. Chc chn anh khng phi l ngi lng ging tm thng v cch anh lun gip mi ngi. Tuy nhin, ni v ti chi ghi-ta ca anh th nu ti l anh y ti s khng b vic lm ban ngy ca ti !

* considerate: chu o, c t 2. every (any) Tom, Dick and Mary: nhng ngi thng, trung bnh . With a personal computer and connection to the Internet, every Tom, Dick and Mary can access millions of resources from around the world with the click of a mouse. Its no wonder that everybody seems to have a computer these days. Vi mt my tnh c nhn v lin h vi mng Internet, bt c ai cng u c th tip cn hng triu ngun thng tin t khp ni trn th gii bng cch nhn vo con chut. Tht khng c g ng ngc nhin khi hin nay dng nh tt c mi ngi u c my vi tnh. * access: tip cn hay ly thng tin, wonder: s ngc nhin, iu ng thn phc . Poor Diane hasnt had a date in months ! Shes getting so desperate that she will go out with any Tom, Dick and Mary. But I think she should hold out for someone special. Ti nghip Diane khng c ai mi i chi t nhiu thng nay. Con gi ti cm thy nng lng n c th hn h i chi vi bt c anh chng no. Nhng ti ngh rng con ti nn ch i i chi vi mt ngi no c bit. * desperate: liu lnh, tuyt vng, hold out: tr hon, chu ng t c iu mnh mong mun

16: start from scratch, cut one's teeth

1. start from scratch: khi s t u * scratch: mt cai vach trn mt mt phng. . Living on my own for the first time was scary. How could I survive without moms cooking? Not knowing even how to boil water, I had to start from scratch. Since then, Ive learned quite a few recipes. Ln u tin sng mt minh la iu khin ti rt s hai. Lam sao ti co th sng con ma khng co me ti nu n cho ti? Ngay ca nu nc ti cung khng bit lam, cho nn ti phai khi s hoc ngay t u. K t o n nay ti a hoc c mt s cng thc lam mon n. * scary: ang s . After going into bankruptcy, the business partners had no choice but to start from scratch. It took a lot of hard work, but today the company is totally rebuilt and once again making significant profits. Sau khi khai pha san, cac cng s vin trong cng ty a bi bt buc khi s lai t u. Ho a phai lam vic ht sc kho nhoc, nhng ngay nay cng ty nay a c hoan toan xy dng lai va mt ln na kim c kha nhiu li nhun. * significant: nhiu, ang k 2. cut one's teeth: hoc hoi kinh nghim trong mt nganh ngh mi . As a finance major at school, I was pretty excited about getting an internship at one of the citys most important banks. But instead of cutting my teeth on loans and investments, I ended up having to count out money to customers.

Vi ti chon mn chinh trng la mn tai chanh nn ti kha hao hc khi c nhn i thc tp tai mt trong s cac ngn hang quan trong nht trong thanh ph. Tuy nhin, thay vi bt u hoc hoi v cac mon tin cho vay va u t, rt cuc ti phai ngi m tin trao cho khach hang. . The new players will get the chance to cut theur teeth at the opening game of the season. I feel that after a few games they should be experienced enough to play the best of the league. Cac cu thu mi se co c hi hoc hoi kinh nghim tai trn u m man mua bong a. Ti cho rng sau vai trn tranh tai ho se co u kinh nghim u vi i gioi nht trong lin oan. * league: lin oan cac i th thao

17: take someone down a peg (notch), take the wind out of one's sails
1. take someone down a peg: lam cho mt ngi nao bt kiu ngao * peg: cai cht hay cai coc. . Mike used to think he was the greatest high school basketball player in the state. Then he found out that a teammate won a full scholarship to play for a top university. That really took him down a peg. Hes a lot more humble these days! Anh Mike trc y vn tng rng anh y la tay chi bong r cp trung hoc gioi nht trong tiu bang. Tuy nhin sau o anh kham pha ra rng mt ban ng i a danh c mt hoc bng toan phn chi bong cho mt trng ai hoc hang u. Tin nay a khin anh bt kiu ngao. Dao nay anh to ra khim nhng hn trc. * notch: mt cai vach hay mt bc. . My neighbor is always boasting about how she has one of the most beautiful flower gardens in the country. Many magazines have been begging her for photos, she says. Shes so arrogant I often wish someone would take her down a notch. Ba lang ging cua ti lun lun khoe khoang rng ba co mt trong nhng vn hoa ep nht nc. Ba y noi rng nhiu tap chi a nai ni ba cho chup anh vn hoa. Ba y kiu ngao qua n ti thng mong la co ngi nao o lam cho ba bt thoi kiu cng. * boast: khoe khoang; beg: nai ni, van xin; arrogant: kiu cng, ngao man. 2. take the wind out of one's sails: lam cho mt ngi nao chan nan, mt t tin . The governor didnt think much of his wifes idea to publish her autobiography. But since her book became an instant best seller, it has really taken the wind out of his sails. Now hes almost afraid to criticize anything she suggests. ng thng c cho rng y kin cua v ng mun xut ban mt cun t truyn la khng quan trong. Nhng t khi cun sach o tc khc c ban chay nht, ng y cam thy mt t tin. By gi ng y hu nh s khng dam chi trich bt c iu gi ma v ng nghi. . I couldnt wait to tell my dad the great news. Out of five hundred students in the science fair, I won second prize. When he asked why I hadnt done better, it really took the wind out of my sails.

Ti rt nong long bao tin tt ep nay cho cha ti. Trong s 500 hoc sinh d cuc thi khoa hoc ti a oat c giai nhi. Khi cha ti hoi ti tai sao ti a khng lam kha hn na, cha ti lam ti ht sc chan nan. * fair: hi ch trin lam cac d an khoa hoc tranh giai thng

18: the rub, catch-22

1. the rub: mt hoan canh kho x . All of my friends are meeting at the new restaurant tomorrow night. Id love to join them as Ive heard so much about it. But heres the rub: Its a steakhouse and Im a vegetarian. What am I supposed to eat? Tt ca ban be cua ti se gp nhau tai tim n mi vao ti mai. Ti rt mun tham gia vi ho vi ti a nghe noi nhiu v tim n nay. Nhng vn kho khn la o la mt tim ban thit bo bi tt, con ti lai la ngi n chay. Th thi ti se phai n gi y? . The Happy Cola Company offered to donate 20 million dollars to rebuild some of the citys parks. The rub was that the parks had to be called Happy-Cola parks with big signs and corporate advertising featured everywhere. What a dilemma! Cng ty Happy Cola nghi tng 20 triu la xy dng lai mt s cng vin trong thanh ph. Vn kho x la cac cng vin nay se phai c t tn la cng vin Happy Cola vi nhng bang quang cao tht ln cho cng ty t khp moi ni. Tht la mt vn nan giai! * dilemma: tinh trang kho x, nan giai 2. catch-22: mt hoan canh kho x * catch: mt kho khn c giu kin, hay mt hoan canh kho x. . After graduating from college, I decided I wanted to get a job in advertising. I answered a lot of want ads, and set up interviews at various agencies, but nobody would hire me. Finally I realized I was in a catch-22: I couldnt get an advertising job without experience, but I couldnt get experience without an advertising job! Sau khi tt nghip ai hoc ti quyt inh tim mt cng vic trong nganh quang cao. Ti a tra li nhiu quang cao tim ngi, va xin i phong vn tai nhiu c quan, nhng khng ai thu mn ti ca. Cui cung ti kham pha ra rng ti trong mt hoan canh kho x. o la ti khng th kim c vic trong nganh quang cao ma khng co kinh nghim, nhng ti khng th co kinh nghim nu ti khng co vic trong nganh o! * want ads: quang cao tim ngi lam . Buying a birthday present for my girlfriend has always been a catch-22 for me: If I dont ask her what she wants, I get the wrong thing and shes upset. On the other hand, if I ask her, shes hurt because she says, of course, I should have been able to figure it out without asking. I just cant win! Mua qua sinh nht cho ban gai cua ti luc nao cung la mt vn nan giai: Nu ti khng hoi c y mun gi, ti mua lm mon c y khng thich thi c y bc minh. Mt khac nu ti hoi, thi c y lai gin di

bi vi c y noi rng ang ly ra ti a phai bit ma khng cn phai hoi. Tht ti khng lam sao lam va long c y c! * figure out: suy oan ra, tim ra

19: asleep at the switch, go off the deep end

1. asleep at the switch: l ang, cu tha * switch: cai nut bt hay tt in. . When youre a student, the end of the school year is a difficult time. Teachers have to constantly remind you to pay attention in class. After all, if youre asleep at the switch, you might not pass your final exams. Khi ban la hoc sinh thi cui nm hoc thng la mt thi gian kho khn. Cac thy giao phai lun lun nhc nh ban phai chu y trong lp hoc. Noi cho cung thi nu ban l ang thi ban co th thi trt luc cui khoa. * constantly: lin tuc . The tornado had already destroyed half of the town before anyone received any warnings. If the local weather forecasters hadnt been asleep at the switch, perhaps more lives could have been saved. We can only hope that next time theyll be more alert. Cn bao lc a tan pha phn na thi trn trc khi dn chung nhn c li bao ng. Nu cac nhn vin d bao thi tit ia phng a khng l ang thi co le thm nhiu mang sng a c cu vt. Chung ti chi co th hy vong rng ln ti ho se to ra canh giac hn. 2. go off the deep end: liu linh, in r * go off: bt ng ri vao mt ch nao; deep end: phn su cua mt h bi. . How is Ann ever going to save any money? Just last week, she went off the deep end and spent $500 on new shoes! She should be more responsible than that! Lam sao c Ann co th danh tin c? Mi tun trc c y a hanh ng ht sc phi ly va tiu 500 la mua giay. C y nn to ra co trach nhim hn th ch! * responsible: co trach nhim. . When it comes to women Jim tends to be rather reckless. Can you believe hes fallen in love with our boss? I think shes beautiful too, but Im not about to go off the deep end and propose. Khi noi n phu n thi anh Jim thng to ra kha liu linh. Ban co th tng tng rng anh y m c xp cua chung ti khng? Ti cung cho rng c y ep nhng ti khng in r n ngo li cu hn vi c y. * propose: cu hn.

20: the brass, big cheese = BIG SHOT = BIG GUN = BIG WHEEL
1. the brass: dung chi mt nhn vt quan trong * brass: ng thau, dung chi cac gii chc cao cp. . The faculty at our college decided to go on strike after they received a pay cut while the brass got an increase. It seems unfair that only the high-ranking officials deserve more money. Toan b nhn vin giang day tai trng ai hoc cua chung ti a quyt inh inh cng sau khi ho bi ct lng trong khi gii chc cao cp cua trng lai c tng lng. Tht bt cng khi chi co cac gii chc cao cp lai ang c tra thm tin. * faculty: ban giang vin ai hoc . As more and more listeners are downloading music from the Internet, the industrys top brass is predicting CD sales to drop dramatically. In fact, many CEOs believe traditional record stores will soon go out of business. Vi cang ngay cang co nhiu thinh gia tai m nhac t mang Internet, cac gii chc cao cp trong nganh m nhac tin oan rng s CD ban ra se sut giam rt nhiu. Tht vy, nhiu giam c tin rng cac tim ban ia nhac se ong ca trong mt ngay gn y. 2. big cheese: dung chi mt nhn vt quan trong . Ellens old college friends couldnt understand how she afforded such a luxurious vacation home. Then they met her husband, a big cheese with one of the top law firms in the country. It must be nice to be married to someone so important. Cac ban hoc cu cua c Ellen ai hoc khng hiu tai sao c co th s hu mt ngi nha nghi mat lng ly nh th. Sau o ho gp chng c, mt gii chc quan trong cua mt trong cac cng ty lut hang u trong nc. Tht la d chiu khi ly mt ngi quan trong nh th. * afford: co u kha nng hay tin bac lam mt iu gi . I thought Id be stuck in middle management forever until I talked to a big cheese from the company. His advice really helped. In less than a year Ive become a corporate leader myself! Ti tng ti se bi mc ket mai mai cp quan tri trung binh cho n khi ti noi chuyn vi mt ng giam c trong cng ty. Nhng li chi dn cua ng y a thc s giup ti. Trong khng y mt nm chinh ti cung a tr thanh mt lanh ao trong cng ty.

21: come down hard on someone, call someone on the carpet

1. come down hard on someone: ch trch hay khin trch mt ngi no . This is Jacks second offense for drunk driving. The police really came down hard on him. After being put in jail for a few days, he lost his license for a year and had to pay a stiff fine. y l ln th hai anh Jack phm ti li xe trong khi say ru. Cnh st trng pht anh tht nng. Sau khi b giam vi ngy, anh mt bng li xe trong mt nm, v phi tr mt s tin pht kh ln. * offense: s vi phm lut l; stiff: nghim khc, nng

. My parents were rather easy going with me as I was growing up. One weekend I nearly set the house on fire when they were away, yet they didnt come down hard on me. I was lucky not to have been severely punished. Cha m ti t ra kh d di i vi ti khi ti cn nh. Mt hm cui tun sut na ti lm chy nh khi cha m ti khng c mt . Tuy nhin cha m ti khng khin trch ti qu gt gao. Ti may mn khng b pht nng. * easy going: l i x nh nhng, d di 2. call someone on the carpet: ch trch hay khin trch mt ngi no . The timber industry promised not to log anymore of the northwest wildernesss and then removed hundreds of acres of trees ! Not surprisingly, environmentalist groups callwd them on the carpet. Of course, they deserved to be criticized. Ngnh cng ngh n g ha hn khng ct thm cy na vng rng ni hoang vu min Ty Bc nc M, ri sau li n hng trm mu cy ! Chng c g ng ngc nhin khi cc nhm bo v mi sinh khin trch h. D nhin h rt ng b ch trch. * timber: g; log: n cy ly g; wildernesss: vng hoang vu; acre: mu t . I feel sorry for the coach. Hes always getting CALLED ON THE CARPET every time one of the players does something wrong. If the teams owner blames him again, I swear hes going to quit. Ti thng hi ng hun luyn vin. ng y lun lun b khin trch mi khi mt trong cc vn ng vin lm iu g lm li. Nu ch nhn i khin trch ng y mt ln na, th ti tin chc rng ng y s thi vic.

22: no ifs, ands, or buts; come hell or high water

1. no ifs, ands, or buts: khng th vin ly do nao ht . The hotels policy states that there are no pets allowed no ifs, ands, or buts. Even though Janes puppy is quiet and good-natured, the manager had no choice but to ask that the dog be removed from the property. Rules are rules. Quy lut cua khach san la khng nhn thu vt cng - khng co trng hp ngoai l. Tuy con cho cua c Jane yn lng va d tinh nhng ng quan ly khach san khng co cach nao khac ngoai vic yu cu mang con cho ra khoi khach san. Quy lut la quy lut. . My teacher was so strict that she never accepted excuses for late homework assignments. It didnt matter if you were sick or had a family emergency. Everything had to be turned in on time - no ifs, ands, or buts. Ba giao cua ti nghim khc n ba khng bao gi chp nhn nhng ly do khin hoc sinh np bai mun. Du cho ban co au yu hay trong gia inh co vic khn cp, iu o khng phai la mt ly do. Ban vn phai np bai ung ngay gi a inh. Khng th vin c nay c khac c. * strict : nghim khc, kht khe; excuse: ly do hay cai c

2. come hell or high water: du cho co tr ngai hay kho khn gi i na ngi ta vn lam theo y ho . The design for the new health center is so complex that many engineers at my firm say it cant be built. Not my boss. come hell or high water, he plans to get the job done. Whatever is necessary, hell do it! Ban thit k cho trung tm y t mi nay phc tap n nhiu ky s tai hang cua ti noi rng khng th xy c trung tm nay. Tuy nhin, ng xp ti lai khng nghi nh vy. Du cho co tr ngai gi i na ng y cung d inh hoan thanh d an nay. Bt c iu gi cn lam, ng y se lam! . It doesnt matter to Mary how difficult it is to make all the wedding arrangements. Shes determined to get married on a cruise ship in Alaska, come hell or high water. i vi c Mary, vic t chc tic ci se kho khn nh th nao khng thanh vn . C y nht quyt lam am ci trn mt chic du thuyn tiu bang Alaska, du cho co tr ngai hay kho khn gi i na.

23: bite the bullet, face the music

1. bite the bullet: hnh x mt cch can m hoc hy sinh . To take advantage of cheap airfares, vacationers had to bite the bullet and wait in long lines at the airport. Most travelers agreed the money they saved on their plane tickets was worth the inconvenience. Mun c hng gi v my bay r, nhng khch du lch phi chu kh ng ch thnh hng di ti sn bay mua v. Phn ng trong s ny ng rng s tin m h bt c nh mua v r cng ng cng h ng sp hng. . John may not be into biking, but he knows his girlfriend is. When she suggested they do a 10kilometer charity bike together, he finally bit the bullet. You wonder what sacrifice shes willing to make for him? Anh John c th khng thch i xe p nhng anh bit rng bn gi anh li thch. Khi c y ngh hai ngi cng tham d mt cuc ua xe p di 10 kilomet lm vic t thin, anh y cui cng nhn li. Chng ta t hi khng bit c y sn sng hy sinh cho anh iu g p li? * charity: t thin; sacrifice: s hy sinh. 2. face the music: nhn li b ch trch hay b trng pht . Melissa thought that skipping school for the day would be fun until one of her neighbors saw her at the beach. Thats when she realized she had to face the music and tell her parents. At least, she didnt try to lie about what shed done. C Melissa tng rng trn hc i chi mt hm s rt th v cho ti khi mt trong nhng ngi lng ging ca c trng thy c trn b bin. Lc c thy rng c phi nhn li v khai tht vi cha m c. t ra c khng tm cch ni di v iu c lm. * skip school: trn hc . Although Martha tried to get the case dismissed, she finally faced the music. Shell be spending nine months in prison for lying under oath to federal authorities. Tuy c Martha tm cch xin ta hy b v n ny nhng cui cng c ta b trng pht. C ta s t 9 thng v ti ni di vi nh chc trch lin bang trong khi c tuyn th khai s tht .

* case: v n, v kin; dismiss: hy b; federal: lin bang, authorities: nh chc trch

24: be in cahoots with, be (get) in bed with

1. be in cahoots with: thng ng hay cu kt vi nhau, phn ln l lm mt iu g khng tt. * cahoots: mt ci lu hay mt ci phng nh. . What a surprise when I arrived at the restaurant and all my friends and family were there to celebrate my 30th birthday ! Apparently they had all been in cahoots for weeks, working together on this event without my ever suspecting. Ti ht sc ngc nhin khi ti n tim n v thy tt c cc bn cng gia nh ti c mt n mng sinh nht th 30 ca ti ! R rng l h thng ng vi nhau t my tun l va qua t chc bui tic ny m ti khng h nghi ng g c. . Spectators couldnt understand why one gymnast kept getting the highest scores. It turns out his coach and the judges were in cahoots. As a result of their conspiracy, they were all disqualified ! Khn gi khng hiu ti sao mt vn ng vin th dc c lin tc c im cao nht. Ha ra hun luyn vin ca anh ta v cc gim kho cu kt vi nhau. V s thng ng ny m tt c nhng ngi ny u b loi ra khi cuc tranh ti. * conspiracy: m mu 2. in bed with: thng ng hay cu kt vi nhau, phn ln l lm mt iu g khng tt. . Is it just coincidence that two computer companies dominate the market or are they in bed together? Their close relationship suggests that they are trying to control sales by shutting out all competition. C phi l iu ngu nhin hay khng, khi c hai cng ty sn xut my vi tnh ang thng tr c th trng, hay l hai cng ty ny cu kt vi nhau? Lin h mt thit gia hai cng ty ny cho thy l h ang tm cch kim sot s hng bn ra bng cch ngn chn mi cnh tranh. * coincidence: s ngu nhin, trng hp; dominate: thng tr . A recent newspaper article claims that key executives from the aerospace industry have gotten in bed with defense department officials to promote a new weapons program. Both sides have denied any collusion. Mt bi bo mi y cho rng cc qun tr vin hng u trong ngnh cng nghip v tr khng gian thng ng vi nhng gii chc b quc phng thc y mt chng trnh v kh mi. C hai bn u bc b li t co ny. * executive: qun tr vin; aerospace: ngnh hng khng khng gian; collusion: s thng ng

25: cut the mustard, make the grade

1. cut the mustard: t c tiu chun hay trnh . My professor doubted whether I was ready for her advanced physics course. It took a lot of hard work and extra study, but by the end of the semester I proved to her that I could cut the mustard: I got an A for my final grade ! B gio s ca ti phn vn khng bit liu ti c sc theo hc lp vt l cao cp ca b hay khng. Ti phi lm vic v hc thm rt nhiu, nhng vo cui hc k su thng ti chng t cho b y thy rng ti thnh cng: Ti nhn c im cui cng l im A ! . Although hes a great boxer, his last few performances in the ring just havent cut the mustard. Perhaps hes no longer good enough to keep his title as world champion. Tuy anh ta l mt v s quyn Anh ni ting, nhng thnh tch ca anh ta trong my trn u mi y trn v i t ra km ci. C l anh ta khng cn kh nng gi danh hiu v ch quyn Anh th gii na. * performance: thnh tch; ring: v i, title: danh hiu 2. make the grade: c kh nng lm c mt iu g, tc l thnh cng trong cng tc . Everybody eats between meals. If youre looking for a snack thats fun and healthy, fresh fruit, cheese and yogurt make the grade. They are so nutritious, in fact, that they qualify as small meals. Ai cng n vt ngoi nhng ba n chnh. Nu chng ta tm mt mn n vt va ngon va b, th tri cy ti, ph mt v sa chua l nhng th t tiu chun. Tht vy, cc thc n ny rt b dng nn c th c coi l nhng thc n chnh. . Critics agreed that only one of this summers movies succeeded as a box office hit. It made the grade because it was well written and featured a human story that audiences could relate to. Cc nh ph bnh ng rng ch c mt trong s cc phim c trnh chiu trong ma h nm nay l thnh cng v mt ti chnh v c nhiu ngi xem nht. Phim ny thnh cng v n c son tho rt chu o v k li mt cu chuyn y tnh ngi m khn gi cm thy rt gn gi. * hit: s thnh cng

26: toe the line, when in Rome do as the Romans do

1. toe the line: lm theo ca ngi khc . Our new supervisor usually stays at the office very late and expects everyone in the department to do the same. Last night my colleagues and I were at our desks until 10:00 P.M. The reason we toed the line was because no one wanted to challenge his authority. ng gim th mi ca chng ti thng li vn phng rt mun v mun mi ngi trong c quan cng lm nh th. Ti hm qua cc bn ng nghip v ti phi li bn giy cho ti tn 10:00 gi m. L do khin chng ti tun lnh ng y l v khng ai mun thch thc quyn hnh ca ng y.

. While many of the soccer players were in favor of higher salaries, they knew the teams management opposed the idea. Thats why, when it came to a vote, a majority toed the line. Perhaps they were afraid of losing their jobs. Tuy nhiu ngi trong s cc cu th bng ng h vic i lng cao hn, nhng h bit rng ban qun tr ca i chng i kin ny. l l do ti sao khi h b phiu, phn ng lm theo ca ban qun tr. C l h s mt vic. 2. when in Rome, do as the Romans do: nhp gia ty tc . As a recent immigrant to the U.S., Ive noticed a lot of different customs. When the Smiths invited me for Christmas dinner, they served turkey. Although I didnt grow up eating it, I figured, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. I rather like it now. V ti l mt di dn mi n M ti nhn thy c nhiu phong tc khc l. Khi gia nh ng b Smith mi ti n tic Ging sinh h dn mn g ty. Tuy t nh ti ln ti cha n mn ny bao gi nhng ti ngh rng nhp gia th phi ty tc. By gi th ti li kh thch mn ny. . There are more coffee shops in Seattle than any place I know. When I first moved here, I was a tea drinker, but then I thought, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Now I cant imagine life without a cappuccino. C nhiu qun c ph ti Seattle hn ti bt c ni no khc m ti bit. Hi u khi ti mi dn n y ti l ngi thch ung tr, nhng sau ti ngh, nhp gia th phi ty tc, v gi y ti khng th tng tng c l sng m khng c mt ly c ph cappuccino.

27: with no strings attached, with a grain of salt

1. with no strings attached: khng co iu kin rang buc nao . The dealer is offering a free trial of a mini computer. After 15 days, if Im not satisfied, I can return it for a full refund - no strings attached. I like those conditions! Ngi ban hang nghi cho ti dung th va min phi loai may vi tinh nho nay trong mt thi gian. Sau 15 ngay, nu ti khng hai long ti co th mang tra ly lai tin. Ti thich cac iu kin nh vy! * dealer: ngi bun ban . When my girlfriend volunteered to do my laundry for the third time this month, I had a feeling there were strings attached. Sure enough, she just asked me to take her away to a spa for the weekend. Khi c ban gai cua ti tinh nguyn git qun ao cho ti ln th ba trong mt thang, ti co cam giac la hinh nh se co iu kin nao o i kem. Qua ung nh vy, c y va yu cu ti a c y ti mt trung tm nghi dng th gian vao cui tun. 2. with a grain of salt = with a pinch of salt: vi it nhiu nghi ng . My grandfather often talks about how tough his childhood was. He remembers how he had to walk ten kilometers every day to get to school! Now, its not that there isnt some truth to his stories, but they have to be taken with a grain of salt.

ng ti thng noi v thi th u cc kh cua ng. ng nh lai rng ng a phai i b mi kilomet mi ngay n trng. Khng phai la nhng cu chuyn cua ng khng cha ng it nhiu s tht trong o, nhng ti khng hoan toan tin tt ca cac cu chuyn nay. . Carolyn should take the doctors advice with a pinch of salt. While plastic surgery could make her look younger, I doubt shell ever look like a fashion model! C Carolyn nn nghi ng li chi dn cua bac si mt chut. Tuy phu thut thm my co th lam cho c y trng tre hn, nhng ti khng tin la c y se trng ging nh mt ngi mu.

28: off the record, under wraps

1. off the record: khng c cng b hay ghi chep cng khai . The city treasurer mentioned to a newspaper reporter that she doesnt trust the mayor. Since she offered her opinion off the record, you wont read it in the paper. It was made in strict confidence. Ba thu quy thanh ph noi vi mt nha bao rng ba khng tin tng vao ng thi trng. Vi ba a ra y kin nay khng cng khai nn ban se khng thy tin nay c ng ln bao. Y kin nay c a ra mt cach ht sc kin ao. * treasurer: thu quy; strict: cht che; confidence: kin ao, bi mt . The movie director should have kept his mouth shut at last nights party. When he joked to a TV reporter that the studio president was cheap, he thought it was off the record. What a shock when he heard his comment repeated on the air! Nha ao din phim ang ly ra a phai gi im lng tai bui tic ti hm qua. Khi ng ta noi ua vi mt phong vin truyn hinh rng ng giam c hang phim la mt ngi ha tin, ng ta tng rng o la mt li phat biu kin ao. ng ta a ht sc kinh ngac khi nghe thy phat biu cua ng c nhc lai trn truyn hinh! * off-the-record remarks: nhng tuyn b c gi kin; off-the-record information: nhng thng tin c gi kin. 2. under wraps: gi kin, gi bi mt * wraps: giy hay vai boc ngoai mt vt. . Rumors about my promotion had been going around for weeks. Although management wanted to keep it under wraps until an official announcement could be made, now the secrets out: Im going to be the new VP of Marketing. Nhng tin n v vic ti c thng chc a c loan truyn t nhiu tun qua. Tuy ban quan tri mun gi bi mt tin nay cho ti khi a ra mt li loan bao chinh thc, nhng bi mt nay gi y a c l ra ngoai. o la ti se tr thanh tn pho giam c c trach tip thi. * rumor: tin n

. Dont bother trying to interview the author. Hes keeping the details of his upcoming book tightly under wraps. Until its published, no one is to have any idea what its about. Thats one way to build interest among readers! ng phi cng tim cach phong vn tac gia nay. ng y ang gi bi mt nhng chi tit v cun sach. Khng ai bit mt chut gi v cun sach nay cho ti khi no c xut ban. y cung la mt cach thuc y s chu y cua c gia!

29: make waves, open a can of worms

1. make waves: gy song gio . Back in the 1960s, dating between blacks and whites in America made waves as many people were disturbed by these unconventional couples. Today even interracial marriages create little controversy-a sign of how times have changed! Hi thi thp nin 1960 vn hen ho i chi gia ngi da en va ngi da trng My a gy song gio vi nhiu ngi rt kho chiu bi nhng i ban i ngc truyn thng nay. By gi thi ngay ca nhng cuc hn nhn tap chung cung it gy tranh cai. Qua la mt du hiu cho thy cac thi ai a thay i n mc nao! * convention: truyn thng, tuc l, controversy: cuc tranh lun, tranh cai . After our last chairperson dramatically increased membership fees, our members got so upset they asked him to resign. Its time for a change. We want someone who doesnt make waves. Sau khi ng chu tich cui cung cua hi chung ti tng tin gia nhp hi qua cao, cac hi vin a tc gin n ho yu cu ng t chc. a n luc cn phai thay i. Chung ti mun co mt ngi m khng gy kho khn cho hi. 2. open a can of worms = open up a can of worms: gy nn mt hoan canh rc ri, kho x . At the school committee last night, a parent demanded to know why music education had abruptly been cancelled. That sure opened a can of worms as everyone argued for hours about why they were out of money and what could be done. Tai bui hop cua uy ban c trach hoc ng ti hm qua, mt ba me yu cu cho bit tai sao mn day nhac lai bt ng bi huy bo. Cu hoi nay ro rang a tao ra mt vn phc tap vi moi ngi o a tranh lun vi nhau trong nhiu ting ng h v ly do tai sao trng ht tin, va co th lam gi giai quyt vn nay. . When my mother announced at my wedding reception that my wife was pregnant she was opening up a can of worms. The news was so unexpected that nobody knew quite what to say for the rest of the day. Khi me ti tuyn b tai bui tic ci cua ti rng v ti hin co thai, me ti a gy ra mt hoan canh tht rc ri. Li tuyn b nay qua bt ng khin khng ai bit phai noi gi trong sut ngay hm o.

30: read someone the riot act, read between the lines
1. read someone the riot act: canh cao ngi nao ng lam mt iu gi ma minh khng thich * riot: bao loan hay nao loan; act: mt ao lut. . Twice my teenage daughter has asked me if she can get a tattoo and Ive said absolutely not . If she brings it up again, Im going to read her the riot act. This time she had better mind me or shes going to be punished. a hai ln c con gai con trong tui thiu nin cua ti a hoi ti xem liu no co th xm minh hay khng, va ti a noi nht quyt la khng . Nu no nu vn nay ln mt ln na thi ti se canh cao no mt cach gay gt. Ln nay no phai nghe li ti nu khng thi no se bi trng phat. . When my husband admitted that he hadnt been taking his heart medication, his doctor read him the riot act. She gave him a stern warning that if he doesnt follow her orders, he could die. Khi nha ti thu nhn rng anh y khng chiu ung thuc cha binh tim, ba bac si cua anh y a canh cao anh mt cach nghim khc. Ba y canh cao rng nu anh y khng lam theo linh cua ba y thi anh y co th cht. 2. read between the lines: hiu ro nhng n y bn trong nhng gi minh oc hay nghe thy . In his report, the president wrote that the company had a bright future. Reading between the lines, however, many stockholders got the sense that he didnt believe his own forecast. Trong ban phuc trinh, ng giam c vit rng cng ty ng co mt tng lai ti sang. Tuy nhin, khi oc nhng n y trong ban phuc trinh, nhiu c ng co cam tng ng ta khng tin vao nhng li tin oan cua chinh ng. . Even though my girlfriend says that everythings fine between us, I suspect that, in fact, something is bothering her. I know her well enough that Im able to read between the lines. Tuy ban gai ti noi rng moi chuyn u m ep gia hai chung ti, nhng tht ra ti nghi ng rng co iu gi o ang lam c y bun phin. Ti bit c y ro nn ti co th oan c nhng n y bn trong li c y noi.

31: a red-letter day, a red herring

1. a red-letter day: mt ngay quan trong . My grandmother recently turned 90 years old. It was a red-letter day, complete with a big family party held in her honor. Ba ti mi y c 90 tui. o la mt ngay sinh nht ht sc quan trong, va chung ti n mng bng cach m mt tic ln trong gia inh tn vinh ba. . July 21, 1969 was a red-letter day as TV viewers around the world watched the first astronaut step onto the surface of the Moon. What a historic event!

Ngay 21 thang 7 nm 1969 la mt ngay ht sc trong ai, khi nhng ngi xem truyn hinh trn khp th gii theo doi phi hanh gia u tin bc ln b mt cua mt trng. Qua tht o la mt bin c lich s! 2. a red herring: mt s vic hay ly le dung anh lac s chu y v mt vn khac * herring: loai ca trich . Its exciting to hear the boss talk about the new company headquarters, but I think its a red herring. Hes trying to keep employees from learning about his plans to reduce our job benefits. Tht la vui thich khi nghe ng giam c noi v tru s mi cua cng ty, nhng ti cho rng y chi la mt cach anh lac hng v mt vn khac. ng y ang tim cach khng cho nhn vin bit v d inh cua ng mun ct giam li nhun danh cho nhn vin chung ti. . I really surprised my wife last Christmas. When she unwrapped this big box I gave her, she thought it was a vacuum cleaner, but it was just a red herring. Inside were two tickets for a trip to Florida! Ti thc s a lam nha ti ht sc ngac nhin hi l giang sinh va qua. Khi nha ti m lp giy boc cai hp tht to ma ti tng ba, ba tng o la mt cai may hut bui, nhng o chi la chuyn gia v thi. Bn trong hp co hai cai ve may bay i chi tiu bang Florida!

32: on the right track, right hand

1. on the right track: suy nghi hay hanh ng ung hng on the wrong track: i lac hng * track: ng ry xe hoa, hay hng i. . The detectives thought the womans murderer was probably someone in her family. They were on the right track. Following a series of clues, they determined that the killer was her son. Cac tham t cho rng ke git phu n nay co le la mt ngi nao o trong gia inh ba. Ho a nghi ung. Theo ui mt loat cac manh mi, ho xac inh rng ngi git ba y chinh la con trai ba. . Not surprisingly, a majority of voters believe the city is on the right track. Its heading in a good direction, they say, because the economy is strong and there are plenty of high paying jobs. iu khng gy ngac nhin la a s c tri tin rng thanh ph cua ho ang tin trin kha quan. Ho noi rng thanh ph nay ang i ung hng bi vi nn kinh t ang vng manh va co rt nhiu cng vic tra lng cao. 2. right hand: ngi phu ta ang tin cy . Since the boss couldnt attend the conference, he sent Elaine, his most trusted assistant. He knew his right hand would do an excellent job of representing his interests. Vi ng xp khng th i d hi nghi c nn ng gi c Elaine i. C y la phu ta tin cn nht cua ng. ng bit rng canh tay mt cua ng se lam vic mt cach hoan hao khi ai din cho cac li ich cua ng. . My law firm was never the same after my partner passed away. He was my right hand, working closely with me for over thirty years. No one could ever replace him.

Cng ty lut cua ti khng bao gi c nh trc na sau khi ng nghip cua ti qua i. ng y la canh tay mt cua ti, sat canh lam vic vi ti trong hn 30 nm. Khng ai co th thay th ng y c.

33: rule of thumb, to rule the roost

1. rule of thumb: phng phap lam vic da vao kinh nghim
xp x, phng chng

. The next time you apply for a job, remember that your resume should be roughly two pages. This is a good rule of thumb because most employers are not interested in reading several pages of your qualifications. Ky ti, khi ban in n xin vic lam, ban nn nh la ban ly lich chi nn dai vao khoang hai trang giy ma thi. o la mt c oan theo kinh nghim, bi vi phn ng cac chu nhn khng mun oc nhiu trang giy noi v kha nng chuyn mn hay trinh hoc vn cua ban. . Do you want to get a good nights sleep? As a rule of thumb, you shouldnt exercise shortly before going to bed. Usually you will find it harder to fall asleep. Ban co mun co mt gic ngu ngon khng? Theo kinh nghim thi ban khng nn tp th duc it lu trc khi i ngu. Thng thng ban se thy rng lam nh vy thi se kho ngu hn. 2. to rule the roost: lam ba chu, hay thng tri * roost: ni chim co u . Although Sherry is a very quiet and shy secretary at the office, at home she rules the roost. Shes the boss as far as her husband and children are concerned! Tuy c Sherry la mt c th ky rt trm lng va nhut nhat s lam, nhng nha thi c y thng tri moi ngi. C y la c chu i vi ng chng va cac con! . During the soccer championship, our team ruled the roost. We dominated our opponents, outscoring and outplaying them in every game until we finally won the league trophy! Trong cuc tranh tai danh giai v ich bong a, i chung ti a lam ba chu tt ca cac i khac. Chung ti a ap ao cac i thu, danh nhiu im hn va chi tri hn ho trong tt ca moi trn u cho ti khi cui cung chung ti danh c cup cua lin oan!

34: rub the wrong way, rub one's nose in it

1. rub the wrong way: lam iu gi sai khin ngi ta tc gin . People who talk loudly on their cell phones in public places really rub me the wrong way. Theyre so irritating. They should keep their voices down. Nhng ngi noi chuyn tht to trn in thoai cm tay cua ho tai nhng ni cng cng lam ti ht sc kho chiu. Ho khin cho moi ngi bc tc. Ho nn noi nho hn mt chut. . Be careful about telling jokes because you might rub someone the wrong way. Whats funny to some people, may be annoying, even offensive to others.

Ban nn thn trong khi noi ua bi vi ban co th lam cho ngi khac kho chiu. iu chc chn la bun ci i vi mt s ngi lai co th gy kho chiu hay ngay ca gy si nhuc i vi ngi khac. 2. rub one's nose in it: nhc i nhc lai li lm cua mt ngi nao khin ho bun phin . Chips friends never let him forget the time they went golfing and Chip missed an easy shot. They rub his nose in it every chance they get, telling that embarrassing story over and over again . Cac ban anh Chip khng bao gi cho anh qun i ln ho i chi gn va anh Chip co mt qua bong gn l nhng anh lai anh hut ra ngoai. C co c hi nao la ho nhc i nhc lai li lm ang ngng o. . Every time I drive, my husband likes to remind me of the accident I got into. I feel so bad about wrecking his car. So why does he have to rub my nose in it? Mi khi ti lai xe nha ti c thich nhc ti v vu ung xe ma ti a gy ra. Ti cam thy ht sc bun phin v vic lam hong xe cua nha ti. Th nhng tai sao nha ti c nhc lai chuyn ang bun o?

35: run amok, run interference

1. run amok: hanh ng ri loan * amok: in loan . How am I going to have a beautiful green lawn when the weeds are running amok? If I dont get out there and pull them every week, theyll be so out-of-control that I will need professional help to get rid of them. Lam sao ma ti co th co mt sn co xanh tuyt ep c khi ma co dai ang moc lan tran? Nu ti khng ra vn va nh co dai hang tun thi no se moc ba bai n ti se phai cn n ngi chuyn mn dit tr loai co nay. . When the kindergarten children learned that Santa Claus was about to make a surprise visit, they ran amok. They became so uncontrollable with excitement, jumping and running around, that their teacher had a hard time calming them down. Khi cac hoc tro trong lp mu giao nghe tin ng gia Noel sp bt ng n thm lp, cac em a ri loan ln. Chung vui sng nhay ln nhay xung, khng sao kim soat ni, khin cho c giao kho khn lm mi lam cho chung binh tinh tr lai. 2. run interference: giai quyt nhng kho khn cho mt ngi nao ngi o ranh tay lam vic khac * interfere (v) interference (n): can thip vao hay xen vao ni b cua ngi khac . I used to get so many calls from sales people, I couldnt get my work done. But now my administrative assistant deals with them. Shes so good at running interference that Im able to be a lot more productive.
i x, i pho vi ai

Trc y ti thng bi rt nhiu ngi ban hang goi in thoai cho ti nn ti khng lam xong cng vic cua ti. By gi thi c phu ta hanh chanh am nhn cng vic nay. C y rt gioi trong vic giao tip vi ho nn ti co th lam vic nhiu hn.

. Our tour guide was so helpful when my husband and I went to Vietnam. She booked our hotels and organized many cultural visits. Because she ran interference, we were able to have a wonderful vacation. Khi nha ti va ti i Vit Nam c hng dn du lich a giup chung ti rt nhiu. C y t phong khach san cho chung ti va t chc nhiu chuyn i tim hiu vn hoa. C y giai quyt moi vn cho chung ti nn chung ti a co mt chuyn nghi he tuyt vi.

36: salt away, the salt of the earth

1. salt away: danh dum . John has been salting away part of every paycheck into a special bank account. By saving a little money each month, he plans to have enough to retire on. Anh John t it lu nay vn danh mt phn tin lng cua anh vao mt trng muc c bit ngn hang. Bng cach danh mt it tin mi thang anh d inh se co u tin sng khi anh v hu. * paycheck: sec lng . The visiting basketball team scored another goal with only two minutes to go before the end of the game. By getting that one-point lead and holding on to it as the clock ran out, they were able to salt away their victory. i bong r khach a thng thm mt im khi chi con co hai phut na la ht trn u. Bng cach dn u mt im va c gi im nay cho n khi ht gi, i bong nay a gi vng c chin thng cua ho. * run out: chm dt 2. the salt of the earth: ngi tt lanh, lng thin . Everyone in our small town admired the mayor. He was a good, honest, ordinary guy - the salt of the earth. Thats why it came as a shock when they discovered he was investigated by state police for embezzlement. Moi ngi trong thi trn nho cua chung ti trc y u khm phuc ng thi trng. ng ta la mt ngi tt, trung thc, binh thng. Vi th moi ngi u ngac nhin khi bit rng ng ta bi canh sat tiu bang iu tra v ti bin thu.
ng n, ng hong

. I have such fond memories of Grandpa and Grandma. They were hard working, decent people who always showed great kindness to their family and friends. I dont know if Ill ever be the salt of the earth that they were, but Ill try. Ti co nhng ky nim tht triu mn v ng ba ti. Ho la nhng ngi lam vic cn mn, tt lanh va t t vi gia inh va ban be. Ti khng bit liu ti se co th ging nh ho hay khng, nhng ti se c gng.

37: save one's breath, a saving grace

1. save one's breath: ng tn hi tranh cai thuyt phuc ngi khac

. I tried arguing with the umpire that I had not stepped on an opponent, but I should have saved my breath. He ruled that I was out and no discussion was going to change his decision. Ti a c tranh cai vi trong tai rng ti a khng ap ln chn i thu, nhng ang ly ra ti khng nn tn hi lam nh vy. Trong tai phan rng ti bi loai ra ngoai, va khng co mt vu ban cai nao se co th lam thay i quyt inh cua ng ta. . Honey, Im tired of moving. I like our home, our neighborhood and the friends weve made in this town. Theres simply nothing you could say to make me feel differently, so please save your breath. Nay cng, em chan di nha lm ri. Em thich cn nha cua minh, cung hang xom lang ging va ban be cua minh trong thi trn nay. Khng co iu gi anh co th noi lam cho em cam thy khac c. Vi th xin anh ng tn hi thuyt phuc em. 2. a saving grace: mt c tinh tt bu p vao nhng khuyt im cua mt ngi . * grace: n sung, n hu . My last boyfriend was short and not very bright, but he did have one good quality. He was very generous with me. His saving grace, however, wasnt enough to keep us together for very long. Anh ban trai sau cung cua ti la mt ngi thp va khng thng minh lm, nhng anh co mt c tinh tt. Anh y rt rng rai i vi ti. Tuy nhin, c tinh o cung khng u chung ti lin h lu dai vi nhau. . After writing my first composition in English, my teacher told me that my paragraphs were poorly organized, and my grammar and spelling were inaccurate. There was, however, a saving grace. She thought I had many good ideas. That one positive aspect of my work which she found encouraged me to keep trying. Sau khi ti vit bai lun vn u tin bng ting Anh, ba giao noi vi ti rng cach xp t cac oan vn cua ti to ra kem coi, va vn pham va cach anh vn cua ti cung sai. Tuy nhin, co mt im tt. o la ba giao nghi rng ti co nhiu y kin hay. im tich cc nay ma ba nhn thy trong bai lun a khuyn khich ti tip tuc c gng.

38: to say the least, suffice it to say

1. to say the least: noi it nht v mt iu gi . When my son told me that he had decided to become a doctor like me I was pleased, to say the least. In fact, I was absolutely thrilled by his decision. He made me so proud. Khi con trai ti noi vi ti rng no a quyt inh tr thanh bac si nh ti, ti noi khng qua la ti hai long. Tht ra ti cc ky sung sng v quyt inh cua con ti. Con ti lam cho ti ht sc hanh din. . When you consider all the famous people who recently passed away, last year was a sad year, to say the least. Many well-known and well-loved personalities who left us will be greatly missed, including a former President, a musical genius, a heroic actor, and a scientist who made one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century.

Khi chung ta nghi n tt ca nhng con ngi ni ting va qua i, tht khng qua ang khi noi rng nm ngoai la mt nm bun. Chung ta tic nh nhng nhn vt ni ting va c yu mn a ri bo chung ta, k ca mt cu tng thng, mt thin tai m nhac, mt din vin anh hung, va mt khoa hoc gia tng thc hin mt trong nhng kham pha quan trong nht trong th ky th 20. 2. suffice it to say: chi cn noi rng... * suffice: va u. . Josh has been on a few blind dates, but suffice it to say, last night was the absolute worst. Theres really nothing more to add. The evening was so bad that he never intends on going out with someone again without meeting her first. Anh Josh a i chi vai ln vi nhng c gai ma anh cha quen bit, nhng chi cn noi rng ti hm qua la bui i chi t nht. Tht khng con gi noi thm na. Bui ti hm qua t n ni anh d inh se khng bao gi i chi vi mt c nao ma khng gp mt c y trc. * blind date: mt cuc gp mt gia hai ngi cha quen bit nhau . Suffice it to say that our company had a very profitable year. I dont think I need to say anything more because you can read all the details in my report. Our challenge now is to build on our success. Chi cn noi rng cng ty cua chung ta a co mt nm y thng li. Ti cho rng ti khng cn noi gi thm na bi vi quy vi co th oc tt ca cac chi tit trong ban phuc trinh cua ti. Thach thc ma chung ta phai i pho by gi la phai xy dng trn s thanh cng cua chung ta.

39: scared out of ones wits, scare up

1. scared out of ones wits: s ht hn * wits: s binh tinh, tinh tao. . Im a 35 year-old, married mother of two young children. I quit my job recently to go back to college and become a teacher. Im scared out of my wits. What Im most afraid of is whether Im too old to learn and to do well in class. Ti la mt ba me 35 tui, co chng va hai con con nho. Mi y ti nghi vic tr lai trng ai hoc hoc lam thy giao. Ti ht sc s hai. iu ti s nht la khng bit liu ti co qua ln tui hoc gioi trong lp hay khng. . Tomorrow is Glenns wedding day and hes scared out of his wits. Hes so panicked about getting married that hes not sure he can go through with it. Im sure once he stops to think about how much he loves his fiancee, hell calm down. Ngay mai la ngay am ci cua anh Glenn va anh y rt hoang s. Anh y ht hoang v vu lp gia inh n anh y khng chc co th lam xong chuyn nay. Ti tin rng mt khi anh y suy nghi lai la anh y yu vi hn th nhiu n mc nao thi anh y se binh tinh tr lai. 2. scare up: at c kt qua nh nhiu c gng

. My business partner and I really wanted to invest in new office space, but it was rather expensive. After spending days with several banks, we were able to scare up the money we needed. Although it took a lot of effort, it was worth it. Ti va i tac doanh nghip cua ti mun u t vao vic m thm vn phong lam vic mi, nhng vic nay tn kha nhiu tin. Sau khi thng lng vi cac ngn hang trong nhiu ngay chung ti a co th kim c s tin cn co. Tuy chung ti mt nhiu cng lao, nhng vic nay rt ang cng. . The World Cup was two days away and we still didnt have seats. Thats when we got on the Internet looking for anyone who could help us. Finally, hours later, we scared up two tickets. Despite all the difficulty, we ended up seeing some excellent soccer playing. Chi con hai ngay na la ti trn u tranh cup v ich bong a th gii, ma chung ti vn cha co ve. Th la chung ti ln mang tim xem co ai co th giup chung ti hay khng. Cui cung, vai gi sau o, chung ti mua c hai ve. Tuy gp nhiu kho khn nh vy nhng cui cung chung ti a xem c mt trn tranh tai hao hng.

40: know the score, settle an old score

1. know the score: bit ro cac chi tit cua mt vn hay tinh hung . Whoever we choose as the next leader of our book club should be well-informed. We need someone who knows the score about best-sellers, authors and literary history. Ngi nao ma chung ta chon lam hi trng sp ti cua cu lac b sach cua chung ta cung nn thng thao moi vn . Chung ta cn mt ngi bit ro cac chi tit v nhng cun sach ban chay nht, cac tac gia, va lich s vn hoc. . Its unfortunate that Kathys new employer doesnt provide health insurance, but she knew the score when she accepted the job. She understood that the company could no longer provide health care coverage to its workers. Tht ang tic la chu nhn mi cua c Kathy khng cung cp bao him sc khoe, nhng c a bit ro iu o khi c nhn vic. C a hiu rng cng ty nay khng con co th cung cp bao him sc khoe cho nhn vin na. 2. settle an old score: tra c thu v mt vic lam sai trai cua ai trong qua kh * settle: giai quyt mt vn . . Last month Kays boyfriend ran late for their date, leaving her to wait a half an hour in the rain. To make him understand how angry she was, last night she made him wait in the rain for her. Now that shes settled an old score, she feels satisfied. Thang trc, ban trai cua c Kay a n tr cho bui hen i chi vi c, khin c phai i na ting ng h di tri ma. Mun cho anh y hiu la c tc gin n mc nao, ti hm qua c bt anh y i c di tri ma. By gi thi c a tra c mi hn nn c cam thy thoai mai. . Some people spend a lot of time planning how they can settle old scores. But I think its a waste of time and energy trying to get revenge on people who upset you in the past. Life is too short.

Mt s ngi danh nhiu thi gi tru tinh xem lam th nao ho co th tra nhng mi thu cu. Tuy nhin, ti cho rng tim cach tra thu nhng ngi lam cho minh tc gin trong qua kh la phi thi gi va sc lc. Cuc i qua ngn ngui, khng nn lam nh vy.

41: ringside seat, take a back seat

1. ringside seat: ch ngi gn nht quan sat mt iu gi * ringside: khu vc chung quanh va sat canh mt vo ai u quyn Anh hoc u vt. . Growing up, my sister and brother never got along very well. When they argued at the dinner table, I had a ringside seat for all of their quarrels. I was right beside them, with no choice but to listen. Trong luc ln ln, anh chi ti khng hoa thun vi nhau. Khi hai ngi cai nhau tai ban n, ti ngi sat canh o nn nghe thy ht nhng li qua ting lai. Ti ngay bn canh ho, nn khng co cach nao khac la phai nghe nhng gi ho noi. . The spacecraft has been sending back images from Saturn that provide a close and clear view of its many geographical features. Now everyone has a ringside seat to a planet that is millions of miles away. Chic phi thuyn a gi v trai t nhiu hinh anh v sao Th khin cho ta thy ro nhiu khia canh ia ly cua hanh tinh nay. Gi y moi ngi u co th nhin tht gn va tht ro mt hanh tinh cach xa ta hang triu dm. 2. take a back seat: gi mt vai tro khng quan trong, cho ngi khac iu khin cng vic . Although Marks not retiring for a few more years, hes begun handing his main duties to his assistant. More and more hes been taking a back seat at meetings and let her be in control. Tuy con vai nm na ng Mark mi v hu nhng ng a bt u trao nhng nhim vu chinh cua ng cho ba phu ta. Cang ngay ng y cang tham gia rt it tai cac bui hop va cho ba y iu khin moi vic. . The new coach always wants to run things his way. If he doesnt start to take a back seat to the teams owner and follow his orders, hes not going to be able to keep his job. Hun luyn vin mi luc nao cung mun iu khin moi vic theo y ng ta. Nu ng ta khng bt u ong vai phu bn canh chu nhn i bong va lam theo linh cua chu nhn thi ng ta se khng th gi chc vu nay c.

42: second nature, second wind

1. second nature: mt iu ging nh ban nng nhng nh hoc c ma co . Its no wonder Michelle plays the piano so beautifully; she started taking lessons when she was three. Shes been playing for so many years, it seems effortless. Its second nature to her.

C Michelle chi an dng cm tht hay, la iu khng co gi ang ngac nhin bi vi c bt u hoc an khi c mi ln ba tui. C a chi an nhiu nm nay cho nn c an mt cach d dang. anh an a tr thanh ban nng cua c. . After his terrible car accident, Tom spent months in the hospital. Hes been relearning many things which he used to be able to do without thinking. What had once been second nature to him, like walking and talking, now requires a lot of effort. Sau mt tai nan xe t khung khip anh Tom a lu lai tai binh vin trong nhiu thang. Anh y phai hoc lai nhiu vic ma trc o anh vn lam ma khng cn suy nghi. iu ma trc o la ban nng th nhi cua anh, nh i b va noi chuyn, by gi oi hoi rt nhiu c gng. 2. second wind: cam thy khoe lai sau khi mt moi . Last night I went out to a new club with some friends. Just when I felt so tired that I was about to leave, I got my second wind. With renewed energy, I ended up dancing until dawn. Ti hm qua ti cung vai ngi ban i n mt cu lac b mi. Ngay khi ti cam thy mt moi n mun ri khoi ni o thi t nhin ti khoe khon tr lai. Vi sc lc c hi phuc, cui cung ti lai khiu vu cho n sang. . After my dad stopped working, its like he lost his enthusiasm for a while, but then he got his second wind. Now hes busy serving as a tutor at my sons school. He really enjoys it. Sau khi cha ti nghi lam vic dng nh ng mt i s hng say trong mt thi gian ngn, nhng sau o ng cam thy nng lc c phuc hi. Gi y cha ti bn rn lam tr giao tai trng hoc cua con ti, va ng rt thich cng vic nay.

43: see eye to eye, see the light

1. see eye to eye: ng y vi nhau, hay co cung quan im . No matter what we talk about, Jim and I see eye to eye on almost everything. In fact, theres little that we disagree about. Maybe thats why we are such good friends. Du cho chung ti thao lun v bt c chuyn gi i na, anh Jim va ti cung ng y vi nhau v hu nh tt ca moi th. Tht vy co rt it chuyn ma chung ti bt ng y kin vi nhau. Co le o la ly do chung ti la ban tt vi nhau. . Gun control is an issue that Americans have disagreed on for a long time. While some people want the right to own and carry guns, others want to prohibit them. The two sides have never seen eye to eye. Kim soat sung ng la mt vn ma ngi My a bt ng y kin vi nhau t lu nay. Tuy mt s ngi mun co quyn s hu va mang sung, nhng nhng ngi khac lai mun cm. Hai bn cha bao gi ng y vi nhau. 2. see the light: nhn thc ra iu gi sau nhiu kho khn, ng vc

. My mom had been trying to persuade my brother that smoking is bad, but he never listened. Then my dad developed lung cancer and my brother saw the light. He finally understood that cigarettes could just as easily destroy his health too. Me ti t lu a c gng thuyt phuc em ti rng hut thuc la iu khng tt, nhng em ti khng bao gi chiu nghe. Sau o cha ti bi binh ung th phi va luc o em ti mi nhn ra s tht. Cui cung em hiu rng thuc la cung co th d dang lam hai sc khoe cua em. . Successful supermarkets recognize that consumers want more choices. Theyve seen the light and, as a result, offer more ready-to-eat meals, gourmet foods, and organic products. Cac siu thi thanh cng nhn ra rng gii tiu thu mun co nhiu san phm khac nhau la chon. Cac siu thi nay a nhn thc c nhu cu nay, va kt qua la ho cung cp nhiu loai thc n nu sn, thc phm c bit tht ngon, va cac san phm trng bng phn hu c, khng co phn hoa hoc hoc thuc tr su.

44: not the only fish in the sea, sea legs

1. not the only fish in the sea: khng phai ngi duy nht hi u iu kin hay c yu quy . When Johns girlfriend walked out on him, he was so hurt. Thats when his dad reminded him that she was not the only fish in the sea. Dad was right. A few months later John met another girl and theyve been dating ever since. Khi ban gai anh John bo ri anh, anh rt au kh. Luc y b anh nhc nh anh rng c y khng phai la ngi duy nht ang yu. B anh noi ung. Vai thang sau anh John gp mt c gai khac va hai ngi i chi vi nhau t o n nay. . Our neighborhood association asked the police chief if he could speak at our next meeeting, but he wont be in town. Thats O.K. because hes not the only fish in the sea. There are plenty of other possible speakers we can approach. Khu ph cua chung ti a hoi ng canh sat trng xem liu ng co th phat biu y kin vi hi chung ti tai bui hop sp ti hay khng. Tuy nhin vao luc o ng se khng co mt trong thanh ph. Nh vy cung khng sao bi vi ng khng phai la ngi duy nht co th lam vic o. Co rt nhiu din gia khac ma chung ti co th mi ho n noi chuyn. 2. sea legs: co kha nng thich ng vi hoan canh mi hay vi nhng iu kin kho khn . Once a week I volunteer to make meals at a busy homeless shelter downtown. Cooking for so many people is new to me, so I dont have my sea legs yet. I need a little more time to adapt. Mi tun mt ln ti tinh nguyn sa soan thc n tai mt trung tm rt bn rn danh cho ngi khng nha ca di ph. Nu n cho nhiu ngi nh vy la iu mi la i vi ti cho nn ti cha quen. Ti cn mt thi gian na mi thich ng vi hoan canh mi. . When Sherry started her own company she wasnt used to all the responsibilities that came with running her own business. But after a couple of years, she found her sea legs. Now she is very comfortable at her job.

45: sell like hotcakes, sell oneself

1. sell like hotcakes: ban chay nh tm ti . The new IPod music players may be small, but they hold lots of songs and cost much less than other models. Not surprisingly, theyre selling like hotcakes. Some stores cant keep up with the demand because customers are buying them so quickly. May chi nhac IPod mi co th nho nhng cha c rt nhiu bai hat va gia re hn cac kiu may khac nhiu. Vi th, iu khng gy ngac nhin la loai may mi nay ban rt chay. Mt s tim khng th thoa man nhu cu cua ngi tiu thu bi vi khach hang ang nhanh chong mua may nay. . Can you imagine anyone buying a stone that you take care of like a dog? Well, back in the 1970s, the pet rock sold like hotcakes. Everyone wanted one, which made its creator a millionaire. Ban co th tng tng rng co ngi mua mt vin a trng nom no nh trng nom mt con cho khng? Vy ma trong thi thp nin 1970, nhng vin a co tn la PET ROCK a ban rt chay. Ai cung mun mua mt vin a, khin cho anh chang nghi ra y kin nay a tr thanh triu phu. 2. sell oneself: thuyt phuc ngi khac v nhng kha nng hay c im cua minh . During the election, the candidate sold herself as a capable leader who could transform the city. She was so persuasive with voters that she beat her rivals and became the new mayor. Trong cuc bu c, ng c vin a t quang cao rng ba la mt lanh tu co kha nng va co th lam thay i thanh ph. Ba thuyt phuc c tri gioi n ba a thng cac i thu va tr thanh tn thi trng. . Before you send an employer a resume, make sure you attach a convincing application letter. That means you need to be clear, and highlight your qualifications. In short, you have to sell yourself if you want to get hired. Trc khi ban gi mt ban ly lich ti mt chu nhn, nh inh kem mt la th xin vic hp dn. o co nghia la ban cn phai ro rang va phai nhn manh vao kha nng chuyn mn cua minh. Noi tom lai, ban cn phai thuyt phuc chu nhn nu ban mun c thu dung.

46: set someone straight, set the world on fire

1. set someone straight: sa mt ngi nao cho ung vi ngi o nghi sai hay lam sai . After I forgot our anniversary, my wife thought I didnt love her anymore. I knew then I had to set her straight. I told her the truth, that theres nobody more important than her in my life, and that I love her. Sau khi ti qun l ky nim ngay thanh hn cua chung ti, v ti tng rng ti khng con yu c y na. Luc o ti bit la ti phai noi cho c y ng hiu lm. Ti noi cho c y bit s tht la trong i ti, khng co ai quan trong hn c y, va rng ti yu c y. . When taking pictures, do you shoot the first thing you see? If you want to avoid this common mistake, let me set you straight. The right way is to take your time and ask yourself beforehand what you want the picture to say.

Khi chup anh, c co chup cai gi c trng thy ln u tin khng? Nu c mun tranh cai li thng thng nay thi ti xin chi dn cho c. Cach chup cho ung la phai t t, thong tha, va nn t hoi minh trc xem minh mun tm anh o noi ln iu gi. 2. set the world on fire: la m cho ca th gii phai say m, hm m mua c, s hu . The soccer team paid a lot to acquire the new goalie. Unfortunately, he hasnt set the world on fire with his playing. Neither the fans nor the media pay much attention to him at all. i bong a a tra rt nhiu tin tuyn m thu mn mi o. iu ang tic la anh ta vn cha lam cho khan gia say m cach chi bong cua anh. Ca gii m iu ln gii truyn thng u khng chu y nhiu n anh. . Throughout his successful writing career, Mr. Miller set the world on fire. He won fame and fortune for plays that emphasized family, morality and personal responsibility. Trong sut cuc i vit kich thanh cng cua ng, ng Miller a lam cho ca th gii phai say m hm m ng. ng a tim c danh vong va tin tai nh nhng v kich nhn manh n gia inh, ao c va trach nhim ca nhn.

47: beyond a shadow of a doubt, shadow of ones former self

1. beyond a shadow of a doubt: chc chn, khng con nghi ng gi na . Because of new evidence, police are certain of the crime. beyond a shadow of a doubt the victim was poisoned. Still, no one knows how and why it happened. Vi co chng c mi cho nn canh sat tin chc la ti ac a xay ra. Chc chn la nan nhn a bi u c. Tuy vy, khng ai bit vu u c nay xay ra nh th nao va tai sao. . Although my grandfather passed away a few years ago, I swear that he appeared in my room last night. Beyond a shadow of a doubt I know it was him. I am absolutely sure of it. Tuy ng ti qua i cach y vai nm, nhng ti th la ng ti hin ra trong phong ti ti hm qua. Khng con nghi ng gi na ti bit o la ng ti. Ti hoan toan tin chc nh vy.
thi trc, hay cu, cu

2. shadow of ones former self: cai bong m cua con ngi minh trc y . At first my grandmother had problems remembering little things. Now she cant even recognize her own children. Her once strong memory is gone and shes now a shadow of her former self. Thoat u ba ti gp kho khn trong vic nh nhng chuyn nho nho. Gi y ba ti khng th nhn ra ngay chinh cac con ba. Tri nh tng mt thi rt tt cua ba by gi a mt ri, va ba chi con la mt bong m cua con ngi ba trc y. . After many southern cities were burned to the ground, they became shadows of their former selves. Fortunately, they have been beautifully restored and look like they were before the Civil War. Sau khi nhiu thanh ph min Nam bi t chay rui, no a tr thanh tan tich cua mt thi huy hoang trang l ngay trc. May mn thay, cac thanh ph nay a c trung tu tht ep va gi y trng ging nh cac thanh ph trc cuc Ni Chin.

48: fill someones shoes, wait for the other shoe to drop

1. fill someones shoes: thay th mt ngi nao va lam tron nhim vu cua ngi o . Sherry was a dynamic director who made our company profitable again. Now that shes retiring, who will fill her shoes? I cant think of a possible replacement. Ba Sherry la mt giam c nng ng tng lam cho cng ty cua chung ta hi phuc va co li lai tr lai. Gi y ba sp v hu, vy thi ai se thay th ba y? Ti khng th nghi ra c mt ngi co th thay th ba. . Ossie Davis was an honored actor, director, playwright and activist. He pushed for social justice both in entertainment and in real life. He did so much that no one can fill his shoes. ng Ossie Davis la mt din vin, ao din, nha vit kich va nha hoat ng chinh tri c tn vinh. ng tranh u cho cng bng xa hi trong nganh giai tri va ca trong i sng tht. ng a lam c rt nhiu vic cho nn khng ai co th thay th ia vi cua ng c. 2. wait for the other shoe to drop: ch cho mt tin xu na xay ra . Soccer fans were excited about getting a new stadium until the mayor said the city couldnt get funding for it. After that announcement, everyone knew more bad news was coming. There was nothing to do but wait for the other shoe to drop. Sure enough, a week later, the project was officially cancelled. Gii hm m bong a rt hao hc v vic se co mt sn vn ng mi, cho n khi ng thi trng noi rng thanh ph khng th kim c tin tai tr cho sn nay. Sau li loan bao o, moi ngi bit rng se co thm nhiu tin xu khac. Ho khng th lam gi c tr vic ch cho n khi tin xu na xay ra. Qua ung nh vy, mt tun sau, d an nay bi chinh thc huy bo. . The pilot tried to fly non-stop around the world. But when his plane suddenly lost fuel, the public wait for the other shoe to drop. Surprisingly, he didnt have to stop after all, and went on to make a historic landing. Vin phi cng a c gng bay khng ngng vong quanh trai t. Tuy nhin, sau khi may bay cua ng bt ng mt xng, cng chung ch i mt tin xu na se xay ra. iu ang ngac nhin la ng ta cui cung a khng phai ngng bay, va sau o a hoan tt chuyn bay va ap xung t, anh du mt bin c lich s.

49: short and sweet, give short shrift

1. short and sweet: va ngn gn va thoi mi . My boss usually holds long meetings. But because hes been away on business, our last one was short and sweet. It only took thirty minutes. What a pleasant surprise ! ng xp ti thng m nhng bui hp lu di. Tuy nhin, v ng y i cng tc khng c mt s, nn bui hp gn y nht ca chng ti va ngn gn va thoi mi. Bui hp ch ko di c 30 pht. Tht l mt s ngc nhin y thch th. . My brother is a soldier who has been fighting overseas. Yesterday he sent my parents an e-mail that was short and sweet: he was coming home. That brief announcement came as a wonderfully pleasant surprise to our family.

Anh ti l mt binh s vn chin u hi ngoi t t lu nay. Hm qua anh y gi cho cha m ti mt in th va ngn gn va ngt ngo: l anh y sp v nh. Bc th ngn ny n vi gia nh ti nh l mt s bt ng ht sc thch th.
s ch hay cch i x

2. give short shrift: khng ch ti, hay pht l i . Voters used to give short shrift to concerns for the environment. Such issues as air and water quality didnt receive much attention. Today, a growing majority of citizens want to protect our natural resources. C tri trc y t ch n mi lo ngi v mi trng sinh hot. Nhng vn nh cht lng khng kh v nc khng c quan tm n nhiu. Tuy nhin, ngy nay, a s ngy cng ng dn chng mun bo v cc ti nguyn thin nhin ca chng ta. . When I was a kid, the lives of Native Americans were given short shrift in U.S. history books. These days they are getting a lot of attention. As a result, students are much more knowledgeable about the different tribes and their traditions. Hi ti cn b, i sng ca dn bn x M ch c cp pht qua trong cc sch lch s ca Hoa k. Ngy nay, h c ch n rt nhiu. Kt qu l hc sinh ngy nay bit nhiu hn v cc b tc v cc truyn thng khc nhau ca h.

50: a dog and pony show, steal the show

con nga con

1. a dog and pony show: mt cuc trnh din cu k qung co mt iu g . My boyfriend and I thought about having our wedding reception at a hotel downtown. But their
cu k, chi tit

website was nothing more than an elaborate presentation of romantic couples and smiling guests with dramatic scenery and music. What a dog and pony show! Bn trai ca ti v ti tnh n vic m tic ci ti mt khch sn di ph. Tuy nhin, trang web ca khch sn ny ch trnh by hnh nh lng ly ca cc i uyn ng th mng cng cc quan khch ti ci gia phong cnh v m nhc gy n tng mnh. Tht l mt cch trnh by qu cu k. . Our city really wanted to be the site of the next Games. When the Olympic Committee came to review us, we organized a full day of lively speeches, a parade, and crowds of cheering citizens. Unfortunately, our dog and pony show didnt work. Thnh ph ca chng ti ht sc mun c chn lm a im cho cc cuc tranh ti th thao sp ti. Khi y ban th vn hi Olympic n duyt xt, chng ti t chc c mt lch trnh sut ngy gm nhng bi din vn si ni, mt cuc diu hnh, v m ng dn chng v tay hoan h nhit lit. ng tic thay, cuc trnh din cu k ca chng ti tht bi. 2. steal the show: dnh c s ch hay thnh cng m ng l ra thuc v ngi khc . Laura looks beautiful in that dress! Im sure shell steal the show at the high school dance tonight. Even though shes not one of the most popular girls, everyone will be watching her. C Laura mc chic o trng rt p. Ti tin chc rng c y s l trung tm im ca bui d v trng trung hc ti nay. Tuy c khng phi l mt trong nhng hc sinh c a chung nht nhng mi ngi s ch n c.

. Many new stores opened last year, but the one that stole the show lets kids build their own teddy bears. Kids pick out the model of teddy bear they want, then choose its eyes and mouth, then finally the clothes for it to wear. Its been a big hit, getting lots of attention from consumers and business analysts.

Nhiu ca hng mi m hi nm ngoi, nhng ca hng ni bt nht cho tr em lm ly cc con gu nhi bng. Cc em chn mu con gu m cc em thch, ri chn mt, ming v sau cng l qun o cho con gu mc. kin ny rt n khch v c gii tiu th cng cc nh phn tch thng mi c bit quan tm n.

51: a thorn in ones side, on the side

1. a thorn in ones side: cai gai trc mt . Maria used to work beside a guy who was quite a thorn in her side. He was always listening in on her phone conversations. But he doesnt bother her anymore because she finally moved to another desk. C Maria trc y lam vic bn canh mt anh chang la mt cai gai trc mt c. Anh ta lun lun nghe lom khi c noi chuyn trn in thoai. Tuy nhin by gi anh ta khng con lam phin c na bi vi c a don sang mt ban giy khac. . Every time I borrow my moms car, shes constantly at me to wear a seat belt, drive slowly, and not talk on my cell phone. Its so annoying. Why does she have to be such a thorn in my side? Mi khi ti mn xe t cua me ti, ba lun lun nhc nh ti la phai buc dy an toan, lai xe chm, va ng noi chuyn trn in thoai di ng. Tht la kho chiu. Tai sao me ti c lam phin ti nh vy? 2. on the side: mt vic lam phu ngoai vic chinh, hay mt mon n phu ngoai mon chinh . Steve works full-time at a university teaching English as a second language. In addition to his regular job, he writes about issues that international students encounter in college for a local radio show. Thats what he does on the side. Anh Steve lam vic toan thi gian tai mt trng ai hoc. Anh day ting Anh nh la mt sinh ng th hai. Ngoai cng vic thng l nay anh con vit bai cho mt chng trinh truyn thanh ia phng v nhng vn ma cac sinh vin ngoai quc gp phai tai ai hoc. o la vic ma anh lam thm. . The lunch special at Mels restaurant includes soup and a sandwich for $6.99 (6 dollars 99 cents). If you would like salad as well you can ask for it on the side for an extra charge. Ba n tra c bit tai tim Mels gm co xup va mt banh mi kep thit gia 6 la 99 xu. Nu ban mun n thm xa lach na thi co th goi thm mon o va tra thm tin.

52: a sight for sore eyes, sight unseen

1. a sight for sore eyes: mt ngi hay mt cai gi khin cho ta thoai mai, sung sng

. During my long and exhausting business trip, I couldnt stop thinking about my wife. I missed her so much. When I finally got off the plane, she was there waiting for me, a sight for sore eyes. I was so happy to see her that I almost cried. Trong chuyn i cng tac dai va ht sc mt nhoc ti a khng ngng nghi n v ti. Ti nh c y lm. Cui cung, khi ti bc ra khoi may bay c y a co mt sn o ng i ti. Tht la mt iu khin ti ht sc sung sng. Ti a gn khoc vi rt vui mng c gp lai nha ti. . New York City has lots of skyscrapers, traffic and crowds, but it also has Central Park. Its 843 acres of walking paths, lakes, ponds and open meadows are a sight for sore eyes. What a welcome relief it is from the busy city! Thanh ph New York co rt nhiu cao c, xe c va ng ngi, nhng thanh ph nay cung co cng vin Central Park. Vi din tich rng 843 mu Anh, cng vin nay gm nhiu li i, ao h, va nhng canh ng rng. Tht la mt khung canh thoai mai cho con ngi, mang lai mt s khuy khoa ang hoan nghnh trong thanh ph bn rn nay. 2. sight unseen: mt iu gi ma ta khng co c hi kim soat trc . You can find just about everything for sale on the internet, even used cars. But should you buy one sight unseen? Experts say that purchasing a vehicle without examining it first is risky. Be careful. Ban co th tim thy bt c mon hang nao ban trn mang, ngay ca xe t cu. Tuy nhin ban co nn mua mt chic xe t ma khng xem xet trc hay khng? Cac chuyn gia noi rng mua mt chic xe ma khng xem xet trc la iu kha rui ro. Ban nn cn thn. . The American soccer team heard so much about Englands star goalkeeper that they hired him sight unseen. They had never even met him and still offered him a multi-million dollar contract. i bong a My a nghe rt nhiu v danh ting cua ngi sao thu mn cua nc Anh nn a mn anh ta ma khng kim tra trc. i bong a nay cung cha gp mt anh ta ma a trao anh ta mt hp ng ang gia nhiu triu la.

53: sink ones teeth into, sink or swim

1. sink ones teeth into: ht tm tri vao lam mt vic gi . Brian is currently the star of a new one-man play. Its a demanding role, but hes very enthusiastic about it. He likes sinking his teeth into challenging work like this. Anh Brian hin la ngi sao cua mt v kich mi, chi co mt ngi ong. y la mt vai tro oi hoi kha nhiu tai nng din xut, nhng anh y rt hng say. Anh y thich ht tm tri vao lam nhng cng vic kho khn nh vy. . My husband is reading a best-seller about the origins of the universe. At 400 pages long, its not the kind of book I can sink my teeth into. I just dont have enough interest in reading about such things. Chng ti ang oc mt cun sach ban chay nht noi v ngun gc cua vu tru. Cun sach nay dy 400 trang va khng phai la loai sach ma ti co th ht tm tri vao ma oc. Ti khng thich oc nhng sach nh vy.

2. sink or swim: mt sng hai cht . Diane has decided to start a new life, so shes selling her house and moving from New York to California. Since she doesnt know anyone there or have a job waiting for her, shell have to find a way to succeed or else shell fail. Its sink or swim.

C Diane a quyt inh bt u mt cuc i mi nn c ang ban nha va di t bang New York sang bang California. Vi c khng quen bit ai o ma cung khng co sn mt cng vic lam, cho nn c se phai tim cach thanh cng, nu khng c se bi tht bai hoan toan. y la mt hoan canh mt sng hai cht. . My new boss is giving me two days of on-the-job training, then hes leaving me to sink or swim. If I do well, I can stay on, but if I dont, hell let me go. ng xp mi cua ti cho ti hai ngay c hun luyn ngay tai ch, sau o ng cho ti phai xoay s ly. Nu ti lam gioi thi ti se tip tuc gi cng vic nay, con khng thi ng y se cho ti nghi vic.

54: six of one, half dozen of the other; sixth sense

1. six of one, half dozen of the other: bn nay tam lang bn kia na cn . My wife is rather picky about which toothpaste she buys, but I think theyre all basically the same. Its six of one, half dozen of the other. Nha ti to ra kha ken chon v loai thuc anh rng ma c y mua, nhng ti thi ti cho rng trn cn ban moi thuc anh rng u ging nhau. Mt bn tam lang thi bn kia cung na cn. . My son cant decide if he wants to attend a public or a private university. To him its six of one, half dozen of the other, but I disagree. Public colleges cost less but private schools often have prestigious names, creating opportunities for graduates. Con trai ti khng th quyt inh xem liu no mun theo hoc mt ai hoc cng hay ai hoc t. i vi con ti thi ai hoc nao cung ging nhau, nhng ti khng ng y. Trng cng it tn tin hn nhng trng t thng co uy tn (thanh th) va tao nhiu c hi cho cac sinh vin tt nghip o. 2. sixth sense: giac quan th sau . Scott spent two weeks looking around in my town and felt it was the perfect place to open a dog bakery. A lot of people said it would never work, but his intuition proved him right. Thanks to his sixth sense, his new business is a success. Anh Scott ra hai tun l quan sat thi trn ni ti va anh cam thy rng y la ia im tuyt hao m mt tim banh cho cho. Nhiu ngi noi rng y kin nay se khng bao gi thanh cng, nhng trc giac cua anh a chng to la anh ung. Nh vao giac quan th sau nay, tim cua anh a thanh cng. . Elizabeth Taylor is a talented actress and a Hollywood legend. But if you ask me, she has no sixth sense for choosing a good husband. She cant be insightfulshes been married eight times!

Elizabeth Taylor la mt n din vin co tai va la mt huyn thoai cua Hollywood. Nhng theo ti thi c y khng co giac quan th sau khi chon mt ngi chng tt. C y khng th co nhn xet sang sut, vi c y a kt hn n tam ln!

55: by the skin of ones teeth, no skin off ones nose

1. by the skin of ones teeth: chi va u thi gi lam mt iu gi, hay hoan thanh mt vic gi trong gang tc . Here I am, stuck in traffic, and my sons high school concert starts in ten minutes. Hopefully, Ill get there by the skin of my teeth. Ill barely have enough time before his band starts playing. Ti con ang ngi y vi bi ket xe, ma bui hoa nhac tai trng trung hoc cua con ti se bt u trong vong 10 phut na. Ti hy vong se n ni chi va u gi trc khi ban nhac cua con ti bt u chi . . One of the most famous silent films features a girl whos floating down a river on a piece of ice. Just as shes about to go over a waterfall, her lover saves her by the skin of her teeth. Its a narrow escape from death! Mt trong nhng cun phim cm ni ting nht thi o co canh mt c gai bam vao mt tang bng a va tri dat trn mt con sng. Ngay khi c y sp bi cun xung mt thac nc, ngi yu cua c a kip thi cu c c. Tht la mt vu thoat khoi tay t thn trong gang tc. 2. no skin off ones nose: mt vic khng ng cham hay anh hng gi n ai . Even though Julie was passed over for a promotion, its no skin off her nose. Since shes leaving for another job, she doesnt really care. Tuy c Julie a bi bo qua va khng c thng chc, nhng chuyn o khng thanh vn i vi c. Vi c sp bo s i lam mt vic khac cho nn thc ra c khng cn ti chuyn c thng chc. . Its no skin off my nose that my friends want to go to Las Vegas. It doesnt really matter to me because I dont gamble. They can go without me. Chuyn cac ban ti mun i Las Vegas khng anh hng gi n ti ht. Ti khng quan tm n iu nay vi ti khng thich anh bac. Ho co th i chi ma khng co ti i cung.

56: a slap in the face, a slap on the wrist

1. a slap in the face: mt s si nhuc . In front of everyone at the executive board meeting, the boss criticized Jane for not doing enough to increase sales. That came as a slap in the face since he had just taken her to lunch to thank her for her hard work.

Trc mt moi ngi tai bui hop cua ban quan tri, ng xp a chi trich c Jane la khng lam vic u tng s hang ban c. Hanh ng nay la mt s si nhuc i vi c vi ng y va a c i n tra cam n c la a lam vic cn mn.
ngo cut, khng co trin vong thng tin

. The word McJob is defined by one dictionary as low-paying, dead-end work. To the McDonalds company, thats a slap in the face. They say its a real insult to the 12 million men and women who work in the restaurant industry. T McJob c mt cun t in inh nghia la mt cng vic tra lng thp va khng co tng lai. i vi cng ty McDonalds, y kin nay la mt s si nhuc. Cng ty nay noi rng o la mt s si nhuc tht s i vi 12 triu an ng va phu n lam vic trong nganh nha hang, tim n. 2. a slap on the wrist: mt s trng phat nhe . At the soccer game the other day, two angry players started punching each other. A judge later ordered them to pay a small fine, which is a slap on the wrist. They should get a more severe punishment, if you ask me. Trong mt trn tranh tai bong a hm no, hai cu thu tc gin bt u m nhau. Mt quan toa sau o ra linh cho ho phai tra mt mon tin phat nho. Qua la mt s trng phat qua nhe. Theo ti thi hai cu thu nay phai chiu mt trng phat nng hn. . When I was growing up I had a neighbor who was African-American. Once I got so mad, I called him a bad name. When my dad found out, he gave me more than a slap on the wrist. In fact, I couldnt sit down for a long time after he punished me. Hi ti ln ln ti co mt ngi lang ging la mt ngi My gc Phi chu. Co ln ti qua tc gin ti a goi anh ta bng mt cai tn xu xa. Khi cha ti bit c chuyn nay, ng a trng phat ti rt nng. Tht vy ti a bi au n khng th ngi xung gh trong mt thi gian kha lu sau khi bi phat.

57: not lose any sleep over it, sleep on it

1. not lose any sleep over it: khng mt ngu vi mt chuyn gi . Many of us are concerned about privacy on the Internet. But theres no need to lose any sleep over it. The reason we shouldnt be worried is that a lot of our personal information is already easily available. And theres little we can do about it. Nhiu ngi trong chung ta lo ngai v vn ring t trn mang. Nhng chung ta khng cn mt ngu vi chuyn o. Ly do khin chung ta khng nn lo lng la vi nhiu thng tin ring t cua chung ta a co sn trn mang. Va chung ta khng th lam gi nhiu v tinh trang nay. . If Sheila doesnt do well in the golf tournament tomorrow, she wont be a finalist. But she isnt going to lose any sleep over it. Being anxious wont help her game at all. Nu c Sheila khng chi gioi trong cuc thi anh gn vao ngay mai thi c se khng c vao vong chung kt. Tuy nhin, c khng mt ngu v chuyn o. To ra lo lng se khng giup ich gi cho kha nng anh gn cua c. 2. sleep on it: suy nghi cn thn trc khi quyt inh v mt vn gi

. Were thinking of buying the home we looked at today, but its a big decision. Thats why were going to sleep on it tonight. After thinking it over, we may be ready to make an offer tomorrow. Chung ti ang tinh mua cn nha ma chung ti a xem hm nay, nhng y la mt quyt inh quan trong. Vi th chung ti se suy tinh v vic nay ti nay. Sau khi nghi i nghi lai co le chung ti se sn sang a ra mt nghi mua nha vao ngay mai. . Im so overweight that I want to have an operation to reduce the size of my stomach. My doctor says that I should sleep on it first. Having surgery requires a lot of consideration. Ti qua mp phi cho nn ti mun c phu thut lam cho bao t cua ti nho lai. Bac si cua ti noi rng trc tin ti nn suy nghi cn thn v vn nay. Phu thut oi hoi rt nhiu suy xet thn trong.

58: a freudian slip, give someone the slip

1. a freudian slip: mt s l li . At a recent party, my friend accidentally called his wife by his old girlfriends name. What a freudian slip! Its an embarrassing mistake that shows what he really thinks of her. Tai mt bui tic hi gn y, ban ti v y goi v anh y bng tn ban gai cu cua anh. Qua tht la mt s l li. o la mt li lm gy bi ri cho thy anh thc s nghi gi v v anh. . After a tour of the factory, the boss said: I want to thank all of you employees for hardly working. Everyone understood that he meant to say working hard. Just the same, his a freudian slip gave us an idea of what he actually thought. Sau khi i tham quan xng may, ng giam c noi: Ti mun cam ta tt ca cac quy nhn vin la a khng lam vic gi ca. Tht ra ai cung bit rng ng mun noi WORKING HARD, tc la lam vic sing nng, nhng ng a l li noi HARDLY WORKING, tc la hu nh khng lam gi ca. Tuy nhin, s l li nay cho ta thy ng thc s nghi gi. 2. give someone the slip: trn tranh mt ngi nao . This guy I met at the conference was following me around all day. He just didnt understand that I wasnt interested in him. Finally I gave him the slip. While he was busy talking to one of the presenters, I managed to leave through the back door. Anh chang ma ti gp hi nghi c i theo ti sut ngay. Anh ta khng hiu la ti khng thich anh ta. Cui cung ti a trn tranh anh ta. Trong khi anh ta bn noi chuyn vi mt trong cac thuyt trinh vin, ti a tim cach ri hi nghi bng ca sau. . As police arrived to arrest the woman for using stolen credit cards, she managed to escape. But she didnt give them the slip for long. She was soon caught at the airport. Trong luc canh sat n bt ngi an ba v ti dung the tin dung bi anh cp, ba ta a tim cach trn thoat. Tuy nhin, ba ta khng trn thoat c lu. Chi it lu sau o ba ta a bi bt tai sn bay.

59: a snake in the grass, snake oil

1. a snake in the grass: mt ngi gian giao nhng gia v lam ban vi minh

. I used to think that Nina was not only a colleague, but also my friend. Then I found out that she secretly applied for the same position at work that I did. What a snake in the grass! I had no idea she could be so dishonest. Trc y ti thng nghi rng c Nina khng nhng la mt ng nghip cua ti ma con la ban ti na. Sau o ti kham pha ra rng c y a bi mt xin cung mt chc vu ma ti a xin tai s lam. Tht la mt con ngi nham him! Ti khng ng la c y co th gian giao n nh vy. . My husband and I should never have trusted our last babysitter. She was such a snake in the grass! While we were out, she was having parties at our house. Nha ti va ti ang ly ra a khng bao gi nn tin tng vao c trng tre sau cung cua chung ti. C ta tht la mt con ngi gian giao. Trong khi chung ti ra ngoai, c ta a hop mt n ung vi ban be nha chung ti. 2. snake oil: 1 th hang ma ng`.khac tim cach ban cho minh trong khi tht s th o khng co gia tri gi ca . Raymond takes anti-stress vitamins everyday, but he doesnt need to. They are nothing but snake oil. They simply dont work no matter what advertisements claim.
khng inh, qua quyt

Anh Raymond ung vitamin mi ngay chng tinh trang tinh thn cng thng, nhng anh khng cn lam nh vy. Nhng loai thuc nay chi la gia. No khng hiu nghim gi ca du cho nhng li quang cao noi gi i na. . Many websites offer college diplomas for a few hundred dollars. But beware these snake oil salesmen! They are fake schools providing worthless pieces of paper. Nhiu trang Web quang cao cung cp bng cp ai hoc ma chi tn co vai trm la. Tuy nhin, chung ta nn thn trong i vi nhng con bun gia mao nay. y la nhng trng gia mao cung cp nhng t giy v gia tri.

60: song and dance, swan song

1. song and dance: mt cai c bin minh cho mt iu gi hay anh la ngi khac . We know that Scott was out at a party until three oclock this morning. But when he finally came to the office, almost two hours late, he told us this exaggerated story about his alarm not going off, and then his car running out of gas. But his song and dance didnt fool anyone. Chung ti bit rng anh Scott i chi n tn ba gi sang hm nay. Tuy nhin, khi anh y vao s mun gn hai ting ng h, anh y k cho chung ti nghe mt cu chuyn phong ai v vu ng h bao thc cua anh y khng ku, ri xe anh y lai ht xng. Nhng cu chuyn bia t nay khng anh la c ai ca. . The landlord showed me a really nice appartment for rent. But when my husband stopped by to see it a little while later, he gave us a song and dance about why it was no longer available. His elaborate excuse wasnt at all believable. He probably didnt want to rent to a biracial couple like us.
thuc v hai chung tc khac nhau ti mi, phc tap

ng chu nha chi cho ti xem mt cn chung c tht tt cho thu. Nhng khi chng ti ghe qua it lu sau o xem nha thi ng chu a tao ra mt ly do nao o giai thich rng cn nha o khng con trng

 cho thu na. Cai c ma ng y a ra khng ang tin chut nao. Co le ng y khng mun cho mt i v chng khac nhau v chung tc nh chung ti thu.

2. swan song: ln trinh din cui cung trc khi v hu hay gia t sn khu . After years as a champion golfer, Jennifer decided to retire, but not without taking home the winners cup in her final tournament! That was quite a swan song. Sau nhiu nm lam mt tay v ich anh gn, c Jennifer a quyt inh v hu, nhng khng phai la khng danh c chic cup cua ke chin thng trong cuc thi u chot cua c. Tht la mt thanh cng rc r cui cung. . THE BAND performed together for many years in the 1960s until 1976 when they gave a swan song concert dubbed The Last Waltz in San Fransisco before retiring. Ban nhac The Band a trinh din chung vi nhau trong nhiu nm trong thp nin 1960 cho ti nm 1976 khi ban nhac nay trinh din ln cui trong mt bui hoa nhac ly tn la The Last Waltz tai thanh ph San Fransisco trc khi v hu.

61: call a spade a spade, in spades

1. call a spade a spade: noi thng noi thc . My grandmother always gave her honest opinion whether people liked it or not. Everyone could depend on her to call a spade a spade. Ba ti lun lun a ra y kin thanh thc cua ba du cho ngi khac co thich hay khng cung vy. Moi ngi u tin rng ba lun lun noi thng va noi tht ma khng s lam ngi khac gin . . The judge of the talent contest is known for calling a spade a spade. After a girl finished singing, for example, he told her that she didnt have any talent. He spoke so frankly that she nearly cried. ng giam khao trong cuc thi tuyn la tai nng vn ni ting la ngi hay noi thng, noi tht. Chng han nh sau khi mt c gai hat xong mt bai ng y noi vi c rng c ta khng co tai nng gi ca. ng y noi tht n lam cho c y gn khoc. 2. in spades: mt cai gi xay ra rt nhiu v s lng, hay xay ra rt nhiu ln . Karen was hoping a few people would like her cakes. So she was surprised when she got compliments in spades. People had lots of good things to say about them. C Karen hy vong rng mt vai ngi se thich cac banh ngot do c y lam. Vi th c rt ngac nhin khi c nhn c rt nhiu li khen ngi. Moi ngi khen rng banh cua c ht sc ngon. . The worlds largest automaker has been suffering in spades. In order to reduce its significant losses, it must cut costs and improve efficiency right away. Hang san xut xe t ln nht th gii t it lu nay a lin tip gp rt nhiu kho khn. lam giam bt nhng thit hai tai chanh ln lao hang nay phai ct giam chi phi va cai thin hiu nng ngay tc khc.

62: speak the same language, speak volumes

1. speak the same language: hiu nhau va co cung quan im vi nhau . Its true that people of different religions have different views about the world. But on issues like fighting poverty, we speak the same language. We all agree that it is a problem that must be solved. S tht la nhng ngi theo cac tn giao khac nhau co nhng quan im khac nhau v th gii. Tuy nhin, i vi nhng vn nh giam ngheo chung ta u hiu nhau va co cung mt quan im. Chung ta u ng y rng o la mt vn cn phai c giai quyt. . There is a process thats going on today between the U.S. and Vietnam. Although there are still some problems to be resolved, the two countries have improved bilateral ties, and in many ways they are speaking the same language. Hin nay co mt qua trinh ang din tin gia Hoa ky va Vit Nam. Tuy vn con mt s vn cha c giai quyt song hai nc a cai thin quan h song phng, va v nhiu phng din hai nc ang hiu nhau va co cung quan im vi nhau. 2. speak volumes: biu l mt cach ro rang va y y nghia ma khng cn noi thanh li . When Janet didnt even send a card on her fathers birthday, it spoke volumes. Once again, shes made it clear that she and her dad have never had a very good relationship. Khi c Janet khng gi ngay ca mt tm thip nhn dip sinh nht cua cha c, iu nay a noi ln mt cach y y nghia cam nghi cua c ra sao. Mt ln na c a cho thy ro rng c va cha c cha bao gi co mt tinh thn thuc tt ep ca. . Kevin is always well-dressed for work. His new suit, for example, speaks volumes about him. It shows how confident and professional he is. Anh Kevin luc nao cung n mc chinh t khi i lam vic. B qun ao mi cua anh y chng han, biu l mt cach hung hn phm cht cua anh y. No cho thy anh y t tin va chuyn nghip n chng nao.

63: in a spot, on the spot

1. in a spot: trong mt tinh th kho khn, nan giai . Jim was in a spot. He accidentally set up two dates for the same evening. What an embarrassing position! Lucky for him, one of the women called to say she had a bad cold and couldnt go out with him. Anh Jim trong mt tinh th kho khn. Anh y v tinh hen ho i chi vi hai c gai trong cung mt bui ti. Tht la mt hoan canh khin anh rt lung tung. May mn thay cho anh y, mt trong hai c gai a in thoai cho anh va cho bit c y bi cam nng nn khng th i chi vi anh c.

. Emily got in a spot on the way to work. Her car got a flat tire. But since she knew how to change it, she wasnt in a difficult situation for very long. C Emily a ri vao mt tinh th kho khn trn ng i ti s lam. Chic t cua c bi bep lp xe. Tuy nhin vi c y bit cach thay lp xe cho nn c y khng gp kho khn lu dai. 2. on the spot: ngay tc khc, ngay tai ch . Our basketball team needed a new coach. When Laurie applied for the position, she was hired on the spot. She instantly got the job because she had years of experience both playing and coaching. i bong r cua chung ti cn mt hun luyn vin mi. Khi c Laurie xin vic nay, c a c nhn ngay lp tc. C c vic nay ngay tc khc vi c a co nhiu nm kinh nghim va chi bong r va lam hun luyn vin. . Whenever you see a tornado, you should get to a safe place in a house or building on the spot. If you move to the lowest level and away from windows, you have the best chance of survival. Mi khi quy vi trng thy mt cn lc xoay, quy vi nn tim mt ni tru n an toan ngay lp tc trong mt cn nha hay mt chung c. Nu quy vi n tng thp nht va tranh xa cac ca s thi quy vi se co c may tt nht sng sot.

64: back to square one, fair and square

1. back to square one: bt u lai t u . I was painting the house when my wife decided she wanted a different color. Now I have to start again from the beginning with new paint! Its back to square one. Ti ang sn nha thi v ti quyt inh la c y mun mt mu khac. By gi ti lai phai bt u lai t u vi mt mu sn khac. Tht la khng lai hoan khng. . Sally is busy studying for the English language test. If she doesnt get a high enough score to get into an American university, shell be back to square one. I hope she doesnt have to take the exam again. C Sally ang bn hoc thi mn Anh vn. Nu c khng c im cao u c nhn vao mt trng ai hoc My thi c lai phai bt u lai t u. Ti hy vong rng c y khng phai thi lai mt ln na.
tht tha, trung thc

2. fair and square: cng bng va thng thn . Talking about soccer brings back fond memories of my high school days. Although there was one match in particular Ill never forget. The referee made a series of bad calls that cost my team a victory. He was not fair and square. Noi chuyn v bong a khin ti nh lai nhng ky nim ep cua thi trung hoc. Tuy nhin co mt trn u c bit ma ti se khng bao gi qun. ng trong tai a a ra mt loat nhng quyt inh sai lm khin cho i cua ti bi thua. ng y khng cng bng va trung thc chut nao. . Theres no reason to be angry. The election for city council was fair and square. It was an honest contest and I simply lost. I congratulate my opponent. Khng co ly do gi tc gin ca. Cuc bu c chon ngi vao hi ng thanh ph a din ra mt cach cng bng va trung thc. y la mt cuc tranh c ngay thng va iu n gian la ti a bi thua.

Ti xin chuc mng i thu cua ti.

65: at stake, pull up stakes

1. at stake: mt iu gi bp bnh, bi lm nguy tuy theo hoan canh . After my best friend Sarah got pregnant, I felt that I risked not seeing her anymore. But I soon learned that our friendship wasnt at stake. Since shes had the baby, weve continued to find time to get together, just like before. Sau khi c ban thn nht cua ti la c Sarah co thai, ti cam thy rng ti gp nguy c khng con trng thy mt c y na. Tuy nhin it lu sau o ti bit rng tinh ban cua chung ti khng bi e doa. K t sau khi c y sinh con, chung ti vn tip tuc co thi gi gp nhau, y nh luc trc vy. . Are you getting exercise every day? At stake is your health. Dont be in danger of heart disease, cancer, or other problems. Get regular activity starting today! Ban co tp th thao mi ngay hay khng ? Sc khoe cua ban co th bi e doa. ng bi nguy c mc binh tim, binh ung th hay nhiu chng binh khac. Hay tp th thao u n, bt u t ngay hm nay! 2. pull up stakes: t bo cng vic lam, don nha i ni khac
toa an ti cao

. Sandra Day OConnor made history as the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice in the United States. After serving twenty years as a judge, she decided to leave her position. In fact she pulled up stakes so suddenly, everyone was surprised. Ba Sandra Day OConnor a c ghi danh trong lich s la phu n u tin c chon lam thm phan Ti Cao Phap Vin Hoa ky. Sau khi phuc vu 20 nm ba a quyt inh t chc. Tht vy, ba ri bo chc vu cua ba qua bt ng khin cho moi ngi u ngac nhin. . My husband and I have lived in this city since our children were born. But now that theyre grown up, were going to pull up stakes. We plan to move away to a smaller home by the beach, where we can really relax. Chng ti va ti a sng trong thanh ph nay t khi sinh cac con ti. Tuy nhin, by gi cac con chung ti a trng thanh, nn chung ti sp don i ni khac. Chung ti d inh don i xa n mt cn nha nho hn gn bai bin, ni ma chung ti co th thc s th gian.

66: stand ones ground, stand on ones own feet

1. stand ones ground: gi vng lp trng . Joyce is dating a man who is 15 years younger than she is. Even though her parents dont approve, she refuses to change her mind. Shes standing her ground because she really likes the guy. C Joyce i chi vi mt ban trai tre hn c 15 tui. Tuy cha me c khng chp thun iu nay, song c khng chiu thay i y kin. C vn gi vng lp trng vi c rt thich anh chang nay.
oi hoi, nai ni

. David insists on playing video games right after school. However his mom has stood her ground. She told him that he was not allowed to play games until after he had finished his homework and cleaned up his room.

Em David nht quyt oi chi cac tro chi in t ngay sau khi tan trng. Tuy nhin, me em a gi vng lp trng. Ba noi vi em rng em khng c phep chi cac tro chi nay cho ti khi nao em lam xong bai tp va don dep phong ngu cua em. 2. stand on ones own feet: t lp, khng cn s tr giup cua ngi khac . Now that Ive graduated from college and found a job, Im planning on moving out of my parents house. It will be good for me to stand on my own feet. I want to be more independent. Vi gi y ti a tt nghip ai hoc va tim c mt vic lam, nn ti d inh don ra khoi nha cha me ti. T tuc se la iu tt cho ti. Ti mun c c lp hn trc. . The hurricane caused lots of damage to the city. But thanks to the help of relief workers and the federal government, many victims are once again standing on their own feet. Theyve rebuilt their homes and businesses and are able to take care of themselves as before. Trn bao a gy rt nhiu thit hai cho thanh ph o. Tuy nhin, nh vao s tr giup cua cac nhn vin cu h va cua chinh phu lin bang, nhiu nan nhn hin nay ang u sc t lp mt ln na. Ho a xy lai nha ca va lam n bun ban tr lai va co th t tuc nh trc.

67: stay put, stay the course

1. stay put: nguyn ch cu, khng i ni khac . My parents are rather old and Im concerned about their health and safety. Weve talked about their going into a nursing home, but theyd rather stay put. I certainly understand why they dont want to move out of their house. They like their independence. Cha me ti hin kha gia va ti lo lng cho sc khoe va s an toan cua hai cu. Chung ti a ban v vic hai cu co th vao vin dng lao, nhng hai cu lai mun nguyn tai nha. Ti chc chn hiu ro ly do tai sao hai cu khng mun don ra khoi nha. Hai cu thich sng c lp. . I love this new suntan oil. It can minimize the damage caused by the suns ultraviolet rays. I spray it on and it stays put. Even when I go swimming, it doesnt come off. Ti rt thich loai du chng nng mi nay. No co th lam giam thiu nhng h hai do cac tia cc tim cua mt tri gy ra. Ti xit no ln ngi va no vn gi nguyn o. Ngay ca khi ti i bi, du nay cung khng tri i mt. 2. stay the course: tip tuc i n cung du gp kho khn . Lorraine has tried to quit smoking before, but this time shes staying the course. With the support of her friends and family shes not giving up because she wants to be healthy again. C Lorraine trc y a c gng bo hut thuc, nhng ln nay c quyt tm i n cung. Vi s h tr cua ban be va gia inh, c khng bo cuc vi c mun c khoe manh nh trc.

. When our company was sold to our competitor, a lot of people resigned. But not Paul. Hes staying the course. Hes going to continue in his position and see what the new management is like.

Khi cng ty cua chung ti c ban cho mt cng ty i ich, nhiu ngi a t chc, nhng anh Paul thi khng. Anh y lai cho n cung trong chc vu cua anh va xem ban quan tri mi iu hanh cng vic nh th nao.

68: a step in the right direction, step on someones toes

1. a step in the right direction: mt bc i ung hng a ti muc tiu ma minh mong mun . My son hasnt been doing well in his classes lately. So now Im only allowing him to play video games for half an hour each day. That may not solve the problem, but I believe its a step in the right direction. With more time for his school work, his grades will likely get better. Dao sau nay con ti hoc hanh kem coi trong lp. Vi th by gi ti chi cho phep con ti chi tro chi in t na gi mi ngay thi. Lam nh th co le khng giai quyt c vn , nhng ti tin rng y la mt bc i ung hng. Khi co thm thi gi lam bai, im cua con ti chc se kha hn. . Fix leaky faucets, use plastic bags again and again, change your light bulbs and buy rechargeable batteries! If you do all these things, youre taking a step in the right direction. Thats how youll save more energy and money, too. Hay sa nhng voi nc ro ri, dung nhng tui ni lng nhiu ln, thay cac bong en, va mua nhng pin en hay binh in co th nap in lai! Nu ban lam tt ca nhng iu nay thi ban bt u i ung hng at c muc tiu. o la cach ban tit kim thm nng lng va tin bac na. 2. step on someones toes: dm ln chn ngi khac, tc la lam mich long hay xuc pham ngi khac . My mother-in-law told my husband and me where we should live. Once again shes stepping on our toes, making decisions that arent hers to make. Its so annoying. Ba me chng ti noi vi chung ti rng chung ti nn sng u. Mt ln na ba y lai lam mich long chung ti khi a ra nhng quyt inh khng phai thuc quyn ba y. Tht la ht sc kho chiu. . Its no surprise that the assistant coach got fired. The coach didnt like her telling him how to run the team all the time. She stepped on his toes too often! C phu ta hun luyn vin bi sa thai khng phai la iu ang ngac nhin. ng hun luyn vin khng thich c y luc nao cung chi bao ng cach iu khin i bong. C y a chen vao vic cua ng khin ng bc minh qua nhiu ln ri!

69: get the short end of the stick, a stick in the mud
1. get the short end of the stick: bi thua thit, bi i x bt cng
ca lam vic

. Poor Donna! Last week was the third time that she had to work the late shift, but none of the other workers did. It was so unfair. She got the short end of the stick once again. She might have to speak up for herself.

Ti nghip cho c Donna! Tun trc la ln th ba c y phai lam ca m trong khi cac cng nhn khac, khng ai phai lam nh vy. Tht la bt cng. Mt ln na c y a bi thit thoi. Co le c y phai ln ting binh vc quyn li cua c. . Look how long housewives were portrayed as morons. They got the short end of the stick. To watch a TV commercial from years ago, youd think a womans highest ambition was to get her husbands shirt collars clean or to make desserts that were works of art! Ta hay xem cac ba ni tr bi m ta nh la nhng ngi n n trong mt thi gian dai bit bao nhiu. Ngay xa, nu ta xem quang cao trn ai truyn hinh ta se nghi rng tham vong ln nht cua mt phu n la lam sao git cho tht sach c ao cua ng chng, hay lam nhng mon n trang ming ep nh nhng san phm ngh thut! 2. a stick in the mud: mt ngi bao thu, gi nguyn cac t tng va tp quan cu . When I was a kid my dad used to be such a stick in the mud. But now he rides around in a sports car and takes my mom on exotic vacations. Hes definitely not boring anymore. Hi ti con nho cha ti tng la mt ngi ht sc bao thu. Nhng gi y cha ti lai xe ua chay khp moi ni va a me ti i du lich nhng vung mi la. Cha ti chc chn khng con la mt ngi te nhat na. . My sons in his thirties. He thinks Im a stick in the mud. Maybe I am old-fashioned, but I still dont feel its right for his girlfriend to stay the night. Con trai ti nm nay ngoai 30 tui. Con ti cho rng ti la mt ba me bao thu. Co le ti la mt ngi lac hu nhng ti vn cam thy rng cho ban gai cua con ti ngu lai nha la iu khng ung.

70: butterflies in ones stomach, turn ones stomach

1. butterflies in ones stomach: bn chn trong bung . When I used to give business presentations I always had butterflies in my stomach. But now Im relaxed. Ive learned to be well-prepared, and I always remember that confidence and self-control will help me not make any mistakes. Trc y mi khi ti thuyt trinh cac tai kinh doanh trc c toa ti thng cam thy hi hp lo lng. Nhng by gi thi ti rt thoai mai. Ti a hoc c cach chun bi tai liu ky lng,va ti lun lun nh rng s t tin va t chu se giup ti khng lam iu gi s xut. . Im going on my first date since my husband passed away. Its been so long that Im really nervous. I have butterflies in my stomach thinking about what to say. Ti sp co hen ln u tin vi mt ngi ban trai k t khi nha ti qua i. a t lu ti khng hen ho nh vy nn ti rt bn chn. Ti lo lng khi nghi ti chuyn khng bit phai noi gi y. 2. turn ones stomach: chan ghet, gh tm, hay mun nn ma, bi binh . When the boss promoted his son to be the new president, many of us at the company were disgusted. It turned our stomachs because he has no experience at all.

Khi ng xp thng chc cho con trai ng ta ln lam tn giam c, nhiu ngi trong chung ti tai cng ty nay a cam thy chan ghet. Vu thng chc nay khin chung ti gh tm vi con trai ng ta khng co kinh nghim gi ht. . I usually love to eat pizza. But when I was pregnant, it turned my stomach. The cheese and tomato sauce made me feel sick. Ti thng thng thich n banh pizza. Nhng khi ti co thai, banh nay a khin ti mun nn ma. Cht pho mat va xt ca chua trong banh a lam cho ti cam thy bi binh.

71: cast in stone, a stones throw away

1. cast in stone: cng nhc, khng th thay i c * cast: mt cht long nh kim loai hay thach cao vao khun cho ng cng lai uc mt vt. . My boss is very rigid. Once he E-mails the agenda for a meeting, he doesnt make any changes. Its cast in stone. ng xp ti la ngi rt cng nhc. Mt khi ng y gi in th thng bao nghi trinh cho mt bui hop, ng y khng bao gi thay i iu gi. Nghi trinh nay phai c gi nguyn nh a inh. . People used to order white wine only with fish and red wine only with meat. Today that practice is no longer cast in stone. Feel free to drink whatever wine you want with your meal. Trc y ngi ta co thoi quen chi goi ru chat trng khi n mon ca, va ru chat o khi n mon thit. Ngay nay, thng l (thi quen) nay a khng c gi nguyn nh cu na. Ban c t nhin ung bt c loai ru nao ma ban thich kem vi ba n cua ban. 2. a stones throw away: mt khoang cach rt gn . The new supermarket in my neighborhood has everything: clothing, kitchenware, electronics, and groceries. I can also get my prescriptions filled, as well as do my banking, all under one roof. And its a stones throw away. I only have to walk a couple of blocks to get there. Hiu bach hoa mi trong khu nha ti co tt ca moi th nh qun ao, dung cu nha bp, may moc in t, va thc phm. Ti cung co th mua thuc theo toa bac si, n ngn hang, lam tt ca moi th trong cung mt toa nha. Va hiu bach hoa nay lai gn nha ti. Ti chi cn i b vai ph la ti. . My mom cried when I took a job on the other side of the country. She wont be a stones throw away anymore. In fact itll take five hours by plane to visit her. Me ti a khoc khi ti nhn vic b bn kia cua nc My. Ba se khng con gn ti na. Tht vy ti se phai mt nm gi i may bay v thm me ti.

72: make a long story short, a sob story

1. make a long story short: tom tt mt cu chuyn dai va nu ln y chinh

. John and I thought about getting married, but to make a long story short, his parents didnt like me. Now that you know the most important reason, you understand why we arent seeing each other anymore. Anh John va ti a nghi ti chuyn kt hn vi nhau, nhng noi thng vao vn mt cach nhanh va gon, thi cha me anh y khng thich ti. By gi thi ban bit ly do quan trong nht ri, ban hiu c tai sao chung ti khng con gp nhau na. . Casablanca is a classic film about lost love, honor, duty, self-sacrifice and romance. Although it involves the lives of many characters, to make a long story short, its about two men who compete for the same woman during World War II. Casablanca la mt cun phim tuyt tac v tinh yu a mt, v danh d, bn phn, t hy sinh, va truyn tinh lang man. Tuy phim nay bao trum i sng cua nhiu nhn vt, nhng tom tt y chinh, thi phim nay la chuyn v hai ngi an ng tranh ua nhau danh tinh yu cua cung mt phu n trong cuc th chin th hai.
khoc nc n

2. a sob story: mt cu chuyn gy thng cam

v ly, ang bi giu ct

. Carol gave me a ridiculous sob story after she didnt turn in her homework assignment. With tears in her eyes, she told me she had written it, but her dog ate it! For that sorry excuse she got 0. Em Carol k cho ti nghe mt cu chuyn cam ng nhng v ly sau khi em khng np bai lam nha. Mt em rm l, em noi vi ti rng em co lam bai, nhng con cho cua em a n mt bai o! Vi li xin li ang bun, khng co gia tri nh vy, em a bi im khng. . When the police stopped Jay for speeding, he got very emotional. He had to get his wife to the delivery room right away, he explained. Then he started to cry as he talked about losing their first child. The officer felt badly after hearing this sob story and let him go. A half hour later Jays new baby boy was born! Khi canh sat gi anh Jay lai v ti lai xe qua nhanh, anh tr nn ht sc xuc ng. Anh giai thich rng anh phai a v ti phong sinh ngay lp tc. Ri anh bt u khoc khi anh noi v chuyn mt a con u long. Canh sat vin thy xuc ng sau khi nghe cu chuyn thng cam nay nn anh i. Chi na gi sau con trai s sinh cua anh Jay ra i!

73: give it to someone straight, keep a straight face

1. give it to someone straight: noi thng thn va chn tht vi mt ngi nao . Everyone in our company waited to hear about possible layoffs. The manager decided to give it to us straight. She told us directly that the plant was going to close because labor was cheaper overseas. Moi ngi trong cng ty chung ti ch nghe tin v chuyn co th bi mt vic. Ba quan ly ben quyt inh noi thng thn va chn tht vi chung ti rng nha may nay sp ong ca vi lng bng cua gii lao ng hai ngoai re hn y. . The doctor looked at my knee injury. It was really bad, so I wanted to know if Id be able to play football again. He gave it to me straight: I would have to miss half of the season, but thats all!

ng bac si xem xet vt thng u gi ti. Vt thng nay kha nng nn ti mun bit xem liu ti se co th chi bong bu duc c na hay khng. ng bac si thng thn noi vi ti rng ti se phai nghi chi bong trong na mua u, nhng chi co th thi. 2. keep a straight face: gi mt b mt binh than, nin ci . Linda has such a strange voice but loves to sing. Everytime she sings at office Christmas parties, its difficult for her colleagues to keep a straight face. C Linda co mt giong noi ky la nhng c lai thich hat. Mi ln c hat tai cac bui lin hoan s vao dip l Giang Sinh, cac ng nghip cua c kho nin ci c. . Just as my grandfather was saying grace at the dinner table, our dog ran into the room. Somehow she had found his false teeth and had them in her mouth. It was so funny we started to laugh. We could no longer keep a straight face. Ngay khi ng ti bt u cu nguyn ta n tri tai ban n, con cho cua chung ti chay vao phong n. Khng hiu lam sao ma con cho tim thy ham rng gia cua ng ti va ngm trong ming no. Canh nay trng ht sc bun ci nn chung ti pha ra ci, khng con nhin c na.

74: strike a happy medium, strike out

1. strike a happy medium: at ti mt giai phap dung hoa . When my husband and I were planning our wedding, he wanted a big event, so we could invite all of our relatives and friends. I preferred to have it very small. In the end, we struck a happy medium. We invited our immediate family and a few friends. Its a compromise were both pleased with. Khi nha ti va ti chun bi t chc am ci, anh y thich lam am ci tht ln co th mi tt ca ho hang va ban be. Ti thi lai thich mt am ci tht nho. Cui cung, chung ti chon mt giai phap dung hoa. Chung ti mi nhng ngi thn nht trong gia inh va vai ngi ban. o la mt giai phap dung hoa khin ca hai chung ti u hai long. . Our town has grown so much that theres a lot more traffic. Some residents want to build a highway while others dont. Perhaps if we widen the roads a bit we can strike a happy medium. That way we can find a balance that satisfies everyone. Thi trn cua chung ti a phat trin manh nn co thm nhiu xe c. Mt s c dn mun xy mt xa l con nhng ngi khac thi khng mun. Co le nu chung ti ni rng cac con ng trong thi trn thm mt chut thi chung ti co th i ti mt giai phap dung hoa. Lam nh th thi chung ti co th at ti mt thoa thun khin cho moi ngi u hai long. 2. strike out: tht bai . Since I no longer need my old car, I put an ad in the newspaper to sell it. I thought it would be easy to find a buyer. But, so far, not one person has called. Ive really struck out. Vi ti khng con cn chic xe cu cua ti na nn ti ng bao ban xe. Ti tng se d tim c ngi mua, nhng cho n nay cha co mt ngi nao goi ti ht. Ti a tht bai.

. For many years Cher was known only as a singer. When she first acted in films, critics expected her to fail completely. But she didnt strike out. She became a big star and even won an Oscar for Best Actress. Trong nhiu nm, Cher chi ni ting la mt ca si. Khi c bt u ong phim, cac nha ph binh tru liu c se tht bai hoan toan. Tuy nhin, c a khng tht bai ma tr thanh mt ngi sao sang va danh c mt giai Oscar cho n tai t xut sc nht.

75: make a clean sweep, sweep under the rug

1. make a clean sweep: quet sach nhng gi khng cn thit . When the new mayor came into office, she didnt want any staff members who disagreed with her agenda. So she made a clean sweep. She let all of those employees go. Khi ba thi trng mi vao nhm chc, ba khng mun co bt c nhn vin nao bt ng y kin vi nghi trinh hoat ng cua ba. Vi th ba a sa thai tt ca nhng ngi o. . When my boyfriend broke up with me, I didnt want any of his photos or gifts around. I went through all my stuff and made a clean sweep. I got rid of everything that reminded me of him. Khi ban trai ti ct t quan h vi ti, ti khng con mun gi lai bt c hinh anh hay qua tng nao cua anh y gn ti. Ti soat lai ht cac vt cua ti va dep sach moi th nhc nh ti v anh y. 2. sweep under the rug: che du mt iu gi xu hay lm li . Our team lost so many matches last season, it was a disaster. We could have swept it under the rug. But instead of ignoring it, we learned from the mistakes we made in order to do better. i chung ti thua qua nhiu trn u trong mua bong a va qua. Tht la mt ai hoa. ang ly ra chung ti a co th che du chuyn nay, nhng thay vi bo qua cac li lm, chung ti a hoc c mt bai hoc a bong kha hn. . At first, President Nixon, whose party was responsible for the crime, tried to swept it under the rug. But newspaper reporters investigated the story which led to hearings and eventually the presidents resignation. Thoat u, tng thng Nixon, ngi thuc ang chinh tri pham ti t nhp nay, a tim cach che du vu b bi nay. Tuy nhin, cac nha bao a m cuc iu tra, a ti nhng cuc iu trn va cui cung tng thng Nixon phai t chc.

76: tail between ones legs, the tail wagging the dog
1. tail between ones legs: xu h vi tht bai hay lm li . Erin was always bragging that she was the best swimmer on the team. But recently she came in last in the regional competition. Ever since, she has had her tail between her legs. Shes still embarrassed about her defeat.

C Erin luc nao cung khoe khoang rng c la ngi bi gioi nht trong toan bi li. Tuy nhin, hi gn y c a v cui trong cuc tranh tai cp khu vc. K t o c cam thy be mt. C vn con xu h vi tht bai cua c. . My managers son Andy was always proud of his driving, but was surely embarrassed when his father learned that he had borrowed his car and had an accident. Thats why I said that he must have had his tail between his legs. Con trai ng quan ly cua ti la anh Andy lun lun t hao v tai lai xe cua anh, nhng ro rang a be mt khi cha anh kham pha ra rng anh a mn xe cua ng va bi ung xe. Vi th ti noi rng chc anh ta a rt xu h. 2. the tail wagging the dog: mt chuyn nho anh hng n chuyn ln, hay mt s ao ngc vai tro . Anita and Bills new house hasnt even been designed. Still, Anita has been busy shopping for new appliances. She has the tail wagging the dog. She should be paying attention to building the house before worrying about small details. Ngi nha mi cua Anita va Bill cha c thit k xong. Th ma c Anita vn bn rn i mua cac vt dung trong nha. C y lam chuyn nho trc thay vi lo n chuyn ln. C y nn chu y ti vic xy nha mi trc khi lo lng v nhng chi tit nho nht. . The other day my sister Jennifer explained traditional Chinese medicine to her doctor. I must say thats a case of the tail wagging the dog. Hm no em ti c Jennifer a giai thich v y khoa c truyn cua Trung quc cho bac si cua c y nghe. Ti chc hn rng o la mt trng hp ngc i.

77: take as gospel, take the cake

1. take as gospel: tin mt iu gi la hoan toan ung s tht . My mom has often warned me not to go outside with wet hair. She says Ill catch a cold, but Ive never taken it as gospel. Frankly, I dont believe its true, like a lot of common advice mothers like to give. Me ti vn thng dn ti la ng ra ng trong khi toc con t. Ba noi ti se bi cam, nhng ti khng bao gi cho o la s tht ca. Thng thn ma noi, ti khng tin iu o la tht, cung ging nh nhiu li khuyn thng thng khac ma cac ba me hay noi vi con. . Apparently educators are concerned that students have access to technology but dont know how to use it, because many of them take as gospel what they find on-line. But this information should not always be believed. It may be an advertisement and not a quality source. Ro rang la cac nha giao duc lo ngai rng sinh vin co c hi tip cn ky thut nhng khng bit cach dung, vi nhiu ngi tin nhng gi ho tim thy trn mang la s tht. Tuy nhin, khng phai luc nao cung nn tin vao loai thng tin nay. No co th la mt quang cao ch khng phai la mt ngun thng tin co gia tri. 2. take the cake: chim giai nht, du tt hay xu

. There are many nice places to visit in America. But Sedona, Arizona takes the cake. With its ancient rocks and canyons, its the most beautiful spot of all. Thats probably why over a hundred movies have been filmed there, to show the unique beauty of the West. Co nhiu thng canh i xem Hoa ky, nhng Sedona trong tiu bang Arizona la ni ep nht, vi nhiu khi a va khe nui c xa. o co le la ly do tai sao hn mt trm cun phim a c quay tai o trinh bay ve ep c ao cua min Ty nc My. . I went to have my hair done yesterday and my hairdresser suggested I try adding a little color. Now look at what he did to me! I look like a clown with bright red hair. Ive had a lot of hairstyles in my life, but this one is the most outrageous. It certainly takes the cake!

Hm qua ti i lam toc, va anh th un toc nghi la ti nn dung thm mt chut mau. y, ban xem tac phm cua anh ta! Ti trng ging nh mt anh h vi mai toc o choe. Trong i ti, ti a co nhiu kiu toc, nhng kiu nay la ky quc nht. ung la kiu t nht.

78: talk someones ear (head) off, talk turkey

1. talk someones ear (head) off: noi nhiu n ngi ta phat chan . I shouldnt have sat beside my aunt Louise at dinner. I asked her how she was feeling and she talked my ear (head) off. I got so tired of listening to her health problems that I finally had to excuse myself. ang ly ra ti khng nn ngi bn canh di Louise cua ti tai ba n ti. Ti chi hoi thm sc khoe cua di va di a noi nhiu n ni ti phat chan. Ti mt moi nghe di k v nhng binh hoan cua di n cui cung ti phai xin li i ch khac. . Honey, if thats the real estate agent calling back, dont answer the phone. Hes so chatty, hell talk your ear (head) off. I have a headache from our last conversation! Nay anh, nu o la ng chuyn vin ia c goi lai thi anh ng tra li in thoai. ng y thich noi chuyn lai nhai n ngi ta phat chan. Em vn con bi nhc u t bui noi chuyn va ri vi ng y ! 2. talk turkey: noi chuyn nghim chinh v mt vn quan tron . Why is our governor so popular? Whenever theres a problem, he discusses it with us in a simple and direct way. We like how he talks turkey. Tai sao ng thng c cua chung ti lai c nhiu ngi a chung nh vy? o la vi mi khi co mt vn gi, ng y ban lun vi chung ti mt cach n gian va trc tip. Chung ti thich cach ng y noi thng thn nh vy. . Our holiday party wasnt very cheerful. Most of the time, the CEO was talking turkey. He wanted everyone to know how poorly our cars have been selling. Ba tic nghi l cua chung ti khng vui ve gi lm, bi vi trong hu ht thi gian o ng tng giam c cng ty a noi chuyn rt nghim chinh va thng thn. ng y mun moi ngi bit rng xe cua cng ty chung ti san xut a ban kem coi nh th nao.

79: give ones eyeteeth, lie through ones teeth

1. give ones eyeteeth: mong mun lam u moi cach at c mt iu gi . Last month a hurricane destroyed my home. I lost everything I owned including photographs of my family and friends. They were so precious to me. Id give my eyeteeth to have them back. Really, Id do anything. Thang trc, mt trn bao a pha huy ngi nha cua ti. Ti mt tt ca moi th ti co, k ca nhng tm hinh cua gia inh va ban be ti. Nhng th nay rt quy bau i vi ti. Ti m c lam u moi cach ly lai c nhng th o. Tht vy, ti sn sang lam bt c iu gi at c y nguyn o. . My son is a big rock music fan. Lately, hes been learning about Woodstock back in 1969. He would give his eyeteeth to have gone there. But theres nothing he can do to make that happen because hes too young. Con trai ti rt hm m nhac rock. Hi gn y con ti a tim hiu v ai nhac hi Woodstock m hi nm 1969. Con ti m c lam u moi cach co dip tham d nhac hi nay vao thi o. Nhng con ti khng th nao lam gi at c y nguyn nay vi cu qua tre tui. 2. lie through ones teeth: noi di mt cach trng trn . Mom asked Sally where she got ten dollars. But instead of telling the truth, she lied through her teeth. She said shed found the money, but in fact she stole it from a friend. Now shes being punished. Me ti hoi em Sally rng em y co mi la u vy. Thay vi noi tht, em a noi di mt cach trng trn. Em noi em a tim thy tin o, nhng tht ra em a n cp cua mt ngi ban. By gi em ang bi phat. . When I was pregnant, I felt very unattractive. But my husband used to tell me I was the most beautiful woman in the world. Of course he was lying through his teeth. I knew it wasnt true at all. Hi ti co thai ti cam thy rt xu xi. Tuy nhin, luc o nha ti thng noi vi ti rng ti la ngi an ba ep nht trn th gii. Di nhin anh y noi di mt cach tr tren, vi ti bit iu o khng tht chut nao.

80: just like that, thats that

1. just like that: mt iu gi xay ra bt ng va nhanh chong . Last week, a friend of mine was playing guitar at a club downtown. After he finished his songs, this record producer came up to him and said he wanted to record him. Then he offered him a contract, just like that! Tun trc, mt ngi ban ti anh an ghi-ta tai mt cu lac b di ph. Sau khi anh anh an xong, mt ng san xut ia hat n gp anh va noi rng ng ta mun thu thanh cac ban nhac nay. Ri ng ta nghi anh ky mt hp ng vi ng ngay tc khc! . Kathleen was told by a travel agent that her baby boy didnt need a passport to travel overseas. But when she went to board the plane, she found out that he did. Just like that, her vacation plans were suddenly over!

C Kathleen c mt nhn vin hang du lich cho bit rng be trai con c khng cn co h chiu ra nc ngoai. Tuy nhin, khi c sa soan ln may bay c mi kham pha ra rng con trai c cn phai co h chiu. Th la chng trinh du lich cua c bt ng bi huy bo ngay tc khc. 2. thats that: chi co th thi, khng cn phai thao lun gi thm na . The last time we went skiing I fell and broke my arm. So dont ask me to go again. Im not interested, and thats that. Im not going to say anything more about it. Ln va ri chung ta i trt tuyt ti a bi nga gay tay. Vi th cac ban ng ru ti i na. Ti khng thich i, chi co th thi. Ti se khng noi gi thm v chuyn nay na. . Our division worked so hard this year that Im going to make sure everyone gets a bonus. I realize that some of our accountants may not agree, but Im the boss. Ive made my decision and thats that. No more discussion. Nm nay n vi cua chung ta a lam vic tht vt va, cho nn ti nht quyt tng tin thng cho mi ngi. Ti bit rng mt vai k toan vin trong cng ty co le khng ng y, nhng ti la quan c y. Ti a quyt inh nh th, khng co ban cai gi na.

81: neither here nor there, then and there

1. neither here nor there: iu khng quan trong vi khng lin h gi n cu chuyn ang ban lun . My friends and I are determined to go to the next Super Bowl game. Some of us want to drive; others want to fly. But how we get there is neither here nor there. Whats important is that we get to see the best football teams play. Cac ban ti va ti nht quyt i xem trn u bong bu duc v ich sp ti. Mt vai ngi trong nhom mun lai xe, con nhng ngi khac thi mun i bng may bay. Nhng vic chung ti n o bng cach nao thi khng quan trong. iu quan trong la chung ti se co dip xem cac i bong gioi nht u vi nhau. . My dad cant decide if he wants to retire in a place thats near nature or near cultural activities. For my mom, the decision is neither here nor there. She doesnt care where they move. Cha ti khng th quyt inh xem liu ng mun v hu mt ni gn thin nhin hay gn cac hoat ng vn hoa. Con i vi me ti thi quyt inh nay khng quan trong. Ba khng quan tm n vic di ti ch mi, vi i u cung c. 2. then and there: ngay tai ch va ngay luc o . David finally came home from the navy yesterday. As his ship came into port, he saw his girlfriend. He decided to propose to her then and there. He didnt want to wait for another minute. Cui cung thi anh David a v nha hm qua sau khi c nghi phep cua hai qun. Trong luc tau cua anh vao n bn anh trng thy ban gai anh. Anh quyt inh cu hn vi c ngay tai ch va ngay luc y. Anh khng mun ch i thm mt phut nao na.

. When I was a kid, my aunt invited me to her office. I got to see all the cool engineering projects she was working on. I knew then and there I wanted to be an engineer too. I can still remember the exact time and place when I chose my career. Hi ti con nho, c ti a a ti n thm vn phong cua c. Ti c dip xem tt ca nhng d an rt thu vi ma c ang lam. Ngay luc o ti bit la ti cung mun lam ky s na. Ti vn con nh ung ngay gi va ni chn khi ti chon ngh nghip cua ti.

82: lay it on thick, through thick and thin

1. lay it on thick: thi phng hay ca ngi ht li mong hng li . When the officer stopped my friend for speeding, she gave him an exaggerated story. She told him she was in a hurry to get home to her sick grandmother. Then she wiped a tear from her eye. She really laid it on thick. But she still got a ticket. Khi ng canh sat bt ban ti dng xe lai vi chay qua tc , c y a a ra mt chuyn phong ai. C y noi vi ng ta rng c phai vi va chay v nha sn soc ba c ang bi binh. Ri c chui mt giot nc mt trn mi. C thc s tao ra mt cu chuyn phong ai. Tuy nhin, c vn bi mt giy phat nh thng. . Stacey knew that I really wanted her parents to like me. But before I met them, she warned me not to lay it on thick. Her mom and dad dont like lots of flattery. Stacey bit rng ti rt mong mun cha me c thich ti. Tuy nhin, trc khi ti gp cha me c, c a canh bao ti la ng nn ca ngi ht li ly long ho, vi cha me c khng thich qua nhiu li tng bc. 2. through thick and thin: kin tri vt qua moi hoan canh d dang ln kho khn . Former President Carter and his wife have enjoyed many successes together in their lives while va tui tin, co th mua c promoting international peace and affordable housing. But they have also experienced the loss of a presidential election and other difficulties. Through thick and thin they have always helped each other out. Cu tng thng Carter va phu nhn a cung hng nhiu thanh cng trong i ho trong khi quang ba hoa binh th gii va xy nha ca cho ngi ngheo. Tuy nhin, hai ng ba cung a trai qua mt vu tht c tng thng va nhiu kho khn khac. Ca hai ngi vn lun lun kin tri h tr cho nhau, bt chp moi kho khn. . Life hasnt been easy since I became disabled. Fortunately, I have a service dog that has helped me with the many difficulties I have to deal with every day. Hes been with me through thick and thin. I cant imagine getting along without him. i ti a tr nn khng d dang k t khi ti bi tan tt. May mn thay, ti co mt con cho c hun luyn giup ti vt qua nhng kho khn ma ti phai i pho mi ngay. Con cho nay a trung thanh

vi ti trong moi hoan canh, d dang cung nh cam go. Ti khng th tng tng la co th xoay s ma khng co no.

83: the greatest thing since sliced bread, a thing or two

1. the greatest thing since sliced bread: mt cai gi hay ho, ky diu nht . My digital video recorder allows me to watch a TV program whenever I want. I select the shows, it does the recording. Its such a wonderful invention. To me, its the greatest thing since sliced bread. Cai may video thu hinh dang s t cua ti giup ti xem mt chng trinh truyn hinh vao bt c luc nao ti mun. Ti chi cn chon chng trinh ri may nay thu hinh cho ti. Tht la mt sang ch tuyt vi. Ti cho rng y la s phat minh hay nht k t khi co loai banh mi xt lat . . Im happy my friend Cheryl won our high school talent contest. But since then, shes been acting like shes so important. When is she going to realize that shes not the greatest thing since sliced bread? Ti rt vui khi thy ban ti, c Cheryl a thng trong cuc thi ua biu din tai nng tai trng trung hoc cua chung ti. Tuy nhin, k t o c ta a co iu b nh c la mt ngi ht sc quan trong. Chng nao c y mi nhn thc ra rng c y khng phai la nhn vt tai gioi nht k t khi banh mi xt lat c sang ch? 2. a thing or two: nhng kin thc thu thp c qua kinh nghim . Carla isnt a mother, but she understands children quite well. As an elementary school teacher, shes had years of experience helping young students develop. Clearly, shes learned a thing or two about kids. C Carla khng phai la mt ba me nhng c rt hiu ro tre con. C la mt giao vin tiu hoc va co nhiu nm kinh nghim giup hoc sinh phat trin. Ro rang c co kha nhiu kin thc v vic day d tre con. . Mark Spitz is among the greatest swimmers of all time. He won seven gold medals for the U.S. in the 1976 Olympic Games. Because of all that hes achieved, he knows a thing or two about swimming. Mark Spitz la mt trong s cac tay bi gioi nht t trc ti nay. Anh a oat c bay huy chng vang cho nc My trong th vn hi Olympic nm 1976.Vi tt ca nhng thanh qua ma anh a at c, anh co rt nhiu kin thc v bi li.

84: think on ones feet, think the world of someone

1. think on ones feet: co tai ng bin va quyt inh nhanh chong . A good business leader needs to be an effective communicator who is knowledgeable and experienced. He should also be able to think on his feet. If he cant quickly come up with solutions to problems, his company wont stay competitive. Mt lanh o doanh thng cn phai la mt ngi bit giao tip hu hiu, co kin thc va kinh nghim. Ngi o cung phai co kha nng suy oan va quyt inh nhanh chong. Nu ngi o khng th nhanh chong giai quyt cac vn thi cng ty cua ng khng th canh tranh ni vi cac cng ty khac.

. The show I saw last night was so different. The actors worked without a script. They took suggestions from the audience for storylines, and then invented dialogue and action as they performed. They could really think on their feet. Bui trinh din ma ti i xem ti hm qua tht khac la. Cac din vin a trinh din ma khng co kich ban. Ho nghe cac nghi do khan gia a ra tao nn nhng ct truyn, ri ch ra cuc i thoai va hanh ng trong khi ho trinh din. Ho tht s a co tai ng bin rt nhanh chong. 2. think the world of someone: kinh phuc, quy mn mt ngi nao . I respect my mom and dad very much. They came to this country with very little and worked hard to support our family. Theyve also been very active in our community, making it a better place to live. Thats why I think the world of my parents. Ti rt kinh trong cha me ti. Cha me ti n x nay hu nh vi hai ban tay trng va a lam vic cc nhoc nui gia inh. Hai ng ba cung hoat ng tich cc trong cng ng giup cho cng ng c tt ep hn. o la ly do khin ti rt khm phuc cha me ti. . One of the most admired country music singers of all time is Johnny Cash. Fans think the world of him for the songs he wrote based on his difficult life and his spirituality. Although he passed away, his unique voice and style live on through a wide variety of recordings. Mt trong s cac ca si nhac ng qu c ai m nht t trc ti nay la Johnny Cash. Nhng ngi hm m anh rt quy mn anh vi nhng bai hat do anh vit, da trn cuc i ngheo kho, vt va, va np sng tm linh cua anh. Tuy anh a qua i, song giong hat va cach trinh din c ao cua anh vn sng mai qua cac bng thu thanh.

85: go through the motions, through and through

1. go through the motions: gia v lam mt vic gi nhng khng nghim chinh . The day the hurricane hit New Orleans, The Saints, the citys football team, were playing in California. They were so concerned about the troubles their families and friends were facing back home, they couldnt concentrate on their game. So they simply went through the motions. Who can blame them for not showing any real interest in playing? Hm ma trn bao thi vao New Orleans, i bong bu duc cua thanh ph la i The Saints ang u tai tiu bang California. i nay qua lo lng v nhng kho khn ma gia inh va ban be ho phai i pho nha cho nn ho khng th chu tm vao trn u. Ho chi u bong ly l. Ai co th trach ho la a khng to y thc s ham mun tranh tai? . Jane didnt enjoy her job. She was tired of performing the same tasks again and again with no real enthusiasm. Then she found a new position in another company. Now she looks forward to going to work. She doesnt go through the motions anymore. Trc y c Jane khng thich thu vi vic lam cua c. C chan lam i lam lai cung mt phn s ma khng thy hng say gi ht. Nhng sau o c tim c mt vic mi tai mt cng ty khac. Gi y c vui thich mong moi ch ti luc i lam, ch khng lam vic cho co l nh trc na. 2. through and through: hoan toan, chinh cng

. You can tell my husband and I are New Yorkers through and through. We go to clubs when most Americans go to bed. We live in a building with more people than some U.S. towns. We take fashion seriously. And we take a taxi to get to our health club in order to exercise. We represent the Manhattan lifestyle in every way. Ban co th thy rng hai v chng ti la dn New York chinh cng. Chung ti i n cu lac b khi phn ng dn chung My i ngu. Chung ti sng trong mt khu chung c co ng ngi hn la mt vai thi trn My. Chung ti rt coi trong thi trang. Va chung ti i taxi ti cu lac b th thao tp th duc. Chung ti ai din cho li sng cua dn Manhattan v moi khia canh.

. Since my son became very ill, Ive been incredibly busy. But my best friend has done so much to help. She cleans my house, takes my daughter to school and does my grocery shopping. Shes been a true friend; a friend through and through. T khi con trai ti bi binh nng, ti a cc ky bn rn. Nhng ba ban thn nht cua ti a giup ti rt nhiu. Ba y don dep nha ca cho ti, a con ga ti i hoc va i mua thc n cho ti. Ba y qua tht la mt ngi ban tt.

86: throw someone a curve, throw out the baby with the bath water
1. throw someone a curve: lam mt iu gi bt ng khin ngi ta hoc vui hoc bun . Tonight Im picking up my girlfriend. She thinks were going to a movie. Instead, Im throwing her a curve. Im surprising her with a romantic dinner cruise along the river. Ti nay ti se n on ban gai ti. C y nghi rng chung ti se i xem phim. Nhng ti se danh cho c y mt s bt ng. Ti se khin c y ngac nhin thich thu bng mt bui n ti th mng trn mt chic du thuyn chay doc trn sng. . Since the forecast was for a hot and sunny day, we invited our neighbor friends and their kids over for a pool party. But as we started splashing around, the sky turned unexpectedly dark. Soon it was pouring rain and everyone had to run inside. The weather threw us a curve that day! Vi thi tit hm o c tin oan la se nong va nng rao, nn chung ti mi cac ban lang ging va con cai ho n chi ua bn canh h tm sau nha. Tuy nhin, khi chung ti bt u nghich nc bn tung toe thi bu tri bng nhin ti sm lai. It lu sau thi tri ma to va moi ngi phai chay vao trong nha. Thi tit hm o a bt ng lam hong cuc vui cua chung ti. 2. throw out the baby with the bath water: vt bo cai tt ln cai xu . After a month going to the gym, I felt and looked healthier. But I hadnt lost as many pounds as I wanted. I was ready to quit. Then I realized my fitness was more important than not meeting my weight loss goals. I almost threw out the baby with the bath water. Im glad I didnt. Sau mt thang n phong tp th duc ti cam thy khoe manh hn trc. Nhng ti a khng xung nhiu cn nh ti mong mun. Ti a sn sang bo cuc. Ri ti nhn ra rng sc khoe la iu quan trong hn la at c muc tiu xung cn cua ti. Suyt na thi ti a nghi tp th duc chi vi khng th giam cn. Ti mng la a khng lam nh vy.

. Some companies have introduced technology at grocery stores that scans your fingerprint, which is connected to a bank or credit card. Although the system still isnt perfect, the companies arent going to throw out the baby with the bath water. They plan to continue working on it despite the problems. Mt s cng ty a ap dung ky thut mi tai cac tim thc phm chiu hinh du tay cua ban va chuyn ti mt ngn hang hay mt the tin dung. Tuy ky thut nay cha hoan hao, song cac cng ty khng vt bo cai tt ln cai xu. Ho d inh tip tuc nghin cu mc du vn con nhiu tr ngai.

87: in the nick of time, time on ones hands

vt ct hay vt hn nho

1. in the nick of time: vao phut chot, trc khi qua mun . My dad thought hed be clever taking a shortcut to the church. Unfortunately, he got lost and nearly missed my wedding. Just as the bridal music began to play, he showed up to lead me down the aisle. Our family will never forget how he arrived in the nick of time! Cha ti tng rng ng khn ngoan khi i ng tt ti nha th. iu khng may la ng i lac, va suyt na thi khng d c am ci cua ti. Ngay khi ban nhac ci bt u tri ln, cha ti a n kip dn ti i c hanh l hn phi. Gia inh ti se khng bao gi qun vu cha ti a n kip ngay vao phut chot . . There was a holiday sale at the electronics store, and I got there in the nick of time. After I bought the new gaming and entertainment system, the customers behind me in line were told there werent ng sp hang any left. Luckily, I wasnt too late! Co mt vu ban ha gia nhn dip nghi l tai mt ca tim ban hang in t, va ti a n o kip luc. Sau khi ti mua mon chi giai tri mi, nhng khach hang ng phia sau ti c bao cho bit la cac mon chi nay a ht sach. Ti tht may mn khng n qua mun! 2. time on ones hands: co thi gi ranh ri, khng bit lam gi . Brett hasnt been able to play soccer since he broke a toe. Whereas he used to have a full schedule of training, practices and games, lately hes found nothing to do. He has so much time on his hands, hes bored. He cant wait to start playing again. Anh Brett a khng th chi bong a k t khi anh bi gay mt ngon chn. Trc y anh vn co mt chng trinh y u la hun luyn, luyn tp va tham d cac trn u, nhng dao gn y anh khng co gi lam ht. Anh co qua nhiu thi gi ranh ri nn anh cam thy bun chan. Anh mong moi n ngay bt u a bong tr lai. . When my twins were very young, I was always busy. I never had a free minute to myself because I was always looking after the kids. But now that they are going to elementary school, I have some time on my hands. Thats why Im thinking about going back to work part-time. Khi hai a con sinh i cua ti con nho, luc nao ti cung bn rn. Ti cha h co mt phut ranh ri vi luc nao ti cung chm nom hai a be. Nhng by gi thi hai a bt u vao trng tiu hoc nn ti co thi gi nhan ri. Vi th ti ang nghi ti vic i lam ban thi gian tr lai .

88: bite ones tongue, tongue in cheek

1. bite ones tongue: gi im lng vi khng mun noi ln y nghi thc s cua minh, s ngi khac bun phin . My sister and I were pretty excited when dad told us he was buying a new sports car. But then he came home driving an ugly yellow car with a cheap vinyl interior. When he asked our opinion, we didnt want to tell him what we really thought, it might have hurt his feelings. So we just bit our tongues. Hai chi em ti kha hao hc khi cha ti cho bit ng sp mua 1 chic xe ua mi. Nhng sau o ng lai mt chic t mau vang xu xi v nha. Bn trong xe lai lot mt loai nha vinyl re tin. Khi ng hoi y kin chung ti, chung ti khng mun noi s tht vi s co th khin ng mt long. Vi th chung ti gi im lng . . Last Christmas my friend gave me an expensive scarf. Without realizing it, she gave me the same gift this year. I had to bite my tongue when she wanted to know if I had ever seen anything so beautiful. I simply couldnt tell her the truth. Hi Giang Sinh nm ngoai ban ti tng ti mt khn quang t tin. Nm nay c y khng nh va lai cho ti cung mt cai khn quang nh th. Ti phai gi im lng khi c y mun bit la ti a trng thy mt mon qua nao ep nh th bao gi cha. Ti qua la khng th nao noi cho c y bit s tht . 2. tongue in cheek: li noi ua mia mai, i khi khin ngi khac hiu lm . When our newspaper ran a story on April Fools Day that Canada was going to become part of the United States, most readers laughed. They understood we wrote it tongue-in-cheek. But a few didnt realize it was a joke and called our offices with great concern. As a result, the newspaper had to print an apology to them the next day. Khi t bao cua chung ti ng mt tin vao ngay noi ua truyn thng, mung 1 thang T, rng Canada sp tr thanh mt phn cua Hoa ky, phn ng c gia ci vi ho hiu rng chung ti vit tin nay nh la mt li noi ua. Nhng mt s it ngi khng bit rng o la mt li noi ua nn goi vao vn phong chung ti va ht sc lo lng. Vi th t bao chung ti phai ng li xin li ho ngay hm sau . . To promote the DVD of its classic film Jaws, the Hollywood studio went to several beaches and set up movie posters featuring the infamous shark with its huge sharp teeth. The advertising was meant tongue-in-cheek, but many visitors didnt find it funny at all. Some children saw it and were to scared to go swiming while some foreign tourists thought it was a warning not to go in the water! quang cao cho nhng DVD v cun phim tuyt tac Jaws, nha san xut Hollywood a ti nhiu bai bin va dng nhng tm bich chng co ve hinh con ca mp ni ting xu vi ham rng nhon khng l. Quang cao nay co y la mt li ua ct, nhng nhiu du khach khng thy co gi la ang bun ci ca. Mt s tre em trng thy anh ca mp va s khng dam i bi, con mt s du khach nc ngoai thi tng rng o la li canh bao ng li xung nc!

89: to the hilt, to the letter

cai can gm hay can dao gm

1. to the hilt: n mc ti a, hoan toan . Some Americans could not have been in worse financial trouble last year. After borrowing too much money, they found they couldnt pay back what they owed. As a result, 1.6 million individuals filed for bankruptcy. They felt they had no choice because they were in debt to the hilt.

Mt s ngi My khng th nao bi kho khn tai chanh t hai hn la trong nm ngoai. Sau khi vay qua nhiu tin, ho thy la khng th nao tra ni s tin ma ho n. Kt qua la 1 triu 600 ngan ngi My a khai pha san. Ho cam thy rng ho khng th lam gi khac c vi ho mc n ia xac phao. . Credit is a wonderful thing if youre careful. Thats why I only have one credit card. My sister, on the other hand, has several. Sometimes she doesnt realize how much shes charged. Then the credit card bills arrive and shes stressed to the hilt!

Tin dung la mt iu tuyt vi nu chung ta s dung no mt cach thn trong. o la ly do tai sao ti chi co mt the tin dung. Trai lai, em gai ti co rt nhiu the. i khi c y khng bit la a dung the mua bao nhiu th. Ri khi cac hoa n thanh toan n tay c thi c bi cng thng n mc ti a! 2. to the letter: theo ung chi thi, tng chi tit mt . Heres how to get to my house, but be careful! Its rather confusing because you have to make a lot of turns. You could easily get lost if you dont follow my directions to the letter. So please drive exactly as I have indicated. y la li n nha ti, nhng ban hay cn thn. ng i kha rc ri vi ban phai re nhiu ln. Ban co th i lac d dang nu khng theo ung li chi dn cua ti. Vi th, xin ban hay lai xe ung y nh ti a chi. . When my grandfather prepares his homemade pasta dishes, he does it from memory. His cooking is guided by tasting and smelling, not by adding exactly certain ingredients. He simply doesnt believe in following recipes to the letter. Khi ng ti nu cac mon mi lam tai nha, ng nu theo tri nh cua ng. Cach nu n cua ng da vao cach nm va ngi thc n ch khng phai thm mt thanh phn c bit nao o. ng ti khng tin vao kiu theo ung cng thc nu nng tng chi tit mt.

90: spread oneself too thin, too close to call

1. spread oneself too thin: m m qua nhiu vic . My son Peter has been extremely active at his high school. Hes the editor of the school newspaper, co-captain of the wrestling team, and a member of the math club and the debate team. Its no wonder that he comes home exhausted. Hes spreading himself too thin. He has to stop trying to do so many things at the same time! Peter con trai ti hoat ng rt hng say tai trng trung hoc. No lam bin tp vin t bao cua trng, ng i trng i u vt, va la thanh vin cua hi toan hoc va hi tranh lun. Thao nao no mt nhoai khi v n nha. No ang m m qua sc. No phai ngng c lam qua nhiu vic cung mt luc! . Weve watched other companies merge and get bigger and bigger. Although they have more resources, they also tend to get involved in more projects than they should. As a result, they lose their ability to stay competitive. Thats why our firm is going to stay small. We prefer not to spread ourselves too thin. Chung ti a theo doi cac cng ty khac lin doanh vi nhau va ngay cang tr nn ln hn. Tuy ho co nhiu vn ling hn nhng ho cung co khuynh hng tham gia vao nhiu d an qua sc ho. Kt qua la

ho mt kha nng canh tranh. Vi th cng ty chung ti se gi nguyn mc nho. Chung ti khng mun m m qua sc minh. 2. too close to call: kho quyt inh hay kho a ra kt qua . My friend and I go to the racetrack once in a while. The last time we bet on a horse that looked like a good pick. And for most of the race, he was comfortably ahead. But then another horse caught up to him and the two seemed to cross the finish line at the same time. The crowd roared, yet the race was too close to call. No one knew the result until the judges studied the photos and declared our horse the winner! Bn ti va ti thinh thoang i ti trng ua nga. Ln va ri chung ti anh ca mt con nga trng cung kha. Trong gn sut cuc ua, con nga nay dn u d dang. Nhng ri mt con nga khac bt kip no va ca hai con dng nh v n ich cung mt luc. am ng khan gia reo ho vang di, nhng cuc ua qua khit khao. Khng ai bit kt qua cho ti khi cac trong tai xem lai nhng tm anh chup cuc ua va tuyn b con nga cua chung ti thng cuc! . Usually, it doesnt take long to decide the winner of a presidential contest. In 2000, however, the election was too close to call. Even experts were unsure of the outcome. Finally, after 36 days of studying ballots, recounting votes and getting the Supreme Court to make a ruling, George W. Bush became the 43rd president of the United States! Thng thng thi khng cn mt nhiu thi gi quyt inh ai la ngi thng trong mt cuc tranh c tng thng. Tuy nhin, vao nm 2000, cuc tranh c a qua khit khao. Ngay ca cac chuyn gia cung khng chc chn v kt qua cuc tuyn c. Cui cung, sau 36 ngay cu xet va m lai cac la phiu, ri nh phan quyt cua Ti Cao Phap Vin, ng George W. Bush a tr thanh tng thng th 43 cua Hoa ky!

91: touch and go, touch base

1. touch and go: khng chc chn kt qua se ra sao, hay bt trc, nguy him . My first date with Jean was touch and go for a while. After I spilled dessert all over the table and accidentally shut the car door on her dress, I thought she might not want to see me again. But by the end of the evening we were joking about what happened and she wanted to know when we could get together next. Luc u, bui hen ho u tin cua ti vi c Jean a khng chc co kt qua tt. Sau khi ti lam trang ming ln ban va v y ong ca xe t ln ao c y, ti tng rng c y khng mun gp lai ti na. Tuy nhin, vao cui bui ti o chung ti a noi ua vi nhau v nhng gi a xay ra, va c y mun bit chng nao chung ti lai co th gp nhau ln na. . When my daughter was born several weeks too early, it was uncertain whether she would live or not. Her condition was touch and go. Fortunately, like more and more premature babies today, she was able to leave the hospital and has a good chance for normal growth and development. Khi con gai ti bi sinh non mt my tun l, ngi ta khng chc liu con ti co sng c khng. Tinh trang sc khoe cua con ti kha trm trong. May mn thay, cung nh nhiu tre s sinh thiu thang ngay nay, con ti a co th xut vin va co c may phat trin binh thng . 2. touch base: lin lac vi nhau

. Our sales force is so spread out across the country, our agents rarely see each other in person. So we Email and do conference calls in order to touch base. By communicating with one another on a regular basis, were able to follow everyones progress. i ngu ban hang cua chung ti dan ra khp trong nc cho nn nhn vin it khi trng thy tn mt nhau. Vi th chung ti dung Email va hi hop qua Internet lin lac vi nhau. Khi tip xuc thng xuyn vi nhau chung ti co th theo doi tin b cua moi ngi.
bui hop trc cng chung

. Senator Hillary Clinton is scheduled to return to New York for a series of public events. Shell have the chance to consult with voters in her state on a variety of issues. Its important for her to touch base with them often to find out their opinions. Theo chng trinh, nghi si Hillary Clinton se tr v tiu bang New York ra mt cng chung nhiu ln. Ba se co c hi tham khao vi c tri trong tiu bang cua ba v mt s vn . iu quan trong i vi ba la thng xuyn tip xuc vi ho bit y kin cua ho nh th nao .

92: go to town, talk of the town

1. go to town: lam mt iu gi nhanh chong, chu ao . My wife likes a clean house. But since shes been away on business for a week, Ive been rather lazy. Now that shes on her way home from the airport, I dont have much time to do the dishes and vacuuming. I had better go to town or shell walk in on a big mess! V ti thich nha ca c sach se. Nhng t khi ba y i cng tac xa trong mt tun l ti co hi li bing. Gi y, ba y ang trn ng t sn bay v nha, cho nn ti khng co nhiu thi gi ra chen va hut bui. Chc ti phai don dep tht nhanh, nu khng ba y se bc vao mt cn nha ln xn, bn thiu. . The Statue of Liberty needed a pedestal to rest on. Unfortunately, there was no money in the budget to build one. Thats when a New York newspaper invited readers to send in donations. Fortunately, they went to town. In less than 7 months, 121,000 contributors raised the necessary funds and the famous landmark was soon dedicated. Tng N thn T Do cn c t trn mt cai b. iu khng may la khng co tin trong ngn quy xy b nay. Ri mt t bao New York nu goi c gia ong gop. May thay, dn chung a hng ng nhanh chong. Trong khng y 7 thang, co 121,000 ngi a quyn u tin, va bc tng ni ting nay a c khanh thanh. 2. talk of the town : mt tai c nhiu ngi ban tan
ra mt, trnh lng

. Im looking forward to seeing how your new addition came out. Its sure to look better than the one my brother built. He thought hed save money by doing the job himself, but it came out a real eyesore. His poor workmanship was the talk of the town among his neighbors. Ti rt mong moi n xem cn phong mi xy thm cua chi ra sao. Chc chn la no trng ep hn cn phong ma anh ti xy. Anh y tng se tit kim c ting bng cach xy ly, nhng cn phong trng xu xi qua. Tay ngh kem coi cua anh a la tai ban lun si ni gia nhng ngi lang ging cua anh.

. Rising oil prices and increased competition have hurt one of the largest automakers in the U.S. As a result, there are rumors that the company may shut down many of its plants and lay off thousands of workers. Understandably, employees are so concerned about what may happen, its the talk of the town. Gia du tng va s canh tranh gia tng a gy thit hai cho mt trong cac nha san xut xe t ln nht nc My. Vi th co tin n rng cng ty nay co th ong ca nhiu nha may va sa thai hang ngan cng nhn. Di nhin nhn vin ht sc lo lng v nhng gi co th xay ra. o la iu ma ho ban tan khng ngng .

93: bark up the wrong tree, cant see the forest for the trees
1. bark up the wrong tree: hiu lm mt vn va do o cung hanh ng sai lm . Paula was all excited after she met Peter at a party. He was smart, handsome, accomplished; everything she was looking for in a boyfriend. Then, just as she was going to suggest that they go out sometime, she realized she was barking up the wrong tree. Peter was married! C Paula rt thich thu sau khi gp anh Peter tai mt bui tic. Anh ta thng minh, ep trai, hoan hao, nghia la co u moi th ma c mong moi mt ban trai. Nhng ngay khi c sp nghi hai ngi i chi vi nhau vao mt luc nao o, c nhn ra rng c a sai lm. Anh Peter a co v! . Im sorry that you didnt get much of a raise, but dont bark up the wrong tree! I am not to blame. Its the new company president who decided to limit salary increases this year. You should complain to him instead. Ti rt tic la ng khng c tng lng nhiu, nhng ng ng trach lm ngi. o khng phai la li cua ti. Chinh ng giam c mi cua cng ty a quyt inh han ch vic tng lng trong nm nay. ng nn than phin vi ng y thi ung hn. 2. cant see the forest for the trees: chu y n chi tit ma khng hiu mt nguyn tc rng ln hn . Shirley needs a lot more money to buy a house. Shes been saving coupons at the supermarket and cutting back on buying new clothes. But she cant see the forest for the trees. She has to consider all of her spending and make a long-term savings plan, not simply focus on saving a few dollars. C Shirley cn co thm rt nhiu tin mua nha. It lu nay c y vn danh nhng phiu tit kim tai cac siu thi va bt mua qun ao mi. Nhng c y a chu y n nhng chuyn nho ma khng nhin xa thy rng. C y phai cu xet moi vic chi tiu ri lam mt k hoach tit kim dai han, ch khng phai chi nhm vao vic danh vai la. . Experts say that to be a successful CEO, you need to be a visionary; someone who sees and understands an organization from a broad perspective. In other words, it isnt a position for anyone who cant see the forest for the trees. Cac chuyn gia noi rng mun thanh cng trong vai tro giam c chp hanh cua mt cng ty, ban cn phai la ngi nhin xa thy rng; mt ngi nhin thy va hiu ro mt t chc t mt vin canh rng rai. Noi cach khac thi y khng phai la mt chc vu cho ngi nao khng nhin xa thy rng.

94: trial and error, trial by fire

1. trial and error: hoc bng cach do tim mo mm . One of my uncles hobbies is beer making. He experiments with different approaches in order to create a tasty beer. Because he makes mistakes along the way, we can say this is a process that involves a lot of trial and error. Mt trong cac s thich cua bac ti la lam bia. ng y th nghim nhiu cach khac nhau tao ra mt loai bia ngon. Vi ng y lam li nhiu ln trong luc th nghim, ta co th noi rng y la mt qua trinh hoc tp bng cach mo mm. . Polio is a terrible disease that used to cripple millions of children. Dr. Jonas Salk was determined to stop its spread. Through trial and error, he finally succeeded. In 1955, after years of testing, he produced a safe and dependable vaccine. Binh bai lit la mt chng binh khung khip tng lam cho hang triu tre em bi que qut. Bac si Jonas Salk nht quyt chn ng binh nay. Qua cach mo mm nghin cu, cui cung ng a thanh cng. Nm 1955, sau nhiu nm th nghim, ng a tim ra c mt thuc chung an toan va ang tin cy . 2. trial by fire: th thach tai nng cua minh trong mt hoan canh kho khn . Im a bit anxious about marrying my fiance. You see, hes a widower with two children. Even though Ive gotten to know the kids, its still going to be a trial by fire, the biggest challenge of my life. I hope I can be a good wife and mother. Ti hi lo lng v vic lp gia inh vi hn phu cua ti vi anh y goa v va co hai con. Tuy ti a co dip quen bit hai a tre, nhng y vn se la th thach ln nht trong i ti. Ti hy vong ti se la mt ngi v va mt ngi me tt. . When my dad died suddenly I had to take over the company business. It wasnt easy to assume his many responsibilities. I had never been under so much pressure before to learn a job so quickly. It was a real trial by fire. Khi cha ti bt ng qua i, ti a phai tip quan vic iu hanh cng ty. am nhn nhiu trach nhim cua ng khng phai la iu d dang. Trc o, ti cha bao gi bi nhiu ap lc hoc vic nhanh n th. Tht qua la mt cuc th la.

95: tricks of the trade, up to ones old tricks

1. tricks of the trade: manh khoe ngh nghip . Like many of my co-workers, I often bring in a soft drink that I store in the company kitchen. So that everyone knows which soda is mine, I write my name on a thick rubber band and put it around my soda before putting it in the refrigerator. Its just one of my tricks of the trade. Cung ging nh nhiu ng nghip khac, ti thng mang mt chai nc ngot vao ct trong nha bp cua cng ty. Mun cho moi ngi bit chai nao la cua ti, ti vit tn ti ln mt vong cao su dy ri t vong o quanh chai nc ngot cua ti trc khi no vao tu lanh. y chi la mt trong cac cach khn kheo cua ti.

. Since my dad was a butcher, I grew up learning the tricks of the trade. For example, its only after I wrap the meat for the customer that I weigh it. Charging for the packaging may be a bit dishonest, but thats how I can make a small profit on each sale. Vi cha ti la ngi ban thit nn ti ln ln va hoc cac manh khoe bun ban. Chng han nh chi sau khi goi thit cho khach hang xong ti mi cn goi thit o. Tinh ca tin giy goi thit co th la hi thiu lng thin, nhng o la cach ti kim thm chut li mi khi ban hang.

2. up to ones old tricks: hanh ng la di hay quy quai . Emily was up to her old tricks last week. She made a date with one guy and then broke it when she got a better offer from another. Shes so constantly dishonest; its amazing that shes still popular! C Emily lai d tro la di hi tun trc. C y a hen i chi vi mt chang trai, ri lai bo cuc hen khi c c mt anh chang khac kha hn mi i chi. C y lun lun gian di; iu ang ngac nhin la c y vn c cam tinh cua cac thanh nin. . Ive had enough of the members of the city council! During the last election, they were up to their old tricks. They promised to cut taxes for everyone, but ended up giving most of the money to the very wealthy. I should have known theyd deceive the public yet again! Ti a chan ngy cac uy vin hi ng thanh ph! Trong cuc bu c va ri, ho a lai gi tro la di. Ho ha giam thu cho moi ngi, nhng cui cung lai a tin o cho nhng ngi giau co. ang ly ra ti phai bit la ho se la di dn chung mt ln na!

96: true blue, true colors

1. true blue: hoan toan ang tin cy va trung thanh . Ive known Anne-Marie all of my life. Through good times and bad times, Ive always been able to depend on her help. Shes a true blue friend. No one else is as loyal as she is. I dont know what Id do without her. Ti bit c Anne-Marie sut i ti. Ti vn lun lun co th nh c giup trong nhng luc yn vui ln nhng khi hoan nan. C tht s la mt ngi ban tt. Khng ai trung thanh nh c. Nu khng co c thi ti khng bit se xoay s ra sao.
tn tuy, ht long

. I admit Im a true blue southerner, devoted to our fine traditions. I love fried chicken and drink sweet tea throughout the year. Nothing means more to me than family, football and good-old country music. Im so proud to be from Alabama; I wouldnt dream of living anywhere else! Ti cng nhn ti la mt ngi Nam thc s, say m cac truyn thng tt ep cua chung ti. Ti thich n ga chin va ung nc tra ng quanh nm. i vi ti, khng gi quy hn la gia inh, mn bong bu duc va nhac ng qu tuyt vi. Ti rt hanh din la ngi tiu bang Alabama; ti khng h nghi ti vic sng mt ni nao khac! 2. true colors: tinh cach hay b mt tht cua mt ngi

. Ill never forget what my tennis coach told me when I was young. After losing several matches, I was discouraged, but my coach cheered me up by telling me not to lose hope and quit. Its in losing that you see everybodys true colors. He was right: I can learn a lot more from defeat than from victory. Ti khng bao gi qun nhng gi ma hun luyn vin qun vt noi vi ti hi ti con tre. Sau khi thua nhiu van, ti nan chi, nhng hun luyn vin c vo ti khi noi vi ti la ng mt hy vong ma bo cuc. ng noi rng chi khi thua ngi ta mi thy ro ban cht thc s cua moi ngi. ng y noi ung: Ti co th hoc hoi c nhiu t nhng tht bai hn la t nhng thng li.

. We always thought James was such an honest worker. But it turns out he had been routinely stealing from the store when he thought no one suspected. Hes shown his true colors and now everyone knows him for the thief he really is. Its his own fault that he lost a good job and his reputation. Luc nao chung ti cung tng rng anh James la mt ngi rt lng thin. Nhng hoa ra anh y thng xuyn n cp trong tim mi khi anh y nghi rng khng ai nghi ng. Anh y a l b mt thc, va gi y moi ngi u bit anh ta la mt tn n cp. Chinh anh ta co li nn a bi mt vic va mt ca danh ting.

97: change ones tune, to the tune of

1. change ones tune: thay i lp trng hay thai . Basketball fans didnt have much respect for our universitys team until we started winning game after game against top-rated schools. Now those critics are changing their tune. The way they talk about how great our players are, they sound like theyve supported us for years! Nhng ngi hm m bong r a khng coi trong i bong cua ai hoc chung ti cho n khi i nay bt u thng ht trn nay n trn khac khi u vi cac trng gioi hang u. Gi y, nhng ngi ph binh ang thay i giong iu cua ho. Cach ho khen ngi cac cu thu cua chung ti nghe nh co ve ho a ung h chung ti trong nhiu nm qua! . My boyfriend loves astronomy, which I always thought was boring. But after going with him to the planetarium and exploring the universe together through his telescope, Ive changed my tune. Ive gotten a whole new attitude about the stars and planets. Now I find them fascinating, thanks to him. Ban trai ti thich thin vn hoc, nganh hoc ma ti lun lun cho la nham chan. Tuy nhin, sau khi i cung anh y n nha m hinh vu tru va cung thm do vu tru qua vin vong kinh cua anh y, ti a thay i lp trng. Ti a co mt thai mi me i vi cac ngi sao va hanh tinh. Gi y, nh co anh ma ti thy cac thin th nay rt hp dn. 2. to the tune of: tng s mt cai gi . Cell phones today come with a variety of optional services. These include text messaging and wireless internet capability. But these features arent cheap. In fact, they can cost you a lot more, to the tune of several more dollars per month. For that amount, you should think carefully about what you really need.

in thoai di ng ngay nay co nhiu dich vu t chon, gm ca gi in th va dung mang internet. Tuy nhin, cac dich vu nay khng re, ma tht ra tn kem rt nhiu, thm n nhiu la mi thang. i vi mt s tin nh vy ban nn suy nghi cn thn v nhng gi ban thc s cn . . Customs officials were surprised when they opened a mans luggage and an exotic bird flew out. Then, moments later, a miniature monkey jumped out of his pants. A judge sentenced him to the tune of 30 days in jail. Perhaps in that amount of time, hell figure out why he tried such a crazy thing! Nhn vin hai quan ngac nhin khi ho m hanh ly cua mt ng va thy mt con chim la bay ra. It lu sau o, mt con khi be ti xiu chui ra khoi qun ng nay. Mt quan toa tuyn phat ng ta 30 ngay tu. Co le trong thi gian tu ng ta se tim ra ly do tai sao ng ta lai lam mt iu in r nh vy!

98: turn a blind eye, turn the tables

1. turn a blind eye: c y l i hay bo qua . When my kids are at home, I make sure they eat healthy, nutritious food. But when they visit my mom, she gives them lots of sweets. I really shoud stop her, but I know she only wants to spoil them a bit. Thats why I turn a blind eye, and ignore all the cookies and candy she offers them. Khi cac con ti nha, ti oan chc la chung phai n thc n b dng. Nhng khi chung i thm me ti thi ba cho chung rt nhiu ngot. Tht s ti nn ngn ba, nhng ti bit ba chi mun nung chiu chung mt chut. Vi th, ti gia v khng trng thy nhng banh keo ma ba cho chung . . Records show that the mayor had been caught speeding on several occasions, but never received a ticket. It seems police turned a blind eye. But they couldnt overlook his illegal behavior after he ran through a red light and struck a pedestrian! H s trc y cho thy la ng thi trng a bi bt vi chay xe qua tc nhiu ln, nhng cha bao gi bi lanh giy phat. Dng nh canh sat a c tinh l nhng vu nay i. Nhng ho a khng th bo qua hanh ng bt hp phap cua ng khi ng ta vt en o va ung phai mt ngi i ng! 2. turn the tables : xoay ngc tinh th . After scoring well behind our opponents, our soccer team came back the second half with renewed spirit. They managed to get one goal and then another, and finally two more. They reversed their loss and took control of the game. What a thrill to watch them turn the tables. Sau khi kem i thu kha nhiu, i bong a cua chung ti a tr lai vong u th nhi vi mt tinh thn hng hai mi. i chung ti a xoay s ghi mt ban thng, ri hai ban va cui cung thm hai ban na. i chung ti a ao ngc lai tinh th va thng linh trn u nay. Tht la thich thu khi xem i nay danh lai u th. . As a celebrity, I have so little privacy. Fans follow me everywhere. Theyre constantly taking my picture, staring at me or begging me for my autograph. Just once, Id like to turn the tables. If I treated them like they treat me, then they might understand what it feels like to be hunted like an animal! Vi la mt ngi ni ting nn ti it co i sng ring t. Gii hm m theo doi ti khp ni. Ho lun lun chup anh ti, nhin ti chm chm, hay xin ti ky lu nim. Ti chi mun co mt ln ao ngc tinh th

nay. Nu ti i x vi ho nh ho i x vi ti, co le ho se hiu c th nao la cam giac bi sn ui nh mt con thu!

99: leave a bad taste in ones mouth, a taste of ones own medicine
1. leave a bad taste in ones mouth: lai mt cam giac tc gin hay bt man . It was kind of my neighbor to offer to babysit. But hearing her scream at her nephew the other night has left a bad taste in my mouth. That made such a poor impression on me that I cant forget about it. I think Ill find someone else to look after my kids. Ba lang ging cua ti tht t t khi ba nghi trng con gium ti. Nhng khi nghe ba la het chau ba vao ti hm no ti cam thy kho chiu. Hanh ng cua ba khin ti co cam tng xu ma ti khng th nao qun c. Ti nghi ti phai kim ngi khac trng nom con ti . . Chucks sense of humor got him in trouble again. This time he told a joke about the Pope in front of our new boss, who is a devout Catholic. The incident managed to leave a bad taste in her mouth. Shes been very upset ever since. Tinh hai hc cua anh Chuck a khin anh y bi li thi mt ln na. Ln nay, anh ta noi ua vui v c Giao Hoang ngay trc mt ba xp mi cua chung ti. Ba y la mt ngi Cng giao sung ao. Li noi ua nay khin cho ba bt man, va vn tc gin cho n by gi. 2. a taste of ones own medicine: bi i x xu ging nh minh a i x vi ngi khac . Carmen is constantly interrupting people. Its so rude. How would she like it if she were treated the same way? If she got a taste of her own medicine, Im sure she wouldnt appreciate it. Maybe then shed learn to be more polite. C Carmen lun lun ngt li ngi khac. Tht la bt lich s. C y se cam thy nh th nao nu c y cung bi i x nh vy? Nu ngi khac cung ngt li c y thi ti tin chc rng c y se khng hai long. Co le luc o c y se tr nn l hn. . For years, the owner of the Jets had successfully stolen away some of the best players from other teams. Finally hes getting what he deserves, a taste of his own medicine. This season, his rivals have recruited his star kicker and goalkeeper with better salaries! T nhiu nm qua, chu nhn i bong Jets a thanh cng trong vic mua chuc c mt s cu thu gioi nht cua cac i khac. Cui cung, ng ta a bi tra ua mt cach ang i. Mua bong nay, cac i thu cua ng ta a tuyn m c cu thu a bong va thu mn gioi nht cua ng bng cach tra lng cho ho cao hn.

100: it takes two to tango, like two peas in a pod

1. it takes two to tango: 2 ng`/ 2 fe phai chiu tr.nhim v 1 v. va cn h.tac vi nhau gi.quyt v. o . My sister and brother-in-law arent talking to one another after having an awful argument. Each accuses the other of being unreasonable. Until they realize that it takes two to tango, theyll never resolve their differences. Theyre both equally responsible for creating and solving the problem.

Chi ti va anh r ti khng noi chuyn vi nhau sau mt trn cai nhau kich lit. Ngi nay t cao ngi kia la v ly, khng bit iu. Ho se khng bao gi giai quyt c vn cho ti khi nao ho nhn ra rng cn phai co hai ngi mi lam c chuyn o. Ca hai u co trach nhim trong vic gy ra va giai quyt vn . . Our company has approached one of our rivals to form a partnership. Weve sent a contract for them to sign, but so far they havent responded. Lets face it: We cant move ahead with our plans if they dont cooperate. After all, it takes two to tango. Cng ty cua chung ta a tip xuc vi mt trong cac i thu cua chung ta lp mt lin doanh. Chung ta a gi mt ban hp ng n cho ho ky kt, nhng cho ti nay ho vn cha ap ng. Chung ta phai nhn rng chung ta se khng th xuc tin d an cua chung ta nu ho khng hp tac. Noi cho cung thi cn phai co s ng thun cua ca hai bn thi mi xong vic.
v u

2. like two peas in a pod: ging ht nhau v hinh dang, tinh tinh, hay li suy nghi . Its not easy to tell the twins apart. Not only do Brian and Bruce look and sound alike, but they also think so much the same that they often finish each others sentences. They are really two peas in a pod. Tht kho ma phn bit hai anh em sinh i nay. Khng nhng Brian va Bruce trng ging nhau va noi y ht nh nhau, hai ngi con suy nghi ging nhau n ngi nay thng tip li ngi kia. Hai anh em nay ging nhau nh hai giot nc. . Dont expect to get excused from swimming practice. Neither the head coach nor the assistant coach is very understanding. Theyre like two peas in a pod. They are equally demanding and expect everyone on the team to sacrifice everything to win. ng mong xin min tp luyn. Ca ng trng hun luyn vin ln phu ta cua ng y u khng to ra thng cam. Ho ging nhau nh uc. Ho u oi hoi nhiu va mun moi ngi trong i bi phai hy sinh tt ca moi th thng giai.

101: keep under ones hat, under ones belt

1. keep under ones hat: gi bi mt mt iu gi . Nobody in the family knows that my sister is going to have a baby except me. She told me not to tell anyone. For now, Im keeping it under my hat. It will be our secret until she has a chance to make the announcement. Ngoai ti ra, khng ai trong gia inh bit la chi ti sp co con. Chi ti dn ti la ng noi cho ai bit. Vao luc nay thi ti gi kin chuyn nay. y se la chuyn bi mt cua chung ti cho n khi chi ti co dip thng bao cho moi ngi bit. . Linda, our accountant, is a very honest employee. So when she realized that the boss had been embezzling some of the companys assets, she felt she had to inform the president right away. It wasnt the sort of thing she was going to keep under her hat.

C Linda, k toan vin cua chung ti, la mt nhn vin rt lng thin. Vi th, khi c y bit c rng ng xp a bin thu mt it tin cua cng ty, c thy la cn phai bao cho ng giam c ngay lp tc. y khng phai la iu ma c co th gi kin. 2. under ones belt: nhng kinh nghim hay kin thc ma minh a thu thp c . Tom Cruise has achieved great success as an actor and producer. In fact, he has more than twenty years of movie making under his belt. With all his experience, its no wonder that his pictures have earned over six billion dollars worldwide. Tom Cruise a at c nhiu thanh cng ln trong vai tro din vin va ao din. Tht vy, anh a thu thp c hn hai mi nm kinh nghim lam phim. Vi kinh nghim gia dn nay, di nhin cac cun phim cua anh a thu c hn sau ty la trn khp th gii. . My mom belongs to a volleyball team of women over 50. Unlike most of their competitors, theyve been playing together for several seasons. With so many matches under their belts, they are a tough team to beat! Me ti co chn trong mt i bong chuyn danh cho phu n trn 50 tui. Khng ging nh cac i thu khac, i bong nay vn chi vi nhau trong nhiu mua. Vi a tham gia qua nhiu trn u nn i bong nay tht kho ma bi anh bai!

102: up in the air, up to par

1. up in the air: cha dt khoat, cha ro rang . My husband and I had been planning a skiing trip in Colorado for months. But an unusually dry winter there meant little snow. We werent sure what to do. Fortunately, our plans werent up in the air for long, as a major storm soon brought lots of beautiful white powder back to the slopes. T my thang nay, nha ti va ti d inh i trt tuyt tiu bang Colorado. Tuy nhin mt mua ng kh rao bt thng khin cho tiu bang o co it tuyt. Chung ti khng chc la se lam gi. May thay, d inh cua chung ti a khng bi truc trc qua lu, bi vi sau o mt trn bao ln a mang lai rt nhiu tuyt trng ep ti cac ng dc trt tuyt. . Will passengers be able to use cell phones in flight? It depends on whether the government can can thip vao ensure that such technology wont interfere with a planes navigation equipment. Although its decision is up in the air, it should make a determination soon. Liu hanh khach co th dung in thoai di ng trong khi may bay ang bay hay khng? iu nay tuy thuc vao vic liu chinh phu co th bao am rng mt ky thut nh th se khng gy rc ri cho dung cu lai may bay. Tuy quyt inh cua chinh phu vn cha dt khoat, nhng chinh phu chc se a ra mt n inh cu th trong mt ngay gn y. 2. up to par: at tiu chun . In 1938 Lou Gehrig complained of losing his strength. Despite not feeling up to par, he trained harder. But soon he couldnt even climb stairs. He died in 1941 of a rare, incurable nerve disease often called Lou Gehrigs disease.

Nm 1938, anh Lou Gehrig than rng anh ang mt sc dn dn. Tuy khng cam thy khoe manh, anh vn c tp luyn nhiu hn. Nhng it lu sau o anh khng con u sc bc ln cu thang na. Anh qua i nm 1941 vi mt chng binh thn kinh him thy va khng th cha c, ma ngi ta thng goi la binh Lou Gehrig. . When Jill applied to college, she worried that some of her grades werent up to par. Although its true that some of her class work was less than satisfactory, the school was impressed with her many extra-curricular activities. Thats why she was accepted for the fall semester. Khi c Jill np n xin vao ai hoc, c lo ngai rng mt s im cua c khng cao. Tuy s tht la c khng hoc gioi trong mt s mn hoc, nhng trng ai hoc khm phuc cac hoat ng ngoai khoa cua c. o la ly do tai sao c c nhn vao hoc ky mua thu.

103: play a waiting game, wait on someone hand and foot

1. play a waiting game: chi tro ch i mong at c kt qua tt hn . Nicole saved a lot of money on her new car. Because she knew the car dealer was anxious to khim nhng make the sale, she made him a modest offer. A few hours later, the dealer agreed to Nicoles asking price. By playing a waiting game, she got her vehicle for a lot less. C Nicole a tit kim c nhiu tin trong vu mua xe mi. Vi c bit rng ng ban xe rt mong moi ban c xe cho c nn c a tra mt gia thp. Chi vai gi sau o, ng ban xe ng y vi gia c nghi. Nh chi tro ch i, c a mua c xe vi gia kha re . . Most scientists agree that global warming is a real concern. Thats why they encourage us to take action now so we can reduce the threat of dramatic changes in our climate. We can no longer afford to play a waiting game. We have all the information we need today in order to decide what to do. Phn ng cac nha khoa hoc ng y rng tinh trang toan cu nong dn la mt mi lo ngai thc s. o la ly do tai sao ho khuyn khich chung ta hanh ng ngay by gi co th giam bt mi nguy co nhng thay i ln lao trong khi hu cua chung ta. Chung ta khng con co th chi tro ch i c na. Chung ta co u moi thng tin cn thit ngay nay quyt inh phai lam gi. 2. wait on someone hand and foot: phuc dich mt ngi nao ht sc chu ao . Albert has gotten quite a gift for his birthday. For the entire day, his wife is waiting on him hand and foot. Whatever he wants, she takes care of, from bringing him breakfast in bed to drawing his bath to running errands for him. Hes being treated like a king! Anh Albert va nhn c mt mon qua ht sc tt ep nhn ngay sinh nht cua anh. Trong sut ngay, v anh phuc dich anh t u n chn. Bt c iu gi anh mun, v anh cung lam, t vic mang thc n im tm vao tn ging, cho ti vic pha nc cho anh tm, va chay lo nhng vic vt cho anh. Anh ang c chm soc chu ao nh mt vi vua!

. When I met Bill Gates at a software convention, I was surprised. As the worlds richest person, I thought hed have assistants attending to his every need. But he wasnt self-important at all, and didnt expect to be waited on hand and foot. Hi ti gp ng Bill Gates tai mt hi nghi trin lam phn mm cua may tinh, ti rt ngac nhin. Ti tng rng vi ng Bill Gates la ngi giau nht th gii, ng se co cac phu ta ap ng tt ca cac nhu cu cua ng. Nhng tht ra ng khng t cho minh la quan trong, va ng khng trng i c phuc dich t u n chn.

104: walk all over, walk a tight rope

1. walk all over someone: i x ti t vi ngi khac . When my sister Amy was young, she didnt have much self-confidence. Some of her boyfriends took advantage of her, treating her with little respect. Since then, shes learned to value herself more. These days shes not about to date any guy who tries to walk all over her. Hi em Amy ti con tre, em khng co nhiu t tin. Mt vai ban trai cua em a li dung khuyt im nay, va khng i x t t vi em. K t o, em a hoc c cach coi trong minh hn trc. My luc nay, em khng hen ho vi bt c chang trai nao tim cach i x ti t vi em . . Barry Bonds holds many Major League Baseball records and is considered one of the best players in the history of the game. But some critics scorn him. They walk all over him because they believe he achieved success by using steroids. Barry Bonds at c nhiu ky luc trong mn bong chay chuyn nghip va c coi la mt trong cac cu thu gioi nht trong lich s mn th thao nay. Tuy nhin, mt vai nha ph binh khinh thng anh. Ho i x ti t vi anh vi ho tin rng anh a thanh cng bng cach dung hp cht kich thich xteroit . 2. walk a tight rope: trong mt tinh th kho x . Our town is made up of older residents who demand greater safety and security, and younger parents who insist on better schools for their kids. Given our small budget, the new mayor has found it challenging to make both groups happy. Hes been walking a tight rope ever since he was elected. Thi trn cua chung ti gm nhng c dn ln tui oi phai co thm an toan va an ninh, con cac bc cha me tre hn thi oi co trng hoc tt hn cho con ho. Xet vi chi co mt ngn sach nho nn ng tn thi trng thy kho lam cho ca hai nhom c hai long. ng ang trong mt tinh th ht sc kho x k t khi ng c bu ln. . Retailers today walk a tight rope. They constantly must seek ways to provide customers with low prices and still make a profit. Those who cant achieve this delicate balance often disappear from the market before long. Its a highly competitive climate. Cac tim ban le ngay nay ang i pho vi mt tinh th kho x. Ho phai lun lun tim cach ban cho khach hang vi gia re ma vn con kim c li. Nhng ngi nao khng at c th cn bng mong manh nay chng my chc se bin mt trn thi trng. y la mt mi trng canh tranh ht sc gt gao.

105: like water off a duck's back, water under the bridge

1. like water off a duck's back: nc u vit . I could never be as tolerant as my girlfriend is. Her mom finds fault with everything about her: how she looks, what she wears, where she works, whom she has for friends...But its all like water off a duck's back. My girfiend doesnt let those remarks upset her. Ti khng bao gi co th khoan dung nh ban gai ti c. Me c y ch trach tt ca moi th lin quan n c: c y trng nh th nao, n mc ra sao, lam vic u, ban be vi nhng ai. Nhng i vi c thi nhng li chi trich o ging nh nc u vit vi c khng cho nhng li o lam c kho chiu . . The soccer player didnt appreciate the rude remark made by an opposing team member. He was so disturbed that he struck the other guy with his head until the guy fell to the ground. Was the soccer player right to feel insulted or should he have let it pass like water off a duck's back? Cu thu bong a nay bt man vi li noi th l cua mt i thu. Anh ta tc gin n dung u p anh chang kia cho n khi anh kia nga xung t. Cu thu nay co ung khng khi cam thy bi ha nhuc, hay ang ly ra anh ta nn bo qua va coi li noi o nh nc u vit? 2. water under the bridge: nc chay qua cu . Back when they were political rivals, Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr. had little nice to say about one another. But thats all water under the bridge. These days, the former presidents enjoy a friendly relationship as they travel together to respond to global crisis. Trc y, khi con la i thu chinh tri vi nhau, ng Bill Clinton va ng George Bush cha a khng co gi tt ep noi v nhau . Nhng tt ca moi chuyn o u la nc chay qua cu. Hin nay hai vi cu tng thng la ban vi nhau va du hanh chung vi nhau giai quyt nhng cuc khung hoang trn th gii. . As I listened to Bill and Anita at the party, I found it hard to believe that they had gone through a bitter divorce a year ago. They must have decided that their differences were water under the bridge because they were laughing and joking as if they were a couple again. Khi ti nghe anh Bill va chi Anita chuyn tro tai bui tic, ti thy kho ma tin rng ho a trai qua mt vu ly di cay ng cach y mt nm. Chc ho a quyt inh la nhng bt ng y kin cua ho a la nc chay qua cu, bi vi ho ci ua y nh ho tr lai la v chng.

106: wet behind the ears, a wet blanket

1. wet behind the ears: con non nt, thiu kinh nghim . Even though Monica is our youngest office manager, shes anything but wet behind the ears. On the contrary, she came to the company with more experience managing people and resources than anyone else weve hired. Tuy c Monica la quan ly vn phong tre nht cua chung ta nhng c y khng phai la ngi thiu kinh nghim. Trai lai, c y n vi cng ty nay vi nhiu kinh nghim quan ly nhn vin va t liu hn bt c ngi nao khac ma chung ta a thu dung. . When MTV first began broadcasting on a single cable station, viewers often caught early technical mistakes, like a blank screen. But its no longer wet behind the ears. In fact, the high-tech network that introduced music videos to millions of kids is now almost 30 years old !

Hi knh MTV bt u phat hinh trn mt ai truyn hinh cap c nht, khan gia thng bt gp nhng li ky thut ban u, chng han nh mt man anh trng rng. Nhng by gi thi knh nay khng con thiu kinh nghim na. Tht vy, h thng ky thut cao nay tng mang lai nhng bng video m nhac cho hang triu tre em va a tn tai c gn 30 nm. 2. a wet blanket: ngi can tr nim vui cua ngi khac vi bi quan hay co s thich khac . My friend Jim wanted to do something completely different, so he invited a group of us to go skydiving ! Although it sounded scary to me, I didnt want to ruin everyones good time, so I went along. It turned out to be a lot of fun. Im sure glad I wasnt a wet blanket after all. Anh ban Jim mun lam mt iu gi hoan toan khac la nn a mi mt nhom chung ti i nhay du t may bay xung t. Tuy chuyn nay nghe co ve ang s nhng ti khng mun lam moi ngi mt vui nn ti ng y tham gia. Vu nhay du nay th ma a rt vui. Ti mng la ti a khng phai la ngi pha am tro vui cua cac ban. . My husband has taken an executive position with a noodle company. He doesnt know much about noodles. Thats one of the reasons he wants me to go on this retreat with the other execs and their spouses, so he can learn more about the industry. I didnt want to be a wet blanket so I went along with him. Chng ti va nhn mt chc quan tri tai mt hang lam mi si. Anh y khng bit nhiu v mi si. o la mt trong cac ly do khin anh y mun ti i ti ni tinh dng nay cung cac quan tri va v ho anh co th hoc hoi thm v hang nay. Ti khng mun gy tr ngai nn ti a cung i vi anh y .

107: spin ones wheels, wheel and deal

1. spin ones wheels: c gng lam ma khng mang lai kt qua . Julia wasted the morning trying to get her laptop fixed. After spending a long time on the phone waiting, she was finally able to talk to a technician. But he couldnt determine what was wrong. She was so tired of spinning her wheels that she wrote out her work by hand. C Julia mt ca bui sang tim cach sa may laptop cua c. Sau khi i trn in thoai kha lu, cui cung c a noi chuyn c vi mt chuyn vin ky thut. Nhng anh y cung khng bit may hong ch nao. C Julia qua mt moi vi n lc cua c khng i n u ht nn c vit tay nhng gi c cn lam . . Successful college students dont spin their wheels. According to experts, they make progress quickly because they are organized, enthusiastic and confident. They know how to set goals, ask lots of questions, and find a mentor to help them. Cac sinh vin thanh cng la nhng ngi khng phi thi gi lam nhng vic khng mang lai kt qua. Theo cac chuyn gia, cac sinh vin nay at c tin b rt nhanh vi ho ngn np, hng hai va t tin. Ho bit n inh muc tiu, nu nhiu cu hoi, va tim mt c vn day kinh nghim nng ho. 2. wheel and deal: thng lng, mc ca mt cach thiu lng thin . Dont expect me to reelect my congressman in the next election. As far as I can see, he hasnt done much to create jobs, improve education, or protect the environment. Hes too busy advancing his own interests. Ive had enough of his wheeling and deal.

ng mong ti bu lai cho dn biu cua ti trong cuc bu c ti. Theo ti thy thi ng ta cha lam gi nhiu tao cng n vic lam, cai thin giao duc, hay bao v mi trng. ng ta qua bn rn thng tin cac quyn li ring cua ng ta. Ti a chan ngy tro mc ca bt lng cua ng ta. . P.T Barnum helped create one of the most successful circuses in the world. His acts included exotic animals and human oddities, some of which were complete fakes. Still, his ability to wheel and deal drew millions of curious spectators. ng P.T.Barnum a co cng lp nn mt trong cac ganh xic thanh cng nht trn th gii. Cac man trinh din cua ng gm nhiu thu vt ngoai lai, va nhng con ngi ky di, ma mt s la hoan toan gia tao. Tuy vy, manh li gian ln cua ng a thu hut c hang triu khan gia hiu ky.

108: wild card, wild goose chase

1. wild card: mt ngi hay vt co hanh ng khng th oan trc c . Inviting my brother to a party can be a bad idea. He sometimes drinks too much, and then becomes quite rude. Frankly, I dont want a wild card like him ruining my evening. Hes too unpredictable. Mi anh ti ti mt bui lin hoan co th la mt y kin khng hay. i khi anh y ung ru qua nhiu ri tr nn ht sc bt lich s. Tht tinh ma noi, ti khng mun mt ngi bt inh nh anh y lam ti mt vui. Tht kho ma lng c hanh ng cua anh y. . My fiance and I considered having an outdoor wedding ceremony, but spring in New Hampshire is a real wild card. While the weather might be warm and pleasant, it could just as easily be cold, rainy or snowy. We decided we didnt want that uncertainty. Ti va hn phu cua ti a d tinh c hanh l ci ngoai tri, nhng mua xun New Hampshire lun lun thay i bt thng. Tuy thi tit co th m ap va d chiu, nhng cung co th lanh leo, ma, hay co tuyt. Vi th chung ti quyt inh khng mun mt trng hp bt trc nh vy . 2. wild-goose chase: mt s eo ui vin vng . Gramma wanted me to pick up a ribbon for her old typewriter even though I told her its nearly impossible to find one. So I went to every office store around. No luck. Finally she realized that shed sent me on a wild-goose chase. After that useless search, I showed her how to use a computer. Ba ti mun ti mua cho ba mt ruy bng cho cai may ch cu cua ba, tuy rng ti a noi la gn nh khng th tim c mt ruy bng nh th. Ti a i khp cac ca tim ban thit bi vn phong, nhng khng tim c gi. Cui cung, ba nhn ra la a a ti vao mt cuc truy tim v ich. Sau vu o, ti chi cho ba cach dung may tinh. . In 1804, Lewis and Clark set out on a dangerous journey across the unexplored western area of the U.S. Their expedition was no wild-goose chase. They discovered rivers, mountains, plant and animal species, and Indian tribes that greatly added to our knowledge.

Nm 1804, hai ng Lewis va Clark a m mt cuc phiu lu mao him ngang qua min Ty hoang vu cua nc My. Cuc tham him cua ho khng phai la mt s vin vng. Ho a kham pha ra nhiu con sng, day nui, nhiu loai cy ci va thu vt, cung nhng b lac th dn, giup cho ngi My hiu bit nhiu hn v t nc nay.

109: take the wind out of ones sails, throw caution to the wind
1. take the wind out of ones sails: ngha l ly li th ca ngi khc khin h mt t tin . Ben assumed that hed be elected as the next mayor after serving as assistant mayor and receiving endorsements from top politicians. But soon it became clear the voters preferred his opponent instead. The results really took the wind out of his sails. Anh Ben cho rng anh s c bu lm th trng sp ti, sau khi anh lm ph t th trng v nhn c nhiu s ng h ca cc chnh tr gia hng u. Tuy nhin, t lu sau ngi ta thy r rng c tri thch i th ca anh hn. Kt qu cuc bu c khin anh mt c tin tng . . I LOVE LUCY is a classic TV comedy from the 1950s. It almost didnt air because of objections by network execs. Fortunately, the shows stars werent about to let anyone take the wind out of their sails. They started their own studio, took control of the production, and went on to make broadcast history. I LOVE LUCY l mt hi kch truyn hnh bt h trong thp nin 1950. Hi kch ny sut na th khng c trnh chiu v c s chng i ca cc nh qun tr h thng truyn hnh. May thay, cc ngi sao chnh ca hi kch ny khng cho bt c ai lm nht ch h. H bt u m xng phim, t sn xut ly, v lm nn lch s truyn hnh. 2. throw caution to the wind: liu lnh trong khi hnh ng . Everyone in my family is rather cautious, except my nephew. What a risk-taker ! Ever since he was a boy, hes thrown caution to the wind. Thats why no one was surprised when he hurt his leg in a skateboard competition. Mi ngi trong gia nh ti u c tnh thn trng, ch tr chu ti. Chu qu l mt ngi thch tr nguy him. Ngay t khi cn b, chu t ra liu lnh. V th, khng ai ngc nhin khi thy chu b thng chn trong mt cuc tranh ti trt vn. . As a cop, I have little tolerance for drivers who act recklessly on the road. Once you are behind the wheel of a car, you shouldnt be throwing caution to the wind. Buckle your seatbelt, observe the speed limit and follow the rules of the road ! Trn cng v mt cnh st vin, ti khng dung th nhng ngi li xe u t trn ng. Mt khi bn ngi sau tay li, bn khng nn liu lnh. Phi tht dy an ton, tun th tc ti a theo quy nh, v tn trng lut li xe trn ng.

110: in the wings, wing it

1. in the wings: sn sng thay th

. Losing the teams best kicker might have been a disaster if not for Coach Johnsons thoughtful planning. Once he heard a rumor that his star player might be transferring to another school in the fall, he began recruiting and training a replacemet. With a talented newcomer in the wings, he was ready for the new season. Mt cu th gii nht trong i ng l ra c th l mt tai ha nu khng c k hoch cn thn ca hun luyn vin Johnson. Mt khi ng nghe tin n rng cu th sng gi ca ng c th chuyn sang mt trng khc vo ma thu, ng bt u tuyn m v hun luyn mt ngi thay th. Vi mt cu th mi c ti, sn sng hot ng, ng chun b y cho ma bng mi. . Imagine clothes thatphi resist stains ! Actually, they already exist, thanks to engineers working with thng very small materials. Plans for remarkable new medicines and powerful chips are in the wings. So expect those inventions to be developed soon. Ta hy tng tng n loi qun o ko b dnh bn ! Tht ra, loi qun o ny c ri, nh cc k s lm vic vi ~ cht liu nh ly ti. Cc k hoch ch to nhiu loi thn dc mi v ~ con chp cc mnh hin sn sng. V th chng ta nn tr liu l cc pht minh ny s xut hin trong 1 ngy gn y . 2. wing it : lm m khng chun b trc, ty c ng bin . My brother was supposed to offer a toast at my parents wedding anniversary party. But when the time came and he still hadnt arrived, I was asked to deliver it. Since I hadnt planned to say anything, I had no choice but to wing it! I must have done O.K. ; mom and dad were very moved. Anh ti c nhim v nng cc chc mng ti bui tic k nim ngy ci ca cha m ti. Nhng ti lc cn, anh ti li cha n. V th ti c yu cu ng ln thay. V trc ti khng d nh ni g c, nn lc ti bt buc phi ty c ng bin. Chc chn ti lm c vic v cha m ti ht sc xc ng. . I cant believe I forgot my papers in the taxi ! There I was at the board meeting, expected to give a presentation. So, with what I remembered, I went ahead and winged it! It was such a hit, I think I should speak spontaneously more often. Ti khng th tin c l ti b qun giy t trong xe taxi. V ti c mt ti bui hp ca ban gim c trnh by d n. V th, ti ng bin vi nhng g ti cn nh. Ti rt thnh cng nn ti ngh l t nay ti nn ni mt cch t nhin nhiu hn trc.

111: down to the wire, get ones wires crossed

1. down to the wire: vo pht cht . Deadlines for filing college applications are fast approaching and my son hasnt written his essays. Hed better hurry because its getting down to the wire. I dont know why hes waiting until the last minute. I hope he can still get into a good school. Hn cui np n vo trng i hc sp n gn, m con trai ti vn cha vit cc bi lun ca n. N nn lm gp bi v hn cht sp ti ni ri. Ti khng bit ti sao n li i cho n pht cht. Ti hy vng n vn c th xin vo c mt trng tt.

. Barbara decided months ago to participate in this years AIDS Walk. But with just two days left before the event, she still hadnt asked many people to sponsor her. Finding herself down to the wire, she sent an e-mail to everyone she knew. Fortunately, she received some generous pledges, which raised lots of money. Cch y nhiu thng, c Barbara quyt nh tham gia bui i b quyn tin chng bnh AIDS trong nm nay. Nhng ch cn hai ngy na l bui i b bt u, c vn cha ku gi nhiu ngi bo tr c. Cm thy l n pht cht, c bn gi in th ti nhng ngi c quen bit. May mn thay, c nhn c mt s cam kt bo tr, khin c quyn c kh nhiu tin. 2. get ones wires crossed: hiu sai, hiu lm v li ngi khc ni . My husband and I certainly got our wires crossed the other night. When we talked about having a guest over for dinner, he thought I understood that he planned to invite his boss. But I thought he meant my brother. The reason we got so confused is that both people are named Terry! m hm n ti v nh ti c mt v hiu lm. Khi chng ti bn v vic mi mt ngi khch n n cm ti, chng ti tng rng ti hiu l anh d nh mi ng xp ca anh y. Nhng ti li tng rng anh y mun mi em ti. L do khin chng ti lm ln l v c hai ngi u tn l Terry ! . Its only recently that the original settlers of the U.S. have been called Native Americans. Thats because in 1492, Columbus thought he arrived in India. But he got his wires crossed; he really landed in the New World. This explains why, for centuries, the people he met were mistakenly referred to as Indians. Ch mi hi gn y nhng ngi nh c u tin ti nc M mi c gi l ngi M bn x. l v vo nm 1492, ng Columbus tng rng ng ti nc n . Tuy nhin, ng tng lm; thc ra ng n Tn Th gii. l l do ti sao trong nhiu th k, nhng ngi m ng gp c gi bng mt tn sai l ngi Indians.

112: without fail, without so much as

1. without fail: chc chn s xy ra d th no chng na . Its easy for my husband and me to express how much we care about each other when things are going well. But weve agreed that, even when we get into an argument, by bedtime, we say to each other, I love you. Its our little ritual. We do it every night without fail. Khi mi vic u m p th tht d dng cho hai v chng ti by t tnh thng yu chm sc nhau. Nhng chng ti ng vi nhau l ngay c khi chng ti ci nhau, th n lc i ng chng ti vn ni vi nhau, anh yu em, v em yu anh. l nghi thc nho nh ca chng ti. Chng ti nht nh ni nh vy mi m. . You know what a health fanatic he is, right? Well, he gave me a sample of this vegetable juice he drinks. It was awful tasting. Im sure its loaded with vitamins, but when he told me its made from spinach, turnips, carrots and garlic, I said No, thanks. Yet, he drinks a full glass of it every day without fail! Bn bit anh y l ngi say m gi gn sc khe ch g ? Anh y cho ti ung th nc rau ci m anh vn dng. N d ht sc. Ti tin l n cha y cht vitamin, nhng khi anh y ni vi ti l n gm c

rau bina, c ci, c rt, v ti,th ti ni cm n, nhng khng mun ung thm. Th m anh y ngy no cng ung mt ly y! 2. without so much as: khng c ngay c mt iu g . Only a day before a group of CEOs came to visit, the boss asked me to organize a program of activities for them. Despite all the preparations I made, he didnt show any appreciation. I cant believe he left the office without so much as a thank you ! Ch mt ngy trc khi mt nhm tng gim c n thm, ng xp ti yu cu ti t chc mt chng trnh hot ng cho cc ng y. Mc du ti sp t mi th, ng xp khng t cm kch cng lao ca ti. Ti khng th tin c l ng y ri s m khng c ngay c mt li cm n ti !
tin a ra cho bo ch

. Without so much as a press release, networks have been quietly adding Hispanic characters to almost all of their biggest shows. Why they havent even formally mentioned what theyve been doing could be because theyre rushing to keep up with the rapidly changing face of the U.S. population. Cc h thng truyn hnh m thm a thm cc vai tr ngi M ni ting Ty Ban Nha vo hu ht cc chng trnh ln nht ca h m khng h a ra ngay c mt li tuyn b cho bo ch. L do khin h khng chnh thc cp n vic h vn lm c th l v h ang gp rt chy theo cho kp b mt ang thay i nhanh chng ca dn chng M.

mnh t nh

113: neck of the woods, out of the woods

1. neck of the woods: a phng, khu vc mnh . Here in Hollywood, California, its common for us to run into movie stars and famous directors since they live and work here. So I can understand how tourists get all excited when they see a celebrity. I would too, if I werent from this neck of the woods. thnh ph Hollywood, tiu bang California ny chng ti thng gp cc ngi sao mn bc v cc nh o din danh ting v h sng v lm vic y. V th ti c.th hiu c l du khch ho hc nh th no khi h trng thy 1 ngi ni ting. Ti cng ging nh h nu ti ko sng a phng ny. . When I went to visit a friend of mine in the Midwest he introduced me to his sister at dinner. Since Im from Washington D.C., the nations capital, and people here tend to talk about politics, I told her about recent elections. It was clear from her reaction that she knew I wasnt from her neck of the woods. Khi ti i thm mt ngi bn ca ti vng Trung Ty nc M, anh y gii thiu ti vi em gi anh ti bui n ti. V ti l c dn Washington, th nc M, ni m dn chng thng bn v chnh tr, nn ti k vi em anh y v nhng cuc bu c mi y. R rng l phn ng ca c y cho thy l c y bit ti khng phi l ngi sng a phng c ! 2. out of the woods: thot nguy, khng cn gp rc ri, kh khn na . After a successful heart operation, my uncle is feeling much better, but hes not out of the woods. Its going to take months of following his doctors strict orders before hes no longer in any danger. I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Sau khi c gii phu tim thnh cng, ch ti cm thy kh hn trc, nhng ng vn cha thot nguy. Cn phi mt nhiu thng tri theo ng lnh nghim ngt ca bc s trc khi ng khng cn gp kh khn na. Ti hy vng ng s bnh phc nhanh chng. . Because of poor sales performance, our company suffered a terrible Christmas season. But in our last quarter, weve rebounded with strong gains. Our stockholders are understandably pleased that were out of the woods. Its a good feeling to have our troubles behind us for now. V tnh trng bun bn m nn cng ty chng ta chu ng mt ma ging sinh t hi. Tuy nhin, trong qu cui cng chng ta hi phc v s thu nhp ln rt cao. D nhin, cc c ng rt hi lng v chng ta thot him. Tht l mt cm gic sung sng khi thy gi y chng ta khng cn gp kh khn na.

114: get a word in edgewise, take someone at ones word

t pha bn cnh

1. get a word in edgewise: ni xen vo mt cu chuyn . I miss getting together with my close friend Amanda, but I dont care for her new boyfriend. He talks non-stop. I dont know why he bothers to ask for my opinions because he never lets me get a word in edgewise. Ti tic nh nhng v gp g vi bn thn ca ti l Amanda, nhng ti khng thch bn trai mi ca c y. Anh ta ni chuyn khng ngng. Ti khng hiu ti sao anh ta mt cng hi kin ca ti bi v anh ta khng bao gi cho ti ni xen mt cu no c. . When Diana first arrived here from Vietnam, she found it difficult to join in conversations with Americans. She felt we were always interrupting each other, so she never got a word in edgewise. Since then, shes adapted to our speaking style and manages more and more to add to what people are talking about. Hi c Diana t Vitnam n y ln u tin, c thy kh tham gia vo nhng bui ni chuyn vi ngi M. C cm thy l chng ta lun lun ngt li nhau cho nn c khng bao gi ni xen vo. Nhng k t c thch ng vi li ni chuyn ca chng ta, v cng ngy cng tm cch ni thm vo nhng g ang c bn lun. 2. take someone at ones word: tin vo li ni ca mt ngi no

. Over the years, Ive really gotten to know my boss. Hes fair, honest, and has my complete confidence. So when co-workers started getting laid off, he told me hed make sure I kept my job. Thats why I wasnt worried. I knew I could take him at his word. Qua nhiu nm tri, ti bit r tnh tnh ca ng xp ti. ng y cng bng, thnh tht v c ti tn nhim hon ton. V th, khi mt s ng nghip bt u b sa thi, ng y ni vi ti rng ng s oan chc l ti khng mt vic. V th ti khng lo lng g c. Ti bit ti c th tin vo li ng y . . I should never have taken my mechanic at his word. After he replaced a part for $300, I found out he overcharged me. Now that my transmission needs repair, Im going to another garage. I need to find someone I can trust. ng l ra ti khng bao gi nn tin vo li anh th sa xe t ca ti. Sau khi anh ta thay mt b phn b hng v tnh tin cng ti phi tr l 300 la, ti khm ph ra l anh ta tnh gi qu cao. Gi y, b truyn lc ca xe ti cn c sa, ti s i ti mt hiu sa xe khc. Ti cn tm mt ngi m ti c th tin cy c.

115: do someone a world of good, think the world of someone

1. do someone a world of good: lam cho mt ngi c khoe manh hn, hanh phuc hn . Well-designed summer camps can do children a world of good by providing them opportunities nhn thc, hiu bit to live and play with others. Being in the outdoors helps kids build confidence and environmental awareness as well as healthy social development. Cac trai he c thit k ky lng co th giup ich rt nhiu cho tre em vi chung co c hi sng va chi ua vi cac tre khac. Sng ngoai tri giup cac em co t tin va chu y n mi trng sinh hoat cung la bit giao tip vi ngi khac. . My aunt and uncle used to spend a lot of time sitting around and watching TV. But since they began volunteering to prepare food at a homeless shelter, theyve become much happier. They really enjoy contributing to society by helping those who are less fortunate. Without a doubt, the experience has done them a world of good. Trc y, hai c chu ti vn thng ngi xem truyn hinh sut ngay. Nhng k t khi ho bt u t nguyn nu thc n tai mt trung tm tam tru cho ngi v gia c, ho a cam thy hanh phuc hn. Ho tht s thich thu ong gop cho xa hi bng cach giup nhng ngi kem may mn. Chc chn la kinh nghim nay a lam cho i sng cua ho thoai mai hn va vui ve hn. 2. think the world of someone: rt quy trong mt ngi nao . Billy Graham, a greatly admired American Protestant Christian evangelist, served as a spiritual leader to multiple U.S. presidents. In addition, he preached to over 210 million people in 185 countries, reaching millions more through various media. His inspirational message may explain why so many think the world of him. ng Billy Graham, mt muc s Tin lanh truyn ba Phuc m rt c quy trong, a la mt lanh ao tinh thn cho nhiu vi tng thng Hoa ky. Ngoai ra, ng con giang ao cho hn 210 triu ngi tai 185

nc, va thuyt giang hang triu ngi khac qua nhiu phng tin truyn thng ai chung khac nhau.Thng ip gy cam hng cua ng co le a la ly do khin nhiu ngi rt quy trong ng. . My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Erickson, was the best teacher I ever had. She was such an enthusiastic and creative teacher. She taught us about Latin and poetry, showed us how to debate, introduced us to microscopes ; learning that most other teachers thought was too advanced. I thought the world of her. Ba Erickson, giao vin lp 4 cua ti la giao vin gioi nht cua ti t trc ti gi. Ba la mt giao vin ht sc hng say va co oc sang tao. Ba day chung ti ting La tinh va th, chi cho chung ti cach tranh lun, cach dung kinh hin vi, tc la hoc nhng th ma cac giao vin khac cho la vt qua trinh cua chung ti. Ti rt quy trong ba.

116: apples and oranges, ask for the moon

1. apples and oranges: hai th khc nhau, khng th so snh vi nhau c . Are men smarter than women ? While you may find some studies that suggest so, others disagree. Considering that intelligence is complex and multi-dimensional, male and female brains are like apples and oranges. The two are uniquely different and shouldnt be compared. n ng c thng minh hn ph n khng? Tuy bn c th thy mt vi cuc nghin cu cho l c, nhng cc cuc nghin cu khc li khng ng . Xt v tr thng minh l iu phc tp v a din, cc b c ca nam v n cng ging nh to v cam. C hai u c bit khc nhau v khng nn so snh vi nhau. . After reading the classic works of Robert Frost and Ernest Hemingway, my classmate said that Frost was a better writer. But, as our teacher pointed out, he was comparing apples and oranges because one was a poet and the other was a novelist. There is no reason for drawing a comparison. Sau khi c cc tc phm bt h ca Robert Frost v Ernest Hemingway, anh bn cng lp vi ti ni rng ng Frost l ngi vit hay hn. Nhng, nh gio vin ca chng ti lu , bn ti so snh hai nhn ti khc nhau v mt ngi l thi s, cn ngi kia l mt tiu thuyt gia. Khng c l do g so snh hai ngi vi nhau c. 2. ask for the moon: i hi qu ng . The boss announced that he expects a 40% increase in productivity this year. But without providing updated equipment or adding workers, theres no way we can meet his goal. He might as well ask for the moon. ng xp loan bo rng ng d tr hng phi tng nng sut ln 40% trong nm nay. Tuy nhin, v ng y khng cung cp thit b hin i hay mn thm cng nhn, nn khng c cch no chng ti c th t c ch tiu do ng a ra c. ng y tht i hi qu ng. . For their fiftieth wedding anniversary, my grandparents would like a big party with all the members of the family. But theyre asking for the moon because many of our relatives either live too faraway or cant afford to travel. Its simply not possible for everyone to attend. ng b ti mun m mt bui tic lin hoan ln vi s tham d ca tt c mi ngi trong gia nh k nim 50 nm ngy thnh hn ca hai ng b. Tuy nhin, ng b ti i hi qu ng v nhiu h hng

chng ti hoc sng qu xa, hoc khng c iu kin di chuyn. Tht khng th no c mi ngi n d tic c.

117: back to the drawing board, bag of tricks

1. back to the drawing board: quay lai t u chun bi mt k hoach mi vi k hoach cu a tht bai . In 1985, the Coca-Cola Company introduced New Coke after giving their most popular product a new taste. But drinkers across the country felt betrayed and rejected it. So the company went back to the drawing board. Their next idea, however, was a success- the return of their original formula, called CocaCola Classic. Nm 1985, cng ty Coca-Cola a ra mt loai nc ngot mi, co mui vi khac, tn New Coke, thay th cho loai Coke cu ni ting nht cua ho. Tuy nhin, nhng ngi ung Coke trn khp nc My cam thy bi phu long tin va a bac bo loai nc ngot mi nay. Vi th, cng ty a quay tr lai k hoach luc ban u. Y kin sau nay cua ho a thanh cng. o la ho quay tr lai cng thc Coke nguyn thuy, t tn la Coca-Cola Classic. . The beginning of the season was a disaster as our opponents kept overpowering us. It was back to the drawing board! After coming up with some brilliant maneuvers, we started scoring goals and soon we were on a winning streak.

Mua bong a luc ban u la mt tai hoa cho chung ti vi cac i thu tip tuc ap ao chung ti. Vi th, chung ti phai tr lai t u chun bi mt k hoach mi. Sau khi tim c mt s chin thut hay ho, chung ti bt u ghi ban thng, va it lu sau o chung ti a thng lin tuc. 2. bag of tricks: co nhiu mu meo . My mom was so clever. When my brothers and I were on a long car ride or stuck indoors because of bad weather, shed always find ways to keep us entertained. No matter what the situation, we could always count on her handy bag of tricks. Me ti qua la mt ngi khn kheo. Khi anh em chung ti i xa bng xe t, hay bi ket trong nha vi thi tit xu, me ti lun lun tim cach giup vui chung ti. Du trong hoan canh nao i na, chung ti cung lun lun co th da vao cac mu meo sn co cua ba. . The next time you get an E-mail asking for confidential information, make sure you know the source. It might be a scam. On-line thieves have developed a variety of crafty methods to try to deceive you. Beware of their bag of tricks. Ky ti, nu ban nhn c mt in th hoi v nhng thng tin mt, ban phai bit chc ngun gc cua th o u. o co th la mt mu bt lng. Cac tn trm cp trn mang a kim c nhng manh khoe xao tra khac nhau tim cach anh la ban. Hay cn thn phong nhng mu m cua chung.

118: go over like a lead Balloon, the ball is in someones court

1. go over like a lead Balloon: mt y kin khng c ngi khac chp nhn

. Our friends didnt know that my husband is not a nature lover until they invited us to go camping for the weekend .They realized their idea went over like a lead Balloon after he told them he had no intention of sleeping on the ground in a tent. Finally, we decided wed go to a fancy resort instead. Cac ban chung ti khng bit rng nha ti khng phai la mt ngi a thich thin nhin cho ti khi ho mi chung ti i cm trai vao cui tun. Ho thy rng y kin cua ho khng c nha ti chp nhn sau khi anh y noi vi ho rng anh khng h co y inh ngu trong mt cai lu trn mt t. Cui cung, chung ti quyt inh n mt ni nghi dng sang trong. . In todays climate, many Americans exercise caution when it comes to telling jokes because what one person might think is funny could be insulting to another. When no one is laughing or there is dead silence, you know a joke has gone over like a lead Balloon. Trong thi ai nay, nhiu ngi My to ra thn trong khi ho noi ua bi vi nhng gi ma mt ngi cho la bun ci lai co th la iu gy si nhuc i vi mt ngi khac .Khi khng co ai ci ca hay chi thy moi ngi im phng phc thi ban bit rng mt li noi ua a bi bac bo. 2. the ball is in someones court: n lt mt ngi nao o phai ln ting hay hanh ng . My teacher gave me plenty of advice on how I could improve my grade before the end of the semester. Now the ball is in my court. I have to decide whether Im going to make the effort to get more serious about studying.

Thy giao ti cho ti nhiu li khuyn v vic lam th nao im cua ti tng ln trc cui hoc ky sau thang nay. By gi la luc n lt ti phai hanh ng. Ti phai quyt inh xem liu ti co se c gng nghim chinh hn trong vic hoc hanh hay khng. . I know I was wrong. I shouldnt have told my boyfriend that he was very selfish. But after leaving him messages and sending him E-mails to apologize, theres nothing else I can do. At this point, the ball is in his court. He has to take the first step and let me know if he forgives me. Ti bit la ti sai. ang ly ra ti a khng nn noi vi ban trai ti la anh y rt ich ky. Nhng sau khi lai li nhn va gi in th cho anh xin li, ti khng th lam gi hn na. Luc nay la luc anh y phai hanh ng. Anh y phai i bc u va cho ti bit la anh y co tha th cho ti khng .

119: more bang for the buck, bank on

1. more bang for the buck: mt s u t mang li nhiu li nhun hn . The laundry detergent I bought costs the same as other brands, but its much better at getting my clothes clean. With every wash Im getting more bang for my buck. Next time, Ill have to buy the larger size. Loi x phng git qun o m ti mua c cng gi vi cc nhn hiu khc, nhng n lm cho qun o ti c sch hn. Mi ln git nh vy, ti c li hn. K ti ti s mua mt hp ln hn. . After years of living in an apartment, my daughter recently bought a house. While her mortgage payment is higher than what her rent was, owning a house represents a better investment over time. She knows its a lot more bang for her buck.

Sau nhiu nm sng trong mt cn phng thu, mi y con gi ti mua mt ngi nh. Tuy tin vay th chp hng thng cao hn tin thu cn phng trc kia, nhng v lu v di, vic s hu mt ngi nh l mt s u t c li hn. Con gi ti bit rng c y s c li nhiu hn bng cch mua nh. 2. bank on: t hy vng, hay tin tng vo mt ngi hay mt iu g . When I was younger, I was badly injured and had to have many operations. Im so thankful for having my sister in my life. Whenever I needed help, I knew that she would take care of me. I could always bank on her. Hi ti cn b, ti b thng nng v phi b m nhiu ln. Ti rt bit n l c ch trong i sng ca ti. Bt c khi no ti cn c gip , ti bit chc l ch ti s chm sc ti. Ti lun lun c th trng mong vo ch y. . Although a degree from a famous university might help you get a good job, dont bank on it. Todays employers are looking for candidates who can demonstrate leadership, creativity, flexibility and interpersonal skills. Those are skills you can depend on to get you hired. Tuy mt bng cp ca mt trng i hc danh ting c th gip bn kim c mt vic lm tt, nhng ng t hy vng vo iu . Ngy nay, cc ch nhn thng tm nhng ng vin no c th biu dng ti lnh o, c sng to, tnh linh hot v ti giao tip vi ngi khc l nhng ti nng m bn c th da vo c thu dng.

120: spill the beans, beat a dead horse

1. spill the beans: v tnh hay c tit l mt b mt qu sm . Not long ago, my family planned a surprise birthday party for me. Well, it was a secret until my nephew accidentally ended a conversation we had with, Ill see you at the party. Even though he spilled the beans, I told him Id pretend to be surprised. Cch y khng lu, gia nh ti d nh m mt bui tic sinh nht bt ng cho ti. l mt chuyn c gi kn, cho n khi chu ti, khi ngng ni chuyn vi ti, v tnh chm dt bng cu: Chu s gp c ti bui tic. Tuy chu ti v tnh tit l tin ny nhng ti ni vi chu l ti s gi v ngc nhin khi bui tic din ra. . During World War II, the U.S. government established a campaign warning soldiers not to mention details about their military operations in letters and conversations. The concern was that if anyone had spilled the beans, it could have reached enemy forces with potentially disastrous results. Thus, they created a popular slogan, Loose lips might sink ships. Trong cuc th chin th hai, chnh ph M m mt chin dch cnh bo binh s l ng ni r chi tit v cc cuc hnh qun trong lc vit th hay ni chuyn. Chnh ph lo ngi rng nu c ai tit l tin tc th tin c th n tai qun ch vi hu qu tai hi. V th, chnh ph to mt khu hiu rt ph bin l: n ni ba bi c th lm m tu. 2. beat a dead horse: lm mt cng vic v ch, v hy vng

. My sons room is a constant mess even though he knows hes expected to keep it tidy. My husband and I have done everything from pleading with him to threatening him, but its been a waste of time. Were simply beating a dead horse. Hell never change. Phng ca con trai ti lc no cng ba bi mc du n bit l n phi gi phng cho gn gng. Ti v nh ti lm ht cch, t van ni n cho ti da dm n, m ch ph th gi v ch. Chng ti lm mt vic v hy vng. N s khng bao gi thay i. . Again and again, Ive tried to get senators in my state to ban smoking in restaurants. But its been hopeless so far; they havent listened to me. I hate to beat a dead horse but I feel they need to pass this legislation in order to improve public health. Ti nhiu ln thc dc cc ngh s trong tiu bang ti nn cm ht thuc trong cc tim n. Nhng cho n nay ti vn khng hy vng g c v h khng nghe ti. Ti khng thch lm cng vic v hy vng ny nhng ti cho rng h cn thng qua d lut ny ci thin sc khe ca dn chng.

121: put ones best foot forward, beyond a doubt

1. put ones best foot forward: gy n tng u tin tht tt ep . To make a good impression on a job interview, aim for a well-groomed, slightly conservative look. Also, show interest in your voice and body language as you respond to questions. Putting your best foot forward is essential if you want to get hired. Mun tao mt n tng tt ep trong mt cuc phong vn xin vic, cac ban hay n mc chinh t va ang hoang. Ngoai ra, ban cung nn to ra thich thu trong li noi va giang iu khi ban tra li cac cu hoi. iu cn thit la phai gy mt cam tng u tin tht tt ep nu ban mun c thu dung . . The contestants at the state fair competition were under a lot of pressure. They had only a couple of hours to prepare a favorite cake recipe before the judging. That meant they had to put their best foot forward because they werent given another chance to show off their talent. Nhng ngi d thi tai cuc tranh tai hi ch tiu bang a bi nhiu ap lc. Ho chi co vai ting ng h chun bi lam mon banh ngot ngon nht cua ho trc khi c mang ra chm im. Nh th co nghia la ho phai lam tht gioi ngay t u bi vi ho khng c mt c hi th nhi ph trng tai nng cua ho. 2. beyond a doubt = beyond the shadow of a doubt : rt chc chn . Police investigators in my department searched the crime scene for evidence. Before long, they recovered samples of blood and hair that proved beyond a doubt who committed the murder. But what they werent so sure of was why he did it. Cac canh sat vin iu tra trong s ti a luc soat hin trng tim bng chng. It lu sau o, ho a tim thy cac mu mau va toc chng to mt cach chc chn la ai a pham ti git ngi nay. Tuy nhin iu ho khng bit chc la tai sao ng ta lai pham ti nay. . When my teacher asked me to write about someone I admire, I chose my aunt. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, shes the most generous person Ive ever known. Even though she doesnt have much

money, shes always helped out people who have been in need. In my opinion, theres definitely no one more giving than her. Khi thy giao ti yu cu ti vit v mt ngi ma ti cam phuc, ti a chon bac ti. Chc chn bac ti la ngi rng rai, hao phong nht ma ti c bit. Tuy bac khng co nhiu tin, nhng bac lun lun giup nhng ke ngheo kho. Theo y ti chc chn khng co ai co long vi tha hn bac .

122: a blank check, make no bones about

1. a blank check: cho mt ngi nao toan quyn hanh ng . While the new plant manager has extensive experience improving productivity, many of the workers arent ready to hand him a blank check. Frankly, theyre uneasy about letting him make whatever changes he wants. Theyd prefer to be more involved in important decision-making. Tuy vin quan ly mi co nhiu kinh nghim gia tng nng sut, nhng nhiu cng nhn khng sn sang ng y toan quyn quyt inh moi vic. Thanh tht ma noi, ho rt e ngai v vic cho ng y thay i theo y mun cua ng y. Ho thich c tham gia vao vic a ra nhng quyt inh quan trong . . My best friend Sara has such a great sense of style. So when she offered to redecorate my living room for me, I knew I could trust her judgement about colors, fabrics and furnishings. I had no reservations about giving her a blank check.

C ban thn nht cua ti, c Sara la ngi co khiu c bit v thi trang. Vi th, khi c nghi trang tri lai phong khach cua ti, ti bit la ti co th tin vao suy xet cua c v mau sc, hang vai, va trang tri. Ti khng ngn ngai c co toan quyn quyt inh. 2. make no bones about: noi thng, khng do d . After a complete exam, the doctor gave me his candid advice. He made no bones about the fact that I was working myself to exhaustion. Unless I started taking better care of myself, he said I was going to have even more serious health problems. Sau khi kham binh y u, ng bac si a ra mt li khuyn thanh tht. ng y noi thng rng ti ang lam vic qua n kit sc, va rng nu ti khng bt u t chm soc y u hn thi ti se bi nhng vn sc khoe nghim trong hn. . Ever since I was a girl, my dad has made no bones about wanting me to be a doctor. But now its time that I was as honest and open with him because I dont have any interest in medicine. I want to study international law. K t hi ti con nho, cha ti a noi thng c vong cua ng la mun ti lam bac si. Nhng by gi la luc ti cung phai thanh tht va ci m vi cha ti vi ti khng thich y khoa chut nao. Ti mun hoc lut quc t.

123: rock bottom, bread and butter

1. rock bottom: xung ti mc thp nht

. A neighbor of mine recently died in a car accident. Soon after, his wife sank into a terrible depression and developed a drinking problem. She said that she knew her life had reached rock bottom when she didnt want to get out of bed. In her case, it was meeting with other people who had lost loved ones that helped her get better. Hi gn y, mt ng lang ging cua ti bi thit mang trong mt tai nan xe t. It lu sau o, ba v ng bi suy nhc tinh thn trm trong va bt u ung ru. Ba noi rng ba bit la cuc i ba a xung dc n thp nht khi ba khng mun bc ra khoi ging na. Trong trng hp nay, nh gp g nhng ngi tng bi mt ngi thn ma ba a kha hn trc. . After the political scandal known as Watergate erupted, the popularity of President Nixon was at rock bottom. It was so low that he chose to resign from office. But it should be remembered that hed helped advance civil rights and environmental protection laws, and established diplomatic relations with China. Sau khi vu tai ting chinh tri Watergate bung n, s yu mn cua dn chung My danh cho tng thng Nixon a xung ti mc thp nht, thp n ng quyt inh t chc. Nhng ngi ta nn nh rng ng la ngi a giup thng tin dn quyn va cac lut bao v mi sinh, va thit lp quan h ngoai giao vi Trung quc.

2. bread and butter: ngh kim sng . When I saw my neighbors artwork at a gallery, I was amazed by his talent. I assumed that painting was his bread and butter. But he told me that its only a hobby, he couldnt live on the money he makes from the paintings he sells. Khi ti trng thy cac tac phm ngh thut cua ng lang ging tai mt phong trin lam, ti ngac nhin v tai ngh cua ng. Ti cho rng ve tranh la k sinh nhai cua ng y. Nhng ng y noi vi ti o chi la mt s thich ring cua ng, vi ng khng th sng nh vao tin ban tranh. . After poor sales of our economy cars, our company decided to focus once again on producing luxury vehicles. After all, its those models that have always been the foundation of our business. Theyre our bread and butter. Sau khi loai xe tit kim, tc la loai xe re tin, khng ban c nhiu, cng ty chung ti quyt inh chu trong tr lai vao vic san xut loai xe sang. Noi cho cung thi nhng kiu xe nay t trc ti nay vn la nn tang cua ngh chung ti, va la phn c ban nht cua cng ty chung ti.

124: breathe down someoness neck, come down on someone like a ton of bricks
1. breathe down someoness neck: theo di st mt ngi khin ngi kh chu . Not long ago my girlfriend got into a big argument. According to her, she had asked her husband to clean up the yard because his parents were coming over. After a while, she checked to see what kind of progress he was making. But the way he tells the story, she was breathing down his neck!!

Cch y khng lu, bn gi ti c mt v ci v d di.:C y ni rng c yu cu chng c dn sch sn nh v cha m anh y sp n chi. t lu sau , c kim tra xem anh y lm c nhng g. Nhng theo li anh y ni th c y theo di st anh y khin anh ht sc kh chu !! . During the 1920s and early 30s, Bonnie and Clyde committed several robberies and murders as they traveled across several states. But law authorities were never far behind them. They kept breathing down their necks before finally trapping the gangsters, who died in a gunfight. Trong thp nin 1920 v u thp nin 30, Bonnie v Clyde nhng tay vo nhiu v cp ca git ngi trong khi c hai i ngang qua nhiu tiu bang. Tuy nhin, nh chc trch lun lun theo st bn chng. H theo di st hai k cp ny v sau cng ging by bt chng, v chng thit mng trong mt cuc chm sng. 2. come down on someone like a ton of bricks: trng pht mt cch nhanh chng v nghim khc . After enlisting in the army, I didnt know if Id survive basic training. My sergeant was really strict. Anytime one of us in the platoon made the slightest mistake, hed come down on us like a ton of bricks. He thought by disciplining us in such a severe way, wed become better soldiers. Sau khi ghi tn gia nhp qun i, ti khng bit l ti s c th sng cn sau cuc hun luyn cn bn hay khng. ng trung s ca ti rt nghim khc. Bt c khi no mt ngi trong trung i chng ti lm mt li nh nht nht ng y cng s pht nng. ng y cho rng khi nghim khc trng pht chng ti th chng ti s tr thnh nhng ngi lnh gii hn. . I really disliked my fifth grade teacher.:She used to come down on me like a ton of bricks. Once I was sent to the principals office just for chewing gum in class. I couldnt wait to finish that school year! Ti tht s ght b gio lp nm ca ti. B y thng trng pht ti rt nghim khc. C mt ln ti b a ti vn phng hiu trng b pht ch v ti nhai ko gm trong lp. Ti ht sc mong cho nm hc chm dt!

125: brownie points, burn at the stake

1. brownie points: im tt v hon thnh mt cng tc tt . Critics may not have valued Lady Bird Johnson as a glamorous first lady like her predecessor, Jacqueline Kennedy. But she scored major brownie points for beautifying the nations capital with flowers and trees. Shes also praised for making our highways more attractive. Cc nh ph bnh c l khng qu trng b Lady Bird Johnson nh l mt nht phu nhn rc r v quyn r nh phu nhn trc b l Jacqueline Kennedy. Tuy nhin, b Lady Bird Johnson ghi c rt nhiu im tt v c cng lm p cho th nc M bng cch trng hoa v cy ci. B cng c ca ngi l lm cho cc xa l ca nc M trng hp dn hn . . To get ahead in our department, you have to produce results. Yet the new hire thinks hes going to be recognized simply for staying late every night. The reality is that hell never win brownie points with the boss that way.

Mun thng tin trong s ny, ngi ta phi lm vic c kt qu. Th m anh chng mi vo lm ti y tng rng anh s c nh gi cao ch v anh li s mun mi m. Thc t l anh s khng bao gi ghi c im tt vi ng xp bng cch . 2. burn at the stake: pht nng . I couldnt understand why I wasnt feeling better. Then I found out that the medication I bought over the internet was fake. I hope that the authorities arrest the criminals who are responsible and jail them for the rest of their lives. They deserve to be burned at the stake! Ti khng hiu ti sao ti khng cm thy khe khon hn. Sau ti khm ph ra rng th thuc m ti mua qua mng l thuc gi. Ti hy vng nh chc trch s bt giam nhng k phm php ch mu v lng gt ny v b t chng sut i. Chng ng b trng pht gt gao ! . While mom and dad were out last night, John drove moms car without asking permission. Whats more, he backed it into a tree and now there is a big dent. Hes going to be burned at the stake this time. Itll be a punishment he wont soon forget. Trong lc ba m chng ti vng nh m qua, John li xe t ca m ti m khng xin php. T hn na l n li xe v ng phi mt ci cy khin chic xe b mt vt lm ln. Ln ny n s b pht nng. y s l mt hnh pht m n s kh m qun ngay c.

126: icing on the cake, burn the candle at both ends

1. icing on the cake: bng lc km thm vo mt chuyn tt p . Its very much like when I found out that the boss was going to be giving me a promotion, which was terrific news. Then I was told Id also be getting a newly refursbished office; that was icing on the cake. Cng ging nh khi ti bit l ng xp ti sp cho ti thng chc; tht l mt tin mng tuyt vi. Sau , ngi ta li bo cho bit l ti cng s c mt vn phng mi tn trang li. ng l bng lc m ti c hng thm. . When my uncle was young he thought he had a brain tumor. He was thrilled when it turned out that he only needed to get glasses to stop his headaches. The icing on the cake is that he got to talking to the receptionist at the optometrists office and asked her out on a date. Not long afterwards, they became engaged. He and my aunt have been happily married for over ten years. Hi ch ti cn tr, ng tng l ng b mt khi u trong no. ng rt vui mng khi bit rng ng ch cn mang knh th khng b nhc u na. iu tt p hn na l ng c dp ni chuyn vi c nhn vin tip khch vn phng bc s mt v mi c y i chi. Sau t lu, hai ngi nh hn vi nhau, v v chng c ch ti sng hnh phc vi nhau trong hn mi nm qua. 2. burn the candle at both ends: sng cho cn ht sc lc hay tin bc

. Lately, Ive been covering for a co-worker, whos sick, as well as coordinating a conference for local journalists, and entertaining my in-laws while theyre in town. As a result, I havent been getting enough rest. Frankly, I dont know how much longer I can burn the candle at both ends. Lc gn y, ti va lm vic thay cho ng nghip ca ti b bnh, va phi hp mt hi ngh cho cc nh bo a phng v tip i gia nh chng trong khi h n chi. Kt qu l ti khng th gi ngh ngi. Tht tnh ti khng bit ti c th lm kit lc nh vy trong bao lu na . . When I was younger, I had lots of energy. I used to work all day, and then go out partying with my friends until morning without getting tired. But those days are long gone. I can no longer burn the candle at both ends. Hi ti cn tr, ti c rt nhiu sinh lc. Ti thng lm vic sut ngy, ri i chi vi bn n sng m khng mt. Nhng ngy nh th ht lu ri. Bay gi ti khng th sng cho cn ht sc lc c na.

127: cant make heads or tails of ... , trump card

1. cant make heads or tails of ...: khng hiu u ui mt chuyn g . When I was younger, I used to listen to a lot of disco. These days, my kids listen to rap. I like its rhythm, but dont understand what the lyrics are about at all. Frankly, I cant make heads or tails of them. Hi ti cn tr, ti thng nghe nhc Disco. By gi cc con ti li thch nghe nhc Rap. Ti thch nhp iu ca loi nhc ny, nhng khng hiu li trong cc bn nhc ny. Tht tnh, ti khng hiu u ui loi nhc ny ra sao c. . My business partner and I thought wed save some money on furniture for our office. So we bought a desk, a set of drawers, and some shelving that required assembly. The directions explaining how to put the pieces together looked easy to follow, but we couldnt make heads or tails of them. We finally had to call a store assistant for help. Ti v anh bn cng tc vi ti tng rng chng ti s tit kim c mt t tin khi mua c cho vn phng chng ti. V th, chng ti mua mt ci bn lm vic, mt b ngn ko, v mt t gi sch cn c lp rp. Li hng dn cch lp rp trng c v d dng, nhng chng ti khng bit u ui lm ra sao c. Cui cng, chng ti phi gi mt ngi bn hng tim bn gh n gip. 2. trump card: l bi ch nm phn thng trong tay . Grandma wanted us all to fly out to see her at Christmas, but we were against the idea. Then she offered to buy our plane tickets, which changed our minds almost immediately. She knew that playing that trump card would make the difference. B ti mun tt c chng ti i phi c n thm b trong dp ging sinh, nhng chng ti khng ng . Sau , b ngh mua v my bay cho chng ti, khin chng ti i hu nh tc khc. B bit rng a ra l bi ch ny s khin mi ngi lm theo b. . My former boss figured out that the only way to increase productivity was to get us to put in more hours. Yet, everyone in our department adamantly opposed the idea. So he produced his trump card

he wouldnt approve vacation leave until we met his demands. By the following week, everybody was working later. ng xp c ca ti hiu rng cch duy nht tng nng sut l buc chng ti phi lm thm gi. Tuy nhin, tt c mi ngi trong s chng ti u mnh m chng i kin ny. V th, ng y a ra mt l bi ch. l ng s khng chp thun cho nhn vin ngh h cho n khi chng ti tha mn yu cu ca ng. Tun l sau , mi ngi u li mun lm vic.

128: carry the day, cash cow

1. carry the day: thng li sau mt cuc tranh lun hay tranh ti . While the company that owns the nursing home wanted to spend a lot of money on decorating its lobby, my mom knew that what the residents would really appreciate was a new piano. Thanks to several meetings she organized, her suggestion was able to carry the day. Now everybody who lives there and visits enjoys the sound of beautiful music. Tuy cng ty s hu vin dng lo ny mun tiu rt nhiu tin vo vic trang tr hnh lang ca vin, nhng m ti bit rng cc bc cao nin sng thc s mun c mt chic n dng cm . Sau khi nhm hp nhiu ln bn v ngh ny, m ti thnh cng . Gi y cc c v nhng ai n thm u thng thc ting n m du. . When architect Maya Lin first proposed her design for the Vietnam War memorial, critics thought it wasnt traditional enough. They didnt think a granite wall that sloped into the ground was a proper tribute to those who lost their lives. Eventually her plan carried the day, and became one of the most visited sites in Washington D.C. Hi kin trc s Maya Lin ln u tin phc ha n ca c xy i k nim Chin Tranh Vitnam, cc nh ph bnh cho rng n ny khng theo ng truyn thng . H cho rng mt bc tng hoa cng dc xung mt t khng phi l mt biu tng chnh ng tn knh nhng ngi hy sinh tnh mng ca h. Tuy nhin, dn d n ca c Maya Lin thng , v bc tng ny tr thnh mt trong cc a im c nhiu ngi ving thm nht ti th Washington . 2. cash cow: mt mn hng hay doanh nghip hi ra tin . A few years ago, Apple Computers came out with the iPod, which ended up making lots more money for the company than its computers. Thats a cash cow. Later on, they came out with a new device called an iPhone, but demand never materialized. It doesnt appear that the new gadget has become another cash cow. Cch y vi nm, cng ty Apple Computers tung ra th trng loi my nghe nhc iPod, kim c nhiu tin hn l my in ton ca cng ty. l mn hng mang li rt nhiu li nhun cho cng ty. Sau , cng ty li a ra mt loi my in thoi mi tn l iPhone, nhng t ngi mua hn. Dng nh my mi ny khng tr thnh mt loi hng hi ra tin khc. . When David Beckham joined the L.A. Galaxy, he created a lot of attention. Americans who had never watched soccer suddenly started buying tickets. But will he be worth the millions that the team paid for him in years to come? Is he their cash cow?

Khi anh David Beckham gia nhp i L.A.Galaxy, anh gy c rt nhiu ch . Nhng ngi M cha bao gi xem bng t nhin bt u mua v. Tuy nhin, liu anh c ng hng triu la m i bng phi tr cho anh trong nhng nm sp ti hay khng? Anh c hi ra tin cho h hay khng ?

129: like a bull in a china shop, the coast is clear

1. like a bull in a china shop: mt ngi vng v, khng bit c x . When my brother was about 13 he went through a dramatic growth spurt. For a time, he wasnt terribly coordinated. He had a habit of bumping into things and knocking things over accidentally. I remember my mom telling him he was like a bull in a china shop. Hes a lot more graceful these days. Hi em trai ti ln khong 13 tui, c th em pht trin rt nhanh. C mt thi em khng c ng tay chn mt cch gn gng. Em c tt ng vo c hay v tnh nh mi th. Ti nh l m ti ni vi em rng em rt vng v. Ngy nay em kh thn trng hn trc . . Were about to enter into some delicate negotiations ; we cant afford any missteps. Thats why I dont want Julia to run the next meeting. I know her; shes like a bull in a china shop. Shell storm in there and upset the client. Chng ta sp m cc cuc thng lng t nh v ti khng mun xy ra s sut no. V th ti khng mun c Julia iu khin bui hp sp ti. Ti bit c y. C y rt vng v. C y s xng vo bui hp v lm cho khch hng kh chu.

2. the coast is clear: khng c g cn tr cng vic mnh lm v khng ai nghe thy hay trng thy . One of my colleagues is retiring and Ive organized a party for her. But, to make sure shes surprised, I cant have her anywhere near the room where I want to set up the decorations and the food. I have to see that the coast is clear. Mt ng nghip ca ti sp v hu v ti t chc mt bui tic cho b y m khng cho b y bit trc. Nhng mun oan chc l b y s ngc nhin, ti khng th cho b n gn cn phng m ti trang tr v by thc n . Ti cn cho b y vng mt k hoch ca ti khng b l . . The thieves waited until 3 a.m. for the bank parking lot to be deserted. Once they thought the coast was clear, they backed up a truck to the ATM, ready to haul it away. But they didnt realize the police had been watching the crime unfold; within minutes they were arrested. Bn trm ch n 3 gi sng khi bi u xe ca nh bng tr nn vng v. Mt khi chng ngh rng khng cn ai quanh na, chng li mt chic xe ti vo my rt tin ATM v sn sng li my i. Nhng chng khng bit l cnh st vn theo di v trm ny nn ch trong vng vi pht chng b bt .

130: blow hot and cold, come out in the wash

1. blow hot and cold: thay i kin lun lun

. While a lot of my friends are getting married, I don't know if I will be. You see, one minute my boyfriend talks about wedding plans, then the next he says it's better if we keep dating. The way he blows hot and cold really has me confused. Trong khi nhiu ngi bn ti lp gia nh, ti khng bit l ti s ly chng hay khng. Bi v khi th bn trai ti bn v chng trnh m ci, khi th anh y li ni l chng ti nn tip tc lm bn vi nhau th tt hn. Cch anh y thay i kin lun lun lm ti hoang mang . . First, we got an e-mail about possible layoffs in our department. Then came the announcement that the company was doing fine and jobs were safe. Now there's word that the boss is reconsidering letting some of us go. He's blown hot and cold for too long. A final decision has got to be made! Lc u, chng ti nhn c mt in th bo tin l c th c v sa thi ngi trong s chng ti. Sau , li c li loan bo l cng ty ang lm n yn n, v khng ai b mt vic. By gi, li c tin ng xp ang tnh n chuyn cho vi ngi ngh vic. ng ta thay i kin qu nhiu ln ri. ng y cn a ra mt quyt nh cui cng. 2. come out in the wash: mt vic tt hay xu c gii quyt sau khi nghin cu hay iu tra . My buddies and I are organizing a biking trip across the country. We haven't mapped out the entire route or arranged for our food or lodging. But I think there's plenty of time to work out the details. It'll all come out in the wash by the time we leave. Ti v cc bn thn ang t chc mt chuyn i xe p xuyn quc gia. Chng ti cha v ra con ng i, m cng cha chun b thc n hay ch . Nhng ti ngh rng cn nhiu th gi hoch nh cc chi tit. Mi vic s c gii quyt xong vo lc chng ti ln ng .

. The governor claims that he resigned because of a health crisis. So far he's refused to answer reporters' questions. Perhaps he's afraid of what might come out in the wash. Maybe they'll find out that he's trying to cover up what could become a political scandal! ng thng c tuyn b t chc v l do sc khe. Cho n nay ng vn t chi, khng chu tr li cc cu hi ca nh bo. C l ng s iu g c th b tit l sau cuc iu tra. C l h s khm ph ra rng ng ang tm cch che du mt v tai ting chnh tr.

131: fits and starts, fix someone's wagon

1. fits and star: mt vic lm tht thng . When I was a kid, my mom dreamed of going to college.But raising a family didn't allow her to complete her course on a regular schedule; there was a lot of stopping and starting again. Although it took her seven years, after numerous fits and star, she finally earned her degree. Hi ti cn b, m ti vn m c i hc i hc.Nhng v bn chm sc gia nh nn b khng th theo mt chng trnh hc lin tc. B i hc rt tht thng. Tuy b mt by nm hc, sau nhiu ln b gin on, cui cng b cng ly c bng i hc.

. Consider the civil rights movement in the United States and how African Americans engaged in a long struggle to secure equal rights.That achievement didn't happen at once; there were irregular intervals of action and inaction. It was a series of fits and star. Ta hy xem phong tro dn quyn ti Hoa k v ngi M da en tranh u lu di nh th no dnh quyn bnh ng. Thnh qu ny khng phi t c ngay tc khc, m c nhiu giai on hot ng ln bt hot ng . y l mt tin trnh b gin on nhiu ln. 2. fix someone's wagon: n ming tr ming . After my washing machine broke, I went to a store to order a new one. They said it could be delivered to my home yesterday. So I took one day off from work to wait for them and nobody came. Finally, they called and said they had to reschedule the delivery for tomorrow. I just want to fix their wagon! Sau khi my git ca ti b hng, ti n mt tim t mua mt my mi. H ni c th giao my n nh ti hm qua. V th ti xin ngh vic mt hm ch h nhng khng thy ai n ht. Cui cng h gi v cho bit s giao my li vo ngy mai. Ti ch mun tr th tim ! . Last week, my husband got cut off in traffic by an aggressive driver. Suddenly he became obsessed with fixing her wagon. But really, what would be the point of chasing after her car? Would it be worth risking an accident? I'm glad he was able to calm down and forget about seeking revenge. Cui tun trc, chng ti b mt b li xe hung hng ct ngang ngay trc mt. Thnh lnh nh ti ht sc tc gin v ch mun n thua vi b ta. Nhng tht s th ui theo xe b ta c ch g? C ng xy ra tai nn hay khng? Ti mng l nh ti du xung v b qua chuyn tm cch tr th .

132: put ones finger on, caught in the crossfire

1. put ones finger on: tm hiu bit chc . There was something familiar about the man whom Paula walked by on her way to work. But she couldn't quite put her finger on how she knew him. Then it came to her; she had gone to grade school with him. What a coincidence that she ran into him after all these years! Ngi n ng m c Paula nhn thy trn ng c i lm vic trng quen quen. Nhng c khng th on ra l quen ng y trong trng hp no. Ri c ngh ra iu : c hc chung trng tiu hc vi ng y. Tht l mt iu ngu nhin m c bt ng gp li ng y sau bao nhiu nm nay! . Month after month, our club's bank account was growing smaller despite a number of sizable deposits. Money was disappearing, but how? After an intensive investigation, the police were able to put a finger on it: Our president had been stealing funds! T thng ny sang thng khc, ti khon trong ngn hng ca hi chng ti ngy mt nh dn mc du s tin gi vo ngn hng kh nhiu. Tin c mt dn i, nhng ti sao? Sau mt cuc iu tra gt gao, cnh st tm ra s tht: l ng ch tch hi nhiu ln n cp tin!

2. caught in the crossfire: b t vo th kh x gia hai phe knh chng nhau . A lot of the team is ready to quit football this season. Our co-captains are constantly disagreeing so that we don't know which of them we're supposed to listen to. One thing is sure: we've had enough of being caught in the crossfire. Nhiu ngi trong i bng bu dc sn sng ngh chi trong ma ny. Hai ng i trng ca chng ti lin tc bt ng kin vi nhau nn chng ti khng bit nghe bn no. C iu chc chn l chng ti chn b t vo th kt gia hai ngi. . I should have never started talking about the election at the party. Before long, it became a huge fight between political conservatives and liberals. Those of us who are moderates found ourselves caught in the crossfire. It was awful! ng l ra ti khng bao gi nn ni v cuc bu c ti bui tic. Ch t lu sau , ti ny tr thnh mt cuc tranh ci d di gia nhng ngi bo th v ngi cp tin. Nhng ngi trong nhm chng ti ch trng n ha cm thy b t vo th kh x gia hai phe. Tht l khng khip!

133: come to ones senses, paint oneself into a corner

1. come to ones senses: suy ngh mt cch hp l, khn ngoan . It isn't easy having a relative staying with you. I know because my aunt has been living with me since she became sick. Yesterday I got so frustrated with her constant complaining I was ready to raise my with her. Fortunately , I came to my senses and realized what I was about to do wasn't reasonable. I then treated her nicely. C mt ngi b con sng vi mnh qu l kh khn .Ti bit bi v d ti sng vi ti t khi d b bnh. Hm qua ti kh chu v d c than phin lin tc khin ti sn sng to ting. May thay, ti suy ngh hp l tr li v thy iu ti sp lm l v l. V th ti i i t t vi d . . Mary hasn't had much success as a dancer in New York City. Despite her talent, there's too much competition and not enough opportunity. I think she needs to be more realistic about what she's doing with her life. If you ask me, she should come to her senses. Mary khng thnh cng lm khi lm din vin ma ti thnh ph New York. Tuy con ti c ti nhng c qu nhiu cnh tranh v khng c hi. Ti cho rng con ti cn thc t hn v ngh nghip ca mnh. Theo ti th Mary cn phi suy ngh hp l v khn ngoan hn . 2. paint oneself into a corner: t t mnh vo th kt . When Roger asked his best buddy Tony to go into business with him, it sounded like a winning idea. But now that Tony's found out that Roger is incompetent, he feels there's little he can do without jeopardizing his long-term friendship. He's certainly painted himself into a corner. Khi anh Roger r bn thn nht ca anh l Tony cng bun bn chung vi anh, anh Tony ngh rng l mt kin kh hay. Nhng by gi anh Tony khm ph ra rng Roger l ngi bt ti, anh cm thy anh khng th lm g c nu khng mun lm st m tnh bn lu nm gia hai ngi. AnhTony qu tht t t mnh vo th kt.

. Several candidates up for re-election are vowing never to raise taxes or cut services. So what do they think they're going to do as the economy gets worse? They're painting themselves into a corner because they'll have no other choice but to go back on their campaign promises. Nhiu ng c vin ra ti tranh c th rng h s khng bao gi tng thu hay ct gim dch v .V th khi nn kinh t bt u suy thoi th h s lm g? H t t mnh vo mt hon cnh rt kh x v h khng c la chn no khc hn l i ngc li nhng li cam kt ca h trong khi vn ng tranh c .

134: cozy up, have a field day

m cng

1. cozy up: nnh b hng li . Ever since Lisa got put on the night shift, she's been cozying up to the boss. By baking him cookies and showering him with compliments, she's trying to get him to switch her back to the day shift. We'll see if her efforts have any influence on him. K t khi c Lisa b i sang lm ca m, c y bt u nnh b ng xp. C y lm bnh ngt tng ng y, v ht li khen ng ta tm cch xin ng ta chuyn c tr li ca sng. Chng ta hy ch xem liu c y c gy nh hng g c vi ng hay khng. . The Smith Development Company is so predictable. Once it discovers farmland that could be turned into housing, it cozies up to local politicians. With the access it gains, building plans are soon approved. Before long, construction crews are busy at work! Cng ty a c Smith c li lm vic rt d tin on. Mt khi cng ty tm ra c nhng khu t rung c th c chuyn sang thnh khu gia c mi, cng ty bn nnh b cc chnh tr gia a phng. Sau khi cng ty gn gi h, cc k hoch xy nh ca cng ty c nhanh chng chp thun. t lu sau , cc ton cng nhn xy dng bt u lm vic.

2. have a field day: mt ngy vui chi / ch trch ngi khc . The children in the cancer ward got a big surprise. The nurses rented a bus and took them and their families to the circus. Watching the animals, acrobats and clowns perform, the kids were having a field day. What a joy it was to see their smiling faces! Cc em trong khu ung th ngc nhin v thch th khi cc n y t thu mt chic xe but ch cc em v gia nh i xem xic. Cc em rt thch th khi c dp xem cc con th, cc vn ng vin nho ln, v cc anh h biu din. Tht l vui khi nhn thy nhng khun mt ti ci ca cc em . . For years, the most famous football player toured the country warning students about the dangers of using illegal drugs. But after his conviction for cocaine possession, the press had a field day. They accused him of being nothing but a hypocrite. Trong nhiu nm qua, cu th bng bu dc ni ting nht i khp mi ni trong nc cnh bo hc sinh v s nguy him ca vic dng thuc bt hp php. Tuy nhin, sau khi anh ta b kt ti s hu bch phin, gii bo ch c dp tha h ch trch anh ta. H t co anh ta ch l mt ngi o c gi m thi.

135: flat on ones back, fly blind

1. flat on ones back: nm khng c ng . Brendas accident was so bad that shes had to have an operation on her hip. Except for physical therapy, shes got to stay flat on her back. If she tries walking around too much, the doctors say she wont heal properly. Tai nn m c Brenda gp phi t n ni c phi b m hng. Tr nhng lc i tr liu c th, c phi nm thng cng trn ging. Cc bc s ni rng nu c c i li qu nhiu th c s khng lnh bnh ng mc. . You know, losing a job can have a drastic effect on people. That happened to a couple in my neighborhood whose company shut down. With little savings in the bank, they were flat on their backs. Fortunately, their relatives helped pay some of their bills until they found other work. Bn bit khng, mt vic c th gy nn mt hu qu ht sc tai hi cho con ngi. iu ny xy ra cho mt i v chng trong xm ti v cng ty ni h lm vic b ng ca . V c t tin tit kim trong ngn hng, h lm vo mt hon cnh ht sc kh khn. May thay, cc ngi thn trong gia nh h gip tr mt s n cho n khi h tm c vic khc . 2. fly blind : lm mt iu g mi m khng c hng dn . My grandmother used to serve the most delicious cake. Unfortunately, I never got the recipe from her before she passed away. If I want to make one, Ill have to fly blind. Perhaps I can figure out the ingredients and the steps involved. B ti ngy xa vn thng lm loi bnh ngt ngon nht t trc ti nay. Tic thay, ti khng h nhn c cng thc lm bnh ca b trc khi b qua i. By gi, nu ti mun lm mt ci bnh ti s phi m mm lm ly. C l ti s c th tm ra cc cht liu v cch thc lm bnh . . I like the security of a traditional job. Where Im willing to be more daring is when Im traveling. Just last year, my friend and I took a trip to Eastern Europe! We didnt know anyone there and didnt pack a guidebook. We were flying blind and having a great time feeling our way as we traveled around. Ti thch s yn n ca mt cng vic thng ngy. Ch khi no ti i du lch ti mi t ra to bo. Mi nm ngoi, ti v bn ti i du lch sang ng u ! Chng ti khng quen ai , m cng khng mang theo mt cun sch hng dn. Chng ti i chi m khng c ai tr gip, nhng chng ti rt thch th khi t m mm tm ng i ni ny ni n.

136: food for thought, have a foot in both camps

1. food for thought: mt kin ng c cu xt . I just heard something interesting at a seminar: If you dont like long meetings, ask everyone to stay standing. Now I dont know if employees at my company would try that idea, but its certainly food for thought.

Ti va nghe c mt iu kh th v ti mt cuc hi tho. l nu bn khng mun c nhng bui hp di th bn nn yu cu mi ngi phi ng. Ti khng bit cc nhn vin ti cng ty ti c mun th kin khng, nhng chc chn l mt kin ng c cu xt . . Consider this: getting lost in daydream can help you deal with difficult situations in your life. It can not only relieve stress, but stimulate solutions. Hopefully, this gives you some food for thought. Hy cu xt iu ny: chm m trong m mng vin vng c th gip bn i ph vi nhng hon cnh kh khn trong i bn. M mng khng nhng c th lm gim bt p lc v lo u m cn kch thch tm ra gii php. Ti hy vng rng kin ny ng c bn suy ngm. 2. have a foot in both camps: ng h hai phe phi i nghch nhau . There are two competing interests in our city: the developers who favor more construction, and the environmentalists who oppose it. Yet the mayor has figured out how to give each of them something they want. Hes always had a foot in both camps. C hai nhm quyn li cnh tranh nhau trong thnh ph ca chng ti: nhm ch trng pht trin th mun xy dng thm, v nhm ch trng bo v mi trng th chng i. Tuy vy, ng th trng bit cch lm th no cho mi nhm mt phn nhng g h mun. ng lun lun ng h c hai phe i nghch nhau. . A friend of mine works for an airline. She was telling me how her company is making financial contributionss to candidates of the Republican Party. I didnt understand how it could afford not to give money to the Democrats, too. Then she explained it did; it has a foot in both camps. Mt ngi bn ti lm vic cho mt hng hng khng. C y ni vi ti rng hng ny ang ng gp ti chnh cho cc ng c vin ca ng Cng ha. Ti khng hiu ti sao hng ny li khng kh nng ng gp tin cho ng Dn ch na. Nhng sau , bn ti gii thch rng hng hng khng cng ng gp cho ng Dn ch v ng h c hai ng i lp nhau.

137: for a song, from the ground up

1. for a song: gi rt r . The recent downturn in the U.S. housing market represents good news for the buyers. In states like Florida, you can find expensive properties going for a song. But you had better take advantage before prices start going up. Tnh hnh suy sp ca th trng a c ti M hi gn y l mt tin mng cho nhng ngi mun mua nh. Ti cc tiu bang nh Florida, bn c th tm thy nhng bt ng sn t tin nhng bn vi gi rt r. Nhng bn nn li dng c hi ny trc khi gi c bt u ln cao . . My cousin is thrilled. He just accepted a marketing job overseas. Since he wont be needing his sports car, hes willing to let me have it for a song. Ill be paying so little for it, in fact, its almost like hes giving it away.

Anhh h ti rt vui sng. Anh y va nhn mt chc v tip th nc ngoi. V anh y s khng cn chic xe ua ca anh na, nn anh sn sng bn li cho ti vi gi rt r. Tht vy, ti s phi tr rt t tin n hu nh anh y cho khng chic xe cho ti vy. 2. from the ground up: ngay t u . Back in the 1860s, the U.S. government offered land in the Midwest to anyone willing to settle there. Adventurous pioneers came pouring in and began to build communities from the ground up. Soon towns and cities developed where none had existed. Hi thp nin 1860, chnh ph Hoa k tng t min Trung Ty nc M cho bt c ai sn lng nh c ti . Cc nh tin phong thch mo him bn trn n v bt u xy dng nhng cng ng ngay t lc ban u. t lu sau, cc th trn v thnh ph c thnh lp nhng ni m trc khng c g c. . I wouldnt mind being an entrepreneur. Wouldnt that be exciting to come up with an idea for a new product or business and make it successful? Then, one day, you could look back at all that you put into your enterprise, knowing that you made it happen from the ground up. Ti mun lm mt doanh gia. Nu mnh ngh ra mt kin lm mt sn phm mi, hay m mt doanh nghip mi v lm cho n thnh cng th thch th bit chng no ? Ri mt ngy no , mnh c th sung sng nhn li tt c cng ca m mnh b vo doanh nghip ca mnh, v bit rng mnh to ra s nghip ny ngay t lc ban u.

138: in full swing, beat someone at their own game

1. in full swing: hot ng ti a . For the last six months Ive been making phone calls and leafleting houses on behalf of a friend whos running for office. Now, with the election just days away, the campaign is in full swing, and Ive been working at a feverish pace.

Trong su thng qua, ti vn gi in thoi v trao truyn n ti tn nh c tri ng h mt ngi bn ra tranh mt chc v cng c. Gi y, ch cn vi ngy na l ti ngy bu c, cuc vn ng tranh c ang din ra mc si ni nht, v ti ang hot ng mc ti a. . As a tax accountant, my busiest time of year is between February and April. Thats because working Americans must file their tax documents with the federal government by April 15th of every year. So when my office is in full swing, Im expected to stay late and come in on weekends. V ti l mt k ton vin chuyn v thu m nn thi gian bn nht ca ti l t gia thng hai ti thng t. l v nhng ngi M lm vic phi khai thu vi chnh ph lin bang vo hn cht l ngy 15 thng t mi nm. V th, khi vn phng ca ti hot ng mnh nht th ti phi li lm vic mun v lm vic c cui tun na. 2. beat someone at their own game: nh bi c ngi no trong mt vic m ngi lm

. A friend of mine discovered that her colleagues had put a foolish looking photo of her on-line. Soon afterwards, she plotted her revenge: She found a really unattractive picture of them and put it on the Internet for millions of people to see. She beat them at their own game. Mt ngi bn ti khm ph ra rng cc ng nghip ca c t mt tm hnh di dt ca c ln mng. t lu sau , c bn tm cch tr th : C tm mt tm hnh rt xu x ca cc ng nghip ny v t ln mng cho hng triu ngi xem. C nh bi c cc ng nghip trong cng mt tr a ca h. . The restaurant across the street from ours was running a special. Guests who ordered a dinner entre could receive another at half price. So we introduced an even better deal : buy one entre, get the other free. Now our place is packed. Were beating the competition at their own game. Tim n i din vi tim chng ti bn kia ng ang qung co mt gi c bit: Khch hng no t mt mn n u c th mua thm cng mn vi na gi. V th chng ti a ra mt qung co tt hn: Ai mua mt mn n u th khng phi tr tin mn th nh. Gi y, tim chng ti ng cht khch hng. Chng ti thng i th trong cng mt cch qung co ca h.

139: run the gauntlet, get a fix on

bao tay st

1. run the gauntlet: b nhiu ngi hch hi, ch trch . When I proposed that our high school eliminate soda machines in the building, I thought Id have everyones support. Instead, I was atttacked by many parents and teachers for taking away the students right to choose what they wanted to drink. I never expected run the gauntlet on that issue. Khi ti ngh loi b nhng my bn nc ngt trong trng, ti tng mi ngi s ng h ti. Thay vo , ti b nhiu ph huynh v thy gio ch trch l ly mt quyn ca hc tr mun chn th g m h thch ung. Ti khng bao gi ngh rng s b kch v vn ny . . First, I had an in-depth interview with the personnel director. Then, I was asked to go over my resum with the food department manager. Finally, I got questioned at length by the head of the kitchen staff. All of this so that I could get a job cooking food at the hotel. I certainly ran the gauntlet for that position. Trc ht, ti c ng gim c nhn s phng vn rt k lng. K , b qun l ban thc phm xem xt bn l lch ca ti. Cui cng, ti b ngi u bp trng hch hi di dng. Ti lm tt c nhng iu ny ch xin vic nu n ti khch sn. Ti tht s tri qua mi ni kh khn xin c vic ny. 2. get a fix on: hiu r mt iu g hay mt ngi no . Our investigation team combed the site of the plane crash for weeks. Finally, after reviewing countless pieces of evidence, we were able to get a fix on the cause of the accident. Weve determined that ice on the wings was to blame for the tragedy. Ton iu tra vin ca chng ti lc lo a im my bay rt trong nhiu tun l. Cui cng, sau khi duyt xt li rt nhiu bng chng, chng ti c th tm ra nguyn nhn gy tai nn. Chng ti xc nh rng nc ng trn cnh my bay gy ra thm kch ny.

. At nearly 50, Madonna has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. I think much of her success is due to an ability to constantly change her looks and her sound so that shes always fresh. Shes like a chameleon that is always getting a fix on what her fans are looking for next. Not bad for someone whose career dates back to 1982. Vo gn 50 tui, Madonna bn c hn 200 triu a ht trn khp th gii. Ti cho rng c thnh cng phn ln l nh vo kh nng lun lun thay i v p v ting ht ca c khin c lc no cng ti tr. C ging nh con tc k lun lun tm hiu xem gii m iu c thch iu g. Tht l mt thnh cng v vang cho mt ngh s bt u s nghip ca mnh t nm 1982.

140: give as good as one gets, go berserk

1. give as good as one gets: sc i x vi ngi khc nh h i x vi mnh . Polls show that most Americans believe Senator Hillary Clinton is tough enough to be President of the United States. Thats because she has handled herself well against continuous political attacks by her opponents and is seen as a strong negotiator. Shes always given as good as shes gotten. Cc cuc thm d kin cho thy rng phn ng ngi M tin rng thng ngh s Hillary Clinton l ngi cng rn lm tng thng Hoa k. l v b c bn lnh chng li nhng v kch chnh tr lin tc ca nhng i th ca b, v b c coi l mt thng thuyt gia ti gii. B lun lun i x vi ngi khc y nh h i x vi b vy. . In our first season, a lot of sports columnists doubted that our basket- ball team would be any match against our fierce competitors. But we showed them that we were ready to take on any challenge. Game after game, we proved that we could fight back. We gave as good as we got. And now were the league champions. Trong ma u u tin, nhiu nh bnh lun th thao nghi ng rng i bng chng ti s khng th ch li cc i hng mnh khc. Nhng chng ti cho h thy rng chng ti sn sng ng u vi bt c th thch no. Sau nhiu trn u, chng ti chng t rng chng ti sc chng tr li h. Gi y, chng ti l v ch trong lin on bng r.

2. go berserk: ni cn in, thnh n . After our favorite couple finished their dance, everyone stood up and applauded. No one had ever seen such a perfect performance. But the judges gave them scores which put them in second place. Well, the crowd went berserk. It took security guards to restore order. Sau khi cp th sinh c a chung chm dt mn v ca h, mi ngi ng ln v tay hoan h. Cha bao gi h nhn thy mt mn v tuyt ho nh vy. Nhng cc gim kho cho im h v nh, v khn thnh gi ni lon. Cng an bo v phi vn hi trt t. . I read a best-seller in which a circus elephant gets loose and goes on a rampage. But Im not going to tell you why he goes berserk. I dont want to spoil the ending for some of you.

Ti c c mt cun truyn bn chy nht, k li chuyn mt con voi trong gnh xic sng chung ri chy i ph phch khp ni. Ti s khng ni cho bn bit l do ti sao con voi ny li ni cn thnh n nh vy. Ti khng mun ni trc on cui ca cu chuyn v khng mun lm cho n mt hay .

141: be greek to me, grind to a halt

1. be greek to me: khng th hiu c . Finding a house to buy was complicated enough. But thats nothing compared to all the paperwork my realtor asked me to sign. Im looking at nearly a hundred pages of official documents full of terms Ive never seen before. Its all greek to me. Tm mua mt ci nh l iu kh phc tp ri. Nhng khng l g c nu phi so snh vi nhng giy t m ngi lo vic mua bn nh ca yu cu ti k. Ti nhn gn mt trm trang vn kin chnh thc y nhng ch m ti cha bao gi thy, v ti khng hiu g ht . . What was so important that our daughter was always exchanging messages with her friends? Finally, I grabbed her cell phone to see for myself. But its like she was writing in some kind of code. My husband couldnt figure it out either. It was all greek to us. C iu g quan trng n con gi ti lc no cng trao i thng tin vi bn n? Cui cng, ti ging ly in thoi di ng ca n xem sao. Nhng trng c v nh n vit bng mt loi mt m. Nh ti cng khng th on ra c. Chng ti khng hiu n vit g ht . 2. grind to a halt: t t ngng li, khng th tin hnh c na . Last years strike by writers in Holywood had a significant impact. Without scripts, production on most television series and movies ground to a halt. It took months of negotiations before a settlement was reached and filming started again. Mt cuc nh cng nm ngoi ca cc nh vit kch bn ti thnh ph Hollywood gy ra mt hu qu nghim trng. V khng c kch bn nn vic sn xut phn ln cc chng trnh truyn hnh v phim nh t t ngng hn. Phi mt nhiu thng tri thng lng ngi ta mi t c tha thun v vic sn xut phim nh mi bt u li c.

. His class was so big that they decided to hold the event outside. So there were about 1,000 students, parents and friends enjoying the commencement speaker when the skies turn dark and this thunderstorm rips through the area. Rain started pouring down and everyone runs for cover. Needless to say the program grinds to a halt. Lp ca chu ti ng n ngi ta quyt nh lm l tt nghip ngoi tri. Chng ti gm khong 1,000 sinh vin, ph huynh v bn b ang thch th nghe bi din vn trong bui l pht bng khi tri bt u ti sm li v sm st vang rn khp ni. Ma bt u ri v mi ngi lo chy tm ni tr n. Khng cn phi ni l chng trnh ny t t ngng hn.

142: has had its day, keep ones head above water
1. has had its day: ht thi

. Until very recently, travelers in the U.S. have chosen to get on an airplane for quick and affordable transportation. So has the train had its day? Maybe not. Because of increased security at airports and higher airfares, many passengers have shown a renewed interest in rail service. It may become popular once again. Cho n hi gn y, khch du hnh M chn i my bay lm mt phng tin vn chuyn nhanh chng v t tn km. Nh vy th liu xe ha c ht thi ri khng? C l khng. Bi v cc bin php an ninh ngy cng tng ti phi trng v gi v my bay ngy cng cao khin nhiu hnh khch li t mun i xe ha. Xe ha c l s c a chung tr li. . I have the greatest respect for the police chief. Over the last thirty years, hes been a courageous leader. But frankly he has had his day. Crime fighting has changed and its time we appoint a successor who can take on new challenges. Ti rt knh trng ng cnh st trng. Trong 30 nm qua, ng t ra l mt lnh o can m. Nhng tht tnh m ni th thi ca ng qua. Cch chng nn phm php thay i, v n lc chng ta b nhim mt ngi thay th ng c th i ph vi nhng th thch mi . 2. keep ones head above water: gii quyt mt cch kh khn cc vn ti chnh, vic lm v..v . I feel sorry for my next door neighbor. Shes in her eighties and has no one to look after her. With the cost of living having increased so much lately, its become harder and harder for her to pay her bills. Its clear that shes scarcely able to keep her head above water. Ill just have to see what I can do to help out. Ti rt i ngi cho b hng xm cnh nh ti. B ngoi 80 tui v khng c ai chm nom b. Vi gi sinh hot ngy cng tng hi gn y, tht kh cho b tr n hng thng. R rng l b ang gp rt nhiu kh khn trong vic trang tri mi chi ph. Ti phi xem ti c th gip b c g . . Before the new highway was built, I could easily fill every table in my restaurant. These days, with fewer diners, its become a struggle to stay in business. Im barely keeping my head above water. I dont know how much longer I can afford to stay open. Trc khi quc l mi c xy, ti c th d dng c khch cho tt c cc bn n trong tim. Nhng lc ny, v c t khch hn nn tht kh m tip tc bun bn. Ti hu nh khng sc chu ng. Ti khng bit ti cn c th m ca tim n bao lu na.

143: put the kibosh on, out of kilter

1. put the kibosh on: ngn chn mt chuyn hay mt d nh g . Im getting ready to fly down to Florida to see a friend of mine in St. Augustine, a historic city on the coast. Im looking forward to walking along the beach and doing a little touring. I dont care if the weather is chilly down there. Even lousy weather wont put the kibosh on my visit. Ti ang sa son bay xung Florida thm mt ngi bn ti St. Augustine, mt thnh ph lch s bn b bin. Ti mong mi i do trn bi bin v du ngon mt vi ni. Ti khng cn bit l thi tit di hi lnh. Ngay c thi tit xu cng khng th lm ti hy b chuyn i ny.

. On May 6, 1937, a German airship named Hindenburg had made another successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. As it was docking in New Jersey, it suddenly burst into flames. That tragedy effectively put the kibosh on such travel. But now the development of airships is once again encouraged. Vo ngy 6 thng 5, nm 1937, mt kh cu ca c tn Hindenburg li thnh cng bay ngang qua i Ty dng. Trong khi kh cu ny p xung tiu bang New Jersey, n thnh lnh pht n v bc chy. Thm kch ny hon ton chm dt vic du hnh bng kh cu. Tuy nhin, hin nay, vic pht trin kh cu li mt ln na c khuyn khch. 2. out of kilter: b sai lc, hay hng v cc b phn b trc trc . Millions of bees in the U.S. have mysteriously died or disappeared. As a result, crops in 24 states have been severely thrown out of kilter. While scientists continue to search for answers, farmers wonder how long this disorder will last. Hng triu con ong M cht hay bin mt mt cch b n. Hu qu l cc v ma ti 24 tiu bang b h hi nng. Trong khi cc khoa hc gia tip tc tm gii p, cc nng gia khng bit l tnh trng ri lon ny s ko di n bao lu. . As I was driving yesterday, I almost hit a deer crossing the road. Thankfully, I was able to swerve out of its way just in time. But the car hasnt been riding well since; the wheels seem to be out of kilter. Trong lc ti ang li xe hm qua, sut na ti ng phi mt con nai bng qua ng. May thay, ti kp li chch sang mt bn trnh n. Nhng chic xe gi y khng cn chy m nh trc na ; cc bnh xe hnh nh b trc trc.

144: know ones place, last-ditch effort

1. know ones place: c x theo ng v tr ca mnh . Last summer, we hired a few interns to help out in the office. At the end of their assignment they wrote a report to the department head about improvements they felt needed to be made! In my opinion, they should have known their place; they were in no position to be telling their boss how to run the office. Hi ma h nm ngoi, chng ti thu mt vi nhn vin thc tp gip vic trong vn phng. Sau khi lm xong vic, h vit mt bn phc trnh ln ng xp, nu ln nhng iu m h cho l cn phi ci tin trong vn phng. Theo ti ng l ra h phi bit v tr ca h; h khng c quyn ni ng xp h phi iu hnh vn phng ca ng nh th no. . During her years in the White House, Rosalyn Carter was not a traditional First Lady. She would often sit in on her husbands senior staff meetings and sometimes represented President Carter in discussions with world leaders. As a result, some voters criticized her for not knowing her place. Trong nhng nm sng ti ta Bch c, b Rosalyn Carter khng phi l mt nht phu nhn theo truyn thng. B thng ngi d nhng bui hp ca ban nhn vin cao cp ca chng b, v i khi i din Tng thng Carter trong cc cuc tho lun vi cc lnh t th gii. V th, mt s c tri ch trch b l khng bit a v ca b. 2. last-ditch effort: c gng cui cng thnh cng sau nhiu ln tht bi

. The Olympic gymnast had scored well on her floor exercises, but not enough to earn a medal. She knows she has one final opportunity, so shes making a last-ditch effort. If she doesnt succeed this time, shell likely be too old to try again at the Games in four years. C vn ng vin th dc ti th vn hi Olympic nhn c nhiu im tt trong cuc biu din trn sn, nhng khng im c mt huy chng. C bit rng c c mt c hi cui cng, v th c c gng mt ln cht. Nu ln ny c khng thng th chc c s b qu tui d th vn hi k ti trong bn nm na. . Id never had much luck in my garden. Everything Id ever planted failed to grow. I was about to give up. But I thought Id try one more time by choosing a different location. My last-ditch effort made all the difference. Now Ive got more tomatoes than I know what to do with. Ti cha bao gi gp may trong vn nh ti. Tt c nhng g m ti trng u khng mc c. Ti sp sa b cuc. Nhng ti ngh ti s c gng mt ln na bng cch chn mt ch t khc. N lc cui cng ca ti thay i mi vic. Gi y, ti c nhiu c chua n ti khng bit lm g cho ht .

145: lay on the line, leave in the lurch

1. lay on the line: trnh by thng tin mt cch thng thn v quyt lit . I work with an accountant who was showing up late for work. Not any more. Our boss called her into the office last month and ever since she has been right on time. Apparently, the boss laid it on the line that shed better be at the office for her scheduled shift or shed be fired. Ti lm vic vi mt k ton vin lun lun i mun. Nhng by gi c y khng cn i mun nh vy na. Hi thng trc, ng xp chng ti gi c vo vn phng, v k t lc no c cng i ng gi. R rng l ng xp ni thng vi c l c nn i lm cho ng gi gic ch nh, nu khng th c s b sa thi. . I like my mayor so much. In order to improve the economy, he knows that some tough choices have to be made. So, instead of being afraid to share the painful truth, hes laying it on the line that the city needs to cut some services. Ti rt thch ng th trng ca ti. ng bit rng mun ci thin nn kinh t th cn phi c nhng la chn kh khn. V th, thay v s phi chia x s tht au lng, ng thng thn trnh by l thnh ph cn phi ct gim mt s dch v.
trng trnh, lo o

2. leave in the lurch: b ri mt ngi no trong lc hon nn . The interview went so well that the hospital administrator offered Dr. Long the job. The trouble is she wanted him to start right away. He explained that his clinic wouldnt be able to find a replacement so quickly. And he couldnt abandon his patients like that. He was too professional to leave them in the lurch. Cuc phng vn din ra rt tt nn b gim c bnh vin mun thu dng bc s Long. Vn l b mun ng lm vic ngay tc khc. ng bc s gii thch rng bnh x ca ng khng th kim ngi thay ng nhanh chng, v ng cng khng th b ri bnh nhn ca ng nh vy. ng c lng tm ngh nghip nn khng th lm nh vy c.

. After the divorce, Bills kids felt left in the lurch. Theyd rarely see him as they grew up. Not only was he absent on special occasions like birthdays and graduations, but also during tough times when they really needed a dad. They never got over that sense of abandonment. Sau v ly d, cc con anh Bill cm thy b b ri. Chng t khi gp anh trong khi ln ln. Khng nhng anh vng mt vo nhng dp c bit nh sinh nht v l tt nghip, m ngay c trong nhng lc kh khn khi chng rt cn c mt ngi cha. Chng khng bao gi khc phc c cm gic b b ri trong lc hon nn.

146: the lesser of two evils, let sth slide

1. the lesser of two evils: gia hai iu xu, ngi ta chn iu t xu hn . I checked into a hotel and there were only two rooms left: one located by the elevator and the other by the soda machine. I picked the room by the soda machine because it was the lesser of two evils. Although it was noisy from people buying soda, it wasnt as bad as the room by the elevator, where the noise of people getting on and off the elevator was constant. Ti ng k mt khch sn v ch cn c hai phng trng: mt phng bn cnh thang my, cn phng kia th gn my bn nc ngt. Ti chn phng gn my bn nc ngt v n t t hn phng kia. Tuy n n v c ngi mua nc ngt, nhng khng t bng phng bn cnh thang my v nhng ting ng lin tc ca ngi ln xung thang my ny. . There doesnt seem to be much choice in the upcoming election. Both candidates lack experience and leadership skills. I guess Ill have to vote for the one who promises not to raise taxes. Hes the lesser of two evils. Dng nh khng c nhiu la chn trong cuc bu c sp ti. C hai ng c vin u thiu kinh nghim v thiu ti lnh o. Ti d on l ti s phi b phiu chn ngi cam kt khng tng thu. ng ta t t hn ngi kia. 2. let sth slide: bung tri hay b qua mt iu g . After my tenant lost his job, I understood why he didnt have the rent on time. I decided to let it slide for a couple of weeks. Then I told him that hed have to pay or plan to move out. I couldnt overlook what he owed me.

Sau khi ngi thu nh ti b mt vic, ti hiu ti sao ng ta khng tr tin nh ng k hn. Ti quyt nh b qua cho ng ta vi tun. Sau , ti cho ng ta bit l ng ta s phi tr tin nh, hoc dn i ni khc. Ti khng th b qua s tin ng ta n ti. . Regular check-ups are important to maintaining good health.You cant let them slide. Going to the dentist is no different. For years, my dad avoided getting his teeth examined. Now hes wearing dentures. Perhaps if he hadnt let his dental care slide, hed have all his teeth today. i khm nh k l iu quan trng gi gn sc khe. Chng ta khng nn b qua iu ny. i gp nha s cng vy. Trong nhiu nm, cha ti trnh vic khm rng. By gi ng mang rng gi. C l trc y nu ng khng bung tri v sn sc rng th gi y ng cn hai hm rng .

147: like crazy, live and let live

1. like crazy: nh in . Our factory is expected to ship a new product by this weekend, but the order isnt ready yet. Thats why the boss has ordered extra shifts. If we work like crazy, well meet the deadline. But that means there cant be any slowing down. Hng chng ti d tr phi gi mt sn phm mi i khp ni vo cui tun ny, nhng chng ti cha lm xong n t hng. l l do khin ng xp phi ra lnh ly thm nhiu ca th mi. Nu chng ti lm vic nh in th chng ti s lm kp hn cht nh. Nhng nh th c ngha l chng ti khng th lm chm c. . Thanksgiving is the holiday Americans observe on the last Thursday in November. It typically features an extensive meal including turkey, many vegetable dishes and desserts, such as pumpkin and apple pie. As you can imagine, this is the day many people eat like crazy. L T n l ngy l m ngi M c hnh vo th nm cui cng trong thng 11. in hnh l mt ba n thnh son gm mn g ty, nhiu mn rau ci v trng ming chng hn nh bnh ngt nhn b ng v nhn to. Bn c th tng tng l ngy m nhiu ngi M n ung nh in . 2. live and let live: sng d ha vi qu . Should smoking be allowed in places like offices and restaurants ? Most Americans used to have a live and let live attitude. But more have become far less tolerant. Thats because research clearly shows that when smokers light up, they can create serious health problems for nearby non-smokers. C nn cho php ht thuc ti nhng ni nh vn phng v tim n hay khng? Trc y, phn ng ngi M c thi d ha vi qu. Nhng cng ngy cng c nhiu ngi t khoan dung hn. l v cng cuc nghin cu r rng cho thy l khi ngi ta ht thuc th c th lm hi sc khe ca nhng ngi khng ht gn . . I know an issue that my husband doesnt agree with. Our next door neighbors dont seem to maintain their house very well. The paint is peeling on the exterior and they dont cut their grass. My husbands attitude isnt live and let live because if their house isnt kept up, it makes the entire neighborhood look less desirable to live in. Ti bit mt vn m chng ti khng ng . Ngi lng ging cnh nh chng ti khng chu gi gn nh ca t t. Lp sn bn ngoi b trc, v h khng ct c. Thi ca chng ti khng phi l d ha vi qu, v nu ngi lng ging khng chu chm sc nh h th c khu ph ny s b xung cp.

148: lost touch, lost in the shuffle

1. lost touch: mt lin lac dn dn. .After knowing each other for over twenty years, one of my best friends is heading to Texas to start a new job. Its going to be hard not seeing each other regularly, but we promised that we would never lose touch.

Sau khi quen bit nhau trong hn 20 nm, mt trong nhng ngi ban thn nht cua ti sp don i Texas nhn mt vic lam mi. Tht se kho cho chung ti gp nhau thng xuyn, nhng chung ti ha la se khng bao gi mt lin lac vi nhau. . Nobody in the family had heard from uncle David in years. One day we got a letter from him. In it, he said he regretted losing touch with us, but promised to write more often. Since then, weve been getting news from him on a regular basis. Trong nhiu nm qua, khng mt ngi nao trong gia inh nghe c tin tc cua chu David. Nhng mt hm chung ti nhn c mt la th cua chu. Trong o chu noi rng chu rt tic la a mt lin lac vi chung ti, nhng ha la se vit th thng hn. K t o, chung ti thng xuyn nhn c tin cua chu.
xo trn

2. lost in the shuffle: khng c chu y n vi moi ngi co nhiu chuyn khac lam hay suy nghi . Theres been so much controversy over the collapse of the bridge. The mayors office blames the engineers for poor design while they fault the city for not keeping up with routine repairs. But no one is showing much concern for commuters like me who desperately need the bridge to be fixed. Were getting lost in the shuffle. Co qua nhiu tranh lun v vu cu sp. Vn phong thi trng li cho cac ky s la thit k kem, con cac ky s thi ch trach thanh ph la khng chiu bao tri u n. Nhng khng ai quan tm n nhng ngi i lam hang ngay nh ti cn cy cu c sa. Chung ti a bi bo qun trong vu cai co nay. . I used to loathe our staff meetings. Too often, precious time was wasted on insignificant details. Now I have a supervisor who sets a clear agenda. As a result, the most pressing issues arent lost in the shuffle. They receive the attention they deserve. Trc kia ti vn khng thich nhng bui hop cua ban nhn vin vi chung ti thng mt qua nhiu thi gi quy bau vao nhng chi tit khng quan trong. Gi y ti co mt ng sp bit n inh mt nghi trinh ro rt. Kt qua la nhng vn cp bach nht a khng bi lang qun, ma c chu y n mt cach xng ang.

149: lower the boom, push ones luck

1. lower the boom: trng phat nng . We warned our teenage son not to come home late again. So when he returned after midnight, we were in the living room waiting. Thats when we lowered the boom on him. For the next month, hed have to stay in except for going to school. It was harsh but necessary punishment. Chung ti canh cao a con trai trong tui thiu nin la ng v nha mun na. Vi th, khi no v nha sau na m, chung ti a ngi ch sn trong phong khach. o la luc chung ti trng phat no. Trong thang ti, no se phai nha tr nhng luc i hoc. y la mt hinh phat khc nghit nhng cn thit.

. A friend of mine is stupid if he thinks he can avoid paying income taxes. Eventually the government will find out and then lower the boom on him. That means hell get a stiff fine. Well, thats what happens when you dont obey the law. Mt ngi ban ti to ra ngu ngc nu anh ta cho rng anh ta co th tranh tra thu li tc. Dn da, chinh phu se kham pha ra iu nay va se trng phat anh ta, tc la anh ta se bi phat tin nng. Di nhin, o la iu se xay ra khi anh khng tun theo lut phap. 2. push ones luck: liu linh lam mt iu gi mt cach dai dt, hy vong rng vn may cua minh vn tip tuc. . The heel of my shoe came off one day. I thought I could glue it back on and it would hold long enough until I was able to have it fixed. So I kept wearing it and, I guess, I got a little too confident. On my way to work, it came apart and I fell on the sidewalk. I shouldnt have pushed my luck! Mt hm got giay cua ti ri ra. Ti nghi ti co th dan no lai va chic giay s i c cho ti khi ti mang no i sa. Vi th, ti c tip tuc mang giay va co le ti hi qua t tin. Trn ng n s lam, got giay lai ri ra va ti nga xung t. ang ly ra ti a khng nn da vao vn may cua ti ma lam liu nh vy. . My friends and I had planned this climb for months. And there we were, almost to the top. But the sun was going down on us. Did we want to try and hurry? We decided not to push our luck and risk an accident. After all, the mountain could wait until morning. Ti va cac ban a hoach inh chuyn leo nui nay trong my thang qua. Va chung ti a ln gn ti inh nui , nhng mt tri lai sp ln . Liu chung ti co mun vi va treo tip hay khng? Chung ti quyt inh khng mun lam liu vi s gp tai nan. Noi cho cung thi ngon nui co th ch cho n sang hm sau.

150: make a dent, march to a different drummer

1. make a dent: thc hin, hay lm gim bt mt iu g . After being home with the flu for a week, I finally returned to the office. I cant believe how much I missed. Ive already spent two days trying to catch up on the pile of paperwork on my desk, but Ive barely made a dent in it. Theres still a lot more I need to do. Sau khi ngh nh mt tun l v b bnh cm cm, ti tr li c quan. Ti khng ng l ti b mt nhiu vic nh vy. Ti dnh hai ngy c gii quyt ng giy t y trn bn, nhng ti khng lm bt i c bao nhiu. Cn rt nhiu vic ti cn phi lm na. . Theres been an unexpected rise in robbery in my neighborhood lately. Our police department responded by assigning more officers in the area, but there hasnt been much change yet. Will that make a dent in the crime rate? Well see. Hi gn y, nhng v trm cp tng mt cch bt ng trong xm ti. S cnh st phn ng bng cch iu ng thm nhn vin vo xm ny, nhng tnh hnh vn cha thay i nhiu. Liu hnh ng ny c s lm gim bt mc phm php hay khng? Chng ta hy ch xem. 2. march to a different drummer: hnh ng 1 cch c lp, hay c ~ tng ko ging nhng ngi khc.

. My friends are always inviting me to these crazy New Years Eve parties. But Ive always marched to a different drummer. Going to big noisy celebrations just to wait until midnight isnt for me. Id much rather stay home and have a quiet evening watching a good movie or reading a good book. Cc bn ti lun lun mi ti d nhng bui tic tt nin in r , nhng ti lun lun c ngh khc. D nhng bui lin hoan n o ch i n na m n mng nm mi khng phi l iu ti thch lm. Ti ch thch nh, hng mt bui ti m m v xem mt phim hay hoc c mt cun sch hay. . Zappos, the biggest online shoe store could have copied its competitors. Instead, it marched to a different drummer. By offering free shipping, and a 365-day return policy, it provided some of the best service in the industry. Maybe thats why its grown from nothing to an almost $1 billion giant. Zappos, cng ty bn giy ln nht trn mng, ng l ra c th bt chc cc i th ca h. Thay vo , cng ty ny hot ng theo mt phng cch khc. Bng cch gi hng khng tnh tin cc v cho khch hng c quyn tr hng li trong vng 365 ngy, h cung cp dch v tt nht trong ngnh ny. C l l l do khin cng ty ny pht trin t s khng ln ti mt cng ty khng l tr gi gn mt t la.

151: go to the mat, the real McCoy

1. go to the mat: lm mi cch gii quyt mt vn kh khn, hay thng i th, thng l nhm gip mt ngi khc yu km hn mnh. When I told my supervisor that I was going to be let go, he marched into the presidents office to defend me. Apparently, he told him that the company couldnt afford to lose one of its most valuable employees. If he hadnt gone to the mat for me, I wouldnt still be here. Khi ti ni vi ng sp rng ti sp b sa thi, ng i thng vo vn phng ng tng gim c bnh vc ti. R rng l ng ni vi ng gim c rng cng ty ny khng th mt mt trong cc nhn vin ng gi nht. Nu ng sp ti khng ht lng bnh vc ti th ti khng cn lm vic y na. What happens to the poor and sick who need to see a doctor? Fortunately, one of my favorite charities is going to the mat for these needy people. Its a clinic that travels across the U.S. to provide thousands with free medical services. Because of its staff of volunteer health care professionals and donated supplies, theres a little less suffering in the country.

iu g xy ra cho nhng ngi ngho v bnh tt cn gp bc s? May thay, mt trong cc t chc t thin m ti a thch ang c gng ht sc gip nhng ngi tng thiu ny. l mt bnh x i khp ni trong nc cung cp dch v y t min ph cho hng ngn ngi M. Nh c ban nhn vin y t t nguyn v dng c y khoa cng thuc men c tng khng, nn dn chng bt au kh mt cht. 2. The real McCoy: mt ngi hay mt vt tht, ng, ch khng phi gi to. The engineers in Las Vegas have built some amazing reproductions, from the Eiffel Tower to some of New Yorks famous skyscrapers. But I also love the casinos and the shows. The last time I was there I

took in a concert featuring this guy who impersonated Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n Roll. He looked and sang so much like the American icon; I thought I was watching the real McCoy. Cc k s Las Vegas xy ln nhiu cng trnh sao chp phi thng, t thp Eiffel cho ti mt s cao c ni ting ca thnh ph New York. Nhng ti cng thch cc sng bc v cc bui trnh din vn ngh. Ln cui cng ti n , ti i xem mt bui ca nhc c mt anh chng gi lm vua nhc Rock Elvis Presley trnh din. Anh ta trng ging v ht y nh thn tng ny; ti tng l ti ang xem Elvis Presley tht s.
danh sch ng c

In 2008, Governor Sarah Palin became the first woman to run for Vice President as part of a

Republican ticket. While many dismissed her candidacy, she drew huge crowds at campaign stops across the U.S. Supporters found her quite different from typical politicians. To them, she was the real McCoy, a genuine person that they could identify with. Nm 2008, thng c Sarah Palin tr thnh ph n u tin ra tranh c chc ph tng thng M trong lin danh ng Cng ha. Tuy nhiu ngi coi thng s ng c ca b, nhng b thu ht c nhng m ng khng l ti nhng ni tranh c trn ton quc. Nhng ngi ng h b thy b khc hn cc chnh tr gia in hnh. i vi h, b l mt con ngi tht m h c th ng cm.

152: method to ones madness, millstone around ones neck

1. method to ones madness: co mt muc tiu thm kin nao o trong hanh vi in r cua mt ngi My colleagues assumed Id gone crazy when I threatened to resign my position as assistant sales manager. What none of them suspected was that I wanted the boss to give me a promotion. And it worked. Within a few weeks I was running the department. See, there was a method to my madness! Cac ng nghip cua ti cho rng ti a in r khi ti doa se t chc phu ta quan ly ban tiu thu san phm. Khng ai ng rng iu ma ti mong mun la oi ng sp thng chc cho ti. Va ti a thanh cng. Chi trong vai tun ti a tr thanh quan ly ban nay. Cac ban thy khng? Ti co mt muc tiu kin ao trong hanh vi bi coi la in r cua mnh. Talk about strange! I was watching this nature documentary which featured a rarely seen bird. At one point, it extended its wings to exhibit exotic plumage and began strutting around the jungle floor. It turned out there was a method to its madness. It was part of an elaborate courtship ritual, trying to attract a mate.

Noi ti chuyn ky la! Hm no ti ang xem mt cun phim tai liu v mt con chim him thy. Co mt luc con chim nay xoe canh ra ph trng b lng ep ky la cua no, ri bt u nhay nhot khnh khang trn mt t trong rng. Hoa ra con chim nay co mt muc ich kin ao trong hanh vi ky la cua no. o la mt cach tan tinh cu ky thu hut mt con chim mai. 2. Millstone around ones neck: gng cum eo vao c, hay ganh vac trach nhim nng n. After years of study, my brother finally earned his law degree and landed a position at a good firm. The problem is hes always working late and on weekends, and doesnt have enough time to spend with his

family. And because of the debt he incurred to pay for school, he cant afford to leave his job. Its a millstone around his neck. Sau nhiu nm hoc hanh, anh ti cui cung a ly bng lut s va kim c mt vic lam tai mt cng ty danh ting. Vn la anh lun lun lam vic mun va lam ca cui tun nn khng co thi gi cho gia inh. Va vi anh vay n tra tin hoc nn anh khng th bo vic. y qua la mt cai cum anh eo vao c. My husband and I were happy to host his nephew while he was looking for a job. But now its been weeks since he arrived. Wed probably be more understanding if he offered to help out around the house instead of watching T.V. all the time. Frankly, hes become a millstone around our necks. We cant endure him much longer. Ti va nha ti rt vui khi cho chau anh nh trong luc chau ang tim vic lam. Nhng nhiu tun l tri qua k t khi chau n nha chung ti. Co le chung ti s thng cam hn nu chau nghi giup vic vt trong nha thay vi xem truyn hinh sut ngay. Tht tinh chau a tr thanh mt ganh nng cho chung ti, va chung ti khng th chiu ng lu thm na.

153: a mixed bag, moment of truth

1. a mixed bag: mt tp hp nhiu th, nh ngi, vt hay cac hoat ng khac nhau. The apartment building where my sister lives is filled with mostly singles. Its so different from my neighborhood. Here you can find singles, families, stay-at-home moms, professionals and working class people, representing different races and educational backgrounds. We are a mixed bag. Khu chung c ni em ti gm phn ng la nhng ngi c thn. Khu nay khac hn vi xom nha ti. y, chung ti co ngi c thn, co gia inh, nhiu ba me nha trng con, ngi hc cao , va dn lao ng thuc mi chung tc va trnh hc vn khac nhau. Ch chung ti thanh phn hn tap. My girlfriend and I have been looking through the catalog of courses that our community offers. We thought thered be a few choices, but theres quite a mixed bag. Among them are classes in many areas, such as cooking, dancing, computers, arts and crafts, recreational activities and foreign languages! We may have to take a couple. Ti va ban ti ang oc bang lit k nhng lp hoc ma cng ng chung ti cung cp. Chung ti tng chi co it lp thi, nhng tht ra co rt nhiu lp day nhng mn khac nhau, trong s nay co lp day nu n, khiu vu, in toan, my ngh va thu cng, cac hoat ng giai tri, va ngoai ng! Co le chung ti se ly vai lp. 2. moment of truth: thi im phai i pho vi thc t, xem liu mt vic gi o se thanh cng hay tht bai, nht la khi minh a bo nhiu cng lao lam vic o. Algebra didnt come easy to me. But I knew I had to pass the class in order to graduate. Throughout the semester, I met my teacher after school for extra help and studied real hard for tests. My moment of truth came when my grades arrived. I got a B, which was good enough to earn my diploma! Mn ai s khng d i vi ti. Nhng ti bit la ti phai thi lp nay thi mi ra trng c. Trong sut hoc ky sau thang ti a xin thy giao ti ph o thm sau khi tan trng, va ti n thi rt ky.

Gi phut quyt inh a ti khi ti nhn c im thi. Ti c im B, tc la u ti lanh bng trung hoc. My brother David had been going out with Linda for months. They seemed to share similar interests and values. In his mind, she was the perfect woman for him. So he decided that the time had come to ask her if shed marry him. It was the moment of truth; a day hell never forget because she turned him down. Anh David ti hn h vi c Linda nhiu thang ri. Hai ngi co ve cung chia se nhng s thich va gia tri ging nhau. Theo anh thi c y la phu n hoan hao cho anh. Vi th anh quyt inh a n luc ngo y mun kt hn vi c. o qua la giy phut i pho vi thc t ; mt ngay ma anh se khng bao gi qun c vi c y a t chi li cu hn cua anh.

154: not cut the mustard, ones name is mud

1. not cut the mustard: khng tt lm mt iu g, nht l khi b so snh vi ngi hay vt khc My sisters car is a lemon. I told her she should have been suspicious of its low price. Shes had it for only six months and already its been in the garage twice for expensive repairs. My sister needs to find out more about laws to protect consumers from fraudulent car sales, because that car shes driving isnt cutting the mustard. Chic xe ca ch ti l mt vt v dng. Ti ni vi ch l ng l ra ch nn nghi ng gi r ca chic xe. Ch mi c xe ny trong su thng m phi sa cha hai ln rt tn km. Ch cn tm hiu thm v cc lut bo v ngi tiu dng trong nhng v bn xe gian di, bi v chic xe ca ch khng dng c. "After my niece had trouble finding work, I managed to get her a position as a secretary at my office. What a mistake! Not only was she slow, but she was rather lazy. After two weeks, I had to let her go because she couldnt cut the mustard." Sau khi chu ti khng tm c vic lm ti xoay s cho c y lm th k ti vn phng ti. Tht l mt sai lm! Khng nhng c y chm chp m li cn li bing na. Sau hai tun l ti phi cho c y ngh bi v c y khng lm c vic.

2. ones name is mud: mt ngi no b mt danh ting hay b h thn, b mt uy tn. I really admired the charity work of my neighbor. For years, he had raised lots of money to help provide food and shelter for homeless people in the community. But now an investigation has found him guilty of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors. These days his name is mud. He should go to jail!

Trc y ti tht s ngng m cng tc t thin ca ng lng ging ti. Trong nhiu nm ng ta quyn c rt nhiu tin gip cung cp thc n v nh cho ngi v gia c trong cng ng. Nhng gi y mt cuc iu tra cho thy ng ta phm ti n cp hng trm ngn la ca nhng ngi tng tin. By gi ng ta mt ht uy tn. ng ta phi b b t! My kids have been asking again when were going to Disneyland. I realize I did promise them last summer that Id take them. Id better start making plans. If they dont get to go, my name will be mud. I just cant disappoint them. Cc con ti li va hi ti chng no chng ti i Disneyland. Ti nhn ra l ma h nm ngoi ti c ha vi cc con l s a chng i. Ti nn bt u chun b thi. Nu cc con ti khng c i th ti s mt uy tn. Ti khng th lm cc con ti tht vng.

155: new blood, nip something in the bud

1. new blood = fresh blood: mt ngi mi, c nhiu tng c o v mi l c th tip thm sinh lc cho mt t chc. When our manager passed away, his daughter took over the company. Many employees were afraid of some of the changes she might make. Yet its because of her ideas and energy that weve been able to adjust to todays economy. Frankly, shes exactly the kind of new blood we needed to become profitable again. Khi ng qun l ca chng ti qua i, con gi ng nm quyn iu khin cng ty. Nhiu nhn vin s mt s thay i m b c th thc hin. Tuy nhin chnh nh kin v nng lc ca b m chng ti c th thch ng vi nn kinh t hin nay. Tht tnh, b ng l ngi mi m chng ti cn c th kim li tr li. I remember when my grandfathers sister came to stay with our family. Having travelled the world and gone to college, she brought so much enthusiasm for living into our lives. Despite her advanced age, she represented new blood in our household. Thanks to her, I decided to get an advanced degree. Ti nh lc b d, em gi ca ng ti, n vi gia nh chng ti. B i du lch khp ni trn th gii v hc i hc nn b mang li nim yu i y nhit tnh cho chng ti. Tuy tui cao, b l mt con ngi mi vi t tng mi trong gia nh chng ti. Nh c b m ti quyt nh hc ly bng cao hc.

2. Nip something in the bud: ngn chn mt vic hay mt ngh ngay t u trc khi n tr thnh mt vn nghim trng, bp cht t trong trng nc. In 1982, someone poisoned bottles of aspirin, killing seven consumers. Fear spread across the country. Fortunately, drug manufacturers recalled all remaining stock and changed the packaging of their products to prevent tampering in the future. By nipping the crisis in the bud, their sales rebounded within a year.

Nm 1982, c ngi b thuc c vo nhng chai thuc aspirin khin cho by ngi dng thuc b thit mng. C nc u hong ht lo s. May thay, cc hng thuc thu v tt c s thuc cn tn kho v thay i cch ng bao b sn phm ca h trnh nn ph hoi trong tng lai. Nh gii quyt thm kch ny ngay t u nn ch trong vng mt nm, thuc bn chy nh c. A recent college graduate, Emily brings lots of enthusiasm and creativity to our office. Unfortunately, she also shows a tendency for socializing with the staff when she should be getting work done. Thats why the boss wants to have a little talk with her today. He wants to nip her behavior in the bud. C Emily va tt nghip i hc nn mang li lng hng say v c sng to n s chng ti. Tic thay c cng c khuynh hng ni chuyn phim qu nhiu vi ban nhn vin thay v cn phi lm xong cng vic. V th ng sp mun bn chuyn vi c hm nay. ng y mun ngn chn cch x s ny ca c ngay t u trc khi n tr nn nghim trng.

156: somebody's number is up; on again, off again

1. somebodys number is up: mt ngi nao o a ti s ri, khng con may mn hay thanh cng na. We knew to expect another round of layoffs. So I had a bad feeling when my colleague got called in to meet with the boss. Sure enough, his number was up. He and five other employees were given an hour to clean out their desks and turn in their keys. Im just lucky I still have my position. Chung ti bit la mt t sa thai khac se din ra. Vi th ti cam thy lo s khi ng nghip cua ti bi goi vao gp ng sp. ung th, anh y a ti s ri. Anh va nm nhn vin khac c danh cho mt gi don sach ban giy cua ho va tra lai chia khoa vn phong. Ti may mn con gi c cng vic cua ti. My neighbors son was driving home when he was hit by a drunk driver. Poor guy, his car was totaled and he spent three days in the hospital. As my neighbor said: There are so many dangerous drivers out on the road, you never know when your number will be up. Con trai ba lang ging cua ti ang lai xe v nha thi bi mt ngi say ru m vao. Ti nghip cu ta, chic xe bi hong hoan toan va cu ta phai nm trong bnh vin ba ngay. Ba lang ging noi: Co qua nhiu ngi lai xe nguy him trn ng, chung ta khng th bit la chng nao thi chung ta ti s. 2. on again, off again: mt vic gi din ra khng lin tuc, khi co khi khng. Im thinking of dropping out of my hiking club. Its not that I dont like getting out and exploring some of the great trails in the area. But one month there might be an outing every week, then the next theres only one. Id prefer a schedule of hikes thats not so on again, off again. Ti ang tinh ti vic ra khoi hi i b ng dai. Khng phai la ti khng thich i ra ngoai va thm do mt vai con ng mon hp dn trong vung. Nhng co thang thi co th mi tun co mt bui i b, ri thang sau thi lai chi co mt chuyn i b thi. Ti thich co mt thi khoa biu i b u n, ch khng phai luc co luc khng nh vy. The last community committee never got much done. Perhaps it was because of all the on again, off again meetings they had. But now, the new leaders get together regularly. As a result, theyve been able

to clean up the area, improve public safety, and accomplish a lot thats made our community a nicer place to live. Uy ban nhn dn cui cung trong khu ph cua chung ti a khng lam c gi nhiu. Chc la vi ho c luc hop luc khng. Nhng by gi, cac lanh ao mi vn hi hop thng xuyn. Vi th, ho a co th don sach khu ph, cai thin an ninh cng cng, va lam c rt nhiu vic khin cho dn trong khu ph nay sng thoai mai hn trc.

157: on tap, on the sidelines

1. on tap: c sn c th dung c ngay, ging nh nc trong voi chay ra. When members of our church suggested holding an amateur talent show to raise money for charity, many of us were skeptical. But we were soon overwhelmed by all the people who volunteered, from singers to musicians, to magicians...Looking at all the performers we now have on tap, we could put on two shows! Khi cac giao dn trong nha th chung ti nghi m mt bui trinh din vn ngh tai t quyn tin lam vic t thin, nhiu ngi trong chung ti to ra nghi ng. Nhng sau o rt nhiu nhng ngi tinh nguyn t ng k tham gia, t ca si cho ti nhac si,va nha ao thut...Vi tt ca s ngh si sn sang lam vic nay, chung ti co th m ti hai bui trinh din. When my sisters town was threatened by a flooding river, I was impressed by all the residents who came out to fill and pile sandbags. In the end, there was no shortage of help on tap. As a result of all the citizens who kept working, the community was spared major devastation. Khi thi trn ni em gai ti sp bi ngp lut vi nc sng dng cao, ti rt than phuc khi thy tt ca moi c dn ng ra y cac bao cat va cht ng doc b sng. Cui cung thi khng thiu ngi sn sang tr giup. Nh moi ngi tip tuc lam vic ma thi trn nay a khng bi thit hai nng. 2. on the sidelines: ngoai l quan sat ch khng tham gia vao mt trn u hay mt cu chuyn. The owner of our newspaper said he may have to end production because of the tough economy and decreasing readership. That caused lots of us readers to form a coalition. Our goal is to persuade management that the publication can and should be saved. We realize how critical it is to get involved right now and not sit on the sidelines. ng chu bao cua chung ti noi rng co le ng se phai ngng in bao vi kinh t yu kem va lng c gia sut giam. iu nay khin nhiu ngi trong s chung ti lp ra mt lin minh. Muc tiu cua chung ti la thuyt phuc ban giam c rng t bao co th va nn c cu van. Chung ti bit iu ti cn la phai hanh ng ngay tc khc ch khng th ngi bn l c. My school principal wants to get rid of the soda machines at school. A lot of my friends think its unfair. Maybe I should be more concerned, but Im on the sidelines. Im going to wait and see what happens. Frankly, its no problem if I have to drink water or juice until I get home. ng hiu trng trng ti mun dep bo cac may ban nc ngot trong trng. Nhiu ban ti cho rng lam nh vy la khng cng bng. Co le ti nn quan tm n vn nay hn, nhng ti ng ngoai

cuc. Ti i xem iu gi se xay ra. Tht tinh ma noi thi nu ti phai ung nc hay nc trai cy cho n khi v nha thi cung khng sao.

158: neither here nor there, not know beans about something
1. neither here nor there: khng ung vao vn , khng thich ang. Our senator was found guilty of taking tax money to pay for his summer home. When confronted, he reminded reporters that he had been serving the citizens for over 40 years. That remark was neither here lm chch hng nor there; hed broken the law. Did he think that he could divert our attention from his crime? Thng nghi si cua chung ti a bi toa x la co ti ly tin thu cua dn tra tin nha nghi mat cua ng. Khi i mt vi gii truyn thng, ng nhc ho rng ng a phuc vu dn chung trong hn 40 nm. Li tuyn b nay chng n nhp chut nao vi ng a pham lut. Liu ng ta nghi rng ng ta co th lam chung ti khng chu y n ti cua ng hay sao? Last weekend, my husband and I were trying to enjoy a movie and these three girls sitting behind us wouldnt stop tallking. Finally I turned around and told them to please be quiet. Thats when one of them said to me: Well, we were here before you. I was bewildered by her argument because it was neither here nor there. Cui tun trc, ti va nha ti ang thng thc mt phim thi co ba c gai ngi ng sau chung ti noi chuyn khng ngng. Cui cung, ti quay lai ng sau va yu cu ho ngng noi chuyn. Th la mt trong ba c nay noi vi ti: Chung ti n y trc ng ba ma. Ti bi ri trc l l ca c ny v n chng n nhp g c. 2. not know beans about something: khng bit gi ht v mt tai nao o. This is the second season that my husband and I have been growing tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs. Theyre much better tasting than what I usually find at the supermarket. At the same time, were supporting the environment by reducing the pollution caused by vehicles. If you do nt know beans about what you can do to help save our planet, perhaps its time you found out. y la mua th nhi ma ti va nha ti trng ca chua, da chut va rau thm. Nhng th nay ngon hn la nhng gi ti mua siu thi. ng thi, chung ti tr giup mi trng bng cach giam bt nhim do xe c gy ra. Nu cac ban khng bit gi ht v nhng gi ban co th lam giup hanh tinh cua chung ta, thi co le n luc ban nn tim hiu. When Brenda was first introduced to Jack, she was intimidated by his knowledge. When it came to his field, astrophysics, she frankly didnt know beans about it. But over several months, she fell in love with his enthusiasm for stars and galaxies. Its amazing how much she understands now. Khi c Brenda ln u tin c gii thiu vi anh Jack, c cam thy bi khp trc vn hiu bit cua anh. Cn n nganh chuyn mn cua anh la vt ly hoc thin th thi tht s c khng bit to no ht. Nhng sau nhiu thang c yu mn s say m cua anh i vi cac tinh tu va dai ngn ha. iu ang ngac nhin la gi y c bit rt nhiu v nganh nay.

159: an open book, out of line

1. An open book: mt ngi hay mt vt bc l r rng, d hiu, khng che y. Maya Angelou has written about her many challenges since growing up in the 1930s. From being discriminated against by Southern white society to being raped as a child, shes experienced pain that many people might have kept secret. But her life has been an open book. Her courage and her insights are inspiring. B Maya Angelou vit v nhiu th thch trong i k t khi b trng thnh trong thp nin 1930. T vic b i x phn bit bi ngi da trng min Nam ti vic b hm hip khi cn b, b chu nhiu au kh m nhiu ngi khc c l gi kn. Nhng cuc i b l mt cun sch m, khng che y. Lng can m v nhn thc su sc ca b gy cm hng cho mi ngi. My bosss construction company reflects his values as a builder. He believes in doing honest work at a fair price. He invites clients to ask any questions theyd like and look carefully at projects hes worked on. He thinks of his business as an open book. He has absolutely nothing to hide. Cng ty xy dng ca ng sp ti phn nh gi tr ca ng l mt nh xy dng. ng tin vo vic lm n tht th v tnh gi phi chng. ng khuyn khch khch hng nu bt c cu hi no h mun v xem xt k nhng d n m ng lm. ng coi vic kinh doanh ca mnh l minh bch. ng tuyt i khng c g che giu ht. 2. Out of line: c x tri php, khng th chp nhn c trong mt hon cnh no . Some parents dont know how to behave. At my sons soccer game, one players dad ran onto the field and started screaming at the referee about a call he didnt agree with. He was so out of line. I dont khn i blame the officials for banning him from the stands for the rest of the season. What he did was unacceptable. Mt vi bc cha m khng bit cch c x. Ti mt trn bng ca con ti, ng b ca mt cu th chy vo sn v la ht trng ti v mt quyt nh m ng b ny khng ng . Cch c x ca ng ny tht chng phi php g c. Ti khng phin trch cc gii chc l cm ng ta khng c ngi xem trong sut ma u bng. Hnh ng ca ng ta khng th chp nhn c. What can a potential employer ask you? Its fair enough for an interviewer to inquire about your job history and education. Yet questions about your religion and political views are way out of line. You never have to answer them. Not only are they inappropriate, but they are also illegal. Mt nh tuyn dng tim nng c th hi anh nhng g? Ngi phng vn c th hi v vic lm trc y v hc vn ca anh. Tuy nhin, nhng cu hi v tn gio v quan im chnh tr l vt qu gii hn. Anh khng bao gi phi tr li nhng cu hi ny, v khng nhng n khng thch ng m li cn bt hp php na.

160: paint oneself into a corner, par for the course

1. paint onself into a corner: t dn mnh vo 1 gc tng, tc l t t mnh vo th b, kh thot ra c. To make extra money, I took a part-time job. But then one of my co-workers at my full-time job quit and I volunteered to do some of his work. Now Ive really painted myself into a corner. Ive taken too much. Its impossible for me to get everything done!

 kim thm tin, ti lm thm mt vic bn thi gian. Nhng khi mt ng nghip ti ni ti lm ton thi gian ngh vic, ti tnh nguyn lm thm mt t cng vic ca anh ta. Gi y ti tht s t mnh vo ch khng c li thot. Ti nhn qu nhiu vic v ti khng th no lm xong mi chuyn! How can there be a movie sequel when the main character was killed off? Writers are used to coming up with solutions to impossible situations. Theyre not about to paint themselves into a corner. So theyll find ways to miraculously save the hero or explain his death was only a dream! Lm sao c th lm phn tip theo ca b phim khi m trong phn u nhn vt chnh b git? Cc nh vit kch bn vn quen a ra gii php cho nhng tnh hung khng th c c. H s khng bao gi t t mnh vo th b. V th, h s tm cch cu sng ngi hng mt cch k diu hay gii thch rng ci cht ca anh ta ch l mt gic m! 2. par for the course: iu ngi ta ngh l s xy ra hoc ngh l ai s thc hin. Grandpa has never gotten much exercise. He also hasnt watched what he eats. Is it any surprise that lab tests show hes got a variety of health problems? After not taking care of himself, his poor condition is par for the course. ng ti t khi tp th dc. ng cng khng ch trng n nhng g ng n. Vy th c g ng ngc nhin u khi cc cuc xt nghim cho thy l ng c nhiu vn v sc khe.V khng t chm sc bn thn mnh nn tnh trng sc khe ng yu km cng phi thi. I want to congratulate my colleague David on his recent promotion. He worked so hard for his new position. Of course, hes taken on more responsibilities and has to work longer hours. But he recognizes thats all par for the course. Good luck to him! Ti mun chc mng anh David, ng nghip ca ti, v mi c thng chc gn y. Anh lm vic ht sc cn mn c chc v mi ny. D nhin, anh gnh vc thm nhiu trch nhim v phi lm thm nhiu gi. Nhng anh bit rng c thng chc th phi vy thi. Ti chc anh may mn.

161: pour cold water on something, pull ones weight

1. pour cold water on something: di go nc lnh vo mt chuyn g, v mnh khng hi lng v mun dp b chuyn . A spokesperson for the company had announced that wed all be getting raises at the end of the year. Unfortunately, she made the announcement before the board of directors reviewed our financial situation. Given our recent losses, they decided it was best to pour cold water on the increases for now. They didnt want to go ahead with a plan that made little sense. Mt pht ngn vin ca cng ty loan bo rng mi ngi chng ti s c tng lng vo cui nm nay. Tic thay, b y a ra li loan bo trc khi ban gim c duyt li tnh trng ti chnh ca cng ty. V b thua l hi gn y, ban gim c quyt nh tt hn ht l ngng v tng lng vo lc ny. H khng mun lm chuyn khng c ngha l g c. Its true that Las Vegas has many casinos and bars, but it also boasts great restaurants and entertainment that are ideal for families. Ill mention the possibility to my wife. Shes pretty supportive of my vacation destinations. I dont think shed pour cold water on this one.

ng l thnh ph Las Vegas c nhiu sng bc v qun ru, nhng n cng ni ting v nhng nh hng sang trng v hot ng gii tr rt l tng cho gia nh. Ti s cp kin ny vi nh ti. C y kh ng h nhng ni ti chn ngh h. Ti khng tin l c y s gt b kin ny. 2. pull ones weight: m ng phn vic ca mnh, chu phn trch nhim ca mnh. Dont underestimate Carla. She may have a lot less experience than other employees. But she contributes just as much as anyone on our team. Theres no doubt in my mind that she pulls her weight around this office. ng nh gi thp c Carla. C y c th c t kinh nghim hn nhiu so vi cc nhn vin khc, nhng c y ng gp nhiu nh bt c ngi no khc trong nhm ca chng ti. Ti tin chc rng c y lm trn phn trch nhim ca c y trong vn phng ny. One of the volunteer organizations I belong to refurbishes houses for people with very low incomes. It gives me a tremendous sense of accomplishment. As you can imagine, turning a run-down property into a decent home requires a lot of time and effort, and all the volunteers are expected to pull their weight. Mt trong cc t chc tnh nguyn m ti tham gia chuyn sa nh cho nhng ngi c thu nhp rt thp. Cng vic ny khin ti cm thy mnh lm c iu v cng ln lao. Bn th ngh xem, bin mt cn nh t ti tn thnh ng hong i hi rt nhiu thi gian v cng sc, v tt c mi ngi tnh nguyn u phi lm trn phn trch nhim ca mnh.

162: when push comes to shove, put something in mothballs

1. when push comes to shove:1 tnh hnh gay go, khng cn la chn no khc, buc mnh phi hnh ng. Normally I work out every day, but I often have to travel out of town for work and dont have access to a gym. So I run up and down the stairs at the hotel where I stay and use the rooms furniture for doing sit-ups.When push comes to shove, I always find ways to exercise. Thng thng th ti tp th dc mi ngy, nhng ti nhiu khi phi i lm vic ngoi thnh ph v khng tm c phng tp th dc. V th, ti chy ln chy xung cu thang trong khch sn ni ti , v dng bn gh trong phng tp nm xung ri ngi thng dy. Khi kt lm th ti vn lun tm cch tp th dc.

Has an acquaintance or a relative ever asked you to co-sign for a loan? Although it sounds like an innocent request, be careful. In the event that person isnt able to make regular payments, it will be you whos legally responsible. That means you could have your salary or property taken away. If push comes to shove, the lender will do whatever is necessary to be repaid. C bao gi mt ngi quen hay mt ngi b con thn thuc nh bn cng k vo giy vay tin cha? Tuy nghe c v nh mt li yu cu v hi, nhng bn nn cn thn. Trong trng hp ngi khng tr tin n u n th bn s phi chu trch nhim v mt php l. Nh th c ngha l bn c th b

vin bng phin

tr lng hay b mt ti sn. Nu tnh hnh tr nn gay go th ngi cho vay s lm bt c iu g cn thit c tr n. 2. put something in mothballs: c ct gi v lu khng dng n, hay b b x, b gc bp. My daughter loves the ice skates her grandmother gave her. I dont think she realizes they had been mine when I was her age. Mom had put them in mothballs, not sure if anyone would ever get any use from them. Im sure glad shed decided not to throw them out. Con gi ti thch i giy trt bng m b ni n cho n. Ti ngh rng con ti khng bit i giy ny l ca ti hi ti vo tui n. M ti ct gi i giy v e rng s khng c ai dng n na. Ti rt vui khi b quyt nh khng vt b n i. Our town clearly supports building a history museum. But the mayor came out to say that hes putting the proposal in mothballs for now. Apparently there isnt enough funding available. Still, no ones giving up hope that it can be reconsidered in the not-too-distant future. Thnh ph ca chng ti mnh m ng h vic xy mt vin bo tng lch s, nhng ng th trng ln ting rng gi th ng phi xp x ngh ny. R rng l thnh ph khng c ngn qu. Tuy nhin khng ai t b hy vng xut ny s c cu xt li vo mt ngy khng xa lm.

163: quit while ones ahead, rack ones brain

1. Quit while ones ahead: ngng li khi mnh thnh cng hoc l dng tm cch ci thin mt iu g t c. When I was a kid, my dad told me a story about how he had just gotten a paycheck when his friends convinced him to go to a casino. He had been doing very well at the poker table, but then... Well, he didnt quit while he was ahead. He ended up walking home with empty pockets and struggled to pay bills for the next month! Now you know why gambling has never been one of my hobbies. Hi ti cn b, cha ti k mt cu chuyn l khi ng va lnh lng th cc bn ng r ng i ti mt sng bc. ng n rt nhiu tin ti bn chi bi x ph, nhng sau th ng khng chu dng li khi ang thng. Cui cng, ng tr v nh thua sch ti v phi cht vt tr tin cc chi ph cho thng sau. By gi th bn bit ti sao c bc khng bao gi l mt trong nhng s thch ca ti ri y.
s giu c, pht t

Ive got a neighbor who made a fortune when shed flip houses. To FLIP a house is to buy an old property, fix it up, and then sell it for a profit. Thats what she did for years in Florida. One day, however, she felt shed done well enough and got out of the business. She was smart to have quit while she was ahead; a year later the market collapsed. Ti c mt b lng ging kim c rt nhiu tin bng cch FLIP nh ca. FLIP c ngha l mua mt cn nh c, sa cha xong ri bn li ly li. B lm ngh ny rt nhiu nm ti Florida. Nhng mt hm b cm thy kim kha kh tin ri v ngng lm cng vic ny. B khn ngoan b ngh khi
chu au n, giy v

cn ang pht; ch mt nm sau th trng nh ca sp . 2. rack ones brain: nn c c nh mt chuyn g hay gii quyt mt vn g.

Just yesterday I was talking to a guest before a radio interview who told me about an organization. Now Id like to contact them but the name has escaped me. Ever since yesterday Ive been racking my brain, but I still cant remember the name of the company that my guest mentioned. Mi ngy hm qua, ti ni chuyn vi mt v khch mi trc bui phng vn trn i pht thanh. Ngi ny ni c k cho ti nghe v mt t chc. By gi ti mun lin lc vi t chc nhng ti khng th nh ra tn ca n l g. K t hm qua ti ngh nt c m vn khng nh ni tn ca t chc m ngi khch kia ni vi ti. When my brother Michael went to pick up his girlfriend, there was a note on the door. She wrote that she didnt want to see him anymore. How could their relationship be over? Hes been racking his brain trying to recall everything hes done and said lately. Whatever happened, he deserves some kind of explanation. Khi Michael anh ti n n bn gi ca anh th c mt bc th ngn dn trn ca. C y vit rng c khng mun gp anh na. Lm sao mi quan h gia hai ngi li c th chm dt nh vy? Anh y nn c c nh li tt c nhng g anh lm hay ni lc gn y. D c chuyn g i na, anh y cng ng c nghe li gii thch ca c.

164: rant and rave, ride high

to ting qut tho, la mng

1. rant and rave: mng nhic, qut tho mt cch gin d. It began when our neighbor hosted a loud party that went on until 3:00 A.M. So when my wife woke up she was in a foul mood. To make matters worse, one of the party guests parked his car in our drive way, so that my wifes car was blocked in. I never heard my wife get so irate. She ranted and raved all morning about how inconsiderate these people were. Chuyn bt u khi nh hng xm m tic n o ko di n tn 3 gi sng. V th khi v ti thc dy, c y rt cu knh. T hn na l mt trong s nhng ngi khch d tic u xe vo ng ring vo nh ca chng ti, khin v ti khng ly xe ra c. Ti cha bao gi thy v mnh gin d nh vy. C y qut m sut bui sng rng nhng ngi tht l chng bit iu g c. Im glad our last foreman was let go. Every time some little thing went wrong on the assembly line, he was ranting and raving. The new guy is the complete opposite. He explains the problems calmly, never getting agitated. I find his approach helps the team work a lot more effectively. Ti mng khi bit tin ng qun c c ca chng ti b cho thi vic. Mi khi c mt chuyn g nh nht xy ra trn dy chuyn lp rp l ng ta li qut tho m . ng qun c mi th hon ton tri ngc. ng gii thch vn mt cch n tn v khng bao gi ni nng. Ti thy cch x s ca ng gip cho nhm chng ti lm vic hu hiu hn. 2. ride high: t c thnh cng, thng li. After a U.S. President is inaugurated, he usually rides high in the polls. Such is the case with president Barack Obama, who enjoyed the support of a significant majority of the population. After a number of months, however, his standing began to slip. Some Americans became more critical of his performance in office.

Sau khi mt v tng thng M nhm chc thng ginh th thng phong trong cc cuc thm d cng lun. cng l trng hp ca tng thng Barack Obama. ng nhn c s ng h ca i a s dn chng M. Tuy nhin, sau nhiu thng, v th ca ng bt u st gim. Mt s ngi M bt u ch trch kh nng iu hnh ca ng trong cng v tng thng. Throughout the 1990s, Starbucks Coffee opened a new store every workday. It was riding high. But lately, despite its more than 16,000 locations in 49 countries, success hasnt come as easily. A struggling economy and increased competition have created challenges for the worlds largest coffeehouse. Trong sut thp nin 1990, c mi ngy lm vic th cng ty c ph Starbucks li m mt tim mi. Thi im cng ty ang pht ln. Nhng hi gn y, tuy cng ty c hn 16,000 tim ti 49 nc nhng khng thnh cng d dng nh trc. Mt nn kinh t suy yu v s cnh tranh ro rit gy nhiu th thch cho cng ty c ph ln nht th gii ny.

165: rough and ready, give someone a run for their money
1. rough and ready: qua loa, i khi nhng c vic, tm dng c. Good grades in school dont completely show a students potential. Theyre only a rough and ready guide. Thats why colleges look at a variety of data, including a list of extracurricular activities, a personal essay, and recommmendations from people who have assessed the candidates talents and personal characteristics. im tt trng khng cho thy y tim lc ca mt hc sinh. ch l mt ch dn c tnh i khi, tm dng c. l l do ti sao cc trng i hc xem xt nhiu d kin khc, bao gm cc hot ng ngoi kha, mt bi lun c nhn, v th gii thiu ca nhng ngi nh gi c ti nng v c tnh ca mi hc sinh. I grew up in a small town in the country. So it was a big change when I moved to the city. Going to fancy parties and dealing with so many different kinds of people are new to me. But I guess I do o.k. in those situations. Still, theres no denying Im a rough and ready kind of guy. Ti ln ln ti mt th trn nh min qu. V th tht l mt thay i ln khi ti di nh ln thnh ph. i d nhng bui tic xa hoa v giao tip vi nhiu hng ngi khc nhau l iu mi m i vi ti, nhng ti ngh mnh xoay s cng tm c. Tuy nhin, khng th ph nhn rng ti l mt ngi xunh xong, sao cng c.

2. give someone a run for their money: to nn mt thch thc ln cho i th ca mnh. My garden club is getting ready for the annual Rose Festival. Once again, well be competing against flower growers from around the area for prizes. While our club isnt as large as those in neighboring towns, we are hard working and very creative. Im sure were going to perform well and plan to give them a run for their money.

Hi lm vn ca ti ang chun b cho l hi hoa hng hng nm. Chng ti s li tranh ua vi cc nh trng hoa trong vng ginh gii thng. Tuy hi chng ti khng ln nh cc hi khc nhng thnh ph ln cn, nhng chng ti lm vic rt cn mn v rt c c sng to. Ti tin chc l chng ti s thi tht tt v nh s cho cc i th v m hi mi thi. Our motorcycle companys enjoyed being the industry leader. But lately one of our rivals has been giving us a run for our money. Their technical innovations and bold designs have proven surprisingly popular with young riders. We realize how competitive the market has become. Cng ty sn xut xe my ca chng ti t trc ti gi vn dn u ngnh cng nghip ny. Nhng hi gn y, mt trong cc i th ang khin chng ti mt m hi cnh tranh vi h. Nhng ci tin v k thut v thit k c o ca xe h c cc tay li tr rt a chung. Chng ti nhn thy th trng xe my ny tr nn rt cnh tranh.

166: run something/somebody into the ground, seal one's fate

1. run something into the ground: ban lun mt tai cho ti khi khng con gi noi na, hay khin cho ngi nghe phat chan; lam cho cai gi bi kit qu, h hong. At a school board meeting the other night, many people felt free to express their own ideas. While administrators talked about how teachers could be more accountable for their instruction, parents wanted to make the board more accountable for the citizens tax dollars. Everyone talked about accountability until there was no more that could have been said about it.They had run it into the ground. Tai bui hop ban giam hiu trng ti hm no, nhiu ngi thoi mi phat biu y kin. Trong khi cac gii chc qun tr ban v vic lam th nao giaovin co th chiu trach nhim nhiu hn v vn day hoc, cac phu huynh hoc sinh lai mun ban giam hiu phai chiu trach nhim nhiu hn v vic chi tiu tin thu cua dn. Moi ngi u noi v vn trach nhim cho n khi khng con gi noi na. H ni n chn ch mi thi. Kathy should never have been promoted to supervisor. Her bad decisions led to poor sales and the loss of talented employees. She almost ran the department into the ground. Fortunately, a replacement was hired, who slowly returned us to profitability. B Kathy ang ly ra a khng nn c thng chc ln lam quan ly. Nhng quyt inh sai lm cua b ta khin cng ty khng ban c hang, cn nhiu nhn vin gioi th nghi vic. B y suyt na y c ban ny n ch kit qu. May m cng ty a thu mt ngi mi thay th b ta, va ngi nay a t t giup cho cng ty co li nhun nh trc.

ng kn, bt kn

2. Seal ones fate: inh oat s phn cua mt ngi nao . My niece has been planning to go to her high school dance for months. But her dad warned her that he wouldnt tolerate any more poor grades in her science class. If she doesnt do well on her next exam, it will seal her fate; she wont be allowed to go to the dance.

T nhiu thang nay, chau gai ti a chun bi i d bui khiu vu trng trung hoc. Nhng cha chau canh cao rng ng se khng dung th thm bt c im km nao trong lp khoa hoc cua chau. Nu bi kim tra ti m chau lm khng tt th coi nh xong i: Chau se khng c phep i d bui khiu vu. My son graduated # 1 in his class, got near perfect scores on the national aptitude tests and had an impressive background. We were so hopeful when he sent in his college application. But the rejection letter he received sealed his fate. He wouldnt be getting into Harvard after all. Con trai ti ng hang nht khi tt nghip trung hoc, t im gn nh tuyt i nhng k thi kim tra nng lc toan quc, v c qu trnh hc tp n tng. Chung ti t rt nhiu k vong khi con ti np n vao ai hoc. Nhng la th t chi ma con ti nhn c a t du chm ht. Cui cung thi no a khng c nhn vao trng Harvard.

167: sign one's own death warrant, the sky is the limit
lnh x t

1. sign one's own death warrant: t gy ra thit hai cho minh. At a meeting with all the managers of her bank, my sister suggested they invest in more ATMs to cut down on labor costs. They loved the idea. And it proved so successful that they realized that they didnt need as many tellers...like my sister. Her services were no longer needed and she signed her own death warrant. Trong mt bui hop vi tt ca cac quan ly ngn hang ni em ti lam vic, em ti nghi la nn u t thm vo cac may ATM rut tin t ng giam bt chi phi nhn cng. Cac quan ly rt thich tng nay. V y tng nay thanh cng n ho thy khng cn co nhiu ngi thu ngn nh em ti. Cng vic cua em khng cn thit na va em t a mnh vo ch cht. One of my best selling authors became a multi-millionaire with the continuing adventures of Detective X. So why did he decide to have his lead character murdered? I dont understand. He must have known that by doing so he was signing his own death warrant. His long career with the series is now over! Mt trong nhng nha vn co sach ban chay nht cua ti a tr thanh triu phu nh vit v nhng cuc phiu lu nhiu k cua Tham t X. Th sao ng ta lai quyt inh cho nhn vt chinh trong truyn bi sat hi? Ti tht khng hiu ni. ang ly ra ng ta phai bit rng lam nh vy khc no t kt liu chnh minh. S nghip by lu cua ng vi loat truyn nay gi y a chm dt!

2. the sky is the limit: khng co gii han i vi bt c vn nao nh tin bac, chi phi, nguyn vong hay khat vong, v.v. Our daughters wedding planner has lots of ideas. She suggests we have the reception at a five-star hotel featuring a lobster dinner on fine china and get a big orchestra to play. Does she think the skys the limit? Im not paying for extras.

Ba phu trach t chc am ci cua con gai chung ti co rt nhiu y tng. Ba y nghi chung ti m tip tn tai mt khach san 5 sao, ai khach n tm hum bng bat ia s sang trng, va thu mt dn nhac ln giup vui. B ba ta tng mun tha sc tiu bao nhiu cung c sao? Ti l ti khng chi cho nhng khon ph ph linh tinh u. David is one of the hottest track and field athletes in the nation. Hes already being talked about for the U.S. Olympic Team and is picking up endorsements from several sponsors. His good looks and winning personality only add to his potential for a successful future. As far as I can see, the skys the limit. David la mt trong nhng vn ng vin in kinh c ch nht nc. Anh c moi ngi bn tn v lt vo i tuyn Olympic cua M va ang nhn qung co cho vi cng ty bo tr. Ngoai hinh sang sua va tnh tnh d mn lai cang giup anh thm trin vong thanh cng trong tng lai. Theo ti thy thi chng c g m anh ta khng th t c c.

168: slippery slope, small potatoes

1. slippery slope: mt chiu hng hanh ng co th d a n tht bai hay tai hoa. I realize when my 12-year old took a bottle of perfume from a store without paying, she was shoplifting. But that doesnt mean shes heading down a slippery slope towards a life of crime. She understands the seriousness of what she did. And she promised never to steal again. Khi a con gai 12 tui cua ti ly mt lo nc hoa trong mt ca hiu ma khng tra tin, ti bit rng no a n cp. Nhng iu o khng co nghia la no se trt di vao cuc i phm php. No hiu ro tnh cht nghim trong cua vic no lam, va ha se khng bao gi n cp na. The citizens are divided over whether to allow an amusement park to be built in our town. Supporters argue that it will bring entertainment and a needed source of tax revenue. Critics say wed be getting on a slippery slope. Before long, they contend, we could expect more and more traffic problems, and undesirable development; and the communitys quality of life would eventually be destroyed. C dn bt ng y kin v vic liu co nn cho phep xy mt cng vin giai tri trong thi trn hay khng. Nhng ngi ung h thi noi rng vic nay se mang li ngun giai tri va ngun thu thu nhp cn thit. Con nhng ngi chi trich thi noi rng iu nay se sm khin chung ta sa vao tai ha. Ho khng nh chng bao lu na chung ta se gp thm nhiu vn n tc giao thng va xy ct khng mong mun, va phm cht i sng cua cng ng ri y s bi tiu huy.

2. small potatoes: nhng th nho nht, khng quan trong. How much would you guess the United States annually spends on its agriculture and forests? $10 million? $1billion? Actually, last year, it was about $20 billion. That might seem like a huge amount of money. But compared to the more than 610 billion dollars on both defense and Social Security, its really small potatoes.

Ban th oan xem nc My mi nm chi tiu bao nhiu tin cho nng lm nghip? 10 triu la? 1 ty la? Tht ra, nm ngoai s tin nay la vao khoang 20 ty la. S tin nay co ve ln tht, nhng so vi con s 610 ty la chi tiu cho quc phong va An Sinh xa hi thi n chng l bao. Dorothys getting lots of attention for her paintings. Her recent exhibit made headlines in the local paper. And she just received the top prize at our towns art festival. Some people dismissed her work as small potatoes. Then again, perhaps one day it may hang in important museums. Cac bc hoa cua em Dorothy ang c rt nhiu ngi chu y n. Cuc trin lam tranh mi y cua em a c t bao ia phng ng tin hang u. Va em va oat giai nht tai l hi m thut ca thnh ph. Mt s ngi ch nhng hoa phm cua em l hng xong. Nhng bit u mt ngay nao o nhng hoa phm nay co th c treo nhng vin bao tang quan trong.

169: to be snowed under, have a soft spot for somebody/something

1. to be snowed under: phi lam vic qua , hay bi ln at, ap ao, ch ng. Last year I received so many Christmas cards that I decided I needed to send some this year. While Ive managed to put a lot in the mail already, Ive still got a huge stack that I havent started. Im just snowed under. And I dont know when or if Ill get them all written. Nm ngoai ti nhn c rt nhiu thip Giang Sinh nn ti quyt inh nm nay phi gi i mt s thip. Tuy ti a gi nhiu thip i ri nhng ti vn con c ng thip cha vit g. Ti b ngp u trong vu nay, va ti khng bit chng nao hoc liu se vit xong tt ca ch thip nay hay khng na. Our friends in Colorado have invited us to join them for the holidays. What could be better than a ski vacation over Christmas? I know I can get a few days off, but my girlfriend is snowed under with work. Unless she can reschedule some of her appointments, I cant see how we can leave town. Cac ban ti tiu bang Colorado a mi chung ti n chi vi h dp l ny. Con gi sng hn la i trt tuyt trong mua l Giang Sinh? Ti bit l ti xin nghi c vai ngay, nhng ban gai ti thi ngp u trong cng vic. Tr phi c y co th sp xp lai my bui hn cua mnh, con khng thi chung ti kh lng ri thanh ph i nghi l. 2. have a soft spot for sb/sth: yu thng, c long thng cam hay nhn ai i vi mt ngi hay mt vt. Uncle Phil has a reputation as a tough guy whos unfeeling. But what most people dont know is that he can be quite caring. Hes donated a lot of time and money to charities that help those less fortunate than him. Clearly, he has a soft spot for the underprivileged.

Chu Phil co ting la mt ngi cng rn, nhn tm. Nhng iu ma phn ng moi ngi khng bit la chu rt quan tm n ngi khc. Chu a danh nhiu thi gi va tin bac cho nhng t chc t thin chuyn giup nhng ngi kem may mn hn chu. Ro rang la chu co long nhn ai i vi nhng ngi bi thit thoi v quyn li.

Ted Kennedy served 46 years in the U.S. Senate. Despite his upbringing in a wealthy political family, he had a soft spot for people who didnt grow up with the privileges he had. He spent his career fighting for civil rights, consumer protection and national health care. ng Ted Kennedy phuc vu tai thng vin Hoa ky trong 46 nm. D sinh trng trong mt gia inh chinh tri giau co, ng vn dnh long thng cam i vi nhng ngi ln ln khng c hng nhng c n nh ng. Trong sut s nghip cua mnh, ng a tranh u cho dn quyn, cho vic bao v ngi tiu dng, va cho h thng chm soc y t .

170: square something away, squeak by

1. To square something away: thu xp, lo liu vic g n tha, u vo y, xong xui hay thanh toan tin nong cho song phng. My job interview went so well that I was offered the job in Arizona. I would love to move away from the long cold winter weather here in New York, but its not that easy. To begin with, Id have to get out of my contract with my company, and then sell my house. Its only after I square those away that I can focus on relocating. Cuc phong vn xin vic cua ti din ra tt p n ti c mi v lm vic tiu bang Arizona. Ti mun don xa khoi ci mua ng dai lanh leo thanh ph New York nay, nhng iu o chng d dang gi. Trc ht, ti se phai chm dt hp ng gia ti vi cng ty ti ang lam, ri sau o phai ban nha. Chi sau khi ti thu xp moi vic u vo y ri ti mi co th chu tm vao vic di nha c. Take my advice. Dont wait until youre old to organize your will. What if something tragic happened, such as a fatal accident? Without a legal document to explain your wishes after you die, your loved ones could suffer unnecessarily. Make sure your plans are squared away. Hay nghe li khuyn cua ti. ng i n luc gia ri mi sa soan di chuc. L nh c chuyn g bi tham xay ra, chng han nh tai nan cht ngi thi sao? Nu khng co mt vn bn phap ly giai thich di nguyn cua ban thi ngi thn co th phi chu thit thi v ich. Cn m bo rng nhng sp t ca bn c lo liu n tha. 2. to squeak by: ai l g chi va u thi u, thanh cng, hay sng con. I went with my nephew to the Department of Motor Vehicles to take his road test. After he backed up on a curb, I thought the inspector was going to fail him, but he let him try the maneuver again. In the end, he passed by 2 points. Since he received his license by such a narrow margin, I can say that he squeaked by. Ti i vi chau ti ti C quan phat bng lai xe no thi ly bng lai. Sau khi no lui xe lai va leo ln phn g ng, ti tng ng giam khao se anh trt no, nhng ng y cho no thao tc lai ln na. Cui cung, no chi d c 2 im u. Vi no nhn c bng lai vi chnh lch im qua nho, ti co th noi no chi co va u im lch qua k thi. I admire my friend Alice. She could have easily chosen a high-paying career. Instead, she took a position with a non-profit organization dedicated to saving endangered tigers. I dont know how she manages to pay her bills on her meager salary. But somehow she squeaks by.

Ti khm phuc c ban Alice ca ti. ang ly ra c y a co th d dng chon mt ngh kim nhiu tin. Thay vao o, c y li nhn lam vic cho mt t chc phi li nhun chuyn cu vt nhng con cop co nguy c tuyt chung.Ti khng bit c y trang tri chi ph th no vi ng lng it oi cua mnh,y vy m c cung xoay s u sng.

171: stop cold, stumbling block

1. stop cold: ngng lai mt cach bt thnh lnh. Ive rarely thought about the possibility of getting stuck in an elevator. Yet, as I was heading up to my office on the tenth floor, the elevator stopped cold. There I was trapped with no way to get out. Finally, after about ten minutes, it started moving again. Maybe it was a sign that I should take the stairs and get some exercise ! Ti it khi nghi n vic co th bi ket trong thang may. Vy ma trong luc ti ang ln vn phong cua ti tng mi thi thang may t nhin khng li. Ti bi mc ket trong o ma khng c cch g thoat ra ngoai. Cui cung, khoang mi phut sau thang may bt u hoat ng li. Co le o la du hiu cho ti bit la ti nn i cu thang b tp th duc lun. Were you ever shy talking to members of the opposite sex? My nephew has that problem. Hes pretty sociable with the guys he hangs out with. But as soon as a girl from his class joins in a conversation theyll be having, he suddenly becomes self-conscious and cant say a word. Girls just stop him cold. Ban c tng nht nht khi noi chuyn vi ngi khac phai hay khng? Chau ti co ci tt o. No ni chuyn kh thoai mai vi my thng bn trai giao du vi no. Nhng ngay khi mt a con gai trong lp no n gop chuyn vi nhom ban thi t nhin n tr nn lung tung va khng noi c ting nao. My
vp ng / vp vp

a con gi lm n im re. 2. stumbling block: vt gy chng ngai, kho khn. If theres any possibility of working overtime, were going to have to get a change in our contract. As it is, we arent allowed to put in more than 40 hours per week. That rule remains a stumbling block. Lets discuss a strategy for dealing with it at our next union meeting. Nu co bt k kh nng lam vic ngoai gi no thi chung ta s phi thay i hp ng. Theo hp ng hin gi thi chung ta khng c phep lam hn 40 ting mi tun. Quy nh ny vn cn l mt tr ngai i vi chung ta. Hay thao lun mt chin lc mi i pho vi vn nay tai cuc hop sp ti cua cng oan. My friends and I are sick of all the winter weather. Thats why were thinking about heading down to Florida for spring break. But none of us have much money or a car. Those are a couple of stumbling blocks well have to get around. Maybe we can pick up part-time jobs and earn some money and then rent a car !? Ti va cac ban ti ang chan ngy thi tit lanh leo cua mua ng. Vi th chung ti d inh xung Florida trong tun nghi gia k mua xun. Nhng khng ai trong chung ti co nhiu tin ma cung chng ai co xe hi. o la my tr ngai ma chung ti se phai vt qua. Co le chung ti se lam vic ban thi gian kim cht tin ri thu mt chic xe!?

172: swallow ones pride, swim against the tide

1. swallow ones pride: nen t ai cng nhn la minh mc li hay thua kem ngi khac. Chef Roberto has received almost every honor for his Italian cooking. Yet, despite his years of experience, he accidentally cut his finger on live television last week. He could have pretended that nothing happened. Instead he swallowed his pride, joking that even he makes mistakes from time to time. u bp Roberto a gianh c hu ht moi bng danh d v tai ngh nu mon Y cua mnh. Tuy nhin, du co nhiu nm kinh nghim nhng ng a s y ct vao ngon tay trong khi tr ti trn truyn hinh trc tip hi tun trc. L ra ng a co th v nh khng co chuyn gi xay ra. Nhng ng a dep lng t tn va noi ua rng ngay ca ng i khi cung pham li. Theyve enjoyed a worldwide following for their dependable, well-built vehicles.Then it was discovered that the brake pedals on millions of their cars were faulty. So they swallowed their pride and issued a massive recall in order to correct the problem. Showing a commitment to safety should help restore some consumer confidence. Cng ty c rt nhiu ngi khp th gii ung h vi san xut nhng chic xe ang tin cy va bn chc. Ri ngi ta phat hin ra ban ap phanh trong hang triu chic xe a bi li. Vi th cng ty a gt b nim kiu hnh va t thu hi xe sa cha li nay. Th hin s cam kt bao am an toan se giup phuc hi phn nao s tin tng cua ngi tiu thu. 2. swim against the tide: i ngc lai y kin hay xu hng cua thi ai. My friends have all bought big homes featuring huge bedrooms, large kitchens, formal dining rooms, and lots of bathrooms. My wife and I would rather have a modest house that doesnt cost a lot to maintain. We realize were swimming against the tide and thats fine with us. Cac ban ti ai cng mua nha ln vi phong ngu khang trang, nha bp rng, phong n sang trong va rt nhiu phong tm. Hai v chng ti thi lai thich mt cn nha gian di, khng tn kem nhiu bao quan. Chung ti bit mnh i ngc li xu hng chung nhng iu ny chng sao c. I dont know whether she didnt have a mind of her own or was afraid of being different, but she always swam with the tide. I mean, there are times when Ive swum with the tide, but when I feel strongly about an issue, Im not shy about swimming against the tide. Ti khng bit liu c y khng co ch kin ring hay c y s khac bit vi nhng ngi chung quanh, nhng c y lun thun theo s ng. Ti mun noi rng co nhng luc ti ng theo d lun, nhng khi ti tin tng manh me v mt vn nao o thi ti khng ngai i ngc lai s ng.

173: take a turn for the better, tar and feather

1. take a turn for the better: mt tnh hnh c ci thin, c chiu hng tt p hn trc. take a turn for the worse: tnh hnh tr nn xu i.

After being unemployed for 6 months, I was getting desperate. Nobody seemed to be hiring and my bank account was running low. Then my job search took a turn for the better. My best friend called me and managed to set me up with an interview at an accounting firm. Now Im working again. Sau khi b tht nghip 6 thng, ti dn cm thy tuyt vng. Dng nh chng c ch no tuyn ngi v ti khon ngn hng ca ti bt u cn tin.Th ri chuyn tm vic ca ti r sang chiu hng sng sa hn. Anh bn thn nht ca ti gi ti v thu xp cho ti mt cuc phng vn ti mt cng ty k ton. Gi th ti i lm tr li. My aunt had to go to the emergency room this past weekend. For a while, she wasnt doing very well, complaining of chest pains, dizziness and nausea. But by the time the doctors finished examining her, her situation has improved. She took a turn for the better. And now shes taking medication thats helping her feel just fine. D ti phi vo phng cp cu hi tun trc. C mt do d khng c khe lm v than l b tc ngc, chng mt v bun nn. Nhng sau khi bc s khm cho d xong th bnh tnh ca d chuyn bin kh hn. D ang ung thuc nn cm thy khe mnh. 2. tar and feather: ch trch hay pht nng. I think my whole class hates English this semester. Our teacher is always ready to punish us for the slightest mistake. If she finds any misspellings on our compositions, she deducts several points from our grade. I dont understand the need to tar and feather us. Ti ngh c lp ti ai cng ght mn Anh vn hc k ny. B gio lc no cng lm lm trng pht chng ti v li nh nht. Nu b ta thy bt k li chnh t no trong bi lun ca chng ti th b ta s tr i my im. Ti khng hiu sao c phi pht chng ti nng nh vy lm g. Im no longer shocked when I read about athletes and politicians who have extramarital affairs. It used to be theyd be tarred and feathered. Today, instead of being severely criticized, theyre often forgiven. Then theyre featured on magazine covers and make lots of money by writing books. It disgusts me. Ti gi ht b sc khi c tin v nhng vn ng vin v chnh tr gia c b bi ngoi tnh. Trc y th h s b bu riu y. Nhng ngy nay, thay v b ph phn gay gt h thng c tha th. Ri h cn c ng nh ln trang ba tp ch v kim bn tin nh vit sch. Ti thy tht gh tm.

174: tar s.o/sth with the same brush, tit for tat
1. tar s.o/sth with the same brush: coi hai ngi hay hai vt cung co khuyt im nh nhau, ca me mt la, cung mt giuc.

My cousin told me she wasnt going to vote anymore after her mayor had been found guilty of embezzlement. I grant you that some politicians are corrupt, but that doesnt mean that all of them should be tarred with the same brush. C em ho ti noi vi ti rng c se khng i bu na sau khi ng thi trng cua thanh ph c bi kt ti bin thu cng qu. Ti cng nhn l c mt s chinh tri gia tham nhung, th nhng nh th khng co nghia la tt ca bn h nn bi xem la cung mt giuc. One of the applicants for a part-time sales position came with good references. Yet my boss didnt want to hire him because he was still in high school. Apparently, hed had a bad experience with a teenaged employee. To me, my boss tarred him with the same brush. Why did he blame him because of another teens poor performance? Mt trong nhng ngi xin lm vic ban hang ban thi gian c th gii thiu tt. Tuy vy, ng sp ti khng chiu thu cu y vi cu con ang hoc trung hoc. Ro rang la trc y sp ti co kinh nghim xu khi thu mt thiu nin lm vic. Ti thy sp ti a v a c nm v cu thiu nin ny. Tai sao lai li cho cu ch vi mt thiu nin khac lam vic kem? 2. tit for tat: tra ua hay n ming tra ming. The police investigator determined that the sudden increase of crimes was no coincidence. A gang of drug dealers wanted to punish a rival gang for shooting their leader. That led to a tit for tat series of murders, kidnappings and arsons that has paralyzed the city. iu tra vin canh sat xac inh rng tnh trng pham phap gia tng bt ng nay khng phai la iu trung hp ngu nhin. Mt bng ang bun ban ma tuy mun trng phat mt bng ang i nghich v bn ngi cm u ca ho. iu nay dn ti mt lot nhng vu mu sat, bt coc, va t pha tr a lam t lit ca thanh ph. Last week, I saw a colleague eating my lunch which Id stored in the office refrigerator. I chose to believe there had been some misunderstanding. Thats why I wasnt about to grab her lunch the next day in order to get even. I refused to engage in a tit for tat. Tun trc, ti trng thy mt ng nghip n thc n tra cua ti ma ti a ct trong tu lanh cua c quan. Ti quyt inh tin rng o chi la mt s hiu lm. Vi th ti a khng chp ly thc n tra cua c y vao ngay hm sau n thua . Ti khng mun chi tro n ming tra ming.

175: to a tee, to death

1. to a tee: hoan hao, chinh xac, vi y u moi chi tit.

My wife suggested that we have a nice portrait painted of our family. So we sat for the artist, and a couple of weeks later he told us hed finished. I had my doubts that the painting would come out really looking like us. But when he unveiled it, I was astonished! He captured our likenesses to a tee. V ti nghi nn co mt bc chn dung ep cua gia inh. Vi th, chung ti ngi cho hoa si ve, va vai tun sau ng ta cho bit ng a ve xong. Ti khng tin la bc ve se tht s ging chung ti. Tuy nhin, khi ng ta cho chung ti xem bc ve, ti rt kinh ngac! ng ta ve hinh ging chung ti nh tac. With my job interview coming up, I wanted to look my best. I decided it was worth spending extra money on an expensive designer suit. After trying on several, I found one that fit me to a tee. It was as if a tailor had made it to my exact measurements. Ti sp c phong vn xin vic nn ti mun n mc tht lich s. Ti quyt inh rng mua mt b compl hng hiu t tin cng ng ng tin. Sau khi mc th nhiu b, ti tim c mt b va nh in. Nh th n c mt th may may theo ung kich thc cua ti vy. 2. to death: ti mt mc khng th chiu ng c. One of my neighbors stopped by the other day to bring me some mail that had been mistakenly delivered to her house. She was very helpful but she couldnt stop boasting about her childrens accomplishments. Maybe she found it interesting, but I was bored to death. I guess she had no idea how incredibly dull she sounded. Hm no, mt trong s lang ging cua ti ghe ngang nha ti trao nhng th t ma bu in a lm sang nha ba. Ba ny hay giup nhng lai khng ngng khoe khoang v nhng thanh tich cua con ba. Co le ba cho o la iu hay ho, nhng ti thi chan ngy. Ti oan ba khng h bit la ba te nhat n mc nao. I remember walking late at night in New York City years ago. A stranger came up behind me and pointed a gun at my back. He told me to hand over my wallet. I said I didnt have it on me, which was the truth. I was scared to death he was going to shoot. Fortunately, he ran and disappeared into a crowd. Ti nh c ln i b vo ban m thanh ph New York cach y my nm. Mt ke la mt n ngay ng sau va chia sung vao lng ti. Hn bao ti a vi tin cho hn. Ti noi ti khng mang theo vi, m s tht l nh th. Ti s gn cht la hn se bn ti, nhng may thay hn chay i va bin mt vao mt am ng.

176: to no avail, too close for comfort

1. to no avail: khng co hiu qua gi, v ich. Ive certainly been making an effort to help out members of my family. For example, my aunt has been complaining of chest pains, so I suggested that she see a doctor right away. My sons grades have been slipping. So I asked him to consider giving up some of his extracurricular activities for a while. I make all these suggestions, but to no avail. Nobody listened to me. Why did I even bother? Ti a c gng giup nhng ngi trong gia inh ti. Chng han nh di ti vn than au ngc nn ti nghi di nn i gp bac si ngay. im s cua con trai ti ang kem dn nn ti yu cu no bt sinh

hoat ngoai gi hoc trong it lu. Ti khuyn nh vy ma tht v ich. Khng ai nghe li ti ca. Tai sao ti lai phi cng lam nh vy ch? We warned our senator that he wasnt doing enough to lower taxes. Our supporters held meetings with him, organized a massive e-mail campaign and staged protest marches throughout the state. After these proved to no avail, we started to look for a new candidate. This has been a much more productive strategy. Chung ti a canh bao thng nghi si cua chung ti la ng a khng lam u giam thu. Nhng ngi ung h chung ti a hop vi ng nhiu ln, t chc mt cuc vn ng rng ln bng in th, va m nhiu cuc biu tinh phan khang trn khp tiu bang. Sau khi cac hanh ng nay to ra v ich, chung ti bt u tim mt ng c vin mi. y la mt chin lc mang lai nhiu kt qua hn. 2. too close for comfort: gn sat mt cach nguy him. I should have been more careful. Driving home I was answering a phone call. I had only looked away from the road for a couple of seconds. But when I looked up, the car ahead of me had stopped abruptly. That was too close for comfort. I barely missed plowing into him. L ra ti nn thn trong hn. Ti va tra li mt cu in thoai va lai xe v nha. Mi mt khoi ng chi vai giy thi nhng khi ti ngng u ln thi thy chic xe ng trc ti bt ng dng lai. Tht la ht sc nguy him.Chut xiu na thi ti a lao vao chic xe o. Ill never skip school again. When I stopped at a restaurant for lunch I saw the assistant principal sitting across from me. Luckily, I managed to slip out the door without being noticed. The risk of getting caught was too close for comfort. I learned my lesson. Ti se khng bao gi trn hoc na. Khi ti ghe lai mt tim n n tra, ti trng thy ng hiu ph ngi phia trc mt ti. May thay, ti tim cach thoat ra ngoai ca ma khng bi ng y trng thy. Nguy c bi bt qua tang qua tht la ln. Ti a hoc c mt bai hoc.

177: to save ones life, to spare

1. to save ones life: ngay du mang sng cua mt ngi tuy thuc vao mt iu gi o. Adventurous, I am not. Id rather die than go skydiving or mountain climbing. No one could get me to practice any of those sports to save my life. Ill let the thrill seekers have their fun. Theres simply no possibility of me ever doing anything thats really dangerous. Ti la ngi khng h thich phiu lu mao him. Ti chng tha cht con hn la chi tr skydiving hay i leo nui. Khng ai co th bt ti chi nhng mn th thao nh vy du cho mang sng cua ti tuy thuc vao chuyn o. Ti c nhng ngi thich cam giac manh i tim thu vui cua ho. Chc chn la ti khng bao gi lam nhng gi thc s nguy him. Recently my community sponsored a talent show. There were certainly plenty of singing acts. I may not have a great singing voice, but I can carry a tune. Yet there were some performers who werent able to sing to save their lives! Mi y cng ng cua ti a bao tr mt bui trinh din tai nng. Di nhin la co rt nhiu man ca hat. C l ging hat ti khng hay nhng cng a c i cht. Vy m c my ngi biu din khng ti no ht ni!

2. to spare: d tha, khng cn n. I love the city, but I dont miss my old cramped apartment there. I remember when my wife and I moved to our house in the suburbs, which was huge by comparison. In fact, for months we did not know that to do with all the rooms to spare. Ti thich sng trong thanh ph, nhng ti ch nh tic g cn h cu cht chi cua ti o. Ti nh luc hai v chng ti don n nha mi ngoai , nha o tht to va rng so vi cn h cu. Tht vy, trong my thang chung ti khng bit lam gi vi tt ca nhng phong d tha. At the office, we have a jar in which employees can deposit coins they find in their pockets of spare change. Over time, it adds up. We keep it, so that if we need to buy flowers or a sympathy card for someone, we have a little money available. ch lm, chung ti co mt cai l nhn vin bo tin le trong tui ho vao o. Ngay qua ngay, s tin nay tng dn ln. Chung ti gi tin nay nu chung ti cn mua hoa hay mua mt tm thip chia bun cho mt ngi nao o trong s thi chung ti co sn tin chi dung.

178: treat like dirt, tough break

1.treat like dirt: i x tan nhn vi mt ngi, coi ngi o nh rac. How did Alan manage to put up with his manager for so long? She gave him the worst
hng cng trang, nhn li khen ngi

assignments. She constantly criticized him in front of co-workers. She even took credit for some of his ideas. Finally, after being treated like dirt for almost a year, he quit. Good for him! He deserves a boss who values him. Lam sao ma anh Alan lai co th kin nhn chiu ng ba sp cua anh y lu n nh vy? Ba y giao cho anh nhng cng vic t nht. Ba lun lun chi trich anh trc mt cac ng nghip. Ba lai con ginh kin ca anh ri ni l ca mnh. Cui cung, sau khi bi i x tan t trong gn mt nm, anh a bo vic. Tht la tt cho anh! Anh ang c mt ngi sp quy trong. What is it about society today? When my generation was growing up, we were taught to respect our elders! These days, young people treat us like dirt. They show little interest in the sacrifices we made. They put us into nursing homes. Most of them wont even offer us a seat on a crowded bus! Xa hi ngay nay ra lam sao vy? Hi th h chung ti ln ln, chung ti c day d phai kinh trong ngi ln tui! Ngay nay, gii tre i x vi chung ti nh rac. Ho khng y gi n nhng hy sinh cua chung ti. Ho a chung ti vao vin dng lao. Phn ng lai con khng nhng gh cho chung ti trn xe buyt ng ngi!

2. tough break: mt hoan canh kho khn, hay mt vn rui, khng may. I was really looking forward to a promotion. It had been promised to me a year ago. I would have gotten a better job title, a raise and more vacation days. Unfortunately, my company couldnt justify any

such changes due to the poor economy. That was a tough break. I can only hope my luck will change once the economy improves. Ti ht sc mong moi c thng chc vi ti a c ha nh vy cach y mt nm. ang ly ra ti a c mt chc vu cao hn, lng cao hn va nhiu ngay nghi hn. Tic thay, cng ty ti khng th bin bch cho vic thng chc nh vy vi kinh t ang yu kem. Tht la mt iu khng may. Ti chi co th hy vong rng vn ti se thay i mt khi nn kinh t kha hn. Hurricane Katrina caused flooding that destroyed the lives of many people living near the coast of Louisiana. More recently, an oil spill, the largest in the history of the U.S., has struck the same residents. Its been one tough break after another for them. Will they be able to recover from this second catastrophe? Bao Katrina a gy ra lut li pha hoai i sng cua nhiu ngi dn sng gn b bin tiu bang Louisiana. Sau o, mt vu du lan, vu ln nht trong lich s nc My, li p ti nhng c dn nay. Tht la ht vn rui nay n vn rui khac. Liu ho se co th phuc hi sau tham hoa th nhi nay hay khng?

179: trial balloon, trick out

1. trial balloon: mt y kin hay mt chng trinh c a ra thm do phan ng cua cng chung. My wife and I were curious about the new houses that were recently built in our neighborhood, so we decided to see what they had to offer. We were shocked by the astronomical asking price. But a realtor friend explained that the seller might eventually come down in price because his current listing was only a trial balloon. Hai v chng ti to mo v nhng cn nha mi c xy xong trong khu chung ti . Vi th chung ti quyt inh n xem ra sao. Chung ti bi sc vi gia nha ra qua cao. Tuy nhin, mt ngi ban trong nganh ia c giai thich rng ngi ban se dn da ha gia xung vi bng gia hin nay chi la thm do xem phan ng cua ngi mua nh th nao. I can see how gambling could bring a lot of revenue to our state. But it could also encourage addictive behavior that ruins lives. Maybe thats why I got a survey in the mail asking my opinion about allowing casinos here. I think it was a trial balloon. The governor is trying to figure out whether the voters support such a plan. Ti thy vic anh bac co th mang lai nhiu thu nhp cho tiu bang chung ti. Nhng no cung co th khin ngi ta bi nghin va lam hong i ho. Co le o la ly do tai sao ti nhn c th hoi y kin v vic m song bac y. Ti ngh o la th thm do y kin c dn. ng thng c mun tim hiu xem liu c tri co ung h mt k hoch nh vy hay khng. 2. trick out: trang im hay trang hoang mt cach qua . When we stopped for a rest, my nephew was showing off all the fancy accessories hed added to his bike. It looks like a space ship with all those shiny parts. Thats his style. But I dont plan to trick out my bike. Its plain and thats O.K. Khi hai chung ti ngng lai nghi ngi, chau ti khoe nhng phu kin ma chau gn thm ln xe ap. No trng ging nh mt phi thuyn vi nhng b phn sang loang. Kiu cua chau l vy. Nhng ti thi khng mun trang hoang qua xe ap cua mnh. Xe ti rt n gian va vy la c ri.

The upcoming holiday concert sounds boring. Why doesnt the city invite someone outrageous like Lady Gaga? Shed probably sport green hair with Christmas tree ornaments or maybe come wrapped up like a flashy gift box with a sparkling bow. Shes always tricked out. Shes the kind of entertainer that could get everyones atttention. Bui hoa nhac vao ngay l sp ti nghe co ve chn. Tai sao thanh ph chung ta khng mi mt ngi gy sc nh Lady Gaga? C y co le se i toc mau luc vi trang tri cy giang sinh trn u, hay t qun minh thanh mt cai hp qua sc s vi mt cai n long lanh. C y luc nao cung chng din qu l. C y la ngh s gii tr c th thu hut c s chu y cua moi ngi.

180: tried and true, tug of war

1. tried and true: mt iu gi qua th thach va c chng to l chn tht. She took a look at the burn and went to her windowsill. She got a cutting from this plant called aloe and squeezed some of its milk onto my hand. Sure enough, it cooled the burn. Later on, I came to understand that this was no folk remedy. Scientists have concluded that the aloe plant can help soothe burns. Its medicinal qualities are not hearsay, theyre tried and true. C ban ti nhin vt bong mt ci ri i ti ngng ca s. C ct mt mu t cy l hi ri vt nha cy nay ln tay ti. Ro rang la cht nha lam diu ngay vt bong. Sau nay, ti hiu rng y khng phai la cach cha dn gian. Cac nha khoa hoc a kt lun rng cy l hi co th lam diu vt bong. c tnh y dc cua no khng phai la iu n ai ma a c chng minh la ung s tht. It was hard being stationed overseas in the army when my mom developed cancer. I couldnt always travel to see her. Fortunately, her girlfriends were there to help out. They made sure that she got to her doctor appointments, ran errands for her and took care of her every need. What tried and true friends! Tht l kho cho ti khi phai ong qun nc ngoai trong luc me ti bi bnh ung th. Ti khng th lun v thm me c. May thay, cac ban cua me a co mt o giup . Ho thu xp a me ti i gp bac si, chy vic vt va lo lng moi th cho ba. Tht la nhng ngi ban ht sc chn thanh ! 2. tug of war: cuc chin u gay go gia i bn tranh gianh anh hng. How I am supposed to decide where to go to school? Dads been talking non-stop about Yale, where his side of the family has gone for generations. Then mom reminds me that her relatives all graduated from Princeton. The pressure is too much. Maybe if I tell them Im taking a job instead, the tug of war will end. Lam sao ti co th quyt inh i hoc trng nao y? B ti noi lun ming v trng Yale, ni ma my th h gia inh b a theo hoc. Con me ti thi nhc ti rng cac ho hang cua me u tt nghip trng Princeton. Ti bi ap lc nhiu qua. Co le nu ti noi vi b me la thay vi i hoc ti se kim vic lam thi cuc tranh gianh nay se chm dt. When my brother writes out a prescription for a pharmacist to fill, hes often in a tug of war with hospital administrators. He wants to prescribe the best medicine for a patient whereas the administrator wants him to save the hospital money by choosing a less-expensive medication.

Khi anh ti bin toa thuc cho dc si ban thuc, anh thng lm vo th ging co vi ban quan tri bnh vin. Anh mun chon loai thuc tt nht cho bnh nhn trong khi quan tri vin thi lai mun anh tit kim tin cho bnh vin bng cach chon mt loai thuc it t tin hn.

181: turn up the heat, under a cloud

1. turn up the heat: gia tng ap lc at c kt qua. My neighbors and I have decided we cant wait any longer for our town representative to do something about our dangerous traffic situation. Thats why were voicing our frustrations to him directly. Were going to turn up the heat. Ti va nhng ngi hang xom a quyt inh la chung ti khng th ch lu hn na ng i din thnh ph lam mt iu gi o giai quyt tinh trang giao thng nguy him nay. Vi th chung ti s trinh bay thng ni bt man vi ng ta. Chung ti se lm ap lc vi ng y. The defendant in the murder trial hasnt had to answer many tough questions so far. Its time for the prosecutor to turn up the heat on him. If she can get more aggressive with the accused, she could get him to admit hes guilty.Then the jury will be persuaded to convict him. Cho n gi nay, bi cao trong vu x v ti sat nhn vn cha phai tra li nhng cu hoi kh. a n luc ba cng t vin gy ap lc ln anh ta. Nu ba quyt lit hn vi b co thi ba co th khin anh ta nhn ti. Lc o ban hi thm mi cm thy thuyt phuc kt ti anh ta. 2. under a cloud: bi nghi ng lam iu sai quy hay gp kho khn. When my professor caught me glancing at my cell phone, she thought I was cheating on the exam. I explained that I was only checking the time to figure out how long I should spend on the remaining questions. I dont think she believed me. She seems to look at me with suspicion. I feel like Im under a cloud. Khi giao s ti bt gp ti lic mt nhin in thoai cm tay, ba y tng ti gian ln trong khi thi. Ti giai thich rng ti chi nhin gi tinh xem cn bao lu na tra li nhng cu hoi con lai. Ti nghi rng ba y khng tin li ti. Dng nh by gi ba y nhin ti vi ve nghi hoc. Ti cam thy nh b ng vc v lm sai iu g . Pauls Steakhouse used to be a local favorite. Its menu featured a variety of tasty beef dishes and desserts. But since they hired a new head chef, the quality hasnt been the same. Theyre under a cloud. If they want diners to return, they should bring back the old chef. Pauls Steakhouse trc y la tim n m dn a phng a lui ti. Thc n cua tim gm nhiu mon thit bo va trang ming rt ngon. Tuy nhin, k t khi tim thu u bp mi, thc n khng con ngon nh trc na. Tim nay ang b mt uy tn. Nu ho mun thc khach quay lai thi ho nn a u bp cu tr lai.

182: come unglued, up a (the) creek

1. come unglued: khng th kim ch cam xuc cua minh, tr nn ht sc tc gin v mt iu gi khin minh gn nh hoa in. My wife and I had warned David many times not to play baseball with his brother near the house. Did they listen? As we pulled into the driveway after work, we noticed our large picture window was broken. We came unglued. After we finally calmed down, the boys were sent to their rooms. Hai v chng ti a dn do David nhiu ln la khng c chi bong chy vi em no gn nha. Liu chung no co nghe li ti khng? Khi chung ti lai xe vao ng t trong sn nha sau khi lam vic, chung ti thy ca s ln trc nha a bi v. Chung ti ht sc tc gin. Cui cung, sau khi chung ti bt gin, chung ti a phat hai a con bng cach bt chung ngi trong phong ring, khng c ra ngoai. Since the coal mine caved in and three miners died last month, the company has assured workers that a full investigation will be made. But so far there have been no inquiries. Its not surprising that a lot of employees and their families are coming unglued. Theyve gotten upset that safety is being compromised and worry that another accident might happen. K t khi mo than bi sup va ba th mo bi thit mang hi thang trc, cng ty mo a oan chc vi cng nhn la se m mt cuc iu tra y u. Cho n nay, vn cha co cuc iu tra nao. Khng co gi ang ngac nhin khi nhiu cng nhn va gia inh ho tr nn ht sc tc gin. Ho gin d vi thy tinh trang an toan khng c bao am, va ho lo ngai la mt tai nan khac se xay ra. 2. Up a creek: bi ket trong mt hoan canh kho khn. up a creek without a paddle: bi mc ket trong mt con lach ma khng co mai cheo tin ti. My son got his final grades at the end of his freshman year at college. He did so well in most classes. But, despite making a good effort, he failed a required course in philosophy. Fortunately, he was able to take the class again during the summer. So he wasnt up a creek for very long. Con trai ti nhn c im k vao cui nm th nht ai hoc. No hoc rt gioi trong hu ht cac lp. Tuy nhin, mc d a c gng nhiu nhng no a thi hong lp trit hoc la lp bt buc phai u. May thay, no a co th hoc lai lp nay trong mua he. Vi th no a khng b kho khn lu lm. Outdoors weddings can be romantic and beautiful. Still, there are potential problems. What happens if its too windy, hot or it rains? To avoid being up a creek, consider investing in a tent or a nearby building that could be moved into if necessary. That way, youre prepared for trouble. Nhng l ci ngoai tri co ve th mng va ep e. Tuy nhin, cung co th co vn . Nu tri co gio, nong qua hay ma thi sao? tranh gp kho khn nh vy, ban hay nghi ti vic mn mt cai rap hay mt toa nha gn o hn l co th din ra o nu cn. Lam nh th thi ban sn sang i pho vi moi kho khn.

183: vicious circle, wake-up call

1. vicious circle: cai vong lun qun, tc la mt loat nhng bin c lin tip xay ra khin tinh hinh cang ngay cang t hn trc. I used to complain that I wasnt living a comfortable life. So I earned my Masters degree and developed my skills. Soon, I got promoted to Director of Marketing.But that brought increased demands, including constant business travel. I have less leisure time than ever. What a vicious circle. Im more miserable than before. Trc kia ti vn than phin rng ti sng khng c thoai mai. Vi th ti hoc ly bng thc s va phat trin nhng ky nng cua mnh. It lu sau, ti c thng chc ln lam giam c tip thi. Nhng chc vu nay lai i hi ti phai lam vic nhiu hn, k ca vic phai thng xuyn i cng tc. Ti co it thi gi nhan ri hn trc. Tht la mt cai vong lun qun. Ti gi thy cn kh s hn trc. Sophia suffered from being overweight. By dieting and exercising, however, she managed to slim down. Dates began calling and taking her to fancy restaurants. Because of the rich food and desserts, she gained back all the weight shed lost. She became a victim of a vicious circle. Shes the heaviest shes ever been. Em Sophia bi tha cn. Tuy nhin, nh n king va tp th duc m em tr nn thon th. My cu trai bt u goi in thoi cho em va a em i n tai nhng nh hng sang trong. Vi thc n va trang ming beo b m em ln cn tr lai. Em tr thanh nan nhn cua mt cai vong lun qun. Gi y em nng cn hn bao gi ht. 2. wake-up call: mt hanh ng hay mt li canh bao khin moi ngi phai lp tc chu y n mt vn . Im usually at my desk on time. But some of my colleagues have been more than a little late from time to time. The boss must have noticed too. He recently sent out an email reminding everyone of our office hours. That was a wake-up call that cautioned my co-workers that he wouldnt tolerate tardiness. So far, its worked. Ti thng co mt s lm ung gi. Tuy nhin, mt vai ng nghip cua ti i khi n kha tr. ng sp cung a y n chuyn nay. Mi y, ng gi mt th in t nhc nh moi ngi v gi lam vic cua s. o la mt li canh cao cac ng nghip cua ti la ng se khng dung tung nn i tr. Li canh cao nay a co hiu qua. Most scientists have concluded that global warming is a real threat. They warn that more and more dramatic changes in weather are taking place. And were losing various species of plants and animals as a result. Its a wake-up call to the planet. We must act now or it will threaten our way of life. Phn ng cac nha khoa hoc a kt lun rng tinh trang trai t nong dn la mt mi e doa thc s. Ho canh cao rng thi tit ang thay i ngay cng d di hn. Va hu qua la chung ta ang mt dn nhiu loai ng thc vt. o la mt li canh tnh i vi hanh tinh nay. Chung ta phai hanh ng ngay by gi, nu khng thi i sng cua chung ta se bi e doa.

184: washed up, under the wire

1. Washed up: khng con thanh cng na, ht thi. Whats the fastest way to regain fame? Die. A majority of Americans had felt negatively about Michael Jackson. He was largely considered a failure, all washed up. But after his shocking death in 2009, his popularity grew and sales of items featuring his life and music soared. How tragic that celebrities like him never lived to enjoy their new success! Cach nao la cach nhanh nht ni ting tr lai? o la cht i. a s dn chung My a co cam tng xu v Michael Jackson. Anh phn nhiu bi coi la tht bai, ht thi. Nhng sau cai cht gy bng hong hi nm 2009, danh ting anh ta lai ni ln, va nhng th g c gn vi cuc i va m nhac cua anh u bn rt chy. Tht la bi tham khi nhng ngi ni ting nh anh lai khng bao gi sng hng thanh cng mi nay ! Are American newspapers washed up? Its true that eleven have gone out of business in the past two years. Theyre costly to produce and not reaching younger readers, who get their news on-line. But, rather than becoming obsolete, some newspapers are beginning to make profits again. Whats uncertain is the kind of future they have. Phai chng bao chi My by gi ht thi ri? S tht la co 11 t bao a ong ca trong hai nm qua. Bao chi hin nay in tht tn kem va khng thu hut c gii c gia tre vi ho oc tin trc tuyn trn mang. Tuy nhin, thay vi tr nn li thi, mt s bao lai bt u kim c li. iu khng chc chn la tng lai cac bao nay se ra sao.) Obsolete la li thi va profit la tin li, li nhun.

UNDER THE WIRE Wire l si dy bng kim loi. Thnh ng under the wire co nghia la va sat nut trc gi c n inh. Thanh ng nay xut x t gii ua nga vao cui th ky th 19 , khi ngi ta chng mt si dy ngang qua ng ua xem con nga nao v ti ich u tin khi mui no cham vao si dy nay. Ngi My noi The horse was under the wire. Khi phai thanh toan hoa n hang thang, mt thanh nin a nghi ra mt cach tra tin gian tin nh sau: I used to let bills pile up on my desk before Id finally sit down and write out checks. As a result, I often incurred late charges. These days I pay off bills as soon as they arrive. No more paying them under the wire! That saves me money. (Trc kia ti vn cac hoa n thanh mt ng trn ban trc khi ti ngi xung vit ngn phiu tra n. Hu qua la ti thng bi phat vi tra tin mun. Do nay ti thanh toan hoa n ngay khi ti nhn c. Ti khng con phai gi ngn phiu sat han chot na. Lam nh vy thi ti tit kim c tin.) To pile up la cht ng, to incur charges la phai tra phi tn, va to pay off la tra dt. Trong thi du sau y, mt i bong a tham gia mt trn u then cht rt gay go. Mt cu thu trong i cho

bit: The championship came down to this final match. Whichever team won took home the trophy. With a minute to go in the match, we were tied with our rivals1-1. It looked grim. Then Jones fired a low shot and scored just under the wire! With only seconds left, the other team could only accept defeat. (Gii u v ich ri cng n trn chung kt nay. i nao thng se mang v chic cup. Chi con mt phut na la trn u kt thuc, chung ti cm hoa i thu vi ty s 1-1. Tinh hinh trng co ve m m. Nhng anh Jones a mt cu thp va ghi ban thng vao phut chot! Chi con vai giy na la trn u chm dt nn i kia ch cn bit chp nhn thua cuc.) Match la trn u; trophy la giai thng, chic cup; to tie la ngang im, hoa nhau; va defeat la tht bai, thua cuc.

185: with a vengeance, without a leg to stand on

WITH A VENGEANCE T vengeance c ngha l s tr th, bo th. Tuy nhin thnh ng with a vengeance li ch mt hnh ng no din ra mt cch d di, quyt lit hn la mong i, mc mnh hn binh thng. Mt thanh nin rt mng khi co mt ng sp t t vi nhn vin. Anh k lai nhng gi xay ra cho c ban lang ging cua anh nh sau: My friend was telling me how critical her supervisor is. Once she was called into his office for a minor infraction and the man screamed at her ! So she made a mistake, but there was no need for him to go after herwith a vengeance. Maybe he should get some counseling for anger management. (Ban ti cho bit la ng quan ly cua c rt kho tinh va hay chi trich. Co mt ln c bi goi vao vn phong ng ta vi c pham mt li nho, va ng ta qut tho c y! ng l c y pham li, nhng ng ta u cn phai mng nhic c thm t nh vy. Co le ng ta nn i t vn cach kim ch tinh nong gin.) Critical la hay chi trich, infraction la s vi pham lut, va anger la s tc gin. Mua ng min Bc My thng lanh leo va co nhiu tuyt. Mt c dn cho bit anh chun bi i pho vi thi tit nay nh th nao. Im making sure Im well stocked for winter. Ive already bought a new shovel and bags of salt to melt ice. Im ready should the Washington area get socked with the record-breaking snowfall we had last year, nearly 40 inches of snow! It snowed with a vengeance. (Ti phi tich tr y u moi th cho mua ng mi c. Ti a mua mt cai xeng mi va nhiu bao mui lam tan bng. Ti sn sang trong trng hp vung Washington bi mt trn tuyt pha ky luc nh

trn tuyt hinm ngoai, vi tuyt cao gn mt thc. Tuyt nm ri tht d di.) To stock la tich tr, to melt la tan chay, va to sock la anh trung.

WITHOUT A LEG TO STAND ON Thanh ng nay co nghia la y kin cua minh khng th ng vng c, hay khng co ly le gi bao cha cho hanh ng cua minh. Mt sinh vin noi v mt vu ln xn lin quan n mt sinh vin khac tn Paul trong lp anh cach y khng lu nh sau: Paul recently was accused of plagiarizing a school assignment ! He threatened to sue his teacher until she showed him a near copy of his work from the internet. At that point, he realized that he was without a leg to stand on. (Anh Paul mi y bi t l o vn lam bai trong lp! Anh doa se kin ba giao cho n khi ba trng ra mt bn gn ging vi bi lm ca anh trn internet. Luc o, anh ta mi thy mnh vo th ht ng bo cha.) To accuse la t cao, buc ti; to plagiarize la o vn; va to sue la tha kin. Hai anh em trong mt gia inh to y phan i cach c x cua cha me cac em. Cu con trai noi: Mom and dad are so unbelievable. Theyre always warning us not to smoke or drink alcohol. Yet we know thats exactly what they did when they were teenagers. We dont feel we should have to listen to them anymore since theyre without a leg to stand on. (Ba me chung ti tht khng th tin c. Ba me lun lun rn e chung ti la ng hut thuc hay ung ru. Th nhng chung ti bit o chinh la nhng gi ma ba me a lam khi ba me cn tui thiu nin. Chung ti thy khng cn phai nghe li h na vi h h ming mc quai ri.) Unbelievable la khng tin c, kho tin va to warn la canh bao, rn e.

186: with one hand tied behind ones back, work like a charm
WITH ONE HAND TIED BEHIND ONES BACK With one hand tied behind ones back nghia en la vi mt tay bi buc ng sau lng, tc la lam mt vic rt d dang, y nh chi cn mt tay ma thi. Mt sinh vin co tai vit vn a ngac nhin khi thy cac ban cua anh gp kho khn khi phai lam bai trong lp. Anh noi:

Some of my classmates agonize over their writing assignments for class. I dont understand whats so difficult. Simply gather good information, make an outline, create a first draft, then edit any mistakes. Well, I can come up with a twenty-page research paper with one hand behind my back! (My ngi ban hoc cung lp vi ti nh vt vi nhng bai lm vn c giao trong lp. Ti khng hiu co gi lai kho khn n nh vy? Chi cn thu thp thng tin tt, lp dn , vit ban thao u tin, ri sa li nu co. Ti thi ti co th vit mt bai khao cu dai 20 trang d nh chi!) To agonize la nh vt, vt v; outline la dn , nt ai cng; va draft la ban thao. Mt thanh nin noi v vic ngi ban anh tn Scotty a giup anh tit kim c mt it tin nh sau: When my computer crashed again, I was almost resigned to buying a new one. Luckily, my friend Scotty came over. Within an hour, he got my computer running again, removed a virus and installed a new hard disk. It wasnt hard for him at all. In fact, he says he can fix a computer with one arm tied behind his back. (Khi may tinh cua ti lai bi hong, ti gn nh b tay nh chiu phai mua may mi. May thay, ban ti la Scotty a ghe qua xem, va chi trong vong mt ting ng h, anh y a lam cho may tinh cua ti chay lai. Anh a dit c virutva ci t mt cai ia cng mi. i vi anh vic nay ch kho khn ca. Tht vy, anh noi rng anh co th sa moi may tinh d nh tr bn tay.) To crash la bi hong, to be resigned la cam chiu, anh phn, va to install la ci t, gn, lp rap.

WORK LIKE A CHARM Charm nghia la bua ngai, bua m. Work like a charm co nghia la thanh cng tt ep va nhanh chong, y nh co bua phep vy. Khi con cai lam iu gi h, cac bc cha me thng trng phat nh th nao? Mt ng b cho bit cach day con cua ng nh sau: I dont believe in spanking my child or yelling at him. Instead, I send him to his room to sit alone, calm down and reflect on what hes done. It worked like a charm. Its so effective that, when he starts misbehaving, I only have to remind him of the punishment Ill have to give him and he stops acting up almost instantly. (Ti khng tin vao vic anh p hay qut mng con ti. Thay v vy, ti bt no vao phong ngi mt minh no trn tnh li va suy ngm v nhng gi no a lam. Cch ny hiu nghim ngay lp tc. No hu hiu n mi khi con ti bt u h n ti chi cn nhc no v hinh phat ma ti se danh cho no, va no se ngng li thi hu nh ngay tc khc.) To spank la anh vao mng, to yell la la ht, qut mng, to misbehave la h n.

Mt quan ly trong mt ca hng qun ao nay ra mt y kin khuyn khich ban nhn vin ban c nhiu hang hn. ng noi: Making our sales quotas every month used to be a challenge. Then, we changed our system. Now we reward our salesmen for any increases in the amount of merchandise they sell to our customers. Its working like a charm. The store is more profitable than ever before. (Trc y, vn at chi tiu ban hang mi thang qua la mt thach thc. Sau o, chung ti thay i cach lam vic. By gi chung ti thng nhngnhn vin ban hang nao ban thm c nhiu hang hoa cho khach. Cach thc ny v cng hu hiu. Chung ti gi y co li nhiu hn bao gi ht.) Quota la chi tiu, merchandise la hang hoa, va proftable la co li.

187: worth one's while, write off

WORTH ONES WHILE T worth c ngha l ng, ng gi. Worth ones while co nghia la ang cng lao, thi gi hay tin bac. Anh John c hai v chng ngi lang ging mi qua xem cn phong mi ma ho xy thm phia sau nha ho. Anh cho bit: The new addition on my neighbors house is spacious, well-designed and complements the rest of the house so nicely. They mentioned that, although the construction hadnt taken long, finding the good architect had taken months, but it was a wise investment. It was certainly worth their while. (Cn phong mi xy thm nha ngi lang ging rt rng rai, thit k kheo leo, va tng thm phn ep e cho cn nha. Ho cho bit rng tuy cng vic xy ct khng tn nhiu thi gi, nhng kim c mt kin truc s gioi a mt nhiu thang, nhng o la mt s u t khn ngoan. S u t nay tht ang cng lao cua ho.) To complement la b sung, architect la kin truc s, va investment la s u t. i khi, mt cuc gp g ngu nhin gia hai ngi co th lam thay i tng lai cua mt trong hai ngi o. o la trng hp cua mt c gai tn Maggie. Maggie was just hired as the VP of marketing. She got the position after meeting the companys CEO at a party a few months ago. Although she hadnt planned on going at all, it turned out to be worth her while. She couldnt be happier with how that casual encounter resulted in making an important business contact .

(C Maggie va c thu nhn lam pho giam c tip thi. C c chc vu nay sau khi gp ng chu tich hi ng quan tri cua cng ty tai mt bui tic cach y my thang. Tuy trc o c a khng inh d tic nay nhng hoa ra lam nh vy tht ang cng c. C tht ht sc sung sng v t cuc gp g khng trang trng nay m c quen bit c mt nhn vt quan trong cho cng vic lam cua c.) VP la ch vit tt cua Vice President, pho giam c; CEO la ch vit tt cua Chief Executive Officer, chu tich hi ng quan tri; casual la khng c tnh trang trng, va encounter la s gp g.

WRITE OFF Ngi My dung write off khi ho mun bo i mt iu gi, coi o la mt tht bai, v dung. Mt thanh nin i nghi he va gp phai thi tit xu. Anh cho bit: I expected Hawaii to be sunny, perfect for swimming, surfing and other outdoor activities. Nothing prepared me for the constant rain I faced after arriving there. I ended up sitting in my hotel room until the sky finally cleared. What a waste of time! All I could do was write off those first couple days of my vacation.

(Ti mong i la Hawaii se nng rao, hoan hao ti bi li, lt song va tham d cac hoat ng ngoai tri. Ti tht khng ng gp phai tri ma lin tuc sau khi ti n o. Cui cung ti ngi trong phong khach san cho n khi tri tanh ma. Tht la phi thi gi! Ti chi con cach coi nh bo i vai ngay u cua ky nghi he.) Surfing la mn lt song va constant la lin tuc, khng ngng. Nhiu ngi trong gii in anh a ngac nhin khi thy n tai t Cher lanh giai thng Oscar v tai din xut cua c. Mt phong vin tng thut nh sau: Back in the 1970s, Cher had co-starred with her husband on a popular TV show. Both her marriage and television career, however, soon ended. Thats when many in the entertainment industry wrote Cher off. Eventually, she proved to her critics that she wasnt a failure at all. In 1988, she accepted the Oscar for Best Actress.

(Hi thp nin 1970s Cher a ng chung vi chng c trong mt chng trinh truyn hinh c khan gia a chung. Tuy nhin, chi it lu sau o, ca cuc hn nhn ln s nghip truyn hinh cua c a chm dt. o la luc nhiu ngi trong nganh giai tri cho rng c a ht thi. Dn da c a chng to cho cac nha ph binh thy rng c a khng tht bai. Nm 1988, c nhn c giai Oscar N din vin hay nht trong nm.) Critic la nha ph binh, chi trich va failure la s tht bai.

188: to zone out, achilles' heel

ZONE OUT Ngi My dung zone out khi tri oc mt ngi khng con sang sut, khng th suy nghi gi c na vi mt moi hay gp tai nan, hay mt tin bun. Khi i chi xa, quy vi thng bi mt moi. Mt khach du lich m ta kinh nghim cua anh khi va n Vit Nam nh sau: When our flight arrived in Hanoi, it was noon. Thats an almost 12 hour difference from the time in New York. So we went sightseeing, and then stopped to eat some food. Now its three oclock. Im so exhausted, I cant stay focused anymore. Im zoning out. (Khi chuyn bay cua chung ti n Ha Ni, tri a vao tra. Gi y cach gi New York khoang 12 ting ng h. Vi th, chung ti i ngm canh ri ghe vao mt ni n ung. By gi la ba gi chiu. Ti kit sc n khng th tp trung c na. Ti n ca ngi.) Sightseeing la ngm canh, tham quan; exhausted la kit sc; va to focusla tp trung chu y. Mt ng trng thy mt tai nan xe hi xay ra trn ng. ng cho bit: The accident happened so fast. As the victim of the car crash was lying lifeless in the road, the old woman who was driving just sat motionless. I went over to ask her if she was O.K. But she continued to stare into space like she wasnt aware of anything. She was zoned out. I think the trauma must have been too great for her. (Tai nan xay ra qua nhanh. Trong khi nan nhn vu ung xe nm bt ng trn ng, ba cu gia lai xe c ngi lng im. Ti n bn canh cu hoi xem cu co sao khng, nhng cu vn c nhin vao khoang khng nh th khng hay bit gi ht. Cu thn th ca ngi. Ti nghi chn ng nay qua ln i vi cu.) Accident la tai nan, victim la nan nhn, va trauma la chn ng, c sc.

ACHILLES HEEL Heel la ci got chn, cn Achilles la tn mt dung si trong truyn thn thoai Hy Lap. Tuc truyn rng khi Achilles con be, me ng cm got chn ng va nhung ca ngi ng xung dong sng Styx ng tr thanh bt t. Tuy nhin, vi got chn ng khng dinh nc nn sau nay ng bi git vi mt mui tn bn vao got chn. Ngay nay, Achilles heel dung chi mt im yu, hay mt ch d bi tn thng. Mt thanh nin ang d inh mua xe mi. Anh cho bit: The new hybrid car Im looking at comes at an affordable price. Its excellent fuel economy and stylish design are also advantages. Unfortunately, it doesnt offer much room in the back for passengers. Since I have a lot of friends, I see its lack of spaciousness as its Achilles heel.

(Loai xe mi dung xng ln in ma ti ang xem co gia va phai. Xe nay cung co hai li th la n rt it xng va kiu xe ep. iu ang tic la n khng co u ch cho ngi ngi ng sau. Vi ti co nhiu ban nn ti thy ch kem cua xe nay la khng rng u.) Hybrid la xe chay bng xng ln in, affordable la gi c phi chng, vadesign la kiu, mu. Truyn tranh cua My co mt nhn vt rt ni ting la Superman hay la Siu Nhn. Ta hay xem Siu Nhn nay lam c nhng gi: Superman came to Earth with fantastic abilities. While he can fly, bend steel with his bare hands, and see through walls with his x-ray vision, he does have one great weakness. When exposed to a green rock from his home planet, Superman becomes powerless. Thats his Achilles heel. (Siu Nhn xung trn vi nhiu tai nng phi thng. Tuy anh co th bay ln, dung tay khng be cong thep, va nhin xuyn qua tng nh tm nhin bng tia X, anh li co mt nhc im ln. o la khi bi t trc mt hon a xanh luc t hanh tinh qu nha cua anh thi anh tr nn bt lc. o la im yu kem cua anh.) Fantastic la phi thng, siu pham; to bend la be cong; va powerless la bt lc.

189: acid test, across the board

ACID TEST T acid c ngha l cht axt. Acid test co nghia la mt cuc th thach gay go quyt inh gia tri thc s cua mt ngi hay mt iu gi. Thanh ng nay xut x t gia thp nin 1850 khi ngi My x i ao mo vang va phai dung cht axit th xem nhng qung kim loai ma ho tim c co phai la vang tht hay khng. Mt thanh nin noi v ba c cua anh la mt ngi co tai nu n gioi. My aunt is a very talented cook. She can make my family happy with her tasty dishes. Well, she got to thinking about going into the catering business. I think she could be very successful. But first, shell need to find out if shell be able to please a bunch of guests she doesnt know. Thats going to be the acid test. (C ti la mt ngi nu n tai gioi. C co th lam gia inh ti sung sng vi nhng mon n ngon. Vi th c ang nghi ti vic kinh doanh cung cp thc phm. Ti cho rng c co th thanh cng ln. Tuy nhin, trc ht c phai xem liu c co th lam hai long nhng ngi khach khng quen bit hay khng. o se la mt th thach gay go i vi c.) Talented la co tai va catering business la ngnh kinh doanh cung cp thc phm cho nhng bui tic tng, hp mt.

Cac chinh tri gia cung thng gp nhng th thach gay go trong khi tranh c. Mt phong vin tng thut v cuc vn ng cua nghi vin Miller danh s c cua ang ba vao chc vu thi trng nh sau: Representative Miller has been talking about stopping immigrants from working in the city. That view has clearly helped her gain the support of conservative voters. Yet, next weeks primary election will be her acid test.Thats when well find out whether she can appeal to enough independent voters to become her partys candidate for mayor. (Nghi vin Miller vn noi v vic cm di dn lam vic trong thanh ph. Quan im nay ro rang a giup ba danh c s ung h cua cac c tri bao thu. Tuy nhin, cuc bu c s b vao tun ti se la th thach gay go i vi ba. o la luc chung ta se bit liu ba co th li cun u c tri c lp tr thanh ng vin cua ang ra tranh c chc thi trng hay khng.) Immigrant la di dn, conservative la bao thu va to appeal la ku goi, li cun.

ACROSS THE BOARD Across the board co mt t mi la board nghia la tm bang. Across the board co nghia la toan b, toan din, trn moi lnh vc. Thanh ng nay xut x t gii ua nga, khi ngi ta mun thng bng cach anh cc mt con nga v ca hang nht, nhi va ba trn tm bang ghi cac cuc ua va ty l tin cc. Mt thy giao to ve hai long v s tin b cua mt c hoc tro tn Julie. ng noi: Last semester, I encouraged Julie to work harder in order to get better grades. She certainly took my advice. She just showed me her report card and shes made dramatic improvement. Not just in one or two classes, butacross the board. Amazingly, shes made progress in every subject. (Hoc ky trc, ti khuyn khich em Julie hoc hanh sing nng hn c im kha hn. Ro rang la em nghe li ti. Em va cho ti xem bang im v em a tin b vt bc. Khng nhng chi trong mt hay hai lp ma trong tt ca moi lp. iu ang ngac nhin la em at c tin b trong moi mn hoc.) Amazing la ang ngac nhin va subject la mn hoc. Trong thi du sau y mt cng ty co ly do chinh ang n mng. Nu quy vi lam vic o, chc quy vi se khng than phin, nh mt nhn vin cho bit chi tit: Since it was the employees in our department that saved the company so much money, we assumed that we were the only ones getting salary increases. Not true. The director approved them across the board. He believes all the divisions should be rewarded for our recent success.

(Vi cac nhn vin trong ban chung ti a tit kim c cho cng ty rt nhiu tin nn chung ti tng rng chung ti se la nhng ngi duy nht c tng lng. Tht ra khng phai vy. ng giam c a chp thun tng lng cho tt ca moi ngi. ng tin rng moi phng ban nn c thng nh s thanh cng va ri cua chung ti.) To assume la cho iu g la ung, t gi thit v to reward la thng cng.

190: add fuel to the fire, against all odds

ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE Fuel la cht t hay nhin liu va fire la ngon la. ng t to add ngha l thm vo. Vi th, add fuel to the fire co nghia la thm du vo la, hay lam mt iu gi khin tinh hinh tr nn t hai hn. Nhng ai tng i may bay u ngay cang bt man vi cach c x cua cac hang may bay. Mt hanh khach than phin nh sau: Passengers like me are fed up with the airline industry. First, they charged us more for checking a bag while discontinuing free meals during flights. That was bad enough. To add fuel to the fire, theyre talking about charging us for pillows and blankets. Thats outrageous. Thats why consumer complaints have increased so dramatically! (Nhng hanh khach nh ti ang chan ngy vi nganh hang khng. Thoat tin, ho bt chung ti tra thm tin gi mt tui xach hanh ly ma lai ngng cho n min phi trong luc bay. o a la t lm ri. Ho con thm du vao la khi d tinh buc chung ti tra tin dung gi va chn mn trn may bay.Tht la qua sc. Vi th m s ngi than phin a tng rt cao!) To be fed up la chan ngy, to charge la tinh tin, oi tra tin, va to complainla than phin Trong thi du sau y, hanh vi sai trai cua mt thanh nin a khin cho anh va ban gai anh oan tuyt vi nhau: Its not surprising that Ellen broke up with Tom. At the party last weekend, she overheard him criticizing her for not watching her weight. The situation got worse when she later caught him exchanging phone numbers with one of her girlfriends. No doubt, that added fuel to the fire. By the next morning, she had quit seeing him. (C Ellen va anh Tom chia tay nhau khng phai la iu ang ngac nhin. Tai bui tic cui tun trc, c nghe lom c la anh ch c khng y g n chuyn ln cn. Tinh hinh cn t hn na khi sau o c bt gp anh ang trao i s in thoai vi mt trong s cac ban gai cua c. Di nhin chuyn nay nh la thm du vao la. Sang hm sau, c a khng con gp anh na.)

To break up with someone la chia tay, ct t quan h vi ai; va to quit la ngng.

AGAINST ALL ODDS Against all odds co nghia la bt chp s chng i manh me hay moi iu kin nguy him, bt li. Anh Jim k lai cu chuyn ly ky v mt ngi lang ging cua anh nh sau: I ran into one of my neighbors the other day. Here was a guy who had been in a terrible motorcycle accident. After he suffered serious injuries and fell into a coma, his doctors didnt think hed live. But against all odds, he recovered and is now nearly back to normal. (Hm no ti bt ng gp mt ngi lang ging cua ti. Anh chang nay trc o a bi mt tai nan xe gn may khung khip. Sau khi anh bi thng trm trong va nm hn m bt tinh, cac bac si nghi rng anh se khng sng sot. Th ma bt chp mi s him ngho, anh a hi phuc va by gi anh hu nh a tr lai binh thng.) Injury la vt thng va coma la hn m. Chesley Sully Sullenberger trc y khng phai la cai tn c nhiu ngi bit ti. Tuy nhin, phi cng nay a ni ting sau vu ng p chic may bay xung dong sng Hudson thanh ph New York. Cu chuyn nh sau: Not long after a US Airways flight left New York City on January 15, 2009, it ran into a flock of birds and lost engine power. Captain Sullenberger knew he couldnt make it to an airport. There was one option left. Most of the 155 passengers and crew held out little hope for survival. Yet, against all odds,Sully safely landed the plane on the river below. (It lu sau khi mt chic may bay cua hang hang khng US Airways ri thanh ph New York hm 15 thang ging nm 2009 may bay m phai mt an chim va ng c bi mt in. Phi cng Sullenberger bit rng ng khng th bay ti mt phi trng kp. Chi con mt la chon duy nht. Phn ng s 155hanh khach va phi hanh oan chi co it hy vong sng sot. Tuy nhin, bt chp moi him nguy, ng Sully a ha canh an toan trn dng sng bn di.) Flock la mt an, mt by; option la s la chon, giai phap; va crew la phi hanh oan.

191: alive and kicking, also-ran

ALIVE AND KICKING Trong thnh ng ny, t alive nghia la con sng, cn t kicking (ng t to kick) nghia la a. Thanh ng nay xut x t gii ban ca, quang cao vi khach hang rng ca cua ho rt ti va ang quy manh. Ngay nay, ngi My dung alive and kicking chi mt ngi con sng va rt khoe manh, con tran y sc sng, hay mt cng vic, mt y tng vn con tn tai, thanh cng.

N tai t Betty White hin rt ni ting tai Hoa ky. Mt phong vin Hollywood vit v ba nh sau: Born in 1922, Betty White started in her own TV comedy in the 1950s. She became well-known on game shows, and won several awards for other funny TV roles in the 70s and80s. Betty White hasnt retired. Shes alive and kicking. As an actress, writer, and animal-rights activist, she remains very active and more popular than ever. (N tai t Betty White sinh nm 1922 va khi nghip vi mt chng trnh hai kich truyn hnh ca ring b vo thp nin 1950. Ba ni ting trong cac tro chi trn truyn hinh va nhn c nhiu giai thng nh ong nhng vai hai khac trn truyn hinh trong nhng thp nin 70 va 80 . Ba Betty White cha v hu ma vn khoe manh va hoat ng tich cc. La mt din vin, nh bin kch, mt ngi tranh u bao v quyn ng vt, ba vn hoat ng hng say va c nhiu ngi yu mn hn bao gi ht.) Comedy la hai kich va animal rights la quyn cua ng vt. Trong vai nm qua, nn kinh t My gp it nhiu kho khn. Co ngi e rng nganh cng nghip xe t cua My se khng th tn tai. Tuy nhin, ta hay xem iu gi xay ra cho cng ty Ford: Ford Motor Company came close to bankruptcy only a few years ago. The good news is that the American automaker just reported a profit and expects increased sales in the months ahead. The critics who believed it was finished have been proven wrong. While there are clearly more challenges ahead for Ford, its alive and kicking. (Cch y ch vi nm. cng ty sn xut xe t Ford sut na i n ch pha san . Tin mng la cng ty nay va bo li va d tru se ban thm nhiu xe t trong nhng thang sp ti. Nhng ngi chi trich tng tin rng cng ty nay se ong ca ha ra sai lm. Tuy ro rang la cng ty Ford vn con nhiu th thach pha trc, song cng ty nay ang sng manh va hoat ng tich cc.) Bankruptcy la v n, pha san va challenge la s th thach

ALSO-RAN Also-ran co mt gach ni gia also va ran, ng t to run, nghia la chay hay tham d mt cuc ua. Alsoran c dung nh mt danh t, xut x t nhng con nga chay ua nhng khng thng. Ngay nay alsoran co nghia la mt ngi bi thua sau khi tranh c, hay mt cng ty bi tht bai sau mt cuc canh tranh. Khi ban v nhng cuc tranh c tai Hoa ky, mt phong vin vit nh sau: If you ask many Americans who the last five U.S. Presidents have been, they could probably name them. But despite significant news coverage during those elections, few voters could identify the candidates who were defeated.Then again, the also-rans might prefer not to be remembered.

(Nu ban hoi nhiu ngi My 5 vi tng thng My gn y nht la ai thi co le ho co th nu tn cac vi nay. Tuy nhin, du cho gii truyn thng a tin rt nhiu v nhng cuc tranh c nay, it c tri no co th nu c tn nhng ng vin bi tht bi. Noi cho cung thi nhng ngi tht c nay co le cung khng mun c ngi ta nh tn.) To name la goi tn va to be defeated la bi thua, tht c. Nhiu ngi My rt thich oc sach, nhng cang ngay ho cang bt oc nhng cun sach in ma quay sang dng nhng nhng thit b c sch in t, goi la e-book reader. Mt sinh vin d inh mua mt cun ebook va phn vn khng bit nn chon loai nao: Im looking forward to buying an e-book reader. At first, I was drawn to the company which produced the very first model. Then I became interested in more popular competitors which have developed a wide range of applications. Theyre beginning to make their early rival look like an also-ran. Its share of the market continues to decrease. (Ti mong moi mua mt thit b c e-book. Thoat u, ti bi thu hut bi cng ty san xut kiu mu u tin. Nhng sau o ti chu y n cac cng ty canh tranh khac c a chung hn vi ho co nhiu chng trinh ng dung. Cac cng ty mi nay bt u lam cho i thu u tin cua ho bi thua kem. Thi phn cua cng ty u tin nay tip tuc giam.) Model la kiu mu, m hinh; application la ng dung, va market share la thi phn, ty l hang hoa hay dich vu ma mt cng ty chim c trn thi trng.

192: anyones guess, around the corner

ANYONES GUESS Anyones guess co t guess nghia la oan. Thanh ng nay co nghia la mt iu gi ma khng ai bit chc chn. Mt thanh nin co mt ng chu kha ln tui. Anh noi v hoan canh gia inh cua chu anh nh sau: After 30 years, my uncle had to close his construction company because there wasnt enough business. I really feel badly for him. Hes almost 65 years old and had bills to pay. My aunts poor health doesnt allow her to work anymore. Its anyones guess how hes going to survive. (Sau 30 nm, chu ti phai ong ca cng ty xy dng cua ng vi khng ucng chuyn lm n. Ti cam thy rt bun cho ng. ng a gn 65 tui va co nhiu chi phi phai tra. C ti thi sc khoe km nn khng th lam vic c na. Khng ai bit chc la ng se sng con th nao y.) Construction la xy dng va to survive la sng sot, tn tai.

Tai nhng thanh ph co ng ngi tht nghip, ngi ta trng thy nhiu bt ng san bi bo hoang. Mt c dn nu ln thc mc nh sau: The sports stadium downtown has been abandoned for years. So far, no developers have made any offers to buy it. Whether it will eventually be renovated or torn down or turned into something completely different like a night club or shopping center is anyones guess. At this point, there hasnt been any clue as to what might be its future.

(Sn vn ng trung tm thanh ph a bi bo hoang trong nhiu nm qua. Cho n nay, cha co cng ty khai thac t ai nao nghi mua sn vn ng nay. Khng ai bit chc la liu ri y no se c tu b lai, pha bo, hay bin thanh mt cai gi khac hn nh mt hp m hay mt trung tm mua sm. Vao luc nay khng co du hiu nao cho thy tng lai cua sn vn ng nay se ra sao.) Stadium la sn vn ng; to renovate la sa cha, tu b; va clue la du hiu, u mi

AROUND THE CORNER Around the corner co t corner nghia la cai goc. Thanh ng nay co nghia la sp xay ra, sp n ni. M, l Giang Sinh la thi gian bn rn nht trong nm vi moi ngi phai mua qua tng cho ngi thn. Mt thanh nin cho bit anh thng lam gi mi nm, vao dip nay: Like most Americans, I dont focus on Christmas shopping until December. Thats because Thanksgiving comes on the last Thursday of November. Its only after the big family dinner, the parades and football games are over, that I can start thinking about buying gifts. By then, Christmas is right around thecorner! I cant believe how soon it is.

(Cung ging nh phn ng ngi My, ti khng chu y ti vic mua sm dp l Giang Sinh mi cho n tn thang 12. o la vi L Ta n ri vao ngay th nm cui cung cua thang 11. Chi sau khi ba tic gia inh, nhng bui diu hanh va nhng trn u bong bu duc chm dt ti mi co th bt u nghi n vic mua qua. n luc o thi l Giang Sinh sp ti ni. Ti khng ng lan ti nhanh vy.) Parade la bui diu hanh va football la mn bong bu duc cua My. Mt s tiu bang tai M a bt u xuc tin vic tim kim nhng ngun nng lng mi cho tng lai. Mt phong vin tng thut nh sau: The U.S. has some of the best resources in the world to meet its nations energy needs. Already, California produces 31% of its electricity from hydropower, wind and geothermal technologies. Such development is happening now in a few other states as well. And fortunately, its just around the corner in many others. The future looks bright. (M co mt trong nhng ngun tai nguyn di dao nht trn th gii ap ng nhu cu nng lng

cua nc ny. Tiu bang California hin ang san xut 31% in lc cua minh t thuy in, gio va ia nhit. Mt vai bang khac cung ang phat trin cng ngh nay. Va may thay nhiu bang khac cung sp lam nh vy. Tng lai trng tht ti sang.) Resources la tai nguyn, hydropower la thuy in, va geothermal la ia nhit.

193: at all costs, at face value

AT ALL COST: bng bt c gia nao.

Cac bc cha me My co con chi th thao trng u lo ngai v vic nhiu hun luyn vin mun nhn manh n vic phai thng trong cac cuc tranh tai. Mt phu huynh bay to y kin nh sau: High school coaches used to say that it wasnt whether you won or lost but how you played the game. Today, many of them push their athletes to win at all cost. But doing everything necessary to succeed teaches children the wrong lesson. What they learn on the field has consequences later in life. (Cac hun luyn vin trng trung hoc trc y thng noi rng thng hay thua khng quan trong, ma iu quan trong la thi u nh th nao. Ngay nay, nhiu hun luyn vin lai thuc cac vn ng vin phai thng bng bt c gia nao. Tuy nhin, lam tt ca moi iu cn thit thanh cng la day cho tre con mt bai hoc sai lm. Nhng gi ma cac em hoc c trn sn chi se co hu qua trong i sng cac em sau nay.) Coach la hun luyn vin va consequence la hu qua. Mt trong nhng s thich cua ngi My la su tm nhng ky vt lin quan n cac vi tng thng My. Mt ng cho bit s thich cua ng nh sau: Look in my collection and I have a Christmas card from almost every president in U.S. history. One exception is the 1963 greeting from the Kennedys. After the tragedy of JFKs assassination, however, no cards were sent. Im willing to pay whatever amount to obtain one of only 30 that had been signed. I really want that at all cost. (Hay nhin vao b su tp cua ti. Ti co thip Giang Sinh cua hu ht cac vi tng thng trong lich s Hoa Ky. Mt trng hp ngoai l la thip Giang Sinh nm 1963 cua gia inh Kennedy. Sau tham kich tng thng JFK bi am sat, khng co thip nao c gi i. Ti sn sang tra bao nhiu tin cung c mua mt trong s chi co 30 tm thip a c ky tn. Ti rt mun tm thip nay bng bt c gia nao.) Collection la b su tm va tragedy la tham kich.

AT FACE VALUE: da trn gia tri b ngoai Hin nay, tre con trn khp th gii dng nh say m tro chi video. Nhiu bc cha me to y lo ngai v tinh trang nay sau khi thy ban tng trinh cua mt phong vin nh sau:

At face value, playing video games seems like harmless fun. Yet psychologists recognize that it can be a serious problem. About 8.5% of boys play for more than two hous a day. They often lose interest in other activities and people, gain weight and lose sleep. Their overuse of video games might require professional help. (Nhn bn ngoai thi tng chi cac tro chi in t co ve nh giai tri v hai. Tuy nhin, cac nha tm ly hoc nhn thy rng o co th la mt vn nghim trong. Khoang 8.5% cc em trai chi in t hn hai gi mi ngay. Cac em nay thng khng hng th vi cac hoat ng khac hay ngi khac, lai con ln cn va mt ngu. Co le cac em cn cn c chuyn gia cha bnh chi in t qua .) Psychologist la nha tm ly hoc va to require la cn phi, bt buc. Mi khi co thay i bt ng trong ban quan tri cua mt cng ty thi nhn vin thng co nhiu li ban tan. Mt nhn vin noi: We were shocked when Mrs. Rogers suddenly retired. The new CEO claimed that she had decided to spend more time with her family. But I didnt take that explanation at face value. Before long, we discovered the truth: Mrs. Rogers had been forced out of her position by her successor. (Chung ti ht sc kinh ngac khi ba Rogers bt ng v hu. V tng giam c mi nhm chc ni l ba a quyt inh danh thm thi gi cho gia inh. Nhng ti khng tin vao li giai thich b ngoai nay. Chng bao lu, chung ti kham pha ra s tht: Ba Rogers a bi ngi k nhim ba y ra khoi chc vu nay.) To be shocked la kinh ngac, sng st va to force la ep buc, thuc y.

194: back the wrong horse, baptism by fire

BACK THE WRONG HORSE T back c ngha l ng h. Back the wrong horse co nghia la ung h mt ngi hay mt vt bi thua. Anh James va v mun trang tri lai nha bp cua ho nhng ang phn vn khng bit chon mt thu khoan nh th nao. Co ngi lam tht gioi nhng oi nhiu tin, con co ngi thi oi it hn nhng cng vic khng c bao am. Anh noi: My wife and I want to hire the contractor who is most likely to remodel our kitchen as wed like. We dont want to back the wrong horse. That could lead to unwanted headaches once the project begins. (Hai v chng ti mun thu mt nha thu co nhiu kha nng nht tn trang nha bp theo ung y chung ti. Chung ti khng mun chon lm ngi, vi nh th se co th khin chng ti phi nhc u ngoi mun mt khi cng vic bt u.)

Contractor la nha thu va headache la nhc u. Mt cu sinh vin mt trng ai hoc danh ting My rt hanh din v thanh tich th thao cua trng anh. Anh cho rng o la nh vao cng lao cua hun luyn vin Carpenter. Anh noi : Over his long career, Coach Carpenter recruited hundreds of football players for our university. Most of his picks went on to become champions who helped their team win trophies year after year. Its a mystery how he made his decisions. Yet the fact remains that he rarely backed the wrong horse. (Trong sut s nghip lu dai cua ng, hun luyn vin Carpenter a tuyn m hang trm cu thu bong bu duc cho trng ai hoc chung ti. Phn ng nhng cu thu c chon v sau tr thanh v ich giup i bng cua hoginh cp ht nm nay n nm khac. Khng ai bit c ng quyt inh nh th no. Song s tht la ng it khi chon lm ngi.) To recruit la tuyn m, to pick la chon va mystery la iu bi n

BAPTISM OF FIRE Baptism c ngha l l ra ti n mt ngi vo Gio hi Cng gio. Thnh ng baptism by fire co nghia la ln chin u gay go u tin hay cuc th la u tin. Cac bac si My thng phai trai qua mt thi gian hun luyn lu dai va kho khn. Mt bac si noi v kinh nghim cua ng nh sau: After I graduated medical school, I worked as an intern in an emergency room. Nothing Id learned in school prepared me. Every day I confronted a constant series of challenges that tested everything Id ever studied. The little sleep I had to function on also contributed to this being the greatest test of my life. What a baptism by fire! (Sau khi tt nghip trng y khoa, ti thc tp tai mt phong cp cu. Khng co gi ma ti hoc trng lai co th chun bi cho cng vic o. Mi ngay ti lin tuc ng u vi nhng thach thc th thch tt ca nhng gi ma ti a hoc. Thi gian ngu rt it cung khin cng vic nay tr thanh th thach ln nht trong i ti. Tht la mt cuc th la nhc nhn!) Intern la bac si thc tp ni tru; to confront la giap mt, ng u; va to function la lam vic, hoat ng. iu khin mt cng ty la iu khng d dang. Nhng ta hay tng tng phai iu khin mt nc ln nh nc My, nht la khi nhim vu nay bt ng c trao cho mt ngi. Mt s gia giai thich iu gi a xay ra vao mt luc kho khn cua nc My: One of the most respected presidents was Franklin D. Roosevelt. When he died abruptly, Vice-President Harry Truman had to assume responsibility for ending WORLD WAR II. That meant one of the hardest decisions in U.S. history: to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. It was a baptism by fire.

(Mt trong cac vi tng thng c quy trong nht la tng thng Franklin D. Roosevelt. Khi ng t ngt qua i, pho tng thng Harry Truman a phai ganh vac trong trach chm dt cuc th chin th hai. o la mt trong cac quyt inh kho khn nht trong lich s Hoa ky: tha qua bom nguyn t xung Nht Ban. o la mt cuc th la cam go i vi tng thng Truman.) To assume la am nhn, ganh vac va decision la quyt inh.

195: on the back burner, bare one's soul

ON THE BACK BURNER Back burner nghia la mt b phn cua lo t ng sau, it c s dung. On the back burner xut x t lnh vc nu n. Khi mt anh bp nu nhiu mon thi anh thng t nhng mon khng cn gp vao lo t phia sau. Vi th on the back burner co nghia la mt vic bi gac sang mt bn ri se giai quyt sau vi no khng quan trong hay cp bach. Ngc lai, nu la mt vic cp bach cn giai quyt ngay thi ngi My noi on the front burner. Mt ng noi v vic ngi chau cua ng bt ng phai huy bo mt chng trinh giai tri nh sau: My poor nephew was so looking forward to going camping with his buddies. Then his boss came into his office to explain an urgent project that would require his attention. You can guess what happened to his outing: his camping trip ended up on the back burner.

(Ngi chau ti nghip cua ti a ht sc mong moi i cm trai vi my ngi ban cua no. Nhng ri ng sp cua chau vao vn phong chau giai thich v mt d an khn cp ma chau phai am trach. Ban co th oan la iu gi a xay ra cho d inh i cm trai cua chau. Chuyn i nay cui cung nh phi gac sang mt bn.) Buddy la ban va urgent la khn cp, cp bach. Mt ng chng co ba v rt am ang, thich lam nhiu vic cung mt luc. ng noi: My wifes quite ambitious. After her unexpected pregnancy, family and friends assumed shed delay working towards her PhD. But her studies wont be on the back burner. Shes decided to take classes next semester and take care of the baby after hes born. (Nha ti la ngi co nhiu tham vong. Sau khi nha ti bt ng co thai, gia inh va ban be cho rng nha ti se hoan vic hoc ly bng tin si. Nhng nha ti se khng gac vic hoc sang mt bn, vi nha ti a quyt inh ghi tn hoc lp mi vao hoc ky ti va ng thi chm soc a be sau khi sinh.) Ambitious la co nhiu hoai bao, tham vong; pregnancy la s mang thai; vaPhD l t vit tt cua Doctor of

Philosophy, ngha la tin si.

BARE ONES SOUL Bare c ngha l phi by v soul ngha l linh hn. Thanh ng nay co nghia la bc l tm tinh, nhng tinh cam su kin nht cua minh. Sau khi ung vai ly ru, con ngi thng co nhng phan ng khac nhau, nh bun, vui, gin d. Mt ng noi v kinh nghim cua ng nh sau: I met a woman at a party not long ago who obviously had one too many cocktails. Why she felt the need to tell me, a complete stranger, every detail about the pain shed experienced in her dealings with men, Im not sure. She bared her soul to me. I hope her luck changes in the future. (Cach y khng lu, ti gp mt phu n tai mt bui tic. Ro rang la ba y ung qua nhiu ru. Ti khng bit chc tai sao ba y lai cam thy cn phai k t m vi ti, mt ngi hoan toan xa la, v ni au kh ma ba phai chiu trong nhng mi quan h vi an ng. Ba a gii by tm tinh vi ti. Ti hy vong vn may ca b s thay i trong tng lai.) Detail la chi tit, iu ti mi va pain la s au n, kh s Mt s ngi My thich vit v ni tm cua ho noi ln nhng kinh nghim trong i ma ho a trai qua. Mt sinh vin cho bit anh a oc c mt quyn sach v tai nay: Ive been captivated by a book a friend lent to me. Its a compilation of seventy-five short essays representing the philosophies of a wide variety of Americans, from famous thinkers to popular athletes and entertainers to ordinary folks. A typical essayist bares his soul, providing a humbling example of forgiveness, integrity, courage or honor. (Ti say m mt cun sach ma ban ti cho mn. o la mt tuyn tp gm bay mi lm bai tiu lun ngn trinh bay trit ly sng cua nhiu ngi My khac nhau, t cac nha t tng ni ting n cac vn ng vin, din vin gii tr, cho ti nhng ngi bnh thng. Mt nha vit tiu lun in hinh la ngi th l tm tinh cua ho, cho thy mt tm gng khim tn v s tha th, tinh chinh trc, long can am hay danh d.) To captivate la say m, quyn ru; to compile la su tp; va essayist la nha vit tiu lun.

196: be all and end all, bear the brunt

BE ALL AND END ALL Ngi My dung be all and end all chi iu quan trong nht, tt nht, khng co gi co th sanh bng.

Anh David co mt c ban va tim c mt cng vic mi tai mt cng ty ma c rt thich. Anh cho bit:

My friend says that its been rated as one of the best companies to work for. It offers top salaries, and generous benefits including on-site healthcare, childcare, a well-equipped gym, free lunches....Where my friend is going to be working strikes me as being the be all and end all. She couldnt hope for a better job situation. (C ban ti noi rng o la mt trong nhng cng ty c nh gi l tt nht. Cng ty nay tra lng cao va cho nhiu phc li rng rai k ca chm soc sc khoe ngay tai ch, chm soc tre con, mt phong tp th duc vi y u dung cu, n tra min phi, v.v. Ti thy ch ban ti sp i lam la qu l ch tt nht. C khng th mong co mt vic tt hn th na.)

To rate la anh gia va gym la phong tp th duc.

Co bao gi quy vi tham gia mt cuc chay ua maratng cha, hay mt cuc thi th thao ba mn phi hp? Mt phong vin th thao noi v mt trong nhng cuc thi tai kho khn nht trn th gii nh sau:

The Ironman Triathlon consists of nearly 4 kilometers of swimming , 180 kilometers of biking and 42 kilometers of marathon. And it must be raced in that order without a break within 17 hours. Most athletes consider it the be all and end all of sports competitions. They dont know of any event thats tougher. (Cuc thi th thao ba mn phi hp tn Ironman gm co bi 4 kilomet, p xe ap 180 kilomet, va chay maratng 42 kilomet. Va cuc ua nay phai c hoan thanh theo th t o ma khng c nghi gii lao trong 17 ting ng h. Phn ng cac vn ng vin coi cuc ua nay la kho khn nht trong tt ca cac cuc ua. Ho khng bit co cuc ua nao kho khn hn na.)

To race la tranh ua va break la nghi gii lao

BEAR THE BRUNT Bear the brunt co ng t to bear c ngha l tip nhn, chu ng v brunt nghia la s va cham manh. Thanh ng nay co nghia la chiu ng hoan canh ti t nht.

Trong thi du sau y, mt s nhn vin bu in a co mt quyt inh khin ho bi nhiu ngi phan i. Mt phong vin tng thut nh sau:

The postal workers were fed up with low wages and increased hours. Thats what led to the strike. However their protest didnt get much sympathy from citizens. Every day that they chose not to deliver the mail, they heard more and louder complaints. They had to bear the brunt of the publics anger.

(Nhn vin bu in a chan ngy tinh trang lng bng kem ma phai lam thm gi. Vi th ho a inh cng. Tuy nhin, ho khng c dn chung thng cam. Mi ngay ho quyt inh khng giao th t, ho cang nghe co nhiu li than phin gay gt hn. Ho a phai gnh chiu ni tc gin cua dn chung.)

To be fed up la chan ngy, strike la cuc inh cng, va sympathy la s thng cam, ng tinh.

Nhiu ngi My vn con nhc n trn bao tuyt d di xay ra tai min ng nc My nm 2010. Mt c dn k lai nh sau:

The winter of 2010 will be remembered for terrible weather. A February blizzard buried several states in the mid-Atlantic region under almost 1 meter of snow. Three days later, a second masive snowstorm dumped another 2 decimeters. Washington D.C. was among the cities that bore the brunt. It was paralyzed, suffering the snowiest winter in its history. (Moi ngi se cn nh mua ng nm 2010 vi thi tit qua t hai. Mt trn bao trong thang 2 a chn vui nhiu tiu bang doc b bin min trung ai Ty Dng di gn mt met tuyt. Ba ngay sau o mt trn bao tuyt th nhi thm hai decimet tuyt. Thu Washington l mt trong nhng thanh ph chiu ng thin tai t hai nay. Thanh ph nay bi t lit vi mua ng nhiu tuyt nht trong lich s thanh ph.)

Blizzard la trn bao tuyt va to dump la xung.

197: beat ones head against the wall; beg, borrow or (and) steal
BEAT ONES HEAD AGAINST THE WALL ng t to beat nghia la anh p. Beat ones head against the wall nghia en la p u vao tng, tc la phi thi gi c lam mt vic gi nhng khng thanh cng. Mt c gai gp trc tr trong ng tinh ai. Em trai c cho bit chi tit nh sau: My sister hasnt had much luck with relationships lately. She dated a guy for a couple of months, but he broke up with her and got back together with his old girlfriend. My sister couldnt get over it. She spent weeks thinking about what she could have done differently. Why bother? I hated seeing her beating her head against the wall.

(Do gn y chi ti khng c may mn trong chuyn tnh yu. Chi hen ho vi anh ny c vai thang th anh ny chia tay vi chi ri quay tr lai vi ban gai cu. Chi khng th nao qun c chuyn nay. My tun lin chi c nghi v vic l ra chi co th lam iu gi khac i. Sao lai t lam kh minh? Ti ghtthy chi c m n xi nh vy.) Relationship la mi quan h; to break up la chia tay va to get over la khc phuc, vt qua.

Nhng ni tht vong i khi lai co th a n thanh cng bt ng, nh tng thut sau y cua mt phong vin khoa hoc: History is filled with examples of inventors who were beating their heads against the wall. Like the pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia who was frustrated when he couldnt find a cure for a headache. Then he created something accidentally that made him world-famous: Coca-Cola.

(Lich s y nhng tm gng v nhng nha phat minh tn nhiu thi gi tim cach khc phuc nhng vn nan giai. Chng han nh ng dc si thanh ph Atlanta, tiu bang Georgia. ng rt nan long khi khng tim c cach cha bnh nhc u. Nhng ng lai tinh c ch tao ra c mt th khin ng ni ting khp th gii. o la nc ngot Coca-Cola.) Inventor la nha phat minh, frustrated la nan long, nan chi va cure la cach cha bnh, phng thuc

BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL Beg, borrow, or steal co ng t to beg l van xin, to borrow la vay mn, va to steal la n cp, n trm. Thanh ng nay co nghia la lam bt c cai gi co th lam c at c iu minh mong mun. i khi con ngi khng th thay i nhng gi xay n trong cuc i minh. Mt thanh nin noi v hoan canh kho khn cua em gai anh nh sau: My sisters about to have a baby and her husband is stationed with the U.S. Army overseas. He desperately wants to be with his wife when she has her baby. Hed beg, borrow, or steal to do that. Unfortunately theres no chance of him being here when his wife delivers because his military duty requires him to be out of the country right now. Isnt that tragic?

(Em ti sp c con, con chng em thi ang cng Qun i My ng nc ngoai. Anh y tha thit mun bn canh v khi sinh con. Anh se lam tt ca nhng gi co th lam c thc hin c iu nay. Tic thay khng ti no m anh c th bn cnh em khi em sinh con vi bn phn cua anh trong qun i buc anh phai ngoai quc vao luc nay. Tht kh thay!) To station la ong qun, to deliver a baby la sinh con, va tragic la bun tham, tham thng . Co bao nhiu ngi trong s quy vi bi kho ngu? Trong thi du sau y, mt phong vin khoa hoc chi cho chung ta mt vai phng cach cha bnh nay: Many people have trouble getting a good nights sleep. But they dont have to beg, borrow, or steal to get it. They only need to keep a regular sleeping schedule, make sure the bedroom is dark, quiet and cool, and avoid alcohol and caffeine at night. Thats how theyll be able to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed.

(Co nhiu ngi bi chng kho ngu nhng ho khng cn phai lam mi th co th lam c ngu ngon. Ho chi cn ngu ung gi, gi cho phong ngu c ti, yn tnh va mat me, va tranh ung ru hay dung cht caffeine vao bui ti. Lam nh vy thi sang dy ho se cam thy ti tinh.) Regular la u n va to wake up la thc dy.

198: behind the scenes, big fish in a small pond

BEHIND THE SCENES Behind the scenes co mt t mi la scene nghia la phng canh trn sn khu. Thanh ng nay nghia bong la hu trng, bi mt, khng ai bit n. Cac phu huynh hoc sinh tai mt trng trung hoc My to y ngac nhin khi thy hun luyn vin bong r cua trng sp bi sa thai. Mt thy giao o giai thich ly do: Whenever players on the team were interviewed, they expressed their admiration and support for Coach Green. Behind the scenes however, they complained bitterly about his lack of experience. Soon enough, their dislike of him became well-known. Thats when fans called for the Coach to resign.

(Mi khi cac cu thu trong i bong r c phong vn, ho u to lngngng m va ng h hun luyn vin Green. Tuy nhin, hu trng ho than phin gay gt v vic ng Green thiu kinh nghim. Chng my chc moi ngi u bit rng cac cu thu khng thich ng y. o la luc gii hm m ku goi ng t chc.) Admiration la s khm phuc, ngng m; bitterly la gay gt va fan la ngi hm m. WikiLeaks la mt t chc quc t chuyn tit l nhng tin tc bi mt t cac ngun tin c gi kin. Liu t chc nay co c moi ngi ung h hay khng? WikiLeaks release of several pages of sensitive e-mails from U.S. diplomats caused a lot of concern. Many in the government claim that such communications should remain private. If the public learns what goes onbehind the scenes, they warn that it could harm national security and international relations.

(Vic t chc WikiLeaks ph bin nhiu trang in th bi mt cua cac nha ngoai giao My a khin nhiu ngi lo ngai. Nhiu ngi trong chinh phu cho rng nhng thng tin nh vy cn phai c gi kin. Ho canh bao rng nu dn chung bit c nhng gi din ra hu trng thi iu nay co th gy phng hai cho nn an ninh quc gia va cac quan h quc t.) To release la tit l, ng tai; concern la s lo ngai va to harm la lam hai.

BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND

Big fish in a small pond co t la pond nghia la ci ao. Thanh ng nay co nghia la mt con ca ln trong mt cai ao nho, tc la mt nhn vt quan trong va co anh hng trong mt cng ng nho hay pham vi hep. Tania la mt hoc sinh rt gioi trong trng trung hoc cua c. Thy giao c noi v kinh nghim cua c khi hoc ai hoc nh sau: Of the 60 students in her graduating class, Tania ranked number one. She received many honors, including a scholarship to one of the top universities in the country. Once there, Tania found it difficult adjusting to classmates who were as talented as she was. Thats because she had been used to being abig fish in a small pond.

(Tania ng u trong s 60 hoc sinh tt nghip trung hoc. C nhn c nhiu bng danh d, gm ca mt hoc bng theo hoc tai mt trong cac trng ai hoc hang u trong nc. Mt khi vao ai hoc, c Tania thy kho thich ng vi cac ban cung lp vi ho cung gioi nh c. o la vi trc y c a quen ng hang nht trong trng trung hoc nho be cua mnh.) Honor la bng danh d, scholarship la hoc bng va to adjust la thich ng Thi du sau y la v hai v chng ng Kim, chuyn vin ia c. Everyone at our real estate office knows the Kims. Theyve been successful sellers at the firm for several years. They could easily join a much larger staff at a more prestigious office. But then theyd no longer be big fish in a small pond. And that wouldnt interest them.

(Moi ngi tai vn phong ia c cua chung ti u bit ng ba Kim. Ho rt thanh cng trong vic ban nha ca t nhiu nm qua. Ho co th d dang gia nhp mt hang co thanh th hn vi nhiu nhn vin hn. Nhng nu lam nh vy thi ho se khng cn l s 1 na. Va ho khng thich iu .) Real estate la nha ca, tai san, ia c va prestigious la co uy tin, thanh th.

199: a black hole, beside oneself

A BLACK HOLE Black hole co t la hole nghia la l thung hay l trng. Thanh ng nay xut x t nganh thin vn hoc khi noi n mt vung trong khng gian co mt sc hut manh n ni bt c mt vt gi, ngay ca anh sang, cung khng th thoat ra ngoai c. Black hole ngay nay c dung chi mt ni ln xn, rc ri khin ngi ta khng tim c iu ho mong mun. Mt ng b than phin v s ba bai trong phong ngu cua con trai ng nh sau: I dont ever expect to get the book back that I lent to my son. He says its somewhere in his bedroom. That means its among the countless piles of stuff scattered across his desk, furniture and floor. Whatever goes in

there disappears. The place is nothing but a black hole.

(Ti khng bao gi mong ly lai c cun sach ma ti cho con ti mn. No noi cun sach o nm u o trong phong ngu cua no. Nh th co nghia la cun sach nm trong hang ng ac vt ba bai trn ban vit, ging gh va san nha. Bt c cai gi i vao phong nay cung u bin mt. Ca phong ngu cua no ht nh ci l en v tr vy.) To lend la cho vay, cho mn; stuff la ac; va to disappear la bin mt. Khi u t vao mt d an nao ngi ta cn tinh xem liu s u t o co li hay khng. Mt thanh nin noi v kinh nghim cua anh khi giup bac gai anh nh sau: Not long ago, I offered what I thought was sound business advice to my aunt, but she didnt listen. Shes opening a new restaurant and wanted to generate clients. So she decided to place an ad in a major newspaper here in Washington. Just doing that is rather ineffective, I told her. Its equivalent to throwing money into a black hole. She needs a much more comprehensive campaign involving lots of different media.

(Cach y it lu ti chi dn bac ti v cach lam n ma ti cho la hp ly, nhng ba y khng nghe. Bac ang m mt tim n va mun co khach hang. Vi th bac quyt inh ng quang cao trn mt t bao ln thu Washington nay. Ti noi vi bac rng chi lam nh th thi thi khng co hiu qua. o cung ging nh vt tin vao khoang trng khng. Bac cn phai co mt k hoach ton din hn, s dung nhiu phng tin khac nhau.) Sound la vng chc, hp ly; to generate la nay sinh, to ra; va ineffectivela v hiu.

BESIDE ONESELF Beside oneself la khng t kim ch c, khng t chu c, quynh ln vi s hai, lo lng, gin d, vui mng, v.v. Co bao gi quy vi mua ve s cha? Quy vi hay tng tng se cam thy nh th nao khi bit minh trung s c c tri gia nhiu triu la. Mt i v chng cho bit phan ng cua ho nh sau: Hearing that we had just won the lottery was so overwhelming. We werebeside ourselves. Just think: wed become millionaires. Now we could pay off our mortgage and put our kids through college. And there would be enough money left to travel around the world.

(Hay tin mnh trung s lm chng ti xc ng nghn li. Chung ti khng kim ch c na. C nghi xem: chung ti s tr thanh triu phu. Gi y chung ti co th tra ht tin n mua nha, va trang tri hoc phi ai hoc cho cac con. S tin d cn li cng i vong quanh th gii.) Lottery la cuc x s, to overwhelm la lm xc ng n mc khng bit phn ng th no,

va mortgage la tin th chp. Nhiu khi ngi ta mt t chu vi hoang ht, s hai, nh quy vi nghe trong thi du sau y: One of my neighbors was driving home the other night. It was raining really hard. Just as he was turning into his driveway, he accidentally hit a kid who was running along the sidewalk. You can imagine that he was beside himselfwith grief for not seeing him. Fortunately, the kid only sustained a few bumps and bruises.

(Hm no mt ngi lang ging cua ti lai xe t v nha khi tri ang ma rt ln. Ngay khi ng va re vao li u xe thi v tinh ung phai mt cu be ang chay doc l ng. Ban co th hinh dung la ng ta dn vt kh tm n mc nao vi khng nhin thy cu be ri y. May thay cu be chi bi mt vai cuc u va vt bm.) Grief la bun kh, bump la sng u, va bruise la vt bm.

200: the blind leading the blind, blow by blow

THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND Trong thnh ng ny, the blind c ngha l ngi m v ng t to lead nghia la dn dt. Thanh ng nay co nghia la ngi mu dn dt ngi mu, tc la ngi khng u kinh nghim hay kin thc ma dam chi dn ngi khac lam theo minh. Mt ng b to ra ngn ngai, khng mun giup hun luyn vin i bong a cua con ng va cho bit ly do: When my sons coach called me about substituting for him at this weekends soccer practice, I had to turn him down. Sure, I had watched him a few times work with the kids. But I didnt know enough about the game to train or teach them the skills they needed. That would have been the blind leading the blind!

Khi ng lun luyn vin cua con ti goi ti nh ti thay ng chi dn cho i bong a vao cui tun nay, ti a phai t chi. Di nhin la ti a tng xem ng hun luyn cac em vai ln. Nhng ti khng bit u v bong a hun luyn hay day cac em nhng k nng ma cac em cn, vi lam nh th thi cung ging nh ngi mu dn dt ngi mu vy! To substitute la thay th va practice tp luyn. Mt thanh nin cung ban be mi y d mt chuyn du hanh. Tuy nhin, anh khng hai long vi chuyn i nay va cho bit ly do: My friends and I were promised an experienced guide on our trip to Alaska. Instead, we ended up with someone who didnt know the area any more than we did. She even got us lost. It was the blind leading the blind! Now we want our money back from the tour company.

Ti va cac ban c ha la se co mt hng dn vin kinh nghim trong chuyn du hanh i thm tiu bang Alaska. Thay vao o, chung ti lai c mt c hng dn vin cung khng bit gi v vung nay hn chung ti. C y con dn chung ti i lac na. Tht la ngi mu dn ngi mu! By gi chung ti mun cng ty du lich tra lai tin cho chung ti. Experience la kinh nghim va to get lost la i lac.

BLOW BY BLOW Blow c ngha l c nh. Blow by blow ngha l din ta ti mi tng chi tit mt nhng gi ang xay ra. Thanh ng nay xut x t gii u quyn Anh, khi phong vin th thao tng thut tng cu m cua hai vo si ang u vi nhau trn ai. Cac ngi sao in anh My la nhng ngi thng c gii truyn thng theo doi tng chi tit v i sng ring t cua ho. Mt phong vin vit v hai ngi sao sang la Debbie va Charles nh sau: Whats happened to one of Hollywoods hottest couples? First, Debbie learned that Charles had a serious gambling problem. There was a huge fight. A couple months later, Debbie threw all of his belongings into the street. He moved out, and then asked for a divorce. Thats the blow by blow so far. Stay tuned for further details.

iu gi a xay ra cho mt trong cac cp v chng ni ting nht tai Hollywood? Thoat tin, c Debbie bit c rng anh Charles nghin anh bac. Hai ngi cai va nhau d di. Vai thang sau c Debbie vt ht ac cua anh ra ng. Anh ben don ra ri xin ly di. o la tin tc ti mi vao luc nay. Xin tip tuc theo doi bit thm chi tit. To gamble la anh bac va to stay tuned la tip tuc theo doi mt tin hay mt cu chuyn Thanh ng blow by blow con c dung nh mt tinh t, nh trong cu chuyn ma mt nhn chng k lai mt vu cp ngn hang ma ng trng thy. I was waiting outside the bank. And through the window, I saw the robber approach the teller, pull out a gun, and demand that she hand over all the money from her drawer. Then he shot a guard before running out the side door. Since I saw it all happen, it was easy for me to give the police a blow-by-blow description. Ti ang ng i bn ngoai ngn hang. Nhin qua ca s, ti trng thy tn cp n gn c nhn vin giao dch, rut sung ra va oi c phai trao ht tin trong ngn keo cho hn. Sau o hn bn mt ngi bao v trc khi chay ra ca bn hng ngn hang. Vi ti trng thy moi chuyn xay ra nn tht d cho ti ta t m li tng chi tit cho canh sat bit. Robber la ke cp va drawer la ngn keo.