SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO SÓC TRĂNG

TRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN NGUYỄN THỊ MINH KHAI

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TÀI LIỆU BỒI DƯỠNG HỌC SINH GIỎI

Chọn đội tuyển thi cấp quốc gia

Chuyên đề: IDIOMS

(Session 3 & 4)

Giáo viên: ThS. Lâm Hải Khanh

Idioms database
-----------------------------------------------
a drop in the ocean a very small amount that will not have much effect:
The cost of a hotel for one night is a drop in the ocean for a big company like that.

a home from home a place where you feel as relaxed as you do in your own home:
Everyone knows me at this hotel so it’s a real home from home.

a leopard can’t change its spots used for saying that someone will never change their
behaviour or character:
Jimmy says he's changed, but a leopard can't change its spots, you know.

a sight for sore eyes someone or something that you are very pleased to see:
You're a sight for sore eyes! Thank goodness you're here!

a stitch in time (saves nine) used for saying that it is better to solve a problem now,
rather than leave it until later when it may be more difficult to deal with:
If there’s a problem with your car, it’s better to get it looked at now. You know what they
say: ‘a stitch in time ...'.

a stone’s throw (away/from) very close (to):

Where we live is only a stone’s throw from the park.

Achilles’ heel a weak feature of someone or something that could cause failure or be
attacked:
She’s an extremely talented politician, but her Achilles’ heel may be her inability to
prioritise.

add fuel to the fire make a bad situation worse: Your refusing to discuss this with Colin
is just adding fuel to the fire, in my opinion.

all in good time used for telling someone to wait for something and not try to make you
hurry:
You'll get the report when it’s finished. All in good time!

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all mod cons all modern conveniences, the machines and pieces of equipment in your
house that make life easy and comfortable:
I'd quite like to move to a place that has all mod cons.

an act of God an event such as a flood, lightning or an earthquake that is produced by

natural forces, and that people have no control over:
The insurance doesn't cover acts of God.

as the crow flies in a straight line (used for measuring distance):

It’s about 200 miles as the crow flies.

at a loose end with nothing in particular to do:

If you're at a loose end this weekend, why don't we get together?

at the drop of a hat immediately or in a way that shows that you have no doubts about
doing something:
Let me know if you need help and I'll be there at the drop of a hat!

be born with a silver spoon in your mouth have advantages because you come from
a rich family:
I’ve always had to work hard because I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

be on the same wavelength understand the way another person thinks because you
often have the same ideas and opinions they do:
It was a difficult meeting because David and I didn't seem to be on the same wavelength.

before your time used for saying that something happened or existed before you were
born or before you lived or worked somewhere:
When I was a girl, we didn’t have mobile phones. That was before your time, of course.

below/under par below the usual or expected standard:

Your essays have been a bit below par recently. Is anything wrong?

big mouth used as a criticism of someone when they say things they should not:
Don’t tell Jamie anything you want to remain secret - he’s got a big mouth!

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blot on the landscape something that makes a place look less attractive, for example
an ugly building:
Many people in the town think that the old factory is a blot on the landscape.

break even if a person or business breaks even, they neither make a profit nor lose
money:
We didn't make a profit last year, but we did break even.

break the mould change a situation by doing something that is very different from
what most people usually do or have done in the past:
I thought her last movie really broke the mould.

bury your head in the sand ignore a problem or an unpleasant situation and hope
that it will disappear:
We shouldn't just bury our heads in the sand and hope that this problem goes away.

change your tune change your opinion or attitude:

Tom often criticised Nadia until he met her, but now he’s changed his tune.

clean as a whistle completely honest or legal:

I'm not worried about the tax inspection. This company's accounts are clean as a
whistle.

clean as a whistle extremely clean:

My mum’s coming to visit tomorrow so I want the house to be as clean as a whistle
when she gets here.

come clean (about sth) tell the truth about something that you have kept secret:
You'd better come clean and tell Mum it was you who broke the flowerpot.

come rain or shine used for saying that something always happens or someone
always does something despite bad weather or difficult conditions:
I’m determined to finish building the house by the end of the month, come rain or
shine.

4
commuter belt area surrounding a large city where many people who work in that
city live:
Towns in the commuter belt often seem to lack character.

concrete jungle unpleasant part of a city where there are a lot of ugly buildings close
together:
Where we used to live was a bit of a concrete jungle.

couch potato someone who spends a lot of time sitting at home watching television:
I've become a bit of a couch potato since I stopped playing football.

cry over spilt milk waste time feeling upset about something bad that has happened
and cannot be changed:
I know your CD player's broken, but there’s no point crying over spilt milk, is there?

do sth on a whim do because of a sudden feeling that you must have or do something:
Wendy decided on a whim to redecorate the whole house.

down on your luck having a long period of difficulty finding work and earning
money:
The man was obviously down on his luck, so I gave him a little money.

draw the line (at) say that you will definitely not allow or accept something:
I don't mind you asking if you can borrow some money, but I draw the line at you
taking it out of my purse without asking first.

draw the short straw be chosen to do something unpleasant:

Somebody has to stay home to look after the dog, and I'm afraid you’ve drawn the
short straw.

fall short not reach a particular level or to fail to achieve something you were trying
to do:
We tried to raise 1,000 euros for charity, but we fell short by about 50 euros.

fifty-fifty equal, or into two equal parts:

We split the cost of the meal fifty-fifty.

5
fly off the handle suddenly become extremely angry without a good reason:
Whatever she says, don't fly off the handle. Stay calm!

follow your nose do what you feel is right in a particular situation, although you are
not certain:
The detective had learned to follow his nose in situations like this.

follow your nose go straight forward, without turning:

Once you go past the traffic lights, just follow your nose.

for good permanently, without the possibility of change in the future:

Have Don and Jenny split up for good, do you think, or is it only temporary?

for the time being for now:

I'm staying in rented accommodation for the time being, but hope to buy a place early
next year.

from time to time sometimes, but not often:

We see Brian from time to time, but not regularly.

gain/get/have/take the upper hand gain/get/have/ take control or advantage over a

person or situation:
It looked like Ivor was going to win the game, but I soon got the upper hand.

get on like a house on fire become good friends very quickly and have a lot to talk to
each other about:
George and Isabelle seem to be getting on like a house on fire, don't they?

get sth off your chest talk to someone about something that has been worrying you,
so that you feel better about it:
It feels such a relief to have got this off my chest.

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get the wrong end of the stick understand something completely wrongly:
Don said he was going to France and I got the wrong end of the stick and thought he
was moving there for ever.

get/catch sb’s drift understand the basic meaning:

Doreen and I have been having some problems recently, if you catch my drift.

get/have your way be allowed to have or do what you want:

If I had my way, I would stay at home this summer.

give sb a taste/dose of their own medicine treat someone in the same bad way they
treat other people:
He got me into trouble, so I'm going to give him a taste of his own medicine!

give sb your word promise to do something:

I give you my word I won't tell anyone.

give sth a miss decide not to do something that you usually do:
I think I'll give the office party a miss this year.

go halves share the cost of something with someone so that you each pay 50%:
Let’s go halves on the meal, shall we?

go to your head if success goes to your head, it makes you think that you are better or
more important than you really are:
I hope getting that scholarship doesn't go to Carol's head.

grin and bear it accept a difficult situation without complaining or showing how you
feel:
An author just has to grin and bear it when a book gets a bad review.

have a change of heart change your opinion about something or decide not to do
something you were planning to do:
William's had a change of heart and decided not to go to university after all.

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have green fingers be good at growing plants:
My wife’s always had green fingers, whereas I don't know anything about growing
plants.

have time on your hands have more time available than you need:
Julie has a lot more time on her hands now that her children have all left home.

have your wits about you be able to think quickly and make sensible decisions:
You’ve got to have your wits about you when dealing with pushy salespeople.

(hear sth) on/through the grapevine the way in which information spreads quickly
from one person to another through conversation:
I heard through the grapevine you might be getting married soon.

home sweet home used for saying that you are happy to be back in your own home:
It was a good trip, but there’s nothing like home sweet home.

in/for donkey’s years an extremely long time:

I haven't been swimming in donkey's years.

in sb’s bad/good books used for saying that someone is annoyed/pleased with you:
I don't think I'm in Mrs Patterson's good books at the moment.

in the dark (about) not knowing very much about something, because other people are
keeping it secret from you:
The Prime Minister kept even his closest colleagues in the dark about when he would
call a general election.

in the middle of nowhere a long way from any town or city:

The car broke down and we realised we were in the middle of nowhere.

in the nick of time just in time to prevent something bad happening:

The swimmers were rescued in the nick of time.

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in the sticks in an area far from the town or city:
I don’t think I could live so far out in the sticks.

it’s as broad as it’s long used for saying that you cannot choose between two things or
actions because they are equal:
It’s as broad as it's long whether we get there on Saturday night or on Sunday morning.

keep a straight face remain serious and not laugh:

I couldn't keep a straight face when I saw Mike’s new haircut.

keep sb posted regularly give someone information about something they are interested
in, for example how a situation is changing or developing:
Do please keep me posted about any developments.

keep sth under your hat keep something secret:

Keep it under your hat, but we’re thinking of buying a new house.

keep up with the Joneses try to be as rich, successful, etc as your neighbours:
I don’t need a new car, and I'm really not interested in keeping up with the Joneses.

keep your hair on used for telling someone not to get angry or upset:
Keep your hair on! There’s no need to get annoyed!

kick yourself be very annoyed because you have made a mistake, missed an
opportunity, etc:
I could have kicked myself when I realised I'd left my wallet in the restaurant.

knee-high to a grasshopper very small, because you were very young:

When I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I used to believe that a monster lived under
my bed.

know sth inside out be very familiar with:

Maria's been in the business for years and she knows advertising inside out.

know what’s what know the important facts about a situation:

Ask Tony about the proposed changes. He knows what’s what.

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last word in the newest and best type of something:
The ZD-2000 is the last word in mobile phones.

lay/put your cards on the table tell people exactly what you are thinking or what you
are intending to do:
I'm going to lay my cards on the table and offer you an extra £1,000. But that’s my
final offer!

let nature take its course allow something to develop without trying to influence it:
I'm sure sales will improve if we just let nature take its course.

let off steam shout or do something that allows you to get rid of anger:
I was so annoyed I had to go for a long walk to let off steam.

let sleeping dogs lie leave a person or situation alone if they might cause you trouble:
I know you think your parents are being unfair, but it's probably best to let sleeping
dogs lie and not make it worse by arguing.

let your hair down relax and enjoy yourself because you are in a comfortable
environment:
It’s good to let your hair down after a hard week at work.

life and soul of the party someone who is very lively at social events:
Harry's so much fun and everyone says he’s the life and soul of the party.

like two peas in a pod used for saying that two people look, behave or think exactly
the same:
Irene and her sister are like two peas in a pod.

line your pocket(s) obtain money, especially by acting dishonestly:

He'd been lining his pockets for years before he was finally caught.

live and let live used for saying that you should accept other people’s beliefs and way
of life, even if they are very different from your own:
I don’t agree with what he’s doing, but live and let live, I say.

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lock, stock and barrel including every part of a particular thing, situation, place, etc:
They’ve sold all their possessions, lock, stock and barrel.

lose your bearings become confused about where you are and where other things are:
I lost my bearings for a moment, but then realised where I was.

make a beeline for go towards someone or something in the quickest and most direct
way:
As soon as we arrived at the hotel, Molly made a beeline for the manager to complain.

make yourself at home feel relaxed and behave in the same way as you do in your own
home:
Charles will be down in a moment, so please make yourselves at home.

never/don’t look a gift horse in the mouth if you are given something good, you
should not complain about it or try to find things that are wrong with it:
The flat wasn’t in very good condition, but we were staying there rent-free, and you
should never look a gift horse in the mouth, should you?

no rhyme or reason used for emphasising that there is no reason or explanation for
something:
There seems to be no rhyme or reason for the decision.

not have a leg to stand on not have any way of proving that you are right about
something:
George tried to argue that the world was flat, but of course he didn't have a leg to stand
on.

not see the wood for the trees used for saying that someone cannot understand what is
important in a situation because they are thinking too much about small details:
Many people can't see the wood for the trees when talking about joining the eurozone;
they just think about what's on the notes and coins and don’t think about the economic
benefits.

off the beaten track away from populated areas or areas popular with tourists:
We like to get off the beaten track when we go on holiday.

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on good terms (with) have a good relationship with someone:
When I left the job, I was still on good terms with everyone in the office.

on the spur of the moment if you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it
suddenly and do not take time to plan it or think carefully about it:
We booked the holiday on the spur of the moment. We hadn't been planning to take a
break at all this summer.

on the street with no place to live:

Life is hard on the street.

on the town spending the evening enjoying yourself in bars, clubs, theatres, etc:
Did you go out on the town on your birthday?

once in a blue moon very rarely:

To be honest, I only go to museums once in a blue moon. I just don't have time usually.

out of the blue happening in a way that is sudden and unexpected, and does not seem
connected with anything that happened before:
Then, suddenly, out of the blue, she said she wanted a divorce.

out of this world extremely good or impressive:

The food at that restaurant is out of this world!

over the top more than what is considered normal or suitable:

Don’t you think spending 500 euros on a pair of shoes was a bit over the top?

pride of place in the place that is most central or important:

This stamp's extremely rare, and takes pride of place in my stamp collection.

pull (a few) strings use your influence in order to get something you want or to help
someone, especially when this is unfair:
I don't think it’s fair to pull strings in order to get a job.

put sth in perspective provide a sensible way of judging how good, bad, important, etc
something is in comparison with other things:
My illness has certainly put everything else in perspective.

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put two and two together guess what is happening or what something means based on
what you have seen or heard:
He didn't tell us he was retiring, but we could all put two and two together.

put your feet up sit down and relax, especially with your feet raised off the ground:
Put your feet up and I’ll make dinner.

quick/slow on the uptake taking a very short/long time to understand or realise

something:
I'm sure Chad understood what you were suggesting; he's very quick on the uptake.

recharge your batteries rest after being very busy, so that you will be ready to start
working again:
Why don’t you take a week off work to recharge your batteries?

red tape documents, rules or processes that cause delays:

Is there a lot of red tape involved in getting a passport?

reinvent the wheel waste time and effort trying to do something that someone else has
already done well:
Just use the same document you used last time, because there’s no point reinventing the
wheel.

ring a bell something that rings a bell sounds familiar to you, although you cannot
remember the exact details:
The name rings a bell but I'm not sure if I've ever met her.

round the bend crazy:

That noise is driving me round the bend!

satellite town town or city that is close to and depends on a larger city:
Brentwood is a satellite town just outside London.

sb is only human used for saying someone has been weak in the ways most people are
weak and should not be blamed for their behaviour:
I’m sorry I made a mistake, but I'm only human.

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see eye to eye (with sb) agree with someone or have the same opinion as them:
Imogen and I have never really seen eye to eye.

set your heart on decide that you want something very much:
I had set my heart on getting married on the beach, but the bad weather meant we
couldn't.

six of one (and) half a dozen of the other used for saying that two things are equally
good or bad:
We could get there on Saturday night or Sunday morning; it’s six of one and half a dozen
of the other, really.

speak volumes provide a lot of information, especially in an indirect way:

What he said to Mandy speaks volumes about the way he treats his staff.

split hairs argue or worry about very small details or differences that are not important:
Whether you call them 'terrorists’ or ‘freedom fighters’ is just splitting hairs - the point
is that they’re killing people!

steal the show receive a lot of attention because you give the best performance in a
show or other event:
There was one comedian who really stole the show. She was fantastic!

stick to your guns refuse to change what you are saying or doing despite the opposition
or criticism of other people:
I admire Kelly for the way she always sticks to her guns.

stop dead in your tracks suddenly stop, for example because you are surprised:
When I heard the gunshot, I stopped dead in my tracks.

take a short cut to follow a path that is quicker and shorter than the usual way:
I walked to school and I used to take a short cut along the canal.

take stock (of) spend some time thinking about the situation you are in before you
decide what to do next:
Let’s take a couple of days to take stock of the situation and then we’ll make a
decision.

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take the law into your own hands punish someone in your own way without involving
the police or the courts, often by doing something illegal yourself:
I know you’re angry, but that's no reason to take the law into your own hands.

take the scenic route follow a longer path than the usual one because it is more
attractive:
We’re not lost - we're just taking the scenic route.

tell tales tell someone in authority about bad things that someone else has done, because
you want them to be punished:
Toby, stop telling tales about your classmates.

the edge over an advantage that makes someone or something more successful than
other people or things:
Our product’s got the edge over the competition because it’s so lightweight.

the luck of the draw used for saying people have limited control over what life brings
them:
I never wanted to become a butcher, but I guess that’s the luck of the draw.

the other day recently:

There was an interesting item on the news the other day.

the powers that be the people who control a situation:

I don’t know if the powers that be will agree to that.

the tools of the trade the skills and equipment that you need in order to do your job:
A good bedside manner is one of the tools of the trade for a doctor.

throw the book at sb punish someone very severely:

They’ll really throw the book at him this time.

tidy sum/amount large sum/amount:

I've managed to put away a tidy sum this year.

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touch wood used when you have said that you have had good luck in order to prevent
bad luck from happening to you:
I'll find a new job before too long, touch wood.

turn over a new leaf change your life by starting to be a better person or stopping a
bad habit:
Ralph seems to have turned over a new leaf this term.

under sb's thumb completely controlled by someone else:

I became self-employed because I was sick of being under someone's thumb.

up in arms about angry and complaining about something:

Everyone in the office is up in arms about having to work next weekend.

variety is the spice of life used for saying that different experiences and situations make
life enjoyable or interesting:
I do a million different things at work, but I suppose variety is the spice of life.

your flesh and blood your relative:

My family is very important to me because, after all, they’re my flesh and blood.

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17
18
19
 crow
middle
beeline
tracks
track
nose

bearings
stone's

20
 mouth

posted
tales

volumes

chest

cards

clean
word
drift

stick

21
22
23
24
25
 lảng tránh vd và mong nó biến mất
head
strings sử dụng quyền lực để lm j
law tự cho mình
quyền lm gì đó
thumb bị kiểm soát
bất hợp pháp
hand nhận đc lợi thế
live vĩ hòa di quý
powers người có thẩm quyền
tape

26
 word
pride
ở vị trí qtrong, nổi bật
sight
heel
cực kì tuyệt điểm yếu
world
par xuống phong độ

show
line 0 đồng ý, cho phép
top vượt bth

fuel
làm tình huống tệ hơn
whistle
edge

có lợi thế hơn

27
 same cùng lý tưởng, ý kiến
terms có mqh tốt
human
trở nên thân thiết trong 1 time
house
flesh người thân

silver có lợi thế do gd giàu

peas giống nhau về ngoại hình, tính cách
see đồng quan điểm
puts làm sáng
books tỏ = cách
so sánh
anh ta thấy tôi phiền

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 ngồi xuống nghỉ ngơi
feet

hair thư giãn

party người năng động trong buổi giao lưu

spice tình huống khác nhau làm cho cs thú vị

heart quyết định b đam mê

end không có j làm

whim tự nhiên thấy nên làm

time có nhiêuf time rảnh

potato người hay chỉ nằm coi tv

batteries nạp năng lượng

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