THÀNH NGỮ (idioms)
A, LÝ THUYẾT
➢ Một số thành ngữ thông dụng
Section 1: (dùng cho Exercise 1 – Phần thành ngữ)
- take someone/something for granted: cho là điều dĩ nhiên
- take something into account/consideration: tính đến cái gì, kể đến cái gì
- take it easy: không làm việc quá căng thắng
- keep an eye on someone/something: để mắt đến
- lose touch with someone: mất liên lạc
- pay attention to someone/something: chú ý đến
- catch sight of someone/something: nhìn thấy (trong chốc lát)
- at someone's disposal: có sẵn cho ai sử dụng theo ý muốn
- splitting headache: nhức đầu như búa bổ
- beat about the bush: nói vòng vo tam quốc
- off the peg: (quần áo) may sẵn
- on the house: không phải trả tiền
- on the shelf: (đồ vật) xếp xó, bỏ đi, không còn có ích nữa
- hit the roof: giận dữ
- make someone’s blood boil: làm cho ai giận điên lên
- bring down the house: làm cho cả rạp hát vỗ tay nhiệt liệt
- pay through the nose: trả giá mac
- by the skin of one's teeth: sát sao
- pull someone’s leg: trêu chọc ai
Section 2: (dùng cho Exercise 2 - Phần thành ngữ)
- get butterflies in one’s stomach: cảm thấy bồn chồn
- sell like hot cakes: bán đắt như tôm tươi
- shooting star: sao băng
- sow one’s wild oats: trải qua thời kì theo đuổi những thú vui bừa bãi
- close shaves: những lần thoát hiểm trong gang tấc
- have a bee in one’s bonnet about something: hay chú trọng, đặt nặng vấn đề gì
- blow one’s own trumpet: huênh hoang
- fight tooth and nail: chỉến đấu ác liệt, đánh nhau ác liệt
- head over heels: lăn lông lốc, hòan tòan
- smell a rat: nghi ngờ có âm mưu, nghi ngờ có sự dối trá
- know something like the back of one's hand: biết rõ điều gì
- the last straw: giọt nước tràn ly
- fly off the handle: mất bình tĩnh, thình lình nổi nóng
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Section 3: (dùng cho Exercise 3 - Phần thành ngữ)
- drop someone a line: viết thư cho ai
- have/get cold feet: sợ hãi
- beside the point: không thích hợp
- for the time being: trong lúc này
- off the record: không được ghi, không chính thức
- piece of cake: việc dễ làm
- chip off the old block: người có tính cách giống bố
- one’s cup of tea: người hoặc vật mình ưa thích
- get something on one's mind: đang bận tâm điều gì
- down at heel: tàn tạ xơ xác
- make money hand over fist: vớ được lợi lộc béo bở
- in/ out of practice: có/ không có thời gian luyện tập
- burn the candle at both ends: làm việc hết sức,không biết giữ sức
- play with fire: chơi với lửa
- go to town (on something): làm cái gì rất hăng hái (nhất là bằng cách chỉ tiền)
- have something on the tip of one’s tongue: sắp nhớ ra, sắp nói ra
B. BÀI TẬP THÀNH NGỮ (Idioms)
Exercise 1: Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to
each of the following questions.
1. I just took it _________ that he’d always be available.
A. into consideration B. easy
C. into account D. for granted
2. I accidentally _________ Mike when I was crossing a street downtown
yesterday.
A. kept an eye on B. lost touch with
C. paid attention to D. caught sight of
3. I was glad when he said that his car was _________.
A. for my use B. for me use
C. at my use D. at my disposal
4. I really must go and lie down for a while; I’ve got a _________ headache.
A. cutting B. splitting C. ringing D. cracking
5. Stop _________ about the bush. John! Just tell me exactly what the problem is.
A. rushing B. hiding C. beating D. moving
6. I usually buy my clothes _________. It’s cheaper than going to a dress-maker.
A. off the peg B. on the house
C. in public D. on the shelf
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7. My father _________ when he found out that I’d damaged the car.
A. hit the roof B. saw pink elephants
C. made my blood boil D. brought the house down
8. If you want a flat in the centre of the city you have to pay through the _________
for it.
A. teeth B. back of your head
C. nose D. arm
9. I caught the last bus by the skin of my _________.
A. mouth B. leg C. neck D. teeth
10. It was a joke! I was pulling your _________.
A. thumb B. hair C. toe D. leg
Exercise 2: Mark the letter A, B,C, or D to indicate the correct answer to
each of the following questions.
1. I always get _________ in my stomach before visiting the dentist.
A. worms B. butterflies C. crabs D. hedgehogs
2. Those smart phones are selling like _________. If you want one, you’d better
buy one now before they’re all gone.
A. shooting stars B. fresh bread
C. hot cakes D. wild oats
3. I haven’t had an accident yet but I’ve had a number of _________ shaves.
A. narrow B. near C. close D. tiny
4. My father refused to eat meat that had been fried. He had _________ in his
bonnet about it causing cancer.
A. a bug B. a bee C. a bull D. an ant
5. I can’t stand Mr. Brian. He’s always blowing his own _________ telling
everyone how good he is at everything.
A. balloon B. breath C. mind D. trumpet
6. The escaped prisoner fought _________ before he was finally overpowered.
A. head over heels B. tooth and nail
C. heart and soul D. foot and mouth
7. I didn’t suspect anything at first, but when I noticed her going through
the office drawers I began to smell _________.
A. a rat B. a pig C. a thief D. a culprit
8. Peter was born and brought up in Hastings and knows it like the _________.
A. nose on his face B. tip of his tongue
C. back of his hand D. hair on his head
9. I was already fed up with the job, but when the boss walked into my office
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and told me he expected me to work overtime that was the _________. I quit.
A. final curtain B. last straw
C. end of the line D. last waltz
10. He has a quick temper and easily _________ off the handle.
A. leaps B. goes C. runs D. flies
Exercise 3: Mark the letter A, B, C, orD to indicate the correct answer to each
of the following questions.
1. Before she left for Australia she promised her parents that she would drop
them _________ at least once a month.
A. a note B. a word C. the news D. a line
2. I was all set to take the job in Tokyo, but at the last minute I _________ and
decided to stay in Britain.
A. pulled my finger out B. got cold feet
C. held my horses D. called it a day
3. “What I’ve got to say to you now is strictly _________ and most certainly not
for publication,” said the government official to the reporter.
A. beside the point B. for the time being
C. by the way D. off the record
3. I’ve never enjoyed going to the ballet or the opera; they’re not really my
_________.
A. piece of cake B. chip off the old block
C. biscuit D. cup of tea
4. “What’s wrong with Tom today? He’s unusually quiet.” “He’s got
something on his _________. I expect.”
A. brain B. mind C. thoughts D. brow
5. He was wearing very shabby, dirty clothes and looked very _________.
A. easy-going B. down to earth
C. out of shape D. down at heel
6. Since he started his own business he has been making money hand over
_________.
A. fist B. heel C. head D. palm
7. I can’t see us beating them at tennis this year - we’re so out of _________.
A. step B. practice C. fitness D. breath
