I.

THI CHNH THC

1. a bolt from/out of the blue: news that is sudden and unexpected
2. be locked in battle/combat/dispute etc: to be involved in a long,
serious argument or fight with someone
3. let nature take its course: to allow events to happen without doing
anything to change the results
4. risk life and limb: risk your life and health
5. not in the least: use this to say strongly that something is not true,
especially when you would expect it to be true
6. pick sbs brains: to ask someone who knows a lot about something for
information and advice about it
7. in print: printed in a book, newspaper etc
8. down in the dumps: very sad and without much interest in life
9. in the pink: in very good health
10. be in the red: to owe more money than you have
11. in essence used when talking about the most basic and important part
of something, especially an idea, belief, or argument
12. keep/have your wits about you: be ready to think quickly and do
what is necessary in a difficult situation
13. be wrapped up in sth: to be so involved in something that you do
not notice or seem to care about other things:
14. bone of contention something that causes arguments between
people
15. take offence (at something): to feel offended because of
something someone says or does
II. NGH TRNG THPT MC NH CHI - TPHCM 1. a
miracle cure: a very effective one that cures a serious disease)
2. have money/time etc to spare: if you have money, time etc to
spare, you have some left in addition to what you have used or need
3. be at a loss: to be confused and uncertain about what to do or say
4. be at deaths door: to be very ill and likely to die
5. be at your wits end: to be very upset and not know what to do,
because you have tried everything possible to solve a problem
6. at the crack of dawn: very early in the morning
7. make the best of something (also make the best of a bad
job/situation etc): to accept a situation that is not very good, and do
whatever you can to make it better
8. make no bones about (doing) something: to not feel nervous or
ashamed about doing or saying something
9. make a splash: to do something that gets a lot of public attention
10. make a clean sweep: make a very impressive victory in a
competition, election etc
11. have a sweet tooth: to like things that taste of sugar
12. out of stock/in stock: unavailable or available in a particular shop
13. stand a chance/hope (of doing something): to be likely to be
able to do something or to succeed 14. it goes without saying (that):
used to say that something is so clearly true that it does not need to be said
III. NGH TRNG THPT CHUYN TRN I NGHA -
TP.HCM
1. make waves: to cause problems, especially when you should not
2. not hold water: if an excuse, a statement etc does not hold water, it
does not seem to be true or reasonable
3. be wearing thin: if an excuse, an argument, someones behaviour etc is
wearing thin, it has been used so often that it no longer has any effect and is
annoying
4. stay afloat: if a company stays afloat, it continues to survive in spite of
difficult financial problems that may force it to close
5. the shape of things to come: an example of the way things will
develop in the future
6. beg the question: to make you want to ask a question that has not yet
been answered
7. hit the nail on the head: used to say that what someone has said is
exactly right
8. mean business: to be serious about doing something even if it involves
harming someones
9. a glutton for punishment: someone who seems to enjoy working
hard or doing something unpleasant
10. in (the) light of something: if you do or decide something in the
light of something else, you do it after considering that thing
11. be at/in/to the forefront (of something): to be in a leading
position in an important activity that is trying to achieve something or develop
new ideas
12. be on the verge of something: to be at the point where
something is about to happen
13. in accordance with something: according to a rule, system etc
14. may as well: used to suggest that someone should do something,
because there is no good reason to do anything else E.g. If theres nothing
more to do, we may as well go to bed.
15. be bound to to be: very likely to do or feel a particular thing
16. be in for: if you say you are in for something unpleasant, it is almost
certain to happen to you fairly soon
17. failing that/this: used to say that if your first suggestion is not
successful or possible, there is another possibility that you could try E.g. My
mother wanted me to be a teacher or, failing that, a nurse.
18. on the grounds that: because
19. given that: taking something into account
20. dont know/cant tell etc which is which: if you do not know
which is which, you cannot see the difference between two very similar people
or things
21. come to light/be brought to light: if new information comes to
light, it becomes known
22. leave a lot/something/much to be desired: to be very
unsatisfactory
23. be on a par (with something): to be at the same level or standard
24. on the scrapheap: not wanted or used anymore used especially
when this seems unfair
IV. NGH THPT CHUYN L HNG PHONG - TP.HCM
1. and suchlike: and things of that kind
2. ... or/and whatever (else): used after mentioning one or two things
to mean other things of the same kind
3. out on a limb: alone and without help or support
4. on and off (also off and on): for short periods but not regularly over
a long period of time
5. pay over the odds: to pay a higher price than is usual or reasonable
6. do something once too often: to repeat a bad, stupid, or dangerous
action with the result that you get punished or cause trouble for yourself
7. do porridge: spend time in prison
8. pour scorn on somebody/something (also heap scorn on
somebody/something) to strongly criticize someone or something
because you think they do not deserve respec
9. jump on the bandwagon: to do the same as a lot of other people are
doing because you think there will be some advantage for you or because it is
fashionable
10. be up for grabs: if a job, prize, opportunity etc is up for grabs, it is
available for anyone who wants to try to have it
11. prim and proper very formal and careful in the way you speak and
behave, and easily shocked by anything rude
12. be on pins and needles: to be very nervous and unable to relax,
especially because you are waiting for something important
13. for all practical purposes (also to all intents and
purposes) used to say that something is so close to the truth that it can be
considered to be the truth E.g We have a Secretary of State for Scotland who
is for all practical purposes a Scottish Prime Minister.
14. chop and change: to keep changing your mind
15. be spoilt/spoiled for choice: to have so many good things to
choose from that you cannot decide which one to choose
16. be below/under par: to be less good than usual or below the proper
standard
17. off-the-peg: (clothes) made in standard sizes, not made especially to
fit one person
18: be on the level: to be honest and legal
19. let alone: used after a negative statement to say that the next thing you
mention is even more unlikely:
E.g. The baby cant even sit up yet, let alone walk!
20. would sooner do something: would very much prefer to do it
especially instead of something else that you dislike or that is unpleasant
21. one and the same: the same person or thing
22. take issue with somebody/something: to disagree or argue with
someone about something
23. be the last thing on sbs mind (also be the furthest thing
from sbs mind): to be the thing that someone is least likely to be thinking
about
24. be at liberty to do something: to have the right or permission to
do something
25. have seen better days: to be in a bad condition
V. NGH THPT CHUYN TR VINH
1.to that end: with an aim or purpose
2. by and large: used when making a general statement
3. win (something)/beat somebody fair and square: to win a
competition, sports match etc honestly and without cheating
4. ins and outs: all the exact details of a complicated situation, problem,
system etc
5. odds and ends: small things of various kinds without much value
6. it stands to reason (that): used to say that something should be
completely clear to anyone who is sensible
7. take it for granted: to be sure that something is true without ever
asking yourself whether you are right or not
8. have your hands full: to be very busy or too busy
9. take turns/take it in turns to do something: if two or more
people take turns doing work, using something etc, they do it one after the
other, for example in order to share the work or play fairly
10. be in no mood for something/to do something: to not want
to do something, or be determined not to do something
VI. THI NGH TRNG THPT CHUYN HUNH MN
T-KIN GIANG

1. A minor offence: an illegal but not serious act

2. A furtive glance: a secret and quick look
3. In line for: likely to get something
4. In adjacent to: next to or near something
5. In the proximity of: near
6. Make do with: manage with the limited or inadequate resources
available
7. To be taken aback: to be surprised
8. To bring up: to mention, talk about something
9. See about: deal with something
10. Back out of: to decide not to do something you have promised
11. Knock over: to hit something and make it fall to the ground
12. Let somebody stew in their own juice: to leave sb to worry and
suffer the unpleasant effects of their own actions.
13. Take something hard: to be very upset about something
14. On the defense: to be careful, protective
15. A thorn in ones flesh/side: something that repeatedly annoys
somebody
16. To be up to neck with work: to be very busy
17. Fall on deaf ears: to be ignored and not noticed
18. Put sth at a premium: if sth is at a premium, it is difficult to get it
19. Run away with sth: to believe sth which is not true
20. Spruce up: to make sb clean and neat
VII. TRNG THPT L T TRNG CN TH
1. Rise to the occasion: to perform well in response to a special occasion.
2. Crying over spilt milk: to express regret for sth that cannot be
changed
3. All along: from the beginning
4. Not ones cup of tea: not what one likes
5. Call it a day: stop working and relax
6. On hand: available
7. Under the illusion: to have an idea or belief that is not true
8. In the know about sth: know sth
9. Take ones mind off sth: to stop worrying about sth
10. Come to ones senses: to begin thinking sensibly
11. Strike a balance between: to satisfy both sides by accepting parts of
both sides
12. At the drop of a hat: immediately
13. To be up in arms about sth: to be angry
14. Have your wits about you: to be aware of what is happening around
you and ready to think and act quickly.
15. Out of consideration for: with kind regard for
VIII. TRNG THPT L QU N NNG
1. Risk life and limb: risk life and health
2. Not take kindly to sth: to not like something
3. To be in a fix: in a troublesome situation
4. Jump/leap to the conclusion: to conclude quickly without
comprehensive consideration.
5. Against all odds: against all difficulties
6. The donkey work: the difficult and boring work
7. Pull the wool over ones eyes to deceive
8. Foot the bill: pay the bill
9. Bring home to sb: to cause someone to realize sth
10. Breath a word: to tell a secret
11. Leave nothing to chance: to prepare for everything possible
12. On the lookout for: to be watching carefully in order to obtain or
avoid sth
IX. TRNG THPT CHUYN THOI NGC HU AN GIANG
1. Train of thought: a line of reasoning
2. Spare a thought for sb: to think about someone who is in a bad
situation
3. At ease: relaxed, comfortable
4. Come to terms with sth: finally accept sth
5. Here to stay: become generally accepted and useful
6. Peace of mind: the state of not worrying about anything
X. TRNG CHUYN NGUYN TT THNH KONTUM
1. a heavy heart: a feeling of unhappiness
2. drive a hard bargain: to be uncompromising in making a deal
3. a course of action: a procedure adopted to deal with a situation
4. place sb under strain: to burden and overwhelm sb
5. by/in leaps and bounds: by very large degrees, quickly and rapidly
6. on pins and needles: in an agitated state of suspense
7. a head like sieve: to forget things very easily
8. next to nothing: almost nothing
9. at first hand: directly or from personal experience
10. a jack of all trades: a person that has many skills but does not have a
focus on one.
11. In the pink: to be healthy
12. Weigh up the pros and cons: consider the advantages and
disadvantages
13. To be wrapped up in sth: to concentrate fully on sth
14. Peculiar to: belonging exclusively to