Exercises on lecture IV

I. Read the following proverbs. Give their Vietnamese equivalents or explain

their meanings.
• A bargain is a bargain.
• A cat in gloves catches no mice. Có làm mới có ăn
• Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Chó chê mèo lắm lông
• It's the first step that counts. Vạn sự khở đầu nan
• A new broom sweep cleans.
• Fasting comes after feasting. Lên voi xuống chó
• Might goes before right. Lẽ phải thuộc về kẻ mạnh
• The dog will not howl if you beat him with a bone. Gieo nhân nào gặt quả ấy
• To shape a coat for the moon. Lo bò trắng răng
• Faults are thick where love is thin. Yêu nhau củ ấu cũng ngon
II. Match each of the following common proverbs with the most appropriate
situation from the list below.
a Actions speak louder than words.
b Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
c When in Rome, do as the Romans
d Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
e Blood is thicker than water.
f Prevention is better than cure.
g One good turn deserves another.
h Make hay while the sun shines.

1) Yes, you’re probably pass the exam, but don't depend on it till you near the
result. d
2) Make the most out of life while you can, while you're young and without any
big responsibilities.h
3) Well, the cassette recorder he gave you may have a few defects, but you
shouldn't complain. It cost you nothing. b
4 I'm not impressed by fine speeches. Why doesn't the government do something?
A
5) Don't wait till you've got flu. Try not to catch it. f
6) If you're in a foreign country, you should get used to the customs there. c
7) I'll probably lose my job by going there to help him, but he's in trouble and he is
my brother.e
8) Yes, of course I’ll help you. You lent me a hand last week. G
2 Instructions as above.
(a) Nothing venture nothing gain.
(b) It never rains but it pours.
(c) Once bitten, twice shy.
(d) A bad workman blames his tools
(e) Too many cooks spoil the broth
(f) It's no use crying over spilt milk
(g) Pride comes before a fall.
(h) Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
1 Well, it’s a pity but it’s in the past now and there's nothing we can do about it. F
2) Oh, my God, I’ve got tickets for the wrong day and they ruined my suit at the
cleaners and my wallet was stolen and I forgot my wife's birthday b
3) My wife’s spending a week with her parents. I do miss her. H
4) I’m not investing my money in that company again. I lost everything last time I
did. C
5) Ask her out to dinner. If you don't, you'll never know if she likes you. A
6) He was over-confident. He thought he couldn't go wrong, but then he got
complacent and failed the all-important exam. G
7) Do we really need so many of us to do this job? Won't we get in each other's
way? E
6) It's not my fault I haven't finished this typing yet. It's not a very good machine
and the stuff I have to copy is very difficult to read.d
III. Give the English equivalents for the following Vietnamese phrases and
proverbs:
a/ ăn đến nơi, làm đến chốn
b/ Có công mài sắt có ngày lên kim
c/ Cốc mò cò xơi
d/ Chó cậy gần nhà, gà cậy gần chuồng
e/ Chó chê mèo lắm lông
f/ Chim thấy tên phải cành cong cũng sợ
g/ Của cho chớ so đo it nhiều
h/ Đói ăn vụng túng làm càn
i/ Đem đàn gảy tai trâu
j/ Méo mó có hơn không
k/ Mèo khen mèo dài đuôi
l/ Lời nói thật hay mất lòng
m/ Lòng vả cũng như lòng sung
n/ Nhàn cư vi bất thiện
o/ Phải một bận cạch đến già
p/ Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn
q/ Tránh voi chẳng xấu mặt nào
r/ Tham thì thâm
s/ Thả con săn sắt bắt con cá rô
t/ Ông bỏ chân giò, bà thò chai rượu
u/ Ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã