1.

 RAINING CATS AND DOGS: rain heavily (Mưa nặng hạt)

Ex:–> It’s raining cats and dogs = It’s raining heavily
2. CHALK AND CHEESE: very different from each other (rất khác nhau)
Ex:–> I don’t have anything in common with my brother. We’re like chalk and cheese.
3. HERE AND THERE: everywhere
Ex:–> I have been searching here and there for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.
4. A HOT POTATO: something that is difficulut or dangerous to deal with ( vấn đề nan
giải )
Ex:–> The abortion issue is a hot potato in the US
5. AT THE DROP OF A HAT: immediately, instantly ( Ngay lập tức)
Ex:–> If you need me, just call me. I can come at the drop of a hat.
6. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD: time to start from the beginning; it is time to to
plan something over again (bắt đầu lại)
Ex:–> My plans to create a tiny car made of glasses were unsuccessful, so I guess it’s
back to the drawing board for me.
7. BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH: avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the
issue (nói vòng vo, lạc đề)
Ex:–> Stop beating about the bush and answer my question.
8. BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD: a good invention or innovation, a good idea
or plan
Ex:–> Portable phones are marketed as the best thing since sliced bread; people think
they are extremely good.
9. BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL: to stay up working, especially studying late at night
(thức khuya làm việc, học bài)
Ex:–> I will have a big exam tomorrow so I’ll be burning the midnight oil tonight.
10. CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO STOOLS: when someone finds it difficult to choose
between two alternatives (tiến thoái lưỡng nan)
11. BREAK A LEG : good luck! ( thường dùng để chúc may mắn )
Ex:–> I have heard that you’r gonna take a test tomorrow, break a leg, dude!!! (sounds
funny hah???)
12. HIT THE BOOKS : to study (học)
Ex:–> I can’t go out tonight. I’ve got to hit the books. I’m having an exam tomorrow.
13. WHEN PIGS FLY : something will never happen (điều vô tưởng, không thể xảy ra,
nhớ là “pigs” đừng nhầm với con vật khác nhé)
14. SCRATCH SOMEONE’S BACK: help someone out with the assumption that they
will return the favor in the future (giúp đỡ người khác với hy vọng họ sẽ giúp lại mình)
Ex:–> “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours later,” the customer said when we
talked about the new sales contact.
15. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD : do or say something exactly right (nói chính
xác, làm chính xác)
Ex:–> Mike hit the nail on the head when he said most people can use a computer
without knowing how it works.
16. TAKE SOMEONE/SOMETHING FOR GRANTED: coi nhẹ
Ex:–> One of the problems with relationships is that after a while you begin to take each
other for granted!!
17. TAKE SOMETHING INTO ACCOUNT/ CONSIDERATION: to remember to
consider something (tính đến cái gì, xem xét việc gì)
Ex:–> We will take your long year of service into account when we make our final
decision.
18. PUT SOMEONE/SOMETHING AT SOMEONE’S DISPOSAL: to make someone or
something available to someone (có sẵn theo ý muốn của ai)
Ex:–> I’d be glad to help you if you need me. I put myself at your disposal.
19. SPLITTING HEADACHE: a severe headache (đau đầu như búa bổ) (khi ra thi sẽ hỏi
từ “Splitting”)
Ex:–> I’ve got a splitting headache. I’m going upstairs for a nap.
20. ON THE HOUSE: không phải trả tiền
Ex:–> I went to a restaurant last night. I was the ten thousandth customer, so my dinner
was on the house.
21. HIT THE ROOF = GO THROUGH THE ROOF = HIT THE CEILING: to suddenly
become angry (giận dữ)
Ex:–> I”m afraid he will hit the roof when he finds out our vacation is canceled
22. MAKE SOMEONE’S BLOOD BOIL: làm ai sôi máu, giận dữ
23. BRING DOWN THE HOUSE: làm cho cả khán phòng vỗ tay nhiệt liệt
Ex:–> G-Dragon brought the house down. He really brought down the house with his
fantastic song.
24. PAY THROUGH THE NOSE: to pay too much for something (trả giá quá đắt)
Ex:–> If you want a decent wine in a restaurant , you to have to pay through the nose for
it.
25. BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH: sát sao, rất sát
Ex:–> I got through calculus math by the skin of my teeth.
Ex:–> I got to the airport a few minutes late and missed the plane by the skin of my teeth.
26. PULL SOMEONE’S LEG: chọc ai
Ex:–> You don’t mean that. You’re just pulling my leg.
27. IT STRIKE SOMEBODY AS/THAT A STRANGE: lấy làm lạ
Ex:–> It strikes as a strange to me that he failed the exam because he is so smart and
diligent a student.
28. TAKE IT AMISS: to understand as wrong or insulting, or misunderstand (hiểu lầm)
Ex:–> Would you take it amiss if I told you I thought you look lovely? I was afraid you’d
take it the wrong way.
29. HIGH AND LOW = HERE AND THERE: everywhere
Ex:–> I have been searching high and low for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.