Truyện chêm tiếng anh siêu hay

LESSON 1: TARGET IDIOMS
Go back to the drawing board

Break the news

/gəʊ bæk tə ðə ˈdrɔːɪŋ bɔːd/

/breɪk ðə njuːz/

Cost an arm and a leg

Top dollar

/kɒst ən ɑːm ənd ə lɛg/

/tɒp ˈdɒlə/

About to go belly-up

Save the day

/əˈbaʊt tə gəʊ ˈbɛli-ʌp/

/seɪv ðə deɪ/

Give me the ax

Let's face it

/ˈgɪv mi ði æks/

/lɛts feɪs ɪt/

As sharp as a tack.

Real flop

/əz ʃɑːp əz ə tæk/

/rɪəl flɒp/

After all

Talk this over

/ˈɑːftər ɔːl/

/tɔːk ðɪs ˈəʊvə/

Make up my mind.

No point in

/meɪd ʌp maɪ maɪnd/

/nəʊ pɔɪnt ɪn/

Put up with

At least

/pʊt ʌp wɪð/

/ət liːst/

Lose my temper

Dead-end job

/luːz maɪ ˈtɛmpə/

/ˈdɛdˈɛnd ʤɒb./

Edited by : NamPhuongLOD
/>
SOURCE: SPEAK ENGLISH LIKE AN AMERICAN


LESSON 1: BOB'S DAY AT WORK
Bob works as a manager in a furniture store. Peter, his boss, is not
happy about sales. Bob's new advertising campaign hasn't helped.
Peter decides to fire him.
Peter: Bob, tôi ghét phải break the news (báo tin) này cho bạn nhưng doanh số
tháng trước của chúng ta lại giảm.
Bob:

Lại giảm nữa sao, Peter?

Peter:

Đúng rồi. Những ngày vừa qua, mọi người đang mua sắm ở cửa hàng nội
thất đối thủ Honest Abe.

Bob:

Nhưng mọi thứ ở đó costs an arm and a leg (cực kì mắc)!

Peter:

Đúng rồi. Họ bán top dollar (giá ngất ngưỡng).

Bob:

Và nhân viên bán hàng của họ cũng rất kỳ lạ. Họ thực sự give me the
creeps (làm tơi ngạc nhiên)!

Peter

Chà, họ phải có chiến lược gì đó. Trong khi đó, chúng ta about to go
belly-up (sắp sửa phá sản).

Bob:

Tôi rất tiếc. Tôi nghĩ rằng chiến dịch quảng cáo mới của tôi sẽ save the
day (cứu vãn) được nó.

Peter:

Let's face it (hãy đối mặt với nó): chiến dịch quảng cáo của bạn đã real

flop (thật bại).

Bob:

Vậy thì tơi sẽ go back to the drawing board (bắt đầu lại).

Peter:

Đã q muộn cho việc đó. Bạn bị thơi việc!

Bob:

Cái gì? Bạn give me the ax (đang sa thải tơi)?

Peter:

Vâng. Tơi đã tìm thấy một quản lý mới. Cơ ấy as sharp as a tack (thông
minh).

Bob:

Chúng ta không thể talk this over (thảo luận lại) sao? After all (sau tất
cả), dù gì tơi cũng đã làm việc ở đây được 10 năm!


Peter:

No point in (khơng có gì phải) bàn cãi, Bob. Tôi đã make up my mind
(quyết định rồi).
Ổn thôi, at least (ít nhất) thì tơi sẽ khơng phải put up with (chịu đựng)

Bob:

sự vô lý của bạn nữa! Tạm biệt bạn và tạm biệt dead – end job (công
việc không đi đến đâu) này.
Peter:

Xin hãy rời đi trước khi I lose my temper (tơi mất bình tĩnh)!

Peter: Bob, I hate to báo tin, but our sales were down
again last month.
Bob:

 break the news

Down again, Peter?

Peter: Yeah. These days, everybody's shopping at our
competition, Honest Abe's Furniture Store.
Bob:

But everything in there cực kì mắc!

Peter: That's true. They do charge giá ngất ngưỡng.
Bob:

And their salespeople are very strange. They
really làm tôi ngạc nhiên!

Peter: Well, they must be doing something right over

there. Meanwhile, we're sắp sửa phá sản.
Bob:

I'm sorry to hear that. I thought my new
advertising campaign would cứu vãn.

Peter: Hãy đối mặt với nó: your advertising campaign
was a thật bại.
Bob:
Peter:

Well then I'll bắt đầu lại.
It's too late for that. You're fired!

 costs an arm and a
leg
 top dollar
 give me the creeps!
 about to go belly-up
 save the day
 let's face it
 real flop
 go back to the
drawing board


Bob:

What? You're đang sa thải tôi?

Peter: Yes. I've already found a new manager. She's
thông minh.
Bob:

Can't we even bàn lại chuyện này? Sau tất cả,
I've been working here for 10 years!

Peter: There's có gì phải arguing, Bob. I've already
quyết định rồi.
Bob:

Oh well, ít nhất I won't have to chịu đựng your
non - sense anymore! Good-bye to you and goodbye to công việc không đi đến đâu.

Peter: Please leave before I mất bình tĩnh.

 giving me the ax
 as sharp as a tack.

 talk this over
 after all
 no point in
 made up my mind.
 at least
 put up with
 dead-end job
 lose my temper


PRACTICE

It's a good thing Bob left the furniture
store when he did. Peter was so angry, he
was có ý định throw a dining room chair
at him.

It's a good thing Bob left the furniture
store when he did. Peter was so angry,
he was about to throw a dining room
chair at him.

You'd better invite Ed to your party.
Sau tất cả, he's a good friend.

You'd better invite Ed to your party.
After all, he's a good friend.

We've run out of coffee, but ít nhất
we still have tea.

We've run out of coffee, but at least
we still have tea.

I'm glad you're finally home. I was
just có ý định have dinner without you.

I'm glad you're finally home. I was
just about to have dinner without you.

It doesn't matter what your boss thinks
of you. Sau tất cả, you're going to quit

your job anyway.

It doesn't matter what your boss
thinks of you. After all, you're going to
quit your job anyway.

Tracy can't afford to buy a car, but ít
nhất she has a good bicycle.

Tracy can't afford to buy a car, but at
least she has a good bicycle.

Samantha and Michael are getting
married, but they haven't yet báo tin to
their parents.

Samantha and Michael are getting
married, but they haven't yet broken the
news to their parents.

A college education in America cực
kì mắc.

A college education in America costs
an arm and a leg.

Diane realized that working as a
cashier was a công việc không đi đến
đâu.

Diane realized that working as a
cashier was a dead-end job.


Hãy đối mặt với nó, if Ted spent
more time studying, he wouldn't be
failing so many of his classes!

Let's face it, if Ted spent more time
studying, he wouldn't be failing so
many of his classes!

You'd better báo tin to your father
carefully. After all, you don't want him to
have a heart attack!

You'd better break the news to your
father carefully. After all, you don't want
him to have a heart attack!

All of the furniture at Honest Abe's
cực kì mắc!

All of the furniture at Honest Abe's
costs an arm and a leg!

Jim worked many công việc không đi
đến đâu before finally deciding to start
his own business.

Jim worked many dead-end jobs
before finally deciding to start his own
business.

Ted's friend Matt has seven earrings in
each ear and an "I Love Mom" tattoo on
his arm. He really làm Nicole kinh ngạc.

Ted's friend Matt has seven earrings
in each ear and an "I Love Mom" tattoo
on his arm. He really gives Nicole the
creeps.

Frank's new business failed, so he had
to bắt đầu lại từ đầu.

Frank's new business failed, so he
had to go back to the drawing board.

Hãy đối mặt với nó, if you don't have
a college degree, it can be difficult to find
a high-paying job.

Let's face it, if you don't have a
college degree, it can be difficult to find
a high-paying job.

There was a strange man following me
around the grocery store. He was làm tôi
kinh ngạc!

There was a strange man following
me around the grocery store. He was
giving me the creeps!


The president didn't agree with our
new ideas for the company, so we had to
bắt đầu lại từ đầu.

The president didn't agree with our
new ideas for the company, so we had to
go back to the drawing board.

Many people lost their jobs when
Enron đã phá sản.

Many people lost their jobs when
Enron went belly-up.

Mary used to talk to her friends on the
phone all day at work, until one day her
boss finally đã sa thải.

Mary used to talk to her friends on
the phone all day at work, until one day
her boss finally gave her the ax.

Bob always mất bình tĩnh when his
kids start talking on the telephone during

dinner.

Bob always loses his temper when
his kids start talking on the telephone
during dinner.

My company lost $3 million last year.
We might phá sản.

My company lost $3 million last year.
We might go belly-up.

Poor Paul! He was bị sa thải two days
before Christmas.

Poor Paul! He was given the ax two
days before Christmas.

When Ted handed in his essay two
weeks late, his teacher really mất bình
tĩnh.

When Ted handed in his essay two
weeks late, his teacher really lost her
temper.

Stephanie couldn't quyết định whether
to attend Harvard or Stanford. Finally,
she chose Stanford.

Stephanie couldn't make up her
mind whether to attend Harvard or
Stanford. Finally, she chose Stanford.

There's không cần phải worrying
about things you can't change.

There's no point in worrying about
things you can't change.


For many years, Barbara chịu đựng
her husband's annoying behavior. Finally,
she decided to leave him.

For many years, Barbara put up with
her husband's annoying behavior.
Finally, she decided to leave him.

Do you want an omelette or fried
eggs? You'll need to quyết định quickly
because the waitress is coming.

Do you want an omelette or fried
eggs? You'll need to make up your
mind quickly because the waitress is
coming.

There's không cần phải going on a
picnic if it's going to rain.

There's no point in going on a picnic
if it's going to rain.

I don't know how Len chịu đựng his
mean boss every day.

I don't know how Len puts up with
his mean boss every day.

The Broadway play closed after just 4
days - it was a thất bại!

The Broadway play closed after just 4
days - it was a real flop!

The Christmas tree was on fire, but
Ted threw water on it and đã cứu vãn.

The Christmas tree was on fire, but
Ted threw water on it and saved the
day.

Jay scored 100% on his science test.
He's as thông minh.

Jay scored 100% on his science test.
He's as sharp as a tack.

Dave and I spent hours thảo luận the

details of the plan.

Dave and I spent hours talking over
the details of the plan.

Nicole paid rất nhiều tiền for a shirt at
Banana Republic.

Nicole paid top dollar for a shirt at
Banana Republic.

The company was in trouble after its
new product đã thất bại.

The company was in trouble after its
new product flopped.


We forgot to buy champagne for our
New Year's party, but Sonia brought
some and really cứu vãn!

We forgot to buy champagne for our
New Year's party, but Sonia brought
some and really saved the day!

Anna got a scholarship to Yale. She's
thông minh.

Anna got a scholarship to Yale. She's

as sharp as a tack.

Before you make any big decisions,
give me a call and we'll thảo luận.

Before you make any big decisions,
give me a call and we'll talk things
over.

Wait until those jeans go on sale. Why
pay giá ngất ngưỡng?

Wait until those jeans go on sale.
Why pay top dollar?


PRACTICE THE IDIOMS
Fill in the blank with the missing word:
1) I can't believe you bought a couch at Honest Abe's. Every•
thing in that store costs an arm and a
.
a) foot

b) leg

c) hand

2) After Bob found out that his advertising campaign failed, he wanted to go
back to the drawing
.

a) board

b) table

c) room

3) When somebody isn't listening to you, there's no
with them.
a) edge

b) tip

c) point

4) Jose is really smart. He's as sharp as a
a) tack
5)

b) nail

in trying to argue

.

c) screw

The salespeople at Honest Abe's always look angry and never speak to
anybody. No wonder they
Bob the creeps.
a) take

b) give

c) allow

6) Bob got fired. He isn't looking forward to
a) breaking

b) cracking

the news to his family.

c) saying

7) Bob thought his new advertisements would bring in lots of customers and
save the
.
a) morning

b) night

c) day

8) Fortunately, Bob no longer has to put
furniture store.
a) over

b) in

c) up

with his stupid boss at the



LESSON 2: TARGET IDIOMS
What’s the matter

Last resort

/wɒts ðə ˈmætə/

/lɑːst rɪˈzɔːt/

Right-hand man

Get canned

/raɪt-hænd mæn/

/get kænd/

Stabbed me in the back

Make ends meet

/stæbd mi ɪn ðə bæk/

/meɪk ɛndz miːt/

Keep your chin up

When pigs fly

/kiːp jə ʧɪn ʌp/

/wɛn pɪgz flaɪ/

Make up his mind

Change his mind

/meɪk ʌp ɪz maɪnd/

/ʧeɪnʤ ɪz maɪnd/

Look on the bright side

Tell him off

/lʊk ɒn ðə braɪt saɪd/

/təl hɪm ɒf/

Thank goodness

Hang in there

/θæŋk ˈgʊdnɪs/

/hæŋ ɪn ðeə/

Stress out

Out of work

/strɛs aʊt/

/aʊt əv wɜːk/

Live from hand to mouth

Set eyes

/lɪv frəm hænd tə maʊθ/

/sɛt aɪz/

Edited by : NamPhuongLOD
/>
SOURCE: SPEAK ENGLISH LIKE AN AMERICAN


LESSON 2: BOB RETURNS HOME
WITH BAD NEWS
Bob tells his wife Susan that he lost his job. Susan suggests that
he starts his own business.
Susan:

What's the matter (có chuyện gì vậy), anh yêu?

Bob:

Susan, hôm nay anh bị get canned (mất việc).

Susan:

Nhưng Bob, anh là right-hand man (trợ thủ đắc lực của Peter) mà!

Bob:

Vâng, anh ta đã stab me in the back (quay lưng với anh).

Susan:

Keep your chin up (lạc quan lên). Có lẽ anh ấy sẽ change his mind
(thay đổi ý định) và giữ anh lại.

Bob:

When pigs fly (không bao giờ)! Một khi anh ấy make up his mind
(quyết định), anh ấy khơng bao giờ thay đổi. Ngồi ra, anh cũng tell
him off (chấp nhận nghỉ).

Susan:

Look on the bright side (hãy lạc quan lên): anh sẽ không phải set
eyes (để mắt) tới Peter một lần nào nữa.

Bob:

Thank goodness (thật nhẹ nhõm) vì điều đó!

Susan:

Hang in there (đừng nản chí). Em chắc chắn anh sẽ không out of
work (thất nghiệp) lâu đâu.

Bob:

Trong khi, chúng ta cần phải live from hand to mouth (có đủ tiền
để trang trải).

Susan:

Đừng quá stress out (căng thẳng), Bob. Chúng ta sẽ make ends
meet (xoay sở) được.

Bob:

Anh có thể có xin việc tại McDonald như là last resort (phương án
cuối cùng).

Susan:

Em không nghĩ họ đang tuyển dụng đâu.

Bob:

Nếu worse comes to worst (mọi việc tệ hơn), chúng ta có thể bán

nhà và sống trong một cái lều.


Susan:

Hãy think big (nghĩ lớn lên)! Có lẽ anh nên bắt đầu kinh doanh
riêng của anh.

Bob:

Easier said than done (nói thì lúc nào cũng dễ hơn làm).

PRACTICE
Susan: Có chuyện gì vậy, dear?
Bob:

Susan, I đã mất việc today at work.

Susan: But Bob, you were Peter's trợ thủ đắc lực của
Peter mà!
Bob:

Yes, and he đã quay lưng với anh.

 what’s the matter
 got canned
 right-hand man

Susan:

Lạc quan lên. Maybe he'll thay đổi ý định
and take you back.

 stabbed me in the
back
 keep your chin up
 change his mind

Bob:

Không bao giờ! Once he quyết định, he
never changes it. Besides, I chấp nhận
nghỉ.

 when pigs fly
 makes up his mind
 told him off

Susan: Hãy tích cực lên: you won't have to để mắt on
Peter ever again.
Bob:

Thật nhẹ nhõm for that!

 look on the bright
side
 set eyes
 thank goodness

Susan:

Đừng nản chí. I'm sure you won't be thất
nghiệp for long.

 hang in there
 out of work

Bob:

In the meantime, we'll have to có đủ tiền để
trang trải.

 live from hand to
mouth


Susan:
Bob:

Don't get too áp lực, Bob. We'll xoay sở
được.
I can always get a job at McDonald's as phương
án cuối cùng.

Susan:

I don't think they're hiring right now.

Bob:

If mọi việc tệ hơn, we can sell our home
and move into a tent.

Susan: Let's nghĩ lớn! Maybe you can start your own
business.
Bob:

Nói thì dễ hơn làm!

 stresssed out,bob
 make ends meet
 last resort

 worse comes to worst

 think big

 easier said than done


Brandon wasn't going to take a
vacation this year, but then he đã đổi ý
and went to Bora Bora for two weeks.

Brandon wasn't going to take a vacation
this year, but then he changed his mind
and went to Bora Bora for two weeks.

You want to climb Mount Everest?
Nói thì dễ hơn làm!

You want to climb Mount Everest?
Easier said than done!

After Chris đã mất việc, it took him a
year to find a new job.

After Chris got canned, it took him a
year to find a new job.

Why aren't you applying to medical
school this year? Did you đổi ý about
becoming a doctor?

Why aren't you applying to medical
school this year? Did you change your
mind about becoming a doctor?

Moving into a new home is nói dễ
hơn làm.

Moving into a new home is easier said
than done.

Lisa is a lousy secretary. She deserves
to mất việc!

Lisa is a lousy secretary. She deserves
to get canned!

I know you're four games behind, but
you can still win the tennis match. Just
đừng nản chí!

I know you're four games behind, but
you can still win the tennis match. Just
hang in there!

Ted's car isn't running well. Nếu mọi
chuyện tệ hơn, he can take the bus to
school.

Ted's car isn't running well. If worse
comes to worst, he can take the bus to
school.

Even when he was unemployed and
homeless, Bill managed to lạc quan
lên.

Even when he was unemployed and
homeless, Bill managed to keep his
chin up.


Đừng nản chí , Don! Your invention
will soon be a success.

Hang in there, Don! Your invention
will soon be a success.

I know you're running out of money.
Nếu mọi chuyện tệ hơn, you can
always sell some of your jewelry.

I know you're running out of money. If
worse comes to worst, you can always
sell some of your jewelry.

Lạc quan lên ! You'll find your lost
dog soon.

Keep your chin up! You'll find your
lost dog soon.

David was locked out of his house. He
knew that as a phương án cuối cùng,
he could always break a window.

David was locked out of his house. He
knew that as a last resort, he could
always break a window.

Jenny was earning $5 an hour working
at the store. She was really đủ tiền để
trang trải.

Jenny was earning $5 an hour
working at the store. She was really
living from hand to mouth.

Leo was upset that his soccer game
was canceled. His mother said, "Lạc
quan lên, now you can stay home and
watch TV."

Leo was upset that his soccer game was
canceled. His mother said, "Look on
the bright side, now you can stay home
and watch TV."

I don't like taking medicine. I'll only
take it as a phương án cuối cùng.

I don't like taking medicine. I'll only
take it as a last resort.

George is really poor. He đủ tiền để
sống.

George is really poor. He lives from
hand to mouth.

You lost your job? Lạc quan
lên, now you'll have more free
time!

You lost your job? Look on the bright
side, now you'll have more free time!

Kimberly wasn't able to xoay sở được
so she had to ask her parents to pay
her rent.

Kimberly wasn't able to make ends
meet so she had to ask her parents to
pay her rent.

Gary was thất nghiệp for a year
before finding a new job.

Gary was out of work for a year before
finding a new job.

Juan's trợ thủ đắc lực helps him make
all of his decisions.

Juan's right-hand man helps him make
all of his decisions.

If you can't xoay sở được , you'll need
to start spending less.

If you can't make ends meet, you'll
need to start spending less.

Bob is thất nghiệp. Do you know
anybody who might want to hire him?

Bob is out of work. Do you know
anybody who might want to hire him?

When Jack Thompson retired as
president of his company, his trợ thủ
đắc lực took over.

When Jack Thompson retired as
president of his company, his righthand man took over.

Ted was in love from the moment he
để mắt đến Amber.

Ted was in love from the moment he set
eyes on Amber.

Jill and Heather were friends, until
Heather quay lưng lại với Jill by
stealing her boyfriend.

Jill and Heather were friends, until
Heather stabbed Jill in the back by
stealing her boyfriend.

Al is so căng thẳng about his job that
he can't sleep at night.

Al is so stressed out about his job that
he can't sleep at night.

Susan knew from the moment she để
mắt đến Ted's friend Lucas that he
would be trouble.

Susan knew from the moment she set
eyes on Ted's friend Lucas that he
would be trouble.


You're firing me after all I've done for
this company? You're really quay
lưng lại với tôi!

You're firing me after all I've
done for this company? You're
really stabbing me in the back!

You've been so căng thẳng lately. You
really need to take a long vacation!

You've been so stressed out lately. You
really need to take a long vacation!

When Ted showed up for chemistry
class a half an hour late, his teacher
really cho anh ấy nghỉ.

When Ted showed up for chemistry class
a half an hour late, his teacher really
told him off.

When Ted came home at 4 a.m. last
Sunday, his mother said, "Thật nhẹ
nhõm you're home! I was so worried
about you."

When Ted came home at 4 a.m. last
Sunday, his mother said, "Thank
goodness you're home! I was so
worried about you."

Why run for Governor of New York?
Nghĩ lớn lên: run for President of the
United States!

Why run for Governor of New York?
Think big: run for President of the
United States!

Patty is going to báo hỏng the
plumber because the pipes he said he
fixed are still leaking.

Patty is going to tell off the plumber
because the pipes he said he fixed are
still leaking.

Thật nhẹ nhõm you didn't go to
California on Monday. It rained there
every day this week.

Thank goodness you didn't go to
California on Monday. It rained there
every day this week.

Ken and Sandra hope to sell their
house for $3 million dollars. They
always nghĩ lớn.

Ken and Sandra hope to sell their house
for $3 million dollars. They always
think big.

Có chuyện gì vậy, Bob? You don't
look very happy.

What's the matter, Bob? You don't
look very happy.


Will Ted teach Nicole how to play the
guitar? Chuyện đó sẽ ko bao giờ xảy
ra!

Will Ted teach Nicole how to play the
guitar? When pigs fly!

Oscar looks very pale. Có chuyện gì
with him?

Oscar looks very pale. What's the
matter with him?

Sure, I'll give you my new laptop.
Chuyện đó sẽ khơng bao giờ xảy ra!

Sure, I'll give you my new laptop.
When pigs fly!


PRACTICE THE IDIOMS
Fill in the blank with the missing word:
1) What's the
a) situation

? You look upset.
b) issue

c) matter

2) I know I can trust you. You would never stab me in the
a) leg

b) back

c) arm

3) If Bob and Susan run out of money, they can always borrow money from
Susan's sister as a
resort.

a) final

b) first

4) You look really stressed
a cup of tea?
a) about

b) in

c) last
. Why don't you sit down, relax, and have
c) out

5) Bob, everything will be fine. You just need to keep your chin
and remember that tomorrow is another day.
a) up

b) down

6) I just can't make up my
a) head

b) brain

c) above
whether to order chicken or fish.
c) mind

7) Nicole accidentally stepped on Ted's guitar. Ted got really angry and told

her
.
a) off

b) out

c) away

8) Your husband left you for his psychologist? Hang
there!
I'm sure he'll realize she's crazy and then come back to you.
a) up

b) in

c) out



LESSON 3: TARGET IDIOMS
Blow it

Slack off

/bləʊ ɪt/

/ˈslæk ɒf/

Hit the books

Cut class

/ˈhɪtɪŋ ðə bʊks/

/kʌt klɑːs/

Over my head

Can’t stand

/ˈəʊvə maɪ hɛd/

/kænt stænd/

Buckle down

A lost cause

/ˈbʌkl daʊn/

/ə lɒst kɔːz/

Beside the point

Give a hoot

/bɪˈsaɪd ðə pɔɪnt/

/gɪv ə huːt/

Heart set on

Stand a chance

/hɑːt sɛt ɒn/

/stænd ə ʧɑːns/

Edited by : NamPhuongLOD
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SOURCE: SPEAK ENGLISH LIKE AN AMERICAN