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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Appendix A: Idioms about Human Feelings
I/ Love:
English idioms Meanings Vietnamese idioms
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Used to say that when you are away
from sb you love, you love them more
Giận thì mắng, lặng thì thương
A woman/ man after one’s own heart
A person you particularly like because
he has the same interests as you
Người đàn ông / phụ nữ của lòng tôi
Be close / near / dear to sb's heart
Be a person or thing that sb is very fond
of
Say như điếu đổ / chết mê chết mệt /
mê tít thò lò
Come straight from the heart
From the bottom of my heart
Truly love sb Từ tận đáy lòng
Have eyes only for sb / Only have
eyes for sb
Only love sb Để mắt tới ai đó
Have got it bad Be very much in love Yêu cây nên dấu đến hoa
Head over heel (in love) Completely in love Yêu điên đảo
In one's heart of hearts In your deepest feelings / thoughts Từ tận đáy lòng / sâu thẳm trong tim
Sweet on someone Like sb very much in a romantic way Yêu nhau say đắm / thầm thương trộm
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS

By MONICACHEMS
nhớ / yêu thầm dấu bụng
The apple of one's eye
A person, usually a child, who sb love
very much
Cục cưng của tôi
The way to sb's heart The way to make sb like or love you Đường vào con tim
With all your heart
Used for emphasizing how strongly you
feel about sth
Với tất cả tấm lòng
II/ Happy:
English idioms Meanings Vietnamese idioms
A barrel / a bundle of laughs Very amusing, a lot of fun Vui nổ trời
As cheerful as the birds
As eager as a bridegroom
As gay as a lark
Very happy Vui như sáo
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Extremely happy
Vui như hội
Vui như tết
Be a good sport
Be generous, cheerful and pleasant,
especially in a difficult situation
Lạc quan yêu đời
Be a sight for sore eyes

Be a person or thing that you are
happy to see
Đẹp lóa mắt
Be all smiles
Be very happy and smiling, especially
after feeling sad or worried about sth
Nở gan nở ruột
Be grateful / thankful for small
mercies
Be happy that a bad situation is not
even worse
Như chết đi sống lại
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Be in / Go into raptures about / over
sb / sth
Be extremely enthusiastic about sb/
sth you like
Be in high spirits
In the heat of the moment
To be bitten by the bug
Be happy and cheerful Đang cao hứng
Beam / Grin / Smile from ear to ear
Be smiling a lot because you are very
pleased about sth
Ngoác miệng tới mang tai
Blow sb's mind Make you / sb feel extreme pleasure Nở từng khúc ruột
Bright - eyed and bushy tailed

Lively and cheerful, pleased and
proud
Mặt mày tươi rói
Do sb's heart good
Make sb feel happy, more cheerful,
hopeful
Feel like a million dollars Feel / look very good Vui như trăng rằm
Float / walk on air Very happy Như ở trên mây
In seventh heaven
On cloud nine
Be very happy about sth
Như ở trên mây
Trên chín tầng mây
Get a kick from / out of sth
Get a feeling of excitement,
enjoyment out of sth
Hồ hởi phấn khởi
Glad to see the back of sb Happy when you no longer have to
deal with sb / sth because they are
Như trút được gánh nặng
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
annoying or unpleasant
Grin like a Cheshire cat
Smile widely in a foolish or self-
satisfied way
Cười nhăn nhở
Have a time of your life

Have a whale of time
Enjoy yourself, be very happy or
excited
Vui lòng hả dạ
Have stars in your eyes
Happy and excited about future
because you believe that you will be
successful and famous
Mặt tươi như hoa
In the clover
Live happily and comfortably in
prosperity and success
Sướng như tiên
In transports of joy / delight Feeling very great joy Mở cờ trong bụng
Keep sb amused
Give sb interesting things to do or
entertain them so that they do not
become bored
Mua vui cho thiên hạ
Kick up your heels Be relaxed and enjoy yourself
Laugh like drain Laugh very loudly Cười như sấm / cười như phá
Laugh up your sleeve at sb / sth Be secretly amused by sth Cười thầm trong bụng
Laugh your head off Laugh very loudly and for a long time Cười lăn cười bò / cười nôn ruột
Like the cat that got / stole the cream
Very pleased or satisfied with
yourself
Như bắt được vàng
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS

By MONICACHEMS
On the edge of your seat
Very excited and giving your full
attention to
On the top of the world Very happy or proud Mát ruột mát gan
Over the moon Very happy and excited Mặt tươi hơn hớn
Split your sides laughing / with
laughter
Laugh a lot, laugh loudly Cười như nắc nẻ
The more the merrier
The more people or things there are,
the better the situation will be or the
more fun people will have
Càng đông càng vui
To be like a dog with two tails Be extremely happy Mừng như cha chết sống lại
To be mad / keen on sth
Be very interested in or enthusiastic
about sth / sb
Sướng quá hoá rồ
Whoop it up
1/ Enjoy yourself very much with a
group of noisy people
2/ Make people excited or
enthusiastic about sth
With open arms Extremely happy to see sb Tay bắt mặt mừng
Your heart leaps
Have a sudden feeling of happiness or
excitement
Khấp khởi mừng thầm
 I’m the angel of the page 

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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
iii/ sadness:
English idioms Meanings Vietnamese idioms
As cheerless as the grave
As sad as night
Very sad
Buồn như đưa đám / buồn như chấu cắn/
buồn như cha chết
Be drown in tears Giọt châu lã chã / nước mắt tuôn trào
Be in the blue Be depressed Buồn xo buồn rụi
Break one's heart Make sb feel extremely unhappy Tan vỡ trái tim
Crocodile tears (insincere sadness) An insincere show of sadness Nước mắt cá sấu
Cry your eyes out Cry a lot and for a long time
Khóc hết nước mắt / khóc như ri / khóc
như con gái về nhà chồng
Cut to the quick Deeply hurt in one’s feelings Ruột đau như cắt
Down in the dumps Feeling unhappy or without hope
Mặt mày ủ ê / ỉu xìu như bánh đa nhúng
nước / ỉu xìu như bánh bao chiều
Down in the mouth Miệng méo xệch
Drown one's sorrows
People drink a lot to forget their pain,
problems or unhappiness
Đắm chìm trong đau khổ
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS

Have one's head in one's boots
Be dispirited, deeply depressed,
timorously anxious about sth
Mặt mày ủ dột
Long face Mặt chảy dài
Lose heart Become discouraged
Tiu ngỉu như mèo bò cắt tai / tiu ngỉu
như chó cụp đuôi
Sob your heart out
Cry noisily for a long time because
you are very sad
Khóc đứng khóc ngồi
That Monday morning feeling
A feeling of being depressed because
you have to start a new week back at
work
Lừ đừ như ông Từ giữ đền
With a heavy / sinking heart With a feeling of sadness or fear Mặt nặng như đá đeo
Your heart sink
Used to say that you suddenly feel sad
or depressed
Mặt nặng như chì
Iv/ hatred:
English idioms Meanings Vietnamese idioms
Avoid sb / sth like the plague Avoid sb / sth completely Tránh như tránh hủi
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Keep somebody at arm's length

Can't stand the sight / sound of sb / sth Dislike or hate to (see / hear) sb / sth Ghét cay ghét đắng
Hate sb like poison Extremely hate sb Ghét ngon ghét ngọt
Hate sb's guts
Hate the sight of sb / sth
Dislike sb very much
Ghét nhau như chó với mèo / như mặt
trăng với mặt trời / như nước với lửa
Have no time for sb / sth Dislike and have no respect for sb /sth Căm thù tới tận xương tủy
Have no use for sb / sth Strongly dislike sb /sth Không đội trời chung
There’s no love lost between A and B Two people dislike each other Ghét đào đất đổ đi
V/ anger:
English idioms Meanings Vietnamese idioms
A black look
An angry or disapproving expression on
sb’s face
Ánh mắt hình viên đạn
Add fuel to the fire / flames
Do or say sth which makes sb even more
angry
Đổ thêm dầu vào lửa
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
As angry as a wasp
As red as a beetroot
As red as a turkey - cock
Very angry
Nóng như Trương Phi / mặt đỏ như gấc/
mặt đỏ như gà chọi / mặt đỏ như vang

At each other throats
Angrily fighting or arguing with each
other
Muốn ăn tươi nuốt sống
Bad / ill feelings
Anger between people, especially after
an argument or disagreement
Tức anh ách
Be / Get steamed up Nổi cơn tam bành
Be a thorn in your flesh / side
Be a person or thing that repeatedly
annoys you or stops you doing sth
Cái gai trong mắt
Be hopping mad
Be in a foul mood
Extremely angry Bầm gan sôi máu
Be on sb' s back
Give sb grief about / over sth
Annoy or criticize sb a lot Mắng vuốt mặt không kòp
Be on the warpath
Be angry and ready for an argument or a
fight about sth
Nóng như lửa đốt
Be out of your mind Be / go crazy Giận mất khôn
Become red in the face Đỏ mặt tía tai
Bite a person's head off Speak to sb angrily without a good Nổi trận lôi đình
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS

Jump down one's throat reason
Blow your top / Blow your stack
Fly into a rage / temper
Fly into a tantrum
Fly off handle
Have / throw a tantrum / See red
Suddenly become angry
Nổi máu xung thiên / nổi cơn tam bành/
giận đỏ mặt / đỏ mặt tía tai
Cross as two sticks Annoyed, irritated, petulant Mặt nặng mày chì
Cut sb dead
Pretend not to see sb or not to greet sb to
show your anger
Mặt lạnh như tiền
Do a slow burn Slowly get angry Giận sôi máu lên
Do sb 's head in
Make sb feel confused, upset, and / or
annoyed
Chọc ổ kiến lửa
Drive sb up the wall Make sb very annoyed, drive sb crazy Tức nước vỡ bờ
Feel out of sorts Feel ill or bad tempered Nhăn như mặt hổ phù
Flip your lid Become very angry Tức lộn ruột
Foam at the mouth Giận sùi bọt mép
For crying out loud
Hell's teeth
Used to express anger or frustration Mắm miệng day tay
Get a person' s back up
Give somebody / Get the hump
Make sb annoyed Mó dái ngựa / trêu ong chọc rắn
Get in sb' s hair Annoy sb by preventing them from doing Kỳ đà cản mũi

 I’m the angel of the page 
47
APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
sth
Get on your high horse
Be annoyed because you think that sb
has not treated you with enough respect
Bầm gan tím ruột
Get one's goat Annoy sb very much Tức lộn ruột
Get out of bed on the wrong side /
Get up on the wrong side of the bed
Be bad – tempered from the moment
you get up
Tức đầy gan đầy ruột
Get steamed up (about sth) Become very angry or excited about sth Sôi gan nổi mật
Give sb hell
Shout at / speak angrily to sb because
they have done sth wrong
Mắng cho tắt bếp / tát nước vào mặt
Gnash your teeth
Show one’s teeth
Feel very angry and upset about sth,
especially because you cannot get what
you want
Nghiến răng nghiến lợi / nghiến răng
trèo trẹo / nhe nanh giơ vuốt
Go ape Become extremely angry or excited Tức như bò đá
Go ballistic
Go bananas / Have a pink / blue fit

Become very angry Nổi máu xung thiên
Go off deep end
Get into a state of violent emotion of
anger
Giãy nảy như đỉa phải vôi
Have / throw a fit Become very excited or angry Điên tiết lên
Have a cow Suddenly become very excited or angry Giận điên người
Have a short temper Nóng tai nóng mặt
 I’m the angel of the page 
48
APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Have sb' s guts for garters
Be very angry with sb and punish them
severely for sth they have done
Tức trào máu họng
Here we go again
Used for showing you are angry or
annoyed that sth is starting to happen
again
Biết rồi khổ lắm nói mãi
His bark is worse than his bite
Sb is not really as angry or unkind as
they seem
His blood is up
Hit the roof / ceiling / Raise the roof
Make sb's blood boil
Suddenly become very angry Sôi máu lên / nóng máu
Hot under the collar Angry or annoy Nóng gáy
In high dudgeon In an angry or offended mood Cau mặt cau mày

Keep your hair on
Used for telling sb who is angry or very
excited about sth to keep calm
Hạ hỏa
Kick up / Make / Create / Raise a
stink about sth
Show that you are angry about a
situation, often by protesting in public
Like a bear with a sore head Very bad – tempered Hung hăng con bọ xít
Like a red rag to a bull Causing a person to be excitedly and Đằng đằng sát khí
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
violently angry
Make sb' s hair curl Shock or disturb sb Tóc tai dựng ngược
Purple with rage Giận tím mặt / bầm gan tím ruột
Run high Be strong and angry or excited Tức cành hông
Send sb away / off with a flea in
their ear
(Refuse sb’s request) angrily
Shake the dust from one's feet
Leave a place without request or with
relief or generally in anger or disgust
Sick to your stomach Disgusted or angry Tức như đấm bò bông
Smooth somebody's ruffled feathers Make sb feel less angry or offended Nuốt giận làm lành
Spit blood venom
Show that you are very angry, speak in
an angry way
Gắt như mắm tôm

Take sth amiss
Feel offended about sth, perhaps
because you understand in a wrong way
Take sth to heart Be very offended by sb’s criticism Tức ói máu
Tear one's hair Be very worried or angry Vò đầu bứt tai
The feathers / fur / sparks will fly There will be anger, annoyance
To hell with sb / sth
Used to express anger or dislike and to
say that you no longer care about sb/ sth
Biến đi cho khuất mắt!
Turn in his / her grave Likely to be shock or angry
Up in arms about / over sth Very angry and protesting very strongly
 I’m the angel of the page 
50
APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Vi/ embarrassment:
English idioms Meanings Vietnamese idioms
A burning shame
A crying shame
Thẹn đỏ mặt
As shy as a fawn
As shy as a school girl
E lệ thẹn thùng / e thẹn như con gái mới
về nhà chồng
Become red in face Mặt đỏ như gấc / mặt đỏ như gà chọi
Die of embarrassment Xấu hổ muốn chết
Hang your head in / for shame
Put to shame
Look or feel embarrassed or ashamed Ngượng chín cả mặt

Not know where to hide oneself
Không biết chui lỗ nẻ nào / chui đầu
xuống đất / chỉ muốn độn thổ
 I’m the angel of the page 
51
APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Vii/ worry / afraid:
English idioms Meanings Vietnamese idioms
A fuss about nothing
Make a song and dance about sth
A lot of anger or worry about sth that is
not important
Rối tinh rối mù / lo bò trắng răng
A shrinking violet Sb is very shy and is easily frightened Yếu bóng vía
As afraid as a grasshopper
As nervous as a cat
As nervous as a mouse
As pale as a ghost
Run như cầy sấy / tái ngắt như gà cắt
tiết / mặt xanh như chàm đổ / mặt
trắng như thằng chết trôi / run như dẽ
Be / Feel like jelly
(of legs or knees) feel weak because
you are nervous or frightened
Nhũn như con chi chi
Be / Stand in awe of sb / sth
Admire sb / sth and be slightly afraid of
them / it
Kính nhi viễn chi

Be dead scared of sth Sợ chết khiếp
Be frightened / nervous / scared of Be very easily frightened, be very Sợ hùm sợ cả cứt hùm
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
your own shadow nervous
Be in a stew Be / become very nervous about sth Mất ăn mất ngủ
Be on hot bricks
Like a cat on hot bricks
On pins and needles
Tense, excited, nervous or restless Như ngồi trên đống lửa
Be scared / bored witless Be extremely frightened or bored Kinh hồn bạt vía
Blue in the face Sợ xanh mặt / mặt vàng như nghệ
Drive sb out of their mind / wits
Make sb crazy or very nervous or
worried
Giậm giật như chó tháng bảy
Fear has big eyes Thần hồn nát thần tính
Fear has quick ear
Chim phải sợ cành cây cong / phải
một cái, rái đến già
Frighten / Scare the life out of sb Frighten sb very much Sợ khiếp đảm
Get / Have the jitters
Feel anxious and nervous, especially
before an important event or before
having to do sth difficult
Như ngồi phải cọc
Get / Have butterflies in your stomach
Get / have nervous feeling in your

stomach before doing sth
Kiến bò trong bụng / ruột rối như tơ vò
Go hot and cold all over Suddenly feel very worried, upset or
frightened when you remember sth
Lạnh cả người
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
very unpleasant
Have ants in your pants
Be unable to stay still because you are
anxious or excited about sth
Đứng ngồi không yên / nóng ruột sốt
lòng
Have cold feet
No longer want to continue what you
intended or have started because you
are nervous or afraid
Ớn xương sườn
Have kittens
Be nervous and anxious, especially
when you are waiting for news of sth
Ăn không ngon, ngủ không yên / sốt
ruột sốt gan / ruột nóng như lửa
He cannot say / cry Bo to a goose
He is so timid that he can never utter a
word to assert himself on any point
however small and against anybody
however unformidable

Nhát như thỏ đế
Ill at ease Nervous, especially in a social situation Sợ phát ốm
In a (flat) spin Very confused, worried or excited Rối như canh hẹ
In a blue funk Be depressed Mặt xanh như đít nhái
In a lather In a nervous, angry or excited state Cuống lên như chuột phải khói
Jump out of your skin
Make a quick, sudden movement
because sth has suddenly frightened
you
Nhảy dựng lên / giật bắn người / như
giẫm phải lửa
Lead sb a merry dance Cause sb a lot of trouble or worry Lo cuống cà kê
 I’m the angel of the page 
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APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Make one's flesh creep
Make sb' s skin crawl
Make you feel afraid or full of disgust
Hoảng kinh hồn vía / hồn siêu phách
lạc
On edge Nervous, worried or anxious Như phỏng nước sôi
Pale as death itself Mặt xanh như tàu lá
Scare, annoy the hell out of sth Scare, annoy sb very much Kinh tâm táng đởm
Scared / Frighten sb out of his wits Frighten sb very much Dọa cho hồn vía lên mây
Shake in one's boots Afraid of sth Sợ nổi gai ốc / nổi da gà
Stand in terror of sth
Stop sb in their tracks
Suddenly make sb stop by frightening
or surprising them; suddenly stop

because sth has frightened you
Đứng chết trân / đứng sững như trời
trồng / đứng như bò chôn chân / đứng
trơ như phỗng
Too close for comfort
So near that you become afraid or
anxious
With bated breath
Hardly able to breath because you are
very anxious about sth
Lo sốt vó
Your hair stand on end You feel very frightened, nervous Dựng tóc gáy
Your heart misses a beat
You have a sudden feeling of fear,
excitement
Sợ đứng tim
Your heart is in your mouth You feel very anxious or afraid Sợ mất mật
 I’m the angel of the page 
55
APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
vIii/ envy:
English idioms Meanings Vietnamese idioms
Green eyed - monster Jealousy
Ghen mặt xanh mày xám / ghen lồng ghen
lộn
Green with envy
Very jealous (wanting sth that sb else
has)
Con gà tức nhau tiếng gáy / ghen ăn tức ở /

ghen ăn ghét uống
Keep up with the Joneses
Try to have all the possession and
social achievements that your
neighbors or other people around you
have, especially by buying what they
buy
Không chòu thua chò kém em
 I’m the angel of the page 
56
APPENDIX A: IDIOMS ABOUT HUMAN FEELINGS
By MONICACHEMS
Pale with envy
Sick with jealousy
Trâu buộc ghét trâu ăn / vô duyên ghét kẻ
có duyên / không tiền ghét kẻ có tiền cầm
tay
 I’m the angel of the page 
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