một số thành ngữ Tiếng Anh thông dụng

1. call the shots: quyết định (= make the decisions)

e.g: While our boss is on vacation, Bob will call the shots.
2. chip in: đóng góp tiền hoặc thời gian

g: The staff members chipped in5 dollars each to buy Jody a birthday
gift.
3. down to the wire: đúng vào phút cuối cùng

e.g: It’s coming down to the wire to get these done on time.
4. front runner: một trong những người mong đợi sự chiến thắng

e.g: Angela is a front runner for the new supervisor position.
5. get a head start: bắt đầu trước mọi người

e.g: They gave the walkers a head start in the run for cancer.
6. get into the full swing : thoải mái làm việc gì đó sau một thời gian

e.g: It will probably take a month of working at my new job before I get into the
full swing of things.
7. get off the hook: thoát khỏi, có trách nhiệm rời đi

e.g: The child got off the hook for stealing because the security camera was
broken.
8. give something or someone a fair shake: cố gắng làm gì đó trước khi từ

bỏ


e.g: You should give Nadine a fair shake before you decide she isn’t good
enough for the job.

9. get a second wind: đốt cháy năng lượng sau khi mệt

g: I was exhausted after 3 kilometres of running, but I got a second
windafter I passed the beach.
10. give it your best shot: cố gắng hết sức

e.g: Give it your best shot and you may just make it to the finals.
11. give one a run for one’s money: cố gắng hết sức đánh bại người khác

e.g: I know the other team is expected to win, but let’s give them a run for their
money tonight.
12. go overboard: nói hay làm nhiều hơn bạn cần

e.g: You can’t believe everything Janice says about Rick. She tends to go
overboard when she’s complaining about him.
13. hit a snag: gặp phải vấn đề

g: The renovations were going along great until we hit a snagwith the
carpet installation.
14. hold all the aces: mong đợi chiến thắng hay thành công

e.g: The children hold all the aces when it comes to the father-son baseball
tournament.
15. hot shot (big shot) : người quan trọng hay cực kỳ thành công

e.g: All the hot shots from Silicon Valley were invited to meet the president
16. jump the gun: bắt đầu quá sớm


e.g: I guess I jumped the gun by buying Pam and Steve a wedding gift. They

called off the engagement.
17. let her rip: đi thẳng ngay bây giờ

e.g: Okay, here are the keys to your new car. Let her rip!
18. level playing field: mọi người đều có cơ hội như nhau

e.g: The spelling bee is a level playing field because all of the kids are in grade
nine.
19. long shot: một thứ rất khó để hoàn thành

e.g: Jim thinks we can afford the house, but I think it’s a long shot.
20. neck and neck: ở trong một sự ràng buộc với ai đó

e.g: George and Stan are neck and neck in the hockey pool. Either of them could
win the money.