Tài liệu CAMBRIGDE INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY OF IDIOMS_ CHƯƠNG 3 : THEME PANELS pdf

Theme
Panels
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Theme panels 440
Anger
'What's wrong?' asked Claire. 'You've been like a bear with a sore head all
morning.' 'I've had it up to here,' I replied. 'I've got three reports to write byfive
o'clock, and if I don't fmish them on time, Bill's going to hit the roof. I've already
put his back up by refusing to work late, and he's likely to blow a fuse if I don't
get this job done.' Just then, the phone rang. It was the managing director asking
me if I would help show some clients around the office.This was the second time
she'd asked me and, although it was a pain in the neck, I had to agree because she
was the one person I didn't want to rub up the wrong way. Twohours later, I was
still busy.As we reached my department, Claire came running up to me. 'Where've
you been?' she whispered. 'Bill's on the warpath because you haven't done those
reports yet.' At that moment, he appeared by the door,with a face like thunder.
He was just about to let rip when he saw the managing director standing next to
me. 'Hello,Bill,' she said. 'Let me introduce you to some very important clients.'
being angry
hit the ceiling/roof
informal Y
to becomevery angry and~art shouting
blow a fuse
informal
.?'\,
to become very angry and shout or
behave in a violent way
be on the warpath
humorous
X
to be looking for someone you are angry

with in order to speak angrily to them or
punish them
a face like thunder
.y
a very angry expression
have/throw a fit
informal
go spare
informal
to become very angry /
rub sb up the wrong way
British
&
Australian
V
rub sb the wrong way
American
r">.
to annoy someone without intending to
ruffle
sb's
feathers ~_
to make someone annoyed "-
be a pain in the neck
informal
X
to be very annoying .
drive/send sb round the bend
informal
X

to make someone very angry, especially
by continuing to do something annoying
talking angrily to someone
x:
let rip
~Z
fly off the handle
informal
to suddenly express your emotions
to react in a very angry way to without control
something someone says or does _. . _ ~
. . "\/ give sb an earful
informal
7~
have had It (up to here)
informal '-,
to tell someone how angry you are with
to be so angry about something that you them
do not want to continue with it or think
about
it
any more
being in a bad mood
be fed up to the back teeth
British .
&
Australian, informal
'<"'
to be angry because a bad situation has
continued for too long or a subject has

been discussed too much
making someone angry
be like a bear with a sore head
British
&
Australian
X
to be in a bad mood which causes you to
treat other people badly and complain a
lot
.....................................................................get out of bed on the wrong side
get/put
sb's
back up
informal
<
to be in a bad mood and be easily
to do or say something which annoys annoyed all day
-s-:"
someone - '"""-..
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441 Theme panels
Business
Richard had always been determined to make it in business. After leaving school,
he set up a stall in the market selling cheap COsand cassettes and was soon doing a
roaring trade. Being a big fish in a small pond was not enough for him, however.
He knew that if he wanted to be a big shot in the business world, he needed to stay
ahead of the pack. Over the next few years, he opened eight shops in the area and
became known as a hard-nosed businessman who drove a hard bargain. Even
when other companies were going to the wall, he kept going. He's now one of the

most successful business people in the region, but unlike some fat cats, he supports
a lot of local charities and looks after his staff well. He often says he'd like to retire
soon, but I can't see him hanging up his hat just yet - he loves his job too much.
succeeding in business doing business
make it
to be successful, especially in a job
be ahead of the pack
>:.
to be more successful than other people
who are trying to achieve the same
things as you
corner the market
K
to become so successful at selling or
making a particular product that almost
no one else sells or makes it
successful people
.....................................................................
a big shot
informal
'Z
an important or powerful person in a
group or organization
a big fish in a small pond )(.
one of the most important people in a
small organization who would have
much less power and importance if they
were part of a larger organization
a fat cat
informal

x..
an impolite way of referring to someone
who is very rich and powerful
a high-flier
Y-
someone who is very successful at their
job and soon becomes powerful or rich
stopping work
hang up
your
hat
>-;
to leave your job for ever ..
a golden handshake
K._
a large sum of money which is given to
someone when they leave a company,
especially if they are forced to leave-
y
drive a hard bargain
)<.
"- to demand a lot or refuse to give much
when making an agreement with
someone
cut a deal
American
>(
to make an agreement or an
arrangement with someone, especially
in business or politics

0
run a tight ship :""'-
to control a business or other
organization firmly and effectively
hard-nosed
;;rl:
practical and determined
making money
do a roaring trade
British
& ( .)
Australian "'-
to sell a lot of goods quickly -
make a killing
informal
::...7
to earn a lot of money very easily
a money-spinner
British
&
y
Australian
a business or product that makes a lot of
money for someone
behaving dishonestly
.....................................................................
be on the make ~_
trying to get money or power in a way
that is not pleasant or honest
cook the books

informal
K
to record false information in the
accounts of an organization, especially
in order to steal money
»,
have your fingerslhand in the till
to steal money from the place where you
work
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Theme panels 442
Dishonesty
Have you seen that new drama on television? I must watch the next part tonight. It's
about a lonely woman who meets this guy in a club. They start to chat but you can
see immediately that he's a bit ofa fast talker and probably up to no good. Hetells
her he's a doctor and that his wife died some time ago. Of course it all turns out to
be a pack of lies. They begin a relationship but she gets suspicious about his past
and wants to know more. He tries to pull the wool over her eyes by telling her that
he finds it too painful to talk about his dead wife. He then tells her some cock-and-
bull story about needing to payoff a debt and asks her to lend him quite a large
amount of money. At the end of last week's episode she'd just discovered that he'd
been lying through his teeth - his wife is alive all the time. They try to steal her
passport and she catches them red-handed. I can't wait to see what happens
tonight!
a
dishonest person
a fast talker American
& .,.;:/
Australian, informal / .
someone who can talk in a clever way in

order to persuade people to believe
something that is not true
X,
a snake in the grass '
someone who pretends to be your friend
while secretly doing things to harm you
be as slippery as an eel
)<.
someone who is as slippery as an eel
cannot be trusted
a bad egg mainly American,
y
informal .
" someone who behaves in a bad or
dishonest way
deceiving someone
pull the wool over sb's eyes / ",
to deceive someone in order to prevent
them from knowing what you are really
doing
take sb for a ride )~
to cheat
or
deceive someone
pull a fast one informal
y
to successfully deceive someone .
sell sb a bill of goods American'--:::
to make someone believe something that
is not true

dishonest activities
play dirty informal
x.
to behave dishonestly, especially by
cheating in a game
do sth under false pretences
to do something when you have lied
about who you are or what you are doing
be up to no good informal
.x..
if someone is up to no good, they are
doing something bad
'\7
smell fishy informal /.,-
if a situation or explanation smells fishy,
it causes you to think that someone is
being dishonest '. /.'
funny business informal
X
dishonest or unpleasant actions
telling lies
lie through your teeth
X.....
to tell someone something that you
know is completely false
a pack of lies
a tissue of lies formal
a story that someone has invented in
order to deceive people-
7

a cock-and-bull story informal
)<.
a story or explanation which is
obviously not true
r-:»:
",/
/'--
be economical with the truth
humorous
to not be completely honest about
something
discovering dishonest
activities
....................................................d .
Y
catch sb red-handed
to discover someone doing something
that is wrong or not legal
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443
Theme panels
Happiness and Sadness
It was Maria's 21st birthday, a day on which she should have felt on top of the
world. Instead she was feeling down in the dumps because she had just started a
new job in a new town, away from her family and friends.As she got out of bed, she
heard the sound of the post being delivered. Running downstairs, she jumped for
joy when she saw four envelopes on the doormat. But when she looked closer, her
heart sank as she realized they were bills, not birthday cards. All day at work, she
went around with a long face. Even though she was very happy to be doing a job
she loved so much, she still couldn't help feeling out of sorts. However, when she

got home and opened the front door, there was a sudden shout of 'Surprise!', and her
parents and friends appeared carrying presents and bottles of champagne. Maria
was over the moon that everyone had made such an effort, and she spent the rest
of the evening on cloud nine.
being happy
feel on top of the world
be on cloud nine
informal
be full of the joys of spring
British
&
Australian, humorous
be in seventh heaven
humorous
to feel very happy ~
jump for joy
'x,
to be very happy about something good
that has happened
be thrilled to bits
informal
be over the moon
informal
be tickled pink
old-fashioned
to be extremely pleased about something
be floating/walking on air
to be very happy and exclied because
something very pleasant has happened
to you

like the cat that got the cream
British
&
Australian
like the cat that ate the canary
American
annoying other people by looking very
pleased with yourself about something
good that you have done
making someone happy
make
sb's
day
x..
to make someone very happy
being sad
be down in the dumps
informal
to be unhappy
a
long face
a very sad expression
be out of sorts
to feel slightly ill or slightly unhappy
a
misery guts
informal
someone who complains all the time and
is never happy
be in the doldrums

to feel sad and lack the energy to do
anything
being disappointed
sb's
heart sinks
if someone's heart sinks, they start to
feel sad or worried
making someone upset
hit sb where it hurts (most)
to do something which will upset
someone as much as possible
cut sb to the quick
old-fashioned
to upset someone by criticizing them
kick sb in the teeth
to treat someone badly or unfairly,
especially at a time when they need
support
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444
Health
I'd been feeling a bit off-colour for a while. I'd been more tired than usual and
getting lots of headaches, and was generally a bit below par. It was worst in the
morning. I'd get up feeling like death warmed up. I looked ill too. My mother
commented when she saw me that I was as white as a sheet. She suggested that I
take a break and recharge my batteries. A week away from the office did me a
power of good. I came back feeling as right as rain!
feeling ill
,

"
be/feel under the weather /"
be off-colour
British
&
Australian
to feel ill or less well than usual
y
be below par / ./
not
be up to par \(
to be slightly ill ./
be as sick as a dog
informal
to be very sick
be as white as a sheet
)<
to be very pale, usually because you are ill
X
be in a bad way
British
&
Australian
to be ill, unhappy or in a bad state
like death (warmed up)
British
&
Australian
like death (warmed over)
j.."

American
if you feel or look like death warmed up,
you feel or look very ill
the dreaded lurgy
British
&
...L
Australian, humorous
an illness which is not serious but
passes easily from person to person
mental illness
lj
not
be all there
informal /<
to be slightly crazy
not
be right in the head
to be mentally ill
a basket case
someone who is crazy and unable to
organize their life
be off your rocker
informal
eo/'
be off your trolley
humorous
"<,
be as nutty as a fruitcake
British

&
Australian, informal
to be crazy
recovering/being healthy
be as right as rain
to feel well /---
be as fit as a fiddle
to be very healthy
y'
recharge
your
batteries
to rest in order to get back your strength
and energy ;
be up and about/around ~
to be well enough to get out of bed and
move around
a clean bill of health
a statement that someone is healthy
death
be pushing up daisies
humorous
to be dead
x:
pop
your
clogs
British, humorous •
to die
'<..

do sb a power of good
informal
to make someone feel much better
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445
Theme panels
Helping
r-
Jennifer has resigned. She was fed up with continually having to be at Andrew's
beck and call. I don't blame her, actually. He expected her to wait on him hand
and foot - but she was his secretary, not a slave, and there are limits! When she first
started to work here she bent over backwards to do everything as Andrew wanted.
I suppose she was grateful to him because he helped her get a foot in the door. She
was such a pleasant person to have around the office, always lending a hand if
someone had a problem and taking the new girls under her wing. But then
Andrew began to make her cover up for his mistakes, saying that he would give her
a leg up if she wanted promotion - I think it was a case of you scratch my back
and I'll scratch yours. Well Jennifer doesn't like being taken for granted and
when the promotion never happened I guess she got tired of doing his dirty work
for him.
helping someone more than
you should
be at
sb's
beck and call
to be always willing and able to do what
someone asks you to do
wait on sb hand and foot
to do everything for someone so that
they do not have to do anything for

themselves
someone who is younger or has less
experience than you
go to bat for
sb
American
&
Australian
to give help and support to someone who
is in trouble, often by talking to someone
else for them
in
sb's
hour of need
at a time when someone needs help very
much
do
sb's
dirty work A friend in need (is a friend
to do something unpleasant or difficult
indeed).
for someone else because they do not something that you say which means
want to do it themselves that someone who gives you help when
y
you need it is a really good friend
givelhand
sth
to sb on a plate
f "'-
to let someone get something very easily,

without having to work for it trying very hard to help
helping someone succeed in
their job
.....................................................................
get
a/your
foot in the door )(
to start working at a low level in an
organization because you want a better
job in the same organization in the future
give sb a leg up
to help someone be more successful
when people need special
help
take sb under your wing
to help and protect someone, especially
go toltake great pains
to do sth
to make a great effort to do something
bendJIean over backwards
to do sth
X
to try very hard to do something,
especially to help or please someone else
fall over
yourself to do sth
to be very eager to do something
helping someone when they
help you
You scratch my back and I'll

scratch yours.
something that you say in order to tell
someone that you will help them if they
will help you
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Theme panels 446
Intelligence and Stupidity
'Doyou remember Sean Hughes? He was in your class at school.'
'Ofcourse 1do!Heused to goto sleep during lessons. Everyone said he had nothing
between his ears. I don't know why he was put in our class - he really was out of
his depth. I remember once he was asked to demonstrate an experiment in
chemistry, and he didn't have the faintest idea what to do.Hewas a rugby player
as well,wasn't he?All brawn and no brains, I suppose.I wonder what's happened
to him now.'
'Well,you'll never guess, but it turns out that Sean's really quite a bright spark. I
found out yesterday he's the brains behind the new computer software company
that everyone's talking about.'
'Sean Hughes - a brain box? I don't believe it!'
being intelligent
a brain box
British
&
Australian,
informal
a very intelligent person
being stupid
have nothing between
your
ears
informal

to be stupid
be as bright as a button
British
&
be all brawn and no brains
Australian
to be physically strong but not very
to be intelligent and ableto think quickly intelligent
a bright spark
British
&
Australian
an intelligent person
be the brains behind
sth
to be the person who plans and
organizes something, especially
something successful
a smart aleclaleck
informal
someone who is always trying to seem
more clever than everyone else in a way
that is annoying
knowing about something
be as thick as two (short) planks
British, informal
be dead from the neck up
humorous
to be very stupid
not knowing about

something
~~'~~~'~;';~~;"~~~~~""'~>(""""""""
to not have the knowledge,experience or
skills to deal with a particular subject or
situation
a mine of information
a person or a book with a lot of not
have the faintest (idea)
information to have no knowledge of
X'
information about something
be in the know
informal
to know about something which most
people do not know about
know
your
onions
British
&
Australian, humorous
to know a lot about a particular subject
or no
the blind leading the blind
a situation where someone is trying to
show someone else how to do something
which they do not know how to do
themselves
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447

Theme panels
Interest and Boredom
?""
Every summer, my cousin Nick used to come to stay for a month. I didn't look
forward to it much because he wasn't interested in anything I did and he always
complained he was bored stiff in the country. I was big on horse-riding in those
days, but horses left him cold, and while I was out riding, he stayed at home,
kicking his heels. I once asked him what sports he
did
like, but he said he didn't
go a bundle on sport and preferred playing computer games. One morning at
breakfast, I was telling my Dad about a local rock band who were looking for a
guitarist, and I noticed that Nick was all ears. That morning, he went into town
with his guitar and returned later to say he'd joined the band. He was champing at
the bit with impatience and could hardly wait to start practising. He's now been
playing with the band for a year and he loves it. Their music's not everyone's cup
of tea, but they're really popular with the local kids, and they're even thinking of
making a record. Whoknows, Nick might even be famous one day!
be big on
sth
K
to be very interested in something and
think that it is important
being interested in something
not
go a bundle on
sth
British,
...................... informal
to not like something

be all ears
informal
'<,
to be very eager to hear what someone is
going to say
have a thing about
sth/sb
informal
to like something or someone very much
or to be very interested in them
being eager to do something
be champing/chomping at the bit
to be very keen to start an activity or to
go somewhere
get-up-and-go
energy and enthusiasm
not
be
sb's
cup of tea
X
if someone or something is not your cup
of tea, you do not like them or you are
not interested in them
not
give a damn
informal
X
not
care/give a toss

British,
informal
to not be interested in or worried about
something or someone
sb's
heart isn't in
sth
if someone's heart is not in something
that they are doing, they are not very
interested in it
being bored
be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed be bored stiff
humorous
be bored to death/tears
X
to be full ofenergy and eager to dothings to be very bored
an eager beaver kick
your
heels
British
someone who works very hard and is to be forced to wait for a period oftime
very enthusiastic
not being interested in
something
leave sb cold
if something leaves you cold, it does not
cause you to feel any emotion
be at a loose end
British
&

Australian
to have nothing to do
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Theme panels 448
Liking and not Liking
X
I've got four sons and I love them all to bits, although I must admit I've got a bit
of a soft spot for the youngest, who's only three and very cute. The older two get
on like a house on fire, but always seem to have it in for the third. They get into
terrible arguments with each other, and it usually ends up with one of them saying
that he hates the other's guts and storming out of the house. It really gets on my
husband's nerves. Still, the oldest seems to have taken a shine to a girl in his
class, which gets him out of the house a bit. She's very quiet and not especially
pretty;but I suppose there's no accounting for taste.
liking people
the apple of
sb's
eye
the person who someone loves most and
is very proud of
love sb to bits
informal
Y,
to like or to lovesomeone a lot
get on like a house on fire
informal
if two people get on like a house on fire,
they like each other very much and
become friends very quickly
a mutual admiration society

humorous
a situation in which two people express
a lot of admiration for each other
take a shine to
sb
informal
to like someone immediately
being annoyed by something
or someone
get up
sb's
nose
British
&
Australian, informal
get on
sb's
wick
British
&
Australian, informal
to annoy someone
the bane of
your
life ~
someone or something that is always
causing problems for you and upsetting
you
get/grate on
sb's

nerves
informal
X
to annoy someone, especially by doing
something again and again
sb's
pet hate
British
&
Australian
sb's
pet peeve
American
something that you do not like at all
have a soft spot for
sb
to feela lot ofaffection for one particular
opinions on what people like
.....................................................................
person, often without knowing why
be
sb's
main squeeze
American,
informal
to be the person that someone has a
romantic or sexual relationship with
sing
sb/sth's
praises

to praise someone or something very
much
not liking people
have a downer on
sb British
&
Australian, informal
to not like someone
hate
sb's
guts
informal
to hate someone
have it in for
sb informal
Y
to be determined to harm or criticize
someone
(It's) different strokes for
different folks.
mainly American
something that you say which means
that different people like or need
different things
each to
his/her
own
X
something that you say which means
that it is acceptable for people to like or

believe in different things
One man's meat is another man's
poison.
something that you say which means
that something one person likes very
much can be something that another
person does not like at all
There's no accounting for taste!
something that yousay when you cannot
understand why someone likes
something or someone
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449 Theme panels
Money
Youknow the saying, 'A penny saved is a penny earned'. Well,that's all right if
you're regularly earning money, but I'm not. I've been living from hand to mouth
doing temporary work. I've tightened my belt but I'm always in the red at the end
of the month. My latest idea is to start my own business. This requires hard cash
and I don't have it. I want to start a taxi service to and from the airport. I'll need a
good, reliable car and that will cost an arm and a leg. Initially, I'd probably just
break even, but eventually I reckon I'd have a steady job and a steady income, even
if I didn't make a killing. What I really need is some ready money or perhaps
someone who has a nest egg they would like to invest. Maybe my best hope is to
win the lottery and strike it rich!
having a lot of money
be rolling in it
to be very rich
break even
to not make or lose any money from a
business

keep body and soul together
have money to burn """
to just be able to pay for the things that
to have a lot of money and spend large you need in order to live
amounts
a nest egg
><-.
an amount ofmoney that you have saved
make a killing
informal
X
to earn a lot of money very easily
strike it rich
to suddenly become rich
having no money
spending money
cost an arm or a leg
informal
».
to be very expensive
not
break the bank
to not be too expensive
ready cash/money
money that is immediately available to
spend
be out of pocket
to have less money than you should have
hard cash
money in the form of coins or notes

not
have two pennies to rub
together
to be very poor
be in the red
:t<--
to owe money to a bank
having just enough money
live (from) hand to mouth
><-
to have just enough money to live on and
nothing extra
sayings about money
A penny saved is a penny earned.
it is wise to save money
be penny-wise and pound-foolish
to be extremely careful about small
amounts of money and not careful
enough about larger amounts
Money doesn't grow on trees.
tighten
your
belt
be careful how much money you spend
to spend less than you did before because there is only a limited amount
because you have less money
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450
Power and Authority

When Peter goesaway on business, it's Ellen who calls the shots in the office.Just
because she has friends in high places, she thinks she can run the show! Rachel
and I are the only people who refuse to bow and scrape, but she seems to have the
rest of the office in the palm of her hand. She's even got Sandy,the supervisor,
wrapped around her little
finger.
Rachel says she's far too big for her boots
and it's time Peter and the powers that be were told. I'm sure Peter wouldbe very
concerned if he knew.He doesn't like people throwing their weight around and
he certainly wouldn't want Ellen setting the agenda.
being in a position of power
run the show
informal
to be in charge of an organization or an
activity
call the shotsltune>
to be the person who makes all the
important decisions and who has the
most power in a situation
set the agenda
to decide what subjects other people
should deal with in a waythat showsyou
have more authority than them
»:
have the upper hand / '.
to have a position of power and control
over someone else
showing your power
throw
your

weight around
to behave in a way which showsthat you
are more important or powerful than
other people
flex
your
muscles
:>;.
to take some action to show people how
powerful you are
people in powerful positions
controlling and influencing
people
twist/wrap sb around
your
little
finger
to be able to persuade someone to do
anything you want, usually because
they like you so much
have sb in the palm of
your
hand
to have so much control over someone
that they will do whatever you want
them to do
have friends in high places
to know important people who can help
you get what you want
thinking you are more

important than you really are
be too big for
your
boots
informal
X
to behave as if you are more important
or clever than you really are
delusions of grandeur
Y
the belief that you are more important
or powerfulthan you really are
pleasing people in authority
the powers that
be>(
the people who control things but who
are not known
bow and scrape
to try too hard to please someone in a
position ofauthority
a big cheese
humorous
a big gun/noise
informal
an important or powerful person in a
group or organization /'
the movers and shakers
c/~<'"_
people who have a lot of power and
influence

do
sb's
bidding
old-fashioned
to dowhat someonetells or asks youto do
lick
sb's
boots
very informal ~~
to try too hard to please someone
important
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