Chắc hẳn các bạn đều biết sử dụng Idioms (thành ngữ) trong IELTS speaking sẽ giúp cho bạn có những điểm cộng trong phần thi này, tuy nhiên nếu sử dụng idioms không đúng trong ngữ cảnh bạn sẽ bị giám khảo trừ điểm. Ở bài viết này mình sẽ chia sẻ cho các bạn đang ôn thi IELTS muốn đạt 7.0+ speaking 10 Idioms và ví dụ thực tế để các bạn biết cách áp dụng đúng nhất nhé.  

1. Don’t count your chickens until they are hatched.

 You  should  not  make  plans  that  depend  on  something  good  happening,  because it might not (không nên lập kế hoạch vì nghĩ rằng mọi việc sẽ tốt đẹp trong khi những việc đó vẫn chưa xảy ra; đừng nói trước kẻo bước không qua; đừng đếm cua trong lỗ).

E.g.

1. I wouldn't count your chickens, Mr Vass. I've agreed to sign the contract, but that's all.
2. I think I’m going to get straight A’s on my tests, but I don’t want to count my chickens before they’re hatched.

2. A bad/rotten apple:

One bad person who has a bad effect on all the others in a group (thành phần cá biệt; con sâu làm rầu nồi canh).

E.g. 

1. There’s always one bad apple in every class.
2. What do you plan to do about the bad apples in the company when you become CEO?

3. Have egg on your face:

To be made to look stupid by something embarrassing (trở thành trò cười)

E.g. 

1. The president was left with egg on his face after he called the ambassador by the wrong name.
2. Mike always said he could speak French fluently, but when he couldn’t hold a conversation with the French tourist, he had egg all over his face.

  

4. Burn the candle at both ends.

To get very tired by doing things until very late at night and getting up early in the mornings (mệt mỏi vì phải thức khuya dậy sớm).

E.g.

1. If he doesn’t stop burning the candle at both ends, he will end up in hospital.
2. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long. I need to slow down.

 

5. Kill two birds with one stone:

To achieve two things with one action (một mũi tên trúng hai đích; nhất cử lưỡng tiện)

E.g. 

1. I kill two birds with one stone by reading the news in English. I learn about current events AND improve my English.
2. You can kill two birds with one stone by brushing your teeth in the shower.

 

6. Paint the town red.

To go out to bars, clubs, etc. to enjoy yourself (“quậy” hết mình ở quán bar, câu lạc bộ, v.v...để tận hưởng cuộc sống).

E.g. 

1. Some people like nothing better than to paint the town red at every opportunity, but I prefer to stay at home and read books.
2. You got a bonus? We must paint the town red immediately!

 

7. Bite off more than you can chew.

To try to do more than you are able to do (ôm đồm nhiều việc vượt quá khả năng của mình; tham thực cực thân)

E.g.

1. At first I was really excited about my new project, but now I feel like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.
2. She bit off more than she could chew and quickly fell behind in her work.

 

8. A storm in a teacup.

An unnecessary expression of strong feelings about something that is very unimportant (phóng đại sự việc; chuyện bé xé ra to).

E.g. 

1. The media is going crazy about it but if you ask me, it’s just a storm in a teacup.
2. We will be alright. It seems bad now but we’ll look back and see it was just a storm in a teacup.

 

9. Bite the bullet:

to accept something unpleasant because you cannot avoid it any longer. (chấp nhận một việc không mấy dễ chịu vì không thể tránh được nữa; cắn răng chịu đựng)

E.g. 

1. I don’t want to do military service but it’s mandatory so I just have to bite the bullet.
2. I hate dentists but I have a toothache so it looks like I’m going to have to bite the bullet.

 

10 Cry over spilt milk.

To waste time feeling sorry about an earlier mistake or problem that cannot be changed (tốn thời gian đi nuối tiếc những việc đã xảy ra không thay đổi được; khóc gà quạ tha)

E.g. 

1. It’s broken but there’s no use crying over spilt milk. We’ll just have to buy a new one.
2. It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Just forget it and try to do better next time.
3. Dodge a bullet:
4. Every cloud has a silver lining:

there is something good even in a situation that seems very sad or difficult (trong cái rủi có cái may, cái khó ló cái khôn).

E.g: 

1. Every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe losing your job will allow you to pursue your real dreams!
2.  I broke my leg but  then met my  future wife  in hospital.  It’s  true  that every cloud has a silver lining.

 

11.  Dodge a bullet.

to have a narrow escape from a dangerous situation (thoát hiểm trong gang tấc)

E.g.

1. I wasn’t wearing my helmet but the police officer didn’t even notice. I really dodged a bullet!
2. The bus I missed had an accident. I feel like I dodged a bullet.

 

12. Every cloud has a silver lining.

There is something good even in a situation that seems very sad or difficult (trong cái rủi có cái may, cái khó ló cái khôn).

E.g.

1. Every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe losing your job will allow you to pursue your real dreams!
2. I broke my leg but then met my future wife in hospital. It’s true that every cloud has a silver lining.

 

 13. A little bird told me.

if you have information, but you do not want to reveal who told you it, you can say 'A little bird told me’ (khi bạn biết một điều gì đó nhưng lại không muốn tiết lộ nguồn tin của mình, bạn sẽ nói “A little bird told me”).

E.g. 

1. Who told you that she was up for a big promotion? A little bird told me.
2. I don’t want to be rude but a little bird told me your girlfriend has been cheating on you.

 

14. Have a green thumb.

 to be good at making plants grow.

(mát tay trồng cây)

E.g.

1. Look at Sarah’s garden! She really has a green thumb.
2. I admire people with green thumbs. Any plants entrusted to my care die quickly.

 

15. Money talks.

 money is power and it can buy influence.

(có tiền mua tiên cũng được)

E.g: 

1. You want to know how I did it? Money talks, my friend.
2. She’s rich and money talks, so she always gets what she wants.

 

 16. Mind-blowing.

absolutely amazing, astounding or shocking.

(tuyệt vời, gây ấn tượng mạnh, gây shock)

E.g.

1. The computer game has mind-blowing graphics.
2. It is a mind-blowing experience to me. I will never forget it.

 

17.  Pay through the nose.

to pay much more for something than it is really worth.

(phải trả một cái giá cắt cổ)

E.g. 

1. After the environmental disaster, the oil company had to pay through the nose to clean it all up.
2. Be careful your car doens’t break down out in the country. The local mechanics will make you pay through the nose to fix it.

 

18. Shoot yourself in the foot.

To say or do something stupid that will cause you a lot of trouble.

(nói hay làm việc xuẩn ngốc và tự gây rắc rối cho chính mình; tự mình hại mình)

E.g. 

1. If he keeps talking, pretty soon he'll shoot himself in the foot.
2. The applicant shot himself in the foot when he mentioned how many other people were interested in the job.

 

19. Turn green with...

to feel a lof of jealousy with what someone else has.

(cảm thấy vô cùng ghen tị với những gì người khác có mà mình không có; ghen tức xanh mặt; ghen ăn tức ở)

E.g.

1. They turned green envy when my wife walked in the room.
2. I was green with envy when I saw the rich man’s collection of sports cars.

 

20. The sky is the limit

There is no limit to what can be achieved.

(không có giới hạn cho những thành tựu mà ai đó có thể đạt được)

E.g.

1. These days it seems the sky is the limit for successful young Internet ventures.
2. You can do anything you put your mind to. The sky is the limit.

 

21. Wash your hands of something.

to refuse to be responsible for something any more.

(từ chối tiếp tục chịu trách nhiệm cho một việc nào đó)

E.g. 

1. The CEO couldn’t wait to wash his hands of the money-losing operation.
2. I washed my hands of the whole situation and I never want to hear about it again.

 

22. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

used to say that you should not waste money

(Dùng để nhắc bạn không nên phung phí tiền bạc “Tiền không phải là vỏ hến”.)

E.g.

1. No, I won’t buy you that toy robot. Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.
2. You should know that money doesn’t grow on trees. You have to save money

  

23. See red

To become very angry

(Nổi giận đỏ mày đỏ mặt, “Giận tím mặt”.)

E.g.

1. When he called me an idiot I saw red. I’ve never been angrier.
2. The boss will see red if you make another mistake on this. Do something at gunpoint

 

24.  Do something at gunpoint.

To do something reluctantly, as a result of being strongly forced

(Làm việc gì đó một cách miễn cưỡng do bị ép buộc.)

E.g.

1. I wouldn’t sing in public unless I was at gunpoint.
2. She might go out on a date with you…at gunpoint! Haha! 

Nguồn: http://ielts-fighter.com/