Thành ngữ trong tiếng Anh giống như những câu ca dao tục ngữ trong tiếng Việt. Những thành ngữ này thường xuất hiện rất nhiều trong giao tiếp thường ngày lẫn cả trong những bài tập trong đề thi. Vậy nên muốn cải thiện trình độ tiếng Anh của mình thì việc học những thành ngữ tiếng Anh (Idiom) thông dụng là một việc không thể bỏ qua.
50 thành ngữ tiếng Anh phổ biến nhất
A little bird told me: Tôi nghe nói rằng
A little bird told me that you and Cindy are going to get married.
A pain in the neck: Điều phiền phức
Sometimes my baby can be a pain in the neck.
A piece of cake: Rất dễ dàng
Learning to speak English is a piece of cake.
(to) lay off: sa thải
The company laid off 50 workers last week.
(to) be dead tired: mệt nhoài, quá mệt mỏi
I’ve worked for 12 hours already today and I’m dead tired
(to) call it a day; nghỉ làm, nghỉ ngơi
Today it’s Sunday so I call it a day.
(to) be in charge of: quản lý, chịu trách nhiệm
Listin to me because I’m in charge of this company.
(to) be in the way: kỳ đà cản mũi, ngáng đường, vật cản trở
If my little brother stays in the same room with me when I study, he’ll really be in the way.
(to) be my guest: cứ tự nhiên, đừng khách sáo
If you want some food, then be my guest. The pizza is on the table.
(to) be named after: được đặt tên theo/ giống…
Ronaldo was named after a famous footballer.
(to) be no big deal: chuyện nhỏ, chẳng to tát gì cả
Don’t worry about failing the exam. It’s no big deal.
(to) be on top of the world: rất hạnh phúc, rất thành công
She’s on top of the world now because she’s just won the lottery.
(to) keep/ bear in mind: luôn nhớ rằng
When you buy cheap clothes, you should bear in mind that they will soon wear out.
behind someone’s back: một cách giấu diếm, bí mật
I can’t believe he went out on a date with Rosie behind my back!
(to) build castles in the air: mơ mộng viển vông, xa rời thực tế
Lisa, I know you’re very confident but don’t build castles in the air.
(to) drop someone a line: viết vài dòng cho ai đó
When you arrive in Hanoi, remember to drop me a line.
Easy come, easy go: Cái gì nhanh đến thì cũng sẽ mau đi
I’m sorry that you broke up with him but easy come, easy go.
Every now and then: Thỉnh thoảng
Every now and then I take my wife to the cinema.
(to) follow in one’s footsteps: nối nghiệp/ bắt chước ai đó
I’ve become a footballer just like my brother. I really followed in his footsteps.
(to) fool around: không làm gì, lãng phí thời gian
Alex’s just been fooling around at his desk.
(to) get along with someone: hòa hợp với ai đó, hợp tính cách với ai đó.
I really get a long with Jack. He’s a nice guy.
(to) be/ get in touch with someone: liên lạc với ai đó
Get in touch with me as soon as you have get an email address.
(to) get rid of: tống khứ, vứt đi
You should get rid of that old car.
(to) give s.o the cold shoulder: đối xử lạnh nhạt, hờ hững với ai
She’s given me the cold shoulder all day.
(to) hang in there: tiếp tục cố gắng, kiên trì
John, I know that learning English is not easy but hang in there and you’ll be fluent one day.
If worst comes to worst: trong tình huống tồi tệ nhất
If worst comes to worst, I can help you with the money.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing: lòng lang dạ sói
The murderer was really a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Do in Rome as the Romans do: nhập gia tùy tục
When you travel abroad, remember to do in Rome as the Romans do.
the way of the world: lề thói chung, lẽ thường tình
They always say patriotism is the way of the world.
a drop in the bucket: không ăn thua gì
His fortune is a drop in the bucket compared with mine.
It’s all Greek to s.b: quá khó hiểu với ai đó
I don’t like his classes because it’s all Greek to me.
An arm and a leg: Cái gì đó rất đắt tiền
I’m sick of paying an arm and a leg for rent in this city.
Curiosity kills the cat: Tò mò chết người
When Jane asked Jack where he was going yesterday morning, he replied that curiosity killed the cat.
Cut to the chase: Đi thẳng vào vấn đề
Let’s cut to the chase. How much is it going to cost me?
Down to earth: Người thực tế hoặc khiêm nhường
He’s very down to earth despite his fame.
Drive s.b nuts: Làm cho ai điên lên được!
That loud beeping noise is driving me nuts!
Head over heels: Yêu điên cuồng, say đắm.
He’s head over heels in love with his girlfriend.
Give sb a heads-up: cảnh cáo ai đó trước một việc gì đó
Just give me a heads-up if you need a ride.
Hold your horses!: Đợi chút, chậm lại
Hold your horses! We haven’t won yet, so don’t start celebrating.
A penny for your thoughts: Tôi muốn biết bạn đang nghĩ gì
You seem pretty pleased, a penny for your thoughts.
Beat around the bush: không đi thẳng vào vấn đề
Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really want.
A blessing in disguise: Tưởng xui xẻo nhưng hóa ra lại may mắn
Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.
Kill two birds with one stone: Mỗi mũi tên trúng hai đích
Cycling to work kills two birds with one stone. It saves money and gives you some exercise.
See eye to eye: Có cùng quan điểm, đồng ý
I don’t see eye to eye with my father on many things.
A picture is worth a thousand words: Trăm nghe không bằng một thấy
A good presentation should contain more of graphics and less of text, since a picture is worth a thousand words.
Actions speak louder than words: Những gì bạn làm có ý nghĩa hơn những gì bạn nói.
You keep saying that you’ll do your fair share of the housework. Remember that actions speak louder than words.
Add insult to injury: làm cho việc gì đó trở nên tồi tệ hơn.
To add insult to injury, after cancelling our flight, they asked us to pay extra!
Better late than never: Thà muộn còn hơn không.
David finally paid me the money he owed me. Well, better late than never.
Bite off more than you can chew: Làm điều gì đó quá sức.
I think he’s bitten off more than he can chew taking all those classes.
Every cloud has a silver lightning: Trong cái rủi có cái may.
Even though you just got fired, remember that every cloud has a silver lining—at least you don’t have to work for that grouchy boss anymore!
