Phrase

Meaning

Example
Character

a creature of habit

a person who likes to do the same thing at

the same time on a regular basic

My sister goes to bed at exactly 10 every

nightl she's a creature of habit

a soft touch

a person from whom you can easily get

money because they are kind or easy to
deceive

She always asks Dad for help with cash

because she knows he's a soft touch

nobody's fool

a person who is too clever to be tricked by

other peole

He's touch, ambitious, and he's nobody's fool

a cold fish

a person who shows little emontion or seems He's a bit of a cold fish. He hardly every
unfriendly
speaks to us or even smiles

a man of his
word

a person who always does what he has

promised to do

If he said he would help you, I'm sure he will;

he's a man of his word

People's behaviour

a shoulder to cry
on

a person who gives you sympathy

set sb apart (from sb)

make sb different from or better than others

What sets her apart from the other moms

go to great lengths to do
st
try in a determined way to achieve sth

Mom went to great lengths to hold the family

together

put your foot down

My brother always put his foot down with me

sure of yourself

stop at nothing

use your authority to stop sb doing sth

overconfident
do anything to get what you want without
caring about its effect on others

not lift a finger to

do sth
do nothing to help sb

My sister never lifts a finger to help around

the house, she just takes it for granted that
we'll clear up after her

take it for granted

expect sth to happen because it usually does

take sb for granted

be so accustomed to sb that you don't

appreciate them

My sister never lifts a finger to help around

the house, she just takes it for granted that
we'll clear up after her

Phrase

Meaning
Being married

be made for each other

be perfect partner

tie the knot

get married, get hitched

clear the air

improve a difficult or tense situation by

talking about it

walk away

leave a bad situation

in the heat at the

moment

at a time when you are too angry or excited

to think carefully

Example

If you are upset with each other, should you

try to clear the air or walk away ?
Remember that things said in the heat of
the moment can be hard to forgive later

Being singled
hold sb back

stop sb being as sucessful as they should be

pile up

increase in quantity or amount

mess sb around/about

treat sb badly, especially by changing your

mind a lot or breaking promises

Yes you're free- nothing's holding you back

and no one's nagging you because the dishes
are piling up in the sink

My previous boyfriend messed me around; I

felt he let me down badly, and I was really
finish with sb
end a romantic relationship with sb
hurt. Now that I' ve finished with him, the
thought of going through the same thing
again doesn't bear thingking about
not bear thingking about be too shocking or unpleasant to think about

Phrase

Meaning
Teachers' instruction

go over/through sth

look at, check, or dicuss sth carefully

rub sth out

remove marks made by a pencil, chalk using

rubber

take it in turns

do sth one after another so that everyone has

an opportunity to do it

swap places (with sb)

take sb's seat or position so they can take

yours

put sth away

put sth where you usually keep it, especially

after using it

call it a day

decide to stop what you are doing (often

work)
Teachers' advice

look sth up

look for information about sth in a reference

book or online

in rough

write a draft

the tip of the

iceberg

only a small part of a much larger problem or

matter

Example

Phrase

ruction
make yourself
understood
trial and error

Take it in turns to read the dialouge

make the most of

sth

He's a bit of a cold fish. He hardly every

speaks to us or even smiles

get behind/catch up

Put all the books away before you leave

stick at sth/get there

OK. Let's call it a day

brush up on sth/
brush sth up
rack your brain
(information)
come back to
(you)

dvice

goes in one ear and out

the other
What you learn in class is just the tip of the
iceberg

Meaning
How to make progress
speak in a way that others can understand
a way of solving a problem by trying several
posibilities and learning form your mistakes
enjoy sth or use sth as much as you can

improve your knowlegde or skill in sth,

especially when you have not used it for a
period of time
you try hard to remember sth
you remember it

you forgot it quickly

Example

progress

Don't be afraid to make mistakes, you learn

from trial and error
The classroom is an opportunity to practise
speaking so make the most of it
Don't miss lessons, or you'll get behind
with your work and find it difficult to catch
up
Don't give up. Stick at it and you'll get
there in the end

Phrase

Meaning
Exam

get into the habit

develop a particular habit
of doing sth
work sth out

solve a problem by considering the facts

keep your finger

crossed

hope for good luck or success

it's not the end

of the world

it's not the worst thing that could happen

get down to sth

stay up

begin to do sth and give serious attention to

it
go to bed later than usual

steer/stay clear of sb/sth take care to avoid sb/sth

stick to sth

talk or write about one particular thing only

go blank

if your mind go blank, you are unable to

remember the answer to a question

read through

read sth to check details and look for

mistakes

Example

I got into habit of reading the business

pages in the newspapers

Phrase

not be up much

by comparison

The best of luck !

go far

Don't miss lessons, or you'll get behind

with your work and find it difficult to catch
up

it's early days

sit back
know his stuff

Out side the exam room, I steer clear of

other students who are in a panic

be out of touch
(with sth)

I try to stick to the questions

start off on the wrong

foot

If my mind goes blank, I breathe in and

out slowly to calm myself
I read through my answers at the end to
check that make sense

pull your weight

Meaning
Ability and Progess
not be very good
used for talking about ways in which two
people or things are different
be sucessful in the future

it's too soon to know how sb/sth will develop

relax, expecially by not doing anything or not
getting involved
know a lot about a particular subject
not know or understand recent ideas in a
particular subject or area
make a bad start at a relationship
work as hard as everyone else in a job or
activity

Example

rogess
He is an nice guy byt his work isn't up to
much

By comparison, Ann is in her element

here. She's bright, she can think on her
feet, and she's confident in her own ability.
She'll go far
With Patrick, it's a early days. At the
beginiing of term, I felt she sat back too
much and let others do all the talking.

At first, I thought he was a bit out of touch,

he wasn't very friendly, but maybe we just
got off on the wrong foot. He thought I
was not pulling my weight, when in fact I
was just too shy to say anything. But now I
like him a lot more

Phrase

Meaning
Though progress

think ahead (to sth)

think about a future event and plan for it

talk it over

discuss sth with sb, especially to help you

make decision

on the spur of the

moment

suddenly; without planning in advance

make up your mind

decide

thinking straight

(negative) think in a clear and logical way

think twice

think very carefully about sth or before doing

sth because you know about the possible
dangers and problems

take it/sth in

fully understand and remember what you

hear, see or read

have got a (good) head

for sth

be naturally good at doing calculations,

remembering facts, etc

know sth like the

back of your
hand

know a place very well

give sth a try

make an attempt to do sth

Example

Phrase

gress

P
I'm often surprised by events. I need to think
ahead more

get cut off

top up

I do things on the spur of the moment. I

don't think before I make up mind

- Are u any good at maths?

- No. I haven't got a head for figures

He knows London like the back of his

hand

Meaning
Phoning and leave messeges
stop or interrupt sb's phone conversation by
breaking the connection
pay more money so that you can make more
calls

Example

e messeges
Well, when I rang the first time, I got cut off,
so I called again. Then someone kept me
hanging on for ages, and in the end I hung up

Phrase

here's to sb/sth

Meaning
Spoken phrases
used to wish sb health or success as you lift a
glass and drink to them

sort of

to some extent, but in a way that is not easy

to explain

all the best

take care

not exactly

use when you are correcting sth that sb has

said

yes and no

when you cannot give a clear answer to sth

mind out/watch out

good grief/
goodness me !

express shock or surprise

mind your own business/ be naturally good at doing calculations,

it's none of your business remembering facts, etc
Hear, hear!

a way of saying you strongly agree with

someone

Example

Phrase

rases
Here's to Hieu and Thao

break the news

Did u understand what he said? Sort of

get hold of sb/be In

touch with

give sb a ring/call
Did u say you'd go? Not exactly

drop sb a line

Was the day success? Yes and no

must dash
after all
get out of sth

get together
give my love to
pop out

drop sb off
at the latest ><
at the earliest
call by/call in/drop by

Meaning
Getting in touch
be the first to tell sb about some important
news
find or make contact with sb by email or
phone
phone sb
write a short letter or email to sb
I must go quickly because I'm in a hurry
used when sth is different from what you
expect
avoid doing sth you should do or said what
you would do
meet socially or in order to discuss sth
referring to family or friend
go somewhere for a short time
take sb/sth to a place by car and leave them
there
no later/earlier than
make a short visit to see sb as you pass

Example
ouch
Have you broken the news to the family
yet?
Well, I've been in touch with most of them
but I can't get hold of Uncle Nick

I cannot get out of it

Perhaps we can get together then

I'm just popping out for half an hour

I have to drop my friend off at the station
I ll be there at 6 PM at the latest

Phrase

Meaning
I can say what I think

For one thing

used to introduce one or more reasons for sth

without doubt

definitely, absolutely

all the best

take care

not exactly

use when you are correcting sth that sb has

said

I couldn't agree
more

I strongly agree

as far as I concerned

in the long run

not immediately but at a time in the future

up to the point

to some degree but not completely

to some extent/to
a certain extent/ used to say that sth is only partly true
in some ways

for the most part/ by and

in general
large/ on the whole

the thing is
you've got the point

used to emphasize what you thing is the most

important point

fair enough
even so
here to stay

if sth here to stay, it is generally accepted

and has become part of life

Example

Phrase

t I think
What do you think of new doctor?
- Not much. For one thing, he's a bit rude

burst out laughing

He's the best employee we have. Yeah,

without doubt

tell sb off
pull sb's leg

Did u say you'd go? Not exactly

make fun of sb/

laugh at sb

feel/be sorry for sb

The government's made a big mistake, as far
as I'm concerned

have the last

laugh

go wrong
Well, up to the point, but in the long run,
it won't make any difference

Yeah, to some extent, but for the most

part, I think face to face relationships are
most likely to last

hit the roof

to some extent/to a
certain extent/ in some
ways

make a fool of yourself

The thing is you don't know if strangers are

telling you the truth online

get the wrong end of the

stick

Anyway, these sites are here to stay whether

we like them or not

Meaning
Jokes
suddenly start laughing out loud

speak angrily to sb because they have done

sth wrong
play a joke on sb

laugh or make others laugh at sb usually in

an unkind way

feel sadness or pity for sb

be sucessful or win an argument in the end,
when other people thought it was impossible

develop badly and cause problems

become very angry

used to say that sth is only partly true

do sth that makes others think you are stupid

understand sth wrongly

Example

I said something to Tina in class and she

burst out laughing. Then the teacher told
her off

The other constestants made fun of Max's

singing, but I just felt sorry for him.
Anyway, Max had the last laugh because
he won the competition for the most original
act

Phrase

fold arms/crossed
leg
shake/nod your
head
tiptoe

hand in hand/holding
hands

blow your nose

zip your jacket up/down

I played a trick on my dad, but it went

wrong. I put salt in the suger bowl; I only did
it for a laugh, but he hit the roof

inside out/back to
front/upside down

trip sb up

Yeah, to some extent, but for the most

part, I think face to face relationships are
most likely to last

knocked sb over/down

knocked sb out

I thought he was making a joke, so I laughed but I'd got the wrong end of the stick

Meaning
Describe actions
Cross your arms before your chest (khoanh
tay)

lc/gt u
ng nhn (king) chn

nm tay

ht x

ko kha o ln/xung

ngc trong ra ngoi/ln ngc

ngng chn

you hit them and make them fall to the

ground

you make them become unconscious

Example

tions
His arms are folded
She's got her legs crossed

She's standing on tiptoe

Phrase

Meaning
Family

take after

look or bahave like an older member of your

family

run in the family

be found very often in a family

bring sb up

care for teach a child until they are an adult

look up to sb

respect and admire sb

follow in sb's
footstep

do the same job or activity as sb else who did

it before

in your blood

strongly a part of your character

a way of life

the behaviour and customs

show sb the
roped

show sb carefully what to do and how to do it

give birth (to sb)

produce a baby

get your own

back on sb

tr a

burst in to tears/laughing suddenly start crying/laughing

turn a blind eye

to sth
stay out/in/up

pretend not to see or notice sth, usually sth

bad
away/in home/ get to bed late

Example

Phrase

go on (about
sth/sb)
We are both tall - that runs in the family
and we both have a passion for the outdoor
life

I was brought up on a farm and always

looked up to my father

be to blame (for sth)/be

at fault

be set in your ways

give into sb
I followed in his footsteps and joined him
on the family farm

live off sb
get through to sb

be worlds apart
behind the times
take offence (at sth)
If she pulled my hair, I got my own back by
hiding her favorite doll

Meaning
Different generations
talk about sth/sb for a long time
(boring/complaining way)
be responsible for sth bad

have attitudes and habits for a long time that

you don't want to change

surrender
rely on sb else to provide you with food,
money, etc
strongly a part of your character
be complety different in attitudes, opinions
old-fashioned in your ideas, methods
feel upset, hurt (by sth)

Example

erations
The older generation are always going on
about young peole
Why are we to blame for everything that go

More and more young people still live off

their parents in their late 20s and early 30s
I sometimes find it difficult to get through to
young people

I never take offence when young people say

old people are boring

Phrase

Meaning
Neighbours

have something
in common

have similar interests

help sb out

help sb in a difficult

give sb a lift/
drop off

take sb somewhere in your car

all by yourself/on your

own

completely alone

throw a party

have a party for your friends, family, etc

on good/bad terms (with

have a good/bad relationship with sb
sb)
invite sb round
invite sb to your home

in full swing

at the stage when thre is the most activity

stand around

stand somewhere not doing anything

Example

Phrase

urs

We have a lot in common, and they are

always willing to help out

have butterflies
IN your stomach
shake like a leaf
be in a (terrible)
state
jumped out of your skin

Planning to throw a party?

be in safe hands
crossed your mind
on your mind

Keep the windows closed when the party is in

full swing

take your mind off

be having the time of
your life
be thrilled to bits (very
much)/ be over the moon
go red (in the face)
lose your temper (with
sb) >< control your
temper
make you sick

be bored to
tears/ bore stiff
feeling on edge
get cold feet abt a
decision

don't know
whether to laugh
or cry
down in the dumps

Meaning
My feelings
feel very nervous before doing sth
shake a lot because you are frightened or
nervous
be very nervous, upset
make a sudden movement out of fear
be with sb who will look after you very well
think
thinking and worry about
stop thinking and worry abt sth
you are enjoying yourself very much
very happy and excited abt sth
embarrassed

get very angry

If sb's behaviour makes you sick, it makes
you very angry and upset
very bored
feeling nervous and unable to relax
suddenly become nervous sbt sth you have
planned to do

feeling depressed

Example

ngs

When the plane took off, I was shaking like

a leaf

I jumped out of my skin when I heard the

noise from the gas burnner
I realized that Bob was very experienced and I
was in safe hands
I never crossed my mind that we would lose
You have got a lot on your mind
Going to the gym took my mind off the
exams

Phrase

Meaning
Neighbours

get on sb's nerves

annoy sb, make sb so angry

all over the place

in very untidy state

your fair share of sth

a fair and reasonable amount of sth

mess around

spend time in a relaxed way without a real

purpose

take sth into

account

consider sth, especially when you are making

a decision

give and take

a situation in which you do things or

compromise for other people, and they do
things or compromise for you

change the
subject

start talking about sth different

drive me round the bend make you angry

put sb down

say things to make a person look stupid or

silly in front other

at sb's expense

against sb, so that they look silly

tidy sth away

put sth where it is kept in a drawer

put off doing sth

delay doing sth until a later time or date

the last minute

the latest possible time before sth happens

Example

Phrase

urs
I love Brad, but some things about him get
on my nerves

make the most of

sth

He keeps on leaving his clothes all over the

place

start off

He doesn't do his fair share of the

housework

start out

He spends ages messing around on the

computer

cloud over

But I have to take into account the fact that

he lived on his own for years. Being married
is completely different - you need a bit of
give and take

the chances are

die out
When she doesn't want to discuss something
important, she just changes the subject.
All this rain drives me round the bend

She's always putting me down in front of

other people or making jokes at my expense

brighten up
here and there

out of luck (>< in

luck)

in a row
She's always tidying my things away, then I
can't find them. It drives me up the wall

look on the bright side

pick up

She always puts off paying bills till the last

minute

She always puts off paying bills till the last

minute

Meaning
Weather
enjoy sth while you have the opportunity
begin to happen or begin doing sth (in a
particular way)
sth begin in one way and developong in other
way
become cloudy

it is likely/probable

gradually disappear and stop completely

improve and become brighter (usually with
more sunshine)
various places

unlucky

one after other

be optimistic; think positively

improve, get better

Example

er
I love Brad, but some things about him get
on my nerves
The day will start off with a bit of sunshine
He doesn't do his fair share of the
housework

It'll soon cloud over and by lunchtime, the

chances are we'll get a shower

The rain may die out in 20 minutes

it could ever brighten up during the
afternoon, but further north thre will be more
showers here and there

Phrase
have good/bad night

Meaning
Weather
have a night during which you sleep
well/badly

not sleep a wink

(>< sleep like a
log)

not sleep at all

toss and turn

be unable to sleep, or sleep badly, changing

your position in bed all the time

the night before

last

2 nights ago

wide awake (><fast

asleep = deep sleep)

it is likely/probable

have an early/ a
late night

go to bed earlier/later than usual

have a lie-in

stay in bed later than usual in the morning

Example

Phrase

er
I had a really good night

careful with (your)

money

I didn't sleep a wink

well off/ rolling in

money

I spent most of the night tossing and

turning

in the red (>< in

the black)
cut back on sth

I was wide awake for ages

hard up

Yeah well, never mind. We'll be back home

tonight, so we can both have an early night
and a lie-in

pay off

pay sb back
pay in
take out

save for a rainy

day
rip sb off
take sth off sth

keep your head

above water
not a penny

get your money's

worth

Meaning
Spending and Saving
spending money only when it is necessary

having a lot of money

having spent more money than you have in

the bank
reduce the amount of sth that you spend
not having money

finished paying the money

give back the money that you borrowed

deposit money
withdraw money
save money for a time when you really need
it
cheat sb by charging too much money for sth
(n. rip-off)
make sth cheaper by a certain amount
just manage to survive in a diffcult situation,
especially one in which you don't have
enough money
no money at all
get the full value of the money that you have
spent

Example
Saving
Sara is very careful with money. She's not
very well off
He is well off/rolling in money

Buy things but never let you in the red

Hey you'r broke. Try to cut back on your
spending

I paid off my debt

She paid me back

I paid in 1000 CAD to the bank

Don't get ripped off when you travel to

foreign country
Pay for your electricity online and we'll take
2% off
It's not easy to keep your head above water
when you are students
It won't cost a penny

Phrase
go/be on diet

Meaning
Diet and Kitchen
try to get thinner by eating limited range of
food

give in (to sth)

if you give in to sth u can't deny it

one after another

first one then the next

burn sth up

use up energy in your body by being

physically active

fill yourself up

eat enough food so you no longer feel hungry

If I were you, I'd

give sb advice

Whatever you do,

Make sure
chop sth up

cut sth into small pieces

come off
heat sth up/cool down
get rid of sth

throw it out

Example

Phrase

tchen
get away with sth
trick sb into sth/doing
sth

hold up sth/sb
in vain
break into sth

catch sb redhanded
be on the lookout for
sb/sth

on the rise
behind bars
Garlic skins come off easily if you warm
them before peeling (bc v)

ran off with

ran away from

Let's get rid of this stale bread

on the run

Meaning
Crime
do sth bad and not be punished for it
persuade sb to do sth by making them
believe sth which is not true
rob or try to rob a place or a person by
threatening violence
without success
enter a building by force, usually to steal sth
catch sb while they are committing a crime
(bt qu tang)
pay attention in order to see, find, or avoid
sb/sth
increasing
in prison
stole it and left quickly
ledt home secretly to escape from sb or sth
trying to hide or escape from the police

Example
Thieves get away with antiques valued at 1
mil $
They tricked a security guard into believing
they were a new team of cleaner
Two armed men held up a city bank
yesterday, holding the bank manager
prisoner for hours as they searched for cash
All our work was in vain due to severe
weather

He caught red-handed so cannot deny

(refute)
Police warn residents to be on the lookout
for thieves

He ran off with my handbag

She ran away from home with her lover
The prison is on the run

Phrase
get through sth

Meaning
Work Experience
manage to complete a difficult task or deal
with a difficult situation

all hours

work most of the time for long periods

next to nothing

almost nothing

be up to sth/ be cut out

for sth (to do sth)

be skilled or strong enough physically or

mentally to do sth

give sb a hard time

make a situation difficult for sb

get behind (with sth)

not do sth on time, then have more to do

later

stand by sb

support or be loyal to sb even in a difficult

situation

make it (as)

present (success)

turn sb down

say no to sb when they apply for sth or offer

sth

take sb on

employ sb

nine-to-five
check up on sb

relating to normal and regular working hours

watch sb to make sure they are doing their
jobs

hand in your
notice

formally tell your employer that you are

leaving you job

give sb the sack

fire sb

Example

Phrase

ience
This is a tough time of my life, hence I need
to get through it

take sth over

a going concern

Working for all hours for next to nothing

was hard and some of the time I wasn't really
sure I was up to it

change hands
go out of business

Some of my old teachers in elementary gave

me a hard time, so I always get behind
with my assignments

bridge/fill the gap

have a long way

to go
opt out of

I know she makes it as an actress, I can't

make it tomorrow to see her

the rat race

come up

He ran off with my handbag

She ran away from home with her lover
The prison is on the run

be living in a dream
world
cut corners
make ends meet

a vicious circle
sell up

Meaning
Small business
get control of sth or responsibility for sth
a business or activity that is making a profit

pass from one owner to other

stop operating coz lack of money

need to make more progress before achieving

sth
decide not to do sth or take part in sth
a stressful way of life in which people
compete for wealth and power
happen or appear
have ideas or hopes that are not practical
do sth in the easiest and cheapest way,
usually badly
manage to buy sth
a situation in which one problem causes
another problem which then makes the first
problem worse (vong luan quan)
sell your home, business (to leave the area)

Example

ness
I will take over job

It had been a going concern at one time,

but had changed hands three times in
recent years, and on each occasion had
gone out of business

I still have a long way to go to obtain the

PR in Canada
Finally, I opt out of joining the army since I
have to study abroad.
Sometimes, I feel I am in the rat race, doing
meaningless things
The police has caught the thieves red-handed
right after everything came up
My sister always live in a dream world and
wait for thing happens that she never lift a
finger to work hard
He didn't have the skills for farming, and soon
found himself cutting corners in order to
make ends meet

Life of negative people are vicious circles

that they don't know how to escape

Phrase

Meaning
Social Activities

run/bump into
sbt

meet sb that you didn't plan

a day/night out

go out enjoy yourself

pop in

make a quick visit (swing by)

just around the

corner / close by

nearby, not far away

not sb's cup of tea

not what sb like or is interested in

go halves

share the cost of sth (2 people)

turn out to be

come up, happen in an unexpected way

packed in like
sardines

crowded so closely together that ther is no

space to move

feel like doing sth

want to do sth

talk sb into

Example

Phrase

vities
I run into an old friend on the street last
night

have had enough

of sth
do sb good
take sth up
go in >< opt out

get into shape

I offered to go halves, as I always do when I
eat out with my friend

We were packed in like sardines in the bus

I didnt feel like going out but Max talk me
into it

in good shape <>

out of shape

Meaning
Outdoor Activities
sth tiring or annoying you and you want it to
stop
have a helpful or useful effect on sb
start or learn to do sth, especially for pleasure
take part in/ participated in
become physically fitter as a result of taking
exercise and eating healthy food

Example

ivities
I have had enough of this terrible weather
I took it up seriously after my accident and
it's done me a lot of good

Phrase

Meaning
Holidays

set out

leave a place and start a journey

take your time

do sth without hurrying

stop off

make a short visit somewhere during a longer

trip

all over the place

everywhere

out of season

at the time of year when few people go on

holiday

make a change

used to say that an activity is enjoyable coz it

it different from what you usually do

once or twice

a few times

off the beaten track

far away from buildings and other people

in the open air

outside, not in the building

Example

Phrase

s
We just set out in the car

at full strength <> below

strength
kick off

win/lose the toss

send sb off
take advantage
of sth
come close to sth/doing
sth
settle for sth

You get off the beaten track easily and it is

lovely being out in the open air

liven sth up

to begin with

in return (for sth)

catch on

Meaning
Sports
playing with al the best members of your
team
start the match
win or lose when tossing the coin to cho
order a player who has broken a rule to leave
the field
make a good use of an opportunity

almost do sth

accept sth that is not as good as you want

make sth more interesting and exciting

first, at first
in exchange for sth or as payment for sth
become popular or fashionable

Example

A Real Madrid player was sent off for a

terrible foul on the goalkeeper

Despite being cheered on by fanatical (fan

cung) home crowd, Barca had to settle for
a draw

The idea is catching on fast

Phrase

Meaning
Plans and Arrangements

bring sth forward

<> put sth back

move sth to an earlier time

put sth off/back

delay (to do) sth

have sth on

have an arrangement to do sth

call sth off

cancel sth that has been arranged

fix sth up

arrangement to do sth

look ahead (to sth)

think about what is going to happen in the

future

go according to plan

happen in the way you intend and expect

Example

Phrase

ngements
They have brought the game forward to
Saturday

mad about sth/sb

I need to see the dentist, but I keep putting

it off

go off

I have got something on this Friday, so I I'll

have to call off our meeting

be really into
not sb thing (not sb's cup
of tea)

That's OK. Bob can't make it either. Shall we

fix something up for next week?

I can't bear/stand
(doing) sth

You aren't looking ahead to next year already,

are you?
- Yes. I am hoping to go to India, if all goes
according to plan

grow on sh

revolve around
sb/sth
could do with

Meaning
My personal tastes
liking sth/sb very much
stop liking sth that you used to like in the
past
be very interested in sth (hobby)
not what sb likes or is interested in

I hate doing sth

sth begin to be liked

have sb/sth as the most important

need

Example

tastes

I used to be mad about chips, but I have

completely gone off them now

My father is really into camping but it is

not my thing

I couldn't bear classical music as a

teenager, but it grows on you

My life revolves around my family

I could do with another few days to finish
this project

Phrase

Meaning
Damage and Repair

be falling into
pieces/bits = fall
apart

starting to break

put sth together

make or mend sth by joining all the different

parts

put up

build

run/crash into sb/sth

hit sb/sth with a car, bus and so on

a car/bus have been badly damage that
cannot be repaired

write-off

Example

Phrase

Repair

The bookcase is falling into pieces but I

managed to put it together again

start sth off

keep sth up
Now they are going to put up a block of flats
in its place

come in (first, second)

finish up with sth
break out <> put sth out

early on
get sth off the
ground
take shape
judging by/from sth

Meaning
Beginnings and Endings

begin doing sth

continue sth at the same high level

finish a race in a particular position
have sth at the end
start (fire, flight or a war)
soon after the beginning

a project that start happening successfully

nh hnh
used to say what you think based on what
you have seen, heard or learnt

Example

d Endings

I started off the race quite well, but I

couldn't keep it up and eventually I came in
fifth

The fire broke out in the basement

Thera are always many problems early on
when you start off to set up your business
However, it took ages to get the project off
the ground
Judging by the look of it, the house is pretty
antique

Phrase

Meaning
Time

at the crack of dawn

very early in the morning

once in the blue

moon

hardly ever, very rarely

out of date

old-fashioned or without the recent

information

one day

at some time in the future

on impulse = on
the spur of the
moment

without thinking about sth before you do it

live from day to

day

live without thinking about what will happen

in the future

in no time

very quickly or very soon

from time to time

sometimes but not regularly or often

the other day

recently; a few day ago

ON the dot

be exactly on time

keep sb waiting
turn up

right at the last

minute
waste your
breath
only a matter of
time

make sb wait for you

arrive late
at the latest possible time
say things that sb doesnt listen or take
notice of
sth definitely happen but you dont know
when

Example

Phrase

I often get up at the crack of dawn

in all

I go to the doctor once in a blue moon

add sth up >< take sth

away

Most of my clothes are a bit out of date

as many as

One day I am going to travel round the world

dozens of sth

I do most of thing on impulse then I have to

pay for it

quite a few/a lot of sth

I live from day to day, I don't think about

the future

round about

I can get ready to go in no time

one or two

I go horse-riding from time to time

one by one
put sb/sth first

The other day, I fixed up a meeting with my

staff and requiring everyone be there at ten
on the dot

put two and two to

gather

He always keeps us waiting for at least 20

minutes

have a second
thoughts
third time lucky

One of my bad habit is that I always get thing

done right at the last minute

ten to one
go fifty-fifty

The boss feels waste of his breath to

explain to her so I think her leave just only a
matter of time

never in a million years

in
in
in
in

his
his
his
his

twenties
early twenties
mid-twenties
late twenties

Meaning
Number
in total
if you take four away form ten, you get six
(= subtract sth from)
used before a number to show how large and
surprising it is
a lot of people/things

without thinking about sth before you do it

approximately
a few
once at a time
consider sb/sth to be more importan than
anyone or anything else
suy on

change your mind

qu tam ba bn
very probably (mi n mt l)
go halve (share equally)
sth could never happen

20-29
21-23
24-26
27-29

Example

r
I often get up at the crack of dawn
I go to the doctor once in a blue moon
I lost count of the number of visitors we
had, but it must have been as many as 50

We had dozens of requests for brochures,

and quite a few orders as a result

Round about ten of the note were badly torn

I had one or two ideas about the plans
She always puts her children first
My wife always put two and two together
when she knows I have trips with my female
colleagues

Ten to one they will missed the train again

Phrase

Meaning
Problems and Solution

sort sth out

arrange sth in a tidy and organized way

my feet/back
is/are killing me

my feet/back is very hurt

do the trick

resolve the problem

have had it

thing in bad conditions and no more useful

in a hurry to do sth ><

take your time

impatient to do sth

be rush/run off sb feet

be extremely busy

help sb out

help sb especially in a difficult situation

switch off

stop thinking about sth

one step at a time

slowly, gradually

put in a good
word for sb
pile up

say positive things to another person abt sth

become larger in quantity or amount

Example

Solution
I will sort all messy CD piles out

make the grade

feel sorry for

your self
Tell the truth ! It will do the trick

that's life

Do you think these trousers have had it?

take sth into account

We'll be rushed off our feet this month

Because you think about it too much. If I were

you, I will learn how to switch off
Look, just take it one step at a time. You'll
be fine

We gonna got more order piling up

Give advice
reach the necessary standard and be
successful
be unhappy for yourself
despite of the fact that many things is
disappointing but you must accept it
take sth into consideration

ice
I can make the grade to get admission from
Havard
Stop feel sorry for yourself, stand up and
take action
Tell the truth ! It will do the trick

Phrase

ever since

Meaning
Link Phrases
continuously from the time or event
mentioned

at last

finally, eventually

in spite of/dispite

in the mean time

in the period of time between two times or

events

as if

used for saying how sth or sb appears (nh

th, c nh l)

even if

used for saying that what follows if make no

difference (ngay c khi)

Example

Phrase

ses

Fixe
I had lived in my last house ever since I went
to high school

comes and goes

wait and see

facts and figures

fast and furious
As if unsure of where she was, she just
standed and looked round. Even if she knew,
she still didn't know what to do

up and down

peace and quiet

first and foremost
backwards and forwards
on and off
sick and tired
word for word
one way or another

give or take
sooner or later

Meaning
Fixed phrases with two key words
be present for a short time then go away,
then return and so on
delay action until you know what is going to
happen
accurate and detailed information
full of rapid action and quick changes

calm and silence, especially in contrast to a

noisy environment
used for emphasizing the main point or the
most important reason for sth
tin ti tin lui
sth happens a few times then stops for a
period, then starts again and so on
very unhappy abt sth
using exactly the same words
anyway
approximately
some point in the future

Example

two key words

The pain in my arm comes and goes
We can't do anything now. Just wait and see
We need to see facts and figures before
making any decision
The action is really fast and furious at the
beginning of the film

I love the peace and quiet in the outskirtS

First and foremost we need to book the
hotel
I have been going backwards and forwards
all day
Do you see them much ? On and off, but not
a great deal
I am sick and tired of all this rain
She told me what he said word for word
We'll get the money one way or another
The book will be here in three weeks, give or
take a few day
I'll find another job sooner or later

Phrase

Meaning
Prepositional Phrases

out of tune >< in tune

singing or playing the wrong musical notes

off duty >< on duty

pulic labors (nurses, police officers) not

working at particular time

by accident ><
on purpose

in a way that is not planned or organized

in theory >< in
practice
in working order >< out
functioning properly (machine)
of order

out of control ><

under control

impossible to manage or control

on the phone

using the phone

in writing

in the form of a letter, document etc

by return of post
in confidence
on your mind

in the next available post (usually the next

day)
keep secret in personally
your thought

at once = straight away immediately

at length

for a long time and in detail

in the end

at last, finally
accidentally

for certain

for sure

in the/sb's way

stopping sb from moving or doing sth

out of place

not suitable for the plae or situatiion sth is in

Example

Phrases
Simon said I was out of tune, but I think I
was the only one singing in tune
The doctor's off duty right now, but he'll be
back on duty
I don't know If he pushed he by accident, or
whether he did it on purpose
In theory the plan sounds great, but I don't
think it'll work in practice
The phones were in working order
yesterday, but already two are out of order
The crowd was getting out of control, but
the police now have the situation under
control

She said they need confirmation in writing

but promised to acknowledge it by return of
post

Remember that you can speak to a counsellor

in confidence, so if you have anything on
your mind, com and see us at once

I questioned the two boys at length. In the

end, I decided that the books has been taken
by mistake, although the only people who
know for certain are the two boys
themselves

The tree was in the way and it looked out

of place

Phrase
caught the sun

Meaning
Verb-based idioms
skin has become red or brown from being in
the sun

lay the table

putting knives, forks on the table for a meal

stretch my legs

go for a short walk after sitting for sometime

catch sb eye

attract sb attention

miss the point

not understand the main idea of what sb is

saying

make up for lost

time

do sth quickly or do more than usual because

you couldn't do it before

keep a straight face

try to resist your laugh because of funny

things

go round in circle

do or discuss sth without making any

progress

stay the night

sleep at sb's house for one night

speak your mind

say exactly what you think in a very direct

way

Example

Phrase

dioms
He's really caught the sun

get through sth

She's laying the table

get away from it

all

I need to stretch my legs, I have sit for a

long time

get the hang of sth

I tried to catch the waiter's eye

get ahead

You're missing the point. I'm not against

war; I'm saying this war is wrong

get over sth

She'll have to work very hard to make up for

lost time

get into sth

Dont try to keep a straight face. Just loose

your muscle and let's your emotion free

get the most out

of sth

This discussion is pointless, we have just

gone round in circle

get rid of sth

Why don't you stay the night at out flat?

get on with your life

Darren believes in speaking his mind, and

that can upset people

get the upper

hand
be getting on for
get on/along
be getting on/along

Meaning
Get
pass
go on holiday to a place whre you can relax
take sth up, learn to do sth
be successful and do better than other people
in a career

start a career in a particular profession

get the max benefit or pleasure from sth

quit a habit
stop worrying abt sth that has happened and
start living a normal life again
gain an advantage over sb so that you are in
control of situation
be nearly a particular age, time or number
have a friendly relationship
making good progress

Example

Get into Advertising

Get upper hand to day to have a free gift

card from Apple
My wife is getting on for forty, but she still
full of energy. Therefore, she looks younger
than her age

Phrase

Meaning
take and look

take sb off

copy the way sb speaks or behaves, to

entertain people

take (no) notice of sb

pay (no) attention to what sb says

take (time) off

away from work

be taken back

be shocked or surprised

take your life in your

hands

put yourself in danger (humor way)

take it easy
take it or leave it

not take sth lying

down

not accept a bad situation without a fight or

protest

take against

begin to dislike sb without a reason

look back on sth

think abt sth in your past

look on the bright

be cheerful or positive abt bad situation
side
look up (down) to sb
look out for sb

respect and admire sb

take care of sb and make sure they are
treated well

look the other way ngoanh mat di

look sb eye

look straight at sb, especially to show that

you are being honest

look to sb

hope or expect to get help, advice from sb

look your best

look as attractive as possible

look young for

your age

look as though you are younger than you

really are

Example

Phrase

ook
I've got a Liverpool accent, and my boss is
always taking me off in front of my
colleagues

come to/around
>< pass out

Just take notice of him

get by

I wish I could take 2 days off

go according to
plan

I was really taken aback when she said she

wanted to break up with me

go down/up to
somewhere

Anyone who disagrees with my boss is taking

his life in his hands

whatever sb says
goes
go along with sth
not go far

VN people wasn't to take the inhuman action

lying down

go down with sth

He took against me the minute we met

go off sb/sth

Do you look back on your childhood as the

happiest time of your life?

against time

DO you look out for other people when they

need a hand?
Do you look the other way if you see
someone stealing from a shop?

Do other people look to you when they need

advice?
Do you look your best when you go out?
Do you look young for your age

Meaning
come and go
be conscious again
pass through
happen in the way that you intend
go to a place further south/north from where
ur
used for saying that a particular person has
the power to decide what happens in a
situation
agree to do sth that sb else wants to do or
wants you to do
can't by very much with a particular amount
of money
become sick or ill with sth
chn
chay dua voi thoi gian

Example
go
I don't know. When I come to, I was in
hospital
Let me go by please
If everything goes according to plan, I'll go
down to Brighton to stay with my friends

Dad wants to take us bowling and whatever

he says goes

I've got only 20$ and that won't go far

I think I'm going down with flu. I'll probably
stay in
I hope that I will not go off studying English