100 Idioms - thành ngữ tiếng Anh được dùng nhiều nhất

1. RAINING CATS AND DOGS: rain heavily (Mưa nặng hạt)

Ex:–> It’s raining cats and dogs = It’s raining heavily
2. CHALK AND CHEESE: very different from each other (rất khác nhau)
Ex:–> I don’t have anything in common with my brother. We’re like chalk and cheese.
3. HERE AND THERE: Everywhere
Ex:–> I have been searching here and there for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.
4. A HOT POTATO: something that is difficult or dangerous to deal with (vấn đề nan giải)
Ex:–> The abortion issue is a hot potato in the US
5. AT THE DROP OF A HAT: immediately, instantly (Ngay lập tức)
Ex:–> If you need me, just call me. I can come at the drop of a hat.
6. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD: time to start from the beginning; it is time to to plan something over again (bắt đầu
lại)
Ex:–> My plans to create a tiny car made of glasses were unsuccessful, so I guess it’s back to the drawing board for me.
7. BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH: avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the issue (nói vòng vo, lạc đề)
Ex:–> Stop beating about the bush and answer my question.
8. BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD: a good invention or innovation, a good idea or plan
Ex:–> Portable phones are marketed as the best thing since sliced bread; people think they are extremely good.
9. BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL: to stay up working, especially studying late at night (thức khuya làm việc, học bài)
Ex:–> I will have a big exam tomorrow so I’ll be burning the midnight oil tonight.
10. CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO STOOLS: when someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives (tiến thoái
lưỡng nan)
11. BREAK A LEG: good luck! (thường dùng để chúc may mắn)
Ex:–> I have heard that you’r gonna take a test tomorrow, break a leg, dude!!! (sounds funny hah???)
12. HIT THE BOOKS: to study (học)
Ex:–> I can’t go out tonight. I’ve got to hit the books. I’m having an exam tomorrow.
13. WHEN PIGS FLY: something will never happen (điều vô tưởng, không thể xảy ra, nhớ là “pigs” đừng nhầm với con vật
khác nhé)
14. SCRATCH SOMEONE’S BACK: help someone out with the assumption that they will return the favor in the future
(giúp đỡ người khác với hy vọng họ sẽ giúp lại mình)
Ex:–> “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours later,” the customer said when we talked about the new sales contact.
15. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD: do or say something exactly right (nói chính xác, làm chính xác)
Ex:–> Mike hit the nail on the head when he said most people can use a computer without knowing how it works.
16. TAKE SOMEONE/SOMETHING FOR GRANTED: coi nhẹ
Ex:–> One of the problems with relationships is that after a while you begin to take each other for granted!!
17. TAKE SOMETHING INTO ACCOUNT/ CONSIDERATION: to remember to consider something (tính đến cái gì,
xem xét việc gì)
Ex:–> We will take your long year of service into account when we make our final decision.
18. PUT SOMEONE/SOMETHING AT SOMEONE’S DISPOSAL: to make someone or something available to someone
(có sẵn theo ý muốn của ai)
Ex:–> I’d be glad to help you if you need me. I put myself at your disposal.
19. SPLITTING HEADACHE: a severe headache (đau đầu như búa bổ) (khi ra thi sẽ hỏi từ “Splitting”)
Ex:–> I’ve got a splitting headache. I’m going upstairs for a nap.
20. ON THE HOUSE: không phải trả tiền
Ex:–> I went to a restaurant last night. I was the ten thousandth customer, so my dinner was on the house.
21. HIT THE ROOF = GO THROUGH THE ROOF = HIT THE CEILING: to suddenly become angry (giận dữ)
Ex:–> I”m afraid he will hit the roof when he finds out our vacation is canceled
22. MAKE SOMEONE’S BLOOD BOIL: làm ai sôi máu, giận dữ
23. BRING DOWN THE HOUSE: làm cho cả khán phòng vỗ tay nhiệt liệt
Ex:–> G-Dragon brought the house down. He really brought down the house with his fantastic song.
24. PAY THROUGH THE NOSE: to pay too much for something (trả giá quá đắt)
Ex:–> If you want a decent wine in a restaurant, you have to pay through the nose for it.
25. BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH: sát sao, rất sát
Ex:–> I got through calculus math by the skin of my teeth.
Ex:–> I got to the airport a few minutes late and missed the plane by the skin of my teeth.
26. PULL SOMEONE’S LEG: chọc ai
Ex:–> You don’t mean that. You’re just pulling my leg.
27. IT STRIKE SOMEBODY AS/THAT A STRANGE: lấy làm lạ
Ex:–> It strikes as a strange to me that he failed the exam because he is so smart and diligent a student.
28. TAKE IT AMISS: to understand as wrong or insulting, or misunderstand (hiểu lầm)
Ex:–> Would you take it amiss if I told you I thought you look lovely? I was afraid you’d take it the wrong way.
29. HIGH AND LOW = HERE AND THERE: everywhere
Ex:–> I have been searching high and low for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.
Thành ngữ tiếng Anh (idioms) hay gặp trong đề thi
30. THE MORE, THE MERRIER: càng đông càng vui
Ex:–> Can I bring some friends with me?Yeah sure, the more, the merrier.
31. SPICK AND SPAN: ngăn nắp gọn gàng
32. EVERY NOW AND THEN: sometimes
Ex:–> Every nowand then, I want to be alone.
33. PART AND PARCEL: integral, crucial ( thiết yếu, quan trọng)
34. GO TO ONE’S HEAD: khiến ai kiêu ngạo
Ex:–> Too much success will go to her head.
35. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON: rất hiếm (rare)
Ex:–> Once in a blue moon, I stop thinking about her. If only she knew how much I loved her.
36. FEW AND FAR BETWEEN: rare (hiếm gặp)
Ex:–> Go and tell her that you love her! That kind of girl is really few and far between
37. ON THE SPOT:(1) immediately (ngay lập tức)
Ex:–> I expect you to be on the post when and where trouble arises
(2): in trouble; in a difficult situation (gặp rắc rối)
Ex:–> I hate to be on the spot when it’s not my fault
38. ON THE VERGE OF = ON THE BRINK OF = IN THE EDGE OF: trên bờ vực (cẩn thận với giới từ “on” và “in”
nhé!)
Ex:–> Unless we take measures to protect tigers, they will be on the verge of extinction. (lưu ý: take measures: đưa ra biện
pháp)
39. IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS: good or bad things do not just happen a few at a time, but in large numbers all at
once (họa vô đơn chí)
Ex:–> First of allit was the car breaking down, then the fire in the kitchen and now Mike’saccident
40. BE ON THE WAGON: kiêng rượu
Ex:–> Bob’s old drinking buddies complained that he was no fun when he went on the wagon
41. LED SOMEBODY BY THE NOSE: to control someone and make them do exactly what you want them to do (nắm đầu,
dắt mũi ai)
Ex:–> They simply didn’t know what they were doing and they were led by the nose by a manipulative government
42. AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR: vào phút chót
Ex:–> She always turned her term paper in at the eleventh hour.
42. SELL/GO LIKE HOT CAKES: bán đắt như tôn tươi
Ex:–> The book has only just been published andcopies are already selling like hot cakes in both Britain and America.
43. FIND FAULT WITH: chỉ trích, kiếm chuyện, bắt lỗi
Ex:–> It is very easy to find fault with the work others.
44. OFF AND ON/ ON AND OFF: không đều đặn, thỉnh thoảng
Ex:–> We don’t often go there- just off and on.
45. MAKE BELIEVE: giả bộ, giả vờ
Ex:–> I tried to make believe she was happy, but knew deep down it was not true.
46. MAKE GOOD TIME: di chuyển nhanh, đi nhanh.
Ex:–> We made good time and were at the hotel by lunchtime.
47. LOOK DAGGERS AT SOMEONE: giận giữ nhìn ai đó
Ex:–> Their relationship is not free and easy but at least he is no longer looking daggers at her.
48. BE OUT OF THE QUESTION: không thể được
Ex:–> You cannot get married until you are 18, it’s out of the question.
49. ALL AT ONCE = suddenly: bất thình lình
Ex:–> All at once, there was a loud banging on the door.
50. BLOW ONE’S TRUMPET: bốc phét, khoác lác
Ex:–> Anyone will tell you she’s one of the best journalist we’ve got, although she’d never blow her trumpet.
51. SLEEP ON IT: suy nghĩ thêm về điều gì đó.
Ex:–> You don’t have to give me your decision now. Sleep on it, and let me know tomorrow.
52. FIGHT TOOTH AND CLAW/NAIL: đánh nhau dữ dội, cấu xé nhau
Ex:–> We fought tooth and claw to retain our share of business.
53. PLAY TRICKS/JOKES ON: chọc phá, trêu ghẹo, chơi khăm
Ex:–> The kids are always play jokes on their teachers.
54. DOWN THE DRAIN: đổ sông đổ biển (công sức, tiền bạc)
Ex:–> It’s just money down the drain.
55. SMELL A RAT: hoài nghi, linh cảm chuyện không ổn
Ex:–> The minute I came in, I smelled a rat.
56. THE LAST STRAW: giọt nước tràn ly
Ex:–> When she showed up late a third time, that was the last straw. We had to fire her.
57. GET THE HAND OF SOMETHING: nắm bắt được, sử dụng được
Ex:–> After three weeks of using this computer, I think I’ve finally got the hand of it.
58. HARD OF HEARING: lãng tai, nặng tai
Ex:–> Tom is hard of hearing. Therefore, we have to speak loudly so that he can hear us.
59. KEEP AN EYE ON: coi chừng, ngó chừng
Ex:–> Please keep an eye on my baby while I’m out for a while.
60. HAVE A BEE IN ONE’S BONNET (ABOUT SOMETHING): đặt nặng chuyện gì, chấp nhất chuyện gì
Ex:–> She has a bee in her bonnet about going to America.
61. GET/HAVE COLD FEET: mất hết can đảm, chùn bước
Ex:–> I’m worried my members in this page may be getting cold feet about the university entrance exam. Therefore, I will try
my best to help them overcome this severe exam. ^O^ *tặng các Fans dethithu.net*
62. ON SECOND THOUGHTS: suy nghĩ kĩ
Ex:–> On second thoughts, it was a dumb movie.
63. IN VAIN: uổng công, vô ích
Ex:–> Government agents tried in vain kidnap him.
64. CHIP IN: khuyên góp, góp tiền
Ex:–> If everyone chips in, we will be able to buy her a nice present.
65. OFF ONE’S HEAD: điên, loạn trí
Ex:–> The old man has been off his head for at least a year.
66. RUN AN ERRAND: làm việc vặt
Ex:–> I’ve got to run an errand. I’ll be back in a minute.
67. JUMP THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS: vượt đèn đỏ
Ex:–> They ignore people who jumps the traffic lights.
68. FLY OFF THE HANDLE: dễ nổi giận, phát cáu
Ex:–> No one will fly off the handle for no reason.
69. THE APPLE OF ONE’S EYES: đồ quý giá của ai
Ex:–> You are the apple of my eyes ^O^
70. BUCKET DOWN: mưa xối xả, mưa to
Ex:–> It’s been bucketing down all day.
71. CLOSE SHAVE = NARROW ESCAPE: thoát chết trong gang tấc
Ex:–> Phew, that was a close shave. I was so lucky.
72. DROP A BRICK : lỡ lời, lỡ miệng
Ex:–> I dropped a brick when talking with my best friend, and now she doesn’t want to talk to me.
73. GET BUTTERFLIES IN ONE’S STOMACH: cảm thấy bồn chồn
Ex:–> I always get butterflies in my stomach when it comes to taking test
74. OFF THE RECORD: không chính thức, không được công bố
Ex:–> What the president said is not to be printed. It’s off the record
75. ONE’S CUP OF TEA: thứ mà ta thích
Ex:–> SNSD is my cup of tea. They are so beautiful and talented. Especially Seohyun, she looks so cute
76. CUT IT FINE: đến sát giờ
Ex:–> Only allowing half an hour to get from the station to the airport is cutting it fine, isn’t it?
77. GOLDEN HANDSHAKE: món tiền hậu hĩnh dành cho người sắp nghỉ việc
Ex:–> The manager got early retirement and a 600,000$ golden handshake when the company was restructed.
78. PUT ON AN ACT: giả bộ, làm bộ
Ex:–> We’ve known you are a good swimmer – stop putting on an act.
79. COME TO LIGHT: được biết đến, được phát hiện, được đưa ra ánh sáng.
Ex:–> Four soldiers have faced charges since the scandal came to light last fall
80. TAKE THINGS TO PIECES: tháo ra từng mảnh
Ex:–> Men like to take things to pieces and put them together.
81. PUT ONE’S FOOT IN IT: gây nhầm lẫn, bối rối, phạm một sai lầm gây bối rối
Ex:–> I really put my foot in it when I asked her about her job. I didn’t know she’d just been fired.
82. PULL ONE’S WEIGHT: nỗ lực, làm tròn trách nhiệm
Ex:–> The rest of the team complained that Sarah wasn’t pulling her weight.
83. MAKE ENDS MEET: xoay sở để kiếm sống
Ex:–> I have to work at two jobs to make ends meet.
84. GET THE HOLD OF THE WRONG END OF THE STICK: hiểu nhầm ai đó
Ex:–> I think I must explain to her that she got hold of the wrong end of the stick again.
85. CUT AND DRIED: cuối cùng, không thể thay đổi, rõ ràng, dễ hiểu
Ex:–> Although a deal has been agreed, it is not yet cut-and-dried.
Ex:–> The human rights issue is by no means cut-and-dried.
86. STAY/KEEP ON ONE’S TOE: cảnh giác, thận trọng
Ex:–> We had better keep on our toes while we’re walking along the dark portions of this street.
87. SEE EYE TO EYE: đồng tình
Ex:–> I’m glad that they see eye to eye on the matter of the conference location.
88. HAVE IN MIND: đang suy tính, cân nhắc
Ex:–> I don’t want to see a movie now, I have in mind going to the park.
89. A LOST CAUSE: hết hy vọng, không thay đổi được gì
Ex:–> It seems that Charles will give it up. I suppose he is a lost cause.
90. TO BE BOUND TO: chắc chắn
Ex:–> You’re bound to be late if you don’t hurry.
91. AT HEART: thực chất, cơ bản (basically, fundamentally)
Ex:–> James sometimes seems quite unfriendly but at heart he’s a good person.
92. TO KNOW BY SIGHT: nhận ra (recognize)
Ex:–> The woman said that she would know the thief by sight if she ever saw him again.
93. NOW AND THEN = NOW AND AGAIN = AT TIMES = FROM TIME TO TIME = OFF AND ON = ONCE IN A
WHILE = EVERY SO OFTEN : sometimes (thỉnh thoảng, không thường xuyên)
94. TO TAKE PAINS: làm việc cẩn thận và tận tâm
Ex:–> She takes pains to do everything well.
95. TO MAKE DO: xoay sở, đương đầu (to manage, to cope)
Ex:–> During difficult economic times, many people have to make do with less.
96. CLOSE CALL = CLOSE SHAVE = NARROW ESCAPE: thoát được nguy hiểm trong gang tấc, mém chết!
97. SELL SOMEONE SHORT: đánh giá thấp
98. FACE THE MUSIC: chịu trận
Ex:–> Mary broke a dining-room window and had to face the music when her father got home.
99. LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG: to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident (để lộ bí mật)
Ex:–> It’s asecret. Try not to let the cat out of the bag.
100. ON PROBATION: trong thời gian quản chế
Ex:–> While Anne was on probation, she reported to the police regularly.
Ex:–> John was on probation for a year.

Dưới đây là 50 idioms thông dụng. Bảng từ đã bao gồm ý nghĩa và ví dụ cụ thể giúp bạn có thể hiểu rõ và áp dụng hiệu quả.

Idiom Ý nghĩa Ví dụ

My dream is to become a successful businessman and I

at all cost Bằng mọi giá
will work hard for it AT ALL COSTS

I am used to teach General english but I was OUT OF

be out of your depth Trong tình thế khó xử/khó khăn
MY DEPTH when I had to teach Academic English

We need to EXPLORE ALL AVENUES before doing

Suy tính đến các hướng/bước để something that is not very safe to a great number of
explore all avenues
tránh xảy ra vấn đề/hậu quả xấu people in order to minimize unfavourable
consequences.”

Hãy đối mặt/chấp nhận thực tế/sự Let’s face it. You won’t be able to achieve 7.0 IELTS
let’s face it
thật if you do not work hard
 My friend never likes using smartphones. She’s so
behind the times Lỗi thời, hết thời
BEHIND THE TIMES.

He has not submitted his dissertation so he’s IN DEEP

in deep water Trong tình thế nguy hiểm/khó khăn
WATER.

put yourself in Thử đặt mình vào vị trí/hoàn cảnh If you PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES, you would
somebody’s shoes của người khác understand why I made that decision.

to be up in arms
Tức giận, buồn bực vì điều gì đó She has been UP IN ARMS about the rent increase.
about something

He said it is a difficult problem, but I don’t agree. It

as easy as pie Rất dễ, dễ như ăn bánh
seems as easy as pie to me!

I’m sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let’s go

be sick and tired of Tôi ghét (tôi không chịu được)
out tonight and have fun.

He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she

bend over backwards Rất cố gắng ( có khi quá sức )
never seemed satisfied.

That sounds like a good deal, but I’d like to sleep on it

sleep on it Suy nghĩ (trước khi quyết định)
before I give you my final decision.

I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right

broke Hết tiền
now, I’m broke.

I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my

change one’s mind Đổi ý
mind. I’ll do extra work on the weekend instead.

Cut it out! Dừng làm việc gì xấu That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!

It was good to meet you . Drop me a line when you

drop someone a line Gửi 1 lá thư hay email cho ai đó
have time.

I don’t understand how to do this problem. Take a look

figure something out Hiểu được vấn đề gì
at it. Maybe you can figure it out.

While I was away from the store, my brother filled in

fill in for someone Làm dùm ai khi họ vắng mặt
for me.

Have you seen Joe recently? I haven’t seen him in

in ages Từ rất lâu
ages.

give someone a hand Giúp I want to move this desk. Can you give me a hand?
 hit the hay Đi ngủ It’s after 12 o’clock. I think it’s time to hit the hay.

Our business is really improving. We’ve been in the

in the black Sinh lời, có lời
black all year.

Business is really going poorly these days. We’ve been

in the red Mất tiền, lỗ
in the red for the past three months.

I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. I really

in the nick of time Xíu nữa, 1 lúc nữa
need this medicine!

I know things have been difficult for you recently, but

keep one’s chin up Dũng cảm và tiếp tục
keep your chin up. It will get better soon.

know something like If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this
Biết 1 việc gì rất rõ
the back of your part of town like the back of my hand.
hand

Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see
once in a while Đôi khi, lâu lâu movies once in a while.

I’ll meet you at 9 o’clock sharp. If you’re late, we’ll be

sharp Chính xác thời gian đó
in trouble!

He doesn’t look very intelligent, but you can’t judge a

Don’t judge a book Đừng đánh giá một sự vật/sự
book by its cover.
by its cover việc/con người chỉ qua vẻ bề ngoài

miss the boat = to If you miss the boat, it means you are too late to get an
Lỡ cơ hội
miss an opportunity opportunity in my company.

I’m feeling under the weather – I think I’m getting a

feeling under the Cảm thấy không khỏe, không được
cold.
weather tốt

leave no stone I’ll leave no stone unturned until I find out the reason.
Làm tất cả để đạt mục tiêu
unturned

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that
hit the nail on the Đoán đúng, đánh đúng trọng tâm, what’s lacking in our company is a feeling of
head nói đúng…. confidence.

I’m sitting on the fence with my girlfriend when we

sit on the fence Lưỡng lự
went shopping!
 Coi việc có cái gì như một điều
He took her help for granted without saying thank you.
take for granted hiển nhiên nên không trân trọng
khi có điều đó

Getting a band 6.5 in the speaking test will be a piece

A piece of cake Dễ dàng
of cake.

Khi thứ gì đó “blow you away”,

Blew me away nghĩa là thứ đó thực sự rất đáng The new technology blew me away.
ngạc nhiên

I used to see him all the time, but now he just visits me
once in a blue moon Rất hiếm khi
once in a blue moon.

Run of the mill Thông thường Apple phones are very run of the mill these days.

Soulmate Bạn chí cốt tâm giao, tri âm tri kỷ My husband is not just my lover, he’s my soulmate.

Down in the dumps Buồn bã I was really down in the dumps after my dog died.

I’d love to buy a Lamborghini supercar, but it costs an

cost an arm and a Rất đắt tiền
arm and a leg.
leg

Ở một thời điểm thời gian chính The class will start at 8:00 a.m. on the dot, so don’t be
on the dot
xác late!

Moving to a new city was difficult at first, but I soon

Find my feet Cảm thấy thoải mái để làm việc gì found my feet.

I was surprised he knew what I was planning, like he

read my/your/his Chỉ một ý tưởng hoặc suy nghĩ đã
could read my mind.
mind được người khác biết

My parents are quite traditional and set in their ways.

Set in their ways Không muốn thay đổi

Well, it was nice chatting with you, but it’s time for me
Kết thúc một công việc trong ngày,
call it a day to call it a day.
hoặc trong buổi tối

Over the moon

Vô cùng hài lòng và hạnh phúc I was over the moon when I passed my speaking test.

chill out Thư giãn, bình tĩnh lại Despite terrorism, Obama still kept calm, and told his
 staff to chill out, and got back to work.

(to be) fed up with

Chán ngán với Be careful, I think the boss is fed up with us today