Chủ Nhật, 31 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

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Daily Easy English Expression #146 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

American Expressions là một cách diển đạt khá đặc biệt qua Tiếng Anh hằng ngày của người Mỹ. Hầu hết các câu nói này phát nguồn từ những vùng quê, nông trại. Sau đó được truyền khẩu khắp nơi cho đến ngày nay. Cách diển đạt này cũng đã lan rộng khắp nơi trên thế giới. Nếu chúng ta muốn hiểu được họ đang lóng léo những gì, tốt nhất là chúng ta nên sử dụng nó như người bản địa.

Trang Chủ

Daily Easy English Expression -- 3 Minute English Lesson là những bài học rất ngắn dài chừng 3 phút. Những bài học này sẽ hướng dẫn các bạn cách diễn đạt ý tưởng của mình qua ngữ điệu; biểu lộ cảm xúc hoặc thể hiện tình cảm của mình qua lời nói đối với mọi người quanh bạn... Đây là cách luyện nghe và nói hàng ngày rất hữu hiệu.

Coach Shane là một huấn luyện viên Anh Ngữ rất giỏi - Anh có rất nhiều kinh nghiệm dạy Anh Văn cho người Á Đông.

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

to brown bag it

Đem theo thức ăn trưa từ nhà đến trường hay nơi làm việc

- What are you eating for lunch today?
- I've got a tuna sandwich and some chips.
- You brown bag it?
- Yeah! Food I make tastes better and costs less^^

Brown bag là một động từ - Cho thức ăn vào bao giấy để ăn trưa nơi làm việc hay trường học

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
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Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

3 Phút Tiếng Anh của Người Anh qua Video
Nhìn, nghe, nói - Bài học 45

Hi There!

Các bạn biết gì không? Học tiếng Anh không phải tùy hứng muốn học lúc nào thì học. Khi bạn đã quyết định học tiếng Anh là bạn phải học thật đều đặn, nghĩa là ngày nào bạn cũng phải học. Không phải là học một cách cấp tốc, học cho có đủ điểm hay bất cứ lý do nào đấy!

Trang Chủ

Mỗi ngày 5 câu nói đơn giản - Bài học này sử dụng các từ thông dụng và tên gọi về thời tiết.

Weather - Thời tiết

1. Sunny (Trời nắng)

Today's weather is sunny with occasional clouds - Hôm nay trời nắng thỉnh thoảng có mây.
Shinning and warming, warming and shinning. (Trời sáng và ấm, ấm và sáng)

2. Rain(Mưa)

The rain is falling on the street - Nưa đang rơi trên đường phố.
Raining, flashing, pitter-patter (mưa, nhấp nháy, có tiếng đập liên tục.)

3. Snow (Tuyết)

The snow is falling in the woods - Tuyết đang rơi trên rừng.
Drifting and floating (Rơi và bồng bềnh.)

4.Cold (Lạnh)

The cold man is struggling to stay warm - Người đàn ông bị lạnh đang tìm cách làm cho ấm.
Rubbing and blowing, moving and blowing(Chà xát và thổi hơn vào tay, đi lại và thổi hơi)

5. Hot (Nóng nực)

The sun is heating the hot desert - Mặt trời thiêu đốt sa mạc nóng.
Heating and baking, baking and heating.(Nóng như thiêu đốt.)

Quan trọng ở các bài học này là:
Nhìn!
Lắng nghe!
Lặp lại!
So sánh hình ảnh với sự kiện trong đời sống hàng ngày!
Trắc nghiệm kiến thức sau khi học các câu đơn giản!

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 8:30h ngày 14 tháng 1 2013
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Thứ Sáu, 29 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #145 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

Trang Chủ

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

To have someone over.

Mời ai đó đến nhà mình - thường là ăn cơm

- What's up tonight?
- I'm having my girlfriend's parents over.
- For dinner? You can't cook!
- KFC, buddy! They'll never know!!

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
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Thứ Năm, 28 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #144 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

Trang Chủ

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

He's 30-something.

Cở chừng 30 tuổi

- How old is Shane?
- I think he's 30-something.
- No! Maybe late 20s.
- I think mid-30s.
- Early 30s tops!

Trong diễn đạt này thì TOPS có nghĩa là cao tay lấm thì chỉ chừng 30 tuổi

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
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Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #143 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

Trang Chủ

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

Tops

Cao lắm là chừng ấy thôi ... Không hơn thêm nữa ...

- I need to buy my new girlfriend a present.
- Birthday?
- Yeah. Should I get her something expensive?
- How long have you been dating?
- 3 days.
- 10 bucks tops. No more!

Trong diễn đạt này thì TOPS có nghĩa là cao tay lấm thì chỉ chừng ấy là được rồi

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
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Thứ Ba, 26 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #142 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

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Trang Chủ

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Today's E-cubed:

I'm in deep doo doo.

Tui đạp nhằm (kít) - Gặp chuyện rắc rối lớn như đạp phải kít)

- So, John, did you finish?
- Finish what?
- The proposal. It's due in ten minutes.
- OH MY GOD. I didn't even start.
- You're in deep doo doo!

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
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Thứ Hai, 25 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #141 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

Trang Chủ

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

Hero vs heroine

Nam anh hùng vs Nữ anh hùng

- Who's your favorite hero?
- Hmm...Joan of Arc!
- She's a heroine, not a hero!
-Same thing—she was braver than most men!

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
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Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #140 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

Trang Chủ

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

Keep them coming!

- Thanks for the question. Next? Come on, keep them coming.
- Why do you teach English for free?
- Because a lot of people don't have enough money to study.
- But you have to make money, too!
- People with money can join my DDM classes! Those classes are inexpensive, but they're not free! Next question! Keep them coming~~

Đây là một diễn đạt phổ biến có nghĩa là tiếp tục đưa đến cho ai một điều gì hay vật gì - Tiếp tục đưa ra câu hỏi; tiếp tục đem thức ăn đến bữa tiệc; tiếp đem tiền góp vào quỹ

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
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Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #139 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

Trang Chủ

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

If I were in your shoes... (if I were you)..

Nếu tôi mang đôi giầy của ông thì ... - Đặt hoàn cảnh của ông vào tôi; Nếu tôi là ông thì ...

- Should I get the green shoes or the orange shoes?
- If I were in your shoes, I'd get the purple shoes!
- Purple? That's an ugly color for shoes.
- So are green and orange!

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
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Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #138 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

Trang Chủ

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

You and me...me and you!

Anh và em ... em và anh!

- You and me are just the same.
- You and I.
- Whatever! We both love English, but you and me both hate to study!
- And—you and I both like Coach Shane's lessons!! And he likes you and me!

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
Phạm Công Hiển

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #137 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Hi There!

Trang Chủ

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

He's 40 going on 10!

Bốn mươi mà giống như con nít mười tuổi!

- Look at your brother! He's having a great time!
- He's 40 going on 10!
- Is it his first time to Disneyland?
- No! He comes every year! He's a kid!!

OGXT's 22 going on 7!

Thảo luận, ý kiến hay thắc mắc
Cập nhập lần cuối cùng lúc 9:30h ngày 17 tháng 3 2013
Phạm Công Hiển

Thứ Bảy, 23 tháng 3, 2013

Amber Writes a Song - Bài Học 24

Ted always writes the songs for the rock band. But now amber says she wants to start writing songs too. She sings him the first lines of her new song.

Amber: Ted, you know how all along you've been in charge of all the lyrics for our band?
Ted: That's right, Amber. Everybody loves my songs!

Amber: Well, I hope they'll love my songs too.
Ted: But you don't write songs.

Amber: I'm sick and tired of singing your songs all the time. I want to sing my own songs!
Ted: Okay, no need to freak out! First things first. Have you written a song yet?

Amber: Yes, as a matter of fact, I have.
Ted: Well, let's hear it then.

Amber: Okay, but it's still a work in progress.
Ted: Stop trying to buy time. Let's hear the song!

Amber: My boyfriend is crazy. Crazy about baking cookies. I know for sure that there is no cure ...
Ted: Cut it out! Stop teasing me. I am cured.

Amber:All better?
Ted: Yes. I'll never bake another cookie again. My parents made a fortune. Now we can all just chill out!

Trang Chủ

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

all along - throughout; from beginning to end.

Ví dụ 1: Jenny told Nicole she would vote for her, but all along she was planning on voting for Andrea.
Ví dụ 2: I never believed Joel when he told us he was marrying a princess from Denmark. I knew all along that he was lying.

all better - completely cured.

Ví dụ I: "All better?" asked Maureen, after her son stopped crying.
Ví dụ 2: If you're not all better, you shouldn't go to work tomorrow.

as a matter of fact - see Lesson 20.

(to) buy (some) time - to make more time available (in order to achieve a certain purpose).

Ví dụ I: We're not sure yet whether or not we want to buy the house. We'd better buy some time so we can think about it over the weekend.
Ví dụ 2: I'm not sure whether or not I want to take the job offer. I'd better buy some time to think about it.

(to) chill out [slang] - to relax.

Ví dụ I: Chill out! If we miss this train, we'll just take the next one.
Ví dụ 2: Your dog ate your homework? Chill out, I'm sure your teacher will understand!

(to be) crazy about - see Lesson 5.

(to) cut it out - stop it; stop the annoying behavior.

Ví dụ 1: Tracy was chewing gum loudly during the movie. Her boyfriend finally told her to cut it out.
Ví dụ 2: Cut it out! Stop trying to pull my shoes off!

first things first - let's focus on the most important thing or task first.

Ví dụ 1: You want to work here at Lulu's Dance Club? First things first, have you ever worked as a dancer before?
Ví dụ 2: You want to ask your teacher if you can hand in your paper two weeks late? First things first, you'd better think of an excuse.

for sure - see Lesson 19.

(to) freak out [slang] - to respond to something irrationally or crazily; to overreact.

Ví dụ I: Ashley's parents freaked out when she told them she was dropping out of college to become an actress.
Ví dụ 2: Don't freak out when I tell you this, but I lost the laptop you lent me last week.

(to be) in charge of - having responsibility for.

Ví dụ 1: John is in charge of all international sales for his company.
Ví dụ 2: Who's in charge of making sure we don't run out of toilet paper in the bathroom?

in progress - happening; under way; going on now.

Ví dụ 1: The play is already in progress, so you'll have to wait until intermission to sit down.
Ví dụ 2: Once the test is in progress, you will not be allowed to leave the room.

(to) make a fortune - to make a lot of money.

Ví dụ 1: Adam made a fortune when he sold his company to Microsoft.
Ví dụ 2: Emma made a fortune selling candy to her classmates after lunch every day.

Đồng nghĩa: to make a bundle; to make a killing.

(to be) sick and tired of - completely bored with; sick of.

Ví dụ 1: Ted is sick and tired of hearing about what an excellent student Nicole is.
Ví dụ 2: I'm sick and tired of this nasty weather we've been having!

Ví dụ 1: Betsy's grandfather used to be very well off, but he lost most of his fortune when the U.S. stock market crashed in 1929.
Ví dụ 2: Debbie is a doctor and her husband is a lawyer. They're quite well off.

Bob Has a Surprise Visitor - Bài Học 23

Bob's former boss Peter, from the furniture store, comes to visit. He offers Bob his old job back, but Bob's not interested..

Peter: Hi Bob. I was just in the neighborhood so I thought I'd stop by.
Bob: Come on in. Take a cookie.

Peter: Thanks. I'm glad to see you're not holding a grudge against me for firing you.
Bob: Not at all. At first, it burned me up. But I feel better now.

Peter: Good. I'm glad you have no hard feelings. How would you like your old job back?
Bob: What happened to your wonderful new manager?

Peter: She drank at work. By five o'clock, she'd be lying under a dining room table, three sheets to the wind. Yesterday, I finally got rid of her.
Bob: Let me get this straight. You replaced me with some crazy woman who got plastered every day on the job?

Peter: Yeah, I lost my head.
Bob: I don't think you lost your head. I just think you've got rocks in your head!

Peter: Bob, I'm trying to level with you. I never should've let you go.
Bob: No use crying over spilt milk.

Peter: So you'll come back and work for me?
Bob: Not on your life! Susan and I are very well off now. We just sold our new company for a small fortune!

Trang Chủ

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

at first - see Lesson 16.

(to) burn someone up - to make someone angry.

Ví dụ 1: Jenny didn't vote for Nicole. That really burns Nicole up.
Ví dụ 2: I can't believe Kristen and Andrew didn't invite us to their wedding. That really burns me up!

come on in - enter.

Ví dụ 1: Come on in, the door's open!
Ví dụ 2: If nobody answers the door when you ring tonight, just come on in.

Lưu ý : This is a more conversational way of saying "come in."

(to) get plastered [slang] - to get drunk.

Ví dụ 1: Harold got plastered at the wedding and fell into the wedding cake.
Ví dụ 2: That's your fifth martini. What are you trying to do, get plastered?

Đồng nghĩa: to get loaded [slang]; to get sloshed [slang].

(to) get rid of - to free oneself of; to throw out.

Ví dụ 1: We finally got rid of our spider problem, but now we have ants.
Ví dụ 2: I've got too many old magazines and newspapers in my office. I need to get rid of some of them.

(to) get (something) straight - to clarify; to understand.

Ví dụ 1: Are you sure you got the directions straight?
Ví dụ 2: Let me get this straight- you're leaving your husband?

(to) hold a grudge against (someone) - to stay angry with someone about a past offense.

Ví dụ 1: Nicole holds a grudge against Jenny for voting for Andrea instead of her.
Ví dụ 2: Julia held a grudge against her boyfriend for not bringing her flowers on Valentine's Day.

(to) let (someone) go - to fire; dismiss employees.

Ví dụ 1: The investment bank let Chris go after they discovering he was stealing erasers, paper clips, and other office supplies.
Ví dụ 2: The Xerxes Corporation was doing so poorly, they had to let many workers go earlier this year.

(to) level with (someone) - to speak openly and honestly with someone.

Ví dụ l: Let me level with you. I'm voting for Andrea instead of you.
Ví dụ 2: I have a feeling you're not telling me the whole truth. Please just level with me.

(to) lose one's head - to lose control of one's behavior; to not know what one is doing.

Ví dụ 1: Nicole lost her head after losing the elections and started yelling at all her friends.
Ví dụ 2: Remember to stay calm before the judge. Don't get nervous and lose your head!

no hard feelings - no anger; no bitterness.

Ví dụ 1: After the elections, Andrea said to Nicole, "I hope there are no hard feelings."
Ví dụ 2: I know you were disappointed that I beat you in the golf tournament, but I hope there are no hard feelings.

no use crying over spilt milk - there's no point in regretting something that's too late to change.

Ví dụ 1: Nicole realized she'd made some mistakes with her campaign for president, but there was no use crying over spilt milk.
Ví dụ 2: Your bike was ruined in an accident? There's no use crying over spilt milk. You'll just have to buy a new one.

Not on your life! - definitely not.

Ví dụ 1: You want me to sit in that sauna for an hour? Not on your life!
Ví dụ 2: Thanks for offering me a job in Siberia. Am I going to take it? Not on your life!

on the job - at work.

Ví dụ 1: Jennifer has four men on the job painting her house.
Ví dụ 2: Dan got fired for drinking on the job.

small fortune - a good amount of money.

Ví dụ 1: When her great aunt died, Anne inherited a small fortune.
Ví dụ 2: You won $25,000 in the lottery? That's a small fortune!

(to) stop by - to pay a quick visit.

Ví dụ 1: I'm having some friends over for pizza tomorrow night. Why don't you stop by?
Ví dụ 2: Stop by my office on your way home tonight.

three sheets to the wind - drunk.

Ví dụ 1: After drinking four beers, Bob was three sheets to the wind.
Ví dụ 2: Somebody needs to make sure Greg gets home safely. He's three sheets to the wind.

Đồng nghĩa: wasted [slang]; liquored up [slang]; dead drunk.

well off - wealthy; financially secure.

Ví dụ 1: Betsy's grandfather used to be very well off, but he lost most of his fortune when the U.S. stock market crashed in 1929.
Ví dụ 2: Debbie is a doctor and her husband is a lawyer. They're quite well off.

Susan Shares The Good News - Bài Học 22

Bob tells Susan that the Village Market won't take their cookies anymore. Susan tells Bob that the National Cookie Company wants to buy out Susan's Scrumptious Cookies.

Bob: Dear, I've got some bad news.
Susan: What's the matter, Bob?

Bob: The Village Market won't take any more of our cookies.
Susan: Why not? They're selling like hotcakes!

Bob: I know, but a lady found a blue hair in her cookie. Now Carol refuses to sell them.
Susan: Carol is such a dragon lady! We're better off having nothing to do with her.

Bob: She's not my cup of tea either, but she was selling lots of cookies.
Susan: Oh well. That's the way the cookie crumbles. Ha ha. Get it?

Bob: Susan, this is no laughing matter!
Susan: Bob, we don't need the Village Market anymore.

Bob: Why not?
Susan: The National Cookie Company called. They want to buy out our business.

Bob: Susan, this is a dream come true. It looks like we've struck it rich!
Susan: Yes. Soon we'll be rolling in dough!

Trang Chủ

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

better off - in a more fortunate position.

Ví dụ I: We're better off leaving for France on Thursday evening, so we can spend the entire weekend there.
Ví dụ 2: If you're interested in studying languages, you'd be better off attending Northwestern University than the University of Chicago.

Lưu ý : This expression is often used with conditional tense (would), especially when you're giving advice: "you would be better off doing something" or "you'd be better off doing something."

(to) buy out - to purchase an entire business or someone's share of a business.

Ví dụ 1: Microsoft bought out Adam's company for $12 million.
Ví dụ 2: Harriett and Jane sell homemade snack chips. They hope one day a big company will buy out their business.

cup of tea - see Lesson 5.

dragon lady - a nasty woman who misuses her power.

Ví dụ 1: Beth is a real dragon lady. She's always screaming at her employees and blaming them for her mistakes. I hope she gets fired!
Ví dụ 2: Liz was nasty to you? I'm not surprised. She's a dragon lady.

SYNONYMS: bitch [slang]; shrew.

(to) get it - to understand.

Ví dụ l: I invited 40 people to my Thanksgiving dinner, but only I0 people came. I don't get it!
Ví dụ 2: Don't you get it? Your company is about to go out of business!

it looks like - it's likely that.

Ví dụ 1: It looks like I'll be able to get out of work early today, so let's plan on meeting downtown at 4:30.
Ví dụ 2: It looks like it's going to rain, so we'd better just cancel the picnic now.

no laughing matter - nothing to joke about; something serious.

Ví dụ 1: When the tornado came into town, it was no laughing matter.
Ví dụ 2: Jim might have been fooling around when he hit John, but he really hurt him. It was no laughing matter.

nothing to do with (someone or something) - not have any relationship with someone; to not get involved with something.

Ví dụ 1: After I found out that Nora shoplifted some lipstick from the drugstore, I wanted nothing to do with her.
Ví dụ 2: Larry asked Nick if he wanted to help him plan a robbery. Nick told Larry that he wanted nothing to do with it.

rolling in dough - very rich.

Ví dụ 1: Susan and Bob don't need to work anymore. They're rolling in dough.
Ví dụ 2: Adam will be able to retire young. He's rolling in dough.

Lưu ý : This is a play on words. "Dough" means "money" as well as what is used to make cookies, breads, and pastries. The dough (cookies) made by Bob and Susan brought them lots of dough (money).

SYNONYMS: rolling in it; rolling in money; loaded.

(to) sell like hotcakes - see Lesson 17.

(to) strike it rich - to attain sudden financial success.

Ví dụ 1: Chad struck it rich with the winning lottery ticket.
Ví dụ 2: Craig hopes to strike it rich so he can quit his job and open a winery in California.

that's the way the cookie crumbles - that's the way things go sometimes and there's nothing you can do about it.

Ví dụ 1: You lost your job? That's the way the cookie crumbles.
Ví dụ 2: Somebody drank your last can of Pepsi? Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

What's the matter? - see Lesson 2.

Susan Gets a Surprise Call - Bài Học 21

Donna from the National Cookie Company calls Susan. She wants to buy out Susan's Scrumptious Cookies. Susan is very Happy.

Susan: Hello?
Donna: Good afternoon. Are you Susan, of Susan's Scrumptious Cookies?

Susan: Yes, I am.
Donna: My name is Donna Jenkins, and I'm calling from the National Cookie Company. We're nuts about your cookies, and we'd like to sell them all over the country.

Susan: Unfortunately, we're running on a shoestring out of our kitchen. We can't make enough cookies for you.
Donna: My company wants to buy the recipe and the brand name from you.

Susan: Oh yeah? Why would you want to do that?
Donna: We have a successful track record of buying small companies and turning them into big ones.

Susan: In that case, I'm sure we can come to an agreement.
Donna: Great. You just made my day!

Susan: You'll need to work out the nuts and bolts of the agreement with my husband. He's the business manager.
Donna: May I speak with him now?

Susan: He's at a meeting. I'll have him get in touch with you when he returns.
Donna: Good. I look forward to speaking with him.

Trang Chủ

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

all over - throughout; everywhere.

Ví dụ 1: Nicole's classmates are from all over the world, including Argentina, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Poland, and Ukraine.
Ví dụ 2: Oh no! I got ketchup all over my white sweater.

(to) come to an agreement - to reach an agreement.

Ví dụ 1: If we can come to an agreement now, I can start work on Monday.
Ví dụ 2: If you're not willing to negotiate, it's going to be very difficult for us to come to an agreement.

in that case - under that circumstance.

Ví dụ 1: It's snowing? In that case, you'd better take the bus to school today instead of driving.
Ví dụ 2: You forgot your wallet at home today? In that case, you can borrow five bucks from me for lunch.

(to be or to get) in touch with (someone) - to be or to get in contact with (someone).

Ví dụ 1: I was surprised when Luis called me, since we hadn't been in touch with each other since high school.
Ví dụ 2: Leave me your contact information in case I need to get in touch with you while you're on vacation.

(to) look forward to - to anticipate eagerly.

Ví dụ 1: I'm looking forward to my trip to Mexico next month.
Ví dụ 2: Ron has worked as a high school teacher for over 40 years. He's really looking forward to retiring next year.

(to) make one's day - to give one great satisfaction.

Ví dụ 1: Our neighbors with the crazy dogs are moving away? That really makes my day!
Ví dụ 2: Thanks for bringing over those cookies last week. That made my day!

(to be) nuts about - see Lesson 14.

nuts and bolts - details; basic components of something.

Ví dụ 1: I don't need to know the nuts and bolts of how the computer works -just show me how to tum it on.
Ví dụ 2: Simon really understands the nuts and bolts of how toilets work. He would be a very good plumber.

on a shoestring - on a very low budget.

Ví dụ 1: Bob and Susan were living on a shoestring after Bob lost his job.
Ví dụ 2: In the beginning, the Hewlett-Packard company ran on a shoestring out of a garage.

track record - a record of achievements or performances.

Ví dụ 1: The women's basketball team at the University of Connecticut has an excellent track record.
Ví dụ 2: We've spoken to your past employers, so we know you've got an excellent track record.

(to) work out - to find a solution; to resolve.

Ví dụ 1: Nicole spent half the night helping Ted work out a very difficult chemistry problem.
Ví dụ 2: Sally couldn't work out her problems with her neighbors, so she finally decided to move away.

NOTE: "Work out" has several other meanings, including:
1. succeed; prove effective. This plan won't work out, you'll need to go back to the drawing board and work out a new plan.
2. endure; last. Tony and Angela argue all the time. I don't think their marriage will work out.
3. exercise. After working out at the gym for two hours, Scott could barely walk.

Bob Gets an Angry Call from Carol - Bài Học 20

Carol calls Bob to tell him that a customer found a hair in her cookie. Bob wants Carol to forget abut this, but Carol thinks it's very serious. She refuses to buy any more cookies from Bob.

Carol: Bob, a lady came into the Village Market today ranting and raving.
Bob: Oh yeah? What happened?

Carol: She found a blue hair in her chocolate chip cookie!
Bob: Aha. I can see how she'd be taken aback.

Carol: Does anybody in your family have blue hair?
Bob: As a matter of fact, my son's girlfriend Amber has blue hair.

Carol: Bob, I can't sell your cookies anymore.
Bob: Aren't you blowing things out of proportion?

Carol: The health department would throw the book at me if they found out about this.
Bob: Couldn't we just sweep this under the rug?

Carol: No. This is too serious.
Bob: But I was just getting a handle on the cookie business. Now what will I do? I don't have any other way of making a living!

Carol: My heart goes out to you, Bob, but you need to get your act together. I want to sell chocolate chip cookies, not hair cookies!
Bob: I guess I just knocked myself out for the past week for nothing.

Carol: Clearly!

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IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

as a matter of fact - in fact; actually.

Ví dụ 1: We need more milk? As a matter of fact, I was just going to ask you to go shopping.
Ví dụ 2: This isn't the first time Andy has gotten in trouble at school. As a matter of fact, just last month he was suspended for an entire week.

(to) blow things out of proportion - to exaggerate; to make more of something than one should.

Ví dụ 1: They sent a 12 year-old boy to jail for biting his babysitter? Don't you think they're blowing things out of proportion?
Ví dụ 2: Sally called the police when her neighbor's party got too loud. I think that was blowing things out of proportion.

Đồng nghĩa: To make a mountain out of a molehill.

(to) find out - to learn; to discover.
Ví dụ 1: AI is calling the theater to find out what time the movie starts.
Ví dụ 2: David had a big party at his house while his parents were away on vacation. Fortunately for him, they never found out.

(to) get a handle on - to gain an understanding of.

Ví dụ 1: This new computer program is very difficult. I still haven't gotten a handle on it.
Ví dụ 2: Once you get a handle on how the game works, please explain it to everybody else.

(to) get one's act together - to get organized; to start operating more effectively.

Ví dụ I: If Ted gets his act together now, he might be able to get into a good college.
Ví dụ 2: We'd better get our act together. Otherwise, we're going to miss our flight.

(to) knock oneself out - to work very hard at something (sometimes too hard).

Ví dụ I: Ted knocked himself out getting votes for Nicole, and she didn't even say thank you.
Ví dụ 2: I really knocked myself out getting these free concert tickets for you and your girlfriend. I hope you appreciate it.

NOTE: "Don't knock yourself out!" means don't work too hard at some thing or for someone; it's not worth it. Ví dụ : Don't knock yourself out for Jeremy- he won't appreciate it anyway!

(to) make a living - see Lesson 11.

one's heart goes out to (someone) - to feel sorry for someone.

Ví dụ I: My heart goes out to the Richardsons. Their home was destroyed in a fire.
Ví dụ 2: Naomi's heart went out to all the people who lost their jobs when the auto plant shut down.

(to) rant and rave - to talk loudly, often in anger.

Ví dụ I: A customer in the video rental store was ranting and raving that the DVD he rented was broken.
Ví dụ 2: Please stop ranting and raving! Let's discuss this issue in a calm manner.

(to) sweep (something) under the rug - to hide something, often a scandal.

Ví dụ 1: "Senator, don't try to sweep it under the rug. Everybody knows about your affair with the intern."
Ví dụ 2: Let's just sweep this incident under the rug and move on.

taken aback - surprised (almost always in a negative sense).

Ví dụ 1: Nicole was taken aback when her friend Rosa told her she no longer wanted to hang out with her.
Ví dụ 2: I was taken aback when my friend asked me if she could borrow my toothbrush because she forgot hers at home.

(to) throw the book at someone - to punish or chide severely.

Ví dụ 1: When Ted failed his chemistry test the second time, his teacher really threw the book at him.
Ví dụ 2: The judge threw the book at Matt for stealing a football from the store.
He'll be going to jail for six months.

Nicole's Close Election - Bài Học 19

Nicole loses the election at school. She doesn't want to accept it, so she looks for excuses. Ted encourages her to accept defeat and move on.

Nicole: I lost the election by a hair -just 10 votes! But I'm not giving up.
Ted: Give me a break, Nicole. You lost. Live with it!

Nicole: But I was a sure thing! If I hadn't stayed up so late baking cookies, I wouldn't have messed up my speech.
Ted: Get real, Nicole.

Nicole: It's your fault, Ted. I lost because your friends didn't vote for me!
Ted: Don't try to put the blame on me! I gave it my best shot.

Nicole: They must've made a mistake while counting the votes. I'll demand a re-count on Monday and set the record straight.
Ted: Don't make a fool of yourself, Nicole. Face it, Andrea won the election fair and square!

Nicole: Well, I just don't know where I went wrong.
Susan: Here, take a chocolate chip cookie. That'll cheer you up for sure!

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IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

by a hair - just barely; very narrowly; by a small amount.
(chỉ vừa đủ để, rất hạn hẹp, bởi một số lượng nhỏ.)

Ví dụ 1: Larry won the bicycle race by a hair. The second-place winner came in just a second behind him.
Ví dụ 2: Was the tennis ball in or out? I think it was out by a hair. You know the old saying: "When in doubt, call it out!"

(to) cheer someone up - to make someone happy.
(Làm cho ai đó hết buồn rầu ...)

Ví dụ 1: Susan called her friend in the hospital to cheer her up.
Ví dụ 2: My father has been depressed for weeks now. I don't know what to do to cheer him up.

NOTE: You can tell somebody to "Cheer up!" if they are feeling sad.

(Let's) face it - accept a difficult reality
(Hãy đối mặt với nó - chấp nhận/đón nhận một thực tế khó khăn.)

fair and square - honestly.
(một cách trung thực)

Ví dụ 1: Did George Bush win the 2000 presidential election fair and square? That depends on whether you ask a Democrat or a Republican!
Ví dụ 2: Tony won the ping pong tournament fair and square.

for sure - definitely.
(Chắc chắn; hiển nhiên)

Ví dụ 1: This year, Tom Cruise will win an Academy Award for sure.
Ví dụ 2: Mike is the most popular guy in school. If he runs for student body president, he'll win for sure.

Get real - to accept the truth and not deceive yourself; be serious or realistic about what's going on.
(Hãy nghiêm túc hoặc nhìn thực tế về những gì đang xảy ra.)

Ví dụ 1: You think you won't get a speeding ticket when you drive 85 miles per hour? Get real!
Ví dụ 2: You think you're going to win $1 million in the lottery? Get real!

(to) give it one's best shot - to try as hard as one can.
(cố gắng hết sức mà mình có thể.)

Ví dụ 1 : Courtney lost the race, but at least she gave it her best shot.
Ví dụ 2: I know you're nervous about the interview. Just give it your best shot and see what happens.

give me a break - Give me a break! (có vài nghĩa khác nhau)
1. That's ridiculous; that's outrageous.
(Khó tin quá; vô lý quá đi; kỳ quặc quá đi!)

2. Don't be so harsh to me!; Give me another chance!
(Đừng quá khắc nghiệt với tôi; hãy cho tôi một cơ hội khác!)

Ví dụ 1: You want me to pay $3 for one cookie? Give me a break!
Ví dụ 2: You expect me to believe that excuse? Give me a break!

Lưu ý: Thường chúng ta phát âm là "Gimme a break!"

(to) give up - to admit defeat; to surrender.
(bỏ cuộc; chịu thua)

Ví dụ 1: Bill gave up golf after realizing he'd never be good at it.
Ví dụ 2: I know you're 100 points ahead of me, but I still might win the Scrabble game. I'm not giving up yet!

(to) go wrong - to make a mistake; to go astray; to malfunction; to work incorrectly.
(làm sai việc gì đó; lầm đường; bị trục trặc)

Ví dụ 1: Follow the directions I gave you, and you can't go wrong.
Ví dụ 2: Something went wrong with my neighbor's car alarm system, and the alarm wouldn't stop ringing all night.

(to) live with it - to accept a difficult reality.
(chấp nhận một sự thật cho dù không muốn)

Ví dụ I: Your boss is an idiot. Live with it.
Ví dụ 2: Your hair will never be straight. Just live with it!

Lưu ý: There is also the expression "to learn to live with it," which means to get used to something annoying or difficult. Ví dụ : Sandra knew that Roger would always throw his dirty clothes on the floor. She'd just have to learn to live with it.

(to) make a fool of oneself - to cause oneself to look stupid.
(tự làm mình lố bịch; ngu ngốc)

Ví dụ 1: Dan drank too much and then made a fool of himself.
Ví dụ 2: Please stop arguing with me in front of all these people. You're making a fool of yourself!

(to) mess up - to make a mistake; to spoil an opportunity.
(gây nên lỗi lầm; làm hỏng một cơ hội tốt)

Ví dụ 1: Amber messed up and put salt instead of sugar in the cookies.
Ví dụ 2: Ted really messed up on his chemistry test. He got a "D."

SYNONYM: screw up [slang]

(to) put the blame on (someone) - to name somebody else as responsible for a misdeed or misfortune.
(đổ thừa/lỗi cho ai đó)

Ví dụ 1: Mrs. Lopez put the blame on her husband for losing their life savings in the stock market.
Ví dụ 2: Don't put the blame on me that your plants died while you were on vacation. You forgot to tell me to water them!

(to) set the record straight - to correct an inaccurate account.
(làm sáng tỏ sự nhầm lẫn hoặc hiểu lầm)

Ví dụ 1: Ken knew his father was innocent, and he hoped he could set the record straight one day.
Ví dụ 2: Let me set the record straight. I won the last game.

sure thing - an outcome that is assured.
(một kết quả được xem như chắc chắn)

Ví dụ 1: Gary bet all his money on a horse named Trixie, thinking she was a sure thing.
Ví dụ 2: Nicole has a good chance of getting accepted to Yale, but it's still not a sure thing.

Everyone Bakes Cookies - Bài Học 18

Bob tells his family the cookies are selling well. He asks his kids to help bake more cookies for tomorrow. Nicole says she's too busy to lend a hand..

Bob: The cookies are selling like hotcakes!
Ted: Way to go, Dad!

Bob: I need you kids to help out tonight with the cookies. We need another thousand by morning.
Nicole: One thousand by tomorrow morning? That's impossible!

Ted: Amber and I will lend a hand. She's a real night owl, so she won't mind staying up late.
Bob: Nicole, we'll need your help too.

Nicole: Bake cookies the night before the elections? Nothing doing!
Ted: Lighten up, big shot! You're running for high school president, not President of the United States.

Nicole: Ted, you really get on my nerves sometimes.
Bob: Okay, kids, let's stop fooling around. We need to get the show on the road!

Trang Chủ

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

big shot - a powerful or important person.
(một người có quyền lực và quan trọng)

Ví dụ 1: Martin has become a real big shot in Hollywood. This year he produced several movies.
Ví dụ 2: Adam is a big shot in Silicon Valley. He started a very successful software company.

Lưu ý: This expression can also be used in the negative sense, to mean somebody who thinks they're very important.
Ví dụ : Now that she's been promoted to vice president, Beth thinks she's such a big shot!

(to) fool around - to waste time, or spend it in a silly way.
(lãng phí thời gian, hoặc sử dụng thì giờ một cách ngớ ngẩn, vô ích.)

Ví dụ 1: If we keep fooling around here, we'll be late to the restaurant!
Ví dụ 2: Stop fooling around! You've got lots of work to do.

Lưu ý: This expression also can mean to have casual sexual relations.
Ví dụ : Steve and Tanya were fooling around in the back seat of the car when a policeman knocked on the window.

(to) get on one's nerves - to annoy or irritate someone.
(làm phiền hoặc gây kích ứng cho một ai đó.)

Ví dụ 1: My neighbor's dog barks all night. It really gets on my nerves.
Ví dụ 2: Please stop whistling. It's getting on my nerves!

Đồng nghĩa: to get under someone's skin; to bug someone [slang].

(to) get the show on the road - to start working; to begin an undertaking.
(bắt đầu làm việc, bắt đầu một công việc.)

Ví dụ 1: We can't afford to waste any more time -let's get the show on the road!
Ví dụ 2: Kids, let's get the show on the road. We don't want to be late for the movie!

(to) help out - see Lesson 12.

(to) lend a hand - see Lesson 13.

(to) lighten up - to stop taking things so seriously.
(đừng làm mọi chuyện trở thành nghiêm trọg quá)

Ví dụ 1: Lighten up! I'm sure Ted was only joking when he said your guitar playing gave him a headache.
Ví dụ 2: Don always takes his job so seriously. He needs to lighten up.

Đồng nghĩa: chill out [slang]; take it easy.

night owl - a person who enjoys being active late at night.
(con cú vọ sống về đêm - những người có cuộc sống về đêm)

Ví dụ 1: Sara goes to sleep every night at 3 a.m. She's a real night owl.
Ví dụ 2: I never go to bed before midnight. I'm a night owl.

Nothing doing! - Not a chance!
(sẽ không xảy ra - không có một cơ hội nào cả!)

Ví dụ 1: You want me to buy the Golden Gate Bridge from you for a million bucks? Nothing doing!
Ví dụ 2: You want me to write your paper on Catherine the Great? Nothing doing!

Đồng nghĩa: No way! Not on your life!

(to) sell like hotcakes - see Lesson 17.

(to) stay up - not to go to bed; to stay awake.
(không đi ngủ; thức đêm)

Ví dụ 1: Ted and Amber stayed up all night talking about cookies.
Ví dụ 2: Whenever I stay up late, I regret it the next morning.

Carol Tells Bob the Good News - Bài Học 17

Carol phones Bob to tell him the cookies are selling very well and that she needs another 1.000 by the morning. Bob isn't sure he can make the cookies so quickly, but Carol insists.

Carol: Bob, your wife's cookies are selling like hotcakes!
Bob: How many did you sell, Carol?

Carol: We've sold out. I need more right away! Bring me another 1,000 by tomorrow at 9 a.m.
Bob: That's a tall order, Carol.

Carol: Don't blow it, Bob! Susan's Scrumptious Cookies could really take off.
Bob: I know, but I'm not sure we have enough time to bake all those cookies.

Carol: Bake all night if you have to. Burn the midnight oil! If you work hard now, you'll be sitting pretty in a few years.
Bob: Rest assured that I'll do my best to deliver the goods.

Carol: Okay, now let's stop the chitchat. You've got work to do!

Trang Chủ

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

(to) sell like hotcakes - to sell fast; to be a popular item.
(Bán nhanh, trở thành một mặt hàng phổ biến.)

Ví dụ 1: Those new Fubu blue jeans are selling like hotcakes. All the girls love them.
Ví dụ 2: Stephen King's new novel is selling like hotcakes.

sold out - completely sold.
(Bán hết)

Ví dụ 1: Becky was really disappointed when she found out that the Britney Spears concert was sold out.
Ví dụ 2: Susan's cookies were very popular at the bake sale. In fact, they sold out in just 20 minutes!

right away - immediately.
(Ngay lập tức)

Ví dụ 1: When Meg realized her house was on fire, she called the fire department right away.
Ví dụ 2: You need some sugar for your cookies? I'll bring some over right away.

(to) blow it - to spoil an opportunity.
(Bỏ qua hoặc làm hỏng một cơ hội.)

Ví dụ 1: The actress got nervous and forgot all of her lines. She really blew it!
Ví dụ 2: I'll give you one more chance, but don't blow it this time!

Đồng Nghĩa: to screw up [slang]. Ví dụ : I can't believe you screwed up during the interview by asking for six weeks of vacation before you even got the job offer!tall order - a task or goal that is difficult to achieve.
Ví dụ 1: It'll be a tall order to find a new governor as popular as the current one.
Ví dụ 2: You want me to figure out how to clone your pet rabbit? That's a tall order!

(to) take off - to become popular; to grow suddenly.
(Trở nên phổ biến, phát triển bất ngờ.)

Ví dụ : Julia Roberts' career took off with the film "Pretty Woman."

NOTE: "Take off" has several other meanings:
1. Remove. Please take off your shoes before coming inside our apartment. We just vacuumed this morning.
2. To leave. We're taking off now. See you later!
3. To deduct. The waiter forgot to bring us drinks, so he took $10 off the bill.
4. To leave the ground. The airplane took off on time.

(to) burn the midnight oil - to stay up late studying or working.
(thức khuya để học tập, làm việc.)

Ví dụ 1: Michael burned the midnight oil studying for his algebra test.
Ví dụ 2: The project is due tomorrow and we're far from finished. We're going to have to burn the midnight oil tonight.

(to be) sitting pretty - in a good position (often financially).
(Ở một vị trí tốt - thường thuộc về tài chánh)

Ví dụ 1: After Chad won the lottery, he was really sitting pretty. He quit his job and bought a mansion in Malibu, California.
Ví dụ 2: Gina was one of the first people to work at Amazon. com, and she made millions on her stock options. Now she's sitting pretty.

rest assured - be sure.
(Bảo đảm; chắc chắn.

Ví dụ I: Rest assured that the police will find the thieves.
Ví dụ 2: Rest assured I'll take good care of your dog while you're on vacation.

(to) do one's best - to try as hard as possible.
(Cố gắng hết sức mình nếu được.)
Ví dụ 1: Although Ted did his best, he still failed his chemistry test.
Ví dụ 2: You might not get a perfect score on your history test, but just do your best.

Đồng Nghĩa: to give it one's all.

(to) deliver the goods - to meet expectations; to do what's required.
(Đáp ứng mọi kỳ vọng / nhu cầu cần phải có.)

Ví dụ 1: Peter thought Bob wasn't delivering the goods, so he fired him.
Ví dụ 2: I'm depending on you to finish the job on time. I know that you can deliver the goods!

Đồng Nghĩa: to cut the mustard. Ví dụ : If you can't cut the mustard here, you'll have to find a new job.

chitchat - casual conversation; gossip.
(Trò chuyện bình thường; chuyện tầm phào.)

Ví dụ 1: Peter told Heather to stop the chitchat and get back to work.
Ví dụ 2: Okay, enough chitchat! Let's start discussing this week's reading assignment.

Đồng Nghĩa: to shoot the breeze.

Lưu ý: Chitchat can also be a verb. Ví dụ : Amber and Ted were chitchatting all night long.

Bob Brings the Cookies to the Village Market - Bài Học 16

Bob brings Carol the cookies. He tells Carol that baking the cookies was easy because he had lots of help.

Carol: Bob, how did the baking go?
Bob: Slow at first, but we're getting the hang of it.

Carol: Once you learn the ropes, it becomes second nature.
Bob: To tell you the truth, I thought that baking 2,000 cookies would be a pain in the neck . But we managed to round up some helpers, and it was a piece of cake.

Carol: Well, thanks for coming in person with the cookies.
Bob: No problem. When will you need more?

Carol: It depends on how many we sell today.
Bob: How many do you think you'll sell?

Carol: Maybe 500, maybe 2,000. Your guess is as good as mine. In any case, I'll keep you posted.
Bob: Okay. Just give me a ring as soon as you know.

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IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

at first - in the beginning.
(Lúc khởi đầu; lúc đầu)

Ví dụ 1: Nicole didn't like Don Quixote at first, but after 200 pages she started to get into it.
Ví dụ 2: Don't get discouraged if you don't succeed at first. The important thing is that you keep on trying!

(to) get the hang of (something) - to learn how to do something; to acquire an effective technique.
(Học được cách làm một cái gì đó, đạt được hiệu quả)

Ví dụ 1: Billy had trouble learning how to ride a bike, but after a few months he finally got the hang of it.
Ví dụ 2: When I went snowboarding for the first time, I kept falling down. But after a while, I got the hang of it.

(to) give (someone) a ring - to telephone someone.
(Gọi điện thoại cho ai đó)

Ví dụ 1: Give me a ring tomorrow so we can discuss plans for this weekend.
Ví dụ 2: If you're free on Saturday, give me a ring and we can go to the movies.

Đồng Nghĩa: to give (someone) a buzz [slang]

in any case - whatever the fact is; certainly.
(Bất cứ sự thật như thế nào; cho dù sao đi chăng nữa)

Ví dụ 1: We can either go to the new Star Wars movie or see a play tonight. In any case, you'll need to be at my house by six o'clock.
Ví dụ 2: You'll probably be too tired on Sunday to come over. In any case, give me a call in the morning to discuss.

in person - personally; in one's physical presence.
(Có mặt; nhìn tận mặt; đối diện ...)

Ví dụ 1: Tim hoped that he and Svetlana would get along as well in person as they did over the Internet.
Ví dụ 2: After hearing so much about Donna's boyfriend, I'm looking forward to meeting him in person.

(to) keep posted - to provide up-to-date information.
(Giữ liên lạc; đưa tin thường xuyên; cập nhập thông tin thường xuyên)

Ví dụ 1: Keep me posted about your plans for the summer. If you're going to be at your cottage on the lake, I'd love to come visit.
Ví dụ 2: Good luck selling your house and keep me posted! I'd love to know how much you get for it.

(to) learn the ropes - to learn the basics.
(Học được hay nắm được căn bản)

Ví dụ 1: Mark learned the ropes of the restaurant business by working as a cook at Outback Steakhouse.
Ví dụ 2: David worked at a big law firm for 10 years where he learned the ropes. Now he runs his own law firm.

pain in the neck - an annoyance.
(Gây khó chịu; phiền toái; gây nên đau đầu, nhức óc)
Ví dụ 1: Yesterday I had to stay home all day and wait for the repairman. What a pain in the neck!
Ví dụ 2: Alice wants me to drive her to the airport early tomorrow morning. That's going to be a pain in the neck!

piece of cake - very easy.
(Quá dễ dàng)

Ví dụ 1: Nicole finished her physics test in just 25 minutes. It was a piece of cake.
Ví dụ 2: The driving test is a piece of cake. Don't worry about it.

Đồng Nghĩa: easy as pie. You should have no trouble passing the driving test. It's as easy as pie.

(to) round up - to gather people together.
(Tập hợp mọi người lại với nhau)

Ví dụ 1: The town rounded up 200 volunteers to search for the hiker, who was lost in the woods of Yosemite National Park.
Ví dụ 2: Let's round up some volunteers to help bake cookies and pies for the bake sale.

second nature - a behavior that has been practiced for so long, it seems to have been there always.
(Một tập tính có được rất lâu, có vẻ như có sẵn hoặc do bẩm sinh)

Ví dụ 1: Karen has been arguing with her husband every day for the past 20 years, so by now it's just second nature.
Ví dụ 2: With practice, riding a unicycle becomes second nature.

to tell you the truth - to speak openly; to admit.
(Nói thật tình; nói một cách cởi mở)

Ví dụ 1: To tell you the truth, Ted isn't a very good student.
Ví dụ 2: To tell you the truth, I didn't even want to attend Katie's wedding. But I knew she'd be offended if l didn't go.

your guess is as good as mine - I don't know; I don't know any more than you do.
(Tôi không biết; tôi cũng không biết gì nhiều hơn bạn cả)

Ví dụ 1: Will we ever find intelligent life on other planets? Your guess is as good as mine.
Ví dụ 2: Will Ted graduate on time? Your guess is as good as mine!

Nicole Practices Her election Speech - Bài Học 15

Nicole is running for school body president. She must give a speech next week. She discusses the speech with her mother.

Susan: What's up, Nicole?
Nicole: I pulled an all-nighter working on my election speech.
Susan: No wonder you look like a basket case! Did you finish your speech?

Nicole: Yes, at 6 a.m.
Susan: That must be a load off your mind!

Nicole: It's not. I've got to give the speech tomorrow in front of 1,500 people. I'm a nervous wreck!
Susan: Just remember the old rule of thumb: Imagine your audience naked.

Nicole: That's gross. Why would I want to do that?
Susan: According to conventional wisdom, it'll make you less nervous.

Nicole: Only practice will do the trick.
Susan: Okay, let's hear the speech.

Nicole: Good afternoon, everyone. There are four candidates running for president. You think you have several choices. In reality, you have just one choice: me!

Susan: You can't say that. You'll turn off your audience immediately.
Nicole: It sounds like I have a big head?

Susan: I'll say!

Trang Chủ

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

basket case [slang] - someone or something in a useless or hopeless condition.
(một ai đó hoặc một cái gì đó trong một tình trạng vô ích hay vô vọng.)

Ví dụ I: After working a 12-hour day and then coming home and cooking dinner for her family, Tanya felt like a basket case.
Ví dụ 2: After running the marathon, Brian felt like a basket case.

Lưu ý : You may also see the expression "economic basket case" to describe an economy that is doing very poorly.
Ví dụ : After years of dictatorship, North Korea is an economic basket case.

(to have a) big head - arrogant; too proud of oneself.
(kiêu ngạo, quá tự hào về bản thân)

Ví dụ I: Stop bragging so much about the award you got at work! People will think you've got a big head.
Ví dụ 2: Jenny has such a big head. No wonder nobody wants to be friends with her!

Đồng nghĩa : to be full of oneself.
Ví dụ : Joan is really full of herself. She's always talking about how smart she is.

conventional wisdom - a widely held belief; a term used to describe ideas or explanations that are generally accepted as true by the public or by experts in a field

(Niềm tin đại chúng - Những ý tưởng hay giải thích mà thường được chấp nhận là đúng của công chúng hoặc của các chuyên gia trong một lĩnh vực)

Ví dụ 1: According to conventional wisdom, a diet high in salt can cause high blood pressure.
Ví dụ 2: Challenging conventional wisdom, the psychologist said that sometimes it's healthy to be in a bad mood.

(to) do the trick - to achieve the desired results.
(đạt được kết quả mong muốn.)

Ví dụ 1: Juan changed the light bulb and said, "That should do the trick!"
Ví dụ 2: My house is difficult to find, so I'll put 10 large balloons on my mailbox on the day of the party. That should do the trick.

I'll say! - yes, definitely!
(Vâng, nhất định!; đương nhiên rồi!)

Ví dụ 1: "Did you enjoy the Madonna concert?"- "I'll say!"
Ví dụ 2: "Your sister must've been very happy after winning $50,000 in the lottery."- "I'll say!"

in reality - in fact; actually.
I Trong thực tế, thực sự)

Ví dụ 1: Ted thinks it'll be easy to become a rock star. In reality, it will take years of hard work.
Ví dụ 2: I know you think it'll be easy to get cheap tickets to a Broadway play. In reality, we'll have to wait in line for hours!

load off one's mind - a relief.
(một nhẹ nhõm)

Ví dụ 1: When Amber called Ted to tell him that she arrived home safely, it was a big load off his mind.
Ví dụ 2: Finishing her English essay was a load off Nicole's mind.

look like - have the appearance of.
(Giống như thế nào đó ... đẹp, xấu, buồn, vui, giàu , nghèo, tốt, xấu ...)

Ví dụ 1: Before agreeing to go out on a date with her, Keith wanted to know what my cousin Maria looked like.
Ví dụ 2: Please tell me what the cover of that new book looks like so it will be easier for me to find it in the bookstore.

Lưu ý : The expression "it looks like" can mean "it is likely that. .." Ví dụ : It's snowing, so it looks like the schools will be closed today.

nervous wreck - a person feeling very worried.
(một cảm giác hết sức rất căng thẳng và lo lắng.)

Ví dụ 1: Ted was a nervous wreck before his chemistry test.
Ví dụ 2: Whenever Nicole rides on the back of her friend's motorcycle, Susan is a nervous wreck.

no wonder - it's not surprising.
(không đáng ngạc nhiên chút nào)

Ví dụ 1: Brian's entire body is in pain. It's no wonder since he ran a marathon yesterday!
Ví dụ 2: No wonder you're cold- it's January and you're walking around outside without a coat!

Đồng nghĩa : small wonder.

(to) pull an all-nighter - to stay up all night to do work.
(Thức trắng cả đêm để làm việc gì đó)

Ví dụ I: Ted pulled an all-nighter to study for his chemistry test and ended up falling asleep in class the next day.
Ví dụ 2: I've got a 20-page paper due tomorrow morning, and I haven't even started writing it yet. I guess I'll be pulling an all-nighter!

rule of thumb - a useful principle.
(một nguyên tắc hữu ích)

Ví dụ I: When cooking fish, a good rule of thumb is 10 minutes in the oven for each inch of thickness.
Ví dụ 2: "Ted, as a rule of thumb, you should always plan to study for your chemistry tests for at least two hours."

(to) turn off - to cause to feel dislike or revulsion.
(Mất cảm hứng; gây ra cảm nhận khó ưa hoặc ghê tởm.)

Ví dụ I: I used to be friends with Monica, but she gossiped all the time and it really turned me off.
Ví dụ 2: At first, Sara really liked Jacob. But when he started talking about all his ex-girlfriends, she was really turned off.

Lưu ý : The noun form, tum-off, is also common and usually describes something that causes the opposite sex to respond negatively. Ví dụ : When Jake started talking about all his ex-girlfriends, it was a real turnoff for Sara.

what's up? - see Lesson 10

Chủ Nhật, 31 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #146 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

to brown bag it

- What are you eating for lunch today?- I've got a tuna sandwich and some chips.- You brown bag it?- Yeah! Food I make tastes better and costs less^^

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

3 Phút Tiếng Anh của Người Anh qua VideoNhìn, nghe, nói - Bài học 45

Weather - Thời tiết

1. Sunny (Trời nắng)

2. Rain(Mưa)

3. Snow (Tuyết)

4.Cold (Lạnh)

5. Hot (Nóng nực)

Quan trọng ở các bài học này là: Nhìn! Lắng nghe! Lặp lại! So sánh hình ảnh với sự kiện trong đời sống hàng ngày! Trắc nghiệm kiến thức sau khi học các câu đơn giản!

Thứ Sáu, 29 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #145 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

To have someone over.

- What's up tonight?- I'm having my girlfriend's parents over.- For dinner? You can't cook!- KFC, buddy! They'll never know!!

Thứ Năm, 28 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #144 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

He's 30-something.

- How old is Shane?- I think he's 30-something.- No! Maybe late 20s.- I think mid-30s.- Early 30s tops!

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #143 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

Tops

- I need to buy my new girlfriend a present.- Birthday?- Yeah. Should I get her something expensive?- How long have you been dating?- 3 days.- 10 bucks tops. No more!

Thứ Ba, 26 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #142 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

I'm in deep doo doo.

- So, John, did you finish?- Finish what?- The proposal. It's due in ten minutes.- OH MY GOD. I didn't even start.- You're in deep doo doo!

Thứ Hai, 25 tháng 3, 2013

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #141 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

Hero vs heroine

- Who's your favorite hero? - Hmm...Joan of Arc!- She's a heroine, not a hero!-Same thing—she was braver than most men!

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #140 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

Keep them coming!

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #139 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

If I were in your shoes... (if I were you)..

- Should I get the green shoes or the orange shoes?- If I were in your shoes, I'd get the purple shoes!- Purple? That's an ugly color for shoes.- So are green and orange!

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #138 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

You and me...me and you!

- You and me are just the same.- You and I.- Whatever! We both love English, but you and me both hate to study!- And—you and I both like Coach Shane's lessons!! And he likes you and me!

Chào mừng Quí Khách đã đến với Anh Ngữ Cho Người Việt

Daily Easy English Expression #137 -- 3 Minute English Lesson

Thank you coach, we love your work !

Today's E-cubed:

He's 40 going on 10!

- Look at your brother! He's having a great time!- He's 40 going on 10!- Is it his first time to Disneyland?- No! He comes every year! He's a kid!!

OGXT's 22 going on 7!

Thứ Bảy, 23 tháng 3, 2013

Amber Writes a Song - Bài Học 24

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

Bob Has a Surprise Visitor - Bài Học 23

IDIOMS - Thành ngữ

Susan Shares The Good News - Bài Học 22

- What are you eating for lunch today?
- I've got a tuna sandwich and some chips.
- You brown bag it?
- Yeah! Food I make tastes better and costs less^^

3 Phút Tiếng Anh của Người Anh qua Video
Nhìn, nghe, nói - Bài học 45

Quan trọng ở các bài học này là:
Nhìn!
Lắng nghe!
Lặp lại!
So sánh hình ảnh với sự kiện trong đời sống hàng ngày!
Trắc nghiệm kiến thức sau khi học các câu đơn giản!

- What's up tonight?
- I'm having my girlfriend's parents over.
- For dinner? You can't cook!
- KFC, buddy! They'll never know!!

- How old is Shane?
- I think he's 30-something.
- No! Maybe late 20s.
- I think mid-30s.
- Early 30s tops!

- I need to buy my new girlfriend a present.
- Birthday?
- Yeah. Should I get her something expensive?
- How long have you been dating?
- 3 days.
- 10 bucks tops. No more!

- So, John, did you finish?
- Finish what?
- The proposal. It's due in ten minutes.
- OH MY GOD. I didn't even start.
- You're in deep doo doo!

- Who's your favorite hero?
- Hmm...Joan of Arc!
- She's a heroine, not a hero!
-Same thing—she was braver than most men!

- Should I get the green shoes or the orange shoes?
- If I were in your shoes, I'd get the purple shoes!
- Purple? That's an ugly color for shoes.
- So are green and orange!

- You and me are just the same.
- You and I.
- Whatever! We both love English, but you and me both hate to study!
- And—you and I both like Coach Shane's lessons!! And he likes you and me!

- Look at your brother! He's having a great time!
- He's 40 going on 10!
- Is it his first time to Disneyland?
- No! He comes every year! He's a kid!!