REWRITE P1

1. He has an obsession about the dishonesty of lawyers. (BEE)

 He................................................................................................................................
has a bee in his bonnet about the dishonesty of lawyers.
Have a bee in your bonnet about : to keep talking about something again and again because
you think it is very important:
2. I must have offended her because she isn’t being friendly towards me. (SHOULDER)
 I....................................................................................................................................
must have offended her because she is giving me a cold shoulder.
Give sb the cold shoulder : an unfriendly attitude shown to someone or something, especially
by intentionally ignoring or showing no interest in them
~ turn a blind eye/ deaf ear to sth/ sb
3. You need to make sure that he has enough money to pay for the car before you sell it to him.
(COLOR)
 You need to..................................................................................................................
see the colour of his money before you sell him the car.
see the colour of someone's money : to make certain that a person is going to pay for
something:
4. He threatened the officers with violence. (THREATS)
 He................................................................................................................................
made threats of violence against the officers.
5. The students’ rebellious behaviours should have been severely punished. (DESERVED)
 The students................................................................................................................
deserved severe punishment for their rebellious behaviours.
6. There's no one available in this moment to take her class. (NOTICE)
 There’s.........................................................................................................................
no one available at such short notice to take her class.
At short notice : only a short time before something happens ( thường dùng thêm SUCH để
nhấn mạnh )
*Bonus :
On standby : when a person or a thing is on standby, they are or it is ready to be used if
necessary
7. Most people seem to think that I will be next to be promoted. (LINE)
 Most people seem to think that I..................................................................................a
promotion.
am next in ( the ) line for
be next in line for : to be the next person, especially to have a job or position
8. In the area, Thailand is much better than all other countries in football. (SHOULDERS)
 In the area, Thailand....................................................................................................
is head and shoulders above all other countries in football.
Be head and shoulders above : much better than other people or things
9. We’ve agreed to share the cost. (AGREEMENT)
......................................................................................................................................
We’ve come to an agreement to share the cost.
Come to an agreement to do sth : thống nhất, đồng ý làm gì ( >< at odds with sb over sth :
to disagree with somebody about something )
10. What has this experience taught you? (DRAWN)
......................................................................................................................................
What conclusions have you drawn from this experience?
Draw conclusions from sth: rút ra kết luận
11. Coming second didn’t make her feel any better because she only wanted to win.
(CONSOLIDATION)
 Coming second............................................................................................................
was (of) no consolidation (to her) because winning was all that mattered to her.
Be of no consolidation to sb
= be of no consequence/ importance to sb
= make no difference to sb
12. His analysis of the situation was far too complex for me to grasp. (HEAD)
 His analysis of the situation.........................................................................................
went right over my head.
STH go over sb’s head : to be too difficult for someone to understand
= SB is at a loss to understand/ comprehend sth
= SB can’t make head nor tail of sth
13. The committee members said that they would remain loyal to the chairman. (PLEDGED)
 The committee members.............................................................................................
pledged their loyalty to the chairman.
Pledge your loyalty to sb : thề lòng trung thành
14 . I can spend more time with my grandchildren when I retire. (FREE)
 Retirement...................................................................................................................
will free me up to spend more time with my grandchildren.
Free sb up : To cause someone or something to become available or no longer devoted to a
particular obligation
15. She just pretended to welcome him, then quickly left the waiting room. (MOTIONS)
......................................................................................................................................
She just went through the motions of welcoming him, then quickly left the waiting room.
Go through the motions of doing sth : to do something without thinking it is very important or
having much interest in it
16. She gets bored quickly at parties because there is so much trivial conversation. (SMALL)
 Too much.....................................................................................................................
small talk means is the reason why she gets bored quickly at parties.
Small talk : conversation about things that are not important, often between people who do not
know each other well
17. I think that my parents cope calmly with everything I do. (STRIDE)
 I'm under......................................................................................................................
the impression that my parents take everything I do in their stride.
Take sth in your stride : to deal with a problem or difficulty calmly and not to allow it to
influence what you are doing
18. He indicated quite clearly that he would do anything to obtain the contract. (LENGTHS)
 He gave ......................................................................................................................
every indication of going to any lengths to obtain the contract.
Give every >< no indication of doing sth : show a sign that sb will do sth
Go to any/ great lengths to do sth : to do anything, no matter how extreme, dishonest, wicked
etc, to achieve a particular aim
= do everything within one’s power to do sth
= leave no stone unturned (in one’s attempt/ effort) to do sth
19. Nowadays I consider casual friendships to be far less important than I used to. (STORE)
 Nowadays I don’t ........................................................................................................
set/put/lay (nearly) as much store by casual friendships as I used to.
set great, little, etc. store by something : to consider something to be of great, little, etc.
importance or value
20. I'm afraid that negotiations for a settlement are completely impossible. (WHATSOEVER)
 I 'm afraid that there ....................................................................................................
is no chance/ possibility whatsoever of negotiations for a settlement.
Whatsoever (adv) : to emphasize a negative
e.g : - There was nobody around whatsoever.
- He has no chance whatsoever of winning.
21. Sam was really anxious, waiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket team.
(TENTERHOOKS)
 Sam was......................................................................................................................
on tenterhooks, waiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket team.
On tenterhooks : (to be) very anxious or excited while you are waiting to find out something or
see what will happen
= on pins and needles
= have butterflies in your stomach
= hold your breath
= like a cat on hot bricks/ like a cat on a hot tin roof
22. The heir to the family fortune was eventually found to be an impostor. (EXPOSED)
 The heir to the family fortune was eventually exposed as an impostor.
Expose sb/ sth as sth : to tell the true facts about a person or a situation, and show them/it to be
dishonest, illegal, etc.
23. He claimed my point was not relevant to the proceedings. (DISMISSED)
 He dismissed my point as irrelevant to the proceedings.
24. So completely incompetent was that secretary that we lost heaps of invoices. (RANK)
 Such was that secretary’s rank incompetence that we lost heaps of invoices.
rank ( especially of something bad) (a) : complete or extreme
Đảo ngữ với so và such :
So + adj/ adv + inversion ( đảo ngữ ) + that clause
* SO : S+ V + so + adj/adv + that clause ->
e.g :
- So interesting is the play that the theatre is likely to be full every night. (= The play is so
interesting that the theatre is likely to be full every night.)
- So many books did he buy that he couldn't read them all. (= He bought so many books that he
couldn't read them all.)
Such (= so much/ so great) + be + S (noun phrase) + that clause
- SUCH :
e.g : Such was the force of the storm that trees were uprooted. (= The force of the storm was so
much/ so great that trees were uprooted.)
*NOUN PHRASE trong công thức là thường chỉ các cụm danh từ có sở hữu cách như kiểu là :
the force of the storm, the secretary’s incompetence, …
25. A lot of the country’s two million unemployed will probably never work again. (MANY)
 There are two million unemployed in the country, many of whom will probably never work
again.
=> dùng mệnh đề quan hệ để diễn tả 2 ý là có 2 triệu người và sẽ không bao giờ làm việc lại
26. It was difficult to understand her colleagues overt hostility towards her proposal. (OPENLY)
 That her colleagues was (so) openly hostile towards her proposal was difficult to understand.
=> Mệnh đề danh từ ( Nominal clause )
27. I didn’t have the faintest idea about the quirks of the antiques business, so I couldn’t give
you any advice. (KEN)
 Had the quirks of the antiques business not been beyond my ken, I could have given you some
advice.
Beyond your ken : not in your area of knowledge ( = out of my league = beyond sb = beyond
sb’s comprehension )
28. His parents allowed him to buy an iPhone X after they had considered it for three weeks.
(GO-AHEAD)
 Having mulled it over for three weeks, his parents gave him the go-ahead to buy an iPhone X.
Give sb the go-ahead to do sth = give the green light to sth : cho phép ai làm gì/ cái gì diễn ra
29. Although the people here are of the working class, they are kindness and honesty
personified. (SALT)
 Notwithstanding their working-class background, the people here are the salt of the earth.
Notwithstanding + N = despite + N
The salt of the earth : very good, honest, and reasonable, and not thinking you are special in any
way
30. Tom is forever teasing Daisy for having spoonerism. (MICKEY)
 On account of having / her spoonerism, Tom is forever taking the mickey out of Daisy/her.
On account of = because of = due to = owing to
Take the mickey out of sb : to laugh at someone and make them seem silly, in a funny or unkind
way
31. It was about time I went over there and made up with her. (OLIVE)
 It was about time (that) I went over there and held out / offered / extended the olive branch
to her.
hold out/ offer/ extend the olive branch to sb: làm hoà với ai
32. Remember to check out our thirteen language learning tips! (BAKER )
 Remember to check out our baker’s dozen language learning tips!
baker’s dozen: mười ba
33. They may have escaped through the backdoor. (GETAWAY)
 They may have made their getaway through the backdoor.
Make your getaway = make off with sth : chạy trốn
34. You've been looking miserable all day. (MOON)
 You’ve done nothing but moon about all day. => để ý cách diễn đạt
Moon about : to spend time doing nothing or walking around with no particular purpose, especially
because you are unhappy
35. Jim knew he would have to go on the business trip at a moment's notice. (POISED)
 Jim was poised to go on the business trip at a moment's notice.
Be poised to do sth (adj) : completely ready for something or to do something
36. The waiters in the new restaurant were very inefficient. (SHODDY)
 We received shoddy service from the waiters in the new restaurant.
shoddy service: dịch vụ tệ hại
37. Sean did all the illustrations for the book but no one acknowledged his work. (CREDIT)
 Sean wasn't given any credit for doing all the illustrations for the book.
give sb credit for doing sth: công nhận ai đã làm gì
= attribute sth to sb
38. The family members find it hard to accept their father’s fortune will go to charity.
(RESISTANCE)
 There is resistance among the family members to the fact/idea that their father's fortune will
go to the charity. => Để ý cách diễn đạt the fact/ idea + mệnh đề
resistance to sth (n) : sự phản đối
39. His analysis of the situation was far too complex for me to grasp. (HEAD)
 His analysis of the situation went right over my head.
go right over one’s head ~ beyond your ken
40. Start doing some work now if you want to become a rich and powerful man. (PULL)
 Pull your finger out now if you want to become a man of substance.
pull one’s finger out: start doing some work or making an effort
a man of substance: a person who is rich and powerful
41. Had it not been for John, she couldn’t have got the job. (AGENCY)
 Only through the agency of John could she get the job.
through the agency of sb = thanks to sb
42. Peter never makes any effort to help his team when it is time for action. (LIFTS)
 Peter never lifts a finger to help his team when it is time for action.
43. After a long hard journey, I cheered up when I saw my home. (SIGHT)
 After a long hard journey, my spirits rose/were lifted when I caught sight of my home.
lift one’s spirits: make sb happier
catch sight of: bắt gặp ( ~ catch a glimpse of )
44. He didn't want to get into a position where he might lose all his money. (POSSIBILITY)
 He didn't want to expose himself to the possibility of losing to all his money.
expose somebody/something/yourself (to something) : to put someone or something in a
place or situation where they are not protected from something harmful or unpleasant
45. The company received an enormous number of calls responding to the advert. (DELUGED)
 The company was/ were deluged with calls response to the advert.
Be deluged with sth : to be sent or given a large number of things at the same time
46. Children enjoy unwrapping their Christmas presents. (A KICK)
 Children get a kick out of/from unwrapping their Christmas presents.
get a kick out of/ from ~ derive pleasure from sth : cảm thấy vui vì điều gì
47. He hid the truth about the matterbecause he didn't want to lose his high position. (CARPET )
 He swept the matter under the carpet because he didn't want to lose his high position.
sweep sth under the carpet: to try to stop people from finding out about something wrong, illegal,
embarrassing, etc. that has happened or that you have done
= paper over sth = hush up sth
48. I've become extremely good at missing the rush hour over the last few weeks. (FINE)
 I've got missing the rush hour down to a fine art over the last-few weeks.
Get sth down to a fine art : to learn to do something well and efficiently
49. I feel that to brand her ideas unworkable at this stage would be wrong. (WRITE)
 I don't think we should write off her ideas as unworkable at this stage.
Write off sth as sth/ adj: to decide that somebody/something is a failure or not worth paying any
attention to ( ~ dismiss sth as sth )
50. It’s crucial for us to control the juvenile inmates in a very strict way. (KEEP)
 It's crucial for US to keep a tight rein on the juvenile inmates.
keep a tight rein on sth : to have a lot of control over someone or something
= take sth under control
51. You’ve done nothing but look miserable all day. (AROUND)
 You've done nothing but moon around all day.
52. We don’t expect that the tourists in that accident have survived. (HOLD)
 We don’t hold out much hope for the survival of the tourists in that accident.
hold out (much) hope for sth: nuôi hi vọng
53. Your story is different from the facts. (DOES)
 Your story does not tie in with the facts.
tie in with: to match or agree with something
54. His excuse for such bad behavior has little effect on her. (NO)
 His excuse for such had behavior cuts no ice with her.
cut no ice with sb: have no influence on sb
55. It is extremely important that the company rules are observed. (UTMOST)
 Observation of the company rules is of utmost importance.
To be of utmost importance = to be very important
56. Although it was not his fault, the personnel manager resigned from his position. (HANDED)
 Through no fault of his own, the personnel manager handed in his notice.
Through no fault of one’s own : used to say that something bad that happened to someone was
not caused by them
Hand in your notice : to tell your employer that you intend to leave your job after a particular
period of time
57. Frankly speaking, I do not think that nature and nurture are of equal significance.
(SUBSCRIBE)
 To put it bluntly, I do not subscribe to the opinion that nature and nurture are of equal
significance. => chú ý cách diễn đạt the opinion that
subscribe to sth = to agree with or support an opinion, a theory, etc.
58. The business is hardly making a profit at the moment. (EVEN)
 The business is hardly breaking even at the moment.
break even: hoà vốn
59. I don't really know why, but I don 't trust him. (FINGER)
 I can't put my finger on why/the reason but I don’t trust him.
Put your finger on sth : to discover the exact reason why a situation is the way it is, especially
when something is wrong
60. I felt vaguely that something was wrong, but what was it? (BACK)
 I felt at/ in the back of my mind that something was wrong, but what was it?
At/ in the back of one’s mind: you are aware of it but it is not what you are mainly thinking about
*Bonus :
- on the tip of your tongue : if a word or name is on the tip of your tongue, you are sure that
you know it but you cannot remember it
61. The journalist pretended that she was a parent of one of the children. (FALSE)
 The Journalist gave the false impression that she was a parent of one of the children.
give the ( false ) impression that + mệnh đề : để lại ấn tượng như thế nào
62. You have to use logic and lateral thinking in equal measure in this job. (STRIKE)
 You have to strike a balance between logic and lateral thinking in this job.
strike a balance between A and B : cân bằng giữa A và B
*Bonus :
- be on (an) equal, firm, etc. footing : to be in an equal, safe, etc. situation
e.g : Men and women should be able to compete for jobs on an equal footing.
63. Being inexperienced was a disadvantage to her when she applied for promoton. (COUNTED)
 Her lack of experience/inexperience counted against her when she applied for promoton.
count against sb: to be considered to be a disadvantage in somebody
>< stand sb in good stead
>< come in handy/ useful to sb
64. The man over there lost his temper in the public meeting. (HANDLE)
 That's the man that/who flew off the handle in the public meeting.
fly off the handle at sth : to suddenly become very angry
*Bonus :
Tức giận :
= be up in arms about sth
= hit the roof
= go bananas
= have kittens
65. We honestly all found it almost impossible not to laugh when we saw Josh's new haircut.
(FACE)
 Honestly, (our) keeping a straight face was almost impossible when we saw Josh’s new
haircut.
keep a straight face: to manage to stop yourself from smiling or laughing
66. The phone bill was so expensive that Dave was furious. (ARM)
 Dave was up in arms about such an expensive phone bill.
up in arms about sth : to be very angry about sth
67. ‘I’ve decided I really want to go on a cruise round the Med this summer,’ said Molly. (HEART)
 Molly says (that) she has set her heart on going/her heart is set on going on a cruise round
the Med this summer.
set one’s heart on: be determined to achieve sth ( ~ set your sights on sth )
68. He told US that getting a later plane was our only option. (BUT)
 ‘You have (got) no option but to get a later plane,’ he said.
have no option but to V: không có sự lựa chọn nào khác ngoài làm gì
= have no alternative but to V
= have no other choice than to V
69. Inefficient treatment of customers creates a bad inpression of the company. (REFLECTS)
 Treating customers with a lack of efficiency reflects badly on the company.
reflect (badly) on: to affect other people's opinion of someone or something, especially in a bad
way
70. The organizers planned everything as carefully as they could possibly have done.
(UTMOST)
 Everything was planned with the utmost care by the organizers.
with the utmost care = in a very careful way
71. I hope his story will help USto understand what happened. (SHED)
 Hopefully when he tells UShis Story, it will shed light on what happened.
shed light on sth: to make a problem, etc. easier to understand
72. He was finally able to adjust himself to the new working condition. (SWING)
 He finally got into the swing of the new working condition.
get into the swing of sth = get used to sth
73. Her role in the plot was of secondary importance. (SECOND FIDDLE)
 She played second fiddle in the plot.
play second fiddle to sb/ sth: to be treated as less important than somebody/something; to have
a less important position than somebody/something else
74. The offer to go and work in Brazil was a complete surprise. (BLUE)
 The offer to go and work in Brazil came (completely) out of the blue.
(come) out of the blue: unexpectedly; without warning
~ all of a sudden
75. This liver condition is common in those who drink a lot. (DRINKERS)
 This liver condition is common in heavy drinkers.
Heavy drinker : people who drink a lot
76. Minnie meant well so you mustn't be offended by her comments. (AMISS)
 Please don't take Minnie's comments amiss because she meant well.
take sth amiss : be offended by sth
= take offence at sth
77. It’s urgent that the new principal start to deal with the problems facing the school. (GRIPS)
 The new principle will have to get to grips with the problem facing the school straight away.
Come/ get to grips with: to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation
78. My supervisor did not even hint to me that he was about to resign. (INDICATION)
 I was given no indication by my supervisor that he was about to resign.
give sb every/ no indication: to give sb a hint/ show a sign
79. When I saw the exam questions , I couldn't remeber anything. (MIND)
 When I saw the exam questions, my mind just went blank.
(sb’s mind/ SB) go blank: to forget something that you know, often temporarily
80. We have recently noticed that you have not been attending staff training sessions.
(ATTENTION)
 It has come to our attention that you have not been attending staff training sessions.
STH come to your attention: you see or learn about something
81. If something's worrying you, you should tell me about it now. (CHEST)
 If you have a problem, why don’t you get it off your chest now?
Get sth off your chest : to tell someone about something that has been worrying you or making
you feel guilty for a long time
~ take sth off your mind : to make you forget about something unpleasant for a short time
82. I think you should confront your boss right now with how you feel about this. (OUT)
 Why don’t you have it out with your boss right now?
Have it out with sb : to talk to someone about something they have done that makes you angry,
in order to try to solve the problem
*Bonus :
Talk sth out with sb : to discuss something carefully and completely in order to make a decision,
solve a problem, etc.
83. Anna had decided Tom was not telling the truth about what happened. (TEETH)
 Anna was sure Tom was lying through his teeth about what happened.
Lie through your teeth : to tell someone something that you know is completely false
~ lie without batting an eye/ eyelid ( nói dối trắng trợn )
84. Perhaps my sister was bad-tempered because she was tired. (FACT)
 I put my sister’s bad temper down to the fact that she was tired.
put sth down to sth: quy cái gì là do cái gì
= blame sth on sb/sth
= attribute sth to sb
= ascribe sth to sb/sth
85. When confronted with his crime the accused was unrepentant. (REMORSE)
 The accused showed no remorse for crime he had committed.
show no remorse for = have no regrets about sth
86. The day after I lost my job, I did not feel like getting out of bed. (INCLINATION)
 I had/felt no inclination to get out of bed the day after losing my job.
have no inclination to V = don’t want to do sth
87. It is necessary to free our business from the influence of the bureaucracy right now. (HAND)
 It is necessary to free our business from the dead hand of bureaucracy right now.
The dead hand of sth : an influence that controls or limits something
88. The train is too crowded with the commuters during the morning rush hour. (SARDINESS)
 The commuters on the train were packed like sardiness during the morning rush hour.
be packed/ crammed like sardiness: pressed tightly together in a way that is uncomfortable or
unpleasant
89. The club has been very successful since the beginning of the season. (ON)
 Since the beginning of the season, the club has been on the up and up.
on the up and up: improving all the time
90. The boys fixed all their attention on what the teacher was saying in order not to miss any
small details. (ZEROED)
 The boys zeroed in on what the teacher was saying in order not to miss any small details.
zero in on sth/ sb: focus on sth/ sb mentioned
91. He causes so much trouble that we can do nothing besides from leaving him to worry and
suffer the unpleasant effect of his own actions. (JUICE)
 As/ because/ since he causes so much trouble, there’s nothing we can do now besides from
letting him stew in his own juice.
let sb stew in their own juice: để ai tự gánh chịu hậu quả
~ make sb have a taste of their own medicine
92. Martine cannot go any higher in his career. (PINNACLE)
 Martine has reached the pinnacle of his career.
reach the pinnacle of sth: chạm đến đỉnh cao của cái gì
= in your prime
93. I will appreciate it if you didn’t pretend to support my view. (LIP)
 I would sooner you hadn’t paid lip service to my view yesterday.
pay lip service to sth: approve of it or support it, without proving their support by what they
actually do ( nói suông )
*Bonus :
nose (n) => brown-nose (v) : to try too hard to please someone, especially someone in a position
of authority, in a way that other people find unpleasant
94. Addicts of computer games struggle to distinguish the virtual world from the real world.
(DRAW)
 Those obsessed with computer games struggle to draw the/a line between the virtual world
and the real world.
Draw a line between A and B : phân biệt A và B ( thường là vạch ra ranh giới với điều không nên
làm )
Be obsessed with sth : thích cái gì đến mức bị thái quá ( ~ be addicted to sth ~ be crazy about
sth )
95. Have a look at this picture . It may help you remember something. (JOG)
 Have a look at this picture. It may help you jog your memory.
jog sb’s memory: to say or do something that makes somebody remember something
96. Apparently, a lot of employees will be made redundant when the 21st Century Fox is taken
over. (HEAP)
 Apparently, many an employee will be thrown on the scrap heap when the 21st Century Fox is
taken over.
Throw sb on the scrap heap : If you say that someone has been thrown on the scrapheap, you
mean that they have been forced to leave their job by an uncaring employer and are unlikely to get
other work.
= make sb redundant = give sb the sack = make sb join the ranks of the unemployed
97. Although the beginning may be smooth for a business, one has to think about the worst-case
scenario. (PREOCCUPIED)
 Plain sailing though/as the beginning of a business may be, one has to be preoccupied with
the worst-cast scenario.
To be plain sailing (idiom) : to be easy and without problems
Preoccupied with sth (adj) : thinking and/or worrying continuously about something so that you
do not pay attention to other things
98. I didn’t dare to tell the truth because my father was there. (GUTS)
 Hadn’t it been for my father's presence, I might/would have had the guts to tell the truth.
have the guts to V = dare to do sth ( ~ have the nerve to do sth )
presence (n) : sự hiện diện, có mặt
99. Looking back, we could have managed things in a more organized way. (SHIP)
 With hindsight, we could have run a tight ship
With hindsight, we didn't run a tight ship.
run a tight ship: to control a business or other organization firmly and effectively
with/ in hindsight : sau khi góc nhìn của mình đã thay đổi thì nhìn lại ( ~ in retrospect )
100. It was a shame I couldn't come to his father's funeral. (RESPECT)
 I'd like to have paid my/the last respect to his father.
pay one’s last respect to sb: to show or express one's respect for someone who has died,
especially by attending his or her funeral, wake, memorial service, etc
*Bonus :
Pay tribute to sb/ sth: to praise someone or something
101. Despite the effort we made, our plan just wouldn 't come off. (PIE)
 Hard as/though we tried/might try, our plan was just pie in the sky.
To be (just) pie in the sky : an event that somebody talks about that seems very unlikely to
happen
Come off : (of a plan, etc.) to be successful; to have the intended effect or result
*Bonus :
Try as one might : no matter how hard one tries
102. When it comes to his political view, his comments are sometimes inappropriate. (PALE)
 As regards political view, his comments are sometimes/ at times beyond the pale.
beyond the pale: considered by most people to be unacceptable or unreasonable
When it comes to sth : khi nói đến việc gì
= As regards sth
= In/with regard to sth
= In terms of sth
= Concerning sth…..
103. I hate it that I always have to attract the boss’s criticism when things go wrong. (FIRE)
 I object to always having to draw my boss's fire when things go wrong.
draw sb’s fire: to make somebody direct their anger, criticism, etc. at you, so that others do not
have to face it
object to Ving/ N : phản đối ( = be against Ving/N )
104. It was bad the adults pretended to be unaware of the kids' problems. (SAND)
 The adults shouldn't have buried their head in the sand about the kids' problems.
bury your head in the sand about sth : to refuse to think about unpleasant facts, although they
will have an influence on your situation
~ turn a deaf ear/ blind eye to sth
105. I haven’t been told exactly what I will have to do in my new job. (REQUIRED)
 It hasn't been made clear to me what is required of me in the /my new job.
make (something) clear (to sb) : to help one understand something.
Be required of sb : be expected to be done by sb
*Bonus :
keep/stay/steer clear (of somebody/something) : to avoid a person or thing because they may
cause problems
106. He maintained his position against his adversary. (GROUND)
 He held/stood his ground against his adversary.
hold/stand one’s ground: to continue with your opinions or intentions when somebody is
opposing you and wants you to change ( ~ stick to your guns )
107. I suddenly realized the meaning of a “freebie” . (DAWNED)
 The meaning of a “freebie” suddenly dawned on me.
To dawn on sb: if something dawns on you, you begin to realize it for the first time
108. Most stores will accept a credit card instead of cash. (ALTERNATIVE)
 Most stores will accept a credit card as an alternative to cash.
As an alternative to sth = as a replacement of sth
109. The bank robbers escaped in a stolen car. (GETAWAY)
 The bank robbers made a/ their getaway in a stolen car.
110. Don't panic about something so trivial. (MOUNTAIN)
 Don’t make a mountain out of the molehill.
make a mountain out of the molehill: chuyện bé xé ra to
= make a storm in a teacup
= make a tempest in a teapot
= play up sth
~ make heavy weather of sth : to find something hard to do and spend a lot of time on it, although
it is not difficult
111. Frankly speaking , I do not think that nature and nurture are equally significant.
(SUBSCRIBE )
 To put it bluntly, I do not subscribe to the opinion that nature and nurture are of equal
significance.
subscribe to sth ( an idea, an opinion, … ) : agree with sth
to put it bluntly : nói thẳng ra là
to be important = to be of importance
112. In the area, Thailand used to be much better than all other countries in football. (HEAD)
 In the area, Thailand doesn't stand head and shoulders above all other countries infootball
any longer.
Stand head and shoulders above sth/ sb ~ outdo sb/sth
113. He hid the truth about the matter because he didn’t want to lose his high position.
(CARPET)
 For fear that he (should) lose his high position, he swept the matter under the carpet.
114. He indicated very clearly that he would do anything to obtain the contract. (LENGTHS)
 He gave every indication of going to any lengths to obtain the contract.
Give every/ no indication of : to show a clear sign/ no signs that ….
Go to any/ great lengths to do sth ~ leave no stone unturned ( in an attempt/ effort ) to do sth
115. I didn 't dare to tell the truth because my father was there. (GUTS)
 Had it it not been for my father's presence, I'd have had the guts to tell the truth.
have the guts to do sth >< lack the courage to do sth : dám
116. She was surprised when he suddenly asked her to marry him. (TOOK)
 His sudden marriage proposal took her by surprise / aback.
take sb by surprise/ aback: khiến ai ngạc nhiên
= come as a surprise to sb
117. After the expedition, I realized that she was not an efficient researcher. (SHAKES)
 It dawned on me after the expedition that she was no great shakes as a researcher.
No great shakes as/ at sth : not very good ( ~ nowhere near/ nothing like as good as )
118. The accused may imagine a plan of killing the witness. (AWAY)
 The accused may conceive of doing away with the witness.
Conceive of sb/ sth as sth : to imagine something
Do away with sb/sth = get rid of sb/ sth ( loại bỏ ai hoặc cái gì )
119. Don’t run away with the idea that this job is easy. (CONCLUSION)
 Don’t come to/draw the conclusion that job is easy.
120. Russ's opinions on the new management policies were very different from those of his fellow
workers. (ODDS)
 Russ was at odds with his f'ellow workers over the new management policies.
at odds with sb over sth = in disagreement with sb ~ to clash with sb over/ on sth
121. The young actress was very nervous before the audition. (BUTTERFLIES)
 The young actress had butterflies in her stomach before the audition.
122. Margaret is said to be a very good cook. (REPUTATION)
 Margaret has a reputation for being a very good cook.
have a reputation for doing sth / as sth = be famous for ( ~ make a name for oneself as sth )
*Bonus :
Bring the house down : to make everyone laugh or cheer, especially at a performance in the
theatre
Take sb/ sth by storm : to be extremely successful very quickly in a particular place or among
particular people
Put sb/ sth on the map : to make somebody/something famous or important
123. The rocketing prices have proved too much for most salaried people. (COPE)
 Most salaried people haven't been able to cope with the rocketing prices.
Cope with = deal with
*Trong câu này cần dùng be able to thay vì could bởi trong câu gốc, tác giả dùng thì HTHT have
proved
=> Câu sau dùng able để giữ được thì hoàn thành : haven’t been able to
124. I don’t think the television 's likely to blow up at any minute. (LIKEHOOD)
 There is little likelihood that the television will blow up at any time.
there is little likelihood that + mệnh đề ( thường là TL đơn để chỉ khả năng trong tương lai )
125. I’m afraid our problems are just beginning. (ICEBERG)
 These problems of ours are just the tip of the iceberg.
The tip of the iceberg
~ a foretaste ( of sth ) : a small amount of a particular experience or situation that shows you
what it will be like when the same thing happens on a larger scale in the future
126. Getting to work should be much easier once the new underground line is ready.
(COMMUTING)
 The new underground line should make commuting plain sailing.
Be plain saling : to be easy and without problems
*Để diễn tả sự dễ dàng của một việc người ta thường dùng :
A makes it easier for B to do sth/ A makes B easier
=> thay “easier” = “plain sailing”
127. Thomas was not given details of the company’s new project. (DARK)
 Thomas was kept in the dark about the company's new projects.
*Bonus :
Let sb in on sth : to tell someone about something that is secret, or to allow someone to become
involved in something that only very few people are involved in
128. I was too scare to tell him what I really thought. (LACKED)
 I lacked (the) courage to tell him what I really thought. ( courage ~ bravery )
129. The diplomat has been arrested because it is believed he has been spying for his
government. (SUSPICION)
 The diplomat has been arrested on suspicion of spying for his government.
on suspicion of Ving/ N : to seem suspicious because of Ving/ N
130. He got up very early this morning. (CRACK)
 He got up at the crack of dawn this morning.
at the crack of dawn: very early in the morning, especially at the time when the sun first
appears
TUY NHIÊN : nếu câu rewrite chỉ điền at the crack of dawn không thôi thì sẽ bị bỏ sót thông
tin là this morning.
131. They remained close friends, despite having had many differences. (FALLEN)
 Though they had had many differences, they hadn’t fallen out.
fall out with sb : to have so many arguments with sb that you end the relationship
132. I resent the way that she clearly feels herself to be superior to me. (NOSE)
 I am resentful of/at/about the way that she looks down her nose at me.
look down one’s nose at sb: coi thường ai
resent (v) => resentful (adj)
*Câu answer nên giữ nguyên từ câu gốc cho, vd từ cần điền là tính từ thì cần tìm tính từ có
gốc là từ trong câu.
133. Fortunately his route took him very near where they lived. (LUCK)
 As luck would have it, his route took him very near where they lived.
As luck would have it : Fortunately
= By a stroke of luck
134. Many people nowadays find it increasingly difficult to exist on the money they earn. (ENDS)
 Many people nowadays find it increasingly difficult to make (both) ends meet.
make both ends meet: to earn just enough money to be able to buy the things you need
=> không cần “on the money they earn”
135. I've lost interest in going to the same place all the time. (FED UP)
 I've fed up with going to the same place all the time.
feed up with sth = be bored stiff of sth = be sick and tired of sth
136. Although the signs are optimistic, there are imminent dark clouds. (TEETH)
 On the cards/horizon are dark clouds in the teeth of optimistic signs.
*Câu này kết hợp ĐẢO NGỮ nhé
On the cards : likely to happen
On the horizon : likely to happen or exist
In the teeth of ~ in the face of : despite sth
137. The rain was coming down in torrents. (CATS)
 The rain was raining cats and dogs.
138. They arrived at their destination alive and kicking. (SOUND)
 They arrived at their destination safe and sound.
safe and sound = alive and well/kicking
139. The police caught the burglar in the process of committing the crime. (RED)
 The burglar was caught red-handed (by the police).
catch sb red-handed: bắt quả tang ai ngay tại chỗ
140. They think the manuscript was written by a fourteenth century scholar. (ATTRIBUTED)
 The manuscript has been/ is attributed to a fourteenth century scholar.
141. Have you seen my glasses anywhere by any chance? (HAPPEN)
 You don't happen to have seen my glasses anywhere, do you?
Happen to do sth : to do something by chance
tag question là khẳng định ( do you ) => vế chính phải là phủ định
142. Whatever happens , you must not go into my office without permission. (ACCOUNT)
 On no account must you go into my office without permission.
On no account = under no circumstances = in no way
143. It's a good idea to take out a small loan to help start your business. (GROUND)
 It’s a good idea to take out a small loan to (help) get your business off the ground.
get (sth) off the ground: to start happening successfully; to make something start happening
successfully
144. I've become extremely good at missing the rush hour over the last few weeks. (FINE)
 I’ve got missing the rush hour down to a fine art over the last few weeks.
Get sth down to a fine art : to learn to do something well and efficiently
145. Although Rudy really didn’t want to play cricket on Sunday, he agreed in the end. (DEAD)
 Despite (him/ his) being dead (set) against playing cricket on Sunday, Rudy agreed in the end.
Be (dead) set against sth : to be determined not to do something ( be averse to doing sth )
146. I tried to remember what has happened all those years before. (CAST)
 I cast my mind back to what has happened all those years before.
cast one’s mind back to sth: to make yourself think about something that happened in the past
trong definition có make yourself think => bao gồm cả tried to
147. My parents are furious with me for getting a tattoo and so have grounded me. (ARMS)
 My parents, who are up in arms about my/ me getting a tattoo, have grounded me.
up in arms about sth: tức giận về cái gì
= fly off the handle at sth
= go bananas
= have kittens
= hit the roof/ go up the wall
= blow your stack
148. Since the company’s methods were exposed in a newspaper, people have lost their good
opinion of it. (DISREPUTE)
 Since the company's methods were exposed in a newspaper, it has fallen into disrepute.
fall into disrepute: get into a state where you lose the respect of other people

149. We only ingratiated ourselves with our teacher because Katie insisted. (CURRIED)
 It was at Katie’s insistence that we curried favour with our teacher.
curry favour with: to try to get somebody to like or support you by praising or helping them a lot (
~ get sb to pull strings for you ~ ingratiate yourself with sb )
at somebody's insistence = because sb insist
150. It seemed the young man was feeling bitter about his family background. (SHOULDER)
 The young man appeared to be having a chip on his shoulder about his family background.
have a chip on one’s shoulder: to be sensitive about something that happened in the past and
become easily offended if it is mentioned because you think that you were treated unfairly
*Bonus :
touch/strike/hit a (raw) nerve : to mention something that makes someone upset, angry, or
embarrassed, especially accidentally
sore point : a subject that someone prefers not to talk about because it makes them angry or
embarrassed
151. It is recommended that you take water with you as wells are few and far between in this
area. (LEST) ĐỀ BÀI LỖI NHÉ
 Travellers to this area are advised to carry water lest wells (should) be thin on the ground.
Well (n) : giếng
be thin on the ground: to exist only in small numbers or amounts ( ~ elusive )
Lest + mệnh đề : in order to prevent any possibility that something will happen
152. He was exasperated with being criticized in public all the time. (TEETH)
 He was fed up to the back teeth with being criticized in public all the time.
Be fed up to the back teeth with: annoyed or tired because something has been happening for a
long time and you think it should be stopped or changed
= to be sick and tired of sth
153. You have said exactly the right thing. (NAIL)
 You have hit the nail on the head.
hit the nail on the head: to say something that is exactly right
*Bonus :
(make) a shot in the dark : a guess; something you do without knowing what the result will be
154. They designed the stadium to make hooliganism impossible. (SUCH)
 The stadium was designed in such a way (as) to / that it could/would stamp/ rule/iron out
hooliganism.
In such a way as to V : in a certain way ( cách diễn đạt )
stamp/rule/iron out ~ remove sth bad/ a problem ( like crime, … )
~ crack down on
155. Initially, losing one's job can seem awful; afterwards it can work out well, for some people.
(BLESSING)
 Losing one's job has proved a blessing in disguise for some people.
a blessing in disguise: trong cái rủi có cái may
156. He's a pleasant man socially, but he's a tough businessman. (BARGAIN)
 He's a pleasant man socially, but drives a hard bargain in business.
drive a hard bargain: to argue in an aggressive way and force somebody to agree on the best
possible price or arrangement
157. As a champion swimmer, she will never be better than she is now. (PRIME)
 As a champion swimmer, she is in her prime.
in one’s prime: the time in your life when you are strongest or most successful ( ~ in one’s
heyday)
*Bonus :
reach a crescendo : to reach the highest point of excitement, danger, or action
158. A summary' cannot bring out the high quality of this book. (JUSTICE)
 A summary cannot do justice to (the high quality of) this book.
do justice to sth: to treat or represent somebody/something fairly, especially in a way that shows
how good, attractive, etc. they are
159. The inspector showed us four potential health hazards. (DREW)
 The inspector drew our attention to four potential health hazards.
draw one’s attention to sth: thu hút sự chú ý của ai vào cái gì
*Bonus :
make a splash : to do something in a way that attracts a lot of attention or causes a lot of
excitement
160. The crash victim was beyond help when emergency services reach her. (WHATSOEVER)
 There was nothing whatsoever emergency services could do on reaching the crash victim.
Whatsoever : used after a negative phrase to add emphasis to the idea that is being expressed
=> nothing whatsoever : không có bất cứ điều gì
There is nothing I can/ could do : một cách diễn đạt thường dùng để chỉ tình huống hết hy vọng,
không ai có thể cứu vãn
161. He worked very hard but he was unable to earn enough for his living. (ENDS)
 Hard-working as he was, he was unable to make ends meet.
make ends meet = eke out of a living as sth
162. Competition is fierce, but Frozen is a firm favourite to win the award for Best Anima tion of
the year. (LOOKS)
 In the face /teeth of fierce competition, Frozen looks set to win the award for Best Animation of
the year.
look (all) set to do something : be ready or prepared to do something
163. Her latest novel isn't as good as her previous one. (PAR)
 Her latest novel isn't on a par with her previous one.
on a par with sth ~ on the same level as
*Bonus :
to be no match for sth/sb : to be less powerful or effective than someone or something else
164. She was very angry when her son made changes to her computer without her permission.
(TAMPERING)
 Her son tampering with her computer, she blew her stack.
tamper with sth : change sth without permission
blow one’s stack: tức giận
= be up in arms about
= fly off the handle at
= hit the roof/ go up the wall
= go bananas/ have kittens
165. So many people were really delighted when the government lost the election.
(JUBILATION)
 There was much jubilation when the government lost the election.
jubilation: a feeling of great happiness because of a success
There is much jubilation => cách diễn đạt
166. The board had a secret meeting in order to discuss changes in company policy. (DOORS)
 The board met behind the closed doors in order to discuss changes in company policy.
behind the closed doors = without the public being allowed to attend or know what is happening;
in private
~behind the scenes : in a way that people in general are not aware of
167. Peter was in trouble with his boss because he didn’t finish an important project by the
deadline. (HOT)
 Peter was in hot water (with his boss) because he didn’t finish an important project by the
deadline.
in hot water: to be in trouble
168. She told everyone that she had been fired by the company. (SACK)
 She let it be known that she had been given the sack by the company.
give sb the sack: sa thải ai ( = sack sb off = make sb redundant = dismiss sb )
let it be known that + mệnh đề : to make certain that people know something
*Bonus :
join the ranks of the unemployed = become jobless
169. Should there be a problem, contact us at all costs. (LINE)
 In the event of a problem, drop (us) a line at all costs.
Drop sb a line : to write a short letter or email to someone
In the event of sth : in case sth happens
170. Although the manager is sluggish, he is a smooth speaker. (GIFT)
 Sluggish as the manager is, he has the gift of the gab.
have the gift of the gab: to have the ability to speak easily and confidently in a way that makes
people want to listen to you and believe you ( ~ to be outspoken )
*Bonus :
to brown-nose sb = to ingratiate yourself with sb : lấy lòng ai bằng cách đối xử đặc biệt với họ
171. George won't lend his tape recorder to you if you don't promise to bring it back by Saturday.
(UNLESS)
 George won’t lend his tape recorder to you unless you promise to bring it back by Saturday.
172. Jerry had terrible problems with solving the riddle. (HARDLY)
 Jerry could hardly solve the riddle.
could hardly do sth: hardly is used especially after ‘can’ or ‘could’ and before the main verb, to
emphasize that it is difficult to do something
173. Our representatives have been criticizing the new concept. (CRITICAL)
 Our representatives have been critical of the new concept.
be critical of sth = to criticize sth : chỉ trích, đánh giá
*Bonus :
to have it in for sb : to be determined to harm or criticize someone ( = find fault with sb )
174. It doesn't make any difference if they paint the board white or yellow. (MATTER)
 It doesn’t matter whether they paint the board white or yellow.
175. Finally, the new prime minister has been appointed. (LAST)
 The new prime minister has been appointed at last.
at last: If you say that something has happened at last or at long last, you mean it has happened
after you have been hoping for it for a long time. ( thường dùng cuối câu )
176. I presume you are coming to the party Miriam. (READ)
 Can I take it as read that you are coming to the party Miriam?
take it/sth as read : to accept something without discussing it
= take it/sth/sb for granted
177. The fox was unsuccessful in reaching the grapes. (VAIN)
 The fox tried in vain to reach the grapes.
(try) in vain = fail at sth
178. Yvonne did everything she could to ensure the trip was successful. (LENGTHS)
 Yvonne went to great lengths to ensure the success.
go to great lengths: do everything you could do to achieve sth
= do everything within your power
= leave no stone unturned in sth
= go to the ends of the earth to V
179. Russ's opinions on the new management policies were very different from those of his
fellow workers. (ODDS)
 Russ at odds with his fellow workers over/concerning the new management policies.
at odds with sb over sth = in disagreement with sb over sth
*Bonus :
go/swim with/against the tide : to agree with/oppose the attitudes or opinions that most other
people have
Be/ Go against the grain : to be or do something different from what is normal or natural
180. I tried as hard as I could to make sure that this problem would not arise. (POWER)
 I did everything within my power to prevent this problem from arising.
181. When confronted with his crime the accused was unrepentant. (REMORSE)
 The accused showed no remorse for the crime he had committed.
show no remorse for sth = have no regrets about sth
182. My brother gets a terrible rash every time he eats seafood. (BRINGS)
 Eating seafood brings my brother out in a terrible crash.
bring sb out in sth: to make somebody’s skin be covered in spots, etc.
~ SB come out in sth : (of a person) to become covered in spots, etc. on the skin
183. Journalists are expected to work until late at night. (PUT)
 Journalists are expected to put in long hours.
put in long hours: to work for a long time on it, or work for a long time each day.
184. He had no idea what was going to happen to him when he walked into that room. (STORE)
 Little did he realise / know what lay in store for / what was in store for him when he walked
into that room.
Be/lay/hold in store for sb : waiting to happen to somebody
185. I was determined to take advantage of the experience. (MISSED)
 I would not have missed out on such an experience for all the world.
miss out on sth: bỏ lỡ cái gì
186. Someone must have seen the thieves escaping with the jewels. (MAKING)
 The thieves must have been seen making off with the jewels.
make off with sth : to steal something and hurry away with it
~ make a getaway with sth
187. In order to discover how the disagreement had started, Mary talked to each child separately.
(ONE)
 Mary talked to the children one by one/ one at a time in her/an attempt to discover how the
disagreement had started.
one by one/ one at a time: separately and in order

188. Minnie meant well so you mustn't be offended by her comments. (AMISS)
 Please don’t take Minnie’s comments amiss because she meant well.
Take sth amiss : to feel offended by something, perhaps because you have understood it in the
wrong way
= take offence at sth
189. There are so many different styles of ethnic cuisine to choose from these days. (SPOILT)
 These days, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to ethnic cuisine.
be spoilt for choice: to be unable to choose because there are so many possible good choices
= be in a quandary : in the state of not being able to decide what to do in a difficult situation
= on the horns of a dilemma : in a situation in which you have to make a choice between things
that are equally unpleasant
190. Ray agonized over whether he should tell his host that the chicken was underdone.
(QUANDARY)
 Discovering that his chicken was underdone put Ray in a quandary should he tell his host or
not.
put sb in a quandary: put sb in a diffifult situation, especially when they have to choose between
two things
191. He contributed significantly to the success of the project. (IMPORT)
 His contribution(s) was/were of great import to the success of the project.
of great import to sth : to be very important
192. He was terribly upset by the news. (BLOW)
 The news came as a terrible blow to him.
come as a surprise/relief/blow etc (to somebody) : to make someone feel surprised, relieved,
disappointed etc
193. The new town has made the town centre nicer, but public transport could still be improved a
lot. (ROOM)
 The new town has made the town centre nicer, but there could still be plenty of room for
improvement with regard /respect to public transport.
There’s room for improvement : used to say that something is not perfect and needs to be
improved
With regard/ respect to sth ( = concerning sth = as regards sth ) : about sth, về mặt gì
194. Trying desperately to compensate for his terrible behaviour, he bought her a bunch of
flowers. (AMENDS)
 In a desperate attempt/effort/bid to make amends for his terrible behaviour, he bought her a
bunch of flowers.
make amends (to sb) for sth/doing sth : to do something for somebody in order to show that you
are sorry for something wrong or unfair that you have done
= make up to sb for sth
195. We decided to stay for longer because we were so thrilled by the plane. (PROLONGING)
 Our heart/sights was/were set on prolonging our stay(,) so thrilled were we by the plane.
Set your heart/ sights on sth = to be determined to do sth => bị động
đảo ngữ so => dấu hiệu “we” ở cuối câu
196. Immediately after winning the race, Sandy began training for the next one. (HAD)
 No sooner had Sandy won the race than she began training for the next one.
197. Going to and fro with all the cases is what I can’t stand about holidays. (TOING)
 It's all the toing and froing with all the cases that I can't stand about holidays.
(all the) toing and froing with sth: movement or travel backwards and forwards between two or
more places
198. As a result of the bad weather, there may be delay to some international flights. (SUBJECT)
 Due to the bad weather some international flights are / will be subject to possible delay.
be subject to sth: likely to be affected by something, especially something bad
trong định nghĩa có likely to be = may be của đề bài nên answer chỉ dùng are/will
199. Bill changed his ways when he came out of prison. (LEAF)
 Bill has turned over a new leaf since he came out of prison.
turn over a new leaf: to change your way of life to become a better, more responsible person
= to change your ways : to start to live or behave in a different way from before
200. The committee had a long discussion but they could not make up their mind. (REACH)
 Lengthy as /though their discussion was/might be, the committee couldn’t reach any/a
decision.
Length = unnecessarily long
Make up your mind about sth = reach/come to/arrive at a decision
*Bonus :
Take the plunge /plʌndʒ/ : to make a decision to do something, especially after thinking about it
for a long time