Những thành ngữ tiếng anh cơ bản nhất

Những thành ngữ tiếng 
anh cơ bản nhất 
 
Thành ngữ là những cách nói được rất nhiều người dùng để diễn đạt một 
ý nghĩa nào đó, vì vậy nếu lạm dụng sẽ gây ra sự nhàm chán. Tuy nhiên, 
thành ngữ rất thường được dùng, nhất là trong văn nói. Bạn cần biết ít 
nhất là tất cả những thành ngữ sau để có thể hiểu được người bản xứ nói 
gì vì thành ngữ có đôi khi không thể đoán nghĩa được dựa trên nghĩa đen 
của các từ trong đó. 
A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush = Một con chim trong 
tay có giá trị hơn hai con chim trên trời 
"Dan has asked me to go to a party with him. What if my boyfriend finds 
out?" Reply: "Don't go. A bird in the hand is worth two in the 
bush." 
A Drop In The Bucket = Hạt muối bỏ biến 
"I'd like to do something to change the world but whatever I do seems 
like a drop in the bucket." 
A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted = 1 kẻ ngốc không giữ được 
tiền lâu 
Example: "Her husband can't seem to hold onto any amount of money; 
he either spends it or loses it. A fool and his money are easily parted." 
A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned = 1 xu tiết kiệm cũng như 1 xu làm 
ra 
"I'm going to give you $20 but I want you to put it in the bank; a penny 
saved is a penny earned!" 
A Piece Of Cake = Dễ như ăn cháo 
"Do you think you will win your tennis match today?" Answer: "It will 
be a piece of cake." 
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder = Sự vắng mặt làm tình yêu 
ngọt ngào hơn 
"The time we spend apart has been good for us; absence makes the 
heart grow fonder." 
Actions Speak Louder Than Words = Hành động có giá trị hơn lời nói 
"Don't tell me how to do this; show me! Actions speak louder than 
words." 
Add Fuel To The Fire = Thêm dầu vào lửa 
"I would like to do something to help, but I don't want to add fuel to the 
fire." 
It Is All Greek to me. = Tôi chẳng hiểu gì cả. (ám chỉ chữ viết hoặc 
tiếng nói) 
"Did you understand what he just said?" Reply: "Nope. It was all 
Greek to me." 
All Thumbs = Vụng về, hậu đậu 
"Hey! You are pouring my coffee on the table!" Reply: "Oh, I'm so 
sorry! I have been all thumbs today." 
Cost An Arm And A Leg = Trả 1 cái giá cắt cổ, tốn rất nhiều tiền 
"Be careful with that watch; it cost me an arm and a leg." 
Arm In Arm = Tay trong tay 
"What a nice afternoon. We walked arm in arm along the beach for 
hours." 
Beating Around The Bush = Vòng vo tam quốc 
"If you want to ask me, just ask; don't beat around the bush." 
Better Late Than Never = Thà trễ còn hơn không 
"Sorry I was late for the meeting today; I got stuck in traffic." Answer: 
"That's okay; better late than never." 
Between A Rock And A Hard Place = Đứng giữa 2 lựa chọn khó khăn 
"I'd like to help you but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place." 
Birds Of A Feather Flock Together = Ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã 
"Look; the volleyball players are eating at the same table together, as 
always." Answer: "Birds of a feather flock together." 
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew = Không lượng sức 
"I thought I could finish this report within one month, but it looks like I 
have bitten off more than I can chew." 
Bite Your Tongue = Cố gắng im lặng 
"Whenever that professor says something I don't like, I have to bite my 
tongue." 
Blood Is Thicker Than Water = 1 giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã 
"When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my 
brother; blood is thicker than water." 
Burn Your Bridges = Đốt cầu của mình, tức là tự làm mất đi cơ hội 
của mình 
"I wish you hadn't been rude to that man just now; he is very important 
in this town and you shouldn't go around burning bridges." 
Burning The Candle At Both Ends = Vắt kiệt sức ra để làm việc 
"Ever since this new project started I have been burning the candle at 
both ends. I can't take much more of it." 
Call It Off = Hủy bỏ 
"Tonight's game was called off because of the rain." 
Cross Your Fingers = Động tác được tin là sẽ đem lại sự may mắn 
"Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best!" 
Curiosity Killed The Cat = Sự tò mò có thể rất nguy hiểm 
"Hey, I wonder what's down that street; it looks awfully dark and 
creepy." Answer: "Let's not try to find out. Curiosity killed the cat." 
Don't Count Your Chickens Until They're Hatched = Trứng chưa nở 
đã đếm gà 
"Next Friday I will be able to pay you back that money I owe you." 
Answer: "I won't be counting my chickens..." 
Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket = Đừng bỏ tất cả trứng vào 1 
rổ, tức hãy chia đều những nguy cơ ra nhiều nơi để giảm rủi ro 
"The best way to gamble is to only bet small amounts of money and 
never put all your eggs in one basket." 
From Rags To Riches = Từ nghèo khổ trở thành cự phú 
"My uncle is a real rags to riches story." 
Get Over It = Vượt qua, qua khỏi 
"I was very sick yesterday, but I got over it quickly." 
Great Minds Think Alike = Tư tưởng lớn gặp nhau 
"I have decided that this summer I am going to learn how to scuba 
dive." Answer: "Me too! I have already paid for the course. Great minds 
think alike!" 
Have No Idea = Không hề biết, không có khái niệm nào 
"I can't find my keys. I have no idea where I put them." 
It Takes Two To Tango = Có lửa mới có khỏi 
"Her husband is awful; they fight all the time." Answer: "It takes two to 
tango." 
Keep An Eye On = Xem chừng, trông chừng, để mắt đến 
"I have to run to the bathroom. Can you keep an eye on my suitcase 
while I am gone?" 
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie = Đừng gợi lại những chuyện không hay 
"I wanted to ask her what she thought of her ex-husband, but I figured it 
was better to let sleeping dogs lie." 
Neither A Borrower, Nor A Lender Be = Đừng cho mượn tiền, cũng 
đừng mượn tiền 
"Could you lend me twenty dollars?" Answer: "Sorry, neither a 
borrower nor a lender be." 
Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You = Đừng bao giờ cắn vào bàn tay 
đã đút cho ta ăn 
"We have been your best customers for years. How could you suddenly 
treat us so rudely? You shouldnever bite the hand that feeds you." 
Off The Hook = Đỡ mệt, đỡ phiền, càng khỏe 
"You're lucky; it turns out that Dad never heard you come in late last 
night." Answer: "Great, that means I'm off the hook!" 
Everybody Is On The Same Page = Mọi người đều hiểu vấn đề 
"Before we make any decisions today, I'd like to make sure that everyone 
is on the same page." 
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind = Xa mặt cách lòng 
"I meant to read that book, but as soon as I put it down, I forgot about 
it." Answer: "Out of sight, out of mind." 
People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones = Bản 
thân mình không đúng thì đừng chê người khác sai 
"Look at what time it is... you are late again!" Answer: "Hey, how often 
are you not on time? People who live in glass houses should not throw 
stones." 
Practice Makes Perfect = Càng tập luyện nhiều càng giỏi 
"You see how quickly you are getting better at the piano! Practice 
makes perfect!" 
Put Your Foot In Your Mouth = Tự há miệng mắc quai, nói lỡ lời 
"Let's all be very careful what we say at the meeting tomorrow. I don't 
want anyone putting their foot in their mouth." 
Rome Was Not Built In One Day = Thành La Mã không phải được 
xây trong 1 ngày 
"It is taking me a long time to write this computer program." Answer: 
"Rome was not built in one day." 
Rub Salt In An Old Wound = Xát muối vào vết thương chưa lành 
"Oh please, let's not rub salt in old wounds!" 
Second Nature = Việc dễ dàng 
"It has always been second nature for me to draw with both hands." 
Start From Scratch = Bắt đầu từ đầu, bắt đầu từ con số không 
"How are you going to build your business?" Answer: "Just like 
everyone else does: starting from scratch." 
The Pros And Cons = Những mặt lợi và những mặt hại 
"I've considered the pros and cons and I've decided: it is going to be 
expensive, but I still want to go to college." 
The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back = Giọt nước làm tràn ly 
"You've been rude to me all day, and I've had it. That's the last straw!" 
The Writing On The Wall = Tín hiệu rõ ràng báo hiệu sự thay đổi 
"Can't you see the writing on the wall?" 
Third Wheel= Kẻ dư thừa, kỳ đà cản mũi 
"You two go on ahead without me. I don't want to be the third wheel." 
Tie The Knot = Kết hôn 
"Did you hear about Dan and Jenny? They finally decided to tie the 
knot!" 
Turn Over A New Leaf= Quyết tâm thay đổi cuộc đời 
"I'm turning over a new leaf; I've decided to quit smoking." 
Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right = Hai cái sai không làm nên 1 cái 
đúng 
"That boy pushed me yesterday and I am going to get him back today!" 
Answer: "No you are not! Two wrongs do not make a right." 
Under The Weather = Không khỏe trong người, bị bệnh nhẹ do thời 
tiết 
"What's wrong?" Answer: "I'm a bit under the weather." 
Up Against = Đương đầu với 
"We have been up against stronger opponents in the past." 
Water Under The Bridge = Chuyện đã qua rồi 
"Aren't you still angry about what he said?" Answer: "No, that was a 
long time ago. It's all water under the bridge." 
When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do = Nhập gia tùy tục 
"Are you sure we should eat this with our hands?" Answer: "Why not? 
All of these people are eating it that way. When in Rome, do as the 
Romans do!" 
When Pigs Fly = Còn khuya, không bao giờ có chuyện đó đâu 
"Would you ever take her on a date?" Answer: "Sure- when pigs fly!" 
Without A Doubt = Chắc chắn, không còn nghi ngờ gì nữa 
"Are you going to watch the game tomorrow?" Answer: "Without a 
doubt!" 
Word Of Mouth = Sự truyền miệng 
"Where did you hear about that?" Answer: "Just word of mouth." 
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover = Áo ca sa không làm nên thầy 
tu, đừng đánh giá dựa trên vẻ bề ngoài 
"He dresses in plain clothing and drives an ordinary car. Who would 
know he is the richest man in town?You can't judge a book by its 
cover!"