11. Stab someone in the back (V.

phr): To do something harmful to someone who trusted

This idiom began its origin from the World War II when Italy suddenly attacked France.
The French Prime Minister at that time, Mr. Paul Reynaud, in his telephone message to
the USA president, Roosevelt, used this idiom. The original idiom was translated into
English by president Roosevelt as follows, “On this 10th day of June, 1940, the hand that
held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor.” The original idiom in French
is attaque deloyale. This idiom nowadays has become more and more popular especially
in the case where the one you love and trust most suddenly turn their back on you.

Example:
 I thought we were friends! Why did you stab me on the back?
 Her oldest friend stabbed her in the back by publishing cruel stories about her.
 After being Lenny’s business partner for so many years, how could she stab him in
the back like that?
 Instead of defending his colleague, Nick stabbed hime in the back in order to get a
promotion.
 I wouldn’t try to take your place on the team- that would be like stabbing you in
the back.
12. Add insult to injury: To treat someone badly and make them feel worse after you
have already hurt or upset them in another way: Sát muối vào vết thương.

Its origin: The story began its origin from a book of fables by the Roman writer Phaedrus
from about 25 BC, named “The bald man and the fly”. This fable told us about a man
who tried to kill a fly which stung him on his patch by delivering a smart smack. The fly
escaped the blow and mocked him for wanting an avenge the bite of a tiny insect with
death. To the injury of the sting he has only succeeded in adding the insult of the self-
inflicted blow. Obviously, the injury this man received was not only the physical wound
but also the spiritual wound caused by his avengeful action towards the tiny insect that
stung him. From the earlier meaning, this idiom nowadays has implied the intensification
of spiritual wound a person has to suffer after being suffered from the physical or
spiritual wound for the first time.
Example:
 “After damaging the water pipe, the plumber added insult to injury by sending us a
bill for the repair.”
 “Francis split coffee all over my desk and then, to add insult to injury, she asked
me to clean it up.”
 “You forget all about my birthday, and now you want me to pay for the meal.
That’s really add insult to injury!”
 First, the basement flooded, and then, to add insult to injury, I got a flat tire in the
driveway.
13. Rain cats and dogs (Fixed expression): Rain very heavily: Mưa tầm tã, mưa rào rào.

Its origin: The first reference may come from Norse Methology in which black cats are
said to be the symbols of torrential rain and dogs and wolves are the symbols of the wind.
Odin, the Norse God of Storms went out to make rain with his pack of dogs and the
Witches in the guise of cats run after the storm on her broom. From this superstitious
reference, this idiom became very popular among the Viking sailors from the earliest
times to imply a torrential rain.

The second reference came from Britain. From the earliest time, British drainage system
was badly designed. As a result, whenever the rain, wind, and storms came, the cats,
dogs, and other misfortuned animals were washed away and drowned in the storm. When
the water levels came down, their carcases emerged on the surface as if they had dropped
from the sky. It was perhaps for this reason that the British people alluded “It rains cats
and dogs” to “it rains very heavily or it rains waterfall.”
Example:
 It started raining cats and dogs out there- take my umbrella.
 It’s raining cats and dogs and we had to shelter under a tree.
 “We had a lovely sunny day here in London.” “Really? It was raining cats and
dogs here in Birmingham all afternoon.”
 If it really starts to rain cats and dogs, the barbecue will have to be postponed.
14. Skeleton im the cupboard/closet: A painful or shameful secret: Điều bí mật đáng xấu
hổ cần phải che đậy.

The English doctors in the past met many difficulties in the study of human body. Before
the Anatomy Act was passed in England in 1832, noone had been permitted to dissect the
dead human body. However, the needs for studying the human body for medical purposes
was very urgent for the doctors at that time, therefore, they would be willing to find ways
by any cost, even illegal means to have a human skeleton to serve for their medical
studies. To do so, they resorted to the scrupulous dealings with the grave robbers for a
human skeleton though they knew that this action was illegal and disturbed the
sacredness of the dead. The deal was certainly of uttermost secrecy, and the one who
possessed this priceless prize often hid it in their secret places, preferably the cupboard or
the closet. However, sometimes, some patients suspected that their doctors had a skeleton
in the cupboard and then the secret was made known. From this literal meaning, this
phrase came into use to indicate any past secrets that a particular person deliberately do
not want the outsiders to know it.

Example:
 My uncle was in jail for a day once. That’s our family’s skeleton in the closet.
 You can ask anyone about how reliable I am. I don’t mind. I don’t have any
skeleton in the closet.
  My uncle was in jail for a day once. That’s our family’s skeleton in the closet.
15. One’s cup of tea: It is used to refer to someone or something that a person likes or
enjoys the most: Là cái gu/sở thích của ai đó.

This idiom puts an emphasis on the liking of drinking tea of the British people. Perhaps,
tea is one of the best national beverages consumed by British people nowadays. Its
reputation has been accepted by British people since it was brought into this country in
the seventeenth century. Perhaps everybody still remembers the one of the main causes of
the American Revolutionary War for Independence is to originate from the overthrowing
action of tea into the sea by Boston Tea Party in 1773. Its fame was recorded a lot in the
British raputous eulogies like “The Lady’s Last Stake” by Colley Cibber (1708). From the
practical and economic uses of tea, this idiom came into use among the British people to
imply something or someone that a person desires to possess the most. For British people,
for example, when saying that something is “not his or her cup of tea”, he/she
emphasises his/her distates or even detestation towards it. By contrast, the statement
“that is just my cup of tea” arouses his or her aroma of satisfaction or approval towards it.
Example:

 “Do you play golf with your husband sometimes?” “Oh no- It is not my cup of
tea”
 Reading book is my cup of tea. I spend most of my sparse time reading books.
 Jazz isn’t really Mum’s cup of tea. She prefers classical music.
 In the middle of the gallery, Granny announced that modern art was definitely not
her cup of tea!
16. (Hit) below the belt: a comment or an attack, etc. unfair or unkind: Chơi xấu, chơi
không đúng luật.
This idiom may come from the boxing game where the fighter or boxer is forbidden not
to attack his opponent below his belt area or waistline. This code was composed by the 8 th
Marquis of Queensburry and his friend, John G. Chamber in 1865 known as Marquis of
Queensburry Rules. Accoding to this new rule, the boxer could only beat his opponent
above his waist area because the below parts such as groin was very vulnerable parts.
Being attacked into this delicate parts can cost the life of the opponent. Therefore, it was
completely banned. Anyone who was caught to commit this grave foul would be
immediately expelled out of the boxing ring. From this earlier meaning, this idiom has
been widely used in other areas of life to imply unfair or unkind acts a person commits on
other people.

Example:
 Her remarks about his age were a bit below the belt.
 You have hit below the belt when you threaten to tell my wife.
17. Burn the midnight oil: Learning or working very hard through the night: Học hành
hay làm việc chăm chỉ thâu đêm.

This idiom has its origin from the old times when the candlelight was popularly used in
England to provide light for its citizens. This phrase was first used by Francis Quarles in
literary work in 1635 with the synonymous word “elucubrate” meaning “working by the
side of a candle”. Though nowadays candlelight was no longer used any more, this term
is still conveniently used by English people to imply to anyone who spends the whole
night working or studying very hard to finish a project.

Example:
 You look exhausted. Did you stay up burning the midnight oil last night?
 The job had to be finished by today, so we’ve been burning the midnight oil all
week to get it done.
  If you burn the midnight oil, you’ll be too tired for the test tomorrow.
18. When you smell a rat: You realize that something is not right or genuine about a
situation, or what someone is saying: Cảm thấy điều gì đó không ổn/Gửi thấy mùi.

The origin of this idiom comes from the old times when rat was always considered a
nasty pest destroying the crops and spread the diseases. Dog in this case is said to have
the ability of finding and killing it by sniffing the areas around. From this literal meaning,
this idiom has come into the English language to show people who are suspicious of
something.
Example:
 The police was waiting to catch them, but one of the thieves smelt a rat and
warned the others.
 How did you manage to get changed if you haven’t been home?! Smell a rat.
 The police were waiting to catch them, but one of the thieves smelt a rat and
warned the others.
 “He told people he was collecting for charity.” “Didn’t anyone smell a rat?”
 We ought to have smelt a rat when the phone number they gave us wasn’t
obtainable.

19. Carry a torch for someone: It implies a love of someone for someone else but is not
paid in return: Yêu một người nào đó mà không được đáp trả, ấp ủ một tình yêu vô vọng
hay yêu đơn phương.

This idiom began its root from political campaign in the earliest days in the United States.
In those days, street lights have not yet been invented. For that reason, a person or a
group of people who were in support of their political candidate had to go through the
night to the place where the political campaign was held. They used lit candles to guide
them through the night. They did so passionately and silently and did not care whether
their beloved candidate knew it or not. Their flame of love was only to hope that the
person they loved could win the election. Through time, this phrase has lost its orgininal
meaning to cover a new meaning to imply to a person who loves his different gender
passionately despite the fact that that person will never return his or her love for him or
her.
Example:
 John is carrying a torch for Jane.
 “Is John still carrying a torch” “Yes, he’ll carry the torch for months.”

20. Achilles’ heel: meaning the mortal flaw in a person no matter how perfect that person
is: Điểm yếu chết người.

This idiom lends its origin from the Greek Mythodology. The legend was that Achilles
was a son of the mortal Peleus, and the sea Nymph, Thetis. When a boy, he was dipped
into the river Styx by his mother to make him invulnerable. Achilles’ heels, however,
remained dry and was his only weakness. In the final battle of Trojan War, Achilles,
though an invincible warrior, was defeated and killed by the arrow that piereced his heel.
His deadly enemy Paris had learnt of his secret and aimed at this weak spot. From this
story, the idiom “Achilles’ heel” came into the English idioms around the nineteenth
century in an essay by Samuel Taylor in “The Friend; a literacy, moral and political
weekly paper, 1810”. Nowadays, this idiom refers to any weak point in a person or a
system that can result in failure.

Example:
 My friend always yields to his wife’s demands whenever she cries. That is his
Achilles’ heel.
 Maths has been always my Achilles’ heel.
 I’m trying to lose weight, but ice cream is my Achilles’ heel.
21. Get the sack: meaning “to be dismissed from a job, usually for doing something
wrong: Bị đuổi việc.

This idiom has its origin from the 17th century in England when England at that time was
still operated on handicraft service and small industry. At that time, any workman going
to work in the factory normally took a sack of tools along with him to the employer’s
factory where he left it instead of bringing it home at the end of the day. When the
economic crisis came sour or when the job became scarce, the employer had no choice
but to stop the contract with these workmen. He simply did so by calling them in and
returned their sack of tools as a termination of a contract. From this origin, this idiom
now has the meaning of “being dismissed or getting a dismissal or a fire.”
Example:
 The medical director gave two nurses the sack last week, for unprofessional
conduct.
 Do you think we’ll get the sack if we use the computer for personal stuff.
 Chris got the sack from his first job, because he was so careless.
 Why are you so worried about getting the sack? The boss doesn’t blame you for
what happened.
22. Turn a blind eye to st (V. phr): Close one’s eyes to st: Ignore something that you
know is wrong: Nhắm mắt làm ngơ

This expression is believed to come from the siege of Copenhagen (1801), in which Lord
Horatio Nelson, second in command of the English fleet, was ordered to withdraw but
pretended not to see the flagship's signals to do so by putting his glass to the eye that
had been blinded in an earlier battle.

Example:
 If I see someone being unfairly treated, I can’t just turn a blind eye to it.
  The club owner knew that illegal drugs were being sold, but he just turned a blind
eye to it.
 Maybe it’s wise not to get involved when you see kids fighting, but it can be
difficult to turn a blind eye.
 The government was accused of turning a blind eye to the problems of the
disables.
23. Call it a day (V. phr): Decide to stop doing something, especially something you have
been doing for a long time: Tạm ngưng một công việc đang làm dở dang, kết thúc một
ngày làm việc.

This expression was first used by the English workers in 1838 with its original phrase
“call it half a day” to say goodbye to their unfinished work when the working day was
over. Then this phrase was officially changed into “call it a day” in 1919 and in 1938,
another phrase “call it a night” was also added by those who worked on the night shift.

Example:
 We’d painted half the room and were feeling a bit tired so we decided to call it a
day.
 I’m really tired, so I think I’ll call it a day- see you tomorrow everyone!
 After a difficult year trying to run the shop on his own, Jack decided to call it a
day and sell up.
 It’s getting dark, dear- It’s time you called it a day. “Yes, I’ll just put the
lawnmower away and then I’ll come in.”
 The tennis champion is calling it a day at the end of this season, after a
professional career of 15 years.
24. A little bird told me (Proverb): A secret told me: Một nguồn tin đáng tin cậy nói cho
tôi biết
This idiom was told to derive from the biblical phrase though it is unlikely to be true. The
story is as follows. All the birds were summoned to appear before the King Solomon.
Only the Lapwind did not appear. When questioned for his disobedience, the Lapwind
said that he was with the Queen Shaba and the Queen said that she had resolved to visit
King Salomon. Overjoyed by the news, the King prepared everything carefully for the
Queen’s visit. In the meantime, the Lapwind flew to Ethiopia where she told the Queen
that the King earnestly desired to meet her. Moved by the King’s request, the Queen
Shaba came to visist the Queen. And as everyone knows that this magnificient visit was a
resounding success. This phase went to English around the middle of the sixteenth
century to imply those who spread surprising news to other people.

Example:
 A little bird told me that John is going to propose to you soon. Is that true?
 “All right”, said Mary, “Where did you get that information?” John replied, “A
little bird told me.”
 A little bird told me where I might find you.
25. Know the ropes (V. phr): Know how to do a particular job: Biết cách làm một việc gì
đó, thạo việc (nắm thấu đáo một vấn đề)
 Show somebody the ropes of doing something: Chỉ cho ai làm cái đó.
 Learn the ropes: To learn or understand the basic details of how to do, perform a
job or a task: Học thông thạo cái gì đó.

This idiom maybe comes from the nautical field in the earlier days of sailing ships. On
such ships, ropes and lines were of signifance to help with steering and navigating the
ship. In order to navigate the sailing ships as they wished, skills and ingenuities of the
sailors and the captains were vital. In order words, they needed to know how to use the
ropes of the sails whether to raise it up or lower it down according to the wind direction.
Through time, this idiom has been in use to indicate anyone who knows and is able to
handle any of the hard situations.

Example:
 It will take me a couple of weeks to learn the ropes, but after that I should be fine.
 Mr Brian will show you the ropes.
 I cannot do the job because I don’t know the ropes.
 Ask Sally to do it. She knows the ropes.
26. Bite off more than one can chew (V. phr): To take more than one can deal with; to
attempt to do something that one is not capable of accomplishing it: Nhận làm nhiều hơn
khả năng mình có thể giải quyết; quá tự tin.

This idiom originated from America in 1800s when it was common practice to bite a plug
of smoking tobacco. Those who greedily took a bite bigger than he could afford was
described by this idiom. By and by, this phrase has come into practice to indicate any of
those who attempts to handle too many tasks which he or she is hardly ever able to
accomplish. This phrase is used as forewarnings for those who are overconfident or too
greedy to do many things at the same time.
Example:
 Ann is exhausted again. She’s always biting off more than she can chew.
 He’ promised to get all this work finished by the weekend, but I’ve got a feeling
that he’s bitten off more than he can choose.
 I am afraid I bit off more than I could chew when I agreed to run the youth club.
 Soon after Roy started the building project, he realize he’d have bitten off more
than he could chew.
27. Bark up the wrong tree (V. phr): Make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to
follow the wrong course: Chọn lựa sai; hỏi nhầm người, theo đuổi một đường lối sai.
Its origin: This idiom came from the 1800s in America. Upon arrival in a new land, the
New Englanders discovered many wild beasts for them to hunt. Raccon, for example was
present everywhere, and was very easy to be hunted and killed. When going hunting, the
New Englanders often took with them with a pack of hunting dogs. Whenever finding out
the prey on a tree branch, the dogs often barked loudly in order to signalize the hunters to
come to kill the prey with their guns. However, there were some raccons which were
lucky to escape being killed, and used their first experience to avoid being trapped later.
After climbing on the tree branches, they normally chose bushy tree branches before
climbing over other tree branches, and secretly escaped away. Because of this, the dogs
under the tree still thought the prey was on that tree and barked loudly for his owner to
come to kill the prey. In the hunting trips, this situation often arose; therefore, the idiom,
“bark up the wrong tree” became an everyday phrase to indicate anyone who, for
example, follows a wrong course of action, but still thinks he/she is on the right track.

Example:
 If you think I am a guilty person, you are barking the wrong tree.
 The baseball players blamed their bad records on the pitcher, but they were
barking up the wrong tree.
 “Give me my chocolate bar back!” “Hey, I haven’t got it – You are barking up the
wrong tree.”
 The police were barking up the wrong tree when they accused Charlie of stealing.
His son was a thief.
 Dave thinks there’s something wrong with the battery, but I think he’s barking the
wrong tree.
28. Once in a blue moon (Adv phr): Very rarely, occasionally: Rất hiếm, họa hoằn.
Blue moons really do occur but only under extremely rare atmospheric conditions.
Collins (1958) lists the occurrences of recent blue moons and explains them as dust
particles (the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, or a forest fire in Alberta in September 1920)

Example:
 Do you go to the theatre much?
Only once in a blue moon, I’m afraid
 I was really surprised to get a call from Sally. She only phones once in a blue
moon.
 Once in a blue moon a customer will actually say thank you- and that is a great
feeling.
 Paul is lucky- he only gets a headache once in a blue moon.
29. To have/get cold feet (V. phr): To feel anxious and uncertain about an undertaking, to
the point of wanting to withraw: Cảm thấy lo âu và không chắc chắn về một công việc
đang làm đến mức muốn rút lui: Rụt rè, nhát gan: Bàn chân lạnh ngắt.

Origin:
In the English countryside, those who were thrift with money and then did not want to go
shopping would be mocked at by other people were having cold feet. As the feet were
cold, they stayed at home, dared not to go out shopping as others did. The gambler who
lost all the money in the game card might tell other gamlers that: “My feet were cold.”

Apart from the meaning of money, this idiom was also very popular, indicating the
extreme caution and cowardice. Therefore, whenever we, for example, wanted to flirt
girls, or have the career changed or for whatever else reasons, etc, however, eventually
we changed our mind to stop that intention for fear or for whatever reasons, “we would
be laughed at” to have cold feet.
Cold feet means cowardice
No money in the pocket we do nothing
Example:
 Do you still want to do do this parachute jump or are you getting cold feet?
 Before the bride arrived at the church, her fiance had got cold feet and gone home.
 Inside the hairdresser’s, Jessica started to ger cold feet about her hair cut short.
 I announced my decision quickly, before I had time to get cold feet.
30. To teach one’s grandmother to suck eggs (V phr, BrE, informal): To offer
unnecessary advice to someone who is older or more experienced: Đưa ra lời khuyên
không cần thiết cho ai mà lớn tuổi hơn và kinh nghiệm hơn mình: Trứng mà khôn hơn
vịt.

Origin:
The phrase is used to reprimand someone who, though young in years and green in
experience, takes it upon himself to lecture an older and wiser person. The first written
record is John Stevens’ translation of Quevedo’s Vision (1707). A more well-known
reference is Swift’s Polite Conversation of 1738: Go, teach your grannam to suck eggs.

A number of earlier expressions existed along the same lines. In the mid sixteenth
century the young were exhorted not to teach our dame to spinne and from the beginning
of the seventeenth century they were advised not to teach your grandame to gropen her
ducks (that is, to feel a duck and decide whether it will lay or not).

Example:
 I don’t know why he’s telling Rob how to use the computer. It seems to me like
teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.
 Telling Peter what to do is just like telling your grandma to suck eggs. You know
he is language specialist.
 Never ask me what to do, my son!. You are just telling your grandma to suck eggs.
I know how to do this before you were born.