Tổng hợp Idioms thông dụng chủ đề Vấn đề và giải pháp (Problems and solutions)

Tổng hợp Idioms thông dụng chủ đề Vấn đề (Problems)

Dưới đây là danh sách các Idioms chủ đề Vấn đề (sắp xếp theo mức độ thông dụng giảm dần):

IDIOMS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
cloud on the horizon	something that threatens to cause problems or unhappiness in the future (một điềm báo xấu hoặc vấn đề nào sẽ xảy ra trong tương lai)	The only cloud on the horizon* is the physics exam in June.*
the last straw	the latest problem in a series of problems, that makes a situation impossible to accept (vấn đề cuối cùng trong một chuỗi vấn đề làm cho tình hình không thể chấp nhận được, giọt nước làm tràn ly)	I’ve been a good sport about letting Tom share the credit for my work, but this is the last straw! I’m finally going to expose him for the liar he is.
elephant in the room	there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about (một vấn đề hệ trọng ngay trước mắt nhưng mọi người đều tránh nói về nó)	The elephant in the room* was the money that had to be paid in bribes.*
tip of the iceberg	a small, noticeable part of a problem, the total size of which is really much greater (một phần nhỏ của vấn đề, phần nổi của tảng băng)	The flooding is bad, but we’re dealing with just the tip of the iceberg* – a huge spate of environmental disasters are on the horizon because of climate change.*
if it’s not one thing it’s another	many unfortunate, stressful things keep happening in quick succession (nhiều điều không may mắn, gây căng thẳng ức chế cứ liên tục diễn ra, hết cái này lại đến cái khác)	If it’s not one thing it’s another this year, between losing my job, breaking my ankle, and having the basement flooded.
add fuel to the fire	to make an argument or bad situation worse (làm trầm trọng, căng thẳng hơn; làm sự việc trở nên căng thẳng hơn)	Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire.
add insult to injury	to make an argument or bad situation worse (làm cho tình hình trở nên tồi tệ hơn)	My car barely started this morning, and to add insult to injury, I got a flat tire in the driveway.
between a rock and a hard place	in a difficult situation where you have to choose between two equally unpleasant courses of action (ở trong một tình thế cực kỳ khó khăn khi phải chọn giữa một trong hai phương án)	Jane found herself caught between a rock and a hard place* when she had to choose between a job she disliked and unemployment.*
get out of hand	out of control (ngoài tầm kiểm soát)	If your party gets out of hand, the neighbors will call the police.
two wrongs don’t make a right	someone else may do something bad and not be punished, but that does not mean you are allowed to do bad things (sai lại càng thêm sai)	Don’t be stupid! You want to hurt him just because he hurt you! Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know.
up a creek without a paddle	in a challenging or troublesome situation, especially one that cannot be easily resolved (ở trong một tình huống khó xử/khó khăn)	I have no savings, so if I get fired from my job, I’ll be up a creek without a paddle.
over the top	too extreme and not suitable, or demanding too much attention or effort, especially in an uncontrolled way (quá đà, thái quá, cần quá nhiều công sức)	I thought the decorations were way (= very) over the top.
cross that bridge when someone come to it	to address something only when it actually happens or becomes an issue (chỉ đề cập đến, giải quyết cái gì khi mà nó trở thành một vấn đề hoặc khi nó xảy ra)	The job interview is a week away, so I’m not worried about it yet – I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
drastic times call for drastic measures	extreme and undesirable circumstances or situations can only be resolved by resorting to equally extreme actions (ở những hoàn cảnh/tình huống cực đoan thì cần những biện pháp quyết liệt)	We had to let go five of our workers because the company had problems selling the new product. Drastic times call for drastic measures!
get down to brass tacks	to focus on the most important aspects of a particular situation (xét các sự việc cơ bản hay đi sâu vào bản chất của vấn đề)	Let’s get down to brass tacks* so that everyone has a good grasp on the project overall before we split up to do our separate parts.*
nip something in the bud	to stop, cease, or prevent something at the beginning or early phase, before it becomes too difficult or unmanageable (ngăn chặn một việc hay một ý nghĩ ngay từ đầu trước khi nó trở thành một vấn đề nghiêm trọng, bóp chết từ trong trứng nước)	I’ve noticed that Tommy’s getting in the bad habit of chewing with is mouth open. Let’s nip that in the bud.
a hard nut to crack	a problem that is very difficult to solve or a person who is very difficult to understand (một vấn đề khó giải quyết hoặc một người rất khó hiểu)	This problem is getting me down. It’s a hard nut to crack.
in deep water	to be in or get into serious trouble (gặp vấn đề nghiêm trọng)	I think I’m in deep water* with this course – I don’t know how I’ll be able to catch up with all the work!*
a storm is brewing	There is going to be trouble or emotional upset (bão sắp nổi lên rồi; tình hình trở nên rắc rối/phức tạp)	My sister dropped her pocket on the street, I think that a storm is brewing. She put all her money and the identity card in it.
that’s all i need	used when something bad has happened to make a situation that is already difficult worse (dùng khi nói về điều gì đó tồi tệ xảy ra khiến cho tình hình vốn đã tồi tệ càng tệ hơn)	Great, more interns to train – that’s all I need!
in over my head	to be too deeply involved in or with a difficult situation, beyond the point of being able to control or cope with things any longer (lâm vào một hoàn cảnh vô cùng khó khăn và vượt quá khả năng để có thể giải quyết)	I think I’m in over my head* with Amy. She wants marriage, kids, and a house, and I’m just not ready for any of that.*
fact of life	something often happens and cannot be avoided, even if it is unpleasant (những điều xảy ra mà không thể tránh được, dù đó là điều gây khó chịu hoặc khó khăn)	There’s no point complaining about rising prices. They’re a fact of life.
if the worst comes to the worst	if the situation develops in the most serious or unpleasant way (trong trường hợp xấu nhất)	Even if the worst comes to the worst* and it rains on our wedding day, we’ll make the best of it.*
go from bad to worse	to become more unpleasant, unacceptable, or difficult than a situation already was (ngày càng xấu đi, trở nên tệ hơn)	They were already struggling financially, but after Samantha lost her job, things went from bad to worse.
a tall order	a difficult task to complete or accomplish (điều gì đó khó làm, khó thực hiện)	Building the bridge in time for the Olympics will be a tall order.
a matter of life and death	a situation that is extremely serious (một vấn đề cực kì nghiêm trọng, có tính sống còn)	I’m a nurse, so if I make a mistake at my job, it’s a matter of life and death.
no joke	to be a serious and important topic or situation (là chuyện nghiêm trọng và quan trọng, không phải chuyện đùa)	It’s no joke* driving on icy roads.*
in the wars	been injured, damaged, decrepit, or appears as such, as one might be who has fought in a war, can be said of a person or a thing (bị thương, hỏng hóc, mục nát như vừa đánh trận, chinh chiến)	That car of yours looks as though it’s been in the wars.
go to the dogs	to deteriorate or go awry (ngày càng tệ hại, xuống dốc)	After Joe retired, the business went to the dogs.
dig oneself into a hole	to get oneself into a difficult or embarrassing situation (tự đẩy bản thân vào một tình huống khó khăn hoặc xấu hổ)	The party has really dug itself into a hole* with its economic policies.*
when the chips are down	when a situation has become especially difficult, desperate, or hard to recover from, especially one that makes you understand the true value of people or things (khi bạn ở tình huống khó khăn hay nguy hiểm, đặc biệt khi tình huống đó giúp bạn kiểm nghiệm được liệu bạn có tin tưởng ai đó không hay biết được quan điểm thật của họ)	You can tell a lot about a person’s character from how they act when the chips are down.
no picnic	to be a difficult or unpleasant situation (là một vấn đề khó khăn và phiền nhiễu)	I love kids, but watching 20 of them at once is no picnic, believe me!
can of worms	a situation that causes a lot of problems for you when you start to deal with it (một tình huống gây ra nhiều rắc rối, vấn đề)	Getting involved in the minor border conflict has become a can of worms* for the country, with no end to the military engagement in sight.*
a long haul	a difficult task that requires a lot of time and energy to complete (một việc cần nhiều thời gian và công sức để giải quyết)	It’s going to be a long haul* before I have this car up and running. It needs a lot of work.*
at stake	that can be won or lost, depending on the success of a particular action (đang lâm nguy, đang gặp khó khăn)	My presentation needs to go perfectly – the big promotion is at stake.
on the blink	not working correctly; acting strangely; malfunctioning (hỏng hóc)	Our washer is on the blink, so I’m on my way to the laundromat.
put the brakes on	to slow, impede, or stop someone’s or something’s progress or activities (làm chậm, cản trở hoặc ngừng tiến trình hoặc hoạt động của ai đó hoặc điều gì đó)	The recent economic downturn put the brakes on* the government’s plans for redeveloping the region’s transportation system.*
in a tight corner	in a difficult or awkward situation, especially one that is not easy to get out of (trong tình huống khó xử/khó khăn, không dễ dàng thoát ra)	She’ll always help if you’re in a tight corner.
go downhill	to gradually become worse (sức khỏe lao dốc, chất lượng đi xuống)	After the death of her mother, Anna’s health went downhill.
if it comes to the crunch	if/when a situation becomes extremely serious and a decision must be made (khi vấn đề trở nên nghiêm trọng và cần phải giải quyết)	If it comes to the crunch, I can ask my dad for the money.
a victim of someone’s own success	someone or something that is encountering challenges related to or caused by their or its success (người hoặc vật gặp nhiều vấn đề do thành công của mình đem lại)	The school has become a victim of its own success,* as parents with children who have special needs now actively seek it out.*
someone’s own worst enemy	to cause most of your problems or most of the bad things that happen to you yourself, because of your character (tự chuốc họa vào thân, gây rắc rối cho cuộc sống của mình)	Carrie is her own worst enemy* – she’s always arguing with people.*
the shit hits the fan	a situation suddenly causes a lot of trouble for someone (một tình huống đột nhiên gây ra rất nhiều vấn đề cho ai đó, đột nhiên trở nên rắc rối, khó khăn)	The company has been trying to distance itself from the outspoken director before he says something horribly offensive and the shit hits the fan.
come up against a brick wall	to be unable to make more progress with a plan or discussion because of difficulties or obstacles (không có tiến triển gì do gặp phải khó khăn hoặc chướng ngại vật)	There are so few properties available in our town right now that prospective buyers are basically coming up against a brick wall.
a chapter of accidents	to be a series of unpleasant events (là một loạt những sự kiện không may xảy ra)	Despite all of our planning, the birthday party was a chapter of accidents.
an uphill battle	a task that is very daunting from the outset and continues to be challenging (việc gì đó khó khăn, vất vả, cần phải cố gắng nhiều)	The incumbent is so popular that defeating her will be an uphill battle.
in dire straits	in a very bad situation that is difficult to fix (trong tình huống khó khăn, éo le, khó có thể giải quyết)	The recent nosedive in the stock market has left many companies in dire straits.
upset the apple cart	to cause trouble, especially by spoiling one’s plans (gây ra vấn đề, làm hỏng kế hoạch của ai, phá đám)	Look, he’s not trying to upset the apple cart* -he just needs to meet later in the day now, that’s all.*
go haywire	to stop working correctly (hỏng hóc, gặp vấn đề)	Well, the coffee pot has gone haywire* yet again. Maybe it’s time to get a new one.*
at death’s door	to be extremely ill or very close to death or total destruction (bệnh rất nặng, có thể không qua khỏi; sắp sụp đổ, sắp bị tàn phá hết)	A case of untreated rabies left me suddenly at death’s door.
batten down the hatches	to prepare for a difficult situation (sẵn sàng chờ đợi điều xấu nhất, điều tệ nhất sắp xảy ra)	There’s a tornado coming – batten down the hatches!
at sixes and sevens	in a confused, badly organized, or difficult situation (lộn xộn, lung tung và thiếu tổ chức)	After caring for three sick kids all week, I’m totally at sixes and sevens.
a millstone around someone’s neck	a difficult problem or responsibility that it seems impossible to solve or get rid of (vấn đề, trách nhiệm nặng nề phải gánh vác)	I wish I hadn’t bought that house – the mortgage is a millstone around my neck.

IDIOMS

MEANING

EXAMPLE

cloud on the horizon

something that threatens to cause problems or unhappiness in the future (một điềm báo xấu hoặc vấn đề nào sẽ xảy ra trong tương lai)

The only cloud on the horizon is the physics exam in June.

the last straw

the latest problem in a series of problems, that makes a situation impossible to accept (vấn đề cuối cùng trong một chuỗi vấn đề làm cho tình hình không thể chấp nhận được, giọt nước làm tràn ly)

I’ve been a good sport about letting Tom share the credit for my work, but this is the last straw! I’m finally going to expose him for the liar he is.

elephant in the room

there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about (một vấn đề hệ trọng ngay trước mắt nhưng mọi người đều tránh nói về nó)

The elephant in the room was the money that had to be paid in bribes.

tip of the iceberg

a small, noticeable part of a problem, the total size of which is really much greater (một phần nhỏ của vấn đề, phần nổi của tảng băng)

The flooding is bad, but we’re dealing with just the tip of the iceberg – a huge spate of environmental disasters are on the horizon because of climate change.

if it’s not one thing it’s another

many unfortunate, stressful things keep happening in quick succession (nhiều điều không may mắn, gây căng thẳng ức chế cứ liên tục diễn ra, hết cái này lại đến cái khác)

If it’s not one thing it’s another this year, between losing my job, breaking my ankle, and having the basement flooded.

add fuel to the fire

to make an argument or bad situation worse (làm trầm trọng, căng thẳng hơn; làm sự việc trở nên căng thẳng hơn)

Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire.

add insult to injury

to make an argument or bad situation worse (làm cho tình hình trở nên tồi tệ hơn)

My car barely started this morning, and to add insult to injury, I got a flat tire in the driveway.

between a rock and a hard place

in a difficult situation where you have to choose between two equally unpleasant courses of action (ở trong một tình thế cực kỳ khó khăn khi phải chọn giữa một trong hai phương án)

Jane found herself caught between a rock and a hard place when she had to choose between a job she disliked and unemployment.

get out of hand

out of control (ngoài tầm kiểm soát)

If your party gets out of hand, the neighbors will call the police.

two wrongs don’t make a right

someone else may do something bad and not be punished, but that does not mean you are allowed to do bad things (sai lại càng thêm sai)

Don’t be stupid! You want to hurt him just because he hurt you! Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know.

up a creek without a paddle

in a challenging or troublesome situation, especially one that cannot be easily resolved (ở trong một tình huống khó xử/khó khăn)

I have no savings, so if I get fired from my job, I’ll be up a creek without a paddle.

over the top

too extreme and not suitable, or demanding too much attention or effort, especially in an uncontrolled way (quá đà, thái quá, cần quá nhiều công sức)

I thought the decorations were way (= very) over the top.

cross that bridge when someone come to it

to address something only when it actually happens or becomes an issue (chỉ đề cập đến, giải quyết cái gì khi mà nó trở thành một vấn đề hoặc khi nó xảy ra)

The job interview is a week away, so I’m not worried about it yet – I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

drastic times call for drastic measures

extreme and undesirable circumstances or situations can only be resolved by resorting to equally extreme actions (ở những hoàn cảnh/tình huống cực đoan thì cần những biện pháp quyết liệt)

We had to let go five of our workers because the company had problems selling the new product. Drastic times call for drastic measures!

get down to brass tacks

to focus on the most important aspects of a particular situation (xét các sự việc cơ bản hay đi sâu vào bản chất của vấn đề)

Let’s get down to brass tacks so that everyone has a good grasp on the project overall before we split up to do our separate parts.

nip something in the bud

to stop, cease, or prevent something at the beginning or early phase, before it becomes too difficult or unmanageable (ngăn chặn một việc hay một ý nghĩ ngay từ đầu trước khi nó trở thành một vấn đề nghiêm trọng, bóp chết từ trong trứng nước)

I’ve noticed that Tommy’s getting in the bad habit of chewing with is mouth open. Let’s nip that in the bud.

a hard nut to crack

a problem that is very difficult to solve or a person who is very difficult to understand (một vấn đề khó giải quyết hoặc một người rất khó hiểu)

This problem is getting me down. It’s a hard nut to crack.

in deep water

to be in or get into serious trouble (gặp vấn đề nghiêm trọng)

I think I’m in deep water with this course – I don’t know how I’ll be able to catch up with all the work!

a storm is brewing

There is going to be trouble or emotional upset (bão sắp nổi lên rồi; tình hình trở nên rắc rối/phức tạp)

My sister dropped her pocket on the street, I think that a storm is brewing. She put all her money and the identity card in it.

that’s all i need

used when something bad has happened to make a situation that is already difficult worse (dùng khi nói về điều gì đó tồi tệ xảy ra khiến cho tình hình vốn đã tồi tệ càng tệ hơn)

Great, more interns to train – that’s all I need!

in over my head

to be too deeply involved in or with a difficult situation, beyond the point of being able to control or cope with things any longer (lâm vào một hoàn cảnh vô cùng khó khăn và vượt quá khả năng để có thể giải quyết)

I think I’m in over my head with Amy. She wants marriage, kids, and a house, and I’m just not ready for any of that.

fact of life

something often happens and cannot be avoided, even if it is unpleasant (những điều xảy ra mà không thể tránh được, dù đó là điều gây khó chịu hoặc khó khăn)

There’s no point complaining about rising prices. They’re a fact of life.

if the worst comes to the worst

if the situation develops in the most serious or unpleasant way (trong trường hợp xấu nhất)

Even if the worst comes to the worst and it rains on our wedding day, we’ll make the best of it.

go from bad to worse

to become more unpleasant, unacceptable, or difficult than a situation already was (ngày càng xấu đi, trở nên tệ hơn)

They were already struggling financially, but after Samantha lost her job, things went from bad to worse.

a tall order

a difficult task to complete or accomplish (điều gì đó khó làm, khó thực hiện)

Building the bridge in time for the Olympics will be a tall order.

a matter of life and death

a situation that is extremely serious (một vấn đề cực kì nghiêm trọng, có tính sống còn)

I’m a nurse, so if I make a mistake at my job, it’s a matter of life and death.

no joke

to be a serious and important topic or situation (là chuyện nghiêm trọng và quan trọng, không phải chuyện đùa)

It’s no joke driving on icy roads.

in the wars

been injured, damaged, decrepit, or appears as such, as one might be who has fought in a war, can be said of a person or a thing (bị thương, hỏng hóc, mục nát như vừa đánh trận, chinh chiến)

That car of yours looks as though it’s been in the wars.

go to the dogs

to deteriorate or go awry (ngày càng tệ hại, xuống dốc)

After Joe retired, the business went to the dogs.

dig oneself into a hole

to get oneself into a difficult or embarrassing situation (tự đẩy bản thân vào một tình huống khó khăn hoặc xấu hổ)

The party has really dug itself into a hole with its economic policies.

when the chips are down

when a situation has become especially difficult, desperate, or hard to recover from, especially one that makes you understand the true value of people or things (khi bạn ở tình huống khó khăn hay nguy hiểm, đặc biệt khi tình huống đó giúp bạn kiểm nghiệm được liệu bạn có tin tưởng ai đó không hay biết được quan điểm thật của họ)

You can tell a lot about a person’s character from how they act when the chips are down.

no picnic

to be a difficult or unpleasant situation (là một vấn đề khó khăn và phiền nhiễu)

I love kids, but watching 20 of them at once is no picnic, believe me!

can of worms

a situation that causes a lot of problems for you when you start to deal with it (một tình huống gây ra nhiều rắc rối, vấn đề)

Getting involved in the minor border conflict has become a can of worms for the country, with no end to the military engagement in sight.

a long haul

a difficult task that requires a lot of time and energy to complete (một việc cần nhiều thời gian và công sức để giải quyết)

It’s going to be a long haul before I have this car up and running. It needs a lot of work.

at stake

that can be won or lost, depending on the success of a particular action (đang lâm nguy, đang gặp khó khăn)

My presentation needs to go perfectly – the big promotion is at stake.

on the blink

not working correctly; acting strangely; malfunctioning (hỏng hóc)

Our washer is on the blink, so I’m on my way to the laundromat.

put the brakes on

to slow, impede, or stop someone’s or something’s progress or activities (làm chậm, cản trở hoặc ngừng tiến trình hoặc hoạt động của ai đó hoặc điều gì đó)

The recent economic downturn put the brakes on the government’s plans for redeveloping the region’s transportation system.

in a tight corner

in a difficult or awkward situation, especially one that is not easy to get out of (trong tình huống khó xử/khó khăn, không dễ dàng thoát ra)

She’ll always help if you’re in a tight corner.

go downhill

to gradually become worse (sức khỏe lao dốc, chất lượng đi xuống)

After the death of her mother, Anna’s health went downhill.

if it comes to the crunch

if/when a situation becomes extremely serious and a decision must be made (khi vấn đề trở nên nghiêm trọng và cần phải giải quyết)

If it comes to the crunch, I can ask my dad for the money.

a victim of someone’s own success

someone or something that is encountering challenges related to or caused by their or its success (người hoặc vật gặp nhiều vấn đề do thành công của mình đem lại)

The school has become a victim of its own success, as parents with children who have special needs now actively seek it out.

someone’s own worst enemy

to cause most of your problems or most of the bad things that happen to you yourself, because of your character (tự chuốc họa vào thân, gây rắc rối cho cuộc sống của mình)

Carrie is her own worst enemy – she’s always arguing with people.

the shit hits the fan

a situation suddenly causes a lot of trouble for someone (một tình huống đột nhiên gây ra rất nhiều vấn đề cho ai đó, đột nhiên trở nên rắc rối, khó khăn)

The company has been trying to distance itself from the outspoken director before he says something horribly offensive and the shit hits the fan.

come up against a brick wall

to be unable to make more progress with a plan or discussion because of difficulties or obstacles (không có tiến triển gì do gặp phải khó khăn hoặc chướng ngại vật)

There are so few properties available in our town right now that prospective buyers are basically coming up against a brick wall.

a chapter of accidents

to be a series of unpleasant events (là một loạt những sự kiện không may xảy ra)

Despite all of our planning, the birthday party was a chapter of accidents.

an uphill battle

a task that is very daunting from the outset and continues to be challenging (việc gì đó khó khăn, vất vả, cần phải cố gắng nhiều)

The incumbent is so popular that defeating her will be an uphill battle.

in dire straits

in a very bad situation that is difficult to fix (trong tình huống khó khăn, éo le, khó có thể giải quyết)

The recent nosedive in the stock market has left many companies in dire straits.

upset the apple cart

to cause trouble, especially by spoiling one’s plans (gây ra vấn đề, làm hỏng kế hoạch của ai, phá đám)

Look, he’s not trying to upset the apple cart -he just needs to meet later in the day now, that’s all.

go haywire

to stop working correctly (hỏng hóc, gặp vấn đề)

Well, the coffee pot has gone haywire yet again. Maybe it’s time to get a new one.

at death’s door

to be extremely ill or very close to death or total destruction (bệnh rất nặng, có thể không qua khỏi; sắp sụp đổ, sắp bị tàn phá hết)

A case of untreated rabies left me suddenly at death’s door.

batten down the hatches

to prepare for a difficult situation (sẵn sàng chờ đợi điều xấu nhất, điều tệ nhất sắp xảy ra)

There’s a tornado coming – batten down the hatches!

at sixes and sevens

in a confused, badly organized, or difficult situation (lộn xộn, lung tung và thiếu tổ chức)

After caring for three sick kids all week, I’m totally at sixes and sevens.

a millstone around someone’s neck

a difficult problem or responsibility that it seems impossible to solve or get rid of (vấn đề, trách nhiệm nặng nề phải gánh vác)

I wish I hadn’t bought that house – the mortgage is a millstone around my neck.

Tổng hợp Idioms thông dụng chủ đề Giải pháp (Solutions)

Dưới đây là danh sách các Idioms chủ đề Giải pháp (sắp xếp theo mức độ thông dụng giảm dần):

IDIOMS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
make the best of a bad job	to deal with and create the best possible outcome of a bad, unfortunate, or unpleasant situation or set of circumstances (chấp nhận tình huống, nỗ lực hết mình để có kết quả tốt nhất trong một tình huống không thuận lợi, may mắn)	I know this data entry job isn’t what you wanted for a career, but for the time being try and make the best of a bad job.
water under the bridge	problems that someone has had in the past that they do not worry about because they happened a long time ago and cannot now be changed (một chuyện gì không tốt đã trôi qua, không nên lo nghĩ hay nhắc lại nữa)	That argument we had is just water under the bridge* now – don’t even worry about it.*
set someone’s mind at rest	to reduce or remove someone’s worry, anxiety, dread, fear, etc. (loại bỏ những điều mệt mỏi, lo lắng và cả sự sợ hãi)	I know you’re anxious to hear how your father is doing after the surgery, so let me set your mind at rest: he’s going to make a full recovery.
take matters into someone’s own hands	to deal with a problem oneself because the people who should have dealt with it have failed to do so (tự giải quyết vấn đề theo cách của mình, sau khi đã nhờ cậy người khác nhưng họ không thể giải quyết được)	This project isn’t being managed properly, so I’m just going to have to take matters into my own hands* and start supervising the work directly.*
a load off someone’s mind	an occasion when a problem that has been worrying you stops or is dealt with (những vấn đề mà bạn bận tâm, lo lắng đã giải quyết xong và bạn không phải lo lắng nữa)	Having a night out to talk over my problem with my close friend helped me get a load off my mind.
put the brakes on	to slow, impede, or stop someone’s or something’s progress or activities (làm chậm, cản trở hoặc ngừng tiến trình hoặc hoạt động của ai đó hoặc điều gì đó)	The recent economic downturn put the brakes on* the government’s plans for redeveloping the region’s transportation system.*
any port in a storm	any solution, however unappealing, is acceptable in times of trouble (trong lúc khó khăn, cấp bách thì giải pháp nào cũng có thể được chấp nhận dù không phải là giải pháp lý tưởng nhất; méo mó có hơn không)	I don’t really like Meg, but I had to ask her for help because she was the only one still in the office last night when my computer crashed. Any port in a storm, I guess.
sit on someone’s hands	to do nothing about a problem or a situation that needs dealing with (không làm gì để giải quyết vấn đề)	They may not have broken the law themselves, but the CEOs certainly sat on their hands* and allowed these illegal activities to happen unchecked.*
cut the ground from under someone’s feet	suddenly spoil someone’s idea or plan by doing something to stop them from continuing with it (phá hỏng kế hoạch, ý tưởng của ai đó bằng cách ngăn cản họ)	I plan to cut the ground from under the prosecutor’s feet* with this line of questioning.*
knock something on the head	to prevent something from happening, or to finally finish something (ngăn cản cái gì xảy ra, hoặc hoàn thành cái gì)	He’s been trying to knock the rumours on the head, but by now nearly everyone has heard them.
put the lid on something	to keep something under control and stop it from increasing (giữ cái gì đó dưới sự kiểm soát và ngăn nó phát triển thêm)	We need to put the lid on* rumors about the company going bankrupt.*
clutch at straws	to make a desperate attempt to salvage a bad situation (nỗ lực tuyệt vọng để cứu vãn tình hình tồi tệ)	A: “But what about all those times I took the trash out when you hadn’t even asked me to?” – B: “That has nothing to do with why you’re in trouble now, so stop clutching at straws.”
can’t cut the mustard	to not be able to deal with problems or difficulties in a satisfactory way (không thể giải quyết vấn đề, không đủ khả năng làm việc gì một cách vừa lòng)	If he can’t cut the mustard, then we’ll get someone else to do the job.
pull the rug out from under someone	to suddenly take away help or support from someone, or to suddenly do something that causes many problems for them (đột ngột ngưng hỗ trợ, giúp đỡ hoặc đẩy ai trong thế bế tắc)	The school pulled the rug out from under* the city soccer league when they asked them to pay for using their field.*
tie up some loose ends	to take care of, finish, or resolve some issues or pieces of business that are not critical but have remained outstanding (quan tâm, giải quyết vấn đề không quá quan trọng nhưng không thể bỏ qua, còn tồn đọng lại)	I’m just about ready to move to Europe, but I need to tie up some loose ends with my ex-girlfriend before I go.
change tack	to try a different method to deal with the same problem (thay đổi hướng đi, thử một cách tiếp cận khác hoặc một phương pháp khác để giải quyết vấn đề gì đó)	If diplomacy doesn’t resolve this conflict, we will need to change tack* and try a more aggressive approach.*
wave a magic wand	to provide the perfect solution to a given problem or difficulty, as if by magic (tạo ra hướng giải quyết cho một vấn đề hoặc một khó khăn nào đó theo một cách rất thần kì)	We can’t just wave a magic wand* and make poverty go away. It will have to be a systematic effort by many stakeholders.*
necessity is the mother of invention	an expression that means that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it (nếu thực sự cần thì sẽ nghĩ ra cách để làm)	A: “I needed to drain the washing machine to try and unblock it, so I used an old bike tube to funnel the water out the back door.” – B: “Wow, necessity is the mother of invention, huh?”
back on track	going in the right direction again after a mistake, failure, etc. (trở lại đúng hướng đi ban đầu sau một lỗi lầm, thất bại…)	I’m sure all of you have very interesting weekend plans, but we need to get this meeting back on track.

IDIOMS

MEANING

EXAMPLE

make the best of a bad job

to deal with and create the best possible outcome of a bad, unfortunate, or unpleasant situation or set of circumstances (chấp nhận tình huống, nỗ lực hết mình để có kết quả tốt nhất trong một tình huống không thuận lợi, may mắn)

I know this data entry job isn’t what you wanted for a career, but for the time being try and make the best of a bad job.

water under the bridge

problems that someone has had in the past that they do not worry about because they happened a long time ago and cannot now be changed (một chuyện gì không tốt đã trôi qua, không nên lo nghĩ hay nhắc lại nữa)

That argument we had is just water under the bridge now – don’t even worry about it.

set someone’s mind at rest

to reduce or remove someone’s worry, anxiety, dread, fear, etc. (loại bỏ những điều mệt mỏi, lo lắng và cả sự sợ hãi)

I know you’re anxious to hear how your father is doing after the surgery, so let me set your mind at rest: he’s going to make a full recovery.

take matters into someone’s own hands

to deal with a problem oneself because the people who should have dealt with it have failed to do so (tự giải quyết vấn đề theo cách của mình, sau khi đã nhờ cậy người khác nhưng họ không thể giải quyết được)

This project isn’t being managed properly, so I’m just going to have to take matters into my own hands and start supervising the work directly.

a load off someone’s mind

an occasion when a problem that has been worrying you stops or is dealt with (những vấn đề mà bạn bận tâm, lo lắng đã giải quyết xong và bạn không phải lo lắng nữa)

Having a night out to talk over my problem with my close friend helped me get a load off my mind.

put the brakes on

to slow, impede, or stop someone’s or something’s progress or activities (làm chậm, cản trở hoặc ngừng tiến trình hoặc hoạt động của ai đó hoặc điều gì đó)

The recent economic downturn put the brakes on the government’s plans for redeveloping the region’s transportation system.

any port in a storm

any solution, however unappealing, is acceptable in times of trouble (trong lúc khó khăn, cấp bách thì giải pháp nào cũng có thể được chấp nhận dù không phải là giải pháp lý tưởng nhất; méo mó có hơn không)

I don’t really like Meg, but I had to ask her for help because she was the only one still in the office last night when my computer crashed. Any port in a storm, I guess.

sit on someone’s hands

to do nothing about a problem or a situation that needs dealing with (không làm gì để giải quyết vấn đề)

They may not have broken the law themselves, but the CEOs certainly sat on their hands and allowed these illegal activities to happen unchecked.

cut the ground from under someone’s feet

suddenly spoil someone’s idea or plan by doing something to stop them from continuing with it (phá hỏng kế hoạch, ý tưởng của ai đó bằng cách ngăn cản họ)

I plan to cut the ground from under the prosecutor’s feet with this line of questioning.

knock something on the head

to prevent something from happening, or to finally finish something (ngăn cản cái gì xảy ra, hoặc hoàn thành cái gì)

He’s been trying to knock the rumours on the head, but by now nearly everyone has heard them.

put the lid on something

to keep something under control and stop it from increasing (giữ cái gì đó dưới sự kiểm soát và ngăn nó phát triển thêm)

We need to put the lid on rumors about the company going bankrupt.

clutch at straws

to make a desperate attempt to salvage a bad situation (nỗ lực tuyệt vọng để cứu vãn tình hình tồi tệ)

A: “But what about all those times I took the trash out when you hadn’t even asked me to?” – B: “That has nothing to do with why you’re in trouble now, so stop clutching at straws.”

can’t cut the mustard

to not be able to deal with problems or difficulties in a satisfactory way (không thể giải quyết vấn đề, không đủ khả năng làm việc gì một cách vừa lòng)

If he can’t cut the mustard, then we’ll get someone else to do the job.

pull the rug out from under someone

to suddenly take away help or support from someone, or to suddenly do something that causes many problems for them (đột ngột ngưng hỗ trợ, giúp đỡ hoặc đẩy ai trong thế bế tắc)

The school pulled the rug out from under the city soccer league when they asked them to pay for using their field.

tie up some loose ends

to take care of, finish, or resolve some issues or pieces of business that are not critical but have remained outstanding (quan tâm, giải quyết vấn đề không quá quan trọng nhưng không thể bỏ qua, còn tồn đọng lại)

I’m just about ready to move to Europe, but I need to tie up some loose ends with my ex-girlfriend before I go.

change tack

to try a different method to deal with the same problem (thay đổi hướng đi, thử một cách tiếp cận khác hoặc một phương pháp khác để giải quyết vấn đề gì đó)

If diplomacy doesn’t resolve this conflict, we will need to change tack and try a more aggressive approach.

wave a magic wand

to provide the perfect solution to a given problem or difficulty, as if by magic (tạo ra hướng giải quyết cho một vấn đề hoặc một khó khăn nào đó theo một cách rất thần kì)

We can’t just wave a magic wand and make poverty go away. It will have to be a systematic effort by many stakeholders.

necessity is the mother of invention

an expression that means that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it (nếu thực sự cần thì sẽ nghĩ ra cách để làm)

A: “I needed to drain the washing machine to try and unblock it, so I used an old bike tube to funnel the water out the back door.” – B: “Wow, necessity is the mother of invention, huh?”

back on track

going in the right direction again after a mistake, failure, etc. (trở lại đúng hướng đi ban đầu sau một lỗi lầm, thất bại…)

I’m sure all of you have very interesting weekend plans, but we need to get this meeting back on track.

Chơi game trên azVocab để ôn tập các idioms chủ đề Problems and solutions thông dụng nhất:

Như vậy, bài viết đã cung cấp những Idioms thông dụng nhất về chủ đề Vấn đề và giải pháp. Hy vọng qua bài viết của azVocab, các bạn có thể dễ dàng áp dụng và sử dụng linh hoạt trong thi cử và cuộc sống hàng ngày.

Tổng hợp Idioms thông dụng chủ đề Bí mật và sự tiết lộ (Secret and revelation)

Trong bài viết sau, azVocab giới thiệu các Idioms thông dụng chủ đề Secret and revelation, giúp bạn diễn đạt…

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