IELTS Speaking – Tổng hợp Idioms chủ đề: People

Characteristics and Appearances

IDIOMS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
new blood	people with a lot of energy or fresh ideas who are brought into an organization in order to improve it (người mới, có nhiều ý tưởng độc đáo và mới lạ có thể tiếp thêm sinh lực cho một tổ chức)	The *new blood* in the team should improve our chances of victory in next week’s game.
stand on one’s own two feet	to be strong and independent; to not need the help, guidance, or resources of another person (có khả năng tự lập, tự túc mà không cần sự trợ giúp của người khác)	After you’ve spent three years being funded by parents, suddenly it’s all over and you’re expected to *stand on your own feet*.
the life and soul of the party	someone who brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to a social event (người là trung tâm của buổi tiệc)	Bill is definitely *the life and soul of the party* – he’s currently trying to get everyone up to dance!
the odd one out	a person or thing that is different from or kept apart from others that form a group or set (người khác biệt)	She was always *the odd one out* at school – she didn’t have many friends.
the salt of the earth	an ordinary person who is respected because they are honest and good (người tốt lành, lương thiện)	Mrs. Jones is *the salt of the earth*. She is the first to help anyone in trouble.
too clever by half	to be too confident of your own intelligence in a way that annoys other people (tự mãn, tự cao vì trí thông minh)	She was *too clever by half* – always correcting the teacher or coming back with a smart answer.
would give (someone) the shirt off (one’s) back	is very generous and selfless (hào phóng)	I’m not surprised that Tammy loaned you money – she would *give anyone the shirt off her back*.
wouldn’t hurt a fly	to harm nothing or no one, said of one who is particularly gentle, shy, diffident, or timid by nature (rất hiền lành, không làm hại đến ai)	My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who *wouldn’t hurt a fly*.
(as) bold as brass	with extreme confidence or without the respect or politeness people usually show (có thái độ trơ trẽn, táo bạo, cứng đầu)	She marched into the store, *as bold as brass*, and demanded her money back.
(as) bright as a button	very intelligent and quick to learn (thông minh, tiếp thu nhanh)	Ted’s *as bright as a button*, so he’ll find a solution to this problem.
(as) keen as mustard	very eager and interested in everything (hớn hở, nhiệt tình, hăng hái hết sức)	I’m *keen as mustard* to play in the school team.
(as) poor as a church mouse/ church mice	very poor (rất nghèo)	My father was *as poor as a church mouse* growing up, so his sole focus was to give his kids every opportunity in life that he missed out on.
(as) slippery as an eel	devious and untrustworthy, but impossible to catch (ranh ma, láu cá, lươn lẹo)	Don’t sign a lease with that landlord; I think he’s *as slippery as an eel*.
(as) strong as an ox	very strong (rất khỏe)	You should get Bert to help you move all this furniture – he’s *strong as an ox*.
(as) thick as two short planks	very stupid (cực kì ngu ngốc)	Because she’s a model, people assume she’s *as thick as two short planks*, but she isn’t.
(as) thin as a rake	extremely skinny or slender (rất gầy)	I’ve always been *thin as a rake*, even when I tried to gain weight.
(as) ugly as sin	very ugly (rất xấu)	This old car is all beat up and *ugly as sin*, but it’s still going strong after all these years.
a chip off the old block	someone who is very similar in character to their father or mother (giống hệt bố hoặc mẹ)	You must be *a chip off the old block*, Kate – I remember your mother being a really good artist too.
a fly on the wall	one who is able to observe something closely but invisibly and without interfering in the situation (người có thể quan sát người khác mà không làm ảnh hưởng đến họ hay họ không hề hay biết)	I would love to be *a fly on the wall* in John’s house when he finds out his wife bought a new car without telling him.
a high-flyer	someone who has a lot of ability and a strong wish to be successful and is therefore expected to achieve a lot (người có khả năng và tham vọng lớn)	Tim was such *a high-flier* in college that it’s no surprise he’s achieved such great success in his career.
a man/woman after one’s own heart	a man/woman admired by another because of perceived similarities (người mà bạn thích, ngưỡng mộ vì có nhiều điểm chung và sở thích với bạn)	I knew he was *a man after my own heart* when I heard he rescued that puppy.
a pain in the neck	someone or something that is very annoying (phiền phức, gây khó chịu)	He was *a pain in the neck*. I was glad when he left my department.
a rough diamond/ a diamond in the rough	a person who is kinder and more pleasant than they seem to be from their appearance and manner (một người chưa phát triển đầy đủ khả năng nhưng có triển vọng thành công lớn)	Mrs. White seems to have a devil of a temper, but she is *a rough diamond*.
a shoulder to cry on	someone who is willing to listen to your problems and give you sympathy, emotional support, and encouragement (người ở bên lắng nghe và động viên bạn khi bạn buồn hay gặp khó khăn)	Janine needed *a shoulder to cry on* after she lost her job, so she came over to my apartment.
a tower of strength	someone who is very dependable and provides a great deal of support or encouragement, especially in times of trouble or difficulty (người có thể được trông cậy để mang lại giúp đỡ và nguồn an ủi trong lúc khó khăn)	Mary has been an absolute *tower of strength* ever since my mother fell ill.
a wolf in sheep’s clothing	a person with a pleasant and friendly appearance that hides the fact that they are evil (sói đội lốt cừu, khẩu phật tâm xà)	Don’t trust Dana – she’s *a wolf in sheep’s clothing* who will try to steal your position if given the chance.
as fresh as a daisy	to be full of energy and enthusiasm (đầy năng lượng và nhiệt huyết)	After getting some sleep, I was *as fresh as a daisy*.
as if one owned/owns the place	in a way that is too confident (tự cao, tự mãn)	Ugh, the boss’s son always walks through the office *as if he owns the place*.
have a heart of stone	to be unkind or cruel (độc ác)	The villain in the play *had a heart of stone*. He was cruel to everyone.
man of his word/ woman of her word	someone who keeps their promises (người nói là làm, người biết giữ lời hứa)	You can trust him. He has never failed us. He’s a *man of his word*.
easy on the eye	pleasant to look at (ai đó/cái gì đó đẹp)	My next-door neighbor is quite *easy on the eye*.
as pretty as a picture	very pretty (rất xinh đẹp)	Michelle looks *as pretty as a picture* in this photo.
as blind as a bat	unable to see well (không thể nhìn rõ)	My grandma’s *as blind as a bat* without her glasses on.
(to have) eyes like a hawk	having extremely keen sight (có thị lực đặc biệt tốt hoặc rất tinh ý)	Craig managed to find my key in the long grass. He’s got *eyes like a hawk*.
a heart of gold	a kind and generous nature (tốt bụng và hào phóng)	Sarah always goes out of her way to help everyone she can – she really has *a heart of gold*.

Feelings

IDIOMS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
(as) red as a beetroot	blushing, usually from embarrassment (đỏ mặt, thường do xấu hổ hoặc ngại ngùng)	I was *red as a beetroot* when the teacher made me speak in front of the whole class.
a bundle of nerves	to be very nervous, anxious, or uneasy (lo lắng, hồi hộp)	I was *a bundle of nerves* before the driving test started.
as sick as a parrot	very disappointed (thất vọng)	Tim was *as sick as a parrot* when he learned that he had been passed over for the promotion.
be (sitting) on top of the world	to be elated; to be blissfully happy (rất hạnh phúc)	I *was on top of the world* when I found out that I’d gotten an A on my hardest exam.
be after one’s blood	to be very angry with someone and threatening to harm them (hận, ghét)	Lisa is looking for you, and she’s *after your blood*.
be all at sea	completely confused (about something or in some situation) (bối rối, thắc mắc)	I tried to do well in this class, but I’ve been *all at sea* since we started.
be falling/coming apart at the seams	to become very emotional, especially with sadness or grief (dễ cảm động)	She was *falling apart at the seams*, spending most of her time in tears.
be fed up (to the back teeth)	to be extremely annoyed or irritated (cực kì bực tức, khó chịu)	We‘re all fed up to the back teeth with your constant complaining, Marge!
be green with envy	to be very jealous of another person (rất ghen tị)	My daughter loves being on stage, so she is just *green with envy* that Alice got the lead in the school play.
be in seventh heaven	to be extremely happy (cực kì hạnh phúc)	Since they got married, they*‘ve been in seventh heaven*.
be on cloud nine	to be extremely happy and excited (cực kì hạnh phúc)	Ever since Mary got her promotion at work, she*‘s been on cloud nine*.
be out of sorts	to be slightly ill or slightly unhappy (hơi ốm hoặc không vui)	I’ve been feeling tired and headachy and generally *out of sorts*.
be over the moon	to be extremely happy (cực kì hạnh phúc)	I‘ve been over the moon ever since I got engaged – I just can’t stop looking at my ring!
be taken aback	to be very shocked or surprised (rất ngạc nhiên)	All of us were a bit *taken aback* to learn that John was moving to England next month.
be thrilled to bits	to be ecstatic; to be very pleased and excited (cực kì hài lòng và phấn khích)	I *was thrilled to bits* to hear that I’d been selected for a literary award in New York City.
be up in arms	to be very angry (rất tức giận)	The whole town *is up in arms* about the addition of a new shopping center.
down in the dumps	sad or depressed (buồn)	She’s been *down in the dumps* ever since she lost the match.
foaming at the mouth	to be extremely angry (cực kì tức giận)	She was almost *foaming at the mouth* when she heard about the cost of the car repairs.
full of the joys of spring	to be very happy (rất hạnh phúc)	I was *full of the joys of spring* when I found out that I’d passed the exam with flying colours.
go with the flow	to be relaxed and not worry about what you should do (bình thản, thư thái, không vướng bận)	I try not to plan too much when I take a vacation to a new place. I like to just *go with the flow* when I get there.
hit the ceiling/roof	to become extremely angry (cực kì tức giận)	Dad will *hit the roof* when he finds out I dented the car.
jump for joy	be very happy and excited about something that has happened (cực kì hạnh phúc)	David *jumped for joy* when he heard that she’d won first prize.
like a bear with a sore head	to be exceptionally angry, annoyed, or irritable (cực kì tức giận, khó chịu)	John is always *like a bear with a sore head* first thing in the morning – it’s best not to even talk to him until he’s had his coffee.
like a deer/rabbit caught in the headlights	to be so frightened or surprised that you cannot move or think (quá sợ hãi hoặc ngạc nhiên)	I was *like a deer caught in the headlights* when my mom asked about that hideous sweater she gave me.
like a dog with two tails	to be very happy and excited (rất vui và phấn khích)	Mary’s been *like a dog with two tails* ever since she got her promotion.
like a fish out of water	to feel uncomfortable in a new environment (không thoải mái trong một môi trường mới)	When Carla transferred to a new school, she was *like a fish out of water* because she didn’t know anyone there.
like the cat that ate the canary	extremely happy or satisfied, or in a very happy or satisfied way (cực kì vui vẻ và hài lòng)	When he asked her on a date she was *like the cat that ate the canary*.
nearly/almost fall off one’s chair	to be extremely surprised (cực kì ngạc nhiên)	She *nearly fell off her chair* when she heard the news.
one’s heart is in one’s boots/mouth	to feel sad or anxious (buồn hoặc lo lắng)	*My heart was in my mouth* when I opened the letter.
one’s heart misses/skips a beat	feel very excited or nervous (rất phấn khích hoặc lo lắng)	*My heart misses a beat* every time I’m called into my boss’s office.
one’s heart sinks	to feel disappointed or to lose hope (thất vọng hoặc tuyệt vọng)	*My heart sank* when I realized we couldn’t afford the new house.
send shivers down one’s spine	to feel very frightened or excited (rất sợ hãi hoặc phấn khích)	Can we get out of here? This creepy old house is *sending shivers down my spine*!
sick to death of something	very unhappy about something (không vui)	I’m *sick to death of* doing my boss’s errands. If something doesn’t change soon, I’m going to quit!
take heart	to feel encouraged (cảm thấy được động viên, cổ vũ)	*Take heart*. You’ll be done soon, and you won’t have to think about this paper ever again.

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