Idioms - Work

Question 1

Be cut out (for/to be)

Answer 1

Có kỹ năng hoặc năng lực làm gì

His fear of flying means that he’s definitely not cut out to be a pilot.

Question 2

Get off the ground

Answer 2

Bắt đầu thực hiện kế hoạch nào đó

We’re still trying to get this project off the ground.

Question 3

Call it a day/Call it a night

Answer 3

Nghỉ ngơi, dừng làm việc

After four hours of studying this evening, I called it a day.

Question 4

Touch base with

Answer 4

Liên lạc với ai đó

The secretary will touch base with the design company tomorrow.

Question 5

Wet behind the ears

Answer 5

Non nớt, thiếu kinh nghiệm

The new staff is so wet behind the ears that he’ll need a lot of training.

Question 6

No picnic

Answer 6

dùng để nói một công việc không hề vui vẻ dễ chịu, hoặc không dễ thực hiện.

Working as a delivery guy during summer months is no picnic for me. ( Làm công việc giao hàng giữa những tháng mùa hè thật không hề dễ chịu với tôi.)

Question 7

Get the sack

Answer 7

bị đuổi việc

It’s a really demanding job as you can get the sack for your poor performance

Question 8

To make ends meet

Answer 8

xoay sở để đủ tiền sinh sống .

She is so lazy that she is hardly able to make ends meet each month

Question 9

To bring home the bacon

Answer 9

Kiếm tiền cho gia đình.

My dad works really hard so that he can bring home the bacon for his family

Question 10

A big cheese

Answer 10

Một cá nhân quan trọng, có tầm ảnh hưởng trong một tập thể.

He has been the big cheese even before the promotion

Question 11

To cold-call

Answer 11

gọi điện hoặc đến nhà một khách hàng ngẫu nhiên để bán hàng mà không báo trước.

In this job, you have to be prepared to cold-call.

Question 12

To be snowed under (with something)

Answer 12

bị vùi đầu trong công việc

I’m absolutely snowed under with work at the moment.

Question 13

To sweat blood

Answer 13

nỗ lực để hoàn thành công việc

I’ve been sweating blood over this report

Question 14

To work your fingers to the bone

Answer 14

nỗ lực (trong một thời gian dài)

She worked her fingers to the bone to provide fresh milk and daily meals for seven children

Question 15

To learn the ropes

Answer 15

học để cho thành thạo một công việc, một vấn đề, một nơi nào đó.

This job is difficult at first, but once you learn the ropes, you will be okay

Question 16

To hang by a thread

Answer 16

tình thế hiểm nghèo, nan giải (thành ngữ Việt Nam có một câu tương tự là “Thế ngàn cân treo sợi tóc”)

The player’s career is hanging by a thread after the latest injury to his knee

Question 17

Lazybone

Answer 17

một người lười biếng

Come on, lazy-bones, you’ve spent half the day in bed

Question 18

be at the very bottom of the career ladder

Answer 18

in a low position in a work organisation or hierarchy: chức vụ thấp

When Jacob started work, he was at the very bottom of the career ladder.

Question 19

a dead-end job

Answer 19

job without a good future: công việc không có tương lai

Question 20

run-of-the-mill

Answer 20

boring, routine: nhàm chán

He had quite a dead-end job doing run-of-the-mill tasks.

Question 21

get out of a rut

Answer 21

escape from a monotonous, boring situation: thoát khỏi cảnh nhàm chán

He stayed there for a couple of years, but then decided he had to get out of a rut.

Question 22

pulled out all the stops

Answer 22

made a great effort to do something well: nỗ lực để làm tốt công việc

He pulled out all the stops and managed to persuade his manager that he should be given more responsibility.

Question 23

got the sack

Answer 23

was dismissed from his job (also be given the sack): bị sa thải

Question 24

stepped into his shoes

Answer 24

took over his job: tiếp quản công việc

The deputy manager got the sack for incompetence and Jacob stepped into his shoes.

Question 25

rushed off his feet

Answer 25

very busy : bận rộn

Question 26

up-and-coming

Answer 26

becoming more and more successful: ngày càng thành công

Question 27

Headhunt

Answer 27

invited to join a new workplace which had noticed his talents: săn nhân tài

But he was soon recognised as an up-and-coming young businessman and he was headhunted by a rival company for one of their top jobs.

Question 28

climbed to the top of the career ladder

Answer 28

got to a top position in a work organisation or hierarchy: thăng chức cao

Jacob had climbed to the top of the career ladder.

Question 29

had his work cut out

Answer 29

had something very difficult to do: làm được việc khó

For several months he was rushed off his feet and he had his work cut out to keep on top of things.