Session 12

Question 1

up for grabs {SW}

Ex: The famous villa is up for grabs for $100m.

Answer 1

become available for anyone interested

Question 2

walk away/off with (a prize) {SW}

Ex: The winner will walk away | off with a brand-new refrigerator.

Answer 2

win a prize or award

Question 3

hand(s) in the air {S}

Ex: Hand in the air, people.

Answer 3

ask people to raise their hand

Question 4

stand / withstand the test of time {SW}
Ex1: Although exceptions could be made, the rule still stands.
Ex2: The agreement stands
Ex3: These old goodies stand | withstand the test of time.

Answer 4

remain good over time

Question 5

to let out {SW}

Ex: When she saw the ghost, she let out a cry of horror. | let out a long sigh.

Answer 5

to reveal (a secret), release (a sound) or get off one’s chest (a feeling)

Question 6

for nothing {SW}

Ex1: Thanks for nothing.

Answer 6

do not achieve anything helpful or good

Question 7

thanks for nothing {SW}

Answer 7

say thank even though you are not helped (may imply sarcasm)

Question 8

It’s not for nothing that / do not… for nothing {SW}
Ex1: It’s not for nothing that the Beatles is considered the world’s finest band.
Ex2: We don’t call the Beatles musical magicians for nothing.

Answer 8

there is a good or strong reason for that

Question 9

underdog >< frontrunner {SW}

Ex: Most of the crowd were cheering for the underdog to win just this one time.

Answer 9

one that is expected to lose or win a contest

Question 10

something is someone’s to lose / the one to beat {SW}
Ex1: The competition is yours to lose.
Ex2: You are the one to beat.

Answer 10

have the best chance of winning

Question 11

dark horse (ngựa ô) {SW}

Answer 11

a (likely) successful underdog

Question 12

on the verge {SW}
Ex1: on the verge of tears
Ex2: on the verge of becoming successful

Answer 12

likely to happen soon, almost

Question 13

do a double take {SW}
Ex1: He walks past her and she does a double take. Without clothes, he looks like a different person.
Ex2: There is no love at first sight. Always do a double take.

Answer 13

be uncertain or surprised and need to look again to be sure

Question 14

slam on the brakes {SW}

Ex: It’s over-training and your body is slamming on the brakes.

Answer 14

stop all of a sudden

Question 15

to spin / spiral out of control {SW}

Ex: She’s just spinning out of control and she’s over-taxing her system and it’s fighting back.

Answer 15

going to lose control completely

Question 16

2. FYI {S}

Answer 16

offer new information you think would be useful to the listener

Question 17

3. Just so you know {S}

Answer 17

emphasize that you are going to say something that the listener should pay attention to

Question 18

4. mark my words {S}

Answer 18

imply that the listener should take note of what you are saying because it certainly will happen in the future

Question 19

1. for what it’s worth {SW}

Ex: Here’s my advice, for whatever it’s worth.

Answer 19

offer some new information or advice even though you are not sure if that helps or matters

Question 20

sleep in {SW}

Ex: I missed the morning train because I slept in.

Answer 20

sleep longer than you should have done, oversleep

Question 21

sleep through something {SW}

Ex: Many people frequently sleep through their alarms.

Answer 21

not waken up by something

Question 22

apiece {SW}
Ex1: He and I had two fish apiece.
Ex2: Entire roast chickens were sixty cents apiece.

Answer 22

each

Question 23

shake one’s confidence {SW}

Ex: Martin Luther King faced many death threats that shook his confidence in his ability to lead.

Answer 23

make someone lose his or her confidence

Question 24

fake it until one makes it {SW}

Ex: Right now, I’m just trying to fake it until I make it.

Answer 24

imitate confidence so that as the confidence produces success, it will generate real confidence

Question 25

pierce one’s heart / rip one’s heart out {SW}

Ex: The sad song pierces her heart like a dagger = rip one’s heart out

Answer 25

make one feel very sad

Question 26

take away from {SW}
Ex1: We take the time when he goes and we take the time when he comes back, take one away from the other and we know how long the horse has been out.
Ex2: Blue team’s total is 15 pounds minus / plus one.

Answer 26

subtract or deduct from

Question 27

in a row {SW}

Ex: They have won five championships in a row.

Answer 27

a succession without a break or gap in time

Question 28

end up {SW}
Ex1: If you are not sure, you might end up getting something you later don’t want.
Ex2: Every time they went dancing they ended up in a bad mood.

Answer 28

eventually get into a particular state that you often did not originally intend to

Question 29

have / watch someone’s back {SW}

Ex1: The police officer’s partner always watches his back. Ex2: Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.

Answer 29

support, take care of or watch out for someone and make sure nothing bad happens to them

Question 30

be in good hands {SW}

Ex: Your car is in good hands. My mechanics are factory-trained.

Answer 30

have someone, who are reliable, to take care of you

Question 31

be pissed at sth

Ex: Oh, she’s gonna be pissed at me.

Answer 31

make sb angry, upset

Question 32

honor one’s wishes

Ex: I have to honor her wishes and decided to vote for my mum to go home.

Answer 32

do as sb want you to do

Question 33

big time.

Answer 33

very much

Question 34

manic

Answer 34

crazy

Question 35

milestone

Answer 35

important mark in life

cột chỉ cây số

Question 36

on and off

Answer 36

together => breakdown => together

Question 37

paintball

Answer 37

súng sơn

Question 38

cut sb open

Answer 38

mổ phanh