25 Common English Idioms

To speak English fluently, you need to increase your vocabulary. That includes learning idioms and expressions. The idioms and expressions below are the most common in English. The example sentences will help you understand how to use the expressions. Have fun!

1. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")

Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!

2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")

Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.

3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)

Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied. Super Students from Jing Shan School in Beijing "Oh, I love this job!"

4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"

Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.

5. broke means "to have no money"

Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.

6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"

Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.

7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"

Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!

8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"

Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.

9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"

Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.

10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"

Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.

11. in ages means "for a very long time"

Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.

12. give someone a hand means "help"

Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?

13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")

Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.

14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"

Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.

15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"

Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.

16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"

Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!

17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"

Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.

18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"

Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand

19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"

Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.

20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"

Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!

21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"

Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.

22. take it easy means "relax"

Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.

23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"

Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.

24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"

Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.

25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"

Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!

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Spoken English

Ability
asking if somebody is able to do something
stating you are able to do something
stating you are not able to do something

Advice
asking for advice
advising somebody to do something
advising somebody not to do something

Agreement
asking if somebody agrees
agreeing
partly agreeing
disagreeing
admitting you are wrong and somebody else is right
coming to an agreement

Annonyance
expressing anger

Apology
apologizing
Responding to apologies
Leaving somebody politely for a short time

Appointment
Requesting an appointment
asking about when and where to meet
stating when and where to meet
stating when and where is not convenient to meet
changing or canceling an appointment

Approval
asking if somebody approves
expressing approval
expressing disapproval

Belief and Disbelief
believing
disbelieving

Boredom
Feeling bored

Certainty and Uncertainty
asking if somebody is certain about something
expressing certainty
expressing uncertainty

Communication
starting a conversation
drawing somebody's attention
Taking up a point
changing the subject
closing a conversation

Comparision
expressing comparision

Complaint
complaining

Compliment
complimenting
Responding to compliments

Comprehension
checking if you have understand
checking that somebody has understood you

Congratulation
congratulation
Responding to congratulations

Correctness
asking about correctness
giving positive answers
giving negative answers
correcting somebody

Curiosity
expressing curiosity

Decision
deciding to do do something

Delight
stating you are pleased

Departure
saying goodbye

Desire
stating what you want

Disappointment
Feeling disappointed

Dismay
expressing dismal feeling

Encouragement
encouraging somebody

Exemplification
giving examples

Excitement
expressing excitement

Good Wishes
giving general good wishes
Responding to general good wishes
giving good wishes on a special occasion
Responding to good wishes on a special occasion
Toasting

Gossip
Talking about the affairs of other people

Gratitude
expressing thanks
Responding to thanks

Greeting
greeting somebody
asking after somebody
stating how you are

Happy Anticipation
happily anticipating

Hesitating
giving yourself time to think

Hope
expressing hope

Information
asking for information
asking if somebody knows something
expressing knowledge of something
expressing ignorance of something

Instruction
Telling somebody how to do something

Intention
asking about somebody's intention
stating your intenstion
stating you do not intend to do something

Interest
asking if somebody is interested in something
stating you are interested in something
stating you are not interested in something

Introduction
introducing somebody
introducing yourself
responding to an introduction

Invitation
inviting
accepting an invitation
declining an invitation

Judgement
making a judgement

Likes and Dislikes
asking if somebody likes something or somebody else
stating you like something or somebody
stating you dislike something or somebody

Name
asking somebody's name

Obligation
asking if you are obliged to do something
stating somebody is obliged to do something
stating somebody is not obliged to do something
stating somebody is obliged not to do something
stating you are obliged to do something
stating you are oblidged not to do something

Offer
offering something
accepting an offer of something
declining an offer of something
presenting something to somebody
offering to do something for somebody
accepting an offer of help
declining an offer of help

Opinion
asking for somebody's opinion
expressing your opinion
stating you have no opinion
hedging
trying to change somebody's opinion

Optimism
expressing optimistic views

Permission
asking for permission
giving somebody permission
refusing to give somebody permission

Persuasion
trying to persuade somebdoy

Pessimism
expressing pessimistic views

Preference
asking somebody what he prefers
stating what you prefer

Quarrel
quarreling with somebody

Reason
giving reasons

Reassurance
reassuring somebody

Relief
feeling relieved

Rememberance
asking whether somebody remembers something
stating you remember
stating you have forgotten
reminding somebody

Repetition
asking somebody to repeat something
repeating
restating

Reproach
reproaching somebody

Request
making a request
making positive responses
making negative responses

Resignation
expressing resignation

Suggestion
making suggestions
making positive responses
making negative responses

Surprise
expressing surprise

Sympathy
feeling sympathetic
being indifferent
stating something is not important

Threat
threatening

Tiredness
stating you are tired

Urge
telling somebody to hurry

Warning
giving warnings

Willingness
expressing willingness
expressing willingness under certain condition
expressing unwillingness
refusing to do something

Worry and Fear
expressing worry or fear

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Abortion

woman should have control over the abortion when the pregnancy is not what she wants, it is come out by accident. When deciding to keep the baby, the woman may get into a lot of trouble. In my opinion, there are some situations that the woman should have the right to make a decision about having the baby or not.

When a woman is raped, apparently the child who will be born is a not a product of happiness, but shame especially in the Oriental countries where the prejudice about getting pregnant without marriage is still severe. In this case, the woman should be able to get rid of it.

In other case, it is just not the right time to have a baby. For example, if the woman is too young and not mature for a marriage life, having a baby can make her quit school and work hard to make a living for herself and her child. A chance for her to get married with another man becomes more difficult and her child tends to grow up without the father. We should not be too strict to these circumstances, forgiveness and mercy can help her getting back to her normal life.
Sometimes the baby born without planning might be a tragedy for not only, but her family.

When giving birth is impossible because of the physical condition of the woman or when the parents’ disease can be transmitted to their child, the abortion is necessary. The health of the child and the woman should be guaranteed before the child is born, if not, the woman has the right to cancel it.

Besides above acceptable cases, someone can take advantage of abortion for the bad purpose. For example, in Vietnam, the husband prefers having a boy rather than a girl, so he can force her wife to abort her pregnancy. This should be prohibited.

In summary, it’s better to keep the woman from having unplanned pregnancy, both man and woman have to be equipped with basic knowledge about sex to make sure that every child will be born in the happiness of every body.

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Euthanasia

People shouldn’t have the right to take their own life. Let’s consider a following situation, a man experiencing a severe disease undergoes a medical treatment with so much physical pain, the chance for recovering is very small. If the definition for the right to end somebody’s life is available, that poor man can look at it finding no hope and make a terribly wrong decision for ending his life. It is terrible.

The doctor, the patient’s family and especially the patient would have a strong believe that there is always at least a way to cure any disease. Our knowledge of the disease is limited, today a disease can be cureless, but tomorrow no body can tell. With the development of medical science, a medicine for that disease will be invented soon enough to save the patient’s life. And we should not underestimate about our body, by giving it a chance, it can struggle and win any disease, even the worst one. Last but not least, the love and concern from others can give the patient the strength to get over the disease. The miracle can come to us at any time as long as we should never loose our hope.

There shouldn’t be any exceptional circumstances. The hospital should be the place to save our life, people come there to look forward to being back to their ordinary life, not to be dead. We have to ease their pain by helping them, not let them think about ending their own life as a way to escape from their disease. If we keep fighting against the disease, we will be able to win it some day. If we don’t, we are always losers.

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English Practice

Where do I start?

Why do you want to learn English?
Before you begin (or go back to) studying English, ask youself one question. Why do I want to study English? Is it because you want to, or because someone else wants you to? Like every decision in life, studying English must be something you want to do.

Set goals

If you know why you want to study, setting goals is easy. For example, maybe you want to travel to an English-speaking country. Great. Your goal might be to learn "Survival English". Perhaps you already know many useful phrases, but you want to improve your listening skills and pronunciation. Whatever your goals are, write them down.

Make an agenda

How long do you need to study to achieve your goals? This answer is different for every student. The important thing is to be realistic. If you work 60 hours per week, don't plan on spending another 40 hours a week studying English. Start off slow, but study regularly. Use material that is challenging, but not too difficult. Find out what works for you. After you have studied for a few weeks, adjust your study schedule accordingly. Do you study best at night, or on the bus on your way to work? Do you like to study alone in a quiet place, or with friends and background music? Click here for a sample 4 week agenda.

Make a commitment

Learning English requires a lot of motivation. Nobody is going to take your attendance when you aren't in class. If you are sure you are ready to begin studying, make a commitment. Click here to sign a contract with yourself.

Have fun learning English!

The things we do best in life are the things we enjoy doing. If you aren't having fun learning English, you're not studying the right way! You can be a serious student who has fun at the same time. Make up your own rewards program to give yourself incentives to stay on task.

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TOEFL Grammar (Vietnamese)

Sách Toefl Grammar 113 trang bằng tiếng Việt:

1. Chủ ngữ (subject).
1.1 Danh từ đếm được và không đếm được.
1.2 Quán từ a (an) và the
1.3 Cách sử dụng Other và another.
1.4 Cách sử dụng litter/ a litter, few/ a few
1.5 Sở hữu cách
1.6 Some, any

2. Động từ ( verb)
2.1 Hiện tại (present)
2.1.1 Hiệntại đơn giản (simple present)
2.1.2 Hiện tại tiếp diễn (present progressive)
2.1.3 Present perfect ( hiện tại hoàn thành)
2.1.4 Hiện tại hoàn thành tiếp diễn ( preset perfect progressive)
2.2 Quá khứ ( Past)
2.2.1 Quá khứ đơn giản (simple past)
2.2.2 Quá khứ tiếp diễn (Past progresive).
2.2.3 Quá khứ hoàn thành (past perfect).
2.2.4 Quá khứ hoàn thành tiếp diễn (past perfect progressive).
2.3 Tương lai
2.3.1 Tương lai đơn giản (simple future)
2.3.2 Tương lai tiếp diễn ( future progressive)
2.3.3 Tương lai hoàn thành (future perfect)

3. Sự hoà hợp giữa chủ ngữ và động từ.
3.1 Chủ ngữ đứng tách khỏi động từ.
3.2 Các danh từ luôn đòi hỏi động từ và đại từ số it.
3.3 Cách sử dụng none, no
3.4 Cách sử dụng cấu trúc either ... or và neither ... nor.
3.5 Các danh từ tập thể
3.6 Cách sử dụng A number of/ the number of
3.7 Các danh từ luôn dùng ở số nhiều.
3.8 Cách dùng các thành ngữ There is, there are

4. Đại từ
4.1 Đại từ nhân xưng chủ ngữ (Subject pronoun)
4.2 Đại từ nhân xưng tân ngữ
4.3 Tính từ sở hữu
4.4 Đại từ sở hữu
4.5 Đại từ phản thân (reflexive pronoun)
...
5. Động từ dùng làm tân ngữ
6. Cách sử dụng động từ bán khiếm khuyết need và dare
7. Cách dùng động từ to be + infinitive
8. Câu hỏi
9. Lối nói phụ hoạ khẳng định và phủ định.
10. Câu phủ định
11. Mệnh lệnh thức
12. Động từ khiếm khuyết.
13. Cách sử dụng thành ngữ as if, as though.
14. Cách sử dụng động từ To hope và to wish.
15. Cách sử dụng thành ngữ used to và get/be used to
16. Cách sử dụng thành ngữ Would rather
17. Cách sử dụng Would Like
18. Cách sử dụng các động từ khiếm khuyết để diễn đạt các trạng thái ở hiện tại.
19. Cách sử dụng các động từ khiếm khuyết để diến đạt các trạng thái ở thời quá khứ.
20. tính từ và phó từ (adjective and adverb).
21. Động từ nối.
22. So sánh của tính từ và danh từ
...

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