REWRITE PART 2

201. Sam was so crazy about stamps that he spent lots of money on them every month. (SPLASHED)
 So strong was Sam's craze for stamps that he splashed out on them every month.
Đảo ngữ so nhằm nhấn mạnh NIỀM YÊU THÍCH của Sam với stamps
=> chuyển crazy thành craze để tạo Noun
Craze for sth (n) : an enthusiastic interest in something that is shared by many people but that usually
does not last very long; a thing that people have a craze for
Splash out on sth : to spend a lot of money on something
202. It’s impossible to predict how long it will take the business to make a great deal of profit.
(TELLING)
 There is no telling how long it will take the business to be/become lucrative.
Lucrative (Adj) : producing a large amount of money; making a large profit
203. I don’t mind if you stay at my house tonight. (PUTTING)
 I’m not averse to putting you up at my house tonight.
204. Seeing that Tuan was determined to get the job, I knew he is serious about his future. (BUSINESS)
 In light of Tuan's determination to get the job, I knew he means business with regard/respect to/
when it comes to his future.
TỪ TRONG NGOẶC LÀ BUSINESS NHA
Mean business : to be serious in your intentions
205. If you want, you can leave. (LIBERTY)
 You are at liberty to leave as you wish.
at liberty to V = can freely do sth
206. The young lady was angry that no one confessed to having broken her vase. (BREAST)
 The young lady was beside herself with anger/rage that no one made a clean breast of it
and owned up to having broken the vase.
Beside yourself with sth : unable to control yourself because of the strength of emotion you are feeling
( ~ to be livid with sth )
Make a clean breast of sth : to tell the truth about something so that you no longer feel guilty
Own up to (doing) sth : to admit that you are responsible for something bad or wrong
207. Thomas was not given details of the company’s new projects. (DARK)
 Thomas was kept in the dark about the company’s new projects.
208. In the area, Thailand is much better than all other countries in football. (SHOULDERS)
 Thailand is/ stands head and shoulders above all other countries in football.
209. I'm afraid our problems are just beginning. (ICEBERG)
 These problems of ours are just the tip of the iceberg.
Cách diễn đạt chỉ sự sở hữu + idiom the tip of the iceberg
210. The final version of the plan was quite different from the initial draft. (RESEMBLANCE)
 The final version of initial plan bore little/ no resemblance to the final draft.
Trong câu gốc có từ “quite” chỉ mức độ tương đối thôi nên answer nên dùng little thay vì no
*Bonus :
Striking contrast : a clear difference between A and B
=> There is a striking contrast between A and B / A stands in striking contrast with B
211. I expected the film to be good, but it wasn’t at all. (LIVE)
 The film didn't live up to my expectations at all.
[The film didn’t live up to my expectations]
212. You must do something to make sure this doesn’t happen again. (STEPS)
 You must take steps to make sure/ ensure (that) this doesn’t happen again.
Take steps = take action = do sth about it/sth
213. It’s believed that the school prestige has improved immensely in the last few decades. (MEASURE)
 The school prestige is believed to have increased beyond measure in the last few decades.
Beyond measure = incalculably = inestimably
214. It was rash of Jimmy to react so aggressively that his wife felt heartbroken. (IMPULSE)
 Had Jimmy not reacted so aggressively on impulse, his wife would not have felt heartbroken.
on impulse = impulsively : một cách bốc đồng
215. Tony regretted criticising his friend’s business plan so strongly. (POURED)
 If only Tony hadn’t poured scorn on his friend’s business plan.
* Pour scorn on sb/ sth : to speak about somebody/something in a way that shows that you do not respect
them or have a good opinion of them ( ~ run sb down )
* If only + S + past tense : diễn tả một ước muốn không có thật ở hiện tại
If only + S + past perfect tense : diễn tả một ước muốn không có thật ở quá khứ
=> Cách dùng giống cấu trúc WISH
216. Harry didn’t realize who the lady was until she moved forward into the light. (DAWN)
 Not until the lady moved forward into the light did it dawn on Harry who she was.
[Not until the lady moved forward into the light did I dawn on him who she was.]
STH dawn on SB = SB realize STH
Câu trả lời cần có tên được nhắc đến ở câu gốc để đảm bảo đầy đủ thông tin
217. The whole affair has been a set of misfortunes from the beginning. (CHAPTER)
 From start to finish, the whole affair has been a chapter of accidents.
From start to finish : including all of something, from the beginning to the end ( từ đầu đến cuối )
Be a chapter of accidents : to be a series of unpleasant events
*Bonus :
From the ground up : completely, or including everything, starting with the most basic things
218. You were so pessimistic about what happened. (VIEWED)
 You should not have viewed what happened in negative light.
view sth in negative light ( có cái nhìn bi quan về điều gì ) >< look on the bright side of sth
219. Come what may, you should look on the bright side. (CHIN)
 No matter what happens, you should keep your chin up.
[happened, you should keep you chin up]
Câu này không có động từ nào để ở quá khứ đơn trong câu gốc thì cứ chia hiện tại hoàn thành
nhé
220. Nobody is sure if the scheme will be allowed to go ahead. (GREEN)
 It is still in the balance whether the scheme will get / be given the green light or not.
It is in the balance whether ...
= It is uncertain/ touch and go/ up in the air + whether ...
= It remains to be seen
= There’s no telling ...
221. “Because of this new evidence I have no alternative but to release you ,” the judge told the accused.
(LIGHT)
 “In the light of this new evidence I have no alternative but to release you,” the judge told the accused.
In the light of = in consideration of = in view of
222. It is important to know the difference between a joke and a lie. (DRAW)
 It is important to know how to draw the line between a joke and a lie. [draw a line]
Draw the line at doing sth/ between A and B : vạch ra giới hạn
223. The government recommends a balance of reward and punishment when dealing with young offenders.
(STICK)
 The government favours a carrot and stick approach to young offenders.
a carrot and stick approach : a system in which you are rewarded for some actions and threatened with
punishment for others
224. Let’s all work to gether, and we’ll finish the job very quickly . (NEXT)
 We'll have this job done in next to no time if we cooperate.
Next to = almost
=> next to impossible ( = extremely difficult )/ next to nothing ( very little ) / next to no time ( with very
little time )
225. He was really jealous when he saw his brother’s new car. (GREEN)
 He was green with envy to see his brother's new car.
226. Linda was very nervous, which made her look like a bashful girl. (CAME)
 Such was her nervousness that Linda came over as a bashful girl.
Come over as + N/ (being) adj : to make a particular impression
227. As soon as the funds ran out, they had to abandon the scheme. (PETERED)
 The instant the funds petered out, they had to abandon the scheme.
Peter out = run out : hết
228. Why did you reveal my plan to Kathy? (BREATHED)
 I'd rather/sooner you hadn’t breathed a word about/ of my plan to Kathy.
breathe a word about/ of sth: to tell other people about something
~ let sb in on sth : to allow somebody to share a secret
~ spill the beans/ let the cat out of the bag : to tell somebody something that should be kept secret
or private
229. David was responsible for the family business as soon as his father retired. (CHARGE)
 Scarcely had his father retired when David took charge / was put in charge of the family business.
Take charge of sth = take over sth : become responsible for sth
230. Your encouragement helped to make things less grievous after such a heavy loss. (CUSHION)
 It was your encouragement that helped (to) cushion the blow after such a heavy loss.
Cushion the blow : to make something that is unpleasant seem less unpleasant and easier to accept

231. Tina was crazy about stamps, so she spends lots of money on them every month. (SPLASHED)
 Had it not been for her craze for stamps, Tina wouldn’t have splashed out on them every month.
[Had it not been for her craze about stamps, Tina would have splashed out on them every month]
Craze for sth (n) : an enthusiastic interest in something that is shared by many people but that usually
does not last very long
*NOTE : câu đk loại 3 là câu đk TRÁI VỚI QUÁ KHỨ
232. He tried hard but couldn't compensate for what he had done. (AMENDS)
 Try as he might, he couldn’t make amends for what he had done.
Try as one might = no matter how hard one tries
Make amends for sth = make up for
233. Experts think that all dogs evolved from wolves. (DESCENDED)
 All dogs are thought to have been descended from wolves by / according to experts.
be descended from: to be related to somebody/ sth who lived a long time ago
234. We didn't learn he still managed to live with very little money as a waiter until later. (EKED)
 Not until later did we learn he (still) eked out a (miserable) living / an existence as a waiter.
eke out a living/ an existence: manage to survive with very little money.
~ live from hand to mouth : to have just enough money to live on and nothing extra
~ keep your head above water : to just be able to manage, especially when you have financial difficulties
235. Nobody is certain if the project will be permitted to continue. (GO-AHEAD)
 It's still touch and go whether the project will be given / will get/ be given the go-ahead or not.
It is in the balance whether ...
= It is uncertain/ touch and go/ up in the air + whether ...
= It remains to be seen
= There’s no telling ...
Give sb/ sth the go-ahead/ green light = to allow sth
236. There was absolute quietness after the manager said the factory would be closing. (DROP)
 You could hear a pin drop after the manager said the factory would be closing.
You could head a pin drop : to describe a situation where there was complete silence, especially because
people were very interested or very surprised by what was happening
237. Susie believes this job interview is really important. (STORE)
 Susie is setting great store by/ on this job interview. [set a great store on]
Set great store by/ on sth : to believe that something is very important
238. I very much want to know - you must tell me who has won! (CURIOSITY)
 I am burning with curiosity - you must tell me who has won!
Be burning with curiosity = full of curiosity
=> be burning with sth : to feel that emotion very strongly
239. Given their recent matches, it’s unlikely that the Spanish team will win the cup. (EVIDENCE)
 On the evidence of their recent matches, it’s unlikely that the Spanish will win the cup.
Given sth = on the evidence of sth = according to sth
240. While most writers earn only modest royalties, a lucky few create a bestseller. (STRIKE)
 A few writers strike it lucky by/with creating a bestseller, but earning only modest royalties is
the norm.
strike it lucky by/with sth: to suddenly have a lot of unexpected luck
norm (n) : a situation or a pattern of behaviour that is usual or expected
241. Christ would only eat a pizza if he could have a mushroom topping. (ON)
 Christ insisted on having a mushroom topping when he ate a pizza.
[Christ insisted on eating a pizza with a mushroom topping when he ate a pizza]
242. My sister finds commuting every day annoying. (PUT)
 It’s difficult for my sister to put up with commuting every day.
Put up with sth : to accept somebody/something that is annoying, unpleasant, etc. without complaining
243. The Mediterranean is warm, whereas the North Sea is much colder. (NOTHING)
 The North Sea is nothing like as warm as the Mediterranean.
Nothing like/ nowhere near + so sánh bằng : dùng để nhấn mạnh sự khác biệt giữa 2 đối tượng
so sánh

244. My father persuaded me to learn another foreign language. (TALKED)

 My father talked me into learning another foreign language.
talk sb into doing sth: thuyết phục ai đó làm gì
~ bring sb round to sth : to persuade somebody to agree to something
245. Whatever difficulties Anna had, she still attended university. (SHINE)
 Anna still attended university (come) rain or shine.
Come rain or shine ( = come what may ): whatever happens
246. The view from the hotel is absolutely breathtaking. (BREATH)
 The view from the hotel will take your breath away.
[The view from the hotel absolutely takes your breath away]
Take sb’s breath away : to be extremely beautiful or surprising
247. I think John is planning to take over the business when his boss retires. (DESIGNS)
 I am of the opinion that John has designs on (taking over) the business when his boss retires.
248. John advised starting the project over again from the beginning to get it perfect. (SCRATCH)
 It was on John’s recommendation that the project be started from scratch to ensure perfection.
249. Making a fuss over such trivial things at this stage will get us nowhere. (MOUNTAIN)
 Making a mountain out of a molehill at this stage will be / is of no avail.
250. P eople always hold fate responsible for whatever’s going wrong in their life. (UNTOWARD)
 People always pin the blame on fate whenever something untoward in their life happens.
(anything/something) untoward : unexpected and not convenient or unpleasant
Pin the blame (for sth) on sb/sth = blame sb/sth for sth
= attribute sth to sb/sth
= ascribe sth to sb
= put sth down to sth/sb
= hold sb/sth responsible for sb/sth
251. People say that Nguyen Chi Thanh was once an example of an exceptionally green street. (SINGLED)
 Ngu yen Chi Thanh is said to have been singled out as (being) an exceptionally green street.
Single sb/sth out as sb/sth : choose somebody/something from a group for special attention
252. I regret not having the feeling of achieving anything after reaching the summit but I was too
exhausted. (SENSE)
 I wish I had felt/ had a sense of achievement after reaching the summit but I was too exhausted.
253. With that bad cold you won’t be able to help us, so take the day off work. (USE)
 With that bad cold you’ll be (of) no use to anyone so take the day off work.
254. Most employees used to be proud of working for the same company all their lives but not an ymore.
(PRIDE)
 Most employees no longer pride themselves on/ take pride in working for the same company all their
lives.
255. They still haven’t carried out a full assessment of the effects of these changes. (FULLY)
 The effects of these changes have yet to be fully assessed.
have yet to V = have not Ved
256. He thinks his friends do not appreciate him. (GRANTED)
 He disliked being taken for granted by his friends.
257. You don’t realize quite how much fat there is in that pizza. (DEAL)
 There’s a great deal more fat in that pizza than you realize.
A great deal/ far/ much + so sánh hơn => nhấn mạnh
258. I imagine it was tough for you to refuse every beggar that asked you for money. (TURN)
 It must have been tough/ difficult/ hard to turn down every beggar that asked you for money.
259. Nowadays many doctors are too busy with their work, so they have less time for their children.
(BOUND)
 Nowadays many doctors are too bound up in their work to have time for their children.
be bound up in: to be very involved in something, so that you cannot think about anything else
~ up to your neck in sth
~ have your hands full
~ on the go
~ have sth on your plate
260. I did not attend the farewell party last night because I had a lot of work to deal with. (NECK)
 If I had not been up to my neck in work, I would have attended the farewell party last night.
261. Despite having been very nervous at first, he completed the test successfully. (STATE)
 Despite having been in/having got into a state at first, he was cooking with gas.
get into/in a state: to become nervous and upset
262. Sam’s impressive speech helped her achieve very good results for her promotion. (MIRACLES)
 Sam’s impressive speech helped her work/ perform miracles for her promotion.
Work/perform miracles for: to be extremely effective in improving a situation
263. The secretary admires her manager so much that she doesn’t see his faults, so she does
everything he orders. (TUNE)
 The secretary dances to her manager’s tune because she puts /places him on a pedestal.
264. When the year is coming, all members are excited. (FEVER)
 When the year is coming, all memmbers are gripped with a fever.
Be gripped with a fever
= have ants in your pants
265. The singer was willing to sacrifice her happiness to become famous. (ALTAR)
 The singer was willing to sacrifice her happiness at/on the altar of fame.
at/on the altar of fame: because of something that you think is worth suffering for
266. I think we should not make the discussion last longer because we need to reach a decision. (DRAG)
I think we should not drag out the discussion because we need to reach a decision.
267. In the court, a lawyer made every effort to find mistakes in the witness’s statement. (HOLES)
 In the court, a lawyer made every effort to pick holes in the witness’s statement.
Pick holes in sth = find fault with sth

268. Digging in the garden allows me to vent my frustrations. (OUTLET)

 Digging in the garden gives me an outlet for my frustrations.
Outlet (n) : a way of expressing or making good use of strong feelings, ideas or energy
269. In his new book the writer presents an interesting theory of art. (FORWARD)
 In his new book the writer puts forward an interesting theory of art.
270. The pop star insisted that there was no basis to the claims made against him. (UNFOUNDED)
 The pop star insisted that the claims made against him were unfounded.
271. We are not responsible for valuables that are not left in the hotel safe. (DISCLAIM)
 We disclaim responsibility for valuables that are not left in the hotel safe.
271. Would she feel offended if I offered to help ? (AMISS)
 Would she take it amiss if I offered to help?
272. When Mary starts talking, no one else can say anything because she is speaking too much.
(EDGEWAYS)
 When Mary starts talking, no one else can get a word in edgeways.
274 . 1 was determined to go despite any difficulties. (WATER)
 I was determined to go, come hell or high water.
275. He got promoted so quickly because he knew important people who could help him. (FRIENDS)
 He got promoted so quickly because he had friends in high places.
276. She seems to find the way Tom’s behaves more a source of amusement than embarrassment.
(BEING)
 Far from being embarrassed by Tom’s behavio(u)r, she seems to be amused by it.
277. I was amazed because there were no problems throughout the holiday. (WENT)
 To my amazement, nothing went wrong throughout the holiday.
278. I felt relaxed at Gita’s house because her parents greeted me so warmly. (EASE)
 Gita’s parents put me at (my) ease with the warmth of their greetings.
279. We need to give that new supervisor a lesson because he thinks he’s so superior. (PEG)
 That new supervisor needs to be taken/brought down a peg (or two), for he thinks he’s so superior.
280. You should observe the task carefully before you decide. (WEATHER)
 You should keep the weather eye on/open for the task before you decide.
281. Since there wasn’t a better alternative, I accepted the job. (ABSENCE)
 In the absence of a better alternative, I accepted the job.
282. It seems to me that my parents cope calmly with everything I do. (STRIDE)
 I’m under the impression that my parents take everything I do in their stride.
283. It’s clear to everyone that he’s excellent at his job. (DENYING)
 There’s no denying (the fact) that he’s excellent at his job.
284. We were told not to communicate by radio except in an emergency. (SILENCE)
 We were told not to to break radio silence except in an emergency.
285. The new examination regulations will become operational next month. (FORCE)
 The new examination regulations will come into force next month.
286. Doctors almost always take a patient’s temperature first. (PLACE)
 It is standard practice/procedure for doctors to take a patient’s temperature in the first place.
287. I resent the way that she clearly feels herself to be superior to me. (NOSE)
 I resent the way that she looks down her nose at me.
288. The effects of the gale were felt mainly along the south coast. (BRUNT)
 The south coast took/ bore the brunt of the gale.
289. The tourists were unharmed after the train crash. (WORSE)
 The tourists were none the worse for their experience in the train crash.
290. Harry was close to swimming the big race. (ACE)
 Harry was within an ace of winning the big race.
291. The police caught the burglar in the process of committing the crime. (RED)
 The burglar was caught red-handed.
292. I suddenly realized the meaning of a “freebie”. ( DAWNED)
 The meaning of a "freebie" suddenly dawned on me.
293. You look grumpy this morning. (BED)
 You get out of bed on the wrong side this morning.
294. She felt uncomfortable in the huge hotel. (FISH)
 She felt like a fish out of water in the huge hotel.
295. If you don’t have time, don’t visit Mr Jones today because he will talk for a long time. (HEAD)
 If you don’t have time, don’t visit Mr. Jones today because he will talk your head off.
296. Although the signs are optimistic, there are imminent dark cloud. (TEETH)
 On the horizon/ cards are dark cloud in the teeth of optimistic signs.
297. We only ingratiated ourselves with our teacher because Kate insisted. (CURRIED)
 It was at Kate’s insistence that we curried favor with our teacher.
298. Nobody expected it of him but Sam was laid off. (RANKS)
 Against all expectations, Sam joined the ranks of the unemployed.
299. If the candidates didn’t work harder, they would fail the exam. (SOCKS)
 The candidates, if not/ unless pulling their socks up, would fail to get the passing grade/ would
get the bad grade.
300. The lawyer for the defence suspected the witness gave false testimony. (PERJURED)
 The defence lawyer called into question whether/if the witness perjured himself.
301. He was really jealous when he saw his opponent make it through to next round. (ADVANCE)
 He was green with envy when he saw his opponent advance to the next round.
302. You could be arrested for not giving a breath sample to the police. (REFUSAL)
 Refusal to give a breath sample to the police can lead to / result in your arrest.
303. Tony shared his deepest feelings with me. (HEART)
 Tony opened his heart to me.
304. The offer to go and work in Brazil was a complete surprise. (BLUE)
 The offer to go and work in Brazil came (completely) out of the blue.
305. He is the kind of man who will do anything to crush the competition (GO)
 He is the kind of man who will/ would go to any lengths crush the competition.
306. What has this experience taught you? (CONCLUSIONS)
 What conclusions have you drawn from this experience?
307. Nowadays goods are often acquired but not paid for immediately. (CREDIT)
 Nowadays goods are often bought on credit.
308. They were never aware of any moment that something was wrong. (TIME)
 At no time were they (ever) aware that some thing was wrong.
309. It’s difficult to answer her question adequately. (A)
 Hers is a difficult question to answer adequately.
310. Being in prison seems to have changed Kevin’s behavior for the better. (LEAF)
 Kevin has turned over a new leaf since he got out of prison.
311. She just managed to see the Queen as she went past in her carriage. (GLIMPSE)
 I just caught a glimpse of the Queen as she went past in her carriage.
312. We were lucky to find somewhere to park so quickly. (STROKE)
 It was a stroke of luck that we found somewhere to park so quickly.
313. The modern factory doesn’t look right in the countryside, surrounded by fields and hedges. (PLACE)
 The modern factory looks out of place in the countryside, surrounded by fields and hedges.
314. Everyone knows that Janet hates insects. (AVERSION)
 Janet’s aversion to insects is well known.
315. I didn’t want to give up while some hope of success remained. (DEFEAT)
 I was loath to admit defeat while there was still/ while there remained some hope of success.
316. The police have put a barrier around the building to keep people out. (CORDONED)
 The building has been cordoned off by police.
317. I can’t cope at all with my new job, and that bothers me. (DEPTH)
 I wish I wasn’t/weren’t out of my depth in/with my new job.
318. I never thought of borrowing money from him. (OCCURRED)
 It never occurred to me to borrow money from him.
319. The boys hurled lots of snowballs at their next-door neighbor. (PELTED)
 The boys pelted their next-door neighbor with snowballs.
320. We wan t to breathe new life into this project. (REJUVENATE )
 We want to rejuvenate this project.
321. This essay shows a slight improvement on the last. (MARGINALLY)
 This essay is marginally better than the last.
322. Jim knew he would have to go on the business trip at a moment’s notice. (POISED)
 Jim was poised to go on the business trip at the moment’s notice.
323. I always had the feeling she was not pushing our friendship forward. (ARM)
 I always had the feeling she was keeping me at arm's length.
324. One day, she suddenly announced that she was leaving. (BLUE)
 One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
325 There's no one available at this moment to take her class. (NOTICE)
 There's no one available at such short notice to take her class.
326. Roman ia won all of the medals. (SWEEP)
 Roman ia made a clean sweep of the medals.
327. It all boils down to one thing - we need another ten thousand dollars to complete the project.
(BOTTOM)
 The bottom line is that we need another ten thousand dollars to complete the project.
328. After making Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio appeared in The Beach. (PREVIOUS)
 Leonardo Dicaprio’s previous film before The Beach was Titanic.
329. You can’t possibly expect me to pay for the tickets. (QUESTION)
 There is no question of me/my paying for the tickets.
330. He’s so garrulous that we are not able to say anything. (WORD)
 He’s so garrulous that we are not able to /can’t get a word in edgeways/ edgewise.
331. Tony’s habit of taking risks doesn’t fit in his image as a family man. (COMPATIBLE)
 Tony’s habit of taking risks is not compatible with his image as a family man.
332. The authorities had decided they would get tough with dissidents. (CRACK DOWN)
 The authorities had decided there would be (/had decided on) a crackdown on dissidents.
333. Have you decided to enter the poster competition? (GO)
 Have you decided to go in for the poster competition?
334. Don’t expect him to spare your feelings: he always says exactly what he thinks. (MIND)
 Don’t expect him to spare your feelings: he always speaks his mind.
335. You have to use logic and lateral thinking in equal measure in this job. (STRIKE)
 You have to strike a balance between logic and lateral thinking in this job.
336. The effects of the gale were felt mainly along the south coast. (BRUNT)
 The south coast bore/took the brunt of the gale.
337. Ours is the only company allowed to import these chemicals. (MONOPOLY)
 Our company has (got)/holds (the/a) monopoly of/on/over the import/importing/importation of
these chemicals.
338. The handling of the matter has been heavily criticised by the press. (SCORN)
 The press has poured scorn on the handling of the matter.
339. Joan was not sure if it was a good idea to employ such young staff. (MISGIVINGS)
 Joan had misgivings about employing such young staff.
340. Nobody else in the country possesses his skills on the trumpet. (UNMATCHED)
His skills on the trumpet are unmatched by anyone/anybody else in the country.
341. My son has finally come to accept that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. (DAWNING)
 It’s finally dawning on my son that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
342. I think he’s at last beginning to agree with me. (ROUND)
 I think he’s at last coming round to my way of thinking.
343. Initially, I think you develop the plot very convingcingly. (UNFOLDS)
 Initially, I think the plot unfolds convincingly.
344. Why didn’t you ask me before you used my computer? (RATHER)
 I’d rather you had asked me before you used my computer.
345. What he told me made me very curious to hear the rest of the story. (APPETITE)
 What he told me whetted my appetite for the rest of the story.
346. Competitors were amazed by how shrewdly he conducted his business affairs. (MARVELLED)
 Competitors marvelled at the shrewdness with which he conducted his business affairs.
347. He was sacked only because he was inefficient. (OFF)
 To put it simply, he was laid off because he was inefficient / of his inefficiency.
348. I said that I thought he was wrong about the best way for US to proceed. (ISSUE)
 I took issue with him about how best we should proceed.
349. I didn't want to give up while some hope of success remained. (DEFEAT)
 I was loath to admit defeat while there was still/while there remained some hope of success.
350. His smooth manner didn’t deceive US. (TAKEN)
 We were not taken in by his smooth manner.
351. I haven’t realized what it means yet. (SUNK)
 It hasn’t sunk in yet.
352. The disagreement is a lot of fuss about nothing. (TEACUP)
 The disagreement is a storm in a teacup.
353. Organic vegetables are said to be very healthy. (WONDERS)
 Organic vegetables are said to do wonders for one’s health.
354. The regiment’s reputation was greatly damaged by his outrageous conduct. (HARM)
 His outrageous conduct did great harm to the regiment’s reputation.
355. Christmas and roast turkey go together in my mind. (WITH)
 I associate Christmas with roast turkey.
356. Don’t eat so many sweets and you won’t have to visit the dentist so often. (SAVE)
 Eating fewer sweets will save you having to visit the dentist so often.
357. The fact that he will never race again is something he cannot accept. (TERMS)
 He cannot come to terms with the fact that he will never race again.
358. It was a tight fit, but we parked the car eventually. (DEAL)
 There wasn’t a great deal of room, but we parked the car eventually.
359. They are waiting, for him to arrive at any minute. (DUE)
 He is due to arrive at any minute.
360. Brian couldn’t explain how the stolen computer got into the boot of his car. (LOSS)
 Brian was at a loss to explain how the stolen computer got into the boot of his car.
361. The company is unable to guarantee an allocated car-parking space to all employees. (COUNT)
 The company’s employees shouldn’t count on being allocated a car-parking space.
362. My grandfather had completely forgotten that he phoned me last night. (RECOLLECTION)
 My grandfather didn’t have any recollection (at all) of phoning me last night.
363. Your mobile phone should be switched off at all times during the performance. (SHOULD)
 Under no circumstances (at all) should you have/keep/learn your mobile phone switched on during the
performance.
364. The public reacted angrily to the minister’s remarks. (DREW)
 The minister’s remarks drew an angry response from the public.
365. I must have offended her because she isn’t being friendly towards me. (SHOULDER)
 I must have offended her because she is giving me a cold shoulder.
366. Bad publicity badly affected sales figures. (DETRIMENTAL)
 Bad publicity had a detrimental effect on sales figures.
367. Once we had made sure there was no reason to be afraid, we went ahead. (FEAR)
 Having satisfied ourselves that there was nothing to fear, we went ahead.
368. She was concentrating so hard on her work that she didn ’t notice when I came in. (TOOK)
 She was so wrapped up in her work that she took no notice when I came in.
369. Laura’s tendency to interrupt every conversation makes me furious! (BEND)
 It drives me round the bend when/that Laura interrupts every conversation.
370. This property has been totally neglected and is in need of complete renovation. (DISREPAIR)
 Having fallen into (a state of ) disrepair, this property needs renovating completely.
371. We only ingratiated ourselves with our teacher because Kate insisted. (CURRIED )
 It was was at Kate’s insistence that we curried favour with our teacher.
372. Don’t make me suffer because of your problems! (ON)
 Don’t take it out on me just because you’ve got problems!
373. She just pretended to welcome him, then quickly left the waiting room. (MOTIONS)
 She just went through the motions of welcoming him, then quickly left the waiting room.
374. We have made neither a profit nor a loss this year. (EVEN)
 We have broken even this year.
375. It would be easy to make a film adaptation of Danielle Steel’s latest novel. (ITSELF)
 Danielle Steel’s latest novel lends itself to being made into a film.
376. George seems to have been putting his website together for a long time. (CONSTRUCTION)
 George’s website seems to have been under construction for a long time.
377. Recent research has changed theories about the causes of bird flu. (LIGHT)
 Theories about the causes of bird flu have changed in the light of recent research.
378. I'd rather not go out this afternoon. (FEEL)
 I do not feel like going out this afternoon.
379. Milan is sure that he was right to turn down the job. (REGRETS).
 Milan has no regrets about turning down/that he turned down the job.
380. In spite of his efforts, his plans failed. (NOTHING)
 His plans came to nothing although he tried hard.
381. There are plans to close down the cinema due to poor attendance levels. (THREATS)
 The cinema is under the threats of closure due to poor atte ndance levels.
382. Mr Downson accused Richard of leaking the news. (PUT)
 Mr Downson put the blame on Richard for leaking the news.
383. Don’t tell the boss anything about this. (BREATHE)
 Don’t breathe a word of this to the boss./ Don’t breathe a word to the boss about this.
384. At the moment I can’t afford to buy a new car. (QUESTION)
 At the moment a new car is out of the question.
385. I was not sure whether to go with him or not. (MINDS)
 I was in/of two minds about whether to go with him.
386. “I don’t approve of people who tell lies”, said Jack (EXPRESSED)
 She expressed her disapproval of people who tell lies.
387. Our boss criticizes our work all time (FAULT)
 Our boss is always finding fault with our work.
Dùng thì hiện tại tiếp diễn để diễn tả hành động lặp lại nhiều đến mức gây khó chịu, phiền hà cho
người khác
388. Louise should have been given more time to complete her thesis. (INSUFFICIENT)
 Louise was given insufficient time to complete her thesis.
389. You certainly could never accuse Tom of being mean. (NOTHING)
 Tom is nothing other than generous.
390. Why on earth did you do something as dangerous as that? (POSSESSED)
 What on earth possessed you to do something as dangerous as that?
Possess sb to do sth : to make somebody do something that seems strange or unreasonable
391. Brian is a strong contender for the position. (LIST)
 Brian is on the short list for the position.
392. Katy hasn’t been feeling well lately. (RUN)
 Katy has been feeling run down lately.
393. There was no further delay in awarding the prizes. (ADO)
 The prizes were awarded without further ado.
394. The money was released very gradually. (DRIBS)
 The money was released in dribs and drabs.
395. You have said exactly the right thing. (NAIL)
 You have hit the nail on the head.
396. I felt vaguely that something was wrong, but what was it? (BACK)
 I felt at the back of my mind that something was wrong, but what was it?
397. What exactly am I supposed to have done wrong? (STAND)
 What exactly do I stand accused of having done wrong?
398. The incident ruined my chances of promotion. (PAID)
 The incident put paid to my chances of promotion.
Put paid to ~ deal a blow to
399. Sam made absolutely sure nothing would go wrong when he planned the expedition. (CHANCE)
 Sam left nothing to chance when he planned the expedition.
400. Nobody helped me at all. (FINGER)
 Nobody lifted/raised a finger to help me.