Idiomatic American English!

Smell a Rat
- How come the front door is open? Didn''t  you close it before we went shopping?
- I''m sure I did. I can''t understand it. Frankly, I smell a rat.
- Me, too. I''m convinced that something is definitely wrong here. We''d better call the police.
 
 
Go to the Dogs
- Have you seen their house lately? It''s really gone to the dogs.
- It''s true that it has become run-down and in serious need of repair, but I''m sure that it can be fixed up to look like new.
- I guess with a little carpentry work and some paint it could look pretty decent.
 
 
Take the Bull by the Horns

Julie had always felt that she was missing out on a lot of fun because of her clumsiness on the dance floor. She had been putting off taking lessons, but she finally took the bull by the horns and went to a professional dance studio for help. She was tired of feeling left out and acted decisively to correct the situation.
 
For the Birds

They went to a poetry reading, but they got bored and restless. As far as they were concerned, it was for the birds! They left during an intermission because they found the reading totally uninteresting and meaningless

 
 
Straight From the Horse''s Mouth
- How did you find out that Jill was engaged?
- I got the information from a very reliable source.
- You mean Jill told you so herself?
- That''s right. I got it straight from the horse''s mouth!
 
 
Horse Around

- Did you hear about Dave''s back injury?
- No. How did he get hurt?
- Well, after the coach left the gym he decided to stay and horse around on the parallel bars. He somehow lost his grip and fell on his back.
- That''s too bad, but he shouldn''t have been aimlessly playing around on the equipment without proper supervision.
 
 
Cat Got Your Tongue?

- Come on, Connie! Tell us what you think about our little ride down the rapids yesterday.
- Well, uh...
- Wasn''t it exciting?
- I, uh...
- What''s the matter? Cat got your tongue?
- If you must know, I''m keeping quiet because I was scared out of my wits!
 
 
Shoot Off One''s Mouth
Jim doesn''t play tennis very much, but he''s always shooting off his mouth about how good he is. Yet he''s fooling nobody. Jim is somewhat of a braggart and everyone knows that he gives opinions without knowing all the facts and talks as if he knew everything about the game.
 
 
Jump Down Someone''s Throat

- That''s it, Greg! You''d better not come in after midnight again tonight!
- I know, dad. You don''t have to jump down my throat! I told you that I''d make it home around 11:30. I don''t intend to be late!
- Well, you''ve said that before and in you come at 2: 30 in the morning. You can''t blame me for getting angry and scolding you. I''ve got good reason.
 
Pay Through the Nose
At last Mr. Smith came upon the rare stamp he had been seeking at an auction. Since many other stamp collectors would also be bidding for it, he realized that he would have to pay through the nose in order to have it.
After considering the increasing value of the stamp, he decided that he would not mind paying such a high price for something so rare.

 
 
Tongue-in-Cheek
- Why were you teasing Sonia about her new hairdo? She really took offense at what you said.
- I didn''t mean to offend her. I was simply making a tongue-in-cheek remark when i said that it was too elaborate for a girl of her young, tender age.
- Well, she thought you were serious. She had no idea that you were just saying that as a joke.
- I''m really sorry. I suppose I owe her an apology.
 
 
Play It by Ear

- Let''s go to the movies, agreed?
- Sure. And what''ll we do after that ?
- Oh, I don''t know. Let''s play it by ear.
- Well, I would like to have a more definite plan of action.
- Don''t be like that. It''s always more fun not knowing what to expect and deciding what to do as we go along.
 
 
Stick Out One''s Neck

- How come they''re asking me to act as their guide through the jungle?
- Evidently they think you''re the only one who can lead them to the lost temple.
- That jungle has danger lurking around every corner.
- Why should I stick my neck out for them? They didn''t pay me for my services.
- They know that you would be taking a great risk and could possibly get hurt, but you''re the only one with enough knowledge to take them to their destination. I''m sure you''ll be amply rewarded.
 
 
String Someone Along
Liz had high hopes of marrying Dean. When he ran off with another woman, she realized that he was just stringing her along. She had felt very strongly about him and was really hurt to see that he was deceiving her and had no intentions of ever marrying her.
 
 
Leave Someone High and Dry
- Say, Jill. I thought that John was going to help you do the dishes tonight.
- So did I. But he left me high and dry.
- Where did he go ?
- Well, he got a call from some of his pals at work to go bowling, and he left me alone to do all this work without any help at all!
 
 
Out of the Woods
Although Eric was well on his way to recovering from his bout with pneumonia, he was still not out of the woods. The doctors told him that he would have to take it easy and avoid exposure to cold, since he was not out of danger and difficulty yet.
 
 
The Early Bird Catches the Worm

- Marc, the lines for the rock festival are going to be miles long! If you expect to get tickets for you and Mary, remember that old saying. " The early bird catches the worm "
- I guess you''re right. Mary is looking forward to the concert, and I''d hate to disappoint her. I''ll get up real early to get a place at the head of the line.
- That way I''ll get the tickets I want, for sure !
 
You hear that? That is the sound of inevitability...

Raising cain​

M: My vacation plans fell through. My wife''s going to raise cain.
T: Don''t let on to her yet. May be everything will turn out OK.
M: I hope so. I hate to back out of a promise. I know my wife had her heart set on it.
T: If you can''''t go, make it up to her. She''''ll forgive you. She won''''t hold a grudge.
Voca:
fall through: fail, collapse.
raise Cain: creat a disturbance, makde trouble.
let on: reveal, inform, fell
turn out: result
back out of: withdraw, end an obligation or promise.
have one''''s heart set on: desire greatly.
make it up to someone: compensate for an unfulfilled promise or debt.
hold a grudge: not forgive someone for an insult or injury.
Được britneybritney sửa chữa / chuyển vào 20:57 ngày 04/04/2004

At the drop of a hat : quickly ; without any preparation time
By rusty : need pratice or review
See eye to eye ( with someone ) ( on something ) : have the same opinion ; be in agreement
Serve one right : receive the proper punishment ; get the penalty one deserves
Ring a bell ( with) : sound familiar to
Rough it : experience somewhat difficult or primitive con***ions
Sing up ( for ) : enroll ( for a class , for example )
Sing another tune : change one''s opinion ; feel differently
Sleep on it : postpone a decision until the next
Snowed under : very busy
Without a hitch : without a problem
What a doctor ordered : exactly what was needed ; the perfect thing
Under the weather : slightly ill

Throw the book at someone : give someone the maximum punishment
Tear oneself away froom something : stop doing something interesting
Spick and span : extremely clean ; spotless
Pull one'' leg : joke with someone ; make up a stong
Push one''s luck : to continue doing something too long ; to keep taking chances
Play it by ear : do something without a definite plan
On the tip of one''s tongue : almost able to remember
In the same boat : in the same situation ; having the same problem
Know like the back of one''s hand : be very familiar with
Beats me : I don''t konw ; I have no idea
Bite off more than one can chew : take on more responsibility than one can handle
Get a kick out of ( doing something ) : enjoy ; have fun doing something
A breeze : something very simple and easy to do
Show off : try to attract attention by unsual behavior

Những bài như bài của captor of sin rất hay, vì nó có context đi kèm, dễ nhớ hơn rất nhiều. Cái này Brit cũng collect được, post lên cùng mọi người. Thanks a million, Natna.
1/ Having a ball
Dialogue:
Tina: I feel like having a ball. Let''s splurge.Barbara: Forget it. I''m broke.Tina: Don''t worry. I''ll pick up the tab. I''m loaded today. I''ll treat you.Barbara: No, we''ll go Dutch. I don''t like to freeload.
Vocabulary:
have a ball: (v) enjoy one''''s self, have a good timesplurge: (v) spend a lot of money for somethingbroke: (adj) having no moneypick up the tab: (v) pay the billloaded: (adj) having lots of moneytreat: (v) pay for someone elsego Dutch: (v) each pay for himself or herselffreeload: (v) get things that others pay for