Proverbs & Idioms

Bác Đăng văn chương phong phú thật đấy.Bái phục bái phục.

To antigod
Bạn có thể gửi cho mình được ko dù đã rất muộn so với lúc bạn post lên. Many thanks.
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up phát, trang này hay thía này mà lại bị nhét xuống tận trang 5, tìm mãi mới thấy!!!

across the board- including everyone or everything
Ex:The computer company decided to give the workers an across-the-board increase in their salary.
(to sell something) at a loss- (to sell something) and lose money
Ex:We were forced to sell the computers at a loss.
to bail a company out- to help or rescue a company with financial problems
The government decided to bail out the bank in order to maintain stability in the economy.
to bankroll someone- *****pply someone with money, to finance someone
The movie actor bankrolled his son while he was producing his first movie.
a bean counter- an accountant
We asked the bean counters to look over the figures in the new budget.
a big gun/big cheese/big wheel/big wig- an important person, a leader
The new director was a big wheel in his previous company but is not so important now.
the bottom line- the total, the final figure on a balance sheet, results
When we examined the bottom line of the company we decided not to invest in it.
the bottom line- the central issue of a discussion
My friends wanted to open a small restaurant but for me the bottom line was that if we didn''t do some research I didn''t want to invest any money.
to bottom out- to reach the lowest or worst point of something
The value of the stock has begun to bottom out and should soon begin to increase in value.
the boys in the backroom- a group of men making decisions behind the scenes
The boys in the backroom told us that we must close down the factory as soon as possible.
to break even- to have expenses equal to profits
After only three months the company was able to break even and started to make a profit.
a budget squeeze/crunch- a situation where there is not enough money in the budget
We have been going through a severe budget squeeze at our company and must stop wasting money.
to buy a stake in something- to buy part ownership of a company or other enterprise
The large bank is planning to buy a stake in the small stock trading company.
to buy off (someone)- to use a gift or money to divert someone from their duty or purpose (sometimes similar to a bribe and therefore illegal)
The land developer tried to buy off the politician but he was not successful.
to buy out (someone or something)- to buy the ownership or a majority share of something
The large company decided to buy out the small textile company.
to call a meeting to order- to start a meeting
Our supervisor called the meeting to order when everyone arrived in the conference room.
a captain of industry- a top corporation officer
The president of our company was a captain of industry and after he retired he was appointed to many government boards.
to close the books- to stop taking orders, to end a bookkeeping period
They usually close the books at the end of December every year.
(to make) a cold call- to visit or telephone a potential but unknown customer from a list of people
When he first started to work at his company he was asked to make cold calls from the telephone book.
a company man- a person who always works hard and agrees with his employers or company
My father was a company man and always put in an extra effort for his company.
a company town- a town dominated by one industry or company
When the coal mine closed the company town faced severe economic times.
to cut a deal- to make a business arrangement or contract
I was able to cut a deal with the contractor and we paid very little for our new kitchen.
to cut back- to use fewer or use less of something
The company has been cutting back on entertainment expenses recently.
to cut corners- to economize
We have been forced to economize on stationary expenses during these severe economic times.
to cut off- to interrupt or stop
The speech by the president was cut off when the electricity went off in the building.
to cut one''s losses- to do something in order to stop losing money/time etc.
We should sell the old machinery as soon as possible and try to cut our losses.
to deliver the goods- *****cceed in doing a good job of what is expected
The new manager is not very popular but he is able to deliver the goods.
to double-check (something)- to check something again to confirm if it is correct
We were unable to double-check the costs of the new products before the price list was printed.
to draw up a contract- to make/draft a contract
The lawyer spent several hours drawing up a contract.
the face value (of something)- the official value or worth of something
Although the face value of the postage stamp was very low it sold at the auction for much money.
fair play- justice, equal and correct action toward someone
The company is very good to work for as they always use fair play when they are bargaining with their employees.
to figure (something) out- to find an answer by thinking about something
Everyone is trying to figure out what our boss is going to do with the new equipment.
to fill the bill- to be just what is needed
That new machine should fill the bill for what we need to finish the job.
(to have one''s) finger in the pie- to be involved in something, to receive money for something
The new manager has his finger in the pie of many small businesses.

"The best things in life are free."We don''t have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship and good health.
"A stitch in time saves nine."Repair something as soon as it is damaged. That''s a small repair job. If not, you will have a much bigger and more expensive repair job later. Do it now and you''ll need one stitch. Do it later and you''ll need 9 stitches! (Why nine and not eight or ten? Because "nine" rhymes,approximately. with "time".)
õ? stitch (noun) = a link made with thread in sewing
õ? in time = not late
"Still waters run deep."
Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That''s usually because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the surface. But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and the water is smooth and still. "Still waters run deep" means that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often have a strong, "deep" personality.
õ? still (adjective) = calm, motionless
õ? deep (adjective) = going far down
"He teaches ill, who teaches all."
The unusual structure of this proverb may make it difficult to understand. It becomes easier if we change the structure to "He who teaches all teaches ill." The word "ill" here means "badly". So it means that the teacher who teaches students everything, does not teach well. A good teacher lets students discover some things for themselves.
õ? ill (adverb) = badly
"You can''t take it with you when you die."When we die we leave everything on earth. We don''t take anything with us. Even the richest people cannot take their money with them after death. This proverb reminds us that some material things are not really so valuable as we think.
"Better untaught than ill taught."
This proverb drops the verb "to be". But we understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It''s better not to learn something than to learn it badly. This idea is echoed in Pope''s famous line: "A little learning is a dang''rous thing;".
õ? taught = past participle of verb "teach" (here used in passive voice)
õ? ill taught = badly taught
"Don''t cross your bridges before you come to them."Don''t worry about problems before they arrive.
"Soon learnt, soon forgotten."
Something that is easy to learn is easy to forget.
"Even a worm will turn."Everybody will revolt if driven too far. Even the lowest of people, or animals, will revolt and hit back at some stage. Even a worm, the simplest of animals, will defend itself.
õ? worm (noun) = small thin animal with soft body and no bones or legs
õ? turn (verb) = revolt, fight back
"It was the last straw that broke the camel''s back."
There is a limit to everything. We can load the camel with lots of straw, but finally it will be too much and the camel''s back will break. And it is only a single straw that breaks its back - the last straw. This can be applied to many things in life. People often say "That''s the last straw!" when they will not accept any more of something.
õ? straw (noun) = dried stalk of grain (like dry piece of grass)
õ? camel (noun) = large long-necked animal used for riding and carrying goods in the desert
"The way to a man''s heart is through his stomach."
Many women have won a man''s love by cooking delicious meals for him. They fed his stomach and found love in his heart.
õ? way (noun) = path; route
"If the stone fall upon the egg, alas for the egg! If the egg fall upon the stone, alas for the egg!"Life just isn''t fair, and this realistic Arabic proverb recognizes that. The stone will always break the egg. Life''s like that!
õ? alas = bad luck; pity; tough; regrettable
"Where there''s a will there''s a way."
If we have the determination to do something, we can always find the path or method to do it.
õ? will (noun) = strong determination, desire.
õ? way (noun) = path, method
"Marry in haste, and repent at leisure."
If we get married quickly, without thinking carefully, we may be sorry later. And we will have plenty of time to be sorry.
õ? in haste = quickly
õ? repent (verb) = feel sorry, regret
õ? at leisure = slowly, over time
"One tongue is enough for a woman."Some people think that women talk too much. If they already talk too much, they don''t need another tongue. One tongue is sufficient. This proverb is another way of saying that women talk too much.
õ? tongue (noun) = large, movable fleshy part in the mouth that we use for talking and tasting
"If you wish good advice, consult an old man."Old people have a lot of experience. If you want to have good advice or recommendations, ask an old person, not a young one.
õ? wish (verb) = want, desire
õ? advice (noun) = recommendation as to what to do
õ? consult (verb) = ask; go to for advice or information
"The best advice is found on the pillow."
If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a good night''s sleep. People also often say: "I''ll sleep on it."
õ? advice (noun) = recommendation as to what to do
õ? pillow (noun) = cushion that you rest your head on while you sleep
"All clouds bring not rain."We can rephrase this: "Not every cloud brings rain." And that''s true. Sometimes there are many clouds in the sky, but it doesn''t rain. Sometimes it''s the same with problems, or what we think are problems.
"You can''t tell a book by its cover."
We need to read a book to know if it''s good or bad. We cannot know what it''s like just by looking at the front or back cover. This proverb is applied to everything, not only books.
"Bad news travels fast."
"Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly.
"No news is good news."
This is like the proverb "Bad news travels fast." If we are waiting for news about someone, it''s probably good if we hear nothing because "bad news" would arrive quickly.
"Live and let live."
This proverb suggest that we should not interfere in other people''s business. We should live our own lives and let others live their lives. The title of the famous James Bond story Live and Let Die was a play on this proverb.
"Birds of a feather flock together.""Birds of a feather" means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type or sort stay together. They don''t mix with people of another type.
õ? feather (noun) = part of the soft, light covering of a bird''s body
õ? flock (verb) = gather in a crowd
"Tell me who you go with and I''ll tell you who you are."Similar to "Birds of a feather...", this proverb suggests that like minds stick together.

Nhọ tui đang đi tìm lời dịch cho thành ngữ
"All rivers run into sea"
Đọc hết cả topic này mà chưa tìm được lời dịch. Có bạn nào giải nghĩa hộ được không ?
Ban đầu tôi nghĩ câu này gần nghĩa với câu "All roads lead to Rome", nhưng sau lại thấy ngờ ngợ vì thấy có chỗ nói ý là "Biển cả bao la" có thể chứa nổi cả trăm sông. Một phiên bản khác lại có ý nói đến sức mạnh tập thể như kiểu "Ba cây chụm lại"...
Bạn nào cho đường link tới lời giải thích cũng được nhé.
Xin cảm ơn

Không bạn nào dòm vào giúp Nhọ giải nghĩa à ?

Nước chảy chỗ trũng

Cảm ơn bạn Kiku. Câu tiếng Việt của bạn nghĩa theo tôi là rất sát. Nhưng Nhọ tôi vẫn còn hơi ngờ ngợ vì bản dịch tiếng Trung dịch word by word là "Biển nạp (dung nạp) cả trăm sông".
Bạn có biết link tới lời giải thích nào cụ thể không ? Tiếng Anh hay Việt đều được. Cảm ơn nhé.

Bạn ơi, một thành ngữ có thể nhiều cách hiểu mà. Tuỳ xem nó được sử dụng trong ngữ cảnh nào.