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Answer Key Bài tập tiếng anh 12 - Bùi Văn Vinh

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I wanted to hurt the man for making my mother cry, but she took me aside as the group moved what they were carrying over to the side of the house.North AmericanOtto then grabbed the little man by his collar and took him aside.North AmericanThen, just as he was preparing for his most significant challenge yet, the manager took him aside in August to inform him of an imminent signing.BritishI frowned at her less than enthused reaction but before I could take her aside and call her on it she moved up to her oblivious family, politely greeting them with a false cheer that she obviously didn't feel.North American

keep someone company

also bear someone company (archaic)company noun1. accompany or spend time with someone in order to prevent them feeling lonely or boredat weekends I kept my father company2. engage in the same activity as someone else in order to be sociableI'll have a drink myself, just to keep you company

cost someone dear

also cost someone dearlycost verbinvolve someone in a serious loss or a heavy penaltya couple of individual errors cost us dearExamplesOn paper they are a formidable outfit but poor decision making and a concession of penalties are costing them dearly.IrishThese extended redemption penalties can cost you dearly in the long run.BritishHis two losses in a row in the fifth and sixth rounds cost him dearly.IndianIt's a tough movie to watch at times and whatever redemption its characters find costs them dearly.Canadian

hold someone hostage

also take someone hostagehostage nounseize and keep someone as a hostagethey were held hostage by armed rebelsmore than 70 foreigners have been taken hostage in recent months

put someone right

also set someone rightright adjective1. restore someone to healtha bath and cup of tea soon put me rightExamplesHaving excited the driver's sympathy with this doleful mention of his wife we were driven round the corner to a cheerful looking café where the driver suggested we should have a cup of tea, because this was ‘sure to set us right.’IrishI always keep a packet of Kellogg's All Bran and whenever I am in danger, it puts me right again.British2. make someone understand the true facts of a situationlet me put you right on some thingsExamplesThe ‘After Hours’ quote has the central character getting something a little wrong, and the character who does the correcting flatly and contemptuously sets him right.North AmericanFellow Mammoth Ellie may think she is a giant-sized possum (one of the more irritating story elements), but once she is set right, there seems a fair chance that mammoths might not face extinction after all.British

turn against

turn verb1. turn against someonebecome hostile towards someonepublic opinion turned against himeverybody turns against her, and she finds herself without friends2. turn someone against someonecause someone to become hostile towards someone elseshe wants to know what turned him against his father

take someone aback

aback adverbshock or surprise someonehe was taken aback by her directnessExamplesThe consul was present at the Supreme Court hearing, and I think she was taken aback and shocked by what she heard.BritishWhen you go to such a place, you are taken aback by the youthfulness of the crowd.IndianPeople in England are aware of the divide, but the extent of it took me aback.BritishBut it was the theatrical brutality of the piece that took me aback.North AmericanEveryone at our table was taken aback at his rudeness toward a paying customer.North AmericanHe was so taken aback by the incident that he notified the local press in Donegal about it.Irish

avail someone nothing

avail verb (archaic) (of an action) be of no help at all to someonethis protest availed her nothingExamplesI would suggest that his flying start to war has availed him nothing but the intensified scorn of the nation.British‘It withered my heart,’ he wrote in his diary, but his presence could avail her nothing now.AustralianSuch rights may have availed us nothing, had the client run into financial difficulties.BritishI'm afraid that your skills, such as they are, will avail you nothing.North American

rob someone blind

also steal someone blindblind adjective(US English, informal) rob or cheat someone in a comprehensive or merciless way

cut someone dead

cut verbcompletely ignore someonewhere he used to cut them dead, he now helps them on with their coatsExamplesHe figures she likes him too; she cuts him dead at school, ignoring him because she doesn't remember that he confessed to liking her.North AmericanBut, let's be honest, when someone cuts you dead for no good reason and then they up and die shortly afterwards, suddenly and without warning, your immediate response to the news is liable to be, well, shall we say, underwhelming?BritishA number of his female stars complained that once the cameras stopped rolling he seemed to cut them dead, so much so that they were mystified when he subsequently offered them another film role.BritishWould she forget people's names, cut them dead when they try to speak, tell them off in public?British

keep someone dangling

dangle verbkeep someone in an uncertain positionhe was kept dangling—offered a place in the team and then droppedExamplesInstead of working to build a stable, loving, fun and well-rounded relationship, he's keeping you dangling.North AmericanI keep you dangling between belief and disbelief by turns, and I don't mind admitting that I have a reason for it.North AmericanThat would be the healthiest thing to do for all involved - no need to force Martin to make a decision, and no need to keep Kathy dangling in hopes of a possible relationship.North AmericanIt need not diminish our respect for him because he was kept dangling two years in England by suggestions of another appointment.British

do someone dirty

dirty adjective (informal) cheat or betray someoneshe's not going to keep quiet about her gripes against those who did her dirtyExamplesAlso profiled is California's arch-conservative talk radio host Melanie Morgan, and Soweto's Cheaters, which hires private detectives to find out if its listeners' partners are doing the dirty on them.BritishThen there's drug-loving drummer Lucy and mood guitarist Joe whose girlfriend Kate has no idea he's doing the dirty on her.AustralianForget ‘for richer, for poorer’ and just remember the profit warnings seen in recent years - companies show little remorse when they do the dirty on you.BritishStrand, which he promised dutifully not to visit, not after his last visit there ended in those distressing Bankrupts Anonymous meetings, did the dirty on him.Indian

eat someone alive

(informal) eat verb1. (of insects) bite someone many timeswe were eaten alive by mosquitoesExamplesHe was tempted to take off his shirt, but knew that the wicked little insects would eat him alive.North AmericanHow can I drop a hint to the others that the mosquitoes are eating me alive when they, even the women, are all far more covered than I am?East Asian2. exploit someone's weakness and completely dominate themthe defence lawyers would eat him alive on a written comment like thatExamplesI couldn't show any sign of weakness or they'd eat me alive.North AmericanMost felt Christie would be eaten alive by some of the bigger, more robust full-forwards.Irish

do someone fine

fine adjectivesuit or be enough for someoneExamplesSo it looks like my theory that an 800 seater would do us fine with plenty of room for people who showed up on the day might have been a little over-optimistic.BritishI still ‘sleep fast ‘- 5-6 hours, but it seems to do me fine.’North AmericanIf we finish one place behind the European qualification places it would do me fine.BritishAnd yes, I know that the labels don't fit too well but I'm not happy to play games with them; most people know what you mean by pop and classical and that'll do me fine.BritishI'd rather be sitting on a sun lounger in Cyprus wondering which restaurant to go to for a long boozy lunch, but for now, Monday morning at home will do me fine.BritishGraham seems to think that a cheap laptop plugged into the holiday camp network will do me fine.British

give someone one

give verb(British English, vulgar slang) (of a man) have sex with a woman

do someone good

good adjectivebe beneficial to someone, especially to their healththe walk will do you goodExamplesUsually I can't wait to get home, but every so often it does you good to walk out through the streets you'd never normally use, and see what you're missing.BritishA walk would also do you good, preferably somewhere like a beach or a big park.BritishI thought the walk would do me good, but I forgot about the time entirely.North AmericanWe are quite formal - members rise when the president and speaker enter, we say grace and give a vote of thanks - but I think a bit of formality does you good.British

get someone going

go verb (British English, informal) make someone angry or sexually arousedit's often fantasies that really get me goingExamplesThe fact that her sister might not be fully sleeping and know what we were doing and possibly be aroused herself got me going even more.North AmericanThis got us going and we both said that we'd rather they voted Tory than not at all, people had died to get the vote etc.BritishThis got Chig going, leading him to compose the following reply.BritishIt was when they started talking about Vieri that it really got me going.British

give someone grief

grief noun (informal) criticize or make trouble for someonehe gave me grief about typosExamplesNo one can give them grief for selling out because they haven't changed an item of their manifesto in seven years.CanadianThis Mum has just told her daughter that she can rely on her for support regardless of what happens in the future and the father is giving her grief over it!BritishThe project manager gave me grief over the fact that my designs were "too detailed".North AmericanHe wants some fun money to splurge with his kid at a ball game or buy a scooter without his wife giving him grief over spending too much.North American

keep someone guessing

guess verb (informal) leave someone uncertain or in doubt as to one's intentions or plansExamplesTo some extent I think it's the playwright's intention to keep us guessing.CanadianThis was intentionally to keep you guessing, which by itself isn't a bad thing.North AmericanHere, the agenda is wrapped up quite nicely in a complex relationship that keeps us guessing about Alice's true intentions.North AmericanBut they were kept guessing by the weather until the day itself, with heavy rain falling during the days in the run-up to the event.British

give someone head

head noun(vulgar slang) perform oral sex on someone

give someone hell

hell noun (informal) severely reprimand or make things very unpleasant for someoneI gave him hellExamplesI'm looking forward to going over there and giving them hell.BritishAll I do is to tell them the truth, and that hurts a lot worse than giving them hell.North AmericanHe has got to have oxygen because his lungs are giving him hell.BritishI'm going to give you hell, but I love every one of you.North American

beat someone hollow

hollow adjectivedefeat someone thoroughlyExamplesIrish landlords were bad enough in the past, but this new importation from England beats them hollow.IrishI had the pleasure of beating him hollow at Pro Evolution Soccer 4.IrishTeam-Pakistan beat India hollow at the Kotla grounds.IndianKerala's Shiva Priya's dream run came to an end in the 63 kg division where Asian champion Aruna Mishra beat her hollow in the first round.IndianGiven the standards of their movies, the splendid three-hour session will ensure that you beat the romance on the screen hollow!Indian

give someone ideas

idea noun(informal) make someone ambitious, conceited, or tempted to do something unwisedon't go giving them any ideas

wish someone joy

joy noun (British English, mainly ironic) congratulate someoneI wish you joy of your marriageExamplesThe community wish them joy, good wishes and congratulations.IrishHe wouldn't dance at her wedding - had turned down the invitation - but he wished her joy.New ZealandI did not know what to say to Yrling, and so said simply, ‘My Lord, I wish you joy.’BritishTomas is a very popular young man and we wish him joy and fulfilment in his ministry as a priest of the diocese.Irish

kick someone upstairs

kick verb (informal) remove someone from an influential position by giving them an ostensible promotionhe'll be kicked upstairs for a year or so before taking early retirementExamplesClifford removed General William Westmoreland as Vietnam commander, kicking him upstairs to become Army chief of staff and replacing him with General Creighton Abrams.In March, he was kicked upstairs to head the World Bank.Gromyko had been one of Gorbachev's supporters and he was kicked upstairs to become head of state.BritishAlthough this varies by organization, the front-line people are often all too eager to kick you upstairs.North American

thank someone kindly

kindly adverbthank someone very muchExamplesWe only have so much patience time, so we thanked him kindly for his efforts and moved on.BritishMostly I dozed, very happily, thank you kindly. ‘Sleep is the best medicine,’ my mother used to say, and I reckon she wasn't far wrong.BritishThe results are on the front page and we thank her kindly.Canadian‘The Boss thanks you kindly for your assistance,’ the stranger concluded.North American‘Time for your bed, milady,’ the maid told her in a soft tone, and her mistress thanked her kindly before slipping between the sheets, expertly warmed with a copper bedpan.North AmericanAnd working beneath a pair of backstabbers like you and my stepsister just isn't in the cards for me, Ronald, although I do thank you kindly for the offer.North American

knock someone dead

knock verb (informal) greatly impress someoneExamplesThis album is trying too hard to be smooth and pleasing to the masses, meaning that Wright ends up crooning uninterestingly where she should be knocking us dead.CanadianHe is so confident that his new energy drink will knock them dead in the market place that he is planning to take on the likes of Lucozade and Red Bull.BritishI am 5ft 8in, size 8, and want to wear something that will knock him dead.BritishMandy Siegfried proves herself a young comedienne who'll duly knock them dead from Mineola to Minnesota.North American‘You're going to knock them dead,’ she stated firmly, ‘and you're more handsome than any of those actors.’North AmericanShe had put on dark red lipstick and was wearing a dress that was sure to knock Chris dead.North American

knock someone sideways

knock verb (informal) astonish someonethe size of the demand knocked me sidewaysExamplesThe sheer wealth and size and richness of America knocked me sideways.BritishEvery now and then, something came up which would completely knock you sideways.BritishWhen they performed this on TOTP, I was knocked sideways.BritishBut Preston were knocked sideways by the shock of seeing their impregnable lead suddenly wiped out.BritishThat said, most of what he plays washes over me these days - but once in a while, something comes along and knocks you sideways.British

lay someone low

lay verb1. (of an illness) reduce someone to inactivityhe was laid low by a stomach bugExamplesRain, thunder and lightning of epic proportions have not succeeded in cleaning the air and we are laid low with massive headaches, blocked sinuses and pervasive brain fog.BritishHowever, Dove has been laid low by a virus all week and his chances of being involved at the weekend are 50-50.British2. bring to an end the high position or good fortune formerly enjoyed by someoneshe reflected on how quickly fate can lay a person lowExamplesThat's also the premise which lays them low - most people don't have the time to do overly intensive data entry.North AmericanShould he make that connection, he would be perfectly within his rights to lay you low for looking for information that is none of your business.North American

lead someone astray

lead verbcause someone to act or think foolishly or wronglymany people are led astray by strong feelingsExamplesBut I have never lied to you before, nor led you astray.North AmericanI'd been intending to go to the gym, but Andy led me astray and I ended up in the pub.BritishHe said: ‘It was my father who led me astray and gave me a sample of life abroad when we lived in America.’BritishHe's about to be married, but she leads him astray in the funniest ways.Australian

leave someone be

leave verb (informal) refrain from disturbing or interfering with someonewhy can't you all just leave me be?ExamplesThe facilities were good and clean, the staff were helpful and left us be when we wanted to be left.North AmericanHe would have gotten more respect out of me if he just left me be when I asked him to.BritishThose who want our business approach us with friendly calls, and leave us be when we decline their offers.North AmericanImpressed as ever by her verve, we left her be, the sound of thousands of tiny sobs fading as we went.British

leave someone cold

leave verbfail to interest someonethe Romantic poets left him coldExamplesHe tends to leave me cold and I can't say I've enjoyed any of his films for over a decade.BritishTalk about having problems with billing - our experience with them has left us cold about their services.North AmericanIf the last one left you cold, then only consider it if competitive multiplayer is your thing.BritishThe proposals, for that reason, leave us cold.North AmericanAt her home in Florida, she got a phone call from the firm that left her cold.North AmericanStill some have left us cold and unfulfilled as one party of the match didn't quite live up to their end of the deal.North American

let someone know

let verbinform someonelet me know what you think of himExamples‘Communities must keep letting us know about problems if we are to stand a chance of beating this,’ he said.BritishKeep letting us know how you feel about our performance and our responsiveness to you.North AmericanIf you have your own property website then please let us know and we can mention it in the coming weeks.IrishI couldn't tell if the remark was a question or if he was just letting me know he was informed.North AmericanPlease let us know if you wish to be kept informed of events at the orchard.BritishThank you for letting me know in advance this question was coming.North American

meet someone halfway

meet verbmake a compromise with someoneI am prepared to meet him halfway by paying him a further £25,000ExamplesBut I think they will be met halfway, because although there is often talk of revolution, things tend to turn out less radically, and we have evolution instead.BritishI would have thought it would have met us halfway or helped stop this happening again.BritishSo I suspect most of them will act like the DGA has met them halfway on the matter, and we'll wait to fight this battle another day.North AmericanLate in the month, he met Randolph halfway, with an executive order prohibiting discrimination among defense contractors, but not in the military.North American

call someone names

name nouninsult someone verballya lot of people called him names and I was one of themExamplesIt hurts every time I am called names and insulted by virtual strangers.South AfricanYet I don't care what names I call him cause I don't feel any remorse in calling him names or insulting him.North AmericanIt's ok to call them names and insult every one of them.North AmericanShe called me names, insulted me in front of my face, talked about me constantly, got her new friends to do the same as well.North American

catch someone napping

nap verb (British English, informal) find someone off guard and unprepared to respondthe goalkeeper was caught napping by a shot from CarpenterExamplesSeveral times throughout the first half, they were caught napping as the ball was played over, through and round them.BritishFrom the restart, Windermere were caught napping, however, when poor tackling let Workington drive up the centre of the park.BritishEventually, Manchester took a 2-1 lead before half time with an opportunist goal when a quickly-take free hit just inside the 22 caught Kendal napping for a second time.BritishLook, the administration said months ago that we were caught napping in this area.North American

get someone nowhere

nowhere adverbbe of no use or benefit to someonebeing angry would get her nowhereExamplesThe fence alone has already cost the council upwards of £20,000 and has got us nowhere.BritishWe've already had an inquest and court cases, and investigations and it's got us nowhere.BritishMy attempts to sort this out took 18 months and got me nowhere.BritishWhen this got him nowhere, he took the matter to court.IrishTen years of trying to make it in the music industry had got him nowhere.BritishSince research was getting them nowhere, they decided to follow the last clue they had: the piece of paper with the address.Canadian

owe someone one

owe verb (informal) feel indebted to someonethanks, I owe you one for thisExamplesThanks, I owe you one, here let me buy you a drinkNorth American‘He owes me one,’ said the Scot, who had to pick up Beckford at dawn at the airport after the Jamaican had missed his flight the night before.BritishMaybe he thought he owed us one from the previous year.British‘We owe them one,’ said the 19-year-old striker.BritishI know I owe them one for getting me inside the lovely silver encampment.BritishParty leaders will owe her one when she decides to make her political comeback.North American

send someone packing

pack noun (informal) make someone leave in an abrupt or peremptory waythe intrusive outsider is humiliated by the kids and sent packing by the motherExamplesHis side's attitude must be right or they will be sent packing.BritishClub chiefs denied that Jeffs had been sent packing for disciplinary reasons - though they did admit his behaviour had not been perfect.BritishWhen we were bored, I would take my gang along to dad's shop, play with his vast selection of nails and knives and generally bother him until he sent us packing.BritishThe driver learnt his lesson and whenever ticketless passengers tried to board later in the journey he sent them packing and drove off without them.British

play someone false

play verbdeceive or cheat someonethe Assembly played us falsehis memory plays him false if he thinks I chose this postExamplesSophia now sees that he has played her false. He is not her true love.BritishHis post-1934 correspondence and memoirs frequently contradict reliable accounts of the period, and the conclusion that his memory played him false on numerous occasions is inescapable.Canadian

keep someone posted

post nounkeep someone informed of the latest developments or newsI'll keep you posted on his progressExamplesThank God the networks are keeping us posted on groundbreaking news, I thought.CanadianAnd we'll keep you posted on all developments as they come in.North AmericanWe wish the lads the very best and we'll keep you posted on developments.IrishIf there are computers there, I'll keep you posted with news of my high jinks and frolics.British

do someone proud

(informal) proud adjective1. act in a way that gives someone cause to feel pleased or satisfiedthey did themselves proud in a game which sent the fans home happyExamplesThey are a young team and they came to Croke Park and did everyone proud, they certainly did me proud.IrishHe did his people proud and he did New Zealand proud.Australian2. treat someone very well, typically by lavishly feeding or entertaining themExamplesOur young actresses did us proud with a most entertaining production based on a wake.IrishOur chefs did us proud by clearly drawing out the peerless differences in the flavour of Pakistani cuisine.Indian

prove someone wrong

prove verbshow that what someone says is wrong or incorrectif you can prove me wrong let me know and I'll update the reviewExamplesHaving his eyes opened to the brother's real character, he was hoping to not be proven wrong about the sister.Some of the bets on future outcomes are proven to be wrong.BritishPessimists who say mergers often destroy shareholder value will be proved wrong, he says.BritishCritics of the policy, who had predicted civil war, were proven wrong.British

keep someone quiet

quiet adjectiveprevent someone from speaking or from disclosing something secret

run someone ragged

ragged adjectiveexhaust someone by making them undertake a lot of physical activityfor 20 minutes Middlesbrough ran us raggedExamplesO'Driscoll was continuing to run Listowel ragged and the inevitable happened in the 26th minute when Camp scored again.IrishDespite admitting that he was run ragged by playing basketball with the kids, he said he was considering making it an annual event for the future.AustralianThere were certain areas where we had youths in gangs of 20 or 25 causing serious problems for residents and running us ragged.BritishNorth Carolina will win nearly every time, but Princeton will run them ragged with their disciplined execution of plays.British

roar someone up

roar noun (Australian English, informal) berate or reprimand someonehe roared me up and asked the sergeant for my nameExamplesMy doctor pal roared me up and said I was overweight and under-bloodedAustralianNory went over, assessed the situation, and got on the Utilities officer and roared him up.North AmericanJust roar her up. You know, tell her the cops'll come, or she'll go to hell or something.North AmericanThe boys are very amused when I roar him up and ask why the hell he hasn't brought his uncle back anything.British

see someone coming

see verbrecognize a person who can be fooled or deceivedExamplesThey must have had very big windows in the shop you bought them from, Councillor Orrell, because they really saw you coming.BritishThey will tell you if the price you intend to pay for the house is reasonable - or if the owner saw you coming.British

see someone right

see verb (British English, informal) make sure that a person is appropriately rewarded or looked aftertell the landlord I sent you—he'll see you rightExamplesSay what you like, but that's real country humour and, knowing him, I'm sure he would see them right after having his joke.BritishHere's my selection to see you right over the holiday.BritishIf you're looking for good food minus a stuffy atmosphere, Cafe 1 will see you right.BritishShe will watch them, nurture them and see them right.British

send someone flying

send verbcause someone to be knocked violently off balance or to the groundthe recoil of the gun sent him flyingExamplesIt sent her flying to the ground and almost knocked her unconscious.North AmericanA Crimestoppers appeal in the Evening Press trapped the thief who snatched a 74-year-old man's savings and sent him flying to the ground.BritishWe'd gone a little way, and I was looking out for a good place to stop when, with no warning at all, the bike took a sharp twist sideways sending us flying to the ground.BritishAfter a while of walking I hit something that sent me flying to the ground.North American

serve someone right

serve verbbe someone's deserved punishment or misfortuneit would serve you right if Jeff walked out on youExamplesIf you're dumb enough to walk into a sign it serves you right, you do not deserve money.BritishI had a head under the covers morning, following on and serving me right for my festive over-indulgence at dinner last night.BritishIt serves them right for charging a ridiculous amount to park and for not ensuring the safety of our cars.BritishTheir scheming, however, will backfire when they find themselves sidelined and excluded from any future debates on major world affairs and might I say - it serves them right!British

make someone sick

sick adjective1. cause someone to vomit or feel nauseous or unwellsherry makes me sick and so do cigarsExamplesIt wasn't that he was afraid of blood, on the contrary, but too much blood, exposed organs, and raw flesh with that nauseous stench could already make him sick.North AmericanThe smell made Eric sick, increasing the urge to vomit up his unfinished meal.North American2. cause someone to feel intense annoyance or disgustyou're so damned self-righteous you make me sick!ExamplesThis is disgusting, makes me sick to my stomach.East AsianIt was making her sick and disgusted just looking at them.North American

steal someone blind

steal verb (informal) rob or cheat someone in a comprehensive or merciless wayExamplesI'm 88 years old, and he stole me blind over Social Security.North AmericanEven as the bandits and kidnappers find creatively hideous ways of ‘earning’ a better living, we have among us corporate crooks who are stealing us blind.CaribbeanThe fear he inspires is not that he will steal you blind and corrupt your morals.BritishBut again, the staff of the hotel didn't merely steal me blind.North AmericanHer main modus operandi was to create a false sense of trust with unsuspecting employers and new friends, using the fake identities, and later stealing them blind.East AsianThey better hang around and make sure that our databases aren't giving out private information, and that my employees and consultants aren't stealing me blind somehow.North American

suck someone dry

suck verbexhaust someone's physical, material, or emotional resourcesthe new company is sucking them dry of technical expertiseExamplesThe empty state coffers, both literally and figuratively, combined with the raised public expectations, reveal how much Georgia has been sucked dry by state bribery and gangland criminality.BritishSo what keeps me here on Long Island, in a place where I can barely afford to live, where the house we bought one year ago this week cost nearly half a million dollars and sucks us dry with property and school taxes?North AmericanOf course, when your company is based upon the idea of your customers sucking you dry via a multi-level marketing scheme, there's nowhere to go but up.North AmericanThe government, the university and the corporations involved must work very hard to put people with little money into a significant and glorious debt and suck them dry for 10 years ensuing.Canadian

keep someone sweet

sweet adjective (informal) keep someone well disposed towards oneself, especially by favours or briberyExamplesBased on his track record Dyke has every chance of winning the ratings war, keeping Middle England sweet and protecting the licence fee.BritishTax on alcohol and cigarettes unchanged to try and keep us sweet.BritishI can understand Ellis not wanting people to harass WB over it, he probably wants to keep them sweet in case any of his other work get the opportunity to jumpstart a tv show.BritishTo protect his position, he needs to keep them sweet.British

trust someone to —

trust nounit is characteristic or predictable for someone to act in the specified waytrust Sam to have all the inside informationExamplesI like the blond questions… trust her to say that!North AmericanTrust him to say that… she'll have choked on her tea now!North American

make someone welcome

welcome nounreceive and treat someone hospitablythank you for the way you made me welcome when I arrivedExamplesIf anyone wants to play a more regular part in the daily life of the centre and help muck-out or groom their adopted animal, they will be made welcome.BritishBusinesses will leave and go to other cities or towns where they will be made welcome.BritishThere's no doubt that there are some very professional clubs in this league and they are looking forward to playing us and making us welcome.BritishWe are open for business Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 5pm and if you would like to call in the team there will be more than delighted to make you welcome.Irish

wish someone well

wish verbfeel or express a desire for someone's well-beingeveryone wished him wellExamplesIf you don't care about your own emotional well-being, my just wishing you well won't really help you.North AmericanThe West Highland Way walk was great because as well as giving to charity, everyone joined together in wishing me well.BritishThere was that lovely feeling of togetherness with everyone wishing her well, all delighting in the latest chapter in her life.IrishI think everyone wishes him well but maybe in the past we have been too tolerant simply because we regard him as a well-liked and unique character.BritishEveryone wishes her well because she's a great talent and a lovely lady.North American

be with someone

with preposition1. agree with or support someonewe're all with you on this oneExamplesThe president stated emphatically that though he had asked Powell to be with him and support him in a war, ‘I didn't need his permission.’North AmericanIn a state like Iowa, the winner is probably only going to have 30, 35 percent of the vote, which means about two-thirds of Tom Harkin supporters are going to be with somebody else.North AmericanFor those of you who've been with me from the beginning, thanks for the support and so long.North AmericanIt was during times like these that he missed having Julie by his side; she would support him in this career change and she would've been with him in success and in failure.North American2. (often with negative) (informal) understand what someone is sayingI'm not with youExamplesWhile we may think the prospect is with us, or understands what we are explaining, it is often difficult for the listener to grasp the logic of our ‘argument’.East Asian

do someone wrong

wrong adjectivetreat someone unjustlyhe sought revenge against those who had done him wrongExamplesBombarded with stories about unscrupulous corporate executives and the employees they done wrong, workers begin to gaze warily at their own managers.North AmericanForget tearjerkers and 'He done me wrong' flicks.North AmericanHe hasn't done me wrong so far.BritishI have a terrible nail-biting habit, and constantly bite and pick at them as if they done me wrong.North American

get someone wrong

wrong adjectivemisunderstand someone, especially by falsely ascribing malice to themnow, don't get me wrong, my fellow players are a great bunch of peopleExamplesDon't get us wrong: we are happy to do the vaccinations, but we must be resourced.BritishDon't get us wrong - Phoenix Nights was funny while it lasted.BritishDon't get us wrong, some of our best friends are engineers but a transit system is more than a collection of vehicles and schedules.CanadianDon't get me wrong, this is not me talking, I am just saying what his critics have said over the years.Irish

give someone skin

also give someone some skinskin noun (US English, informal) shake or slap hands together as a gesture or friendship or solidaritythe Orioles might be giving each other skin until midnightExamplesHe raised up his hand, palm side down. "Give me some skin, brother." I stuck out my hand and smiled.Remember the time he went to give me skin and I shook his hand!North American'Give me some skin on that one,' said Spencer, thrusting his palm toward Winston.North AmericanI gave him some skin, and his mother gave him a hug.North American

bear someone ill will

also bear someone malicebear verb (with negative) wish someone harmhe was only doing his job and I bore him no ill willExamplesIf one therefore bore ill will towards someone then it follows that we would wish to injure them, and our intention towards them would be destructive or evil.AustralianGeser tells a tale about the Virgin of Byzantium to whom somebody bore ill will and put a spell.AustralianBut I don't know one veteran in my chapter who bears ill will against the Vietnamese people.North AmericanWe do not know whether Boyd bore ill will toward the woman, but it is possible that he did not.North American

give someone the evils

also give someone evilsevil adjective (British English, informal) glare at someonea bus driver gave me the evils when I paid with a noteExamplesHis mum gave me the evils from her bedroom window.BritishHer little sister (adorable little six year old who keeps falling over and making me laugh) gave me the evils because I was taking her big sis away for the evening.BritishI had my little sister Marianne in the car with me, so I said, "Stare at him as we drive past; give him the evils!"New ZealandAnd my cat is giving me the evilsAustralian

match with

match nounmatch someone with someone (mainly historical) bring about the marriage of someone to someone elsetry if you can to match her with a dukeExamplesAfter the death of her father-in-law and unsuccessful attempts at matching Mr. Tweedie with her daughters, Mrs. Lapham marries him herself, mainly to keep the silver shop in the family.North AmericanJohn tells Elinor that they are thinking of matching Miss Morton with Robert, now that Edward is marrying Lucy.North AmericanShe wants to match Harriet with Mr. Elton, and when Harriet compliments him, Emma's plan is set in motion.North AmericanShe arrives with strong opinions about politics and her social obligations that clash with her father's conservatism, and she has no patience with the upper-class twit her parents try to match her with.North American

give someone pause

also give someone pause for thoughtpause verbcause someone to think carefully or hesitate before doing somethingthe sight of these gives any would-be attacker pauseExamplesI completely understand that, and, to be honest, it gives me pause for thought.AustralianNow there's something to give you pause for thought.AustralianIf it doesn't give you pause for thought, even in a world besieged by bad news, you aren't paying attention.CanadianIt may have been unfair, but did it not give you pause for thought?British

call someone to account

also bring someone to accountaccount nounrequire someone to explain a mistake or poor performancethe government is being called to account for the economic disasterExamplesIt is interesting that they are not called to account for this startling performance.IndianAfter that you did not even bring him to account, other than that he ‘made a mistake’, after which everything passed with no punishment.BritishSecond, if you violate that trust, you will be called to account, no matter how powerful, no matter how wealthy.North AmericanHe said the case was a clear warning to people offering alternative medicine and ‘miracle cures’ that they will be called to account.Australian

bore someone to tears

also bore someone to deathbore nounmake someone feel extremely boreda book that makes you feel smarter without boring you to tearshe would bore everyone to death with tales about his wonderful daughterExamplesIt's about getting you from here to there without scaring you to death, boring you to tears, or intimidating your socks off.North AmericanIf all of you have not been bored to death and fallen asleep on the keyboard by now, I really do admire your resilience.Indian

eat someone for breakfast

also have someone for breakfastbreakfast noun (informal) deal with or defeat someone with contemptuous easethe tough characters of old would eat him for breakfastExamplesAnother City-based source warned that, despite reassuring clauses in the merger announcement: ‘Halifax will have them for breakfast’.BritishThe evil arms dealing world of imports and exports has created him and from now on we will have to have him for breakfast in one form or another.AustralianClaire manages to stand her ground with Hersh but he'd have had me for breakfast.BritishThere is no new-metal sarcasm or hipster posturing taking place here: this un-ironic swaggering will drink all your beer and then eat you for breakfast before you even realize you've taken your pants off.Canadian

give someone to understand

also give someone to believegive verbcommunicate information to someone in an indirect wayI was given to understand that I had been invitedExamplesNext time, we were given to understand, the same policies would be adopted.BritishOnce upon a time we were given to believe that the growth and exposure at the top tier of any sport would impact favourably on the lower levelsIrishCertainly we were given to believe in the first place that information received was not passed on.AustralianA little corruption, we are given to understand, can creep into even the loftiest humanitarian endeavors.North American

throw someone off balance

also catch someone off balanceoff balance adjective1. cause someone to become unsteady and in danger of fallingthe big man was thrown off balance by his own weight2. surprise someone by doing something unexpectedthe enemy were caught off balance by the shock of the attack

run rings round someone

also run rings around someonering noun (informal) outclass or outwit someone very easilyI had to be very firm with her, or she'd have run rings round meExamplesHuntley replied: ‘I wouldn't say I was running rings round them.’BritishShe looked like she was running rings round him in there.BritishWe have got to do more because the criminals are running rings around us.IrishIt's also why big corporations, with their bureaucratic structures, often find small businesses running rings around them.Australian

save someone the trouble

also save someone the bothersave verbavoid involving someone in useless or pointless effortwrite it down and save yourself the trouble of rememberingExamplesOther hotels (just a few though) are equipped with cinema rooms, saving you the trouble of getting out if you are too tired or if the unpredictable English weather is not at its best!North AmericanHe took down the dossier, saving me the trouble of initiating a court action.North AmericanLetting it do the record-keeping saves you the trouble of entering information over and over again.CanadianIt also saves you the trouble of trimming, fertilising and watering periodically.Indian

bring someone up short

also pull someone up shortshort adjectivemake someone stop or pause abruptlyhe was entering the office when he was brought up short by the sight of JohnExamplesAs I walked out to the car this morning there was something about the sunshine that brought me up short, made me check the sky for rain clouds, the tyres for pressure and my ankles for matching socks.BritishThe power of the word froze Cordelia, while Joyce was brought up short by confusion.North AmericanYet suddenly we are brought up short by an act of heroism so obvious and yet so unexpected that one can't help feeling somewhat ashamed of one's voyeurism.CanadianIt was the fact that student was Aboriginal that pulled me up short.Australian

knock someone for six

also hit someone for sixsix number (British English, informal) utterly surprise or overcome someonethis business has knocked her for six

word origin

with allusion to a forceful hit that scores six runs in cricketExamplesI am very angry if they put a ban on my business, it will knock me for six.BritishThe sexual innuendo is so utterly out of left field that it knocks you for six.British

have something against someone

against prepositiondislike or bear a grudge towards someoneI have nothing against you personallyExamplesShe was anxious that I should not have a grudge against the country, but I was already feeling quite at home.North AmericanShe said: ‘I don't know anyone who would have a grudge against me and want to do this.’BritishI think it must be someone who wants us out of the area or has a grudge against us but we're not moving anywhere.British‘Somebody obviously has a grudge against us,’ she said.British

where someone is at

at preposition (informal) someone's true or fundamental nature or characterI think we've got enough information to have an idea of where he's atExamplesThe first bit is exactly where my thinking is at.BritishThis is Rethel's most precise determination of who and where he is at that moment.North AmericanSo that's where my head is at these days.North American

beat someone to it

beat verbsucceed in doing something or getting somewhere before someone elseyou'd better get a move on or they'll beat you to itExamplesShe knew how I felt about succeeding in my challenge, and she wanted to beat me to it.North AmericanHe and five of his colleagues reached the Pole only to discover that they had been beaten to it by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.BritishYou better put in for that time off from the job now, before somebody else beats you to it.North AmericanIn most cases, imperiled resources such as fisheries and airsheds are in open-access commons where the incentive is for people to take as much as possible of the resource before someone else beats them to it.North American

put someone to bed

bed nounprepare someone, typically a child, for rest in bedClare put her to bed and gave her a mug of cocoaExamplesI had the pleasure of cooking dinner, feeding, bathing and putting Franklin to bed on my own.CanadianDenise said the accident happened after she had been putting Cameron to bed in his own bedroom and someone knocked at the door.BritishTonight, as I was changing Alex before putting her to bed, she did something she never did before.CaribbeanShe said: ‘When we put Ethan to bed on Tuesday night he was fine, but it crept up overnight and on Wednesday morning he was unconscious and had purple blotches on his skin.’British

give someone a bell

bell noun (British English, informal) phone someonetell him to give me a bell at the garageExamplesIf you want the address of a chiropractor, give me a bell.BritishI'm just giving you a bell to see if you've got anything or not.British‘Well if you ever want someone to play keyboards give us a bell,’ he said.BritishSo Mums and Dads, Grannies and Granddads give us a bell and let us know who is about and we wont leave anyone out.Irish

give someone the bird

bird noun1. (British English, informal) boo or jeer at someoneExamplesAnd while mobile phone tunes may already give you the bird, it could be worse, South suggests.BritishI have an aversion to sites which literally give you the bird on the front page, so I didn't linger.British2. (North American English, informal) stick one's middle finger up at someone as a sign of contempt or angerhe gave his bench the bird, saluted and left the gameExamplesEver since I graduated, in 1977, people have never tired of giving me the bird.North AmericanI smiled to myself as I watched her start spluttering and yelling after the car and giving him the bird.North American

blow someone a kiss

blow verbkiss the tips of one's fingers then blow across them towards someone as a gesture of affectionshe plunged into a waiting cab and blew Graham a kissExamplesHer fingers flickering in a wave, Fara smirked and blew him a kiss, then gestured for him to go, her wrists bent in a ‘shooing’ motion.CanadianKris lifted a spirit finger, blowing Mikey a kiss before waving as Lena turned in the opposite direction.North AmericanI smiled and blew her a kiss as I headed towards the kitchen in search of something to satisfy my hunger.North AmericanToby glanced over to see men staring at them, one man noticing Toby looking towards him blew her a kiss.North American

throw someone a bone

bone noun (informal) do something to appease someone, typically by making a minor concession or helping them in a small waythe finance minister also threw first-time buyers a boneExamplesAnd I believe that his policies sometimes reflect a political need to throw a bone to that constituency to keep them happy.North AmericanI would like to point out, if you read the next paragraph in the judge's finding, he seemed to throw a bone to each side.North AmericanWhat you see here is a case where the campaign felt they could throw a bone to the conservatives.North AmericanWhy not target middle incomes and throw a bone to low incomes with an occasional promotion?North American

bring someone to book

book noun (mainly British English) officially punish someone or call them to account for their behaviourthe murderer will be found and brought to bookExamplesAnd he warned the troublemakers that they would be brought to book over the next few months using evidence gathered on the night and CCTV video footage of the disorder.BritishBut they can be brought to book under legislation governing companies making false and misleading claims.BritishIt's good that he has been brought to book and sends out a strong message to others.BritishAnd officers have warned the criminals that they have taken an extra special interest in bringing them to book.British

give someone the boot

boot noun (informal) dismiss someone from their jobthe chairman denied he had been given the bootExamplesShe knows what she did was wrong and I have spoken to her about it but I am not giving her the boot from the band.IrishPlenty of less understanding women would give you the boot.CanadianPlease practise what you preach or we will give you the boot!South AfricanSwindon Council will investigate the complaints, and can take court action to give them the boot.British

give someone a break

(usually in imperative) (informal) break verb1. stop putting pressure on someone about somethinggive the poor guy a breakExamplesThey wish you guys would give them a break and show them some respect.North AmericanJess, give Amber a break, she's obviously upset.North American2. give me a breakused to express contemptuous disagreement or disbelief about what has been saidHe's seven times as quick and he's only 20 years old—give me a break!Examples‘Oh please, give me a break,’ I rolled my eyes jokingly.North AmericanWould anyone genuinely expect serious electoral matters to be raised at a works meeting!? Come on, give me a break.North American

give someone their cards

card noun (British English, informal) dismiss someone from employmentthe firm has just given 74,000 workers their cardsExamplesOn 12 July, the day after the clear-up was called to a halt, Bovis gave him his cards.BritishCotterill had been out of full- time work himself since Sunderland - where he was Howard Wilkinson's assistant - gave him his cards in February 2003.BritishHe gave me my cards and told me that he never wanted to see me again.North American

clap someone in jail

clap verbput someone in prisonpolice clapped him in jail for alleged possession of drugsExamplesA cynical immigration official claps James in jail upon his arrival.He may as well have clapped me in irons and commenced flogging in front of the herds of law-abiding legal visitors.IrishThe dissident has said he aims to run for president against 24-year incumbent, although the president clapped him in jail for a lesser act of defiance only a few years ago.North AmericanIf you even think about forming a labor union, you'll be clapped in irons.North American

clap someone in irons

clap verbput someone in chainsthe ship's captain had the mutineers clapped in irons

keep someone in countenance

countenance nounhelp someone to remain calm and confidentto keep herself in countenance she opened her notebookExamplesIt is his[Putin's] reward for letting the [ABM] treaty go down the tubes without throwing a temper tantrum, and it keeps him in countenance at home.BritishThis, however, serves to keep me in countenance, that others, endowed with much superior knowledge, and quicker penetration, have not been more successful than myself.North AmericanBut the thought of having that venerable hero to keep me in countenance emboldens me to risk everything; I am no older than he.BritishFaith, I'm afraid, master, I'll make a bad hand of it; but, sure, it's something to have Judy here to keep me in countenance.British

give someone credit for

credit nouncommend someone for (a quality or achievement), especially with reluctance or surpriseplease give me credit for some senseExamplesElliott is a much better defender than most people give him credit for, as well as being a quality perimeter shooter.North AmericanObviously, they are a much better side than they have been given credit for and they dismissed the suggestion, in no uncertain terms, that the team revolves around a number of key players.IrishI think the populace is a lot more astute than they are given credit for.CanadianYork City are a better team than they are given credit for.British

give someone the creeps

creep verb (informal) induce a feeling of revulsion or fear in someoneeels wriggle, they're slimy, and they give some people the creepsExamplesThe entire situation gave her the creeps, but she refused to become paralysed with fear.North AmericanMost people don't refrain from, say, marrying their siblings because it is illegal; they refrain because the very idea gives them the creeps.North AmericanIt gives me the creeps, just in time for Halloween.North AmericanIt gives me the creeps sometimes to look through the files.North American

throw someone a curve

curve noun (North American English, informal) unexpectedly present someone with a challenge or disruptionjust when you think you have this parenting thing down pat, they throw you a curveExamplesLife will always throw you curves.North American"You've done everything that you can think of to ensure mission success, but Mars can still throw you a curve," said the former NASA Mars czar.North American

throw someone a curveball

curveball noun (North American English, informal) unexpectedly present someone with a challenge or disruptionjust when you think things are working out, life throws you a curveballExamplesJust know that this won't be the last time Mother Nature throws us a curveball.North AmericanEvery once in a while you are thrown a curveball.CanadianJust when we got the hang of baking with applesauce instead of oil, the diet gurus throw us another curveball: Forget counting fat grams, they say.North AmericanPlanning ahead is a great strategy ... until life throws you a curveball.North American

cut someone to pieces

cut verb1. kill or severely injure someoneI was nearly cut to pieces by shrapnelExamplesNear this spot my friend Kaveh was cut to pieces and killed by a landmine.British‘If it is fair for an Afghan to shoot down a British soldier and cut him to pieces as he lies wounded on the ground’, wrote one such officer, ‘why is it not fair for a British Artilleryman to fire a shell which makes the said native sneeze?’BritishBecause even if they had been cut to pieces by American weaponry in the first seconds of the combat, as they were, you don't want to look like you're eager for war and bloodshed.North AmericanThe crusaders, certain of victory, demanded an all-out attack and when it failed they were cut to pieces - it was a defeat on the scale of Hattin.British2. totally defeat someonewe were cut to pieces by RoversExamplesIt cuts him to pieces and I know he would love to swap places with me.BritishDo not play games with me, lovely, for my ferocious wit and cunning is sure to cut you to pieces!North AmericanIf you play carelessly or without respect the open lines and quick development that White gets for his pawn will cut you to pieces.North American

do someone to death

death nounkill someonehe had been done to death by his two attackersExamplesBut because he was different he was done to death.IrishBut the death of the prince of Wales at Tewkesbury in 1471 sealed his own fate, and a few days later he was done to death.BritishWe are standing here only a couple of hundred yards from Magennis's bar where Mr McCartney was done to death a few weeks ago.IrishThe police are now trying to find out when and how she was done to death.IndianDuring the war they were used as slave labour till they dropped, and then were done to death.Canadian

put someone to death

death nounkill someone, especially with official sanctionthe prisoner was found guilty of sabotage and put to death without trialExamplesWhile about one quarter of murder victims in Texas are black males, since 1976 only 0.4 percent of prisoners executed in Texas have been put to death for murdering black victims.Longerich concurred, adding that Hitler's reference to the Slovakian Jews is significant because (as Hitler must by this time have known) they had been put to death in extermination camps.BritishThis is not achieved by objectifying murderers and putting them to death to serve as an example to others in the expectation that they might possibly be deterred thereby.BritishGordon's reply was that he and his supporters ‘had not yet determined to murder the king and put him to death, they only considered that they were absolved from their allegiance’.British

treat someone like dirt

dirt nountreat someone with a complete lack of respectback then we were treated as key workers and now we are being treated like dirtI'm not standing by while you treat me like dirt!ExamplesOne said: ‘She's got to get rid of him - he's got no respect for her and treats her like dirt.’BritishI can guess how it feels when you wish you didn't have to smoke and for all your good intentions to give up, everyone treats you like dirt anyway.British

drive someone to drink

drink verbtrouble or disturb someone so much that they start to drink alcohol heavilya job with enough management crises and near-disasters to drive any sane person to drinkExamplesLoneliness drives people to drink, to gamble, to shop of to get involved in destructive relationships.North AmericanBaino is the most genial, laughing at situations that, in retrospect, probably drove him to drink.North AmericanI've always assumed that politics would drive anyone to drink.North AmericanThe noises in the basement at night it was enough to drive a bloody saint to drink.North American

drop someone a line

drop verbsend someone a note or letter in a casual mannerdrop me a line at the usual addressExamplesSo if you're interested and in town over the festive period then drop me a line and I'll send you details.BritishAnd when he dropped me a line about it, my reaction was the same.North AmericanThank you if you've ever commented or dropped me a line about something - it's always hugely appreciated, and shows I must be doing something right.