hold one`s tongue- keep quiet He decided to hold his tongue rather than give his honest opinion.. hold out for something - refuse to give up, insist on getting something The basketball s
Trang 1hold one`s tongue
- keep quiet
He decided to hold his tongue rather than give his honest opinion
a hold-out
- someone who refuses to give something up, a non-conformist
He was the last hold-out in our effort to make sure that everyone wore a necktie to work
hold out for (something)
- refuse to give up, insist on getting something
The basketball star is holding out for a large salary increase
hold out on (someone)
- refuse to give something to someone, refuse to agree
The players are holding out on the owners and will not sign their contract
hold out (one's hand)
- reach out, extend
She held out her hand to help her mother climb up the stairs
hold out the olive branch to (someone)
- offer to end a dispute with someone
The company decided to hold out the olive branch to the workers who were on strike
hold over (something)
- extend the engagement of something
The movie was held over for another week
Trang 2hold (someone) down
- try to keep someone from succeeding
The president of the company is trying to hold down the manager so he doesn't challenge his position
hold (someone) hostage
- keep someone as a hostage
The bank robbers were holding the woman hostage
hold (someone) in high regard
- have very great respect for someone
All of the students hold the principal in high regard
hold (someone's) attention
- keep someone interested
The man standing on the bridge held everyone's attention for over an hour
hold (something) against (someone)
- blame something on someone
My friend forgot to give me my money but I don't hold it against him as he is a nice person
hold (something) back
- keep information or something to or for oneself
Our boss is holding back the information about the new computer system
Trang 3
hold still
- to not move
"Please hold still while I fix your jacket zipper."
hold the fort
- cope in an emergency, act as a temporary substitute
He has been holding the fort at his company while his boss is on vacation
hold the line at (something)
- not yield to pressure, limit something
Our company is holding the line on any salary increases
hold the reins
- be the most influential person
He has been holding the reins in his company for many years
hold true
- be true
It usually hold's true that the students who come late get the lowest marks
hold up
- lift, raise
The students usually hold up their hands when they have a question
hold up
- support, carry
The main beams in the house hold up the total weight of the house
Trang 4hold up
- stop, delay
The accident held up traffic for over three hours at the border crossing
hold up
- rob at gunpoint
The criminal was able to hold up three people before he was caught
hold up
- keep up one`s courage or spirits
Her spirits are holding up quite well even though she does not have a job now
hold up
- remain good, not get worse
Sales during the first six months of the year are holding up very well compared to last year
hold up
- prove true
Her story held up during the questioning by the police
a hold-up
- a robbery
I was involved in a hold-up when I was in the supermarket last weekend
hold up (someone or something) as an example of (something)
- point to someone or something as a good example
Trang 5hold water
- be a sound idea
His proposal for a new work scheduling system doesn`t hold water
.
hole in the wall
- a small place to live/work/visit, a small hidden (often inferior) place
We went for a drink at a hole in the wall near the university last night
hole up (somewhere)
- hide somewhere
I passed the weekend holed up in my bedroom with a good book
holier-than-thou
- acting as if one is better than others in goodness or character etc
I do not like him because he takes a holier-than-thou attitude toward everyone else
holy cats
- used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger
"Holy cats, the water is rising over the river bank."
holy cow
- used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger
"Holy cow! There are over one hundred people standing in front of our house."
Trang 6holy mackerel
- used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger
"Holy mackerel," cried the little boy when he saw the new bicycle that he got for his birthday present
holy Moses
- used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger
"Holy Moses! It is already noon and I haven`t even started work yet."
a holy terror
- a very disobedient or unruly child
The little boy is a holy terror and his parents never want to take him anywhere
the honeymoon is over
- the initial period of friendship and cooperation between two groups is over
The honeymoon was over for the new President after several months
a honky-tonk
- a cheap night-club or dance hall
We went to a honky-tonk in the small town where we stopped last night
honor a check
- accept someone's personal check
The store refused to honor the check that I tried to give them
hook, line and sinker
- without question or doubt, completely
Trang 7to hook up (something)
- connect or fit something together
After we moved into our new apartment we had to hook up the phone
a hook-up
- a connection
The new hook-up for the computer is not working very well
hooked on (something)
- addicted to a drug or someting similar, enthusiastic about something
The man has been hooked on drugs since he was a teenager
a hop, skip and a jump
- a short distance
The hospital was a hop, skip, and a jump from our new apartment
hop to it
- get started, start a job
We must hop to it and try to finish this job before dinner
to hope against hope
- to continue to hope when things look very bad
The rescue team hoped against hope that the lost hikers would be found alive
(to be) hopeless at (doing something)
- incapable of doing something well
My sister is hopeless at mathematics
Trang 8(to be) hopped up on (something)
- to be high on a drug or on alcohol
The man who tried to rob the store was hopped up on some kind of drug
to horn in on (someone)
- to come in without an invitation or welcome, interfere
The man horned in on our conversation although he knows that nobody likes him
to horse around
- to play around, to join in rough teasing
The children were horsing around in the school yard when the bell rang for class
a horse of a different color
- something totally separate and different
We should not be talking about that issue now It is a horse of a different color
horse sense
- good judgement, wisdom in making decisions
He has good horse sense so you can expect him to make an intelligent decision
to horse trade
- to make a business agreement after hard negotiations
We had to horse trade but we were finally able to reach an agreement to buy the antique car
Trang 9hot Idioms
hot air
- nonsense, exaggerated talk
He is full of hot air and you can`t trust what he says
(to be) hot and bothered
- excited and worried, displeased
I don`t know what is wrong with her but she is hot and bothered about something
hot and heavy
- serious passion or emotions
The love scenes in the movie were hot and heavy
hot on (someone or something)
- enthusiastic about someone or something
Recently, I am hot on some kinds of classical music
a hot potato
- a situation that is likely to cause trouble to the person handling it
The issue of the non-union workers is a hot potato that we must deal with
a hot rod
- an automobile that is changed so that it can go very fast
He has always loved cars and was a member of his local hot rod club when he was a teenager
Trang 10hot under the collar
- very angry
Our boss is hot under the collar today because three of the staff came late
(to be) in hot water
- to be in trouble
He has been in hot water at work since he took a week off with no excuse
.
a house of cards
- something badly put together and easily knocked down, a poorly made plan/action The peace agreement between the two countries was like a house of cards and fell apart as soon as a minor problem occurred
How about?
- will you have something or will you agree to something?
"How about some coffee before we go to work?"
How about?
- what is your feeling/thought/desire regarding something?
"She is not interested in the job but how about one of her friends?"
How come?
- why?
"How come you don`t telephone her if you want to talk to her?"