need something like one needs a hole in the head - to not need something at all My friend needs a new computer like he needs a hole in the head.. a new broom sweeps clean - a new person
Trang 1N
nail down (someone or something)
- to make certain/sure of something
I am trying to nail down the exact time that we can meet with our supplier
a nail in (someone's) coffin
- something that will harm someone
Fighting with his boss was a nail in my friend's coffin He will not get a promotion now
naked eye
- the human eye (with no binoculars etc.)
It was difficult to see the bird with the naked eye
one's name is mud
- a person`s reputation is bad
His name is mud now that he has been charged by the police with stealing money from his company
the name of the game
- the main part of a matter
The name of the game is selling cars and not worrying about other things
name (someone) after (someone or something)
- to give someone the name of another person/place/thing
My cousin was named after his mother`s grandfather
Trang 2a narrow escape
- an escape with little chance of error
He had a narrow escape when he almost fell from his bicycle
near at hand
- to be close or handy (to someone)
I looked for a pair of scissors that were near at hand
neck and neck
- to be equal or nearly equal in a race or contest
The two teams were neck and neck in the race to win the national championship
neck of the woods
- an area or part of the country
He has never been to my neck of the woods since he was a child
need (something) like (one needs) a hole in the head
- to not need something at all
My friend needs a new computer like he needs a hole in the head
need (something) yesterday
- to need something in a very big hurry
I need a new computer yesterday
a needle in a haystack
- something that is very hard to find
Looking for the lost receipt among the thousands of other receipts was like looking for a needle in a haystack
Trang 3neither fish nor fowl
- something that does not belong to a definite group
The man's opinions were neither fish nor fowl and nobody could put them into an identifiable category
neither here nor there
- not relevant to the thing being discussed, to be off the subject
"What you are saying is neither here nor there We are talking about our plans this year - not five years in the future."
neither hide nor hair of (someone or something)
- no sign or indication of someone or something
I have seen neither hide nor hair of my friend recently
a nervous Nellie
- a timid person who lacks determination and courage
He is a nervous Nellie and is afraid of the other students in the school
a nest egg
- money that someone has saved up
He has a large nest egg and will have no financial problems if he leaves his company
never fear
- do not worry
"Never fear, I will finish work and meet you in time for the movie."
Trang 4never in one's life
- not in one's experience
I have never in my life seen such a strange person
never mind
- don`t worry, don`t bother
"If you don`t have time to pick up my laundry today, never mind, I will get it
tomorrow."
never would have guessed
- never would have thought something to be the case
I never would have guessed that the woman on the bicycle was one of the richest women in the city
new Idioms
new blood
- fresh energy or power, someone or something that gives new life or vigor to
something
She is a good employee and helped us to inject some new blood into our organization
a new broom sweeps clean
- a new person makes many changes
A new broom sweeps clean and when our new boss came he changed many things in our organization
Trang 5
a new deal
- a complete change, a fresh start, another chance
The player was given a new deal by the team although the previous year he had not played well
a new hire
- a person who has recently been hired
The man at the gas station is a new hire and is very slow at his job
a new lease on life
- a renewed outlook on life
I gave my car a new lease on life after I took it to the mechanic for repairs
a new person
- a person who has become much better
He is a new person now that he has quit smoking and drinking
.
next-door neighbor
- the person living in the house or apartment next to you
My next-door neighbor often brings over fresh bread that she has baked
next of kin
- one's closest living relative or relatives
The police notified the dead woman's next of kin after the accident
Trang 6next to nothing
- hardly anything
I was able to buy a new computer for next to nothing
nice and (some quality)
- lots of some quality
The bed was nice and warm and I fell asleep immediately
in the nick of time
- at the very last moment
He was able to board the airplane in the nick of time
nickel and dime (someone)
- to charge someone many small amounts of money
The constant small repairs to my car are beginning to nickel and dime me
night on the town
- a night of celebration
We went out for a night on the town when we finished the project
night owl
- a person who likes to stay up late at night
My friend is a night owl and stays up late every night
a nine day's wonder
- someone or something that is of interest to people only for a short time
The actor was a nine day's wonder and everyone forgot him after a couple of months
Trang 7a nine-to-five-job
- a job with regular and normal hours
Many people like the regular hours of a nine-to-five job
nip and tuck
- evenly matched, almost even
They were running nip and tuck but he finally won the race in the end
nip (something) in the bud
- to stop something at the start
They found out about the computer problem but were able to nip the problem in the bud
no Idioms
no bed of roses
- a difficult or bad situation
It is no bed of roses to have no job and a large family to support
no cigar
- not agreed to, no, certainly not
I almost got the job but in the end it was no cigar
no deal
- not agreed to, no, certainly not
It was no deal when my plan was rejected at the meeting
Trang 8
no dice
- no, certainly not
"No dice I will never lend you that much money."
no doubt
- without doubt, surely, certainly
No doubt he will be the one to win the contest again this year
no end
- almost without stopping, continually
The little girl cried no end when she couldn't find her favorite doll
no end of/to (something)
- seeming almost endless, very many/much of something
He had no end of problems when he lived overseas for a year
no go
- not agreed to, no, certainly not
It is no go for our plan to have three games this weekend We can only have two games
no great shakes
- to be mediocre, to be unimportant
The hotel was no great shakes and I wouldn`t recommend that you stay there
Trang 9no hard feelings
- no anger or resentment
There were no hard feelings between the two women after they got into a fight at work
no holds barred
- with no restraints
There were no holds barred during the debate between the politicians
no ifs, ands, or buts about it
- absolutely no discussion or doubts about something
"You are going to bed now - no ifs, ands, or buts about it," said the mother to her child
no joke
- a serious matter
The mistake with the meeting time was no joke It caused many of us very serious problems
no kidding
- honestly, really
"No kidding, are you really going to buy a house."
no laughing matter
- a serious matter
The incident was no laughing matter and was taken very seriously by the police
Trang 10
no love lost between (two people/groups)
- bad feelings or ill will between two people or groups
There is no love lost between my father and our neighbor
no matter
- regardless
No matter how hard that I try, my piano teacher is never satisfied
no matter what happens
- in any event, without regard to what happens
No matter what happens I plan to go swimming on Saturday
no picnic
- not pleasant, difficult
It was no picnic trying to drive to the lake during the storm
no point in (something)
- no purpose in doing something
There is no point in talking to my supervisor He never listens to what I am saying
a no-show
- a person who makes a reservation for something and then neither comes nor cancels
it
There were many no-shows at the concert last night
no skin off (someone's) teeth/nose
- no difficulty for someone
It will be no skin off my teeth if the meeting is not held