"Boo off stage" nghĩa là gì?

Hãy là người cổ vũ văn minh, hết mình cũng ca sĩ. Photo by Mwabonje from Pexels 

"Boo (one) off (the) stage" có nghĩa là la ó, chê bai, chế nhạo người khác (nghệ sĩ) khiến họ phải rời sân khấu. Hoặc "laugh off the stage" cũng có nghĩa tương tự là cười nhạo ai. 

Ví dụ

New Yorkers should boo this clown off stage during his SNL debut (màn ra mắt). 

I did get booed off a stage one time in 1978 for telling a horrible joke. So I thought, probably not a good idea to do that. 

Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner Emmys script (kịch bản), which saw them laughed off stage, was a joke inserted by the script writers. 

On Saturday night (May 18), singer Kandi Burruss' Welcome to the Dungeon Tour came through New York City and featured a guest appearance (xuất hiện khách mời) from Foxy Brown. However, following a cringe-worthy (đáng xấu hổ) performance from the Brooklyn rapper, she was booed by the crowd and forced off the stage. 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "All the world's a stage" nghĩa là gì?

"All the world's a stage" nghĩa là gì?

Trên sân khấu cuộc đời, chúng ta đều là nhân vật chính. Photo by Kyle Head on Unsplash

"All the world's a stage" = toàn bộ thế giới là một sân khấu -> cuộc sống là sân khấu, ở đó chúng ta đều là diễn viên phải diễn vai cuộc đời mình. Cụm từ bắt nguồn từ vở kịch của Shakespeare "As You Like It". 

Ví dụ

But the mindset was the same: the world is just a stage, that no matter what antics (trò hề) he gets up to, no matter whom he might insult (xúc phạm), there will be no real, permanent repercussions (hậu quả). 

During his renowned (nổi tiếng) “All the world’s a stage…” monologue (vở kịch), the melancholy (u sầu) Jaques likens the world to a stage and everyday people to actors, playing many different parts throughout the phases of life. 

If all the world's a stage, Dr. Richard T. Brittingham has had his share of plum roles: prominent Lawton internist (bác sĩ nội khoa có tiếng), commander (chỉ huy) of an Army MP Detachment, a full colonel (đại tá) in the Army Medical Corps, battalion surgeon (bác sĩ phẫu thuật) with 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery, and state surgeon for the Oklahoma Army National Guard. 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Take center stage" nghĩa là gì?

"Take center stage" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by sachin bharti from Pexels 

"Take center stage" hoặc "take/ hold/occupy centre stage" = dành lấy vị trí trung tâm sân khấu -> trở thành trung tâm của sự chú ý/ vấn đề chính. 

Ví dụ

Artificial intelligence (trí tuệ nhân tạo) took center stage at this year's Emtech conference, presented by MIT Technology Review. 

Artistry and creativity (nghệ thuật và sáng tạo) of Novo Ecijanos took center stage as several local designers here showcased their creations in a festival of costumes, mostly featuring agricultural products (sản phẩm nông nghiệp), at the SM Megacenter here Saturday. 

A global deal to curb carbon emissions (hạn chế lượng khí thải carbon) from flying will take center stage when the U.N. aviation agency’s (cơ quan hàng không) triennial assembly (hội nghị ba năm một lần) opens on Tuesday in Montreal under the shadow of protests (phản đối) led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg later in the week. 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "In a stage whisper" nghĩa là gì?

"In a stage whisper" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by John-Mark Smith from Pexels 

"In a stage whisper" = lời thì thầm (của khán giả) trên sâu khấu cũng nghe thấy được -> tiếng thì thầm lớn, to đến mức ở ngoài cũng nghe thấy. 

Ví dụ  

“I heard someone say in a stage whisper: ‘That can’t be her. She’d shoot pool (bắn bi-a) a lot better than that!’” Recalling the story, Hamilton let loose with that throaty laugh (tiếng cười khàn khàn). 

"It might be on my advice he had the award taken away from him – I hear there might be an Edna award, they were just waiting for the flack (cánh báo chí) to die down (bớt ồn) before they announced it," she added in a stage whisper. 

Brown said, “That’s 1.6 million different words that you had to choose from in this room, and you choose the word ‘influences.’ Is that fair?” 

“Yeah,” she said. 

“No!” Brown said in a stage whisper. “No, it’s not. It is not fair. It is inevitable (không thể tránh khỏi).” 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "At this stage of the game" nghĩa là gì? 

"The fix is in" nghĩa là gì?

Cô gì ời không cần chạy nữa đâu, lố giờ "cut-off" rồi! Photo by Sergio Rodriguez - Portugues del Olmo on Unsplash

"The fix is in" là cụm từ dùng để miêu tả những thứ đã bị thao túng, thậm chí đôi khi có thể theo cách bất hợp pháp.

Ví dụ

“My greatest fear is that people will say the fix is in,” said Mr Naftali. “If we discover that the reporting on Ukraine is correct, then we have an impeachable (có thể bị buộc tội/báo cáo) case, and half the country won’t believe it.” 

The state’s Conservative Party also accused the commission (hội đồng uỷ ban) of trying to “artificially (giả tạo) gin up (tạo ra) 'public' testimony (lời khai) from Party subordinates (người cấp dưới),” saying, in a statement, “the fix is in.” Both parties have filed lawsuits (việc kiện cáo/tố tụng) against the commission.

The nonprosecution (sự không tiếp tục/không khởi tố) of fired FBI Director James Comey and the likely knowledge of former (cựu) President Barack Obama during the undercover (bí mật/giấu giếm) surveillance (sự giám sát) of President Donald Trump do not sit well with (khó chấp nhận/đồng ý) former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who says "the fix is in."

Hậu Giang

Bài trước: "Fix somebody with a look" nghĩa là gì?

"At this stage of the game" nghĩa là gì?

Tình hình chưa khả quan mấy. Photo courtesy Imran Tariq 

"At this stage (of the game/something)" = ở giai đoạn này/ ở thời điểm hiện tại (của sự kiện nào đó). 

Ví dụ 

Liverpool defender (hậu vệ) Virgil Van Dijk has dismissed (bỏ lỡ) the five-point lead they hold over title rivals Manchester City as irrelevant (không thích hợp) at this stage of the season. 

"We will get him assessed (ước định), see the extent (mức độ) of what is going on there. We're in the dark at this stage." Prop Ed Byrne will have an assessment this week on a neck injury to establish the severity (mức độ nghiêm trọng) of that issue. 

The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (Hiệp hội các nhà đầu tư chứng khoán) or Sias clarified on Sunday in a statement that it does not, in fact, support the Hyflux restructuring agreement (thỏa thuận tái cấu trúc) by potential white knight (nhà đầu tư tiềm năng) Utico at this stage as previously reported. 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Exit stage left" nghĩa là gì? 

"Exit stage left" nghĩa là gì?

Mời bạn đi lối này! Photo by monicore from Pexels 

"Exit stage left" = (danh từ) lối thoát hiểm bên trái sân khấu -> (động từ) thoát ra, rời đi một cách nhanh chóng, kịp thời và không gây ra sự chú ý (đôi khi được sử dụng như một mệnh lệnh). 

Ví dụ

Time is passing and the entire episode (toàn bộ tập phim) was focused on informing Tommy that he should exit stage left. 

With annual leave banked up (nghỉ phép) he will exit stage left and enjoy several months off before taking over (tiếp quản) as Insiders host at the ABC in 2020. 

Tour guide and part-time actor Simon has scoured (lùng sục tìm) the country for his leading man with little success and would love to exit stage left with his very own Prince Charming. 

You might remember last week Meghan McCain made an exit stage left on The View when Ana Navarro swiftly (ngay lập tức) told her not to scream in her face in the middle of a conversation. 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: “Riddle me this” nghĩa là gì? 

Ồ 'General Services' nghĩa là vậy?

cựu quan chức tổng cục quản lý mua sắm mỹ (General Services Administration - GSA) thú nhận làm tình với nhân viên Nhà Trắng trên nóc trụ sở...

-----

Brennan Hart, a former associate administrator and acting chief of staff (quyền chánh văn phòng) at the GSA, admitted to GSA Inspector General investigators that in the summer of 2017, he had sexual relations with an official from the White House on the roof of the building.

Hart said he made the unidentified (không xác định danh tính) White House staffer and himself drinks with vodka he kept in his office and they had sexual activity that began in administrative suite area and ended with oral sex (làm tình bằng miệng, "thổi kèn") on the rooftop of the building. The name of the White House staffer was redacted in the report released by the GSA. Hart also acknowledged drinking alcohol in the building, but only after business hours...

Bài trước: Các anh em không phải lo cho tôi

"Pièce de résistance" nghĩa là gì?

Hôm nay anh muốn đi ăn gì đây? Photo by Reimond de Zuñiga on Unsplash

"Pièce de résistance" (số nhiều là pièces de résistance) có nguồn gốc từ tiếng Pháp và được dịch là tác phẩm, sự kiện,... quan trọng và gây ấn tượng nhất (trong một nhóm, một chuỗi,...). Ngoài ra, trong bữa ăn thì cụm từ này có nghĩa là món chủ lực, món ăn chính.

Ví dụ

While the hitting gets the headlines (mục tin chính), the Dodgers’ pièce de résistance for this postseason run lies with their pitching staff.

The pièce de résistance in the collection was a very rare 2014 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, 9 of which were ever made, barely driven and in excellent condition, which fetched (bán được) $8.4 million, qz.com reports. The off-white (màu trắng nhạt) Roadster had some 200 miles on the odometer (đồng hồ đo quãng đường đi của xe cộ).

If you do decide to go the online route, don't discount the incredible craftspeople (thợ thủ công) over at Etsy either. Tons of artists are willing to make you customized mouse ears for a reasonable price. Dream up the perfect pair for your loved one, let the creator know what you want, and eagerly await the arrival of your gift-giving pièce de résistance.

Thảo Nguyễn

Bài trước: "Give him a piece of your mind" nghĩa là gì?

Vì sao đồng nghiệp được thăng chức?

It's become apparent that you are excellent at making the clients feel their needs are being met, but Mr. Cosgrove has the rare gift of making them feel as if they haven't any needs.

~ Lane Pryce

Bài trước: Chiến đấu vì chính nghĩa

"Museum piece" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by Katarzyna Grabowska on Unsplash

"Museum piece" = tác phẩm được trưng trong viện bảo tàng -> cụm từ này nghĩa là người lớn tuổi; cái gì đó lỗi thời, lạc hậu.

Ví dụ

The Chinese economy flourishes despite all the efforts of its adversaries, 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty, and poverty itself will be a museum piece before very long.

Yet as the event at City Hall demonstrated, Earth, Wind & Fire shouldn’t be thought of as a museum piece. The group, whose flashy (hào nhoáng) road show made it a must-see in its heyday (thời hoàng kim), is still a nimble live act capable of putting over beloved tunes that blend soul, rock, jazz and African music.

In recent years, Clark has collaborated (cộng tác) on records by Alicia Keys, Childish Gambino and Tech N9ne, suggesting other paths for him to explore. “Blues, gospel, folk, country, that’s American music,” he says. “That’s where we come from. I know the past, but I want to be a part of the future too. I don’t want to be a museum piece.”

Thảo Nguyễn

Bài trước: "Collector's piece" nghĩa là gì?

“Riddle me this” nghĩa là gì?

Đoán xem đội nào đang lợi thế hơn? Photo courtesy Büşra Bülbül

“Riddle me this/that” có nghĩa là đoán hộ tôi xem cái này có nghĩa là gì. Câu nói mang tính châm biếm, mỉa mai, lấy từ câu cửa miệng của “The Riddle”, nhân vật phản diện trong “Batman”.

Ví dụ

Riddle me that one Batman. Just goes to show you that anything can happen on Sunday.

Riddle me this: Can the star of “Superbad” deliver as “The Batman” villain (nhân vật phản diện)?

Riddle me this, Batman. With its much-talked about quarterback (tiền vệ), will Auburn’s identity be a throwing team or rushing team?

Okay, so riddle me this. Which of the two teams, Minnesota or Chicago, won and delivered ATS covers in both meetings last season and has a home-field (sân nhà) position on Sunday, yet has seen the number drop three points on them since the odds (cú đánh) opened early in the week?

Thu Phương

Bài trước: “Riddle with” nghĩa là gì? 

“Riddle with” nghĩa là gì?

Hai bố con chơi Ma trận có vẻ vui. Photo courtesy Adrian Sommeling

“Riddle (someone/ something) with” = làm thủng lỗ, đục lỗ (bằng viên đạn…). Còn “be riddled with (something)” dùng với nghĩa bao gồm, toàn là điều gì đó.

Ví dụ

A Florida family grieving (đau buồn) the death of a man fatally shot in June was distressed (đau khổ) to see is memorial riddled with bullets.

A couple say they are stuck in their £350,000 dream home after it turned into a nightmare (biến thành ác mộng) riddled with problems that need fixing.

Can it be true... the gluten-free, macrobiotic vegan (chế độ ăn chay) wonder-woman who never goes a morning without drinking a ‘moon dust’ detox shake (đồ uống thải độc), is actually riddled with imperfections?

The formal complaint from an anti-Trump “whistleblower” alleging (khẳng đinh) various crimes by President Donald Trump is riddled with third-hand gossip (tin đồn gián tiếp) and outright falsehoods (hoàn toàn giả dối). 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: “A riddle wrapped in an enigma” nghĩa là gì? 

“A riddle wrapped in an enigma” nghĩa là gì?

Có những bí ẩn không nên được tìm thấy. Photo by Kat Jayne from Pexels 

“A riddle wrapped in an enigma” hoặc “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma” = bí ẩn bọc ngoài bí ẩn -> bí ẩn khó giải mã, một điều gì đó vô cùng bí mật, chưa có lời giải thích. Câu nói bắt nguồn từ tuyên bố của Winston Churchill về mục đích hành động của Nga năm 1939. 

Ví dụ 

Post-Newtonian science suggests that the universe may ultimately be a riddle wrapped in an enigma enclosed in a mystery. 

Until such times, it will remain one of Scottish golf’s most intriguing enigmas; a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, enveloped in secrecy and heather (cây thạch nam). 

Michael Cheika’s men may be rugby’s equivalent (tương đương bóng bầu dục) of Russia in the eyes of Winston Churchill — “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” 

The Young and the Restless spoilers for Monday, September 23, 2019, reveal a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in hairspray, as Nikki is forced to deal (buộc phải giải quyết) with what she’s done (and to whom), while Devon tries to figure out what Amanda’s game is. 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Get under way" nghĩa là gì? 

"Give him a piece of your mind" nghĩa là gì?

Bà có khó chịu gì với ảnh thì gặp mặt rồi nói ra cho hết đi! Photo by Evan Krause on Unsplash

"Give someone a piece of your mind" = đưa cho ai một chút ý kiến của bạn -> cụm từ này nghĩa là tỏ rõ ý kiến, cảm nhận của bạn với ai đó khi điều họ làm khiến bạn khó chịu, nổi giận.

Ví dụ

I said, "OK, Lisa, what do you think will happen if you call Tom and give him a piece of your mind? I predict he'll become even more upset and take his complaint to the firm's board of directors (hội đồng quản trị), as he threatened (đe dọa) to do in our conversation."

In fact, there used to be a way to actually “contact” the principal if you wanted to give him a piece of your mind. In the episode “Funeral,” we find out that his email address is gettinfiggywithit@aol.com. If you tried to send an email to that address back in the day, you would get this reply. Since then, it has been taken down.

I haven’t the slightest idea what it feels like to be trafficked or abused. I can’t relate to the emotions you are experiencing. But I can understand that it must be terribly frustrating not to be able to bring charges against him in a court of law. Not to be able to look him in the face – if that is what you planned to do – and give him a piece of your mind. And I imagine that his death is a small consolation (điều an ủi) to you right now.

Thảo Nguyễn

Bài trước: "A nasty piece of work" nghĩa là gì?

"Collector's piece" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

"Collector's piece" = món đồ của người hay sưu tầm -> cụm từ này nghĩa là một món đồ đáng giá và thu hút được sự chú ý của giới hay sưu tầm bởi giá trị, độ quý hiếm, cũng như nguồn gốc lâu đời của chúng.

Ví dụ

Tag Heuer’s global 50th anniversary celebration of the Monaco racing chronograph (máy ghi thời gian) stopped in Japan on Tuesday, where the luxury brand unveiled (tiết lộ) its fourth collector’s piece: the Tag Heuer Monaco 1999-2009 Limited Edition. This particular Monaco watch is inspired by the early 2000s.

This is a watch with a story to tell, and it’s not your typical product made by a watch company. Rather, it’s the fruit of a project organized by a Swiss horology (thuật làm đồng hồ) museum making use of the specialties of craftsmen in the local La Chaux-de-Fonds industry. The result is a remarkably clean and original watch called the MIH Gaïa, with elements that each proudly represents a different specialist. Coolest of all, it isn’t crazily priced like some unobtainable, high-end collector’s piece.

In the 1980s and 1990s, fans couldn't get enough of Salem's caricature (tranh biếm họa) shirts, which depicted (vẽ) players in a lighthearted (thú vị) and appealing way. The company created caricature shirts of athletes in each professional league, but their most famous were of the NBA championship teams, including Jordan's Bulls and the Detroit Pistons' Bad Boys. "It was fun. It was like being on a Wheaties box," said Rick Mahorn, the power forward on the Pistons' 1988-89 championship team. "It was a good collector's piece for fans and also guys who played the game."

Thảo Nguyễn

Bài trước: "Downbeat" nghĩa là gì?

"A nasty piece of work" nghĩa là gì?

Chỉ hơi chảnh xíu thôi mà cứ bị gọi là người khó gần! Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash

"A nasty piece of work" = một công trình gây cảm giác khó chịu, làm bực mình -> cụm từ này nghĩa là người khó gây cảm tình. Nét mặt bình thường của người đó mang vẻ không được vui nên khiến ai gặp lần đầu cũng có cảm giác người đó không thân thiện.

Ví dụ

Mr Johnson was pictured at the summit (cuộc gặp thượng đỉnh, cuộc gặp cấp cao) alongside Ms Arcuri, who also accompanied (hộ tống, đi cùng) him on trade missions. His appearance came after a series of messages she sent to the London Mayor’s adviser Lynton Crosby on Twitter over the preceding few weeks. Not long before the summit, Ms Arcuri also took to Twitter to defend Mr Johnson following a TV interview during which presenter Eddie Mair described him as a “nasty piece of work”.

A wise man once said, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But its not just Al Pacino who follows this rule – a new study has revealed (tiết lộ) just how many enemies each of us may have. According to a poll (cuộc thăm dò y kiến) of 2,000 people, the average British person knows at least four ‘evil people’. The study found 16 per cent think their next-door neighbour is a ‘nasty piece of work’ and 12 per cent believe they have a ‘black-hearted’ boss.

Public opinion is split on the question of whether Trump should be impeached (bị kết tội). But Republican Party voters are overwhelmingly against such an attempt to remove him from office. One thing is almost certainly guaranteed (được bảo đảm) to happen, however. This is shaping as the biggest and bloodiest battle in American politics since Nixon pulled up the drawbridge (cầu treo) at the White House in a futile (vô ích) attempt to save his presidency. If you think Trump is a nasty piece of work, then you ain't seen nothing yet.

Thảo Nguyễn

Bài trước: "Take some beating" nghĩa là gì?

"Downbeat" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by Khagen Gogoi on Unsplash

"Downbeat" có nghĩa là ngưng trệ; chán chường, bi quan, u sầu.

Ví dụ

The survey showed manufacturing was the most downbeat sector surveyed. Profitability (việc thu lợi nhuận) had been weighed down by a weakening in both domestic (nội địa) and export (xuất khẩu) demand.

Xherdan Shaqiri admits he feels ‘a little downbeat’ over the amount of playing time he gets at Liverpool but the winger (cầu thủ biên) insists he is ‘very comfortable’ at Anfield.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped on Friday, pulled lower by a slide in Micron shares after the chipmaker blamed U.S.-China trade tensions (tình trạng căng thẳng) for its downbeat first-quarter profit forecast, but gains in financials kept the Dow in positive territory.

Thảo Nguyễn

Bài trước: "Deadbeat dad" nghĩa là gì?

"Deadbeat dad" nghĩa là gì?

Cha ơi, cha ở đâu! Photo by Arwan Sutanto on Unsplash

"Deadbeat dad" = người cha chán ngắt -> cụm từ này nghĩa là người cha vô trách nhiệm, không sống chung, không quan tâm đến cuộc sống của con cái và cũng không hề chu cấp về tài chính để nuôi dưỡng con.

Ví dụ

Despite Rambo’s advice to stay home, Gabrielle nevertheless heads down to Mexico to search for her deadbeat dad (Marco de la O) and, in record time, she’s betrayed by her friend (Fenessa Pineda) and sold to a cartel for use in their whorehouse.

As a kid (played by Noah Jupe) he spent his time between TV and film sets and a dingy hotel room with his foul-tempered deadbeat dad (played by LaBeouf himself). While his star might have been on the rise, his difficult relationship with his father dominated and continues to dominate years later, a tricky puzzle that remains unsolved.

They claim plots like Amelia discovering her uncle was her dad, Archie being thrust back into his deadbeat dad Jai's life and Victoria Sugden's unborn baby set to live without his dad in his life are just some examples of the same general storyline being repeated. Vanessa Woodfield is also raising son Johnnie without the input of his father, while both Dotty and Arthur lost their dad to Alzheimer's and will grow up without him. 

Thảo Nguyễn

Bài trước: "Dead beat" nghĩa là gì?

"Get under way" nghĩa là gì?

Này rồi bao giờ mới được đi? Photo courtesy mem42 

"Get under way" có nghĩa là bắt đầu, khởi hành, lên đường. 

Ví dụ 

Essential repair work (việc tu sửa) which will last more than a week is set to get under way at Haven and Breydon Bridge. 

Motorists using the A85 are set to benefit from an improved road surface as surfacing improvements (cải tiến bề mặt) are due to get under way. 

Contractors (nhà thầu) are establishing their site offices and associated infrastructure (cơ sở hạ tầng liên quan) to enable the works to get underway. 

The appointment (bổ nhiệm) of independent directors (thành viên hđqt độc lập) in the coming weeks and the start of the search for a new chief executive (giám đốc điều hành), also expected to get under way in October, will be key elements (yếu tố chính) of the process. 

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Show a clean pair of heels " nghĩa là gì? 

"Plug along" nghĩa là gì?

Khi mình quyết tâm, không ai có thể ngăn cản được. Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash 

"Plug along" có nghĩa là tiếp tục nỗ lực, bền bỉ, không ngừng. Còn khi ai đó chào hỏi bạn "how are you?" và bạn trả lời lại "I'm just plugging along" có nghĩa là vẫn ổn, vẫn đang cố gắng làm tốt công việc của mình. 

Ví dụ 

Yes, we're still plugging along. Good days, bad days. The girls are fine. 

Our special teams are playing well, and we’re plugging along offensively (tấn công). We’re winning all three phases of the game right now. 

"We just keep on plugging along," Lovette said of the band. "We keep writing and are trying to learn new songs. We hope to record another CD at some point or possibly get some more songs on iTunes." 

I am 49, single, with no kids. Until about three years ago, I wasn’t even sure how much credit card debt I had. I had less than $200 in savings and I was just plugging along making minimum payments (chi phí tối thiểu). 

Thu Phương

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