"Can't tell shit from Shinola" nghĩa là gì?

Em ngây thơ mà, em biết gì đâu. Photo by: JJ Jordan on Unsplash

"Can't tell shit from Shinola" -> nghĩa là rất ngây thơ, dốt nát, không thực tế. Shinola là thương hiệu xi đánh giày, thường có màu đen hoặc nâu; "nhìn xi đánh giày mà lại tưởng .ứt"

Ví dụ

Just as a British person might describe (miêu tả) an ill-informed colleague as not knowing “their arse from their elbow”, someone from the US might describe them as being unable to tell “shit from Shinola”.

Shinola, the most intriguing (hấp dẫn) firm (hãng) in Bedrock’s portfolio, bought its name from a long-dead brand of shoe polish best known for the insult “You can’t tell shit from Shinola”.

Somewhere in this narrative (câu chuyện) about the mass exodus (di cư) of the working class as it fled

(chạy trốn) from its own self interest was the idea that American workers had become so damn stupid that they no longer could see their self interest at all, could no longer tell shit from shinola, so they got avidly (say sưa) enthusiastic for shit, choosing it over the polish that would merely shine their work boots, but not quite ever allow them to patch (vá) the soles (đế giày), let alone get ’em some new ones.

Ngọc Lân

Bài trước: "Up shit creek without a paddle" nghĩa là gì?

"Dine with the devil" nghĩa là gì?

Gần mực thì dễ đen. Photo by Oleg Magni from Pexels

"Dine with the devil" = thiết đãi quỷ dữ -> nghĩa là câu kết, bắt tay với kẻ xấu, làm việc ác, vô đạo đức. Còn cụm "if you eat with the devil, you need a (very) long spoon" nghĩa là nên cẩn thận để không bị ảnh hưởng khi đứng chung với người xấu.

Ví dụ

If I loved a woman as you love Mary, her father could dine with the devil himself and it would not alter my affections.

Nowhere in the Bible is it suggested that we should dine with the devil by reconciling (trung hòa) good and evil, God and Satan!

Devil wasn't all that much worse than I was. I feasted on a lot of Hollywood crumbs, just not as close to the table. As they say, if you're going to dine with the devil, find a long spoon.

Mr. Bowring is the next witness (nhân chứng), and he comes and tells you, that the doctor could not be prevailed with to dine with the gentlemen of the parish (giáo xứ) of Foster-lane, because some of them had dined with the duke, which he calls dining with the devil.

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Dine with Duke Humphrey" nghĩa là gì?

"Dine with Duke Humphrey" nghĩa là gì?

Không ăn đâu!! Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

"Dine with Duke Humphrey" nghĩa là nhịn ăn, không ăn gì (mà cứ thế đi). Cụm từ này dựa trên câu chuyện về một người đàn ông, khi đến thăm lăng mộ của Công tước Humphrey ở Gloucester đã bị nhốt trong tu viện và lỡ mất bữa tối.

Ví dụ 

Modiji made India a hard place for Indian citizens, forced Indian to dine with Duke Humphrey.

Well, I was walk dere, and see sit on de bench for wat dey 'call to dine with de Duke Humphrey, un pauvre homme; he seem very hungry, very cold; he looked very dirty, very ragged (rách rưới), and very poor indeed, but he appear very jonteel man for all dat.

For letters are yet in the possession (sở hữu) of various branches of the family, from which it distinctly appears, being stated in so many words, that one Diggory Chuzzlewit was in the habit of perpetually (thường xuyên) dining with Duke Humphrey.

Fowls, chicken, and all sorts of game, come under the article of prohibited goods; and though I see brawn (thịt lợn ướp) and sturgeon (cá tầm) served up every day during the whole winter, I am no more the better for them than Tantalus was for his apples; and really sometimes I eat as little as those who dine with Duke Humphrey, or as Sancho did when he was made governor of Barataria.

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Damned if I know" nghĩa là gì?

"Damned if I know" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by obligate

"Damned if I know" hay DIIK/DIIN nghĩa là (nhấn mạnh) tôi không biết gì hết, nếu tôi biết thì đã khác.

Ví dụ

"What are you two doing here?" Maury laughed.

"Damned if I know. We followed you, and had the deuce (rắc rối) of a time doing it."

Damned if I know. The problem seems to originate in February. It takes at least thirty days to qualify as a month (the precedent (tiền lệ) having been established by the other eleven).

“'Be damned if I know, Bill says, and be damned if I care.' He goes to get a cigarette and spills them all over the back porch (hiên, hè), then breaks two or three trying to pick them up.

I don't know who she was or where she come from. Must a been there the whole time and gone unnoticed. Damned if I know, but she was one of those gals with her name on the back of her belt (Gloria, Carl said) and those fancy high boots and those tight jeans tucked inside. I don't know where the hell she come from.

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Stand on your dignity" nghĩa là gì?

"Stand on your dignity" nghĩa là gì?

Trong nhiều tình huống, thật khó để giữ tự trọng cho mình. Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash

"Stand on (one's) dignity" nghĩa là tự trọng, giữ phẩm giá của mình.

Ví dụ

He apologizes every time he has to speak in such a way, for he was not a man to stand on his dignity.

This was no time to stand on his dignity: if he failed to stop Jeannie, he would have no dignity left anyway.

You'll never forget the injustice of that blow as long as I the blood throbs in your veins. You will always stand up for your dignity, even before you'd defend (bảo vệ) your country. Saving face drains your energy and becomes another complex.

It was all my fault. I had neglected (bỏ rơi) Kirk, and I had neglected Bill, and Kirk couldn't stand it any longer. But now that this has happened, don't you see that it will be all right again? You can't stand on your dignity when you're up against real trouble.

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Beneath my dignity" nghĩa là gì?

"Beneath my dignity" nghĩa là gì?

Phẩm chất quý ông. Photo by Gian Paolo Aliatis on Unsplash

"Beneath (one's) dignity" nghĩa là làm giảm giá trị bản thân, không xứng đáng với phẩm cách của mình.

Ví dụ

Is it beneath your dignity to deny what Dietze said under oath when he identified you as a Communist (Cộng sản)?

Do you believe that certain tasks are beneath your dignity or position? If you answer yes to any of those questions, then your attitude is not as good as it could be.

'If you don't like it,' he said, 'you can have Martin. Or so I would suppose. But her ladyship seems to hold it beneath her dignity to stir until you have to be got on your feet. That's why it's me. Nothing's beneath my dignity, of course I hope the tea's all right. I made it.'

It's beneath my dignity to be pokin' around (tìm kiếm) after logs, because I'm a sea-captain. But that has nothin' to do with you. It's beneath my dignity to go bare-footed, but it's all right for you. It's beneath my dignity to go to school, but not for you, see?

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Sink your differences" nghĩa là gì?

"Up shit creek without a paddle" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by: Ludomił Sawicki on Unsplash

"Up shit creek without a paddle" = ngược dòng suối (.ứt) bằng tay không (ko có mái chèo) -> nghĩa là trong tình huống khó khăn/khó xử mà khó có đường thoát.

Ví dụ

Let’s face it, the UK has not exactly been a shining light in the way it has handled (xử lý) the pandemic. Like the US, bad leadership and a general disregard for science has put them up shit creek without a paddle.

Musicians and artists are in a particularly bad way, having been left up shit creek without a paddle and no way of making any money. So, with that in mind, here are a few things you can do to give a dig out (làm gì sau thời gian dài không đụng đến).

“Things were bad enough before covid,” one source said. “Now we really have found ourselves up shit creek without a paddle.” It’s not as if no one warned (cảnh báo) Croydon about a possible financial calamity (thảm họa).

Ngọc Lân

Bài trước: "Ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag" nghĩa là gì?

"Up to the mark" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by Rayyu Maldives photographer

.

"Up to the mark" -> nghĩa là đạt yêu cầu, tiêu chuẩn hoặc kỳ vọng (đạt điểm chuẩn).

Ví dụ

Many of those appearances were part of the back four under Tony Mowbray, with JRC featuring in six of the final nine post-lockdown outings. And whilst Rovers missed out on a top six finish, Rankin-Costello felt he stepped up to the mark well, but is targeting more football further forward in 2020-21.

“He is a seasoned bowler and at times it did hurt when he left test cricket at a crucial time and we all expressed our displeasure on it. “But we have moved on and we have to see where he stands. If he’s up to the mark, then we will pick him and play him. But nobody is indispensable (tuyệt đối cần thiết; không thể thiếu được). I never thought we couldn’t function without one cricketer.”

In an interview to Hindustan Times, Angad also defended several ‘insider’ actors, and said that they deserve to be in the industry because of their talent. “Alia (Bhatt), Varun (Dhawan), Ranbir (Kapoor) are all good actors. Why shouldn’t they get opportunities? Rather than pointing fingers at their lineage, I see this as a healthy competition. I’ve faced rejections, too. There have been times when filmmakers didn’t want to see my face and thinking I’m not up to the mark, gave the chance to someone else,” he said.

Ka Tina

Bài trước: "Fall wide of the mark" nghĩa là gì?

"Ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by: Yannis H on Unsplash

"Ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag" = mười kg phân trong chiếc túi năm kg -> nghĩa là bị nhồi nhét quá nhiều/quá mức.

Ví dụ

It’s really hard to find a three-dimensional (ba chiều) character in it, and you work it as much as you can, but you can’t put ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag.

Here's a clue...you can't put ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag. Houston is called the Bayou City for a reason. It floods (lụt). It's what it does.

With 27 hours on the hated clock, Tony checks into his room at the St. John Hotel, just opened by chef Fergus Henderson (who we learn has Parkinson's Disease). A jet lagged Tony ("I feel like ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag") grabs a bite of eggs over blood sausage before showering, and taking multiple meds (wonder if they're prescription (đơn thuốc) or otherwise) before meeting chef Henderson for a spot of coffee at Bar Italia.

Ngọc Lân

Bài trước: "The straw that breaks the donkey's back" nghĩa là gì?

"Fall wide of the mark" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by Steven Coffey

"Fall wide of the mark" = xa mục tiêu/không trúng đích -> nghĩa là không chính xác/sai hoàn toàn.

Ví dụ

Looked lively from the start and had a few half-chances fall wide of the mark. Continued to get into good positions but looked as though he needed the run-out.

As Hong Kong’s summer of dis­content trudges (sự lê bước, đi chậm chạp) on, compar­isons to the deadly riots 52 years ago, when leftist-inspired unrest rocked the British colony (thuộc địa), continue to appear. When attempts are made to draw lessons from events of the past, some analogies are appropriate and help illuminate the present day while others fall wide of the mark.

Although this exercise is meant to be comprehensive, Money has noted before that differences in methodology (hệ phương pháp, phương pháp luận) or errors in tabulating (lập bảng kê) aid can mean that estimates can fall wide of the mark. Another thing to keep in mind is that although these tools can show how much a given institution gives in aid on average, remember, as the saying goes, your mileage (lãi, lời lộc) may vary. Household income and academic performance are two major variables that can impact how much assistance a family actually receives.

Ka Tina

Bài trước: "Spot on the mark" nghĩa là gì?

"Spot on the mark" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by Jaël Vallée

"Spot on the mark" = chấm ngay trên dấu -> nghĩa là rất chính xác/đúng hoàn toàn.

Ví dụ

You're spot on the mark Seth. Arians is just playing to his AND Brady's strengths.

Yes you're spot on the mark there. Seth's loss would hardly be a surprise, yet his win is needed the most to reestablish the main event scene on Raw. Imagine if none of the three favorites were to win and the outrage (xúc phạm, sỉ nhục) that would surround it. I think that would be the final straw for a lot of viewers.

Dogs are a man/woman/humxn's best friend. Whoever first said that was spot on the mark. For most people, the idea of having a dog is kind of the pinnacle (đỉnh cao) of it all. The thing we all dream of while reading tales of scrappy (hay gây gổ, thích cãi cọ) mutts (chó lai, người ngu si đần độn) that totally pull at your heartstrings (những tình cảm sâu sắc nhất; những xúc động sâu xa nhất). Or, let's be real, while involuntarily lunging at every dog that passes you on the street saying "DOGGY!" And when it's time to one day take a plunge, you'll want to adopt, not shop, from a place like Wood Green. So where is Wood Green dog shelter? Because, guys, they are about to hit your screen and you may well fall in love.

Ka Tina

Bài trước: "Mark his card" nghĩa là gì?

"Cull the herd" nghĩa là gì?

Ó ò Photo by Marcos Abreu from Pexels

'cull the herd' nghĩa là tách/chọn/loại một con ra khỏi bầy, đàn (thông thường để giết thịt) -> tách, loại ai đó ra khỏi nhóm, tổ chức, hàng ngũ.

Ví dụ

In my given trade, architecture, we have a saying: “Buy cheap, buy twice.” We may be buying our officers too cheaply and buying far too many. We should cull the herd and pay more for sophisticated (sành sỏi, thành thạo) professionals. Good things cost. Good reform costs. Good lives cost. And so do good police.

Josh said some goals for the operation are to raise and breed (gây giống) the best cattle the industry has to offer, to continuously cull the herd to keep it full of fertile (giống tốt) and problem-free cattle and to limit the breeding and calving (đẻ) season to 90 days or less.

The expansion of the Mercedes-Benz lineup (hàng ngũ, đội hình) has been relentless (không ngừng) in recent years, to the point you almost need a CliffsNotes to identify many of the new models. The automaker now appears to be ready to cull the herd somewhat, judging by comments made by its U.S. chief Nicholas Speeks during a meeting with dealers in late June. Speeks said at least seven car models would be dropped from Mercedes' U.S. lineup, Automotive News reported on Sunday.

Bích Nhàn

Bài trước: "In aid of" nghĩa là gì?

"The straw that breaks the donkey's back" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by: Daniel Burka on Unsplash

"The straw that breaks the donkey's back" = cọng rơm làm gãy lưng con lừa, việt nam có chuyện ngụ ngôn 'chiếc áo phú ông làm gãy lưng con lạc đà' đó các bạn -> cụm từ này nghĩa là vấn đề/gánh nặng/sức ép tưởng là nhỏ, không quan trọng nhưng lại là yếu tố cuối cùng/"giọt nước tràn ly" khiến một người, hệ thống, tổ chức... sụp đổ, lụn bại.

Ví dụ

Sadly for some photographers coronavirus has come at the wrong time. It’s the straw that broke the donkey’s back. With any situation like this, there will undoubtedly be some casualties (tổn thát) and this is the reality that has hit our photography industry. For some this will come as sad news as it highlights the struggles that we all face, others though will welcome the news as it would mean less competition for them (yes, there are people out there that think that way).

Finally, finally, maybe this attempt to induce (xúi giục) a foreign power to meddle (can thiệp) in an American election is the bridge too far, the Rubicon crossed, the straw that broke the donkey’s back. Maybe — dare we hope? — the elephant’s too.

I’m normally not sensitive about any kind of politically incorrect jokes, but this may be the straw that broke the donkey’s back. My aunt had diabetes (tiểu đường), when I heard about it I immediately started dieting and lost 30 lbs with the Loaded Gun Diet.

Ngọc Lân

Bài trước: "Break your balls" nghĩa là gì?

"In aid of" nghĩa là gì?

Bức ảnh chụp một con báo cái ở Namibia của tác giả Pie Aerts trong hoạt động bán gây quỹ bảo tồn động vật hoang dã ở châu Phi 

'in aid of somebody/something' nghĩa là hỗ trợ hay giúp đỡ (ai hay cái gì).

Ví dụ

It’s been confirmed that the sale was in aid of the Bethlehem Arab Society For Rehabilitation, who will be using the proceeds to help fund a new acute stroke (đột quỵ cấp tính) unit as well as children’s rehabilitation (phục hồi) equipment.

Buy an artwork by artist Henny Beaumont in aid of the Majonzi Fund. This artwork is available through the Guardian Print Shop, with profits from sales will be donated to the Majonzi Fund to support bereaved (gia quyến) BAME families affected by Covid-19.

The photography fundraiser, which launches on Sunday, was created by photographers Marion Payr and Pie Aerts, in aid of parks managed by conservation non-profit African Parks. The organisation works in partnership with local governments across 18 parks in 11 African nations to safeguard biodiversity and support local people by delivering clean water, food security and carbon sequestration (cô lập/thu giữ cacbon nhằm giảm thiểu hoặc làm chậm quá trình biến đổi khí hậu) along with providing jobs and healthcare.

Bích Nhàn

Bài trước: "Take refuge in" nghĩa là gì?

"Mark his card" nghĩa là gì?

Photo by Wayne Low

"Mark (one's) card" = để lộ quân bài -> nghĩa là cảnh báo/chia sẻ thông tin.

Ví dụ

Lavender Schiaparelli, with strong hair and make‑up would mark her card as a potential fashion player. Atelier Versace for Jennifer Jason Leigh.

He would mark my card about a player. Most of the players get on the coach now, put on their headphones and do not even talk to each other.

“Whenever I spoke to him he was genuine. He wanted to keep me, but there was obviously an underlying issue at the club.“I spoke to John Greig when I was leaving, just to mark his card about my situation. “I’ve known him since I was nine. He’s an absolute legend at the club. I wanted John to know the truth.

Ka Tina

Bài trước: "Fields have eyes, and woods have ears" nghĩa là gì?

"Sink your differences" nghĩa là gì?

Đoàn kết tạo sức mạnh vững bền. Photo by Isaiah Rustad on Unsplash

"Sink (one's) differences" = nhấn chìm sự khác biệt -> nghĩa là bỏ qua sự bất đồng, tranh cãi trước đây để cùng nhau đạt được mục tiêu chung.

Ví dụ

Now be content and sink your differences in a common cause.

Please, sink your differences for the sake of humanity and yourself.

Even the Prince Regent, who once so much disliked him, appealed to him to sink his differences with Castlereagh and others and accept Liverpool's offer – but all to no avail (vô ích).

A variety of reasons, all equally creditable to Major Gordon's judgment and single-mindedness, induced him after two months' retirement to abandon his inaction and to sink his difference with the Futai.

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "It makes no difference to me" nghĩa là gì?

"It makes no difference to me" nghĩa là gì?

Khuôn mặt "không quan tâm người khác làm gì". Photo by Kebs Visuals from Pexels

"(It) makes no difference to me" = nó không tạo sự khác biệt đối với tôi -> nghĩa là tôi không quan tâm, tôi chẳng có cảm xúc gì đặc biệt.

Ví dụ

It makes no difference to me whether you arrive too-late or not.

It makes no difference to me what you do. It makes a great deal of difference to me when school property is destroyed.

They were personal affairs between God and man. If my neighbor's beliefs will take him to Hell, that makes no difference to me if he is otherwise a good neighbor.

“But it makes no difference to you, you know,” said Biddy calmly.

"No, Biddy, it makes no difference to me; only I don't like it; I don't approve of it."

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "What difference does it make" nghĩa là gì?

"What difference does it make" nghĩa là gì?

"Hmm, không hiểu khác biệt chỗ nào!" Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

"What difference does it make?" nghĩa là điều đó có tạo nên khác biệt gì không, có quan trọng không, có ảnh hưởng gì không.

Ví dụ

What difference does it make to the church? To others in this group?

In a word, what difference does it make whether or not there are any courts, or lawyers, or law schools, or law students?

What difference does it make in regard to your honor, if you throw your chidren upon your neighbors to feed and to clothe?

Why are you spending so much time on the subject of fruit inspecting? Good fruit, bad fruit; what difference does it make?

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Tell the difference between" nghĩa là gì?

"Tell the difference between" nghĩa là gì?

Hoa quả thì quá dễ phân biệt. Photo by Maurício Mascaro from Pexels

"Tell the difference between" nghĩa là chỉ ra được, nhận biết được sự khác biệt giữa người/vật với người/vật khác.

Ví dụ

Which of you can tell the difference between grapes and bananas just by touching them ?

They have told so many lies that they can scarcely tell the difference between truth and falsehood.

Now you know how to tell the difference between sea lions and seals. You also know how they are alike.

The ad almost taunts (chế nhạo) its readers: "You think you can tell the difference between hearing grand-opera artists sing and hearing their beautiful voices on the Victor. But can you?" Of course, the implied answer is a resounding "no".

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Make a difference in" nghĩa là gì?

"Make a difference in" nghĩa là gì?

Biết ơn mọi người rất nhiều. Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

"Make a difference in (someone or something) nghĩa là tạo nên sự khác biệt, làm thay đổi, tác động lên ai/điều gì.

Ví dụ

Mr. Rhein made a big difference in my life and in many other students' lives in the past and present.

The success of Nashville's I Have a Future program, and others like it throughout the country, illustrates that various initiatives (sáng kiến) can make a difference in the lives of our children.

Besides that, Markets Incorporated was at risk of becoming hypocritical (đạo đức giả), claiming that they were about making a difference in the lives of others while allowing love of the dollar to drive their decision—making process.

First and foremost, I am thankful to and feel blessed to have the group of dedicated (tận tụy) people who helped me make a difference in my life today—those who motivated, supported, cared, loved, and challenged my thinking and my changes. I really appreciate your help and support, and I do hope that all of you who were supportive of me in my hour of need will make a difference in your own lives.

Thu Phương

Bài trước: "Make a world of difference" nghĩa là gì?