[Từ vựng] American Slang - Tiếng lóng phổ biến của người Mỹ
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | All the time; always available; without a break |
Example | 1) In New York City, a lot of stores are open 2p4/7. 2) I had to move because my neighbors played loud dance music 24/7. |
Etymology | Some convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The phrase is use for anything that is always (or nearly always) available. |
Synonyms | around the clock |
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Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To do something very well, particularly an examination (verb); first-rate (adjective), or an expert (noun) |
Example | 1) I'm going to ace this exam -- I've been studying all week ! 2) Lois Lane was the ace reporter for The Daily Planet -- although she did have a lot of trouble uncovering Superman's identity ! |
Etymology | In World War I, a pilot who shot down five enemy planes was called an 'ace', which is the powerful one card in a deck of playing cards. 'Ace' can be used as a verb (to do well) or as an adjective (excellent, best) or as a noun (a nickname for someone who is good at something, or for a good friend) |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | A bushy haircut of curly hair, as worn by some African-Americans |
Example | 1) Did you see that guy ? His afro must have been two feet high. |
Etymology | From 'African'. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | Someone who isn't very smart; a stupid person |
Example | 1) Susan and Jim are such airheads -- they love sports but they are failing all of their classes at school ! 2) I wouldn't ask Alaine for the answer -- she's an airhead ! |
Etymology | If your head is filled with air instead of brains, you probably can't think very well. |
Synonyms | ditz |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | A study or work session that goes through the night; studying without sleep ( usually a last-minute course of action ). |
Example | 1) We pulled an all-nighter to finish the report. 2) I pulled an all-nighter to study for my math exam. |
Etymology | The term is popular with college students who spend the night before an exam studying ( or ‘cramming’ ), trying to learn a lot of material in a short period of time. The term is frequently used in the phrase ‘ pull an all-nighter ‘ |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | A large amount of money; very expensive or costly |
Example | 1) My new Mercedes cost me an arm and a leg ! |
Etymology | Some things are so expensive that they are painful to buy, and cost everything you have. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To be nervous or anxious or jumpy; to be unable to sit still. |
Example | 1) The children had ants in their pants, so we took them outside for some exercise. 2) Would you please stop tapping your foot?! You must haveants in your pants ! |
Etymology | If you had 'ants' (small insects) in your 'pants' (clothing) you would probably feel like jumping around. |
Synonyms | antsy |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | An unpleasant or backwards place; an ugly and undesirable city or area. |
Example | 1) Some people think Detroit is the armpit of America. |
Etymology | Sometimes an 'armpit' (where the arm meets the body) has a strong and offensive odor. |
Synonyms | dump |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To be out of options or alternative courses of action; to be stuck in a bad situation |
Example | 1) I'm at the end of my rope -- I lost my job, my car died, and I don't have any money in the bank. |
Etymology | A 'rope' is thrown to someone who is in a difficult place, such as deep water or the edge of a cliff. If there is not enough rope, the person might be in trouble. So to be 'at the end of your rope' means that there is no more help available, and the situation is not good. |
Synonyms | in a jam, at wit's end |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | Someone who is just like everyone else; a normal person. |
Example | 1) Mickey is your average Joe -- he likes football, hates opera, and thinks it's a crime to do any work on weekends. |
Etymology | 'Average' means ' in the middle' or 'not extreme', and 'Joe' is a common male name, So 'average Joe' refers to a man who is not extremely different from everyone else. |
Synonyms | regular guy |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To eliminate someone from their job; to terminate employment. |
Example | 1) My old company axed me after they found out I had been sleeping on the job. |
Synonyms | downsize, get fired, pink slip |
Definition | An electric guitar |
Example | 1) The legendary Jimi Hendrix used to play his axe behind his back. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | Not an urgent priority. To put something on the 'back burner' is to put something off until later stage. |
Example | 1) We worked hard on the project at first, but when a new project came along, we put it on the back burner. |
Etymology | The 'back burner' of a stove is where you put things that are slowly cooking, and that you can leave alone for a while. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To recover, usually from an illness; to feel better after being sick |
Example | 1) Rick has been in the hospital for a week, but he'll be back on his feet in no time. |
Etymology | To be 'on your feet' means that you are standing. So if you are 'back on your feet', it means that you are standing again, after a period of lying down due to sickness. |
Synonyms | back in the saddle |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | Someone who gives unwanted advice; someone who tries to run things even though they don't have the power or authority to do so. |
Example | 1) Rob is the worst back seat driver I know - he's always telling me what to do. 2) I wish I could tell my boss to stop being such a back seat driver. I don't need to hear his comments every ten minutes! |
Etymology | Sometimes people riding in the back of a car will give advice to the driver; this is usually more annoying than helpful. This phrase can be used literally (in a car) or more generally to make fun of someone who is giving unwanted advice. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To begin again; to repeat a process, often after a major setback |
Example | 1) Professor Hoopeldinger had to go back to the drawing board after his experiment blew up. 2) Our sales plan isn't working, so I guess it's back to the drawing board ! |
Etymology | If the initial design for a building or aircraft fails, the designer has to go back to his or her work table and begin again. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To say negative things about someone or something. |
Example | 1) Lisa bad-mouthed her boss at the water cooler. 2) I wish people would stop bad-mouthing Cleveland. It’s really a very nice city. |
Etymology | " Bad " means not good, and ‘ mouth’ refers to the physical act of speech. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | Intoxicated, especially after smoking marijuana; in a dazed state, resulting from drug consumption. |
Example | 1) I think Mary Jane was pretty baked last night - her eyes were bright red, and she sat in front of the television for six hours straight without moving. |
Etymology | To 'bake' means to cook in an oven. After using marijuana, one's brain could be said to be baked - i.e., dried out, hard, lifeless. |
Synonyms | stoned |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | A good numerical guess; an estimate |
Example | 1) I'd say two hundred dollars, but that's a ballpark figure. |
Etymology | This phrase is related to another popular phrase, 'in the ballpark', which means 'close but not yet there'. The idea is that you can be in the ballpark (a place where baseball games are played) but not yet in the right seat (the seat you have a ticket for). The seat is a metaphor for the right idea or place, and the ballpark is a metaphor for an approximation of that idea or place. A 'ballpark figure' is a number that is 'in the ballpark' (close to the true number) but not quite in the right seat (the true number). |
Synonyms | guestimate |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | Crazy; hopelessly broken down |
Example | 1) After his wife left him, Paul was a real basket case. 2) The corporation was such a basket case that the owners had to shut it down. |
Etymology | From World war I lingo, used to describe a soldier so badly wounded that he had to be carried in a basket. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | In prison or jail; incarcerated |
Example | 1) My brother Charlie tried to rob a bank, but the cops caught him and now he's behind bars. 2) I can't wait until they catch the killer and put him behind bars. |
Etymology | Prison inmates are locked behind metal bars which prevent their escape. |
Synonyms | up the river, in the slammer, under glass |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | An episode of heavy drinking; a period of any kind of unusually intense behavior |
Example | 1) After losing my job, I was so depressed that I went on a three day bender. |
Etymology | Comes from the 19th century sense of the word 'bender', which was used for anything great or spectacular. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | Prison, particularly a maximum security federal prison ( or jail ) |
Example | 1) After he got caught robbing a bank, Ted was sent to thebig house for 20 years. |
Etymology | A 'house' is where people live, and a prison is quite large 9 or 'big'), home to hundreds of criminals. This phrase became popular in the early 1900's, when organized crime and large scale prisons developed in the United States. |
Synonyms | up the river, under glass, behind bars |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To vomit; to be sick. |
Example | 1) I feel really sick -- I could blow chunks right here! |
Synonyms | puke, spew |
Definition | Something that is not good, or a major disappointment. |
Example | 1) That movie blew chunks! I can't believe I paid $9 to see it. |
Bài viết : 537
Points : 17823
Uy tín : : 122
Definition | To release stress or anger |
Example | 1) Rob screams and yells a lot. He should find some other way to blow off steam. 2) Playing sports after school helps students blow off steam. |
Etymology | The idea is that anger and stress can build up inside a person and needs to be released, like an engine releasing pressurized steam. |
Synonyms | vent |