1. Nine-to-five job
Nine-to-five job là công việc nhàm chán, không có gì mới mẻ
Vd: Nina works a nine-to-five job.
Vd: /ˈninə/ /wɜrks/ /ə/ /naɪn/-/tu/-/faɪv/ /ʤɑb/.
Vd: Nine-to-five jobs are boring. I’d rather run my own business.
Vd: /naɪn/-/tu/-/faɪv/ /ʤɑbz/ /ɑr/ /ˈbɔrɪŋ/. /aɪd/ /ˈræðər/ /rʌn/ /maɪ/ /oʊn/ /ˈbɪznəs/.
Vd: A nine-to-five job suits you best if you don’t like traveling and adventure.
Vd: /ə/ /naɪn/-/tu/-/faɪv/ /ʤɑb/ /suts/ /ju/ /bɛst/ /ɪf/ /ju/ /doʊnt/ /laɪk/ /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/ /ænd/ /ædˈvɛnʧər/.
2. At the eleventh hour
At the eleventh hour là đến giờ chót, đến phút cuối cùng
Vd: He always changes his decisions at the eleventh hour.
Vd: /hi/ /ˈɔlˌweɪz/ /ˈʧeɪnʤəz/ /hɪz/ /dɪˈsɪʒənz/ /æt/ /ði/ /ɪˈlɛvənθ/ /ˈaʊər/.
Vd: It’s impossible for me to handle this issue. Please don’t change at the eleventh hour.
Vd: /ɪts/ /ɪmˈpɑsəbəl/ /fɔr/ /mi/ /tu/ /ˈhændəl/ /ðɪs/ /ˈɪʃu/. /pliz/ /doʊnt/ /ʧeɪnʤ/ /æt/ /ði/ /ɪˈlɛvənθ/ /ˈaʊər/.
Vd: The last point was scored at the eleventh hour. How lucky they are!
Vd: /ðə/ /læst/ /pɔɪnt/ /wʌz/ /skɔrd/ /æt/ /ði/ /ɪˈlɛvənθ/ /ˈaʊər/. /haʊ/ /ˈlʌki/ /ðeɪ/ /ɑr/!
3. Like clockwork
Like clockwork là mọi việc vẫn đi theo đúng như kế hoạch và tiến bộ đều đặn mà không gặp phải rắc rối nào
Vd: I’m used to this paperwork, so everything goes like clockwork.
Vd: /aɪm/ /juzd/ /tu/ /ðɪs/ /ˈpeɪpərˌwɜrk/, /soʊ/ /ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ/ /goʊz/ /laɪk/ /ˈklɑˌkwɜrk/.
Vd: As long as things go like clockwork, we’ll finish on time.
Vd: /æz/ /lɔŋ/ /æz/ /θɪŋz/ /goʊ/ /laɪk/ /ˈklɑˌkwɜrk/, /wil/ /ˈfɪnɪʃ/ /ɑn/ /taɪm/.
Vd: Every day at 5 a.m., like clockwork, he goes to the gym. He’s such a healthy man.
Vd: /ˈɛvəri/ /deɪ/ /æt/ 5 /eɪ/./ɛm/., /laɪk/ /ˈklɑˌkwɜrk/, /hi/ /goʊz/ /tu/ /ðə/ /ʤɪm/. /hiz/ /sʌʧ/ /ə/ /ˈhɛlθi/ /mæn/.
4. Time flies
Time flies là thời gian trôi qua nhanh
Vd: It’s been seven years since I last saw him. Time flies.
Vd: /ɪts/ /bɪn/ /ˈsɛvən/ /jɪrz/ /sɪns/ /aɪ/ /læst/ /sɔ/ /hɪm/. /taɪm/ /flaɪz/.
Vd: Time flies, girls. Enjoy life while you still can.
Vd: /taɪm/ /flaɪz/, /gɜrlz/. /ɛnˈʤɔɪ/ /laɪf/ /waɪl/ /ju/ /stɪl/ /kæn/.
Vd: I can’t believe that your youngest kid is about 20 now. Time flies.
Vd: /aɪ/ /kænt/ /bɪˈliv/ /ðæt/ /jʊər/ /ˈjʌŋgəst/ /kɪd/ /ɪz/ /əˈbaʊt/ 20 /naʊ/. /taɪm/ /flaɪz/.
5. Better late than never
Better late than never là muộn còn hơn không, có còn hơn không
Vd: ‘His birthday was last week. Would you like to send him something?’ ‘Oh, really? I didn’t know that. I’ll send him a postcard. Better late than never.’
Vd: /hɪz/ /ˈbɜrθˌdeɪ/ /wʌz/ /læst/ /wik/. /wʊd/ /ju/ /laɪk/ /tu/ /sɛnd/ /hɪm/ /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/?’ /oʊ/, /ˈrɪli/? /aɪ/ /ˈdɪdənt/ /noʊ/ /ðæt/. /aɪl/ /sɛnd/ /hɪm/ /ə/ /ˈpoʊstˌkɑrd/. /ˈbɛtər/ /leɪt/ /ðæn/ /ˈnɛvər/.’
Vd: ‘Why are you so late? We’ve been waiting for two hours.’ ‘I’m sorry. I got stuck in traffic but better late than never, right?’
Vd: /waɪ/ /ɑr/ /ju/ /soʊ/ /leɪt/? /wiv/ /bɪn/ /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ /fɔr/ /tu/ /ˈaʊərz/.’ /aɪm/ /ˈsɑri/. /aɪ/ /gɑt/ /stʌk/ /ɪn/ /ˈtræfɪk/ /bʌt/ /ˈbɛtər/ /leɪt/ /ðæn/ /ˈnɛvər/, /raɪt/?’
Vd: I know it’s too late to say sorry but I guess better late than never.
Vd: /aɪ/ /noʊ/ /ɪts/ /tu/ /leɪt/ /tu/ /seɪ/ /ˈsɑri/ /bʌt/ /aɪ/ /gɛs/ /ˈbɛtər/ /leɪt/ /ðæn/ /ˈnɛvər/.
6. In the long (short) run
In the long (short) run là trong thời gian dài(ngắn) hạn
Vd: Smoking can harm your health. You may run a great risk of lung cancer in the long run.
Vd: /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/ /kæn/ /hɑrm/ /jʊər/ /hɛlθ/. /ju/ /meɪ/ /rʌn/ /ə/ /greɪt/ /rɪsk/ /ʌv/ /lʌŋ/ /ˈkænsər/ /ɪn/ /ðə/ /lɔŋ/ /rʌn/.
Vd: Investing in networking can benefit you in the long run.
Vd: /ɪnˈvɛstɪŋ/ /ɪn/ /ˈnɛˌtwɜrkɪŋ/ /kæn/ /ˈbɛnəfɪt/ /ju/ /ɪn/ /ðə/ /lɔŋ/ /rʌn/.
Vd: He may feel happy about his new relationship in the short run but I’m sure later on he’ll regret what he’s done to me.
Vd: /hi/ /meɪ/ /fil/ /ˈhæpi/ /əˈbaʊt/ /hɪz/ /nu/ /riˈleɪʃənˌʃɪp/ /ɪn/ /ðə/ /ʃɔrt/ /rʌn/ /bʌt/ /aɪm/ /ʃʊr/ /ˈleɪtər/ /ɑn/ /hil/ /rəˈgrɛt/ /wʌt/ /hiz/ /dʌn/ /tu/ /mi/.
7. Beat the clock
Beat the clock là hoàn thành trước thời hạn quy định.
Vd: Hurry up! We can’t be late for this important meeting. We need to beat the clock.
Vd: /ˈhɜri/ /ʌp/! /wi/ /kænt/ /bi/ /leɪt/ /fɔr/ /ðɪs/ /ɪmˈpɔrtənt/ /ˈmitɪŋ/. /wi/ /nid/ /tu/ /bit/ /ðə/ /klɑk/.
Vd: Our new campaign will be launched in 4 days. Let’s beat the clock.
Vd: /ˈaʊər/ /nu/ /kæmˈpeɪn/ /wɪl/ /bi/ /lɔnʧt/ /ɪn/ 4 /deɪz/. /lɛts/ /bit/ /ðə/ /klɑk/.
Vd: If you want to win the race, you have to beat the clock.
Vd: /ɪf/ /ju/ /wɑnt/ /tu/ /wɪn/ /ðə/ /reɪs/, /ju/ /hæv/ /tu/ /bit/ /ðə/ /klɑk/.
8. Make up for lost time
Make up for lost time là làm bù lại thời gian đã mất
Vd: We need to work harder to make up for lost time.
Vd: /wi/ /nid/ /tu/ /wɜrk/ /ˈhɑrdər/ /tu/ /meɪk/ /ʌp/ /fɔr/ /lɔst/ /taɪm/.
Vd: I didn’t have time to take care of my family, so I’m certainly making up for lost time.
Vd: /aɪ/ /ˈdɪdənt/ /hæv/ /taɪm/ /tu/ /teɪk/ /kɛr/ /ʌv/ /maɪ/ /ˈfæməli/, /soʊ/ /aɪm/ /ˈsɜrtənli/ /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/ /ʌp/ /fɔr/ /lɔst/ /taɪm/.
Vd: My grandpa didn’t travel a lot when he was young, so he’s determined to make up for lost time.
Vd: /maɪ/ /ˈgrændˌpɑ/ /ˈdɪdənt/ /ˈtrævəl/ /ə/ /lɑt/ /wɛn/ /hi/ /wʌz/ /jʌŋ/, /soʊ/ /hiz/ /dɪˈtɜrmənd/ /tu/ /meɪk/ /ʌp/ /fɔr/ /lɔst/ /taɪm/.