Ngọng

when you do something very well and easily without having to try too hard, (e.g. you have a born talent for it), you are...

(a) natural

allow someone to know about something that most people don't know

let in on

pronounce or sing the words clearly

have clear diction

not able to endure or stand

can’t take something | doing something

set, increase or reduce the standard or level of difficulty of a test or competition

to set| raise| lower the bar

give an immediate answer without thinking about it carefully

[right] off the top of one’s head

aim for, want to achieve a goal

go for| shoot for

keep from telling

hold back

lost (some money) on gambling

to gamble away

explain or tell something to someone, especially something they might not like

lay something on someone

• compliment or give encouragement to someone for doing something positive (often in a generally negative situation)

give sb points for sth/ doing sth

give sb props for sth/ doing sth

give sb credit for sth/ doing sth

swear that something is absolutely true

the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

do not have courage or strength to do something

have no stomach for | have no stomach to do something

to express the intensity of feeling

[oh] boy

a humorous way to say lovers

lovebirds

shock/surprise someone

throw | knock someone for a loop

caught sb off guard

present in a certain way, explain in details

lay out

a hot topic or subject that everyone is talking about

the talk of the town

usually hear that comment/remark

get that a lot

If I had a nickel | dime | penny for every time I heard that

signal that something expected is going to happen

here we go

immediately

right off the bat

something affects one personally or arouses one’s strong feelings

hit close to home | hit one where one lives

going to fail

on the skids | on the rocks

no, never

no way José

understand or form an opinion about something or someone

make of sth

OK

okey-dokey | okey-doke

almost, nearly

seconds | minutes away from

really want to do something and can’t wait to do it

be dying to do something | for something

conduct a thorough research

dig deep

someone able to learn new knowledge and skills quickly and easily

(a) quick study | fast learner >< slow learner

to like certain types of things or people

have a thing for | about

(secret or truth) be revealed to people or the public

to come out | to be out

said when one gives or relinquishes something to someone

all yours

advertise, try to sell something by advertisement

pitch | sales pitch

everyone would have the same reaction or opinion

who hasn’t | doesn’t | wouldn’t?

try to finish something unpleasant quickly, especially when you can't avoid it

get over with

in a (usually important but undesirable) position where you are responsible for or have to make decisions about difficult things

in the hot seat

be patient

all in good time

Be patient, you'll hear the result all in good time.

earn a lot of money easily

smile | laugh all the way to the bank

date or have a casual sexual relationship with

to hook up with

be much better than one's peers

(v) stand out (in/from the crowd)

derive pleasure from hating someone or something, esp. someone or something typically disliked by the majority

love to hate

try to do too much or take on more responsibilities than one can manage

– bite off more than one can chew

a very ugly face

a face (that) only a mother could love 

a face that could stop a clock

to know, learn or teach someone how to do something, especially a job

(know | learn | show) the ropes

eat something, especially as usual food; become stronger from (figuratively)

feed on | off something

advise against imitating a dangerous activity

don't try this at home

something that requires a great deal of stamina, willpower, courage and determination

isn't for wimps 

not for the faint of heart

in line with, as expected

fit the picture of

suspend or stop doing something and leave it until later

(put) on hold

to actually do something rather than just talk about it

walk the walk [and not just talk the talk]

almost, virtually

just about

answer the phone to somebody who is asking for you

– This is he | Speaking

say when you knock at someone’s bedroom door

Are you decent?

What would you say while pouring someone a drink?

– Say when

ask who is the caller
 

– May | Can I ask who's calling? 

– Who am I speaking with?
– To whom am I speaking?

tell someone to keep talking because you want to know what’s going to happen next

finish your thought | finish your sentence

say before and after a conversation interruption

hold the thought | hold that thought
– Where was I? | Where were we?

say when you are in the toilet and someone knocks at the door

– Occupied | Someone’s in here

If you need to use the bathroom but none is currently available, you have to...

– hold it [in]

ask about somebody’s hobbies

 – What do you like to do for fun?

challenge an opponent in a competition, tell them to show you what they've got

– bring it on

someone who stays up very late or wakes up very early

– morning person | early riser | early bird
– night owl | late riser
 

deal with something when it happens on a case-by-case basis (i.e. no planning in advance)

– take it as it comes | take something as it comes 

– play it by ear

feel that you can count on or trust someone 

– have confidence in someone

talk about something that has been worrying you (usually something you normally do not share with others)

– get off one’s chest

If one has the power to decide,

– If one had one’s vote | if one has a say

rely on, depend on

– to count on

filled with energetic excitement and enthusiasm 

– be pumped

learn to accept or be able to live with an existing problem that you can’t change

– come to terms with

find happiness in something

– derive pleasure from | out of

show a private part of your body to strangers

– to flash

a very rude way of saying No or reject someone

– kiss my ass

keep (an emotion) inside, do not share with others

– bottle up

said before a race or competition, as a way to challenge one’s opponent

– May the best man/ person win

a gender-exclusive social activity where the other sex is not allowed to join

– girls' night out | boys' night out

admit that one is having problems

– work on

everything is fine up to this moment

– sofar so good

• do better (or worse)
   

– to top someone or something

• live in the same house

– live under the same roof

• commit to one’s decision and be responsible for it

own it 

That's what you always say you know, own it!

• there are a lot of phone calls coming in

– phone ringing off the hook

• say that something is helpful

– [it | that] helps

• come to a good understanding of something (usually something complicated or unpleasant to accept)

– wrap | get one’s head around

He's tried to explain the rules of the game dozens of times but I just can't wrap my head around them.

• act based on feeling and intuitions vs. on logical thinking 

– follow one’s heart vs. follow one’s head 

• survive

– make it through

 

• make someone lose control or calmness, or feel overwhelmed with emotions

– break someone up

• an expression of encouragement

– work it

[You] work it, you've been doing awesome.

no logical explanation for or control over what you feel

 

• – The heart wants what it wants | The heart wants what the heart wants

• hook up with a lot of different people

– to sleep around

• only hear parts of what someone is saying on the phone because the signal is interrupted.

break up 

• beyond what is accepted, unacceptable or inappropriate 

– be over the line | be out of line | cross the line

• know when one should stop trying or give up

– know when to walk away

• not yet completely settled or definitely planned, still tentative

– up in the air

lose or miss an opportunity or something good

– lose out on

I came here because I lost out on a great man.
 

get ready to propose

– get down on one knee

do not let others get close emotionally

– put up a wall

express great sympathy for someone

one's heart goes out to someone

someone who does not give up easily

not a quitter

receive a lot of criticism or judgment

catch | get [a lot of] flak

someone who is ready to give up

quitter

express condolences
 

– My sympathies!
– one’s hearts | sympathies go out to
– deeply saddened (by someone’s loss)
– extend one’s (most sincere) condolences to someone

look directly at someone without fear or shame

look someone in the eye(s)

in the same unpleasant situation

in the same boat

someone who might behave in an unexpected way

wild card

The other girl is more of a wild card. It can be extremely amazing but I don't know.

pass the speaking turn to someone

– give the floor to

very light

– light as a feather

back to the reality of everyday life after a period of great excitement 

– down | back to earth

move quickly and directly toward something 

– make a beeline for something

relax and stop thinking about work, problems, etc.

– unwind

prepare oneself for something unpleasant or difficult

– brace oneself

shout the same words or phrases again and again in a demonstration

– chant slogans

it doesn’t really matter if you do something, but you do it anyway

– might as well

wait until the end of

– wait out

give one great pleasure, make someone happy

– make one’s day

not good enough, below the expected standard

– under par | below par

something that imitates something real but is not what it appears to be.

– make-believe

out of touch with reality; tend to daydream and ignore problems

– head in the clouds

the bottom line (after everything else has been taken into consideration)

– at the end of the day

to disappear completely in a way that is mysterious

– vanish into thin air

able to notice things that are difficult to detect

– keen eyes | ears | sense

very heavy

– heavy as lead

do something furiously or energetically

– like there's no tomorrow

a great quantity

– a ton of| tons of

good enough, meet the expected standard

– up to par

because of, serve as a reason for

– on account of

hug to support each other and get over a negative situation, or to make up after a fight

– hug it out

spend time in a shop without intending to buy

– window shop

show your admiration and gratitude toward someone, who has help you greatly or who you idolize

– [you are my] hero

discuss business

– talk shop

think of an idea or solution for a problem

– come up with | figure out

there’s a limit to what one can do

– can only do so much

extremely heavy

– weigh a ton

practical and realistic

– down-to-earth