HIỂU THEO VIỆT NGỮ
GS Đàm Trung Pháp
Nguồn: Tập san Việt Học Journal
001 absent without leave: 1. vắng mặt không có lời giải thích – Lisa went to the movie but got in trouble with her parents for being “absent without leave.” – 2. vắng mặt bất hợp pháp (trong quân đội Mỹ, viết tắt là AWOL) – Captain John Smith was arrested by the military police for going “AWOL.”
abwesend ohne Erlaubnis, unerlaubt fehlen, unentschuldigt fehlen
002 accidentally on purpose: thực sự là cố ý (deliberately) nhưng để “nhẹ tội” đã khai là tình cờ (accidentally) – The school removed Jack’s name from the honor roll (danh sách) “accidentally on purpose.”
etw. wie aus Versehen, aber eigentlich mit Vorsatz tun
003 according to Hoyle: theo thẩm quyền cao nhất, theo đúng điều lệ hiện hành – The company’s revised policy on hiring and firing is fine, “all according to Hoyle.” – [Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) là một nhà văn người Anh chuyên viết về các luật lệ chơi bài].
In accord with the highest authority; in accord with a strict set of rules.
004 ace in the hole: một ưu thế, một “tuyệt chiêu” dấu kín, chỉ dùng khi cần thiết – Facing a knife-wielding mugger in the alley, the skinny old man had an “ace in the hole”– he was a black-belt karate instructor!
ein Ass im Ärmel haben [fig.]
005 ace it: 1. làm thành công một việc gì – Don’t worry. I know you will “ace it” when you take the tough California bar exam – 2. nghĩa nguyên thủy từ học sinh và sinh viên là “lấy được điểm A” cho một môn học – My final exam for Spanish 101? – I will “ace it” for sure.
To achieve total success at something, or to complete something to the best of one’s ability.
I’m not worried, I always ace it at job interviews.
I’m sure he’ll ace it at the match tomorrow morning.
006 acquired taste: một điều gì phải thực hành nhiều lần rồi mới thích được – Because of its rancid smell, fish-sauce must be an “acquired taste” for many people.
gewöhnungsbedürftig sein, etwas für Kenner sein
an etwas Geschmack gewinnen/einer Sache Geschmack abgewinnen/auf den Geschmack kommen (die angenehmen Seiten einer Sache [allmählich] entdecken: du wirst schon noch auf den Geschmack kommen)
007 across the board: áp dụng đồng đều cho mọi người – The new government promised its people an “across the board” tax-cut.
flächendeckend, allgemein, generell, in allen Bereichen
008 actions speak louder than words: hành động quan trọng hơn lời nói – Candidates for public offices need to be reminded that “actions speak louder than words.”
Taten sagen mehr als Worte.
009 act of God: thiên tai vô phương chống đỡ, như bão táp, động đất, vân vân – No one can be responsible for an “act of God.”
höhere Gewalt
010 act one’s age: cư xử một cách trưởng thành (phù hợp với tuổi) hơn – Grandpa, it’s time you stopped speeding and “acted your age,” please!
sich seinem Alter entsprechend benehmen
011 act up: giở trò, giở chứng, giở quẻ – I don’t know what’s wrong with my cell phone, but the volume control is “acting up.”
verrücktspielen
012 add fuel to the fire: đổ dầu vào lửa, làm một tình trạng đã tệ thành tệ hơn – I was so upset, and their making fun of my accident just “added fuel to the fire.”
Öl ins Feuer gießen [fig.]
013 add insult to injury: bồi thêm lời nói xấu một người sau khi đã làm hại người ta – I am hopping mad. Not only did the association stop my membership, it also posted a ridiculous reason for it – that’s truly “adding insult to injury”! – [hopping mad = extremely angry].
das Ganze (nur) noch schlimmer machen
014 ad hoc: không định trước, “đặc ứng” – A task force was formed “ad hoc” by the company president to review the current health insurance program for employees.
aus dem Augenblick heraus
015 ad nauseam: quá nhiều lần, nhàm tai người nghe (đến độ buồn nôn) – That egotistic man should stop bragging about his extravagant life style; we have heard it “ad nauseam”! – [egotistic = tự cao tự đại • bragging = khoe khoang].
Bis zum Überdruß, Abwinken, Erbrechen
016 a drag: một kinh nghiệm chán ngấy – After hundreds of times, grading students’ compositions can be “a drag” for any English instructor.
a boring or tiresome person or thing,
langweiler
017 a far cry from: một điều rất khác – Thinking Judy walks like a duck is “a far cry from” telling her so!
weit entfernt von etw. sein [fig.]
That’s a far cry from saying that … [idiom]: Das heißt noch lange nicht, dass …
018 afraid of one’s own shadow: quá nhát gan, sợ bóng sợ gió – Since he was assaulted, my neighbor Bob has constantly worried about security; he is “afraid of his own shadow.”
sich vor seinem eigenen Schatten fürchten [fig.] , überängstlich sein
019 against all odds: mặc dù ít hy vọng, cầu may – “Against all odds,” the less experienced team won the game.
trotz verschwindend geringer Chancen
020 against one’s better judgment: bất chấp những can ngăn hay phản đối – “Against my better judgment,” I got married and fathered a child when I was still in college.