Dưới đây là những thành ngữ người bản ngữ hay dùng trong giao tiếp và quen thuộc với thành ngữ Việt Nam.

1. Seeing is believing: Tai nghe không bằng mắt thấy.
2. Easier said than done: Nói dễ, làm khó.
3. One swallow does not make a summer: Một con én không làm nên mùa xuân.
4. Time and tide wait for no man Thời giờ thấm thoát thoi đưa
5. Grasp all, lose all: Tham thì thâm
6. Let bygones be bygones: Hãy để cho quá khứ lùi vào dĩ vãng.
7. Hand some is as handsome does: Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp.
8. When in Rome, do as the Romans do: Nhập gia tuỳ tục
9. Clothes does not make a man: Manh áo không làm nên thầy tu.
10. Don’t count your chickens, before they are hatch: chưa đỗ ông Nghè đã đe Hàng tổng
11. A good name is better than riches: Tốt danh hơn lành áo
12. Call a spade a spade: Nói gần nói xa chẳng qua nói thật
13. Beggar’s bags are bottomless: Lòng tham không đáy
14. Cut your coat according your clothes: Liệu cơm gắp mắm
15. Bad news has wings: Tiếng dữ đồn xa
16. Doing nothing is doing ill: Nhàn cư vi bất thiện
17. A miss is as good as a mile: Sai một li đi một dặm
18. Empty vessels make a greatest sound: Thùng rỗng kêu to
19. A good name is sooner lost than won: Mua danh ba vạn, bán danh ba đồng
20. A friend in need is a friend indeed: Gian nan mới hiểu bạn bè
21. Each bird loves to hear himself sing: Mèo khen mèo dài đuôi
22. Habit cures habit: Lấy độc trị độc
23. Honesty is best policy: Thật thà là cha quỷ quái
24. Great minds think alike: Tư tưởng lớn gặp nhau
25. Go while the going is good: Hãy chớp lấy thời cơ

MỘT SỐ CÁC THÀNH NGỮ KHÁC

A Drop In The Bucket = hạt muối bỏ biển.
“I’d like to do something to change the world but whatever I do seems like a drop in the bucket.”

A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned = 1 xu tiết kiệm cũng như 1 xu làm ra
“I’m going to give you $20 but I want you to put it in the bank; a penny saved is a penny earned!”

A Piece Of Cake = dễ như ăn cháo
“Do you think you will win your tennis match today?” Answer: “It will be a piece of cake.”

Actions Speak Louder Than Words = hành động có giá trị hơn lời nói
“Don’t tell me how to do this; show me! Actions speak louder than words.”

Add Fuel To The Fire = thêm dầu vào lửa”I would like to do something to help, but I don’t want to add fuel to the fire.”
Cost An Arm And A Leg = trả 1 cái giá cắt cổ, tốn rất nhiều tiền

“Be careful with that watch; it cost me an arm and a leg.”
Arm In Arm = tay trong tay
“What a nice afternoon. We walked arm in arm along the beach for hours.”

Beating Around The Bush = vòng vo tam quốc
“If you want to ask me, just ask; don’t beat around the bush.”

Better Late Than Never = thà trễ còn hơn không
“Sorry I was late for the meeting today; I got stuck in traffic.” Answer: “That’s okay;better late than never.”

Birds Of A Feather Flock Together = ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã
“Look; the volleyball players are eating at the same table together, as always.” Answer: “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Bite Your Tongue = cố gắng im lặng. “Whenever that professor says something I don’t like, I have to bite my tongue.”

Blood Is Thicker Than Water = 1 giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã
“When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother; blood is thicker than water.”

Burn Your Bridges = đốt cầu của mình, tức là tự làm mất đi cơ hội của mình
“I wish you hadn’t been rude to that man just now; he is very important in this town and you shouldn’t go around burning bridges.”

Burning The Candle At Both Ends = vắt kiệt sức ra để làm việc
“Ever since this new project started I have been burning the candle at both ends. I can’t take much more of it.”

Call It Off = hủy bỏ
“Tonight’s game was called off because of the rain.”

Curiosity Killed The Cat = sự tò mò có thể rất nguy hiểm
“Hey, I wonder what’s down that street; it looks awfully dark and creepy.” Answer: “Let’s not try to find out. Curiosity killed the cat.”

Don’t Count Your Chickens Until They’re Hatched = trứng chưa nở đã đếm gà
“Next Friday I will be able to pay you back that money I owe you.” Answer: “I won’t becounting my chickens…”

Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket = đừng bỏ tất cả trứng vào 1 rổ, tức hãy chia đều những nguy cơ ra nhiều nơi để giảm rủi ro
“The best way to gamble is to only bet small amounts of money and never put all your eggs in one basket.”

From Rags To Riches = từ nghèo khổ trở thành cự phú
“My uncle is a real rags to riches story.”

Great Minds Think Alike = tư tưởng lớn gặp nhau
“I have decided that this summer I am going to learn how to scuba dive.” Answer: “Me too! I have already paid for the course. Great minds think alike!”

It Takes Two To Tango = có lửa mới có khói
“Her husband is awful; they fight all the time.” Answer: “It takes two to tango.”

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie = đừng gợi lại những chuyện không hay
“I wanted to ask her what she thought of her ex-husband, but I figured it was better tolet sleeping dogs lie.”

Neither A Borrower, Nor A Lender Be = đừng cho mượn tiền, cũng đừng mượn tiền
“Could you lend me twenty dollars?” Answer: “Sorry, neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

Everybody Is On The Same Page = mọi người đều hiểu vấn đề
“Before we make any decisions today, I’d like to make sure that everyone is on the same page.”

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind = xa mặt cách lòng
“I meant to read that book, but as soon as I put it down, I forgot about it.” Answer: “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Practice Makes Perfect = càng tập luyện nhiều càng giỏi
“You see how quickly you are getting better at the piano! Practice makes perfect!”

Put Your Foot In Your Mouth = tự há miệng mắc quai, nói lỡ lời

“Let’s all be very careful what we say at the meeting tomorrow. I don’t want anyoneputting their foot in their mouth.”

(Sưu tầm)

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