1 call the shots: quyết định (= make the decisions) e.g: While our boss is on vacation, Bob will call the shots chip in: đóng góp tiền hoặc thời gian g: The staff members chipped in5 dollars each to buy Jody a birthday gift down to the wire: đúng vào phút cuối cùng e.g: It’s coming down to the wire to get these done on time front runner: một những người mong đợi sự chiến thắng e.g: Angela is a front runner for the new supervisor position get a head start: bắt đầu trước mọi người e.g: They gave the walkers a head start in the run for cancer get into the full swing : thoải mái làm việc gì đó sau một thời gian e.g: It will probably take a month of working at my new job before I get into the full swing of things get off the hook: thoát khỏi, có trách nhiệm rời e.g: The child got off the hook for stealing because the security camera was broken give something or someone a fair shake: cố gắng làm gì đó trước từ bỏ e.g: You should give Nadine a fair shake before you decide she isn’t good enough for the job get a second wind: đốt cháy lượng sau mệt g: I was exhausted after kilometres of running, but I got a second windafter I passed the beach 10 give it your best shot: cố gắng hết sức e.g: Give it your best shot and you may just make it to the finals 11 give one a run for one’s money: cố gắng hết sức đánh bại người khác e.g: I know the other team is expected to win, but let’s give them a run for their money tonight 12 go overboard: nói hay làm nhiều bạn cần e.g: You can’t believe everything Janice says about Rick She tends to go overboard when she’s complaining about him 13 hit a snag: gặp phải vấn đề g: The renovations were going along great until we hit a snagwith the carpet installation 14 hold all the aces: mong đợi chiến thắng hay thành công e.g: The children hold all the aces when it comes to the father-son baseball tournament 15 hot shot (big shot) : người quan trọng hay cực kỳ thành công e.g: All the hot shots from Silicon Valley were invited to meet the president 16 jump the gun: bắt đầu quá sớm e.g: I guess I jumped the gun by buying Pam and Steve a wedding gift They called off the engagement 17 let her rip: thẳng bây giờ e.g: Okay, here are the keys to your new car Let her rip! 18 level playing field: mọi người đều có hội e.g: The spelling bee is a level playing field because all of the kids are in grade nine 19 long shot: một thứ rất khó để hoàn thành e.g: Jim thinks we can afford the house, but I think it’s a long shot 20 neck and neck: ở một sự ràng buộc với đó e.g: George and Stan are neck and neck in the hockey pool Either of them could win the money