Closet vs Clothes cabinet
Key difference:
- Closet: Built into the wall (e.g., walk-in closet).
- Cabinet: Movable, standalone furniture.
Use “closet” for everyday American English.
Lid locked (adjective phrase)
/lɪd lɑːkt/
Meaning: The cover (lid) is closed and secured, usually by a machine for safety.
Synonym: sealed
Antonym: open
Daily useful phrases/contexts:
(nắp đang khoá)
“Our life” vs. “Our lives”
“Our life” (singular):
1. We built our life together in this city.
2. In our marriage, our life is peaceful. (shared)
“Our lives” (plural):
3. The war changed our lives forever.
4. We all have busy lives. (individual)
Key Difference:
- Use “our life” for a collective, shared experience.
- Use “our lives” when emphasizing individual members of the group.
surveyed (verb – past tense of survey)
/sərˈveɪd/
Meaning: To carefully look at or examine an area, situation, or group of people; can also mean to ask people questions for information.
Synonym: inspected
Antonym: ignored
Daily useful phrases/contexts:
(khảo sát)
hidden gem / hidden gems (noun phrase)
/ˈhɪdən ʤɛm/ , /ˈhɪdən ʤɛmz/
Meaning: Something valuable, unique, or special that is not widely known.
Synonym: treasure
Antonym: ordinary place
interact (verb)
/ˌɪntəˈrækt/
Meaning: To communicate or work together with someone.
Synonym: communicate
Antonym: ignore
Daily useful phrases/contexts:
take a … (verb phrase)
/teɪk ə …/
Meaning: To use a form of transportation.
Synonym: ride
Antonym: walk
Daily useful phrases/contexts:
could really be worth (phrase)
/kʊd ˈrɪəli bi wɜrθ/
Meaning: Something might have value, importance, or benefit.
Synonym: might be valuable
Antonym: might be worthless
Could really be worth a try.
Could really be worth your time.
Could really be worth the effort.
(thực sự đáng …)
play sports / play music (verb phrases)
/pleɪ spɔrts/ – /pleɪ ˈmjuːzɪk/
Meaning: To join in physical games or to perform/create music.
Synonym: participate / perform
Antonym: stay inactive / keep silent
heat up (phrasal verb)
/hiːt ʌp/
Meaning: To make something warm or hot.
Synonym: warm up
Antonym: cool down
leftovers (noun, usually plural)
/ˈlɛftˌoʊvərz/
Meaning: Food that remains uneaten after a meal.
Synonym: remains
Antonym: fresh food
regulate (verb)
/ˈrɛɡjəˌleɪt/
Meaning: To control or adjust something to work properly.
Synonym: control
Antonym: neglect
prepare … in advance and store (verb phrase)
/prɪˈpɛr ɪn ədˈvæns ənd stɔr/
Meaning: To get something ready earlier and keep it for later use.
Synonym: arrange beforehand
Antonym: do last minute
asking deep
Research shows there may be a quicker way to build strong connections — by asking deep
I / we open up and share my / our private thoughts and feelings
Meaning: To speak honestly about personal emotions and ideas that are usually kept private.
Synonym: confide
Antonym: hide
Maybe + V-ing (phrase)
/ˈmeɪbi ˈviːɪŋ/
Meaning: Expressing possibility or uncertainty about an action in progress or considered as an activity.
Synonym: perhaps doing
Antonym: definitely not doing
Smell (verb / noun)
/smɛl/
Meaning: To notice or detect a scent through the nose; the quality of an odor.
Synonym: scent
Antonym: odorless
Countryside / Urban (nouns/adjectives)
/ˈkʌntriˌsaɪd/ /ˈɜrbən/
Meaning: Countryside → rural areas outside cities; Urban → relating to a city or town.
Synonym (countryside): rural
Antonym (countryside): urban
Nearly (adverb)
/ˈnɪrli/
Meaning: Almost, but not completely.
Synonym: almost
Antonym: completely
The goal is to put pressure on (phrase)
/ðə ɡoʊl ɪz tə pʊt ˈprɛʃər ɑn/
Meaning: The main purpose is to create stress, urgency, or motivation for action.
Synonym: push
Antonym: release