FLASH CARD 14
(20 cards)
jail / jailed
/jɛɪl/
- Have you ever been jailed for something you didn’t do, or did they just question you?
- He was not jailed, but he had to pay a heavy fine for the damage.
- She got jailed last year, and now she has been in jail for over six months.
- They haven’t jailed him yet, but the trial is scheduled for next week.
Meaning:
To put someone in prison as punishment or while they wait for a trial.
Synonym:
imprison
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- He got jailed for stealing a car.
- She called her lawyer from jail.
- They visited their cousin who was in jail.
“left home” vs “ran away from home”
1. “Left home” (Neutral)
- Meaning: Simply departing from home, no negative connotation.
- Daily routines (work, school).
- Moving out as an adult.
- “I left home early to avoid traffic.”
- “She left home at 18 for college.”
Additional Notes:
- “Moved out”: Use for voluntary, planned relocation (e.g., “He moved out after graduation.”).
2. “Ran away from home” (Negative)
- Meaning: Leaving secretly/suddenly due to conflict or distress.
- Minors escaping family problems.
- Pets escaping accidentally.
- “The 15-year-old ran away from home after a fight.”
- “Their cat ran away from home last night.”
-
Avoid confusion:
- ❌ “He ran away from home to start a business.” → Incorrect (use “left home”).
- ✅ “She ran away from home to escape abuse.” → Correct.
finished / graduated high school
/ˈfɪnɪʃt ˈhaɪˌskuːl/, /ˈɡrædʒuˌeɪtɪd ˈhaɪˌskuːl/
- Did you finish high school, or did you leave early to start working?
- He did not graduate high school, but he later earned a GED.
- She finished high school in 2020, and then she started college.
- I have graduated high school, and I’ve been working full-time ever since.
Meaning:
To complete all required classes and officially leave high school.
Synonym:
completed
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- I finished high school last year.
- She graduated high school with honors.
- They asked if I had finished high school during the job interview.
to be injured / to be hurt
/tu bi ˈɪndʒɚd/, /tu bi hɝːt/
- Have you ever been injured in an accident, or have you always stayed safe?
- He was not hurt, but the car was completely wrecked.
- She was injured during the game, and the coach had to take her out.
- I have been hurt before, and I’ve learned to be more careful since then.
Severity | Serious harm | Mild to severe pain |
Meaning:
To suffer physical pain or damage to your body.
Synonym:
wounded
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- He got hurt while lifting something heavy.
- She was injured in a bike crash.
- Always wear a helmet so you don’t get hurt.
buckled someone’s seatbelt
/ˈbʌkəld ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈsiːtˌbɛlt/
- Did you buckle his seatbelt, or did he do it himself before you started driving?
- She did not buckle her child’s seatbelt, and the police gave her a ticket.
- He buckled her seatbelt before the car moved, and then he checked his own.
- I have buckled his seatbelt many times, and he’s finally learning to do it alone.
Meaning:
To fasten the seatbelt for another person to keep them safe in a vehicle.
Synonym:
secured
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- I buckled my son’s seatbelt before we left.
- She always buckles her grandma’s seatbelt.
- Don’t forget to buckle the baby’s seatbelt.
Offender vs Suspect
- “The offender was sentenced to 5 years in prison for theft.”
- “Repeat offenders often receive harsher punishments.”
- Offender = Proven guilty. A person who has committed a crime or violation (vi phạm/phạm tội).
- “Police arrested the suspect based on security camera footage.”
- “The suspect denied all charges during the trial.”
- Suspect = Not yet proven guilty (may be innocent). A person believed to possibly have committed a crime (not yet proven guilty).
To stay up
“We stayed up to watch the meteor shower.”
(mưa sao băng.)
The kids wanted to stay up and watch a movie
“He stays up every night playing games.”
Don’t stay up too late. You have school tomorrow.
Cố tình thức khuya (thường có mục đích: xem phim, chờ ai đó…).
“might” different “can”
CAN = “be able to” or “allowed to”
- I can drive. (I know how to drive.)
- She can speak Spanish. (She has the skill.)
- Can I go outside? (Am I allowed?)
- You can take one more cookie. (It’s okay, you have permission.)
MIGHT = “maybe” or “possibly”
It might rain tomorrow. (Maybe it will, maybe not.)
He might be at work. (I’m guessing, not sure.)
I might go to the party. (I’m not 100% sure.)
Wrong:
- I might swim. (This means maybe you will swim — not that you know how to swim.)
- Might I go now? (Too formal — native speakers rarely say this.)
no choice
/noʊ ʧɔɪs/
- Do you feel like you have no choice, or are you just afraid to pick something?
- He did not have a choice, and he had to take the night shift.
- They had no choice but to cancel the trip, and everyone was disappointed.
- I have had no choice in many situations, but I kept moving forward.
Meaning:
No other option is available; you must do something.
Synonym:
no option
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- I had no choice but to leave early.
- She feels like she has no choice in this matter.
- We have no choice when the weather is that bad.
could vs would
/kʊd/ vs /wʊd/
- Could you help me with this wiring, or would you prefer I call someone else?
- He could not fix the issue on time, and the client would not wait any longer.
- I could have gone to college, but I would rather learn on the job.
- She has never said she could do it, and she has never promised she would either.
Meaning:
Could = ability or possibility; Would = willingness, future-in-the-past, or imagined situations.
Synonym:
might vs will (not exact, but similar roles in conditional sentences)
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- I could help if I had more time.
- He said he would call back later.
- She would move if she could find a better job.
I have no idea
- I have no idea what happened, and no one will tell me.
- I have no idea where she went, but I hope she’s okay.
- I have no idea how it works, so I won’t touch it.
- I have no idea who they are, yet they keep calling me.
= I don’t know, I don’t understand
I have no idea what you are talking about
Tôi hoàn toàn không biết bạn đang nói về cái gì.
Hoặc: Tôi không hiểu bạn đang nói gì cả.
give me a hand
/ɡɪv mi ə hænd/
- Can you give me a hand with this ladder, or are you too busy right now?
- He did not give me a hand, and I had to carry everything by myself.
- She gave me a hand yesterday, and we finished the job faster than expected.
- They have given me a hand many times, and I always try to return the favor.
Meaning:
To help someone with a task.
Synonym:
assist
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- Can you give me a hand with these tools?
- He gave me a hand fixing the outlet.
- I’ll give you a hand after lunch.
keep my word
/kiːp maɪ wɝːd/
- Will you keep your word, or are you going to back out again?
- He did not keep his word, and everyone lost trust in him.
- I kept my word and finished the job, even though it was tough.
- She has always kept her word, and that’s why people respect her.
Meaning:
To do what you promised or said you would do.
Synonym:
follow through
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- I promised to help, so I’ll keep my word.
- He never keeps his word, and it’s frustrating.
- She kept her word and paid on time.
workout vs exercise
/ˈwɝːkˌaʊt/ vs /ˈɛksɚˌsaɪz/
- Did you finish your workout, or did you just do a light exercise today?
- He did not do his workout, and he skipped his daily exercise routine too.
- She did a hard workout last night, and she also exercised this morning.
- I have done my exercise already, and I have finished my workout plan for the week.
Meaning:
Workout = a planned session of physical activity;
Exercise = any movement to improve health or fitness.
Synonym:
training
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- I try to fit in a quick workout after work.
- Walking every day is a good form of exercise.
- He does strength exercises and cardio workouts.
Mine is doing push-ups
What is your favorite type of exercise? Mine is doing push-ups.
- What’s your favorite kind of music? Mine is jazz.
- What’s your favorite thing to cook? Mine is spaghetti.
- What’s your favorite outdoor activity? Mine is hiking.
Meaning:
My person (e.g., friend, sibling, partner) is performing a bodyweight exercise by pushing the body up and down with the arms.
Synonym:
training
- What’s your favorite time of day? Mine is early morning.
rec center
/rɛk ˈsɛn.tɚ/
- Have you ever been to the rec center, or do you usually work out at home?
- He does not go to the rec center anymore, and he sold his gym membership.
- We went to the rec center last weekend, and we played basketball for hours.
- They have used the rec center regularly, and they really enjoy the swimming pool.
Meaning:
A public place with sports, fitness, and leisure activities for the community.
Synonym:
community gym
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- I joined a yoga class at the rec center.
- The rec center has a pool and weight room.
- She works part-time at the rec center.
In general:
- In general – meaning usually or typically.
- In person – meaning face to face, not online or by phone.
- On purpose – meaning intentionally.
- By accident – meaning unintentionally.
- At first – meaning in the beginning.
- For example – meaning to give an illustration or sample.
- In advance – meaning before something happens.
- On time – meaning not late.
- By hand – meaning done manually, not by machine.
In the past, Europe held the number one position in the world, but now it has fallen out of the top three, and the U.S. has risen to number one.
Therefore, in the U.S., you have many opportunities to grow, but you have to work very hard to maintain this top position.
Europe used to be the leading power in the world, but it has now dropped out of the top three. Meanwhile, the United States has taken the number one spot.
Because of that, there are many opportunities to grow in the U.S., but you have to work extremely hard to maintain that top position.
as many / much… as
/æz ˈmɛni/, /æz mʌtʃ… æz/
l. In Vietnam, there aren’t as many parks as in the U.S., but the air is more polluted and the traffic is worse.
1. Can you lift as much weight as he does, or do you need to start lighter?
2. She did not eat as many snacks as the others, but she still felt full.
3. He ran as many miles as his brother yesterday, and they both were exhausted.
4. I have saved as much money as I could, and now I’m ready to buy the tools.
Meaning:
Used to compare quantity or amount between two things.
Synonym:
equal to
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- Try to drink as much water as possible.
- He doesn’t have as many tools as me.
- I worked as many hours as I could this week.
If you wouldn’t mind
/ɪf ju ˈwʊdənt maɪnd/
- If you wouldn’t mind, could you close the door, or should I get it myself?
- He did not respond when I said, “If you wouldn’t mind, please lower the volume.”
- I asked, “If you wouldn’t mind, help me carry this,” and she agreed right away.
- They have said ‘if you wouldn’t mind’ many times, and it always sounds polite.
Meaning:
A polite way to ask someone for help or permission.
Synonym:
please (polite request)
Daily Phrases / Contexts:
- If you wouldn’t mind, could you explain that again?
- I’d like to leave early, if you wouldn’t mind.
- Could I borrow your charger, if you wouldn’t mind?
