Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.

Today I will tell about ...(1) using numbers. Let us ...(2) the number one. Numbers can be ...(3). ...(4), they are simply numbers. On the other hand, they have meanings. I ...(5) use these expressions a lot.

Many people consider themselves number one, the ... (6) person. They are always ...(7) and ...(8). It is as if they are the one and only person on ...(9). Some people however, are not so ...(10). My brother is such a person. It is true - ...(11). I am not trying to ...(12) on you.

First, you have to understand that my brother is ...(13). He is such a ...(14) person. All his friends like him. They consider him ...(15). Recently, my brother had a ...(16) at the office. It was just ...(17). Nothing ...(18) right. So he stopped at a local ...(19) -- a ...(20) place -- after leaving work. My brother planned to have a glass of beer with his friends -- a ...(21) - before he went home. But a ...(22) turned into one or two, and soon those became ...(23).

As my brother was leaving, he ordered a last drink -- one ...(24). His friends became ...(25). One by one, they asked him if he ...(26) safely.

Now my brother is a ...(27) and ...(28) person. He is at one with himself. He ...(29) when he has had too much ...(30) to drink. So he ...(31) for a ride home from a ...(32) friend.

...(33) in the past, my brother had been in love with this woman. She is a great person -- kind, ...(34) and ...(35) -- all good qualities ...(36) into one. But ...(37) their relationship did not work. He always ...(38) say "One of ...(40), I am going to marry this girl." But that never happened.

For one thing, she did not love him as much as he loved her. It was just ...(41). The situation was ...(42) and my brother had to ...(43). But even now, he ...(44) her the one that ...(45) away.

However, they are ...(46) friends. And because my brother ...(47) kind to her, she felt that one good turn ...(48) another. He was ...(49) to her and she wanted to help him ...(50). So she ...(51) him home.

If my brother had ...(52) home from the ...(53) that night, his ...(54) would have been up. Something bad would ...(55) . ...(56) he made it home safely. And, he and the woman are ...(57) one. They are back to ...(58) they ...(59) - being ...(60).

This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was ...(61) by Jill Moss. I'm Faith Lapidus.

dap an

expressions. Khi nói đến 1 thứ gì đó chung chung, ngta thường dùng danh từ số nhiều. một số bạn sai chỗ này.

start with. Một số bạn thiếu từ "with"

tricky. Một số bạn nghe nhầm thành stricky (từ này hoàn toàn vô nghĩa) và sticky (nhớp nháp)

On the one hand. Cái này thì ai cũng đúng há; thường đi kèm với nó là "on the ohter hand" (mặt khác)

for one. Thường đi kèm với đại từ nhân xưng I/you/sb for one (chắc chắn tôi, anh, ai đó...)

most important

looking out for number one means do what you think is best for yourself and not care about other people.

taking care of number one (chỉ chăm chút đến bản thân mình)

earth

self-centered. Đây là adj nên fải có -ed, một số bạn thiếu chỗ này.

no joke

pull a fast one (lừa gạt ai)

one in a million = one in a thousand/billion (hiếm hoi; ngàn người mới có một)

nice

one of the boys means a typical male

bad day (Có bài hát của Daniel Powter tựa Bad Day rất hay, mọi người nghe chưa nhỉ?)

one of those days = a bad day, full of problems

went

bar

drinking

quick one = một ly

quick one

one too many. If you have had one too many, you have drunk too much alcohol.

one for the road = an alcoholic drink just before leaving

concerned

was able to drive home

wise

calm

recogninzes. Ngôi thứ 3 số ít thì đtừ fải thêm "s"

alcohol

accepted an offer. một số bạn nghe thành excepted

female

At one time = trước đây. Một idiom hay dành cho các bạn khi dịch; sử dụng tốt hơn từ formerly khì dùng ở đầu câu.

thoughtful

intelligent

rolled up. If someone or something has several qualities rolled into one, they have all of those qualities

sadly

used to

sót. Số này ko có

these days. trong cụm One of these days = one day, someday

one of those things. Thường dùng cả câu là "It's just one of those things" có nghĩa là an event or situation that you cannot explain, or do not like but cannot change.

regrettable

accept it. Chỗ này nhiều bạn nghe thành excepted nè

considers

got

still

had been

deserves. trong câu One good turn deserves another = có qua có lại

good

in return

drove

driven. trong câu "If my brother had driven home from the bar that night, his number would have been up." = When your number is up, you are going to die. (tới số)

bar

number

have happened

Thankfully

back to square one = bắt đầu lại từ đầu

where

started

friends

written. Chữ đơn giản này lại có rất nhiều bạn viết sai.