`Ans`:

`1` Samantha resigned once she realised she would never get ahead if she stayed in her present job.

`->` If + S + V-ed, S + would/could/should + V-inf 

`-` get ahead : tiến về phía trước

`2`. It was plain sailing as we didn’t come up against any difficulties during the endeavour.

`->`come up against sth : Đối mặt với vấn đề hoặc tình trạng khó khăn gì

`3`. Our plans to go skiing have fallen through because there isn’t enough snow at the moment.

`->`S + have/has + V3/ed + O

`->` s+tobe+not +n/adj

`-`  Fall through: Không thành công, thất bại.

`4`.You mustn’t give up; just hang on and you’ll make it in the end.

`->`hang onto sth: cố gắng kiên trì

`5`. Her classmates were absolutely blown away by the quality of Mary’s painting.

`->`Blow away : Gây ấn tượng mạnh mẽ

`-`S + was/were + V3/ED + O

`6`. Catherine really must knuckle down and practise her instrument if she wants to join the orchestra.

`->`Knuckle down : nỗ lực

`7`. Henry managed to pull off the surprise party for his wife; she really was stunned.

`->`Pull Sth Off : thành công trong việc gì đấy

`8`. It’s almost impossible to break through the glass ceiling as a woman working in an investment bank.

`->`break through sth : vượt qua cái gì