illustrated Everyday Expressions with Stories 1 » Index

a
  • a couple of
    a couple of
    two persons and things joined or related in some way
    The monkey has a couple of bananas.
    He arrived a couple of days ago.
    Bobby has a couple of pens in his pocket.
    A: Have you been to Europe?
    B: Yes, a couple of times.
  • a long time ago
    a long time ago
    once upon a time; many years ago; ages ago; long ago
    A long time ago, dinosaurs lived on the earth.
    A long time ago, there were no airplanes.
    My grandfather was a pilot a long time ago.
    A: When did you go to Germany?
    B: I went to Germany a long time ago, in 1963.
  • a lot of
    a lot of
    a large amount or number of something; lots of; plenty of
    He has a lot of hairs.
    The millionaire has a lot of money.
    A lot of students were absent because of the flu.
    A: Why aren't you feeling well?
    B: I think it's because I ate a lot of chocolate today.
     
  • a pair of
    a pair of
    two things of the same kind used together
    I bought two pairs of shoes, one for my brother and the other for my sister.
    She wants to buy a pair of beautiful gloves.
    I need a pair of socks.
    A: What are you going to buy when you go shopping?
    B: I'm going to buy a pair of earrings.
  • above all (else)
    above all (else)
    most importantly; most of all
    You must not smoke or drink. Above all, you must exercise.
    "Above all, you should obey your parents," said my grandfather.
    Above all, a soldier must be brave.
    A: What did you like about this book?
    B: It was interesting and exciting, but above all, it was funny.
  • according to
    according to
    as shown or said by
    According to scientists, the earth is becoming warmer.
    According to this book, elephants are endangered.
    According to my mother, television is bad for you.
    A: Where are we?
    B: According to this map we're somewhere between Johnson Street and Second Avenue.
  • after all
    after all
    in spite of what was expected; nevertheless; in the end
    The tortoise won the race after all.
    He went with them after all.
    The small country won the battle after all.
    A: Who were you just talking to?
    B: I thought it was someone I know from college but it wasn't her after all.
  • again and again
    again and again
    often; repeatedly; over and over again
    I told you again and again not to touch the electric fence!
    While babies learn to walk, they fall again and again.
    The child wanted to hear the same story again and again.
    A: This computer game is really fun!
    B: I think so, too. I want to play it again and again.
  • agree with
    agree with
    have the same opinion as; share one's view
    I agree with you. There's something strange about him.
    The teacher agreed with the students.
    Sharon agreed with her friend.
    A: Some people didn't like the movie, but I thought it was interesting.
    B: I agree with you. It was very interesting.
  • all of a sudden
    all of a sudden
    all at once; suddenly; unexpectedly; without warning
    All of a sudden, it started to rain very hard.
    All of a sudden, the dog began to bark loudly.
    All of a sudden, the earth began to shake.
    A: How did you break your leg?
    B: I was riding my bicycle, when all of a sudden I hit a bump and fell off.
  • all over the world
    all over the world
    throughout the world; worldwide; everywhere
    Ants live all over the world.
    English is spoken all over the world.
    Mozart is famous all over the world.
    A: I wish I could travel all over the world.
    B: That would be a lot of fun!
  • all the time
    all the time
    constantly; always
    He is tired all the time.
    Midori practices the violin all the time.
    Mark chews gum all the time.
    A: He looks very happy today.
    B: He looks happy all the time.
  • all the way
    all the way
    the whole distance; the whole way
    The road goes all the way across the field.
    The car broke down and we had to walk all the way home.
    Sue was late. She ran all the way to school.
    A: Can you run all the way around the soccer field?
    B: No I can't. I can only run halfway around it, then I'm too tired to keep running.
  • and so on
    and so on
    and so forth; and the like
    They were always arguing. "I'm the fastest." "No, I'm the fastest!" "No way!" and so on.
    Potatoes, onions, carrots and so on are vegetables.
    There are many countries in Africa: Zambia, Kenya, Togo,and so on.
    A: What do you feed your pet snake?
    B: Small animals like mice, frogs, lizards, and so on.
  • arrive at/in
    arrive at/in
    get to; come to; reach
    Make sure you arrive at the house before 6:00.
    They arrived at the restaurant.
    The train arrived at the station.
    A: When will we get to the airport?
    B: We should arrive at the airport in five minutes.
  • as a result
    as a result
    so; consequently
    He ate too much. As a result, he got fat.
    She studied hard. As a result, she got an A on the test.
    Many roads were flooded, and, as a result, there were some delays.
    A: Did you study for the test?
    B: No, and, as a result, I got a bad grade.
  • as well as
    as well as
    in addition to
    I like apples as well as peppers.
    I play tennis on weekdays as well as on Saturdays.
    There were adults as well as children in the park.
    A: Would you like a hamburger or some chicken?
    B: I'm really hungry. I'd like both as well as some cola.
  • ask for
    ask for
    request; wish for; demand
    The magic genie will give you anything you ask for.
    For his birthday, Don asked for a new toy truck.
    The chef asked for a spoon.
    A: I asked for some money but my father said no.
    B: That's too bad. Now we can't go to see the movie tonight.
  • at a time
    at a time
    at one time; at once; at the same time
    They took showers one at a time.
    The children went down the slide two at a time.
    The elevator holds five people at a time.
    A: Can you help me move these boxes?
    B: Yes, but they're heavy, so let's move them one at a time.
  • at any time
    at any time
    at any moment; any time
    She may give birth at any time.
    The library is open 24 hours a day. I can study there at any time.
    People can call the police at any time.
    A: Can I visit you at three 0'clock on Saturday?
    B: I'll be home all day. You can visit at any time.
  • at first
    at first
    initially; in the beginning
    At first, I thought all Americans would be big and strong.
    She was afraid of dogs at first. Now she loves them.
    They didn't like cheese at first.
    A: Do you like studying English?
    B: At first I thought it was boring, but now I like it.
  • at last
    at last
    finally; in the end
    At last the sun came up over the horizon.
    After many years of war, there was peace at last.
    Robinson Crusoe was home at last.
    A: Did you finish cleaning your room?
    B: Yes! After two hours of cleaning I finished at last.
  • at least
    at least
    not less than
    Some people recommend eating an apple at least once a day.
    You need to stay in bed for at least three days.
    Most people have been in love at least once.
    A: How many times have you been to the ocean?
    B: I've been there at least six times, maybe more.
  • at once
    at once
    immediately; right way
    Son! Come back here at once!
    When we heard the fire alarm, we left at once.
    She went to her sick mother at once.
    A: Can I give you the money next week?
    B: No! I need it at once! Please come to my house now and pay me.
  • at the top of
    at the top of
    at the highest part of
    He graduated at the top of the class.
    I saw a flag at the top of the building.
    He was standing at the top of the stairs.
    A: What's at the top of the mountain?
    B: There's a place to sit down and have some water.
b
  • be about to
    be about to
    be almost doing; be just going to
    He was about to push the button.
    He was about to fall asleep when the telephone rang.
    Look at the dark clouds; it is about to rain.
    A: Why didn't you go in the water?
    B: I was about to go in, but then I saw a jellyfish and ran away.
  • be absent from
    be absent from
    is missing from; be away from
    He was absent from class because he was sick.
    Mr. Jones was absent from the meeting.
    Our teacher is absent from school today because she is getting married.
    A: Why were you absent from school yesterday?
    B: I was sick, so I had to stay home.
  • be afraid of
    be afraid of
    have fear of; be fearful of
    Many people are afraid of snakes.
    Children are afraid of the dark.
    The bird was afraid of flying at first.
    A: Why don't you like fishing?
    B: I'm afraid of the water.
  • be angry with
    be angry with
    be upset with; be mad at
    The father was angry with his son.
    Cain was very angry with his brother, Abel.
    The police officer was angry with the drunk driver.
    A: Why was the teacher angry with the class?
    B: None of the students read the book.
  • be anxious about
    be anxious about
    be nervous about; be worried about
    The boy was anxious about taking the test.
    The president was anxious about meeting the reporters.
    Mr. Gates was anxious about the job interview.
    A: Are you anxious about going to the dentist?
    B: Yes!I don't like going to the dentist. It makes me nervous.
  • be anxious to
    be anxious to
    want strongly; be eager to; be keen to; would love to
    The puppy is anxious to eat his dinner.
    The students are anxious to know the answer.
    When we saw the dark clouds, we were anxious to get home.
    A: I'm anxious to go to the amusement park this weekend.
    B: Me too. It's going to be fun!
  • be covered with
    be covered with
    have a lot on the surface
    After sleeping in the woods, he was covered with insect bites.
    My desk is covered with papers.
    The ground was covered with snow.
    A: Do you like cake?
    B: Yes, especially if it's covered with frosting!
  • be crowded with
    be crowded with
    have many things in one place; be full of; be packed with
    The room was crowded with aliens.
    The subway was crowded with people.
    The shelf was crowded with books.
    A: Why is this store so crowded with people?
    B: It's crowded because there's a big sale today.
  • be different from
    be different from
    be not the same as; differ from
    He always knew he was different from the others.
    My dog is different from yours.
    Canadians are different from Americans in many ways.
    A: Is Korean food different from Chinese food?
    B: Yes. Korean food is much spicier.
  • be disappointed with
    be disappointed with
    be unhappy with
    The woman was disappointed with her puppy.
    The teacher was disappointed with my low grade.
    When we lost the game, the coach was disappointed with my team.
    A: I'm disappointed with my test score.
    B: Me too. I only got a 64.
  • be divided into
    be divided into
    be separated into; be split into
    The juice was divided into 2 glasses.
    The essay was divided into three parts.
    The money was divided into three bags.
    A: The pizza is divided into eight pieces.
    B: Great! There are eight people, so everybody can have one piece.
  • be dressed in
    be dressed in
    have clothes on; be clothed in; wear
    He is dressed in a shirt and tie.
    The prince was dressed in fine clothes.
    The bride was dressed in a white gown.
    A: Why are you dressed in your winter coat?
    B: I'm going to buy some ice cream.
  • be excited about
    be excited about
    be happy about; be enthusiastic about; look forward to; be thrilled about
    I'm excited about the concert!
    The fans were excited about the game.
    The children were excited about going to the zoo.
    A: I'm excited about the party on Friday.
    B: Me too. I love birthday parties.
  • be familiar with
    be familiar with
    know well; be used to; be comfortable with
    The pigs are familiar with each others.
    She is familiar with Russian culture.
    I am not familiar with this brand of computer.
    A: Do you know where the post office is?
    B: No, I don't. Let's ask someone who's familiar with this part of town.
  • be famous for
    be famous for
    be well known for; be noted for
    He is famous for having the world's longest fingernails.
    Thomas Edison is famous for his inventions.
    Shakespeare is famous for his plays.
    A: What shall we order to eat?
    B: I'd like to order pizza. This restaurant is famous for it.
  • be filled with
    be filled with
    have a lot of the same thing inside; be full of
    The bowl is filled with grapes.
    This donut is filled with cream.
    The book was filled with pictures.
    A: Wow! This garden is filled with flowers.
    B: It's beautiful.
  • be fond of
    be fond of
    get a lot of pleasure from; like; enjoy; love
    He's really fond of baseball.
    Romeo and Juliet were very fond of each other.
    My grandmother and grandfather are fond of me.
    A: Have you heard of Picasso?
    B: Yes,I am fond of his paintings.
  • be full of
    be full of
    have many things inside; be filled with; be packed with
    The box is full of toys.
    Her basket was full of apples.
    The vase is full of beautiful flowers.
    A: Why is your bag so heavy?
    B: It is full of books.
  • be good at
    be good at
    be skilled or talented at
    He's good at mathematics.
    Mike is good at languages.
    Jane is good at sports.
    A: You are very good at basketball.
    B: Not really, but I have fun playing it.
  • be impressed by
    be impressed by
    feel admiration for; be moved by; be touched by
    We were impressed by his singing.
    She was impressed by his strength.
    I was impressed by the size of the house.
    A: Did you enjoy the art gallery?
    B: Yes,I did. I was impressed by all the beautiful paintings.
  • be in trouble
    be in trouble
    get into trouble; be in a difficult situation
    She is always in trouble.
    If you don't clean your room, you'll be in trouble.
    The student was in trouble for cheating on the test.
    A: Why are you in the teacher's office? Are you in trouble?
    B: Yes I am. I did not do my homework last night.
  • be interested in
    be interested in
    be eager to; be attracted by; like
    That's "Weird Eddie." He's only interested in insects.
    I'm very interested in astronomy.
    When she was young, Josephine Baker was interested in dance.
    A: I am interested in learning how to play tennis.
    B: I can help you. I have been playing for a few years.
  • be known for
    be known for
    be recognized by
    The tree frog is known for its green color.
    The tree is known for its delicious fruit.
    The girl was known for having long hair.
    A: Where is Joe? We've been waiting for 25 minutes.
    B: Well, he is known for being late.
  • be late for
    be late for
    arrive after the expected time
    He is late for work.
    The groom was late for the wedding.
    The boss was late for the meeting.
    A: Why are you driving so fast?
    B: I am going to be late for the concert.
  • be made of
    be made of
    consist of; be made up of; be composed of
    The house is made of brick.
    My pants are made of cotton.
    Jam is made of sugar and fruit.
    A: Is this bottle made of glass?
    B: No, I think it is made of plastic.
  • be over
    be over
    come to the end; be finished; be done
    Don't worry! The ride will be over soon!
    The meeting was over at 11 0'clock.
    When is the movie going to be over?
    A: What time will this class be over?
    B: It will finish at three 0'clock.
  • be pleased with
    be pleased with
    be satisfied with; be happy with; be delighted with
    You should be pleased with your grades.
    I was pleased with the quick service.
    She was pleased with the new wallpaper.
    A: Wow! That is a nice picture you are painting!
    B: Thanks. I hope my art teacher will be pleased.
  • be proud of
    be proud of
    feel pleased about; take pride in
    The boy is proud of his painting.
    They were very proud of their son.
    I am proud of my country.
    A: I got an A on the test.
    B: I'm very proud of you!
  • be ready to
    be ready to
    be prepared to
    The spider is ready to eat.
    She isn't ready to go yet.
    They were ready to go camping.
    A: Are you ready to go to school?
    B: No, I have to eat breakfast first.
  • be responsible for
    be responsible for
    have to take care of; be in charge of; have responsibility for
    He is responsible for the whole group.
    A shepherd is responsible for his sheep.
    The doctor is responsible for his patient.
    A: Are you responsible for your little sister today?
    B: Yes I am. If she' does anything bad, my parents will be angry at me!
  • be satisfied with
    be satisfied with
    be happy with; be content with
    The snake was satisfied with his meal.
    My father is satisfied with his new car.
    Miss Johnson is not satisfied with her job.
    A: Are you satisfied with your meal?
    B: Yes, it tastes very good.
  • be similar to
    be similar to
    have many things in common with; be like; resemble
    Wasps are similar to bees.
    A turtle is similar to a tortoise.
    A leopard is similar to a tiger.
    A: Look! Is that your mom's car?
    B: No, it's not. But it is similar to her car. It is the same size and color.
  • be supposed to
    be supposed to
    be expected to; be scheduled to
    You were supposed to save half the cake for me!
    The meeting is supposed to begin at 2 p.m.
    What time is the show supposed to start?
    A: Do you want to play soccer this afternoon?
    B: I do, but I can't, because I am supposed to meet my uncle at two 0'clock.
  • be sure of
    be sure of
    have no doubt about
    The girl was sure of which puppy she wanted.
    Willy was sure of his answer.
    She isn't sure of the time of the party.
    A: Are you sure Rita wants the green shirt?
    B: I am sure of it. Yesterday she told me she wanted it.
  • be surprised by (at)
    be surprised by (at)
    be taken aback by; express surprise at; be astonished at
    She was surprised by her son's new hairstyle.
    Mr. Scrooge was surprised by the ghost.
    Nancy Drew was surprised at the noise.
    A: I am surprised by Nick's kindness these days.
    B: Me too. Last year he was a very mean boy.
  • be thankful for
    be thankful for
    appreciate; be grateful for
    The baby kangaroo is thankful for his mother's love and care.
    The beggar was thankful for the coin.
    The criminal was thankful for the judge's mercy.
    A: Some people sleep in the subway station because they don't have a house or a bed.
    B: That would be terrible. I am very thankful for my home.
  • be used to
    be used to
    be familiar with; be accustomed to
    It doesn't hurt anymore. I guess I'm used to it.
    She is used to getting up early in the morning.
    Tarzan was used to living in the jungle.
    A: You've lived in Mexico for six months. How do you like it?
    B: I like it, but my stomach isn't used to Mexican food yet!
  • be willing to
    be willing to
    be happy to; to inclined to; be prepared to
    The soldier was willing to defend his country.
    Sam was willing to lend money to his friend.
    Miss Eyre was willing to teach in the small school.
    A: Are you willing to help me with my chemistry homework?
    B: Yes I am, but I am busy right now. I will help you tonight.
  • be worried about
    be worried about
    be anxious about; be concerned about
    I am worried about the baby!
    The farmer was worried about the weather.
    He is worried about his health.
    A: I am worried about our dog.
    B: Me too. He hasn't eaten for three days.
  • be worth (~ing)
    be worth (~ing)
    be useful enough to; equal in value to
    Diamonds are expensive, but some people think they are worth buying.
    The hotel is great! It's worth staying an extra night.
    Our car is old, but it's worth keeping.
    A: Is this movie worth watching?
    B: No it's not! I saw it last night, and it was terrible.
  • because of
    because of
    due to; as a result of; owing to; on account of
    She is happy because of her new sweater.
    He can't ride the bicycle because it has a flat tire.
    We couldn't go because of the weather.
    A: Did you play baseball yesterday?
    B: No I didn't. We couldn't play because of the rain.
  • before long
    before long
    in a short time; pretty soon
    Before long, you'll be a big rabbit like me!
    Dinner will be ready before long.
    Before long, Sandy will graduate from high school.
    A: The weather is getting colder.
    B: Yes it is, and before long I think it will start to snow.
  • belong to
    belong to
    be owned by; be the property of
    The teddy bear belongs to my little brother.
    The yacht belonged to Mrs. Vanderbilt.
    This business belongs to me.
    A: Does this bag belong to Max?
    B: No it doesn't. It is Kathy's bag.
  • between you and me
    between you and me
    just between us; confidentially; off the record
    Between you and me, I think there's something wrong with that guy.
    Between you and me, I think Greg is handsome.
    Between you and me, I think the food here is terrible!
    A: Please don't tell anybody the story I just told you.
    B: I won't tell anybody else. I'll keep it between you and me.
  • blow out
    blow out
    put out a fire; extinguish
    Make a wish when you blow out the candle.
    The wind blew out the fire.
    He blew out the candle before going to bed.
    A: Oh no! Why is it so dark in here?
    B: The wind blew out our candles.
  • break away from
    break away from
    escape from; get away from; break free from
    He wanted to break away from the group.
    He broke away from the crowd.
    The dog broke away from its owner.
    A: How did Sylvia win the race?
    B: She was with the other runners, then she broke away from them and crossed the finish line first!
  • break out
    break out
    occur with suddenness or force; happen
    Suddenly, an argument broke out.
    He was just a child when war broke out in his country.
    A fight broke out at the baseball game.
    A: Why were you late for work today?
    B: A fire broke out in my apartment this morning.
  • bring about
    bring about
    cause to happen; lead to; result in
    Rain in July will bring about floods.
    Years of stress brought about his illness.
    Hard work brought about his success.
    A: The weather is warmer this summer than it has been in the past. Why is that?
    B: I don't know. Some people think the warmer weather was brought about by air pollution.
  • bring in
    bring in
    get in; call in
    My dog brings in the newspaper every morning.
    Make sure that you don't bring in dirt.
    "Bring in the next patient," said the doctor.
    A: Oh no! It's starting to rain on our picnic!
    B: No problem! I will carry the hamburgers to the house, and you can bring in the cake.
  • bring out
    bring out
    reveal something to someone
    He brought out a picture of his girlfriend.
    The old woman brought out a gold ring.
    Bring out the two men.
    A: I'm going to get an orange from the refrigerator. Do you want anything?
    B: Yes. Could you bring out some watermelon, please?
  • by oneself
    by oneself
    alone; on one's own
    He likes to play by himself.
    The girl went to the movie by herself.
    After a few days of practice, the children could swim by themselves.
    A: I want to go to the library by myself.
    B: Why?
    A: I have a lot of studying to do and don't want to be disturbed.
  • by the way
    by the way
    incidentally; in addition
    By the way, her father is a doctor.
    By the way, may I borrow some money?
    By the way, when are you going to America?
    A: I heard that you're moving to a new house.
    B: Yes. By the way, do you need a sofa and some chairs?
  • by way of
    by way of
    be going through; via
    You can get to Dundas by way of Lion Street.
    We sailed to Europe by way of the Mediterranean Sea.
    They came to North America by way of a land bridge.
    A: Did the teacher say that I have to read that book?
    B: No. She said by way of suggestion that you should read it.
c
  • call off
    call off
    stop a planned event; cancel
    He had to call off the birthday party because he felt sick.
    The boss called off the meeting.
    It rained so they called off the baseball game.
    A: They had to call off the soccer game yesterday.
    B: How come?
    A: One of the teams didn't have enough players.
  • call on
    call on
    visit; come to see
    He went to call on his friend.
    She called on me but I wasn't home.
    Do you have time to call on your grandmother?
    A: Where is Donald? I thought he was going to play soccer with us tonight.
    B: He was going to, but some relatives called on him unexpectedly.
  • call up
    call up
    telephone; contact by telephone
    He called up for more bananas.
    He called me up at 2:30 in the morning.
    I always call up my grandmother on her birthday.
    A: I am hungry, but I don't want to cook.
    B: I am hungry too. Let's call up the pizza place and order a cheese pizza.
  • calm down
    calm down
    become quiet; cool down
    Some people have a cup of tea when they need to calm down.
    After the storm, the sea calmed down.
    The child calmed down when we gave him his teddy bear.
    A: Help! There's a spider on the desk!
    B: Calm down. It is not going to hurt you.
  • can't afford
    can't afford
    be unable to pay for; don't have enough money
    I'd love to buy that house, but I can't afford it.
    I can't afford to buy a Mercedes Benz.
    He can't afford a new suit.
    A: Mom, can you buy me that computer?
    B: I'd like to, but I can't afford it. It's too expensive.
  • can't help (~ing)
    can't help (~ing)
    can't avoid; be unable to stop; have no choice but to; can only
    They can't help laughing at his strange appearance.
    Susan couldn't help eating all the cookies.
    I can't help falling in love with her.
    A: Please don't laugh at me when I sing!
    B: I can't help it. You sound really funny!
  • can't stand
    can't stand
    dislike intensely; can't tolerate; can't bear; hate
    I can't stand opera music.
    She can't stand traffic jams.
    They like pickles, but they can't stand mustard.
    A: Let's go see the new James Bond film.
    B: No, thanks. I can't stand action movies!
  • care for
    care for
    look after; take care of
    The mother cares for her children.
    Most people don't care for their house plants properly.
    Janet appreciated the way Rick cared for her when she was sick.
    A: How should I care for this plant?
    B: You have to give it water every day.
  • catch up with
    catch up with
    come up with; overtake
    He just couldn't catch up with her.
    I missed a week of school, so I had to catch up with my class.
    We ran to catch up with Larry.
    A: Your team is really far behind.
    B: Yes.I don't think we can catch up with yours.
  • check in
    check in
    register at a hotel; or an airport; ect.; sign in
    When you arrive, check in by signing your name on the list.
    You must check in at the front desk.
    Please check in with me when you get here.
    A: What time does your plane for Paris leave?
    B: It leaves at ten 0'clock, but I have to check in by eight 0'clock
  • cheer up
    cheer up
    get in a better mood; help someone feel happier; lighten up
    He is trying to cheer up his friend.
    He cheered up when he got a card and flowers.
    Cheer up! Tomorrow, things will be better.
    A: Where are you going?
    B: I am going to Ann's house. She is sad because her dog died, so I am going to try to cheer her up.
  • come by
    come by
    pay a visit to; drop by; stop by
    Why don't you come by my leaf sometime?
    The mailman usually comes by at ten 0'clock.
    Ellen will come by this afternoon.
    A: Do you want to come by my house and see my new CD player?
    B: Sure, but I can only stay for a few minutes.
  • come out of
    come out of
    leave a place
    The frog was still wet after he came out of the water.
    The bear came out of the cave.
    She finally came out of the room.
    A: Come out of the sun before you get a sunburn.
    B: That's a good idea. I'll sit in the shade with you.
  • come over
    come over
    pay a short visit
    She liked it when her grandfather would come over on Sundays.
    Danny comes over to play after school.
    Jack, why don't you come over for dinner?
    A: Do you want to come over to my house this weekend?
    B: That sounds fun! Thank you for inviting me.
  • come true
    come true
    happen as wished
    Some people think that a four-leaf clover will make your dreams come true.
    Joe's dream at last came true.
    I hope all your dreams will come true.
    A: I can't believe I won a trip to Europe! It is like a dream come true.
    B: Wow! You are really lucky.
  • come up to
    come up to
    reach; approach
    The grass came up to his knees.
    I got more and more nervous as I came up to the door.
    The man came up to me and asked me for money.
    A: How deep is the water in the swimming pool?
    B: Not very deep. It only comes up to my waist.
  • congratulations on
    congratulations on
    praise
    congratulations on your birthday!
    Congratulations on your new baby!
    Congratulations on graduating from high school!
    A: Congratulations on winning the speech contest!
    B: Thank you. It was a great contest and I'm surprised I won.
  • consist of
    consist of
    be made (up) of; be composed from; comprise
    A common fast-food meal consists of a hamburger, fries and a drink.
    The package consisted of three books, some photos, and a candy bar.
    The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
    A: What did your English test consist of?
    B: It consisted of 30% speaking, 30% listening, and 40% writing.
  • cooperate with
    cooperate with
    work together; act together
    They always cooperate with each other.
    Our team lost because we didn't cooperate with each other.
    Sally cooperated with Paul on the science project.
    A: Why don't you want to be Bill's partner any longer?
    B: We can't cooperate with each other.
  • cope with
    cope with
    deal successfully with; manage successfully
    The mother is finding it hard to cope with her troubled son.
    I think I can cope with my new schedule.
    She has to cope with traffic every day.
    A: You look really sick. Do you want to go to see a doctor?
    B: I can cope with the pain until tomorrow. It's eleven 0'clock and too late to go now.
  • count on
    count on
    depend on; rely on; trust
    The politician said, "You can count on me!"
    You can count on him to do good job.
    I can count on my parents for support.
    A: I'd be happy to help you study.
    B: Thanks. I can always count on you.
  • cry out for
    cry out for
    ask for; call for
    When the baby was hungry, she cried out for food.
    They are all crying out for change.
    Children often cry out for a candy.
    A: What did you do when the man stole your purse?
    B: I cried out for help and a security guard caught the thief.
  • cut off
    cut off
    remove; cut away
    The boy cut off his sister's hair.
    She cut off all her hair.
    First, the cook cut off the fish's head.
    A: I want to eat this apple, but it looks rotten.
    B: Just cut off the rotten part and eat the rest.
d
  • dash off
    dash off
    leave very quickly; run off; hurry
    The rabbit dashed off into the forest.
    He dashed off to deliver the message.
    She dashed off because she was late.
    A: Will May be gone for a long time?
    B: No, she just dashed off to the store to buy some milk.
  • depend on
    depend on
    trust; rely on; count on; be dependent on
    When they are young, the fish depend on their mother.
    The blind man depended on his dog.
    The old woman depended on her son.
    A: I'll drive you to the airport.
    B: Please don't forget! I'm depending on you.
  • die out
    die out
    stop existing; disappear completely; become extinct
    We must protect whales if we don't want them to die out.
    Mammoths died out a long time ago.
    I wish all the mosquitoes would die out.
    A: Why did the dinosaurs die out?
    B: Because the weather got very cold.
  • differ from
    differ from
    be not the same as; be different from
    Red and green apples differ from each other in taste.
    My opinion differs from hers.
    The new house differs from the old one in many ways.
    A: How does this bicycle differ from the other one?
    B: This one has a more comfortable seat.
  • dispose of
    dispose of
    get rid of; throw out
    It is dangerous to dispose of a lit cigarette in a garbage can.
    Bill disposed of the old bottles.
    The murderer tried to dispose of his knife.
    A: This fruit is almost rotten.
    B: Let's dispose of it before it starts to smell bad.
  • do badly in
    do badly in
    not be successful in; do poorly in
    I always do badly in mathematics.
    She did not study, so she did badly on her test.
    The basketball player did badly in the game because of his injury.
    A: Do you get good grades in school?
    B: My grades are good except for history. I usually do badly in that class.
  • do one's best
    do one's best
    try hard; give one's best
    The teacher told him, "Just do your best!"
    He did his best to stop the water.
    Although I didn't win, I was happy because I did my best.
    A: I am not very good at math.
    B: Don't worry. Just study hard and do your best and you will do alright.
  • do one's homework
    do one's homework
    do schoolwork outside of class (at home)
    He is doing his homework.
    I usually do my homework at the library.
    He always does his homework before watching TV.
    A: What are you going to do after school?
    B: I am going to do my homework.
  • do well in
    do well in
    be successful in; do a good job
    He does very well in school.
    My sister always does well in math.
    Bonnie did well in the race.
    A: How can I do well in science class?
    B: You should review your notes every day and make sure you do all your homework.
  • don't mention it
    don't mention it
    There's no need for thanks
    When I thanked him for the gift. he said, "Don't mention it!"
    A: I appreciated the card you sent me.
    B: Don't mention it.
    A: Thanks a lot.
    B: Don't mention it. I was glad to help.
    A: Thanks for giving me a ride home.
    B: Don't mention it. I'm happy I could give you a ride.
  • dream of
    dream of
    wish or hope for; dream about
    He often dreams of being big and strong.
    The Wright brothers dreamed of making a flying machine.
    Pinocchio dreamed of becoming a real boy.
    A: In winter I like to dream of hot, sunny places.
    B: Me too. I like hot weather more than cold weather.
  • drop by
    drop by
    go to see; pay a short visit; stop by
    I dropped by at 3:00, but you weren't home.
    My neighbor dropped by with an apple pie.
    Eddie dropped by yesterday to say goodbye.
    A: Can we go to the department store now?
    B: Okay, but I have to drop by the bank first to get some money.
  • drop off
    drop off
    deliver something or leave someone somewhere
    I have to drop off the package today.
    My mother dropped me off at school on her way to work.
    Laura dropped off the books at the library.
    A: Where are you going?
    B: I'm going to drop off my rollerblades at Sue's house. She is going to use them tomorrow.
e
  • enjoy oneself
    enjoy oneself
    have a happy experience; have a good time; have fun
    They always enjoy themselves.
    We enjoyed ourselves at Disney World.
    He enjoyed himself at the picnic.
    A: Enjoy yourself on your vacation!
    B: Thank you. I think it will be great!
f
  • fall in love with
    fall in love with
    develop strong romantic feelings (for)
    I fell in love with her the first time I saw her.
    The young girls fell in love with the rock star.
    Anthony fell in love with Cleopatra.
    A: Does Wally like Sue?
    B: Yes, he really likes her. He has fallen in love with her, and he wants to marry her.
  • far from
    far from
    be a long way from a place
    The house is far from the city.
    He lives in a town, not far from his father.
    The forest was not far from Athens.
    A: Is your house far from the supermarket?
    B: No it isn't. It takes five minutes to walk there.
  • feel like
    feel like
    be inclined to; desire; want
    I feel like having a snack!
    She feels like crying because she lost her job.
    After the long walk, he felt like taking a shower.
    A: Do you feel like watching a video tonight?
    B: No, I feel like going bowling.
  • figure out
    figure out
    understand; solve; make out
    You can use a calculator to figure out match problems.
    I figured out how to save money on my electric bill.
    Oedipus figured out the answer to the riddle.
    A: I can't figure out where I put my glasses.
    B: Look on your head!
  • fill (up) ~ with
    fill (up) ~ with
    make full; fill
    Please fill up the glass with milk.
    I filled up the tank with gas.
    We filled up the box with old pictures.
    A: How much juice do you want?
    B: I'm very thirsty. Please fill up my cup.
  • find out
    find out
    learn; get information
    I want to find out if she has a boyfriend.
    She wanted to find out the name of the book.
    Diane found out where the money was.
    A: What time does the store close?
    B: I'll call and find out.
  • for a long time
    for a long time
    for many minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, ect.
    He hasn't cut his beard for a long time.
    He has been waiting for a long time.
    Miss O'Hara has owned this land for a long time.
    A: Have you been playing the piano for a long time?
    B: No, I've only been playing for three months.
  • for a while
    for a while
    for a time; a while
    He has been underwater for a while.
    We have been sitting here for a while.
    I worked in that company for a while.
    A: I'm going to the store. Do you want to join me?
    B: No, I think I'll stay here and read for a white.
  • for example
    for example
    for instance; as an example; say
    All of us are familiar with mammals. A cow, for example, is a mammal.
    I like sweet food. For example, I eat ice cream every day.
    We are different. I am older, for example.
    A: You said that Fred insults you. How does he insult you?
    B: Well, for example, yesterday he said that I was stupid.
  • for some time
    for some time
    for a period of time
    The fish hasn't moved for some time.
    We have been waiting for some time.
    This song has been popular for some time.
    A: Have you seen Philip recently?
    B: No, I haven't seen him for some time.
  • for sure
    for sure
    certainly; surely; for certain
    The girl will beat the boy for sure.
    That girl will win the math contest for sure.
    You will get the job for sure.
    A: Is your sister going to help you clean the house?
    B: Yes. She said she would help me for sure.
  • for the first time
    for the first time
    first; the initial time
    He is getting kissed for the first time.
    The boy from Brazil saw snow for the first time.
    She flew in an airplane for the first time.
    A: Have you been to that restaurant before?
    B: No. I'm going for the first time.
  • for the time being
    for the time being
    for the moment; for now; for the present
    It's raining. Let's stay inside for the time being.
    She is sick, so she must stay in bed for the time being.
    His car is in the shop, so he's using mine for the time being.
    A: Where do you live?
    B: I'm living at my uncle's house for the time being, but I'm going to move into my own place next month.
  • from now on
    from now on
    from now onwards; starting now and continuing
    From now on, maybe you won't play in the street!
    From now on, I'm free! I promise to be good from now on.
    A: From now on I'm going to exercise every day.
    B: That's a good idea! You're going to be very healthy.
  • from time to time
    from time to time
    sometimes; at times; once in a while; every now and then; occasionally
    From time to time, he likes to go fishing.
    From time to time, I enjoy going to the opera.
    The department store has a sale from time to time.
    A: Do you see your grandmother often?
    B: No I don't. She lives in another city, so I only see her from time to time.
g
  • generally speaking
    generally speaking
    in general; by and large; as a rule; on the whole
    Generally speaking, dogs are friendly animals.
    Generally speaking, Mexican food is very spicy.
    Generally speaking, people hate going to the dentist.
    A: Do you like sweet food?
    B: Generally speaking no, but I do like a few sweet things like ice cream and juice.
  • get back
    get back
    return; come or go back
    I need to get back home before dark.
    Dorothy wanted to get back to Kansas.
    I don't know how to get back to the hotel.
    A: When will you get back from your trip?
    B: I'll return in two weeks.
  • get in touch with
    get in touch with
    communicate with; connect; contact
    He gave me his business card, so I can get in touch with him.
    They can get in touch with me at this address.
    I've been trying to get in touch with him for weeks.
    A: We haven't talked to Julie recently. We should get in touch with her.
    B: Good idea. Let's call her tonight.
  • get involved in
    get involved in
    be a part of; take part in; participate in
    He didn't want to get involved in their argument.
    She wanted to get involved in her school dance team.
    I don't usually get involved in politics.
    A: Roman and Carla are broke. Should we try to help them?
    B: No. It's not our problem, so let's not get involved in it.
  • get married to
    get married to
    marry
    Her parents didn't want her to get married to a mosquito.
    Prince Charles got married to Lady Diana Spencer.
    Sally will get married to Tom in March.
    A: Who is your brother going to marry?
    B: He's getting married to a girl he's been dating for a few years.
  • get off
    get off
    leave a vehicle
    The spider got off the ball.
    The old lady is getting off the bus.
    He got off the subway at the wrong stop.
    A: How can I get to your house from here?
    B: Take bus number seven and get off at the third stop.
  • get on
    get on
    board; enter a vehicle
    The spider got on the ball.
    He got on his horse and rode away.
    We got on the bus in front of City Hall.
    A: Can you wait while I go to the bathroom?
    B: No, the train is about to leave, so we have to get on now. You'll have to use the bathroom on the train.
  • get out (of)
    get out (of)
    exit; leave; go out (of)
    Get out of here!
    My father said to the dog, "Get out."
    Get out of my room right now!
    A: Thanks for giving me a ride to the library.
    B: No problem! I'll stop the car in front of the library and you can get out quickly.
  • get rid of
    get rid of
    remove; dispose of; throw away
    He must get rid of his cold.
    I want to get rid of the ants in my room.
    My mothers got rid of her old dresses.
    A: Can we get rid of these old books?
    B: Yes, I don't want them anymore.
  • get tired of
    get tired of
    become bored with; get sick of
    I will never get tired of hamburgers.
    She got tired of hearing the song over and over.
    He got tired of waiting, so he went home.
    A: I am getting tired of studying.
    B: Why don't you take a break?
  • get to
    get to
    arrive at; reach
    When he got to the house, it was snowing.
    Just ring the bell when you get to the door.
    I got to the store before it closed.
    A: How do you get to school everyday?
    B: I take the bus.
  • get together
    get together
    gather; meet
    Everyone said that they should get together.
    We often got together at the cafe.
    Let's get together on Friday night.
    A: Let's get together on Saturday.
    B: Okay! Maybe we can go to a movie together.
  • get up
    get up
    get out of bed; leave bed after sleeping
    It's hard for him to get up in the morning.
    I have to get up early to catch the train.
    Time to get up!
    A: What time do you get up?
    B: Usually at 7:30, but on weekends I get up later.
  • get well
    get well
    become healthy; get over an illness
    He received a get-well card.
    I hope you get well!
    She got well faster than anticipated.
    A: My sister is sick, so I'm going to bring her some medicine.
    B: Tell her I hope she gets well soon.
  • give a hand
    give a hand
    help; assist; lend a hand
    Can someone give me a hand with this?
    He gave her a hand with the yard work.
    They gave the boy a hand with the big box.
    A: This table is really heavy. Can you give me a hand moving it?
    B: Sure, I can help you.
  • give away
    give away
    donate; hand out
    He gave away his last dollar.
    I wanted to sell my old radio, but I think I will just give it away.
    The company gave away free samples.
    A: Wow! You have a lot of books!
    B: I have too many. I think I should give away a lot of them.
  • give back
    give back
    return; hand back
    He had to give back the stolen money.
    When are you going to give back my CD?
    She borrowed my car, but she hasn't given it back.
    A: Can I borrow your bicycle?
    B: Yes, as long as you give it back by five 0'clock.
  • give it a try
    give it a try
    try it; give it a go; give it a shot
    Why don't you give it a try?
    She decided to give it a try.
    I haven't played golf, but I'll give it a try.
    A: Have you had Mexican food?
    B: No, but I'd like to give it a try sometime.
  • give up
    give up
    stop; abandon
    He should give up smoking.
    She did not give up hope of finding her dog.
    Don't give up! Keep trying!
    A: Learning to play the guitar is really hard.
    B: Don't give up! You will learn if you keep practicing.
  • go away
    go away
    leave a place; get away
    Go away!
    Please don't go away.
    I hope your stomachache will go away soon.
    A: What a gloomy day!
    B: Yeah. I wish those clouds would go away.
  • go off
    go off
    leave; go somewhere with a purpose
    The camel went off across the desert to find water.
    Dorothy went off to have her car washed.
    She went off without even saying goodbye.
    A: Why is Mrs. Jones crying?
    B: Her son went off to fight in the war.
  • go on
    go on
    continue; not stop; last
    The road goes on for many miles.
    This cold weather has gone on for too long!
    The argument went on for a few minutes.
    A: This movie was really boring.
    B: Yes,it just seemed to go on for hours.
  • go on a picnic
    go on a picnic
    bring some food and eat it outside
    He is going on a picnic.
    Let's go on a picnic.
    I haven't gone on a picnic for years.
    A: What do you want to do this weekend?
    B: It's going to be sunny on Saturday, so I'd like to go on a picnic.
  • grow up
    grow up
    become an adult; mature
    When he grows up, he will be a strong lion.
    I grew up in a China and then moved to America.
    My son has grown up so fast.
    A: What kind of job do you want to have when you grow up?
    B: Actually, I would like to become a dentist.
h
  • had better
    had better
    should; ought to
    If you want to work here. you had better get a haircut!
    You'd better not work too late.
    She had better study if she wants to pass the test.
    A: Do you want to play computer games with me?
    B: I'd like to, but I'd better finish my homework.
  • hand in
    hand in
    give in; submit
    After 60 minutes. the students had to hand in their tests.
    Please hand in the report by Friday.
    Even though she wasn't finished, she had to hand in the project.
    A: What are you writing?
    B: I'm writing an essay that I have to hand in to my teacher tomorrow.
  • hang up
    hang up
    put away something, especially clothes, on a hook or hanger
    Hang up your coat on the wall.
    Please hang up your wet towels!
    Jerry hung up his Elvis costume after the show.
    A: Where should I put my jacket?
    B: You can hang it up in the closet.
  • have a good time
    have a good time
    enjoy oneself; have fun
    The aliens like to have a good time.
    The tourists had a good time in Paris.
    I had a good time at the party.
    A: Have a good time at the birthday party!
    B: Thanks, I think it will be fun.
  • have no idea
    have no idea
    don't know; not have a clue
    I have no idea why he is wearing this.
    She has no idea when the meeting is.
    They had no idea that the earth was round.
    A: I have no idea how to use this digital camera.
    B: Read the instruction booklet. That'll help you.
  • have to do with
    have to do with
    be closely connected with; be related to
    These symbols all have to do with mathematics.
    The newspaper article has to do with the Queen's visit to Africa.
    The mother hoped that her son had nothing to do with the broken window.
    A: What does math have to do with real life?
    B: Well, studying math helps us to add and subtract money, and many other things.
  • have trouble (with)
    have trouble (with)
    have a problem; have difficulty
    He is having trouble with his battery.
    I am having trouble with this math homework.
    The soccer player had trouble with his knee.
    A: How are your tennis lessons?
    B: Good, but I'm having trouble with my serve.
  • hear from
    hear from
    receive news from
    He is waiting to hear from the doctor about his tests.
    I haven't heard from Dave recently.
    It's nice to hear from you.
    A: Has Mary called you since she went to China?
    B: Not yet. If I don't hear from her soon I'm going to start worrying.
  • hear of
    hear of
    know about; hear about
    Have you ever heard of a two-headed snake?
    I have never heard of an earthquake in this city.
    Yes, I've heard of that restaurant. I think it's in the north end of town.
    A: Let's go see a movie sometime.
    B: Okay. If I hear of a good one I'll tell you.
  • help oneself to
    help oneself to
    take what one wants
    He is helping himself to a cookie.
    Help yourself to the cake.
    At the buffet, everyone helps themselves.
    A: Please help yourself to some pie.
    B: Thank you. It looks delicious.
  • here you are
    here you are
    here you go; here it is
    Here you are!
    A: Could I use your pen?
    B: Sure, here you are.
    A: I would like a chocolate ice cream cone, please.
    B: Here you are.
    A: Can I have a sip of your water please?
    B: Sure. Here you are.
  • hold on
    hold on
    wait; hold the line
    We had to hold on while the traffic light was red.
    Hold on, I'm coming!
    Please hold on while I find your file
    A: Here is the pizza you ordered.
    B: Hold on. I'll go get my wallet.
  • hold up
    hold up
    lift; raise; put up
    He held up the mouse for everyone to see.
    The soldier was holding up the flag.
    The class became silent when the teacher held up his hand.
    A: What do you do at your new job?
    B: I stand on the sidewalk and hold up a sign advertising the restaurant
  • hurry up
    hurry up
    do something quickly
    Hurry up!
    Hurry up, or we will be late!
    You will miss the bus if you don't hurry up.
    A: Let's hurry up and finish before dinner.
    B: Good idea. I'm hungry!
i
  • in a hurry
    in a hurry
    in haste; in a rush
    He is in a hurry.
    Why are you in such a hurry?
    Don't be in such a hurry.
    A: Why are you in a hurry?
    B: My piano lesson starts in five minutes, so I have to run if I don't want to be late.
  • in a moment
    in a moment
    in a short time; in a second/minute; soon
    He will be asleep in a moment.
    I'll be with you in a moment.
    She'll be back in a moment.
    A: Can I have a large cola please?
    B: Yes. I'll bring it to you in a moment.
  • in case of
    in case of
    in the event something happens; if
    Take an umbrella in case of rain.
    In case of an emergency, press the red button.
    In case of fire, do not use the elevator.
    A: Please call 911 in case of a robbery.
    B: Okay. I'll remember that.
  • in fact
    in fact
    as a matter of fact; actually; in reality
    In fact, there is no 'dark side' of the moon.
    I really like you. In fact, I love you!
    It rained a lot yesterday. In fact, it was the wettest day of the year so far.
    A: This is a great birthday party. Is Heinrich going to come too?
    B: Yes, he is. In fact, here he comes now!
  • in front of
    in front of
    before; ahead of
    There is a dinosaur in front of the house.
    The conductor stood in front of the orchestra.
    She stood in front of the mirror.
    A: I'll meet you in front of the school at three 0'clock.
    B: Okay. I'll see you then.
  • in general
    in general
    as a whole; overall; for the most part
    In general, Asian food is less fattening than western food.
    In general, I like cats.
    The movie was, in general, not very interesting.
    A: Do you like France?
    B: I like Europe in general, because each country is interesting
  • in harmony (with)
    in harmony (with)
    in a friendly relationship with; in accord with
    It is important that we live in harmony with nature.
    Dogs live in harmony with humans.
    The two countries worked in harmony.
    A: I'm glad that Jack and Jill got married.
    B: Yes. I hope that they can live in harmony.
  • in honor of
    in honor of
    giving respect to; remembering
    We lit the candle in honor of our grandmother.
    They had a party in honor of the man's retirement.
    The president gave a speech in honor of the soldiers.
    A: My parents have been married for twenty five years.
    B: You should have a party in honor of their anniversary.
  • in just a minute
    in just a minute
    in a short time; shortly
    In just a minute. it will be midnight.
    We will be leaving in just a minute.
    The movie will be starting in just a minute.
    A: Can you help me with this program?
    B: I'll be there in just a minute.
  • in search of
    in search of
    trying to find; looking for
    The helicopter went in search of the people missing in the mountains.
    We went in search of a good Italian restaurant.
    They went to Africa in search of the white elephant.
    A: It's late. Why are you here at the store?
    B: We were watching a video and we got hungry, so we're here in search of snacks.
  • in silence
    in silence
    silently; not speaking; without a sound
    The boy behaved badly, so his mother made him sit in silence.
    They walked down the road in silence.
    The family ate in silence.
    A: Do you mind if I turn on the radio?
    B: Actually, I prefer to study in silence.
  • in the meantime
    in the meantime
    meanwhile; while
    He had to wait for the bus. In the meantime he read the paper.
    My car is in the shop. I am using my sister's in the meantime.
    I will be late for the meeting. In the meantime, discuss next month's agenda.
    A: I know we should go to the store, but first I have to wash these clothes.
    B: Okay, I'll read my book in the meantime.
  • in the middle of
    in the middle of
    at the center of; in the midst of
    The scarecrow is in the middle of the field.
    He was standing in the middle of the street.
    She turned off the TV in the middle of the show.
    A: What were you doing when I called you?
    B: I was in the middle of studying for tomorrow's big test.
  • in vain
    in vain
    for nothing; fruitless; vainly
    He tried in vain to get more food from the table.
    The trip was cancelled. He had packed in vain.
    She washed her car in vain. It rained that afternoon.
    A: This is an important game. We have to win it.
    B: I know. If we don't win, our three months of practicing will have been in vain.
  • instead of
    instead of
    in place of; rather than; in preference to
    He chose the hamburger instead of the pizza.
    She went to New York instead of Paris.
    They met on Sunday instead of Saturday.
    A: Let's go on a picnic instead of watching a movie.
    B: Okay. It's a nice day to be outdoors.
j
  • just in time
    just in time
    almost not in time; at the last minute
    The policeman caught the thief just in time.
    You are just in time for dinner.
    She got to the airport just in time to catch her plane.
    A: Wow! It's raining hard. We came in the house just in time.
    B: I know! If we would have stayed outside one more minute, we would be very wet right now.
k
  • keep an eye on
    keep an eye on
    watch; monitor
    They wanted to keep an eye on the strange newcomer.
    I'm going to the bathroom. Please keep an eye on my bag.
    My parents are gone, so I have to keep an eye on my little brother.
    A: Keep an eye on the time. I have to leave at midnight.
    B: OK. It's only 11:15 now.
  • keep away (from)
    keep away (from)
    avoid; stay away
    There are some areas that swimmers should keep away from.
    Keep away from that old house!
    The shy boy kept away from the other children.
    A: Why did mom tell us to keep away from that dog?
    B: Because that dog is dangerous! It bit three kids last summer.
  • keep in mind
    keep in mind
    don't forget; remember; bear in mind
    Keep in mind that he usually eats with chopsticks.
    I'll keep that in mind.
    Keep in mind that you've got a meeting at 3:00.
    A: I'm going to play soccer with my friends this afternoon!
    B: Okay, but keep in mind that dinner is at 6:00.
  • keep in touch
    keep in touch
    continue to communicate; stay in contact (with)
    He gave me his phone number so we could keep in touch.
    They kept in touch for twenty years.
    Please keep in touch while you are traveling.
    A: I'm going to live in America next year.
    B: After you go, please keep in touch with me.
  • keep on
    keep on
    do not stop; continue
    Keep on pushing!
    His alarm went off, but he kept on sleeping.
    It's late, but I have to keep on working.
    A: Why did you sell your parrot?
    B: He kept on singing Elvis songs.
  • keep out (of)
    keep out (of)
    stay out (of)
    Keep your hands out of my honey!
    The children were kept out of the graveyard.
    The high fence kept wolves out of the farm.
    A: Why did you keep out of the game?
    B: I don't know how to play very well.
l
  • laugh at
    laugh at
    ridicule; sneer
    People always laugh at his nose.
    The thoughtless teacher laughed at the student when he made a mistake.
    They laughed at him when he tripped.
    A: Why is Jimmy crying?
    B: The other children laughed at his haircut.
  • lead to
    lead to
    go to a particular place
    The road leads to the castle.
    The guide will lead us to the village.
    The dog led the police officer to the robber's house.
    A: Where does this stairway go?
    B: It leads to the parking garage.
  • leave out
    leave out
    exclude; miss out; omit
    The message was nice, but they left out the A's!
    He packed his suitcase, but he left out one pair of socks.
    This argument is between you and me. Leave my brother out of it.
    A: Do you want a hamburger?
    B: Yes I do, but please leave out the pickles.
  • listen to
    listen to
    give attention in order to hear; hear
    He likes to listen to music
    She listens to the radio on her way to work.
    We sat outside and listened to the birds singing.
    A: Why is Rita doing so badly in school?
    B: She never listens to her teacher.
  • little by little
    little by little
    slowly; bit by bit; gradually
    Little by little. the snail moved along the road.
    Peter learned Spanish little by little.
    Little by little, they built their house.
    A: Your computer is expensive. How did you buy it?
    B: I worked for three years and saved my money little by little.
  • live on
    live on
    keep oneself alive with food or money; survive (on)
    The bird lives on worms.
    The poor man lived on bread and water.
    In college, I lived on only $50 a week.
    A: Let's go out for a nice dinner.
    B: Good idea! I am tired of living on spaghetti and water!
  • long for
    long for
    want very much
    She longs for romance.
    The orphan longed for a home.
    He longed for a motorcycle of his own.
    A: I'm longing for the ocean.
    B: Okay. Let's go to the beach.
  • look after
    look after
    care for; take care of
    She must look after her puppy.
    I had to look after my little sister.
    Please look after my plants while I am gone.
    A: I'll be gone for one week. Will you look after my dog?
    B: Yes. I'll give him food and walk him every day.
  • look around
    look around
    look in all directions
    He is looking around for bananas.
    We looked around the room for the remote.
    The new student looked around the class.
    A: I still haven't found my bag!
    B: Look around at school tomorrow. Maybe it's there.
  • look at
    look at
    have a look at; take a look at; stare at
    They looked at each other for a long time.
    The doctor looked at the X-ray. Dawn looked at the painting.
    A: Look at those beautiful flowers!
    B: Wow! I don't think I've seen any like those before.
  • look down on
    look down on
    despise; think you're better than someone else
    He was often looked down on for being different.
    The scholar looked down on the farmer.
    The rich man looked down on the beggar.
    A: Why do those rich kids look down on Sarah?
    B: Because Sarah's family is poor and she wears old clothes.
  • look for
    look for
    try to find; search for; seek
    He's looking for grass to eat.
    What are you looking for?
    Can you help me look for my glasses?
    A: Can I help you?
    B: Yes. I'm looking for the restroom.
  • look forward to
    look forward to
    anticipate; wait happily for
    He is looking forward to the game.
    I am looking forward to my new job.
    We are looking forward to leaving this town.
    A: I'm looking forward to our vacation next month.
    B: Me too. It's going to be fun!
  • look like
    look like
    resemble; have the appearance of; take after
    Sometimes, people look like their pets.
    A tiger looks like a big cat.
    That guy looks like my brother.
    A: Can you see that cloud?!
    B: Wow! It looks like an elephant!
  • look out
    look out
    be careful; take care; watch out
    Look out!
    You must look out for cars when you cross the street.
    Look out! That rock is about to fall!
    A: Look out! You almost stepped on my mouse.
    B: Sorry. I didn't see it.
  • look through
    look through
    search many things to find something
    She looked through the whole house until she found her spider.
    I looked through the drawer for an eraser.
    The woman looked through her purse for her car keys.
    A: Did you find any mistakes when you looked through my essay?
    B: Yes, I found a couple.
  • look up to
    look up to
    admire; respect
    The boy really looks up to his older brother.
    Jim looked up to his brave friend.
    We all look up to our grandfather.
    A: Why do you look up to Tim so much?
    B: Because he is a brave, honest and humble person.
m
  • make friends with
    make friends with
    form a relationship with
    The monkey wants to make friends with the snakes.
    I made friends with the new boy in school.
    It can be hard to make new friends.
    A: I'm going to go to a new school next year and I'll miss my friends.
    B: Don't worry. You'll make friends with people at your new school too!
  • make fun of
    make fun of
    make unkind of jokes about; tease; pull one's leg; make a fool of
    Everyone made fun of him.
    She made fun of my ugly shoes.
    The other reindeer made fun of Rudolph's red nose.
    A: Ha-ha-ha! You can't ski!
    B: Don't make fun of me! This is my first time skiing.
  • make oneself at home
    make oneself at home
    make oneself comfortable; relax
    He is making himself at home on the sofa.
    Come in! Make yourself at home.
    I made myself at home in my friend's apartment.
    A: Can I use one of your towels?
    B: Sure! You can use anything you need. Make yourself at home.
  • make sense
    make sense
    have a clear meaning; be understandable
    His words didn't make sense.
    It makes sense to stop smoking.
    The sentence makes no sense.
    A: Does that make sense?
    B: No, it doesn't. Maybe if you explain it again I'll understand.
  • make the most of
    make the most of
    use to the greatest advantage
    He is making the most of his arm to build his house quickly.
    She is making the most of a bad situation.
    I only have ten dollars. I'll have to make the most of it.
    A: It's too bad that you have to leave soon.
    B: I know. Let's just try to make the most of our time together.
  • make up
    make up
    invent; fabricate
    He often made up stories.
    My grandfather makes up funny songs.
    I didn't want to tell the man my real name, so I made up a name.
    A: You'll be late for school. What will you tell the teacher?
    B: I'll make up an excuse.
  • make up (with)
    make up (with)
    become friends again with; reconcile
    After a big argument, they wanted to make up with each other.
    I don't think I can ever make up with him.
    Newlyweds fight and make up often.
    A: Why are you going to go to a movie with Tom? I thought you were angry at him.
    B: I was angry at him, but we made up with each other. Now we're good friends again!
  • make up for
    make up for
    compensate for
    She started slowly, so she is trying to make up for lost time.
    She had to work overtime to make up the days of work she missed.
    He missed his daughter's birthday, so he tried to make up for it with a big gift.
    A: Why did you buy my lunch today?
    B: I wanted to make up for being late last week.
  • make up one's mind
    make up one's mind
    decide; make a decision; resolve
    He is trying to make up his mind.
    You have to make up your mind!
    I can't make up my mind!
    A: Is Jill going to study in America or Canada?
    B: She made up her mind to study in Canada.
  • make use of
    make use of
    utilize; take advantage of
    Farmers make use of the land.
    He made use of the wood and built a house.
    Can you make use of some old chairs?
    A: Is Ben making use of his math skills?
    B: Yes he is. He works at a bank.
n
  • no problem
    no problem
    easy; no trouble; it doesn't matter
    He hopes that fixing the window will be no problem.
    It should be no problem to find tickets for the game.
    She said it was no problem to pick me up.
    A: Thanks for the cookie!
    B: No problem. I have a whole bag of them.
  • nothing but
    nothing but
    only; no more than; merely; just
    Robbers are nothing but bad.
    That boy is nothing but trouble.
    There was nothing but old cheese in the refrigerator.
    A: Your car looks nice. Is it a good car?
    B: No. I bought it two years ago and it has given me nothing but problems.
  • now and then
    now and then
    sometimes; occasionally; once in a while; at times; from time to time
    Now and then the likes to sing.
    He likes to watch a movie now and then.
    Now and then there are concerts in the park.
    A: Do you come to this restaurant often?
    B: No. I only come here now and then.
o
  • of course
    of course
    yes; certainly; sure; no problem
    Of course I like your new hairstyle!
    If you are busy, you don't have to come, of course.
    "Can we go to the concert?" "Of course we can."
    A: Do you like soccer?
    B: Of course I like soccer! That's why I play it every day!
  • on and on
    on and on
    without stopping; continuously
    The road goes on and on.
    They worked on and on through the night.
    It rained on and on for days.
    A: Did your aunt call last night?
    B: Yes! She talked on and on for three hours!
  • on foot
    on foot
    by walking
    He made the journey on foot.
    You can go everywhere on foot in my town.
    They had to go on foot after their car broke down.
    A: Do you go to school by bus?
    B: No, I don't. I go on foot.
  • on purpose
    on purpose
    deliberately; intentionally
    I'm sorry I split the drink. It wasn't on purpose.
    He missed the school bus on purpose because he didn't like school.
    She broke the cup on purpose.
    A: Hey! Did you hit me on purpose?
    B: No I didn't. It was an accident.
  • on schedule
    on schedule
    without delay; on time
    The bus usually arrives on schedule.
    The meeting did not start on schedule. I hope that my plane is on schedule.
    A: Will the train be late today?
    B: No, it will arrive on schedule.
  • on the contrary
    on the contrary
    no; not at all
    He's not lazy. On the contrary, he's very active.
    "Are you cold?" "On the contrary! I'm quite warm!"
    You don't look exhausted. On the contrary, you seem very healthy!
    A: Was that movie bad?
    B: On the contrary, it was the best movie I've ever seen!
  • on the weekend
    on the weekend
    on Saturdays and Sundays
    They are going fishing on the weekend.
    We used to go hiking on weekends.
    I take my son to the park on the weekend.
    A: What are you going to do on the weekend?
    B: I'm going to play soccer on Saturday and go to church on Sunday.
  • on the/ one's way
    on the/ one's way
    going or coming; during the journey
    There is a gas station on the way to the next city.
    On the way to work this morning she saw a deer.
    I will stop by the post office on my way home.
    A: We don't have any milk. Can you buy some today?
    B: Okay. I'll buy some on the way home from school today.
  • on time
    on time
    on schedule; punctually
    He wanted to get to his meeting on time.
    Most of the people came on time.
    This train is always on time.
    A: Let's go to school now. I don't want to be late for class.
    B: Don't worry. We'll be on time.
  • once in a while
    once in a while
    sometimes; occasionally; now and then; at times
    Once in a while, I like to eat seafood.
    My old friend calls me once in a while.
    Once in a while, he goes to rock concerts.
    A: Do you like to go to movies?
    B: No, but I rent a video once in a while.
  • out of breath
    out of breath
    breathless; hard breath
    After running so long, he was out of breath.
    She was out of breath after running up the stairs.
    By the time we reached the top, we were out of breath.
    A: Why are you out of breath?
    B: Because I ran here from my house.
  • out of date
    out of date
    outdated; old-fashioned
    He haircut is out of date.
    My computer is already out of date.
    Don't take medicine that is out of date.
    A: I can't find the new road on this map.
    B: It's probably out of date.
p
  • pass by
    pass by
    go past
    He said hello as the passed by his friend.
    I saw a big dog passing by my house around two o'clock.
    People along the street waved as the parade passed by.
    A: Do you know where Ann's house is?
    B: Yes, I do. I pass by it every day when I walk home from school.
  • pass out
    pass out
    faint; become unconscious
    He is passing out.
    She hit her head on the tree and passed out.
    You will pass out if you hold your breath for too long.
    A: Is he sleeping?
    B: No, he saw some blood and passed out!
  • pay a visit
    pay a visit
    visit; call on; pay a call; go to see
    I will pay a visit to my grandma tomorrow.
    We paid a visit to our relatives.
    Let's pay a visit to them sometimes.
    A: Let's pay a visit to Kevin.
    B: Good idea! I haven't seen him for a long time.
  • pay attention to
    pay attention to
    focus on; concentrate on
    You should pay attention to road signs when you are driving.
    He was not paying attention in class.
    Pay attention to me!
    A: Does he pay attention to the teacher in class?
    B: No, he doesn't. He only talks to his friends and draws pictures on his desk.
  • pick out
    pick out
    choose; single out
    Pick out one you like!
    She picked out a nice dress for the party.
    I picked out the best apple in the basket.
    A: I want to buy a shirt, but I don't know which color to get.
    B: I'll help you pick out a color!
  • pick up
    pick up
    lift
    Pick up the hammer.
    He picked up the pen and wrote a letter.
    She picked up her hat and put it on.
    A: This room is a mess! Pick up your toys.
    B: OK, Mom. I will.
  • piece by piece
    piece by piece
    bit by bit; one by one; piecemeal
    He put the puzzle together piece by piece.
    She ate the whole cake piece by piece.
    He picked up the broken dish piece by piece.
    A: How did they move that big sculpture?
    B: They took it apart and moved it piece by piece.
  • play a tricks on
    play a tricks on
    play a joke on; play tricks on
    The dog is playing a trick on the cat.
    He got in trouble for playing a trick on his sister.
    Don't ever play a trick on me again!
    A: I like to untie my brother's shoes, hide his pencils, and put frogs in his bed.
    B: That's not nice! Do you always play tricks on him?
  • protect a from b
    protect a from b
    shield A from B
    A good coat can protect you from the cold.
    The helmet protected his head from injury in the crash.
    Our dog protects our home from robbers.
    A: Why do you put a fence around your flowers?
    B: It protects them from hungry rabbits.
  • prove to be
    prove to be
    turn out to be
    He proved to be the strongest.
    The man proved to be criminal.
    She proved to be an unfaithful friend.
    A: Why was the man let out of jail?
    B: The fingerprints on the gun proved to be someone else's.
  • put down
    put down
    set something on a surface
    Put down the wire!
    When he finished the letter, he put down his pencil.
    The bag was too heavy, so I put it down.
    A: Where do you want this box?
    B: Just put it down by the door, thanks.
  • put off
    put off
    delay; postpone; defer
    He put off washing his shirt for too long!
    Don't put off doing your homework.
    You should not put it off until tomorrow.
    A: Do you like cleaning your room?
    B: No. I put it off as long as possible.
  • put on
    put on
    get dressed in; wear; have on
    He put on his helmet before the game started.
    The girl put on her glasses to read.
    She put on her swimming suit.
    A: Let's go for a walk.
    B: OK. Let me put on my shoes.
  • put together
    put together
    join parts together; assemble
    He put together a house of cards.
    The boy put together a model airplane.
    Let's put together that puzzle.
    A: I think we should put together a ski club.
    B: Good idea. I'll ask my friends at work.
  • put up with
    put up with
    suffer without complaining; stand; tolerate
    I can't put up with cockroaches.
    She likes cats, but can't put up with their hair.
    He refuses to put up with people who smoke in the bathroom.
    A: Ha-Ha! You're stupid. You can't do math!
    B: Stop it! I can't put up with your teasing me anymore.
q
  • quite a few
    quite a few
    many; not a few; a number of; a lot of
    There are quite a few fish in group.
    There were quite a few people at the park.
    There are quite a few good movies at the cinema.
    A: About fifty people went to Kim's birthday party.
    B: Wow! That's quite a few people!
r
  • remind a of b
    remind a of b
    make A think of B; be reminiscent of; evoke
    He reminds me of his father.
    The picture reminds him of home.
    She reminds me of a movie star.
    A: Why does this song remind you of your grandfather?
    B: Because it was his favorite song.
  • remove a from b
    remove a from b
    get rid of; take away from
    She wanted to remove the lock from the door.
    I removed his name from the list.
    He removed the ring from his finger.
    A: Whose shoes are those?
    B: They're mine. I'll remove them from the room.
  • result from
    result from
    be caused by; arise from
    A big stomach can result from eating too much.
    The flood resulted from too much rain.
    The fire resulted from a cigarette in the garbage can.
    A: Why did you do poorly on the test?
    B: It resulted from my not studying last night.
  • right away
    right away
    immediately; without delay; at once; right now
    He needs help right away.
    She has to go to hospital right away!
    Stay there! I am coming right away!
    A: Can you stay for a few more minutes?
    B: Sorry. I have to leave right away.
  • run across
    run across
    find or meet by chance; come across; encounter; discover
    He was surprised to run across the old record in his friend's collection.
    She ran across her old boyfriend at the store.
    If you run across that file, please let me know.
    A: When did you find this great article?
    B: I ran across it in yesterday's newspaper.
  • run after
    run after
    chase; follow
    The monster ran after the boy.
    The kids ran after the ice cream truck.
    The cat ran after the dog!
    A: Why is the police officer running after that man?
    B: Because he stole that woman's purse.
  • run away
    run away
    leave a place quickly; escape
    They had to run away.
    He ran away from the bear.
    The boy ran away from home.
    A: Do you have any pets?
    B: I had a puppy, but it ran away two weeks ago.
  • run out of
    run out of
    use up; finish; exhaust
    We've run out of water.
    Oh no! The store ran out of bread!
    I ran out of money at the casino.
    A: Why did the car stop?
    B: Because we just ran out of gas!
s
  • see off
    see off
    say goodbye to
    He came to see his friend off on his journey.
    We went to see my sister off at the airport.
    Can I come and see you off?
    A: I'm leaving for China tomorrow morning.
    B: Okay. I'll be there at the airport to see you off.
  • set up
    set up
    build; put up
    They set up the bowling pins.
    He set up a hot dog stand at the fair.
    The campers set up their tent.
    A: Have you used the new computer that you got last week?
    B: No, Ihaven't. It's still in the box because I don't know how to set it up!
  • shake hands with
    shake hands with
    hold someone's hand and move it up and down as a greeting
    They are shaking hands with each other.
    The president shook hands with the prime minister.
    I had the chance to shake hands with the movie star!
    A: Do American people bow when they meet each other for the first time?
    B: No they don't. They shake hands with each other.
  • show off
    show off
    show proudly; display proudly
    She wanted to show off her expensive coat.
    He showed off his new shoes at school.
    The girl showed off her report card to her brother.
    A: Look! I got an A on my test!
    B: Stop showing off!
  • show up
    show up
    arrive at a place; turn up
    The owl showed up late at night.
    She showed up three hours late.
    The man didn't show up for work.
    A: Is Nate coming to the party tonight?
    B: Yes. He said he would show up around 7:00.
  • side by side
    side by side
    next to each other
    They walked side by side.
    The trees grew side by side along the river.
    They sat side by side on the bench.
    A: Do you sit next to Amy at school?
    B: Yes I do. We sit side by side at the same desk.
  • slow down
    slow down
    become slower; reduce speed
    He should slow down.
    The train slowed down as it reached the station.
    She slowed down when she drove by the children.
    A: Please slow down! You're walking too fast.
    B: Sorry. I'll walk more slowly.
  • so far
    so far
    thus far; up to now
    He's eaten seven hot dogs so far.
    The weather has been dry so far this year.
    I have met three new people so far.
    A: Are you almost finished with that book?
    B: No. I've only read two chapters so far.
  • sooner or later
    sooner or later
    in the end; eventually; in time
    Sooner or later, he's going to hurt himself.
    The police will catch the thief sooner or later.
    Don't worry. She'll be here sooner or later.
    A: I love getting into movies for half-price.
    B: Be careful Sooner or later they are going to find out that you're not a college student!
  • speak ill of
    speak ill of
    say bad things about; speak badly of; condemn
    He began to speak ill of his ex-girlfriend.
    The workers spoke ill of the factory owner.
    She spoke ill of the man who had married her friend.
    A: Why does everybody speak ill of Katie?
    B: Because she is greedy and unkind.
  • speak well of
    speak well of
    say good things about; speak highly of; praise
    He always speaks well of his parents.
    The boss spoke well of the new worker. The teacher speaks well of your son.
    A: Do people speak well of her?
    B: Yes they do. They say she's very patient and kind.
  • spend on
    spend on
    use money to pay for something
    How much did you spend on your pants?
    He spends all his money on gambling.
    I spent too much money on that trip to Hawaii.
    A: How much do you spend on food each week?
    B: About $50, I guess. How about you?
  • stand for
    stand for
    represent; mean; be a sign of
    The Dove stands for peace.
    The heart stands for love.
    In China the color red stands for good luck.
    A: What does your middle initial stand for?
    B: The S is for Simon. It was my grandfather's name.
  • stay up
    stay up
    not go to bed; remain awake
    The boy stayed up late playing video games.
    The children were not allowed to stay up after 9:00.
    He had to stay up late to study last night.
    A: I went to sleep at 3:00 am last night.
    B: Wow! You stayed up late!
  • stick to
    stick to
    follow; adhere to
    The fish should stick to water.
    I tried playing the guitar, but I think I will just stick to piano.
    I Her doctor said that she should stick to her current diet plan.
    A: I promised my parents I would study tonight, but I want to play computer games!
    B: Don't play computer games. Stick to your promise!
  • such as
    such as
    for example; like; say
    Animals such as monkeys and gorillas are primates.
    The store sells electronic goods such as radios, computers, and cameras.
    We visited many cities in Italy such as Rome, Venice, and Milan.
    A: What does your dad sell in his store?
    B: He sells sporting goods, such as basketballs, bicycles, and shoes.
t
  • take advantage of
    take advantage of
    make use of; profit from
    We should take advantage of the nice weather and go to the beach.
    He took advantage of the low prices and bought a dozen pens.
    The kids took advantage of the holiday and went to the zoo.
    A: Bob works at a CD store. He can give us a discount!
    B: We shouldn't take advantage of him.
  • take after
    take after
    look like; resemble
    The boy takes after his father.
    She really takes after her mother.
    You really take after your grandfather.
    A: Joe is an excellent soccer player.
    B: He takes after his father. He is very good at sports.
  • take care of
    take care of
    look after; keep an eye on; protect
    You must promise to take care of them.
    The nurse took care of the sick patient.
    My mother takes good care of me.
    A: I'll be gone for one week. Can you take care of my cat?
    B: Yes. I'll give her food and water, and play with her every day.
  • take lessons
    take lessons
    learn
    He is taking singing lessons.
    The children take piano lessons.
    I took lessons in dancing.
    A: How did she learn to play the guitar so well?
    B: She took lessons for six years.
  • take off
    take off
    rise in flight; leave
    The helicopter is ready to take off.
    She took off before I could say goodbye.
    The plane will be taking off on time.
    A: Let's go for a drive in the country.
    B: Okay! After I finish eating we'll take off!
  • take part in
    take part in
    be involved in; join in; participate in
    I'm sorry. I don't think you can take part in our game.
    It is an honor to take part in the Olympics.
    She wanted to take part in the meeting.
    A: Are you going to take part in the science fair on Saturday?
    B: I want to, but I can't. I'm going to my grandmother's house on Saturday.
  • take place
    take place
    occur; happen; come about
    An eclipse takes place every few years.
    The 2000 Olympics took place in Sydney, Australia.
    The conference will take place at the Hyatt Hotel.
    A: Where will the school picnic be tomorrow?
    B: It'll take place at Simon's Park.
  • take pride in
    take pride in
    be proud of; pride oneself on
    He takes pride in his work.
    I take pride in my painting. She took pride in her son's good grades.
    A: Your mom always makes delicious food!
    B: Yes, she takes pride in her cooking.
  • take turns
    take turns
    do one after another; do by turns; alternate
    They took turns skipping.
    We take turns watching the baby.
    She took turns with her brother on the sled.
    A: It's going to be a long trip.
    B: Let's take turns driving.
  • talk over
    talk over
    talk about; speak out; discuss
    They decided to talk over their problem.
    They talked over the plan.
    We talked over an idea for the next party.
    A: Can you go to the concert with us on Saturday night?
    B: I'm going to talk it over with my dad tonight.
  • thanks for
    thanks for
    said to show gratitude for something
    He says thanks for repairing his spaceship.
    Thanks for all your help.
    Be sure to say thanks for the wonderful dinner.
    A: Thanks for helping me clean my room!
    B: No problem. Now let's go outside and play.
  • think about
    think about
    recall or imagine fondly; dream of
    He can't stop thinking about the girl.
    During the storm, I thought about sunshine.
    She thinks about her trip to Paris often.
    A: Do you miss your grandmother?
    B: Yes, I do. I think about her every day.
  • think of
    think of
    create a picture or idea in your imagination
    He thought of a good idea for lunch.
    He couldn't think of the answer.
    Can you think of a better way?
    A: Can you think of a nice place for a vacation?
    B: How about Hawaii?
  • throw away
    throw away
    get rid of something; throw out
    Please throw away your garbage.
    I don't want to throw away this old chair.
    He was angry because she threw away his favorite old hat.
    A: Can I throw away these boxes.
    B: Yes you can. I don't need them.
  • to tell the truth
    to tell the truth
    to be honest; to be frank; in all honesty; honestly; frankly
    To tell the truth, I ate the sheep.
    To tell the truth, I don't like her at all.
    To tell the truth, I got up late this morning.
    A: How about pizza for dinner?
    B: To tell the truth, I don't like pizza. Can we eat something else?
  • try on
    try on
    put on clothes to check the style or fit
    He is trying on a new sweater.
    Can I try these shoes on?
    He tried on the shorts, but they were too big.
    A: I like these pants, but I think they're too small.
    B: Try them on. Maybe they'll fit.
  • turn off
    turn off
    switch off; shut off; disconnect; unplug
    Turn off the lights.
    Please turn off the TV.
    I forgot to turn the stove off!
    A: Are you using the computer?
    B: No, you can turn it off.
  • turn on
    turn on
    start the flow of power
    Turn on the lights.
    I want to turn on the air conditioner!
    Could you turn the fan on, please?
    A: Let's listen to some music!l
    B: Okay! I'll turn on the radio.
w
  • wait for
    wait for
    hold on; hang on; await
    He is waiting for the bus.
    What are you waiting for?
    I have to wait for my clothes to dry.
    A: He said he'd be here at 8:00, but it's 8:30. Should we wait for him?
    B: Yes. Maybe he got lost.
  • wake up
    wake up
    arise from sleep; become awake
    It is time for him to wake up.
    Wake up! You're late for work!
    She woke up in the middle of the night.
    A: Be quiet! You'll wake up the baby!
    B: Sorry. I'll practice my trumpet outside.
  • watch out
    watch out
    look out; be careful; beware
    Watch out for that hole!
    Watch out! There is a bee on your arm!
    The old monkey is very mean, so watch out!
    A: I'm going for a bike ride.
    B: Watch out for cars!
  • wear out
    wear out
    make useless; damage
    The girl wore out the doll.
    He wore out two pairs of socks last year.
    She wears her pants out very quickly.
    A: Wow! Your shoes have a lot of holes!
    B: I know. They wore out because I walked five miles in them everyday.
  • what's the matter (with)
    what's the matter (with)
    what's the problem; what's wrong; what's the trouble
    Mommy says. "What's the matter?"
    Please tell me what's the matter with my dog.
    She's crying. What's the matter with her?
    A: You don't look good. What's the matter?
    B: I have a bad headache and I'm very tired.
  • worthwhile to/~ing
    worthwhile to/~ing
    worth the time and effort spent
    It would be worthwhile to stop smoking.
    It is worthwhile to study a foreign language.
    She thinks it is worthwhile saving money.
    A: I haven't been to the new aquarium. Would it be worthwhile to go?
    B: Yes! They have many beautiful fish and other interesting animals there.
  • would like to
    would like to
    have a desire to do; want to; wish
    The rabbit would like to fly.
    She would like to become a doctor.
    They would like to go to the beach.
    A: I would like to see that new movie. Do you want to go?
    B: Yes. Let's go this weekend.
  • would rather
    would rather
    would prefer to; would sooner; prefer
    He would rather eat Chinese food.
    I would rather live in a house than in an apartment.
    She would rather be fishing.
    A: Would you rather go swimming or play computer games today?
    B: I would rather go swimming.
  • write back
    write back
    reply by letter; answer; acknowledge
    I have to write back to my friend.
    Have you written back to your grandmother?
    Please write back to me!
    A: Have you heard from Ted yet?
    B: Yes. He sent me a letter last week, and I'm going to write back to him tonight.
  • write down
    write down
    make a note of; put down; take down
    He wrote down the directions.
    Please write down this number.
    Her mother told him about his family history and he wrote it down.
    A: May I have your telephone number?
    B: Yes, I'll write it down for you.
Answer Key
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