illustrated Everyday Expressions with Stories 2 » Index

a
  • a far cry from
    a far cry from
    very different from
    It's a far cry from the kind of pizza I usually eat.
    This hotel is a far cry from the last place we stayed. It's much nicer here!
    The food here is a far cry from real Chinese food.
    A: This beach is so dirty!
    B: Yeah. It's a far cry from the picture in the magazine.
  • a steal
    a steal
    very cheap; a very good price
    Wow! what a steal!
    My friend sold me his old car. It was a steal!
    The land next to the river is a steal! You should buy it.
    A: I just bought a DVD player for $95!
    B: Wow! What a steal!
  • abide by
    abide by
    obey; follow
    You have to abide by my rules if you want to live in my house.
    You have to abide by the rules or they will make you leave.
    He refused to abide by the wishes of his parents.
    A: Why didn't you abide by the speed limit?
    B: I'm sorry, officer. I was late for my driving class.
  • add to
    add to
    make larger; increase
    Eating lots of chocolate will only add to your acne problem.
    The flooding only added to the problems caused by the storm.
    The new research will add to our understanding of genetics.
    A: Mom, why are you giving me your dirty socks?
    B: I want to add to your collection.
  • all along
    all along
    the whole time
    She knew all along that they would get together.
    He knew about the surprise party all along.
    The machine was not plugged in all along.
    A: Who sent you all those secret love notes?
    B: I thought it was John, but it really was Jim all along.
  • all in all
    all in all
    looking at everything
    All in all. he just doesn't seem normal.
    All in all, I think the meeting went very well.
    All in all, she just doesn't seem like the right person for the job.
    A: How was your trip to China?
    B: All in all, it was a great experience!
  • amount to
    amount to
    total
    The list amounts to twelve dollars.
    All of the money we collected amounts to two hundred dollars.
    Sales during the Christmas season amount to half of the store's yearly profits.
    A: All our work today doesn't seem to amount to much.
    B: Yeah. I don't think we'll ever finish painting this house!
  • anything but
    anything but
    all others except
    I can eat anything but fish.
    I can watch anything but horror movies.
    He said he would do anything but go out dancing tonight.
    A: What do you want to listen to?
    B: Anything but jazz.
  • apart from
    apart from
    except
    Apart from the food, he really enjoyed his trip.
    Apart from the size of the bedroom, I really liked the apartment.
    She enjoyed her visit to England, apart from the weather.
    A: What do you think of my car?
    B: Apart from the pink paint, I think it's great.
  • as a matter of fact
    as a matter of fact
    actually; in fact
    Everything was going wrong that day. As a matter of fact, the day was about to get worse.
    I know the man in the picture very well. As a matter of fact, he is my father.
    I like animals. As a matter of fact, I own a pet store.
    A: Have you seen Rachel?
    B: Yes, I have. As a matter of fact, she's waiting in your office.
  • as a rule
    as a rule
    most of the time; normally
    You should wash your white clothes and colored clothes separately, as a rule.
    You should eat less meat and more vegetables, as a rule.
    As a rule, the teacher does not like it when students leave early.
    A: Do you think I can eat this banana?
    B: Well, as a rule, eating is not allowed on the subway.
  • as far as
    as far as
    to the limit of something
    As far as I know, this is the right place.
    As far as I know, she was not planning to come to the meeting.
    From the top floor you can see as far as the river.
    A: Can I get a ride from you?
    B: Sure. I can take you as far as Chicago.
  • as for
    as for
    concerning; in regard to
    I get along with most of my family. As for my sister, we fight a lot.
    As for me, I would rather stay home tonight and watch television.
    You can come in. As for the dog, he has to stay out.
    A: I am going to the nightclub with Jim and Terry.
    B: Do what you like. As for me, I am going to bed!
  • as if
    as if
    in the manner of
    He looked as if he was angry.
    He acted as if nothing was wrong.
    Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
    A: You look as if you are nervous.
    B: I am. This is my first time bungee-jumping!
  • as of yet
    as of yet
    until this time; so far
    As of yet, she's never had a boyfriend.
    As of yet, he has not been paid by the company.
    The date for the final test has not been announced as of yet.
    A: Are the new computers in?
    B: I'm sorry, sir. They have not arrived as of yet.
  • as soon as
    as soon as
    right after; when
    I'll be there as soon as I can!
    As soon as you delete a worthless file,you'll need it.
    As soon as the sun rises in the morning, the farmer starts working.
    A: Are you coming to lunch?
    B: I'll be there as soon as I finish this.
  • as to
    as to
    about; related to
    I was given no explanation as to why my hair is turning brown.
    She was given no explanation as to why her electricity was cut off.
    We have information as to the location of the missing boy.
    A: What were you and that man talking about?
    B: He gave me some tips as to where I could find a good used car.
  • as usual
    as usual
    in the normal way
    As usual, he was talking about himself.
    He is going to be late as usual.
    As usual, I brushed my teeth right after I ate dinner.
    A: Where is Matt?
    B: He's playing computer games as usual.
  • at (the) most
    at (the) most
    a certain amount and no more
    I can only drink, at most, 4 or 5 shots of whiskey before I get sick.
    I plan to study for two hours at the most.
    At most, the boat can hold ten people.
    A: How long will this flight take?
    B: Four hours at the most.
  • at first glance
    at first glance
    after a quick look
    At first glance, he looked similar to his brother. But now, I can see the difference.
    The problem looked easy at first glance.
    At first glance, she seemed to be very young.
    A: What do you think of my drawing?
    B: At first glance, it looks like a monkey in a suit.
  • at hand
    at hand
    near (time or space)
    The game is at hand. Now get in there and do your best.
    Christmas is at hand. I have to buy gifts for my family.
    When I was a child, my mother was always close at hand.
    A: I fear that war is at hand.
    B: Don't worry. I'm sure the countries will reach an agreement.
  • at one's fingertips
    at one's fingertips
    easily available; at hand
    He has the information at his fingertips.
    I don't have that information at my fingertips right now. Can you wait a minute?
    Keep all of your important papers at your fingertips at all times.
    A: Wow! Your Palm Pilot is really great!
    B: Yeah. It keeps important information right at my fingertips.
  • at random
    at random
    not in any order; without plan
    The lottery numbers were picked at random.
    The police stopped cars at random to check if the drivers had insurance.
    We will choose a number at random, and the person with that number will win!
    A: How did you get to be the captain of the team?
    B: They just picked at random.
  • at times
    at times
    sometimes; there are times when
    At times, I feel different.
    At times, I wish I had studied something other than medicine.
    At times, he can be very cruel.
    A: How do you like working in the circus?
    B: It's OK. But, at times, I feel a little bored.
  • attend to
    attend to
    take care of
    She attended to her guests.
    She had to attend to the guests in the other room.
    The staff attended to our every need at the resort.
    A: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that I have to leave.
    B: No problem. I have some things to attend to as well.
  • attribute a to b
    attribute a to b
    say A is a result of B
    Most people attribute the good economy to the new president.
    Scientists attribute the warm weather to pollution.
    Many of the deaths in the earthquake were attributed to poor construction.
    A: Why are your shoes in my yard?
    B: I attribute that to your dog!
b
  • back and forth
    back and forth
    go and come between two places
    Back and forth! Back and forth!
    The dog ran back and forth across the yard.
    The tennis players hit the ball back and forth for almost five minutes.
    A: So you work in New York, but you live in Vermont?
    B: Yes. I drive back and forth every weekend.
  • back up
    back up
    move backwards
    Back up!
    My father had to back up because the car in front of him broke down.
    Could you please back up? You are standing too close.
    A: I would like to get the trees in the photo, too.
    B: OK. I'll just back up a little.
  • be apt to
    be apt to
    be likely to; will probably
    He is apt to be late for class because he has a night job.
    Without a map, you are apt to get lost on the small, confusing streets.
    He is apt to fail the test because he didn't study.
    A: Let's go shopping!
    B: It's a holiday. Stores are apt to be closed.
  • be at a loss
    be at a loss
    be unable to think
    I'm at a loss for words.
    She was at a loss about what to do with the elephant in the backyard.
    I know the man you are talking about, but I'm at a loss to think of his name.
    A: I am at a loss as to what to cook for dinner.
    B: Let's order pizza!
  • be better off
    be better off
    have more opportunity, be in a nicer position
    You're better off without him.
    You would be better off living with your parents while you are in college.
    Women are better off now than they were one hundred years ago.
    A: It's raining very heavily.
    B: You'd be better off staying here until it stops.
  • be bound to
    be bound to
    be certainly going to
    My parents are bound to disagree, but I've decided I'm moving to New York.
    My parents are bound to disagree with my decision to join the circus.
    The table was bound to break from all the weight put on it.
    A: What do you think Dad will say about the broken window?
    B: He's bound to be angry.
  • be broke
    be broke
    not have any money
    He couldn't go to the movies because he was broke.
    He was broke, so he borrowed money from his roommate.
    How can you be broke already? You just got paid!
    A: Hey, let's go out to eat tonight.
    B: I can't. I'm broke.
  • be composed of
    be composed of
    comprise; be made of
    Our crumbs are composed of only the finest ingredients!
    The class was composed of students from the US, Canada, and England.
    Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
    A: That's a very interesting sculpture.
    B: Yes, it's composed of wood, glass, and old shoes.
  • be concerned about
    be concerned about
    be worried about
    I'm concerned about you.
    He was concerned about his hair because a lot of it fell out.
    Aren't you concerned about the world population?
    A: I am concerned about Jenny.
    B: Me, too. She hasn't come to work for three days.
  • be crazy about
    be crazy about
    like or enjoy in an extreme way
    He's always been crazy about tomatoes.
    She is crazy about tennis. She plays every day.
    My brother is crazy about movies. He spends all of his money going to see them.
    A: I love buying new clothes.
    B: Me, too. I'm crazy about shopping!
  • be cut out for
    be cut out for
    have the correct qualities for
    I don't think he's cut out for swimming!
    I don't know if I'm cut out for graduate school.
    Nobody thought she was cut out for the army, but she became an officer.
    A: I didn't know that Dave is afraid of flying.
    B: Yeah, I don't think he's cut out to be a pilot.
  • be free to
    be free to
    have the opportunity to
    At my school, students are free to use computers after class.
    She was free to choose any dish on the menu.
    You are free to leave as soon as you finish the test.
    A: Where would you like me to sit?
    B: You're free to sit where you like
  • be likely to
    be likely to
    will probably
    It's likely to rain this afternoon.
    It is likely to snow this afternoon. Drive carefully.
    Someone is likely to ask for your business card. Do you have any?
    A: Let's order some pizza.
    B: It's not likely to be open this early in the morning.
  • be no use -ing
    be no use -ing
    does not change the situation
    It's no use getting upset over an ex-girlfriend.
    It's no use getting upset over a broken glass.
    I tried to cheer her up, but it was no use talking to her.
    A: It's no use trying to fix that old TV again!
    B: You're right. Let's buy a new one.
  • be opposed to
    be opposed to
    against; not for; not in favor for
    I've always been opposed to eating beef.
    My mother was always opposed to my father's smoking.
    I am not opposed to his joining us for the weekend.
    A: Why does Bill only shower once a week?
    B: He is opposed to wasting water.
  • be out of the question
    be out of the question
    impossible; forbiden
    Forget it! It's out of the question.
    Don't ask me if you can go. It is out of the question.
    She knew that leaving work early was out of the question.
    A: Dad, can I quit school and become a professional wrestler?
    B: That's out of the question!
  • be true of
    be true of
    correct when talking about
    This stereotype is not true of all Americans.
    These statistics are true of high school students, but not university students.
    That stereotype is not true of all women.
    A: I hate dogs! They are always so noisy.
    B: But that's not true of all dogs. Mine is very quiet.
  • be up to one
    be up to one
    be one's choice
    It's up to you. I'll eat anything!
    "What do you want to do?" "It's up to you."
    It was up to me to choose the university I wanted to attend.
    A: Do you think you can leave work early?
    B: It's up to my boss.
  • be well off
    be well off
    rich
    Mr. Sanchez is well off.
    They aren't very well off, but they're happy.
    He was well off until he lost all of his money in a bad investment.
    A: I heard that Carol's folks are well off.
    B: Yes. Her mother is a fashion designer.
  • beats me
    beats me
    I don't know
    Beats me!
    "Do you know who this book belongs to?" "Beats me."
    It beats me why anyone would want to live in Antarctica.
    A: Where is Jim today?
    B: Beats me.
  • become of
    become of
    happen to; occur
    Don't give up your dreams. Just look at what became of Mickey!
    Do you know what became of that singer? I haven't heard about him for ages.
    Many people wonder what's become of our sense of decency.
    A: What will become of that old car?
    B: I think they will sell it to a museum.
  • blow up
    blow up
    explode
    I ate so much. I feel like I'm going to blow up!
    The bomb blew up but no one was hurt.
    Don't put that can near the fire or it might blow up.
    A: How did the fire start?
    B: The old gas heater blew up.
  • brand-new
    brand-new
    never used; totally new
    It's my brand new refrigerator!
    Their brand-new car was stolen yesterday.
    I bought a brand-new stereo to go with my television and DVD player.
    A: Your shoes look very clean.
    B: Actually, they're brand-new.
  • break down
    break down
    stop working (for a machine)
    The bus broke down at the side of the road.
    When the car broke down, they had to get out and walk.
    I'm sure our refrigerator is going to break down. It's over twenty years old.
    A: What's wrong with the copy machine?
    B: It broke down yesterday.
  • bring back
    bring back
    return; cause to return
    The song brought back some old memories.
    He brought back the video that he had borrowed from me.
    The picture brought back memories of her childhood.
    A: Can I borrow your car?
    B: Sure. But bring it back before 5:00, please.
  • bring up
    bring up
    start to talk about something
    I hate to bring it up, but some of the others said that there is something strange about you.
    I hate to bring this up, but you have some food between your teeth.
    When my mother is mad at me she always brings up the time I forgot her birthday.
    A: I really don't like the new coffee machine.
    B: You should bring it up at the next staff meeting.
  • burn down
    burn down
    completely destroy by fire
    If you play with matches, you could burn down the house.
    The school burned down in 1910.
    Help! The church is burning down.
    A: What happened to all the trees?
    B: They burned down in the forest fire last year.
  • burst out
    burst out
    suddenly do (usually with a loud noise)
    He suddenly burst out singing.
    He burst out laughing when his friend walked in the room.
    My mother burst out crying when she met me at the airport.
    A: Why is your girlfriend mad at you?
    B: I burst out laughing when I saw her new hairstyle.
  • by accident
    by accident
    without planning; by luck (good or bad)
    It happened by accident.
    By accident, he hit the wrong button on the keyboard and lost his file.
    She walked into the bathroom by accident while he was in there.
    A: What happened to my car?
    B: I scratched it by accident. Sorry!
  • by all means
    by all means
    said to encourage a person do to something
    May I have another piece? By all means!
    "May I have some more chicken?" "By all means!"
    By all means, take your time and look around the store.
    A: Could I borrow your pen?
    B: By all means!
  • by and large
    by and large
    overall; on the whole
    By and large, the food is very good at that restaurant.
    By and large, the public transportation in New York City is very reliable.
    It was a good performance by and large.
    A: How was business last year?
    B: By and large it was successful.
  • by chance
    by chance
    not planned; luckily
    They met, by chance, at the supermarket.
    By chance, the first birthday card she read was from e brother.
    They met by chance while they were both vacationing in Hawaii.
    A: Where did you get your cat?
    B: I found him by chance in the park.
c
  • call it a day
    call it a day
    stop working
    I think you should call it a day.
    Let's call it a day!
    Bill, you've been here for 10 hours! You should call it a day and go home.
    A: It's 7:30. Let's call it a day.
    B: Good idea. See you tomorrow.
  • carry on
    carry on
    continue
    OK, now there's nothing to see here. Please carry on with your day.
    When the storm passed, we carried on painting the house.
    When the announcement was finished, the class carried on with the lesson.
    A: Is everyone back from lunch?
    B: Yes. Let's carry on with the meeting.
  • carry out
    carry out
    take something out of a place
    He carried out the sofa.
    I saw him carrying out the trash this morning.
    She helped him carry out the boxes.
    A: The taxi will be here in a few minutes.
    B: Let's carry out your luggage.
  • catch a cold
    catch a cold
    get a cold; come down with a cold
    He caught a cold last weekend.
    My mother told me to always wear a hat so I wouldn't catch a cold.
    He walked home in the rain without an umbrella and caught a cold.
    A: What's wrong with you?
    B: I caught a cold. Achoo!!
  • catch fire
    catch fire
    start to burn
    The log caught fire immediately.
    The wood was wet, so it didn't catch fire very easily.
    His clothes caught fire because he stood too close to the stove.
    A: Let's move the candles away from the window.
    B: You're right. The curtains might catch fire.
  • catch on
    catch on
    realize; understand
    Don't worry. You'll catch on soon!
    It took him a few minutes to catch on to the joke.
    Don't worry. Just follow me and you'll catch on in no time.
    A: Wow. You learned how to juggle in one day?
    B: Yes. I caught on to it quickly.
  • change one's mind
    change one's mind
    switch one's opinion about something
    I changed my mind and decided on green instead of blonde.
    She changed her mind and bought the dress that was on sale.
    If you read this book, it will change your mind about eating eggs.
    A: Have you changed you mind about going to dinner?
    B: Yes, sorry! I just don't have time tonight.
  • clean off
    clean off
    clear; take everything off
    I think you need to clean off your windshield.
    You should clean off your desk. It's very dirty.
    He cleaned off the shelf so that his new roommate could use it.
    A: When is dinner?
    B: In a few minutes. Please help me clean off the table.
  • clear-cut
    clear-cut
    easily seen; clear
    It looks like we have a clear-cut winner!
    That is the most clear-cut explanation of the theory I have ever heard.
    There did not seem to be any clear-cut solution to the problem.
    A: If you don't like your job, just quit!
    B: It's not so clear-cut. My boss is also my father-in-law.
  • close call
    close call
    almost be in danger; almost get hurt
    That was a close call!
    It was a close call, but we managed to keep the cat alive.
    I had a close call crossing the street today. A car almost hit me!
    A: The firefighters saved me just before the house blew up!
    B: Wow! That was a close call!
  • come about
    come about
    happen
    How did that come about?
    A chance like this doesn't come about every day.
    I I hope a solution to the problem will come about soon.
    A: How did the problem with the stove come about?
    B: I was trying to melt my jewelry.
  • come across
    come across
    find by chance
    I came across this in the backyard. Does anyone know what it is?
    I came across some old photographs at my parent's house.
    She came across her favorite singer's latest album at the record store.
    A: Please check my homework.
    B: Sure. If I come across any mistakes, I'll tell you.
  • come from
    come from
    originate in some place
    Where did it come from?
    Where did your ancestors come from?
    These bananas come from Brazil.
    A: Where did all these books come from?
    B: The library was selling its old books.
  • come to
    come to
    reach
    How did things come to this?
    When you come to the end of this part of the test, stop.
    If you come to a word you don't know, use a dictionary.
    A: Excuse me. How can I get to Tom's Market?
    B: Go straight. When you come to the intersection, turn right.
  • come to an end
    come to an end
    end; finish
    When the party came to an end, there was a big mess to clean up.
    We left before the movie came to an end.
    The war came to an end soon after the bomb was dropped.
    A: It's been raining for a week! I'm going crazy!
    B: Don't worry. It will come to an end tomorrow.
  • come up with
    come up with
    think of
    We have to come up with a plan.
    When did you come up with that idea?
    He came up with a plan to solve the problem.
    A: You named your dog Tweety?
    B: I s the best I could come up with!
  • concentrate on
    concentrate on
    focus attention forwards
    Concentrate on the road!
    It's too noisy here. I can't concentrate on my homework.
    He had to concentrate on the song to hear the words.
    A: Just concentrate on hitting the ball.
    B: OK, coach.
  • criticize a for b
    criticize a for b
    indicate the bad point B about A
    They always criticized him for being slow.
    His coworkers criticized him for being arrogant.
    Many people criticized the president for not standing by his principles.
    A: The old manager never did any work.
    B: Yeah. Lots of people criticized him for being lazy.
  • cross out
    cross out
    cancel by drawing lines across
    He crossed out "like" and wrote "love."
    She crossed out her ex-boyfriend's name in her diary.
    He crossed out the mistake in the essay.
    A: Why did you cross out Kelly's number in your book?
    B: That's her old phone number.
  • cut down on
    cut down on
    reduce; do/have less
    After that night, he decided to cut down on alcohol.
    We cut down on driving because the price of gasoline is too high.
    he cut down on eating snacks between meals.
    A: Why don't you want some cake?
    B: My dentist told me to cut down on sugar.
  • cut in
    cut in
    go in front of someone unfairly; interrupt someone talking
    I hate when people cut in line!
    I hate it when people cut in line at the movies.
    She was telling a joke but her brother cut in and told the rest of it.
    A: That man just cut in front of us!
    B: How rude!
  • cut out
    cut out
    stop
    You should really cut out smoking that stuff.
    I am trying to cut out drinking during the week.
    Cut it out!
    A: What do you think of my new dance moves?
    B: Cut it out! I'm trying to study!
d
  • date back to
    date back to
    come from the past time
    The book dates back to the 19th century.
    This painting dates back to the first century.
    Some buildings in Europe date back several hundred years.
    A: Professor, how old is that Viking ship?
    B: It dates back to the 14th century.
  • day after day
    day after day
    every day for a long time
    Day after day, he waited for her to call back.
    Day after day, she waited for a letter, but none came.
    He walked past the house day after day without really noticing it.
    A: How can that old man just sit in the park day after day?
    B: That's a statue.
  • day in and day out
    day in and day out
    every day; all the time
    Day in and day out, clouds hung over the village.
    Day in and day out, our next door neighbors argued.
    The rain fell day in and day out, flooding the small town.
    A: Why does Tim look so tired?
    B: He's been studying day in and day out for the big test.
  • deal in
    deal in
    focus on selling
    This store deals in pets.
    This website deals in computer hardware, not software.
    Our shop only deals in imported goods from China.
    A: Do you have any large size hats?
    B: Sorry, we don't. We mostly deal in children's clothes.
  • deal with
    deal with
    handle; interact with
    I don't think I can deal with this every day!
    How do you deal with all the stress at work?
    She is avoiding him because she doesn't want to deal with him.
    A: I can't deal with all this noise!
    B: Maybe you should get a different job.
  • die of
    die of
    be the cause of death
    We are all going to die of something!
    I almost died of embarrassment when my swimming suit came off.
    The trees died of position in the soil from the nearby factory.
    A: My parrot died of old age.
    B: I'm sorry to hear that.
  • do away with
    do away with
    end; get rid of
    I must do away with the mouse that lives in my basement.
    The company is going to do away with paid overtime hours.
    I am going to do away with all this old furniture and buy new things.
    A: Why don't we sell the old piano and get a new one?
    B: I could never do away with it! My grandmother gave it to me.
  • do without
    do without
    manage while lacking
    Looks like we'll have to do without rain again today.
    She didn't have money for a drink, so she did without one.
    He couldn't do without his cell phone, so he had to go home and get it.
    A: I forgot to bring my hair dryer!
    B: Don't worry. I think you can do without it.
  • draw the line at
    draw the line at
    say some point is the limit
    Son, isn't there somewhere we should draw the line?
    My parents let me use the car, but they draw the line at allowing me to take long trips.
    I don't mind sharing a room, but I draw the line at sleeping in the same bed.
    A: Lets go to a nightclub.
    B: OK, but I draw the line at doing disco!
  • dream up
    dream up
    think up; have an original or unique idea
    I wonder how he dreams up these things.
    It's amazing how he dreamed up the idea for the movie.
    She dreamed up the idea of using stamps as wallpaper.
    A: Did you hear that Will made a house out of an old train car?
    B: Wow! He dreams up such interesting things!
  • dress up
    dress up
    wear fancy clothes for a special occasion
    Oh...that's just crazy Willy. He likes to dress up.
    Many children dress up as ghosts and monsters on Halloween.
    Do I need to dress up for dinner at your parent's house?
    A: Why did you buy that suit?
    B: I want to dress up for the party.
  • drive one crazy
    drive one crazy
    make angry; bother or annoy
    He's beginning to drive me crazy.
    These mosquitoes are driving me crazy!
    He was trying to drive her crazy on purpose.
    A: That noise is driving me crazy!
    B: Sorry. I'll practice my violin somewhere else.
  • drop someone a line
    drop someone a line
    write a letter to someone
    He decided to drop her a line.
    When you get to Raine, drop me a line.
    She dropped him a line explaining why she hadn't called him.
    A: Drop me a line sometime.
    B: Yes. Let's keep in touch.
  • dry out
    dry out
    become dry after some time
    Your plants will dry out if you don't give them water.
    The ground in the desert dries out very quickly after a heavy rain.
    Hang that wet towel on the back of the chair so it will dry out.
    A: What should we do with all these grapes?
    B: Let's dry them out and make raisins.
  • due to
    due to
    because of
    Due to the amount of alcohol he drank, he couldn't drive home.
    Due to the strike, the subway is not running today.
    The game was canceled due to the storm.
    A: Why aren't you at the picnic?
    B: It was cancelled due to high winds.
  • dwell on
    dwell on
    worry about or consider for a long time
    I know you got a bad grade, but try not to dwell on it.
    She could not help dwelling on the fact that her mother was sick.
    I know you lost your wallet, but try not to dwell on it.
    A: I can't stop thinking about my old girlfriend.
    B: Don't dwell on her. I'm sure you will find love again.
e
  • either a or b
    either a or b
    one of; not both
    With any main dish, you can choose either soup or salad on the side.
    I will go to either Mexico or Canada for my vacation.
    You can have either cheese or sour cream on your baked potato.
    A: You can either ride with me or with your mother.
    B: I'll go with Morn. She's a better driver!
  • end up
    end up
    finally be; be in the end
    The ice-cream ended up on the floor.
    They ended up working on the project all night because of the deadline.
    The extra food at the party ended up in the garbage.
    A: Let's climb over the fence and touch the tiger!
    B: a thanks. I don't want to end up as lunch.
  • every so often
    every so often
    sometimes
    Every so often he feels homesick.
    Every so often he goes to a movie by himself.
    We hear from our friends in Canada every so often.
    A: Do you like sports?
    B: No, but every so often I go hiking.
f
  • fall asleep
    fall asleep
    go to sleep
    Now is not the time to fall asleep!
    Don't fall asleep when you are driving!
    He falls asleep in class almost every day.
    A: You look really tired.
    B: I couldn't fall asleep last night.
  • fall behind
    fall behind
    be late; be behind
    She fell behind in school because she was sick for a few weeks.
    They fell behind schedule and could not meet the deadline.
    She fell behind at work because her computer crashed.
    A: How did your team do?
    B: They fell behind in the second half and lost the game.
  • fall short of
    fall short of
    not achieve a result or meet an expectation
    The team fell short of their dream of winning the championship.
    The movie really fell short of my expectations.
    Although the runner's time was good, it fell short of the world record.
    A: Business is not as good this year.
    B: Yes. We fell short of our goal of selling 1000 pizzas.
  • fed up with
    fed up with
    sick of; at the limit of one's endurance
    I'm fed up with your behavior!
    She was fed up with living in such a small apartment.
    Aren't you fed up with having to work so much overtime?
    A: I am fed up with eating ham everyday!
    B: OK. Tomorrow we'll have bacon.
  • feel for
    feel for
    have sympathy for
    I feel for those guys.
    She felt for the people starving in Africa, so she sent money to the charity.
    I really feel for homeless people.
    A: Poor Tom! His pet iguana died.
    B: Yeah. I really feel for him.
  • fill out
    fill out
    write all of the information needed on a form or application
    Please fill out the form.
    Everyone has to fill out a customs form when they enter a country.
    Can you help me fill out this form? I don't understand it.
    A: I'd like to apply for a credit card.
    B: OK. Just fill out this form and sign it.
  • find fault with
    find fault with
    criticize; find something to complain about
    They're always finding faults with his girlfriend.
    My friend always finds fault with my cooking.
    His boss found fault with much of his work, so he got fired.
    A: Why don't you like the new art teacher?
    B: He's always trying to find fault with my paintings.
  • fix up
    fix up
    repair; make nice or good again
    It's a good car, but you may need to fix it up a bit.
    They fixed up the office by putting in new carpet and painting the walls.
    It would cost more to fix up this old boat than to buy a new one.
    A: I John going to buy a new house?
    B: No, he s going to fix up his old one.
  • follow up on
    follow up on
    get more information about; take additional action
    Remember to follow up on the reports.
    He decided not to follow up on the job offer.
    Did you follow up on that complaint about the leaky water pipe?
    A: Did you call that person who wanted to buy the house?
    B: Sorry. I didn't have time to follow up on it.
  • fool around
    fool around
    play; have fun
    They always fool around when they should be studying.
    "What are you kids doing out there?" "We're just fooling around."
    Don't fool around with matches. You could start a fire.
    A: Why did Jimmy have to stay after school?
    B: He was fooling around in class.
  • for ages
    for ages
    for a long time
    He hasn't cut his beard for ages.
    We haven't visited our grandparents for ages.
    That actor hasn't made a movie for ages.
    A: How's your cat?
    B: I don't know. I haven't see it for ages.
  • for good
    for good
    finally; forever
    Our relationship is over for good.
    He plans to move to New York for good.
    They closed their store downtown for good.
    A: Good news! I quit smoking for good!
    B: Congratulations! Now, what about your gambling?
  • for sale
    for sale
    able to be bought; selling
    They put their house up for sale.
    The car that I saw for sale yesterday has already been sold.
    You can find good fruits and vegetables for sale on the street during the summer.
    A: Why is your new boat for sale?
    B: My wife gets seasick!
  • for short
    for short
    a shorter way to say a name
    This is my friend Koronotino Calenotangae. His friends call him KC for short.
    My name is Alexander, but you can call me Alex for short.
    I work for Seattle Auto Company or SAC for short.
    A: What kind of car is that?
    B: It's a sport utility vehicle- SUV for short.
  • for the most part
    for the most part
    generally
    For the most part, I really enjoyed my trip.
    For the most part, I enjoyed the time I spent in the country.
    For the most part, she was satisfied with her performance.
    A: How's your new job?
    B: It's very interesting for the most part.
  • for the sake of
    for the sake of
    to benefit or improve something
    He works hard for the sake of his family.
    For the sake of time, we won't discuss the new budget at this meeting.
    He had to quit smoking for the sake of his health.
    A: Please don't try to cook anymore.
    B: OK. I will stop for the sake of our relationship.
  • from scratch
    from scratch
    from nothing; from basic or simple ingredients
    She made the pastry from scratch.
    This bread was made from scratch, not from a prepared mix.
    We had to start from scratch when the computer disk failed.
    A: These cookies are great!
    B: Thanks. I made them myself from scratch.
  • furnish a with b
    furnish a with b
    provide B to A
    The hotel furnished us with free drinks all week.
    The school furnished the students with new desks.
    The speaker furnished everyone at the presentation with a copy of his latest book.
    A: How's your job going?
    B: Great! My company furnished me with a new laptop computer.
g
  • get a hold of
    get a hold of
    contact; reach
    Hello. Jimmy? You'll never believe who I got a hold of!
    He couldn't get hold of his friend to tell him the plans were changed.
    Please write down a phone number where we can get a hold of you.
    A: Did you get a hold of Mike?
    B: No. His line was busy.
  • get along with
    get along with
    be friendly with; live or work well together
    I think it's time we tried to get along with each other.
    Everyone in my family gets along well with each other.
    She does not get along with her mother-in-law.
    A: Why aren't you going to Beth's party?
    B: I don't get along with her.
  • get away with
    get away with
    avoid punishment
    You'll never get away with this.
    He thought he could get away with hiding a card in his sleeve, but he got caught.
    She pretended she was a student to get the discount and she got away with it!
    A: Did you hear that Sarah cheated on the test and got an A?
    B: I can't believe she got away with it!
  • get better
    get better
    improve
    Don't worry. You'll get better.
    His cold got better after he took a day off work.
    Her singing will get better if she practices every day.
    A: This movie is boring!
    B: Don't worry. It gets better.
  • get even with
    get even with
    have revenge
    He wanted to get even with the fisherman.
    He wanted to get even with her for making him look foolish.
    There is no point in trying to get even with anyone. Revenge is an endless cycle.
    A: What are you doing with that water balloon?
    B: I'm going to get even with my sister for scratching my CD.
  • get lost
    get lost
    become confused about one's location
    The got lost in the snow storm.
    We got lost on the way to the theater.
    The directions were not clear, so we got lost.
    A: Why are you late?
    B: I got lost on the way.
  • get nowhere with
    get nowhere with
    not progress or succeed using something
    I am getting nowhere with my homework.
    I was getting nowhere with my project, so I took a break.
    She got nowhere with the problem until a friend gave her an idea.
    A: Do you need some help?
    B: Yes, thanks! I am getting nowhere with this math problem!
  • get out of
    get out of
    avoid; escape from
    Let's get out of here!
    She had a note from her doctor to get out of class.
    I think there is going to be trouble. Let's get out of here!
    A: I have a headache. I think I should lie down.
    B: Liar! You're just trying to get out of mowing the lawn!
  • get over
    get over
    recover from; overcome
    Buddy, get over it.
    It took her almost a week to get over her jet lag from the long flight.
    She got over her old boyfriend very quickly and started dating a new boy.
    A: How did you get over your cold so fast?
    B: I ate 30 oranges a day for 3 days.
  • get stuck
    get stuck
    be unable to move
    He got stuck in the mud.
    Her boot got stuck in the mud while she was hiking.
    I got stuck on the third problem, so I couldn't finish the homework.
    A: This ring got stuck on my finger!
    B: Try putting some butter on it.
  • get the better of
    get the better of
    have power to force one to do
    My curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the letter.
    His conscience got the better of him, so he called her to apologize.
    I had to open the package. My curiosity got the better of me.
    A: That guy at work is driving me crazy!
    B: Don't let him get the better of you!
  • get through
    get through
    be able to communicate with someone
    I tried to call but I couldn't get through.
    She was on hold for fifteen minutes before she finally got through to the operator.
    The storm damaged the phone line so I can't get through to my parents' house.
    A: Have you gotten through to Kim yet?
    B: No. The line is still busy.
  • get used to
    get used to
    be accustomed to; be familiar and comfortable with
    It will take a long time to get used to her!
    After I got used to waking up early, I enjoyed my extra time in the morning.
    How long did it take you to get used to living in your new apartment?
    A: It's almost midnight. Aren't you tired?
    B: No. I'm used to going to bed late.
  • give birth (to)
    give birth (to)
    have (a child)
    She is about to give birth to her baby.
    Sally gave birth to twins last week.
    How many puppies does a dog usually give birth to at one time?
    A: I want to have my baby in a hospital.
    B: I would rather give birth in my own home.
  • give in
    give in
    surrender; agree to someone's persuasion
    He gave in to his parents' demands and cut his hair short.
    He kept asking until I finally gave in and invited him to join us.
    The protesters said they would not give in until all of their demands were met.
    A: That big guy keeps telling me to do his homework.
    B: Don't give in!
  • give rise to
    give rise to
    cause something to happen
    Your new hair style might give rise to some problems.
    The meeting gave rise to some new plans for the future of the company.
    The heavy rain gave rise to an increase in the number of mosquitoes.
    A: I don't think we should leave the dog and cat alone together.
    B: You're right. It could give rise to problems.
  • go dutch
    go dutch
    each pay for himself/herself
    They decided to go Dutch on their date.
    We went out to dinner last night, but it wasn't a date. We went Dutch.
    I hate to go Dutch. I'll pay this time. You pay next time.
    A: Thanks for dinner. Let my pay.
    B: How about we go Dutch?
  • go for
    go for
    try to do
    Go for it.
    If you don't try, you will never know if you can do it. Go for it!
    Their mother went for a university degree at the age of fifty-two.
    A: Why is Tom trying to eat 30 donuts?
    B: He's going for a world record.
  • go through
    go through
    experience something unpleasant
    She went through a stressful time last year.
    He went through some medical tests last week.
    When we travel, we always go through the same argument about where to stay.
    A: Let's go on the roller coaster one more time!
    B: No thanks. I don't want to go through that again.
  • go without saying
    go without saying
    obviously; everyone knows
    It goes without saying that there will be beer at the party.
    "Will it snow this winter?" "That goes without saying."
    It goes without saying that you have to attend class to get a Good grade.
    A: You should wear a seat belt when you drive.
    B: That goes without saying.
  • go wrong
    go wrong
    produce a bad result
    Take this emergency money just in case anything goes wrong.
    Something went wrong with the computer, so the system crashed.
    If anything goes wrong, give me a call and I'll be happy to come and help.
    A: Why is this spaghetti blue?
    B: Something went wrong with the recipe.
h
  • hand out
    hand out
    give to many people
    The store was handing out free cosmetics samples.
    Our teacher will hand out the final grades for the class on Friday.
    The store was handing out free samples of cake to the customers.
    A: Hey! Where did you get that donut?
    B: They are handing out free food at the store.
  • hand over
    hand over
    give to another
    Hand over the food!
    This is robbery! Hand over all of your money!
    The old man decided to hand over his business to his sons.
    A: Alright! Hand over my keys!
    B: don't have them!
  • hang out
    hang out
    spend time some place
    They always hung out at the mall.
    Teenagers like to hang out at the park.
    I usually hang out at my friend's house after school.
    A: Hey Joe, what are you doing tonight?
    B: I'm just going to hang out at Kevin's house.
  • have a point
    have a point
    said when you agree with someone's opinion
    It's spicy! You may have a point. I'll use less pepper next time.
    My sister says that I need to spend more time with my family. She has a point.
    "That girl only seems stuck-up because she is shy." "You have a point there."
    A: The blue shirt looks better, but it's more expensive.
    B: You have a point.
  • have access to
    have access to
    have the ability to get; have permission to enter
    You need to type in your password to have access to the file.
    Only employees have access to this part of the factory.
    You need his password to have access to his e-mail account.
    A: This hotel room is very nice.
    B: We also have access to the fitness center.
  • have nothing to do with
    have nothing to do with
    not be related to; have no connection to
    Stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you!
    The hot weather this summer has nothing to do with global warming.
    Our professor's lectures have nothing to do with the topics in our textbook.
    A: I think you are sick because you ate all that cheese.
    B: That has nothing to do with it!
  • have to
    have to
    must
    I have to eat.
    We have to buy more bread. I have to finish this paper by Monday.
    A: Can you go to the movies with me?
    B: Sorry. I have to babysit tonight.
  • high time
    high time
    time for some action that has been postponed too long
    It's high time we got out of here!
    I think it's high time we fix the heater. I'm freezing!
    My mother said it was high time that I got my hair cut and found a job.
    A: It's high time you cleaned your room!
    B: Yes, Mom. I'll do it right away.
  • hit upon
    hit upon
    suddenly think up
    He hit upon a great idea for a birthday gift.
    I hit upon a great idea for Amy's party while I was walking to school today.
    How old was Einstein when he hit upon the idea of relativity?
    A: This banana pizza is delicious!
    B: Thanks. I hit upon the idea while at the zoo yesterday.
  • hold back
    hold back
    make something stay in the same place
    They had to hold him back.
    We tried to hold back the flood, but there was too much water.
    When she passed other people with dogs, she had to hold back her dog.
    A: Did you shake hands with the president?
    B: No. His body guards held back the crowd.
  • how come
    how come
    why
    How come you don't eat chicken?
    How come this report is late?
    You're not coming to the party? How come?
    A: I heard you weren't coming to the game. How come?
    B: I hurt my knee making toast this morning.
i
  • ill at ease
    ill at ease
    not comfortable
    Her father made him feel ill at ease.
    He always felt a little ill at ease in crowded elevators.
    The hostess tried to make sure none of her guests felt ill at ease at the party.
    A: I feel ill at ease with you driving a motorcycle.
    B: Don't worry, Mom. I'll be careful.
  • in accordance with
    in accordance with
    following; matching
    In accordance with law, young children not allowed to smoking.
    The new laws are not in accordance with the old laws.
    The company completed all work in accordance with its contract.
    A: Why is your hair so short?
    B: I had to cut it in accordance with army rules.
  • in addition to
    in addition to
    along with; besides
    He coaches basketball in addition to his office job.
    In addition to flowers, I am also allergic to chicken.
    She enjoys playing the piano in addition to singing.
    A: In addition to getting fired, I had a flat tire on the way home.
    B: Sounds like you had a terrible day!
  • in advance
    in advance
    before; ahead of time
    It looked like a storm was coming, so I wanted to close the windows in advance.
    You should make reservations in advance.
    His girlfriend was coming, so he cleaned the house in advance.
    A: It's a very popular hotel. Are you sure you can get in?
    B: Don't worry. I booked a room three months in advance.
  • in brief
    in brief
    in short; in summary
    Dogs are happy, loyal, and friendly. In brief, they make great pets.
    In brief, this is the singer's best album.
    In brief, you must find my client not guilty.
    A: What was the result of the meeting?
    B: In brief, we are going to move to Mexico.
  • in charge of
    in charge of
    leading; controlling
    You'll be in charge of the ceiling.
    Can you tell me who is in charge of cleaning the office at night?
    No one was in charge of the project, so it was never completed.
    A: What do you do at your job?
    B: I'm in charge of sales and marketing.
  • in comparison with
    in comparison with
    looking at in order to see the difference
    The weather in the South is usually wetter in comparison with the North.
    In comparison with her first book, the author's second book was not very good.
    This rock is heavy in comparison with its size.
    A: Your house is so small.
    B: Yes, but in comparison with my old house, it's a palace!
  • in favor of
    in favor of
    support or approve of something
    His parents are not in favor of his career choice.
    Although I want to join the army, my parents are not in favor of it.
    After the big test, we were all in favor of going out for a drink.
    A: Why didn't you vote for him?
    B: Because he is in favor of raising taxes.
  • in light of
    in light of
    because of
    In light of the new information, he had to re-think the situation.
    In light of the new evidence, the judge dismissed the court case.
    In light of the recent thefts, the company is increasing security.
    A: Why don't you want to go out dancing?
    B: In light of my recent test grade, I'd better stay home and study.
  • in need (of)
    in need (of)
    needing; suffering without
    After trying that spicy dish, he was in need of some water.
    This apartment is in need of a good cleaning. Our club is in need of a new president because the old one quit.
    A: Hey, I can see your toes!
    B: I am in need of some new socks.
  • in no time
    in no time
    very quickly
    The police arrived in no time.
    If you make a few American friends, you can improve your English in no time.
    In no time, the firefighters arrived at the fire.
    A: Are we almost there? I am so hungry!
    B: Don't worry. We'll be there in no time.
  • in one's way
    in one's way
    blocking; hindering
    I can't see anything. This big guy is in my way.
    The box was in my way, so I had to move it.
    She could not see the moon because the trees were in her way.
    A: Excuse me. Your chair is in my way.
    B: Sorry!
  • in regard to
    in regard to
    concerning
    In regard to your question, the answer is yes.
    In regard to your request, we are sending you information about our new product.
    She called in regard to the job opening in the advertising department.
    A: In regard to your last test, I think you could have done better.
    B: I know. I will study harder next time.
  • in retrospect
    in retrospect
    looking back at the past
    In retrospect, maybe the haircut wasn't such a good idea.
    In retrospect, I should have studied harder in high school.
    You can see all of your past mistakes easily in retrospect.
    A: Wow, I am so full!
    B: Me, too. In retrospect, we should have ordered only one pizza.
  • in short
    in short
    briefly; in summary
    He's cute, funny, rich, and single. In short, he's perfect!
    In short. I believe everyone should vote against the new tax.
    In short, I don't want to work here any more.
    A: What did you think of the movie?
    B: Well, in short, it was the worst movie I've seen this year.
  • in spite of
    in spite of
    regardless of something; despite
    In spite of the rain, they went to the beach.
    In spite of the bad weather, we will go hiking.
    The company kept hiring new employees in spite of its decreasing sales.
    A: How was your trip to Mexico?
    B: I had a great time in spite of the hurricane!
  • in terms of
    in terms of
    comparing with; by the standard of
    The manual was not helpful in terms of finding the problem.
    In terms of cheap vacations, this is one of the best deals you will find.
    The book was not very useful in terms of teaching grammar.
    A: Which car is better?
    B: In terms of speed, the BMW is much better than the Ford.
  • in the long run
    in the long run
    after a long time
    You will have problems in the long run if you keep drinking so much.
    In the long run, too much beef can cause serious health problems.
    You will make more money in the long run if you go to university now.
    A: Let's fix that leaky pipe right away.
    B: Yes. If we do it now, we'll have less trouble in the long run.
  • in time
    in time
    before the limit of some time
    He didn't arrive in time to catch the bus.
    We got to the theater in time to see the previews.
    He ran, but he didn't arrive in time to catch the train.
    A: Did Amy miss her flight?
    B: No, she got there just in time!
k
  • keep off
    keep off
    not go on; stay off
    Keep off the glass.
    Please keep off the carpet with your dirty shoes.
    We have to keep off the bench until the paint is dry.
    A: Please tell your kids to keep off the furniture.
    B: I will. Sorry, Mr. President.
  • keep one's fingers crossed
    keep one's fingers crossed
    wish for good luck
    The operation is almost complete. He looks like he's going to be fine. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
    We kept our fingers crossed as they announced the results of the contest.
    Good luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed.
    A: Are you going to ask her for a date tomorrow?
    B: Yeah. Keep your fingers crossed!
  • keep one's word
    keep one's word
    fulfill one's promise
    I promise! He always keeps his word.
    She promised to call me, but she did not keep her word.
    It drives me crazy when people don't keep their word.
    A: Remember, you promised to wash the car.
    B: Don't worry. I'll keep my word.
  • keep track of
    keep track of
    watch or count
    She's always busy keeping track of her children.
    The teacher had a hard time keeping track of all the children.
    Let's keep track of how much we spend on food during our vacation.
    A: How many hamburgers did you eat?
    B: I couldn't keep track of them all!
  • keep up
    keep up
    continue
    Keep up the good work!
    You're doing a great job! Keep up the good work.
    She wanted to keep up swimming every day, but she was too busy.
    A: I am really nervous about the test.
    B: Just keep up a positive attitude and you will do fine!
l
  • lay off
    lay off
    quit; stop
    Lay off!
    Lay off those drums! I'm trying to sleep!
    When are you going to lay off smoking? It's bad for you.
    A: Oh, no! I've gained six pounds!
    B: Why don't you lay off snacks for a while?
  • lead the way
    lead the way
    walk first to show the way
    Maybe you should lead the way.
    She led the way to the mansion's dining room.
    If you follow me, I will lead the way to a brighter future!
    A: I am afraid to go into that dark building!
    B: Don't worry. I'll lead the way.
  • learn (something) by heart
    learn (something) by heart
    memorize; study to know without thinking
    He's my favorite! I've learned all his songs by heart!
    She can't read music, so she learns all the songs by heart.
    I had to learn the whole book by heart in elementary school.
    A: How did remember all those math equations?
    B: I learned them by heart.
  • let alone
    let alone
    never mind; even less
    He can't even swim, let alone work as a lifeguard!
    I can barely afford this apartment, let alone a house.
    She won't do any typing, let alone organize the filing.
    A: Would you like to be on our baseball team?
    B: Me? Hah! I can barely throw a ball, let alone hit one.
  • let down
    let down
    sad; disappointed
    You really let me down.
    I was let down by the second movie in the series. The first one was so good!
    Please don't let me down. I am counting on you.
    A: I can't believe that your girlfriend forgot your birthday!
    B: Yeah. I feel really let down.
  • let go of
    let go of
    release
    Let go of me!
    He slowly let go of her hand, and she walked away.
    Don't let go of the rope! I'll fall!
    A: Let go of my purse!
    B: Sorry! I thought it was mine.
  • lie down
    lie down
    lie; recline
    He decided to lie down for a few minutes.
    I am just going to lie down and rest for a few minutes.
    The doctor told him to lie down on the examining table.
    A: Where's Bill?
    B: He's lying down on the couch.
  • live up to
    live up to
    meet one's expectations
    He was worried about living up to his family's expectations.
    The movie did not live up to all the good reviews.
    The hotel really lives up to its reputation. It's excellent.
    A: Why did you change universities?
    B: Clown College really didn't live up to my expectations.
  • look back on
    look back on
    remember
    He sometimes looks back on his childhood.
    There are many good memories I can look back on from high school.
    She doesn't like to look back on her life in Arizona.
    A: When you look back on your life, do you have any regrets?
    B: Yeah. I wish I hadn't invested all that money in stocks.
  • look into
    look into
    investigate; check to see if something is possible
    Your ray-gun was stolen at 8:00 p.m.? I'll look into this right away.
    He was looking into going to medical school.
    I don't know much about that subject, but I'll look into it when I have time.
    A: Why don't we see if we can stay an extra day?
    B: Good idea. I'll look into it.
  • look on a as b
    look on a as b
    think A as B
    He looks on his brother as a role model.
    Do you look on your career as being fulfilling?
    The class looks on the teacher as a friend.
    A: Can you join us for a game of golf?
    B: No. My wife looks on golf as a waste of time and money.
  • look over
    look over
    read or see quickly to check
    He had to look over some papers before leaving work today.
    Did you look over that report I left on your desk?
    The teacher said he would look over our essay to give us suggestions.
    A: Let's look over our travel plans again.
    B: Why? We're just going to the store.
  • look to a for b
    look to a for b
    turn and ask A to give B
    She usually looks to her parents for support.
    You should look to your parents for help if you don't have enough money.
    He looked to his best friend for advice when he needed a job.
    A: Don't worry about the test. We can study together.
    B: It's nice to know that I can look to you for help. Thanks!
  • lose one's head
    lose one's head
    act irrationally (from anger or worry)
    In an argument, it's important not to lose your head.
    He lost his head when she told him she was leaving.
    In an emergency, it is important not to lose your head.
    A: Ted, that bear is coming right at us!
    B: Don't loose you head! Just pretend to be asleep and it will go away.
  • lose one's temper
    lose one's temper
    become angry
    Don't make me lose my temper!
    He lost his temper and hit the table with his fist.
    It is dangerous to lose your temper while driving.
    A: What happened to your hand?
    B: I lost my temper and punched the wall!
  • lose track of
    lose track of
    not be aware of; not pay attention to
    It's easy to lose track of time when you're reading a good book.
    I always lose track of how much I spend on clothes.
    He lost track of his dog in the crowded park.
    A: This vacation is so relaxing!
    B: Yes. I've lost track of the days!
m
  • make a difference
    make a difference
    be important to; affect
    The doctor said that these pills will make a big difference.
    The new paint makes a big difference. Your house looks great now!
    It won't make much difference if we take the other road.
    A: I don't like black and white movies.
    B: Me neither. I think the color makes a difference.
  • make a point of
    make a point of
    do something deliberately
    He made a point of explaining everything he knew about the subject in class.
    He made a point of telling everyone he studied at Harvard.
    We should make a point of bringing this problem up at the next meeting.
    A: I think that Harry is mad at us.
    B: Yeah. He made a point of not talking to us at lunch.
  • make believe
    make believe
    pretend to be true
    She used to make believe she could fly.
    I used to make believe I could walk on water.
    She made believe she was sick so that her mom would not make her go to school.
    A: Why is your son wearing a pot on his head?
    B: He's making believe that he's a robot.
  • make faces
    make faces
    move one's eyes and mouth to create a silly or funny appearance
    He's always making faces at the girls.
    The baby laughed when I made faces at him.
    Don't make faces! Just eat your broccoli. I don't care if you don't like it.
    A: Why were you arrested?
    B: I made faces at the queen.
  • make one's way
    make one's way
    go in the direction of (with purpose)
    They made their way across the country.
    He made his way to the front of the line.
    They made their way from California to Texas along Route 66.
    A: I can't get a good look at the band.
    B: Let's make our way to the front.
  • make room for
    make room for
    provide space for
    Hey. Do you think we can make room for my friend?
    We need to make room on the shelf for these books.
    Can you make room in the trunk of your car for one more bag?
    A: Can I ride with you?
    B: Maybe we can make room if one person sits on someone's lap.
  • make sure
    make sure
    check to be sure
    Make sure you blow out the candle before you go to bed.
    He made sure to lock the door when he left.
    Who makes sure that these computers are turned off at night?
    A: I am going to Hawaii this summer.
    B: Make sure to take lots of sun screen!
  • mess up
    mess up
    make a mistake in
    Why do you always mess up everything?
    He messed up the recipe, so the food tasted terrible.
    How could you mess up the plan? It was so easy!
    A: I really messed up! I forgot my wife's birthday!
    B: Don't worry. Just buy her some flowers and say you're sorry.
  • might as well
    might as well
    may as well; why not?
    My next class doesn't begin for 45 minutes. I might as well do some studying.
    I might as well go with you. I have nothing else to do.
    Nobody is going to eat the rest of the cake. You might as well throw it out.
    A: The movie doesn't start for another 10 minutes.
    B: We might as well get some popcorn while we're waiting.
  • mix up
    mix up
    confuse
    I often mix up my friends' phone numbers.
    I mixed up your names. Could you say that again?
    The office mixed up the addresses and sent the wrong forms to the two customers.
    A: You are supposed to come tomorrow, not today.
    B: Sorry! I mixed up the dates.
  • more often than not
    more often than not
    usually
    More often than not, I have sea food for dinner.
    More often than not, he spends his holidays with his parents.
    She works late more often than not.
    A: We'd better take an umbrella.
    B: Right. It rains more often than not this time of year.
  • more or less
    more or less
    approximately; almost
    The male and female fish look more or less the same.
    My cousin and I are more or less the same age.
    The airline tickets were more or less the same price.
    A: Which shirt is better?
    B: They are more or less the same quality.
n
  • name a after b
    name a after b
    give A the same name as B
    This is your great-uncle Jim. You were named after him.
    My parents named me after my grandfather.
    She named her cat after a cartoon character.
    A: Why is your town called Bismarck?
    B: It's named after a kind of donut.
  • neither a nor b
    neither a nor b
    both A and B do not or are not
    Neither I nor my brother is as tall as our father.
    Neither I nor my sister is as beautiful as my mother.
    She looked for her professor, but he was neither in his office nor in the classroom.
    A: Neither Jim nor Amy are going to the movie.
    B: I guess it's just the two of us then.
  • never mind
    never mind
    forget; pay no attention to
    Never mind your hair. You're in the army now!
    Never mind the car's color. It runs great!
    Didn't you wash the dishes yet? Never mind. I'll do them my self.
    A: Sorry, we don't have leather bags.
    B: Never mind. I'll look in another store.
  • no matter
    no matter
    make no difference
    No matter how much I comb my hair, it always looks messy!
    I can't get an "A" in the class no matter how well I do on the final exam.
    You don't have any money? No matter. You can pay me next time.
    A: No matter what I try, I can't start my computer!
    B: Is it plugged in?
  • no way
    no way
    I don't believe it
    He's on the weight lifting team? No way!
    You are forty years old? No way! You look so young!
    You met Elizabeth Taylor? No way!
    A: Did you hear that aliens have landed in L.A.?
    B: No way!
  • no wonder
    no wonder
    now I understand why
    There's a bowling ball in the box. No wonder it's so heavy!
    She was sick. No wonder she looked so bad yesterday.
    No wonder the TV doesn't work! It's not plugged in.
    A: Kristin just got back from her trip to Hawaii.
    B: No wonder she's so tan!
  • not at all
    not at all
    not in any way
    Do you mind? No, not at all.
    The peppers were not spicy at all.
    "Would you mind giving me a ride home?" "Not at all."
    A: Do you think this dress is ugly?
    B: Not at all!
  • now that
    now that
    because now
    Now that she has free time, she can work in her garden.
    Now that I have some free time, I plan to do a lot more reading.
    He is going to start buying stock now that the market is low.
    A: Now that I have been exercising, I feel great!
    B: Really? I feel more tired.
o
  • of one's own accord
    of one's own accord
    without being asked
    He washed the dishes of his own accord.
    My brother decided to clean the house of his own accord.
    Her parents were going to tell her to get a job, but she got one of her own accord.
    A: Did you put the cat outside?
    B: No, he opened the door and went out of his own accord.
  • on account of
    on account of
    because of
    The game was cancelled on account of the rain.
    She didn't call us on account of the fact she was busy.
    On account of the hot weather, we stayed indoors.
    A: On account of you, there's no pizza left for me!
    B: Sorry. I was really hungry!
  • on average
    on average
    looking at the average case
    On average, the cost of living in the city is higher than in the country.
    On average, the price of computers has gone down.
    Most people eat fast food twice a week on average.
    A: How much sleep do you get on average?
    B: About seven hours a night.
  • on behalf of
    on behalf of
    for; in someone's place (instead of)
    On behalf of flies everywhere. I want to thank you!
    She is collecting money on behalf of children in Africa.
    I am calling on behalf of Congressman Jones to ask for your support.
    A: Why are you going to New York?
    B: I'm going there on behalf of the manager. He's too sick to go.
  • on hand
    on hand
    near and ready for use
    Do you have any water on hand?
    Do you have any bandages on hand? I cut myself.
    There is a representative on hand twenty-four hours a day to help customers.
    A: There's going to be five extra people at the party.
    B: No problem. We have plenty of food on hand.
  • on no account
    on no account
    never; in no instance
    On no account should you mix electricity and water.
    On no account should you open the door if you don't know who is there.
    On no account should you give your credit card number to strangers.
    A: I can't believe there was a worm in your hamburger!
    B: On no account am I going to eat at that place again!
  • on one's own
    on one's own
    without help from others
    Little Jimmy was proud of his sculpture of a giraffe. which he'd made on his own.
    She has lived on her own since she was twenty- two.
    He cooked this whole meal on his own without any help from his mother.
    A: Do you need help fixing the sink?
    B: No, thanks. I can do it on my own.
  • on the other hand
    on the other hand
    but; looking at the other side of the situation
    He likes eating cookies. On the other hand, he usually gets a rash from them.
    New York is very romantic. On the other hand, it is very cold in the winter.
    Restaurants have a nice atmosphere. On the other hand, eating out is expensive.
    A: The new house is smaller than the old one.
    B: But on the other hand, it is in a better neighborhood.
  • on the spot
    on the spot
    right there; immediately
    He got caught with the stolen money, so he had to think of an excuse on the spot.
    He got the job on the spot.
    She had to think of an answer on the spot.
    A: Where's your dog?
    B: A man offered me $500 for it, so I sold it to him on the spot!
  • on the whole
    on the whole
    in general; all things considered
    On the whole, I really enjoyed my trip to Canada.
    On the whole, I enjoyed my time in the United States.
    Although there were some slow parts, on the whole the movie was good.
    A: What did you think of the test?
    B: On the whole, I felt it was quite easy.
  • once and for all
    once and for all
    forever; for good; finally
    He decided to take care of his nose-hair problem once and for all.
    I am going to get rid of those cockroaches once and for all!
    He decided to stop smoking once and for all.
    A: Where are you going with that hammer?
    B: I am going to make that car alarm stop once and for all!
  • or so
    or so
    approximately
    Remember to stir the spaghetti sauce every 15 minutes or so until it is ready.
    There were fifty or so people at the wedding.
    Cook the chicken for twenty minutes or so.
    A: When will Bob arrive?
    B: He'll be here in about an hour or so.
  • originate from
    originate from
    come from; start from
    He was sure that the e-mail message originated from someone in the office.
    The legend originated from the Native American tribes in the southwest.
    The letter originated from Paris.
    A: My grandparents were from Germany.
    B: My ancestors originated from Norway.
  • owing to
    owing to
    because of
    Owing to the bad weather, the picnic was cancelled.
    Owing to the rough water today, we can't go sailing.
    He had to go home early owing to a severe headache.
    A: Why aren't you in Atlanta?
    B: My plane can't leave, owing to bad weather.
p
  • pass away
    pass away
    die
    The fish passed away last night.
    My grandmother passed away last year.
    When did he pass away?
    A: Why is the shoe store closed today?
    B: The owner passed away this morning.
  • pay back
    pay back
    return borrowed money
    Now I can pay back my loan!
    He still hasn't paid back the money he owes me.
    Thanks for the money! I'll pay you back as soon as I can.
    A: Why are you working three jobs?
    B: I have to pay back the money I borrowed from the bank.
  • pay off
    pay off
    bring a good result
    All that time at the gym really paid off.
    I passed the test! All that extra studying paid off!
    Private piano lessons are expensive. Do you think they will pay off?
    A: Wow! You look great!
    B: Thanks. Joining that health club really paid off.
  • play a part in
    play a part in
    have an effect on something; be involved with
    Regular exercise plays a part in staying healthy.
    The bad weather played a part in our decision to I cancel the picnic.
    Education plays an important part in success.
    A: How did you put out the fire so quickly?
    B: Volunteer fire fighters played a part in stopping the fire.
  • point out
    point out
    indicate
    Excuse me. Could you point out a barbershop?
    The waiter pointed out the chef's special on the menu.
    He pointed out the places he visited on the map.
    A: Wow! That girl is really ugly!
    B: I should point out that she's my sister.
  • pull one's leg
    pull one's leg
    trick or fool one
    Come on. You're pulling my leg!
    You're not a spy. You're pulling my leg!
    He told her he was French, but he was pulling her leg.
    A: Stop pulling my leg!
    B: I'm serious! There is a snake in my house!
  • pull over
    pull over
    move one's vehicle to the side of the road and stop
    Could you pull over? I need to use a washroom!
    She pulled over to take a picture of the beautiful scenery by the highway.
    The police officer yelled at the driver, "Pull over!"
    A: I think we're lost.
    B: Let's pull over and look at the map again.
  • put away
    put away
    put in a safe place; hide or store
    Where did you put away my old comic books?
    I put my skis away for the summer.
    She put away her jewelry in a box in the back of her closet.
    A: Are those the gifts for Matt's party?
    B: Yeah. I have to put them away before he gets home.
  • put out
    put out
    extinguish a flame or fire
    Don't forget to put out the fire before you go to sleep.
    The fire fighters put out the fire before it spread to other houses.
    Be sure to put out the candles before you leave.
    A: Sir, please put out your cigarette.
    B: Sorry. I didn't know this was a non-smoking area.
r
  • refer to a as b
    refer to a as b
    use the name B for A
    Stop referring to me as your 'man'. I'm not your 'man'!
    He referred to his classmate as his friend even though they only studied together.
    Many people refer to this book as the author's greatest work.
    A: What did your teacher say about your paper?
    B: He referred to it as the work of a genius!
  • regardless of
    regardless of
    no matter; without considering
    He decided to wear his favorite outfit regardless of what the others thought.
    She plans to go to Spain regardless of the cost.
    Regardless of what other people thought, he quit his job and joined the circus.
    A: Steve is a crazy guy!
    B: Yeah. He plays with crocodiles regardless of the danger.
  • relieve a of b
    relieve a of b
    take B from A
    She relieved her friend of his keys because he was drunk.
    The teacher relieved him of his pocket knife.
    Those books look heavy. Let me relieve you of some of them.
    A: Why are you home so early?
    B: I am feeling sick, so my boss relieved me of my duties tonight.
  • resign oneself to
    resign oneself to
    accept a situation as unchangeable
    He resigned himself to working at the amusement park because he needed the money.
    She resigned herself to working in her father's company.
    You don't have to resign yourself to the same kind of life your parents had.
    A: Aren't you upset about your test score?
    B: No. I just resigned myself to being a poor student!
  • result in
    result in
    lead to; cause
    Coming to work late again will result in him losing his job.
    The earthquake resulted in the deaths of thirty people.
    Smoking often results in health problems.
    A: Speeding could result in a traffic fine.
    B: I know, but we're late for the wedding!
  • rule out
    rule out
    decide that something is not possible
    He ruled out cooking spaghetti because he didn't have enough pasta.
    I can rule out that the gift is a stereo because the box is too small.
    She ruled out going to Alaska because she didn't like cold weather.
    A: Who left the door unlocked last night?
    B: Well, we can rule out Mike. He's out of town.
  • run into
    run into
    meet by chance
    I had a feeling. I'd run into you!
    I often run into people I know at the bus stop.
    While I was in Hollywood, I ran into a famous actor in the supermarket.
    A: What took you so long at the store?
    B: I ran into my old elementary school teacher
  • run over
    run over
    drive over something
    You've got to be careful when you cross the road. You don't want to get run over!
    I ran over a snake in the road this morning.
    A bicyclist ran over her toe!
    A: What happened to my flowers?
    B: That boy ran over them on his bike.
s
  • see eye to eye
    see eye to eye
    agree; from the same point of view
    Do we see eye to eye on this issue?
    They saw eye to eye on almost every part of the project, so it was approved.
    She doesn't always see eye to eye with her husband about money.
    A: I guess we don't see eye to eye on the price.
    B: No, we don't. You're asking too much.
  • sell out
    sell out
    sell all of; have no more because all are sold
    Sorry. We're all sold out.
    The movie sold out the first weekend it was in theaters.
    She needed to buy some fish, but the store was sold out.
    A: Do you have any more DVD players?
    B: Sorry, we are all sold out.
  • serve one right
    serve one right
    be the correct punishment for one
    It serves you right!
    It would serve him right if she never spoke to him again.
    Her talk show was cancelled. It serves her right for being so rude to her guests.
    A: Billy had to do extra homework because he came late to class.
    B: Serves him right!
  • set aside
    set aside
    put apart; place out of the way
    He set aside his book and paid attention to his son.
    I set aside half of the donut to eat later.
    The government has set aside money especially to deal with this problem.
    A: Our trip is coming up fast.
    B: You're right. Let's set aside some time to plan tomorrow night.
  • set out
    set out
    leave; begin a journey
    In the morning, he set out for the park across the street.
    He set out for the market early in the morning.
    She packed everything in her car and set out for California.
    A: Did Bob leave already?
    B: Yeah, he set out early this morning.
  • settle down
    settle down
    become still or relaxed
    You kids had better settle down or else!
    The children did not settle down and go to sleep until after midnight.
    Settle down! It's just a little spider!
    A: I can't get to sleep. Why don't those dogs settle down?
    B: Maybe they are barking at a burglar!
  • settle for
    settle for
    accept instead of something better
    Would you settle for a hamburger instead of a steak?
    There was no soda, so he settled for water.
    We had to settle for the smaller apartment because it was closer to my office.
    A: Sorry, we don't have any red caps.
    B: That's OK. I'll settle for a green one instead.
  • so far, so good
    so far, so good
    everything is fine up to this time
    How do you like the new job? So far so good.
    "How is your project going?" "So far, so good."
    "How is your son doing in college?" "So far, so good."
    A: How's life with the new baby?
    B: So far, so good.
  • sort of
    sort of
    kind of; a little
    The juice tastes sort of strange.
    This restaurant is sort of expensive. Do you want to go somewhere else?
    I'm sort of tired. Can I meet you some other time?
    A: Have you ever had shark?
    B: Yes. It tastes sort of like chicken.
  • speak up
    speak up
    say aloud
    I can't hear you. Could you please speak up?
    I can't hear you. Speak up.
    No one spoke up in class, so the teacher asked the question again.
    A: Sorry, I didn't hear you. Could you speak up, please?
    B: I said your stereo is turned up too loud!
  • stand a chance
    stand a chance
    have an opportunity to succeed
    He doesn't stand a chance.
    The players on the other team are all over six feet tall. We don't stand a chance!
    I really want to ask her on a date. Do you think I stand a chance?
    A: I can build the house by myself!
    B: Hah! You don't stand a chance without me!
  • stand out
    stand out
    be very noticeable
    He really stands out!
    With that green hair, she really stands out in the crowd. The white puppy stands out among the black ones.
    A: Was it easy to find the house?
    B: Yeah. The pink paint really makes it stand out!
  • stand to reason
    stand to reason
    be a logical conclusion; obviously follow
    It stands to reason that if you study hard, you will do well in school.
    It stood to reason that the criminal should be punished.
    It stands to reason that if you eat too much, you will gain weight.
    A: It's starting to rain.
    B: It stands to reason that we should close the window.
  • stand up to
    stand up to
    fight; be against (usually someone stronger)
    I just can't stand up to my father.
    You can't let them push you around like that. Stand up to them!
    She finally stood up to her mother and told her she was old enough to get married.
    A: I want to be a dancer, but my father says I have to join the army.
    B: I think you should stand up to him and tell him what you really want.
  • stay put
    stay put
    not move
    Stay put!
    I will go and look for him, but you stay put.
    He stayed put in his company even though many of his co-workers quit.
    A: Jake is on the phone. He just arrived at the airport.
    B: Tell him to stay put. I'll go pick him up.
  • stick around
    stick around
    wait
    Why don't you stick around?
    Stick around! We'll be right back!
    He stuck around until his friend got off work.
    A: Hey, look! Those policemen just ran into that store.
    B: Let's stick around and see what happens.
  • succeed in
    succeed in
    achieve the result on hopes for
    He succeeded in getting the promotion.
    The only way to succeed in medical school is to study day and night.
    He succeeded in building a very successful company before he reached the age of thirty.
    A: I don't think I can succeed in math class.
    B: Don't worry. I'll help you study!
  • suffer from
    suffer from
    be ill with or bothered by
    He suffers from severe headaches.
    My mother suffers from depression.
    People who use computers all the time often suffer from back problems.
    A: Why are you wearing a hat today?
    B: I am suffering from bad hair.
  • sum up
    sum up
    in summary; finish in short
    The last page of the report sums up all of the research.
    He will sum up his speech with a joke.
    To sum up, I would just like to congratulate the bride and groom and wish them many happy years together.
    A: How was your trip to the desert?
    B: I would sum up the experience by saying it was very hot!
t
  • take a look at
    take a look at
    look at to evaluate
    Take a look at that!
    The doctor took a look at her foot to see if it was broken.
    Please take a look at my essay and let me know what you think of it.
    A: Something's wrong with the car.
    B: I'll take a look at it after lunch.
  • take apart
    take apart
    separate something into pieces
    He had to take apart the robot.
    I took apart the fan and put in a new motor.
    He takes apart cars and sells the engines.
    A: Why did you take apart the computer?
    B: I was looking for a file.
  • take by surprise
    take by surprise
    surprise; come without warning
    The phone call took him by surprise.
    His friend's visit took him by surprise.
    When he asked her to marry him, he took her completely by surprise.
    A: I can't believe that your mother joined the army!
    B: Yes. She took us all by surprise.
  • take for granted
    take for granted
    assume; expect
    Don't take the nice weather for granted.
    I took it for granted that my alarm clock would wake me up.
    Many people took it for granted that the economy would continue to do well.
    A: Why are you taking your umbrella?
    B: I don't take it for granted that it will stay sunny.
  • take into account
    take into account
    consider
    He didn't take into account the possibility that the bus might be late.
    She didn't take into account the fact that the bank was closed on Saturdays.
    Did you take into account the possibility that some people don't like seafood?
    A: I made reservations at the Milton Hotel for dinner.
    B: Did you take into account that we only have $20!?
  • take one's time
    take one's time
    slowly; in a relaxed way
    OK, Billy. Now, take your time and decide.
    She took her time and made sure she did not make any mistakes on the test.
    He is taking his time getting ready. He wants to look nice.
    A: I'll be there as soon as I can!
    B: Take your time. The movie doesn't start until 3:00.
  • take over
    take over
    take control; take responsibility
    I can take over if you are tired.
    A national bank took over the local bank last month.
    If you are tired from driving, I can take over for a while.
    A: I am getting tired of mowing the lawn.
    B: I'll take over this week so you can have a break.
  • take time off
    take time off
    miss work for some time with permission
    She took time off to enjoy a vacation in the sun.
    I have to take time off next week to go to the doctor.
    Our company is very strict about taking time off.
    A: Why don't we go to Paris next weekend?
    B: I'm not sure if! can take time off work.
  • take up
    take up
    use space or time
    The sofa takes up a lot of space in the living room.
    Painting a house takes up a lot of time.
    That old sofa takes up a lot of space. Let's get rid of it.
    A: I'm sorry to take up so much of your time, doctor.
    B: No problem. I'm glad you are feeling better.
  • tear down
    tear down
    destroy something that was built
    They want to tear down the old apartments to build new ones.
    I heard they are going to tear down the old stadium.
    The workers had to tear down everything and start again.
    A: I'm glad they tore down the wall.
    B: Me, too. The view is much better!
  • tell a from b
    tell a from b
    know the difference between
    I can't tell the real fruit from the plastic one.
    It was impossible to tell the real painting from the fake one.
    When they are wearing the same clothes, I can't tell one twin from the other.
    A: Did you know that Sally is color blind?
    B: Yeah. She can't tell green from blue.
  • tend to
    tend to
    usually do; have the habit of
    Dogs tend to be friendly and loyal to their owners.
    His boss tends to worry about every little thing.
    Traffic tends to get heavy around five in the evening.
    A: I'm going to take a jacket to the movies.
    B: Good idea. It tends to be cold in the theater.
  • thanks to
    thanks to
    because of
    Thanks to his new shoes, he plays soccer very well.
    Thanks to faster data transfer, you can watch movies on the Internet.
    Thanks to a few bad students, the teacher canceled the class picnic.
    A: Wow! You got $50 dollars from you grandmother?
    B: Yes. Thanks to her, I can go to the concert.
  • think highly of
    think highly of
    have a good opinion of
    You don't think highly of me, do you?
    Her teacher thought highly of her ability to draw.
    He doesn't think very highly of his neighbors.
    A: Mr. Henry is such a great teacher!
    B: Yes. All the students think highly of him.
  • think nothing of it
    think nothing of it
    It is/was no trouble. (You're welcome.)
    Thank you! Think nothing of it.
    "Thank you for helping me." "Think nothing of it."
    "I appreciate what you did." "Think nothing of it."
    A: Thanks for saving me from that hungry bear!
    B: Think nothing of it.
  • think over
    think over
    consider before deciding
    He have to carefully think over his next move.
    Take some time to think over my suggestions.
    She thought over the offer from her boss for several days.
    A: Have you decided what to order?
    B: No. I need more time to think it over.
  • think up
    think up
    imagine; have an idea quickly
    He thought up a great idea.
    She was always thinking up new ways to make extra money.
    He had to think up an excuse for being late.
    A: Let's think up a way to surprise Dan on his birthday.
    B: How about inviting all his old girlfriends?
  • throw up
    throw up
    vomit
    He threw up at the party last night.
    If you drink too much, you will throw up.
    The baby threw up on her grandfather's suit.
    A: Did you see Bill and Monica kissing at the party last night?
    B: Yes. It made me want to throw up!
  • to say nothing of
    to say nothing of
    not to mention; need not describe because it is obvious
    Their coffee is delicious, to say nothing of their cakes!
    The soups there are delicious, to say nothing of the desserts.
    The library at our university is beautiful, to say nothing of the music hall.
    A: How was your trip?
    B: The weather was wonderful, to say nothing of the food!
  • trade in
    trade in
    exchange for another (usually for a better or newer one)
    It is almost impossible to trade in an old computer.
    The car dealer only gave her $1000 when she traded in her car.
    I want to trade in my motorcycle for a faster one.
    A: Do you think I could trade in my bike for a new one?
    B: I think you should just give it away.
  • try out
    try out
    do or use to see if something works correctly
    We're ready to try it out.
    Don't buy the bike until you try it out first.
    I tried out several software programs, but none of them were good.
    A: Your skateboard looks really fun.
    B: It is! Why don't you try it out?
  • turn down
    turn down
    decline; say 'no'
    She always turned him down.
    She asked him to go out with her, but he turned her down.
    I invited her to join us, but she turned down my invitation.
    A: I tried to join the band but they turned me down.
    B: Maybe you should learn how to sing first.
  • turn into
    turn into
    become; change to
    They say when I drink, I turn into a monster.
    The conversation turned into an argument.
    The frog turned into a handsome prince.
    A: Your puppy really eats a lot!
    B: Yes. He's going to turn into a big dog someday.
  • turn out
    turn out
    finally be; end up
    It turned out to be a sunny day.
    The weather looked bad this morning, but it turned out to be a nice day.
    He tried to cook a special dinner for his girlfriend, but it didn't turn out well.
    A: Good luck with your new project.
    B: Thanks! I'll let you know how it turns out.
  • turn up
    turn up
    suddenly appear after being lost or missing
    This turned up in the mail today.
    My wallet turned up in the lost-and-found office.
    Please call me if my car keys turn up.
    A: Did you find your missing dog?
    B: Yeah. He turned up last night.
u
  • under the weather
    under the weather
    a little sick
    She missed the party because she was feeling under the weather.
    I'm feeling a bit under the weather.
    Are you feeling under the weather?
    A: Why are you going home early?
    B: I feel a bit under the weather.
  • up to now
    up to now
    until now
    Up to now, I always thought you were a vegetarian!
    Up to now, the weather has been very warm for this time of year.
    The writer has published five books up to now.
    A: I made pigs foot soup! Are you hungry?
    B: I was up to now.
  • upside down
    upside down
    the top toward the ground
    The sign was upside down.
    Somebody hung the picture upside down.
    The plane flew upside down for a few seconds.
    A: What are you going to do with those roses?
    B: I am going to hang them upside down to dry.
  • use up
    use up
    use completely; drain
    Who used up all of the toilet paper?
    If you use up the milk, please buy some more.
    Who used up all the toothpaste!
    A: I use up three tubes of gel every month!
    B: Maybe you should get a haircut.
  • used to
    used to
    occurring or existing in the past
    She used to have straight hair.
    My family used to eat dinner together, but now we are too busy.
    The excuse for missing homework used to be "the dog ate it." Now it's "the disk was erased."
    A: What is your favorite sport?
    B: I used to like squash, but now I like racquetball.
w
  • wait on
    wait on
    serve someone in a restaurant
    I hate waiting on pigs.
    The man who waited on us last night had a French accent.
    How many tables can you wait on at the same time?
    A: Excuse me, no one has waited on us yet.
    B: I am very sorry. I'll get a waiter right away.
  • waste one's breath
    waste one's breath
    say something of no use
    Don't waste your breath. I'll never take you back!
    She won't go out with you. Don't waste your breath asking her.
    He explained the grammar rule over and over, but he was wasting his breath. They didn't understand it.
    A: I'm going to ask Dad if I can go to Rome with my girlfriend.
    B: Don't waste your breath.
  • what for
    what for
    why
    Here. I got you this! What for?
    "She gave me five dollars." "What for?"
    "I have to go back to the office." "What for?"
    A: Let's give Jimmy some money for his birthday.
    B: What for? He'll just waste it on video games.
  • what if
    what if
    in the event that; suppose that
    What if no one comes to our party?
    What if you won the lottery?
    What if I get sick?
    A: What if I get sick? Who will take care of me?
    B: Call your mother. She just lives across town.
  • what's up
    what's up
    How are you?
    Hi! What's up?
    "Jim, how is it going?" "What's up, Bob?"
    "What's up, Sam?" "Not much, Mark. What's up with you?"
    A: Hi Sarah! What's up?
    B: Oh, nothing much. Just waiting for the bus.
  • when it comes to
    when it comes to
    regarding; when dealing with
    He doesn't know very much when it comes to mathematics.
    When it comes to explaining difficult subjects, she is the best teacher.
    He doesn't know very much when it comes to cars.
    A: Can you help me install this computer program?
    B: Sorry. When it comes to computers, I am a real dunce.
  • without question
    without question
    for sure; for certain
    Without question, that was the best meal I've had all this year!
    Without question, that is the best movie I have ever seen!
    The test was, without question, the most difficult test of the year.
    A: What do you think of my painting?
    B: You are, without question, the most talented painter I know.
  • work out
    work out
    exercise doing aerobics or weight lifting
    He decided it was finally time to start working out.
    How often do you work out each week?
    I don't really like to work out, but I do like to play tennis and basketball.
    A: Do you work out?
    B: Yes. I run to the donut shop every morning.
  • wrap up
    wrap up
    finish; bring to an end
    I want to wrap up the team tryouts by comparing your heights. Stand together.
    The senator wrapped up his speech by quoting the president.
    The party wrapped up around 3 a.m. after the beer ran out.
    A: It's almost lunchtime.
    B: OK. Let's wrap up and go out to eat.
y
  • yield to
    yield to
    allow something to happen
    She yielded to his demands for a cookie.
    I yielded to my girlfriend's demands for a ring.
    The president yielded to pressure from the people to cut taxes.
    A: How were the negotiations?
    B: Great! They yielded to our demand for a lower price!
  • you bet
    you bet
    Sure; Yes
    Call me! You bet!
    "Are you free tonight?" "You bet!"
    "Would you like some more pizza?" "You bet!"
    A: Do you want to see a movie?
    B: You bet!
Answer Key
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