PROFICIENCY TEST (ED 802)

HANDOUT Semester 1 2013-2014

TWO-AND THREE-PART VERBS

VERB MEANING VERB MEANING

break into unlawfully enter keep it up continue

brush up on review; relearn lay off fire/dismiss
call for request; suggest look after take care of
call off cancel look into Investigate
call on visit look it over look at it briefly
call up telephone pick up come and get
carry it off succeed pull it off succeed
carry on continue put off delay
come across unexpectedly find put on dress in
come down with get sick with put up with tolerate
cut down decrease it run into unexpectedly meet
cut it out stop it run out of completely use the supply of
cut off stop the supply of show off try to attract attention
get ahead advance show up arrive
get along be friendly take place happen
get over recover from take turns alternate
get rid of throw away take up begin (a hobby)
give away donate turn down refuse
give back return turn in submit
give up surrender turn into become
hold off postpone wear out tire

1
 IDIOMS
IDIOM MEANING

A chip of the old block Just like his father

A piece of cake Be very easy

All in a day’s work Nothing out of the ordinary

Be in the same boat Be in the same situation

Bark up the wrong tree Making a mistake

Burn the candle at both ends Doing too much

Dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s Paying attention to every detail

Head and shoulders above the rest The best

Hit the nail right on the head Be exactly right

Jack-of-all-trades Accomplished at many things

Just my luck I’m not so fortunate.

Miss the boat Missed an opportunity

No sooner said than done It will be done immediately.

Play with fire Doing something dangerous

Put his foot in his mouth Saying embarrassing things

So far, so good It’s been going well up to now.

Swim upstream Really difficult or frustrating

Take forever and a day Taking a really long time

Take it easy Relax

The grass is always greener on the other side of
You always want what you don’t have.
the fence.
To each his own Everyone has a different opinion.

Two heads are better than one It’s good to work together.

You could hear a pin drop. It was really quiet.

You can knock me down/over with a feather. I am very much surprised.