nfretaes English IdiomsEnglish Idioms Jennifer Seidl W. McMordie A fifth edition of English Idioms and How to Use Them ‘Oxford University PressOatord University Press ‘teat later Street, Oxford OX2 6DP Osford New York Auckland anghok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dares Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi. Kolkata Kala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi Sdo Paulo Shanghai Taipei ‘Tokyo Toronto ‘Oxford and Oxford English ae trade marks of Oxford University Pres. ISBN 019432775 2 (paperback) ISBN 0 19 432774 4 (hardback) First Oxford edition by W. MeMordie 1909 Second edition 1913 (eprinted 21 times) Third edition revised by R. C. Goin 1954 (reprinted 17 times) Fourth edition by Jennifer Sei 1978 (reprinted 10 times) Fifth edition 1988 Eleventh impression 2003, © Oxford University Press 1978, 1988 ‘No unauthorized photocopying All rights reserved. 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Oxford University Press disclaims any responsibility forthe content Photorypeset in 4/10/pt Ehrhardt by Tradespools Lid, Frome, Somerset Printed in ChinaContents Introduction 9 1 Idioms in perspective 17 Growth and change in English vocabulary 1 hanging attitudes to language 12 Diflerent aspects ofthe idiom 12 1 What is an idiom? 2 Kinds ofidioms Where and when to useidioms 13 liomatic uses 14 2. Key words with i Adjectives and adverbs 14 bad 14 hot 22 big 15 long 23 dead 16 old 23 flat 17 short 24 good 18. thick 25 hard 20 thin 25 high 27 Nouns 26 end 26 line 27 matter 29 29 point 37 thing 33. way 33. word 35, world 37 Miscellancous 37 all 37 how "41 ittassubjec) 42 itGsobjecy that 49 there 51 oo 53 what 553 Idioms with nouns and adjectives 58 Noun phrases 58 (eng in the machine, a drop inthe ocean Adjective + noun 63 ga biter pill, a close shave ns 80 pieces, wear and tear Pairsofadverbs 82 ia ce. mare or less, far and wide Pairs ofverbs 82 eg. chop and change, hit and miss Wentical pairs 85 eb by bit, through and through 5 Idioms with prepositions 86 ‘e.g. above board, after a fashion, in a scrape 86 of 93 above across 86 off 93 after 86 on 9 against 86 out 97. a 86 over 98 behind 89 round 98 below 89 wo 99 by 89 under 99 for 89 up 100 from 90 within 100 in 90 6 Phrasalverbs 0] a eg. ac up, allow for something, be into something, cal something off, make something upto someone 7 Verbalidioms 155 eg. blow one's own trumpet, calla spade a spade, ‘come o grips with something, doa hunk8 Idioms from special subjects 186 Banking 186 Business 187 Buyingand selling 187 Health illness, death 189 Motoring 190 Polities and government 91 tock Exchange — 192 ming 193 TH ‘Work and industrial ret jons 194 9 Idioms with key words from special categories 197 Animals 197 203 203 grey 205 204 red 205 green "205 white” 206 Numbers, size, measurement 207 number 207 22 one 207 212 two 209 212 three ete. 210 Parts of the body 273 arm 213. hand 222 back 213 head 225 blood 214 heat 226 bone 2/5 heel 227 brain 2/5 leg 228 chest 216 neck 228 ear 216 nose 229 elbow 216 shoulder 229 eye 217 skin 230 face 219 we 230. finger 220 tongue 230 foot, feet 227 woth, teeth 237 hair 222 Time 237 day 231 moment 233 hour "233 night 234 minute 233 time 23410 Idioms with comparisons 337 Comparisons with as...8 237 eK. a5 hold as brass Comparisons with like 238 exit e ind 2 att Index 2h veerIntroduction About this book Since its first publication by Oxford University Press in 1909 English aioms has proved is usefalness through four editions. This new fith edition includes important changes which have taken place in the English language in recent years, Iisa mode ‘current use in Britain, It also includes a number of tigi which ave been adopted by Irish speakers, Loe marked (US) or (mainly US) are not generally used in Britain, Idioms marked (GB) are used in British English only Level Phe book is intended primarily for advanced foreign learners of English, ‘but upper intermediate students should benefit too, Teachers of English will also find it useful Organization The book is divided into ten chapters. Fach chapter deals with various key words (c high-frequency adjectives or nouns, numbers, colours) or with aakey structure (¢ arases, phrasal verbs, phrases with. prepositions). ‘chapter are arranged alphabetically for easy reference. The contents list shows in detail where the various types of nd and a full index makes the book particularly user How to use the book “The book can be used as are fence book for finding out the meaning of an idiom. More important, it can be used for systematic learning of groups ‘of idioms both in and out of the classroom. This isa unique feature of English Idioms, Almost all idioms are accompanied by examples of typical use. Where two examples are given they are separated by this symbol. When looking for an idiom, see iit contains one ofthe key words (eg ‘bad, end, all, lack, two, arm, day, etc). All the key words are listed separately in the contents list and are indexed atthe back of the book. If the idiom contains two key words, e.g. the end of the ine, you will find it under the first key word, ic. under end. Ifthete is no key word in the idiom, look atits structure. For example, a raw deal or a wet blanket are10 Innreduetion iructure Adjective + noun ‘of something, hit on something, put in for something are listed under Phrasal verbs chapter 6. Use of the stress mark() n stress auniliary) adjective or adverb, take the biscuit and eun for stressed. Idioms which have an tunusual or unpredictable stress are the stress mark(), Use of /and ( ) “The slant mark / is used to show alternative possibilities in idioms. For example, break fresh new ground can be used in either of the forms break fresh ground, break new ground. words. F can be used, ‘The brackets ( ) are used to show opto sea both the forms all at sex and at sample, in (al) at Sometimes an idiom is given with both a slant and brackets. For example, not (s0”t00) bad means that any of the forms not bad, not so bad, not too bad can be used Exercises English Idioms: Exercises on Idioms, which isa revised edition of Idioms in Practice (1982), contains exercises on al the types of idioms presented in this reference volume. A seeond book of exercises, English Idioms: Exercises on Phrasal Verbs, which deals very flly wth phrasal verbs alone, i also available. Both books may be used alongside English Idioms or om their own," 1 Idioms in perspective We often read the phrase “language is living thing’, but most of us do not ‘top to think what itreally means. Living things grow and change, so does Tanguage. This chapter takes a look at how and shy. Since the general tendencies of present-day English are towards more is important that this book on idioms should show the language is developing. Idioms are nota separate part of nguage, which one can choose either to use ot to omit; they form an ‘sential part of the vocabulary of English. A description of how the vocabulary of the language is growing and changing will help to place idioms in perspective Growth and change in English vocabulary “The vocabulary of language grows continually with new developmen knowledge. New ideas need new labels to name them. Without new labels, communication of these new ileas would be impossible. Many new words ome from the English of special subjects such as computer sciences, sociology, alverising, politics and economics. ‘Computer technology has given bith to softare, dsket, high-tech, on-line, ‘printout, modem, eomputer-hiterae, to format, to interface, to logon, to mention only afew. The technology of nuclear power has given us interesting noun ‘compounds such as meltdomn o reactor spent-fe reprocessing lant. From economics we have mage-freee, price freze, stagflation (sce also below). ‘The field of advertising has given us sof sell and hard el (subtle and aggressive sales techniques), hype (intensive, exaggerated sales promotion/ publiity/ marketing) and the corresponding verb fo hype Words which already exist can take on an additional meaning ina special context. For example, the field of industrial relations has given new ‘meaning to the verbs to malk out, to lock ut, ot in, 1 go slow. The noun forms walk-out, lack-out, sit-in and go-slow are used almost exclusively in this context. The words leak, spill and mast are typically used in the context of the technology of nuclear power, as well as in everyday contexts. In computer jargon, the verb fo hack and the nouns memory, drive and hardware have taken on new meanings. The word hand as used for © in hard copy has taken on the specialized meaning ‘readable by the eye not only machine-readable output as on magnetic tape. le American English is particulary flexible and creates new words by changing a word's grammatical funetion, eg verb to noun, asin a se-up, {buy a ere-up, a trade-off a work-out, a phone-in, a shoot-out. Nouns are made into verbs, a in aces, o window (computer jargon), tv micrmmav, 1 ruber-stamp, to scapegoat, tclour-match, 0 ar-feght, to headline. Adjectives are made into verbs, as in to soundproof steaming,121 Aioms in perspective 1 skidproof, 10 net (i.e. 10b work). British English q changes are short and more dircet, and language, asthe make the form of words shorter hat roan ar becoming ineteasingly pop. ther popular shortcut joins words together to form one adjective stead ofa long phrase. Here are a few typical ones: ¢ round-the-clock servic, instead ofa service which is offered around the clock (i.e. for 24 hhouts'a day)’, a same-day serice, on-the-job training, low-income groups, non-prjit-making organisation, New words are made by adding endings such as ~ie, ization to adjectives ‘or nouns. ‘This indicates a process: 1 decimaliz, to comtainerize, to ‘computerize, to departmentalize, computerization ete Prefixes such as mini-, maxi~ super-, miro-, maga, hyper- indicate the ‘quantity or quality of n the shortest possible way. Here are some well-established examples: mini-disete, superchip, micro-teaching microsurgery, megustar, megachip, hypermarket, hypersonic New words are made by combining parts of tw existing words: snag (smoke + fog), newscast (news + broadcast), flesitime (exible + time), staglation (stagnant + inflation). Here are some typical combinations from American English, which uses more than British Fish Jhnanch (breakfast + hunch), motel (motorist + hotel), Taundromar (laundry + automat, medicare (medical + care) ‘ablegram (cable + telegram), workaholic (work + alcoholic), -asohol (gasoline + alcohol Changing attitudes to language Educated usage has become much more flexible and tolerant about what is considered to be correct or acceptable. Such changes of attitude can be “observed in several parts of grammar, including case, number and tense. ‘The attitude of users towards style has also become more flexible. Several words which were considered to be slangin the past have gradually been ‘up-grade in status and are now often considered informal or cllouial “Much of what was labelled informal in the past is now considered neural in style. This is partly due to the spread inthe use of tabve words by educated speakers. Several such words give much les offence than inthe past and are widely used in both American and British television productions. Different aspects of the idiom 1 What isan idiom? Itis important to realize that idioms are not only colloquial expressions, as ‘many people believe. They appear informal style and in slang, in poetry, in the language of Shakespeare and the Bible. What then isan idiom? AnIilioms in perspective 1 idiom can be defined as a number of words which, when taken together, hhave a different meaning from the individual meanings of each word. 2 Kinds of idioms Idlioms take many different forms or structures. An idiom can have a roqular structure, an irregular or even a grammatically incorrect stru The elarity of meaning is not dependent on the ‘grammatical correctness. A few examples will illustrate this | Form irregular, meaning clear, asin give someone to understand, do someone proud, do the dirty on someone. 2. Form regular, meaning unclear, asin havea bee in one's bonnet, cw no ie bring the honse down. 3 Form irregular, meaning unclear, as in beat lare, go great guns, be at daggers drum. We find, in fact, that most idioms belong to the second group, where the form is regular but the meaning unclear. However, even in this group some idioms are clearer than others. For example, the meaning of to give someane the green light can be guessed as to give someone permission to start’. Others are too difficult to guess because they have no assoc ‘sith the original meaning of the individual words. Such examples are: 0 sell someane where tw get of to carry the can, to drop a brick, teal the sass Several ied idioms cannot be changed in any part (except the tense of the verb). For example, t pain the town red, to fight shy of something, to get dozen 1 business. Others allow a different number of variants, For example, now one's onions/stuf, a hard/tough nut to crack, to take/have/enjay forty ivinks, 10 come toa had/nasty/stcky/no good/untimely end. Where and when to use idioms (One of the main difficulties for learners is knowing in which situations itis ‘correct to use an idiom, i. the level of style. The book gives help with lates such as infirmal, slang taboo and US. Unmarked idioms are neutral and may be used in most situations. Informal idioms are used in everyday spoken English and in personal letters. Learners are advised to avoid using slang and taboo expressions until their mastery ofthe language is complete. Several examples are, however, included for reference purposes. \ further difficulty is knowing whether an idiom is natural or appropriate ina certain situation. Examples of typical use in particular situations, such as in business contexts, are given and these should be studied carefully \nother difficulty is that of fixed idioms and idioms with variants. Itis ‘most important to be exactin one’s use of fixed idioms, as an inaccurate ‘idiom may mean nothing toa native speaker. Above all remember that itis extremely unwise to translate idioms into or from one's native language. ‘One may be lucky that the tvo languages have the same form and ‘ocabulary, but in most cases the result will be utterly bewildering to the English native speaker ~ and possibly highly amusing.” 2 Key words with idiomatic uses Adjectives and adverbs bad bbad blood uniriendliness or enmity between two people or fami There's ben bad bload betmeen the tno brothers eve since ther fathers death He lofi more w onesan than tthe ater ‘bad language swear words or taboo words. No had language in the classroom! Ifyou must sear, save it until you're outside! abad lot (informal a person with bad personal qualities, someone who is dishonest etc 'm so glad that Jery has stopped going about with Mike Parsons. heard that he had been in prison for stealing, In my opinion, he's a ad to ‘bad news_a person, often with criminal tendencies, who brings trouble to others. Take care, Lucy! That young man is bad news. bad news travels fast (saying) bad news is spread more quickly than ‘good news. ‘My som few 10 Cara last eck and I haven't heard from him yet." "He'l be fin, because bad news travels fast” ‘bad patch a period of difficulty or unhappiness; problems. AU right, 1 ‘admit that our marrige song through a bad patch, bu it isn't the frst time, ‘and we're stil gether. bad workman always blames his tools (saying) an unskilled, inefficient person puts the blame for his mistakes on the materials, tool smachine et. he is using. “This knife isnt sharp enough to carce the meat propery. "105 not the fe thas the problem a ad workman alvays Blames his tos.” be in someone’s bad books be out of favour with someone. /yeu don't ‘et the say finshed by tomorrow, you'll be in your teachers bad books again. come to a bad end. become a criminal, have to go to prison, suffer disgrace. Said of someone who leads a wild life and perhaps has criminal tendencies. Harry was expelled from schoo for stealing and now he's ben sacked from his wry frst jb. He'U cme toa bad end ifhe's not care sive someone/have a bad/hard time treat someone badly or unfurl, make someone suffer/be treated badly or unfairly, suffer x my fis 1 hhad a very dificul boss who gave me a rally bad time. sive something up as a bad job stop tring to do something because it seems very unlikely to suecced, Jonathan started learning German three times, but he didn't make much progres. So now he's given it up asa ad job 0 from bad to worse deteriorate stil further. Busines is going rom bad to ‘morse ~ me may have to dase down.Adjectives and adverbs 15 in a bad way (informal) in a poor condition state of mental or physical health. How's yur far after his heart attack?" "Ina bad ay, actualy ‘Making very lite progress.” (Ge’s/that's) too bad it's pity/unfortunate. 11's t0 bad that you cam’ come to Peter's menty-first birthday party. We'l miss you ‘make the best of a bad job do the best one can in a difficult "unfortunate position, regard a problem optimistically. Andrew didn’t get a ‘lace at untversiy, so he can't study maths afterall. He's decided to make the ‘est of had jb ana go int banking not (60/t00) bad (informal) relatively yood, satisfactory. ‘ello, Sue! How ‘nas the exam?" ‘Oh, not to bad, thanks, ‘business, offen in the entertainment business; eeome Famous. Li int the bigtime now ~ hr latest albu’ been a reat suces inthe States. athe big cheese (informal) the mo someone who thinks hei the most promoted and sabi cheese at work, Jame, too. big deal! Gnformal terri! grea! (ronial. Said when one is not impressed/pleased ete, by something. 1 go the ob! I got the jo!” "Big deal! You were the only applicant, werent you?” big fish in alittle /small pond someone who is important only ina simall unit, group, community, company ete, Bob prefers tobe a big fishin a lite pan, 0h works fora small company with only fy employee. a big hit something/someone very popular with others. By she ay, your su lat isa big hi with your paren. They hink its ere for you big league (informal) something to be taken seriously beeause is ‘important, dangerous, involves alo of money ec. You muant get invoked in that, Davi 1's big league. Those men are criminal big mouth informal) someone who boasts, exaggerates, makes promises he doesn't keep etc. ‘Graham says fe hasan uncle ith a ila in Cannes and hel take me there one day." Well, do belie it. He's us a ig smouth."Note also: have ~. 4’big noise shot (informal) an important person with influence (implies arrogance, self-importance). There's some big noise cmting up from Teadguarers tomorro, soe have to get things tidied wp in here big of someone (informal) generous orkid of someone. (Often s ironically because one thinks the opposite.) ‘Uncle Harold sen! me ify pound for my birthday.” That's big of im ~ considering he's a milliomaire.” big talk/words boastful, empty alk heard Mark lng Alex that he couldn’ decide mhether wo buy a Feguar ora Mercedes ~ all bg talk I'm sure ‘He'lkeap his Ford Fiesta, I et in a big way on alarge scale. Carol and Tony have incited wera hundred ‘guests other sifer meddling party. The altoay do thins ina big ay. ;portant person ofa group; nportant. Just because Dad's been seems to think he ea boss us around at162 Key words with idiomatic uses izive someone a big hand applaud someone with enthusiasm. George ‘acted very mel in the drama group's performance of An Inspector Call. He was sven a big hand every night make it big (slang) be very suceessful, usually in business. Make a name for oneself, money ete. His dream mas to make it big in telecision ~ but it's sill usta dream. too big for one’s boots conceited, arrogant, feeling and acting in a superior way. Since Dowglas at his novel published he's hen leer oo bigfor his bass. 1s time someme taught hin a esom. dead bbe dead s'gainst something ‘someone be completely opposed to something’ someone. fam dead against camping holiday. I cam neve slep comfortably ina ten come to a dead halt come to a complete stop (ea vehicle). The lory ‘came oa dead halt justin front ofthe fallen child. Note alo: stop dead. We ‘abmost had an accident this moruing. A big van pulled out in front of our car ‘and stopped dead without gcinga signal cut someone dead ignore someone completely, treat someone as though ‘one does not know him, 1ha's wrong with Linda? She cut me dead in the ‘bank this morning. dead ahead /in front ina position exactly ahead. We came ou of the wood ‘and found the village we were looking for dead ahead of us. dead and buried/gone long forgotten, of the past. Noone ver alls about (Uncle Joe's prison sentence any mare. That's all deud and buried wow. dead beat/tired (informal) physically exhausted after hard work. You ‘aught to have an early night you lok dead beat! aadead cert (slang)/certainty something that i very sure wll certainly happen; someone who will certainly achieve a target, win etc. ‘Who do ow think will win the Cup?” ‘Leeds United ~ it's a dead cer.” dead drunk extremely drunk, ve ever seen Simon in such a state. He was dead drunk. dead easy very easy. I expected the maths test to be dead easy, but I couldn't do «single question, dead end 1 road that does not lead anywhere. He tok theft turning afer the church, but the road mas unfortunatly a dead end that oy led a fed. 2a point or stage where no further progress can be made. No ‘dead end job is a job without prospects or opportunities for the future. eter feels that he's ina dead end job mith his present firm, He's thinking of ‘making a fresh star as a fecance journalist. ‘dead heat result of a race or competition in which two competitors finish at the same time or withthe same score. Inthe European Song Contest there was a dea heat for fist place, so there were to inners this Year ‘adead loss (informal) someone something that is of no use/help to anyone in a certain matter or with a certain job ete. I's mouse asking Jack He's a dead loss at mathsAdjectives and adverbs 17 dead on time cxactly on time, punctual. The train arrived dead om time, s0 ‘me didn't have to wait long an the plafor. deadpan expressionless dull, showing no emotion (e.g. on one’s face.) “Maradens Jace i alioays so deadpan. never know whether he's ina good mood tra bad one dead right (informal exactly right Remember you tld me that John was “Friendly mith tlson Miller andl did't belive you? Well you mere dead right 1 caw them together yesterday dead silence a total, unbroken silence. There mas a dead silence inthe ‘room as the olitor opened the encclope ana prepared to read Uncle John's last ml and testament dead slow hardly moving, almost stopped. Unfortunatly, 1 got stuck on the inside lane ofthe motoroay and te rafic as dead slow for abut ffcen miles dead to the world in a deep sleep. 1 whisper. I don't want t wake the ‘hildren.""Ohe, that's okay. They've een dead othe wari for aver a hour.” ight very heavy. can’ posh carry this suitase I's a dead adead eight ‘dead wood somcone/ something thats no longer needed or useful ors Couto date, 1F4fime me brought hee fils upto date, We start by throwing ‘ut al the dead wood. flog a dead horse (informal) waste one’ time /eflorts. I've heen showing “enw erk how tous the computer bu it's ike ging a dead horse He simply can’t remember which kes to prs rake a dead set at someone try deliberately to atack someone (with ‘words, angry looks ete); make an obvious ater to intcrest someone of the opposite sex. Robert met agirlat Joes party ad made a dead set at her— without much luck, according to Jo. over my dead body! (informal) used to state that the speaker i very ‘much against something, wll not agree to/allow something, that Something wll not happen if he can prevent it. 'm going on holiday with tec oer boys this year, Dad “Over my dead body! You're coming holiday mith ws.” wouldn't be seen dead (doing something ete.) (informal) would not do Something because one considers it unacceptable. (Used to express Strong dislike) What a terrible colour! I wouldn't be seen dead in it. Liz ton | acept Barry's noiation 1 the dsc. She docs ike him ~ says she smonldn't be sen dead with him. flat --and that’s lat! (informal) and thats my last word on the matter. (Used to end an argument or after giving an order.) You wil go to Aunt ‘Maus ith us for the meckend and tha’ fat! fall lat (a plan/project etc) not materialize, filto develop. Ve had plans io go to Canada to visit friends ut thy fll flat when father had to go into hospital182 Key words with idiomati flat battery a battery that must be re-charged. There's no monder the ‘engine won't start. You've got a flat batery. ‘flat denial/refusal ete. an absolute, d sod offer, but he gave us alt refisa fat out with all one’s powers or energy; as much or as quickly as possible (with go/run/race/work ete.) ve heen working flat out all day trying to et the las chapter of the book finished. aaflat tyre a tyre with no air init, or not enough, Sorry we're late. We had a lat tyre on the may here. in two minutes ete. flat (informal) in no more than two minutes ete (Expresses surprise atthe shor time needed or emphasizes that litle time will be needed.) When [old the children me mere going tothe park, they mere ready in tn seconds fla knock someone flat 1 knock someone off his feet with a blow, This mart started making trouble in the pub. Joc was very pation at firs, but when he insulted Joe's wife, Joe stood up aid knocked him fat. 2shock/stun someone with a mental blow. The dreadfl news knocked us flat. tell someone flat tell someone in a very positive and definite manner. She tld him lat that she had no intention of lending iva any money. nite denial ete, He made him a good ‘good deal often, alot. He iavelled in India a good deal when he was young, 1 good few/many (+ plural noun) quite alot, several. There mere a good ‘few people at the concert ast night, more thane had expected a good way quite along way. ‘How far is Wells from here?" Well, t's a goad may, actually. I'l take you too hours.” as good as almost certainly, forall practical purposes. Mike as goad as evo that he has passed his exam. He saw his profesor and he gave him a broad smile and a wink. ‘as good as gold said of a well-behaved child. Mary is as good as gold most ofthe time as good as one’s word true to one’s promise, absolutely reliable. Steve is «good as his ord. Ifhe said he'd help you, then he will. be (all) to the good be an additional advantage. ‘I'm considering taking a Secretarial course after my degre." think you're very mise 1 would be allo the good." be for one’s own good be for one’s own advantage or benefit. We bring ‘our som up rather sri, 1 suppose, and he dosn't lays see that it's for is ‘won good. bbe good for (+ noun) have the necessary qualities, energy, ability ete. to provide something or to survive. ‘s your ld car still running?” ‘Oh, yx. 1's 00d fr another ten thousand miles yet." ‘be in good company be in the same situation as someone else/others. ‘Gaid to encourage, comfort or agree about something.) ‘failed my driving test yesterday" Oh mel, you're in good company ~ so did I ast meek."Adjectives and adverbs 19 be in someone's good books be in favour with someone. Joanna has been in er teacher's ood books since she started taking school more seriously and smarking hard. be om to a good thing. (informal) have found a pleasant, financially advantageous occupation, Afr: Bellamy pays Prank generously forthe few ins he dos in her garden. Frank knows when he's onto good thing. do someone good help/be good for someone's health, sate of mind ete Why don’t you take a short holiday? 1 would do you good. do someone a good turn do someone a favour in order to help him ike Henry. Just afer the war he did me a realy good turn and I've never Sorgoten it for good forever, permanently. Rosalnd’s gone to Canada for good. She's not coming buck sive (someone) as good as one gets retaliate, fight hack, ae towards ‘someone in the same way ashe acted towards you. Sheila said a oman in the accounts departments alnays rade ta her, but knowing Sheila I'm sure she ives eras good as she gets sive someone a good ‘talking-to/telling"off criticize someone Vigorously. castomer complained about one ofthe waiters, so the manageress came and gave hi a goad talking 00d for nothing. (a person) having no goo! qualities; lazy, unreliable, worthless ete. Note also: ‘good for nothing. I've ncver liked Charles ‘He's a good for nothing. x00d God! a strong expression of surprise (often unpleasant), shock or amavement. Gaod Gad! He’ dead 00d gracious/heavens/Lord! an expression of surprise. Good heavens! 1's Jolin, He's two days early. ‘good grief! an expression of dismay or displeasure. Good grief! You'll necer pass any exams if you ca’ do beter wark than this. ‘s00d riddance! (informal) sad to show relief when one gets rid of an "unpleasant person or something unwanted, or when one completes a tiresome job of work ete. Thank goodness tha’ finished ~ and good riddancel I've never had sch a tricky report to write have a good time enjoy oneself. masn’t looking formard to the staff outing, brut me all had a really god time have had a good innings have lived a long time; have enjoyed something pleasant fora long period, e- influence, suecess, fume. 1/Paul ist re~ elected Chairman, he can't complain. After tele years he's had a god innings ‘hold good continue to be true or valid (eg. a promise, an offer). your invitation tl holds good, Pd like to visit you this surumer with my family sgood time early, with plenty of time to spare. We got tothe theatre in oad time, 0 me were able o have a sandwich before the play began. it’s a good job (that...) itis lucky itis good thing that... 1's. good job that the ight was an hour late or we would hace mised it202 Key words with idiomatic uses it’s no/not much good doing something there is n something. I no good phoning Peter. He's in Spain, make good do well; be successful in getting a good job, secu Martin is avery ambitious young mau. He's determined to make good, and Fim sure he will ‘make good time (usually in a vehicle) progress with a journey faster than 1 was pretty quiet om the motornay, so we made god time and carrived an hour early throw good money after bad lose more money in an attempt to for a loss. Douglas last mancy an some foreign investments, sof suggested a god inestment scheme inthis country. But he said that he wasn't prepared to throw good maney afer bad. while the going’s good as long as the situation is favourable, Said when ¢ speaker expects the situation to be unfavourable in the Future Than’ got alot of work ado atthe moment, s0 1 taking a few days ‘oid mile the going’s good. value in doing hard be hard hit be severely alfeeted by something unpleasant. The univers shave een hard hit by the government cus i spending, bbe hard on someone treat someone in asrict harsh manner. /dhink Bill, is hing unnecessarily hard om his son. He von tale any f the freedoms ana pleasures that other boys of his age have. be hard pressed (to do something) ‘Could you name all the sates ofthe itheu! preparation.” bbe hard to please said of a person who is critical or who sets unusually high standards. Our nem teacher sets erifially high standards and is very hard to please. bbe hard ‘up be short of money. Come on, John. Ifyou re hard up again, 1 pay for lunch (do something) the hard way by the most fficult or most unpteasant method. Nicole has a French mother, so she’s hilingnal learat French the Ihard may — years of regular vert schol! drive a hard bargain be tough in business dealings and consider only ‘one’s own advantages, profits ete, often unfairly. think cam persuade Hawkins to accept our terms." Dan't he ton sure. He drives avery hard bargain.” athard and fast rule a rule that applies without exception. ssh addition of in the third person singular resent tensea hard and fst rule? hard cash notes and coins, not a cheque or credit card. I've heard that ‘Palmer pays all his bills hard cash, even if they're for thousands of pounds. hhard of hearing partly deaf. You'll have to speak up. Father’ rather hard of hearing ahard ‘luck story an unhappy story judged to be untrue) told by someone who wants money, sympathy oF help. A mam came tothe door difficulty doing something. Well, Ud be hard pres ta do itAdjectives and adverbs 21 smarting money. Hesaid he was out of work and hs wife and children merit {real hard ack sin. 1 hard tough nut to crack a difficult problem to overcome: difficult person to deal with it desig ful that me can cove or not? Whatever i sr, it's going tobe a hard nt to crack the hard stuf? (inform) a drink high in aleoholic content, 4 vodka Tat alas of white wine for me, plese. No spirits ~ I an’ take the hard suf. have a hard time (of it) experience a difficult o unpleasant time, Many families hada hand ime of it during the ar. play hard to get. pretend tobe less interested in someone’ something than one really is. ‘David hasn't sad defintely whether hel es shaw his -rintngs tthe exitin."°Oh, playing hard a es he?™ take hard ‘line be uncompromising, not give in, The government has taken a ery hardline aguns strikes ave he past few years high be for the ‘high jump (informal be liable to be punished, criticized ete severely. J shall be fo the high jump if make a mes of these export order forms again be got high (on something) be/get high spirited as a result ofthe infhuenee of alcohol, drugs ete. Grandad won’ drink Coke. Hescems to think he lt et high om it be in high spirits ys cheerful mood. “You're in high spirits taday."Yes, I've just had some very good news. be get on one’s high horse behave in an arrogant manner. Patrick's ben ‘im his high horse ever since he mon a scholarship to Oxford be riding high be very successful in one’s career, especially in the eyes of ‘others: Diana’s riding high atthe moment. She's just been promoted and is ‘expected to be made head of department within the year high and dry abandoned, ignored, isolated. The car broke do, mils aay Jam anyiter. Avan tok Barry tothe next village to get help, s0 1 was efi igh and dry unui he got back "high flyer a person who is very ambitious in his career wishes/ plans. Resemary is trying for ajb in the diplomatic service — but then she always mas a high fiver hhigh and low everywhere possible (with look, search). Where om earth can the keys be? Vv searched high and lw for them! hhigh and mighty behaving in a superior, arrogant manner. Why is Roger sn arrogant these days? What's he got to be high and mighty about? igh places (friends, people) in top-level positions in government and administration; people of influence and power. 1 hear Charles is ina spot ‘of trauble with a drunken driving charge" Yes, but he'l eal right. He has Jriends in high places” it’s high time (one did something) said when something must be done without more delay. fhe examination’s next meek, its high time you started dong some work22, 2 Key words with idiomatic uses with « high hand, in a high-handed fashion/manner in an arrogant ‘without consideration forthe wishes or opinions of others. Jan deals with everyone’ complaints with a very high hand. Some customers have ‘complained about her. state of worry and upset, ing. Don’ listurb Mur. Her train leaves in an hour and she’s stil packing, so she's all hot and bothered. be hot on something. (informal) be very well informed, knowledgeable ‘and good at something. Sarah was never to hot on science in school. She anas beter at languages be in/get into hot water be in/get into serious trouble. You'l ei hot snaier hen your father finds out what you've done t his car! blow hot and cold (informal) be undecided, wanting something and then not wanting it alternately. ‘ave you decided whether or not to mave house? ‘Not yet. We're still Bowing hot and cold." thot line a dircet, seeret telephone link between two important people, ‘ex heads of government. Throughout the entire cris there was a hot line detmeen the te heads of state thot potato (informal) an issue that is dangerous, highly controversial or ‘embarrassing to deal with, [this ta goverament cover-up, then it's areal ‘ot potato and Flet Street won't touch it! Note also: drop someove like a hhot potato break off contact with someone abruptly. When you are no ong wef to Ken, he'll drop you like a ot potato. the ‘hot seat animportant postion in which one is open to criticism and attack and has to face difficult questions ete. As managing director ofa chemical concern I'm continually in the hot seat now tha everyone is 30 imorvied about the environment ‘hot spot anarea of political unrest or danger. / don't shink I'd like to bea Jnurnaist being sent around the globe to al the politcal hot spas hhot under the collar annoyed and iritated. Te elitor has just hen told 10 ‘ut her budgets she's rather hot under the collar this morning, ‘make it hot for someone (informal) make things unpleasant or dificult for someone. IJ were you, I would treat Kenneth Marden with a litle mare respect Ie doesn't like yu, e's in a position to make it hot for you. ping hot (food) served very hot, suggesting that it has just been freshly ‘cooked. When the meathers old ike wo have piping hot soup for lnc strike while the iron is hot (saying) take advantage of something while ‘the situation/time is favourable; make the most of present opportuni- ties. Ifyour father has offered to pay fr your holiday, strike while the irons Ft! Ifyou say no, he may not offer againAdjectives and adverbs 23 «tong last finaly afer long wait. (Expresses relief) se heen expecting a ure marie fin the State fr ar thee mek Tong ls it has are thc as broad asits long the resll/stuation ithe same whatever one eis to do 17% a: broad ait ong. Taking your cart Spain sas ‘panes fring and renting car when yon hee soalong way he sucessfil, make a career for oneself Said of a person ‘sho shows promise when young atthe start of his working ite. The re sitet manager seems tbe ery bright yong mun. He shuld goa ime ey. Tong way towards (doing) something be a great help. The mony sn tn la Tong may tard paying for theme a. have come a long way have matured in one's views and outlook, have Tearnta lo about life, gained in personal or professional experience et Marge has come lo ay sin her divorce She wed a bey oid and reserved, but now she's confident and resolute inthe Tong run over along period of time, We had apa it of work into emprosemont onthe house, Bu er hoping that wl pay off in the fing ran athe long term in planning forthe distant future, Make sure that you Fulfil the comoract, It's important for our credibility én the long term. long drawn ‘out (ahs, negotiations taking 10 much time, too slow or Iengthy, Wht did you thik ofthe headmaster’ peck?” Not ba, bu ow Jing dren ot. «Tong shot a hopefial guess, a attempt shat wil probably fil because of lick ofinformation ete. May’ disappeared. know i's aTon sho, ut could sheave gone iit her amin in Coral? wot by a Tong chalk (informal) nota all inno way. (Phe phrase refers to S previous statement.) ‘Trade has een very brit today. Hee never had such a goad day." ‘You're right, We haven't. Not by a long chalk." the longand the short oft th essential facts of a matter/even Sinsation. Brian has fod thee ood reasons why ie sould rasor hi a Yer, but the longa the short of that he just dsm wat tg. old aa chip off/ of the old block a son or daughter who is very much like his or her father in character or temperament. ‘Young Ben is jus a stubborn «and short-sighted as his father."’Oh, yes, he’s certainly a chip off the old block.” or old ‘times’ sake for sentimental reasons related to pleasant memories. from the past. [spent my childhood in Worcester. like to go back there one day = for ld times! sake an old flame someone of the opposite sex to whom one was strongly attracted at some time in the past. David met Linda by chance in a restaurant yesterday. She's an old flame of his fom their student days at Cambridge.24-2 Key words with idiomatic uses aan old fogey an elderly, narrow-minded person who is out of touch with ‘modern thinking. You cam call me an old foge if you want, but I think that young people today are totally misguided. an old hand (at something) someone with a lot of experience and practice at (doing) something. ‘need somevme to help me fr these selves’ ‘Wel, ask Larry. He's am old hand at that sort of thing,” hhat out of date, no longer original, topical or fashionable. ‘What did you think ofthe guest speakers lecture?” "Well, quite honestly, most of it as old tl" the old man (informal) a term used fora father or a man in authority over group of employees etc. e.g. firm's director, a headmaster. Oh, by the ‘nay, 1 just sam the old man. Le wants to see you in his office immediately. the old school traditional thinking’ standards/code of behaviour asin former times, as opposed to modern thinking ete. Our history professor is (one of the old school. He expects us toe the sare as students in his day. short short cut a quicker or easier way of going somewhere or doing Don't take the main road, it's to far, There's a shortcut behind the church and through the woods. There are no short eats to succes in ecoming a goad doctor, just lot of hard work and experience at short notice with tle warning, shortly before something has to be done ete. You cant expect me to translate en pages of dificult contract at such short note. be short with someone be abrupt, uni rorang? Mrs Bellamy as ery short wth me. bbe/run short (of something) not have enough of something, eg. ‘money, food, writing-paper. He're running rather shor of time, ome had brater discuss the last vo points om the agenda net meek bbe taken short have to make a hurried visit (a lavatory. How ‘embarrassing tobe taken short inthe middle of a speech! ‘cut something short bring something to an end before the expected time. He got am emergency cll say that there had Been an acide in the Jactoy, 0 me had to ut the meeting short. fall short of one’s hopes/expectations be inadequate, disappointing, ‘not as much/s good as one had hoped or expected. Tie intecicw ment ery el, bu the salary they offered me fll hor of my expectations for short as an abbreviation. His name's Konrad Jackson, but everybody calls ‘him “Kojak for short have a short temper become angry easly, frequently or quickly. Father ‘had a shor temper, 501 ras seldom really naught) asa child. in short briefly in afew words, in summary. The weather was goad, the ‘ote was frstorate, and we had lt of fn. fn shor, the holiday was mast enjoyable, in short supply scarce, not enough available. Hard workers sem to bein ‘short supply in this department. Almest everyone's taking a coffec break again. lly. Have I dome somethingAdjectives and adverbs 25 little/ nothing short of... litle/nothing less suggesting me dai tle short of blackmail make short work of something. deal with something quickly. Are shee ‘many leters to ansoer?" ‘Only three, so we'll make shart work of them. pull something ‘someone up short 1 stop a vehicle suddenly. This car pulled up short in front of me, 0 1 had t swerve and almost fll off my bicydel 2 interrupt someone when speaking, often in order to correct. The buss noticed immediately that Iwas quoting the wrong figures and pulled mc up ht short and to the point (a speech, order, leter etc) short, direct and clear, possibly abrupt. Don’t make the speech tov long. Kp it short and to ‘the pinta What she had ta say was short and othe point she was not standing again for election. short of something/doing something except, apart from. They say e's ‘upable of anything short of murder) Short of throwing me out, he are everything to get me to leave. What you are es (two people) vey friendly, sharing the same (often profitable) interest, es and Larry have ben as thik s this for yeas They bh have a large share in the ndusiril redevelopment projet. as thick as two short planks (informal) very stupid. / Gloria doesn't see ‘rh Jim's ite scheme, she must be as thick a vo short plans have/grow a thick skin be/becom veo criticism, rebuke, reproach; not be hurt by these. Asa politician in the public eve, you quickly earn to graw a thick skin. Note also: be thick~ skinned. in the thick of it/of doing something right in the middle of some activity atthe busiest part or time of something. We were in the thick of decorating the lving-room ~ buckets of paint and paste everywhere ~ hen our istrsfrom Chicago arrived, a week ear! lay’ pile it on thick (informal) exaggerate, especially when praising or ‘criticizing. John gave a good talk at the conference but Dawson was piling it ‘on thick en he spoke of ‘an unforgetable experience’ thick and fast in large numbers/ quantity and quickly. Our advertising ‘campaign hasbeen a great sucess. Onders fr the nei produc ae coming i thick and fas. thick on the ground numerous, in great supply/quantity. [1 were you, would take the job. Suc good opportunites arnt thik onthe ground. ‘through thick and thin through good times and difficult times, under all conditions. Jack and Bert ment through thick and thin together in the ar, sand they've Been great friends ever since. thin, as thin as a rake (a person) extremely thin. Some people cam eat as many fatty foods aa sweet things as they lke, an sill be as thin as rake26 2 Key words with idiomatic uses bbe skating on thin ice be in an uncertain, risky situation, Be careful, Bab. {you make any promises, you're skating om thin we. We dno yet whether me can guarantee thes prs. disappear/vanish into thin air disappear without trace. Mercer cam my bu mtcook be? Ucn’ have vanished int thi at ‘out of thin aie feom nowhere. The story I told you about Roger didn't just ‘ame oof thin air, you kom. There's some rth nit whether you want to helive i or mh thin audience not many spectators. he local drama group gave a really ood performance of Private Lives. What a pity that there as sacha thin nuienceon the st night. the thin end of the wedge just the beginning of something that will ‘velop into a much greatcr event, problem, scandal ete 1 have the eling ‘tha this om incident at te fatory is ony the hin end of the wee. The dissatisfaction aoe the workers likely to lead ta major strike. a thin exeuse_an uneomsineing eveus. you could’ fnd your pen st that «rather thin excuse for not doin your homework? thin on top not having much hair, becoming bald ' a bit thin ontop already. exec Ube bald by the tine I'm 33. a thin time a period of unpleasantness, por health, lack of money ete ‘When Fak cane ou of prison, he had a ret hin time. His wife had lft him, Iie couldn's get work and nobody was willing to help him. Nouns end at the end of one’s tether in a position where one has no more patience, hope ete. eft. Children il, usband out of work, mother in hasptal~ poor Annie's atte end of her ter. at the end of the day when one has considered everything, J know Chris ‘has his faults, but at the end of the day he’s the only man wh can do the job properly. ata loose end having nothing todo, having time to waste. Judy fees at a Ioase end, now tha the term i ver be the end (informal the worst, the most exasperating ete. J kom some ‘people talk a lot, bul Marilyn is the end. She neverstops! (not) be the end of the world (for someone) (informal) (no!) be a total disaster. If didn't get the job, i wouldn't he the end ofthe orld. I've got another offer sethold of the wrong end of the stick misunderstand the meaning, intention, situation totally. No, no, said exacly the opposite! I's just like Iris to get ld of the rang end of the stick £0 off at) the “deep end_ (informal) lose control and become angry. When father heard that'd given up physics, he wen off a the deep end.Nouns 27 in the end finaly, atlas afer ther things have happened. Rut dd’ ‘nt tv dure commit, bt teen me era peta her keep one's end up contnuc abe in go spins ven when ones sad “sappointed ete. Bad lac, Steve but hp youre op ere wll oer pportuiti light atthe end of the tunnel promise of beter things (€ sucess, happiness) alter along tne offical, hardship ete er moths of ‘hard mork and na incume, there was light atthe end ofthe tunel. simall ‘Dubie dared tw publ hisfint med never hear the end of (informal) hea a matter aboot gain and ‘again. My husband as so angry when hw ay il gerd trousers. Fi never hear the end fit? mioend of. very many mich, Jeremy has n end hooks nfl. (2 There mas endo argument atthe ecg lst ht. son end continuously, Billstuies or hours on end the end justifies the means (saying. Ite am got ay be achieved by any method, fair or unfair. / know I exaggerated about my past a ‘experience at the interview, but I got the job, and after all, the end justifies themmeans, the end ofthe line/road the point at which some activity oF station must stop (¢4relationship) because no further progress is possible oF trecause thas no future ete When Stephane deter hat Din was ‘engante asec th ial mem to ifort relainship. to-no end in in, fr nothing. Hedved oomsine hse hath was cling the tat, ut ia al moon. He didn elie i, smake (both) ends meet manage with the money one rs oF hs. Hom can anyone make ends meet an £40 a week? tie/clear up loose ends complete small matters/jobs; attend to matters, are still to be decided. / still have quite a few loose ends to tieup athe oie hefore pon holiday. line all along/ right down the line at every point/stage, in every way/aspect, inall mater. Since he started paying mrcatention ois eprom, Bes ‘ena succes right down the ine— go himself goad job and made los of frends © im ned our suppor Tel him tha mei im alan the be (next) in line for something be the next person due for something Who's next in line for promotion in your department? bein one’s line be to someone's taste, what someone likes doing ete. 'm sorry, but discos aren't exactly in my line be off/on line (a machine) 1 be out of operation/in operation. Attention! Printer not on ine! 2 not computer-contolled computer-contolle. 3 (a person) informal) not working/ functioning as normal. Barry haz Just had six weeks” vacation, but he'll soon be back om line when he’s had two or ‘thre days of ofc sires and routine.28 2 Key words with idiomatic uses ‘be do something in/out of fine (with something) be/actin ‘agreement/disagreement, Your suggestions ar out of ine with my former ropa. 1 The Minister as clearly mot acting in line with party policy. bbe/get/step out of line act ina way that is offensive to others, say ‘something to someone that is unfair, ineorrce, insulting, hurtful ete Ch yo are wary out of line! Tha's bth selfish anal unreasonable. 1 think you ‘ave Diane an apology the bottom line the essential resut/outcome/ conclusion of a mater; the sum of money that has to be [No explanations pleas, just give ‘me the bots fine, How much did we lose on the del? bring someone/something into line persuade someone to conform, make something fit, match, suit. At fist he didn't agree ith my ay of dangunizing the business, but T managed to bring him int line.» She must ‘ning her peeh fly ito line with company poi ’choose/follow take the line of feast resistance choose ete. the easiest, least unpleasant way of achieving something, Afer the scandal, Joe took the line of least resistance and simply lf the county. ‘come fall into line with someone something. agrce with someone; accept plan or procedure. 'm sure Damien nil all ma line mith us on the matter when he realises how serious it draw the line at something/somewhere set. limit/standard for one’s ‘bchaviour of forthe behaviour of others, puta stop something. led you another fifty pounds and no more. Ihave te draw the line somerohere drop someone a line write an informal letter or note to someone. Besure ‘drop ws ine and let ws row your new addres eta line on someone /something find out information about someone? something. Cam yu get «line on Walker’ whereabouts? He ‘hasn't reported ta headguartrs fr toa weeks. sive someone a line on someone/something_ give someone ormation about someone/something. Get Trevar i give you a line on Daniels. He sed ta work with him in Scotland. in the line of fire in a position between two opposing sides, groups ete. and therefore likey to get hurt by thei attacks on each other. As both Joe's sister and Bill's wif she as right inthe line offre whenever the tivo ‘men quareled. layit on the line (informal state something with foree, e.g. an order, ‘threat, opinion. The feum manager nas very dissatisfied ith the discipline in the team. Then when two of us mised training, bay, did he ay itm te ine! lay something on the line (informal) put something at risk. Tio years ago Tad my reputation om the line for himn— and this is how he repays me. sign on the dotted line agree to do something unconditionally (as ifone had signed one’s name tit). The boss nceds volunteers for our branch in Glasgow, bu so far no one has signed on the dotted line. somewhere along the line at some stage’ point in the process or development. The progres of a new project is rarely rapid. There's always a hitch somerhere along the line.Nouns 29 take a firm/hard/strong line (with someone) (on/over ing) deal firmly or decisively with. Some of the emplayees have ‘produced bad work, The management will baking femer line with them in inthe lines of something. in the syle/fashion of, similar to. The writen along the lines of hs first mace, hich is set inthe Far East Bet one’s ines/wires crossed. be mistaken about/ misunderstand what another person means/intends/wants ete. Va that's nol hat I meant at al. think seve got our lines erased somewhere. explain again. read between the lines tand or sense more than the actual words ‘ay; have insight into a situation, She didn’ tell me directly, but reading ‘etmeen the tines 1 think she intends to seule in Geneve ‘matter of concern something to worry about. Oursen’s behaviour at school hasbeen a matter of concern tous fr sane Hine wow. matter of life and/or death something wally important/ urgent. Maureen has been working furiously ta fimish the designs all day ~ as if they tere a mater of Hear dethe ‘4 matter of opinion a subject on which people have different o Whether or not vido games are bad for childrens a attr of pinion. matter of time: something whieh is ceriain to happen sooner or later. sont mater of time before Toh’ old ear fal to ples altogether. I's ‘ment year od (5) a matter of course in accordance with what happens naturally or with what usually happens. Mot young married auplesstart a family as a ater of enue. Tm young maid eps, atin amily a maner be the matter be wrong, nt be inorder, Prick pale and tire. kucw something asthe matter. for'that matter also, aswell. France makes ae thre milion cara year sa for that matter, does West Germany. 1g to laugh about, something very serious. ‘Being ou of work these days i no laughing matter ‘no matter what/who/where/which ete. itis not important what etc No mater who phones, I'm no at home, okay? Lust spe ther, so ask ‘er phone me, no mater how late is mind «atthe back of one’s/someone’s mind a sccret/hidden intention/idea/ worry ina person's thoughts only, not told to others. John's worried about ‘he stomach pains he afin gets. Hoe mar’ a the back of his mind. He's sfaid he has a serious ills. be (alin the mind in one’s imagination, not factor reality. ‘ut 'm sure ‘that man's following us." People often say tha. Its all the mind.”302 Key words with idiomatic uses be of one/of the same mind be in agreement with someone about something. My wife and I are ofone mind about the education of children, We ‘both elev they learn mare at home than a schoo. be out of one’s mind be mad, erazy. Frazer must be out of his mind to cancel the contrac! call/bring something to mind recall something to one’s memory. The mame saunas familiar to me, but 1 just ca’ call her face to mind. change one's mind (about something/someone) make a different decision or choice. Frances wanted ogo to Hal fora holiday, bu now she's ‘hanged her mind and is going w Spain instead. cross someone’s mind (a though, id weone. ‘Perhaps ‘Sandra mould like ogo to the art exhibition with ws. Shall we ask her? Ves, ‘the thongs had rssed my mind aswell” drive someone out of his mind. make someone very nervous or angry. ‘For the last tie, turn that muse inn! I driving me out of my mind. sive put/set one’s mind to something give one’s attention or mental «nergy to solving or finishing something. Ifyou really put your mind tit you could have the letter writen in no time. sive someone a piece of one’s mind reprimand someone; tell someone exactly what one thinks about his behaviour ete I'm tired of Jack's excuses. The nxt time he says he hasn't go time to hep, shal give him apiece of my mind. have half a mind to do something be inclined to do something but not sure that one will dit. 've haifa mand to tell Tim’s mother about his bad ‘behaviour ~ but then I don’t really want him tobe punished. have a good mind to do something want to do something and be almost sure that one will do it, especialy if one is angry. [ve a good mind ‘wall the waiter and send this food back othe kitchen. 1's almast cold hhave a mind of one’s own have a strong and independent will, not be easily influenced by others. You won't succeed in telling Roger hat he ought ‘or ught not to do— he has & mind of his own. have something/a lot/enough ete. on one’s mind be worried, troubled; have many things to think about. Janice is very quiet these days ‘must hace something on her mind. in one’s/the minds eye in one’s/the imagination. /n my mind's eye can still picture the house by the river vhere spent my early childhood. kkeep/bear someone /something in mind remember. lll keep you in rind when I ant to sell my car. © Please bear in min that I'd like have _your decision by tomorrow. keep one’s mind on something concentrate on something. The class is very resles because ofthe eat, The children can't keep their minds on their ork know one’s (own) mind know exactly what one wants, what one’s aims are ete, Dicks alvays changing obs. I do's think he knows his oom mind.‘load /weight offone’s/someone’s mind a great relic, the end of a worrying or anxious time. Tom has just heard from the dcr that thee mil Deno permanent damage w his legfrom the accident. That's great load off our minds make up one's mind take a decision. Has Sally made up her mind which universitis 1 apply 10? ‘mind over matter overcoming a physical weakness or inconvenience by ‘means of willpower. Theat stage of any mountain climb sana a ‘question of mind over matter. slip one’s mind be forgotten, Magee said she mould give me her new adres, but it must have slipped her mind, ‘speak one's mind say openly what one thinks or feels. know you don’t ‘man to hurt anyone, but I thinkin this case you ought to speak your mind. take one's/someone’s mind off someone /something divert on ‘own or another pers someone’ something ‘unpleasant. Les go 10 town and sea film. Lt wil help take your mind off our trouble ‘out of sight, out of mind (saying) people or things who are faraway, or whom we do not see often, are soon forgotten. Janet promised to wnite from Kuwait, but 've heard nothing A case of out of sight, ot of mind, 1 suppose ‘0 'my mind in my opinion, the way I see it. Look, to my mind the question’ ‘quite simple either he impraves the ofer or you reise it point be beside the point not be relevant to the matter being discussed. sre Helen il like he presen don't think she deseres it~ bu then, that's reside the point ‘be om the point of doing something be about to do something. [a "inst onthe point of picking up the phone ving hin men healed in, ‘case in point anillustrative case, an example for the subject of discussion. ‘shard to bly that anyone mould est his entre savings in sch aris entrprie. Wel, Jake Haring i casein aint. Hedi." come /get to/reach the point come tothe most important thing that ‘ome wants to ay. Thar’ all ery intersting, I'm sure, but do wish he'd eto th point. get the/someone’s point understand what someone wishes o express ‘understand someone's purpose in saying something. Would yu say that again please? I didn't quite get your po. set/wander off the point become vague lose the main argument/ direction ofthe discussion. James sited someinterting a aft, but later gt off the point completly. have (got) a point have an idea/angument/reason et. that others accept astruc, good ete. You've at a point there, Ken. telly would be eter a do ‘the easy is frst and eae the dice its wei last22 Key words with idiomatic uses in point of fact in fact, in reality. Chris may have tld you that he has paid cll eis debts, but in point of act he til owes me four hundred pours ‘make one’s point state or explain clearly one's argument or idea. Al right, Sharon, you've made your point, Now is Mark's ura tote 1s what he thinks. ‘make a point of doing something make sure of doing something ‘because one thinksitisimportant. alas make a point of remembering ‘my friends birthdays ‘not to put ‘too fine a point on it speaking openly and bluntly. Not pul too fine a point omit, think i's time you stopped being preocupied ith private problems and devoted more time t company matters the point of no return the point at which itis impossible to turn back because the consequences of doing so would be worse than those of continuing. We can't reverse aur decision now or we'llase the contrac. We reached the poin of return when we offered an unconditional guarantee. see the point (of/in doing something) understand the purpose or use (ot something). J really don’t sce he ponnt of ging by train arken i's ust as cheap to fy sore point (with someone) a matter which iritates oF upsets someone ‘when mentioned. When Sally come, don't mention Roger. He went on olay Las Palas om his nvm ad its a sore pind with her stretch a point go beyond what is usual or do more than is usual. Wien it ‘exe tothe salary increases, hd hoped the bass would strech a point in my Favour but he didn't got the same as everyone ese the ‘sticking point the absolute limit beyond which one cannot or will not go. At the auction, don't go higher than ton thousand if you can acid it ‘and remember that eleven isthe sticking point. ‘one’s strong/weak point the thing one can do best, knows most about, ‘one’s best quality/something one cannot do well ete. If thre’ a mord you can Yspel, ask Jeff. Spellings his eran poi take someone's point understand and appreciate someone's argument or attitude. (Also: point taken.) / take your print about not wanting to risk Jarther moncy on sucha daub underaking © 'T'm nat wiling to risk ‘further money on the undertaking." Point taken, Fred. Neither am I that’s the (whole) point the essence; the most important thing one trying to say. Yes, that’s the whole point! Ifyou cance the holiday at short otce, you hace tw pay 50%! what's the point? there islitle use/ purpose. You cam speak athe bank ‘manager again, but whats the point? He's already said tha they mont extend the loan. (what is) ‘more to the point (what is) more important or relevant. Janes idea is very good, and, what’s more tothe point, we cam putt into practice ithoutexra costNouns 3 accident, failure or misfortune; a narow Hel that as a close hing! Udi shine” do one's (own) thing (informal) do what one wants to do without being influenced by other people or by rules; act ice. The new asian wil Jace toler that he cn’ st do his eo thing here. Thee are relation to ‘amply with irs things frst (saying) do things in the necessary ar coreeet order: (Often sai asa slight warning or emir) First things frst! Wat wail on’ got yur degre fore ou ak about a career in banking for ‘one thing one good reason/ argument is... (Often introduces an explanation, I really don’ think leyd isthe right man for the job For one ‘thing he's got no specialized kuowledge ofthe problem, and for another he cant speak German. ‘have (got) a thing about something/someone have a strong liking ot dislike for something/ someone. Marjorie has a thing about Chines fd ~ she cats nothing ce We mere neve allowed to havea cat as children. Mother had thing about them. just one of those ing) something (usually unpleasant oF regetable) that isunavoldabe and must be accepted eins and ot being able to eta jabs wnfortnaily just ome of those things these days. just the thing exactly the thing tha is needed. How abou a nce hot cup of 14 to warm you wp?” Oh, ye! That would be just the thing,” not quite the thing not what is socially acceptable, You tr hurry up ‘and change your clothes, Fred. It wouldn't be quite the thing to arrive at ‘Sarah's wedding wearing our gardening rowers ‘one thing leads to another (saying) one small event starts whole sequence of events. Dehhic met Roger ata laundercte. Heasked her aut, one thing led to another, and now they're engaged. show teach /tell someone a thing or two show etc. someone Something useful or important which they do not know. Linda thinks she dons all about computes, but I bt I ould teach her a thing to. ‘sure thing! (informal certainly of course. ‘Could you ge me aif tthe ‘brary? "Sure thing! Hop in!” «thing ofthe past something/someone no longer in demand or of topical intrest et. 1s Carob till seing Howard?” ‘Goodness, na. Thats teen thing ofthe pas for months naw.” ‘what with ‘one thing and another (saying) because so many jobs tasks, dlfculies et, came together. (Often used as an excuse or explanation for something left undone.) I'm sorry about Jo's birthday, bu sha ith ‘me thing and anaser I've ben so buy that Fcmpletey forgot abou i way bye ‘get something under way be/get something going/ working; make progress with something. / there going to he a une elon, me hae to set thecleaion campaign underway by early May.342 Key words with idiomatic uses an extra comment or question that is not opie of conversation. Oh, by the way, Jack swans you to give him the sales figures forthe lst quarter. YFsomething 1 through; via a certain route. The drugs are being rl int Britain by way of London Airpurt. 2 asa ind of; for. What shall we d by way ofa surprise for Mother birthday? et/have one’s own way get what one wants in spite of opposition from ‘others. Gerad say he's src th his chilen, but they always seer to get sheirown way give way I break, fall down/in ete. The bridge docsn't lok safe Ifyou walk ‘m tit wil give way, Fm sure. 2 yield to someone's wishes, demands ete You should give may tall the child's wishes. You'l pol him. 0 one’s own way act independently, even fii against the advice of ‘others, 15a mast of time giving Peter advice. He' always go his own way in theend. 0 out of one’s way to do something do everything possible to help, ‘even ifit is inconvenient, Our neighbours went ont oftheir way to help us when we moved into the new house hhave a way with one have something charming or pleasant in one’s ‘character which is attractive to others. Julia isnt really prety, but she has a nay with her which is mest appealing have a way with someone/something have a talent for/skillin dealing with somcone/something. Susan has a may with children. They love her (Father has a way wih flowers. Everyone admire his garden in a way/in some ways ina sense, 10a certain extent. J knom it mas Ben's ‘nm fa that he dda win, bu fel sorry far him in way. any way at all, in any respect. Can I help you in any way? in the way causing an obstruction. can’ pull ou ofthe drive. There's big lorry inthe may. in the way of something as regards something. There won't he much in the say of trafic if you take the country roads ‘no way! (exclamation) under no circumstances, certainly not. ‘Can 1 ‘borrow your car over the weekend?” ‘No way!” not know which way to turn be in a state of worry and confusion, bein sthopeless situation. L's lst his job and can’t pay the bls. On top of that ‘is wif’ left hi, He simply dosn't kno sohich may to turn any more ‘on the way ‘out going out of fashion, notin demand any more. Tape recorders have ben am the ay out for Jears. Most people buy cassette recorder. that’s the way the cookie crumbles/ that’s the way it goes (saying) that is the situation and no one can change it. Sory to hear you did’ get into the inals, Ken, But thats the way the cookie rumble. ‘way ahead/behind/above/below ete. far ahead ete. Temperatures are say above average forthe time ofthe year. ‘way out (informal) unconventional because very modem; ahead of ts time (clothing, music, art, someone's life-style ete) She’ an artst— really may ou, blice me! She makes salpre out of bit of old casNouns 45 where there’s a will there's a way (saying) if wants (to do) something very much, he will it. Paul smants to go to India, bute hasn't got enough money." Wel, V'm sure hel get enough someliow, Where there's a wil there's a way.” cuts both ways (saying) the same also applies to the other person. Jack refed to lend me the maney. But it cut oth ways. won't ever lend hime ‘money again, ether. hhave it both ways. have advantages from two opposing things atthe same ‘ime. Mirunda wants to have a child and carry on working as journalist at ‘he same time, Tve told her that she ust can't ave it oth ways mend one’s ways improve one’s atitudes, habits, behaviour ete, Brian sll have to mend his mays if he wants to ran a stucessfl business. He's too carless and irresponsible at the moment ‘set in one’s ways not willing to change fixed habits, opinions ete, Aumt Lilian and Uncle Herbert got Brighton every year om holiday. They are so set in their ways that they mont even consider guing anywhere else ways and means methods (ofien unoflicial ofc successfully. You're only allowed in hereifyow're a club member. Mary n't ‘ne, ofcourse, but she's go her mays and means word by word of mouth ina spoken, not writen, form, Mast old fgends were handed down byword of mouth from the word go from the beginning. Neil and Gilher both joined the company in 1977 and were ial fora dtetarship from the werd a give someone one’s word make a promise to someone. ive you my sword that I mon tll anyone goback on one’s word break promise. Steven said he moul ond me the ‘mony, but he went back ow his word have the last word make the lat statement in an argument etc t which ‘no ame can make a reply or objection. Father alays likes tu hase the last sword in any discussion have a word with someone speak or discuss privately with ‘havea word ith my wife, and [el you our decision tomorraw. household word a person, company, product et. inthe public eye ‘whose name is known by everybody. Surely youve heard of Terey Wogan san his alk show! His name's a houschold word with British telecsion ina word briefly. What did she say? Willshe ever forgive me?” Wel, ina ord no.” keep one’s word do what one has promised. Melissa said she would try to get me a job with the agency. I hope she keeps her word a man/woman of his/her word. person who keeps a promise. Vou can relyon Frank completely. He'.a man of his ord. meone. FL362 Key words with idiomatic uses ‘mum's the word! don't tell anyone, it's secret! Now remember, mum's the word, rit won't be a surprise! not a word don’t speak about it. Remember nam, nota mord of this fo your mother —it's joing to be a surprise. not another word! don’t speak about it any more! Tats enough, now. Nor ‘anather word? ‘one’s last word one’s final statement, warning, offer, advice. give you three hundred pounds and that's my lst word. Take it or leave i put in a good word for someone speak ina complimentary way in order tw help, support, defend someone, J put ina good word for you withthe ‘manageres. She ging to give you a second chance. take someone at his word act onthe belief that someone will do what he says. Whew Henry sad he mas ging ta sell his car, Look him at his word and found him auger fo it take someone's word for it believe someone when there is no proof that what he says is true. Penny says she’s already paid me back I can’t remember whether she did or nt 011 have to tae her wo frit that’s not the word for it! an exclamation that something i “Ws cl i ere""Cald! That’ not the word for it 1 freezing! the last word (in something) the most up-to-date, the best kind, the latest style or fashion. The dress isa Marcello made he's the last word in alin fashion at the moment word for word exactly literally, using all the words. You ca ranslave sword for word. Is won't make sense. He copied my exsay word for word. word perfect knowing perfeetly a text one has learnt, e.8. poem, apart ina play. The children have worked hard t lear their pars in the play. Most ofthem are already word peje. actions speak louder than words (saying) what one does is more nportant than what one says. Don’t ust tell Jane that you miss her. Actions speak louder than words, so gv and visit her! hhave words (with someone) have a quarrel or disagreement. Pat's in a ‘bad mood. She had words with her boyfriend again. ‘mark my words! listen to me! note what I say! (used as a warning). The ‘man has neither drive nor ambition. Ifyou empley kom asa sales representative, youl regret it. Mark my words! mince (one’s) words not speak frecly and directly. Stop mincing your swords and just tell me straight what you think of my idea not in so many words not exactly expressed or stated, only hinted at ‘Did Sue iit you to her party?” ‘Wel, ot in so many words. But she did tel sme that i's on Saturday.” ‘words fail me! an expression of shock, surprise, anger. Words fail me! I smasn t expecting such a wonderil birthday surprise! understated,Miscellaneous 37 world carry the world on one’s shoulders carry a lot of responsibility. The boss Jooks as if he's carrying the world on his shoulders again this morning. come ‘down in the world lose one’s social or financial position, The ‘Lammonds have cenainly come down in the word since his company went ‘bankrupt, The Jaguar's gone and the children aren't ata private school any do someone a world of good be very good for someone, You need some fresh air and exercise, It ould do you a world of good! get ‘on in the world he successful in one’s job, improve one’s financial or social standing. Debora is chif consultant with an American high-tech ¢ world. er social or financial postion, not ‘sown success or abilities. Since Sarah married ‘hat vich industrials, she’s certainly gone up in the world. (it’s a) small world! expression of surprise when one meets an acquaintance somewhere unexpectedly. Just imagine, met Paul Hil in a taxi quewe at Kennedy Airport. Small world, isn't? man/woman of the world experienced, with a cosmopolitan background. Simon's a mum of the world. He'll know whether or no this is a casera lanyer, not for the world under no circum ‘wn forthe world, so don’t be afraid, ‘on top of the world ina very happy mood because of success, good health ete. Alan's ecing om lop ofthe world He's just heard that he’s won a prize for the most outstanding journalist of the year out of this world wonderful. He's a brilliant designer His designs are realy ‘ut of this world! the world ‘over all over the world, everywhere. People are the same the smorld over~ good, bad and indiferent worlds apart very different from each other. You moulin’ belive how dierent Jane is from her sister. They are worlds apart. ces. Lmould’t leave you om your Miscellaneous all after all contrary to what one thinks, supposes or expects to happen (with this meaning it usually stands atthe end ofa statement). took my tumbrlla, but it didn’t rain afterall. Roger said he wouldn't be able to attend the meeting but he managed to come after al i of everything. Don't beso harsh on Tiny. He's only a chil, afer all. 3 after all (Often used to introduce an argument or reason that the listener should consider, therefore usualy t the beginning ofa statement. Note also the usual siress pattern with this meaning.) one mustn’t forget... itisimportant twrealize... [think me should agree lend Fohs the money he needs. After382 Key words with idiomatic uses all, he did help ws to years ago with a small oan You realy shouldn't worry so much about your danger. Mier all. she snimeten and mot a chil all aTong. all the time, from the start until now. [sd all along that you shold invest all your money in omy one scheme, but you woulda’ stn t ‘me.c1 You're telling me nothing new. I've knot all alan! alland sundry everybody, ll kinds of people. Dan alk so loudly. There's ‘na need forall and sundry to hear our business all being well if nothing unexpected or unfortunate happens. Goad! So all ‘cing welll expect you on Sunday. “all but very nearly almost. He mas ery curt and rather rad. He al but asked me to eave. (1 e all but finshed fice chapter so there isn't much mare toda the all clear (usually get/give someone ~) 1a signal that a danger threat/something unpleasant is past Whew the doorbell rang, Barbara ran int the next roomy as she didn't vant Tomy to ind her here As soon ashe ad Jef, Have her te all clear to come out. 2 permission to stat or continue. Wecats star on the projet as soon as meget the all dear Jom headquarter ‘all day and ‘every day without a break or change; continuously. Sieve is smorking hard to finish his novel He's been siting at his typewriter al day and every day for five weeks now. ‘all hours at all times whether very early or very late.’ been working all urs recently to get my near navel finshed all'in_ 1 everything included. The staff outing will cst £6.50 per person all in. 2 (informal) exhausted from physical work or exertion. After travelling two days ad too nights, he was alin. dering everything. We didn’t agree on every point, but all in cessful meeting. Allin all, and mot forgeting that he's a beginner, he speaks English very well 's)all in a/the day's work (saying) itis part of the normal routine expected and accepted as part of one’s duties/ work, even ifitis Unpleasant, tiresome, difficult ete. When you work as an air hstess, irvtatng and complaining passengers arcalln a day's work all in good time when the time is right; ata suitable opportunity. I'm very anxious to hear what advice Jers lamyer gave him.""Wel, expect hel tell us ll n good ie.” ‘all of at least (used to emphasize a number or amount). It must be all of 200 miles from hereto Colchester. The new house must have cost the Folsons all of «hundred thousand pounds! Martha must be alo sety-fce, ‘ut she certainly doesn’t look erage. allover the place/shop/show everywhere, in every possible place, (used for emphasis). What a mes! There mere canuns piled up tothe citing ‘and books and paper aller the plac. © So there you are! Ise been looking for you all ewer the shop! all the rage very popular, arousing much interest and enthusiasm. Surely you've heard of the pop-graup Kings and Queens. They're al the rage!Miscellaneous 39 all the same nevertheless, in any ease, J expect the specifications willbe curate, but 1 check them myself all the same. 1m sure she'll ay ys, but 1 ‘shun ask her first all the same. all told. including all things’ persons, having counted and included all, “Hom many names have me got om the ts?” Frse hundred and sixty, all old.” all well and good all it, acceptable (expresses approval of a cer situation). he ofers to help us, all mel and good, but don’t ask him. specs wecks away fms home, travelling, Thats al nell and yoo if you ‘haven't go children to look afer ‘all's well that ‘ends well (saying) if the final result/outcome is good, nothing that happened before really matters. cy wads trafic hold-up, ‘an then the acidemt =I thought me would never get here. Bus here we are and cd's ll tha ends well and all in addition, as well. The thiews sole money, jeweller paintings, siler, fr coat and all! at/till/ until ‘all hours ery late; from night well into the morning. There masa big party somewhere close by lastnight. Car dors mere banging until all hour one’s/the be-all and ‘end-all. the most important aim, interest, thing ete in someone's thoughts life ete. [Frescurch work realy interests you, take the job evn though isnot well-paid. Momey isnt he be-all and end-all, in life. Golf s Jack's be-all and end-all I's all he ever talks about. be all for something/all for ‘doing something be very enthusiastic ‘about/ very much in favour of something. ‘Did she bas approve your plan?” “Oh, yes! She's all for it! Whatecer you do ith the ld cari your decision, dou Fail for keeping it be all go (activites, a situation involving people) be very active, hectic, ‘busy, eventful Wve expecting an important trade delegation from China omorra, 50 it was all go at the ofc today. bbe all'Greek to someone be unintelligible, be to dificult to ‘understand, e.legal/ technical details, terminology ete. The lawyer quoted lot of lass and paragraphs, but I'm afraid that mest of the information ans all Greckto me be allover someone (informal) flatter; fuss over someone in an ‘exaggerated manner. When Jack realized that Mrs Winters wold be resposibleor casting the main part in th new ply, he was all cer her be allright with someone suit someone, be acceptable or agreeable to someone, ‘Would you like to come to supper tonight?" Wel, yes, if tall right with your wife” be all the ‘same to someone not matter, not be important, make no difference to someone. ‘Which date suits you beter, the thirtcenth or the Jifteenth?" I's al the same to me. Either.” bbe someone all over (informal) be typical characteristic of someone, be the way one would expecta person to behave. ‘Everane paid fr a round of drinks except Tom." V'm nat surprised. That's Tam allover. He never gives anything amoay.” whe40 Key words with idiomatic uses for all + noun in spite of, For all his money, he's not really happy. ‘01 wouldn't ike te inher position, forall her wealth for all ete. care expresses indifference, i. ete. do not care, Jack's ‘coming back from the Stats next week, Bob says forall he cares Tack can stay there afew months longer forall ‘Letc. know expresses ignorance ‘At home, forall know.” for all one is worth. with the greatest physical effort, with When he saw the bul coming, he ran across the fed forall hem Jumped aver the gate goall out (to do something) try one’s hardest, be very determined. Jane's going all ou to win a prize in the annual piano-playing competition. he's never Practsed so much! i all in total ‘How many coins have you got in your eollection?* “Three ‘thousand two hundred in all. it’s all up with someone someone's career position ‘success has come ton abrupt end, 11s all up mith Walters. The managing director has found ‘out that he save a rival frm confidential information. Gi’s/they’re) all yours ete. 1 you ete. can have something because someone has finished with it "Do you need these ditionaries any more?” ‘No, no! They're all yours." 2you ete. can have something because | ete do not want it (usually something unpleasant or difficult) don't mant to ‘he club treasurer any more, so if Ted mants the jb, i’ all his! nd indifference, ‘Wheres Jane? itis ‘all someone can do (not) to do something. I have great difficulty in doing something. Employing extra staffs out ofthe question. I's all we cars do to kep the shop in busines. 2 (with not) someone could hardly stop himself from doing something. [mas all she could do not laugh, when she saz him in top hat anc als. Itjust masn't his style. (not) all'there (informal) 1 mentally alert, clever, not easily deceived. ‘you thnk Barry won't natice hat you've done, you're wrong. He's all there! 2 (with not) mentally deficient, lacking in practical intelligence or ‘common sense (also used humorousl). hadn't ben listening, so I gave a rather stupid ansiver. They must have thought I wasn't all here! ofall the ‘fools ete./‘foolish ete. things to do! expresses annoyance ‘when someone has done something which one thinks i foolish ee “Tugh has sold his paintings to some dealer or other in town, for only three Ahsan ponds Nel Ol th fo! Thy wee oh ates teins that much!” of ‘all people things places used to express surprise, because a certain ‘person/thing/place etc. was thought to be unlikely, unsuitable Guess who I met atthe Frankfurt Book Far! Bill Parkinson, ofall people (0 When I told Maggi that I had got engaged, she said, ‘And thebestof British uch! Of al things to say! fonce and for all (used for emphasis) for the only or final time. J’ telling ‘you once and forall No, I mont lend you another fifty pounds! when all is said and done when all the fact, details, aspects of a matter/ situation have been considered. You can compare old and new teachingMiscellaneous 41 ‘methds as much as you want, but when all's said and done, its the amount of work ana elf putin by the students that really counts how and how! (informal) toa great extent, very much. ‘hear that Bill liked the ‘present sent him." "Oh, and how!” dl how in a carcless, bad manner. Johnny doesn’t care what his ‘umenor: looks tke, He does it any old how. 3 Dom tg to the hairdresser’ in Church Stree, He'l eu your hair any old how. “how about...? | used for making a suggestion oF to ask someone's ‘opinion. Hon about a cup of tea? vi How about going tothe theatre on Saturday? Ifyou can’t come before lunch, how about 2.307 2used to remind someone of something. You say you've never heen drunk, but how ‘about the time you had to seep at Fred's because you couldn't wall home after his party? how come: (informal) why? How does/ Negotiations ‘have ben broken off and are no expected tobe resumed. break ‘out 1 escape, free oneself Air only ome yearn prison, hc roe out ‘and mas om the run for several months. Note: a "break-out. Ther has been ‘anather prison break-out. appear and spread rapidly. Fighting has broken ‘et again on the border. Note: an ‘outbreak. There's ben a second serious ‘outbreak of ood-posoning break’through make a major discovery or advance. Nuclear physicists ai to have broken through in seeral mew aspects ofthe mature o the atom. Note: a ‘breakthrough The medical poisson fel confident that there will ‘ea major breakthrough in the fight against cancer within the ned few years108-6 Phrasal verbs bbreak ‘up I come to.an end. The partnership is expected to break up. 0 People started to leave at 11 o'clock and the part finally brake up at midnight. Note: ‘break-up. mas sorry hear ofthe break-up of Susan's marrige finish for school holidays. Wien docs schol break up forthe summer vacation? break something ‘up stop something (often by foree). A fight started in the High Strcet ast night, othe police were called in break it up. ‘break with someone /something end a relationship or association with someone/something. He broke completly with his son when he found out ‘that he nas taking drug. We intend so break with tradition anc spend Christmas on Gran Canaria this yar instead of at home. bring something a’bout cause something to happen, initiate something. The new regime has already brought about large number of improvements (0 This failure hasbeen brought about by his own negligence. bring someone ‘down. I cause someone to be defeated. This scandal may smell bring the government domen atthe next election. 2 persuade someone 10 reduce something in price. After much argument, ne managed to brig the car-dealer down toa price of £450. bring something ‘down reduce something. Government expenditure has been ought dovn radically by large deence cus bring someone ‘in | arrest someone; detain someone for questioning at the police station, Constable Cromther has ust bought a man in for disorder conduct. The man’s been brought in before for the same thing 2eause someone to be involved. The legal situation is 10 complex. I's time tne brought in an export boring something in introduce something. A new bill has hen bought in agains terovism. bring someone ‘in on something tell someone about something, give someone a part in something. fshink se should bring Julia in om the scheme She's aways ful of good ideas. bring something’ off (informal) complete something successfully. must ‘adit that Udidn' think you would bring the deal off. The dinner party sont bean easy thing to organize bul you can rely on Felicity to bring it off sith her usual flair. bring something ‘on. cause something, lead to something. /ofien gt fu hada hik ts comer reding cero eid that rings them on. bring someone ‘out 1 help someone to become less shy. Carol was very ‘shy before she met Peter. He's brought her out a lot. 2 cause to strike (i stop work). The unin leaders threatening to bring his miners out again bring something “out 1 publish something, put something on the rmarket. The same publishers bringing out a new edition of lan Fleming's aovels next year. 2 reveal, show cleary. I's dificult to bring out the exact meaning of certain English idioms in translation. 3 develop. A good teacher aries to bring out his pupils" individual talents.Phrasal verbs 109 bring someone ‘round I restore someone wo consciousness. Tom fainted, ‘bu the fresh air soon brought him round. 2 persuade. Michael didn't lke our suggestion at first, but we soon brought hin round to our ay of thinking. Dring someone ‘up educate someone, rear someone. Alans wifes French, s0 they ane bringing up thei children tobe bilingual. 31 mas brought tp in Sussex bring something ‘up introduce somethin ing. Who brought this mater up in the frst place? The question of higher membership fes was brought up at the last mectng. ‘brush something a’side disregard something, reject something as unimportant. didn't expect him to brush aside my idea in such a rade way. brush ‘up (on) something revise past knowledge/ skills; improve ng. You 1 have to brush up om your tying if you intend tng a part= time serearial job build ‘up develop; incre cendof the noel build someone ‘up I develop someone's physical strength, especially after illness. The dato says Davids much beter, but he now needs building "up with vitamins and fresh ar. 2 increase someone's fame by praise. He's tly an average performer, but the critics have built hin up to be a star of television, Note: "buildup. The new television series mas given a terri build by the popular pres build something ‘up develop something; increase or extend something ‘gradually. Mr Green bull up his busines from nothing. 0 Her fortune has ‘een build up aver the years by careful investment. bump someone ‘off (informal kill someone. Do you realy believe that people who go around bumping others of desece beter themselves? bump something ‘up (informal increase a price, amount, number ete Get them to give you a fied price bore you give Your name. Otherwise they ‘might bump it up by afew hundred It was an editorial decision t bump up the print ran to 60,000. burst in enter suddenly in an excited manner. Jeremy burst in ith the raw that he ha or a alias for to in Pars ‘buy someone ‘off pay money in order to protect one’s interests. The ‘Hacker will have tobe bought off oF he will ruin our good name. Ifyou think you cam buy me of then you re wrong. buy someone ‘out buy someone’s business, ll someone's shares in a ‘company ete, often in order to gain a controlling interest oneself. We feed ta uy him out at 2% abo the market value. Note: a "buy-out. We n't simply ant a controling share. 1: mst bea fall buy-out, 100% o rating buy something ‘up buy as much of something a is availabe. Speculators ‘have bought up the enie building land in this are. > AU supplies of this material hace been bought up by the chemical industry. There's none available to priate householders. bbuz2'off (informal) goaway, leave. Ish he'd buce of and leave ws alone. I hate anyone looking over my shoulder whew I'm ying to concentra. i intensity. Tension really builds up towards the110 6 Phrasal verbs call by. make a short visit. Dog ou, Je’ calling by this evening ‘call for someone/something. | collect someone’ something. [cll for orton my may othe hairdressers. 2 demand! or require someone something. This position cal fora person of absolute integrity. ‘Congratulations! This good news cals or acelebration callin. stop somewhere on the way to somewhere else callin a the cide shap om the ay tothe post ofc. call something ‘off cancel something. If rains the tennis match will have to be called of. Jenny and Debbie have decided that their planned trip to Malaysia wil cost ta much macy, so they're calling it of. ‘all on someone 1 vist someone. Te agency said that arepresemative mould call us net meek, 2invite/request someone to speak. The chairman called on the guest speaker to address the gathering call someone ‘up 1 (mainly US) telephone someone. Fall ou up again later. 2 summon someone for i ick wasn't called up until the war mas neuely wer. Note: eall-up. carry someone away fill with emotion or enthusiasm. She's wonderid ‘actres. She just caries you amma. Lyn was completey carried arvay by the thought of a honeymoon in Hawaii carry something ‘off make a success of something, handle somethi well, The stwation requires tact and diplomacy. anyone can carry i off Grace can cearry ‘on I continue, Please curry on mith your ston ~ sorry Fintrruped. 2 Ginformal) argue, make a fuss. Mrs Green was carrying onto her butcher dahou the poor quality of his steak. Note: acarry~'on. There was such a carry-on when Edoard was invited to stand for chairman and not Simon, 3 {informal have an affair with. There mere rumours tha a junior minster amas carrying on with his secretary ~all untrue of couse. carrysomething’out Iperform/conduct something. Many experiments have teen carved in the field of adult secon language aquisition. 2. full. The ds isn the States, but she lft us witha long sof instructions to carry ut cash in (on something) (informal) exploit a situation (often financially), turn something/a situation to one’s own advantage. There are anays plenty of competitor ready cash in on a company’s misfortune. ‘catch ‘on (informal) become popular, be generally adopted. [nthe States, the idew ofa lunch-break work-out at a fitness cub soon canght on. catch ‘on (to something) understand; grasp the situation. Paula i very bright. She caches ont things more quickly than mas kids of erage. catch someone ‘out outwit/outsmart someone. 11s dificult to catch Moira ‘ont ona point of fat. She ks al the ansvers ‘catch ‘up (on/with something) bring oneself up to date. Afir to ‘month aay from home, ther’ alto local mes to catch up om. 1's a 14-hour flight, soit will gve me a chance to catch up with my reading. catch ‘up with someone overtake and affect someone in a negative way (old age, illness, the past, one’s mistakes et.) Charles looks continually sworn out. I think his hectic life-style is ginning to cach wp mith him.Phrasal verbs 117 change ‘down/up change a vehicle intoalower/higher gear. There a Jury mis very time I changeup int third gear. charge something ‘up (to someone) put something on someone account for payment later. Don 1 ring me a bill just charg tp. 0d Tike to have these goods charged up to my wif, pleas chat someone ‘up (aformal) talk to someone (ofthe opposite sex) ina Iriendly way in order to win his/her contidence or favours. fran a mile Jom any salesman who stats to chat me up.) When I arise a these, ‘Nicola mas being cated up by a man ofa es forty! check in/“out register one’s arvival/departute. You should checkin at the Might -desk about an hour fare take-off (11'm sorry, sr. Mr Carmichael ‘checked out ofthe hae about an hour ago, Note: a'eheck-in. Look! Theres Mike aver there atthe Alitalia check-in ‘check something ‘off mark something as correct om lis. ll you check ‘hese names off as I read them out, please? check someone /something ‘out investigate someone's back Past had him checked out He's teling the truth. She says she mas withthe TA for five year. Check ou, will you? check up on someone/ something investigate someone something, test the truth of something, He'd Beier check upon him bjore we use him as ‘ates. Check up a the figures again bfore the article gest prs. Note: ‘check-up usually refers to examination, he dacor gave me {thorough check-up and coulda find anything wrong with me. chew something ‘over (informal) think carefully about something, take time to consider something. 1 ned some line to chew the mater wer Aefore can give you an answer. chip ‘in (with something) (informal) | interrupt when someone is ‘peaking. id my Bet explain the situation to ther, but Robert kept chapping in with lly questions and comment. 2 conteibute a small amount ‘of money. me all chip in with a pound ort, surely we'll have onough uy a coffee-mater forte seminar room. chuck something ‘in/up informal leave Gob ete), stop doing something. Afike going to chuck is jb in an go into busines with bs rather. Sally stared an Open University coure in English Literature, but shesoon decided to duck it up because ofthe pressure of her job clamp ‘down (on something) use one’s authority to stop suppress something. [7 time the goverument clamped don on fale claims for unemployment befits, Note: a'elampedown. There area lt of health- conscious people who mould welcome a clamp-down on cigartc adverising lean someone ‘out (informal) take all someone's money. IfT have to buy ‘ncn car, itil lean me out completly clean something ‘up remove dirt etc. in order to make something clean. What are thy ding abou cleaning up the i spill? Note ‘clean-up. After lasing aera milion gallons ofcrde, the tanker company now facing a ‘massive clean-up inthe North Sea leas off (informal) go away. [tld the children to take ther fotball and dearaff.112 6 Phrasal verbs ‘lear ‘out (informal) leave and not return; leave quickly, Monica's cleared ‘out with the ids. She was fe up mith Clice's violence.) We'd better dear out of here as fast as me can, I of limits, clear something ‘out make something tidy, empty a room/drawer ete of ‘unwanted things. Would you ik to help me lar out the writing desk? clear something ‘up I make tidy something that going wo cearup that mes yourself? 2 explain by finding out the tue (Can ie cea up the matter ourselves, or shall we callin the police? cock something ‘up (lang, taboo) spoil something, make a mess of ‘something, do something badly. Don't ak Jim i organize anything! He's Jia no experience and he'l cack ital up for you. Note: 'cock-up. You made a real cck-up ofthe travel arrangements, did't you? come a'cross be understood clearly. Her spech was carly prepared, but itdidn’t came acos very wel ‘come across someone something meet someone or find something by ‘chance. You'll nver gues who I came across the other day. Our old maths teacher! Where did you come acrs these old documents? come along: Thurry. Game along me haven't much time, 2 arrive, exist. the chance of being posted abroad ever comes along. ake it. 3 accompany som ‘re going toa show. Why don't you come along? 4 develop, ‘make progress. Hom's your new projet coming along? “come by something obtain. job with such good prospects is nt easy to come by in thes times of high umemplaynient, cow did you come by this eautfil dias carving? come ‘down on someone criticize someone, punish someone. The new traffic laws come down heavily on dangerous drivers. ‘come ‘in 1 become fashionable. Plated skirts are coming in again this season. 2 take a place in a competition. Julia came in third in the 400 metres. 3 play a part. The plan sounds just fine, but where do I come in? Note: come in ‘useful/handy prove tobe useful. Don’t dhom that big ba atnay. 1 might come in handy forthe move come ‘off 1 take place, happen. There was alot oftalk about a takerer, but it never came off 2 succeed. It asa good plan, but it didnt come of 3 fal off. Fred mas riding his bike when he came off and hurt hs lg. ‘come ‘on I begin. I'v gota headache coming on. 2-make progress, develop. ‘My cabbages and onions are coming on nicely. 3 be broadcast on TV radio, ‘My favourite programme comes om at 8 0‘ck om Tuesdays. 4 follow later. Julie's arriving today and Dac caming om tomarroe with the luggage come ‘out I strike (ie. stop work). There’ no chance of the police force coming out. 2 be published, be available on the market. Blizabeth’s book ‘came ou las! month. 3 result, be produced. The photographs ofthe ‘experiments came out very well. + take a place in an examination. Jonathan ‘came out botom in socal studies and tp in maths. 5 become public, be ‘made known. When is the news of their engagement coming oul? come ‘out with something. (informal) say or reveal something that may surprise. You nccer know what children are going to come outwith nex.Phrasal verbs 113 10 When Hasked hn where he'd been, hecameont with a very conse story which was obviously not true come ‘round 1 regain consciousness. Hilary fitted, be she soon came ‘ound in the ies air. 2 pay an informal vst. Would you lke come rund lnmorrow evening? 3 change one’s atnade, be persuaded. Bob refised the Jobat firs, but he sun came ron ohn he heel nw much maney we were ‘ering him, ‘come'to regain consciousness. When she came to, she foe herslfin a ‘hspitalbe. ‘come to something amount to something. Hon much di he bil forthe ‘car rpair come to? What tall comes to, i thes he won roe s his support inthe lection campaign. 2be a question of. Mandy's ver god a pain dan playing the lin but sen it cms to cooking a meal she's pele ‘come ‘up. I present itsel. Mary's bem hoping 1 find wark through the Job (Centre, but nothing stable has ome up yt. 2 be mentioned of discussed Duomping axe mse i a matter tha’ almays coming up these days. 3 it successful. my numer cnc up im the attery, it's champagne for every come ‘up with something. produce an idea/ sugges Marjorie usually comes up with some god ides ‘cook something"up invent, fabricate something (an excuse, Story ete.) What good excuse ave you cooked up for nol atoning the commie meeting? coo! ‘off (informal) become less angry, aggressive, excited ete, Fefs Sarons. Just give him a few minutes to cul of count someone ‘something in include someone/something. Shall me ‘ont you incon the plan? “count on someone something rely on someone something. You can ‘aloays count on Mary to give sound advice (3 We're counting on completing the research by Christmas ‘count someone /something ‘out exclude someone /something, nt ‘consider someone’ something. I'he tips ging fo cs aver fie hundred ‘pounds, you'd better count me out 1 can't afford it ‘crop "up happen, occur unexpectedly mas scheduled to fly to LA, tomorron, but something unexpected has cropped up so Dacid’s going instead. ‘ery ‘off (informal) withdraw. Max promied to come, but now he's cried of at ‘he last momen ‘solution ete ‘cut back (on) something reduce. On account ofthe ugesurpls ot reserces, vas necesay to cutback prnuction. If me dnt et back on ‘expenditure, the company wil be faced mith serio difficulties. Note: ‘cut back. cut down (on) something. reduce (consumption). Fim has cut down his daily calorie intake by halls dificult cut doen on ttle Ixus, ceut ‘in 1 interrupt. J'm sorry, did mean to cut in like that. 2 drive sharply in front of another ear when overtaking. J mish big lorries wouldn't cui ike hat Hwamerces meTF 6 Phrasal verbs cut ‘off turn. The police saw the suspect eut off down a dark lane and disappear ‘nto an empty building, cut someone ‘off 1 break a phone connection. go through tthe right ‘mumber, but then we were cu off. 2isolate someone. The snow drifts and avalanches have cut several hundred holiday-makers off rom the larger ski ng off 1 interrupt the supply of a service (electricity, gas, fy det pay the bil, they cu your eleticity of. 2isolate something. Te fow-Lying villages ier cutoff by lod mater for several days ceut ‘out stop functioning. 1m having terrible trouble with the engine I keeps cuting out. ceut someone ‘out (informal eliminate/ defeat someone, He's managed to cut out al competitions far, st ook as though he may min the chess championship. cut something ‘out 1 stop something, do without som tread and potatoes and yow'l soon start to lose weight. 2 doing something because itis not desired (oft as object). We've hha enough of that ridiculous talk, naw just cuit out! 3 exclude someting. Ifyou cut out paragraphs five and seven, the essay will be fine. (Let's cutout ‘the prcliminares and ge started on the important busines. cut someone ‘up 1 (informal) upset The bad news naturally cut ‘int up lt He mas terribly eu up by his wife's death. 2 (informal injure someone. The car crash cut him up a bit but he's filly revcered now, dash something ‘off produce something hurriedly. just dash off few letters before neh “dawn on someone (an idea, fat) become clear to someone afte ‘certain length of time. Richard couldn't find his Bie, and after he had looked everywhere fori, it dammed on him tha it had bee stolen. “deal in something. scll/do business with something (goods). They deal in Iii and video equipment ‘deal with someone 1 trade with, buy from someone. Hee been dealing smith Leach Brathers fr ver sx years nw. 2 (informal) punish someone, take action against someone. Richards has caused us enough trauble. Fut leave him to me~P'l deal with hi. ‘deal with something treat a topic/subject be concerned with a ‘question/ matter etc. The book deals mith the topicon pages 35 to 48.0 It's time me deat with the question of what new laboratory equipment me nce. 2 handle, tackle, solve something. My jb is mainly te del with customer ‘complaints and enquiries Inflation is one ofthe most dificult isues for any aznvernment to deal with die ‘down decrease, lose in intensity. Maureen mas firs abou! the matter ‘at the time, but her anger soon died down afer she had had more time to think about it “die for something (informal) want something very much, long for something. fier a busy day in ton, I'm usually dying fora rest with my Jet ».Phrasal verbs 1/5 ‘do for someone (informal) keep house for someone. My grandparents ‘have done or themselves for year. 2 euin someone. Note: be done for bbe ruined, finished. he hank freloses om the propery, wl be done fr. ‘do for something. (informal) serve as something. Dan Y throw that old shirt aay. [eu it up and it wil do Jor caning rag. do someone ‘out of something. (informal) eh someone fro getting something sti ink tas Wiis he did me ‘ut o the promotion. do someone ‘over (sang) beat someone severely with ists, Pete has stopped ging ta fatal matches ince got dome er bya ao youths do something ‘up_I renovate something. Mrs McDonalds having the od ‘attagedone up. 2 fasten shor laces zp fastener, buttons et.) Do up sr shac ory fall er the aes. ‘do with something | (informal (ased with could) want, ned, benetit from something. I hot and tired. I eould do mith a nce, evo drink. Sue's ‘ar ennld do wu a good wash and polish. 2 (used with have t0) be concerned with something, be relating o something. Patricia's work has toda with computer application for chemical problems, 1 think do without someone/ something. 1 manage without someone / Something. Fiona has bought a personal computer. Now she says she cam imagine haw she eve did without one. 2 (used with could) dispense with something; not require/tolerate someone’ something. [ould do mithout Pamcla coming tonuira. hacen’ realy go time to ee her draw ‘in 1 (daylight hours) get shorter. he escings are drawing in. I ill soon be vinter. 2 (a train) arrive ata station. The Bristol train drew in ton minutes late. 3(a vehicle) stop athe side ofthe road. The lorry drew in and the driver gt out draw someone ‘in attract someone. Shoppers mere drain in bythe special “fers on wine and spiris draw ‘out 1 (hours of daylight) get longer. As som as January is cer, the day begin t dram out naiceably. 2 (a tran) leave. Wearrced atthe plasform just as the rain was drawing ont. 3 (a vehicle) move into the stream of taffic/ont the road. The van drew out unexpectedly and almost caused am accident draw someone ‘out encourage someone to be less shy. Peter mas rather ‘hymen he lft school, but when he stared mark his coleagues soon drew him ot ddraw something ‘out | take money from one’s bank account. I'm ging 10 draw out all my savings t pay forthe holiday... Ginformal) make something longer, prolong something. Your speech is ton shot. Can't you draw tout a ‘it? § extract information Irom someone who is unwiling to give it Foy auld tell us what really happened at schoo, We had ta dram it out ‘of kim soy draw ‘up (a vehicle) come toa stop. The va drew up in font ofthe house. draw something ‘up 1 place or pull near (a chair et). Dram the armchair tp tothe fre. 2 formulate something. Has the agreement been draren up by @ layer? 01's a carefully drawn up report, accurate and dear.116 6 Phrasal verbs ‘dream something up use one’s imagination to create a story, scheme, plot, plan ete, Whareer mild scheme will Simon dream up nex? ‘dress ‘up I put on one’s best or formal clothes. fs she receptin going to be informal, or do we need t dressup for ii? wear a disguise o fancy-«ress costume. Whav are you dressing up as fr the Charity Ball? dress something’'up improve something; make something appear or sound better. Your proposal isfine. Drs it up abit and the srmititt the drink something ‘in (informal listen to something or look at something ‘eagerly. Mrs Green drinks in al the gossip and spreads i as fast as she can "Weston on top ofthe hl, drinking inthe breath-taking ew. “drive at something try to express something, mean something. David dosn't explain things very mel, bu think Low what he's driving a. drop ‘by/in/over/round pay someone a casual visit. Do dra hy nen iyou'rein the are. My neighbour often drops in fora cafe and a chat drop something ‘by/in/off/over/round bring or take something somewhere. ‘Wher did these video tapes come from?” ill rapped them by Jaryou this afternoon.” Arop ‘off 1 fall asleep. 1 had just dropped af when the telephone rang. 2 decrease. Sandra doesn’t talk much about wanting to becrme a nurse any more Her interest must have dropped off Note: a’ dropoff. There was a sudden drupal in atendanceat the cookery cass hen the new teacher tok drop someone ‘off allow someone to get off a vehicle Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the raceourse. drop ‘out stop attending or participating. Frank stated a cookery couse but the dropped out after the first few essons drum something ‘up encourage and obtain something, ¢. support, sales orders. Francs saving to the States next week to drum up busines for the new produc. ry ‘up I dry the dishes. Bea darling and dry up for me, willyou? 2 Ginformal) be unable to speak further. Poor old Arthur kep drying up in the middle of his speech, sae had to get ont his note. 3 informal) stop talking. Sharon alls about othing but her dsc friends all the vime, 1 do ish she'd dey up! ‘dwell on something spend too much time, discussion or thought ona topic. His speech was to long, He dvelt ov much onthe school’s achievements ‘ease ‘off decrease tension, pressure or speed. I've advised Fim tease ofa bit, He's been morking too hard. Political tension eased of somly when the ead of the tv nations began tall. ‘ease'up become less urgent, slacken. Ibe glad when the pressure of work ‘has eased up a ite. I'm working twelve hours a day and more. “eatinto something. consume, use up a large part of something (money etc). The holiday in Canada wil eat into our savings ‘eat something ‘up 1 food) finish, Make sure the children eat ther vegetables ‘up! 2 consume/use alot of something. Bobs new sporscarjust eats up pein.Phrasal verbs 117 neon (informal) encourage/ urge someone to do something should not. Stop egging him on ta drink more! You can se he's dad enough! cend ‘up (informal) do in the end, finish (by doing something). {fou don’t sow down, you'll end up in hspital. 1 ended up by telling Penny the whole story, although that wasn't my intention. face ‘up to something/someone (problems, difficulties) accept or confront something’ someone. Grandad just can’t face upto the fat that ‘he's tool to wore any more (1s time Peter learnt to face wp ta his parents” demands fall ‘back on someone//something_ go back to someone something for help; use someone something as a reserve. We can almays fallback om Bill tn drive us tothe airport if we can't et anyone ele. Thank goodness we've got cr savings t fallback om fall be’hind (with something) be behind with a schedule, things that must be done ete es faling behind with the work on his book. 1's more ati han he thought fy fl behind with the payments, they charge igh interest rats fall for someone be romantically infatuated with someone. Paua’s fallen Jor her new profesor fall for something 1 like something very much. Sally almays fal forthe ‘most expensive dresses in the shop. be wicked ino believing something. 1 avish my husband wouldn’ fall forall his sales talk. He's just bough hs third davn-momer fallin with someone get to know by chance and begin to associate with someone. Wefel in with some French tourists rom the same hal.) When “Ted worked in Soho, hefellin with some people of dubios character fallin with something. accept/agree 1o/ comply with something, Gavrge svll fallin with any suggestion that incofves having a good vie. falloff I decrease. Sales tend ta ill of just after Christmas. AMtendanee at Aectres el off gradually towards the end ofthe conrse. Note: fall-off. There was a gradual fall-off in attendance. 2lbecome worse, deteriorate. The service his restaurant has ben falling of or along time fall'out (with someone) (informal) quarrel; not be on friendly terms with someone. Rush and Tony have fallen out again, but it never lst long 1a Tammy is beaming quite a df cild. He's abays fllig ou with his Sriends fall'through (informal) fail, not develop or take place. The holiday plans ‘ell through at the last minute ong oils. 2 We're gving ona picnic Tomorro, nls it falls through because ofthe weather feel ‘up to something. feel capable of something physically or mentally. ‘Do you fel up to continuing with the work today? % Afir three weeks in opi I dn fee up to decorating the honse fight someone/ something ‘off defeat/repel somcone/something. The (police had a dificult ob to fight off the reporters a the filmstar mas getting into ‘the car. The fans had tobe fought oft. © 1'm trying to fight of aenldby taking Vitamin C every day.118 6 Phrasal verbs fill'in do a job temporarily wo replace someone else. The maths teacher is #0 Um filing in for afew mecks unl she comes back. fill someone ‘in_give someone detals/information about something. Can you fll me in om Harrison's qualifications far the job? ve just been filled in $y Peter an the latest changes in government policy. fill something ‘in/out/up_ complete with written information (fo 8 etc.) Please fill in all our particulars an this form. 1s this visa, ‘application form filled up correctly? (US) finish something ‘off complete something; use something up. ‘You ‘hacen’ finished this etier."°Oh, P'1fnish it off fir tunch.") Has the last of ‘the Spanish brandy been finshed of yt? finish ‘off/up with something end with something, Ler finish up with a ‘horus of Auld Lang Syne’! ‘finish with someone (informal) end a connection or friendship with someone. The buicher’s avercharged me three times, so now I've finished with him ‘finish with something finish using something, not need something any more. When you've finshed with the book, will you pas ton to me? fit'in go into the space provided. The shelf ist small. The big books won't fitin harmonize with so That modern pice doesn tft in withthe antique furniture, «David doen’ realy itn withthe est of the gro; het much ofan individuals fit someone /something in find time or space for. I hope the haindrser «amit me in today. The doctr can't iin amy more vss this wee fit someone ‘up with something. equip/supply someone with ing. Do you think Fred’s garage could me up mith some new car fit something ‘up with something ix/equip something with something. The laboratries have just been fitted up with new equipment ‘fix on something (informal) decide on something. Have you fixed ona lie forthe dinner party yet? fix something ‘on fasten/attach something. Ifyou don’t fic the top on ropery, the juice mill spill ont fix someone ‘up with something (informal) supply someone with something. Canyon fix me up mith a part-time job in the supermarkel? He rang up the hatl ora oom and at fied up immediatly. fix something up 1 (informal) arrange something. I've fixed up an “appointment at the dents’ fr Tuesday morning. iT ave you got your holiday Lixed up? 2install something. Joe has ied up a work-bench im his garden shed follow something ‘through continue something to the end. Robert is determined to fllow his plan through. © Ifyou follow the argument through to its Igical conclusion, it means thal what Jef cays is true.Phrasal verbs 119 follow something up 1 investigate somethis a Further, The eiitor thinks te story s worth following up. (> We ont to flow tip hs suggestion; it sounds reasonable, follow something; reinforce Sonmething with something. The series ist be fllowed up by another prveranmte ana sinilar theme. Note: follow-up. His frst novel mas a feat succes, s0 naw he’s ritng a follow-up fool a'round (with somcone/ something) (jnformal) 1 waste time, play Towishy. If Kevin doesn stop Joking aroued hel never pass his exams. He tas fooling around with this od gun, when suddenly it went off? 2iertere ‘with someone/something. When Jake realized that Dan was fling around ath is gnfriend, there asa big fight get about Travel, Many gts about all ver Eure, ven though she has’ got crear, 2walk, Old people can't get about very well in winter, 3 spread. News tathnat that te lal radi station mas losing dren seta'cross communicate cleasly. The nem commercial gets across very wel. get something a’eross to someone communi “tomone, make one’s ideas cleat to someone. god speaker can ge his ideas aro to his audience with! much efor. geta'long | (informal) leave, depart. We must be geting long now, or wel Te lateJor ihe cinema. 2 make progress, manage, succeed. om are the Frildere getting alomg mith your new howse? i How's Alec geting alomg iw Canadas manage to do something under difficulties, Haw are you ‘eating along while our wifes in Sotland? 0 The Rabinsons ony havea small season, but they seem to gt along allright. have a good relationship. Rabin andthe new asstant aren't getting along at all wel, I'm afraid icize someone. She's nays getting a er Thushand fr not helping with te housework. ©) Ne names were mentioned, but incall knew who was being goat. Dbribe someone, influence someone to Gowhatome wants Someone hasbeen trying to ge at certain member of the ‘get at someone (informal 1c ‘getat something | reach something. Put the documents somewhere mere ‘he children cen 'tget at them. 2 find out about something; get to know something. The truth of the cae wil be very difiul to get al. 3 mean, try 0 Say, hint at something. 'm afraid I don't iow what you're geting at What nas Rosaline getting at with that strange remark about he moncy not lieing ours? 4 start work on something. 1/the rain stopped, I could get at the garden. There's so much todo get a'way with something escape reprimand or punishment for Something, You shouldn't ether get anay with telling lis. He stole ance before and got avay mith it, mick means that he may doit again get back at someone get revenge on someone. Shel get back at him for telling everybody her secret ~ that's for sure. get back to someone contact somcone again later (with information, an ‘answer ete). 1 don’t have the information you need just now, so I'll ge back to yom later ‘get by manage. you want to speak a language well, you can't get by without ‘mastering its idioms.120. 6 Phrasal verbs et someone ‘down depress someone. This miserable weather realy gets me don. set something ‘down I manage to write something down. Did you get the ast sentence dewrn or was I dictating too quelly? 2 (informal) swallow ‘something. This medicine is so bitter that its am effort to et it down! get down to something. start serious work on something; tackle ‘something. 1° time you got down to your studies or the ther students will eave yu behind, Cateutus isn’ dificult a all, once you gt dow tit. set in Tenter. The ran cam get in though this window. 2 arrive, What time das yor train get in? 3 te elected. Do you think the Conservatces will et inagain? be admitted. The schoo has along maising-ts, so don’ think ‘our an will etn this year get someone ‘in. summon/eall someone. 1 can’ fx this lose wiring mel 130 Ul get an electrician in get something ‘in bring somet get the washing is get in with someone (informal get on good terms with someone in order to gain an advantage. James alas tries to get in with nfluntial ‘people. That's why he's joined the riding lah, et‘off 1 depart; start ajourney. What time did you eventually manage to get spe punishment, reprimand, injury ete. Dick mas Inc, he got ‘off with a warning anda small fine of fifty pounds, (Ale crashed his car, but Inckily ego off with only af sratches. get‘offsomething 1 dismount froma horse; alight (fom a vehicle. She ‘ot off her horse amd came acer to talk te ws. The ender will tell you where to get ofthe bus. 2stop talking about something. Can't me gt ofthe subject, ‘of work fora change? get someone ‘off save someone from punishment. The lawyer go Smith ‘af bute mould’ hae ot hi off easly ft had’ Been a first offence get something ‘off I take something off, remove something. [can’t et my ‘boots off. They're to tights There's eff stain on my shirt.” 'F nan. coud get it of.” 2 sendoff, dispatch. Please get thes eters off by the ‘afternoon post. 3 (informal) learn perfectly. Jeremy's playing the Rng in the school play, but he hasn't got his lines off rmpery ye. et off with someone informal) become friendly with someone ofthe ‘opposite sex ata first meeting. Michael got off mith a very pretty Italian girl, at Mids pary. get someone ‘off with someone (informal) arrange for someone to ‘become friendly with someone of the opposite sex. Mark's alays om his conn, Can't is sister et him off with ome of her girlfriends? get’on I make progress. How's the broken leg getting on? 2 manage, ‘succeed. How's Tom getting on mith his Spanish cnurse? How would you {et on without me? 3 become late, grow older. Time's geting on, me'd better ‘gv home, Mr Wiliams sgiting on, he must be nearly seventy. 4 have a ‘good relationship, like each other’s company. Thy get on well at work but not socially ng inside 1s starting to rain, We aught toPhrasal verbs 120 et‘on to someone | trace/detect someone. The police have final got on ‘othe man who was blackmailing the politician. 2 make contact with nsult someone. J ermplained to the shop about the faulty tnashing-machine aa they said they woul xt onto the manufacturers ith something continue todo something, make progress with rig. Turn the television of and gt on with your homework. tout | (informal go out and enjoy oneself. You nork to hard. You ‘should get mt a bit more. 2 leave, escape. Whon the fighting started, George ‘tought it mould be beter ox out, so he came ack to England. 3 become Known, leak out. The ems has got out abut the takeover, although i asm tw become publicuntil next month Don't eit ge out tha ne about tt et something ‘out | remove something. Te cok’: stuck in the wine ble ‘ant gett out. 2 make an utterance in spite of physical or emotional ficulties. Mr Clarke managed to get ou an apology, but only beceuse he was ‘under pressure to do se 3 publish somthing, put something on the market. The publishers hapetgeta third edition out before Christmas 4 borrow froma library. Hom many books can I get out at atime? et out of something. avoid having todo something. Fred almays gets out ‘of ding the washing-up by saying he's busy in the garden over someone stop being emotionally involved with someone. Andrew's marred again wow, but he never really gol oer his jst wife. et ‘over something. | overcome something (usually difficult or unpleasant) Has Walter got wer his financial dficulites yer? 2 recover from an illness, shock, surprise ctf thought Jessica mould never get ver the shock of losing al her money, but she's staring up in busines agar. 1 eat get ver Jak leaving or Astraia without ting ws. get something ‘over | communicate one's ideas. Profesor Wright knows his subject, but he's not very good at getting oer his ideas this students, Zeomplete something. soon as Brian gets his exams over, he's gong om holiday. As soon asthe frais had been got er the comulate as quick In ssue the work permit ‘get round someone coax/persuae someone, Jenny’ trying get rund her father buy er a hore! get round something avoid ‘round paying your incre tax! sme studied them closely enough get someone ‘round call/summon someone. Get Tom round ifyou need somone afi the broken laon-mower et something ‘round take something to a place, send someone toa place with something. [ger the ideo tape rownd ta you by this ecening set‘round to someone /something find time for someone? something. ‘can't get round to all the appicans now. Ask te lst four to come ack ater Ca haven’ got round to reading your essay yet, but 1 ook at it this ecening et'through I manage to pass through. There's a halen the fence here the dg ges through. 2 succeed, passa test. The exam wa dif. No all, candidates sot through. 3 geta telephone connection, All the lines 19 (Glasgow mere engaged. just couldn't get through evade something. I's no use trying lo get ‘o'm sure the regulations could be got round if1226 Phrasal verbs. et through something. finish something; complete succes. 1 gt thong he hoki one evening use something op Mis salary’ quite high, but he's usually gor through it by the middle ofthe ‘month. 3 eat or drink a large quantity of something. Jimmy got through a big plate of spaghetti and then asked fora send helping! et through to someone suecced in establishing an understanding with someone in communicating with someone. Jan and I had a quarrl and since then Lust haven't been able tget through ta her getsomeone ‘through I help someone to pass an examination, The teacher got all his pupils chrough without dificlly. 2.conmect someone by telephone. By she time the girl at recpiom had gon me through a Blake's extension munber, he'd gone home. get something ‘through 1 cause something tobe approved or accepted. ‘Heanas the personnel manager tho helped to get my transfer through: 2 succeed in ringing through. Alam almays manages to gta double dlowance of spirits through without the customs officals noticing "get to someone (informal) 1 bribe shoul have ben given & harsher sentence. Someone muss have ot tothe jue. fluence one’s state of mind. 11s that She's getting to you, isnt she? Don’t let the strain get to you! get up I get out of bed. f'n not used to getting up cary, 2 (wind, storm) inevease. There's stromg mind getting up. etsomeone ‘up I cll someone from bed. Can yon ge. me up a sie ‘marrow? 2 dress someone formally, dress someone in fancy-dress costume. The children mere got up in ther best lth for Granny's seventy {ile birthday celebrations © We go Barry up as Lang John Silver forthe N Year's Eve Ball getsomething ‘up 1 arrange’ organize something. We're geting up an ‘cening of fll singing. The students have got up petition agains! the dildng of nuclear power stauions. 2 study, memorize. Bill is geting np his ‘maths formals forthe test tomorrow. get up to something 1 reach the standard or level of something. [hope to ‘e1 p 10 hundred mords per mie forthe shorthand exam. 2.be involved in/busy with something (usually something undesirable). “Tim drought dead mouse home yesterday." ‘Good grief! Whatever will he getup to next?” (And just hat have you too been getting up tin my absence? sive someone away I betray someone. Nobody knows I've done this, 0 ‘please don’t give me anay! 2 ead the bride tothe bridegroom atthe marriage ceremony. The bride was given aay by her uncle. sive something away 1 distribute something free of charge. Amanda «didn't mant her callege books any more, so she gave them all aay. 2'betray something, lease dan’ give my sere azvay! Note: give-away. The aay lok ow his face was a real give-avay. ssive ‘in surrender, yield. You can’t min the game nom, 50 you may aswel give jn. 0 The rioters mereat las forced to ge into the police sive something ‘in submit something. Don’ forget o give in your names, you ish o be considered for membership.Phrasal verbs 123 sive ‘out I come to an end, be used up. He had just reached home when the petra ace ou. His strength had almast given out mien the rescuer found hhim, 2 stop functioning. We mere ten miles from the next town when the engine gave aut! ikive something ‘out 1 distribute something. The Presiden’ mife gave out lowers tothe slier. Lannounce something. The list of winners mas given ‘ou aver the microphone. give ‘up lose interest and admit defeat. Oh, give np! Um tired of trying to es the right ansver. give someone ‘up I surrender betray someone, They knew he mas a spy cand a sense of duty forced them ta give hin up ta the authorities. 2 v0 longer expect someone to come, He had already given Daw up, when suddenly he ‘walked in! 3 n0 longer expect someone 10 recover after illness. The actors haa given the patient up, but he made a remarkable reansery sive something ‘up surrender/stop something. [don’t nant to give my job tap unless its really necessary. 2 renounce (beets, principles). Will Ben ‘ave to give his religion up in oder to marry Kathy? 3 devote time to something. All our meckends are given upto gardening. ive ‘up something. stop doing or having something. Y-yo gave up smoking, your health would inprove alot, Please give it up. 2 abandon something, no longer try to do something. They've given up the search for Jurthersurcivors ofthe wrec go.a'bout | circulate, There’ another rumour going about that the Presidem is going to resign. 2-move or walk about. Teenage boys tend to go about in groups. 3 (with in) wear regularly. Does Uncle Henry stil go about in those ‘old army boots? g0a°bout something manage something: approach/ tackle something. ‘Can you help me with this maths problem? I don’t quite know horw ogo abow it. She mem about her warkeofdisvering the truth very efficiently. She had ‘her hushand followed by a private detective g0 after someone/something «ry to get someone something. Paul's ‘gone after anather job, in Manchester. They bath went afer the same gil. go along with someone/something 1 agree with someone. lige along swith you there. You're right! 2 comply with something; do as someone suggests. Suggest pulting te child ina private school. Maybe the parents ‘mould see sense and go along with i 3 approve of something. Do you go alongwith the idea of inherited tts? {go by someone ‘something trust as correct; form a judgement from what someone says. Peuple around here must he very friendly ~ you're cenyting go by. Don't go by that clock 1° fast. 0 ‘down I be received. Hom does the prospect of working again ater the ‘lids go down? His speech went down very well with the audience. 2lose in value, fall. The share index has gone down again by ten points. The tone ofthe neighbourhood has gone dow a lot since thase new houses were built x0 down with something fall il with something. Mast of my culleagues have gone don wit li,124 6 Phrasal verbs ‘x0 for someone attack someone, He ment for the fat man with a knife. The newspapers really ment for him over the bad handling o the ess, but he ‘asn't the omy culprit, 2admire someone, be attracted by someone. isn't tme that dark girs usualy go frfairmen. 3 apply to someone, include someone. Listen carey, because this goes for you all. Does that 0 forthe senior pupils, oo? ‘g0 for something. | like something. don’ realy go for modern art the old ‘masters appeal to me more. Dry hard to get something, make something ‘one’s aim. oan is going fr the tennis championship this year. 0) Catherine ‘mans to make dancing her career, but she’s unsure of herself. So I told her to go Jarit. 3 be sold fora sum of money. ‘Hom much did the house go for?" “Actually, it ment for far les than Vad expected. {80 in for something. I compete in something. Robin's going in for the 100 ‘metres She ment in fra piano competsin and won second prize. Dhave a an interest or hobby. Ronald gos infor collecting amtigue meapons. (1 Publ speaking? Gowdness, no! don goin fr that sort of thing. 3 choose as on career. Sylsia’s gong in for nursing go into something. | investigate/examine something. The solicitor said ‘that he mould go ino the mater very thoroughly. 2state som detail. We haven't enough te to ita the history of the case ‘ould summarize the main points 0 off I explode. The humb ment of without warning, but luckily nobody was seriously hurt. 2 (foxdstufls) go bad. Dont drink the milk think it's gone off 3 get worse. The standard of his work has gone ff wer the last fw weeks 4 (informal) fall asleep. Dad's gone of in the chair, Don't wake him? 5 result, succeed. ‘ow dd the meeting ith Sutherland go off?" Tk ment off rather well actualy.” g0 ‘off someone/something lose one’s liking oF taste for someone/ something. Jane hada nice byfriend, but he must have gone of her because she hast seen him fra long time. We've gone right of camping holidays. We're going ta hotel this year g00n 1 continue talking, [as fred of sening, but he just ment on and on Zeontinue, resume. We'l sop ther for today and go on with the reading ‘tomorrow. 3 happen, take place. Will someone please explain tome ust rwhat’s going on here? Note: goings~ on. There are some very strange goings ‘min that house. $ (informal) behave. Patty mas gving om lea silly schoolgirl. The may se went on, you would think she owned the company. 0'on at someone (informal grumble at someone, reprimand someone, ‘My last English teacher as very hard to please. Ever) day he went on at me ‘about something o ather. {g0 out 1 cease to be in fashion. I hope plastic coats will soon go out. They're not very comfortable, 2 be sent, be announced. Have all the medding invitations gone out yt? 3 emigrate. She went out to New Zealand about five years ago go over something. | repeat something. Could you go mer the explanation ‘once more, please? 2 examine/check something. Le’ go over the figures ‘again. © We ment ver the facts again and again, but me coulda find aPhrasal verbs 125 solution. 3 search something, The police ment over his room three times, but found nothing g0’through be concluded, aecepted. fear that the deal went throug Congratulations! The Consereatives ae trying n preven the ill from going through "go through something 1 use something up, consume something. Hom ‘many pints of milk do you xo through a week? I've gone through too much ‘money this meck, 2 scarch/ examine something. The customs went through ‘allour luggage at the airport 3 sufler pain, hardship, loss. Mes families tment through quite a lot during the war. 4 discuss something; review something. Shall meg through the deals of the plan again? The pros and ams ofthe matter hace ben gone through again and again 0 through with something, complete something, continue something tothe end, The plan mas very daring, and at the last minute L elt I couldn't go Uhrough with ‘80 up increase in price, Wines and spirits are ging up aun next week 2be constructed. There's a mew hypermarket going up i the town cere ‘grow on someone appeal more and more to someone. I didi lke the song at fis, but it gros on you the more you hear it grow up (people) mature, become adult. Your children are groming up very ‘quickly now, Note: «grownup. Chis iat the age hen he likes to spend his time with grown-ups. hammer something out discuss something at length until a solution is reached. The discussion ment on uml the carly hours of the mornin, but they ‘managed to hammer out a solution that would be acceptable t both paris hhand something down I pass something to someone else by tradition ‘These paintings have been handed down tous through fice generations. 2 give ‘something that is no longer needed to others. These clothes have been ‘handed down fram Peter to his tv younger brothers and they are tllin good condition hhand something ‘out 1 circulate something. Will you help me to hand out ‘he leaflets a the meeting? Note: "hand-out isa written or printed leaflet/sheet etc. 2 give/offer something to others. Unde Bilis good at handing out adoice that nobody want o listen to hanga’bout/a'round (informal) stand waiting idly. That man has ben hanging about here for half an hour. What does he rant? Cain's no here at ‘the moment, but if you hang around for awhile you should catch him. hhang'’back hesitate to come forward. you kom the answer, say i. Don't shang back? hang be'hind linger ata place when others have already left Janice and ony hung behind afer the lure o talk othe guest speaker. Walk faster! If _you hang behind, we'll lose you. hhang’on (informal) wait. Hang on and I'l get help! © Just hang on a second ‘and tell Bob you're on the phone for him, hhang’on to something keep something; not sll or give something away. You should hang om to those share, they'll be going up again soon. Wilson should have retired years ago, but he’s hanging on this jb.1266 Phrasal verbs thang ‘out Goformal) live of spend tt these days? hangup end a telephone conversation (often abruptly). J don't know what happened. She just hung up inthe middle ofthe conversation! hang someone /something ‘up (informal delay someone ‘something (often passive). I'm sorry I'm late got hung up o7 the way here. The eax rain hung up the work on the burlding sit for three weeks ‘happen on/upon something discover something by chance. Mow do yon like this jue ornament? I happened on itn a litle side sret in Bangkok. hhave someone ‘in employ someone in one’s home office; invite to one’s home. f'm having the electrician in to fix these faulty switches. ©) We had the Robinsons in for supper lastnight. have someone ‘on tease someone with an untrue or exaggerated story ‘ete. Uncle Bruce said I ould gt a thousand pounds for my old car, but I know dhe was having me on have (got) something ‘on I wear something. Gloria had her fr cot on ‘and it was much oo warm. 2have something arranged, have an engagement. Would you like 1 join us for supper this ccening, or have you got something on already? 011 come and see you as soon as Lean, but I hace a lot ‘nat the moment. ime. Where's Dennis hanging have (got) something ‘on someone (informal) have proof or evidence against someone. The police can’? arrest hin because they haven't got ‘anything on him. have something ‘out cause something to be extracted or removed. ‘Brenda's in hospital having her tonsils out.) The dentist says FU have to have this tooth out have something out (with someone) (informal) argue or diseuss something. to the end. 1's time you had the whole mater aut with Ruth. Just tell each other the truth. hhave someone ‘up for something. (informal) charge someone with something. Ifyou say things lke that, they cam have you up or slander. (Mike's been had up for seeding again, He was doing 65 miles an hour Uhrough the middle of Southampton hhead someone ‘off divert/elude someone. The thief realized that the poice ‘mer folowing him, but he suceeded in heading them off at the junction. hhead someone ‘off something. prevent someone from talking about something. We tried our best a head Henry of the topic, because we knew he would acidentallyreceal eomidental information. head something ‘off avoid /divert something. knew he would try o head off akovard questions about his pas. ve been trying to head a cold off by taking hot lemon drinks, helpsomeone out helpsomeonctoovercome adifficulty,e-g.withadvice ‘or money or by lending someone something. Chris and Debbi haven't got much money, but they've been helped out on occasions by Chris's father. “hit on something (informal) have a sudden good idea, plan or answer to a problem. Brilliant, David! I think you've hit on the right answer!Phrasal verbs 127 hhold ‘back hesitate; restrain oneself ld hack because J wasn't sure ofthe ‘nay he mould react. She was held back from telling him her rea opinion by the thaugh of losing he job hold something ‘back not tel or reveal something; withhold something. Angela told me most ofthe facts ofthe affair bu think she's still holding something hack. 1 The research findings have been hcld back long enough. They should be published hhold ‘off (usually weather) be delayed. Ifthe rain holds of, me can play tenis this afternoon. hold someone/something ‘off keep someone/ something back; restrain ‘Physically. The polite had to hold of the fans when the rok group came out of Uther hotel. The soldiers managed to hold off the enemy attack fo three days. hhold ‘on wait. Hold on until fetch help! © If yon just hold on, get the ear and drice you home. hold ‘out 1 ast, continue tobe sufficient. The tank's halfful, bu I don’t ‘think the oi will hold out until Spring. 2-continue to function (something ‘old or broken). hope the engine will hold out until we gett a garage hold ‘out for something. refuse an offer inthe hope of getting more. The inion has been offered ten per cent, but the leaders are holding aut for tel. hold ‘out on someone (informal) refuse to tell someone something; keep ‘secret from someone. 1/1 thought you were holding out on me, I'd be very annoyed. hold something ‘over postpone something. Can't me hold the matter ver sunil the net meeting? hold someone/something ‘up 1 delay/stop someone/something. Sorn’ T'm late Las hl up bythe traffic, Note: ‘hold-up. ‘Whats the hold- 1p?’ There's probaly been an acide.” 2 threaten someone with a ‘weapon and try to rob him. The raber held up four bank employees at gun ‘point and forced them to open the safe hhold with something approve of som ‘ool sport. hop ‘off (informal) g0 away. Ifyou se that young rascal around here again, {ell him to hap off before 1 get my hands om hi! hot ‘up (informal) become more intense/exciting. The novel ix prety boring at fist, but it begins to hot up half way through and has terrific lima: hhunt something ‘up find something by investigation or research managed to hunt up tht quotation I needed in the library. © These are very interesting statistic. Where did you hun them up? hush something ‘up. not reveal something; prevent something from becoming public. They did their best to hush the whole affair up. 3 You can't Jish twp for muck loger. Te money willbe mised iron something ‘out solve/esolve something. Hace you managed to iron ‘your diference of opinion with Louise? There are few problems that anno be ironed out, if people are prepared to talk abou them: jack something in (informal) stop doing something, .g. one’s job. ‘Felicity gor bored ith modeling so she jacked it im and is trying get a place ‘ata training college. don't ld with any kind of128-6 Phrasal verbs jack something ‘up (informal) increase a price, raise a salary ete. The company made good profit ths year, se the employes ar expecting to have thar ages jacked up by a few er cen jazz something ‘up (informal) make something brighter “livelier. The colour scheme in this tam is dul It neds jaszing np abit with some pictures ‘and brighter curtains. (something) participate in something, We're having fan! Why dnt yo join in? As Cela if she mans join inthe game, join up enter the armed forces voluntarily. J never thought Matthew would Join up, but he says he's always wanted to bea sulier. jump at something (informal) accept an offer etc. with enthusiasm. Alice would jump atthe hance of going to Egypt ct was the offer of a life timc, and Mark cudnt help but jump ait ‘jump on someone (informal) criticize someone severely; sudenly ‘become angry with someone. Nobody likes being jumped on for trivial matters. Why did the boss suddenty jump on Veronica like that? keel ‘over lose one’s balance and fll. Patrick managed climb out ofthe ‘wrecked car. Then he heeled over and landed flat on his hack. keep ‘at someone keep someone under constant pres Yow have to keep at him ifyou want your money back keep 'at something persevere with something. Ifyou want to leam play ‘the piano mel, you have to keep tit keep ‘in stay indoors. 1's best to keep in when it's scold keep someone in punish a pupil by detaining him after school. Ifme don’t get the work finished propery, the mhole class willbe kept in keep something ‘in store something in one’s home; have something available for use. We dom keep much erin ase don't drink i keep ‘in with someone continue friendly relations with someone, [1's best to kep in with Mr Parkinson. He's my bank manager! keep ‘on continue. Keep on until you reach the trafic lights and then tur lef. keep something ‘on continue to maintain something. Will the Jacsons ‘hep am the big house now that their last san has marred and maved aut? keep ‘on at someone (for/about something) (informal) worry/critcize someone continuously. do wish you wouldn't keep om at me about the ‘money Flos. Hi wasn't intentional! keep ‘out of something. not get involved in something. Brian, you keep out of this —it isn't your quarrel! ‘keep "up 1 remain unchanged (weather). If his stomn keeps up the crops will ‘be desired. 2 remain bright and cheerful. Ler spirits kept up in spite of all her troubles keep someone ‘up prevent someone from going to bed. I's late and I'm ‘eeping you up, 301g naw, keep something ‘up maintain something. Ther country house became loo ‘expensive 1 keep up. Note: the ‘upkeep. keep'up something continue something (e.g. friendship, an activity or of persuasion,Phrasal verbs 129 study), We've kept pour findship for aver tmenty years now. ust be ait god at French, but I didn't heep it up after schoo. keep ‘up with someone remain at the same level or position as someone Are yon keeping up with me or am I reading to fast? knock ‘about (with someone) (informal) go/ travel around share the ‘company of. Does Lloyd tl nck about in that ite red two-sealer car of is? T'veseen Dobson's som locking about mith some very dubious types knock someone “back (informal) cost someone a sum of money; set someone back financially. That meal the other evening knocked me back thirty pounds! knock ‘off (informal) stop work. The factory workers usualy knock ofa six knock someone ‘off (slang) kill sameane. Jn certain areas ofthe ety at ight, you're likely to get knucked off or no reason at al. knock something ‘off 1 deduct some: something off you buy two. 2 (informal) wrt atickly Hearne hs ogy wrling ser cei for momen’ journal He Tock one off na evupl of hours knock someone ‘up 1 (GB) wake someone by knocking. Could you knock ‘me upat seve, please? 2 make someone ill by exhaustion. You look Abmocked up, Come ane sit down © Don’t et Grandad do too mucle ork in the arden, Hel knock himself up. knock something ‘up. (informal) produce something quickly (often ood). ack up af sandwiches. Ht ont take long knock ‘up against something. (informal) be confronted with something 1 didn’ expet that we would knock up against so many diffu an the projec ‘land someone with something. (informal, often passive) burden ‘someone with something he does not want. I've heen landed with the conference organization! lap something ‘up (informal) absorb something readily and eagerly (praise, flattery, information). The new pupils very bright, She las up any Jacts and information you ge her lash ‘out (on something) (informal) spend a lot of money on something. At Christmas, Dad realy lashes out om presents forthe whole family latch ‘on to someone (informal) impose one’s company on someone; attach oneself to someone. De you know my Sheila latched onto that weird crowd? latch ‘on to something 1 pay attention o something; listen carefully to something. managed latch on to their remarks, but they didn’t know that f mas listening. 2 grasp, earn how to do something. Betty didn't kom how to we the computer at fist bush son latched om just by watching lay something a'side (money) save forthe future. They lay a litle aside every eck for their old age lay’into someone (informal) attack someone physically or verbally with ‘great energy. sam young Atkins laying into a bay twice his size in the chook playground,1306 Phrasal verbs lay someone ‘off dismiss someone temporarily because there is no work, “The car factory is having olay people off again lay ‘off something (informal) stop doing something. You know 1 don't like peopl smoking inher, Can't you lay of it for once? lay something ‘on I provide (a service), supply something. He can’t move Zin the new house until the as ana the eleany hase heen tad on. ci The bus ‘ampany intends to lay onto more buses for this row. 2 arrange’ organize something. Who's laying onthe refreshments for the conference? lay ‘out something spend a large sum of money. How muck has already ‘ee laid out for books and teaching materia? Note: an ‘outlay. The initial ‘uty fr computer hardware wasn't a high as we ha imagined. lead someone ‘on try 1 persuade/encourage someone to believe something. Salespeople do their hs t lea people on to buy things that they don't need. lead ‘up to something. prepare the way for something, signify something. ‘nao ara he's leading upto. He mans you to lend hi some money. Whatever hesays, itll eads up to theft that he dacsntwant the responsibility, let someone ‘down disappoint’ fail someone. He mon’ le you down. He's ery reliable. Note: a 'let-down, I've had so many let-downs that ve tapped askin people fo help. Tet someone off forgive someone; allow some eyo off this time, but dot doit ain! Jet something ‘off explode something. We're ling fireworks of tonight. Iet‘on (informal reveal something by telling. You cum tll me your sere, promise that Tivon't et onto anyone. let someone ‘out (informal) give someone an excuse not to do somet ‘unpleasant. On the day of Phi’ party I had a meeting in Bristol ~ soit let me cout nicely! let‘up stop or become less; decrease (activity, pressure of work etc). think the rain’s beginning to let up at last 11 When Polly's doing a crossvord, she never les up until she's found all the solutions, Note: a ‘let-up. lie in stayin bed longer than usual. You ought to iin tomorrow and atch ‘up on yourslep. Note: lie-in. There's nothing nicer than a Sunday morning ieint live something ‘down cause something unpleasant in one’s past to be accepted, forgotten or ignored. Usually negative. We thought she would never ive dn the humiliation of bing asked to hand inher resignation. (0 Such a scandal won’ be lived down for sometime. live up to something reach and maintain an expected standard, cither ‘bad or good. J¥e bought the ear four years ago and it's certainly ced up tour expectations Soar. © He was well known for squandering his mone. I fact, he Stl lives upto his reputation. look ‘after someone /something take care of someone/something; be responsible for the well-being of someone/something. Ifyou mant to go ‘out, I ook afer the children for you. © Clive has alays known hore to look afer his own interests ne to go unpunished. /hrasal verbs 137 ook ‘down on someone something. regard someone/something as inferior. Edimard is a snob who los down on people with a working-class ‘ackground. But his views are certainly looked down on by his fellow students look in (on someone) make a short visit call t see someone. 1 ook in ‘om Francesca hen Fm in Rome. look ‘into something. investigate/research something. The police are ooking into the mater very thoroughly. look ‘on watch inactively. J couldn’ just stand there looking on while the old lady rugged with her parcels, s I earried them fr he. ‘look on someone regurd, consider as. 'vealiays looked on fan as someone smith very special personal qualities ook ‘out be careful. Look out when you're crossing the main rou! ook ‘out (for someone/something) keep a watch for, be alert so as to see/notice someone/something. / ook out for Mr Pearson and give him our message. I've just broken a glass, 0 look out for the pieces look ‘over someone/something examine someone/something. The ‘managers loaking aver to new applicants al the moment Note: & oo ~Thas figures needa thorough looking-over. They're not accurate look to someone (for something) turn to/rely on someone (for help, ete) 1 Terry nec advice he alway looks 0 his mother. look ‘up improve. The meather's lnking up atlas. Shae prices are starting to look up again. Jook someone ‘up go to visit someone informally. We could look Walter ad Barbara up when we're in Liverpol. look something ‘up search for something in a dictionary, timetable, map ete ego a timetable eres lok wp the time of the next train. 1) you don't know hat the word means, lok it up! {ook up to someone admire, havea very good opinion of someone. ‘Frank has alays looked upto his uncle, who's a sel-made man. 118 ‘pleasure tobe looked up toby one's cllengues. lose ‘out (to someone) (informal) suer as a result of being less popular/successful than someone. Many small traders fst ut to the big “supermarkets and simply closed their door. lose ‘out on something (informal) suffer a (usually financial) loss. The dollar slo just now so you'l lsc ont onthe exchange rate if yu change your dollars into Dewtschmarks ‘make for someone/something move straight towards somcone/ something. When I entered the rom, Claire made or me as ifshe had soning urgent to tell mes When the dog stared to grow, the tle boy ‘made siraight forthe door and divappeared. ‘make for something help to promote/advance something; be good for something. A litle more friendliness from one's colleagues would certainly make fora better working imate.132 6 Phrasal verbs make ‘off hurry away, escape. When the police arrived, the thie! mas making ‘offdown the road, make ‘off with something. steal so nelly and the contens ofthe safe make ‘out (with someone/something) manage; succeed with someone/something. Hom did Judy make out at the interview? ¢\ How's nt making out with Sharon? ing. The thief made off with the make someone ‘out understand someone. Marion’ friendly one minute ‘and cold as ce the nex just eat make her out make something ‘out | (bill, cheque et.) write, Would you make ont the bill, please? oAll cheques are to be made out to Global Enterprises. 2 manage to read/decipher/understand something. J can't make out his shandsoriting. (Why did Robert say he would come ihe had no intemion of coming? I just cant make i ont make something ‘over to someone legally transfer something to someone. For tax reasons, some people make tir propenty aver to their children long before they de. make up apply cosmetics to one’s face. Deborah doesnt make up as heavily «as she used to. Note: make-up. ‘make someone ‘up apply cosmeties to someone’s face for stage/'TV ppunposes etc. Sheila makes up the guests om the Wednesday might talk-show. make something ‘up invent something. Don’ belive him. He made that story up. 2 compensate for something. Ho can he make up his loses in such ashor time? 3 prepare’ pack food. Ifyou wom’ be her for lunch, the hotel will make you up a packed lunch. + complete something by supplying what is missing. Won’ you make up the toal by contributing another five pounds? ‘make ‘up for something compensate for something. I tok yesterday aficrnoon of s01'm working this evening to make up for it. David's charm doesn't make up far his lack of good manners. make ‘up to someone attempt to win favour with someone by being particularly pleasant to them. Fortunately, the managing direor ist the sor of man you can make upto. He seems to think that fhe makes up tothe ‘women inthe typing poo, they’ do his reports fate. make something ‘up to someone compensate someone for something. ‘Mike hasbeen aay from home on business alo recently. He wants to make it up to his wife by taking her to Cannes fara ee. mess a'bout/a'round waste time, usually ina silly way. Get on mith your smork and top messing arcund! ‘mess someone a'bout/a'round treat someone without consideration causing inconvenience; hurt someone's feelings ete. Either tell Garry you ill buy his car or that you wont but don’t mess him: around like this. mess something 'up spoil something. I rained rather heavily, messing up ‘ur picnic completely. Roger came in fom the garage with his best trowers sessed up with ol. Note: a 'mess-up. There was terrible mes-up with the HighsPhrasal verbs 133 miss someone /something ‘out ‘Kate am the lst. You've missed her out yething. J can’ find nut on something. (informal) not experience something; not profit from something. Because Jeff has never taken part in a management traning scheme, he feels that he has missed out om something mix someone /something ‘up confuse/muddle someone/something. Te teacher explained to much atone time and mised us all up. He mixed the story up so much that F couldn’ fallow it. Note: a nix-up. ‘mix someone ‘up in something involve someone. Don't mix me up in ‘his, Land nothing to do with the mater move ‘in scitle in, take possession (of a neighbours have just maved in nxt door. move in on someone move close to /surround someone; foree someone into a difficult situation, His creditors mrced in om him like a pack of wolves ‘move on something (informal) take quick action on something. The ‘roperty has just been put on the marke. Ifyou nant it, you'd Better mace on this ome, or you'll ase it move ‘out vacate a house, oftice ete. The Watsons couldn't keep up the ‘monthly payments on their new house, so they had to me out. move up make oom for someone by changing one’s sitting or standing position, We'd better mave up so that these people have more ram. muck ‘in (with someone) (informal) co-operate; work together on friendly terms. {fDennis would muck in withthe rest of us, fel he much ‘more popular aroun the office. ‘muck something ‘up (informal) spoil something. The sre of the hotel staf certainly mucked our holiday up! ‘mug’up on something (informal) learn something thoroughly with cellor, often hurriedly. havea chemistry exam romorrom, 0 1'm mugging up ‘on formulas tonight ‘mull something ‘over deliberate and think about something for a long time. By the time the management has finaly malled aver my proposals, they ta longer be up to dae. ‘musele in on something (informal) use force or unfair practices in order to geta share of something, I refuse to le that young upstart muscle in on my busines. nail someone ‘down try to make someone say something definite about his intentions et. fried my best, but Inulin’ nail Harold dawn on a completion date narrow something ‘down (to something) reduce a larger number/ amount toa smaller number. There mas a large mumber of applicants fr the Jib, but me'venarromed thelist down to fou. nod ‘off fall asteep, especially ina chair ete 1 mas just modding off when the telephone rang nose a’bout/around (informal) search around, take interest in things that are not one’s concern. Whats he nosing around here for? He has nothing todo with our department. we, office et.). The new1346 Phrasal verbs ‘open ‘out lose one’s reserve or shyness il som began to pen out men she started work at the factory. ‘open ‘up I starta business. Ther’ a new butcher opening up on Due Street. tall frankly. Jason alked around the matter fr afew minutes, then he Jinaly opened ap and told me thas Sarah had ii him. 3 emerge, develop. [New opportunities for the company have opened up anu they must nat be neglced. ‘opt ‘out (ofsomething) choose not todo it. Now the dub hast got a treasurer. Why did Bes opt out atthe ast minute? ‘own ‘up (to something) confess or admit to something. Ifyou own up to that you've dome, the teacher may be lenient with you. pack something ‘in 1 (informal stop indulging in something, I've packed ‘gambling in. I've been losing tga much money. 2 end a relationship, job et Lucy has packed her new boyfriend in already. 0 Stewan is seriously cnnsiering packing his job in and going abroad. pack ‘up (informal) I stop work. The workers on the building site packed up atta a'dock because of the rain, 2 stop functioning. We were going up a seep hill mhen the engine packed up. ‘pass for someone /something. be thought tobe someone/something; bbe wrongly recognized as someone/something. Your aecent is excellent You'd pas foram Englishman anytime. Isabelle looks just like her younger sister, and she would pass for thirty easily. pass ‘off gradually disappear or become le should pass off within as hour. pass someone /something off as someone something falsely represent as someone/ something. He passed his secretary ff as his wife. They pass the old portrait of as «family heirloom, just to impress. Actually, ‘they got it at an auction! ppass’on (formal) die, Mr Harcey passed on during the night ‘pass on something 1 not know something; not be able to give an answer. ‘Do you kom Mercury's distance from the Sun?’ Surry, Fave to pass on that ome” 2 decide not to do something. 1 thought of buying into the new hotel complex, but its risky, so thik Upas omit afterall pass something ‘on tcll/give something to another person. There's no ‘choir practice next meek. Wil you pass the message on? This note was passed ‘onto me ts foryou. pass ‘out faint. Mora passed out because ofthe het and the stuffy atmosphere. ass over something. ignore something; avoid a subject. Gerald never talks abou his first wife. 11s a subject he prefers to pass aver. pay ‘off (informal) succeed, prove to be profitable. The gamble om the sock exchange paid of afterall! We're rich! © Preparing a doctoral dissertation isan “afl ot of work but Dow hopes it will pay of in the end. ay someone ‘off 1 (informal) pay someone to keep quiet. The ‘Hlackmailer had tobe paid of, but afleroards the police were informed. 2 settle one’s debts with someone. Has Lamson paid off all his creditors yet? 3 pay and dismiss someone. We've had to pay off another ten emplayecs decause there's no work for them. Take this tables and the painPhrasal verbs 135 pay something ‘off finish paying for something. He've just finished paying athe bank loan — what a reli? ‘pick on someone informal) single someone out for erticism, teasing, te. Thay almays pick on Tom men anything goes rang. Particularly small ‘ofa children ofien get picked on at school. pick someone’ something ‘out choose someone/something from among many. Ca you pick yur brather out fram that group of people? to Have yu picked out the photographs that you'd tik wo have? pick ‘up I continue, start again, Me can pick up avhere we efi off tomorvom. improve (health, business et.). Dad's been quite ill, but he's picking up ‘again now. (1 Share prices hav picked up recently, I'm glad t say. pick someone ‘up 1 collect/go to get someone. 1 pick yon wp from the tennis dub at six. 2 make casual acquaintance with so {srl Sam picked up at the disc. 3 reprimand correct someone. made a ‘Jew mistakes in the calewatons and the teacher picked me up fr them. ‘Featch/arrest someone, The police picked up the man they mere looking for Just ouside the town. pick something up 1 learn something. Where did you pick up your Russian? Fracture mechanics isn’t a subject that can be picked wp in a month 2 gev/buy something. picked up this coat in the sales or ony forty pounds! 3 hecome infected with anillness‘disease. Influenza isn't as easy to pick up as mast penple tend to believe. collect go to get something. Did you piok tp the cts from the dry-leaner’s? pile something’on (informal) intensify and make worse; exaggerate. The news is bad enough ~ don’ pile it om by telling me more! pin someone ‘down make someone state something definite about his intentions/knowledge of something ete, Jerry mom tbe pinned down, He only evr states very rough figures pin something ‘down. state/describe something exactly. {can’t pin down shat itis tha T don’ ike about her. 1 hace asrange fling about Leslie, bt Ljust can't pin it down, piss ‘off (slang, taboo) go away. Fred had been annoying me all day mith his stupid remarks, In the end I told hi opis off Nom jus pis off and leave me alone! piss someone ‘off (slang, taboo) bore or annoy someone. He say he's so pised off with his job at the factry that he'd take the first job anyone else fered him, Noone likes Miller, yet he gets put in charge of the whole department! I really pisses you of play along (with someone/something) co-operate; agree to something ete. I'm sure Jackie will play along once we have made al the ‘arrangements (Play along with them to see what their intentions are play someone a‘long. 1 (informal) keep someone waiting without Knowledge of something. They've played him along for long enough. I's time ‘they tld him whether or not e'l et the loan. 2 pretend to agree or co- ‘operate with someone for one’s own advantage. They'l play hin along tl they've got te information they need, then they'll take their business elsewhere.1366 Phrasal verbs play something down/up_make something appear less/more ontant. Ifthe pres hadn't played i up so much, the aftr would have been forgotten lomg ago. play’up (informal) cause trouble. I auldn't start the car: The engine was playing up again. 01 hope the children dow’ stat playing up when the guests play ‘up to someone (informal) later someone to gain an advantage ‘Sep playing wp to Miriam lke tha, Jim. Ht won't work. ‘play with something consider for a time, not very seriously (an idea, notion, plan, scheme ete). played with the ideuof going 1 work abroad, dru U think 1d miss home t0 much polish something ‘off (informal) finish something quickly (did't take ‘the children long topos off thers ofthe cream cake. polish something up improve something. The enten ofthe exsay i fine Just polish up the style abi press for something demand something repeatedly. The workers are Dressing fora 36-hour meek press ‘on continuc one’s efforts, No finished yet? Never mind, Presson! price something ‘out calculate the cast of something, enquire about ‘costs. Sales promotion om this scale mould cst lot of money. 1H price it out for yu, if yo like. psych someone ‘out (informal) try to find out someone's mental or ‘emotional state, the state of someone's nerves etc. (e.g. ofa rival in a competition) in order to use this knowledge to one's advantage. The day lle te big rac, the to sailing crews did ther est psych eachother ou pull something ‘off manage to complete something successfully. He pulled the dea off splendidly, as I knew he would. Hever thought se would ll tof ut she did? pall ‘out 1 (a train) leave, move away. The Tyme-Tees express pulled ont at 8.27 on the dot. 2 (a vehicle) move out ofa line of traffic. A lory pulled ‘out in front of me just as Iwas abou to ertake. 3 withdraw. I don’ like the faust developments in the plan, so U'm ging to pullout befor it’ to late pull'round get bette after an illness, shock ete. The operation has tmeakened him, but he loon pl! round nar that he knows he's coming out of hospital soon pull ‘through recover from a serious accident riliness. The patent has ‘ery serious injuries, bu we have hopes tha he mil pull through pull together co-operate, help each other. [fie all pul tagether by not selling any stack, me should beable to blak this takeover bid ull up (a vehicle) halt. The vam pulled up in front of me, s0 I had to brake suddenly pull someone ‘up (informal) stop someone in order to reprimand /warn him. The poice pulled him up for ertaking on a bend. Jacqueline got pulled up for speeding again. ‘push for something demand/try to get something. The wnion leaders are ‘ushing fr early retirement.Phrasal verbs 137 push ‘off (informal) leave, Hell, Ihave to push off now so Fil sce you later ‘at the club. Push of, will you? push ‘on continue, He're pushing on with our irestigations as fst as me can ‘push something ‘on to someone (informal force or impose something, ‘on to someone when not wanted. Tiey're pushing all he unpleasant, tiresome jobs am othe mew clerk. Isn't fair put something a'bout circ ‘ow hear about Jim Howard, 1: ust a rumour that someone has put about put something a‘eross express, communicate (ideas, thoughts ete). Her ideas are good, but they aren't always put across very carey. 3 Try to put your explanation across as simply as possible, so hat no one will have trouble swith technical terminology. put something a'way I save money. He puts a litte amay every meek fr his ‘grandchildren. 2 (informal) eat or drink in large quantities. I've never seen ‘anyone cat so much, He put aay a whol fried chicken and two plaefs of hips! put someone ‘down (informal) criticize, speak badly of someone. April never ges her bus cre for anything, She's always putting him down, although he's avery competent man put something ‘down to something explain something as; assign ‘something 10. We pu his rude manner down 1 ignorance of or British ‘customs. Her behaviour has heen put down to.an unhappy childhood, but 1 don’t think that’s any excuse at the age of thirty. putin interrupt by speaking. ‘But I object!” put in, suddenly and unexpectedly. put something ‘in | spend or devote time/energy/care etc. Ihave to put in an hour's piano pracice everyday. install fix something. They can't pilaster the walls unl they've put the heating in. put ‘in for something, request/laim something, Most ofthe staff have put in fora mage-riseafier Christmas ‘put something ‘off postpone/delay something. The cricket match has been ‘put off until next Saturday. «Daw tp off gong tothe dentists if you have toathache. put someone ‘off 1 allow a passenger to get out ofa vehicle. Could you ‘put me off the hospital, plese? 2 deter discourage someone. f waned to Sse the new play atthe Grand, but the mewspeper revi put me af. 3 distract; disturb one's concentration, f don like music playing woken Tm working. Iiputs me ofl. 4 keep someone waiting fora decision. He roon'rgive mea definite answer. He keeps putting me of. put someone ‘out 1 disturb/upsevinconvenicnce someone. Iti fair tha I should be blamed for something I know nothing about. [fel very pu out about the whole mater. 2 knock somacone unconscious. The other boter put Alfred out in the third round. put something ‘out 1 citculate/publish something. An oficial statement ‘has hecn put out denying all rumours thatthe company is going tobe taken ‘cer The police have put out an ofl description of three errs extinguish (fire, lames) We just managed to pul the flames out before any138 6 Phrasal verbs rel damage was caused. 3 dislocate a part ofthe body. put my shoulder ‘out digging the garden. 4 cause something tobe inaccurate. That on litle tmstake has put the whole calculation out, put someone ‘through connect someone on the telephone. Can you ‘lease put me through tothe complaints department? put something through. conclude/complete/process something. I'd be ‘lad i you could put the visa application through as soon a possible ‘Put ‘up stay overnight fora short ime. He always puts wp atthe Cron Hotel when he's in toon. put someone ‘up I give accommodation to some yon up far af days ifyou'il lke to stay. 2 wom ection. The Consereativs are ping Ted up in the by-election. Put someone ‘up to something encourage someone todo something. Who put Steven up tothe idewo selling his bicycle? He was pu up tit by his brother. put something up 1 build/erect something. Another supermarke’s ben ‘pul up in Hill Stret. 2increase something, Everyone's expecting the ‘qrvernment to put taxes up again put ‘up something 1 offer money/prizes etc. asa contribution; lend ‘money. Jenkin put up alt of money far the art gallery. 3 When the frst loa Jad ran ont, he pu up another thousand. 2 advocate something; introduce ‘something for consideration. Mr Morgan is going to put up another proposal atthe mecing ut'up with someone/something. (informal) tolerate/bear something, Lean't put up with anyone telling me how to ran my own house! 01 've put up ath her complaints long enough ‘put upon someone (usually passive) take advantage of someone; expl someone. Dan’ et yours be put upon by tha lazy selfish woman rake something ‘up (informal) reveal something unpleasant from someone's past. Why did they have rake up thos old stories? It was iol very embarrassing for eweryomeconcered. rattle something ‘off say from memory or read something very quickly inan automatic manner. When you re onstage, don't ratle your lines off as you did st moe. Try putting some emotion into them read something ‘into something interpret something wrongly, ‘understand more than was said or meant. Pat's professor didn’t say that ‘anyone had failed the exam. She's reading more into his remarks than necessary. read something’up acquire knowledge or information about a subject by reading. must read up what Roberts has tien on the history of China read up on something improve one’s knowledge ofa special subject by reading. He's going to read up on plant clasfcation again before the exam. “reckon on something expect something; include something in one’s, calculations. Actually, me had reckoned on your help. 1 rasn' reckoning on having suck problems to dal ith We'd be glad w putPhrasal verbs 149 reel something ‘off say quickly in succession from memory (poetry, lists