Verbos frasales o compuestos (Phrasal verbs)

Los verbos frasales son un grupo de verbo multi-palabras hechos a partir de un verbo ms otra u otras palabras. En este texto distinguiremos entre los
tres tipos de verbos multi-palabras: verbos preposicionales, verbos frasales y verbos frasal-preposicionales.
Los verbos frasales estn compuestos por:
Un verbo + un adverbio
Pueden ser:
intransitivos (objeto no directo)
transitivos (objeto directo)
Aqu hay algunos ejemplos de verbos frasales:
verbos frasales

significado

ejemplos
objeto directo

verbos
frasales
intransitivo
s

get up

levantarse de la cama

I don't like to get up.

break down

dejar de funcionar

He was late because his car broke down.

verbos
frasales
transitivos

put off

posponer

We will have to put off

the meeting.

turn down

rechazar

They turned down

my offer.

Verbos frasales separables

Cuando los verbos frasales son transitivos (que tienen un objeto directo), usualmente podemos separar las dos partes. Por ejemplo, turn down es un
verbo frasal separable. Podemos decir: "turn down my offer" o "turn my offer down". Observa esta tabla:
verbos frasales transitivos
son separables

They

turned

They

turned

down

my offer

my offer.

down.

Sin embargo, si el objeto directo es un pronombre, no tenemos opcin. Tenemos que separar el verbo frasal e insertar el pronombre entre ambas
partes. Observa el ejemplo con el verbo frasal separable "switch on":
Los pronombres objeto
directo deben ir entre
las dos partes del verbo
frasal transitivo

John

switched

on

John

switched

the radio

on.

John

switched

it

on.

John

switched

on

the radio.

Todas son posibles.

it.

Esto no es posible.

Verbo frasal separable o inseparable? Algunos diccionarios te dicen cuando un verbo frasal es separable. Si en un diccionario est escrito "look
(something) up", sabes que el verbo frasal "look up" es separable, y puedes decir "look something up" y "look up something". Es una buena idea, al
aprender un nuevo verbo frasal, escribir en tu glosario como sigue:
get up
break down
put something/somebody off
turn sthg/sby down
Esto te dice si un verbo necesita un objeto directo (y donde ponerlo).
Verbos preposicionales.
Se componen de:
Un verbo + una preposicin
Ya que una preposicin siempre tiene un objeto, todos los verbos perposicionales tienen objeto directo. Aqu hay algunos ejemplos de verbos
preposicionales:
verbos
preposicionales

significado

ejemplos
objeto directo

believe in

tener fe en la existencia de

I believe in

God.

look after

cuidar de

He is looking after

the dog.

talk about

hablar de

Did you talk about

me?

wait for

esperar

John is waiting for

Mary.

Los verbos preposicionales no pueden ser separados. Estro significa que no podemos poner el objeto directo entre las dos partes. Por ejemplo,
debemos decir "look after the baby". No podemos decir "look the baby after":
los verbos preposicionales
son inseparables

Who is looking after the baby?

Esto es posible.

Who is looking the baby after?

Esto no es posible.

Verbos frasal-preposicionales
Compuestos por:
Un verbo + un adverbio + una preposicin
Observa estos ejemplos de verbos frasal-preposicionales.
verbos
frasal-preposicionales

significado

ejemplos
objeto directo

get on with

tener una relacin amistosa con

He doesn't get on with

his wife.

put up with

tolerar

I won't put up with

your attitude.

look forward to

Anticiparse con gusto

I look forward to

seeing you.

run out of

gastar, agotar

We have run out of

eggs.

Ya que los verbos frasal-preposicionales terminan con una preposicin, siempre hay un objeto directo. Y al igual que en los verbos
preposicionales, los verbos frasal-preposicionales no pueden ser separados. Observa stos ejemplos:
Los verbos frasal-preposicionales son inseparables

We

ran out of

fuel.

We

ran out of

it.

A
account for (representar, ser el total de)Formal
Meaning: Si representas algo, explicas como se lleg a ese resultado
Synonym: explain
For example:
account for sth We accounted for last year's higher production costs by showing how the price of labour and raw materials had increased.
account for sth How can we account for the remarkable success of our latest product?
Nouns often used as objects with account for: costs, expenses, delays, behaviour, failure, success
act as (hacer de)
Meaning: to perform the same function as a particular person or thing
Synonym: serve as
For example:
act as sth I can't make it to the meeting Bob, so would mind acting as chairman today?
act as sth The kidneys act as filters to keep the blood clean.
act for (representar a, actuar en nombre de)
Meaning: If you act for someone, you represent them.
Synonym: represent
For example:
act for sb If you don't have a lawyer, the state will appoint one to act for you.
act for sb In a democracy, the people elect representatives to act for them in parliament.
act on (seguir el consejo, actuar)
Meaning: If you act on somebody's advice, you do as they suggest.
For example:
act on sth I really should act on my doctor's advice and try to eat less and exercise more.
act on sth He acted on the instructions of his lawyer and refused to answer any questions.
act on sth The engraving was the result of the acid acting on the metal.
Nouns often used as objects with act on: advice, suggestions, instructions, information, orders
act out (expresar a travs de acciones o palabras)
Meaning: If you act out, you express your feelings through acts or words.
Synonym: express
For example:
act out sth Jim often gets into trouble because he acts out his emotions without thinking about the consequences.
act sth out We can all have violent thoughts and aggressive feelings sometimes, but society doesn't usually allow us to act them out.
act up (no andar bien mal-funcionar)Informal
Meaning: If a part of your body or a piece of equipment acts up, it doesn't work properly.
Synonym: play up, malfunction
For example:
act up My printer is acting up, so I'll have to get it fixed.
act up I'll have to give the tennis a miss this week. My knee is acting up again.
Nouns often used as subjects with act up: computer, printer, phone, air conditioner, knee, wrist, ankle, stomach
add to (realzar)
Meaning: If something adds to something, it makes it better, greater, stronger or more extreme in some way.
For example:
add to sth During the riot, the sound of wailing sirens only added to the sense of chaos and confusion.
add sth to sth The light show added a lot of atmosphere to the concert.
add up (sumar)
Meaning: to add two or more numbers in order to find the total amount
Synonym: tot up (informal)
For example:
add up Fran has a good head for figures. She can add up really quickly, and she always gets the answer right.
add up sth Could you add up these amounts and let me know the total?
add sth up After he jotted down the cost of each dish, he added them up and found the total cost of the meal.
Nouns often used as objects with add up: numbers, figures, amounts, prices, costs
add up to (sumar en total, sumar un total)
Meaning: If two or more numbers add up to another number, this is the total you get if you add them together.
Synonym: total, come to
For example:
add up to sth What do 19 and 17 add up to? Do they add up to 36, or is it 46?
add up to sth Here are the bills we have to pay this week. They add up to over five hundred dollars!
adhere to (cumplir con, acatar, obedecer) Formal
Meaning: If you adhere to a law, a rule or a contract, you obey it or follow it.
Synonym: abide by
For example:
adhere to Doctors are expected to adhere to the Hippocratic oath.

adhere to You can't trust that company. They don't adhere to the terms of the contracts they sign.
Nouns often used as objects with adhere to: laws, rules, regulations, terms, agreement, contract, constitution
advise against (desaconsejar, advertir contra, avisar)Formal
Meaning: to suggest to someone that they should not do something they are thinking of doing
For example:
advise against sth Due to the current unrest, the government is advising against unnecessary travel to the region.
advise sb against doing sth The Medical Council has advised people against taking this drug until further safety tests have been carried out.
advise of (informar, notificar)Formal
Meaning: If you advise someone of something, you tell them about it.
Synonym: inform
For example:
advise sb of sth A policemen advised me of my rights and then he arrested me.
advise sb of sth Please advise us of any change of address or contact details.
agree with (estar de acuerdo, coincidir con)
Meaning: If a certain place or lifestyle agrees with you, it suits you and is good for you.
For example:
agree with sb Ever since she has moved to the country, Aunt Beth has looked much better. Country life obviously agrees with her.
agree with sb Working the night shift seems to agree with Larry. He says he sleeps better if he goes to bed at dawn and gets up in the afternoon.
aim at (apuntar algo a, dirigirse a)
Meaning: If you aim a product or a creative work at a particular group of people, you see those people as your market or your audience.
Synonym: target
For example:
be aimed at sb Our new course is aimed at people who want to learn English for business.
aim sth at sb Disney Corp aims most of its movies at families and children.
allow for (tomar en cuenta)
Meaning: to consider something, or take it into account, when making plans or making a decision
Synonym: take into account
For example:
allow for sth Don't forget to allow for inflation when estimating your future expenses.
allow sth for sth You should allow time for traffic jams when deciding what time to leave for the airport.
Nouns often used as objects with allow for: delays, costs, expenses, traffic jams, bad weather, inflation
allude to (aludir a)Formal
Meaning: to mention or refer to something or someone in an indirect way
Synonym: refer to
For example:
allude to sb/sth In his speech, the President alluded to the fact that the economy was not in good condition when he took over.
allude to sb/sth When the judge was summing up the case, he alluded to the sort of punishment he would have to hand down if the jury found the
defendant guilty.
amount to (equivaler, llegar a ser)
Meaning: to be similar to, or to have the same effect as
Synonym: constitute
For example:
amount to Does having two CDs released in ten years amount to a successful career as a musician?
amount to The government calls the killing of innocent people by the military "collateral damage", but Mike says in many cases it amounts to nothing
less than murder.
answer back (replicar, contestar, insolentarse)
Meaning: to reply rudely to someone who is in a position of authority, such as a teacher, a parent or a coach
For example:
answer back Harry's students don't respect him. Some of them even answer back rudely when he asks them to do something.
answer sb back My son answers his mother back when she tells him to do something like clean his room. He says things like "Clean it yourself!"
Nouns often used as objects with answer back: parent, teacher, coach, supervisor, manager, warder
Note: This phrasal verb is usually only used to describe the behaviour of a subordinate towards an authority figure, such as a child towards a parent, a
student towards a teacher
answer for (hacerse responsable, tener que responder por)
Meaning: to be held responsible for something
For example:
answer for sth The prime minister said he'll answer for any future problems that arise from his government's policies.
answer for sth Do you really think the company will be made to answer for the problems that their pollution causes among the local people?
appeal for (recurrir a)
Meaning: to ask for something, usually in order to help deal with a crisis or an emergency
For example:
appeal for sth The government is appealing for food and clothes for the flood victims, so please help out if you can.
appeal to sb for sth Why don't you appeal to rich businessmen for the money to buy medicine and equipment?
Nouns often used as objects with appeal for: help, aid, donations, volunteers, assistance, expertise
appeal to (atraer, gustar)
Meaning: If something appeals to you, you like it.
For example:
appeal to The small apartments will appeal to single people more than families.

appeal to In the nineteen sixties, Asian philosophies and religions appealed to young people seeking alternatives to Western consumerism and
materialism.
apply to (aplicar para, ser relevante para)
Meaning: If something applies to you, it is relevant to you or you are affected by it.
Synonym: appertain to
For example:
apply to Some young people from rich families seem to think that the law doesn't apply to them.
apply to The company's new regulations on sexual harrassment apply to everybody, from the CEO to the cleaners.
arrive at (llegar a un acuedo, llegar a una conclusin)
Meaning: to reach a result, a conclusion or a decision after considering relevant factors or details
Synonym: reach
For example:
arrive at sth They arrived at the cost of production by calculating raw material, transport, and manufacturing costs.
arrive at sth After doing research into the history of heart disease, we arrived at the same conclusion as many others. We found that diet has a huge
influence on health.
Nouns often used as objects with arrive at: decision, conclusion, verdict, result, solution, figure, amount, number
ask after (preguntar por)
Meaning: If you ask after someone, you ask about them when you talk to someone who's seen them recently.
Synonym: enquire after
For example:
ask after sb Whenever I meet Rajiv, he asks after you and Sonia and I tell him you're both doing well.
ask after sb Sandra got an email from her mother and she asked after you. I didn't realise you knew her mother.
ask for (pedir)
Meaning: to let someone know that you'd like them to give you something
Synonym: request
For example:
ask for sth If you don't know where to go, ask for directions.
ask sb for sth Joanne didn't have the nerve to ask her boss for a wage rise.
sb ask for sth My son asked for help with his math's homework, but it was far to advanced for me!
Nouns often used as objects with
ask for: help, information, directions, advice, bill, receipt
ask out (invitar a salir)
Meaning: If you ask somebody out, you ask someone you like to go on a date with you.
Synonym: invite out
For example:
ask sb out It took Juan a long to build up the courage to ask Mariella out, but at last he did and she said yes. Juan was so happy he couldn't help
smiling.
ask sb out for sth If you like her, why don't you ask her out for dinner? The worst that can happen is that she says no or makes an excuse.
Nouns often used as indirect objects with ask out: on a date, to a restaurant, to a movie, dancing
ask over (invitar)
Meaning: If you ask some people over, you invite them to your house.
Synonym: invite over
For example:
ask sb over We're asking some friends over for dinner on Saturday night. Would you like to come?
ask sb over Bob has asked us over for drinks.
Note: also "ask round"
associate with (juntarse con, andar con)
Meaning: If you associate with someone, you regularly spend time with them.
For example:
associate with sb While my brother was in New York in the late 70's, he associated with lots of punk musicians and underground artists.
associate with sb If Terry associates with other criminals, he'll be sent back to jail again.
attach to (dar importancia)
Meaning: to believe that something has importance or significance in relation to something else
For example:
attach sth to sth You shouldn't attach too much importance to what other people think. Just do whatever's right for you.
attach sth to sth When choosing a career, most people attach too much weight to how much money they'll earn.
attend to (ocuparse de, atender)
Meaning: to deal with something or someone
Synonym: see to
For example:
attend to sb Are you sure we have enough sales staff to attend to all our customers at busy times?
attend to sth I attend to day-to-day issues in the morning, and then I work on longer-term issues like planning and strategy.
attribute to (atribuir, asignar)
Meaning: to believe that something results directly from a certain event or fact
For example:
attribute to Scientists now attribute the melting of the polar ice caps to global warming.
attribute to The rise in heart disease and certain cancers can be attributed to the high amount of red meat that many people can afford to eat these
days.

auction off (subastar, rematar)

Meaning: to sell something to the highest bidder at an auction
For example:
auction off sth In order to pay his debts, Uncle George had to auction off his collection of paintings.
auction sth off Do you think we should auction the contents of the house off piece by piece, or sell the whole lot to a dealer?
average out at (tener como media, oscilar)
Meaning: to come to a certain amount on average
For example:
average out at sth My wife's income depends on how many paintings she sells, but it averages out at about $10,000 a month.
average out at sth The time I spend working on my novel varies quite a bit, but it averages out at about two hours a day.

B
back down (recular, retroceder, dar marcha atrs)
Meaning: to decide not to do something because of opposition, or because of pressure from authorities
For example:
back down Thousands of people protested against the government's decision to allow logging in the forest, so the government had to back down.
back down on sth The workers didn't back down on their demands for higher wages even though the company threatened to sack them.
back out (retirarse, dejar de, desvincularse)
Meaning: If you back out of something like an agreement or a deal, you decide not to follow through on it.
Synonym: pull out
For example:
back out Our boss had agreed to increase our wages this year, but the economy went bad and he backed out, claiming his profits had fallen too much.
back out of sth The government backed out of its pledge to build more schools, saying it needed the money for war weapons instead.
back up (1) (respaldar, hacer una copia de seguridad)
Meaning: to make an extra copy of digital information on disc, flash drive, external hard drive, etc. in case the original data is lost
For example:
back up sth How do you back up your computer files?
back sth up I back most of my stuff up on one of those flash drive things.
back up It's a good idea to back up at least once a month.
Nouns often used as objects with back up (1): files, data, hard drive, work
back up (2) (corroborar, confirmar)
Meaning: If you back up what you say, you use evidence or examples to show that it's true.
Synonym: support
For example:
back sth up When making a claim, you should be able to use evidence to back it up.
back up sth They'll back up her story with photos, video clips and witness statements to prove that what she's saying is true.
back sth up with sth When writing an essay, you should state your main idea and then back it up with supporting evidence.
Nouns often used as objects with back up (2): claim, thesis, hypothesis, belief, contention, idea
back up with: evidence, examples, proof
bail out (1) (rescatar econmicamente)
Meaning: to help out someone or something that's in serious trouble, especially financial trouble
For example:
bail out sb/sth The government had to bail out many banks and financial institutions in the 2008 financial crisis.
bail sb/sth out Why do we have to bail them out with taxpayer's money? Why not just let them go bankrupt?
Nouns often used as objects with bail out (1): company, bank, lenders, borrowers, creditors
bail out (2) (pagar la fianza, sacar de apuros)
Meaning: to give money to a court so that an accused person doesn't have to stay in jail until their trial begins
For example:
bail sb out My son was arrested so I went to the police station to bail him out.
bail sb out How much will it cost to bail her out?
bank on (contar con)
Meaning: If you bank on something happening or someone doing something, you depend on it or count on it.
Synonym: count on
For example:
bank on sb/sth We're banking on FedEx to get the parcel to them tomorrow. If they don't, we're in trouble.
bank on doing sth I'm banking on getting this job. I don't know what I'll do if I don't get it.
bank on sb doing sth They're banking on Keith to finish the job on time.
base on (1) (fundamentarse en)
Meaning: to use specific information, ideas or past experiences as a basis for making a decision
For example:
base sth on sth They usually base their new designs on the latest market research.
be based on sth The new health guidelines are based on the findings of a major new study.
base on (2) (basarse en)
Meaning: to use something as source material
For example:
be based on sth His latest film is based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson.
base sth on sth The whole thing is based on a popular Japanese TV show from the nineties.
bear on (tener relevancia, pesar sobre)
Meaning: to have relevance to, or influence on, something
For example:
bear on sth The judge wouldn't allow the evidence because he said that it didn't bear on the case.
bear on sth If you're applying for a job, don't forget that grooming and appearance will definitely bear on the final result.
Nouns often used as objects with bear on: case, issue, result, outcome, decision, verdict
Note: also "bear upon"

bear out (confirmar, corroborar)

Meaning: to show that someone is correct or that something is true
Synonym: support
For example:
bear out sb/sth The latest evidence bears out Al Gore's belief that global warming is really happening and that it's a very serious problem.
bear sb/sth out I've always said that the economic bubble would burst, and my students will be bear me out on that.
beat up (apalear, darle una paliza)
Meaning: to hurt someone by punching, kicking or hitting them with a hard object
Synonym: assault, attack
For example:
beat up sb When we were teenagers, we'd go to the bushes near the beach and beat up guys if we thought were gay. I feel so ashamed of myself
when I think about this now.
beat sb up When Larry gets drunk, he goes home and shouts at his wife, and sometimes he even beats her up.
be beaten up Every day, people are beaten up and left bleeding in the streets. Why do people do this?
become of (haber sido)
Meaning: If you ask what has become of someone you haven't seen or heard from for a long time, you want to know what's happened to them.
Synonym: happen to
For example:
become of sb Does anyone know what became of Josh after he went to America? Has anyone heard anything about him?
become of sb What became of that singer in The Stooges called Iggy Pop? Is he still making music?
beef up (fortalecer)
Meaning: to make something stronger or more powerful
Synonym: strengthen, boost
For example:
beef up sth The government decided to beef up security after a terrorist attack on the country's biggest airport.
beef sth up We've been letting the opposition teams score too many goals, so we need to beef our defence up a bit.
Nouns often used as objects with beef up: security, armed forces, police force, workforce, sales department, defence, attack
begin with (iniciar, comenzar)
Meaning: If an activity or an event begins with something, that's the first thing that happens.
Synonym: start with
For example:
begin with sth The debate began with Professor Collins introducing the members of each team to the audience.
begin with sth A game of football begins with the toss of a coin.
believe in (creer en)
Meaning: If you believe in something, you're sure that it's true or it really exists.
For example:
believe in sth Not many people in Europe believe in ghosts, but many people in Asia do.
believe in sth Mahatma Gandhi believed in the power of non-violent protest.
Nouns often used as objects with believe in: ghosts, spirits, God, UFOs, reincarnation, democracy, non-violence
belong to (pertenecer)
Meaning: If something belongs to a person, it is owned by that person.
For example:
belong to Who do these CD's belong to? Are they yours?
belong to sb Native Americans couldn't understand the idea that a piece of land could belong to one person. It was for everyone to use, like the air in
the sky or the water in a river.
bend down (agacharse)
Meaning: to move the upper part of your body forwards and downwards
Synonym: bend over
For example:
bend down David bent down to pick up his cat.
bend down Bend down as you go into the cave, or you'll bang your head.
Note: "bend over" can also have the same meaning
bet on (apostar a, caber la menor duda)
Meaning: to be sure that something will happen
For example:
bet on sth Whatever James does in life, you can bet on it being interesting and exciting.
bet on sth These share prices could go up, but I wouldn't bet on it. They could just as easily go down.
bite off (arrancar de un mordisco)
Meaning: to separate something from whatever it's attached to by biting it
For example:
be bitten off Did you hear about the surfer who had his foot bitten off by a shark?
bite off sth A guy in Sydney was arrested for biting off the head of a live pigeon.
bite sth off Jim bites the top off a beer bottle before drinking it.
black out (desmayarse, perder la consciencia)
Meaning: to lose consciousness
Synonym: pass out, faint
For example:
black out Jack drank so much whiskey that he blacked out and fell off his bar stool.
black out It was so hot that one of the soldiers in the parade blacked out and had to be taken to the infirmary.

blow away (deslumbrar, sorprender)

Meaning: to surprise or amaze someone
Synonym: amaze, astonish, astound
For example:
be blown away When I saw Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction I was totally blown away. It was brilliant.
blow sb away The start of the show will blow you away.
blow off (escaquerase evitar-eludir-escabullirse, tirarse un pedo, hacerse el desentendido que la virgen le habla)
For example:
blow off Since I was feeling better, I blew off my appointment with the doctor
blow off I think the dog blew off, it smells horrible.
blow out (apagar de un soplido)
Meaning: If a flame blows out, it goes out because someone blows on it or because of the wind.
For example:
blow out sth Make a wish, and then take a big breath and blow out all the candles on your birthday cake.
blow sth out Make sure you don't let the wind blow the lamp out.
Nouns often used as objects with blow out: candle, flame, match, lamp, lantern, pilot light
blow up (1) (detonar, explotar, estallar)
Meaning: If you blow up something, you use explosives to damage or destroy it.
For example:
blow sth up The soldiers blew the bridge up.
blow up sth They blew up the wrong building and killed lots of innocent people.
Nouns often used as objects with blow up (1): building, bridge, target
blow up (2) (inflar con aire o gas)
Meaning: to fill with air or gas in order to inflate something
Synonym: inflate
For example:
blow up sth We're still getting ready for the party, and Carrie's still blowing up balloons.
blow sth up The football's a bit flat, so if someone's got a bicycle pump we can blow it up a bit more.
Nouns often used as objects with blow up (2): balloon, tyre, football, air mattress, inflatable toys, lilo
blow up (3) (ampliar, agrandar)
Meaning: to make a photograph larger
Synonym: enlarge
For example:
blow up sth Can we blow up this photo and frame it?
blow sth up Let's blow this shot up and use it in the poster.
Nouns often used as objects with blow up (3): photograph, photo, still, shot, picture, snap
border on (rayar en, lindar con)
Meaning: If something like an action or an attitude borders on something more extreme, it is close to being that extreme.
Synonym: verge on, come close to
For example:
border on sth His fear of the government borders on paranoia.
border on sth The fanatical excitement you see at some political rallies in the south borders on mass hysteria.
Note: Almost always used in relation to a negative extreme, though occasionally it's used in a more positive context, as in "his talent borders on genius".
bow out (renunciar, retirarse)
Meaning: to resign from a job, or to end a career, usually after a long time
Synonym: retire
For example:
bow out After being captain for many years, Paul bowed out so that a younger member of the team could take over.
bow out Some politicians don't seem to know when it's time to bow out, and they cling to power for too long.
break down (1) (averiarse, romperse)
Meaning: If a machine or a vehicle breaks down, it stops working because of a mechanical problem.
Synonym: conk out (informal)
For example:
break down Our bus broke down so we had to get out and wait for another one to come.
break down Production has stopped because one of the machines at our factory has broken down.
break down (2) (romper a llorar, colapsar)
Meaning: If someone breaks down, they start crying.
For example:
break down When his wife broke down at his funeral, relatives and friends tried to comfort her.
break down The prisoner broke down and wept when the judge sentenced him to life in prison.
break into (entrar a la fuerza para robar)
Meaning: If someone breaks into a building or a vehicle, they force their way in, usually to steal something.
Synonym: burgle
For example:
break into sth The burglars broke into the house and stole some jewellery and paintings.
break into sth My wife's car has been broken into three times in the last year.

Note: The phrasal verb "break in" has a similar meaning.

break out (fugarse, escaparse)
Meaning: to escape from somewhere like a jail or a detention centre
Synonym: escape
For example:
break out Have you seen that movie about prisoners of war who broke out of a prison camp by digging a tunnel?
break out The prisoners knew they'd be punished if they tried to break out.
break up (separarse, terminar o romper una relacin)
Meaning: If you break up with your boyfriend or girlfriend, you end your relationship with him or her.
Synonym: split up
For example:
break up Sayoko and Hiroko seem to be fighting a lot lately, so I think they might break up soon.
break up with sb I broke up with my first boyfriend after I found out he was seeing someone else.
breathe in (inhalar)
Meaning: to fill your lungs with air by drawing it in through your nose or mouth
Synonym: inhale, inspire
For example:
breathe in When you breathe in, try to make the air go deep into your belly.
breathe sth in I hate it when a truck blows a cloud of smoke from its exhaust pipe, and I end up breathing it in.
breathe in sth I love standing by the ocean, breathing in the fresh sea air.
Nouns often used as objects with breathe in: air, smoke, dust, oxygen, gas
breathe out (exhalar)
Meaning: to push air out from your lungs through your nose or mouth
Synonym: exhale, expire
For example:
breathe out The doctor asked me if it hurt when I breathed out.
breathe out sth We breathe out air into which our lungs have excreted carbon dioxide.
breathe sth out When she breathed the fog out, it looked like she was smoking.
Nouns often used as objects with breathe out: air, smoke, carbon dioxide
brighten up (1) (embellecer)
Meaning: to make a place or a thing look more cheerful and more lively
Synonym: liven up
For example:
brighten up sth Some pictures and plants would definitely brighten up the apartment.
brighten sth up Don't you think it'd brighten the garden up a bit if we had more flowering plants?
Nouns often used as objects with brighten up (1): room, office, apartment, garden, design, packaging, advertisement, poster
brighten up (2) (animarse, levantar el nimo)
Meaning: to become happier and feel more cheerful
Synonym: cheer up
For example:
brighten up Makiko was feeling homesick, but she brightened up when she got a call from her brother.
brighten sb up Whenever she feels a bit down, Paris goes to see a funny movie and it always brightens her up.
bring about (ocasionar, provocar)
Meaning: If you bring about something, you cause it to happen or you make it happen.
Synonym: make happen, cause
For example:
bring about sth The greed of a few people in the financial world brought about the global financial crisis.
bring sth about The president wanted reform of the healthcare system but he wasn't sure how to bring it about.
Nouns often used as objects with bring about: change, reform, recovery, improvement, development; collapse, crisis, decline, demise, failure
bring back (1) (traer de regreso)
Meaning: to bring something with you when you return from somewhere
For example:
bring back sth Whenever Josh goes overseas, he brings back gifts for eveyone he knows.
bring sth back Could you bring some newspapers back from Australia for me?
bring sb back sth If you're going to the store, can you bring me back some ice cream?
bring back (2) (evocar, reavivar un recuerdo, un sentimiento, una idea, etc)
Meaning: to make something from the past come back, such as a memory, a feeling, an idea, etc.
Synonym: evoke
For example:
bring back sth Hearing these old songs really brings back the old days, doesn't it?
bring sth back The letters she'd found brought some wonderful memories back.
bring down (abatir, hacer caer)
Meaning: to cause a government or a leader to lose power
Synonym: topple
For example:
bring down sth Huge street protests eventually brought down the Marcos government.
bring sth down Even if the corruption scandal brings the government down, they'll just be replaced by more thieves in fancy suits.
Nouns often used as objects with bring down: government, leader, president, prime minister, dictatorship

bring forward (adelantar, adelantar en la agenda)

Meaning: to change the date or time of an event so that it happens earlier than originally planned
For example:
bring sth forward Let's bring the wedding forward to October so it'll be a spring wedding.
be brought forward The meeting had to be brought forward by two weeks.
bring off (conseguir, lograr, llevar a cabo)
Meaning: to succeed in doing something that's difficult
Synonym: pull off
For example:
bring off sth Nobody expected the Saints to win the game, but they brought off one of the most amazing victories of the year.
bring sth off You got the top score in the exam! How did you bring that off?
bring on (causar, desatar)
Meaning: to cause something like an illness or a painful emotion
Synonym: cause
For example:
bring sth on I just saw Maria crying. I wonder what brought that on?
bring on sth The pollution brought on my daughter's asthma, so we had to move to a place with cleaner air.
bring out (1) (lanzar)
Meaning: to release a new product
Synonym: release
For example:
bring out sth They'll be bringing out their latest range of graphic software in the spring.
bring sth out It's not enough to bring good products out. You also need to market them properly.
bring out (2) (sacar a relucir, resaltar, hacer notar)
Meaning: to make a quality in someone or something show itself
For example:
bring out sth The herbs really help to bring out the flavour of the fish.
bring sth out I love watching adults have fun at amusement parks. These places bring the child out in all of us.
bring up (1) (criar, educar)
Meaning: If you bring somebody up, you raise them from childhood to young adulthood.
Synonym: raise
For example:
bring up sb The most important thing most of us do in life is to bring up our children and teach them to be decent, considerate adults.
bring sb up Maria is an amazing woman. She brought up three children on her own after her husband abandoned them.
be brought up by Emmanuel was brought up by his grandparents after his parents were killed in a car crash.
bring up (2) (sacar un tema, poner a discusin)
Meaning: to raise a new topic for discussion, or to mention a particular subject or issue in a conversation
Synonym: introduce, raise
For example:
bring sth up You should bring that issue up in the next staff meeting.
bring up sth When travelling in a foreign country, you shouldn't bring up topics like religion or politics.
Nouns often used as objects with bring up (2): topic, subject, issue, matter, point
brush up (refrescar la memoria)
Meaning: to revise your knowledge of something that you learned in the past
Synonym: review
For example:
brush up sth We brushed up our phrasal verbs in the reference section on EnglishClub.com.
brush up on sth You should brush up on ancient Egyptian history and culture before visiting the Pyramids.
buckle up (abrocharse el cinturn)
Meaning: to fasten a seatbelt in a car or on a plane
Synonym: belt up
For example:
buckle up When you're in a plane, don't forget to buckle up whenever the seatbelt sign lights up.
buckle up My new car won't start until everyone has buckled up.
bugger off (largarse) Informal
Meaning: If you tell someone to bugger off, you're telling them to go away in a very impolite and aggressive way.
Synonym: piss off (British/Australian, offensive)
For example:
bugger off When Jimmy got drunk he'd tell his wife to bugger off and leave him alone.
bugger off My son got into trouble at school for telling one of his teachers to bugger off.
build on (1) (construir sobre)
Meaning: to add to what you've already succeeded in doing
For example:
build on sth If we want to stay ahead of our competitors, we'll have to build on our success and keep working hard.
build on sth If we keep building on what we've already achieved, who knows how far we can go?
build on (2) (ampliar)
Meaning: to add a new section to a house or a building

For example:
build on We need a bigger house, and we can either sell this one and buy a bigger one, or keep this one and build on.
build sth on The owners wanted two extra floors and they built them on without getting approval from the council, so now they have to pull the whole
building down.
build on sth We're going to build on another bedroom out the back.
Nouns often used as objects with build on (2): room, floor, storey, extension, verandah, porch, carport, garage
build up (1) (desarrollar, reforzar)
Meaning: to work at something and make it get stronger or bigger
Synonym: develop
For example:
build up sth My son's going to the gym to build up his muscles. He wants to look good on the beach this summer.
build sth up Our market share has increased a lot over the last year, and you've all done your part to help build it up.
be building up I'm saving as much as I can, and my bank account is building up nicely.
build up (2) (ascender o acumular gradualmente)
Meaning: to gradually increase
For example:
build up Fatty foods make fat deposits build up in the arteries, and it's these fat deposits that cause heart attacks.
build up His anger slowly built up over time, until one day he snapped and shot someone because they'd cut him off in traffic.
bump into (tropezar con, toparse con)
Meaning: to meet somebody by chance
Synonym: run into
For example:
bump into sb Did you know Kerry was back from her holiday? I just bumped into her in the street.
bump into sb I have so many friends in this town that whenever I go out I bump into someone I know.
burn down (ser azolado por el fuego, incendiar, arrasado por el fuego)
Meaning: If something like a building or a forest burns down, it's completely destroyed in a fire.
For example:
burn down The church burned down in the fire. There was nothing left but charred wood and ash.
burn sth down The kids said they didn't mean to burn the church down. They were just playing with fireworks nearby.
burn out (1) (consumirse)
Meaning: If a fire burns out, it slowly dies down until it stops burning altogether.
For example:
burn out We had some kerosene lamps, but after a while they burned out.
burn itself out The wind got stronger and the forest fire changed direction and soon burnt itself out.
burn out (2) (agotarse)
Meaning: to work too hard and suffer from physical and mental exhaustion
For example:
burn out Barry burned out because he worked too much and had too much stress. Now he's on sick leave for a few weeks to recover.
burn yourself out You need to slow down a bit or you'll end up burning yourself out.
butt in (entrometerse, meter la cuchara)
Meaning: to start talking when somebody else is already talking
Synonym: interrupt
For example:
butt in David doesn't know how to join in a conversation without butting in.
butt in Sorry for butting in, but does anyone know where Bill is? I have an urgent message for him.
butt out (no entrometerse) Informal
Meaning: If you want to tell someone quite forcefully to mind their own business, you can tell them to butt out.
For example:
butt out I was having an argument with my girlfriend when Pete told us to cool it, so I told him to butt out.
butt out My sons were having a fight about something when their older sister tried to get them to stop. They both got angry with her and told her to butt
out.
butter up (adular, hacer la barba)
Meaning: to say nice things to someone before asking them to do something for you or to give you something
Synonym: flatter
For example:
butter sb up If my daughter wants something, she butters me up with a hug and a few nice words before asking me for it.
butter up sb You'll probably have to butter up the guys who run the place before they'll agree to help you out.
buy out (comprar la parte de, comprar el total)
Meaning: to buy somebody's share of a company or a partnership in order to take control of it
For example:
buy sb out Many workers weren't happy when a group of new investors bought the majority shareholder out and took control of the company.
buy out sb My sister wants to buy out my share of the family business.
buy up (acaparar, comprar todo)
Meaning: to buy all or a lot of something that is in limited supply
For example:
buy up sth She's buying up as many shares as she can because she plans to take over the company.
buy sth up We should buy this stuff up while we can. It might be hard to get soon.

C
call back (devolver una llamada, llamar de nuevo)
Meaning: If you call someone back, you return their telephone call.
Synonym: ring back, phone back
For example:
call sb back I'll call you back in a few minutes. Someone's at the door.
call back She'll call back as soon as she gets any news.
call for (exigir, requerir)
Meaning: If a person or an organization calls for something, they state in public that it's needed, or should be done.
Synonym: demand
For example:
call for sth Community leaders are calling for an enquiry into police corruption.
call for sb to do sth The protesters have called for the president to resign.
Nouns often used as objects with call for: investigation, ban, enquiry, laws, change, regulations, resignation, removal, reform
call off (cancelar, suspender)
Meaning: to cancel an event that was planned or scheduled
Synonym: cancel
For example:
call off sth We called off the meeting because Helen wasn't well enough to come.
call sth off If a storm comes, we'll have to call the game off.
Nouns often used as objects with call off: meeting, deal, talks, wedding, match, game, concert, event
call on (pasar a saludar, darse una vuelta, hacer una visita)
Meaning: to visit someone for a short time
Synonym: visit, drop by (informal), drop in (informal)
For example:
call on sb I'll call on John on my way home and see how he's doing.
call on sb We haven't seen Pedro for a while. Let's call on him tomorrow morning.
call out (echar un grito, gritar, decir en voz alta)
Meaning: If you call out, you use a loud voice to tell something to someone who's far away, or tell something to a large group.
Synonym: shout, yell out
For example:
call out If you need some help, call out and I'll come over.
call sth out Wait until the lady calls your number out, then go to the counter.
call out sth The teacher called out all the students' names.
Nouns often used as objects with call out: name, number, answer
calm down (calmarse, recuperar el control)
Meaning: If a person who is excited or agitated calms down, they become calmer and less excited or agitated.
Synonym: quieten down, settle down
For example:
calm down If your dog gets excited and starts to bark and pull on the leash, stop and wait until he calms down, and then start walking again.
calm sb/sth down The plane flew into some storm clouds, and when the turbulance began the crew had to calm the passengers down.
care for (1) (sentir cario por, encariarse con)
Meaning: If you care for someone, you like them a lot and have a strong affection for them.
Synonym: like
For example:
care for sb Taylor told his friends that he still cared for Francine, even though she had left him.
care for sb Jodie really seems to care for those stray dogs and cats that she rescues.
care for (2) (ocuparse de)
Meaning: If you care for someone or something, you look after them and make sure they have what they need.
Synonym: look after, take care of
For example:
care for sb A lot of people in poor countries depend on their children to care for them when they get too old to work.
care for sth Giving kids the job of caring for younger siblings or pets can teach them responsibility and help them to become mature adults.
Nouns often used as objects with care for (2): baby, child, patient, victim, pet, dog, cat
care for (3) (hacerse cargo de, encargarse)Formal
Meaning: If you ask someone if they would care for something, you want to know if they'd like to have something.
Synonym: like
For example:
care for sth The waiter said, "Would you care for some more wine, madam?"
care for sth After dinner, Maureen asked her guests if they would care for some tea or coffee.
Nouns often used as objects with care for (3): tea, coffee, wine, brandy, dessert, sugar, milk
carry on (proseguir, continuar con, seguir con)
Meaning: to continue doing something
Synonym: go on, keep going
For example:

carry on During the football match Rafael hurt his leg. He tried to carry on, but it soon got worse so he had to go off.
carry on with sth Before the teacher left the classroom, she told her students to carry on with their work.
carry on doing sth It started to rain but Gillian and her golfing partners carried on playing. Soon they were wet through.
carry out (cumplir, realizar, llevar a cabo)
Meaning: If you carry out a task or a piece of work, you do whatever is needed to complete it.
Synonym: do, complete
For example:
carry out sth The government's task force is carrying out an investigation into the effects of pollution on the fishing industry.
be carried out The experiment was carried out by a team of scientists from Tokyo University.
Nouns often used as objects with carry out: experiment, investigation, search, study, inquiry, survey, research, review
catch on (1) (ponerse de moda)
Meaning: If something catches on, it becomes popular.
For example:
catch on Mobile phones took a while to catch on, but now everybody's got one.
be catching on More and more people are learning how to meditate. It's really catching on.
catch on (2) (captar, comprender, entender)
Meaning: If you catch on, you suddenly understand something that you couldn't understand at first.
Synonym: cotton on (informal), twig (informal)
For example:
catch on Not all of my students understood the idea at first, but before long they all caught on.
catch on Most scientists now accept that global warming is really happening, but it took a while for a lot of them to catch on.
catch up (1) (alcanzar)
Meaning: If you catch up with someone who is ahead of you, you go faster than them until you reach them.
For example:
catch up Salma got behind her classmates because she was sick for a month, but she did extra work after school and she soon caught up.
catch up with sb Mark was still about three metres behind, so he swam as fast as he could to catch up with the leader.
catch sb/sth up If they left half an hour before us, we can't possibly catch them up. They'll be too far ahead.
catch up (2) (ponerse al da)
Meaning: If two people meet again after a while and catch up, they tell each other what they've been doing.
For example:
catch up Whenever I go home I spend time meeting old friends and catching up.
catch up with sb While I'm in Japan, I'll try to catch up with some people I knew while I was living there.
cater to (atender, satisfacer)
Meaning: to provide people with what they need
For example:
cater to sb/sth This hotel caters to the needs of business travellers, so every room has an internet connection, a printer and a fax machine.
cater to sb/sth Most clothing companies cater to just one segment of the market, such as teens or businessmen.
change into (transformarse, convertirse)
Meaning: to change from one state or form into another
Synonym: transform into
For example:
change into A caterpillar changes into a beautiful butterfly while it's inside its cocoon.
change into During their teenage years, children gradually change into adults.
change over (cambiar a)
Meaning: to stop using one thing or one system and start using another one instead
Synonym: switch
For example:
change over to sth When did your country change over to the metric system of weights and measures?
change over to sth I changed over to Mac computers after my last PC was attacked by a virus and I lost some really important files.
charge with (acusar)
Meaning: If someone is charged with a crime, they are officially accused of committing it.
For example:
charge with The company's directors were arrested and charged with tax evasion.
charge with Even though they weren't charged with a crime, hundreds of people were kept for many years in a U.S. prison in Cuba called Guantanamo
Bay.
Nouns often used as objects with charge with: crime, misdemeanor, offence, theft, fraud, murder, assault
chase up (hacer un seguimiento)
Meaning: to try to find out what is being done about something, or what has happened to something
For example:
chase up sth I spend a lot of time chasing up deliveries that haven't reached our customers on time.
chase sth up The shipment that was sent to Brazil hasn't arrived yet, so we need someone to chase it up.
chat up (camelar, requebrar, seducir con la palabra) Informal
Meaning: to talk to someone in the hope of beginning a romantic relationship with them
Synonym: hit on (informal), flirt with
For example:
chat up sb Juan is very good at chatting up girls. He knows how to make them laugh.
chat sb up Mark finds it difficult to chat guys up because he often feels shy, and he doesn't know what to say.

cheat on (poner los cuernos hacer trampa)

Meaning: to be disloyal to your spouse or partner by having sex with someone else
For example:
cheat on sb Hannah thinks her husband has been cheating on her.
cheat on sb Bob seems to think it's natural for men to cheat on their wives, but I doubt that his wife agrees.
cheat out of (jugar sucio, timar)
Meaning: to get something from somebody by cheating them
For example:
cheat sb out of sth Tony answered one of those emails that promise you lots of money, and whoever sent it cheated him out of twenty thousand
dollars.
cheat sb out of sth Can you remember the name of that New York investment banker who cheated his customers out of their life savings?
check in (registrarse, hacer el check in)
Meaning: If you check in, you give your details at a hotel's reception desk, or at an airline's check-in counter, when you arrive.
For example:
check in You'll need to show your passport when you check in to the hotel.
check in We have to check in about one hour before our flight leaves.
check into (registrarse)
Meaning: to register your details after arriving for treatment at a hospital, a rehabilitation centre or a health resort
For example:
check into I had to check into the hospital the night before the operation.
check into Amy knew she had a drug problem, but she didn't want to check into a rehab centre.
Nouns often used as objects with check into: hospital, rehab, rehabilitation centre, treatment centre, detox centre, clinic, hotel
Note: "Check into" and "check in" can be used to mean the same things, but most people seem to use "check into" more for hospitals and medical
centres, and "check in" more for hotels and airline desks.
check on (verificar, comprobar)
Meaning: to look at someone or something to make sure that nothing is wrong
For example:
check on sb/sth Sally checks on her baby every half an hour to make sure she's all right.
check on sb/sth Dr Smith visits the hospital every morning to see his patients and check on their progress.
check out (1) (dejar la habitacin)
Meaning: to pay the bill and leave after staying at a hotel, a hospital or a rehabilitation centre
For example:
check out What time do we have to check out of the hotel in the morning?
check sb out Simon couldn't stand life in the rehab any longer, so he checked himself out and went home.
Nouns often used as objects with check out (1): hotel, motel, guesthouse, hostel, hospital, rehabilitation centre, rehab
check out (2) (constatar)Informal
Meaning: to look at something, or go somewhere, to see what it's like
For example:
check out sth/sb Let's check out that bookshop James found. It sounds really good.
check sth/sb out The boys like to sit near the pool and check the girls out as they walk past in their bikinis.
check through (registrar, examinar)
Meaning: to examine something carefully to make sure nothing is wrong, or to look for something
Synonym: examine
For example:
check through sth When I arrived, a customs officer checked through all my bags.
check through sth I've checked through all my drawers and all my pockets, but I still can't find my keys.
Nouns often used as objects with check through: bags, drawers, pockets, emails, accounts, files, essay, report
cheer on (alentar, echar porras, dar nimos)
Meaning: to shout loudly to encourage someone, especially someone who's playing sport or competing in a race
For example:
cheer sb/sth on As the players tried hard to score a goal, their fans jumped up and cheered them on.
cheer on sb/sth We all cheered on our favourite horse as they galloped towards the finishing line.
Nouns often used as objects with cheer on: player, team, athlete, runner, horse, competitor, performer
cheer up (alegrarse, ponerse contento)
Meaning: to feel happier after being sad
Synonym: buck up (informal), perk up
For example:
cheer up Come on, Pat. Cheer up. You'll get your promotion next time for sure.
cheer sb up Do you think that going to a concert would cheer her up?
chop down (talar, cortar)
Meaning: If you chop down something like a tree, you cause it to fall by cutting through its base.
Synonym: fell
For example:
chop down sth Why don't you chop down that old tree before it falls on the house?
chop sth down My son told me he's very worried about people chopping the forests down because trees produce most of the oxygen we breathe.
chop up (picar)

Meaning: to cut something into pieces with an axe or a knife

Synonym: cut up
For example:
chop up sth After we killed the lamb, we chopped up its body so we could fit the pieces into the cooking pot.
chop sth up Let's chop those branches up and use them to make a fire.
clean out (1) (limpiar, ordenar)
Meaning: to clean the inside of something
For example:
clean out sth The nurse carefully cleaned out the cut on my foot before the doctor stitched it up.
clean sth out One of the pipes in the kitchen is blocked so we need to get a plumber in to clean it out.
clean sth out of sth A couple of times a year I get on the roof and clean the dead leaves out of the gutters.
clean out (2) (dejar seco, quedar seco, quedarse bruja)Informal
Meaning: If you have been cleaned out, all your money has been taken by someone, or spent on something.
For example:
clean sb out Putting a deposit on this new apartment has just about cleaned us out.
clean sb out The settlement Cherie got for their divorce has nearly cleaned Bob out.
clean up (dejar rechinando de limpio)
Meaning: to make something clean and tidy
Synonym: tidy up, clear up
For example:
clean up sth You're not going anywhere until you've cleaned up your bedroom. It's a mess!
clean sth up Could whoever dropped food on the floor please go and clean it up?
Nouns often used as objects with clean up: house, room, kitchen, bedroom, mess, spilled drink
clear out (1) (vaciar)
Meaning: to tidy a place by removing things that shouldn't be there
Synonym: clean out
For example:
clear out sth If we clear out dad's old toolshed, the kids can use it as a playhouse.
clear sth out Before the new accountant moves into the office, Stan will have to clear his stuff out.
clear out (2) (desalojar, irse de)Informal
Meaning: to leave a place, usually for a long time or forever
Synonym: leave
For example:
clear out If one of my kids was still living at home when he was thirty, I'd tell him to clear out and get a place of his own.
clear out Sarah told her parents she'd clear out and never come back if they didn't give her more freedom.
clear up (desaparecer, limpiarse)
Meaning: If an illness or a condition like acne clears up, it improves until it's no longer a problem.
For example:
clear up As soon as I stopped swimming in the pool my skin cleared up, so something in the water must have been causing the rash.
clear up sth I bought some special Vitamin E cream to get rid of my pimples, and within a couple of weeks most of them had cleared up.
close down (clausurar)
Meaning: If a business closes down, or if someone closes it down, it stops operating.
Synonym: shut down
For example:
close down sth The police closed down the dance club because it allowed teenagers to buy alcoholic drinks.
close sth down Our bookshop wasn't making any money so we had to close it down.
come about (suceder, ocurrir)
Meaning: to happen, especially partly or totally by chance
Synonym: happen, occur
For example:
come about Jim's business success came about after a series of failures, so he was very happy that something had worked for him at last.
come about How did the discovery come about? Were they looking for it or did they find it by chance?
come across (1) (encontrarse con, toparse con)
Meaning: to find something or meet someone by chance
Synonym: chance on, chance upon
For example:
come across sb/sth While I was looking through some old boxes, I came across some photos I thought I'd lost years ago.
come across sb/sth Did you come across anyone you knew at the conference?
come across (2) (dar la impresin, dar la impresin de)
Meaning: If somebody comes across as being a certain type of person, they appear that way to other people.
Synonym: appear, seem, come over
For example:
come across When you first meet Chris he comes across as being a bit stupid, but he's actually a very smart guy.
come across Most people in this country come across as being shy and reserved, but it's just the way people behave here.
come along (1) (llegar, aparecer)
Meaning: to arrive or to appear
Synonym: appear, turn up
For example:

come along I waited by the side of the road for twenty minutes before a taxi came along.
come along Just be patient. Soon or later an opportunity will come along and you'll have your chance to succeed.
come along (2) (progresar)
Meaning: to make progress or to improve in some way
Synonym: progress, come on
For example:
come along How is your English coming along? Do you think it's getting better?
come along Kerry says her online business is coming along well, and she should be able to quit her office job soon.
come along (3) (acompaar, venir)
Meaning: to go with somebody when they're going somewhere
Synonym: tag along
For example:
come along We're going to the beach for a swim. Do you want to come along?
come along My brother really wants to see this movie, so is it OK if he comes along as well?
come apart (deshacerse, caerse a pedazos)
Meaning: to separate into several pieces, or to break into several parts
For example:
come apart This bag is so old that it's starting to come apart at the seams.
come apart This juicer comes apart so that you can clean it easily.
come around (dejarse caer, pasarse por)
Meaning: to visit somebody, usually at their home
Synonym: visit
For example:
come around Why don't you come around after work and have a swim in my pool?
come around Every Tuesday night some friends come around and we play Word Up.
Note: "Come round" means the same thing in British English.
come back (regresar, volver)
Meaning: to return to a place
Synonym: return
For example:
come back They said they loved their holiday here and they'll come back next year for sure.
come back He's gone out for a while, but he said he'd come back around 4 o'clock.
come down (descender)
Meaning: to move to a lower level or a lower position
Synonym: descend
For example:
come down The cat was on the roof and it wouldn't come down.
come down We're all hoping the price of oil comes down again soon.
come from (1) (ser originario de, ser oriundo de)
Meaning: to be born and raised in a place
Synonym: hail from (formal)
For example:
come from I come from a big city in Australia called Melbourne. Where do you come from?
come from Where do you think those people over there come from? Are they Japanese?
come from (2) (proceder de)
Meaning: to be made in or obtained from a particular place or thing
For example:
come from sb/sth Most of the world's oil comes from the Middle East.
come from sb/sth My three-year-old daughter looked up to me and said, "Daddy, where do babies come from?"
come in (1) (entrar)
Meaning: to enter a room or a building
Synonym: enter
For example:
come in I knocked on the door, and then heard her shout, "Come in!"
come in He came in and sat down.
come in (2) (llegar)
Meaning: If something like a train or plane comes in, it arrives at a station or an airport.
Synonym: arrive, get in
For example:
come in Excuse me, sir. Do you know what time the train comes in?
come in I'll pick you up from the bus station if you tell me what time your bus comes in.
come into (entrar en posesin de, heredar)
Meaning: to be given something after its owner dies
Synonym: inherit
For example:
come into sth She's very rich, so her children expect to come into a lot of money when she dies.
come into sth Do you think Samantha made all that money herself, or do you think she came into a fortune when a wealthy relative died?
come of (resultar)

Meaning: to be the result of an event or situation

For example:
come of sth Did anything come of your job interview at the bank?
come of sth They should stop seeing each other behind her husband's back. No good can come of it.
come off (1) (desprenderse)
Meaning: If something comes off, it becomes separated from the thing it's usually attached to.
For example:
come off If the top of your pen comes off while it's in your top pocket, you could get a nasty ink stain on your shirt.
come off I couldn't open the door because the doorknob came off in my hand.
come off (2) (resultar, dar resultado)
Meaning: to result in the intended outcome
Synonym: succeed
For example:
come off Sarah's scheme to get rich quick by marrying a rich man didn't come off. After marrying a guy from Saudi Arabia, she found out he was
actually very poor.
come off Barry's plan to make millions by writing a popular novel didn't come off because he wasn't a very good writer.
Note: Most often used in negative contexts, such as "The plan didn't come off."
come on (1) (avanzar)
Meaning: to make progress or to improve in some way
Synonym: progress, come along
For example:
come on How's your dancing coming on? Are you still taking lessons?
come on Josef's English is coming on nicely. Soon he'll be joining in simple conversations.
come on (2) (encenderse)
Meaning: If a light or a computer comes on, it starts working.
Synonym: go on
For example:
come on I was asleep in bed when, all of a sudden, the lights came on!
come on I've set the radio in my room to come on at 6.30, but if I'm not up by 7, could you bang on my door?
come on (3) (iniciar, comenzar)
Meaning: If a TV or radio show comes on, it starts.
For example:
come on What time does the football come on?
come on The news comes on at 7 o'clock.
come out (1) (salir a la venta, estrenarse)
Meaning: to become available
For example:
come out The new Radiohead album will come out next month, for sure.
come out When will the new James Bond movie come out?
come out (2) (salir de, aparecer, emerger)
Meaning: to become known
Synonym: emerge
For example:
come out Many people would be shocked if the truth about the so-called terrorist attacks ever came out.
come out The full story behind his arrest might never come out.
come over (1) (pasarse, dejarse caer, inmigrar)
Meaning: to visit a place, or to move from one place or country to another
For example:
come over Do you want to come over after work and see my new 50" TV?
come over My family has lived in Australia ever since my great grandparents come over from England in 1896.
come over (2) (dar la impresin, parecer)
Meaning: to seem to be a particular type of person
Synonym: come across, appear
For example:
come over How do you think you came over in the interview? Do you think they liked you?
come over I listened to her speech and to me she came over as a bit immature and self-centred.
come through (superar, sobrevivir)
Meaning: to survive a difficult or dangerous situation or time
Synonym: survive
For example:
come through sth My grandparents came through some really tough times, including two World Wars and the Great Depression.
come through sth It was a terrible time, but we managed to come through it OK.
come to (1) (volver en s)
Meaning: to regain consciousness after an accident or an operation
Synonym: come round
For example:
come to The doctor said the operation went well and my wife would be coming to shortly.
come to He was knocked out cold by the other boxer, but when we held some smelling salts under his nose, he soon came to.

come to (2) (ascender)

Meaning: to add up to a particular total
Synonym: amount to, add up to, total
For example:
come to sth The total cost came to over two thousand dollars.
come to sth The bill comes to $140.
come to (3) (ocurrir)
Meaning: If a thought or an idea comes to you, you remember it or you think of it
Synonym: occur to
For example:
come to sb I can't remember the name of the movie, but it'll come to me in a minute.
come to sb The idea for the game came to me when I was teaching phrasal verbs in class one day.
come under (recibir, ser objeto de)
Meaning: to suddenly experience or suffer something dangerous or unpleasant
For example:
come under sth Our soldiers have come under some heavy artillery attacks overnight.
come under sth The government is coming under pressure from drug companies to ban the importation of medicines.
Nouns often used as objects with come under: attack, criticism, fire, pressure, scrutiny, threat, stress, strain
come up (1) (acercarse a)
Meaning: to walk up to someone or something
Synonym: approach
For example:
come up After the match, several people came up and asked Rafael for his autograph.
come up to sb/sth As we came up to the entrance, we could see some people waiting to get in.
come up (2) (mencionarse)
Meaning: If an issue or a name comes up in something like a conversation, a meeting, or a report, the issue or name is discussed or mentioned.
Synonym: arise
For example:
come up Do you think the issue of pension funds will come up at today's meeting?
come up We were discussing possible actors for the role, and your name came up, Brad.
come up (3) (surgir, pasar)
Meaning: to appear, occur, or become available
For example:
come up If a job comes up in your company, let me know and I might apply for it.
come up I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your party last night. Something came up at the last minute and I couldn't get away from the office.
come up It's too early to get up. The sun hasn't even come up yet!
come up against (vrselas con, competir contra alguien)
Meaning: to face a difficult situation or a difficult opponent
Synonym: be confronted with, face
For example:
come up against sth/sb In their campaign to stop the forest being logged, the locals came up against some powerful mafia-like businessmen.
come up against sth/sb Anyone who competes in this tournament will come up against some very tough opponents.
come up with (inventarse, concebir)
Meaning: to think of something like a plan, an idea or a solution to a problem
Synonym: think of
For example:
come up with sth Medical researchers still haven't come up with a cure for the common cold.
come up with sth How did the Spanish architect Gaudi come up with such incredible ideas and visions for the buildings he designed?
count on (contar con, confiar en, fiarse de)
Meaning: to depend on someone or something to do what is expected or needed
Synonym: depend on, bank on
For example:
count on sb/sth You can count on Marian to do a good job. She worked for us for many years and she always did excellent work.
count on sb/sth Farmers are counting on the spring rains to save their crops.
cover up (esconder, ocultar, cubrir algo, encubrir algo)
Meaning: to try to stop people finding out about something bad
Synonym: hide, conceal
For example:
cover up The school tried to cover up the fact that it had been penalised for tax evasion.
cover up Governments try to cover up their mistakes, while journalists try to reveal them.
crack down (tomar medidas enrgicas, aplicar mano dura, ponerse ms estricto)
Meaning: to start enforcing a law or a rule more strictly
Synonym: clamp down
For example:
crack down There's too much cheating in exams, so the teachers are cracking down and expelling anyone who's caught.
crack down on sb/sth The police are cracking down on drunk drivers, so if you drink before you drive you might end up in jail.

cross off (eliminar con un tache)

Meaning: to remove a name or an item from a list by drawing a line through it
For example:
cross off sth Cross off all the people you've already contacted.
cross sth off Cross each item off once you've got it, OK?
cross sth off sth Could you cross Brett's name off the guest list, please? I'd don't want him to come.
cross out (tachar)
Meaning: If you cross something out, you draw a line through it with a pen or a pencil, usually because it's wrong or is no longer necessary.
For example:
cross sth out If you make a mistake, cross it out and write down what you think is correct instead.
cross out sth When guests arrive, cross out their names on the guest list so that we know they're here.
cry out (chillar, llorar desconsoladamente)
Meaning: to scream or yell because of pain or fear
Synonym: yell, shout, scream
For example:
cry out The injured football player cried out in pain as he was being put on a stretcher.
cry out When I felt the spider's web wrap around my face in the dark, I cried out in fear.
cut back (reducir, recortar)
Meaning: to reduce the amount of money spent on something, or to reduce the size or scale of something
Synonym: reduce
For example:
cut back sth The government had to cut back programs for things like education and healthcare in order to pay the cost of invading foreign countries.
cut back on sth I just lost my job, so I'll have to cut back on the amount of money I spend each month.
cut down (reducir)
Meaning: to reduce the amount, number or size of something
Synonym: reduce
For example:
cut down If you can't quit smoking, you should cut down as much as possible until you're ready to stop.
cut down on sth Cutting down on junk food reduces the risk of getting heart disease, cancer, diabetes, strokes, and many other illnesses.
cut off (1) (interrumpir, cortar)
Meaning: to stop the supply of something like electricity, water, gas or telephone service.
For example:
cut off We got a notice to say that our water would be cut off all day because they're fixing the pipes.
cut sth off If we don't pay our bill today, the electric company will cut the power off.
cut off (2) (aislar, apartar)
Meaning: to isolate somebody or something by making transport or communication very difficult or impossible
Synonym: isolate
For example:
cut off The flood waters cut off many small farms for several days.
cut sth/sb off The earthquake destroyed roads and telephone lines, and cut our village off from the outside world.
cut out (1) (recortar)
Meaning: to remove an area of paper or cloth from a larger sheet by cutting
For example:
cut out sth My little girl likes cutting out the shapes of animals or fruits and colouring them in.
cut sth out She cut the recipe out and stuck it on the fridge.
cut sth out of sth Whenever our daughter's picture is in the newspaper, my wife cuts it out and puts it in a scrapbook.
Nouns often used as objects with cut out (1): picture, photograph, article, recipe, report, advertisement, coupon, sticker
cut out (2) (suprimir, dejar de, abstenerse de)
Meaning: to stop doing something, such as eating fatty foods or gambling or taking drugs, usually in order to improve one's health or one's life
Synonym: abstain from
For example:
cut out sth I still eat fish, but I've cut out all other types of meat, including chicken and pork.
cut sth out I told my husband to cut the gambling out altogether or I'd leave him.
cut out (3) (dejar de, detenerse)Informal
Meaning: If you tell someone to "Cut it out!", you want them to stop doing something annoying.
For example:
cut out sth Cut out the fighting, you two, and do your homework.
cut sth out The kids were playing cricket near the house until their father told them to cut it out before they broke a window.
cut up (cortar en pedazos, trozar)
Meaning: to cut something into small pieces
Synonym: chop up
For example:
cut sth up Before my cat eats the meat I buy for her, I have to cut it up.
cut up sth She eats whatever her mother cuts up and puts on her plate.

D
date back (existir desde)
Meaning: If something dates back to a certain time, it was made at that time or it started at that time.
Synonym: go back
For example:
date back Some of the pieces of pottery we dug up at the site date back a thousand years or more.
date back to We need to find out the period in history that these remains date back to.
date from (datar de)
Meaning: If something dates from a certain time, it was made at that time.
For example:
date from These antique glasses date from the mid-eighteenth century.
date from How can I found out if these coins really date from the period he claims they were from?
dawn on (ocurrirse, caer en cuenta, darse cuenta)
Meaning: If something dawns on you, you realize it, or become aware of it, for the first time.
For example:
dawn on sb At first I didn't realize who he was, but then it dawned on me. I was talking to Gerry's husband!
dawn on sb that It still hadn't dawned on Jimmy that the guy living next door was a drug dealer. He just thought the guy had lots of friends.
deal in (1) (traficar, comerciar, trapichear)
Meaning: to buy and sell something in order to make money
For example:
deal in sth Alan has set up a website that deals in old records and cassette tapes.
deal in sth The market is full of stalls that deal in everything from second-hand clothes to paintings and ceramics.
Nouns often used as objects with deal in (1): stamps, coins, records, rare books, second-hand clothes, stolen goods, used cars
deal in (2) (incluir, repartirle)
Meaning: If you say "Deal me in" it means you want to join in an activity.
Synonym: count in
For example:
deal sb in When I told Tommy we were going bowling, he said, "Great! Deal me in!"
deal sb in If you're ever going out to a club on Saturday night, deal me in. I just love dancing.
Origin: In most card games one player deals the cards to all those who are playing, and if someone says "Deal me in" it means they want to join in the
game.
deal with (lidiar, resolver, ocuparse de)
Meaning: If you deal with a problem or a difficult situation, you do what needs to be done to solve or resolve it.
Synonym: handle, take care of, tackle
For example:
deal with I asked my assistant if there was anything else we had to deal with.
deal with sth A manager has to deal with all sorts of problems and issues that come up in business.
be dealt with (passive) This matter should have been dealt with before it became such a serious issue.
Nouns often used as objects with deal with: problem, complaint, situation, issue, enquiry, crisis, emergency
decide against (decider(se a) no (hacer algo)
Meaning: to decide not to do something you were thinking of doing, or not to choose something or someone you were thinking of choosing
For example:
decide against sth/sb We were thinking of opening an office in London, but we've decided against it because of the high cost of renting office space
there.
decide against doing sth I'm glad to hear that you've decided against quitting your job.
decide on (elegir, optar)
Meaning: If you decide on something, you choose one thing from among two or more possible options.
Synonym: settle on
For example:
decide on sb/sth After looking into a lot of possible places to spend our honeymoon, we decided on a week in Bali.
decide on doing sth After thinking about it for a long time, I decided on doing a Masters degree in International Law.
delight in (disfrutar de, deleitarse con)
Meaning: If you delight in doing something, you get a great deal of pleasure from doing it.
Synonym: enjoy
For example:
delight in (doing) sth When he was a kid, Louis delighted in nothing more than racing go-carts, and now he's a Formula 1 racing-car driver.
delight in (doing) sth Cats can be very cruel. They delight in playing around with injured mice or birds before killing them.
delve into (hurgar en, escarvar, indagar en)
Meaning: to try to find information by examining something thoroughly
Synonym: investigate
For example:
delve into Reporters will often delve into a famous person's past, hoping to find something sensational like an arrest record or a history of drug abuse.
delve into One of the hospital's nurses has been arrested for giving secret medical records to a lawyer who was delving into someone's medical history.
depend on (1) (depender de)
Meaning: If one thing depends on another, it cannot happen without the other, or it is greatly affected by the other.
For example:

depend on sth I don't know if I can go to Oxford university yet. It depends on my exam results.
depend on sth We're not sure what we're doing tomorrow. It depends on the weather. If it's hot, we'll go swimming, but if it's cold, we'll go see a movie.
depend on (2) (contar con)
Meaning: If you depend on someone, you rely on them to give you what you need.
Synonym: rely on, count on
For example:
depend on sb/sth We depend on each other for help when we have problems. We can't depend on the government to help us.
depend on sb/sth for sth Children depend on their parents for food, shelter and an education.
describe as (describer como, calificar como)
Meaning: to say that something is a certain kind of thing or that someone is a certain type of person
For example:
describe sth as sth Would you describe your music as rock or pop?
describe sb as sth I'd describe Uncle Ted as a fairly typical middle-aged man.
deter from (disuadir, desalentar, desanimar)
Meaning: to make someone less likely to do something, or to discourage someone from doing something
For example:
deter sb from doing sth The terrorist attacks deterred many people from visiting the country, and many tourists cancelled their bookings.
deter sb from doing sth Did the stock market collapse of 2008 deter you from investing in shares again?
devote to (dedicar a)
Meaning: to decide to spend a certain portion of your time or money on something
Synonym: dedicate to
For example:
devote to Richard promised to devote more time to his family, and less time to work and making money.
devote to How much time and money would we have to devote to setting up the new business?
die away (desvanecerse, difuminarse)
Meaning: If a sound dies away, it gradually gets softer and softer.
Synonym: fade away
For example:
die away After about five minutes of non-stop cheering and clapping, the applause began to die away and people started to leave the hall.
die away I shouted into the cavern and listened as the echo of my voice slowly died away.
Nouns often used as subjects with die away: sound, applause, echo, footsteps, thunder, note, noise
die down (disminuir, bajar, ir apagndose)
Meaning: If something dies down, it gradually becomes weaker in strength or lower in volume or magnitude.
Synonym: subside
For example:
die down The anger people felt about what the previous government had done to their country took a long time to die down.
die down The new president waited for the applause to die down before he began to speak.
Nouns often used as subjects with die down: noise, applause, excitement, laughter, wind, storm, protest, controversy, anger, rage, fighting
die off (desaparecer)
Meaning: If a group of people, animals, or plants dies off, all of them die over a period of time and none are left.
For example:
die off The plants in our garden slowly died off due to lack of water.
die off Many Tasmanian aborigines were killed by European invaders, and the rest died off over the years because of European diseases.
die out (extinguirse)
Meaning: If something like a species of animal or a language is dying out, it is disappearing and could soon be lost forever.
Synonym: become extinct
For example:
die out Several languages will die out soon if more people don't start learning them and speaking them.
die out Some people believe polar bears could die out within twenty or thirty years because of global warming.
dig up (desenterrar)
Meaning: If you dig up something, you get it from under the ground by digging.
Synonym: unearth
For example:
dig up The police dug up the murder victim's body and took it away for examination.
dig up My dog loves digging up bones that I bury in the garden for him.
Nouns often used as objects with dig up: body, bone, treasure, potatoes, peanuts
dip into (hechar mano [hacer uso de dinero])
Meaning: to take money from an amount that has been saved or put aside for a specific purpose
For example:
dip into sth Saleena has decided to dip into her savings and take a trip to Thailand.
dip into sth If you haven't got change to tip the messenger, dip into our petty cash jar.
dish out (1) (distribuir)Informal
Meaning: to give things to people, often without thinking about the effects or the costs of doing so
Synonym: dole out (informal), give out, hand out
For example:
dish out sth The college was accused of dishing out degrees to anyone who could pay for them.
dish sth out Drug companies want doctors to dish their drugs out to as many people as possible.

dish out (2) (repartir)Informal

Meaning: If you dish out something like criticism or advice, you give it often and without much thought.
Synonym: dole out (informal), hand out
For example:
dish out sth When he gets drunk, Barry dishes out praise that's too high, or he dishes out criticism that's too strong. He never seems to get it right.
dish sth out The more someone understands about life, the less likely they are to dish advice or criticism out to people.
dispose of (desechar, deshacerse de)Formal
Meaning: to get rid of something you don't need or don't want any more
Synonym: throw away
For example:
dispose of sth I was fined a hundred dollars for incorrectly disposing of a cigarette. I should have put it into a bin instead of dropping it on the ground.
dispose of sth In most countries it is illegal to dispose of a dead body yourself. You have to have a registered undertaker dispose of it for you.
Nouns often used as objects with dispose of: litter, rubbish, garbage, cigarette, butt, waste, body
divide up (dividir, repartir)
Meaning: If you divide something up, you separate it into smaller parts so that everyone gets a share.
Synonym: divvy up (informal), share out
For example:
divide up sth We'll divide up any profits we make at the end of each month.
divide sth up If we divide the office space up into ten equal areas, we can create work stations for ten members of staff.
Nouns often used as objects with divide up: profit, money, inheritance, estate, space, land, pizza, cake
do about (hacer acerca)
Meaning: If you do something about a problem, you do something to fix it or solve it.
For example:
do about My printer won't work and I'm not sure what to do about it.
do about What do you think we should do about our company's falling market share?
do away with (1) (deshacerse de)
Meaning: If you do away with something, you get rid of it.
Synonym: abolish, eliminate
For example:
do away with A lot of people think we should do away with income tax for poor people.
do away with Governments must do away with laws that make it an offence for people of the same sex to make love. These laws infringe on human
rights.
do away with (2) (cargarse a, eliminar a)Informal
Meaning: to kill or to murder somebody
Synonym: murder, bump off (informal), do in (informal)
For example:
do away with sb We were sure she'd done away with her husband for the insurance money, but we were never able to prove it.
do away with sb Soon after Pedro was seen talking to the police, someone did away with him.
do in (dejar muerto, cansar, agotar)Informal
Meaning: to cause someone to feel very tired or worn out
Synonym: exhaust
For example:
do sb in That walk up the mountain really did me in. I can hardly move!
be done in Paula looks like she's been done in by all that running. I guess she isn't used to it.
do up (1) (renovar, remodelar)mal
Meaning: If you do up an old building, car, boat, etc., you make it look new again by repairing it, painting it, and so on.
Synonym: restore, renovate
For example:
do sth up Mike makes money by buying old houses and then doing them up and selling them.
do up sth Uncle Bill likes to do up old cars and make them look as good as new.
Nouns often used as objects with do up (1): house, apartment, room, car, motorbike, boat
do up (2) (abrochar, abotonar)
Meaning: If you do up a zip, a button, or a shoelace, you secure it in some way.
Synonym: fasten
For example:
do up sth Don't forget to do up your fly after you go to the toilet.
do sth up Do you think I should do these shirt buttons up, or leave them undone?
Nouns often used as objects with do up (2): fly, zip, zipper, buttons, shoelaces, bag, dress, tent
do with (1) (hacer con [donde se puso algo])
Meaning: to put something somewhere
For example:
do with sth I can't remember what I did with my phone. Have you seen it anywhere?
do with sth What did you do with the newspaper? Did you leave it outside?
Note: Usually used in a question or in a negative statement.
do with (2) (hacer con [usar])
Meaning: to make use of something
For example:
do with sth We could certainly do with some more computers at our school. We only have three at the moment.
do with sth What am I going to do with all this free time now that I'm retired?

do without (prescindir de, arreglrselas sin, vivir sin)

Meaning: If you do without something, you manage to get by without it.
For example:
do without sth People who are unemployed have to learn to do without some of the things they can afford when they're working.
do without sth I can't do without breakfast in the morning. It gives me the energy I need for the day.
doze off (quedarse dormido)
Meaning: If you doze off, you fall asleep without meaning to.
Synonym: nod off, fall asleep
For example:
doze off Mario dozed off during our English class and started to snore. It was really funny!
doze off If a movie is boring, it doesn't take long before I start to doze off.
drag on (hacerse eterno, continuar)
Meaning: to continue for longer than seems necessary or usual
For example:
drag on His speech seemed to drag on for hours. People were yawning and looking at their watches, but he still kept going!
drag on The case dragged on for many years because the defendant's lawyers kept appealing to higher and higher courts.
Nouns often used as subjects with drag on: meeting, speech, case, trial, lecture, debate, movie, concert, lesson
draw on (utilizar, hacer uso de)
Meaning: to use part of a supply of something, or to utilize something that has been gained over time
Synonym: make use of, utilize
For example:
draw on Animals will draw on the fat deposits in their bodies when they can't find enough to eat.
draw on The older nurses have a lot more experience to draw on when dealing with difficult patients.
draw out (prolongar, seguir, -sonsacar-)
Meaning: to make something last longer than usual or longer than necessary
Synonym: prolong
For example:
be drawn out The trial was drawn out for another month or two by the defense attorney's delaying tactics.
draw sth out The government wanted to draw the inquiry out so that they wouldn't have to act on it before the election.
draw up (redactar)
Meaning: to prepare and write a plan, a contract, guidelines or a list of some sort
For example:
draw up sth We need our lawyer to draw up a new distrubution contract.
draw sth up Linda's proposal sounded good, so I told her draw it up and present it to the members.
Nouns often used as objects with draw up: contract, proposal, plan, guidelines, schedule, itinerary, timetable, list, budget
dream of (soar con, concebir)
Meaning: If you dream of something you'd really like to be, to do, or to have, you imagine it becoming a real part of your life.
For example:
dream of In the classic song Imagine, John Lennon wrote about some of the things he dreamed of for the people of the world.
dream of sth Most people seem to dream of things like fame and wealth, but Louis said he dreams of things like peace for the world and contentment
for himself.
dream of doing sth When Julie was a little girl, she dreamed of being a famous singer.
Nouns often used as objects with dream of: fame, wealth, peace, happiness, beauty, success
dream up (ocurrirse, fabular)
Meaning: to imagine something like a plan or a story in great detail
Synonym: come up with
For example:
dream up It's amazing to think that one person could dream up an entire world like the one described in the Harry Potter novels.
dream up Who was it who dreamed up your plan to cheat by sending SMS messages?
dress up (emperifollarse)
Meaning: If you dress up, you put on formal clothes for a special occasion.
For example:
dress up It's fun to watch the Oscars and see all the movie stars dress up for the biggest night of their year.
dress up in When American women dress up they usually wear a gown, while the men wear a tuxedo.
drive away (ahuyentar)
Meaning: to cause someone or something to leave a place
For example:
drive sb/sth away The government's strict new laws on currency trading will drive foreign investors away.
drive away sb/sth The farmers are using automatic air guns to drive away the birds.
drive off (alejarse en coche)
Meaning: to leave in a car
For example:
drive off I walked out of the shop, got in my car and drove off.
drive off The kids waved as the car was driving off.
drive out (expulsar, echar)
Meaning: to force someone or something out of a place
Synonym: expel, throw out, kick out (informal)

For example:
drive sb out The invading soldiers drove people out of their homes and forced them to get onto trucks.
drive out sb/sth The police came and drove out any protesters who were still inside the building.
drop by (caer de sorpresa, dejarse caer, pasarse)Informal
Meaning: to make a short, casual visit somewhere
Synonym: pop in (informal), drop round (British informal)
For example:
drop by Why don't you drop by for a game of chess on your way home?
drop by Could you drop by the pharmacy on your way and get me some aspirin?
drop in (dejar de pasada)
Meaning: If you drop something in somewhere, you stop to leave it there and then keep going.
Synonym: drop off, deliver
For example:
drop sth in If you're going past the post office, could you drop these letters in for me?
drop sth in I'll drop the report in on my way to the office.
drop off (1) (llevar a, dejar en)
Meaning: to drive someone to a place they need to go to and leave them there
For example:
drop sb off Every morning I drop my kids off at school on my way to work.
drop off sb Sergio stopped at the mall and dropped off his mother, and then drove on to the golf course.
drop off (2) (quedarse dormido)
Meaning: to fall asleep
Synonym: doze off, nod off (informal), fall asleep
For example:
drop off My mum often drops off in her favourite chair in front of the TV, and we have to wake her up when it's time to go to bed.
drop off If you're driving and you start to feel sleepy, stop and rest. If you drop off behind the wheel, you could kill yourself and a lot of other people.
drop off (3) (disminuir, mermar)
Meaning: to become fewer in number or less in amount or intensity
Synonym: decline, decrease, fall off
For example:
drop off Elephant populations have dropped off rapidly because more poachers are killing them for their tusks.
drop off Investment in the housing market has dropped off quite a bit recently.
drop out (abandonar, desertar)
Meaning: to leave a course of study before completing it
For example:
drop out Bill never got his university degree, but he's never regretted dropping out.
drop out of sth Some of my friends dropped out of college, and while some of them wish they'd kept studying, others say they did the right thing.
Nouns often used as indirect objects with drop out: of school, of college, of university, of the course, of the program
drown out (ahogar un sonido)
Meaning: If a sound is drowned out, it can't be heard because of an ever louder sound.
For example:
drown sth out The jets flew low overhead and the noise was so loud that it drowned everything else out.
be drowned out by sth I saw The Beatles play a concert in 1966, but the music was drowned out by the sound of girls screaming.
drum up (suscitar, fomentar)
Meaning: to stimulate something like support for a project, enthusiasm for an idea, or sales for a business
For example:
drum up Why don't you try drumming up some more business by advertising online?
drum up Politicians spend a lot of time drumming up support for legislation they're trying to get through parliament.
dry up (secare, consumirse, agotarse)
Meaning: If something like water or oil dries up, or its source dries up, it means it's all gone and there is none left.
For example:
dry up It hasn't rained for many months and many of our rivers and lakes are drying up fast.
dry up If the world's oil reserves dry up, we'll have to find other energy sources.
dumb down (bajar el nivel, hablar en critiano, simplificar) Informal
Meaning: to make something like a movie or a novel easier to understand so more money can be made from it
For example:
dumb down sth Ross used to work in telelvision, but he quit when he was told he had to dumb down the programs he was working on.
dumb sth down Movie directors often say big studios dumb their movies down to sell more tickets.
dwell on (afligirse por, preocuparse por)
Meaning: If you dwell on something bad or unpleasant, you think about it too much or you talk about it too much.
For example:
dwell on sth If I'm lying awake at night dwelling on a problem or a conflict at work, I take my mind off it by reading a book.
dwell on sth Wayne was dwelling on the fact that he'd just lost his job, so I changed the topic and we talked about something else instead.
Nouns often used as objects with dwell on: problems, issues, the past, fears, regrets, loss, conflict
dying for (morirse por)
Meaning: If you're dying for something, you really feel like it or you want it very much.
For example:

dying for sth I'm dying for a cup of tea. Let's have a break and I'll make one.
dying for sth After working non-stop for a month, Charles said he was dying for a day off so he could stay home and do nothing.
Note: This phrasal verb is always used in the progressive or continuous tense.

E
ease off (aflojar, suavizar)
Meaning: If something eases off, it becomes weaker or less powerful.
Synonym: let up
For example:
ease off After the rain had eased off a bit, the race officials decided it was safe enough for the drivers to start racing again.
ease off The pain eased off quite a bit after the doctor gave me a shot of morphine.
eat in (comer en casa)
Meaning: If you eat in, you eat at home instead of going out to a restaurant.
For example:
eat in Let's eat in tonight. I don't feel like going out.
eat in If you eat in a lot, make sure you cook fresh food and don't just buy frozen meals and heat them up.
eat into (comerse, consumer algo de valor)
Meaning: to use up, or reduce the amount of, something of value
For example:
eat into sth High fuel costs have been eating into many airlines' profit margins.
eat into sth Answering work-related emails is starting to seriously eat into my free time.
Nouns often used as objects with eat into: savings, profits, income, time, free time
eat out (comer afuera, salir a comer)
Meaning: If you eat out, you eat in a restaurant instead of at home.
Synonym: dine out (formal)
For example:
eat out Let's eat out tonight. I don't feel like cooking.
eat out How often do you eat out?
eat up (1) (devorar, tragarse)
Meaning: to eat all or most of something
For example:
eat up sth How can I get my son to eat up all his vegetables? He says he hates them and always leaves them.
eat sth up No matter what sort of food I give my daughter, she eats it up.
Nouns often used as objects with eat up (1): dinner, food, meal, vegetables, breakfast, lunch
eat up (2) (consumir)
Meaning: If something eats up your time or money, you spend a lot of time or money on it.
Synonym: consume
For example:
eat up sth The recent trade deficit ate up nearly all our country's foreign reserves.
eat sth up Having a hobby like running marathons eats nearly all my free time up.
being eat up Our profits are being eaten up by the rising costs of oil.
egg on (alentar a, acicatear a)Informal
Meaning: If you egg someone on, you encourage them to do something foolish or risky.
Synonym: encourage, goad
For example:
egg sb on Janice had already had too much to drink, but her friends egged her on, trying to make her drink even more.
be egged on by sb If he hadn't been egged on by the other kids, Kenny would never have smoked that first cigarette. He hated the smell.
embark on (aventurarse)
Meaning: to begin something, usually something that will be challenging and time-consuming
For example:
embark on sth After quitting her job as a teacher, Sam embarked on a new career as a clothes designer.
embark on sth We're embarking on a campaign to encourage our young people to eat healthy food.
Nouns often used as objects with embark on: career, campaign, venture, program, policy, project, course
empty out (vaciar)
Meaning: to remove everything from inside something
For example:
empty out sth The cops stopped the boys and told them to empty out their pockets.
empty sth out I knew I'd been promoted when the boss smiled and told me to empty my old desk out and take everything to the office next to his.
empty sth out of sth After emptying the rubbish out of the bin, I washed it inside and out.
Nouns often used as objects with empty out: pockets, purse, bag, suitcase, bin, container, desk, drawer, cupboard, boot (of the car)
end in (culminar en, terminar en)
Meaning: to have a certain result at the end of something
Synonym: culminate in (formal)
For example:
end in sth The two countries couldn't agree on how to solve the problem, so the negotiations ended in a stalemate.
end in sth The U.S. government's policy of making alcohol illegal in the 1920's ended in failure and an increase in organised crime.
end up (acabar, terminar)
Meaning: If you end up being somewhere, or doing something, it's because of decisions you've made in the past.
Synonym: finish up, wind up

For example:
end up If Jimmy keeps taking drugs, he'll end up in jail or dead.
end up doing sth If you don't study hard, you could end up doing a job you don't like much.
end with (terminar con, concluir con)
Meaning: to have something act as the final part of something
Synonym: conclude with (formal)
For example:
end with sth The celebration ended with a spectacular fireworks display.
end with sth After the main part of the seminar is over, it ends with each speaker giving a summary of their ideas.
Nouns often used as objects with end with: summary, conclusion, closing ceremony, fireworks display
engage in (involucrarse en)Formal
Meaning: to become involved in something related to competition or conflict, such as a debate, a battle, or a dispute.
For example:
be engaged in sth The timber company is engaged in a dispute with local people over the destruction of their forests.
engage in sth We expect our students to engage in lively debates on the important issues of the day.
Nouns often used as objects with engage in: dispute, debate, conflict, war, warfare, battle, competition, struggle.
enter into (entrar en)
Meaning: to become involved in something like a discussion, an agreement, or a partnership.
For example:
enter into sth Before you enter into a business deal, have your lawyer check the contract.
enter into sth with sb The government has entered into talks with the rebel soldiers.
Nouns often used as objects with
enter into: agreement, contract, deal, negotiations, partnership, relationship, talks
entitle to (autorizar, dar derecho a o tener derecho de)
Meaning: If you are entitled to something, you have the right to have it or the right to do it.
For example:
entitle sb to sth Citizenship entitles people in Cuba to free health care and free education to tertiary level.
be entitled to do sth Did you know that descendants of the people who lived in Australia before Europeans started living there in the 1700's weren't
entitled to vote in national elections until the 1960's?
entrust to (encomendar)
Meaning: to give somebody responsibility for something of importance or value
For example:
entrust sth to sb Do you think we should entrust the discovery and development of new drugs to profit-seeking private companies?
be entrusted to sb The job of running the government is entrusted to politicians.
entrust with (confiar)
Meaning: to give someone responsibility for something of importance or value
For example:
entrust sb with sth Ben says that entrusting kids with important jobs like looking after pets and taking care of younger kids will help them to become
mature adults later on.
be entrusted with sth Do you think Edna can be entrusted with a secret, or do you think she might tell someone?
even up (igualar[se], nivelar[se])
Meaning: to make something more equal or to make it fairer
Synonym: equalize
For example:
even sth up You paid for the tickets, so if I pay for the snacks and drinks that'll even things up.
even up sth We need to score five more points to even up the score.
expose to (1) (enfrentar a)
Meaning: If you expose someone to something, you introduce them to something they might not otherwise see or experience.
For example:
exposed sb to sth We try to expose our students to art, music and literature that they wouldn't normally come across.
be exposed to sth It's a good idea for young staff to be exposed to various work environments.
expose to (2) (exponer a)
Meaning: to make someone face a danger or a hazard
For example:
expose to Many soldiers were exposed to dangerous chemicals during the war.
expose sb to sth Nuclear weapons expose millions of people to deadly nuclear radiation. They should be banned!
Nouns often used as objects with expose to (2): danger, gunfire, radiation, heat, sunlight, hazardous chemicals
extricate from (librar, liberar)Formal
Meaning: to get someone out of a difficult situation or a dangerous place
For example:
extricate sb from sth Their accountant tried to extricate the company executives from charges of tax evasion.
extricate oneself from sth Even though he had a team of very expensive lawyers, Lord Fartwhistle couldn't extricate himself from the legal mess he
was in.

F
face up to (plantar cara, encarar, afrontar)
Meaning: If you face up to a difficult or challenging situation, you accept that you have to deal with it, and then do something about it.
For example:
face up to sth We have to face up to the challenge of competing with new companies and new products.
face up to sth It's time I faced up to the fact that I'm getting older and I have to start saving money for the future.
Nouns often used as objects with face up to: fact, reality, thruth, challenge
face with (vrselas, enfrentarse cara a cara con)
Meaning: If you are faced with something like a problem or a challenge, you have to deal with it.
For example:
be faced with sth European companies are faced with strong competition from Asian manufacturers.
be faced with sth My cousin Kenny is faced with the challenge of overcoming cancer.
Nouns often used as objects with face with: challenge, problem, difficulty, competition, decision
factor in (incluir, considerer, tener en cuenta)
Meaning: to include a certain item when calculating or planning something
Synonym: consider, include
For example:
factor in sth Don't forget to factor in transport costs when you make the quotation.
factor sth in You need to factor the political situation in when deciding on a country to invest in.
fade away (disiparse, desvanecerse, esfumarse, perderse)
Meaning: to slowly become weaker, softer or dimmer
Synonym: disappear, vanish
For example:
fade away The rattles and clunks of her old bicycle faded away as she rode away from the town.
fade away The dreams he'd had as an idealistic young doctor faded away as the years passed.
fall apart (quebrarse)
Meaning: If something falls apart, it breaks into pieces or parts start falling off.
Synonym: disintegrate (formal)
For example:
fall apart My old shoes are falling apart, so I'll have to get some new ones.
fall apart If the model plane falls apart, get some stronger glue and put it together again.
fall back on (recurrir, apoyarse en)
Meaning: to use or do something else because what you used or did first has failed
For example:
fall back on sth If you get your degree, you'll have something to fall back on if you can't make a living as an artist.
fall back on sth Luckily Jenny had teaching to fall back on after her business failed.
fall behind (quedarse atrs, retrasarse)
Meaning: If you have fallen behind other people, they have advanced faster than you and they are ahead of you.
For example:
fall behind If he takes too much time off school, Ari will fall behind. Then he'll have to study hard to catch up with his classmates.
fall behind sth/sb Some Asian countries are falling behind China, and they need to develop their economies faster to keep up.
fall for (1) ()
Meaning: If you fall for something like a trick or a scam, you believe it's real or genuine even though it's not.
Synonym: be fooled by, be tricked by
For example:
fall for sth Don't fall for email scams which promise to make you a lot of money.
fall for sth Lots of people fell for our April Fool's joke when we claimed that the UN was going to ban all languages except for English.
Nouns often used as objects with fall for (1): trick, scam, confidence trick, con, joke
fall for (2) ()
Meaning: If you fall for someone, you fall in love with them.
For example:
fall for sb I fell for Becky on our first date, and I knew then and there that she was the one for me.
fall for sb My teenage daughter is going through that crazy stage when she says she's fallen for a different boy every month or two.
fall in (1) ()
Meaning: If a roof or a ceiling falls in, it falls to the floor because it's been weakened or damaged.
Synonym: cave in
For example:
fall in There was a loud crash, and then the ceiling fell in.
fall in Two firefighters were trapped under heavy beams after the roof fell in.
fall in (2) ()
Meaning: to form a line by standing side by side or one behind the other
For example:
fall in As the teacher started walking down the nature trail, her students fell in behind her.
fall in The soldiers jumped off the truck and their sergeant shouted "Fall in, men!", so they all lined up.

fall off ()
Meaning: to become less in amount or lower in level
Synonym: drop off, decrease, decline
For example:
fall off Sales of sunglasses usually fall off in winter, but pick up again in summer.
fall off Tourist numbers fell off quite a bit because of the reports of sickness in the country.
fall out (1) ()
Meaning: If something falls out, it becomes detached from whatever it's attached to.
Synonym: come out
For example:
fall out Bob's hair has started falling out, so he's looking for a cream or some pills to stop any more from falling out.
fall out I knew I was getting old when my teeth started to fall out.
fall out (2) ()Informal
Meaning: If you and a friend fall out, you are no longer friendly because of a disagreement or a problem you've had.
For example:
fall out over sth/sb Sayoko and Hiroko fell out over a boy they both liked, and now they aren't speaking to one another.
fall out with sb I fell out with my parents after I told them I was gay. They couldn't accept it.
Nouns often used as subjects with fall out (2): friends, relatives, partners, colleagues, lovers
Note: The noun "falling-out" comes from this phrasal verb. A "falling-out" occurs when friends, colleagues or family members have a disagreement or a
misunderstanding over something, and their relationship is in danger of ending.
fall over ()
Meaning: If someone falls over, they fall to the ground.
For example:
fall over My little girl was running along when she fell over, so I picked her up and gave her a hug.
fall over Be careful when you're walking in the forest. You can get seriously hurt if you fall over.
fall through ()
Meaning: If a plan or a deal falls through, it doesn't work out and it's dropped or scrapped.
For example:
fall through Our plans for a holiday in Greece fell through when Bob lost his job. We couldn't afford to go after that.
has fallen through The deal has fallen through because they couldn't agree on the payment terms.
Nouns often used as subjects with fall through: plan, deal, arrangement, sale, purchase
farm out ()
Meaning: If you farm out work, you pay people outside your company to do it.
For example:
farm sth out They farm a lot of the work out to freelancers because it's cheaper than employing their own people.
farm out sth We've decided to farm out most of the basic programming work to IT subcontractors in India.
feel for ()
Meaning: If you feel for someone, you have sympathy for them or feel sad because they are suffering.
Synonym: sympathize with (formal)
For example:
feel for sb We all felt for Vince when we heard about what had happened to his dog.
feel for sb I feel for her because I know what she's going through.
fight back ()
Meaning: If you fight back, you do what's needed to win a conflict or a battle after being attacked or threatened.
Synonym: retaliate
For example:
fight back Tommy just stands there when other kids hit him. He won't fight back.
fight back When people blame the new government for the economic crisis, the president fights back and says his government did not create the
problems.
fight off ()
Meaning: to try to stop someone or something from attacking you or hurting you
Synonym: fend off
For example:
fight off sth/sb My sister is learning karate so she'll be able to fight off anybody who tries to attack her.
fight sth/sb off If you get the flu, you should rest in order to give your body the chance to fight it off.
figure out (1) ()
Meaning: If you figure something out, you find the solution to a problem or the answer to a question.
Synonym: work out
For example:
figure out To complete the puzzle, study the clues and try to figure out the solution.
figure out He soon figured out what the problem with his computer was.
figure out (2) ()
Meaning: If you figure somebody out, you know what they're like and how they're likely to act.
Synonym: work out, understand
For example:
figure sb out I've known Tatiana for a couple of years, but I still haven't figured her out. I never know what she's going to say or do.
figure sb out A good personnel manager can figure people out quickly.

fill in (1) ()
Meaning: If you fill in a form, you complete it by writing in the spaces provided.
Synonym: fill out, complete (formal)
For example:
fill sth in Take this form and fill it in with your details.
fill in sth If you want to get a visa, you'll have to fill in a couple of forms and then they'll give you an interview.
Nouns often used as objects with fill in (1): form, spaces, details, missing word, name, address
fill in (2) ()
Meaning: If you fill somebody in, you give them the details about something.
For example:
fill sb in I had to fill Barrack in on the details because he hadn't had time to read the report.
fill sb in I'm not sure what happened yet, but as soon as I find out I'll call and fill you in.
fill out ()
Meaning: If you fill out a form, you complete it by writing in the spaces provided.
Synonym: fill in, complete (formal)
For example:
fill sth out Take this form, fill it out, and then bring it back.
fill out sth Do you like filling out questionnaires or those survey booklets?
Nouns often used as objects with fill out: form, questionnaire, exam booklet, survey
Note: Both "fill in" and "fill out" can have this meaning, and both are correct.
fill up (1) ()
Meaning: If you fill something up, you make it full.
For example:
fill up sth Don't forget to fill up your car before you leave. It's a long way to the next gas station.
fill sth up with sth When the water level in the coffee machine gets down to that red line, fill it up with water from this tap.
Nouns often used as objects with fill up (1): container, glass, jar, bottle, tank, car, bag, suitcase
fill up (2) ()
Meaning: to fill someone's stomach with food
Synonym: satisfy
For example:
fill sb up Sam says there's nothing like a big bowl of hot porridge to fill you up in the morning.
fill sb up with sth Whenever I visit my mum, she fills me up with all the things she made for us when we were kids.
fill up on sth Before we went hiking, we filled up on rice and chicken and boiled vegetables.
find out ()
Meaning: to discover a fact or information about something
For example:
find out sth Could you find out how much it costs to fly to Japan?
find out about sth I love going to Wikipedia and finding out about all sorts of interesting subjects.
find sth out Whenever Paula needs to find something out, she goes online and does a search.
Nouns often used as objects with find out: information, details, facts, news, answer
finish off ()
Meaning: to complete something, or to eat the last piece of something
For example:
finish sth off I've been working on the report all week, but I should be able to finish it off tonight.
finish off sth Who'd like to finish off the apple pie? There's still one piece left.
finish up ()
Meaning: to be in a certain place or situation after a long series of events or a long time
Synonym: end up, wind up
For example:
finish up After working her way around Asia, Sandy finished up in Australia working as a fruit picker.
finish up doing sth After seeing hundreds of young actors, we finished up giving the part to a boy who'd never acted in a film before.
finish with ()
Meaning: If you've finished with something, you've done what you needed to do with it and you no longer need it.
For example:
finish with sth When you've finished with the hair dryer, could you let me know? I need to use it too.
finish with sth After he'd finished with the vacuum cleaner, he put it back in the cupboard.
fire up ()
Meaning: to create enthusiasm or excitement, usually among a group of people or a crowd
For example:
fire up sb The coach fired up his players with his half-time talk, and they tried much harder in the second half.
be fired up After being fired up by their leaders' speeches, the protesters marched to government house.
fit in (1) ()
Meaning: to have enough space for something, or to have enough time for something
For example:
fit in My car's got a small boot and the golf clubs won't fit in. They're too long.
fit sth/sb in I don't have time to see him today, but I might be able to fit him in tomorrow.
fit in (2) ()

Meaning: If you fit in, you are accepted by a group of people and seen as "one of them".
For example:
fit in When my daughter starts at a new school, she has no trouble fitting in.
fit in with sth/sb Barry started his new job in China and he tried to fit in with the local staff, but it was difficult because most of them didn't speak much
English.
fit together ()
Meaning: to connect pieces that go together to make something
For example:
fit sth together We completed the jigsaw puzzle by fitting all the pieces together.
fit together sth You should read the instructions before trying to fit together all these parts.
fix up (1) ()
Meaning: to repair something or to improve the condition of something, especially something old or second-hand
Synonym: restore, renovate, do up (British informal)
For example:
fix sth up Mark and Shelley have made a lot of money by buying old, run-down houses, and then fixing them up and selling them.
fix up sth Why don't you fix up that old motorbike you've got in the garage? If you got it in good condition again, you could sell it.
fix up (2) ()Informal
Meaning: to arrange something for someone
Synonym: sort out, arrange (formal)
For example:
fix sb up Let me know if you ever need a loan and we'll fix you up.
fix sb up with sth If you need an apartment, let me know and I'll talk to my cousin. He should be able to fix you up with something nice.
fizzle out ()
Meaning: If something fizzles out, it slowly loses its power or strength, and then ends weakly.
Synonym: peter out
For example:
fizzle out For the first couple of weeks, everybody was talking about the new reality TV show, but the excitement soon fizzled out and no-one talks
about it now.
fizzle out There used to be a lot of interest in the band, but it fizzled out when their lead singer quit and started a solo career.
flare up ()
Meaning: If something like a conflict or an illness flares up, it suddenly becomes worse.
Synonym: erupt
For example:
flare up Julia's skin condition flares up whenever she gets stressed out by something.
flare up It can be dangerous in this city. Fighting among street gangs can flare up at any time.
flick through ()
Meaning: If you flick through a book or a magazine, you have a quick look at a few of the pages.
Synonym: look through
For example:
flick through sth She was flicking through a magazine when she spotted a picture of herself.
flick through sth Don't you hate the way some shops seal new books in plastic? It means you can't flick through them before you buy them.
flood in ()
Meaning: If things flood in, they come quickly and in great numbers.
Synonym: pour in
For example:
flood in Ever since she won the Nobel Prize for literature, orders for her books have been flooding in.
flood in Thousands of cheap products have been flooding in from overseas since the government lowered import taxes.
fob off (1) ()Informal
Meaning: to give someone something of low quality or little value
For example:
fob sb off with sth He knows a lot about jade, so there's no way they can fob him off with some worthless white stone.
be fobbed off with sth I wasn't going to be fobbed off with some sort of cheap copy.
fob off (2) ()Informal
Meaning: to try to make someone stop complaining or stop bothering you by telling them something that isn't true, or by giving them an excuse
For example:
fob off After I complained about getting tinned peas, the manager of the restaurant tried to fob me off with some excuse about fresh peas not being in
season.
fob off The workers refused to be fobbed off with a vague promise of bigger bonuses in future if profits improved.
focus on ()
Meaning: If you focus on something, you give it all your attention.
Synonym: concentrate on
For example:
focus on sth The new government will focus on reforming health care and developing sustainable sources of energy.
focus on sth I used to spend all my time making money, but now I'm more focused on developing my creative talents - and I'm much happier.
follow through ()
Meaning: to continue something to the next stage, or to complete something
For example:
follow through It's not easy to come up with a good idea, but it's even harder to follow through and make it a reality.

be followed through The first stage of the research project was very promising, but for some reason it was never followed through.
follow up ()
Meaning: to do something in addition to what's already been done in order to complete or continue a process or a deal
Synonym: consolidate (formal)
For example:
follow up If you meet a new contact, make sure you get their number and follow up with a call in the next day or two.
follow up After selling something online, the website follows up with a customer satisfaction survey.
fool around ()
Meaning: If you're fooling around, you're having fun by joking and being a bit silly.
Synonym: mess around, muck around (British informal)
For example:
fool around We were telling jokes and laughing when the boss came in and told us to stop fooling around and start working.
fool around If you spend all your time at school just fooling around, you'll never learn anything.
force into ()
Meaning: to make someone do something they don't want to do
For example:
force sb into sth Bobby didn't like playing Little League baseball, but his father forced him into it.
be forced into sth Libby hated competing in beauty contests for little girls, but she was forced into it by her mother.
be forced into doing sth When I was a kid I was forced into taking piano lessons.
forge ahead ()
Meaning: to make rapid progress toward a goal
For example:
forge ahead The festival's organizers are forging ahead and they're confident it'll be the biggest music festival ever.
forge ahead The President was determined to forge ahead with his reforms despite the problems he was facing.
freak out ()Informal
Meaning: If someone freaks out, they get very scared or upset by something.
For example:
freak out When I saw a snake while I was having a shower, I freaked out and ran from the bathroom completely naked.
freak out After smoking some marijuana, Harry started freaking out when he thought everyone was laughing at him.
free up ()
Meaning: to make someone or something available by releasing them from their usual duties or function
For example:
free up sb/sth We need to free up some of our factory workers so they can help us out.
free sb/sth up The company had to free some of its production capacity up in order to fill a special order.
freshen up ()
Meaning: If you freshen up, you wash your face and hands and make yourself look and feel better.
For example:
freshen up I was hot and sweaty when I came inside so I went straight to the bathroom to freshen up.
freshen up If you'd like to freshen up before dinner, the bathroom is the first door on the right.
frighten away ()
Meaning: If you frighten away something or someone, you make them go away by making them feel afraid.
Synonym: scare off
For example:
frighten sth/sb away Farmers build scarecrows in their fields in order to frighten away birds that eat their crops.
frighten sth/sb away When he saw some guys coming to attack him, Harry pulled out his gun and frightened them away.
frown on ()
Meaning: to disapprove of something
For example:
frown on sth Suzie's father frowned on the idea of her becoming a dancer, but her mother said she should do it if she was talented enough to succeed.
be frowned on Long hair on boys is no longer banned in our school, though lots of teachers still frown on it.
Note: We can make this phrasal verb more formal by using "upon" instead of "on", as in "The judge had always frowned upon the use of cameras in his
courtroom."
function as ()
Meaning: to be used for a particular purpose, or to work in a particular way
For example:
function as sth My apartment functions as an office and a storeroom, as well as my home.
function as sth Our website functions mainly as a marketing tool, though it also functions as a channel for direct sales.
fuss over ()
Meaning: to give someone lots of attention to show how much you like them or how important you think they are
For example:
fuss over sb All the relatives fussed over our baby daughter when we took her to meet them for the first time.
fuss over sb Henry travels in first class because he loves the way the flight attendants fuss over him and make him feel special.

G
gather around ()
Meaning: If people gather around, they form a group or a small crowd around something or someone.
Synonym: congregate
For example:
gather around As soon as Simon began playing his guitar and singing, people gathered around to listen.
gather around After Ronaldo fell down and grabbed his foot, other players gathered around to see what was wrong with him.
get across ()
Meaning: to communicate something or make something understood by others
Synonym: get over, convey, put across
For example:
get sth across I've studied English for years, but I still have trouble getting my ideas across in a conversation.
get across sth A good advertisement gets across whatever it is that makes a product seem essential to buyers.
get ahead ()
Meaning: If you get ahead, you make progress in your career.
Synonym: advance, progress
For example:
get ahead Peter says he got ahead by working hard and listening to people who knew more than he did.
get ahead She won't get ahead unless she quits this job and starts working for a bigger company.
get along ()
Meaning: If two people get along, they like each other and are friendly.
Synonym: get on
For example:
get along My sister and I used to fight a lot when we were kids, but we get along well these days.
get along with sb Lisa is a friendly, easy-going girl. She seems to get along with everybody.
get around (1) ()
Meaning: to move from place to place
For example:
get around Getting around by motorbike is much quicker than getting around by car, but it's also much more dangerous.
get around Taxis are a really expensive way of getting around in Japan, so I use public transport whenever I can.
get around (2) ()
Meaning: to find a way of avoiding something
Synonym: avoid
For example:
get around sth Sorry, but there's no way of getting around the new tax, so you'll just have to pay it.
get around sth Jimmy's new lawyer is an expert at getting around government regulations.
get at (1) ()
Meaning: to get hold of something
Synonym: reach
For example:
get at sth Make sure you put any dangerous medicines away so that the kids can't get at them.
get at sth You'll need to put the food in a place where the ants can't get at it.
get at (2) ()
Meaning: to mean or to imply something
For example:
get at I didn't understand what she was getting at.
get at sth In this song I think he was getting at the fact that we all need to take responsibility for our actions.
get away ()
Meaning: to leave a place
Synonym: escape
For example:
get away I had the fish on the line, but just as I was getting it out of the water, it fell back in and got away.
get away I wanted to join you for dinner, but I just couldn't get away. There was too much going on in the office.
get away from sth We left the pub to get away from the noise.
get away with (salirse con la suya)
Meaning: to do something illegal or immoral and not get caught or punished
For example:
get away with sth Janet got away with shoplifting clothes the first few times, but she soon got caught and now she's stuck with a police record for the
rest of her life.
get away with sth Bobby nearly got away with the robbery, but he spent the money too quickly and local police who knew him got suspicious.
Nouns often used as objects with get away with: cheating, stealing, lying, robbery, theft, fraud, corruption, murder
get back (1) ()
Meaning: to return to a place
For example:
get back The kids go to school at 9 in the morning and they usually get back about 4 in the afternoon.
get back Do you know when the neighbours are getting back from their vacation?

get back (2) ()

Meaning: If you get something back, it is returned to you after you've lent it, lost it, or had it stolen.
Synonym: retrieve
For example:
get sth back If you leave something in a taxi, you might get it back if you call the taxi company.
get back sth I'm never lending money to Dave again. Last time it took six months to get back the hundred dollars I lent him.
get by ()
Meaning: to have just enough of something, like money, knowledge or skills, to do what you want to do
Synonym: manage
For example:
get by Workers getting the minimum wage earn just enough to get by, but I doubt if they could save anything.
get by My French isn't great, but it's good enough to get by when I'm travelling in France.
get down (1) ()
Meaning: to move close to the ground, or to move from a higher position to a lower position
For example:
get down When Mandy said she'd lost a contact lens, we all got down and looked for it.
get down If you hear gunshots, get down and stay down.
get down (2) ()
Meaning: to quickly write something, often so as not to forget it
Synonym: jot down
For example:
get down sth Nick always carries a pen and piece of paper so that he can get down any ideas he has as soon as he has them.
get sth down Did you manage to get the car's registration number down?
get down (3) ()
Meaning: to manage to swallow something that isn't easy to swallow
For example:
get sth down The food was so awful that he had trouble getting anything down.
get sth down The cat didn't want to swallow the pill, but we eventually got it down.
get in (1) ()
Meaning: to enter a place or a vehicle
For example:
get in You'll need a house key. You can't get in without one.
get in sth Grandma got in the back seat with the kids, while I got in the driver's seat.
Nouns often used as objects with get in (1): car, taxi, house, apartment, office, tent
get in (2) ()
Meaning: If a train or plane gets in, it arrives at its destination.
Synonym: arrive
For example:
get in Do you know when the train from Paris gets in? I promised to meet my wife.
get in Call me as soon as your plane gets in.
get in (3) ()
Meaning: to submit or send something like a document, a form or a report
For example:
get sth in Make sure you get your application in on time, or you won't get the job.
get sth in My son hasn't even started his homework assignment yet, and he has to get it in by Friday.
get into (1) ()
Meaning: If you get into something like a university, a team, a club, etc., you have succeeded in joining it.
For example:
get into sth Did you hear about Mandy getting into Oxford University?
get into David Beckham got into the English team over 100 times.
Nouns often used as objects with get into (1): school, university, course, program, army, navy, team, squad, club, government, parliament, council
get into (2) ()
Meaning: to become interested in something or focussed on something
For example:
get into sth After he retired, my father got into ballroom dancing and windsurfing.
get into sth You'll be nervous at first, but you'll relax once you start getting into the music.
get off (1) ()
Meaning: to leave a means of transport such as a bus or a train
Synonym: alight (formal)
For example:
get off sth We got off the train as soon as it stopped.
get off sth You'll have to get off the bus at the railway station and then get the train.
Nouns often used as objects with get off (1): bicycle, motorbike, horse, cart, bus, train, plane, boat, rollercoaster, ride
get off (2) ()
Meaning: to finish work, or have a break from work
For example:
get off We start work at 9 in the morning, and we get off at 5.

get sth off Everyone in our company gets New Years Day off, except for a few security guards.
get on (1) ()
Meaning: to step onto a bus, train, ship, etc.
Synonym: board (formal)
For example:
get on sth I watched my son help an old lady get on the bus, and felt proud of my boy.
get on sth The only way to get on the boat was to walk along a narrow plank that went over the water.
Nouns often used as objects with get on (1): bus, train, plane, boat, ship, bicycle, motorbike
get on (2) ()
Meaning: If two people get on, they have a good relationship and are friendly.
Synonym: get along
For example:
get on Mike and his dad used to fight a lot, but these days they get on really well.
get on with Janie's very easy to get on with. Everybody really likes her.
get out (1) ()
Meaning: to move out of an enclosed space, such as a building or a car
Synonym: leave
For example:
get out The doors were locked and there were bars on the windows so the people inside couldn't get out of the building.
get out Make sure there are no cars coming before you get out of the taxi.
get out (2) ()
Meaning: If you get something out, you remove it from whatever it's in.
For example:
get sth out After you get the clothes out of the washing machine, hang them out to dry.
get sth out It's really difficult to get wine stains out of a carpet.
get out of (1) ()
Meaning: If you get out of doing something that you don't want to do, you find a way to avoid doing it, such as by making up an excuse.
For example:
get out of sth My sister hates funerals, and she gets out of going to them by saying she's sick.
get out of doing sth If I can get out of working on the weekend, I'll go camping with my friends.
get out of (2) ()
Meaning: to take off clothes because they're uncomfortable or inappropriate
For example:
get out of sth Wait a moment while I get out of these wet clothes.
get out of sth After finishing his run he jumped in the pool without getting out of his running gear.
get over ()
Meaning: to recover from something like an illness or a shock
Synonym: recover from
For example:
get over sth How long did it take you to get over the illness?
get over sth Tony was heartbroken when his girlfriend left him, and it took him ages to get over it.
Nouns often used as objects with get over: illness, virus, cold, operation, accident, injury, shock, trauma, heartbreak
get through (1) ()
Meaning: to complete a task
Synonym: finish
For example:
get through sth It'll take hours to get through all these emails. There must be hundreds of them!
get through sth We've got a lot to get through in today's lesson, so we'd better get started.
get through (2) ()
Meaning: If you get through something, you use or eat all of it.
For example:
get through sth When I was in Japan, I got through all my money in a few days. Everything's really expensive.
get through sth It's amazing how much food a growing teenage boy can get through in a single day.
get through (3) ()
Meaning: to reach the person you want to talk to when making a telephone call
For example:
get through If you can't get through to my cell phone, call my home number.
get through I called your company, but I couldn't get through to a real person. All I got was a series of recorded messages.
get together ()
Meaning: to meet and spend time together
Synonym: meet up
For example:
get together All the neighbours get together on Christmas morning for their annual Christmas "block party".
get together Every Saturday night we get together with some friends and have dinner in a restaurant.
get up (1) ()
Meaning: to get out of bed after having been asleep
Synonym: rise

For example:
get up Michael gets up at six o'clock, does his exercises and his meditation, and then he makes his breakfast.
get sb up Every morning Sarah's mother gets her up and gets her ready for school.
get up (2) ()
Meaning: to stand up or to get to one's feet
Synonym: stand up
For example:
get up When the teacher came in, all her students got up and stood beside their desks.
get up If you're on a long flight, it's a good idea to get up and walk around for a few minutes every hour or so.
give away ()
Meaning: If you give away something, you give it to someone without expecting anything in return.
For example:
give away sth Bill Gates gives away most of his money to help poor people in developing countries.
give sth away My dog had five puppies, and we gave four of them away and kept one for ourselves.
give back ()
Meaning: If you give something back, you return it to whoever you got it from.
Synonym: return
For example:
give back sth Have you given back the books you borrowed from your sister yet?
give sth back People who've made a fortune in business often give something back to their school or university by providing scholarships, equipment
or new buildings.
give in ()
Meaning: If somebody gives in, they stop trying to do something like win a game, a fight or an argument.
Synonym: yield, surrender, capitulate (formal)
For example:
give in Francine won't fight for what she wants. As soon as there's a problem to overcome, she just gives in and stops trying.
give in Good athletes are very determined when they are competing, and they never give in.
give off ()
Meaning: to produce something like a smell, a gas, heat or light
Synonym: emit
For example:
give off Coal-fired power plants give off a lot of damaging fumes and atmospheric pollutants.
give off sth Many flowers give off an aroma that attracts insects, and the insects then pollinate the plants.
Nouns often used as objects with give off: smell, gas, fumes, odour, scent, aroma, stink, heat, light
give out ()
Meaning: If you give something out, you distribute it to many people, usually by hand.
Synonym: hand out
For example:
give out sth Our sales staff will be giving out promotional material at the trade fair.
give sth out Take these brochures and give them out to people as they walk past.
give up (1) ()
Meaning: If you give up, you stop trying to do something because it's too hard or because it can't be done.
For example:
give up I know it's hard to find a job these days, but don't give up. Keep trying and sooner or later you'll get one.
give up doing sth I decided to fix my printer myself, but the problem was too serious so I gave up trying and took it to the repair shop.
give up (2) ()
Meaning: If you give up something, you stop doing it because it's bad for you.
Synonym: quit
For example:
give up sth One of the hardest things I've ever done was to give up cigarettes.
give sth up Your girlfriend said she hates it when you drink too much, so if you want to keep her you should give it up for a while.
give up doing sth My doctor told me I should give up eating fatty foods and sweet desserts.
Nouns often used as objects with give up (2): cigarettes, alcohol, smoking, drinking, meat, desserts, sweets
go about ()
Meaning: to do something in a certain way, or to deal with something in a certain way
Synonym: tackle
For example:
go about sth What's the best way of going about something like this?
go about sth How do you think we should go about raising funds for the project?
go after (1) ()
Meaning: to chase and try to catch someone or something
Synonym: chase, pursue
For example:
go after sb/sth After the guy had grabbed my wife's handbag I went after him, but he was too fast and he got away.
go after sb/sth A lion won't go after an animal unless it's pretty sure it can catch it.
go after (2) ()Informal
Meaning: to try to get something
For example:

go after sb/sth Are you planning to go after Alex's job when he retires?
go after sb/sth If Rupert thinks there's a chance to take over a profitable company, he'll go after it with everything he's got.
go against ()
Meaning: to oppose, or disagree with, something or somebody
For example:
go against sth/sb A leader who always goes against public opinion won't last very long.
go against sth/sb Asking someone to do something that goes against their religious beliefs is probably a waste of time.
go ahead ()
Meaning: to start doing something, or to continue doing something, usually after being given permission or encouragement to do so
For example:
go ahead The chess tournament referee waited until all the players were sitting at their tables, and then he told them to go ahead and start the first
game.
go ahead I've checked the contract and it looks fine, so you can go ahead and sign it.
go along with ()
Meaning: to agree with someone or to support something
Synonym: agree with
For example:
go along with sth/sb I usually go along with whatever Michael says, but this time I don't agree with him.
go along with sth/sb Most people just go along with whatever the government wants to do, so it was a surprise when so many of them opposed the
plan to build a new dam.
go around (1) ()
Meaning: to act or dress in a certain way
For example:
go around He used to go around in jeans and a T-shirt, but now he wears a suit and tie.
go around Ever since Lee got his promotion, he's been going around telling everyone what to do.
go around (2) ()
Meaning: to be enough for everyone
For example:
go around There wasn't enough cake to go around, so I had to go and get another one.
go around Sometimes there aren't enough books to go around, so the students have to share them.
go away (1) ()
Meaning: to leave or go to another place
For example:
go away A big dog chased me up a tree, and I had to wait there until it went away.
go away Billy is in a bad mood. If anyone knocks on his door, he tells them to go away and leave him alone.
go away (2) ()
Meaning: to stop existing, or to stop being noticeable
Synonym: disappear, vanish
For example:
go away If you start putting cream on your pimples today, they should go away in three or four days.
go away The problem isn't going to go away by itself. You're going to have to do something about it.
go back ()
Meaning: to return to a place, a person, a condition, etc.
Synonym: return
For example:
go back I'm feeling much better, thanks. I should be able to go back to work tomorrow.
go back Sandra left her passport at home, so she had to go back and get it.
go beyond ()
Meaning: to be more than, better than, more advanced than, etc.
Synonym: exceed (formal), surpass (formal)
For example:
go beyond sth The actual cost of making his movies nearly always goes beyond the original budget.
go (far/way) beyond sth Her dreams of fame and success always went far beyond what a girl from New Jersey would normally expect from life.
go by ()
Meaning: to move past (in space), or pass (in time)
Synonym: pass by
For example:
go by My grandfather likes to sit on a bench in the park and watch all the people going by.
go by Time seems to go by more quickly when you get older.
go down (1) ()
Meaning: to become less
Synonym: decrease, fall
For example:
go down The new police chief has promised to do everything he can to make the crime rate go down.
go down Prices don't usually go down - they usually go up.
go down (2) ()
Meaning: to be received in a certain way, or to create a certain reaction

For example:
go down I think your speech went down really well. People looked really interested.
go down The manager's request that workers help the company by doing overtime for no pay didn't go down very well.
go down (3) ()
Meaning: When the sun or the moon goes down, it gets lower and lower in the sky until it disappears below the horizon.
Synonym: set
For example:
go down What time does the sun go down?
go down We sat on the beach and watched the sun go down.
go down (4) ()
Meaning: to be remembered or recorded in some way
For example:
Helen said she thinks President George will go down in history as one of the worst presidents we've ever had.
The Beatles will go down in the record books as the best-selling group of the sixties.
go for (1) ()Informal
Meaning: to try to get something or achieve something
For example:
go for sth Are you planning to go for that job in the UN?
go for sth The referee thought I kicked the guy on purpose, but I didn't. I was going for the ball.
go for (2) ()Informal
Meaning: to like a particular type of person, product, style, experience, etc.
Synonym: like
For example:
go for sth/sb Sandra goes for the cute, boyish guys, but Heather goes for the more manly, macho guys.
go for sth/sb One of my daughters goes for romantic comedies, but the other one goes for adventure and action movies.
go for (3) ()
Meaning: to physically attack a person or an animal
Synonym: attack
For example:
go for sb/sth As soon as I walked through the gate, the dog went for me. I had to jump over the fence to get away!
go for sb/sth He went for the guy with a broken bottle and nearly killed him.
go for (4) ()
Meaning: to be sold for a certain amount of money
Synonym: fetch
For example:
go for How much did your neighbour's house go for?
go for Dave's paintings go for anything up to ten thousand pounds these days.
go into ()
Meaning: to talk about or discuss something in detail
Synonym: discuss
For example:
go into sth Let's not go into that now. We can talk about it later when we get home.
go into sth My uncle says there are some topics it's best not to go into if you're talking to a stranger, such as religion and politics.
Nouns often used as objects with go into: topic, subject, issue, matter, item, case
go off (1) ()
Meaning: If something goes off, it stops working because of a power cut.
For example:
go off Some power lines came down during the storm and all our lights suddenly went off.
go off My new computer has batteries that will save my work if the power goes off in a blackout.
Nouns often used as subjects with go off (1): lights, computer, television, air conditioner, heater, radio
go off (2) ()
Meaning: If a bomb or a firework goes off, it explodes.
Synonym: explode
For example:
go off After the bomb went off, we heard lots of people screaming and shouting.
go off Stan had some serious burns on his hands after some powerful fireworks went off while he was carrying them.
Nouns often used as subjects with go off (2): bomb, grenade, gun, land mine, fireworks, cracker
go off (3) ()
Meaning: If foods or drinks go off, they go bad and aren't safe to eat or drink.
Synonym: go bad, spoil
For example:
go off Kylie keeps leftovers in the fridge until they go off, and then she throws them away.
go off If you freeze bread, it won't go off and it'll last much longer.
go on (1) ()
Meaning: to happen
Synonym: occur
For example:
go on Why is everyone running? What's going on?

go on Hillary likes to know what's going on in the world, so she reads magazines like Time and Newsweek.
go on (2) ()
Meaning: to keep happening as before, or to keep doing something
Synonym: continue
For example:
go on The meeting's chairman said, "Do you want to have a break, or do you want to go on?"
go on doing sth If she goes on behaving like this, she'll lose her job.
go on (3) ()
Meaning: If something like a light or a heater goes on, it starts operating.
Synonym: come on
For example:
go on The light in the refrigerator isn't on all the time. It goes on when you open the door.
go on The air conditioner goes on automatically at 7 a.m., so the office is at a comfortable temperature by the time we get there.
go on (4) ()
Meaning: to talk for too long, or talk in such a way that it annoys or bores people
Synonym: prattle on
For example:
go on Aunt Beryl does go on a bit, doesn't she?
go on about sth I wish he'd stop going on about all the famous people he's met. It's just so boring!
go on (5) (imperativo - orale)
Meaning: used when encouraging someone to do something
Synonym: come on
For example:
go on He held out the box of chocolates and said, "Go on, try one. They're really good - and one won't make you fat."
go on When I said I was too busy to play Word Up, she said, "Oh, go on - just one game."
go out ()
Meaning: to leave your home and go somewhere for enjoyment or entertainment
For example:
go out Did you go out last night, or did you have a quiet night at home?
go out We used to go out every Saturday night when we were young, but these days we just stay home.
go over (1) ()
Meaning: to look carefully at something like a report, essay, document, etc. to check for mistakes or to make improvements
Synonym: check, scrutinize (formal)
For example:
go over sth After you finish the exam, go over your answers if you have any time left over.
go over sth Before sending them off, go over the invoices and make sure everything's correct.
Nouns often used as objects with go over (1): report, essay, article, answers, accounts, figures, details
go over (2) ()
Meaning: to review something, or look at it again, in order to learn or memorize it
For example:
go over sth You'll learn the new vocab if you go over your word lists every day for a week.
go over sth Actors need to go over their lines a few times in order to memorize them.
Nouns often used as objects with go over (2): notes, lines, speech, vocabulary
go over (3) ()
Meaning: to cause a reaction of some sort, especially from an audience
For example:
Our fashion show went over really well. Everyone loved it.
Don't worry. I'm sure your speech will go over well.
Nouns often used as subjects with go over (3): speech, show, performance, lecture, presentation, talk
go through (1) ()
Meaning: to look through a collection of things like documents, books, clothes, etc. to find something or to sort them out
Synonym: search through
For example:
go through sth Could you go through last month's receipts and find any that are from Pacific Corp please?
go through sth Police investigators found some evidence when they went through garbage from the suspect's home.
go through (2) ()
Meaning: to live through a bad time or a difficult situation
Synonym: experience
For example:
go through sth He just went through one of the most difficult periods in his life.
go through sth We've been going through a recession for a year or so, but hopefully the economy will improve soon.
Nouns often used as objects with go through (2): illness, depression, loss, heartbreak, bankruptcy, grief, pain, difficulty
go together (1) ()
Meaning: If two things go together, they look good together or they harmonize.
Synonym: match
For example:
go together Do you think this shirt and these pants go together?
go together Most people don't think that the colours green and blue go together.

go together (2) ()
Meaning: to happen together, or to often occur at the same time
For example:
go together Our professor says that historically great power and corruption often go together.
go together Researchers have discovered that low income and obesity often go together, especially in more developed countries like the U.S.A.
go under ()
Meaning: If a company goes under, it goes out of business and closes down.
Synonym: fail
For example:
go under Jenny's company went under because of the economic slowdown, and she had to look for a job.
go under If businesses don't adapt to changing conditions, there's a good chance they'll go under.
go up ()
Meaning: If something like a price or a rate goes up, it becomes higher.
Synonym: rise, increase
For example:
go up If the economy is in a period of inflation, prices and incomes are going up.
go up Whenever Jerry sees the girl who lives next door, his blood pressure goes up.
go with ()
Meaning: If one thing goes with another, they look good together or seems to work well together.
Synonym: match
For example:
go with Which of these ties does my blue shirt go with?
go with sth He needs some socks to go with his black and white shoes.
go without ()
Meaning: to not have something that you used to have because conditions have changed and it's no longer available or affordable
Synonym: do without
For example:
go without There's going to be a shortage of food soon, and some people are going to have to go without for a day or two.
go without sth Most of us will have to go without luxuries like expensive jewellery and overseas trips until the economy improves.
grow on ()
Meaning: If something grows on you, you gradually start to like it, even though you didn't like it much at first.
For example:
grow on sb I didn't like the music at first, but it's grown on me and I like it a lot now.
has grown on sb David really didn't like New York when he first went there, but he says he loves it now. I guess the city has grown on him.
grow out of ()
Meaning: If you grow out of something, you become too big for it or too old for it.
Synonym: outgrow
For example:
grow out of When I was a kid we were so poor that I had to wear clothes that my older brothers had grown out of.
grow out of sth Our little boy Jamie has grown out of his thumb-sucking habit at last. He's just turned four so he's too old for that now.
Nouns often used as objects with grow out of: pants, shirt, clothes, shoes, toys, hobby, bad habit, bad behaviour
grow up ()
Meaning: to change from being a child to being an adult, or from being an immature adult to being a mature adult
For example:
grow up Adults often ask kids what they're going to be when they grow up.
grow up Rajiv was born in India, but he grew up in England.

H
hammer out ()
Meaning: to reach an agreement or solution after a lot of negotiation or discussion
For example:
hammer out sth It took their lawyers nearly a year to hammer out a divorce settlement.
hammer sth out How long does it usually take to hammer one of these contracts out?
Nouns often used as objects with hammer out: agreement, contract, settlement, deal, plan, policy, guidelines, regulations
hand around ()
Meaning: If you hand around things like drinks or cakes, you give one to each person in a group.
Synonym: give out, hand out
For example:
hand around sth Could you hand around the cheese and crackers please, Robyn?
hand sth around We were visiting the chimpanzee enclosure when an attendant came and handed some mangoes around, and the chimps were
screeching until they all had one.
hand back ()
Meaning: to give something back to someone by hand
For example:
hand back sth If the immigration official doesn't hand back your passport straight away, don't worry. He's probably just seeing which countries you've
visited.
hand sth back If someone gives you their business card, don't hand it back. Keep it and give them yours in return.
hand down ()
Meaning: to pass knowledge or skills from one generation to the next
Synonym: pass down
For example:
hand sth down Their grandfather handed his skills down to younger members of the family.
hand down sth For hundreds of years the members of the family had been handing down their secret method of winemaking.
hand in ()
Meaning: If you hand something in, you give it to someone in authority, like a teacher, a policeman or a security guard.
Synonym: turn in (American), submit (formal)
For example:
hand in sth Please hand in your exam paper before you leave the classroom.
hand sth in If you find something that doesn't belong to you, please hand it in to the duty officer at the front desk.
Nouns often used as objects with hand in: exam paper, test paper, report, results, keys, security card
hand on ()
Meaning: If you hand something on, you pass it to somebody else.
Synonym: pass on
For example:
hand sth on After you've signed the petition, hand it on to the next person.
hand sth on Instead of doing the job himself, he handed it on to one of his subordinates.
hand out ()
Meaning: to give something directly to a number of people
Synonym: pass out, distribute
For example:
hand out sth As the students filed into the classroom, their teacher handed out the examination booklets.
hand sth out A couple of teenagers were standing in front of the department store handing flyers out to the people walking past.
Nouns often used as objects with hand out: papers, booklets, forms, namecards, flyers, brochures
hand over ()
Meaning: If you hand something over, you give it to someone who has demanded it.
Synonym: surrender
For example:
hand over sth After the thief had entered the bank, he pointed his gun at the teller and told her to hand over the money.
hand sth over Max knew that Jim had taken his phone, so he told Jim to hand it over.
hang around ()nformal
Meaning: to spend time somewhere without doing anything useful
Synonym: hang about (British/Australian)
For example:
hang around Are you just going to hang around the house all day, or are you going to go out and do something?
hang around The local teenagers would hang around in the park for hours after school.
hang on (1) ()
Meaning: If you hang on to something, you hold it tightly.
Synonym: hold on
For example:
hang on After the boat capsized I found a lifesaver floating in the water and hung on until I was rescued.
hang on to sth If you have to stand on the bus, hang on to something or you might fall over.
hang on (2) () Informal
Meaning: If someone tells you to hang on, they want you to wait for a moment.

Synonym: hang about (British), wait

For example:
hang on Hang on a moment while I answer this call.
hang on Let's hang on for a bit and see what else happens.
hang onto ()Informal
Meaning: If you hang onto something, you keep it instead of throwing it away, giving it away, or selling it.
Synonym: keep
For example:
hang onto sth You should hang onto those posters - they'll be worth a lot of money in a few years.
hang onto sth I wish I'd hung onto my Goldimax shares. They're worth a fortune now.
hang out (1) ()
Meaning: to hang wet clothes outside to dry
For example:
hang out sth Would you mind hanging out the washing that's in the basket?
hang sth out I don't mind washing the clothes, but I can't stand hanging them out.
hang out (2) () Informal
Meaning: to spend time in a certain place, or with certain people
For example:
hang out After school, most of the kids hang out in front of the mall.
be hanging out I'm worried about my son. He's started hanging out with kids who smoke and drink.
hang over ()
Meaning: If you feel that you are facing a threat or a danger, we can say the threat or the danger hangs over you.
For example:
hang over sb/sth The threat of unemployment hangs over everyone in the company.
hang over sb/sth After a fire had destroyed the old church, a sense of loss hung over the town.
hang up ()
Meaning: If you hang up a piece of clothing or a towel, you hang it on a hook, a rail, a hanger, etc.
For example:
hang sth up Give your coat to the waiter and he'll hang it up for you.
hang up sth We've told our son to hang up his towel after he takes a shower, but he still leaves it on the bathroom floor.
hang with () Informal
Meaning: to spend time with
Synonym: hang around with, hang about with
For example:
hang with sb After school the older kids go to the mall and hang with their friends.
hang with sb My son says he'll spend the holidays surfing and hanging with his crew down the beach.
Note: used mostly by teenagers and young adults in the U.S.A., or by others who want to sound like them
happen to ()
Meaning: If something happens to you, an event or an occurrence affects you directly.
For example:
happen to Did you hear about what happened to Terry's old company? They went bankrupt!
happen to What happened to you? You've got a black eye! Were you in a fight or something?
have against ()
Meaning: If you have something against someone, you don't like them because of something they've said or done in the past.
For example:
have sth against sb She says she doesn't have anything against him, but she just doesn't have much in common with him.
have sth against sb A lot of people say they don't have anything against gay people, but they wouldn't want one of their children to be gay.
Note: can never be used in one of the continuous tenses, so you cannot say "I'm having something against him"
have on (1) ()
Meaning: If you have something on, you are wearing it.
For example:
have on What did the little girl have on when she went missing?
have something on Chris had a baseball cap on when he entered the courtroom, so no wonder the judge didn't like him.
Nouns often used as objects with have on (1): shirt, pants, shoes, headphones, glasses, hat, lipstick, make-up
have on (2) ()
Meaning: If you have something on at a certain time, you've arranged to do something at that time.
For example:
have sth on If you don't have anything on tonight, we could see a movie if you like.
have sth on I have a lot on tomorrow, but maybe we could meet on Thursday.
Note: We can also say "I've got something on" or "Have you got anything on?"
have out ()
Meaning: If you have something out, like a tooth or an organ, it's removed from your body.
For example:
have sth out Her dentist said she couldn't save the tooth, so she'll have to have it out.
have sth out My son's having his appendix out later today.
have round ()
Meaning: If you have people round, they visit your home, usually for a meal or for a social gathering.

Synonym: have over

For example:
have sb over We're having some friends round for dinner tomorrow night. Would you like to come?
have sb over Let's invite some people round for drinks on Sunday. It's been ages since we had anyone over.
head for ()
Meaning: to go in a certain direction or towards a particular place or situation
For example:
head for That road heads for the airport and the traffic's always really bad. Isn't there another way we can go?
be heading for The company was heading for bankruptcy until the new CEO came in and turned things around.
Nouns often used as objects with head for: home, the office, the airport, the station; trouble, disaster, bankruptcy
head off (1) () In formal
Meaning: to leave a place
Synonym: leave
For example:
head off We'll have to head off early if we want to get there by midday.
head off I'd better head off. It's getting late and I've got an early start in the morning.
head off (2) ()
Meaning: to stop something bad from happening
Synonym: prevent
For example:
head off sth The two countries are in talks at the moment in an attempt to head off a trade war.
head off sth We need to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions in order to head off the global warming crisis.
Nouns often used as objects with head off (2): problem, conflict, war, fight, recession, failure, illness
head up ()
Meaning: to act as the head of a group or team, or to manage an organization
Synonym: lead
For example:
head up sth They're looking for someone to head up their new marketing team.
head sth up It's easy to find people who are good enough to join the team, but it's harder to find someone who's good enough to head it up.
hear about ()
Meaning: If you hear about something, someone tells you about it or you find out about it from an information source like the news media.
For example:
hear about sth Have you heard about the terrorist attack in Los Angeles this morning? I just heard about it on the news.
hear about sth Francine heard about the party, and she told Gerry and me.
hear from ()
Meaning: If you hear from someone, they call you, email you or contact you in some other way.
For example:
hear from sb Have you heard from Kyle lately? I haven't heard from him for a week or two.
hear from sb I hear from my kids at least once a week. They usually email, but sometimes they phone.
hear of ()
Meaning: If you've heard of someone, you know who they are and what they do.
For example:
have heard of sb/sth We met people in the jungles of Borneo who had never watched TV or read a newspaper, and they'd never heard of Barack
Obama.
have heard of sb/sth I've never met anyone who hasn't heard of Michael Jackson.
Note: Usually used in one of the perfect tenses, such as "Have you heard of ... ?" or "I had never heard of ..."
hear out ()
Meaning: If you hear somebody out, you listen to them until they've finished what they are saying.
For example:
hear sb out You should hear somebody out before you respond to what they say.
hear sb out You should hear me out before you start telling me what's wrong with what I'm saying.
heat up (1) ()
Meaning: If you heat something up, you make it hotter.
For example:
heat sth up I left some food on the stove, so all he had to do was heat it up and eat it.
heat up sth If you heat up the soup, it'll taste much better.
heat up (2) ()
Meaning: If something like a discussion, a contest or a conflict heats up, it gets more intense, more exciting or more dangerous.
For example:
heat up When they got onto the topic of human rights, the discussion heated up and people got angry and began shouting.
heat up The match started to heat up after the referee made a bad decision and the players got frustrated and started pushing and shoving.
help out ()
Meaning: If you help someone out, you do something to help them.
Synonym: assist
For example:
help out sb Scouts are taught to help out old people.
help sb out We need someone to help us out with the housework.
help out with sth We pay the kids next door to help out with the gardening.

hem in ()
Meaning: to restrict someone's movement, or to limit someone's freedom
Synonym: constrain (formal)
For example:
hem sb in Ronaldo was hemmed in by defenders, so he couldn't get a shot on goal.
be hemmed in by sth Louis had always felt hemmed in by social conventions and the pressure to conform.
hide away ()
Meaning: If you hide away, you go to a place where very few people can find you.
For example:
hide away After writing a very popular book, Paul hid away in a small town in Mexico to escape all the media attention.
hide away There was a small band of rebel soldiers hidden away in the mountains outside the city.
hit back ()
Meaning: If someone is beating or attacking you and you hit back, you fight to defend yourself.
Synonym: fight back, retaliate
For example:
hit back Roger was losing early in the match, but he hit back in the second set and ended up winning.
hit back After being harshly criticised by the music press, James hit back by calling his critics frustrated musicians.
hit on ()
Meaning: to have a idea or to think of something
Synonym: come up with
For example:
hit on sth We were talking about ways to increase sales when Takahiro hit on the idea of marketing online.
hit on sth Sam says he hits on his best ideas when he's lying on the beach.
Note: Also "hit upon"
hold against ()
Meaning: to dislike somebody, or be angry with them, because you blame them for something bad that happened in the past
For example:
hold sth against sb He didn't mean to cause the accident, so I try not to hold it against him.
hold sth against sb Pauline made a serious mistake but her boss doesn't hold it against her. He says we all make mistakes.
hold back ()
Meaning: to stop someone or something from going forward, or from progressing in some way
Synonym: keep back, restrain (formal)
For example:
hold sb/sth back Joey was so angry that he wanted to attack the referee, but luckily his teammates held him back.
hold back sb/sth Tiger thinks his lack of arm strength is holding back his development as a golfer, so he's building up his arm muscles.
hold down ()
Meaning: to stop something from rising by pressing down on it or putting a heavy object on it
For example:
hold down sth/sb The vet's assistant held down our dog while the vet gave her the injection.
hold sth/sb down I held the board down with my foot while I hammered it in place.
hold forth ()Formal
Meaning: to talk about a topic for a long time, often in a way that other people find boring
For example:
hold forth As Mark held forth on a range of topics, those caught in his circle started to yawn and look at their watches.
hold forth on sth All through dinner Ruth held forth on her favourite subject - herself.
hold off ()
Meaning: to delay doing something until a later time
Synonym: delay
For example:
hold off sth We've decided to hold off our expansion plans because of the downturn in the economy.
hold off doing sth We should hold off publishing the book until the end of the year.
hold on (1) ()
Meaning: to hold something like a railing or an overhead strap so you don't fall over
Synonym: hang on
For example:
hold on Make sure you're holding on when the bus starts to move, or you might fall over.
hold on to sth Sayoko was too short to reach the strap, so she had to hold on to my arm instead.
hold on (2) ()
Meaning: to wait for a short time
Synonym: hang on
For example:
hold on Hold on for a moment and I'll get Jamal on the line.
hold on I started to walk away, but my boss said, "Hold on! I haven't finished talking to you yet."
hold out (1) ()
Meaning: If you hold something out, you hold it where other people can reach it.
For example:
hold out sth The beggar looked up and held out her tin, so I dropped some coins in and she gave me a beautiful smile.

hold sth out He held his glass out and the waiter filled it up with wine.
hold out (2) ()
Meaning: If a supply of something holds out, it continues to be enough and it doesn't run out.
Synonym: last
For example:
hold out Kenny says he'll take any job now because his savings won't hold out much longer.
hold out Our water supply should hold out until Monday.
hold out for ()
Meaning: to wait until you get what you want, especially when negotiating
For example:
hold out for sth The workers held out for a better wage deal and, after another round of negotiations, they got it.
hold out for sth We held out for a better contract, and we got it after some hard bargaining.
hold out on ()
Meaning: to refuse to give information to someone
For example:
hold out on sb The prisoner tried to hold out on his captors, but after being tortured he told them everything.
hold out on sb Don't hold out on us, Kenny. Tell us what happened after you got to her place.
hold to ()
Meaning: to make someone do what they promised or agreed to do
For example:
hold sb to sth The player will hold the club to the exact terms of his contract, and if they try to break the contract he'll take them to court.
hold sb to sth You said you'd give us all a bonus if we got the deal, and we're going to hold you to that.
hold up (1) ()
Meaning: to cause a delay, or make someone or something later than expected
Synonym: delay
For example:
be held up Sorry I'm late. We got held up in a traffic jam.
hold sb/sth up The production problems will hold deliveries up for at least a week.
hold up sb/sth The crash held up the traffic for an hour or more.
hold up (2) ()
Meaning: to support something and stop it from falling down
Synonym: support
For example:
hold sb/sth up Miyoko was so tired after climbing the mountain that I had to hold her up.
hold up sb/sth There are several strong beams holding up the roof.
hold up (3) ()
Meaning: to steal from someone while threatening them with a gun or a similar weapon
Synonym: rob
For example:
be held up The bank in High Street has been held up three times in the last ten years, and the robbers got away every time.
hold sb/sth up If a thief holds you up, just give them your money and whatever else they want. You must never try to fight them or get away.
hold up sb/sth Bonnie and Clyde were famous for holding up banks and stealing their money.
hook up (1) ()
Meaning: If you hook up things like computers and their peripherals, or the components of a home theatre, you connect them with cables.
Synonym: connect
For example:
hook up sth Do you know how to hook up the new sound system to the TV?
hook sth up How did you expect to hook the parts up correctly without reading the instructions?
hook up (2) ()I nformal
Meaning: to meet with someone and join with them in work, travel or leisure activities
Synonym: get together, meet up
For example:
hook up While I was in India I hooked up with a couple of Israeli guys and we travelled together for a week or two.
hook up Let's hook up next week for a game of golf.
hunt down ()
Meaning: If you hunt down someone, you try to find them and capture or kill them.
For example:
hunt sb/sth down The police are hunting the killer down, and they say they're close to catching him.
hunt down sb/sth The leader of a drug gang has ordered his men to hunt down police informers and kill them.
hurry up ()
Meaning: If you hurry up, you try to do something faster.
For example:
hurry up I told my girlfriend to hurry up or we'd miss the start of the movie.
hurry up We were too late to catch the train. We should have hurried up and got there sooner.
hush up ()
Meaning: to try to keep something secret, especially something that could damage the reputation of a person or an organization
Synonym: cover up

For example:
hush up sth Governments try to hush up anything that could damage their chances of being re-elected, such as corruption charges.
hush sth up When it became clear that he had died of a drug overdose, his family tried to hush it up.

I
identify with ()
Meaning: If you identify with someone, you feel you have a connection with them and you can understand them and share their feelings.
Synonym: empathize with
For example:
identify with sb A lot of mothers could identify with the woman who protested against the war after her son was killed in the fighting.
identify with sb Lots of young guys identify with young male singers and rap stars, and dress like them and act like them.
impact on ()
Meaning: to have a significant effect on something
Synonym: effect, influence
For example:
impact on sth Most scientists believe that global warming is already impacting on the earth's climate.
impact upon sth Digital technology has impacted upon nearly every aspect of our lives in the last thirty years.
Note: The variant "impact upon" has the same meaning and is also widely used (see example 2 above).
impose on ()
Meaning: If you impose something on someone, you force them to accept it even if they don't want to.
For example:
impose sth on sb Robert hates the way some people try to impose their religious beliefs on other people.
impose sth on sth The government has limited freedom of information by imposing strict controls on the media.
improve on ()
Meaning: If something is improved on, it's made better than it was.
For example:
be improved on After the website was sold to a big media company, its design was improved on.
improve on sth The sales team is trying hard to improve on last year's sales figures.
Note: "improve upon" has the same meaning but is more formal
incline to ()Formal
Meaning: If somebody inclines to something such as certain way of thinking, they will usually think in that way.
Synonym: tend towards
For example:
incline to sth The Minister of Health inclines to the view that governments should provide basic health care services to their citizens for free.
incline to sth Most politicians incline to a belief in the effectiveness of democracy as a political system.
Nouns often used as objects with incline to: view, viewpoint, opinion, belief, philosophy, way of thinking
indulge in ()
Meaning: to do something that gives you pleasure, even though there could be some negative consequences
For example:
indulge in sth Fred doesn't often indulge in alcohol, though when he does he sometimes indulges in a little too much.
indulge in sth I can see from the size of his stomach that the chef indulges in many of his own creations.
Nouns often used as objects with indulge in: alcohol, wine, drugs, desserts, cakes, chocolates, sex
infer from ()
Meaning: to believe something is true because you have some indirect evidence of it
For example:
infer sth from sth The dog was in good condition, and it wagged its tail when we patted it, so we inferred from this that it was someone's pet.
be inferred from A lot can be inferred from the tone of someone's voice when they speak, such as their mood and their general state of mind.
inject into ()
Meaning: to add something positive in order to make something work better
For example:
inject sth into sth The band had become a bit flat, but the introduction of a percussionist injected some much-needed dynamism into their sound.
inject sth into sth The government is trying to inject some confidence into the market.
insist on ()
Meaning: If you insist on something, you say that you must have it or it must be done.
For example:
insist on sth We used to sell on credit, but after not being paid a few times we now insist on payment in advance.
insist on doing sth Our youngest son insists on putting tomato sauce on just about everything he eats.
instil in ()
Meaning: to condition someone to follow a certain belief or to behave in a certain way
For example:
instil in sb Sasha thinks Asian cultures instil in people a consideration for the feelings of others, while Western cultures tend to instil in people more of a
concern for their own feelings.
instil sth in sb We try to make our education system instil in students a life-long love of learning.
Note: American spelling is "instill in".
interest in ()
Meaning: If you interest somebody in something, you make them want to know more about it.
For example:
interest sb in sb/sth Companies try to interest people in their products by promoting and advertising them.
interest sb in sb/sth It's amazing how a well-made documentary can interest people in a subject that they've never been interested in before.

interfere with ()
Meaning: to prevent something from happening in the usual way or stop it from developing normally
For example:
interfere with sth My daughter is in a gang of kids who hang around together after school, and I think it's interfering with her studies.
interfere with sth The media can't report on the court trial because it could interfere with the course of justice.
invest in (1) ()
Meaning: to put your energy and resources into something that you think will help you to achieve your goal
For example:
invest sth in sth Kylie had invested a huge amount of time and work in her singing career, and at last it was paying off for her.
invest sth in doing sth People who invest their time and money in helping others who are not so fortunate in life say they get a great sense of
satisfaction and fulfillment from doing so.
invest in (2) ()
Meaning: to put your money into a company or a business venture in order to get a share of any profit it makes
For example:
invest in Investing in companies by buying shares on the stock exchange can be very risky, as many people discovered when the markets crashed in
2008.
invest in It's difficult to find people who are willing to invest in new businesses at the moment.
Nouns often used as objects with invest in (2): company, venture, project, stocks, bonds, futures, stock market, gold
invite around ()
Meaning: If you invite somebody around, you invite them to your home for a meal, or a party, or a game of cards, etc.
For example:
invite around I've invited Bob and Jenny around for dinner on Sunday night. Would you and Carol like to come as well?
invite around Why don't we invite some people around for lunch next week?
Note: "Invite round" has the same meaning and can be used in the same way.
invite in ()
Meaning: If you invite somebody in, you ask them to come inside.
Synonym: ask in
For example:
invite sb in Did he force his way into her apartment, or did she invite him in?
invite sb in for sth Thanks for the ride home. I'd invite you in for a drink, but I have to get up early.
invite out ()
Meaning: If you invite somebody out, you ask them to go to a restaurant with you, or to see a movie, or go dancing, etc.
Synonym: ask out
For example:
invite sb out This guy has invited me out, but I'm not interested in dating him. What should I do?
invite sb out Jamal really likes Miranda, but he won't invite her out because he's afraid she'll say no.
invite over ()
Meaning: If you invite somebody over, you invite them to your home, usually for a meal.
Synonym: ask over
For example:
invite over I'm inviting a few friends over for dinner on Saturday night. Would you like to come?
invite over Let's invite some people over for lunch tomorrow?
involve in ()
Meaning: If you involve yourself in something, or if someone else involves you in something, you take part in it.
For example:
involve in Kenneth claims he wasn't involved in any of the deals that are being investigated for corruption.
involve sb in sth When she was young, Jasmine involved her friends in radical political activities, and they were all arrested a number of times.
iron out ()
Meaning: If you iron out the last details of a deal, you sort out the final problems or issues.
Synonym: sort out
For example:
iron sth out If we have any differences or issues, we'll have to iron them out before we sign a deal.
be ironing out sth Ronaldo's manager and the club are ironing out a couple of final issues, but they should have everything sorted out soon.
Nouns often used as objects with iron out: differences, disagreements, issues, problems, hitches, misunderstandings
itching for ()
Meaning: If you're itching for something, you really want it.
For example:
be itching for sth After they'd had a few drinks, some of the guys were itching for a fight.
be itching for sth The team's substitutes are itching for a chance to get onto the pitch to show off their footballing skills.
Nouns often used as objects with itching for: fight, drink, chance, opportunity
Note: Always used in one of the continuous tenses, such as "is itching for", "was itching for" or "has been itching for".

J
jack up (1) ()Informal
Meaning: to increase the price or the cost of something by a large amount
Synonym: increase, raise
For example:
jack up sth Hotels usually jack up their room rates over the summer.
jack sth up Our landlord never spends any money on improving the apartments, but he still wants to jack the rent up every year.
Nouns often used as objects with jack up (1): price, cost, rent, rate, amount, fees, fares
jack up (2) ()
Meaning: If you jack something up, you use a jack to lift it off the ground.
For example:
jack up sth If you've got a flat tyre, jack up the car and then you can change the tyre.
jack sth up If you've jacked a car up, don't get under it because the jack could break or tip over and the car could fall on top of you.
jam into ()
Meaning: to force too many things or people into a small space
For example:
jam sth into sth How did you jam all that stuff into one small suitcase?
jam sb into sth In Tokyo, subway attendants jam as many passengers as possible into each carriage.
Nouns often used as indirect objects with jam into: bag, suitcase, box, pocket, car, taxi, subway, train
jam up ()
Meaning: If something jams up, it can't work properly because one of its moving parts is jammed by something.
For example:
jam up The lock on my suitcase has jammed up, so I can't open it.
jam sth up Don't force the window or you'll jam it up and we won't be able to close it.
be jammed up by sth Oh no! The printer has been jammed up by paper again.
Nouns often used as subjects with jam up: printer, fax machine, lock, door, window, gears
jazz up ()Informal
Meaning: If you jazz something up, you make it more exciting and more interesting.
Synonym: brighten up, liven up, decorate
For example:
jazz up sth It's about time we jazzed up our website. It's a bit dull and it looks old-fashioned.
jazz sth up Let's jazz the place up a bit. It's such a drag coming to work in this dull, boring office every day.
jerk around () Informal
Meaning: If someone jerks you around, they treat you badly or they deceive you in some way.
Synonym: mess around, mistreat
For example:
jerk sb/sth around I wish the insurance company would stop jerking us around and just pay us the money they owe us.
be jerked around by sb/sth If you think you're being jerked around by a company you've bought something from, you should see the people at the
consumer protection agency.
join in ()
Meaning: If you join in an activity, you start doing it with people who are already doing it.
Synonym: take part, participate
For example:
join in Barry's friends were playing cards when he arrived, so he pulled up a chair and joined in.
join in sth When I came in, my friends were talking. After listening for a while, I joined in the discussion and told them what I thought.
Nouns often used as objects with join in: discussion, conversation, game, fight
join up (1) ()
Meaning: If you join up two things, you connect them.
Synonym: connect
For example:
join up If these two sections of the bridge don't join up perfectly, the whole thing could collapse.
join sth up You have to find the red wire and the white wire, and then join them up.
join up (2) ()
Meaning: If you join up, you enter the military in order to train and become a member of one of the armed forces.
Synonym: enlist
For example:
join up Johnny wants to join up and fight in Iraq, but his mum doesn't want him to risk his life in a war she doesn't support.
join up If you join up, you'll have to fight and kill whoever the government tells you to, even if you don't think it's right.
join with ()Formal
Meaning: If you join with someone or something to do something, you do it together.
For example:
join with sb I'm sure everyone here would like to join with me in congratulating the president on his recent success.
join with sth We would be honoured to join with your organization in this venture.
jot down ()
Meaning: If you jot something down, you quickly write it down on a pad or piece of paper.
Synonym: note down, write down

For example:
jot down sth Just a minute while I jot down your address in my address book.
jot sth down I saw you jotting something down while you were talking to her. What were you writing?
Nouns often used as objects with jot down: name, number, address, note, message
juice up ()
Meaning: to make something more exciting, more impressive, or more powerful
For example:
juice up sth We need to juice up our marketing campaign with some really exciting and sexy advertisements.
juice sth up The television network has employed a team of script writers to juice the show up because it's losing more and more viewers.
jumble up ()
Meaning: If you jumble things up, you mix them up so that they are no longer in their proper order or formation.
Synonym: mix up
For example:
jumble sth up If you don't write down the times and dates of your appointments, you might jumble them up.
jumble up sth The cleaner has jumbled up all the files on my desk again, so now I can't find what I'm looking for.
Nouns often used as objects with jumble up: times, dates, names, faces, numbers, files, papers
jump at ()
Meaning: If you jump at something like an offer or an opportunity, you take it with enthusiasm.
Synonym: leap at
For example:
jump at sth Helen jumped at the chance to get some experience in marketing.
jump at sth When I was offered the position of club president, I jumped at it.
Nouns often used as objects with jump at: chance, opportunity, offer, idea, suggestion
jump in (1) ()
Meaning: If people are talking and you jump in, you interrupt someone who's talking, or you say something without being asked to speak.
Synonym: butt in, interrupt
For example:
jump in If you have something to say, just jump in. You don't have to wait for someone to ask you what you think.
jump in If you ask me a question, wait for me to finish answering it before jumping in with your next question.
jump in (2) ()
Meaning: If you jump in, you get involved in a situation as soon as you notice it.
Synonym: dive in
For example:
jump in Kevin saw the other team's players punching his team-mate, so he jumped in and tried to stop them.
jump in If the government had jumped in and stopped banks from giving out those sub-prime loans, the economic crisis could have been averted.
jump on () Informal
Meaning: If someone jumps on you, they strongly criticise you.
Synonym: criticize
For example:
jump on If one of his staff makes a mistake, Donald jumps on them and tells them they'll be fired if they do it again.
jump on Human rights organisations jumped on the government for causing the deaths of so many innocent people.
jump up ()
Meaning: If you jump up, you stand up quickly.
Synonym: leap up
For example:
jump up We were all sitting on the ground having a chat when Sam jumped up and started hopping around on one leg. An ant had bitten him on the toe!
jump up When the phone rang I jumped up to answer it, but I suddenly felt dizzy as the blood ran from my head.
jut out ()
Meaning: If something juts out, it is further foward than usual or it sticks out more than usual.
Synonym: stick out, protrude
For example:
jut out The front of his car got hit because it jutted out into a busy traffic lane.
be jutting out If the broken pipe hadn't been jutting out from the wall, I wouldn't have tripped over it.

keel over ()
Meaning: If somebody keels over, they fall to the floor, usually because of illness or loss of consciousness.
Synonym: collapse
For example:
keel over Our professor was giving a lecture when he suddenly keeled over and slumped to the floor.
keel over When the captain of the team keeled over, her team-mates ran over to see what was wrong.
keep at ()
Meaning: If you keep at something, you continue doing it.
Synonym: persevere with
For example:
keep at sth Your English has improved a lot, so the new course must be working. You should keep at it.
keep at sth I've been feeling so much better since I started exercising that I'm trying hard to keep at it this time.
keep away ()
Meaning: If you keep something or someone away, you don't let the thing or the person come near.
For example:
keep sth/sb away I visited my grandfather's fruit orchard and helped him make scarecrows to keep the birds away.
keep sth/sb away from sth If you bring your dogs to the farm, make sure you keep them away from the sheep.
keep away from ()
Meaning: If you keep away from something or someone, you don't go near the thing or the person.
Synonym: avoid
For example:
keep away from sb/sth Janey didn't have any trouble with the gangs. When they saw how big her dog was, they kept away from her.
keep away from sb/sth If you see a snake, keep away from it. It could be poisonous.
keep back (1) ()
Meaning: If you keep something back, you don't tell someone about it.
Synonym: withhold (formal)
For example:
keep back sth The police suspected that he was keeping back some important information.
keep sth back I could tell that she was keeping something back from me.
keep back (2) ()
Meaning: If something keeps you back, it stops you from getting where you want to go.
Synonym: hold back, hinder, hamper
For example:
keep sb back She's a talented musician, but her health problems are keeping her back.
keep sb back The country wants to develop, but their poor education system will keep them back.
keep down (1) ()
Meaning: If you keep something down, you stop it from increasing in size or number.
Synonym: hold down
For example:
keep sth down They'll have to keep their prices down if they're going to compete with cheaper imported products.
keep down sth If we can't keep down things like costs and wages, we'll go out of business.
keep down (2) ()
Meaning: to stop a noise from getting too loud
For example:
keep sth down My son was practising the drums when the woman next door called and asked if he could keep it down a little.
keep sth down While they were chatting, one of the library staff came over and asked them to keep their voices down.
Nouns often used as objects with keep down (2): noise, voices, music, racket
keep down (3) ()
Meaning: to keep food in your stomach even though you feel like vomiting
For example:
keep sth down The food was so bad that I had trouble keeping it down.
keep sth down Henrik is so sick that he can't even keep water down for long.
keep from (1) ()
Meaning: If something or someone keeps you from doing something, it means you can't do it.
For example:
keep sb from sth Are you busy? I don't want to keep you from your work.
keep sb from doing sth Most parents find it very difficult to keep their kids from eating unhealthy snacks.
keep from (2) ()
Meaning: If you keep something from someone, you don't tell them about it.
Synonym: withhold
For example:
keep sth from sb We kept the bad news from her until she was in a better state of mind.
keep sth from sb It's best to keep some things from children until they're old enough to understand them properly.
keep in ()
Meaning: to make someone stay in a place like a school or a hospital
Synonym: detain (formal)

For example:
keep sb in My grandma said her teachers didn't keep naughty kids in after school to punish them. They just hit them.
keep sb in I went to the hospital because I wasn't feeling well, and they kept me in overnight for observation.
keep off (1) ()
Meaning: to not go on something, or to stop something or someone from going on something
For example:
keep off sth The sign says "Keep off the grass", so we'd better stay on the path.
keep sth off sth We were having a picnic when my wife told the kids to keep the flies off their food or they could get sick.
keep off (2) ()
Meaning: to avoid something like a certain food or a certain topic in conversation
Synonym: avoid
For example:
keep off sth Her doctor has told her to keep off chocolates and other sweets, but she still keeps eating them.
keep off sth How many times have I told you to keep off politics when Uncle Billy's around?
keep on (1) ()
Meaning: If you keep on doing something, you continue doing it.
For example:
keep on doing Don't stop here. Keep on going.
keep on doing sth Mark needs to concentrate more when he works. He keeps on making basic mistakes.
keep on (2) ()
Meaning: If you keep somebody on, you continue to employ them.
Synonym: retain (formal)
For example:
keep sb on If I could, I'd keep everybody on, but unfortunately we can't afford to pay all our staff at the moment.
keep on sb We'll do our best to keep on everyone who's been here for over five years.
be kept on Only the most important people were kept on while the company was being restructured.
keep out ()
Meaning: If you keep something out, you make sure it stays outside and doesn't come inside.
Synonym: exclude
For example:
keep sb out If people are drunk or not dressed properly, the doorman keeps them out of the club.
keep sth out We need to do something to keep cars out of the centre of the city.
keep out sb/sth The government is bringing in new laws to keep out foreign workers so they don't take jobs from the locals.
keep out of ()
Meaning: If you keep out of something, you don't get involved in it.
For example:
keep out of I've learned to keep out of other people's conflicts and disagreements.
keep out of Two of my kids were fighting when my eldest son tried to stop them. They told him to keep out of it and mind his own business.
keep to ()
Meaning: If you keep to something like a limit, a budget or a schedule, you don't go over it or outside it.
Synonym: stick to
For example:
keep to sth If we don't keep to our budget, we won't have enough money left over to pay the rent.
keep to sth It's important to keep to the schedule or we'll start having problems.
Nouns often used as objects with keep to: budget, limit, schedule, timetable, route, plan
keep up (1) ()
Meaning: to continue doing something that has been successful
Synonym: maintain
For example:
keep up something You've been performing very well lately. Keep up the good work!
keep something up Your work has been excellent recently. Keep it up!
keep up (2) ()
Meaning: If you keep up with someone, you stay at the same level and don't fall behind them.
For example:
keep up Rafael can run very fast. When we go running together, it's hard for me to keep up.
keep up with sb Jimmy takes a long time to learn new things, and sometimes he can't keep up with other kids in his class.
keep up (3) ()
Meaning: If somebody or something keeps you up, you cannot go to bed.
For example:
keep sb up The noise from my neighbour's party kept me up most of the night.
keep sb up It's getting late so I'd better head home. I don't want to keep you up past your bedtime.
key in ()
Meaning: to press the keys of a keyboard or a keypad in order to enter data
Synonym: enter
For example:
key in sth If you need to open the safe, key in this security code.
key sth in Make sure no-one's looking when you key your numbers in at an ATM machine.

kick against ()
Meaning: to show anger or opposition to something, especially if you're powerless to change it
For example:
kick against sth/sb If young people stop kicking against the system and demanding change, we'll all be in trouble.
kick against sth/sb When your kids start kicking against your authority, try to remember what it was like when you did the same.
Note: also "kick out against"
kick around (1) ()Informal
Meaning: to discuss ideas or options in an informal way
Synonym: toss around
For example:
kick around sth They're having a brainstorming session, so they'll kick around a few ideas and see what they come up with.
kick sth around We kicked lots of names around before we decided to call our company "Microsoft".
Nouns often used as objects with kick around (1): ideas, concepts, possibilities, options, names
kick around (2) ()Informal
Meaning: to treat someone badly
Synonym: mistreat
For example:
be kicked around by sb/sth During the recession, lots of people felt as if they'd been kicked around by banks, insurance companies and politicians.
kick sb around Any government that thinks it can kick people around will have problems in the future.
kick back () Informal
Meaning: to relax and "take it easy"
Synonym: chill out (informal), relax
For example:
kick back After a hard day's work, I like to kick back and watch TV.
kick back If you have a stressful job, it's important to spend time each day just kicking back and relaxing.
kick inI()nformal
Meaning: If something kicks in, it starts to work or it starts to have an effect.
Synonym: take effect
For example:
kick in I took some pills for the pain and after about half an hour I could feel them kicking in.
kick in The effect of last year's tax cuts should kick in soon and start boosting the economy.
kick off (1) ()
Meaning: to start something like a game, a meeting or a concert
Synonym: start, begin
For example:
kick off The game kicks off at 5 o'clock, so we should meet outside the stadium at around 4.
kick off sth What time will you kick off tomorrow's meeting?
kick sth off Madonna kicked her tour off with a huge show in Los Angeles.
Nouns often used as subjects with kick off (1): game, match, show, meeting, conference, convention, concert, tour, party
kick off (2) () Informal
Meaning: to force someone to leave something like a team or a committee
Synonym: throw off
For example:
be kicked off sth Anyone who is caught using performance-enhancing drugs will be kicked off the team.
kick sb off sth When they saw the evidence, they kicked Dan off the committee for accepting bribes.
Nouns often used as indirect objects with kick off (2): team, squad, committee, board, panel, show, tour, course, program
kick out ()Informal
Meaning: If somebody is kicked out of a place, they are forced to leave.
Synonym: expel, throw out
For example:
kick sb out Ali was too afraid to tell his parents that he was gay because he knew his father would kick him out.
be kicked out If you get drunk and make trouble, you'll be kicked out of the bar.
be kicked out of sth Any athletes who test positive for illegal drugs will be kicked out of the Olympic team.
kick over ()
Meaning: If you kick something over, you make it fall over by kicking it.
For example:
kick over sth My grandchild kicked over one of my garden gnomes as he was running past, and its nose broke off.
kick sth over Jose was so angry that he jumped up out of his chair and then turned around and kicked it over.
kid around ()Informal
Meaning: to have fun by acting in a silly way
Synonym: fool around, mess around, muck around (British informal)
For example:
kid around Our teacher came in and told us to stop kidding around and get down to work.
kid around It's good to kid around sometimes and stop being serious adults for a while.
kill off ()
Meaning: to cause the death of a whole population or an entire species
Synonym: wipe out
For example:
kill off sth Hopefully these new drugs can kill off the AIDS virus in someone who's infected.

kill sth off Did you know that British settlers in Australia killed the Tasmanian aboriginals off in the 19th century?
kneel down ()
Meaning: If you kneel down, you lower your height by putting one or both knees on the floor.
For example:
kneel down Even though it hurt my knees, I knelt down in front of the old monk to show my respect.
kneel down The doctor knelt down next to the injured woman and checked her pulse.
knock around (1) ()Informal
Meaning: to hit or kick somebody repeatedly
Synonym: beat up (informal), beat up on (American informal)
For example:
knock sb around Everyone knew her husband knocked her around, but nobody did anything about it.
be/get knocked around The older kids said they used to get knocked around when they were juniors, so now it was their turn to do some bullying.
knock around (2) ()Informal
Meaning: If you knock around with someone, you spend time together because you're friends.
Synonym: knock about (informal), hang around (informal)
For example:
knock around together Sam and I used to knock around together when we were kids, and we still keep in touch.
knock around with sb Who are these kids that Gary's knocking around with these days?
knock back (1) ()
Meaning: to take a drink, usually alcoholic
Synonym: down
For example:
knock back sth Every day after work, Steve and his mates knock back a few beers.
knock sth back The bartender poured Amy a whisky soda and she knocked it back and asked for another one.
knock back (2) () Informal
Meaning: to reject someone or something or to refuse a request for something
Synonym: reject
For example:
knock sb/sth back Even though another company offered Sarah a bigger salary, she knocked them back and stayed with our company.
knock back sb/sth Lots of men have asked Marylin to marry them, but she has knocked back all of them.
Nouns often used as objects with knock back (2): request, application, offer, proposal, proposition
knock down (1) ()
Meaning: If something like a building or a wall is knocked down, it is destroyed on purpose.
Synonym: demolish
For example:
be knocked down The old hotel was knocked down so that a new one could be built.
knock sth down If we knocked the tool shed down, we could put a vegetable garden there instead.
knock down sth How much would it cost to knock down the stone wall behind the swimming pool?
Nouns often used as objects with knock down (1): building, house, shed, church, wall, fence, billboard, signpost
knock down (2) ()
Meaning: to hit someone with a vehicle
Synonym: knock over (British), run over
For example:
be knocked down One of our office workers was knocked down right outside our building.
knock sb down If he'd been concentrating on his driving instead of talking on the phone, he wouldn't have knocked the old lady down.
knock down sb In sixty year's of driving, he's never knocked down anyone.
knock off (1) ()Informal
Meaning: to stop work for the day
For example:
knock off I start work at nine in the morning, and I knock off at five in the afternoon.
knock off It's really hot today. Let's knock off early and go to the pub.
knock off (2) () Informal
Meaning: to steal something
Synonym: rip off (informal), steal
For example:
knock off sth Jimmy got into trouble when he was caught knocking off sweets from the school canteen.
knock sth off If you have a party in your home, hide anything valuable or someone might knock it off.
knock off (3) ()Informal
Meaning: to murder somebody
Synonym: kill, bump off (informal), do away with (informal), do in (informal)
For example:
knock sb off Did you hear about the insurance salesman who took out policies on his customers and then knocked them off in order to collect the
payouts?
knock off sb Tony reckons a mafia hitman will knock off anyone who talks to the police.
be/get knocked off by sb The police said the girl was probably knocked off by the guy she was with when she left the bar.
knock off (4) ()Informal
Meaning: to reduce something, like a price or an amount
For example:

knock off sth I'll bargain with her and see if she'll knock off a few dollars for us.
knock sth off They've already knocked ten percent off the usual price, so they probably won't knock any more off.
knock out (1) ()
Meaning: If you are knocked out, you are hit so hard that you lose consciousness.
For example:
knock out sb Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round and won the fight.
knock sb out He slipped over in the bathroom and knocked himself out.
Note: The abbreviation "KO" is sometimes used, and pronounced "kay-oh".
knock out (2) ()Informal
Meaning: If you knock somebody out, you impress them very much with something you do, or something you make.
Synonym: impress, amaze
For example:
knock sb out I just heard Kanye's new album and it really knocked me out. It's got some great songs on it.
knock sb out Don't worry! You'll knock everyone out with your presentation. It's brilliant!
knock out (3) ()
Meaning: If you knock somebody out of a competition, they cannot continue because you've defeated them.
For example:
be/get knocked out Everyone was very surprised to see Roger get knocked out in the first round of the tournament.
knock out sb/sth In the FA Cup, small clubs like Stratford Town can knock out huge clubs like Liverpool.
knock sb/sth out If you're going to win, you'll have to knock out some of the world's best players.
knock over (1) ()
Meaning: to hit somebody with a vehicle and injure or kill them
Synonym: knock down (British), run over
For example:
knock sb over We were walking along the side of the road when this crazy guy in a truck nearly knocked us over.
be/get knocked over Every day a few people get knocked over on the roads in this city.
knock over (2) () Informal
Meaning: to rob something like a bank or a shop
Synonym: rob
For example:
knock over sth If drugs were given to addicts they wouldn't have to knock over stores and shops to get the money to buy them.
knock over sth Terrorists have been knocking over banks to get money for weapons.
Nouns often used as objects with knock over (2): bank, store, jewellery store, liquor store, gold shop, gun shop, pawn shop
knock together ()
Meaning: to make something quickly, or without putting too much thought into details
Synonym: knock up (British, informal), throw together
For example:
knock together sth Our designers are going to knock together a model so we can see how it'll look.
knock sth together We've got some investors coming this afternoon. Would it be possible to knock a presentation together for them?
knock up (1) () Informal
Meaning: to make something quickly and without too much effort
Synonym: knock together, throw together
For example:
knock up sth It shouldn't take long to knock up a rough model of the building.
knock sth up Do you want me to knock something up for dinner?
knock up (2) (prear)
Meaning: to make a woman pregnant
For example:
knock sb up Does anyone know who knocked her up?
be/get knocked up Of course I knew I could get knocked up if he didn't use a condom!
know of ()
Meaning: If you know of something, you are aware of it.
For example:
know of Does anyone know of a good dentist around here? I really need to have a tooth pulled out.
know of The police want people to tell them about anyone they know of who's selling illegal drugs to school kids.
known as ()
Meaning: to be called a certain name, even though it mightn't be a real or official name
For example:
known as sth The Union of Myanmar is a country in Asia between Thailand and India that used to be known as Burma.
known as sth Do you know the full names of the music stars known as Prince, Sting, Madonna and Beyonce?
known for ()
Meaning: to be well-known for something or famous for something
For example:
be known for sth Bill Gates was originally known for his role in founding Microsoft, but now he's becoming known for his work as a humanitarian as
well.
be known for sth Thailand is known for its beautiful beaches and its friendly people.
knuckle down () Informal

Meaning: If you knuckle down, you start to take your work or your task seriously and do it properly.
For example:
knuckle down The exams start next month, so I guess it's time I knuckled down and studied a bit harder.
knuckle down If Sammy wants to lose weight, he'll have to knuckle down and start exercising more at the gym.

L
lash out ()

Meaning: to verbally or physically attack someone or something

Synonym: hit out
For example:
lash out An angry politician lashed out in parliament today and tried to hit one of his colleagues.
lash out I told my wife I thought her new hairstyle wasn't as nice as her old one, and she lashed out and said I was ignorant and didn't know anything
about style or fashion.
laugh off ()
Meaning: to joke about something in order to make it seem less serious
For example:
laugh sth off Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes the best thing to do is just laugh them off.
laugh sth off If you come to work late again, you mightn't be able to laugh it off so easily. I heard the boss say he might fire you.
launch into ()
Meaning: to start off something, like a speech or a song, in an energetic way
For example:
launch into sth After being introduced to the audience, the guest speaker launched into a detailed account of his life's work.
launch into sth She launched into an attack on the government for failing to prevent the economic crisis.
lay aside ()
Meaning: to keep something for the future, such as money
Synonym: set aside, put aside, save
For example:
lay aside sth She was trying to lay aside enough money for a trip to Europe in the spring.
lay sth aside Try to lay a small amount aside every month for unexpected expenses.
lay down ()
Meaning: to officially state something like a policy, or rules, regulations, conditions, guidelines, etc.
Synonym: set down, establish, stipulate
For example:
lay down sth The government will soon lay down new guidelines for receiving student loans.
be laid down by sth/sb This is in accordance with the regulations as laid down by the management.
Nouns often used as objects with lay down: rules, regulations, guidelines, laws, policy, conditions, requirements, procedures, standards
lay into (1) () Informal
Meaning: to attack someone and repeatedly punch and kick them
Synonym: attack, beat up, set upon
For example:
lay into sb The police officers who laid into the teenage boys got into trouble because someone filmed the attack.
lay into sb A gang of thugs waited for a guy to leave the gay club, and then laid into him. They kicked him to death on the sidewalk, and then laughed
as they ran away.
lay into (2) ()Informal
Meaning: If you lay into someone, you criticize them in an angry way.
Synonym: lash out at, berate (formal)
For example:
lay into The manager got angry when she saw the problems in production and laid into her technical staff.
lay into We were amazed when the president laid into some reporters for asking stupid questions. He doesn't often get angry like that.
lay off ()
Meaning: If you lay someone off, you stop employing them and tell them they no longer have a job.
For example:
lay off sb Many companies aren't doing so well and they'll have to lay off some of their workers.
lay sb off Most managers say the worst part of their job is when they have to lay people off.
lay out (1) ()
Meaning: If you lay things out, you spread them out so they're easy to see or easy to use.
For example:
lay sth out First, lay the pieces of the model plane out so you can see them all clearly before putting them together.
lay out sth When she got to the market, Salima set up her table and laid out all the stuff she was selling.
Nouns often used as objects with lay out (1): pieces, parts, goods, samples
lay out (2) ()
Meaning: to explain an idea or a plan clearly and in detail
For example:
lay sth out The manager had spent a few days working out a plan to revive the company, and then he laid his ideas out at the shareholders' meeting.
lay out sth The president asked his cabinet to listen while he laid out his plans for reforming health care.
Nouns often used as objects with lay out (2): plan, idea, proposal, strategy, scheme
laze around ()
Meaning: to relax and do very little
Synonym: laze about (British), lie around, chill out (informal)
For example:
laze around My son would laze around in front of the TV all day if we let him.
laze around Instead of doing exciting things like kite-surfing and jet-skiing, my daughter just lazed around the pool tanning herself and chatting on her
phone.
lead to ()
Meaning: to cause something to happen

Synonym: cause
For example:
lead to Taking illegal drugs can lead to all sorts of problems such as legal, social, financial and health problems, and it can even lead to death.
lead to Jenny thinks that being overweight led to many of her health problems.
lead up to ()
Meaning: If a period of time or a series of events leads up to a particular event, it happens just before it.
Synonym: precede (formal)
For example:
lead up to sth We need to get a clear idea of all the events that led up to the accident.
lead up to sth We'll be really busy in the days and weeks leading up to the product launch.
leave behind ()
Meaning: If you left something behind, you forgot to bring it with you.
Synonym: forget
For example:
leave sth/sb behind When I got to the station I realised I'd left my credit cards behind, so I went back home to get them.
leave sth/sb behind After we left the beach, someone asked where Bobby was. I did a u-turn and went back to the beach because we'd left him
behind!
leave in ()
Meaning: If you leave something in, you don't take it out or cut it out.
For example:
be left in One of the sex scenes in the movie was cut. The others were left in.
leave sth/sb in The government had to release some old top-secret files. They left everything in them except for some of the names.
leave out ()
Meaning: If you leave something out, you don't include it or count it.
Synonym: omit
For example:
leave sth/sb out There should be twelve books in the box, but there are only eleven. They left one out.
leave out sth/sb If you're filling in the application form, you can leave out your date of birth. We don't need to know that.
be left out Patrice hasn't been playing well lately, so he's been left out of the team for today's game.
leave to ()
Meaning: to give someone responsibility for dealing with something or making a decision about something
Synonym: leave up to
For example:
leave sth to sb You can write the article, but leave the proofreading to Ruth. She's very good at spotting errors.
leave sth to sb Everyone made suggestions, but the final decision was left to the team leader.
leave up to ()
Meaning: If you leave something up to someone, you let them do it or you give them responsibility for it.
Synonym: leave to
For example:
leave sth up to sb We need to upgrade our computer network, and Harry is our computer expert so we'll leave it up to him.
leave sth up to sb We'll leave it up to the accountant to decide how to invest the money.
let down (1) ()
Meaning: If you let someone down, you disappoint them by not doing what they expect you to do.
Synonym: disappoint
For example:
let sb down Louise is very reliable. She always works hard and she's never let us down.
let down sb Our goalkeeper was really upset about making the mistake and letting in the goal. He said he'd let down his teammates, his club and the
fans.
let down (2) ()
Meaning: to release the air from something like a tyre or a blow-up mattress
Synonym: deflate
For example:
let down sth Timothy was expelled from school for letting down the tyres on his teacher's car.
let sth down After they'd played with their blow-up dolls, they let them down and packed them away.
let go of ()
Meaning: to stop holding something or someone
Synonym: release
For example:
let go of sth If you have to stand on the bus, hang onto a strap and don't let go.
let go of sth Let go of my hand. You're hurting me!
let in ()
Meaning: If you let someone in, you allow them to enter a room or a building.
Synonym: admit (formal)
For example:
let sb/sth in Just a moment while I let the cat in. I can hear her scratching at the front door.
let sb/sth in He left the key under a pot in front of the house so we could let ourselves in.
let off (1) ()
Meaning: to give someone little or no punishment for doing something wrong

For example:
let off I was pulled over for speeding, but luckily I was let off with a warning.
let sb off The corrupt politician expected to be let off lightly for taking a bribe, so he was very shocked when the judge sent him to jail.
let off (2) ()
Meaning: to make something explode
Synonym: explode, detonate
For example:
let off sth On New Year's Eve, people around here let off fireworks and bursts of gunfire, so it can get very noisy.
let sth off The government soldiers let some tear gas off, and the protesters started running in all directions.
Nouns often used as objects with let off (2): fireworks, firecracker, bomb, grenade, flare, burst of gunfire
let out (1) ()
Meaning: to allow somebody or something to leave a place
For example:
let sb/sth out Could you let the cat out, please? It's scratching on the door.
be let out of sth The prisoners are let out of their cells once a day, and most of them go to the exercise yard.
let out (2) ()
Meaning: to make a particular sound or noise
Synonym: emit
For example:
let out sth When she felt the cobwebs brushing on her cheeks in the dark, she let out an ear-shattering scream.
let out sth He let out a sign of relief when we told him he could keep his job.
Nouns often used as objects with let out (2): scream, shriek, squeal, cry, yell, howl, roar, gasp, sigh, whimper
let out (3) ()
Meaning: to rent a room or a building to somebody
Synonym: rent, rent out
For example:
let out sth She makes some extra money by letting out her spare room to a student.
let sth out Why don't you let the house out when you're not living there?
let up ()
Meaning: to become weaker or to become less intense
Synonym: ease up
For example:
let up The rain is still heavy, so let's wait here until it lets up a bit.
let up The pressure at work won't let up until we've signed the contract for this deal.
Nouns often used as subjects with let up: rain, snow, wind, breeze, storm, pressure
level with ()Informal
Meaning: If you level with someone, you tell them the truth about something.
Synonym: come clean
For example:
level with sb Why won't you level with me and tell me what's really going on?
level with sb I'll level with you, Heather. My brother's a lovely guy, but he's got a problem with gambling.
lie down ()
Meaning: to lie on a flat surface, such as a bed, usually to have a rest
For example:
lie down I think Tammy has gone to lie down for a while. She said she wasn't feeling well.
lie down The masseur told me to take off my shirt and lie down on the mat.
lift up ()
Meaning: to move something to a higher position
Synonym: raise
For example:
lift sth up Can you help me with the sofa? I have to put it in the back of the truck, but I can't lift it up by myself.
lift up sth Historians still aren't sure how the ancient Egyptians lifted up those huge stone blocks they used to build the pyramids.
light up ()
Meaning: If something lights up, it becomes full of light or colour.
Synonym: illuminate (formal)
For example:
light up The sky lit up when the fireworks went off.
light up When you press this button, all these dials and gauges light up.
lighten up () Informal
Meaning: to become less serious or more easy-going
Synonym: loosen up (informal)
For example:
lighten up My boss is so serious all the time. I wish she'd lighten up and joke around with us sometimes.
lighten up Salima said that if Kareem doesn't lighten up and learn to have some fun, she'll stop seeing him and look for someone else.
line up ()
Meaning: If you line up, you join a line of people standing one behind the other, or side by side.
Synonym: queue up
For example:

line up The soldiers lined up and waited for the president to come and inspect them.
line up to do sth If you line up to get the tickets, I'll go and get some popcorn.
listen in ()
Meaning: to try to hear what people are saying when they don't know you're listening
Synonym: eavesdrop
For example:
listen in Kelly said she caught her brother listening in when she was with boyfriend. She opened the door and he was standing right there!
listen in on sth/sb Do you think government agencies should be allowed to listen in on our private telephone calls?
live down ()
Meaning: to have people forget about something embarrassing or silly that you've done
For example:
live down sth I'll never live down the fact that I forgot to thank my wife when I was accepting my Academy Award.
live sth down People still laugh about the time the House Speaker fell asleep during the Prime Minister's speech. He'll never live that down!
Note: This is usually used in a negative form, such as "He'll never live this down."
live for ()
Meaning: to believe that something or someone gives your life meaning, or gives you a reason to live
For example:
live for sth/sb Tommy says he lives for the weekends when he can forget about work and just have fun.
live for sth/sb She just lives for those cats of hers.
live off ()
Meaning: to depend on something for the money or food you need to live
For example:
live off sth Many people dream of retiring early and living off their investments.
live off sth Until I got another job, I had to live off the money I got from selling my car.
Nouns often used as objects with live off: investments, savings, private income, profits, proceeds
live on ()
Meaning: If you live on a certain amount of money, you spend that much on your usual living expenses.
Synonym: get by on, survive on, manage on
For example:
live on Are you sure a hundred dollars a week is enough to live on?
live on sth How do people live on the old-age pension? It's not even enough to buy good food.
Nouns often used as objects with live on: wage, salary, income, pension, savings
live together
Meaning: If two people live together, they live in the same place and are in a sexual relationship without being married.
Synonym: cohabit (formal), shack up (slang)
For example:
live together Joanne thinks it's a good idea to live together before getting married.
live together My sister and her partner have lived together for over twenty years, and they have no plans to get married.
live up to ()
Meaning: to be as good as expected
Synonym: match
For example:
live up to sth The movie was excellent. It lived up to all our expectations.
live up to sth She was a great golfer when she was a teenager, but she never lived up to the promise she had shown.
live with ()
Meaning: to accept something in your life that you cannot change, even though you don't like it or want it
Synonym: put up with, tolerate
For example:
live with sth You can't change the situation so you'll just have to learn to live with it.
live with sth Stevie was born with a serious physical handicap, but he's learned to live with it and he's enjoyed a full life despite it.
lock up ()
Meaning: to lock the doors and windows of a building or a car to make it secure
Synonym: secure
For example:
lock up sth Don't forget to lock up the office when you leave tonight, Charles.
lock sth up My car wouldn't have been stolen if I had locked it up properly.
log in ()
Meaning: to do certain things, like typing in a user name and password, in order to access an online application or a computer network
Synonym: log into, log on
For example:
log in I couldn't log in because I'd forgotten my password.
log in If you want to post a response, you'll have to log in to the web board first.
Note: "Log into" and "log on" have the same meaning as log in and can be used in the same way.
log out ()
Meaning: to stop accessing a computer system, or to stop using an online application
Synonym: log off
For example:
log out Don't forget to log out before you leave the web board.

log out If the program's running slowly, log out and try logging in again.
long for (aorar)
Meaning: to want something you miss very much
Synonym: yearn for (formal), be dying for (informal)
For example:
long for sth Ever since he left England, Terry has been longing for a plate of traditional English fish and chips.
long for sth My wife says she longs for stimulating conversation, and when I offer to discuss a serious issue with her, she laughs.
look after ()
Meaning: to make sure something or someone has everything they need and is healthy
Synonym: take care of
For example:
look after sb When I'm too old to look after myself, my children will look after me, I hope.
look after sth Can you look after my bag while I go to the toilet?
Nouns often used as objects with look after: baby, children, parents, patient, pet, plant
look at (1) ()
Meaning: to focus your eyes on something
For example:
look at sb/sth Everybody looked at Miss Universe as she modeled the swimwear.
look at sb/sth I felt somebody looking at me, so I turned around to see who it was.
look at (2) ()
Meaning: to think carefully before doing something
Synonym: think about, consider
For example:
look at sth Now that we've got a foothold in the drinks market, we're looking at moving into the snack foods market as well.
look at sth After losing his job, Glen looked at various options such as starting his own business and going back to school.
look back on ()
Meaning: If you look back on something, you think about a period of time in the past or an event in the past.
Synonym: remember, recall
For example:
look back on sth When I look back on my teenage years, I'm amazed by the crazy and dangerous things we used to do.
look back on sth Terry tries not to look back on his time in the war. He has too many painful memories.
look down on ()
Meaning: to think that someone is not as good as you are, or not as important as you are
Synonym: disdain, scorn
For example:
look down on sb Rich students from the city looked down on Pedro because he was from a poor family in the countryside.
look down on sb Looking down on people who are less fortunate than oneself is a sure sign of stupidity.
look for ()
Meaning: If you are looking for something, you're trying to find it.
Synonym: search for
For example:
look for sth I can't find my glasses. Can you help me look for them?
look for sb The police are looking for the guys who robbed the bank this afternoon.
look forward to ()
Meaning: If you're looking forward to something that's going to happen, you feel excited or happy about it.
Synonym: anticipate
For example:
look forward to sth I always look forward to our holidays in Bali. It's a beautiful place and every time we go there we have a great time.
be looking forward to doing sth Everyone's looking forward to meeting their old school friends again at the class reunion.
Nouns often used as objects with look forward to: holiday, weekend, party, trip, concert, celebration, future
look into ()
Meaning: If you look into something, you investigate it or you try to find out more about it.
Synonym: investigate, examine
For example:
look into sth One of our customers hasn't received her order yet. Could you look into it and try to find out what happened?
look into sth My car was stolen last week. The police say they're looking into it, but I'd be surprised if they catch the thief.
Nouns often used as objects with look into: case, matter, issue, problem, question, circumstances, allegation
look on ()
Meaning: to watch an event or an activity without being involved in it
Synonym: watch
For example:
look on The kids looked on in amazement as their teacher showed them how to do all the latest dance moves.
look on A large crowd looked on as the parade made its way down the street.
Look out! ()
Meaning: If someone is in immediate danger, you can warn them by shouting "Look out!".
Synonym: Watch out!
For example:
Look out! "Look out! There's a car coming!"

Look out! I was riding my bike when this car pulled out in front of me. Just before I hit it, I yelled "Look out!"
look up (1) ()
Meaning: to try to find out something by looking in a reference book or on a reference website
For example:
look sth up If you can't figure out what a word means, look it up in the dictionary.
look up sth Did you try looking up her number in the phone book?
Nouns often used as objects with look up (1): word, meaning, telephone number, address, information
look up (2) ()
Meaning: If a situation is looking up, it seems to be getting better.
Synonym: improve
For example:
look up For the first time in a month my stocks are rising, so things are looking up at last.
look up Last month's sales weren't so good, but things are looking up this month. We've already had lots of orders.
Note: Mostly used in the phrase "things are looking up".
look up to ()
Meaning: If someone looks up to another person, they respect or admire them.
Synonym: respect, admire
For example:
look up to sb Most boys look up to sports stars, and some even dream of being like them when they grow up.
look up to sb I always looked up to my older cousin, until I saw him hit his girlfriend. I never respected him again after that.
lose out ()
Meaning: If you lose out, you fail to benefit from something that others are benefitting from.
Synonym: miss out
For example:
lose out Thanks to my stockbroker, I've lost out big time. He told me to sell all my telecom shares - and now they're worth a fortune!
lose out The Education Ministry has lost out again in this year's budget because the government needs the money to pay for the war.

M
mail out ()
Meaning: to mail copies of something like a catalog or a CV to many people
Synonym: send out

For example:
mail out sth Every year we mail out our sales catalog to over 100,000 customers.
mail sth out The telephone company mails their bills out at the end of each month.
Nouns often used as objects with mail out: catalog, brochure, survey, questionnaire, CV, resume, prospectus, bill
major in ()
Meaning: If you major in a field of study at university or college, that field is your main area of study.
For example:
major in If you're thinking about studying at university, you'll need to think about what you'd like to major in.
major in sth When I studied at university, I majored in English literature and my minor was economics.
Nouns often used as objects with major in: English, Japanese, physics, chemistry, music, film
make for ()
Meaning: to move towards something
Synonym: head for
For example:
make for sth If you smell smoke, make for the nearest exit immediately and get outside.
make for sth If lightning strikes nearby, make for the nearest building and stay inside until the storm passes.
make into ()
Meaning: to change someone or something into someone or something different
Synonym: turn into
For example:
be made into sth All the Harry Potter books will be made into movies.
make sth/sb into sth The Harry Potter movies will make the actor who plays Harry into a star.
make of (1) ()
Meaning: to understand, or to make sense of, someone or something
For example:
make of sb/sth Our new neighbours are a bit strange. I'm not quite sure what to make of them.
make of sb/sth What did you make of Joe's story? Do you think it really happened like that, or do you think he was making it up?
make of (2) ()
Meaning: to use a chance or a talent to achieve success
For example:
make of sth I wonder what Bill's kids will make of the opportunities they'll be given.
make sth of sth She was born into a poor family, but she made the most of every chance that came her away, and today she's a successful
businesswoman.
make off with ()
Meaning: If you make off with something, you escape with something that you've stolen or something you got by cheating people.
For example:
make off with sth Bernie made off with all the money he'd stolen from investors, but he got caught and now he's in jail.
make off with sth The chairman made off with millions of dollars he'd stolen from his company.
make out (1) ()
Meaning: to see or hear something, but only with difficulty
Synonym: discern
For example:
make sth out This person's handwriting is really difficult to read. I can't understand this word here. Can you make it out?
make out sth If you can't make out what someone's saying, ask them to repeat it.
make out (2) (apaar, agasajar) Informal
Meaning: to hug, kiss and touch in a sexual way
For example:
make out When we were in high school, we'd take our girlfriends to the movies and make out in the back row.
make out Jill and her friends were talking about how nervous and excited they felt the first time they made out with boys.
Note: "Make out" is mostly used by young people to mean sexual behaviour such as hugging, kissing, and sexual touching, but it doesn't usually mean
full sexual intercourse.
make out (3) ()
Meaning: to write the details on a check or a legal document
Synonym: write out
For example:
make sth out Who should I make the check out to?
make out sth I'm going to see my lawyer and he's going to help me make out my will.
Nouns often used as objects with make out (3): check, will, insurance claim, tender, bill, tax return, receipt
make out (4) ()
Meaning: to create a false idea or image of someone or something
For example:
make sb/sth out to be sth Britney thinks the media made her out to be a bit crazy in order to sell more newspapers.
be made out to be sth Some people say the threat from certain countries has been made out to be much more serious than it really is.
make over (1) ()
Meaning: to officially transfer ownership of something to someone
For example:
make sth over to sb/sth Frank made most of his estate over to an educational foundation for homeless kids.
make sth over to sb/sth Margaret agreed to make her collection of paintings over to the town's art gallery.

make over (2) ()

Meaning: to make someone or something look better
For example:
make sb/sth over Reality TV shows make women over with plastic surgery and weight loss and new clothes and other stuff.
be made over into sth Our old warehouse will be made over into a fabulous new showroom.
make up (1) ()
Meaning: to invent a story or think of an explanation for something
Synonym: think up, invent
For example:
make up sth Rebecca's teacher says that she's very good at making up stories.
make sth up Gary admitted that the story wasn't true. He'd made the whole thing up.
Nouns often used as objects with make up (1): story, excuse, explanation
make up (2) ()
Meaning: If you make up with someone, you become friends again after having an argument or a disagreement with them.
Synonym: reconcile, patch things up
For example:
make up Are you and your brother still angry at one another because of that fight you had, or did you make up?
make up with sb Sayoko and Hiroko often argue, but they soon say sorry and make up with each other.
make up for ()
Meaning: to do something to improve the situation after you've done something wrong
For example:
make up for sth Joanna forgot my birthday last week, so now she wants to make up for it by taking me out to a fancy restaurant.
make up for sth Keith caused his family a lot of pain when he was taking drugs, but now that he's quit he's doing whatever he can to make up for it.
map out ()
Meaning: If you map out something, you plan in detail the future of something.
Synonym: plan
For example:
map out sth Before he'd even finished high school, Ali's father had mapped out his future for him.
map sth out Lisa has mapped a career out for herself in music, and she's determined to work hard and make it happen.
Nouns often used as objects with map out: plan, future, career, options, strategy
march on ()
Meaning: to walk in a group towards a place in order to protest against something or to demand something
For example:
march on sth We saw hundreds of protesters marching on government house.
march on sth Why don't you come and join us as we march on the headquarters of the World Bank?
mark down ()
Meaning: If you mark something down, you reduce its selling price.
Synonym: discount
For example:
mark sth down We need to sell this old stock quickly, so let's mark it all down by 50%.
mark down sth Most hotels mark down their room rates during the low season.
mark off (1) ()
Meaning: If you mark off items on a list, you mark each one after you've dealt with it.
Synonym: check off (American), tick off (British)
For example:
mark off sth Check the guest list and mark off each person's name when they arrive.
mark sth off Bingo players each have a card with numbers on it and if one of their numbers is called out, they mark it off.
mark off (2) ()
Meaning: If you mark off an area, you show where the boundaries are with lines, strings, or other markers.
For example:
mark off sth Many animals use strong scents to mark off their territories.
mark sth off The police marked the crime scene off with yellow tape.
mark up ()
Meaning: If you mark something up, you sell it for a price that is higher than the price you paid for it.
For example:
mark up sth How much do retailers in Europe usually mark up their prices?
be marked up Prices in department stores are usually marked up about forty per cent.
match up ()
Meaning: to find things that go together, or match in some way
Synonym: correspond, correlate
For example:
match up sth/sb In this exercise you have to match up the words with their definitions.
match sth/sb up When you're sorting the clothes, make sure you match the socks up into pairs.
max out ()Informal
Meaning: to reach the maximum limit of something, or to use up all of something
For example:

max out sth My daughter is a shopaholic. She's already maxed out six credit cards this year, and now she wants another one!
max sth out They had so many computers and peripherals running that they maxed the power supply out.
measure up ()
Meaning: to be good enough or to be of the required standard
For example:
measure up If Jacob doesn't measure up, we'll have to let him go and find someone else to do the job.
measure up Do you think the new Rolling Stones album measures up to the standards of their older music?
meet up ()
Meaning: to arrange to meet somebody, or to meet by chance
Synonym: get together
For example:
meet up After meeting up in the hotel's lobby, we all went off to a restaurant together.
meet up As we were leaving the concert, we met up with a whole crowd of old school friends.
meet with ()
Meaning: to get a certain reaction or response, either positive or negative
For example:
meet with sth His next movie met with much greater success than his first, and it even set box-office records in several countries.
meet with sth The government's plan to reform the health care system has met with strong opposition from private companies that profit from the
current system.
Nouns often used as objects with meet with: success, approval, acclaim; opposition, criticism, resistance
mess around ()
Meaning: If you're messing around, you're wasting time or behaving in a silly way.
Synonym: fool around, muck around (British, informal)
For example:
mess around My kids were messing around with a new computer game instead of doing their homework, so I told them to turn it off.
mess around The manager told the workers to stop messing around and get on with their work.
mess up ()Informal
Meaning: to do something incorrectly, or to make a mistake
Synonym: muck up (informal), screw up (informal)
For example:
mess up sth Joe has messed up the invitations to our product launch. He put the wrong date on them.
mess sth up My daughter had her driver's licence test yesterday, but she messed it up so she'll have to do it again.
mess up Sarah's been making a lot of mistakes recently. If she messes up again, she might lose her job.
minor in ()
Meaning: to study another subject at university or college in addition to your main subject
For example:
minor in At university I majored in history and minored in music.
minor in She wants to major in English, but she's not sure what she'll minor in yet.
miss out ()
Meaning: to miss the chance to get something you'd like to have, or do something you'd like to do
For example:
miss out We tried to buy tickets to the Nick Cave concert, but they'd sold out. If we'd tried to buy them earlier, we wouldn't have missed out.
miss out on We all feel sorry for Tim. He missed out on a spot in the Olympic team because he injured his foot during the selection trials.
mistake for ()
Meaning: to wrongly think that a person or thing is someone or something else
For example:
mistake for Fake Gucci bags look real and can easily be mistaken for genuine Gucci bags.
mistake for There's a guy who lives near here who often gets mistaken for David Beckham. He looks just like him.
mix up (1) ()
Meaning: If you mix up two or more things, you forget which one is which.
Synonym: confuse
For example:
mix sb/sth up The twin boys look so much alike that it's really easy to mix them up.
mix up sb/sth I mixed up the dates and went to the restaurant on Friday instead of Saturday - and nobody else was there!
Nouns often used as objects with mix up (1): names, dates, days, numbers
mix up (2) ()
Meaning: If you mix things up, you put things of different kinds together when they are usually separated.
For example:
mix sth up Keep your photos separate from mine. Don't mix them up.
mix sth up with sth David's underpants are now pink because he mixed his whites up with his coloureds when he was washing his clothes.
mixed up in ()
Meaning: to be involved in something illegal or immoral, such as organised crime or corruption
Synonym: involved in
For example:
mixed up in Jake was mixed up in the drugs trade when he got arrested for selling marijuana.
mixed up in Several high-ranking generals were mixed up in organised crime and oil smuggling.
Note: always used in the form "to be mixed up in something", and never in the form "to mix up in something"

mock up ()
Meaning: to make a model of something to show how it will look or work
For example:
mock up sth After making detailed drawings, they went to the next step and mocked up the newly-designed unit.
mock sth up I mocked a simple version up so that I could play the game with my students to see how it worked.
Note: The closely-related noun "mock-up" can also be used, as in "We made a mock-up of the new design and showed it to the marketing team."
model on ()
Meaning: to use something or someone as an example to copy when making something or doing something
For example:
be modelled on sth The Indian legal system was modelled on the British system.
model yourself on sb Many young singers and dancers still model themselves on Michael Jackson.
mop up ()
Meaning: to clean up something that has spilled by using a mop or a cloth
Synonym: clean up, wipe up
For example:
mop sth up After one of my kids spilled her drink, a waiter came and mopped it up.
mop up sth His assistant said mopping up spilt coffee was not one of her duties. She told him to do it himself.
mount up ()
Meaning: to gradually become larger or greater in amount
Synonym: stack up, accumulate (formal)
For example:
mount up Hillary's debts had been mounting up and she still wasn't doing anything about paying them off.
mount up The costs of the war have been mounting up, and it has now cost taxpayers over five hundred billion dollars.
mouth off ()Informal
Meaning: to speak in a loud and annoying way, especially when criticizing or complaining about something
For example:
mouth off Some guy in the pub got punched because he was mouthing off about something and I guess he upset someone.
mouth off After he'd had a couple of beers Robert started mouthing off about the evils of big government again last night.
move in (1) (mudarse)
Meaning: to move your belongings into a new place and start living there
For example:
move in My brother is living with us now. He moved in last week and he'll be with us until he gets a new job and finds a new apartment.
be moving in We've bought a new house and we'll be moving in on the weekend.
move in (2) ()
Meaning: to move closer, especially when you're trying to attack or catch someone or something
Synonym: close in
For example:
move in The lioness spotted a young antelope and crouched in the grass, waiting for the right moment to move in for the kill.
move in The soldiers had to wait for the signal before moving in.
move in on ()
Meaning: to try to take control of something that someone else has control of
Synonym: take over
For example:
move in on sth The gang war started when one of the gangs tried to move in on the other one's territory.
move in on sth If you don't protect your market share in business, someone else will move in on it and take it from you.
move into ()
Meaning: to begin living or working in a new place, or to go into a new type of business
For example:
move into sth I'll be busy on Saturday because I'm moving into a new apartment.
move into sth We'd like to move into a new area of business, and we're thinking it might be advertising.
move on ()
Meaning: If you move on, you stop doing one activity and start doing another, or stop discussing one topic and start discussing another.
For example:
move on After the instructor showed us how to build up our leg muscles, he moved on to exercises for the arms.
move on This topic's been covered now so let's move on to the next topic on the agenda.
move out ()
Meaning: If you move out, you leave the place in which you've been living or working, and move to a new place to live or work.
Synonym: leave
For example:
move out We've got three children, and two of them have already moved out of home, and the third one is planning to move out soon.
move out of sth As soon as the new building is finished, we'll move out of our old office and into the new one.
move over ()
Meaning: If you move over, you change position to make room for someone or something, or to block someone or something.
For example:
move over When Lydia came in, I moved over so she could sit down next to me.
move over While I was walking along the path I moved over to let some people riding bicycles go past.

move up (1) ()
Meaning: If you move up, you make space for someone else to sit down by moving a little.
Synonym: move over
For example:
move up A couple got on the train, and I moved up a bit so they could sit down together.
move up If everyone moved up a little we could fit another person on the seat.
move up (2) ()
Meaning: to move someone to a higher position, a higher level, a higher ranking, etc.
Synonym: raise, promote
For example:
move sb up Debbie's teacher said she'd made great progress this term, so she's moving Debbie up to the next grade.
move up After winning the French Open, Rafael moved up in the rankings.
mow down ()
Meaning: to kill a number of people, usually by shooting them or driving a vehicle into them
For example:
mow down sb A bus driver lost control of his vehicle and mowed down seven people who were waiting at a bus stop.
mow sb down When the demonstrators refused to stop coming towards them, the troops opened fire and mowed them down.
muck around () Informal
Meaning: to waste time when you could be doing something useful
Synonym: mess around, fool around
For example:
muck around The boss heard us laughing so he came in and told us to stop mucking around and do some work.
muck around We didn't do much over the holidays. We just mucked around at home most days.
Note: "muck about" has the same meaning and can be used in the same way
muck up () Informal
Meaning: If you muck something up, you do it badly and fail to achieve your goal.
Synonym: mess up, screw up (informal)
For example:
muck up sth I went to a new barber today and he mucked up my hair style. It looks terrible.
muck sth up Sally went to a job interview today, and she thinks she mucked it up. She said she was really nervous and she couldn't think clearly.
muddle through ()
Meaning: If you muddle through, you succeed in doing something even though you haven't got the skills or equipment usually needed.
For example:
muddle through Our coach was sick, so I had to train the team myself. I'd never done it before but I muddled through somehow and it wasn't too bad.
muddle through He'd never refereed a football match before, but he muddled through without making any really bad mistakes.
mull over ()
Meaning: to think carefully about something before making a decision
Synonym: consider, ponder
For example:
mull over sth Before deciding which job to accept, she said she needed a couple of days to mull over her options.
mull sth over Whenever I have to make a big decision, I take plenty of time to mull things over.
muscle in ()
Meaning: to use your power or influence to force your way into a situation even if you're not wanted
Synonym: intrude
For example:
muscle in As soon as oil was discovered in the country, the big oil companies muscled in and soon had most of the exploration rights.
muscle in on sth When the major airlines saw how well the new route was doing, they muscled in on it and got a piece of the action.

N
nag at ()
Meaning: If someone is being nagged at by a fear, a doubt or a regret, they can't stop thinking about it.
For example:

nag at Ken lost millions when the stock market collapsed, and the thought that he should have sold his shares when they started going down kept
nagging at him.
nag at The feeling that she'd left it too late to have children was nagging at her.
Nouns often used as subjects with nag at: fear, doubt, worry, regret, guilt, thought
nail down (1) ()
Meaning: If you nail something down, you finally make a decision or come to an agreement about something.
Synonym: finalize
For example:
nail down sth We need to nail down a date for the meeting as soon as possible.
nail sth down We've been negotiating this agreement for a few days already, so let's try to nail it down before the end of today.
Nouns often used as objects with nail down (1): deal, contract, time, date, price
nail down (2) ()
Meaning: If you nail something down, you fasten it to a surface, such as the floor, with a nail.
For example:
nail down There are a couple of loose boards on the back steps, so I'm going to nail them down.
nail down If you want to use carpet on the stage, nail it down so the dancers don't trip over it.
nail up ()
Meaning: If you nail something up, you use a nail to attach it to a vertical surface like a wall or a door.
For example:
nail up sth Emilio nailed up a horseshoe over the front door of our house. He says it'll bring us good luck.
nail sth up Could you get a hammer and nail the picture up in the bedroom?
name after ()
Meaning: If you name somebody after someone else, you give them the same name.
Synonym: name for (American)
For example:
name sb/sth after sb/sth When Bill and Jenny named their son after the revolutionary fighter Che Guevara, their parents thought they were crazy. But
now they like the name "Che".
sb/sth will be named after sb/sth Manchester United's new stadium will be named after their long-serving manager. It'll be called the Alex Ferguson
Stadium.
name for ()
Meaning: If you name somebody for someone else, you give them the same name.
Synonym: name after
For example:
name sb/sth for sb/sth When Bill and Jenny named their son for the revolutionary fighter Che Guevara, their parents thought they were crazy. But now
they like the name "Che".
sb/sth will be named for sb/sth The new concert hall in Harlem will be named for the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. It'll be called "The James
Brown Memorial Hall".
narrow down ()
Meaning: to reduce the number of possibilities, options or choices
Synonym: reduce
For example:
narrow down sth I was buying a new car and there were many models to choose from, but I wanted a fuel-efficient car so that narrowed down the
range quite a bit.
narrow sth down to sth Thirty people applied for the job, but after the first round of interviews we'd narrowed it down to just three.
Nouns often used as objects with narrow down: range, field, number, total
nibble away at ()
Meaning: to gradually reduce the quantity, strength or value of something
Synonym: eat into
For example:
nibble away at Inflation is nibbling away at the value of my savings.
nibble away at The prime minister's little mistakes are starting to nibble away at his reputation as a reliable leader.
nip out ()Informal
Meaning: If you nip out, you leave wherever you are for a short time.
Synonym: go out, pop out (informal), nick out (Austrlian informal)
For example:
nip out Cheryl's just nipped out to the bank. She'll be back in a minute.
nip out I must have nipped out for a minute when you called.
nod off ()Informal
Meaning: If you nod off, you fall asleep without meaning to.
Synonym: doze off
For example:
nod off We went to see the new James Bond movie, but Gary nodded off half way through and started snoring. It was pretty funny.
nod off while doing sth Many bad accidents happen because people nod off while driving, so you should never drive if you're feeling sleepy.
nose around ()
Meaning: If someone is nosing around, they're looking around in order to find information about something.
Synonym: nose about (British), poke around (informal)
For example:
nose around sth Tax inspectors are nosing around our office and checking our accounts, looking for any mistakes or problems.

be nosing around Celebrities have to be careful about what they say or do in public. Reporters are always nosing around, hoping to get a sensational
story about one of them.
Note: This phrasal verb has a negative connotation, and it implies that whoever is "nosing around" is not liked or respected much by those who they are
trying to get information on.
notch up ()Informal
Meaning: to achieve something like a win or a record
Synonym: clock up
For example:
notch up sth Rafael Nadal notched up another win this week, so he's now won six matches in a row.
notch sth up Richard takes great pleasure in putting together big financial deals, and he's just notched another one up.
Nouns often used as objects with notch up: win, record, victory, success, triumph, title
note down ()
Meaning: If you note down something, you write it on a piece of paper or in a notebook.
Synonym: write, write down, jot down
For example:
note down sth Can I borrow your pen, please? I just need to note down this address in case I forget it.
note sth down Leon took a moment to note the number down.
Nouns often used as objects with note down: name, address, number, detail, title
number among ()
Meaning: to include something or someone in a class or group of similar things or people
For example:
number sb/sth among sb/sth I used to number Tony among my friends, but I don't any more, not since he borrowed some money and didn't pay me
back.
be numbered among sb/sth Do you really think George W. Bush should be numbered among the greatest American presidents, or were you just
joking?
nut out ()
Meaning: If you nut something out, you solve a problem or you calculate something.
Synonym: work out, figure out
For example:
nut out sth We're having a meeting with the marketing department to nut out the best way to promote the new model.
nut sth out It's a tough problem, but we've got a better chance of nutting it out if we work on it together.
Note: Possibly derived from the informal use of the word "nut" to mean "head".

O
object to ()
Meaning: If you object to something, you don't think it's a good thing or a good idea, so you oppose it or you are against it.
Synonym: oppose
For example:

object to sth Most people object to the huge bonuses that banks and financial companies pay their top executives.
object to sth Some politicians object to the new law that will improve health care for children because it might mean lower profits for big drug
companies.
Nouns often used as objects with object to: decision, verdict, plan, idea, proposal, law
occur to ()
Meaning: If a thought or an idea occurs to you, it comes to you.
Synonym: come to
For example:
sth occurs to sb When did the idea of going back to university occur to you?
occur to sb that While I was playing with my daughter, it occurred to me that she was starting to look more and more like my wife.
Nouns often used as subjects with occur to: idea, thought, solution, plan
offer up ()
Meaning: to give thanks, praise or prayers to God or gods
For example:
offer up sth After the accident, Nola offered up prayers for her child's recovery.
offer up sth to sth/sb In a traditional ceremony, the villagers offered up sacrificed animals to their gods.
Nouns often used as objects with offer up: praise, thanks, prayers, sacrificial animals
open out ()
Meaning: to unfold and spread a folded map or newspaper in order to read it
Synonym: spread out, unfold
For example:
open out sth I had trouble opening out the map while I was driving. It kept flapping around in the breeze.
open sth out I'd just bought a newspaper, and I was trying to open it out on a crowded train when I accidentally poked a woman in the eye.
open up (1) ()
Meaning: If you open up to somebody, you share your feelings with them.
For example:
open up When people get counselling, they are asked to open up and talk honestly with the counsellor.
open up to sb I'd known Bob for a year or two before he started to open up to me and share his private thoughts and feelings.
open up (2) ()
Meaning: If a country opens up, it becomes easier to travel there and do business.
For example:
open up Before Bhutan began to open up, it was a very difficult place to visit.
open up to sth Most countries that were isolated in the past are now opening up to the world because they want to develop economically.
open up (3) ()
Meaning: If you open up a new business, you set it up and start trading.
Synonym: establish (formal)
For example:
open up A lot of new shops and small businesses have opened up in our town in the last couple of years.
open up sth I'd love to open up a small guesthouse on a beach in Thailand.
Nouns often used as objects with open up (3): store, shop, hotel, guesthouse, clinic, small business
opposed to ()
Meaning: If you are opposed to something, you're against it or you don't support it.
Synonym: against
For example:
opposed to sth People who are opposed to the plan to build a new dam are protesting in front of the town hall.
opposed to sth If you're opposed to something the government's doing, write a letter to your local representative.
Nouns often used as objects with opposed to: war, torture, corruption, pollution, crime, exploitation, violence
opt for ()
Meaning: If you opt for something, you choose it from a range of possible options.
Synonym: choose, go for (informal)
For example:
opt for sth My husband opted for early retirement because he didn't want to work until he was 65 years old.
opt for sth Many companies now opt for outsourcing if they need something like intranet-based real-time workflow management.
opt in ()
Meaning: If you opt in, you choose to accept something, or do something, that is offered to you as an option.
For example:
opt in When they're purchasing a product online, we give our customers the chance to subscribe to our newsletter, but we only send it to those who've
opted in.
opt in We have English classes for our workers. They don't have to attend, but if they opt in they're expected to complete the course.
opt out ()
Meaning: If you opt out of something, you choose not to be involved in it.
Synonym: bow out
For example:
opt out of sth Lots of people have opted out of our English classes. Maybe the classes are too dull.
opt out of sth There will be no refunds for people who opt out of the program.
Nouns often used as objects with opt out: course, program, class, scheme, activity
order about ()
Meaning: If you order people about, you tell them what to do in a bossy way.

Synonym: order around, boss around (informal), boss about (informal)

For example:
order sb about The workers hate the way their supervisor orders them about. They say she's rude and bossy.
be ordered about Army recruits soon get used to being ordered about.
order around ()
Meaning: If you order people around, you tell them what to do in a bossy way.
Synonym: order about (British), boss around (informal), boss about (informal)
For example:
order sb around The workers hate the way their supervisor orders them around. They say she's rude and bossy.
be ordered around Army recruits soon get used to being ordered around.
Nouns often used as objects with order around: workers, staff, employees, recruits, troops, students
order in ()
Meaning: If you order in, you order food from a take-away restaurant and have it delivered to your home or office.
Synonym: order out
For example:
order sth in Have you ordered some food in for the staff who're working late?
order in sth Let's order in some pizza. I can't be bothered cooking tonight.
Nouns often used as objects with order in: pizza, hamburger, fried chicken, soda, juice
order off ()
Meaning: to tell a player to leave the field of play, or the court, usually because they have committed a foul or broken a rule
Synonym: send off
For example:
order sb off The referee ordered Paddy off because he made an illegal tackle on another player, and could have seriously injured him.
order off sb The umpire will order off any players who are bleeding or have blood on their uniforms.
order out ()
Meaning: If you order out, you order food from a take-away restaurant and have it delivered to you.
Synonym: order in
For example:
order out I'm going to order out less, and cook dinner for myself more often.
order out Simone said she was too tired to cook, so I called a restaurant and ordered out instead.
order up (1) ()
Meaning: to issue an order for something to be done, usually in relation to the government or the military
For example:
order sth up After the press released details of torture in military prisons, the President ordered up a full report on the situation.
order up sth Let's pray that no leader ever decides it's necessary to order up a nuclear attack.
order up (2) ()
Meaning: to have food or drinks delivered to your room in a hotel
Synonym: have sent up
For example:
order up sth We ordered up some drinks about twenty minutes ago, but they haven't come yet.
order sth up Do you want to have dinner in the restaurant, or would you rather order something up?
Nouns often used as objects with order up (2): food, drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, meal, sandwiches, fruit
overcome with ()
Meaning: to be strongly affected by an emotion or a feeling
Synonym: overwhelmed with
For example:
overcome with sth After his dog died, Danny was overcome with grief.
overcome with sth The whole team was overcome with the joy of winning and being champions.
Nouns often used as objects with overcome with: fear, sadness, grief, joy, excitement, shame, gratitude
Note: always used in the form "to be overcome with something", and never in the form "to overcome with something"
owe to (1) ()
Meaning: If you owe something to someone, you feel that you only have it because of the person's help or support.
For example:
owe sth to sb/sth The band said they owed their success to their producer and manager.
owe sth to sb/sth In his acceptance speech, Tiger said he owed everything to his parents.
owe to (2) ()
Meaning: If something happens owing to something else, it happens as a result of it.
For example:
owe sth to sth We owe the fall in our sales to a general drop in consumer spending.
owing to sth/sb We're short of stock at the moment owing to an unexpected increase in sales recently.
Note: Often used in the continuous form "owing to".
own up ()
Meaning: If you own up to something, you admit that you've done something wrong or made a mistake.
Synonym: admit, confess, fess up (informal)
For example:
own up We were pretty sure Sam was the one who'd been stealing money from our company, but he wouldn't own up. He kept saying it wasn't him.
own up to sth Politicians don't usually own up to their mistakes and misjudgments, let alone their crimes against humanity.
own up to doing sth Our son owned up to taking money from his mother's purse after we found him looking through her bag again.
Nouns often used as objects with own up: to stealing, cheating, lying :to fraud, theft, crime, mistake, error, dishonesty

P
pack away (1) ()
Meaning: If you pack something away, you put it back where it's usually kept after you've finished using it.
Synonym: put away
For example:
pack sth away Have you packed the fishing rods away or are they still in the car?
pack away sth How many times do I have to tell you to pack away your golf clubs after you've finished using them?

pack away (2) ()Informal

Meaning: to eat a lot of food
For example:
pack away sth I can't believe how much food Tommy packs away. And he's not even fat!
pack sth away Have you seen the size of restaurant meals in America? Can people really pack that much away when they eat?
pack in (1) ()Informal
Meaning: to attract large audiences or large crowds of spectators
For example:
pack in sth After giving concerts for over 40 years, Bob Dylan could still pack in big crowds wherever he performed.
pack sth in Basketball stars like LeBron James can really pack them in. Stadiums are full whenever he's playing.
pack in (2) ()
Meaning: If you pack something in, you stop doing it.
Synonym: quit
For example:
pack sth in It's going to rain, so let's pack it in and finish the job in the morning.
pack in sth After working for a month as a builder, James packed in the job and went to China to teach English.
pack into (1) ()
Meaning: to fit into a small or crowded space
Synonym: cram into, squeeze into
For example:
pack into sth Over a hundred thousand people packed into the stadium for the final match.
pack into sth No-one else had a car, so the whole family had to pack into Fergy's little Fiat.
pack into (2) ()
Meaning: to fit a lot of activities into a limited time
Synonym: cram into
For example:
pack into sth It's amazing how many meetings and interviews Daniel can pack into a single day.
packed into sth The tour includes visits to most of the famous places in the country, all packed into five days.
pack up (1) ()
Meaning: to put things into boxes or bags before moving them or sending them somewhere
For example:
pack up sth Darren has two days to pack up all his stuff and move out of the apartment.
pack sth up How long will it take you to pack your things up?
Nouns often used as objects with pack up (1): stuff, things, belongings, possessions, clothes, books
pack up (2) () Informal
Meaning: If something packs up, it stops working and needs to be fixed.
Synonym: break
For example:
pack up Why does my air conditioner have to pack up on Friday? I can't get it fixed til Monday, and it's going to be a really hot weekend!
pack up Stan's printer has packed up again! Why doesn't he just get a new one?
Nouns often used as subjects with pack up (2): computer, printer, television, refrigerator, air conditioner, camera, phone
pan out () Informal
Meaning: If you see how a situation pans out, you see how it develops over time.
Synonym: turn out, work out
For example:
pan out Instead of quitting, why don't you stay in the job for another few months and see how things pan out?
pan out We're not sure what effect the new law will have yet. We'll just have to wait and see how things pan out.
part with ()
Meaning: to give something to someone else, especially when you'd prefer to keep it
For example:
part with sth Mark hated parting with his collection of rare books, but he really needed the money he got by selling them.
part with sth Mum didn't want to part with our baby clothes or our old school books, but we made her get rid of them.
pass around ()
Meaning: to pass something from person to person in a group
Synonym: pass round (British)
For example:
pass sth around After the meeting, we passed the hat around and collected some money.
pass around sth Becky passed around a card she'd bought for Kerry's birthday and we all wrote something on it.
pass away (fallecer)
Meaning: If someone passes away, they die.
Synonym: die, pass on
For example:
pass away Our chairman passed away yesterday, and his funeral will be held next Friday.
pass away Olivia told us she wanted her body to be cremated after she passed away.
pass off as ()
Meaning: to make someone believe that a copy or a replica is the real thing
Synonym: palm off as

For example:
pass sth off as sth We had no trouble passing the counterfeit banknotes off as real money.
pass sb off as sb He put on a white coat and tried to pass himself off as a doctor.
pass on ()
Meaning: If you pass something on, you give it to another person after receiving it yourself.
Synonym: hand on
For example:
pass on sth You should wear a mask over your mouth so that you don't pass on the disease.
pass sth on After taking your piece of cake, pass the plate on to the next person.
pass out (1) ()
Meaning: to give something to each person in a group
Synonym: hand out, distribute
For example:
pass out We passed out programs as audience members arrived at the concert.
pass out Election officials will pass out voting instructions to all the voters.
Nouns often used as objects with pass out (1): forms, sheets, brochures, pamphlets, programs, booklets
pass out (2) ()
Meaning: to lose consciousness all of a sudden
Synonym: faint, black out
For example:
pass out It was so hot on the golf course that a couple of the players passed out.
pass out If someone passes out, make sure their airway is open so they can breathe.
pass over ()
Meaning: If someone is passed over, they aren't given the promotion they were expecting, and the position is given to someone else instead.
For example:
pass over This is the second time Indira has been passed over for promotion to section manager.
pass sb over I'm sorry you didn't get the promotion this time, but you'll get it next time. They can't pass you over again.
pass up ()Informal
Meaning: If you pass up an opportunity or an invitation, you choose not to take the opportunity or accept the invitation.
Synonym: turn down, decline
For example:
pass up sth Bill passed up the opportunity to study music in a top university. He formed his own band instead.
pass sth up I had to pass the invitation up as I already had an appointment at that time.
Nouns often used as objects with pass up: invitation, chance, opportunity, window of opportunity, shot (at doing something)
pat down ()
Meaning: to check that somebody isn't carrying a prohibited item, such as a gun, by patting different parts of their body
Synonym: frisk
For example:
pat down sb Security guards patted down everybody who entered the airport.
pat sb down In some American schools armed guards pat the kids down before allowing them inside.
patch up (1) ()
Meaning: to fix something quickly so it can be used until it's repaired properly or replaced
Synonym: mend
For example:
patch sth up After crashing my motorbike, I couldn't fix it but I patched it up enough to get it to the repair shop.
patch up sth Our roof needs replacing. It leaked during that storm last night and I patched up some holes, but we really need a new one.
Nouns often used as objects with patch up (1): jeans, clothes, shoes, socks, tyre, road, roof, hole
patch up (2) ()
Meaning: to mend ties or repair a relationship after a disagreement or a dispute
Synonym: reconcile (formal)
For example:
patch sth up My sister and her husband argue a lot, but they always patch things up before long.
patch up sth The leaders of the two countries patched up their differences and avoided a war.
Nouns often used as objects with patch up (2): differences, disagreement, quarrel, relations, relationship, things, rift
pay back (1) ()
Meaning: If you pay someone back, you return money that you borrowed from them in the past.
Synonym: repay
For example:
pay sb back Thanks for lending me the money. I'll pay you back when I get paid next week.
pay back sb Will you pay back your friends first, or will you pay back the bank first?
pay sth back to sb You promised you'd pay all the money back to me this week. So where is it?
pay back (2) ()
Meaning: If you pay someone back for doing something bad to you, you do something bad to them in return.
Synonym: get back at
For example:
pay sb back Jim was angry after I fired him and he said he'd pay me back one day.
pay sb back for sth The kid who shot fifteen students in his high school said he was paying them back for all their insults and put-downs.
pay off (1) ()

Meaning: If you pay off a loan, you pay it back in installments over a period of time.
For example:
pay sth off They took out a loan to buy their house and they'll pay it off over the next twenty-five years.
pay off sth Have you paid off your car loan yet, or do you still owe some money to the bank?
be paid off If we keep giving the bank a thousand dollars a month, our credit cards will be paid off by the end of next year.
Nouns often used as objects with pay off (1): loan, mortgage, debt, house, car, credit card
pay off (2) ()
Meaning: If something you do pays off, it ends up giving you some benefit or a good result.
For example:
pay off Changing jobs has really paid off. Even though I make a bit less money, I have a lot more free time and I'm a lot happier.
pay off Janice got into Harvard University, so all that hard work and extra study has paid off.
pay out ()
Meaning: to pay a sum of money to somebody, especially a large sum
Synonym: shell out
For example:
pay sth out If you win the lottery, they'll pay the money out in installments over several years.
pay out sth Most insurance companies will try to find any reason they can to avoid paying out claims to their customers.
Nouns often used as objects with pay out: award, compensation, prize money, winnings, reward, lump sum, insurance claim
pay up ()
Meaning: If somebody pays up, they pay money they owe to someone even though they don't really want to.
Synonym: cough up (informal)
For example:
pay up Brett lost a thousand dollars playing pool in a bar, and if he hadn't paid up he would have been in big trouble.
pay up The mafia demands protection money from small businesses, and if someone doesn't pay up they'll be attacked and maybe even killed.
pick on ()
Meaning: If you pick on someone, you repeatedly treat them badly or criticize them.
Synonym: get at (British)
For example:
pick on sb Joe sounds childish when he says things like "Why does the boss always pick on me?"
pick on sb When Jill was in high school, the other girls picked on her because she was overweight.
pick out ()
Meaning: If you pick out something, you choose or select it.
Synonym: choose, select
For example:
pick out sth/sb We're painting the office, so look at this chart and pick out a colour you like.
pick sth/sb out Do you like these shirts? Pick one out and I'll get it for you.
pick up (1) ()
Meaning: If you pick up something, you take hold of it and lift it up.
Synonym: lift
For example:
pick up sb/sth If you pick up the computer, be careful and make sure you don't drop it.
pick sb/sth up I used to pick my daughter up and carry her around on my shoulders, but she's getting too big for that now.
Nouns often used as objects with pick up (1): box, bag, case, pen, phone, cup
pick up (2) ()
Meaning: If you pick someone up, you meet them somewhere in order to give them a lift somewhere else.
Synonym: collect
For example:
pick sb/sth up If you tell me what time your flight gets in, I'll pick you up from the airport and take you home.
pick up sb/sth Peter has gone to the post office to pick up a parcel.
piss about ()
Meaning: to waste time or act in a stupid way
Synonym: fool around, mess about, muck around (informal)
For example:
piss about Sometimes our workers piss about on the internet instead of doing their work.
be pissing about Don't take any notice of them. They're just pissing about.
Note: also "piss around"
piss off ()
Meaning: If someone pisses you off, they annoy you.
Synonym: annoy, tick off (American informal)
For example:
piss sb off Do you think Bob knows that he pisses people off when he gets drunk and starts singing really loudly?
piss off sb She pissed off just about everyone who was there when she started talking during the movie.
play around (1) ()
Meaning: to waste time by being silly or stupid
Synonym: fool around, muck around (informal)
For example:
play around Come on you guys! Stop playing around and get on with your work.
play around Why are you playing around when you've got a really important exam in the morning?

play around (2) () Informal

Meaning: to have sex with someone other than one's spouse or partner
Synonym: fool around
For example:
play around Did you hear about Ben? His wife caught him playing around with the woman next door.
play around In several traditional societies, it's perfectly normal for married couples to play around. Nobody expects them to be loyal to their partners.
play back ()
Meaning: to play something that's just been recorded, such as a video, a message, or some music
For example:
play back sth When we played back the song we'd just recorded, it sounded great.
play sth back When Paul gets home he checks his answering machine and if there are any messages, he plays them back straight away.
Nouns often used as objects with play back: message, recording, song, clip, sequence, scene, track, video, music
play down ()
Meaning: to try to make something seem less important or less damaging than it really is
Synonym: minimize, downplay
For example:
play down sth The government's spokesman tried to play down the worsening economic data.
play sth down When he told his parents he was being sent to fight in Iraq, he tried to play the dangers down by saying he was going to a peaceful area.
play up (1) () Informal
Meaning: If something is playing up, it isn't working properly or it's causing problems.
Synonym: act up
For example:
play up This bloody printer is playing up again!
play up Whenever the weather is cold and damp, my back plays up and I have to take pain medicine.
play up (2) ()
Meaning: to try to make something seem better, or more important, than it really is
Synonym: overstate
For example:
play sth up Sales people know the strengths of each product they sell, and they play these strengths up when they're trying to make a sale.
play up sth Some hip-hop artists play up their violent past as gang members in order to gain credibility among fans.
point out ()
Meaning: to tell someone something you think they should know
Synonym: indicate (formal)
For example:
point out sth Cassie pointed out a few mistakes in the article that no-one had noticed.
point sth out Thanks for pointing these things out to us.
pour in ()
Meaning: to arrive at or enter a place in great numbers and with great speed or force
Synonym: stream in
For example:
pour in As soon as the doors opened, the waiting shoppers poured in and ran for the bargain bins.
pour in Applications for the government's new low-interest student loans have been pouring in.
pour out ()
Meaning: to leave a place in large numbers
Synonym: stream out
For example:
pour out After I poked a stick in the ant's nest, the ants started pouring out everywhere.
pour out During the war, refugees poured out of the country to escape the violence.
print off ()
Meaning: to print a number of copies of something
Synonym: print out
For example:
print off sth They printed off a thousand copies of the brochure.
print sth off We can print the cards off while you wait if you like.
print out ()
Meaning: to make a printed copy of a document
Synonym: print off
For example:
print out sth Could you print out the contract and leave it on my desk, please?
print sth out Print a test copy out and let me check it before you send the file to the printers.
Nouns often used as objects with print out: document, letter, invoice, receipt, email, article, photo, picture
pull back ()
Meaning: If an army pulls back, it moves its forces back from the front-line or from wherever it's been fighting the enemy.
Synonym: withdraw
For example:
pull back Their troops have pulled back from the area along the river.
pull sth/sb back Even though they were being pounded by rockets and mortars, the general refused to pull his forces back.
pull down (1) ()

Meaning: to destroy a building or structure because it is old, dangerous, or no longer wanted

Synonym: demolish, knock down
For example:
pull down sth The residents of Berlin pulled down the wall that had divided their city for nearly thirty years.
pull sth down Grandma wants us to pull the old shed down so she can use the space to make a new vegetable garden.
be pulled down The old cinema was pulled down and a new office building was built there instead.
Nouns often used as objects with pull down (1): building, house, church, shed, wall, tent, billboard, shelter
pull down (2) ()
Meaning: to lower one's pants or trousers
For example:
pull down sth My doctor told me to pull down my jeans so he could examine my leg.
pull sth down Molly pulled her pants down and showed us the new tattoo on her bottom.
Nouns often used as objects with pull down (2): trousers, jeans, shorts, pants, underpants
pull in ()
Meaning: If a train, a truck or a car pulls in, it arrives somewhere.
Synonym: arrive
For example:
pull in The train you want will be pulling in on platform 9.
pull in A truck pulled in to the yard and the driver jumped out.
pull off ()
Meaning: to succeed in doing something difficult
Synonym: bring off
For example:
pull off sth James has just pulled off one of the biggest deals of his career.
pull sth off Nobody thought Lleyton could win the match, but he pulled it off with pure determination.
pull on ()
Meaning: to put an item of clothing on, usually in a hurry
Synonym: put on, don (formal)
For example:
pull on sth After pulling on his jeans and an old pair of boots, Sam dashed outside to get the washing in before it rained.
pull sth on I quickly pulled my jacket on and ran outside to catch the postman.
Nouns often used as objects with pull on: shirt, jeans, jumper, sweater, jacket, coat, socks, shoes, boots, gloves, backpack
pull out (1) ()
Meaning: If you pull out of something you're participating in, like a competition or a deal, you stop participating.
Synonym: withdraw
For example:
pull out Phil was leading the tournament, but he had to pull out after injuring his knee.
pull out Chuck was forced to pull out of the race for President when his campaign funds ran out.
pull out (2) ()
Meaning: to move your car from a parking spot or a side street into a traffic lane, or to move out from one traffic lane to join another
For example:
pull out I checked to see that no other cars were coming, and then I pulled out and drove off.
pull out Some idiot pulled out in front of me just as I was about to overtake him. He nearly caused an accident.
pull over (orillarse)
Meaning: If you're driving a car and you pull over, you move over to the side of the road and stop.
Synonym: pull in
For example:
pull over The taxi pulled over to pick up a passenger.
pull over When I saw the police car following me with its lights flashing, I pulled over and turned off the engine.
pull through ()
Meaning: to recover from a serious illness or injury
Synonym: survive
For example:
pull through Without the wonderful care she received from the nurses, I don't think my grandmother would have pulled through.
pull sb through I knew the doctors would do everything they could to help pull him through.
pull up (1) ()
Meaning: to pull something out of the ground, such as a plant, a stake, or a fence post
For example:
pull up sth The protesting farmers pulled up all the stakes and pegs that the surveyors had stuck in the ground.
pull sth up If you don't pull the roots up as well, the weeds will grow back in no time.
Nouns often used as objects with pull up (1): plant, bush, weed, carrot, vine, stake, peg, post
pull up (2) ()
Meaning: If a vehicle such as a car or a taxi pulls up, it stops.
Synonym: stop
For example:
pull up I told the taxi driver to pull up outside the post office.
pull up As the truck pulled up at the intersection, its brakes made a loud hissing sound.
put aside (1) ()

Meaning: to save or reserve something, like time, money, food, etc., for a particular purpose, or for use in the future
Synonym: set aside, reserve
For example:
put aside sth Laura put aside a few dollars a week for her granddaughter's education.
put sth aside He tries to put one day a month aside to visit his mother and take her shopping.
put aside (2) ()
Meaning: to ignore a disagreement or a problem you have with someone so you can work together on something
Synonym: disregard, ignore
For example:
put aside sth The leaders put aside their various differences and got on with the job of preventing a war from starting.
put sth aside I know we have unresolved issues, but can we put those aside, just for a moment, and work out what's best for the kids?
put away (1) ()
Meaning: If you put something away, you put it where it's usually kept when it's not being used.
For example:
put sth away If you wash the dishes, I'll dry them and put them away.
put away sth If I leave your clean clothes on the bed, can you put them away yourself?
Nouns often used as objects with put away (1): dishes, tools, clothes, books, toys, pieces
put away (2) ()
Meaning: If you put something away, you put it somewhere safe and keep it for the future.
Synonym: set aside, save
For example:
put away Her grandfather gave her the money he'd put away in case she needed it to study.
put away sth After harvesting, farmers try to put away enough rice to feed their families until the next harvest.
put sth away It's time I started putting money away for the future.
put back (1) ()
Meaning: If you put something back, you return it to the place it was before you took it.
Synonym: replace
For example:
put back sth If you cook something, make sure you put back all the stuff you use when you're finished.
put sth back Don't forget to put the magazines back after you've read them.
put back (2) ()
Meaning: to change the time or date of something to a later time
Synonym: postpone (formal)
For example:
put sth back We could put the meeting back a week if you like.
put back sth Would you mind if we put back your appointment until April the first?
be put back Their trip was put back a month because of the airline strike.
put down (1) ()
Meaning: to stop carrying something or someone
Synonym: set down
For example:
put sth/sb down The refrigerator was so heavy that we had to put it down and have a rest.
put down sth/sb After swinging her around a few times, I put down my little girl and she fell over laughing.
put down (2) ()
Meaning: to put a sick or injured animal to death, usually by lethal injection
Synonym: put to sleep
For example:
put sth down Tottie was very old and very sick, so we told the vet to put her down.
put down sth Putting down family pets is one of the most difficult parts of my job as a vet.
have sth put down If a horse breaks a leg, sometimes the kindest thing to do is to have it put down.
Note: "Put down" is one of several euphemisms for putting an animal to death. Others are "lay down", "put to sleep" and "put out of its/his/her misery".
put forward (1) ()
Meaning: to offer an idea, an opinion, a suggestion, etc. for other people to consider
Synonym: suggest, offer
For example:
put forward sth He put forward an interesting argument, but no-one was really convinced by it.
put sth forward If you have any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to put them forward and they'll be given our full consideration.
be put forward Many of the suggestions that have been put forward are excellent.
Nouns often used as objects with put forward (1): suggestion, opinion, idea, argument, plan, proposal, theory
put forward (2) ()
Meaning: to change the date or time of an event, an appointment, a meeting, etc. so that it happens earlier than originally planned
Synonym: bring forward
For example:
put forward sth Do you mind if we put forward the starting time an hour, and make it 9 o'clock instead of 10?
put sth forward Uncle Roger has to go to Japan in April, so we've put our wedding forward a couple of weeks so he can come.
Nouns often used as objects with put forward (2): date, time, starting time, appointment, meeting, conference, deadline
put in (1) ()
Meaning: to spend a certain amount of time and effort on doing something

Synonym: devote (formal)

For example:
put in sth She's put in the hard work you need to put in to develop a talent, so she deserves the success she's had.
put sth in He must have put a lot of hours in to get the business up and running by himself.
put in (2) ()
Meaning: to install a large piece of equipment into a room, a home or a building
Synonym: install
For example:
have sth put in I've just had a solar heating system put in, and it works perfectly.
put in sth If you put in a $10,000 swimming pool, the property's value will increase by about $30,000.
put sth in How much would it cost to put a new kitchen in?
Nouns often used as objects with put in (2): air conditioning, security system, central heating, solar heating, swimming pool, tennis court
put off ()
Meaning: If you put something off, you change the time it's meant to happen to a later time or date.
Synonym: postpone (formal)
For example:
put sth off If it's too hot to play the final game today, they'll put it off until tomorrow.
be put off We went to the meeting, but no-one was there. It had been put off until the following day, but no-one had told us!
put off doing sth We'll have to put off opening the new office because the builders are taking so long to finish it.
Nouns often used as objects with put off: meeting, concert, game, event, opening
put on (1) ()
Meaning: to start wearing an item of clothing, a pair of shoes, a piece of jewellery, a pair of glasses, etc.
Synonym: don (formal)
For example:
put on sth You should put on your coat. It's cold outside.
put sth on Just a minute while I put my glasses on. I can't read without them.
Nouns often used as objects with put on (1): shirt, dress, shoes, tie, watch, sunglasses, necklace, ring
put on (2) ()
Meaning: to make an appliance or a piece of equipment start to function
Synonym: turn on, switch on
For example:
put on sth Don't forget to put on the heater when you get up in the morning.
put sth on Do you want to watch TV, or do you want me to put the radio on instead?
Nouns often used as objects with put on (2): light, TV, radio, heater, air conditioner, kettle, fan, music
put on (3) ()
Meaning: to present an event such as a concert, a seminar, a sporting tournament, etc.
Synonym: stage
For example:
put on sth Wow! This band puts on a great live show!
put sth on Is the marketing department putting a sales seminar on this month?
Nouns often used as objects with put on (3): show, concert, play, performance, seminar, trade fair, festival, tournament
put on (4) ()
Meaning: If you put on weight, or put on pounds or kilos, you become heavier.
Synonym: gain
For example:
put on sth Oh no! I've put on 5 kilos in the last month.
put sth on If you exercise less, but keep eating the same amount of food, you'll probably put some weight on.
put out (1) ()
Meaning: to stop something from burning
Synonym: extinguish
For example:
put out sth It took the firemen a long time to put out the fire.
put sth out The car's engine was burning so he grabbed the fire-extinguisher and put it out.
put out (2) ()
Meaning: If you put somebody out, you inconvenience them by asking them to help you or do something for you.
Synonym: inconvenience (formal)
For example:
put sb out Are you sure taking me to the airport isn't putting you out? I can easily get the train if you're busy.
put sb out George never asks for help or favors because he's afraid of putting people out. He forgets that people often enjoy helping out their friends.
put over ()
Meaning: to communicate something like an idea or an opinion
Synonym: put across, get across, convey, communicate (formal)
For example:
put over sth Do you think you put over your point of view clearly enough?
put sth over Mandy doesn't think she's very good at putting her ideas over, but I think she's fine.
put through (1) ()
Meaning: to make someone suffer a difficult or painful experience
Synonym: subject to

For example:
put sb through sth I'm sorry we had to put you through this ordeal, but we couldn't avoid it.
be put through sth Why are rape victims put through this sort of questioning at a trial?
put through (2) ()
Meaning: to pay for someone's education through school, college, university, etc.
For example:
put sb through sth It's costing her a lot of money to put herself through law school.
put sb through sth How much does it cost to put a kid through college these days?
put together (1) ()
Meaning: to assemble something by joining its parts or pieces
Synonym: assemble
For example:
put together sth When we got the model of the space shuttle it was still in pieces, and we had to put together all the pieces with this special glue they
gave us.
put sth together Les saved some money by buying his new computer table in the form of a do-it-yourself kit and putting it together himself at home.
put together (2) ()
Meaning: to select several things and combine them to create something
Synonym: arrange
For example:
put together sth We put together a lineup that included jazz bands, rock bands, hip-hop artists, and even a little bit of country music.
put sth together How long did it take you to put your presentation together?
put up (1) ()
Meaning: to increase something, such as the price, cost or value of something
Synonym: raise
For example:
put up sth If we don't put up our prices, we won't be able to make a profit.
put sth up If they put the rent up, we'll have to move out and find another apartment.
Nouns often used as objects with put up (1): price, cost, rate, rent, salary, wages, interest rates
put up (2) ()
Meaning: to fix a notice or a picture onto an upright surface such as a wall or a noticeboard
Synonym: stick up (informal)
For example:
put up sth The office would look a lot nicer if we put up a few pictures.
put sth up If you're looking for part-time workers, why don't you put a notice up at the university? Students are always looking for part-time jobs.
Nouns often used as objects with put up (2): picture, painting, notice, poster, wall hanging
put up with ()
Meaning: If you put up with something, you accept it even though you don't like it.
Synonym: tolerate, stand
For example:
put up with sb/sth We've been putting up with these noisy neighbours for long enough. I'm going to complain to our landlord.
put up with sb/sth I'm going to buy an air conditioner. I can't put up with the heat any longer!

Q
quarrel with ()
Meaning: to disagree about something, or to believe something is untrue or incorrect
Synonym: argue with, disagree with
For example:
quarrel with sth Not many scientists quarrel with the idea of global warming these days.
quarrel with sb I really don't think anyone can quarrel with me on that point.

queue up ()
Meaning: If you queue up, you join a line of people waiting for their turn to do something.
Synonym: line up
For example:
queue up When we went to the bank we had to queue up at the counter.
queue up for sth Don't you hate it when you've been queuing up for a ticket, and they run out just before you get to the counter?
Nouns often used as indirect objects with queue up: for a ticket, pass, token, coupon, taxi; in a bank, post-office, supermarket; at a counter, ticket
window, box-office
quieten down ()
Meaning: If someone quietens down, they become calmer and less excited.
Synonym: calm down, settle down
For example:
quieten down The kids usually quieten down after lunch, and sometimes they even go to sleep.
quieten sth/sb down I wish my neighbour would quieten his dog down. It barks for hours.
Note: "Quiet down" is preferred usage in American English.

R
rake in ()Informal
Meaning: to make a lot of money
For example:
rake in sth They must have been raking in millions since their song went to number one.
rake sth in My company has been raking the money in, so I should get a really big bonus this year.
rally round ()Informal

Meaning: If people rally round someone in need, they all do what they can to help the person.
For example:
rally round After her accident, Alena's friends rallied round and helped her out by bringing food and cleaning her apartment.
rally round sb/sth The whole town rallied round the Freemont family when they heard that their boy had cancer.
Note: also "rally around"
reach out ()
Meaning: to extend your arm in order to touch or take something with your hand
For example:
reach out Ronaldo reached out to shake hands with his fans, and then drove off.
reach out If you extend your finger in front of a baby, the baby will reach out and grasp it.
reach out to (1) ()
Meaning: to offer help to someone in need
For example:
reach out to sb For a long time charities have been reaching out to poor families in our community.
reach out to sb The program is designed to reach out to old people who don't normally have much contact with others.
reach out to (2) ()
Meaning: to ask someone for help when you have a problem
For example:
reach out to sb If Frank had reached out to his family, they could have helped him deal with his addiction.
reach out to sb Many people find it very difficult to reach out to others when they need help or support.
read into ()
Meaning: to believe you've found more meaning in what someone says or does than others have found
For example:
read sth into sth You're reading too much into what he said. I don't think he meant to insult you.
be read into sth A lot can be read into what someone says, but it doesn't mean that it's all true.
read out ()
Meaning: if you read something out, you read it aloud so everyone can hear it.
For example:
read out sth The prisoners listened as the warder read out their names and numbers.
read sth out Mario was proud when his teacher asked him to read out his poem so everyone could hear it.
Nouns often used as objects with read out: names, scores, results, verdict, statement
read up on ()
Meaning: If you read up on something, you read books about it, or find articles and information on the internet about it.
For example:
read up on Did you read up on the history of Angkor Wat before going to see it?
read up on Before doing business in China, I'm going to read up on Chinese customs and on the local business scene.
refer to (1) ()
Meaning: to look at something like a book, a map, or a website, in order to get information about something
For example:
refer to sb/sth She had to refer to her notes quite often because she hadn't memorized the speech.
refer to sb/sth You can refer to books or other information sources in your essay, but you must cite each reference you have used.
Nouns often used as objects with refer to (1): notes, book, journal, article, source, map, website, dictionary
refer to (2) ()
Meaning: to direct someone to a place or a person for information, help or treatment
For example:
refer sb to sb/sth After checking the results, my doctor referred me to a heart specialist for further tests.
refer sb to sb/sth I can't take your case myself, but I can refer you to another lawyer who's an expert in this area of law.
reflect on ()
Meaning: to think deeply about something
Synonym: contemplate, ponder, think about
For example:
reflect on sth After her divorce, Pamela reflected on the relationships she'd had and on why they hadn't lasted very long.
reflect on sth Every New Year's Day, Angelo reflects on what he's achieved in the previous year.
rely on ()
Meaning: If you rely on something, you need it in order to do something.
Synonym: depend on
For example:
rely on sb/sth Hideki's English is very good now and he no longer has to rely on an interpreter.
rely on sb/sth to do sth Most charities rely on people to give donations in order to do their work.
remind of ()
Meaning: If something reminds you of something else, it makes you think of it.
For example:
remind sb of sth/sb The smell of eucalyptus reminds me of holidays I had in the Australian bush when I was a kid.
be reminded of sth Whenever she hears birds singing, Jill says she's reminded of the beauty of nature.
resign yourself to ()
Meaning: If you resign yourself to something, you accept that it's true and that there's nothing you can do to change it.
For example:

resign yourself to sth Margaret has resigned herself to the fact that her company won't survive, and she's started looking for a job.
resign yourself to sth I admitted that my dream of being a famous movie star would never come true, and I resigned myself to a life in the suburbs with
everyone else.
resort to ()
Meaning: to do something you'd rather not do only because better options or solutions are not possible
Synonym: turn to
For example:
resort to Unless he resorts to dirty tricks like spreading false rumours about his opponents, the mayor will lose the next election.
resort to After I lost my job, I had to resort to looking for casual day labour.
result in ()
Meaning: to lead to a certain outcome or to produce something
Synonym: lead to, cause
For example:
result in The new advertisement is really effective. It's resulted in a big increase in sales.
result in Do you think the government's plan will result in a stronger economy?
return to ()
Meaning: to go back to
For example:
return to sth Life was good before the war, and it slowly returned to normal after it was over.
return to sth All Kathy wanted was for things to return to how they were before Brad went away.
revert to ()
Meaning: to go back to a previous way of behaving, or an old way of doing things
For example:
revert to sth After trying out a new production technique, the factory reverted to its old method after there were problems with the new one.
revert to sth Bill reverted to his old drinking habits after his divorce, and soon he was having problems at work again.
ring back ()
Meaning: to return a telephone call or to call again later
Synonym: call back
For example:
ring sb back I'll ask Mr. Smith to ring you back when he's free.
ring sb back He said he'd ring me back in ten minutes.
ring up ()
Meaning: to call someone on a telephone
Synonym: call, phone, ring
For example:
ring sb up Please don't ring me up before ten o'clock in the morning.
ring up sb Did you ring up the restaurant and book a table?
rip off ()Informal
Meaning: to cheat somebody by charging them too much for something
Synonym: cheat, fleece
For example:
rip sb off Some phone companies rip their customers off by charging them for more calls than they really make.
be ripped off by sb/sth If you think you've been ripped off by a company or a manufacturer, you can go to the Consumer Protection Board.
roll out ()
Meaning: to introduce a new line of products or services
Synonym: launch, release
For example:
roll out sth When will Apple be rolling out their new line of computers?
roll sth out Honda's latest models will be rolled out at next year's motor show.
roll over ()
Meaning: to change position when you're lying down so that you're on your back if you were face down, or face down if you were on your back
Synonym: turn over
For example:
roll over After he'd massaged my back, the masseur told me to roll over so he could massage my chest.
roll sb over The ambulance officer rolled the accident victim over and tried to resuscitate him.
roll up ()
Meaning: If you roll up a piece of paper, you fold or roll it in such a way that it becomes a cylinder or a ball.
For example:
roll sth up You roll up the poster and put it into a mailing tube, and then you send it.
roll up sth The magician took a piece of cloth and rolled it up into a ball and held it in his fist, but when he opened his hand it was gone!
root out ()
Meaning: to uncover and punish criminals, especially those abusing positions of trust or authority
Synonym: get rid of, eradicate
For example:
root out sb The president has promised to root out corrupt politicians and send them to jail.
root sb out The bank's investigation team targeted several workers suspected of stealing money, and it succeeded in rooting them out.
rope in () Informal

Meaning: If somebody ropes you in, they persuade you to do something you don't really want to do.
For example:
rope in sb We're having a charity fun run, so I'm trying to rope in as many of my friends as I can.
rope sb in Our manager got nearly everybody to say they'd perform in the Christmas talent show. I can't believe he roped so many of us in.
rough up () Informal
Meaning: to physically attack someone, usually to intimidate or make them afraid rather than to seriously hurt them
For example:
rough up sb Prison guards often rough up new inmates to show them who's boss.
rough sb up If kids at your new school try to rough you up, tell me about it.
round down ()
Meaning: If you round a number or an amount down to a certain level such as a whole number or the nearest dollar, you bring it down to that level.
For example:
round sth down Can we round the amounts down to the nearest dollar, so that $16.25, for example, is changed to $16.00?
round down sth Are you sure she remembered to round down all the numbers?
round up
Meaning: If you round a number or an amount up to a certain level such as a whole number or the nearest dollar, you bring it up to that level.
For example:
round up sth If the amount is $39.95, round it up to $40.00
round sth up If it's over the 50-cent mark, you can round the amount up to the nearest dollar.
rub off ()
Meaning: If a quality someone has rubs off on other people, they start to show that quality as well.
For example:
rub off If Simon's enthusiasm rubs off on the other workers, they'll all start working harder.
rub off Alan's excitement rubbed off on the other kids, and soon they were all running around shouting.
rub out (1) ()
Meaning: to erase something that's been written or drawn
Synonym: erase
For example:
rub out sth If you make a mistake on your test paper, rub out the bit that's wrong and write it again.
rub sth out When the teacher saw what someone had drawn on the blackboard, she quickly grabbed her duster and rubbed it out.
rub out (2) () Informal
Meaning: to kill somebody
Synonym: bump off (informal), take out (informal), do in (informal), murder
For example:
rub out sb The mafia will rub out anyone who talks to the police.
rub sb out Drug dealers rubbed him out because he'd cheated them.
rule out ()
Meaning: If you rule something out, you don't think it's possible.
For example:
rule out sb/sth Sally will probably win, but don't rule out Carol. She's got a good chance too.
rule sb/sth out We thought she might have cancer, but after seeing the latest test results, I think we can rule that out.
run across ()
Meaning: to meet somebody by chance, or to find something by chance
Synonym: come across
For example:
run across sth/sb Did you run across any old friends at the concert?
run across sth/sb While I was cleaning out a cupboard I came ran across some tapes I'd made with my band about twenty years ago.
run after ()
Meaning: If you run after someone, you chase them and try to catch up with them by running.
Synonym: chase, pursue (formal)
For example:
run after sth/sb I wish my dog wouldn't run after cars. He nearly got hit by one today.
run after sth/sb After the thief grabbed my wife's handbag, I ran after him but he got away. He was really fast.
run against ()
Meaning: to compete with someone in an election
For example:
run against sb John McCain ran against Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, and he lost.
run against sb There's no point running against the president of this country. The elections are not free and fair and the same man always wins.
run away (1) ()
Meaning: If you run away from something or someone, you run as fast as you can to escape.
Synonym: make off, run off
For example:
run away As soon as he heard the sound of the police car coming, Benny ran away so that the cops wouldn't catch him.
run away While I was coming home a dog growled and barked at me, but it ran away after I yelled at it.
run away (2) ()
Meaning: If children or teenagers run away, they leave home without telling their parents or guardians.
For example:

run away When he was a kid, Pedro got angry with his parents and ran away from home.
run away Many young people run away because they're being sexually abused by a family member.
run away from ()
Meaning: to try to avoid problems or difficult situations
For example:
run away from sth Instead of running away from difficult situations, you should try to deal with them.
run away from sth Sandra won't face her problems. She just tries to run away from them.
Nouns often used as objects with run away from: problems, difficulties, responsibilities, obligations, conflicts
run by ()
Meaning: If you run your ideas or your thoughts by someone, you ask them what they think of them.
For example:
run sth by sb After you've thought about it, run your ideas by me and I'll let you know how they sound.
run sth by sb Run that by me again, could you? I didn't hear you the first time.
run down (1) ()
Meaning: to hit somebody with a vehicle such as car or a truck
Synonym: run over, knock down
For example:
run down An old man was crossing the road when he was run down by a guy on a motorbike.
run sb down When the drug dealer realised the buyer was really a cop, he jumped back into his car and tried to run him down.
run down (2) ()
Meaning: If you run somebody down, you criticize them and tell them they're no good.
Synonym: criticize, put down
For example:
run sb down If the manager is angry about something, he runs everyone in the office down. No matter what they do, he criticizes them.
run sb down Just ignore Jenny. She runs everyone down like that when she's in a bad mood.
run into (1) ()
Meaning: If you run into someone, you meet them by chance, or without expecting to.
Synonym: run across, come across, bump into (informal)
For example:
run into sb I ran into an old friend at the mall yesterday and we had a quick chat.
run into sb When Frank runs into his ex-wife at the supermarket, he asks her how she is.
run into (2) ()
Meaning: If you run into something, you accidentally hit it while you are driving.
For example:
run into sth I was teaching my daughter how to drive when she ran into the back of the car in front of us.
run into sth Look at this dent. It's where that truck ran into the side of my car.
run off with ()
Meaning: If you run off with somebody, you leave home secretly in order to be with them.
For example:
run off with sb Anna ran off with her sweetheart Lucas after their parents had tried to stop them from seeing each other.
run off with sb Can you believe it? Stan has run off with his secretary and they're living in Hawaii.
run on (1) ()
Meaning: to use a particular type of fuel or a particular power source
For example:
run on sth Why did it take so long for the big car companies to develop and market cars that run on electricity instead of fossil fuels?
run on sth My new mobile phone runs on a battery that lasts for a month before it needs recharging.
Nouns often used as objects with run on (1): oil, petrol, gasoline, gas, electricity, battery, solar power, nuclear power
run on (2) ()
Meaning: to continue for longer than expected
Synonym: go on
For example:
run on The new stadium is scheduled to be finished next June, but it looks like it could run on a bit longer.
run on The lecture is usually over by four o'clock, but sometimes it runs on for five or ten minutes.
run out (of) (quedarse sin)
Meaning: If you run out of something, you don't have any left and you need some more.
For example:
run out Could you get some milk when you go to the shop? We've nearly run out.
run out of sth I can't print the report tonight because I've run out of paper.
Nouns often used as objects with run out (of): milk, sugar, petrol, money, paper
run out on ()
Meaning: to suddenly leave the person you're in a relationship with
Synonym: walk out on, leave
For example:
run out on sb After running out on her husband, Heather went to live in Bali with a younger man.
run out on sb Just before my mother gave birth to my little sister, my father ran out on us.
run over ()
Meaning: If you run over something or someone, you hit them or go over them while driving your car.

Synonym: knock down

For example:
be run over by sth/sb I was nearly run over by a truck today. If Dave hadn't pulled me back, I could have been killed.
run over sth/sb Tanya was upset this morning because she ran over a cat on her way to work.
run through ()
Meaning: to quickly read something like a list or a speech in order to check the details or look for mistakes
Synonym: run over, go over, go through, rehearse
For example:
run through sth Run through the list and see if you can find anyone called Xavier on it.
run through sth with sb After I've written the speech, would you mind running through it with me and letting me know if you spot any problems.
Nouns often used as objects with run through: report, speech, list, presentation, script, schedule, itinerary
run to ()
Meaning: to ask someone to help or protect you when you should be able to look after yourself
For example:
run to sb You're in your thirties, so you shouldn't still have to run to your parents for help when things go wrong.
run to sb He's such a baby. He goes running to a teacher whenever the other kids tease him.
run up ()
Meaning: If you run up a bill or a debt, you get goods or services on the understanding that you'll pay for them later.
For example:
run up sth How did they run up such a huge bill at the restaurant? Did they buy the place?
run sth up She ran all these debts up while travelling in Europe, and now it'll take her years to pay them off.
run up against ()
Meaning: to face something that could be a problem or a difficulty
Synonym: come up against, encounter (formal)
For example:
run up against sth We've run up against some technical problems so there'll be a delay in production.
run up against sth If they hadn't run up against opposition from corrupt government officials, they would have won the contract.
Nouns often used as objects with run up against: difficulty, opposition, obstacle, problem, barrier, competition, challenge
rush into ()
Meaning: to do something quickly and without thinking about it carefully first
For example:
rush into sth If you're investing your savings, don't rush into anything. Get advice from a professional money manager.
rush into sth My first marraige failed because we were very young and we rushed into it without really thinking about what we were doing.
rush off ()
Meaning: to leave soon after arriving or to leave suddenly
Synonym: dash off, shoot off (informal)
For example:
rush off As soon as he answered the phone, he rushed off. His wife was having their baby.
rush off Sorry I have to rush off so soon, but I've got a meeting at 4 o'clock.

S
save up ()
Meaning: to put something aside for the future
For example:
save up for sth My daughter is saving up for a new mobile phone. She's already got fifty dollars.
save up sth Mike is saving up his days off so he can take an extra week's vacation at Christmas.
screw up ()

Meaning: If you screw something up, you ruin it or you do it the wrong way.
Synonym: muck up (informal), mess up, ruin
For example:
screw up Louise really screwed up this time. We paid a lot for a fancy brochure about our seminar - and she put the wrong dates on it!
screw sth up If she screws anything else up, she'll lose her job.
Nouns often used as objects with screw up: job, exam, test, interview, presentation, demonstration
seal off ()
Meaning: to stop people from going into an area or a building, often because it isn't safe
Synonym: close off
For example:
seal off sth After the explosion, the police sealed off the whole area.
seal sth off The president's security team sealed the hotel off during his visit.
see about ()
Meaning: If you see about something, you make an effort to arrange it or organise it.
For example:
see about sth When are you going to see about that job?
see about doing sth Mark's going to see about getting a loan for his new business.
see off ()
Meaning: If you see somebody off, you go to the place from where they're beginning a journey, like an airport or a railway station, and wish them well as
they leave.
For example:
see sb off Ruth's family went to see her off at the airport.
see off sb The fans are going to the station to see off all the members of the basketball team.
see out (1) ()
Meaning: If you see someone out, you accompany them out of a room or a building when they're leaving.
Synonym: show out
For example:
see sb out Thank you for coming. My assistant will see you out.
see sb out Thanks, but you don't need to see me out. I can find my own way.
see out (2) ()
Meaning: to continue until the end of a particular period of time or until the end of a contract or an activity
For example:
see out sth After seeing out the month in this job, I'm going to quit and start a new course on teaching English.
see sth out We'll see out the current contract, and then find a new supplier.
see through (1) ()
Meaning: If you see through something or someone, you realize that you are being deceived or tricked, and you aren't fooled.
For example:
see through sb/sth I got an email from someone claiming they had millions of dollars and needed my help to get it into the country. I saw through the
scam and deleted it.
see through sb/sth My friends told me I'd won the lottery, but I saw through their little joke straight away and laughed.
see through (2) ()
Meaning: If you see something through, you continue with it right to the end.
For example:
see sth through It was a really tough course, but I was determined to see it through. I wasn't going to give up half way.
see sth through I know it isn't easy, but if you can see it through to the end, it'll be worth it.
see to ()
Meaning: If you see to something, you take responsibility for it and make sure it's done.
For example:
see to sth The police chief promised he'd see to it that whoever was behind the attacks would be caught and punished.
have sth seen to That's a nasty cut. You'd better go to the hospital and have it seen to.
sell off ()
Meaning: to sell assets or belongings, often for a low price because you need money quickly
Synonym: close out (American)
For example:
sell off sth The company had huge debts, and it had to sell off most of its assets to pay them.
sell sth off Bill had a big share portfolio, but he had to sell most of them off after his company went bankrupt.
Nouns often used as objects with sell off: assets, property, belongings, shares, stocks, jewellery, collection
sell out ()
Meaning: to sell all the stock of something, and have none left
For example:
sell out If you sell out before the next delivery date, you should order more stock next time.
sell out of something The shop near our apartment had sold out of milk, so we had to drink black coffee.
send back ()
Meaning: If you send back something that's been delivered to you, you return it because there's a problem with it.
Synonym: return
For example:
send sth back The jacket I ordered arrived in the mail, but it was the wrong colour so I sent it back.

send back sth How often do your customers send back things they've ordered?
send for ()
Meaning: to ask for someone to come to you, or to ask for something to be sent to you
Synonym: summon (formal)
For example:
send for sb/sth If someone gets hurt, send for an ambulance and a doctor straight away.
send for sb/sth After her car broke down, Lisa sent for a tow truck to come and take it to a garage.
Nouns often used as objects with send for: ambulance, doctor, mechanic, plumber, taxi, courier, tow truck
send off (1) ()
Meaning: If you send something off, you post it or send it by a courier service.
Synonym: post, mail, dispatch (formal)
For example:
send sth off If you send the orders off on Tuesday, they should arrive on Friday.
send off sth My son sent off his university application forms today.
Nouns often used as objects with send off (1): letter, parcel, package, order, application form
send off (2) ()
Meaning: If a referee or an umpire sends off a player, the player has to leave the field or court because they've done something wrong.
For example:
send sb off The referee showed the player a red card and sent him off because he brought down an attacker with an illegal tackle.
send off sb This umpire has a reputation for sending off players, so make sure you don't commit any really bad fouls.
set about ()
Meaning: to begin doing something that will probably take a lot of effort or a long time
Synonym: begin, start
For example:
set about sth Before he set about the task of finding a new job, Trevor bought a new suit and had a haircut.
set about doing sth Next year we'll set about finding new markets overseas for our products.
set aside ()
Meaning: to keep a portion of something for use in the future
Synonym: put aside, reserve
For example:
set sth aside If I set fifty dollars aside every week, by the end of the year I'll have enough to pay for a trip to Europe.
set aside sth After you've picked the strawberries, set aside any that are damaged and I'll use them to make jam.
set back (1) ()
Meaning: to make something happen more slowly, or at a later time, than it would have
Synonym: delay
For example:
set back sth A change of government would set back the process of health reform.
set sth back He's had another small stroke, and this will set his recovery back a bit, I'm afraid.
be set back by sth The building's completion date was set back a few weeks by the floods.
set back (2) ()Informal
Meaning: If something has set you back fifty dollars, it has cost you fifty dollars.
Synonym: cost
For example:
set sb back His new TV must have set him back at least $2,000.
set sb back How much would a ticket to The Bahamas set me back?
set down ()
Meaning: If you set something down, you put it in writing.
Synonym: write down, put down
For example:
set down sth Nick carries a notebook around so that he can set down any thoughts he has as soon as he has them.
set sth down My secretary will set the details down in an official company memo.
set off (1) ()
Meaning: to begin a journey
Synonym: set out, leave, set forth (formal)
For example:
set off If they set off at ten o'clock, they should arrive by midday.
be setting off What time will you be setting off in the morning?
set off (2) ()
Meaning: to make something explode or blow up
Synonym: let off, detonate, explode
For example:
set off sth Suddenly there was a flash of light and a huge explosion. Someone had set off a bomb.
set sth off The Chinese New Year celebrations were really noisy because thousands of people were setting fireworks off.
Nouns often used as objects with set off (2): bomb, explosives, explosion, grenades, fireworks, fire crackers
set out (1) ()
Meaning: to begin doing something with a definite objective or aim in mind
For example:

set out They set out with the aim of becoming one of the most popular bands in the world.
set out (to do sth) A team of scientists has set out to discover a way of predicting earthquakes, but they haven't succeeded as yet.
set out (2) ()
Meaning: to begin a journey
Synonym: set off, leave
For example:
set out After months of planning, Terry and Jo set out on their trip around the world.
set out They'd spent a couple of days resting, and it was time to set out on the next stage of the journey.
set out (3) ()
Meaning: to explain the details of something, especially in writing
Synonym: put forward, detail, set forth (formal)
For example:
set out sth A contract should clearly set out the responsibilities of each party.
set sth out The terms of service section on the website sets the conditions out for getting a refund.
Nouns often used as objects with set out (3): aims, objectives, plans, strategy, criteria, terms, conditions, proposals, agenda
set up (1) ()
Meaning: to start a company, a foundation, or an organization of some sort
Synonym: start up, establish (formal)
For example:
set up sth A lot of wealthy people set up charities and foundations to help people who are poor or have serious illnesses.
set sth up To set a business up, you need an idea and you need money from investors.
Nouns often used as objects with set up (1): company, business, foundation, organization, network, fund, committee, political party
set up (2) ()
Meaning: to put together or arrange the parts of something before using it
For example:
set up sth Before the concert, the PA system had to be set up and the band had to set up their equipment.
set sth up If you set the barbecue up, I'll go and get the drinks and the salad.
Nouns often used as objects with set up (2): stage, camera, equipment, studio, drum kit, PA system, tent, portable barbecue, deck chairs, volleyball net
set up (3) ()
Meaning: to make the necessary arrangements for an event or activity
Synonym: organize, arrange
For example:
set up sth We've set up a meeting with some of our biggest clients.
set sth up The government agrees that a public enquiry is needed and they promised to set one up within the next few days.
settle down (1) ()
Meaning: to become calm and quiet, especially after being excited or noisy
Synonym: calm down, quieten down
For example:
settle down Whenever the kids got too noisy, their teacher would tell them to settle down and get on with their work.
settle sb down If my dog gets excited and starts barking, I go out and cuddle her and I can usually settle her down.
settle down (2) ()
Meaning: to start living a conventional life with a steady job and a stable partner, especially after getting married
For example:
settle down Eventually I'd like to settle down, but before that I'd like to see the world.
settle down Do you think he'll ever settle down and raise a family?
settle for ()
Meaning: to accept something, even though it isn't what you really want
For example:
settle for sth If you want to be happy in life, don't settle for a job just because it's easy or it pays good money.
settle for sth Keep looking until you find what it is that you really love to do, and don't ever settle for anything less.
settle in ()
Meaning: to begin to feel comfortable in a new situation, such as a new home, a new job, or a new school
For example:
settle in How's your new job? Are you settling in okay?
settle in It always takes time when you move to a new city, but I'm sure you'll settle in just fine.
shake off ()
Meaning: to get rid of something that's causing you problems, such as a sickness, a fear, a bad image, a bad reputation, etc.
Synonym: throw off, get rid of
For example:
shake sth off I've had this cold for nearly two weeks and I just can't shake it off.
shake off sth James wants to shake off the image he has of being a bully and a tough guy.
shake up (1) ()
Meaning: to make big changes to an organisation and the way it's run, usually to improve it
Synonym: transform
For example:
shake up sth The owners hired a new manager to shake up the company because it had been getting too settled in its ways.
shake sth up The team hadn't been playing well, so a new coach was brought in to shake things up a bit.

shake up (2) ()
Meaning: to upset or shock someone
Synonym: upset
For example:
shake up sb The results of the train crash were so horrific that they shook up even the most hardened police and ambulance officers.
shake sb up Everyone in the country was shocked by the news. It certainly shook me up.
be shaken up by sth Have you seen Mary? She looks like she was really shaken up by the accident.
shoot up ()Informal
Meaning: to quickly increase in size, number or level
Synonym: soar
For example:
shoot up Oil prices shot up by nearly forty percent when war was declared.
shoot up When news of the oil strike got out, the company's shares shot up in value.
shop around ()
Meaning: If you shop around, you go to several shops to find the lowest price for something you want.
For example:
shop around Once you've decided what sort of camera you want, shop around to find the best price.
shop around When I was young, I'd always shop around to get the best price, but these days I don't have time to shop around.
show off ()
Meaning: to do something to get attention or admiration, but in a way that annoys some people
For example:
show off She only bought that expensive phone to show off, you know. She can't even use it properly.
show off The main reason they formed the band was to show off in front of the girls at school.
Note: Usually used in a negative or critical way, to express dislike of the way someone is behaving.
show up ()Informal
Meaning: to arrive at an event or a place where people are gathering
Synonym: turn up, appear
For example:
show up I'm sure some of the people who showed up at our gallery opening were only there for the free drinks.
show up Kenny and his friends didn't show up at the party until after midnight.
Note: Often used in a negative way, to describe people who arrive somewhere late, arrive uninvited, or who arrive in poor condition, such as drunk or
poorly dressed.
shut down ()
Meaning: to close something like a factory, school or hospital, usually forever
Synonym: close down
For example:
shut sth down The government decided to shut the coal mine down after a terrible accident killed hundreds of miners.
shut down sth If we can't get enough money to keep it going, we'll have to shut down the school.
Nouns often used as objects with shut down: factory, business, school, hospital, mine
shut off ()
Meaning: If a machine, a system or a supply shuts off, or is shut off by someone, it stops.
Synonym: turn off
For example:
shut off Our gas has been shut off because we didn't pay the bill on time.
shut sth off The engine will shut itself off if starts to overheat.
shut out (1) ()
Meaning: to stop someone or something from entering a room or a building
Synonym: lock out
For example:
shut out sb Kyle put a lock on his bedroom door to shut out his parents.
shut sb out of sth Mandy was so angry with her boyfriend that she shut him out of the house.
shut out (2) ()
Meaning: to stop yourself thinking about or feeling something that upsets you or hurts you
Synonym: block out, suppress
For example:
shut out sth She still finds it difficult to shut out the memory of her grandmother's illness.
shut sth out The thought of losing her is unbearable, and no matter how hard I try, I just can't shut it out.
shut up ()Informal
Meaning: to stop talking or stop making noise
Synonym: be quiet
For example:
shut up My wife always talks when I'm trying to watch TV. I wish she'd shut up!
shut sb/sth up It's impossible to shut my uncle up, especially if he's had a few drinks. He talks non-stop!
Note: Can be offensive, especially if used in the imperative form, as in "Shut up, will you!"
sign in ()
Meaning: to sign a register when you visit a place, or to log in when you visit a website
For example:
sign in Don't forget to sign in when you get to the office in the morning.
sign in If you want to upload a picture to your EnglishClub page, you'll have to sign in first.

sign up ()
Meaning: If you sign up to something like a website or a gym, you become a member.
Synonym: join
For example:
sign up EnglishClub.com already has thousands of members, and hundreds more sign up every month.
sign up sb If you'd like to sign up for our fitness program, fill out this application form.
sit back ()
Meaning: to do nothing instead of making an effort to get what you want
For example:
sit back If you want to make friends, you have to make an effort. You can't just sit back and wait for people to call you.
sit back No wonder Joe is still unemployed. He thinks he can sit back and wait for jobs to come to him.
sit down ()
Meaning: to lower yourself into a sitting position on a seat or on the ground
Synonym: be seated
For example:
sit down Please come in and sit down.
sit down If you see a pregnant woman get on a bus or a train, stand up and offer her your seat so that she can sit down.
sit in for ()
Meaning: to take someone's place when they are absent
Synonym: stand in for
For example:
sit in for sb The manager has attended most of the negotiations, but his assistant sat in for him a couple of times.
sit in for sb I can't make it to today's meeting, so would you mind sitting in for me?
sit in on ()
Meaning: If you sit in on something like a meeting or a class, you attend to see what happens, without joining in.
For example:
sit in on sth Some trainee teachers will sit in on our class today and watch what we do.
sit in on sth Two people from Amnesty International will be sitting in on the trial.
Nouns often used as objects with sit in on: meeting, talks, negotiations, trial, class, lesson, session
sit through ()
Meaning: If you sit through something like a long speech or a boring show, you wait until it's over before leaving, even though you're not enjoying it.
For example:
sit through sth We had to sit through another of the chairman's dull speeches before the awards were announced.
sit through sth If I hadn't been there with friends there's no way I would have sat through that movie. It was terrible!
sit up (1) ()
Meaning: If you sit up, you get up into a sitting position after you've been lying down.
For example:
sit up I couldn't sleep, so I sat up and read for a while.
sit up After being woken by the alarm, Monica sat up and felt in the dark for the light switch.
sit up (2) ()
Meaning: to not go to bed until later than usual
Synonym: stay up
For example:
sit up The first time my wife and I met, it was at a party, and we sat up most of the night talking.
sit up I sat up half the night waiting for my daughter to come home.
size up ()
Meaning: to observe carefully and then form an opinion about a person or a situation
Synonym: assess, appraise (formal)
For example:
size sb/sth up We were sizing you up from the moment you walked in for your job interview.
size up sb/sth The boxers spent most of the first round sizing up each other.
sleep together () Informal
Meaning: to have sex together
Synonym: make love, have sex
For example:
sleep together Ben and Lydia are spending a lot of time together. Do you think they're sleeping together?
sleep together My wife remembers the first time we slept together, but I don't. She says I'd been drinking, which might explain it.
Note: Often used as a euphemism, meaning it's often used instead of a more direct expression, such as "have sex".
sleep with ()Informal
Meaning: to have sex with someone
Synonym: make love with, have sex with
For example:
sleep with sb Henry was shocked when he found out that his wife was sleeping with their gardener.
sleep with sb Do you think he's ever slept with anyone, or do you think he's still a virgin?
Note: Euphemism, "have sex with".
slip up ()Informal
Meaning: to make a small mistake, usually because of carelessness

For example:
slip up I'm usually pretty reliable, but sometimes I slip up, like everybody.
slip up If our goalkeeper hadn't slipped up, we would have won the match.
slow down ()
Meaning: to become slower, or to make someone or something go slower
Synonym: slow up
For example:
slow down You're walking too fast. Could you slow down a bit?
slow down sth/sb The poor economy will slow down our growth rate this year.
slow sth/sb down These heavy loads are slowing the donkeys down, you know.
smell of ()
Meaning: to have a particular smell
For example:
smell of sth Steve says that his clothes always smell of cigarettes after a night at the pub.
smell of sth His girlfriend was suspicious when he came home smelling of perfume.
Note: For a very strong smell, we can say "reek of", or for a very bad smell, we can say "stink of".
snap up ()
Meaning: to get something quickly so you don't miss out
For example:
be snapped up The tickets went on sale at 9 o'clock, and by 10 o'clock they'd all been snapped up.
snap up sth The government bonds were paying an interest rate of 8 percent, so people were snapping up as many as they could get.
snap sth up Lots of magazines would snap the photos up if they had the chance to buy them from the photographer.
sober up ()
Meaning: to become sober again after drinking too much alcohol
For example:
sober up It took her a few hours to sober up. She was very drunk.
sober sb up Do you think a cold shower might help to sober him up?
sort out (1) ()
Meaning: If you sort things out, you arrange them into some sort of order.
For example:
sort out There's all this stuff in the warehouse that needs sorting out.
sort sth out I've got all these bills and I'm sorting them out so I know which ones are due now and which ones can wait.
sort out sth Have you sorted out last month's receipts yet?
sort out (2) ()
Meaning: If you sort something out, you make arrangements for it or you organize it.
Synonym: arrange, organize
For example:
sort out sth Jenny's sorting out the venue for the party and her sister's sorting out the guest list and the catering.
sort sth out Let me know when you want to hold the meeting, and I'll sort everything out.
speak out ()
Meaning: If you speak out, you publicly state your position on an issue, or publicly oppose or defend someone or something.
Synonym: speak up
For example:
speak out He was arrested after he spoke out against the military government.
speak out The former Vice President has spoken out in defence of his policies on torturing political prisoners.
speak up (1) ()
Meaning: to speak louder
For example:
speak up I'm sorry, but I can't hear you. Would you mind speaking up a bit, please?
speak up If you can't hear her, just ask her to speak up a little.
speak up (2) ()
Meaning: If you speak up, you publicly state your position on an issue, or publicly oppose or defend someone or something.
Synonym: speak out
For example:
speak up He was arrested after he spoke up against the military government.
speak up The former Vice President has spoken up in defence of his policies on torturing political prisoners.
speed up ()
Meaning: to move faster, or to increase the speed of something
Synonym: accelerate
For example:
speed up When the lights turn amber, you should slow down, not speed up.
speed sth up Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines speed the heart up, and they can even cause a heart attack.
speed up sth If we don't speed up construction, we'll miss the completion date.
spell out ()
Meaning: If you spell something out, you explain it slowly and very clearly so that everyone can understand.
For example:
spell out sth The government needs to spell out its policies so that everyone can understand what it's doing.
spell sth out Every time I need them to do something, I have to really spell it out or they'll do it wrong.

spread out ()
Meaning: If a group of people spread out, they move apart so that there's more space between them.
Synonym: fan out
For example:
spread out The searchers spread out and began looking for clues in the grass on the hillside.
spread out If the dancers spread out more, they wouldn't bump into each other so much.
stamp out ()
Meaning: to stop something bad or harmful by taking strong action against it
Synonym: eradicate (formal)
For example:
stamp out sth The government is trying to stamp out police corruption.
stamp sth out Universities want to stamp out cheating in exams, but students are very cunning.
Nouns often used as objects with stamp out: crime, corruption, fraud, racism, sexism, cheating, bad behaviour, hate crimes
stand by (1) ()
Meaning: If you're standing by, you're ready to do something or help somebody.
For example:
stand by The airport's rescue team stands by around the clock in case there is a fire or a plane crash.
stand by A doctor is always standing by at the boxing stadium in case one of the fighters needs medical attention.
stand by (2) ()
Meaning: If you stand by someone, you support them or help them if they're in some sort of trouble.
Synonym: stick by (informal), support
For example:
stand by sb Mothers will usually stand by their children if they're accused of doing something wrong.
stand by sb Even though her husband had been charged with murder, Cindy stood by him throughout the trial.
stand by (3) ()
Meaning: to do nothing to stop something wrong or something bad from happening
For example:
stand by We can't stand by while millions of people are dying of starvation and disease.
stand by The world just stood by while thousands of people were murdered by their own government's soldiers.
stand down ()
Meaning: to resign or retire from a job or a position
Synonym: resign, step down
For example:
stand down The CEO decided to stand down when he turned seventy so that a younger person could take over.
stand down Many people were demanding that the Minister of Defence stand down after he admitted some prisoners had been tortured.
stand for (1) ()
Meaning: If letters or symbols stand for something, they represent that thing.
For example:
stand for sth The letters "MBA" stand for Master of Business Administration.
stand for sth Do you know what the letters "BA" stand for?
stand for (2) ()
Meaning: If a person or an organisation stands for certain ideals or principles, they believe in and support those ideals or principles.
Synonym: represent
For example:
stand for sth If you started a political party, what values and principles would it stand for?
stand for sth The Democratic People's Party say they stand for social justice and civil rights.
stand for (3) ()
Meaning: If you won't stand for something, you won't accept it or allow it to happen.
Synonym: put up with, tolerate (formal)
For example:
not stand for sth Cheating in exams was the one thing that my teacher wouldn't stand for.
not stand for sth Our boss won't stand for dishonesty, and she says she'll sack anyone who isn't totally honest.
Note: Always used in negative constructions, such as "won't stand for", "not going to stand for" or "would never stand for".
stand out ()
Meaning: If somebody stands out, they are easy to see because there is something unusual about the way they look or the way they behave.
Synonym: stick out (informal)
For example:
stand out One of my sons says he likes people to notice him, and his green hair certainly makes him stand out in a crowd.
stand out Most packaging is designed to stand out on the shelf and be easy to notice in a shop.
stand up ()
Meaning: to get to your feet from a lying or sitting position
Synonym: get up
For example:
stand up When we were at school, we had to stand up when a teacher came into the room.
stand up After he fell over, Karl stood up and brushed the dust off his trousers.
stand up for ()
Meaning: to defend an idea or a person against criticism or attack

Synonym: stick up for, defend

For example:
stand up for During the anti-war protests we all stood up for what we believed in, even if it meant being arrested by the police.
stand up for My son wants to learn karate so he can stand up for himself if he's being bullied.
start off ()
Meaning: to begin in a particular way or with a particular act
Synonym: begin
For example:
start off The chairman stood up and said, "I'd like to start off by welcoming our guests."
start sth off with sth They always start their meetings off with a prayer.
start out ()
Meaning: to begin a life or a career in a particular way
For example:
start out He started out as a teacher, but now he runs a business selling educational games.
start out Painting started out as a hobby, but now it's her full-time profession.
start up ()
Meaning: to create and run an organization such as a business, a club, a band, etc.
Synonym: set up, establish (formal)
For example:
start up sth After I finished university, I started up my own small business.
start sth up You had a chess club in your old school, so why don't you start one up in your new school as well?
Nouns often used as objects with start up: business, company, service, club, web site, organization, charity, project, band, school
stay away from ()
Meaning: If you stay away from something or someone, you don't go near the thing or the person.
Synonym: avoid
For example:
stay away from sth/sb If a dog barks at you, stay away from it.
stay away from sth/sb Parents were worried their children might catch the flu, so they told them to stay away from people who were coughing or
sneezing.
stay up ()
Meaning: If you stay up, you don't go to bed at the usual time.
For example:
stay up Jeff is sleepy today because he stayed up late last night looking at Web sites.
stay up I wonder how many of our students stayed up all night studying for the exam.
step down ()
Meaning: to resign from a job or a position
Synonym: stand down, resign
For example:
step down The team's manager was getting too old for the job, and he knew it was time to step down.
step down It's time I stepped down and let someone with fresh new ideas take over.
step up ()
Meaning: to increase the level or strength of something
Synonym: intensify, increase
For example:
step up sth The government stepped up security at railway stations after the terrorist attacks.
step sth up We need to step the pace up a bit if we're going to beat the deadline.
Nouns often used as objects with step up: security, campaign, efforts, pressure, pace, production, fight, struggle
stick at ()
Meaning: If you stick at something, you continue to do it even if it's difficult or it's taking a long time.
Synonym: keep at, persevere with
For example:
stick at sth Learning English isn't easy, but stick at it and one day you'll be speaking the language fluently.
stick at sth It took a long time for my business to succeed, but I stuck at it and eventually it did.
stick out (1) ()
Meaning: If something sticks out, it comes out beyond the edge or the end of something.
Synonym: poke out, protrude (formal)
For example:
stick out I knew he had a gun because it was sticking out of his pocket.
stick out If the front of your car hadn't been sticking out into traffic, the other car wouldn't have hit it.
stick out (2) ()
Meaning: to move part of your body out and away from the rest of your body
For example:
stick out sth Roosters usually stick out their chests and throw back their heads as they crow.
stick sth out If a Tibetan guy sticks his tongue out, he's greeting you in the traditional Tibetan way.
Nouns often used as objects with stick out (2): chest, arm, elbow, leg, foot, tongue, stomach, bottom
stick to (1) ()
Meaning: If you stick to something, you don't stop doing it or you don't stop trying to do it.
Synonym: keep to, maintain

For example:
stick to sth Don't give up. Stick to the diet and you'll definitely lose weight.
stick to sth You have to stick to something for a long time to become an expert at it.
stick to (2) ()
Meaning: If you stick to something like a political party, a sporting club, a job, or even a favorite food or colour, you don't change to another one.
Synonym: stick with
For example:
stick to sth In the past, football players would stick to one club, but these days they move from club to club.
stick to sth Whenever Joe comes to this restaurant, he sticks to the same thing. He never orders anything else.
stick up for ()Informal
Meaning: If you stick up for someone who's being criticized or attacked verbally, you defend or support them.
Synonym: stand up for, defend, support
For example:
stick up for sb Jimmy thinks he should have been there to stick up for his little brother when he was being teased.
stick up for sb You should stick up for yourself instead of letting the other kids make fun of you and laugh at you.
Note: similar in meaning to "stand up for"
stick with () Informal
Meaning: to continue with the same thing, instead of changing to something else
Synonym: stick to, stay with
For example:
stick with sth/sb He's decided to stick with the team he's playing for now, even though another team offered him a lot of money to play for them
instead.
stick with sth/sb Kenny has stuck with the same group of friends ever since high school.
stir up ()
Meaning: to cause trouble among people or to cause bad feelings to arise
Synonym: arouse, provoke
For example:
stir up sth The company says environmentalists are stirring up trouble by telling people the factory will pollute their river.
stir sth up You'll stir a lot of bad feeling up if you say their son died of a drug overdose. They want people to think it was a heart attack.
stop over ()
Meaning: to stop at a place and stay there for one or two days while on your way to somewhere else
Synonym: lay over (American)
For example:
stop over We're going to Vietnam on business, but we're stopping over in Hawaii for a couple of days on the way.
stop over I'm stopping over in Bangkok for one night on my way to Sydney.
storm out ()
Meaning: to leave a place quickly when you are angry or upset about something
For example:
storm out My girlfriend stormed out and slammed the door behind her.
storm out of sth Did you hear about Maureen storming out of the staff meeting when she didn't get what she wanted?
sum up (resumir)
Meaning: If you sum up something, you give a quick summary of it.
Synonym: summarize
For example:
sum up At the end of his lecture, Professor Essberger summed up by repeating some of his main points.
sum sth up After he'd summed his ideas up, the speaker said he could answer some questions.
sum up sth At the end of your essay, sum up your main argument.
Nouns often used as objects with sum up: lecture, talk, proposal, idea, essay, argument, viewpoint
switch off ()
Meaning: to turn something off with a switch
Synonym: turn off
For example:
switch off sth Who forgot to switch off the air-conditioning when they left for work this morning?
switch sth off Do you switch your computer off after you've finished using it for the day, or do you leave it on all night?
Nouns often used as objects with switch off: light, phone, computer, printer, television
switch on ()
Meaning: to turn something on with a switch
Synonym: turn on
For example:
switch on sth Whoever gets to the office first in the morning has to switch on the air-conditioning.
switch sth on If your printer doesn't work, the first thing to do is to make sure you've switched it on.
Nouns often used as objects with switch on: light, phone, computer, printer, television

T
tail off ()
Meaning: to gradually become less in amount or lower in level
Synonym: taper off, dwindle
For example:
tail off At first the book sold very well, but after a few months sales tailed off and now we only sell a few copies.
tail off We had many enquiries on the day the ad appeared, but they tailed off over the next few days.
take after ()
Meaning: If you take after an older member of your family, you look like them or you have a similar personality to them.

Synonym: resemble
For example:
take after sb Alan takes after his mum in personality, but he looks more like his dad.
take after sb Do you think Sandy takes after her father or her mother?
take apart ()
Meaning: If you take apart something, you separate it into the pieces it's made of.
Synonym: dismantle
For example:
take sth apart I took my bicycle apart so that I could clean each part.
take apart sth Mike took apart the engine, but he couldn't put it back together again.
Nouns often used as objects with take apart: bicycle, engine, motor, appliance, toaster, fan
take away ()
Meaning: If you take something away, you take it somewhere else.
Synonym: remove
For example:
take away sth The waitress took away the dirty dishes and then brought our coffee to the table.
take sth away Would you like to eat your pizza here or take it away?
take back (1) ()
Meaning: If you take something back, you return it to the place you got it from, or return it to the shop you bought it from.
Synonym: return
For example:
take sth back According to the store's website, if you change your mind after you've bought something, you can take it back and get a refund.
take sth back After admitting he'd stolen the game from his friend's house, my son took it back and apologised to the family.
take back (2) ()
Meaning: If a store takes back something they've sold, they allow the buyer to return it for a refund, or exchange it.
For example:
take sth back I decided I didn't want the new shoes, so I called the store and told them and they said they couldn't take them back because I'd worn
them.
take back sth Our policy states that we will take back goods and give a full refund if they are in perfect, as-new condition.
take back (3) (retractarse de)Informal
Meaning: If you take back something you said, you admit that you said the wrong thing and withdraw your comments.
Synonym: withdraw
For example:
take back sth After the argument with his wife, David said, "I'm sorry I said those awful things and I take back everything I said."
take sth back Billy said Danny's brother was stupid, so Danny got him in a headlock and squeezed tighter and tighter until Billy said, "OK! OK! I take it
back!"
take down (1) ()
Meaning: If you take down a large structure, you dismantle it, or separate it into the parts from which it was assembled.
Synonym: dismantle
For example:
take down sth Taking down the tent was much easier than putting it up.
take sth down The local council has ordered us to take our billboard down.
Nouns often used as objects with take down (1): tent, scaffolding, billboard, fence, awning, sign, net
take down (2) ()
Meaning: to remove something that's fixed to a wall, like a picture or a poster
For example:
take down sth Let's take down all our pictures and posters before the painters get here.
take sth down The notice has been on the bulletin board for 30 days already, so it's time to take it down.
Nouns often used as objects with take down (2): picture, painting, poster, curtain, wall hanging, notice
take in (1) ()
Meaning: to include something
Synonym: include
For example:
take in sth Our "Incredible Indo-China" tour takes in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.
take in sth The new inner-city development plan takes in every district within a five-kilometre radius of the city centre.
take in (2) ()
Meaning: to fully understand something you hear or read
Synonym: grasp, comprehend, understand
For example:
take sth in I had to read the article a second time to really take it all in. It wasn't easy to understand.
take in sth She nodded as if she understood, but she wasn't really taking in much of what he was saying.
take off (1) ()
Meaning: to remove a piece of clothing, or the top of a container
Synonym: remove
For example:
take off sth If you go to Asia, you should take off your shoes before going into someone's home.
take sth off Can you take the top off a beer bottle with your teeth?
Nouns often used as objects with take off (1): clothes, shirt, shoes, hat, glasses; lid, top, cap

take off (2) ()

Meaning: If a plane takes off, it leaves the ground and rises into the sky.
For example:
take off The whole family watched and waved as Indira's plane took off.
take off The helicopter took off and rose straight up into the sky.
take off (3) ()
Meaning: to have a period of time away from work
For example:
take sth off My doctor says I need to take the week off and rest.
take sth off Ted needs to take a few days off work to be with his wife and newborn baby.
take off (4) ()
Meaning: to become popular or successful in a short time
For example:
take off Sales of the book really took off after it was made into a movie.
take off If our new computer game takes off, we'll all be rich!
Nouns often used as subjects with take off (4): business, sales, ratings, popularity, idea, style, sport
take on (1) ()
Meaning: If you take on something like a job, a responsibility, or anything involving a challenge, you agree to do it.
Synonym: undertake
For example:
take on sth Jim took on too much work, and he made himself sick with worry when he couldn't cope with it all.
take sth on How much profit will we make if we take this printing job on?
Nouns often used as objects with take on (1): work, job, responsibility, task, challenge, role, position, duty, assignment
take on (2) ()
Meaning: to give someone a job
Synonym: recruit, employ
For example:
take on sb We need to take on two more workers in the warehouse.
take sb on I promised to take Francine's sister on if we needed another typist.
be taken on She was taken on as a temporary assistant at first, and now she's the office manager.
take on (3) ()
Meaning: to fight, or compete against, someone or something
Synonym: challenge
For example:
take on sb/sth The workers took on the management, and won. They got a pay rise and better conditions.
take sb/sth on Manchester United took Chelsea on in the Community Shield match.
take out (1) ()
Meaning: If you take somebody out, you invite them to go out with you, usually for a meal or entertainment.
For example:
take sb out Why don't we ask Uncle Bill to take the kids out for the day?
take sb out for sth The manager is taking all the office workers out for a meal tonight.
take out (2) ()
Meaning: to remove something from a container, a pocket, a bag, etc.
For example:
take out sth Jimmy unzipped his bag and took out his football boots.
take sth out Take the meat out of the freezer two hours before you want to cook it.
have sth taken out My son will have a tooth taken out later today.
take out (3) ()
Meaning: to obtain something like a loan, an insurance policy, a patent, etc.
Synonym: obtain
For example:
take out sth If you're going overseas, it's a good idea to take out travel insurance in case you get robbed or have an accident or whatever.
take sth out Have you ever taken a patent out on one of your inventions?
Nouns often used as objects with take out (3): loan, mortgage, injunction, insurance, patent, copyright, summons
take over (1) ()
Meaning: to take control of something like a company, an organization, a government, or a territory
For example:
take over sth A gang war usually starts when one gang tries to take over another gang's territory.
take sth over If we buy another 10,000 shares, we can take the company over.
be taken over by sth Our production company has been taken over by a national media corporation.
take over (2) ()
Meaning: to begin doing a job or a task that someone else had been doing previously
For example:
take over Who's going to take over if the president has to quit the job?
take over sth Gordon will take over the position of project manager when Trevor goes back to Canada.
take over from sb Were looking for someone to take over from Jenny when she retires.
Nouns often used as objects with take over (2): duties, responsibilities, task, position, management, control, role, leadership, captaincy
take up (1) ()

Meaning: to fill an area of space or a period of time

Synonym: occupy
For example:
take up sth We're selling the dining table because it takes up too much room in our new apartment.
take sth up I don't have much spare time, and exercising takes most of that up anyway.
Nouns often used as objects with take up (1): room, space, floorspace, area, time
take up (2) ()
Meaning: to start doing something new like playing a sport, doing a job, or pursuing a hobby
For example:
take sth up Joe's a great musician. He took it up as a hobby when he was a kid, but now he makes his living from music.
take up sth Recovering drug addicts should take up team sports, like basketball or volleyball.
Nouns often used as objects with take up (2): jogging, bowling, photography, position, post
take up (3) ()
Meaning: to shorten a piece of clothing or a curtain to make it the right size
Synonym: shorten
For example:
take sth up These jeans are a bit too long. Could you take them up for me?
take up sth I have to take up the new curtains in the bedroom.
Nouns often used as objects with take up (3): trousers, jeans, pants, dress, skirt, curtains, drapes
talk back ()
Meaning: to reply rudely to someone in a position of authority
For example:
talk back to sb Some of the students were punished for talking back to their teachers.
talk back to sb If you hadn't talked back to the policeman, he might have let you off with a warning. So next time you get stopped, speak politely
instead.
talk down to ()
Meaning: If you talk down to someone, you speak to them as if they are inferior to you or less important than you.
For example:
talk down to sb I hate the way Sandra talks down to people if she thinks they aren't well-educated.
talk down to sb Make sure you don't talk down to people just because they haven't had as much good fortune in their lives as you have.
talk into ()
Meaning: If you talk someone into doing something, you persuade them to do it.
For example:
talk sb into sth Maria didn't want to go to the party, but Denise talked her into it by saying Mark would be there.
talk sb into doing sth Guys in our college seem to spend a lot of time trying to talk their girlfriends into sleeping with them.
talk out of ()
Meaning: If you talk someone out of something, you persuade them not to do it.
For example:
talk sb out of sth My uncle is a drug addict, and there's nothing I can say to talk him out of it. He says he's too old to stop now.
talk sb out of doing sth My family tried to talk me out of becoming a musician, but I wouldn't change my mind. I was determined to have a career in
music.
talk over ()
Meaning: to discuss a situation with someone, usually before making a decision
Synonym: talk about, discuss
For example:
talk sth over with sb I'd like to talk it over with my family first.
talk sth over with sb Before deciding whether to take the job or not, Sandra wanted to talk it over with her husband.
talk round ()
Meaning: If you talk somebody round, you persuade them to do what you want them to do, or to agree with you.
Synonym: persuade, convince
For example:
talk sb round It took a while, but I finally talked him round and he agreed to lend me the money.
talk sb round She's doesn't like the idea, but we think we can talk her round.
talk up ()
Meaning: to speak enthusiastically about something, usually in order to persuade someone to buy it or invest in it
For example:
talk up sth We'll have to train our sales staff on the techniques they'll need to use when talking up the products.
talk sth up If they hadn't talked the festival up so much in the media, nobody would have gone.
tear apart ()
Meaning: to destroy something by breaking it into two or more pieces
Synonym: rip apart
For example:
tear apart sth There are these piranha fish with really sharp teeth that can tear apart an animal in just a few seconds.
tear sth apart Racial tension will tear this country apart unless we do something fast.
tear down ()
Meaning: to demolish a building or other structure
Synonym: pull down, demolish, dismantle
For example:

tear down sth Many people protested against the plan to tear down the town's old library.
tear sth down Before Liverpool builds their new stadium, they have to tear the old one down.
Nouns often used as objects with tear down: building, shed, church, factory, shelter, fence
tear up ()
Meaning: If you tear up a piece of paper, you tear it into several pieces.
Synonym: rip up
For example:
tear sth up After you've collected the tickets, tear them up so they can't be used again.
tear up sth Some angry workers tore up their work contracts to protest the wage cuts.
Nouns often used as objects with tear up: letter, card, contract, ticket, newspaper, memo, note
tell apart ()
Meaning: to tell the difference between two or more things that are very much alike
Synonym: distinguish between
For example:
tell sth/sb apart All the kittens look the same to me. How do you tell them apart?
tell sth/sb apart My twin sisters look so much alike that lots of people can't tell them apart.
Nouns often used as objects with tell apart: twins, puppies, kittens, babies, voices, wines, perfumes
tell off ()
Meaning: to strongly criticize someone for doing something wrong
Synonym: rebuke, admonish (formal)
For example:
tell sb off My teacher told me off for getting to class late. She was really angry with me.
tell off sb If he's in a bad mood, the boss tells off nearly everyone who comes into his office.
think back ()
Meaning: to think about a past event or a past time
For example:
think back I realize now, thinking back, that he was probably right to do what he did.
think back Think back and try to remember what she said when she answered the phone.
think of (1) ()
Meaning: to have something come to mind
For example:
think of I looked everywhere I could think of, but I still couldn't find my glasses.
think of sth I was introducing our new manager to the accounting staff, and I couldn't think of our head accountant's name. It was really embarrassing.
think of (2) ()
Meaning: to have an opinion about something or someone
For example:
think of sth/sb What did you think of the concert? Did you like it?
think of sth/sb Ask Pat what he thinks of our new boss?
think over ()
Meaning: to think carefully about something before making a decision
Synonym: consider, reflect on, mull over
For example:
think sth over Make sure you think things over carefully before making up your mind.
think sth over Let me think it over and I'll get back to you on Monday, OK?
think up ()
Meaning: to use one's imagination to come up with something like an excuse, a name, a plan, or a story
Synonym: come up with, invent
For example:
think up sth The boss wants me to work on Sunday mornings, but I'll have to think up an excuse because I love sleeping in on Sundays.
think sth up We need a good name for our new computer game. Do you think you could help us think one up?
Nouns often used as objects with think up: excuse, reason, explanation, name, title, story, plot, plan, scheme
throw away ()
Meaning: to get rid of something you don't want, usually by putting it in a rubbish bin or a garbage can
Synonym: throw out, discard
For example:
throw away sth Are you sure you want to throw away those old books and magazines? Why don't you try to sell them on eBay?
throw sth away I've got too many old clothes. I should throw some of them away.
Nouns often used as objects with throw away: junk, rubbish, garbage, old clothes, old furniture
throw off ()
Meaning: to get rid of something that has been bothering you
Synonym: shake off
For example:
throw off sth I wish I could throw off this feeling that something bad is going to happen.
throw sth off It didn't take her long to throw the cold off and get back to work.
throw out (1) ()
Meaning: to discard something you don't want, usually by putting it in a rubbish bin or a garbage can
Synonym: throw away, discard
For example:

throw out sth Dad has thrown out those old magazines he kept in the shed.
throw sth out Don't you think it's time we threw some of this stuff out?
throw out (2) ()
Meaning: to force somebody to leave something like a club, a college or school, an organisation, etc.
Synonym: expel (formal)
For example:
be thrown out If anybody causes trouble or starts a fight, they'll be thrown out of the club.
throw sb out He knew they'd throw him out of the drug treatment centre if he used drugs again.
throw up (vomitar)
Meaning: If someone throws up, they vomit up the contents of their stomach.
Synonym: vomit, spew up (informal)
For example:
throw up Jim drank too much warm beer and threw up in the toilet.
throw sth up After I'd thrown my lunch up, I went to the hospital.
tidy up ()
Meaning: to make a place look neat and tidy
For example:
tidy up Don't forget to tidy up when you've finished.
tidy sth up Tidy your room up Joel, or you won't be getting any pocket money!
tidy up sth Why does my wife insist on tidying up the house just before the housekeeper comes?
tie up (1) ()
Meaning: to tie together the ends of something
For example:
tie up sth Our two-year-old boy is learning to tie up his shoelaces.
tie sth up I've nearly finished the story. I'm just tying a few loose ends up and then it'll be done.
tie up (2) ()
Meaning: to make somebody busy with something
Synonym: occupy
For example:
be tied up He'll be tied up all afternoon, but he can see you tomorrow morning.
be tied up with sth Most of the time Gillian is tied up with day-to-day tasks like managing the office and sorting out staff issues.
Note: Often used in a passive form, such as, "He'll be tied up with clients all morning."
tie up (3) ()
Meaning: to make something or someone unavailable by committing them to something
For example:
be tied up Most of our money is tied up in long-term investments, so we don't have much cash available just now.
tie up sth/sb Do you think it's a good idea to tie up all our production capacity, or should we keep some free for special orders?
tip off ()
Meaning: to warn someone or give someone secret information about something
For example:
tip sb off The thieves knew where the security van was going, so somebody must have tipped them off.
tip off sb Monica wondered who could have tipped off the police, and thought about everyone who knew she was carrying the drugs.
top up ()
Meaning: to completely fill something like a glass or a container, or to increase the level of something like a phone card
Synonym: top off (American)
For example:
top sth up A waiter was topping our drinks up whenever they needed it.
top up sth What's the easiest way to top up a mobile phone card?
Nouns often used as objects with top up: glass, drink, kettle, tank, phone card, mobile phone, account
touch on ()
Meaning: to talk briefly about something when speaking or writing about another topic
Synonym: mention
For example:
touch on sth The only major issue that the president didn't touch on was increasing health costs.
touch on sth The talk was mostly about global warming, but the speaker also touched on several other environmental issues.
toy with ()
Meaning: to think about doing something, but not very seriously
Synonym: flirt with
For example:
toy with sth Are you serious about quitting your job, or are you just toying with the idea?
toy with sth We're toying with the idea of getting a new car next year.
Note: Very often used with "the idea of", as in "They're toying with the idea of moving house."
track down ()
Meaning: to find something after a long search
Synonym: find, locate
For example:
track down sb/sth I managed to track down all of my mother's old photos by getting in touch with dozens of her relatives and friends.

track sb/sth down It took the police a long time to track the killers down and arrest them
try on (probar)
Meaning: to put on clothes or shoes before buying them to see if they fit properly and look good
For example:
try on sth Did he try on that shirt before he bought it? It looks too big for him.
try sth on Excuse me, but I'm not sure if these jeans fit me. Can I try them on?
Nouns often used as objects with try on: clothes, shoes, jeans, jacket, sunglasses, ring
try out ()
Meaning: to test something to see what it's like, or to see if it works properly
Synonym: test
For example:
try sth out I saw these new headphones in a shop today and I tried them out. They sounded great, but they were really expensive.
try out sth I tried out this new meditation technique this morning, and it's great. I've felt really good all day.
Nouns often used as objects with try out: software, printer, phone; relaxation technique, exercise routine, diet
turn around ()
Meaning: to change something unsuccessful into something successful
Synonym: turn round (British)
For example:
turn sth around What do you think the government should do to turn the economy around?
turn sth around If she wants to turn her life around she needs to stop taking drugs and drinking alcohol.
turn away ()
Meaning: If someone turns you away, they don't allow you to enter a place.
Synonym: send away, refuse entry to
For example:
turn sb away They turned us away at the door because we didn't have tickets.
turn away sb Doormen at five star hotels sometimes turn away people who aren't properly dressed.
be turned away Several protesters were turned away by security guards when they tried to enter the meeting.
turn back ()
Meaning: to return in the direction from which you've come, or to make someone do this
For example:
turn back If you get lost, turn back and return the way you came.
turn sb back The police were turning everybody back because the road had been blocked by a landslide.
be turned back Anyone who doesn't have a visa will be turned back at the border.
turn down (1) ()
Meaning: to decrease or lower the volume, heat, power, etc. of an appliance by turning a knob or pressing a button
For example:
turn down sth We'd better turn down the volume or the neighbours might complain.
turn sth down It's cool enough now, so let's turn the air conditioner down.
Nouns often used as objects with turn down (1): television, TV, volume, air conditioner, heater
turn down (2) ()
Meaning: If you turn down an offer or a request, you decide not to accept it.
Synonym: refuse, reject
For example:
turn down sth/sb The bank turned down Kenny's application for a loan because he'd just lost his job.
turn sth/sb down The club turned his transfer request down, so Patrice had to stay with the club.
Nouns often used as objects with turn down (2): offer, request, appeal, proposal, invitation, application
turn in (1) ()Informal
Meaning: to go to bed
For example:
turn in What time do you usually turn in?
turn in I usually turn in around one o'clock.
turn in (2) ()
Meaning: If you turn somebody in, you tell the police that the person has committed a crime or you hand them over to the police yourself.
For example:
turn in sb Would you turn in your best friend if you knew he'd broken the law?
turn sb in The police have asked members of the public to turn the thieves in if they know who they are.
turn into ()
Meaning: to change from one thing into another
Synonym: transform into
For example:
turn into sth/sb Isn't it incredible how caterpillars turn into butterflies, and tadpoles turn into frogs? Nature really is amazing!
turn sth/sb into sth/sb This guy is a great businessman. He turned a small company into a huge global corporation.
turn off ()
Meaning: to stop a machine or an appliance from working by using a button or a switch
Synonym: switch off
For example:
turn off sth Don't forget to turn off the air conditioner before you leave the house. We shouldn't be wasting energy.
turn sth off Do you turn all your lights off at night, or do you leave some of them on?

Nouns often used as objects with turn off: light, computer, phone, television, heater, air conditioner, engine, motor
turn on ()
Meaning: to start a machine or an appliance by pressing a button or flicking a switch
Synonym: switch on
For example:
turn on sth As soon as they get home from school, most kids grab some sweets or snacks and turn on the TV. No wonder so many get fat!
turn sth on The first thing I do when I get to the office is turn my computer on.
Nouns often used as objects with turn on: light, computer, television, phone, heater, air conditioner, engine, motor
turn out (1) ()
Meaning: to make a light go off
Synonym: switch off
For example:
turn out sth Don't forget to turn out the lights before you leave the office.
turn sth out The bathroom light was on this morning. Who forgot to turn it out?
turn out (2) ()
Meaning: to have a certain outcome, or to end in a certain way
Synonym: pan out (informal)
For example:
turn out We weren't sure if moving to Japan was a good idea at first, but we're very pleased with the way things have turned out.
turn out Don't worry. I'm sure everything will turn out fine in the end.
turn over (1) ()
Meaning: to change the position of something so that the side facing down is now facing up
For example:
turn sth over After passing out the exam papers, I told my students to turn them over and start work.
turn over sth Turn over the piece of paper and see what it says on the back.
Nouns often used as objects with turn over (1): steak, sausage, pancake, paper, postcard, photograph, mat
turn over (2) ()
Meaning: to change your body's position when lying down so that you are facing the opposite direction
For example:
turn over My back was sore, and every time I turned over it hurt.
turn over I was sound asleep when my wife turned over and accidentally slapped my face.
turn up (1) ()
Meaning: to increase the volume, heat, power, etc. of an appliance by turning a knob or pressing a button
For example:
turn sth up If you can't hear the TV, turn it up a bit.
turn up sth Could you turn up the heater, please? It's getting cold in here.
Nouns often used as objects with turn up (1): television, TV, volume, air conditioner, heater
turn up (2) ()
Meaning: If someone turns up somewhere, they arrive without being expected or without telling anyone they'd be coming.
Synonym: appear, show up
For example:
turn up Everyone was surprised when Harry's ex-wife turned up at his wedding.
turn up Thousands of fans turned up at the airport to welcome the team back home.

U
urge on (instar a, alentar)
Meaning: If you urge somebody on, you encourage them to continue trying to do something.
Synonym: encourage
For example:
urge on sb/sth Good teachers urge on their weaker students, and help them to do their best.
urge sb/sth on I urged Billy on by telling him I knew he could do it. And when he really believed he could do it too, he did it!
use up (gastar, usar todo)
Meaning: If you use up something, you use all of it and have none left over.
For example:

use up sth Do you think we'll find a new way to power cars before we use up all our oil reserves?
use sth up I can't get any more sick days off work. I've already used them all up.
Nouns often used as objects with use up: resources, reserves, supplies, stocks, time
usher in (marcar el inicio, marcar el comienzo, dar lugar a, abrir paso)
Meaning: to begin a period in history or a stage in someone's life
Synonym: herald (formal)
For example:
usher in sth My first day in college ushered in one of the happiest times in my life.
usher in sth The new President's election ushered in a period of peace and cooperation among the nations of the world.
Note: mostly used in journalism or academic writing

V
veg out (vegetar)Informal
Meaning: If you veg out, you relax and take it easy.
Synonym: laze around, chill out (informal)
For example:
veg out I'm really tired tonight. I think I'll just go home and veg out in front of the TV.
veg out I think Marty's a bit depressed. All he wants to do is smoke dope and veg out.
verge on (rayar, lindar, *on the verge of - estar a punto de)
Meaning: to be close to reaching a certain state or condition
Synonym: border on
For example:

verge on sth The senior students' hazing rituals for new college students were so cruel that they were verging on torture.
verge on sth Even as a child, Glenn Gould had a talent for playing the piano that verged on genius.
Note: "verge upon" is a more formal variant with the same meaning
* This economy is on the verge of collapse!
vie for (competir, luchar por)
Meaning: If you vie for something, you compete with others to get it.
Synonym: compete for
For example:
vie for sth Leo and Fiona are vying for promotion to the same management position, so they're both trying hard to impress the boss.
vie for sb Mandy and Lynne haven't been friends ever since they vied for Jerome. They both really liked him, and both wanted to be his girlfriend.
Nouns often used as objects with vie for: power, position, job, role, promotion, influence, attention, recognition
vote in (elegir por votacin)
Meaning: If a person or a political party is voted in, they have won the most votes in an election.
Synonym: elect
For example:
vote in sb/sth In a democracy, you can vote in whoever you like.
vote sb/sth in Our country's people have voted the Labour Party in for the first time in nearly twenty years.
be voted in If the only way to be voted in is to buy a lot of votes, every member of parliament in this country must be guilty of vote-buying.
Nouns often used as objects with vote in: party, president, prime minister, government, leader, politician, representative
vote off (eliminar a alguien por votacin)
Meaning: If somebody is voted off something, they have to leave because not enough people voted to keep them on.
For example:
be voted off sth I was really shocked when Kylie was voted off American Idol. I thought she was the best singer there.
vote sb off sth The company shareholders voted three people off the Board of Directors.
vouch for (poner las manos en el fuego por)
Meaning: If you vouch for someone or something, you say that the person or thing can be trusted and is of good character or quality.
For example:
vouch for sb I will only vouch for someone if I know them well and I'm sure they can do a good job.
vouch for sth I bought this software because a good friend of mine vouched for it.
Nouns often used as objects with vouch for: doctor, teacher, hospital, school, course, diet

W
wait around ()
Meaning: If you have to wait around for something, you have to wait a long time for it.
Synonym: hang around
For example:
wait around Why do we always have to wait around when we have an appointment with a doctor or a dentist?
wait around for sth/sb Drug addicts spend most of their time waiting around for dealers to come with the drugs they need. What a boring life it must be!
wait on (1) ()
Meaning: to serve someone in a restaurant, or to act as a servant for someone and do whatever they ask you to do
Synonym: serve
For example:

wait on sb Each waiter is assigned certain tables and they only wait on people at those tables.
wait on sb Each of the star actors has a personal assistant who waits on him or her "hand and foot".
wait on (2) ()
Meaning: to wait for the results of something, or for information about something, before deciding what to do next
Synonym: wait for
For example:
wait on sth The investigators are waiting on the toxicology results before making their final report.
wait on sth Her family is in the next room waiting on the test results.
wait up ()
Meaning: If you wait up, you stay up late at night waiting for something or someone.
Synonym: stay up, sit up (British)
For example:
wait up I'll be home late tonight, but don't wait up. You need your sleep.
wait up for sb/sth Did your mother wait up for you when you were a teenager staying out late at parties and clubs?
wake up ()
Meaning: to become conscious again after sleeping, or to make someone else become conscious after sleeping
Synonym: awaken (formal)
For example:
wake up You look tired. What time did you wake up this morning?
wake sb up Every morning my alarm clock wakes me up. I really hate that sound.
walk out ()
Meaning: to leave a relationship suddenly
Synonym: leave
For example:
walk out Her father walked out when she was ten years old, and he hasn't been back since.
walk out on sb She walked out on her husband after he beat her up.
ward off ()
Meaning: to stop something that's harmful or dangerous from coming near
Synonym: fend off
For example:
ward off sth Many people believe that vitamin C can ward off the common cold.
ward sth off Did you know that garlic and crosses can be used to ward off Dracula and other vampires?
warm up (1) ()
Meaning: to make something warmer
For example:
warm up Her boyfriend left some pizza in the oven for her to warm up when she got home.
warm sth up Snakes are cold-blooded, so they rely on the sun's heat to warm them up.
warm up sth Let me get next to fire for a minute so I can warm up my hands.
Nouns often used as objects with warm up (1): food, pizza, pie, water, plates, hands, feet
warm up (2) ()
Meaning: to prepare for a sporting or artistic performance by doing exercises or practising
Synonym: limber up
For example:
warm up Don't forget to warm up before the game starts.
warm sth up The choir sang some scales before the concert to warm their vocal cords up.
warm up sth Let's jog for a while to warm up our leg muscles.
wash away ()
Meaning: If something is washed away, it's carried off by the force of running water, as in a storm or a flood.
Synonym: sweep away
For example:
be washed away The river flooded and many roads and bridges were washed away.
wash away sth The streets were clean after the storm because the rain washed away all the dirt and rubbish.
wash sth away I left my towel on the beach, and then a big wave came and washed it away.
wash down ()
Meaning: to drink something soon after eating food or while swallowing pills
For example:
wash down sth I need a glass of water to wash down these pills.
wash sth down We had steak with salad and washed it down with a nice red wine.
wash out ()
Meaning: If an event is washed out, it's stopped because of rain.
Synonym: rain out
For example:
be washed out The final session of play in today's cricket match was washed out.
be washed out This year's company picnic was washed out by a sudden rain storm.
Note: almost always used in a passive form, such as "the game was washed out"
wash up (1) ()
Meaning: If you wash up, you wash dirty dishes and cooking utensils.
Synonym: do the dishes

For example:
wash up I'll cook the dinner if you wash up.
wash up sth Do you want me to wash up all these dishes next to the sink?
wash sth up Leave the dishes. I'll wash them up in the morning.
Nouns often used as objects with wash up (1): dishes, plates, cups, pots, pans, cutlery
Note: The phrase "do the washing-up" is often used to descibe the act of washing up, especially if the particular objects being washed are not
mentioned.
wash up (2) ()
Meaning: If you wash up, you wash your hands.
For example:
wash up Your hands and face are dirty, so go to the bathroom and wash up.
wash up How do you get your boys to wash up before they eat?
waste away ()
Meaning: If you waste away, you gradually become thinner and weaker, usually because of an illness.
Synonym: wither away
For example:
waste away It was terrible watching my dog waste away due to the cancer in her stomach.
waste away Bob was wasting away until we started him on this fantastic new drug.
watch out ()
Meaning: If you tell someone to watch out, you tell them to be careful or warn them of a danger.
Synonym: look out
For example:
watch out Watch out! There's a car coming! Get off the road.
watch out There are lots of thieves on these buses, so if you don't watch out you'll lose your wallet.
watch out for ()
Meaning: If someone tells you to watch out for something, they're warning you about it.
Synonym: be wary of
For example:
watch out for sth/sb Our guide told us to watch out for snakes.
watch out for sth/sb Everybody says you have to watch out for pickpockets if you're on a public bus.
water down (1) ()
Meaning: to add water to a drink to make it less strong if it's an alcoholic drink or less thick if it's a juice or a thick shake
Synonym: dilute
For example:
water down sth I think someone has watered down the wine. It tastes very weak.
water sth down This juice is too thick. Could you water it down a bit, please?
water down (2) ()
Meaning: to change something like the lyrics of a song or the dialogue in a movie to make it less offensive or less likely to upset people
Synonym: tone down
For example:
water down sth They had to water down the song for radio, but they've also released the original version on a limited-edition DVD.
water sth down The comedian had to water his act down for TV or he wouldn't be allowed to perform.
wean off ()
Meaning: to gradually break a bad habit by doing it less and less
For example:
wean sb off sth If you're addicted to cigarettes, you could try to wean yourself off them by smoking fewer and fewer every day.
wean sb off sth If somebody's hooked on drugs and they want to quit, they can stop all of a sudden, or they can slowly wean themselves off.
Nouns often used as objects with wean off: alcohol, drugs, chocolate, junk food, coffee, gambling, computer games
wear down ()
Meaning: to gradually make someone lose their strength and vitality
Synonym: wear out
For example:
wear sb down The job was really hard and it wore me down so much that I had to quit.
wear down sb The champion boxer gradually wore down his opponent by hitting him with lots of hard punches to the body.
wear in ()
Meaning: If you wear in something like a pair of shoes, you wear them for short periods until they fit properly and feel comfortable.
For example:
wear in sth Footballers will wear in a new pair of boots before using them in a match.
wear sth in Don't forget to wear your walking boots in properly before you leave for your trek in Nepal.
wear off ()
Meaning: If something wears off, it gradually loses its effect.
For example:
wear off The pain medication started to wear off, so I began to feel the pain again.
wear off The excitement of working in a new company soon wore off, and it became just like any other job.
Nouns often used as subjects with wear off: pills, alcohol, drugs, feeling, excitement, novelty, effect
wear out (1) ()
Meaning: If something such as a shoe wears out, it gets old and damaged from being used.

For example:
wear out Johnny's shoes are wearing out, so I'm going to buy him a new pair.
be worn out The tyres on his motorbike are worn out, and they're dangerous.
Nouns often used as subjects with wear out (1): shoes, socks, jeans, suit, tyre, carpet, printer, photocopier
wear out (2) ()
Meaning: If something wears you out, it makes you feel tired and lacking in energy.
Synonym: exhaust, tire
For example:
wear sb out Helen doesn't really like teaching young kids. She says the job really wears her out.
worn out It's no wonder that you get worn out. You're raising three kids and you have a full-time job.
weed out ()
Meaning: to find and remove people or things that are not needed or wanted
For example:
weed out The new Prime Minister has promised to weed out all the members of the public service who have become lazy or corrupt over the years.
weed out One of the results of the economic slowdown was that it gave companies an excuse to weed out some of their overpaid executives.
weigh down ()
Meaning: If you're weighed down by problems or responsibilities, you feel stressed or unhappy because of them.
Synonym: burden
For example:
be weighed down by sth Sarah feels weighed down by all of her responsibilities, both at work and at home.
weigh sb down The pressure his parents put on the boy to succeed in school weighed him down so much that he ran away from home.
weigh in (1) ()
Meaning: to be weighed before participating in a sport like boxing or horse-racing
For example:
weigh in The jockeys are weighing in for the first race right now.
weigh in What time do you have to weigh in for the fight?
Note: The related noun "weigh-in" refers to the occasion during which competitors are weighed and their weight is officially recorded.
weigh in (2) ()
Meaning: to join a discussion by expressing a viewpoint
For example:
weigh in Don't be shy about weighing in and sharing your views.
weigh in with sth I wish Mel would listen a bit more before weighing in with his own opinions.
weigh up ()
Meaning: to consider the good and bad points before making a decision
Synonym: assess
For example:
weigh up sth They'll need to weigh up the pros and cons of each location before deciding where to build their factory.
weigh sth up The judge told the jury to weigh the evidence up carefully before reaching a verdict.
whip into ()
Meaning: to create strong emotions like excitement or anger, usually by giving a speech or a performance of some sort
For example:
whip sb into sth The protest leaders whipped the crowd into an angry mood with their speeches.
whip sb into sth Elvis Presley used to whip crowds of teenagers into a frenzy by moving his hips to the beat of the music.
whip up ()
Meaning: to create strong feelings in other people
Synonym: stir up, arouse
For example:
whip up sth She criticized the media for whipping up prejudice against drug users.
whip up sth The opponents of gay marriage tried to whip up fear and hysteria about the proposed new laws.
Nouns often used as objects with whip up: excitement, enthusiasm, anger, fear, prejudice, hysteria
win back ()
Meaning: If you win something back, you get it back again after having lost it.
For example:
win back sth It's not easy to win back somebody's trust after you've done something to lose it.
win sth back After losing his world championship title to a Japanese boxer, Johnny worked hard to win it back.
Nouns often used as objects with win back: money, trophy, championship, title, trust, love
win over ()
Meaning: If you win somebody over, you get them to believe you, trust you or support you.
For example:
win over sb/sth A good teacher knows how to win over even the most difficult students.
win sb/sth over At first the Chelsea fans didn't like Rafael much, but he soon won them over with his exciting style of football.
wind down ()
Meaning: If you wind something down, you gradually reduce it or end it.
Synonym: wind up
For example:
wind down sth We're winding down production of gasoline-powered cars and increasing production of battery-powered cars.
wind sth down Even if the army started winding the operation down tomorrow, it'd be another six months before all the troops had left.
Note: "wind" is pronounced as in "wind the clock", not as in "the wind blew"

wind up (1) ()
Meaning: If you wind up in a certain place or situation, you find yourself there by chance or because of unexpected events.
Synonym: end up, finish up
For example:
wind up If the economy doesn't improve, more and more people could wind up jobless and homeless and living on the streets.
wind up doing sth After missing the last train, we wound up staying the night in a hotel near the station.
wind up (2) ()
Meaning: to end something like a meeting, a lecture or a discussion
Synonym: wind down, finish
For example:
wind sth up People were starting to yawn and look at their watches, so I knew it was time to wind the meeting up.
wind up sth The judge decided it was time to go home so he told the lawyers to wind up the day's proceedings.
Nouns often used as objects with wind up (2): meeting, show, concert, performance, debate, discussion, lecture
wipe away ()
Meaning: to remove something by wiping it with a tissue, a cloth or a hand
For example:
wipe away sth He'd been told that boys didn't cry, so Jimmy tried to wipe away his tears before anyone could see them.
wipe sth away You've got some ketchup on the corner of your mouth. Use this handkerchief to wipe it away.
wipe out (1) ()
Meaning: If something is wiped out, it is completely destroyed.
Synonym: eradicate (formal)
For example:
wipe out sth Rising sea levels could wipe out many low-lying coastal cities.
wipe sth out The World Health Organisation is trying to control diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, and one day hopes to wipe them out altogether.
wipe out (2) ()
Meaning: to kill a large number of people or animals
Synonym: kill off
For example:
wipe out sb/sth European invaders wiped out all the people who were living on the Australian island they named "Tasmania".
wipe sth/sb out A flu pandemic early in the twentieth century wiped millions of people out.
wise up ()Informal
Meaning: If you wise up, you realize the truth in relation to something.
Synonym: smarten up
For example:
wise up After having weight-related health problems, Tanya wised up and started eating less.
wise up It took me a long time to wise up, but at last I've accepted the fact that drinking alcohol isn't good for me.
work at ()
Meaning: to try hard to achieve something, or try hard to improve your ability to do something
For example:
work at sth Most people know that you have to work at a relationship if you want it to last.
work at doing sth You need to work at improving your listening skills.
work off ()
Meaning: to get rid of excess weight or a negative emotion by engaging in physical activity
For example:
work off sth After eating ice cream, my sister goes for a run because she thinks it'll work off any weight she would have gained.
work sth off Do you think that doing exercise can help work things like stress or tension off?
work on ()
Meaning: to spend time making, fixing or improving something
For example:
work on sth Alfred would work on a movie's screenplay for months before starting to shoot the movie.
work on doing sth If you work on improving your English conversation skills, you should be ready for promotion in a couple of months.
work out (1) ()
Meaning: to think about a problem or a task and find a solution or a strategy for dealing with it
Synonym: figure out, nut out (Australian, informal)
For example:
work out sth We have to work out a way of promoting our products without spending too much money.
work sth out Our job is to find the solution to the problem, and I'm sure we can work it out somehow.
Nouns often used as objects with work out (1): solution, plan, strategy, way (to do sth)
work out (2) (ejercitarse)
Meaning: to do physical exercise to keep fit and healthy
For example:
work out Every day after work, Louise goes to the gym to work out.
work out You don't need to pay expensive fees to join a gym or use fancy machines. You can work out at home for nothing.
work out (3) ()
Meaning: to find the solution to a numerical problem
Synonym: calculate, figure out, nut out (Australian, informal)
For example:

work out sth There are five of us and the bill is $72.00. Can you work out how much we each have to pay?
work sth out Have you worked it out yet?
Nouns often used as objects with work out (3): answer, solution, total, result
wrap up (1) ()
Meaning: If you wrap something up, you cover it with a material like paper or cloth.
For example:
wrap up sth We spent hours wrapping up Christmas presents for our family and friends.
wrap sth up If I get Neil a birthday gift, could you wrap it up? I'm terrible at wrapping things up.
Nouns often used as objects with wrap up (1): present, gift, parcel, package
wrap up (2) ()
Meaning: to finish something like a meeting or a discussion, or to conclude something like a deal or a negotiation
Synonym: conclude
For example:
wrap up sth After weeks of meetings, it was good to finally wrap up the inquiry and present our findings.
wrap sth up It's getting late, so let's wrap things up for tonight, and we can start again in the morning.
wrestle with (batallar con)
Meaning: to try hard to find the solution to a difficult problem
Synonym: struggle with
For example:
wrestle with sth For centuries Christians have been wrestling with the question of why their all-powerful, omnipotent God allows evil and terrible
injustice to exist.
wrestle with sth The government has appointed a team of experts to wrestle with complex issues like stem-cell research.
write down (apuntar, anotar)
Meaning: to write something on a piece of paper
Synonym: record
For example:
write down sth After chatting to the girl for a while, Shane wrote down his name and number on a piece of paper and gave it to her.
write sth down I lost all my phone numbers when I lost my phone. I wish I'd written them down somewhere.
write off (1) (dar por perdido, considerar caso perdido)
Meaning: to accept that a debt or loan won't be paid back, or that an investment has been lost
For example:
write sth off We won't get the money back, so we'll have to write it off as a bad debt.
write off sth After accepting that the business was going to fail, they wrote off their investment.
Nouns often used as objects with write off (1): debt, loan, investment, shares, stocks
write off (2) (chocar y ser perdida total)
Meaning: to damage a vehicle so badly that it cannot be repaired
Synonym: wreck
For example:
write off sth After writing off three cars in two years, you'd think that Gerry would start driving a bit more carefully.
write sth off Tommy borrowed his parents car, and then wrote it off in an accident. His parents were not happy with him.
Nouns often used as objects with write off (2): vehicle, car, truck, motorbike, speedboat, jet-ski
write out (escribir completo)
Meaning: to write information on an official document before giving it to someone
Synonym: make out
For example:
write sth out The parking officer ignored my explanation as she wrote the parking ticket out and gave it to me.
write out sth I waited as the doctor wrote out a prescription for the medicine I needed.
Nouns often used as objects with write out: speeding ticket, parking ticket, prescription, receipt, warrant
write up (reportar, escribir una redaccin)
Meaning: to write a report or an article based on notes written earlier
For example:
write up sth After getting all the information and data she needed, Carrie wrote up her marketing report.
write sth up I checked my notes for the article before writing it up, so I'm sure everything's correct.

Y
yank at (jalonear)
Meaning: If you yank at something, you pull it repeatedly.
Synonym: pull at
For example:
yank at sth I had to yank at Terry's arm to get him to follow me.
yank at sth The girls were fighting madly, scratching each other and yanking at each other's hair.
yearn for (desear en extremo)
Meaning: to want something very much
Synonym: long for
For example:
yearn for sth Even though I left England a long time ago, I still yearn for the beauty of the English countryside.
yearning for sth Paula is still getting over the breakup with her boyfriend. She's still yearning for the sound of his voice and the smell of his hair.

yell out (gritar)

Meaning: to shout loudly
Synonym: call out, shout
For example:
yell out The fans were yelling out as loud as they could to cheer on their team.
yell sth out If you think you know the answer, yell it out.
yell out sth I was walking along the street when someone yelled out my name.

Z
zero in on (enfocarse, concentrarse)
Meaning: If you zero in on something, you focus on it or put your attention on it.
Synonym: focus on
For example:
zero in on sb The police tracked many suspects in the drug gang before they zeroed in on the gang's leader and arrested her.
zero in on sth Before the missile was fired, it's built-in computer zeroed in on the target.
zip around (pasar volando)
Meaning: If you zip around, you move quickly from place to place.
Synonym: buzz around, nip around (Australian, informal)
For example:
zip around Sally was in a hurry so she zipped around the supermarket, tossing all the things she needed into her trolley as she went.
zipping around Bob's our courier and he spends all day zipping around town on his bike, picking up and dropping off packages and documents.

Nouns often used as objects with zip around: town, city, supermarket, mall
zip up (1) (subir el cierre)
Meaning: to do up a zipper in a piece of clothing or in a bag
Synonym: do up, fasten
For example:
zip sth up She asked me to help her out by zipping her dress up.
zip up sth Zip up your bag before you get on the bus, or someone might steal something.
sth is zipped up Make sure your fly is zipped up before you go into the interview room.
Nouns often used as objects with zip up: fly, dress, jacket, bag, suitcase, zipper
zip up (2) (cerrar el pico)
Meaning: maintain secret, keep oneself mouth shoot
For example:
zip [sth] up Zip it up - I don't want everyone knowing our business.
zone out (estar en las nubes estar ido o con la mirada perdida)
Meaning: If someone zones out, they look blankly ahead without paying attention, maybe because they're tired or bored or affected by drugs.
Synonym: space out (American, informal)
For example:
zone out Peter sometimes gets bored in class and zones out. He looks like he's a million miles away.
be zoned out I was talking to Debbie, but she was so zoned out that she didn't even hear me.
zonked out (hecho polvo cansado)Informal
Meaning: If you're zonked out, you're very tired and you feel like resting or going to sleep.
Synonym: worn out
For example:
be zonked out That run we did today was really tiring. I was totally zonked out when I got home.
be zonked out Hector must have been really zonked out. He fell asleep in front of the TV.
zoom in (hacer zoom acercar)
Meaning: If a photographer or a camera zooms in, the image changes so that it looks as if the camera is moving closer to the object being
photographed or filmed.
For example:
zoom in If you want to zoom in, press the "plus" sign.
zoom in on sth After zooming in on his face, she took the photo.
Note: The opposite of "zoom in" is "zoom out" (hacer zoom alejar).