ENGLISH IDIOMS AND PHRASES || IDIOMS, PHRASES|| MEANING AND EXAMPLES.
Idiom:
Once and for All
Means:
Finally, absolutely
Examples:
- My daughter told her boyfriend once and for all that she wouldn t date
him anymore.
- Once and for all, john has quit smoking cigarettes.
To come to:
Means:
To regain consciousness; to equal, to amount to
Examples:
- At first they thought that the man was dead, but soon he came to.
- The bill for groceries at the supermarket came to fifty dollars.
To take into account:
Means:
To consider a fact while evaluating a situation (S)
Again, a noun or pronoun often follows the verb take.
Examples:
- The judge took the prisoner s young age into account before sentencing
him to three months in jail.
- Educators should take into account the cultural backgrounds of
students when planning a school curriculum.
-
To turn out:
Means:
To become or result; to appear, to attend (also: to come out)
The noun form turnout derives from the second definition of the idiom.
Examples:
- Most parents wonder how their children will turn out as adults.
- Hundreds of people came out for the demonstration against new taxes.
- What was the turnout for the public hearing on the education reforms?
To cross out:
Means:
To cancel by marking with a horizontal lines (S)
Examples:
- The teacher crossed out several incorrect words in Tanya s composition.
- I crossed the last line out of my letter because it had the wrong tone to
it.
To give up:
Means:
To stop trying, to stop a bad habit (S); to surrender (S)
Examples:
- I m sure that you can accomplish this task. Don t give up yet!
- If you give up smoking now, you can certainly live a longer life.
- The soldiers gave themselves up in the face of a stronger enemy forces.
To feel sorry for:
Means:
To pity, to feel compassion for (also: to take pity on)
Examples:
- Don t you feel sorry for someone who has to work the night shift?
- I helped drive Pierre around when he broke his foot because I took pity
on him.
To be carried away:
Means:
To be greatly affected by a strong feeling (S)
This idiom can also be used with get instead of be.
Examples:
- Paula and Leanne were carried away by the sad movie that they saw
together.
- James got carried away with anger when his roommate crashed his
new car into a telephone pole.
Ill at ease:
Means:
Uncomfortable or worried in a situation
Examples:
- Speaking in front of a large audience makes many people feel ill at ease.
- My wife and I were ill at ease because our daughter was late coming
home from a date.
To keep out:
Means:
Not to enter, not allow to enter (S)
Examples:
- There was a large sign outside the door that said, "Danger! Keep out!"
- I ve told you to keep the dog out of the house.
To see about:
Means:
To give attention or time to (also: to attend to, to see to)
Examples:
- Who is going to see about getting us a larger room for the meeting?
- I' ll see to arranging music for the wedding of you attend to the
entertainment.
To make good time:
Means:
To travel a sufficient distance at a reasonable speed
The adjective excellent can also be used.
Examples:
- On our last trip, it rained the entire time, so we didn t make good time.
- We made excellent time on our trip to Florida; it only took eighteen
hours.
First-rate:
Means:
Excellent, superb
Examples:
- The food served in that four-star restaurant is truly first-rate.
- The Beverly Hills Hotel provides first-rate service to its guests.
To throw away:
Means:
To discard, to dispose of (S)
Examples:
- I generally throw away my clothes when I wear them out.
- Don t throw the magazines away; I haven t read them yet.
To wear out:
Means:
To use something until it has no value or worth anymore, to
make useless through wear (S)
Examples
- When I wear out these shoes, I ll have to buy some that last longer.
- What do you do with your clothes after your wear them out?
To brush up on:
Means:
To review something in order to refresh one's memory
Examples:
- Before I traveled to Mexico, I brushed up on my Spanish; I haven t
practiced it since high school.
- In order to take that advanced mathematics class, Sidney will have to
brush up on his algebra.
Ery other (one):
Means:
Every second (one), alternate (ones)
Examples:
- I play tennis with my father every other Saturday, so I usually play
twice a month.
- There were twenty problems in the exercise, but the teacher told us
only to do every other one. Actually, doing ten problems was difficult
enough.
To get rid of:
Means:
To eliminate, to remove; to discard, to throw away
Examples:
- Jerry tried hard to get rid of the stain on his shirt, but he never
succeeded.
- The stain was so bad that Jerry finally had to get rid of his shirt.
To make sure:
Means:
To be sure, to ascertain (also: to make certain)
Examples:
- Please make sure that you turn off the radio before you go out.
- Could you make certain of the time? I don t want to miss that TV show.
Ery other (one):
Means:
Every second (one), alternate (ones)
Examples:
- I play tennis with my father every other Saturday, so I usually play
twice a month.
- There were twenty problems in the exercise, but the teacher told us
only to do every other one. Actually, doing ten problems was difficult
enough.
To have to do with:
Means:
To have some connection with or relationship to
Examples:
- Ralph insisted that he had nothing to do with breaking the window.
- What does your suggestion have to do with our problem?
Out of the question:
Means:
Impossible, not feasible
Examples:
- Stephen told Deborah that it was out of the question for her to borrow
his new car.
- Don t expect me to do that again. It s absolutely out of the question.
To pay attention (to):
Means:
To look at and listen to someone while they are
speaking, to concentrate
Examples:
- Please pay attention to me while I m speaking to you!
- You ll have to pay more attention in class if you want to get a good
grade.
To take turns:
Means:
To alternate, to change people while doing something
Examples:
- During the trip, Darlene and I took turns driving so that neither of us
would tire out.
- I have to make sure that my two sons take turns playing the video game
:
To turn around:
Means:
To move or face in the opposite direction (S); to completely
change the condition of (S)
Examples:
- The man turned his car around and drove back the way he came.
- The company has been very successful since the new business manager
was able to turn it around.
To be about to:
Means:
To be at the moment of doing something, to be ready
This idiom is often sued with the adverb just.
Examples:
- I was just about to leave when you telephoned.
- Oh, hi, John. We re just about to eat dinner.
To figure out:
Means:
To solve, to find a solution (S); to understand (S)
Examples:
- How long did it take you to figure out the answer to the math problem?
- I was never able to figure it out
To all it a day/night:
Means:
To stop working for the test of the day/night
Examples:
- Herb tried to repair his car engine all morning before he called it a day
and went fishing.
- We ve been working hard on this project all evening; let s call it a night.
To get sick, well, tired, busy, wet, etc.:
Means:
To become sick, well, tired, busy,
wet, etc.
This idiom consists of a combination of get and various adjectives.
Examples:
- Gerald got sick last week and has been in bed since that time.
- Every afternoon I get very hungry, so I eat a snack.
To get better, worse, etc.:
Means:
to become better, worse, etc.
Examples:
- Heather has been sick for a month, but now she is getting better.
- This medicine isn t helping me. Instead of getting better, I m getting
worse.
In time to:
Means:
Before the time necessary to do something
Examples:
- We entered the theater just in time to see the beginning of the movie.
- The truck was not able to stop in time to prevent an accident.
To get back:
Means:
To return (S)
Examples:
- Mr. Harris got back from his business trip to Chicago this morning.
- Could you get the children back home by five o clock?
As for:
Means:
Regarding, concerning (also: as to)
Examples:
- As for the money, we will simply have to borrow some more from the
bank.
- There is no doubt as to her intelligence; she s the smartest one in the
class.
To be over:
Means:
To be finished, to end (also: to be through)
This idiom is used for activities and events.
Examples:
- After the dance was over, we all went to a restaurant.
- The meeting was through ten minutes earlier than everyone expected.
On time:
Means:
Exactly at the correct time, punctually
Examples:
- I thought that Margaret would arrive late, but she was right on time.
- Did you get to work on time this morning, or did rush hour traffic delay
you?
All of a sudden:
Means:
Suddenly, without warning (also: all at once)
Examples:
- All of a sudden Ed appeared at the door. We weren t expecting him to
drop by.
- All at once Millie got up and left the house without any explanation.
To put out:
Means:
Extinguish, to cause to stop functioning (S)
To put out has the same meaning as to turn off (Lesson 1) for a light fixture.
Examples:
- No smoking is allowed in here. Please put out your cigarette.
- The fire fighters worked hard to put the brush fire out.
- Please put out the light before you leave. Okay, I ll put it out.
Idiom:
Few and far between:
Means:
Not frequent, unusual, rare
Examples:
- The times that our children get to stay up late are few and far between.
- Airplane travel is very safe because accidents are few and far between.
Idiom:
Out of order:
Means:
Not in working condition
Examples:
- The elevator was out or order, so we had to walk to the tenth floor of
the building.
- We couldn t use the soft drink machine because it was out of order.
Idiom:
To make friends:
Means:
To become friendly with others
Examples:
- Patricia is a shy girl and doesn t make friends easily.
- During the cruise Ronald made friends with almost everyone on the
ship.
Idiom:
In a hurry:
Means:
Hurried, rushed (also: in a rush)
Examples:
- Alex seems in a hurry; he must be late for his train again.
- She s always in a rush in the morning to get the kids to school.
Idiom:
To get over:
Means:
To recover from an illness; to accept a loss or sorrow
Examples:
- It took me over a month to get over my cold, but I m finally well now.
- It seems that Mr. Mason will never get over the death of his wife.
Idiom:
To catch cold:
Means:
To become sick with a cold of the nose for throat
Examples:
- If you go out in this rain, you will surely catch cold.
- How did she ever catch cold in such warm weather?
Idiom:
To go on:
Means:
To happen; to resume, to continue (also: to keep on)
Examples:
- Many people gathered near the accident to see what was going on.
- I didn t mean to interrupt you. Please go on.
- The speaker kept on talking even though most of the audience had left.
Idiom:
To make out:
Means:
To read or see clearly (S); to prepare a legal document, such as
a will, a check, etc. (S)
Examples:
- The letter was so poorly handwritten that I couldn t make out many of
the words.
- Harold, please make the check out to Acme Piano Company.
Idiom:
To die out:
Means:
Not to exist anymore; to be in the process of disappearing
Examples:
- Scientists still are not sure exactly why the dinosaurs died out.
- That strange, new style of dancing is slowly dying out.
Idiom:
To die down:
Means:
To decrease, to lessen in strength
Examples:
- The hurricane became a less serious tropical storm when its winds died
down.
- We let the fire in the fireplace die down and enjoyed watching the
embers as they glowed in the dark.
Idiom:
To build up:
Means:
To increase slowly, to make stronger gradually (S)
Examples:
- They built up their savings account so that they could buy a new house.
- The professional athlete exercises regularly to build her strength up.
Idiom:
To bring about:
Means:
To cause to happen
This idiom is used to indicate who or what caused something to come about.
Examples:
- John brought about the accident because of his carelessness.
- The heavy rains we have each spring bring about serious flooding.
Idiom:
To come about:
Means:
To happen
Examples:
- I didn t find any explanation in the newspaper about how the political
coup came about.
- The flood came about as a result of the heavy winter rains.
Idiom:
To stick up:
Means:
To point or place upwards (S); to rob (S)
Examples:
- You should put some water on your hair. It s sticking up in the back.
- A masked thief stuck up a grocery store in the neighborhood last night.
Idiom:
To check up on:
Means:
To examine with the purpose of determining condition (also:
to check on)
This idiom has the related noun form checkup.
Examples:
- The government always checks up on the background of employees who
are hired for sensitive military projects.
- The doctor wants me to have a thorough medical checkup as part of a
preventive medicine program
Idiom:
To buy up:
Means:
To buy the complete stock of (S)
Examples:
- Before the hurricane struck, residents bought up all the food and water
in local stores.
- The government plans to buy up all surplus grain in order to stabilize
the price.
Idiom:
To have one s heart set on:
Means:
To desire greatly, to be determined to
Examples:
- She has her heart set on taking a trip abroad. She s been thinking about
it for months.
- Todd has his heart set on going to medical school and becoming a
doctor.
Idiom:
To back out:
Means:
To drive a vehicle out of a parking space (S); to withdraw
support, to fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
Examples:
- The parking lot attendant had to back another car out before he could
get to mine.
- We were all ready to sign the contracts when one of the parties to the
agreement backed out.
Idiom:
To meet (someone) halfway:
Means:
To compromise with someone
Examples:
- Steve wanted $4,500 for his car, and Gwen offered $4,000. They met
each other halfway and agreed on $4,250.
- After a long process of give and take, the owners of the company agreed
to meet the workers halfway by providing some additional health
benefits but no wage increase.
Idiom:
To go wrong:
Means:
To fail, to result badly
Examples:
- Something went wrong with the engine, so we had to have the car
towed to a garage.
- Shawn should have been here over an hour ago; I m certain that
something went wrong.
Idiom:
To let on:
Means:
To reveal or tell what you know, to hint
Examples:
- We are going to the movies tonight and we don t want Doris to go. If
you see her, make sure not to let on.
- They asked me not to let on to Ted that we re planning the birthday
party; it s supposed to be a big surprise.
Follow me on Facebook.
Idiom:
To stand out:
Means:
To be easily visible or noticeable (also: to stick out)
This idiom is used for someone or something that is different from all others.
Examples:
- Her bright red hair makes her stand out from others in the group.
- Brandon Styles is a tall, distinguished gentleman who sticks out in any
crowd.
Idiom:
To keep up with:
Means:
To have current knowledge of; to understand as an
explanation
This idiom should be compared to the meaning of to keep up with in Lesson 17.
Examples:
- Evan keeps up with world affairs by reading a new magazine each week.
- I understand a lot of the Spanish language, but I can t keep up with the
fast conversation in this Mexican film
Idiom:
To keep up:
Means:
To prevent from sleeping (S); to continue maintaining (speed,
level of work, condition, etc.) (S)
Examples:
- Could you please turn down the TV volume? You re keeping up the
children.
- If we can keep up this speed, we should arrive there in about two hours.
- James is so proud of his daughter for getting mostly A s in school. He s
certain that she can keep up the good work.
- The Federal Reserve Bank hopes to keep the value of the dollar up at
least through the rest of the year.
Idiom:
To serve (someone) right:
Means:
To receive one s just punishment (S)
This idiom is usually used at the beginning of a sentence after the subject it.
Compare the following examples with those in the previous idiom above.
Examples:
- It serves Jonathan right to be fired from his job.
- It serves Terence right that none of his friends are willing to help him
move to a new apartment.
Idiom:
To get away:
Means:
To get free, to escape
Examples:
- We always try to get away from the noise and heat of the city for a
month or two each summer.
- No one knows how the suspected criminal got away from the police.
Idiom:
To burst out:
Means:
To depart quickly (also: to storm out); to act suddenly
For the second definition, this idiom is usually followed by a gerund form such
as laughing, crying, singing, etc.
Examples:
- Faye and Debbie were so angry at each other that one of them burst out
the front door of the house and the other stormed out the back door.
- It was so funny to see a little baby in the audience burst out crying
when the choir group burst out singing at the start of the recital.
Idiom:
To make sense:
Means:
To be sensible or reasonable
Examples:
- It makes sense to wait until a sunny day to visit the park together.
- That Jimmy ran away from home suddenly doesn t make sense to any
of us.
Idiom:
To cheer up:
Means:
To make happier, to feel less sad (S)
Examples:
- We all tried to cheer up the little boy when he stared to cry.
- After the death of Deanne s husband, it was difficult to cheer her up at
all
Idiom:
Give and take:
Means:
Compromise, cooperation between people
Examples:
- Give and take is an important element of a successful marriage.
- Most business negotiations involve give and take between the parties
involved.
Idiom:
To drop out of:
Means:
To stop attending; to withdraw from
This idiom can be made into the noun form dropout.
Examples:
- Some students drop out of secondary school early in order to get jobs.
However, such dropouts often regret their decision later in life.
- Two more baseball teams have dropped out of the youth league due to a
lack of players.
Idiom:
To set out:
Means:
To start traveling toward a place (also: to set off, to heat out); to
arrange or display neatly (also: to lay out) (S)
Examples:
- We set out for the top of the mountain at dawn. Unfortunately, as we
set off, it started to snow heavily, so we decided to head out again later.
- The children tried to set out the dishes on the table, but their dad had
to help to lay the dishes out properly.
Idiom:
To run into:
Means:
To meet someone unexpectedly; to crash or collide into (also: to
bump into)
Examples:
- It was a shock to run into an old friend from high school recently.
- The drunk driver was slightly injured when he ran into a telephone
pole.
Idiom:
To carry out:
Means:
To accomplish, to execute (S) (also: to go through with)
Examples:
- It s easy to write down a plan for losing weight, but much harder to
carry it out.
- Charles promised to go through with his plan to enroll in graduate
school and get an advanced degree.
Idiom:
To knock one self out:
Means:
To work very hard (sometimes too hard) to do
something
A reflexive pronoun must divided the idiom.
Examples:
_ She really knocked herself out trying to pass that difficult class.
_ Don t knock yourself out during practice. Save your strength for the
competition later.
Idiom:
To clean out:
Means:
To empty, to tidy by removing (S); to steal, to rob (S); to buy or
purchase all of something (S)
Examples:
_ It s time for you to clean out your closet so that you can store more
things in there.
_ A burglar entered my apartment while I was gone and cleaned me out.
He took over $200 in cash and jewelry.
_ Thousands of shoppers cleaned out the store that had gone bankrupt
and was selling all its remaining products at very reduced prices.
Idiom:
To stir up:
Means:
To cause anger (S); to create (trouble or difficulty) (S)
Examples:
_ The senseless murder of a small child stirred up the whole
neighborhood.
_ The boss is in a bad mood today so don t stir her up with any more
customer complaints.
Idiom:
To look out on:
Means:
To face, to overlook
Examples:
_ We really enjoy our new apartment that looks out on a river.
_ Their rear window looks out on a lovely garden.
Idiom:
To fool around:
Means:
To waste time (also: to screw around); to joke, not to be
serious
Examples:
_ The teacher got angry because her students were fooling around and
couldn t finish their work before the end of class.
_ Sometimes I wish that Pat would stop fooling around so much and talk
about something more interesting to others.
Idiom:
To get even with:
Means:
To seek revenge, to retaliate
This idiom is similar in meaning to to have it in for in Lesson 27.
Examples:
_ Bill has had it in for his boss for a long time. He told me he s planning
to get even with his boss by giving some company secrets to a
competitor.
_ I want to get even with Steve for beating me so badly in tennis last time.
The scores were 6-1 and 6-2.
Idiom:
To put an end to:
Means:
To cause to end, to terminate in a definite manner (also: to
do away with)
Examples:
- The dictatorial government put an end to organized opposition in the
country by making it illegal to form a political party.
- It may never be possible to do away with all forms of prejudice and
discrimination in the world.
Idiom:
To come to an end:
Means:
To end, to stop
This idiom is used with finally and never when some activity lasts too long.
Examples:
- The meeting finally came to an end at ten o clock in the evening.
- Even though my friend seemed to enjoy the movie, I thought that it
would never come to an end.
Idiom:
To beat around the bush:
Means:
To avoid discussing directly, to evade the issue
Examples:
- Our boss beats around the bush so much that no one in the office
knows exactly what he wants us to do.
- Instead of beating around the bush, Melinda explained her objection in
very clear terms.
Idiom:
To be up to (something):
Means:
To be doing something; to be planning or plotting
something, scheming
The first definition usually takes the form of a question.
Examples:
- Hi, Jake. I haven t seen you in a long time. What have you been up to?
- Those boys hiding behind the building must be up to something bad.
Idiom:
To dry out:
Means:
To lose, or cause to lose, moisture gradually (S); to stop drinking
alcohol in excess (also:
to sober up)
Examples:
- Martha hung the towel outside on the clothesline in order to dry it out.
- Some people go to alcohol recovery centers in order to dry out.
Idiom:
To dry up:
Means:
To lose, or cause to lose, all moisture (S); to be depleted
Examples:
- Every summer the extreme heat in this valley dries the stream up.
- All funds for the project dried up when the local government faced
budget crisis.
Idiom:
To slow down:
Means:
To go, or cause to go, more slowly (also: to slow up) (S)
This idiom can be used both with and without an object.
Examples:
- The car was going so fast that the motorist couldn t slow it down
enough to make the sharp curve.
- You re eating too fast to digest your food well. Slow down!
- Slow up a bit! You re talking so quickly that I can t catch on well.
Idiom:
To clear up:
Means:
To make understandable (also: to straighten out) (S); to
become sunny
Examples:
- The teacher tried to clear up our confusion about the meaning of the
difficult paragraph in the reading.
- It s rather cloudy this morning. Do you think that it will clear up later?
Idiom:
To throw up:
Means:
To erect or construct quickly (S); to vomit (S)
Examples:
- The Red Cross threw up temporary shelters for the homeless victims of
the earthquake.
- The ill patient is unable to digest her food properly, so she is throwing
all of it up.
Idiom:
To be cut out for:
Means:
To have the necessary skills or talent for
The idiom is most often used in the negative or in questions.
Examples:
- John is certainly not cut out for the work of a trial lawyer.
- Are you certain that you are cut out for that kind of job.
Idiom:
To catch on:
Means:
To become popular or widespread; to understand, to appreciate
a joke
This idiom is often used with the preposition to for the second definition.
Examples:
- Fashions of the past often catch on again among young people.
- When the teacher speaks quickly like that, can you catch on easily?
- His joke was very funny at the time, but when I told it to others later,
nobody seemed to catch on. I had to tell the joke again before anyone
could catch on to it.
Idiom:
To sell out:
Means:
To sell all items (S); to arrange for the sale of a company or
business (S)
Examples:
- That store is closing its doors for good and is selling out everything this
weekend.
- If my new business enterprise is successful, I ll sell it out for a few
million dollars.
Idiom:
To buy out:
Means:
To purchase a business or company (S); to purchase all of a
person s chares or stock (S)
This idiom is similar in meaning to take over in Lesson 23.
Examples:
- Larger companies often buy out smaller companies that are having
financial difficulties.
- Mr. Lee has been trying for come time to buy his partner out so that he
can control the company by himself.
Idiom:
To fade away:
Means:
To diminish gradually in time or distance
Examples:
- The memory of that unpleasant experience has slowly faded away.
- The music of the band gradually faded away as the parade passed
down the street.
Idiom:
To dry up:
Means:
To lose, or cause to lose, all moisture (S); to be depleted
Examples:
_ Every summer the extreme heat in this valley dries the stream up.
_ All funds for the project dried up when the local government faced
budget crisis.
Idiom:
To slow down:
Means:
To go, or cause to go, more slowly (also: to slow up) (S)
This idiom can be used both with and without an object.
Examples:
_ The car was going so fast that the motorist couldn t slow it down
enough to make the sharp curve.
_ You re eating too fast to digest your food well. Slow down!
Slow up a bit! You re talking so quickly that I can t catch on well.
Idiom:
To fade away:
Means:
To diminish gradually in time or distance
Examples:
- The memory of that unpleasant experience has slowly faded away.
- The music of the band gradually faded away as the parade passed
down the street.
Idiom:
To beat around the bush:
Means:
To avoid discussing directly, to evade the issue
Examples:
_ Our boss beats around the bush so much that no one in the office
knows exactly what he wants us to do.
_ Instead of beating around the bush, Melinda explained her objection in
very clear terms.
Idiom:
To be up to (something):
Means:
To be doing something; to be planning or plotting
something, scheming
The first definition usually takes the form of a question.
Examples:
_ Hi, Jake. I haven t seen you in a long time. What have you been up to?
_ Those boys hiding behind the building must be up to something bad.
Idiom:
To dry out:
Means:
To lose, or cause to lose, moisture gradually (S); to stop drinking
alcohol in excess (also: to sober up)
Examples:
- Martha hung the towel outside on the clothesline in order to dry it out.
_ Some people go to alcohol recovery centers in order to dry out.
Idiom:
To put an end to:
Means:
To cause to end, to terminate in a definite manner (also: to
do away with)
Examples:
_ The dictatorial government put an end to organized opposition in the
country by making it illegal to form a political party.
_ It may never be possible to do away with all forms of prejudice and
discrimination in the world.
Idiom:
To come to an end:
Means:
To end, to stop
This idiom is used with finally and never when some activity lasts too long.
Examples:
_ The meeting finally came to an end at ten o clock in the evening.
_ Even though my friend seemed to enjoy the movie, I thought that it
would never come to an end.
Idiom:
To beat around the bush:
Means:
To avoid discussing directly, to evade the issue
Examples:
_ Our boss beats around the bush so much that no one in the office
knows exactly what he wants us to do.
_ Instead of beating around the bush, Melinda explained her objection in
very clear terms.
Idiom:
To make sense:
Means:
To be sensible or reasonable
Examples:
- It makes sense to wait until a sunny day to visit the park together.
- That Jimmy ran away from home suddenly doesn t make sense to any
of us.
Idiom:
To set out:
Means:
To start traveling toward a place (also: to set off, to heat out); to
arrange or display neatly (also: to lay out) (S)
Examples:
- We set out for the top of the mountain at dawn. Unfortunately, as we
set off, it started to snow heavily, so we decided to head out again later.
- The children tried to set out the dishes on the table, but their dad had
to help to lay the dishes out properly.
Idiom:
To sell out:
Means:
To sell all items (S); to arrange for the sale of a company or
business (S)
Examples:
- That store is closing its doors for good and is selling out everything this
weekend.
- If my new business enterprise is successful, I ll sell it out for a few
million dollars.
Idiom:
To buy out:
Means:
To purchase a business or company (S); to purchase all of a
person s chares or stock (S)
This idiom is similar in meaning to take over in Lesson 23.
Examples:
- Larger companies often buy out smaller companies that are having
financial difficulties.
- Mr. Lee has been trying for come time to buy his partner out so that he
can control the company by himself.
Idiom:
To buy up:
Means:
To buy the complete stock of (S)
Examples:
- Before the hurricane struck, residents bought up all the food and water
in local stores.
- The government plans to buy up all surplus grain in order to stabilize
the price.
Idiom:
To have one s heart set on:
Means:
To desire greatly, to be determined to
Examples:
- She has her heart set on taking a trip abroad. She s been thinking about
it for months.
- Todd has his heart set on going to medical school and becoming a
doctor.
Idiom:
To back out:
Means:
To drive a vehicle out of a parking space (S); to withdraw
support, to fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
Examples:
- The parking lot attendant had to back another car out before he could
get to mine.
- We were all ready to sign the contracts when one of the parties to the
agreement backed out.
Idiom:
To take on:
Means:
To employ, to hire (S); to accept responsibility for, to undertake
Examples:
_ That factory is taking a lot of new employees on for its new production
line.
_ Would you be willing to take on the task of organizing the next
company picnic?
Idiom:
To stick it to:
Means:
To cheat, to take unfair advantage of (also: to rip off, the
ripoff)
Examples:
_ Be careful in doing business with that salesperson. He ll stick it to you
at the first opportunity.
_ The car dealership certainly ripped me off when I bought this car. It
has caused me trouble constantly.
_ You paid over $400 for that jacket? What a ripoff!
Idiom:
To stick to:
Means:
To adhere to (a promise), to follow or obey (a set of rules,
procedures, etc.)
Examples:
_ He made a promise to his wife to quit smoking and drinking, and so far
he has stuck to it.
_ All organizations expect their employees to stick to established work
rules and procedures.
_ If you try hard to stick to your principles, then you ll be able to live up
to them.
Idiom:
To live up to:
Means:
To fulfill (a standard or promise)
Examples:
_ It was clear that the lazy student would never live up to his family s
expectations.
_ It surprised us that the car salesperson lived up to all the promises he
made.
Idiom:
To cut corners:
Means:
To economize, to save money
Examples:
_ Most students live on limited budgets and have to cut corners
whenever possible.
_ The Livingstons have nine children, so it is essential that they cut
corners at all times.
Idiom:
To stand up for:
Means:
To insist on, to demand; to defend, to support
Examples:
_ If you don t stand up for your rights in court, the lawyers will try to
stick it to you.
_ Frank stood up for his friend, who was being put down by other
teenagers nearby.
Idiom:
To draw the line at:
Means:
To determine to be unacceptable, to refuse to consider
Examples:
_ I don t mind helping him with his homework, but I draw the line at
writing a term paper for him.
_ The conference organizers tried to accommodate the needs of the
various interest groups, but they drew the line at extending the
conference by two day.
Idiom:
To clean out:
Means:
To empty, to tidy by removing (S); to steal, to rob (S); to buy or
purchase all of something (S)
Examples:
_ It s time for you to clean out your closet so that you can store more
things in there.
_ A burglar entered my apartment while I was gone and cleaned me out.
He took over $200 in cash and jewelry.
_ Thousands of shoppers cleaned out the store that had gone bankrupt
and was selling all its remaining products at very reduced prices.
Idiom:
To fix up:
Means:
To repair or put back in good condition (S); to arrange a date or an
engagement for another person (S)
Examples:
_ Instead of buying an expensive new home, we decided to buy an older
home and fix it up ourselves.
_ Since my visiting friend didn t have a date for dinner, I fixed her up
with a male friend of mine. They got along very well together.
Idiom:
To keep after:
Means:
To remind constantly, to nag
Examples:
_ Lynn always has to keep after her children about cleaning up their
rooms and doing chores around the house.
_ Lon is so forgetful that it s necessary to keep after him about every little
thing.
Idiom:
Dry run:
Means:
Rehearsal, practice session
Examples:
_ The college president requested a dry run of the graduation ceremony
in order to ensure that all aspects went smoothly.
_ Before the manager present the reorganizational plans to the board of
directors, he did several dry runs of his presentation.
Idiom:
To be in:
Means:
To be popular or fashionable; to be available at one s work or home
Examples:
_ Most young people tend to want anything that is in at the time, but a
few don t care about current trends.
_ Could you please tell me when Mrs. Zachary will be in? I d like to talk to
her soon.
Idiom:
To goof off:
Means:
To waste time, to be idle
Examples:
_ Some of the workers in our office always goof off when the boss is out.
_ On Saturday afternoons, I like to go to a movie or just goof off at home.
Idiom:
To play by ear:
Means:
To play music that one has heard but never read (S); to
proceed without plan, to do spontaneously (S)
The pronoun it is often used with the second definition.
Examples:
_ That pianist can play most popular music by ear. She never needs to
read sheet music.
_ My husband wanted to plan our trip carefully, but I argued that it was
more fun if we played it by ear.
Idiom:
To be out:
Means:
To be unpopular or no longer in fashion; to be away from one s
work or home
Examples:
_ These days, designer jeans are in and long skirts are out.
_ I m sorry, Mr. Jensen is out at the moment.
Could I take a message?
Idiom:
To talk back to:
Means:
To answer in a rude manner, to speak to disrespectfully
Examples:
_ Billy, if you talk back to me like that once more, you re going to spend
the rest of the day in your room.
_ The school principal had to reprimand the child for talking back to her
teacher.
Idiom:
To be had:
Means:
To be victimized or cheated
Examples:
_ When the jeweler confirmed that the diamonds that the woman had
purchased abroad were really fake, she exclaimed, "I ve been had!"
_ The angry customer complained about being overcharged at the store,
asserting that this was the third time that he had been had.
Idiom:
To be in (someone s) shoes:
Means:
To be in another person s position, to face the
same situation as another person
Examples:
_ If I were in your shoes, I wouldn t take too many classes this semester.
_ When his boss finds out about that accounting error, I wouldn t want to
be in his shoes.
Idiom:
To get out of line:
Means:
To disobey or ignore normal procedures or rules (also: to
step out of line)
Examples:
_ When a child gets out of line in that teacher s class, she uses the old-
fashioned method of making the child sit in the corner of the room.
_ Any employee who steps out of line by coming to work in an
unacceptable condition will be fired.
Idiom:
To give in:
Means:
To surrender, to stop resisting
Examples:
_ Completely surrounded by our soldiers, the enemy finally gave in.
_ Management gave in to the strikers
demands and agreed to a
shortened work week.
Idiom:
To take down:
Means:
To remove from an elevated place (S); to write what is said, to
note
Examples:
_ We should take the pictures down from the wall and clean off the dust.
_ The secretary took down everything that was said at the meeting.
Idiom:
To give (someone) a big hand:
Means:
To clap one s hands in applause, to applaud
Examples:
_ After the talented new vocalist had sung her number, the audience
gave her a big hand.
_ Should we give a big hand to each beauty contestant is as she is
introduced, or should we wait until all the introductions are finished?
Idiom:
To give (someone) a hand:
Means:
To assist, to aid, to help (also: to lend
someone a hand) (S)
Examples:
_ Would you give me a hand lifting this heavy box?
_ When Terry s car broke down at night on the highway, no one would
stop to lend her a hand.
Idiom:
To take the bull by the horns:
Means:
To handle a difficult situation with
determination
This idiom is usually used when someone has been postponing an action for
some time and finally wants or needs to resolve it.
Examples:
_ After three years of faithful service, Jake decided to take the bull by the
horns and ask his boss for a raise.
_ Vic has been engaged to Laura for a long time now, and I know that he
loves her. He should take the bull by the horns and ask her to marry
him.
Idiom:
To get out from under:
Means:
To restore one s financial security, to resolve a
difficult financial obligation
Examples:
_ After years of struggling to get ahead, the young couple finally got out
from under their debts.
_ The ailing company, succeeding in obtaining the necessary cash, was
able to get out from under its financial burdens.
Idiom:
By all means:
Means:
Certainly, definitely, naturally (also: of course); using any
possible way or method
Examples:
_ If the Johnsons invite us for dinner, then by all means we have to
return the invitation. Of cause, we don t have to invite their children,
too.
_ In order to ensure its survival, the ailing company has to obtain an
infusion of cash by all means.
Idiom:
To back up:
Means:
To drive or go backwards (S); to defend, to support (S); to return
to a previous thought
Examples:
_ I couldn t back my car up because there was a bicycle in the driveway
behind me.
_ Ursula asked her friends to back her up when she went to court to fight
a ticket for an illegal lane change on the highway.
_ Wait a minute. Could you back up and say that again?
Idiom:
Touch and go:
Means:
Risky, uncertain until the end
Examples:
_ The complicated medical operation was touch and go for several hours.
_ The outcome of the soccer final was touch and go for the entire match.
Idiom:
To give off:
Means:
To release, to produce, to release
Examples:
_ When water boils, it gives off stream.
_ The flowers in this garden give off a strange odor.
Idiom:
To work out:
Means:
To exercise; to develop, to devise (a plan) (S)
Examples:
_ Jane works out at the fitness center every other morning before going
to school.
_ The advertising department worked out a plan to increase company
sales.
_ We couldn t come up with a good plan for solving the problem, but we
agree to work it out at a later date.
Idiom:
To wear off:
Means:
To disappear gradually
Examples:
_ My headache isn t serious. It will wear off after an hour or so.
_ The effect of the painkilling drug didn t wear off for several hours.
Idiom:
On the whole:
Means:
In general, in most ways (also: by and large)
Examples:
_ He is, on the whole, a good student.
_ By and large, I agree with your suggestions.
Idiom:
To break off:
Means:
To terminate, to discontinue (S)
Examples:
_ After war began, the two countries broke off diplomatic relations.
_ Elsa and Bob were once engaged, but they have already broken it off.
Idiom:
To leave (someone or something) alone:
Means:
Not to disturb, to stay away
from (S) (also: to let alone)
Examples:
_ Leave the baby alone for a while and she may go to sleep.
_ After the cat had scratched Peter twice, he let it alone.
Idiom:
To hold out:
Means:
To endure, to be sufficient; to survive by resisting; to persist in
one s efforts
The first definition for to hold out has the opposite meaning of the second
definition for to give out (seventh idiom, this lesson).
Examples:
_ If our supply of food and water holds out, we plan to camp here for
another week. However, whenever it gives out, we ll have to leave.
_ That nation s troops cannot hold out much longer against the superior
forces of the enemy.
Idiom:
To wear down:
Means:
To become worn gradually through use (also: to wear away,
to wear through) (S)
Compare with to wear out (to become useless from wear) in Lesson 8.
Examples:
_ If you drag your feet while you walk, you ll wear down your shoes
quickly.
_ The pounding of ocean waves against the coast gradually wears it away.
_ Johnny has worn through the seat of his pants.
_ Helga threw away that dress because she had worn it out.
Idiom:
To wait up for:
Means:
To wait until late at night without going to bed
Examples:
_ Don t wait up for me. I may be back after midnight.
_ We waited up for our son until two o clock in the morning before we
called the police.
Idiom:
To bring back:
Means:
To return a bought or borrowed item (also: to take back) (S)
To bring back is used when you are speaking at the place that speaking at
another place.
Examples:
_ Ma am, our store policy is that you can bring back the dress as long as
you have your sales receipt.
_ You can borrow my car if you promise to bring it back by six o clock.
_ I have to take this book back to the library today.
Idiom:
To bring out:
Means:
To show or introduce (to the public) (S); to make available (S)
Examples:
_ Most automobile companies bring out new models each year.
_ My mother brought some snacks out for my friends and me to have.
Idiom:
To lay off:
Means:
To abstain from, stop using as a habit; to release or discharge from
a job (also: related idiom: to let go) (S)
Examples:
_ If you re trying to lose weight, you should lay off sweet things.
_ If business continues to be slow, we will have to lay off some workers.
_ It will be necessary to let the youngest employees go first.
Idiom:
To hold over:
Means:
To extend, to keep for a longer time (S)
Examples:
_ They are going to hold over that movie for another week because so
many people are coming to see it.
_ Let s hold discussion of this problem over until our next meeting.
Idiom:
To let up:
Means:
To slacken, to lessen in intensity; to relax or ease one s effort (also:
related idiom: to take it easy)
Examples:
_ If the rain doesn t let up soon, we won t be able to have our picnic.
_ When Jane is working, she never lets up for a moment.
_ Jane should take it easy or she ll get exhausted.
Idiom:
To give out:
Means:
To distribute; to become exhausted or depleted (also: to run out)
Examples:
_ An usher stood at the door of the theater giving out programs.
_ I couldn t finish the ten-mile race because my energy gave out.
_ Jeff plans to stay in Las Vegas and gamble until his money runs out
Idiom:
To have it out with:
Means:
To quarrel with, to confront
Examples:
_ I am going to have it out with Jack about all the times that he has told
us lies.
_Ben had it out with his roommate about coming back home so late and
making a lot of noise.
Idiom:
To have it in for:
Means:
To want revenge on, to feel hostile towards (also: to hold a
grudge against)
Examples:
_ Martina expects to lose her job because her boss has had it in for her
for a long time.
_The teacher has held a grudge against Al ever since the time that he
insulted her in front of the class.
Thanks for learning.
Comments
Post a Comment