A
abide by
respect or obey. (the law, a decision, a rule)
If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules.
account for
explain, give a reason
I hope you can account for the money you spent!
add up
make sense, seem reasonable
Her story just doesn't add up.
advise against
recommend not doing something
The doctor advised him against carrying heavy loads.
agree with
have the same opinion as somebody else.
I agree with you. I think she deserves the award too.
aim at
point something in the direction of
a target
The policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker.
allow for
take into consideration,
include in a calculation
You'd better leave early to allow for traffic jams.
answer back
reply rudely
Don't answer back your mother!
appeal to
1) plead or make an earnest request
2) be attractive or interesting
1) The organizers appealed to the crowd to stay calm.
2) A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to me.
apply for
make a formal request for something
(job, permit, loan etc.)
He applied for the job he saw advertised in the newspaper.
avail (oneself) of
take advantage of something (an opportunity)
When the company is privatized, you should avail yourself of
the opportunity and buy some shares.


B
back away
move backwards, in fear or dislike
When he saw the dog, he backed away.
back down
withdraw, concede defeat
Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish the building.
back up
1) give support or encouragement
2) make a copy of (file, program, etc.)
1) If I tell the boss we've got too much work, will you back me up?
2) It is recommended to back up all files in a secure location.
bail out
1) pay money to secure someone's release
2) rescue from financial difficulties
1) When he was arrested, his family refused to bail him out.
2) The government bailed out the bank.
bank on
base your hopes on someone/something
Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your help.
beef up
improve, make more substantial
He beefed up his presentation with diagrams and statistics.
black out
faint, lose consciousness
When he fell off the horse he blacked out.
block off
Separate using a barrier.
The area was blocked off during the demonstration.
blow up
1) explode;
2) be destroyed by an explosion
1) The terrorists said the bomb would blow up at 9 o'clock.
2) The car blew up but luckily there was nobody in it.
boil down to
be summarized as
The problem boils down to a lack of money.
boot up
start a computer by loading an
operating system or program.
Just give my a few minutes to boot up the computer.
break away
escape from captivity
A few horses broke away from the paddock.
break down
1) go out of order, cease to function
2) lose control of one's emotions
1) John's car broke down so he had to take the bus.
2) The parents broke down when they heard the bad news.
break into
enter by force
Burglars broke into the house around midnight.
break out
start suddenly
Rioting broke out as a result of the strike.
break out of
escape from a place by force
Three prisoners broke out of jail.
break up
come to an end (marriage, relationship)
After her marriage broke up, Emma went to live in London.
bring up
raise (a child)
She stopped working in order to bring up her children.
brush up on
improve, refresh one's knowledge of something
Mary had to brush up on her Spanish before going to South America.
bump into
meet by accident or unexpectedly
Pedro bumped into his English teacher at the supermarket.
burn out
1) stop (something) working
2) become exhausted from over-working
1) The fuse has burnt out.
2) Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down.
butt in (on sthg)
interrupt impolitely
It's rude to butt in on a conversation like that!


C
call back
return a phone call
I'll call you back as soon as possible.
call off
cancel
The meeting was called off because of the strike.
call on/upon sby
formally invite or request
I now call upon the President to address the assembly.
calm down
become more relaxed, less angry or upset
He was angry at first but he eventually calmed down.
carry on
continue
He carried on gardening in spite of the rain.
carry out
1) do something as specified
(a plan, an order, a threat)
2) perform or conduct (test, experiment)
1) The plan was carried out to perfection.
2) Tests are carried out to determine the efficiency of a new drug.
carry over
postpone until later
As regards holidays, can you carry over any days from one year
to the next?
check in
register at a hotel or airport
For security reasons you have to check in two hours before your flight.
check out
1) pay one's bill and leave (a hotel)
2) investigate
1) Is Mr. Blair still at the hotel? No, he checked out this morning.
2) I don't know if the address is still valid. I'll check it out.
clam up
refuse to speak
When the teacher arrived she clammed up.
clamp down on
act strictly to prevent something
The government has decided to clamp down on smoking in public places.
close down
stop operating (company, restaurant, cinema).
When the factory closed down, the employees lost their jobs.
come across
1) find by chance
2) appear, seem, make an impression
1) Julie came across some photographs of her grandparents in the attic.
2) The candidate came across as a dynamic person during the interview.
come forward
present oneself
The police have asked any witnesses to come forward.
come up against
be faced with or opposed by
The project came up against a lot of criticism.
conk out
1) stop working
2) stop or fall asleep (from exhaustion)
1) The car conked out on the motorway.
2) He was so exhausted, he conked out in front of the TV.
count on
rely or depend on (for help)
I'm counting on the taxi driver to find the theatre.
cross out
remove by drawing a line through
In some exercises, you are asked to cross out the incorrect word.
cut down on
reduce in number or size
The doctor told him to cut down on cigarettes.
cut out
1) remove using scissors
2) stop doing something
1) She cut out a picture in a magazine.
2) I'm going to cut out eating between meals.


D
deal with
handle, take care of (problem, situation)
The manager is good at dealing with difficult customers.
die down
calm down, become less strong
When the applause died down, she started to sing.
do without
manage without
The shops are closed so we'll have to do without sugar.
drag on
last longer than expected
We expected a short speech but it dragged on and on!
draw up
write (contract, agreement, document)
An agreement was drawn up and signed by the two parties.
dress up
1) wear elegant clothes
2) disguise oneself
1) Do people dress up to go to the opera in your country?
2) Children love to dress up at Halloween.
drop in
visit, usually on the way somewhere
I sometimes drop in to see my grandparents on my way home from school.
drop off
1) deliver someone or something
2) fall asleep
1) I'll drop you off at the bus stop if you like.
2) Granddad often drops off in front of the TV.
drop out
leave school without finishing
She decided to go to art school then dropped out after the first term.


E
ease off
reduce, become less severe or slow down
(pain, traffic, work)
After Christmas the workload generally eases off.
end in
finish in a certain way; result in
Their marriage ended in divorce.
end up
finally reach a state, place or action
If he continues his misconduct he'll end up in prison.
even out
1) eliminate differences of opinion.
2) become level or regular
1) After a long discussion they managed to even out their differences.
2) The road was evened out to make it safer.


F
fall through
fail; doesn't happen
Our planned boat trip fell through because of the storm.
figure out
understand, find the answer
I'm trying to figure out how to assemble the bookshelves.
fill out
complete (a form/an application)
Please fill out the enclosed form and return it as soon as possible.
find out
discover or obtain information
I'm going to call the cinema to find out what time the film starts.
focus on
concentrate on something
The advertising campaign will focus on the quality of the product.
figure out
understand; find a solution
We'll have to figure out a way to deliver the goods faster.


G
get along (with)
be on good terms; work well with
I get along (well) with my mother-in-law.
get at
imply
What exactly are you trying to get at?
get away
escape
The robbers got away in a black car.
get by
manage to cope or to survive
It's difficult to get by on a low salary.
get in
enter
How did the burglar get in?
get into (+noun)
enter
How did the burglar get into the house?
get off
1) leave (bus, train, plane)
2) remove
1) You should get off the bus at Trafalgar Square.
2) She can't get the stain off her sweater.
get on
board (bus, train, plane)
You can pay when you get on the bus.
get on with (something)
continue to do; make progress
Be quiet and get on with your homework.
get on (well) with (somebody)
have a good relationship with
I get on very well with my colleagues.
get out
leave
How did he get out?
get out of (+noun)
leave
How did he get out of the house?
get out of
avoid doing something
Some husbands manage to get out of doing any housework.
get over
recover from (illness, disappointment)
My grandmother had pneumonia but she got over it.
get rid of
eliminate
It's difficult to get rid of old habits.
get together
meet each other
Let's get together for lunch on day.
get up
rise, leave bed
I usually get up at 7 o'clock.
give up
stop doing something
Sarah gave up smoking 5 years ago.
go through
experience
Pete went through a lot of pain after the accident.
grow up
spend one's childhood; develop; become an adult
He grew up in a small village in the mountains.


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hand * back +
return
Is the teacher going to hand back our tests today?
hand * down +
pronounce formally
The president is going to hand his decision down on health care tonight.
hand * down +
give as an inheritance
When my clothes got too small for me as a child, I handed them down to my sister.
hand * in +
submit
I have to hand in an offer by March 12.
hand * out +
distribute
We should hand the concert fliers out at school.
hand * over +
relinquish control of
Hand your car keys over. You're too drunk to drive.
hang around +
stay in a place for fun ( inf.)
Maria and Salvador usually hang around the beach after school.
hang around
stay in a place for fun
Those guys just hang around all day.
hang * up +
suspend (clothes on a hanger)
You can hang your jacket up in the front closet.
hang up
put down the telephone receiver
Don't hang up. I'm going to change phones.
hang out +
stay in a place for fun (inf.)
Let's go hang out at the mall tonight.
hang out
stay in a place for fun
What are you doing? - - I'm just hanging out.
have * on +
wear
Do you have your hiking boots on?
have * over
invite guests to your home
Why don't we have Mr. and Mrs. Jones over for dinner tonight.
hear from +
receive news from (a letter, an e-mail)
Have you heard from Steve lately?
hear of +
know about something or somebody
Have you heard of chocolate covered ants?
hit on +
find on accident
I hit on the idea while watching the Simpsons show.
hit on +
flirt with
Jay's friend Marc was trying to hit on my sister last night.
hold * back +
restrain
The police held the demonstrators back while the politicians entered the building.
hold back
not allow to advance in school
The teacher held Frank back a year, so he couldn't enter fifth grade.
hold * off +
restrain
Mr. Johnson held the dog off while we crossed the yard.
hold off on +
delay
We should hold off on making dinner until your parents arrive.
hold on
grasp tightly
Hold on tight! The roller coaster is about to take off.
hold on
tell someone to wait on the telephone
Hold on a minute. I'll get Carol.
hold on to +
grasp tightly
Make sure you hold on to the hand rail as you walk down the stairs.
hold out
not give in, continue to resist
Stop holding out and tell us where you found all of these old records.
hold out against +
not give in, resist
They held out against enemy attack.
hold * up +
delay (a flight, traffic);
The accident held traffic up for an hour.
hold * up +
rob (a bank, a person) with a weapon
Five men held the bank up yesterday.
hook * up +
make the electrical connections required for a machine or information service
Can you hook up the fax machine for me?


你错了，我才入门，没看到正学得起劲不？
I
iron out
resolve by discussion, eliminate differences
The meeting tomorrow will be an opportunity to iron out difficulties.


jack up +
to raise
We need to jack up the car before we change the tire.
joke around
to be humorous
Mike is always joking around at work.
jump in
enter a conversation
Feel free to jump in at any moment while we are talking.
jump to +
make a quick, poorly thought out decision
You shouldn't jump to conclusions.


keep * around
have handy, have accessible
I always keep a dictionary around to translate new words.
keep at +
not give up (an activity), to persevere
You should keep at your studies.
keep * away
prevent access to, hold back
Keep the kids away from the cookies.
keep * back
maintain a safe distance, cause to maintain a safe distance
Keep back! The burning building is about to collapse.
keep * down
not vomit, not throw up, keep in one's stomach
If I ate that, I down know if I could keep it down.
keep * in
keep in a particular place, have something in a specific location
When I am not using it, I keep my passport in this drawer.
keep * off
prevent from stepping or climbing on to something
Keep the cat off the couch.
keep on
continue
He kept on talking after everybody asked him to stop.
keep * out
prevent from entering
Keep the dog out of the garden; he keeps digging up the flowers.
keep * over
cover something with, put something above
I keep a tarp over my bicycle at night to prevent it from getting wet.
keep to +
continue, persist in (an activity)
Everybody said she would never finish the puzzle, but she kept to it until it was done.
keep up
stay on the required schedule
You have to keep up if you want to work here.
keep * up +
continue
You are doing a great job! Keep it up.
keep up with +
stay on schedule with (a person, the workload, homework)
I have so much reading that I can't keep up with the writing exercises.
kick back
sit or lie back (to relax)
After work, I like to kick back in front of the TV and relax.
kick in
begin taking effect
The medicine takes one hour to kick in.


lay away +
save for the future
Why don't you lay away your wedding outfit?
lay down +
establish (laws, rules)
Lori lays down the law in her class. English only!
lay in on +
scold or criticize severely
My mom really laid in on me when I got home at 4:00 in the morning last night.
lay into +
scold or criticize severely
I saw Reto's mom lay into him when he came home late last night.
lay * off +
suspend someone from a job (during a slow period)
The company was losing money, so they had to lay off 100 workers.
lay * out +
arrange
Why don't we lay the pieces of the table out before we put it together.
leave * out +
not include, omit
Why did your parents leave you out of their vacation plans?
let * down
disappoint
I felt let down when I didn't receive a birthday card from my sister.
let * down
lengthen (pants in sewing)
My uncle is a tailor, so he can let your pants down.
let * out
release
I am happy my brother was let out of prison early.
let * out
make bigger (in sewing)
I need to let out this skirt because I have gained weight.
let up
weaken in intensity
I told her NO a thousand times, but she won't let up.
lie down
rest, recline
I need to lie down before we go out tonight.
lie down on +
rest, recline ( on a couch, bed)
I'm going to lie down on the sofa for a while.
lie with +
be decided by
Whether or not you can go to the party lies with your father.
light * up +
illuminate
Let's get some candles to light this room up.
light up +
to smoke
Do you have to light up another cigarette? I thought you were trying to cut down.
live * down +
live in a way that a shameful or embarrassing event is forgotten
Jose will never live down singing that song at the karaoke bar.
live on +
survive from
I could live on bread and cheese.
live up to +
keep a standard
It would be hard to live up to her parent's expectations. They are so demanding.
look after +
take care of (a child, a house, a pet)
When my sister goes on vacation, I look after her dog.
look back on +
to remember nostalgically
When I look back on my childhood, I often feel angry.
look down on +
see as inferior
She's so conceited. She looks down on everybody else.
look for +
to seek or search for
I'm looking for my keys. Have you seen them?
look forward to +
anticipate with pleasure
I am looking forward to traveling to New York next year.
look into +
investigate
The police are looking into the murder.
look on
observe as a spectator
Everybody just looked on as the two men fought.
look out
be careful, pay attention, heed a certain danger
Look out, there's a black widow spider on the wall.
look * over +
examine, review
When I'm camping, I look my shoes over before I put them on.
look * up +
search for (in a dictionary)
I takes time to look up new vocabulary words.
look * up +
locate and visit
If you ever travel to California, you should look me up.
look up to +
respect, admire someone
He looks up to his father.


make * out
decipher
I can't make out your handwriting. What does this say?
make * out +
write a check or other document
Who should I make this check out to?
make out
succeed
He really made out in the stock market last year.
make out
progress
How is your son making out in his new job?
make out
kiss passionately
I saw Benno and Isabelle making out in the movie theater last night!
make out with +
kiss someone passionately
Did you make out with Sally?
make * over
do again
The teacher made me do my homework over.
make * up +
invent ( a story)
Don't believe anything she says. She always makes things up.
make * up +
complete what was missed
Fortunately, my professor let me make up the exam I missed yesterday.
make * up +
put on cosmetics
I takes me 10 minutes to make my face up.
make up
reconcile
You two have been friends for so long that I think you should make up.
make up for +
compensate for
Allen made up for being late by getting me flowers.
mix * up +
confuse
I sometimes mix the verb tenses up.
mix * up +
blend
We need to mix up these different kinds of nuts before we put them in a bowl.
mix * up +
make lively (a party)
Let's mix up this party with a little disco music.