Owner: Common American Idioms URL:http://americanidioms.wordpress.com Join Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:03:24 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: a reference fo intermediate and advanced students of english as a second language Site statistics:Click here
take care of 2007-12-22 08:35:56 BASIC: 1. to care for a person. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: I do not work outside the home. Taking care of my three year old son is my job.
ADVANCED: 1. to be responsible for something.
examples: The administrative assistant takes care of the schedules for the employees.
2. to reslove or solve a situation.
examples: Don’t worry about the confusion with that last order. I will take care of it.
mix up 2007-12-21 08:35:59 BASIC:1. to stir some material. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: After you pu the flour and sugar together, you have to mix them up.
2. to confuse two different things.
examples: Many students of English mix up their idioms.
It can be hard to fix a mixup.
go off 2008-03-01 18:24:07 BASIC: to ring out as in an alarm. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: The alarm went off at eight, but I didn’t get out of bed until eight thirty.
ADVANCED: to express a tirade of anger. In this case the preposition on should be used if expressing the [...]
tear down 2008-02-29 19:08:42 BASIC: to remove something, particularly something which is either hung or is a structure. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: I was so surprised by how much my hometown has changed. I wonder when they tore down the old school.
hold out for 2008-02-25 19:18:13 ADVANCED: to wait for a particular better option to become available; to not settle. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: The young woman doesn’t want to marry just anyone. She wants to hold out for the right man.
I don’t want to buy a new phone yet. I’m holding [...]
break up 2008-02-22 04:05:55 BASIC: to separate. This idiom is often used for relationships. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: When did you break up with your boyfriend?
There’s a lot of ice on the car. I need a tool to break it up.
stay away 2008-02-21 04:08:05 BASIC: to not come near; remain away. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: I’ve had a cold. I think you should stay away so you don’t get it.
2. to abstain from something, especially something usually used or a logic choice. In this case, the object should be mentioned [...]
hold out on 2008-02-20 04:14:44 ADVANCED: 1. to hide something from someone; to not be forthcoming especially with a supply or positive factor. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: I found that there was an emergency supply hidden in the closet. He was holding out on me.
[...]
clear out 2008-02-19 04:23:25 BASIC: to evacuate all the people or items in a particular confined space. It is a phrasala verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: How long did it take the fire fighters to clear out the office building?
I quit my job. Now I am clearing out my desk.
[...]
top off 2008-02-18 11:13:14 BASIC: to refill something which was not empty. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: The server asked if you would like her to top off your coffee.
Since the price of gas is low today I think I will top off the tank.
clean through 2008-02-18 08:37:50 BASIC: 1. to purge; to sort things and discard the unnecessary, old etc. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: My desk gets so messy I have to clean through it once a month.
dry out 2008-02-17 09:06:17 BASIC: 1. the action of something which was moist or holding water becoming dry. This is not used for something which is a container for liquid. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: You must put the clay back in the tube or it will dry out.
In the hot sun, [...]
sell out 2008-03-23 01:30:49 BASIC: 1. to sell the entire stock of something. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable. If the object is used after the idiom it should be with the preposition “of”
examples: The store sold out of tickets for the concert in only a few hours.
ADVANCED: 1.this is an expression [...]
play out 2008-03-21 07:13:16 ADVANCED: the direction a situation progresses in without intervention. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. The subject is usually not a person but a situation. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not usually separated.
examples: Do you let conflicts between children play out, or do you intervene immediately?
[...]
knock down 2008-03-20 01:27:00 BASIC: to demolish a construction like a building. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: I thought the kid in the orange sweater wanted to play, but he only knocked down my tower of blocks.
2. to strike a person in such a way that they are no longer upright.
examples: The [...]
sit it on 2008-03-19 07:10:02 ADVANCED: to join for one session, a class, meeting, etc. In this case the person is not a member of the group. It is usually used for the purpose of observation. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: The principal of the school sat in on my teacher’s class [...]
step in 2008-03-18 05:09:53 ADVANCED: 1. to assume control, or be a substitute. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: When the training is complete, the new vice president can step in.
2. to add to a situation, as a facilitator.
examples: Does your partner want to step in and add anything to the presentation?
[...]
care for 2008-03-17 04:52:20 BASIC: 1. to have a strong emotional attachment or feelings of love for. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: How much do you care for your new boyfriend?
2. to provide help, and assistance to a person who needs it.
examples: Nurses care for the sick and injured.
[...]
wash up 2008-03-16 07:05:17 BASIC: to wash a limited area (usually the hands, but possibly the face also) for a specific reason. This idiom may be used after becoming dirty, or before some action where it is necessary to be clean.
examples: I remind my child to wash up after using the bathroom. He also has to remember to wash [...]
be around 2008-03-15 04:38:53 BASIC: 1. to be accessible or available. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: The training is finished, but I will be around if you have any questions.
tie off 2008-03-14 06:56:27 BASIC: to secure something by tying it. This is usually used for something which has edges which might fray or separate if it is not done. Knots may be used in this case. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: When I cut the strings on my hooded sweatshirt, [...]
send out 2008-03-13 05:18:23 BASIC: to mail or ship something or a group of things. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: She sent her mother’s birthday card out late.
cheer up 2008-04-08 18:23:04 BASIC: 1.to make someone happier who is sad or depressed. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is separable.
examples: My husband usually tries to cheer me up when I am sad.
I went shopping today to cheer up.
2. this idiom can also be used for an environment.
examples: New curtains will certainly cheer up [...]
catch up 2008-04-26 07:06:55 BASIC: 1. to either get to the point where another person or others are when lagging. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. It is not separable.
examples: My husband is walks faster than I do, sometimes he has to wait for me to catch up.
2. to get some kind of work to the [...]
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