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stand out 2007-10-28 16:50:00 BASIC:1. to appear different from the group. It is neither negative nor positive- that is taken from the context. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: A man in a suit stands out at the beach.If you make your company stand out, you will definitely get more business.
make something up 2007-10-13 07:08:00 BASIC:1. to create using your imagination. When this is used for children- it is usually for fun and playing, for adults it is for lying. It is separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: My son just made up a new game today, but I didn't understand the rules.Don't tell the boss why we are late! Just make something
up.2. to be permitted to take a test or some sort of work after the date it was supposed to be done. This is usually for children who are in school, but can be for other classes, and possibly for work. It is usually if the person missed the class for a very good reason like being ill.examples: When I had the flu, Mrs. Brown gave me a whole week to make up my Algebra.ADVANCED:1. when the preposition to is added to the end, it is used when you try to repair and injury, insult or disappointment. The object of the preposition to is the person who was injured.examples: I was very angry that my friend forgot my birthday. Then she said she would make it up
get rid of 2007-10-09 17:30:00 BASIC:1. to discard or give away. In this case it is not necessarily placed in the garbage. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: Now that the weather is cold I have to get rid of my son's summer clothes because they won't fit him next year.ADVANCED:1. Well it is probably more for the movies- but it can be used in regard to a person as well. In this case it would mean they had the person killed.examples: The drug dealers got rid of their competition.
sit down 2007-10-08 09:22:00 BASIC:1. The action of lowering from a standing position to a sitting one. It sit is used without a preposition there is no movement. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: Please sit down on the couch and be comfortable.I'm very tired. I have to sit down.ADVANCED:note: It is thought that a person can handle bad news better sitting. So asking someone to sit down may be a warning that what you are going to tell them is either very serious or unpleasant.1. asking someone to sit down for the purpose of discussing something serious or some bad news. This is often used when an authority will be disciplining someone.examples: I will sit my son down tonight and discuss his poor grades in school.
turn around 2007-10-07 07:34:00 BASIC:1. to either move art or the whole body toward the direction behind the person. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: It is impolite to turn around when you are watching a play.2. for movement- to go in the opposite direction. This can also be used when the person is operating a vehicle. It is not usually separated.examples: You missed the road. Please turn around and then go right at the next street.When I go for a walk I usually go to the end of the street and then turn around.ADVANCED:1. to change the direction of something moving in an undesirable direction. This can be used for business when a company is doing poorly. It is separable.examples: The new CEO turned the company around in only two years. Now it is very profitable.2. this can also be used when a person is moving in an undesirable direction by doing things which are harmful. This is more of an expression and if an object is used here it is usually his life.examples: When the c
see through 2007-10-06 08:59:00 BASIC:1. something which is transparent. This can be used as an adjective, noun, or even a verb. It is not separable.examples: If a white t-shirt gets wet you can see through it.The curtain is so sheer, it is see through.ADVANCED:1. This can also be used as a verb about a person. It means that the person is being deceptive, but does not succeed in deceiving you. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: The words of the politician seem wonderful, but I can see through him.
throw away 2007-10-05 09:15:00 BASIC:1. to discard, to place in the garbage. It is separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: Would you please throw away
the wrapper from this chocolate?
stand down 2007-10-04 07:47:00 BASIC:1 This is like retreating but more specifically to stop moving forward. It is usually used in law enforcement or the military. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: When the police saw the hostages, they gave the order for the officers to stand down.
pick out 2007-10-03 07:51:00 BASIC:1. to separate or choose something or someone from a group. It is separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: I had trouble picking out something to wear today.I told my son to pick a toy out at the store to buy.
look forward to 2007-10-02 08:12:00 BASIC:1 This is a polite expression which means you are excited about an upcoming event. It is usually used to refer to meeting with someone. It is not separable. It should always have an object. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: I am looking forward to meting our new client today.Aren't you looking forward tio vacation?
look over 2007-10-01 07:57:00 BASIC:1 to check something for flaws or errors before submitting it. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: You should always look over your work before you give it to your boss.
help oneself 2007-09-28 21:23:00 BASIC:1. to get something without assistance, when it is normally expected. It is often said of food or drink. It can be acceptable or not to do so depending on the situation. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. If the object is mentioned it should be with the preposition to.examples: When I am not looking, my son helps himself to the cookies.Please help yourself to a drink.ADVANCED:1 this can be a slang for stealing.examples: The man lost his job because his boss found he was helping himself to the merchandise.
give up 2007-09-27 16:03:00 BASIC:1. to quit or stop doing something, usually a habit. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: When will you ever give up smoking? You know it's bad for you.2. to release something which is valuable to the person in some way.examples: It was hard to persuade my husband to give up his favorite pair of jeans. But they were tattered.ADVANCED:1. to submit secret information, usually under duress.examples: After police interrogation, the criminal gave up his co-conspirators.
get by 2007-09-26 08:37:00 BASIC:1. to manage to pass through a small area. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: Should I move my chair or do you have enough space to get by?There was a car accident on the road, but there was enough space to get by.ADVANCED:1. to manage with very little of something needed. This is usually used in the case of necessities like food, water or money. If the thing which is needed is mentioned after the idiom it should be with the preposition on.examples: We only brought enough food to get by on our camping trip.How do you get by on so little money?2. This can also be used to emphasize that there is not a surplus of something. It this case it is not necessarily a small supply.examples: I don't make a lot of money, but I get by.
break down 2007-09-25 19:59:00 BASIC:1. to stop working. This idiom is usually used for vehicles. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: I had to walk home because my car broke down on the freeway.ADVANCED:1. This idiom can also be used when talking about a person who experiences an emotional release after restraining for a time. It refers to being under a situation of stress or tragedy.examples: The wife was still in shock at the funeral. She finally broke down a few days later and cried.
get up 2007-09-24 07:51:00 BASIC:1. to rise either from a sitting or laying position. This is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated. examples: You should excuse yourself before getting up from the table.I woke up at seven o'clock this morning, but didn't get up for another ten minutes.2. This can be used to cause someone to rise. Here it must be separated with the object between the verb and the preposition. In this case, it is usually used for arising out of sleep.examples: Billy, please get your sister up. The two of you are late for school. I just got the dog up. It's time for his walk.ADVANCED:1. to accumulate enough of something for a task. It is possible to separate it, with the object between the verb and the preposition, but it is not usually used this way. The article the should be placed before the object. It can also be emphasized by replacing the article the with the word enough.examples: I couldn't get enough courage up to ask the boss for more money.How did you get up the energy to go to work
drop by 2007-09-23 09:18:00 BASIC:1 to visit a place briefly, usually with little or no notice. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: Did the boss drop by your office today? My mother dropped by yesterday to see how we are doing.
burn out 2007-09-22 20:11:00 BASIC:1. to break from overuse. This is used mainly for things which use electricity to operate. It is usually used for something which can be repaired. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: I have to replace the light bulb in the bedroom. It burned out last week.2. the action of a fire finishing. This is when it extinguishes without any assistance.examples: It is a very small candle so it will burn out soon.ADVANCED:1. This idiom can be used for the exhausted condition. It usually refers to being overworked on a task. If the task is mentioned it should be with the preposition on. It is not used as often as a verb as it is with the ed ending as an adverb or adjective.examples: I can't study for this exam anymore. I'm burned out on Chemistry.I need a vacation. This extra project has me burned out.
speak up 2007-09-20 15:14:00 BASIC:1. to increase the volume when speak
ing. This is usually used as a request. It does not take an object. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: Could you please speak up? I can't hear you. ADVANCED:1.to voice an opinion or ask a question when there is some hesitation.examples: I wish I had spoken up when the professor asked for questions. I'm very confused by this chapter.He impressed the boss when he spoke up at the meeting. Everyone else was too nervous to express their opinions.
watch out 2007-09-18 18:35:00 BASIC:1. to use caution, or look for danger. If the object is mentioned the preposition for should be used. It is not separable. It is not usually conjugated.examples: Watch out when crossing this street. There's a lot of traffic. ADVANCED:1. This idiom can also be used to caution someone about another person. In this case it is not necessarily a physical threat.examples: Watch out for Bob. He wishes he was dating your girlfriend.SEE ALSO: look out. The two have similar meanings. however, watch
out is a little stronger than look out.
look up 2007-09-15 15:36:00 BASIC:1. to find information on something or someone from a reference source. It is separable. When including the reference source, use the preposition in for publications. Also, use it when you name the source. Be sure to have the object either in between the verb and the preposition or after it, but before the source. This is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: If you don't know a word, you should look it up in the glossary of your textbook.Could you look up "disintegration" for me? I don't know what that means.2. When using the Internet or the web as the reference source the appropriate preposition is on. When using the word online as the reference point it is not necessary to include a preposition.examples: I will look up the directions on the web while you look for the car keys.I haven't looked John up online yet.I don't know that band so I looked them up on Wikipedia.3. It can be used in the simple form meaning to look in an upward direction.examples: Look up. T
hold on 2007-09-10 16:39:00 BASIC:1. to brace oneself physically. If the object used for bracing is mentioned it should have the preposition to before it. It is not separable. This is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: Hold on. Jill drives very fast.You should hold on to the railing. This staircase is very old.2. to stop or wait for a very brief time. As above, it is not separable.examples: Could you hold on for a moment? I have another call.Hold on. I'm not sure I understand what you're saying.ADVANCED:1. to keep or refuse to release something or someone In this case the object should be mentioned using the prepositions to.examples: You should hold on to your new girlfriend. She's very sweet.Could you please hold on to my purse while I put the bags in the car?2. It can be used for intangible concepts like faith and beliefs.examples: Even as her illness worsened, she still held on to the hope that a cure would be found. You should always hold on to your dreams.
take out 2007-09-09 20:49:00 BASIC:1. to remove something. It is separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: Could you please take the garbage out?Before I beginning cooking I take all the ingredients out of the cabinet.2. It is also used as a compound word in noun or adjective form when referring to getting food from a restaurant without eating at the establishment.examples: I like to get takeout from the diner on the corner on Friday nights.ADVANCED:1. If someone is going somewhere with another person and they are paying this idiom can be used to express that. In this case the out can also be dropped. When the location is mentioned it should be with the preposition to.examples: When we visit my parents they usually take us out to dinner.2. (slang) a swift, aggressive victory. This could also be used in a situation of violence.examples: The boxer took his opponent out in the first round.That grocery store has such low prices it usually takes out the competition.
stand up 2007-09-08 09:06:00 BASIC:1. This is the moving action of rising. Generally, if the preposition up is not used, there is no movement. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.examples: When the judge enters the courtroom everyone stands up.ADVANCED:1. When the preposition for is added it can be used for defending someone. It is usually defending with words rather than physical defense. The object must be mentioned.examples: The little boy stood up for his younger brother when the other kids teased him.
all along 2007-09-06 08:23:00 BASIC:1 Since the beginning. It is not separable.examples: I knew the ending of the movie all along
since I read the book.
out of order 2007-11-06 08:03:09 BASIC:
1. not working. This idiom is usually used for public services or machines. A good rule to use would be if you can use it without any assistance. It is not separable.
examples: The restrooms in this restaurant are out of order. You will have to go next door.
Is the vending machine in the lounge still out of order?
look into 2007-11-04 10:06:04 BASIC:
1. to investigate. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.
examples: I will have to start looking into preschools for my son for next year.
get into 2007-11-03 11:58:05 BASIC:
1. this idiom is used for entry to a car. It requires the object. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.
examples: I usually have to help my three year old get into the car.
ADVANCED:
1. This idiom can be used for either delving into a something or being enthusiastic about it.
examples: I got into blogging about a year ago.
I just couldn’t get into the movie. I tried but the plot was too confusing.
turn in 2007-11-01 12:12:31 BASIC:
1 to submit a document. This idiom can be used for anything from school papers to forms for business. It is separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.
examples: I was sick so I didn’t turn in my report on time. I hope I don’t get a low grade for that.
stand out 2007-10-28 16:50:00 BASIC:
1. to appear different from the group. It is neither negative nor positive- that is taken from the context. It is not separable. It is a phrasal verb and should be conjugated.
examples: A man in a suit stands out at the beach.
If you make your company stand out, you will definitely get more business.
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