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Play up to
Flatter someone
“I'm PLAYING UP TO my boss at the moment because I want the promotion.”
Play upon
Exploit a weakness
“They are PLAYING UPON people's concerns to get their way.”
Play with
Touch and move something to occupy your hands
“He can't stop PLAYING WITH his beard.”
Plead out
Plead guilty to get a reduced sentence or fine
“The CEO PLEADED OUT and blamed the CFO for the fraud.”
Plough back
Re-invest money you have made into a business
“We PLOUGHED BACK all the profits to grow the company.”
Plough into
Collide into at speed
“The bus skidded and PLOUGHED INTO the bus stop.”
Plough on
Continue doing something you don't want to
“It was really boring, but we PLOUGHED ON.”
Plough through
Eat a big meal
“We PLOUGHED THROUGH all seven courses.”
Plough up
Break the surface of soil
“The tractor PLOUGHED UP the field so they could sow the seed.”
Plow back
Re-invest money you have made into a business
“We PLOWED BACK all the profits to grow the company.”
Plow into
Collide into at speed
“The bus skidded and PLOWED INTO the bus stop.”
Plow on
Continue doing something you don't want to
“It was really boring, but we PLOWD ON.”
Plow through
Eat a big meal
“We PLOWED THROUGH all eight courses.”
Plow up
Break the surface of soil
“How's she PLOWwING UP after the news?”
Pluck at
Pull or fiddle with something nervously
“He was PLUCKING AT his cuffs during the interview.”
Pluck up
Muster, acquire, gather
“They PLUCKED UP the courage to complain.”
Plug away
Do something with determination despite any difficulties
“She found it very difficult at first, but kept PLUGGING AWAY until she mastered it.”
Plug in
Connect machines to the electricity supply
“He PLUGGED the TV IN and turned it on full blast.”
Plug into
Be involved with, get information about
“They're PLUGGED INTO the underground music scene.”
Plump down
Put something in a place without taking care
“He PLUMPED his bag DOWN and kicked his shoes off.”
Plump for
Choose
“I PLUMPED FOR the steak frites.”
Plump up
Make something like a cushion bigger and softer by shaking it
“I PLUMPED UP the pillow and lay down.”
Plump yourself down
Sit down heavily
“She PLUMPED HERSELF DOWN next to me and started asking me what had happened.”
Poke about
Move things around or search in a casual way to try to find something
“I POKED ABOUT in my CD collection to see if I could find it.”
Poke around
Move things around or search in a casual way to try to find something
“I POKED AROUND in my desk to see if the letter was there.”
Polish off
Finish, consume
“She POLISHES OFF half a bottle of gin every night.”
Polish up
Improve something quickly
“I need to POLISH UP my French before I go to Paris.”
Pony up
Pay for something
“I had to PONY fifty dollars UP for the meal.”
Poop out
Get too tired to do something
“I was going to write my essay, but I POOPED OUT and went to bed instead.”
Poop out on
Fail to keep an appointment
“We were supposed to meet yesterday, but she POOPED OUT ON me at the last minute.”
Pootle along
Travel in a leisurely way
“We were POOTLING ALONG at thirty miles an hour.”
Pop down
Travel somewhere to visit
“Why don't you POP DOWN and see us during the holidays?”
Pop down to
Go somewhere quickly to do something, often to buy or get something
“I am POPPING DOWN TO the shops to get some coffee.”
Pop in
Visit for a short time
“He POPPED IN for a coffee on his way home.”
Pop off
Talk loudly, complain
“He's always POPPING OFF when things don't suit him.”
Pop out
Go out for a short time
“I'm just POPPING OUT to the shops. Do you need anything while I'm out?”
Pop up
Appear, like windows and boxes opening on a computer screen.
“The dialogue box POPPED UP up when I pressed Enter.”
Pore over
Read, look at or study carefully
“She PORED OVER the report looking for mistakes.”
Potter about
Spend time doing little things for pleasure
“On Saturday mornings, I POTTER ABOUT the garden if the weather's fine.”
Potter around
Spend some time doing little things for pleasure
“I POTTERED AROUND, sorting out my CDS and a few other things.”
Pour down
Rain hard
“It POURED DOWN all day so we had to remain indoors.”
Pour forth
Emerge from a place in large numbers
“Useless statistics POUR FORTH from him.”
Power down
Cut the electricity supply to a computer or electronic device
“I POWERED DOWN my computer and went for lunch.”
Power off
Cut the electricity to a computer or device to turn it off
“You mustn't POWER it OFF while it is updating.”
Power up
Turn a computer or electronic device on so that it is ready to use
“I POWERED UP my laptop and started work.”
Prattle on
Talk too much
“Geoff just PRATTLED ON instead of giving a straight answer.”
Press ahead
Continue with something
“They PRESSED AHEAD with the elections despite the violence.”
Press for
Apply pressure to get permission or to obtain something
“The workers are PRESSING FOR better pay and conditions.”
Press forward with
Continue or go ahead with a project, process, plan, etc
“The government are PRESSING FORWARD WITH the new law.”
Press into
Bring or force into use
“When the line was breached, reserve troops were PRESSED INTO service.”