Showing 50 of 2,452 (page 4).
Act upon
To take action because of something like information received
“The police were ACTING UPON a tip-off.”
Add on
Include in a calculation
“You have to ADD the VAT ON to the price they give.”
Add up
To make a mathematical total
“We ADDED UP the bill to check it was correct.”
Add up to
Have a certain result
“Trains delays are getting worse and with the high fares, it all ADDS UP TO misery for the commuters.”
Agree with
Affect- usually used in the negative to show that something has had a negative effect, especially is it makes you feel bad
“I feel terrible- that food didn't AGREE WITH my stomach.”
Aim at
To target
“The magazine is AIMED AT teenagers.”
Aim for
To plan for something; Intend to achieve
“When I had my last meeting with Richard we were AIMING FOR 5pm, but it was delayed by half an hour.”
Allow for
Include something in a plan or calculation
“You should ALLOW FOR delays when planning a journey.”
Allow of
Make possible, permit
“The rules don't ALLOW OF any exceptions.”
Amount to
Total
“She is lazy, doesn't try hard and will not AMOUNT TO much in life.”
Amp up
Increase the power, excite, arouse
“The people are AMPED UP about the referendum.”
Angle for
Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting
“He's been ANGLING FOR an invitation, but I don't want him to come.”
Answer back
To reply rudely to someone in authority
“Her mother was shocked when she started ANSWERING her BACK and refusing to help.”
Answer for
Be held responsible for a problem
“The government should be made to ANSWER FOR their failure to sort out the problem.”
Argue down
Beat someone in a debate, discussion or argument
“They tried to ARGUE DOWN the proposal.”
Argue out
Argue about a problem to find a solution
“If we can't ARGUE our differences OUT, we'll have to take them to court.”
Ask about
Ask how someone is doing, especially professionally and in terms of health
“He ASKED ABOUT my father.”
Ask after
Enquire about someone's health, how life is going
“Jenny rang earlier and ASKED AFTER you, so I told her you were fine.”
Ask around
Ask a number of people for information of help
“I have no idea, but I'll ASK AROUND at work and see if anyone can help.”
Ask for
To provoke a negative reaction
“You're ASKING FOR trouble.”
Ask in
To invite somebody into your house
“'Jon's at the door.' 'ASK him IN.”
Ask out
To invite someone for a date
“He wanted to ASK her OUT but was too shy.”
Ask over
Invite
“They have ASKED us OVER for drinks on Friday.”
Ask round
Invite someone
“We ASKED John ROUND for diner.”
Auction off
Sell something in an auction
“They AUCTIONED OFF their property as they were heavily in debt.”
Back away
Retreat or go backwards
“The crowd BACKED AWAY when the man pulled a knife.”
Back down
Retract or withdraw your position or proposal in an argument
“She refused to BACK DOWN and was fired.”
Back into
Enter a parking area in reverse gear
“He prefers to BACK his car INTO the garage.”
Back off
Retreat
“The police told the protesters to BACK OFF.”
Back out
Fail to keep an arrangement or promise
“Don't BACK OUT with payments.”
Back out of
Fail to keep an agreement, arrangement
“She BACKED OUT OF the agreement at the last minute.Exit a parking area in reverse gear( | International English)”
Bag out
Criticise
“Don't bag out BAG OUT Australian English.”
Bail out
Save, rescue
“The government had to BAIL OUT the airline because it was losing so much money.”
Bail out of
Pay a bond to release someone from jail
“I must BAIL my drunken brother OUT OF jail.”
Bail out on
Stop supporting someone when they are in trouble
“Everybody BAILED OUT ON him when the scandal broke.”
Bail up
Talk to someone and delay them
“I was late because he BAILED me UP on the phone and wouldn't shut up.”
Ball up
Confuse or make things complicated
“The new project has BALLED me UP- I have no idea what to do.”
Balls up
Spoil, ruin
“He BALLSED the presentation UP.”
Bang about
Move in a place making a lot of noise
“He's BANGING ABOUT in the kitchen.”
Bang around
Move in a place making a lot of noise
“I can hear him BANGING ABOUT upstairs.”
Bang on
Talk at great length
“He BANGED ON for half an hour but no one was listening.”
Bang on about
Keep talking about something
“He's always BANGING ON ABOUT football.”
Bang out
Play a musical instrument loudly
“She BANGED the tune OUT on the piano.”
Bang up
Put someone in prison
“The judge BANGED him UP for eight years.”
Bank on
Count or rely on
“I'm BANKING ON your help; I can't do it alone.”
Bargain down
Persuade someone to drop the price of something they're selling
“I BARGAINED her DOWN to half what she originally wanted.”
Bargain for
Expect something to happen (usually negative)
“I hadn't BARGAINED FOR so many people coming.”
Bargain on
Expect something to happen (usually negative)
“I hadn't BARGAINED ON him coming.”
Barge in
Enter a place and interrupt
“He keeps BARGING IN and asking stupid questions when I'm trying to work.”
Barge into
Enter a place and interrupt people rudely
“They BARGED INTO my office without knocking and started talking even though I was on the phone.”