Showing 50 of 2,452 (page 41).
Spirit away
Remove someone secretly from a place
“They SPIRITED her AWAY before the police arrived.”
Spirit off
Remove someone secretly from a place
“They SPIRITED him OFF before any trouble started.”
Spit it out
An informal way of telling someone to say something they are unwilling to say
“Hurry up, SPIT IT OUT! I can't wait all day for the truth.”
Spit out
Say something angrily
“He SPAT her name OUT when he saw her arrive.”
Splash down
Land in the sea (space capsules)
“Apollo 13 SPLASHED DOWN after a harrowing flight.”
Splash out
Spend a lot of money on something that is not essential
“We need to SPLASH OUT before someone notices.”
Splash out on
Spend a lot of money on something
“I SPLASHED OUT ON a new camera.”
Split up
Divide into groups
“The teacher SPLIT the class UP into groups of four.”
Spoil for
Really want something
“He's been SPOILING FOR an argument all day.”
Sponge down
Clean something with a sponge
“I'll SPONGE it DOWN before putting it away.”
Sponge off
Accept free food and support without any shame or qualms
“Let’s go to New York, we can always SPONGE OFF my brother there.”
Sponge on
Accept or get money without doing any work
“A lot of people are SPONGING ON the state by claiming benefits they're not entitled to.”
Spring back
Return to original position after being bent, forced or when pressure is removed
“The lock SPRINGS BACK when the key is turned.”
Spring for
Pay for, often generously
“She is going to SPRING FOR all their medical bills.”
Spring from
Appear suddenly and unexpectedly
“He SPRANG FROM the bushes when I walked past.”
Spring on
Surprise someone
“They SPRUNG a birthday party ON me at work.”
Spring up
Appear suddenly
“Charity shops are SPRINGING UP in the recession.”
Spruce up
To smarten, make something neat and tidy
“We SPRUCED the flat UP before we put it on the market.”
Spur on
Encourage someone to continue
“The thought of the bonus SPURRED her ON to complete the work on time.”
Square away
Finish or sort something out
“There are few things I have to SQUARE AWAY before I can leave.”
Square off
Confront someone or prepare to fight them
“The two drunks SQUARED OFF and the barman had to intervene before a fight broke out.”
Square off against
Confront someone or prepare to fight them
“They SQUARED OFF AGAINST the police when they arrived.”
Square up
Pay back a debt
“The companies are SQUARING UP for a fight.”
Square up to
Accept responsibility or guilt
“They need to SQUARE UP TO what they did wrong if we are to make any progress.”
Square with
Match, conform to
“What he said doesn't SQUARE WITH what the others said.”
Squeeze up
Get more people into a space than normal or comfortable
“Four of us had to SQUEEZE UP in the back of the car.”
Stack up
Put things in a pile
“I STACKED UP the boxes.”
Stack up against
Be as good as something
“The new model doesn't STACK UP AGAINST the old one.”
Staff up
Employ someone for something specific
“They haven't STAFFED the project UP yet.”
Stamp out
Get rid of something
“The government has started a campaign to STAMP OUT drugs in schools.”
Stand about
Spend time in a place waiting or doing nothing or very little
“We STOOD ABOUT drinking coffee before the lecture.”
Stand around
Spend time in a place waiting or doing nothing or very little
“We STOOD AROUND for an hour waiting for them to turn up.”
Stand aside
Leave a position so that someone else can take it
“The prime minister should STAND ASIDE and let a new leader head the party.”
Stand back
Keep a distance from something
“We STOOD BACK while he lit the firework.”
Stand by
Support someone
“He STOOD BY her throughout the trial as he believed her to be innocent.”
Stand down
Leave a job or position so that someone else can take it
“The minister announced her intention to STAND DOWN at the next election.”
Stand for
Accept or tolerate behaviour
“I'm not going to STAND FOR their rudeness any longer.”
Stand in for
Substitute someone temporarily
“She had to STAND IN FOR the editor while he was on holiday.”
Stand off
Move or remain at a distance
“The protesters STOOD OFF when the police arrived.”
Stand up for
Defend, support
“He's the kind of manager who will always STAND UP FOR his staff.”
Stand up to
Keep your principles when challenged by an authority
“She STOOD UP TO the police when they tried to corrupt her.”
Stare down
Look at someone until they cannot look at you
“He was angry but I STARED him DOWN and he left without saying much.”
Start off
Make something start
“They STARTED OFF the meeting with an attack on our performance.”
Start off on
Help someone to start a piece or work or activity
“I STARTED her OFF ON the project then left her to finish it.”
Start on
Begin to use or consume
“It's time to START ON that bottle of wine.”
Start on at
Criticise or nag
“He STARTED ON AT me for being late.”
Start out as
Begin life, existence or a career
“What had STARTED OUT AS a protest quickly turned into a full-blown rebellion.”
Start out to
Intend, plan
“I didn't START OUT TO become the boss- it just happened.”
Start over
Begin something again
“It's a mess- I think we should just START OVER.”
Start up
Open a business
“The firm STARTED UP on a shoestring budget.”