Showing 24 of 3,697 lessons.
Abide by
Accept or follow a decision or rule
“We have to ABIDE BY what the court says.”
Account for
To explain
“They had to ACCOUNT FOR all the money that had gone missing.”
Ache for
Want something or someone a lot
“My partner's been away for a fortnight- I am ACHING FOR her.”
Act on
To take action because of something like information received
“The police were ACTING ON a tip from an informer and caught the gang red-handed.”
Act out
Perform something with actions and gestures.
“They ACTED OUT the story on stage.”
Act up
Behave badly or strangely
“My computer's ACTING UP; I think I might have a virus.”
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.”