Vocabulary
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Showing 24 of 3,697 lessons.
Spoil or ruin(separable)
“They MESSED UP the discussions and the contract fell through.”
Become involved in something damaging or dangerous(inseparable)
“Don't MESS WITH the controls on that machine or you might break it.”
Give people harsh punishments or treatment(separable)
“They METED OUT savage penalties to anyone who broke the law.”
Walk around without going anywhere
“There were a lot of people MILLING AROUND waiting for the bus.”
Not do something enjoyable or rewarding(separable)
“It'll be great; you'll be MISSING OUT if you don't come.”
Lose a chance, fail to achieve(inseparable)
“Trudy MISSED OUT ON the promotion.”
Confuse(separable)
“I always MIX those two sisters UP because they look so like each other.”
Make a model of something to show or test it(separable)
“They MOCKED UP an example to show us what they would look like.”
Leave ('moggie off' is also used.)
“We MOGGIED OFF early.”
Not be serious
“The police officer told the drunks to stop MONKEYING AROUND and go home quietly.”
Spend time doing little or nothing
“I MOOCHED ABOUT the whole afternoon because I didn't feel like working.”
“I MOOCHED AROUND the house all day.”
Resolve a problem(separable)
“He was left to MOP UP the mess after they resigned.Kill or capture the last few enemy soldiers after a victory.”
Move around being miserable
“She didn't get the job and has been MOPING ABOUT all afternoon.”
“He's been MOPING AROUND since his girlfriend left him.”
Increase over time
“My debts MOUNTED UP while I was at university.”
Speak angrily about something
“I always get angry and start MOUTHING OFF when the news is on TV.”
Make progress, often after a pause or delay
“The construction can MOVE AHEAD now that permisson has been granted.”
Tell someone to move from a place
“The police told the people watching to MOVE ALONG.”
Leave the area where you have been living
“I MOVED AWAY when the factory shut down.”
Stop doing or using something to change to something different(inseparable)
“They're MOVING AWAY FROM Windows and are using Linux.”
Move a student to a lower level(separable)
“He was finding the course too difficult so they MOVED him DOWN.”
Start living in a place
“The house was empty for ages, but some new tenants MOVED IN a few weeks ago.”
Approach, often stealthily(inseparable)
“As he watched, the hyenas began to MOVE IN ON the hapless wildebeest.”
