Vocabulary
3,697Entries
Showing 24 of 3,697 lessons.
Smarten, make something neat and tidy(separable)
“We SPRUCED the flat UP before we put it on the market.”
Encourage someone to continue(separable)
“The thought of the bonus SPURRED her ON to complete the work on time.”
Finish or sort something out(separable)
“There are few things I have to SQUARE AWAY before I can leave.”
Confront someone or prepare to fight them
“The two drunks SQUARED OFF and the barman had to intervene before a fight broke out.”
Confront someone or prepare to fight them(inseparable)
“They SQUARED OFF AGAINST the police when they arrived.”
Pay back a debt
“The companies are SQUARING UP for a fight.”
Accept responsibility or guilt(inseparable)
“They need to SQUARE UP TO what they did wrong if we are to make any progress.”
Match, conform to(inseparable)
“What he said doesn't SQUARE WITH what the others said.”
Get more people into a space than normal or comfortable
“Four of us had to SQUEEZE UP in the back of the car.”
Put things in a pile(separable)
“I STACKED UP the boxes.”
Be as good as something(inseparable)
“The new model doesn't STACK UP AGAINST the old one.”
Employ someone for something specific(separable)
“They haven't STAFFED the project UP yet.”
Get rid of something(separable)
“The government has started a campaign to STAMP OUT drugs in schools.”
Spend time in a place waiting or doing nothing or very little
“We STOOD ABOUT drinking coffee before the lecture.”
“We STOOD AROUND for an hour waiting for them to turn up.”
Leave a position so that someone else can take it
“The prime minister should STAND ASIDE and let a new leader head the party.”
Keep a distance from something
“We STOOD BACK while he lit the firework.”
Support someone(inseparable)
“He STOOD BY her throughout the trial as he believed her to be innocent.”
Leave a job or position so that someone else can take it
“The minister announced her intention to STAND DOWN at the next election.”
Accept or tolerate behaviour(inseparable)
“I'm not going to STAND FOR their rudeness any longer.”
Substitute someone temporarily(inseparable)
“She had to STAND IN FOR the editor while he was on holiday.”
Move or remain at a distance(separable)
“The protesters STOOD OFF when the police arrived.”
Be extraordinary and different
“She STOOD OUT from the crowd in selection and was offered the job.”
Move from a sitting or lying down to a vertical position(separable)
“Everybody STOOD UP when the judge entered the court.”
