Occur to: Enter one’s mind: Didn’t it OCCUR TO you to help me when you saw how much trouble I was in? Open up: Start to talk freely about something: She hates to OPEN UP and discuss her feelings. Operate on: Perform surgery: She was OPERATED ON for eight hours. Opt for: Choose: I OPTED…
Nail down: Succeed in getting, achieve: They are having trouble NAILING DOWN the contract. Name after: Give someone a name to remember another person: I was NAMED AFTER my uncle who died in the war. Narrow down: Remove less important options to make it easier to choose: I am not sure which university to apply…
Make it: Arrive or get a result: I thought you weren’t coming, so I was really pleased you MADE IT. Man up: Behave with courage or conviction: She told her anonymous critics to MAN UP and speak publicly. Mark down: Give a student a lower grade for a particular reason: Students who gave obviously rehearsed…
Lash down: Fall heavily (rain): The rain was LASHING DOWN all day and the roads were flooded. Lay down: Establish rules or procedures: The rules of the sport were LAID DOWN early in the nineteenth century. Lean on: Put pressure on someone to get them to do what you want: The government has denied LEANING…
Keep at: Continue with something difficult: She found the course hard but she KEPT AT it and completed it successfully. Keep from: Control yourself, refrain: I couldn’t KEEP FROM arguing with her. Key on: Target, focus on (sport): We will KEY ON the opposing team’s lack of skills on defense. Kick about: Discuss: We KICKED…
Jack in: Quit, give up: I JACKED my job IN because my boss refused to give me a raise. Jazz up: Make something more interesting or attractive: The show was getting stale so they JAZZED it UP with some new scenes. Jerk off: Waste time doing unimportant things: You should get your work done and…
Iron out: Remove small problems or irregularities: The management team IRONED OUT the tax problems before they gave the project the OK. Issue forth: Come out of a place: New initiatives ISSUE FORTH from the government on a daily basis.
Hand down: Pass on to the next generation: The jewellery has been HANDED DOWN in my family for generations. Hang together: Work together when things are difficult: We have to HANG TOGETHER if we’re going to finish this project. Hanker for: Want something a lot, especially if you shouldn’t want it or can’t have it:…
Gag for: Want something a lot: I’m GAGGING FOR a drink. Gear up: Get ready for a busy period: The shops are GEARING UP for the New Year sales. Get about: Visit many places: I GET ABOUT a lot with my job- last years I visited eleven countries. Get around: Become known: It didn’t take…
Fall apart: Break into pieces: The box FELL APART when I picked it up. Fall for: Be attracted to somebody, fall in love: He FELL FOR her the moment their eyes met. Fasten on: Give attention to something that confirms your beliefs: They have FASTENED ON the speech as a source of inspiration. Fiddle about:…