<9>
right away : immediately
ring a bell (with) : sound familiar to
rough it : experience somewhat difficult or primitive conditions
rule out : say something is impossible, eliminate
run a temperature : have a fever
run for office : try to get elected
run into : (1) meet unexpectedly, bump into
(2) collide with
run late : be late, be in a hurry
run of the mill : ordinary
run out of : exhaust the supply of
save one’s breath : don’t bother asking someone
search me : I don’t know, I have no idea, beats me
see eye to eye (with someone) (on something) : have the same opinion, be in agreement
see (someone) off : accompany (to an airport or train station, for example)
see to : take care of, check on, fix
serve one right : receive the proper punishment, get the penalty one deserves
short for : a nickname for
show around : orient, give a tour
show off : try to attract attention by unusual behavior
show up : arrive
shut down : close
sign up (for) : enroll (for a class, for example)
sing another tune : change one’s opinion, feel differently
size up : measure, estimate
sleep on it : postpone a decision until the next day
slowly but surely : gradually, steadily but not quickly
snowed under : very busy
so far, so good : up until now, there are no problems
sooner or later : at some indefinite future time
speak one’s mind : say what one is thinking
speak up : speak more loudly
speak up for : support verbally
spell out (for) : make something very clear, explain in detail
spick and span : extremely and clean, spotless
stack up against : compare with
stamp out : eliminate, wipe out
stand for : (1) tolerate, put up with (2) symbolize, represent
stand out : be noticeable
stay out : not come home
stay out (or up) to all hours : come home (or go to bed) very late
stay up : not go to bed
stock up (on) : get a large supply of something
a stone’s throw from : not far away from, close to
stop by : visit informally, go to see
straighten up : clean up, make tidy
stuck with : have something one cannot get rid of
<10>
take a break : stop working for a short time
take a lot of nerve : requires a lot of courage
take a lot out of (someone) : be hard on someone, drain energy from someone
take advantage of : utilize, make use of, exploit
take after : resemble, look like (especially an older relative)
take apart : disassemble
take it easy : relax, calm down
take a short cut : take a more direct or faster route than usual
take off : (1) remove (clothing, for example)
(2) ascend (a plane, for example)
(3) become popular quickly
take over : assume control or responsibility
take part (in) : participate in
take the plunge : finally take action, do something different
take time off (from) : take a vacation or a break from work or school
take up : begin to study some topic or engage in some activity
talk down to : speak to someone as if he or she were a child, patronize
talk into : persuade, convince
talk out of : dissuade, convince not to do something
talk over : discuss
tear oneself away from something : stop doing something interesting
tear up : rip into small pieces
tell apart : distinguish
things are looking up : the situation is improving
think over : consider
throw away : discard, get rid of
throw cold water on : discourage, force to cancel (a plan, for example)
throw the book at someone : give someone the maximum punishment
try on : test clothing before buying (for size, style, and so on)
try out : test a product before buying
try out (for) : audition for (a role in a play, for example), attempt to join (a team, for example)
turn around : face in a different direction
turn down : (1) reject an offer
(2) decrease the intensity of
turn in : (1) return, give back, hand in
(2) go to bed
turn into : change to, transform into
turn off : stop the operation (of an appliance, for example), shut off
turn on : start the operation (of an appliance, for example)
turn out : (1) result, end up, be the final product
(2) produce
(3) arrive, gather (for a meeting, for example)
turn up : (1) increase the intensity of
(2) arrive
under the water : slightly all
use up : use completely
wait on : serve
walk on air : be very happy
warm up : (1) heat
(2) practice, prepare for
warm up (to) : become friendly with, start to enjoy
watch out (for) : be alert, look out for
wear out : become no longer useful because of wear
what the doctor ordered : exactly what was needed, the perfect thing
wipe out : eliminate, stamp out
without a hitch : without a problem
work out : (1) exercise
(2) bring to a successful conclusion, solve
