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to set out: to start traveling toward a place; to arrange or display neatly
- We set out for the top of the mountain at dawn. Unfortunately, as we set off, it started to snow heavily, so we decided to head out again later.
- The children tried to set out the dishes on the table, but their dad had to help to lay the dishes out properly.
to draw up: to create by drawing, such as a map; to prepare documents or legal papers
- Max asked me to draw up a map to the party so that he wouldn't get lost.
- Our lawyer agreed to draw the contract up as soon as possible.
give and take: compromise, cooperation between people
- Give and take is an important element of a successful marriage.
- Most business negotiations involve give and take between the parties involved.
to drop out of: to stop attending; to withdraw from
This idiom can be made into the noun form dropout.
- Some students drop out of secondary school early in order to get jobs. However, such dropouts often regret their decision later in life.
- Two more baseball teams have dropped out of the youth league due to a lack of players.
to believe in: to accept as true, have faith in
- Some people believe in being honest in all human affairs, while others accept the need to lie in order to get one's way.
- Throughout the history of man, some cultures have believed in one god while others have believed in the existence of many gods.
to cheer up: to make happier, to feel less sad
- We all tried to cheer up the little boy when he stared to cry.
- After the death of Deanne's husband, it was difficult to cheer her up at all.
to make sense: to be sensible or reasonable
- It makes sense to wait until a sunny day to visit the park together.
- That Jimmy ran away from home suddenly doesn't make sense to any of us.
to burst out: to depart quickly; to act suddenly
For the second definition, this idiom is usually followed by a gerund form such as laughing, crying, singing, etc.
- Faye and Debbie were so angry at each other that one of them burst out the front door of the house and the other stormed out the back door.
- It was so funny to see a little baby in the audience burst out crying when the choir group burst out singing at the start of the recital.
to get away: to get free, to escape
- We always try to get away from the noise and heat of the city for a month or two each summer.
- No one knows how the suspected criminal got away from the police.
to get away with: to avoid punishment for
- Jonathan tries to get away with coming late to work almost every day; someday he'll suffer the consequences.
- Terence can't continue to put his friends down like that and expect to get away with it forever.
to serve (someone) right: to receive one's just punishment
This idiom is usually used at the beginning of a sentence after the subject it.
- It serves Jonathan right to be fired from his job.
- It serves Terence right that none of his friends are willing to help him move to a new apartment.
to keep up: to prevent from sleeping; to continue maintaining (speed, level of work, condition, etc.)
- Could you please turn down the TV volume? You're keeping up the children.
- If we can keep up this speed, we should arrive there in about two hours.
- James is so proud of his daughter for getting mostly A's in school. He's certain that she can keep up the good work.
- The Federal Reserve Bank hopes to keep the value of the dollar up at least through the rest of the year.
to keep up with: to have current knowledge of; to understand as an explanation
- Evan keeps up with world affairs by reading a new magazine each week.
- I understand a lot of the Spanish language, but I can't keep up with the fast conversation in this Mexican film.
to stand out: to be easily visible or noticeable
This idiom is used for someone or something that is different from all others.
- Her bright red hair makes her stand out from others in the group.
- Brandon Styles is a tall, distinguished gentleman who sticks out in any crowd.
to let on: to reveal or tell what you know, to hint
- We are going to the movies tonight and we don't want Doris to go. If you see her, make sure not to let on.
- They asked me not to let on to Ted that we're planning the birthday party; it's supposed to be a big surprise.
to go wrong: to fail, to result badly
- Something went wrong with the engine, so we had to have the car towed to a garage.
- Shawn should have been here over an hour ago; I'm certain that something went wrong.
to meet (someone) halfway: to compromise with someone
- Steve wanted $4,500 for his car, and Gwen offered $4,000. They met each other halfway and agreed on $4,250.
- After a long process of give and take, the owners of the company agreed to meet the workers halfway by providing some additional health benefits but no wage increase.
to check up on: to examine with the purpose of determining condition
This idiom has the related noun form checkup.
- The government always checks up on the background of employees who are hired for sensitive military projects.
- The doctor wants me to have a thorough medical checkup as part of a preventive medicine program.
to stick up: to point or place upwards; to rob
- You should put some water on your hair. It's sticking up in the back.
- A masked thief stuck up a grocery store in the neighborhood last night.
to come about: to happen
- I didn't find any explanation in the newspaper about how the political coup came about.
- The flood came about as a result of the heavy winter rains.
to bring about: to cause to happen
This idiom is used to indicate who or what caused something to come about.
- John brought about the accident because of his carelessness.
- The heavy rains we have each spring bring about serious flooding.
to build up: to increase slowly, to make stronger gradually
- They built up their savings account so that they could buy a new house.
- The professional athlete exercises regularly to build her strength up.
to die down: to decrease, to lessen in strength
- The hurricane became a less serious tropical storm when its winds died down.
- We let the fire in the fireplace die down and enjoyed watching the embers as they glowed in the dark.
to fade away: to diminish gradually in time or distance
- The memory of that unpleasant experience has slowly faded away.
- The music of the band gradually faded away as the parade passed down the street.
to die out: not to exist anymore; to be in the process of disappearing
- Scientists still are not sure exactly why the dinosaurs died out.
- That strange, new style of dancing is slowly dying out.
to make out: to read or see clearly; to prepare a legal document, such as a will, a check, etc.
- The letter was so poorly handwritten that I couldn't make out many of the words.
- Harold, please make the check out to Acme Piano Company.
to live up to: to fulfill (a standard or promise)
- It was clear that the lazy student would never live up to his family's expectations.
- It surprised us that the car salesperson lived up to all the promises he made.
to stick to: to adhere to (a promise), to follow or obey (a set of rules, procedures, etc.)
- He made a promise to his wife to quit smoking and drinking, and so far he has stuck to it.
- All organizations expect their employees to stick to established work rules and procedures.
- If you try hard to stick to your principles, then you'll be able to live up to them.
to stick it to: to cheat, to take unfair advantage of
- Be careful in doing business with that salesperson. He'll stick it to you at the first opportunity.
- The car dealership certainly ripped me off when I bought this car. It has caused me trouble constantly.
- You paid over $400 for that jacket? What a ripoff!
to stand up for: to insist on, to demand; to defend, to support
- If you don't stand up for your rights in court, the lawyers will try to stick it to you.
- Frank stood up for his friend, who was being put down by other teenagers nearby.
to cut corners: to economize, to save money
- Most students live on limited budgets and have to cut corners whenever possible.
- The Livingstons have nine children, so it is essential that they cut corners at all times.