Mini-Dictionary

The verbs are listed in the order in which they first appear. Where 3 dots (...) are
used, this means that the object must go in this position.
account for. explain be off- start a journey
How do you accontfor tbeir strange bebariour When areyon off- Al stx o'clock tomorrow evening.
accuse - of say that someone has committed a cnme
be off- (of food) have gone bad
He was accused of stealing the money Smell tbis cream. think it's of
act o n - take action as the result of(eg advice) be on- be taking place
We acted on your advice and took the early train. Tbe play is on for anotlber three nights.
add on... include in your calculations
-

be on - be working, have been switched on

Don't forget to add on some money for expenses. Tbere muust be somone inside. Tbe telerision is on
add up to - result in a total of be out not be at home, have left a building temporarily
Tbe money' oued added up to over two tbousand
pounds. The boss is oult at the mnoment but he'll be back soon
aim at..- try to affect or influence certain
people be out of . no longer have any left
This advertisement is obviousBy ainmed at
teenagers T'm afraid ue're out of sugar at the moment.
answer to (a description) correspond
-

to a description be up - have risen

The man uwe arrested answered to the crimnal's
description. Profits are up byfify per cent
approve of ... think something is good be up- have got out of bed to start the day
Idon't approve of all this loud modern music. Gerry's so lazy! it's eleven o'clock and she still isn t up yet!
ask for. make sonmething likely to
happen
-

be up-(of time) have expired

You'll be asking for trouble if you criticise ber work. Time's up. Please stop writing
ask in - sk someone to come in
be up to -be doing (usually something wrong)
Don t leave your friend on the doorstep. Ask bim in! You're looking guily: What bave yoLu beein up to?
ask out- ask
someone to go out with you beat down - (of the sun) shine and be extremely hot
I asked Sharon out but sbe said she bad lots of homeurork to do. t was midday and the sun was beating doun.
back away - retreat, move backwards
beat up-hit or kick someone and hurt them badly
Tbe bank staff backed away as the gunman caime nearer The tbieves beat the victim up and stole all bis money
back away from...- retreat from bed down- sleep somewhere unusual
The post1nan backed
away
from tbe angry dog We had to bed doun in the stables for the night
back down- no longer keep to your position in an argument belong to - be owned by
Neitber part' wanted to back doun so tbe argument continued. Tbat yacht must belong to someone really rich.
back out-not do as promised bend down- move the top of the body downwards
Tbe pianist bas backed out so I've got to find another one. He bent doun and picked up a piece
back out of . withdraw from (eg an agreement)
of paper
black out-stop the lights working (n. blackout)
Tu back out of the agreement unless tbings improve. The power cut blacked out balf the city.
back up-give someone help and support blare out (of music) - be very loud
My friends backed me up when I complained about tbe noise. Tbe music blared out and gave me a terrible beadache.
back up- make a copy of work ona computer blaze away (of a fire) - burn liercely
I always back up my work in case something bappens. The fire blazed
auay and soon warned LUS Lup.
bail out- (of a pilot) jump out of an aeroplane in flight blaze away- shoot rapidly and continuously
Tbe pilot managed to bail out just before the plane crasbed. The terrorists blazed
cruay with tbeir macbine guns.
barge in- rush in rudely, interrupt blow down (of wind) - cause to fall down
Sheila barged in just as the conversation was getting interesting The trees uwere blown down by tbe fierce wind.
batter down - keep hitting something until it falls to the ground blow out- extinguish (eg a candle) by blowing
Tbe firemen bad to batter doun thbe door to get in. Motber bleuw out the candle and the room uvent dark.
be away-have gone somewhere clse blow over (of a storm)- pass
Our bead of department's away on a biusiness trip. The storm finally bleu' over earhy this
morning.
be down-feel depressed blow up - destroy with an explosion
He's been down ever since his dog died. We'll need more explostves to blou up the bridge.
be down- have fallen, decreased boil over (of a liquid)- boil and go over the top of a pan
Unfortunately, profils are doun by 20 per cent The milk boiled over and left a terrible mess
be down with ... - have caught some kind of illness
book up- reserve a seat (eg for the theatre)
Burry can't come to the meeting. He's doun with a virus. Tbe sbow was booked up weeks before it operned.
be in -armve boss around- keep telling someone what to do
Competition entries must be in by the end of the week. I'm
be in - have come into fashion
Tknow wbat bossing me around
doing' Stop
bottle up (feelings)- suppress feelings
That bairstyle is definitely in at the imoment. Twas very' angry but l tried to botle up iny feelings
be in - be at home
bottom out-reach the lowest poit
She should be in from work soon. Tbe recession bottomed out and tbings began to inprove.
be in - (of the tide) be high branch out - develop in new areas
When the tide is in, there isn't inuch room on tbe beach. Thisfirm sbould branch out and develop different products.
be in on ... - be involved in something
break away-separate from a political party (adj. breakaway)
I don'1 knou" much about it as I wasu't in on the planning Some dissidenis broke away and foruned their oun party

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