Idioms and phrasal verb (intermediate)

It requires learners to provide a word to fill a blank *in reference to* a picture.

(formal) according to

*as regards* a solution to the problem, we are a long way off.

(formal) related to

He spent his vacation *messing around/about* on the farm. Stop *messing around/about* and get ready for school.

(informal) to spend time lazily, doing things slowly and in a way that is not planned. to behave in a silly way when you should be paying attention or doing something sensible. (fool around)

We had 200 people *show up* for our seminar.

(informal) to arrive, especially at the place where someone is waiting for you. (SYN : turn up)

She was a *bundle/bag of nerves*.

(informal) to be very nervous

Come on, let's *call it a day* and go home.

(informal) to decide to stop working, especially because you have done enough or you are tired

They *cleared off* when they saw the police coming.

(informal) to leave a place quickly. go away.

I'm *fresh out of* beer. Will you take a cola instead?

(spoken) to have just used your last supplies of something

Oh, *it's no use*! I can't fix it.

(spoken) used to say that you are going to stop doing something because you do not think it will be successful

We were only *a stone's throw* from the main road.

a short distance.

what you learn in class is just *the tip of the iceberg*.

a small sign of a problem that is much larger

more or less

almost or approximately

I ring my mother every day *without fail*.

always

Incomplete systems are accepted as a *fact of life*.

an unpleasant situation that exists and that must be accepted

There's too much *bad blood* between them.

angry or bitter feelings between people

He could *lose face* if other people see that he got everything wrong.

be humiliated or come to be less highly respected.

She *was in a* terrible *state*, so I decided to stay and look after her.

be/become anxious or upset.

trial and error

by chance

I can't afford to let the case *drag on* for months.

continue for too long

on purpose

deliberately

They went about their business, expecting him to appear *at any moment*.

extremely soon

What does ATM *stand for*?

if a letter or symbol represents a word or idea, especially as a short form.

Now the summer's here things are *looking up*! I'll just *look up* the train times.

if a situation is improving. (SYN : improve, get better) if you search for information in a book, on a computer etc, you try to find it there.

• I can't believe it has *slipped my mind*. • I meant to buy some milk, but it completely *slipped my mind*.

if you forget something

it took them the majority of the campaign to come to that conclusion, but *better late than never*.

it is better to do something or arrive after the expected time than not do it or arrive at all.

OK, I'll *go over* the plan one more time, but pay attention this time.

look at, check, discuss something carefully. synonym of *go through*

There was no signal on my mobile, so we couldn't *get through*.

make contact with somebody by phone.

take advantage of something

make good use of something.

we were *getting nowhere* and announced that we were lost.

make no progress, or have no success.

Their track record has, *in the main*, been a positive one.

mostly

What we need in this company is some *new blood*.

new members of a group or organization who will bring new ideas and be full of energy

No problem, she was told, you can have it - but *not just yet*.

not now, but probably soon

The teacher *turned a blind eye to* some of the children's bad behavior.

pretend not to see or notice something, usually something bad.

Once in a blue moon

rarely

• Thanks, I'll *bear* that *in mind*. • Thanks, I'll *keep* that *in mind*.

remember

Papers and books *lay around/about* the room in complete chaos.

something has been left somewhere in an untidy way, rather than being in its proper place

My uncle just arrived *out of the blue*.

suddenly and unexpectedly.

I would *stay/steer clear of* that place, it's not very safe.

take care to avoid something or somebody.

He cancelled his trip to England *at the last minute*.

the last possible time, just before it is too late

You can't just *turn up* and expect a meal. Eventually my watch *turned up* in a coat pocket.

to arrive at a place, especially in a way that is unexpected. to be found, especially by chance, after having been lost or searched for

All of a sudden, something red *caught* Barb's *eye*.

to attract someone's attention and make them look at something

He couldn't walk far without getting *short of breath*. he arrived on the top floor *out of breath*.

to be unable to breathe easily

She *broke down* in tears when she heard the news. The car *broke down* just north of Paris.

to be unable to stop yourself crying, especially in public.

We have to help them *find their feet*.

to become confident in a new situation, especially one that is difficult at first

It's only a joke - don't *take it seriously*!

to believe that someone or something is worth your attention or respect

It'll take me a couple of hours to *finish* this job *off*.

to complete the last part of something that you are doing.

I didn't mean to interrupt you. I'll let you *get on with* your work.

to continue doing (something)

Sorry, I interrupted you. Please *carry on*.

to continue doing something

He *went on* working until he was 91. I got tired of him *going on about* all his problems. Let's *go on to* exercise 2.

to continue doing something or being in a situation. (informal) to talk too much. move on to something.

You just have to *keep on* trying.

to continue doing something, or to do something many times

The traffic jam is breaking up, so we can *drive on*.

to continue driving

There was little encouragement for those over 65 to *stay on* after retirement.

to continue to do a job or to study after the usual or expected time for leaving

I *crossed out* 'Miss' and wrote 'Ms'.

to draw a line or lines through something you have written or drawn, usually because it is wrong

He's *going through* a divorce at the moment.

to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation, feeling etc

the generation that *lived through* the Second World War

to experience difficult or dangerous conditions. (SYN : endure)

The bomb *went off* at 6.30 this morning. I've set the alarm clock to *go off* at 7 am. Suddenly, all the lights *went off*.

to explode or fire. make a noise. stop working.

*Do up* your coat or you'll get cold. The apartment was *done up* in Viennese style.

to fasten something. to decorate something in a particular way

Could you start *handing* these books *out*, please?

to give something to each person in a group. (SYN : distribute, give sth out)

Tom has *handed in* his resignation.

to give something to someone in authority

They've gone to the airport to *see* their son *off*.

to go to an airport, train station etc to say goodbye to someone

• That's exactly what I *had in mind*.

to have an idea

We'*ve got* such a lot *in common*.

to have the same interests or opinions as someone else.

He *went off* to work as usual.

to leave a place, especially in order to do something.

Can we *swap places*, please?

to let someone sit or stand in your place, so that you can have their place. (SYN : change places)

I am curled up in the armchair, *flicking through* a book.

to look at a book, magazine, set of photographs etc quickly

• I tried to *set/put* his *mind at ease/rest*.

to make someone stop worrying

The pressure *built up* over the year, and eventually I had to leave my job.

to make something develop or become bigger or greater

I *came* *across* an old diary in her desk.

to meet, find, or discover someone or something by chance

Don't be afraid to *leave* things *out*!

to not include someone or something.

Willie helped *hand* the mugs *around/round*.

to offer something to each person in a group

She had *laughed* it *off*, but I fancied she had found the situation embarrassing.

to pretend that something is less serious than it really is by laughing or joking about it

Nick *made up* a song about them.

to produce a new story, song, game etc by thinking

He took off his uniform and *put on* a sweater and trousers. Rosie's *put on* five kilos since she quit smoking. Shall I *put* the kettle *on*?

to put a piece of clothing on your body. (OPP take off) to become fatter and heavier. (SYN gain) switch on, turn on

Meg was *trying on* some red sandals.

to put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits you or if it suits you, especially in a shop

He *put* his toys *away* every night.

to put something in the place where it is usually kept.

Several major hospitals are *cutting back on* staff at the moment.

to reduce the amount, size, cost etc of something

We *lazed around/about*, gazing at the views.

to relax and enjoy yourself in a lazy way

I admit it: I made the mark, but then I *rubbed* it *out*.

to remove writing, a picture etc from a surface by rubbing it with a piece of rubber, a cloth etc. (SYN : erase)

I swore I'd never *go back*.

to return to a place that you have just come from

One of his fingers was *cut off* in the accident. *Cut* the fat off the meat. In winter, the town is often *cut off* by snow.

to separate something by cutting it away from the main part. if people cannot leave a place or reach it.

How did you manage to *sleep through* that thunderstorm?

to sleep while something is happening and not be woken by it

There were always groups of boys *hanging about/around* in the square.

to spend time somewhere without any real purpose

John rang, and he wants you to *ring* him *back*.

to telephone someone again, or to telephone someone because you were not available when they telephoned you.

My phone call was a perfect opportunity for you to *go public with* the information.

to tell everyone about something that was secret

Did Ronnie really call or are you just *pulling my leg*?

to tell someone something that is not true, as a joke

The intruders *tied* Kurt *up* and left him. I can't see you tomorrow - I'll be *tied up* all day.

to tie someone's arms, legs etc so that they cannot move. (SYN bind) to be very busy.

Police are *looking into* the disappearance of two children.

to try to find out the truth about a problem, crime etc in order to solve it. (SYN : investigate)

• I think you should *keep an open mind* and enjoy being with people.

try not to judge before you know the facts.

*If all else fails*, I'll have to sell the car.

use to say what somebody can do if nothing else they have done is successful.

*Thanks heavens* none of you were hurt!

used as an exclamation of gratitude and relief.

*How come* you're here so early?

used to ask the reason for something which is surprising.

I'll be perfectly OK on my own. *Famous last words*, she thought to herself.

used when someone has said too confidently that they can do something or that something will happen.

*Good grief*! Look the mess in here!

used when you are slightly surprised or annoyed. (spoken)

bright and early

very early in the morning

I had to run *like mad* to catch the bus.

very fast, hard, much, etc. synonym of flat out.

Wow! You've got the beach right *on your doorstep*!

very near someone's home

The sun's *going down*. His income *went down* last year.

when sun appears to move down until you cannot see it anymore. (opp : come up)

Doctors tried *in vain* to save him but he died just before dawn.

without success in spite of your efforts

• my mind *went blank*.

you are suddenly unable to remember something

It's best to work *in rough* first, and then write it out neatly.

you write or draw something without paying attention to details or tidiness, because you are going to do it again later.