IDIOMS---2005/Oct/20

01. let up: stop
a. If the rain doesn't let up soon, we won't be able to have our picnic.
b. When Jane is working, she never lets up for a moment.
02. lay off: dismiss, reduce
a. If you're trying to lose weight, you should lay off sweet things.
b. If business continues to be slow, we will have to lay off some workers.
03. bring out : launch, take out (food)
a. Most automobile companies bring out new models each year.
b. my mother brought some snacks out for my friends.
04. bring back: return
a. You can bring back the dress as long as you have your sales receipt.
b. You can borrow my car if you promise to bring it back by six.
05. wait up for: wait, to stay up
a. Don't wait up for me. I will be home late today.
b. We waited up for our son until 2AM before we called the police.
06. to leave (someone or something) alone: don't bother
a. Leave the baby alone for a while and she may go to sleep.
b. Leave the project alone for a while. You may think of something new to add later.
07. let alone: not mention to, forget about it
a. I am too sick today to walk to the kitchen, let alone to go to the zoo with you.
08. break off: to terminate a relationship
a. After we began, the two countries broke off diplomatic relations.
b. Elsa and Bob were once engaged, but they have already broken it off.
09. wear off: disappear gradually
a. My headache isn't serious. It will wear off after an hour or so.
b. The effect of the painkilling drug didn't wear off for several hours.
10. wear down: torn. to tear, to make something old.
a. If you drag your feet while you walk, you'll wear down your shoes quickly.

IDIOMS---2005/Oct/13

2005/Oct/13

01. bite off more than one can chew: overloaded

When James registered for 30 credits in his last semester of college, he bit off more than he can chew.

02. tell apart: distinguish, identify

The two brothers look so much alike that few people can tell them apart.

03. all in all: generally, in summary

There were a few problems, but all in all it was a well-organized seminar.

04. pass out(1): to distribute

Please help me pass out these test papers; there must be a hundred of them.

05. pass out(2): faint

The weather was so hot in the soccer stadium that some of the fans in the stands passed out.

06. go around: to go for everyone

We thought that we had bought enough food and drink for the party, but actually there wasn’t enough to go around.

07. in the way: in the middle, blocking

Jocelyn couldn’t drive through the busy intersection because a big truck was in the way.

08. put on: to gain weight

Bob has put on a lot of weight recently. He must have put at least fifteen pounds on.

09. put up: to build

The construction company is tearing down that old office building in order to put up a new one.

10. put something up: to raise

Please put your hand up if you have never studied English grammar before.

11. put up with: tolerate

While I'm studying, I can't put up with any noise or other distractions.

12. in vain: helpless, useless

All the doctors' efforts to save the injured woman were in vain. She was declared dead three hours after being admitted to the hospital.

13. day in day out: everyday

During the moth of April, it rained day in day out.

14. catch up: keep up, not fall behind

The student was absent from class so long that it tool her a long time to catch up.