SOME ENGLISH IDIOMS
1. BLOW
blow away = carry away into the distance
The wind blew away the clothes that were hanging on the line.
blow down = blow to the ground
The strong wind blew down a number of trees in our garden.
blow out = extinguish
She blew out the candle and went to bed.
blow up = 1.explode
The retreating troops blew up the bridges behind them
blow up = 2.lose one’s temper
When his secretary asked for the day off, Mr. Smith with so much work piled up in
front of him, blew up.
2. BREAK
break away = leave, free oneself from
Fortunately, he broke away from that lawless group years ago.
break down = fail to function or operate
My car, broke down and had to be towed to a garage.
break in = 1. begin to use
I don’t like to break in a new pair of shoes.
break in = 2. interrupt
I could tell the story much more easily if you don’t break in so often.
break into = burglarize: enter by force
Thieves broke into our flat and stole my wife’s diamond ring.
break out = happen suddenly : begin
(used of evils such as wars, epidemics, fires.)
War broke out on June 5 th.
Last night fire broke out near our school.
break up = 1. break into small pieces
I broke up the candy and gave each child a small piece.
2. terminate ; come to an end (used of school terms, parties, meeting)
The meeting didn’t break up until twelve o’clock.
3. BRING
bring up = to rear, educate and train children
He was born in Bangkok but brought up in Chiengmai.
She brought up her children to be honest.
blow away = carry away into the distance
The wind blew away the clothes that were hanging on the line.
blow down = blow to the ground
The strong wind blew down a number of trees in our garden.
blow out = extinguish
She blew out the candle and went to bed.
blow up = 1.explode
The retreating troops blew up the bridges behind them.
2.lose one’s temper
When his secretary asked for the day off, Mr. Smith with so much work piled up in
front of him, blew up.
4. BUILD
build up = increase, strengthen
We first have to build up our reserves of manpower.
5. CALL
call away = summon from
The doctor was called away from the meeting to attend an emergency case.
call down = reprimand, scold
John’s boss called him down for coming late to work.
call for = go to pick up someone or something
We will call for you at about nine o’clock.
When I go to town this evening I’ll call for my dress.
call off = cancel
The game was called off on account of rain.
call on = visit ; pay him a short formal visit(a person) I’ll call on you on my way
home from work.
call at = pay a short visit, usually on business(a place) On my way home I called at
the baker’s and bought some bread and butter.
call out = speak loudly, shout
He called out my name several times, but somehow I failed to hear him.
call up = telephone someone
I’ll call you up this afternoon.
6. COME
come about = happen
How did the accident come about?
come across = meet or find unexpectedly
I came across this vase in a shop on Silom Road.
come along = accompany ; come with somebody
John wants to come along with us to the movie.
come around = visit, come to, come round
He comes around to see us once of twice a week.
come back = return
His words on that subject often come back to me.
come on = Hurry, come along
(often said to someone who is hesitating or delaying)
Come on! We’ll never catch them if we continue at this slow pace.
come to = 1. equal
These groceries came to twenty baht.
come to =2. appear suddenly
The idea came to me when I was listening to the radio.
7. GET
get at = reach
The baby tries to get at the brightly coloured candles.
get along = 1. make progress
How is the he getting along in English?
get along = 2. agree, be friendly, be in harmony
They are getting along well.
get away = escape
The prisoner had little difficulty in getting away from the police.
get back = 1. return ; reach home again
He left for London on Monday and won’t get back until Saturday.
get back = 2. receive
Stop worrying about the money you lent him.
You will get it back.
get in = enter
He invited us to get in the car and go for a ride with him.
get into = arrive at the station (at the end of the journey)
We got into Bedford at 5 p.m. (‘to’ could be used instead of ‘into’ here)
get off = leave or depart from a vehicle
We got off the subway at 80 th Street
You are in the wrong bus. Get off (this bus) at the next stop.
get on = board or enter a vehicle
I get on the bus at Silom Road.
get on with = make progress ; be successful
You are getting on very well with your English.
get out (of) = leave, depart from a vehicle
I told the bus driver that I wanted to get out at 72nd Street.
I got out (of the car) at the cross-roads
get over = recover from illness, distress, mental or physical weakness
It took me a long time to get over my cold.
get though = 1. finish
We got though work at five o’clock.
2. pass a course or examination successfully
I got though everything except Physics.
get together = unite, meet as a group
We all try to get together at least once a year.
get up = arise from a bad, chair, etc.
I usually get up at six o’clock.
8. GIVE
give back = return
She got angry when I asked her to give me back my pencil.
give in = surrender
He has given in to my views.
give out = 1. hand out, distribute
The teacher gave out the books.
An usher stood at the door giving out programs.
give out = 2. make know
It was given out that he would be the chief speaker.
give up = 1. abandon ; cease trying to do something
I am going to give up smoking
give up = 2. surrender
When they saw that they were surrounded by the enemy, they gave up.
give away =
1. give something away = give it to someone, not expecting anything in return
He gave away all his money.
2. give someone away = betray him
His accent gave him away. It caused people to know who he was.
9. GO
go ahead = continue ; lead the way
You go ahead and I’ll follow ; I’m not ready.
go down = 1. become lower (in price, weight, wind, sea)
The newspaper states that prices of farm produces are expected to go down soon.
2. sink
The ship went down with all on board.
go on = 1. continue any action
He went on talking.
go on = 2. continue a journey
Go on till you come to the cross-roads.
go on = 3. approach
The child says that she is six, going on seven.
go out = 1.leave the house
When I telephoned, his mother told me that Billy had just gone out.
go out = 2. extinguish (of lights, fires)
The light went out and we were left in the dark.
go over = 1. review, restudy
Let’s go over this exercise again.
go over = 2. check over, examine.
I want to go over the contract carefully with my lawyer before I sign it.
go up = rise
Prices are going up every day.
go though = finish
He went through with his plan although his friends advised him to abandon it.
go with = 1. match
I want to buy a new tie to go with this blus suit.
2. court, go out in the company of
He went with Helen yesterday.
10. HAND
hand in = deliver some thing due, submit
Each student has to hand in a composition once a week.
hand over = surrender
The robber forced the bank manager to hand over all the money he was carrying.
hand in = deliver some thing due, submit
Each student has to hand in a composition once a week.
hand over = surrender
The robber forced the bank manager to hand over all the money he was carrying.
hand in = deliver some thing due, submit
Each student has to hand in a composition once a week.
hand over = surrender
The robber forced the bank manager to hand over all the money he was carrying.
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