suggestionsput forward by the younger ones, (put a suggestion

forward/put it forward)

put forward/on clocks and watches = advance the hands, put forward is the opposite of put back:

In March people in England put their clocks forward/on an hour.

When summer time ends they put them back an hour. put in a claim = make a claim:

He put in a claim for compensation because he had lost his luggage

in the train crash. put in for a job/a post = apply for it:

They are looking for a lecturer in geography. Why don't you put in

for it? put off an action = postpone it:

Some people put off making their wills till it is too late.

I'll put off my visit to Scotland till the weather is warmer, (put my

visit off/put it off) put a person off

(a) = tell him to postpone his visit to you:

/ had invited some guests to dinner but I had to put them off because a power cut prevented me from cooking anything.

(b) = repel, deter him:

/ wanted to see the exhibition but the queue put me off.

Many people who want to come to England are put off by the stories

they hear about English weather.

put on clothes/glasses/jewellery = dress oneself etc. The opposite is take off:

He put on a black coat so that he would be inconspicuous, (put a

coat on/put it on)

She put on her glasses and took the letter from my hand. put on an expression = assume it:

He put on an air of indifference, which didn 't deceive anybody for a

moment. put on a play = produce/perform it:

The students usually put on a play at the end of the year. put on a light/gas or electric fire/radio = switch it on:

Put on the light, (put the light on/put it on) put out any kind of light or fire = extinguish it:

Put out that light, (put the light out/put it out) put someone out (inconvenience him):

He is very selfish. He wouldn't put himself out for anyone. be put out = be annoyed:

She was very put out when I said that her new summer dress didn't

suit her.

put up (tr)

(a) = erect (a building, monument, statue etc.):

He put up a shed in the garden, (put a shed up/put it up)

(b) = raise (prices):

When the importation of foreign tomatoes was forbidden, home

growers put up their prices, (put their prices up/put them up) put someone up (object usually before up) = give him temporary hospitality:

If you come to Paris I will put you up. You needn 't look for an hotel. put someone up to something (usually some trick) = give him the idea of doing it/tell him how to do it:

He couldn 't have thought of that trick by himself. Someone must have

put him up to it. put up with (tr) = bear patiently:

We had to put up with a lot of noise when the children were at home.

ring

ring up (tr or intr) = telephone:

/ rang up the theatre to book seats for tonight, (rang the theatre

up/rang them up)

If you can't come ring up and let me know. ring off (intr) = end a telephone call by putting down the receiver:

He rang off before I could ask his name.

round

round up (tr) = drive or bring together (people or animals):

The sheepdog rounded up the sheep (= collected them into a group) and drove them through the gate.

On the day after the riots the police rounded up all suspects/ rounded them up. (arrested them)

rub

rub out (tr) = erase pencil or ink marks with an india-rubber: The child wrote down the wrong word and then rubbed it out. (rubbed the word out/rubbed out the word)

rub up (tr) = revise one's knowledge of a subject:

/ am going to France; I must rub up my French, (rub it up)

run

run after (tr) = pursue (see example below).

run away (intr) = flee, desert (one's home/school etc.), elope:

The thief ran away and the policeman ran after him.

He ran away from home and got a job in a garage. run away with (tr) = become uncontrollable (of emotions), gallop off out of rider's control (of horses):

Don't let your emotions run away with you.

His horse ran away with him and he had a bad fall. run away with the idea = accept an idea too hastily:

Don't run away with the idea that I am unsociable; I just haven't

time to go out much.

run down (tr) = disparage, speak ill of:

He is always running down his neighbours, (running his

neighbours down/running them down) run down (intr) = become unwound/discharged (of clocks/batteries

etc.):

This torch is useless; the battery has run down. be run down (intr) = be in poor health after illness, overwork etc.:

He is still run down after his illness and unfit for work. run into (tr) = collide with (of vehicles):

The car skidded and ran into a lamp-post, (struck the lamp-post) run into/across someone = meet him accidentally:

/ ran into my cousin in Harrods recently. (I met him.) run out of (tr) = have none left, having consumed all the supply:

/ have run out of milk. Put some lemon in your tea instead. run over (tr) = drive over accidentally (in a vehicle):

The drunk man stepped into the road right in front of the oncoming

car. The driver couldn't stop in time and ran over him. run over (tr or intr) = overflow:

He turned on both taps full and left the bathroom. When he came

back he found that the water was running over./running over the

edge of the bath. run over/through (tr) = rehearse, check or revise quickly:

We 've got a few minutes before the train goes, so I'll just run through

your instructions again.

run through (tr) = consume extravagantly, waste (used of supplies or money):

He inherited a fortune and ran through it in a year. run up bills = incur them and increase them by continuing to buy things and put them down to one's account:

Her husband said that she must pay for things at once and not run

up bills. run up against difficulties/opposition = encounter them/it:

If he tries to change the rules of the club he will run up against a lot

of opposition.

see

see about (tr) = make inquiries or arrangements:

/ must see about getting a room ready for him. see somebody off = accompany an intending traveller to his train/boat/plane etc.:

The station was crowded with boys going back to school and parents

who were seeing them off.

see somebody out = accompany a departing guest to the door of the house:

When guests leave the host usually sees them out.

Don't bother to come to the door with me. I can see myself out.

see over a house/a building = go into every room, examine it often with a view to buying or renting:

I'm definitely interested in the house. I'd like to see over it see through (tr) = discover a hidden attempt to deceive:

She pretended that she loved him but he saw through her, and

realized that she was only after his money. (He wasn't taken in by

her/by her pretence. See take in.) see to (tr) = make arrangements, put right, repair:

If you can provide the wine I'll see to the food.

That electric fire isn't safe. You should have it seen to.

Please see to it that the door is locked.

sell

sell off (tr) = sell cheaply (what is left of a stock):

ASSISTANT: This line is being discontinued so we are selling off the remainder of our stock; that's why they are so cheap, (selling the rest off/selling it off)

sell out (intr) = sell all that you have of a certain type of article: When all the seats for a certain performance have been booked, theatres put a notice saying 'Sold out' outside the booking office.

send

be sent down (intr) = be expelled from a university for misconduct:

He behaved so badly in college that he was sent down and never got

his degree. send for (tr) = summon:

One of our water pipes has burst. We must send for the plumber.

The director sent for me and asked for an explanation. send in (tr) = send to someone (who need not be mentioned because the person spoken to knows already):

You must send in your application before Friday, (send it to the

authority concerned) (send your application in/send it in) send on (tr) = forward, send after a person:

If any letters come for you after you have gone I will send them on.

(send on your letters/send your letters on)

set

set in (intr) = begin (a period, usually unpleasant):

Winter has set in early this year. set off (tr) = start (a series of events):

That strike set off a series of strikes throughout the country, (set

them off) set off/out (intr) = start a journey:

They set out/off at six and hoped to arrive before dark. 'for' is used when the destination is mentioned:

They set out/off for Rome.

set out + infinitive (often show/prove/explain or some similar verb) = begin this undertaking, aim:

In this book the author sets out to prove that the inhabitants of the

islands came from South America. set up (tr) = achieve, establish (a record):

He set up a new record for the 1, 000 metres, (set a new record

up/set it up) set up (intr) = start a new business:

When he married he left his father's shop and set up on his own.

(opened his own shop)

settle

settle down (intr) = become accustomed to, and contented in, a new place, job etc.:

He soon settled down in his new school. settle up (intr) = pay money owed:

Tell me what I owe you and I'll settle up.

shout

shout down (tr) = make a loud noise to prevent a speaker from being heard:

Tom tried to make a speech defending himself but the crowd wouldn 't

listen to his explanation and shouted him down.

The moderate speakers were shouted down.

show

show off (tr or intr) = display (skill, knowledge etc.) purely in order to win notice or applause:

Although Jules speaks English perfectly, my cousin spoke French to

him all the time just to show off. (to impress us with her knowledge

of French)

He is always picking up very heavy things just to show off his

strength, (show it off)

shut

shut down (tr or intr) = close down (see page 323).

sit

sit back (intr) = relax, take no action, do no more work:

/ have worked hard all my life and now I'm going to sit back and

watch other people working.

sit up (intr) = stay out of bed till later than usual (usually reading, working, or waiting for someone):

/ was very worried when he didn 't come in and I sat up till 3 a.m.

waiting for him.

She sat up all night with the sick child.

stand

stand by someone (tr) = continue to support and help him: No matter what happens I'll stand by you, so don't be afraid.

stand for (tr) = represent:

The symbol 'x' usually stands for the unknown quantity in

mathematics.

stand for Parliament = be a candidate for Parliament, offer yourself for election:

Mr Pitt stood for Parliament five years ago but he wasn't elected. stand up for (tr) = defend verbally:

His father blamed him, but his mother stood up for him and said that

he had acted sensibly.

Why don't you stand up for yourself? stand up to (tr) = resist, defend oneself against (a person or force):

This type of building stands up to the gales very well.

Your boss is a bully. If you don't stand up to him he Tl lead you a

dog's life. stand out (intr) = be conspicuous, be easily seen:

She stood out from the crowd because of her height and her flaming

red hair.

stay

stay up (intr) = remain out of bed till later than usual, usually for pleasure:

Children never want to go to bed at the proper time; they always want to stay up late.

step

step up (tr) = increase rate of, increase speed of (this usually refers to industrial production):

This new machine will step up production. (step it up)

take

be taken aback (intr) = be surprised and disconcerted:

I was taken aback when I saw the bill. take after (tr) = resemble (one's parents/grandparents etc.):

He takes after his grandmother; she had red hair too.

My father was forgetful and I take after him; I forget everything. take back (tr) = withdraw (remarks, accusations etc.):

/ blamed him bitterly at first but later, when I heard the whole story,

I realized that he had been right and I went to him and took back my

remarks, (took them back) take down (tr) = write, usually from dictation:

He read out the names and his secretary took them down, (took

down the names/took the names down) take for (tr) = attribute wrong identity or qualities to someone:

/ took him for his brother. They are extremely alike.

Do you take me for a fool? take in (tr) (a) = deceive:

At first he took us in by his stories and we tried to help him; but later

we learnt that his stories were all lies.

(b) = receive as guests/lodgers:

When our car broke down I knocked on the door of the nearest house. The owner very kindly took us in and gave us a bed for the night.

People who live by the sea often take in paying guests during the summer, (take paying guests in/take them in)

(c) = understand, receive into the mind:

/ was thinking of something else while she was speaking and I didn 't really take in what she was saying.

I couldn't take in the lecture at all. It was too difficult for me. (couldn 't take it in)

(d) = make less wide (of clothes):

.I'm getting much thinner; I'll have to take in my clothes, (take my

clothes in/take them in)

take off (tr) = remove (when used of clothing 'take off is the opposite of 'put on'):

He took off his coat when he entered the house and put it on again

when he went out. (took his coat off/took it off) take off (intr) = leave the ground (of aeroplanes):

There is often a spectators' balcony at airports, where people can

watch the planes taking off and landing. take on (tr)

(a) = undertake work:

She wants someone to look after her children. I shouldn 't care to take on the job. They are very spoilt, (take the job on/take it on)

(b) = engage staff:

They're taking on fifty new workers at the factory.

(c) = accept as an opponent:

/'// take you on at table tennis. (I'll play against you.)

/ took on Mr Pitt at draughts, (took Mr Pitt on/took him on) take out (tr) = remove, extract:

Petrol will take out that stain, (take the stain out/take it out)

The dentist took out two of her teeth. take somebody out = entertain them (usually at some public place):

Her small boy is at boarding school quite near here. I take him out

every month, (and give him a meal in a restaurant) take over (tr or intr) = assume responsibility for, or control of, in succession to somebody else:

We stop work at ten o 'clock and the night shift takes over until the

following morning.

Miss Smith is leaving to get married and Miss Jones will be taking

over the class/Miss Jones will be taking over from Miss Smith, (see

hand over) take to (tr)

(a) = begin a habit. There is usually the impression that the speaker thinks this habit bad or foolish, though this is not necessarily always the case. It is often used with the gerund:

He took to drink, (began drinking too much) He took to borrowing money from the petty cash.

(b) = find likeable or agreeable, particularly at first meeting:

/ was introduced to the new headmistress yesterday. I can't say I took

to her.

He went to sea (= became a sailor) and took to the life like a duck to

water.

(c) = seek refuge/safety in:

When they saw that the ship was sinking the crew took to the boats. After the failure of the coup many of the rebels took to the hills and became guerillas. take up (tr)

(a) = begin a hobby, sport or kind of study (there is no feeling of criticism here):

He took up golf and became very keen on it. (took it up)

(b) = occupy (a position in time or space):

He has a very small room and most of the space is taken up by a

grand piano.

A lot of an MP 's time is taken up with answering letters from his

constituents.

talk

talk over (tr) = discuss:

Talk it over with your wife and give me your answer tomorrow, (talk over my suggestion/talk my suggestion over)

think

think over (tr) = consider:

/ can't decide straight away but I'll think over your idea and let you know what I decide, (think your idea over/think it over)

throw

throw away/out (tr) = jettison (rubbish etc.):

Throw away those old shoes. Nobody could wear them now.

(throw the shoes away/throw them away) throw up (tr) = abandon suddenly (some work or plan):

He suddenly got tired of the job and threw it up. (he threw up the

job/threw the job up)

tie

tie someone up = bind his hands and feet so that he cannot move: The thieves tied up the night watchman before opening the safe, (tied the man up/tied him up)

try

try on (tr) = put on (an article of clothing) to see if it fits:

CUSTOMER IN DRESS SHOP: / like this dress. Could I try it on? (try this dress on/try on this dress)

try out (tr) = test:

We won't know how the plan works till we have tried it out. They are trying out new ways of preventing noise in hospitals, (trying them out)

turn

turn away (tr) = refuse admittance to:

The man at the door turned away anybody who hadn 't an

invitation card, (turned them away) turn down (tr) = refuse, reject an offer, application, applicant:

/ applied for the job but they turned me down/turned down my

application because I didn't know German.

He was offered £ 500 for the picture but he turned it down, (turned

•down the offer/turned the offer down) turn into (tr) = convert into:

/ am going to turn my garage into a playroom for the children.

She turned the silver candlestick into a reading lamp. turn in (intr) = go to bed (used chiefly by sailors/campers etc.):

The captain turned in, not realizing that the icebergs were so close. turn on (tr) (stress on turn) = attack suddenly (the attacker is normally a friend or a hitherto friendly animal):

The tigress turned on the trainer and struck him to the ground. turn on/off (tr) = switch on/off (lights, gas, fires, radios, taps etc.) turn up/down (tr) = increase/decrease the pressure, force, volume (of gas or oil, lights, fires, or of radios):

Turn up the gas; it is much too low.

I wish the people in the next flat would turn down their radio. You

can hear every word, (turn the sound down/turn it down) turn out (tr)

(a) = produce:

The creamery turns out two hundred tons of butter a week, (turns it out)

(b) = evict, empty:

1 turn a person out = evict him from his house/flat/room:

At one time, if tenants didn't pay their rent the landlord could turn them out.

2 turn out one's pockets/handbags/drawers etc. = empty them, usually looking for something:

'Turn out your pockets, ' said the detective.

3 turn out a room = (usually) clean it thoroughly, first putting the furniture outside:

/ try to turn out one room every month if I have time. turn out (intr)

(a) = assemble, come out into. the street (usually in order to welcome somebody):

The whole town turned out to welcome the winning football team

when they came back with the Cup.

(b) = develop:

I've never made Yorkshire pudding before so I am not quite sure how

it is going to turn out.

Marriages arranged by marriage bureaux frequently turn out well.

(c) = be revealed. Notice the two possible constructions, it turned out that... and he turned out to be.. .:

He told her that he was a bachelor but it turned out that he was married with six children. (She learnt this later.) Our car broke down half way through the journey but the hiker we had picked up turned out to be an expert mechanic and was able to put things right.

Note the difference between turn out and come out. With turn out the fact revealed is always mentioned and there is no implication that the facts are discreditable. With come out we are told only that certain facts (usually discreditable) are revealed; we are not told what these facts are.

turn over (tr) = turn something so that the side previously underneath is exposed:

He turned over the stone, (turned the stone over/turned it over The initials 'PTO' at the bottom of a page mean 'Please turn over'. 'Turn over a new leaf.' (begin again, meaning to do better) turn over (intr)

(a) = turn upside down, upset, capsize (used of vehicles or boats): The car struck the wall and turned over.

The canoe turned over, throwing the boys into the water.

(b) = (of people) change position so as to lie on the other side: It is difficult to turn over in a hammock.

When his alarm went off he just turned over and went to sleep again. turn up (intr) = arrive, appear (usually from the point of view of someone waiting or searching):

We arranged to meet at the station but she didn 't turn up.

Don't bother to look for my umbrella; it will turn up some day.

walk

walk out (intr) = march out in disgust or indignation:

Some people were so disgusted with the play that they walked out in the middle of the first act.

wait

wait on (tr) = attend, serve (at home or in a restaurant):

He expected his wife to wait on him hand and foot.

^ The man who was waiting on us seemed very inexperienced; he got

all our orders mixed up.

wash

wash up (tr or intr) = wash the plates etc. after a meal:

When we have dinner very late we don't wash up till the next morning, (wash up the dishes/wash them up)

watch

watch out (intr) = look out.

watch out for (tr) = look out for (see page 357).

wear

wear away (intr) = gradually reduce; make smooth or flat; hollow out (used mostly of wood or stone. The subject is usually the weather, or people who walk on or touch the stone etc.):

It is almost impossible to read the inscription on the monument as

most of the letters have been worn away, (by the weather) wear off (intr) = disappear gradually (can be used literally but is chiefly used for mental or physical feelings):

These glasses may seem uncomfortable at first but that feeling will

soon wear off.

When her first feeling of shyness had worn off she started to enjoy

herself.

He began to try to sit up, which showed us that the effects of the drug

were wearing off. wear out (tr or intr)

(a) (tr) = use till no longer serviceable; (intr) become unserviceable as a result of long use (chiefly of clothes):

Children wear out their shoes very quickly, (wear their shoes

out/wear them out)

Cheap clothes wear out quickly.

(b) (tr) = exhaust (used of people; very often in the passive):

He worked all night and wanted to go on working the next day, but we saw that he was completely worn out and persuaded him to stop.

wind

wind up (tr or intr) = bring or come to an end (used of speeches or business proceedings):

The headmaster wound up (the meeting) by thanking the parents.

(wound the meeting up/wound it up)

wipe

wipe out (tr) = destroy completely:

The epidemic wiped out whole families, (wiped whole families

out/wiped them out)

work

work out (tr) = find, by calculation or study, the solution to some problem of a method of dealing with it; study and decide on the details of a scheme:

He used his calculator to work out the cost, (work the cost out)

Tell me where you want to go and I'll work out a route.

This is the outline of the plan. We want the committee to work out

the details, (work them out)