Essential Elementary Idioms by Robert J. Dixon

01.  William gets on the subway at the same station every morning. (to enter, board)

02.  Helen got off the bus at 42^nd Street. (to leave, descend from)

03.  Mary put on her scarf and left the room. (to place on oneself – clothes)

04.  John took off his hat as he entered the room. (to remove – clothes)

05.  Did anyone call me up while I was out ? (to phone)

06.  Please turn on the light. This room is dark. (to start, begin)

07.  Shall I turn off the radio or are you still listening to it ? (to stop, terminate)

08.  She says that dinner will be ready right away. (immediately, at once, very soon)

09.  John picked up the newspaper which was on his desk. (to take esp with the fingers)

10.  He asked me to come to his office at once. (right away)

11.  The man was so weak that the nurse was unable to get him up. (to arise)

12.  At first I thought it was John who was phoning to me. (originally, in the first instance)

13.  We waited for him more than an hour and finally left. (to expect, await)

14.  We waited and waited and at last John arrived. (finally)

15.  George is late for class again as usual. (as always, customarily)

16.  I was unable to find out the name of the man who called. (to discover, learn)

17.  The teacher told us to look at the board and not at our books. (to direct the eyes toward)

18.  I have lost my gloves. Will you help me look for them ? (t search for, seek)

19.  He said that it would be all right to wait in this office for him. (satisfactory, correct)

20.  He said that he would meet us right here on this corner. (exactly here)

21.  His health seems to be improving little by little. (gradually, by degrees, slowly)

22.  I have worked very hard today and am tired out. (extremely tired)

23.  Last night several friends called on us. (to visit)

24.  “Never mind!” she said when I offered to open the window for her. (do not mind / bother)

25.  Which book did you pick out to send Anne ? (to choose, select)

26.  There is no hurry. You can take your time doing those exercises. (to work or go leisurely, avoid hurrying)

27.  With whom did you talk over your plan to buy a new car ? (to discuss, consider)

28.  If you are tired, why don’t you lie down for an hour or so ? (to recline)

29.  When the President entered, everyone in the room stood up. (to rise)

30.  After standing for so long, it was a pleasure to sit down and rest. (to take a sitting position)

31.  I have been working on my income-tax form all day long. (the entire day)

32.  John translated that French novel by himself. (alone)

33.  Do you think he made that mistake on purpose ? (intentionally)

34.  How is Mr. Holmes getting along in his new job ? (to do, succeed, make progress)

35.  Does it make any difference to you whether we have our lesson at two o’clock or at three o’clock? (to be of equal importance)

36.  William took out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead. (to remove, extract)

37.  I did not want to take part in their argument. (to participate)

38.  He said that he did not have any money at all. (to any degree, in the least – neg. sense)

39.  Every student should look up all new words in his dictionary each day. (to search for a word, a price, a phone number, etc. – esp. in a dictionary or catalogue where one must turn over pages)

40.  A very pleasant young woman waited on me in Macy’s yesterday. (to serve, attend to – in a store or shop)

41.  Every student should spend at least 2 hours on his homework every night. (a minimum of)

42.  So far John has been the best student in our English class. (up to the present time)

43.  Last evening we took a walk along Broadway. (to go for a walk, promenade)

44.  He asked me to come in and take a seat. (to sit down)

45.  He tried on several suits and finally picked out a blue one. (to test before buying clothes)

46.  I shall think over your offer and give you my answer tomorrow. (to consider carefully before deciding)

47.  The meeting took place in Constitution Hall. (to happen, occur)

48.  After John finished reading the report, he put it away in his safe. (to set aside, return something to its proper place)

49.  When two women meet for the first time, they do not usually shake hands. (to exchange greetings with a glasp of the hands)

50.  Look out for the cars turning in your direction. (to be careful or cautious)

51.  What did you think of that movie which you saw last night? (to have an opinion about)

52.  Can you get us back by five o’clock ? (to return)

53.  If you go out in this rain, you will surely catch cold. (to become sick with a cold)

54.  Have you made up your mind yet as to where you are going to spend your vacation ? (to decide)

55.  We have changed our minds and are going to Canada instead of to California on our vacation. (to alter one’s decision or opinion)

56.  For the time being my sister is clerking in a department store. (for the present, temporarily)

57.  I do not think he will ever get over the loss of his wife. (to recover from)

58.  At first the workers planned to strike, but later they called it off. (to cancel)

59.  Has your friend returned to South America for good ? (permanently, forever)

60.  John is in a hurry to catch his train. (hurried, in a rush)

61.  He hung up his coat in the closet. The operator told me to hang up and dial the same number again. (to place upon a hook or coat hanger; replace the telephone in its cradle)

62.  You have left out your name on this list. (to omit)

63.  We are counting on you to help us with today’s assignment. (to depend upon)

64.  Patricia is a very shy girl and does not make friends easily. (to win or gain friends)

65.  The elevator was out of order and we had to walk to the tenth floor. (not in working condition)

66.  I missed the bus and didn’t get to the office until ten. (to arrive to a place)

67.  At times she feels a little better but then she becomes very weak again. (sometimes, occasionally)

68.  He signed the contract without even looking it over. (to examine)

69.  We have / take time off for a coffee break every morning. (to have free time)

70.  John kept on talking although the teacher asked him several times to stop. (to continue)

71.  You can put out your cigarette in that ashtray. (to extinguish)

72.  All of a sudden John appeared at the door. (suddenly)

73.  The teacher pointed out the mistakes in my composition. (to indicate)

74.  The chairman said that the meeting would be over in an hour. (to be finished, ended)

75.  “The time is up”, the teacher said at the end of the hour. (to be ended – said only of time)

76.  We must hurry if we wish to arrive at the opera on time. (exactly at or before an appointed time)

77.  We got to the movie just in time to see both pictures. (within or sometime before an appointed time or a deadline)

78.  Is your headache getting better or worse ? (to become better or worse)

79.  John got sick last January and has been in bed since then. (to become sick, well, tired, wet, busy)

80.  I think you’d better speak to Mr. Smith immediately about this matter. (it is advisable to, it would be better to)

81.  I’d rather go for a walk than watch TV tonight. (to prefer to)

82.  That widower told me, by the way, that he never expected to remarry. (incidentally)

83.  How long did it take you to figure out the cost of that machine ? (to calculate, to study carefully in order to understand)

84.  The meeting was put off until next week. (to postpone)

85.  We were about to start dinner when Tina arrived. (to be on the point of, ready)

86.  I turned around and saw that Gertrude was sitting directly behind me. (to make a complete turn in order to face in the opposite direction)

87.  Mary and her sister take turns helping their mother each night. (to alternate)

88.  He never pays attention to anything his wife says. (to give attention to, place importance upon)

89.  John went on reading and paid no attention to any of us. (to continue, proceed)

90.  I have told him the same thing over and over. (repeatedly)

91.  I must buy a new suit. This one is worn out. (to become shabby and useless from wear)

92.  When my clothes are worn out, I generally throw them away. (to discard)

93.  The fell in love when they were students in high school. (to begin to love)

94.  Have you a match ? This cigarette has gone out. (to leave – also to cease burning)

95.  As yet we have not had an answer from him. (up to the present time, as of now)

96.  Does the new vice-president have anything to do with the work of the export department ? (to have some connection with)

97.  Marge woke up this morning very early but did not get up until about ten. (to awaken)

98.  Who is in charge of the arrangements for the dance next week ? (to be responsible for)

99.  Who is going to take/have charge of hiring an orchestra ? (to have/take management of, to have/take responsibility for, attend to)

100.          I have been  trying all morning to get in touch with Mr. Jones. (to communicate with)

101.          We all had a good time at the party last night. (to enjoy oneself)

102.          Who will take care of your dog while you are away  on your vacation ? (to watch)

103.          Previously I saw him very often but now he comes only once in a while. (occasionally)

104.          Quite a few students were absent yesterday. (many)

105.          I used to buy my suits at Macy’s. Now I buy them at Barney’s. (indicates an action or habit which continued for some period of time in the past but eventually ended)

106.          I am used to studying with Mr. Jones and therefore prefer not to change to another teacher. (refers to the continuing present and follows a noun or a gerund)

107.          You will soon get used to this climate and then the changes in temperature will not affect you. (to become used or adjusted to)

108.          George made believe that he was sick so that he would not have to go to school. (to pretend)

109.          Make sure to turn off the radio before you go out. (to be/become sure or certain of)

110.          I don’t often get sick, but now and then I do catch cold. (occasionally)

111.          I did not make out very well on my last examination. (to succeed)

112.          She likes to keep house and has a reputation as an excellent housekeeper. (to do the usual work of running a home, cooking, cleaning, etc.)

113.          That psychedelic tie doesn’t go with that red shirt at all. (to match)

114.          Helen went with Richard for about six months, but now she has a new boy friend. (to go out together,as in the case of a young man and woman who frequently go out together or have dates)

115.          What part of South America does she come from ? (to originate in)

116.          We made very good time on our trip to Florida. (to travel rapidly at good speed)

117.          The postman mixed up my mail. (to confuse)

118.          Who is going to see about getting us a larger room for this big class ? (take care of)

119.          We can’t seem to get rid of the mice in our apartment. (to become free of, escape from)

He knows many passages from Shakespeare by heart. (by memory)