Essential Intermediate Idioms by Robert J. Dixon

1.      Keep that dog out of this store. (to stay out, off, away from)

2.      It is very easy to find fault with the work of others. (to criticize)

3.      It’s up to you whether we go to the reception or not. (to depend upon the decision of smo)

4.      He comes here off and on to see my father. (occasionally, irregularly)

5.      No one seems to know how the building caught fire. (to begin to burn)

6.      The police are looking into the past record of the suspect. (to investigate, examine carefully)

7.      The blind man took hold of my arm and I led him across the street. (to grasp)

8.      Germany’s demands were out of question, and England answered by declaring war. (to be impossible)

9.      What time does your sister get through work every day? (to finish)

10.  All at once the sky became dark and it started to rain. (suddenly)

11.  We are going to keep track of all your expenses while we are in Mexico. (to keep a record of)

12.  John was called down by his boss for coming late to work. (to reprimand, scold)

13.  This mail-order catalogue is not up to date. (modern, brought up to the present time)

14.  Silent movies have been out of date for many years. (no longer available, current, or in use)

15.  Did they have blow them all up ? (to destroy by explosion, to explode)

16.  The violinist did that difficult passage over and over. (to repeat)

17.  Their home burned down and they had to build a new one. (to burn to the ground)

18.  All his books were burned up in the fire. (to burn completely)

19.  If you overload that fuse, you will burn it out. (to stop functioning, become useless)

20.  Alma has always made good in everything she has done. (to succeed)

21.  It stands to reason that if he never prepares his lessons, he is not going to make good progress. (to be clear and logical)

22.  He was living in France when the war broke out. (to occur suddenly)

23.  As to money, we will simply have to borrow some from the bank. (concerning)

24.  I feel more sorry for his wife than I do for him. (to pity, feel compassion for)

25.  Don’t take everybody’s promises for granted. (to accept as true without investigation)

26.  Our car broke down, and they had to tow it to a garage. (to stop functioning – mec objects)

27.  Julie has turned out to be the best student in English class. (to become or result, to eject)

28.  What has become of my pencil ? (to happen to – smo or sth missing)

29.  The enemy gave up without any resistance. (to surrender, renounce)

30.  Tom’s sister took pity on him and lent him some money. (to pity)

31.  The teacher crossed out several words in my composition. (to cancel)

32.  He never takes into account the fact that I am very busy. (to take into consideration)

33.  The teacher made clear my mistake. (to explain, clarify)

34.  He took one look at her and began to laugh. (to look at)

35.  How do you like the hat which Grace has on today ? (to be wearing)

36.  At first they thought the man was dead but soon he came to. (to revive, regain consciousness)

37.  He promised to call for me at home at seven. (to come to a place in order to get smo or sth)

38.  We ate in last night but tonight we are going to eat out. (at home x in a restaurant)

39.  They tried to play a trick on the professor but he was to clever for them. (to make smo the victim of a trick or joke)

40.  Grandma will look after the baby while we go to the lecture. (to take care of, watch)

41.  I don’t feel like studying tonight. (to have the desire to)

42.  She said that he should stop phoning her late at night, once and for all. (definitively)

43.  Have you heard from John recently ? (to receive news from)

44.  Have you ever heard of the English poet  John Keats ? (to know about, hear mention of)

45.  They are making fun of Carla’s new hairdo. (to laugh at, joke about)

46.  Everything the economists predicted about the cost of living has come true. (to prove to be true)

47.  As a matter of fact, I prefer the Barbados Islands to Florida. (in fact, really)

48.  If Henry doesn’t have / get his own way, he gets very angry. (to obtain what one wishes)

49.  We are looking forward to my uncle’s visit with great pleasure. (to expect, anticipate)

50.  The wind blew Mary’s umbrella inside out and ruined it. (reverse position)

51.  After the accident both cars lay in the street upside down. (reverse position)

52.  Every prospective employee must fill out an application blank, giving his name, address, previous position, etc. (to complete – said of blanks, forms)

53.  I took advantage of the special sale and bought a half dozen new shirts. (to profit)

54.  No matter how much money he spends on his clothes, he never looks well dressed. (regardless of)

55.  William wants  to take up medicine when he goes to college. (to study, begin a course leading to a career)

56.  If we want to have a student dance in the school, we will have to take it up first with the principal. (to consult) 

57.  With  her light hair and blue eyes Susan seems to take after her mother, but in her character she is more like her father. (to resemble a parent or close relative)

58.  In the long run, this synthetic weave will wear better than the woolen one. (finally).

59.  John and I have been out of touch for years. In fact, we haven’t seen each other since high school.

60.  This telephone is out of order. Use the other.

61.  That firm has gone out of business.

62.  The plane soared slowly out of sight.

63.  The poor fellow went out of his mind and was put in a sanatorium.

64.  This piano is out of tune.

65.  I’m afraid that we are out of gas.

66.  He has been out of work for a long time.

67.  The troops run out of ammunition and had to withdraw. (to exhaust the supply of)

68.  Every so often he and I go to a ball game together. (occasionally)

69.  Every now and then we go to Buffalo to visit my relatives there. (occasionally)

70.  The owner of that men’s store gets along well with all his employees. (to live or work harmoniously with)

71.  Please don’t shout. I’m not hard of hearing. (partially deaf).

72.  Don’t let go of the rope until I tell you. (release)

73.  Please keep / bear in mind that you promised to call your patient at two o’clock. (remember)

74.  The man was run over by a train and killed. (strike or pass over with a vehicle)

75.  Keep an eye on my suitcase while I buy a ticket. (watch)

76.  The gun went off while he was cleaning it. (explode)

77.  David went off without saying a word to anybody. (to leave suddenly)

78.  As a child she used to stutter, but she grew out of it. (to outgrow)

79.  They have had a bad luck, but they always make the best of everything. (accept a bad situation and do the best that one can under the circumstances)

80.  The rope was two feet longer than we needed, so we cut off the extra length. (remove by cutting the ends)

81.  Because of the  storm the electricity was cut off for several hours. (terminate abruptly)

82.  The child likes to cut out pictures from the newspaper. (remove by cutting)

83.  I wish I could cut out smoking. (stop doing sth)

84.  On our trip to Florida one of our tires blew out. (explode, go flat)

85.  Please shut off that faucet. If you don’t shut it off, you’ll waste water. (similar to turn off)

86.  They have to shut up their town house and have gone to the country for summer. (close)

87.  She told him to shut up and not say anything more about it. (be quiet, stop talking)

88.  William has got a bad cold. / Who’s got my fountain pen? (to have, possess)

89.  Have you got a match ? / How much money have you got with you ?

90.  I’ve got to be back by two o’clock. (have to do sth, must)

91.  He has got to go to Chicago tonight. / We’ve got to see him today.

92.  You’ll have to walk more slowly. I can’t keep up with you. (maintain the same speed as)

93.  At the age of four William was able to tell time. (tell the time)

94.  Please turn down the radio. It is too loud. (reduce in speed or volume)

95.  His application for a position with that company was turned down. (reject)

96.  The pearl necklace is very becoming to you. (suit, favor in appearance)

97.  These news shoes are hurting me. I’ll be glad when they are broken in. (adjust)

98.  After our new treasurer is broken in, he will be very valuable to us. (train an employee)

99.  Thieves broke into our apartment last night. (enter by force)

100.  Above all, don’t mention it to Jerry. (mainly, especially)