Essential_Idioms Flashcards
to enter or to board a vehicle
to get in/to get on
To get in is used for cars; to get on is used for all other forms of transportation.
o It’s easiest to get in the car from the driver’s side. The door on the other side doesn’t work well.
o I always get on the bus to work at 34th Street.
to leave or to descend from a vehicle.
to get out of/to get off
To get out of is used for cars; to get off is used for all other forms of transportation.
o Why don’t we stop and get out of the car for a while?
o Helen got off the train at the 42nd Street terminal.
to place on oneself (usually said of clothes) (S)
to put on
o Mary put on her coat and left the room.
o Put your hat on before you leave the house.
to remove (usually said of clothes) (S)
to take off
o John took off his jacket as he entered the office.
o Take your sweater off. The room is very warm.
to telephone (also: to give some one a call) (S)
to call up
To call can be used instead of to call up, as in the first example below.
o I forgot to call up Mr. Jones yesterday. I’d better call him now.
o Call me up tomorrow, Jane. We’ll arrange a time to have lunch together.
o I promise to give you a call as soon as I arrive in New York.
to start or cause to function (also: to switch on) (S)
to turn on
o Please turn on the light; it’s too dark in here.
o Do you know who turned the air conditioning on?
to cause to stop functioning (also: to switch off, to shut off) (S)
to turn off:
Turn on and turn off, as well as their related forms, are used for things that flow, such as electricity, water, gas, etc.
o Please turn off the light when you leave the room.
o Are you really listening to the radio, or should I turn it off?
very soon; immediately (also: at once)
right away:
o Dad says that dinner will be ready right away, so we’d better wash our hands and set the table.
o Tell Will to come to my office right away. I must see him immediately.
o Stop playing that loud music at once!
to lift form the floor, table, etc., with one’s fingers (S)
to pick up:
o Harry picked up the newspaper that was on the front doorstep.
o Could you pick your toy up before someone falls over it?
eventually, after a period of time
sooner or later:
o If you study English seriously, sooner or later you’ll become fluent.
o I’m too tired to do my homework now; I’m sure I’ll do it sooner or later.
to arise, to rise from a bed; to make someone arise (S)
to get up:
For the last definition a noun phrase must separate the verb and particle.
o Carla gets up at seven o’clock every morning.
o At what time should we get the children up tomorrow?
in the beginning, originally
at first:
o At first English was difficult for him, but later he made great progress.
o I thought at first that it was Sheila calling, but then I realized that it was Betty.
to wear formal clothes, to dress very nicely
to dress up:
o We should definitely dress up to go to the theater.
o You don’t have to dress up for Mike’s party.
finally, after a long time.
at last:
o We waited for hours and then the train arrived at last.
o Now that I am sixteen, at last I can drive my parents’ car.
o George is late for class as usual. This seems to happen every day.
o As usual, Dora received first prize in the swimming contest. It’s the third consecutive year that she has won.
get information about, to determine (S)
This idiom is separable only when a pronoun is used, as in the second example.
to find out:
o Will you please try to find out what time the airplane arrives?
o I’ll call right now to find it out.
give one’s attention to; to watch
to look at:
o The teacher told us to look at the blackboard and not at our books.
o I like to walk along a country road at night and look at the stars.
to try to find, to search for
An adverb phrase such as all over can be put between the verb and preposition, as in the second example, however, the idiom cannot be separated by a noun or pronoun.
to look for:
o He’s spent over an hour looking for the pen that he lost.
o So there you are! We’ve looked allover for you.
acceptable, fine; yes, okay
This idiom can also be spelled alright in informal usage.
all right:
o He said that it would be all right to wait in her office until she returned.
o Do you want me to turn off the TV? Alright, if you insist.
all the time, from the beginning (without change)
all along:
o She knew all along that we’d never agree with his plan.
o You’re smiling! Did you know all along that I’d give you a birthday present?
gradually, slowly (also: step by step)
little by little:
o Karen’s health seems to be improving little by little.
o If you study regularly each day, step by step your vocabulary will increase.
to make very weary due to difficult conditions or hard effort (also: to wear out) (S)
to tire out:
o The hot weather tired out the runners in the marathon.
o Does studying for final exams wear you out? It makes me feel worn out!
to ask for a response from; to visit (also: to drop in on)
to call on:
o Jose didn’t know the answer when the teacher called on him.
o Last night several friends called on us at our home.
o Shy don’t we drop in on Sally a little later?
don’t be concerned about it; ignore what was just said
never mind:
o When he spilled his drink on my coat, I said, “Never mind. It needs to be cleaned anyway.”
o So you weren’t listening to me again. Never mind; it wasn’t important.
to choose, to select (S)
to pick out:
o Ann picked out a good book to give to her brother as a graduation gift.
o Johnny, if you want me to buy you a toy, then pick one out now.
