Common English Phrases

Learn

Page 9/46 Go to page:

241	not at all
1. adv. (emphatic) Not.
He's not at all friendly towards his ex-wife.
2. interj. Used similarly to you're welcome, as a conventional reply to an expression of gratitude.
Thank you for this very thoughtful present. — Not at all.
242	on time
1. adj. Punctual or according to schedule.
2. adv. Punctually or according to the schedule.
The train arrived on time for the first time this week.
3. adv. By installments, payments over a period of time.
They bought their dining-room furniture on time.
243	how come
1. adv. (idiomatic, informal) Why; why is it; for what reason or purpose?
How come you didn’t leave when you had the chance?
244	back up
1. v. (idiomatic, intransitive) To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so.
That beeping sound indicates that the truck is backing up.
2. v. (idiomatic, transitive) To move a vehicle backwards.
Back up the car a little, you're blocking the driveway.
3. v. (idiomatic, intransitive) To undo one's actions.
245	come into
Please come into the living room.
1. v. To inherit (money).
After his father died, he came into a large fortune.
2. v. To be a factor in.
Money doesn't come into it.
246	call in
1. v. (intransitive) To communicate with a base etc, by telephone.
I was too unwell to work yesterday so I called in sick.
2. v. (intransitive) To pay a short visit.
I'll call in this afternoon to pick up my prescription.
3. v. To summon someone, especially for help or advice.
247	account for
1. v. To explain by relating circumstances; to show that some one, thing or members of a group are present or have been processed.
I don't have to account for anything to you.
The storekeeper was expected to account for any material removed.
2. v. To be the primary cause of
The torrential downpour would account for the saturated state of the land.
248	in the meantime
1. prep. meanwhile
249	be worth
1.
250	little girl
1. n. A female child, especially one younger than ten years of age.
2. n. A weak-willed person.
May 1 2000, TV.com -
Laurie tells him to stop being such a little girl and do something bad for once.
251	all the same
1. adv. Anyway; nevertheless; nonetheless.
He knew it was risky. He did it all the same.
252	compared with
1.
253	fill in
1. v. To fill; to replace material that is absent or has been removed.
After you're done laying the pipe, fill in the trench.
2. v. (transitive, idiomatic) To inform somebody, especially to supply someone missing or missed information.
If you know anything about this, maybe you can fill me in.
3. v. (intransitive, idiomatic) To substitute for somebody or something.
254	asked for
1. v. simple past tense and past participle of ask for
255	running around
1. v. present participle of run around
256	figured out
1. v. simple past tense and past participle of figure out
257	carry out
1. v. To hold while moving it out.
We’ll have to carry the piano out of the shop.
2. v. (transitive, idiomatic) To fulfill.
She finally carried out her lifelong ambition when she appeared in a Hollywood blockbuster.
3. v. To execute or perform; to put into operation.
258	gets to
1. v. third-person singular present indicative of get to
259	from time to time
1. adv. Occasionally; sometimes; once in a while.
2. adv. (legal) In whatever status exists at various times.
3. adv. (obsolete) Continuously from one time to another; at all times, constantly.
260	coming out
1. v. present participle of come out
261	gets out
1. v. third-person singular present indicative of get out
262	get married
1. v. (intransitive) To become married (to someone).
After a five-year engagement he finally decided to get married to Ash.
2. v. (reciprocal) To become married (to each other).
After a five-year engagement they finally decided to get married.
263	at any time
1.
264	get along
1. v. (intransitive, idiomatic, often followed by with) To interact or coexist well, without argument or trouble.
I wish the kids would get along better.
She never did get along with her brother.
2. v. To survive; to do well enough.
She didn’t have a lot of money, but she had enough to get along.
265	run by
1. v. To inform someone briefly of the main points of an idea; to bring an idea or proposal to the attention of someone (especially in order to obtain their opinion of it).
Let me run that idea by the board before we spend too much time on it.
I would like to hear your opinion on this. Have you got a few minutes, so I can run some ideas by you?
Can you just run those numbers by me again, please? To make sure I've got them clear.
2. v. To briefly stop at a location for a particular purpose.
266	on paper
1. prep. (figuratively) Based on debatable inference; in theory.
267	in the first place
1. prep. (sequence, idiomatic) to begin with; earlier; first; at the start
The question is not whether I still enjoy the job, when I never enjoyed it in the first place.
In the first place, let's get the basics settled.
268	carried out
1. v. simple past tense and past participle of carry out
269	rely on
1. v. To be confident in.
I know I can rely on you.
2. v. To be dependent upon.
The city relies on the subway system.
270	above all
1. prep. Of prime importance; before anything else; especially.

Dictionary entries from Wiktionary