| A |
bring up a topic etc. = introduce it in a conversation
- I don't want to hear any more about this matter. Please don't bring it up again.
come up = be introduced in a conversation
- Some interesting points came up in our discussion yesterday.
come up with an idea, a suggestion etc. = produce an idea
- Sarah is very creative. She's always coming up with new ideas.
make something up = invent something that is not true
- What Kevin told you about himself wasn't true. He made it all up.
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| B |
cheer up = be happier, cheer somebody up = make somebody feel happier
- You look so sad! Cheer up!
- Helen is depressed at the moment. What can we do to cheer her up?
save up for something / to do something = save money to buy something
- Dan is saving up for a trip round the world.
clear up = become bright (for weather)
- It was raining when I got up, but it cleared up later.
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| C |
blow up = explode, blow something up = destroy it with a bomb etc.
- The engine caught fire and blew up.
- The bridge was blown up during the war.
tear something up = tear it into pieces
- I didn't read the letter. I just tore it up and threw it away.
beat somebody up = hit someone repeatedly so that they are badly hurt
- A friend of mine was attacked and beaten up a few days ago. He was badly hurt and had to go to hospital.
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| D |
break up / split up (with somebody) = separate
- I'm surprised to hear that Sue and Paul have split up. They seemed very happy together.
do up a coat, a shoelace, buttons etc. = fasten, tie etc.
- It's quite cold. Do up your coat before you go out.
do up a building, a room etc. = repair and improve it
- The kitchen looks great now that it has been done up.
look something up in a dictionary, encyclopaedia etc.
- If you don't know the meaning of a word, you can look it up in a dictionary.
put up with something = tolerate it
- We live on a busy road, so we have to put up with a lot of noise from the traffic.
hold up a person, a plan etc. = delay
- Don't wait for me. I don't want to hold you up.
- Plans to build a new factory have been held up because of the company's financial problems.
mix up people/things, get people/things mixed up = you think one is the other
- The two brothers look very similar. Many people mix them up. (or ... get them mixed up)
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