40 // Explaining Things Flashcards
mention something indirectly
ALLUDE TO
The politician alluded to housing in his speech, but mostly spoke about transportation.
return to a subject
COME BACK TO
During her speech, the senator kept coming back to her financial policies.
explain the details of something again
GO BACK OVER
I asked the professor if he could go back over some of the points from the lecture.
successfully explain an idea or express a feeling
PUT ACROSS
Yuri managed to put his ideas across very well during the debate.
provide the latest or most important information about something
FILL SB IN (ON STH)
Becky asked Sarah to fill her in on the latest gossip from the office.
explain something very clearly (usually with anger or frustration)
SPELL OUT
How many times do | have to spell it out to you? You’re not allowed to use your phone in class.
give more details about something
EXPAND ON
The interviewer asked me to expand on my experience of working with animals.
explain or show something by performing or re-enacting it
ACT OUT
Pete couldn’t remember the French word for “swimming,” so he acted it out.
help someone to notice something
POINT OUT
My friend pointed out some of the mistakes I’d made in my code.
make something easier to understand
DUMB DOWN
Gio didn’t know anything about computers, so he asked the salesperson to dumb it down for him.
