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1
Q

pick out

A

select

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2
Q

call on

A

visit

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3
Q

drop in on

A

visit

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4
Q

so far

A

until now

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5
Q

as of yet

A

until now-

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6
Q

look up

A

search for info in directory,dictionary

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7
Q

wait on

A

serve in the restaurant

Young clerk … me in the restaurant.

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8
Q

put away

A

remove smth

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9
Q

take out

A

remove smth -

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10
Q

look out

A

be careful

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11
Q

watch out

A

be careful-

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12
Q

get back

A

return

Mr.Samers got back from trip to London

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13
Q

get over

A

recover from illness

It took just one day to get over my cold.Now I feel really better.

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14
Q

make up one’s mind

A

reach a decision

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15
Q

for the time being

A

temporarily

For the time being,Janet is working as a secretary.

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16
Q

for good

A

permanently,forever

Matt has returned to Belarus for good.He doesn’t want to live abroad whatsoever.

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17
Q

call off

A

cancel

The referee called off the game because of darkness.

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18
Q

in a rush

A

in a hurry

She ‘s always in a rush in the morning to get her children to school.

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19
Q

get along with

A

to associate or work well with

Tom isn’t getting along with his new roommate.

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20
Q

get on with

A

to associate or work well with

How are you getting on with your students?

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21
Q

feel under the weather

A

catch cold

Jim caught a cold recently and feels under the weather now.

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22
Q

hang up

A

put the clothes on a hook/hanger

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23
Q

hang up

A

stop the conversation on a telephone

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24
Q

few and far between

A

unusual,rare

Airplane flights are very safe and crashes are a few and far between.

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25
Q

look over

A

check over

Before going to school you ‘d look over your homework.

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26
Q

have time off

A

have free time

Everyday workers have time off for dinner.

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27
Q

all along

A

all the time

She knew all along that our plan would not work out.

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28
Q

right away

A

immediately

Siona will be ready right away.

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29
Q

would rather

A

prefer to

Would you rather go to ski or skating.

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30
Q

call it a day/night

A

stop working at a day/night

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31
Q

point out

A

show,indicate

The teacher pointed out my mistakes.

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32
Q

take turns

A

change one by one

Children decided to take turns while playing video game.

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33
Q

brush up on smth

A

review smth after a period of time

Jim decided to brush up on Spanish,because he didn’t speak it for years.

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34
Q

back and forth

A

in a backward and forward motion

The lion kept racing back and forth while hunting.

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35
Q

quite a few

A

a few

Quite a few students were absent yesterday.

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36
Q

now and then

A

sometimes

I don’t see him very often,but now and then we arrange to have lunch together.

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37
Q

once in a while

A

sometimes

Gary gets a cold once in a while even though he takes good care of himself.

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38
Q

every so often

A

sometimes

Every so often my brother and I get together for a camping trip.

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39
Q

every other

A

every second

Every other Friday we play football with my friends.

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40
Q

keep out

A

not allow to enter

Please,keep your dog out.

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41
Q

keep away

A

stay at a distance

Please,keep children away from the street.

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42
Q

find fault with

A

criticize

Mr.Jones is finding a fault with the work of others.

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43
Q

ill at ease

A

feel uncomfortable

Speaking in front of the audience makes many people to feel ill at ease.

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44
Q

look into

A

investigate

The police is looking into the matter of stolen articles.

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45
Q

take hold of

A

grasp

The blind man took hold of my arm while crossing the road.

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46
Q

keep track of

A

remember the location;keep a record

I don’t know how Jim keeps track of all his seven children.

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47
Q

be/get carried away

A

being affected by ..
Jim got carried away with a fear when he crossed the road.
They were carried away by sad movie.

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48
Q

catch fire

A

begin to burn

Don’t stay near the stove,you clothes may catch fire.

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49
Q

stands to reason

A

clear;logical

It stands to reason that man was poor.

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50
Q

once in a blue moon

A

rare

Once in a blue moon my wife and I visited expensive restaurant.

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51
Q

cut and dried

A

predictable,boring

The results of national elections were cut and dried.

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52
Q

once and for all

A

finally

I told him once and for all that I’ll be alone.

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53
Q

come true

A

become reality

Everything he had predicted come true.

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54
Q

out of touch

A

without contact

Mary and I have been out of touch for years.

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55
Q

on one’s toes

A

be alert

You’d better stay on your toes,while driving so recklessly.

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56
Q

hard of hearing

A

deaf.

I guess,he’s hard of hearing,because he doesn’t respond while I’m talking to him.

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57
Q

above all

A

mainly

Above all,don’t mention this problem to Gary.

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58
Q

to be bound to

A

to be sure.

We are bound to be late if you make it so slowly.

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59
Q

to try out

A

to test

You have to try out this computer in case of some problems.

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60
Q

tear down

A

to destroy

The excavator tore down the old building of hotel.

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61
Q

tear up

A

to rip into small pieces

Our director tore up the contract yesterday.

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62
Q

at heart

A

truly,basically

John is being rude with me,but at heart he’s a kind person.

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63
Q

tell apart

A

to distinguish

We have twins in our village,but parents only can tell them apart.

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64
Q

in the way

A

to obstruct;to block

We drove fast until big truck appeared in our way.

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65
Q

put up

A

to accept unwillingly

The employee was fired ,because our boss couldn’t put up with his mistakes.

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66
Q

day in and day out

A

constantly,continually

It was raining in April,day in and day out.

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67
Q

catch up with

A

to reach the equal requirement

First we need to catch up with them and only then to keep up with them.

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68
Q

hold still

A

not to move

Please,hold still while I’m adjusting your tie.

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69
Q

know by sight

A

to recognize

The woman said that she’d know the thief by sight if she met him.

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70
Q

by far

A

clearly

Jack is by far the greatest poet in our school.

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71
Q

no wonder

A

not surprisingly

Jack was abroad last week.No wonder we haven’t seen him.

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72
Q

take apart

A

disassemble

In order to fix the engine,an engineer too the engine apart.

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73
Q

put together

A

assemble

Only one person has put the details together the machine work.

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74
Q

take by surprise

A

surprise

The offer at the entrance of the shop took me by surprise.

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75
Q

name after

A

to name someone by the name of another person

They named their daughter after their grandmother.

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76
Q

stop by

A

visit or stay somewhere shortly

We’d stop by the supermarket to buy some apples.

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77
Q

drop (someone) a line

A

to write a note

Please,drop me a line when reach a continent.

78
Q

stand a chance of …ing

A

The city’s football team stands a chance of winning annual competition.

79
Q

take pains

A

work carefully

Jim takes pains to do very well;he’s the best employee.

80
Q

look on

A

to watch as a spectator

I stood and looked on as the police arrested a criminal.

81
Q

look up to

A

to respect greatly

The children look up to their parents day in and day out.

82
Q

look down on

A

feel superior to

Why does Lisa look down on Mario?

83
Q

pull off

A

to succeed in smth difficult

The managers pulled off a big deal by buying shares of another company.

84
Q

make do

A

manage; cope

She has to make do with what she has now,because of the financial difficulties in the world.

85
Q

go in for

A

have an interest;sport or hobby

Jim goes in for tennis while his wife goes for painting.

86
Q

stay in

A

stay at home

On a rainy day I prefer to stay in and read.

87
Q

knock out

A

make unconscious; impress greatly
Linda’s beautiful appearance knocked me out.
On last competition boxer showed the best knockout in boxing history.

88
Q

knock oneself out

A

work very hard to do smth

Don’t knock yourself out while practicing.

89
Q

carry out

A

to accomplish;execute

It’s easy to write a plan, but hard to carry it out.

90
Q

set out

A

start traveling towards a place

We set out for the top of the mountain at dawn.

91
Q

give and take

A

cooperation

Give and take is an important element of successful marriage.

92
Q

drop out of

A

stop attending

Some students drop out of school during teenage years to find a job.

93
Q

cheer up

A

make happier

We all tried to cheer up the little boy ,who was brought up in orphanage,by buying some ice cream for him.

94
Q

get away

A

to get free;escape

No one knew how to arrest the criminal,who wanted to get away from the police.

95
Q

get away with

A

avoid punishment for

Jonathan tried to get away with coming late to work;someday he’ll be penalized.

96
Q

keep up

A

prevent from sleeping;continue maintaining

Please,turn down the TV volume,you’re keeping up the children.

97
Q

keep up with

A

have current knowledge of

Jane keeps up with world affairs by reading a magazine.

98
Q

stand out

A

to be easily noticed

Red hair of Jane makes her stand out from others in the group.

99
Q

let on

A

reveal or tell what you know;hint

They asked me not to let on to John that we’re planning to organize a big party for him.

100
Q

meet (someone) halfway

A

to compromise with someone

Steve wanted 4600,but John offered 4000.They met each other halfway and agreed on 4200.

101
Q

check up on

A

to examine smth to determine the conditions

The government always checks up on working conditions at some companies.

102
Q

come about

A

happen

The flood came about as a result of torrential rains.

103
Q

bring about

A

cause to happen

Annual torrential rains bring about serious flooding.

104
Q

die down

A

lessen in strength

The hurricane became less serious when the wind died down.

105
Q

die out

A

not exist any more

Scientists still unsure why the dinosaurs died out.

106
Q

live up to

A

fulfill (the standards)

It was clear that a man couldn’t live up to her family’s standards.

107
Q

stick it to

A

to cheat

Don’t believe that salesman,he’ll stick it to you at the first opportunity.

108
Q

stand up for

A

support;defend

Tom stood up for his friend ,when he faced a problem with a bully.

109
Q

take on

A

hire

Our factory is going to take a lot of new employees on this year.

110
Q

take down

A

wright what is said

The secretary took down everything that was said at the meeting.

111
Q

fall through

A

not to succeed

Our plan to go to Europe this year fell through as we couldn’t collect enough money.

112
Q

give in

A

surrender

Completely surrounded by our soldiers,the enemy finally gave in.

113
Q

give off

A

release

When water boils,it gives off steam.

114
Q

hold a grudge against

A

The teacher holds a grudge against a bully in the class.

115
Q

to have it out with

A

to quarrel with

I’m going to have it out with Jack about all the times that he has told us lie.

116
Q

hold out

A

endure

If our supply of food and water holds out, we plan to camp here for another week.

117
Q

hold over

A

to extent;to keep for a longer time

Let’s hold discussion of this problem of this problem over until our next meeting.

118
Q

let up

A

to lessen in intensity

If the rain lets up soon,we go out.

119
Q

lay off

A

to fire

If business continue to be slow ,our company lays off some workers.

120
Q

bring out

A

to show; introduce

Automobile companies bring out new models each year.

121
Q

wait up for

A

to wait until late at night without going to bed.

Don’t wait up for me.I’ll be late.

122
Q

break off

A

to terminate;discontinue

During the war countries break off diplomatic relationships.

123
Q

wear off

A

disappear gradually

I have a headache.It’ll wear off after an hour or so.

124
Q

wear down

A

become worn gradually through use

If you drag your feel while you walk,you’ll wear down your shoes quickly.

125
Q

touch and go

A

risky;uncertain until the end

The complicated medical operation was touch and go for several hours.

126
Q

have one’s heart to set on

A

to desire greatly

She has her heart to set on going abroad.

127
Q

buy up

A

to buy all the stock of goods,products

Before the hurricane struck,residents bought up all the food and water in the store.

128
Q

buy out

A

purchase a business or company

Large companies often buy out small ,which are having financial difficulties.

129
Q

sell out

A

sell all items

The store is closing its doors for good and is selling out everything this weekend.

130
Q

cut out for

A

to have the necessary skills or talent

John is not cut out for the work he has currently.

131
Q

be up to smth

A

to be doing smth

Hi,Jack.I haven’t seen you in a long time.What have you been up to?

132
Q

go through

A

to undergo

I can’t believe that she went through to get that job.

133
Q

go without saying that

A

be known without the need to mention

It goes without saying that you’d drive slower here.

134
Q

put smone on

A

to joke with someone

Don’t worry.I wouldn’t expect you to do all that work by yourself.I’m just putting you on.

135
Q

keep one’s head

A

to be calm in a case of emergency

When the heater caused a fire,Jill kept her head and phoned 911.

136
Q

lose one’s head

A

not to think clearly;lose self-control

When Jim saw a goat in the center of New York he lost his head and crushed into the signal light pole.

137
Q

stand up

A

to withstand use or wear

My old car has stood up well over the years.I haven’t had any major problems with it.

138
Q

get the better of

A

win or defeat by gaining advantage over smone

Jim doesn’t seem to be very athletic at tennis,but if you’re not careful,he’ll get the better of you.

139
Q

break loose

A

become free or loose;escape

During the race one contestant broke the loose from the pack of racers and finished the line.

140
Q

on edge

A

nervous;anxious;upset;irritable

Day in and day out Sara was on edge,because of her family problems.

141
Q

waste someone’s breath

A

not able to convince someone

Don’t argue with Frank any longer.You’re wasting your breath trying to change his view.

142
Q

cut short

A

make shorter

The moderator asked speaker to cut his speech short ,because they were out of time.

143
Q

step in

A

become involved or concerned about smth

When children started to fight on a playground,the teacher stepped in and stopped the fight.

144
Q

step down

A

retire;resign

Next May the principal will step down after thirty years of service to the school.

145
Q

step on

A

treat severely;discipline

Sometimes it’s necessary to step on children in case to rear good personalities.

146
Q

more or less

A

approximate;same size

Our rooms more or less have the same size.

147
Q

screw up

A

confuse;cause problems in
The streets’ numbers can screw up anyone.
Instead of fixing television,the technician screwed it up even more.

148
Q

goof up

A

perform badly

I really goofed up on the exam,I feel it.

149
Q

go off the deep end

A

become angry and do smth hastily

When she asked him for divorce,he went off the deep end and starter to shout.

150
Q

loose one’s touch

A

fail at what one used to do well

I played tennis very well,but today I lost.I must have lost my touch.

151
Q

in hand

A

under firm control

While driving the driver had the car in hand.

152
Q

on hand

A

available

I constantly keep some extra money on hand in case of emergency.

153
Q

kick the habit

A

stop a bad habit

Once a child becomes accustomed to chewing his nails,it’s difficult kick the habit.

154
Q

cover up

A

hide,conceal

Factory workers decided to cover up a crime.

155
Q

go through channels

A

send a request through the normal way

If you go through proper channels in this company,it’s hard to get anything done quickly.

156
Q

last straw

A

the final event in a series of unacceptable actions.

When my friend didn’t return money to me,it was the final straw.

157
Q

make sone tick

A

motivate someone

It’s been impossible to figure out what makes the boss tick.

158
Q

bow out

A

stop doing regular activity

She bowed out as a registrar at the school.

159
Q

pin smth on

A

find smone guilty of a crime or offence

The attorney tried to pin the crime on the husband,but he wasn’t guilty.

160
Q

get a rise out of

A

provoke an angry response

You can put me on all the time,but you won’t get a rise out of me.

161
Q

stick around

A

to remain at the same place;wait

John had to stick around the house all day until furniture was delivered.

162
Q

pick up the tab

A

to pay the cost or bill for another person

My friend moved to London and his company picks up the tab.

163
Q

went to town

A

do smth enthusiastically

Chris really went to town on his project.

164
Q

let slide

A

neglect a duty;ignore a situation

John had to pay the bill for electricity,but he let it slide.

165
Q

live it up

A

spend money freely

After receiving a inheritance,I lived it up for years.

166
Q

liven up

A

energize;make more active

Many people have to drink coffee to liven up themselves.

167
Q

take at one’s word

A

to accept what one’s telling;believe

You should be careful about taking her at her word.She ‘s been known to be a liar.

168
Q

serve the purpose

A

be useful

I’m not sure whether screw driver can open this can,but the knife will serve the purpose.

169
Q

lose one’s cool

A

be angry

Despite having some accidents on the way,the couch didn’t lose his cool.

170
Q

leave open

A

delay making a decision

The managers of the festival left the date open until the beginning of August.

171
Q

miss the boat

A

lose an opportunity

The gold market went good during last year,but John lost the boat by investing into China.

172
Q

throw someone a curve

A 
to introduce an unexpected topic;to embarrass
The first week in class was going well until one student threw a teacher a curve by suggesting that the text book was difficult.
173
Q

make waves

A

create disturbances,usually by complaining.

In the companies employees who make waves are not welcomed.

174
Q

not on your life

A

no way

You ask me to invest in that second rate company?Not on your life!

175
Q

cover a lot of/too little ground

A

discuss much material

During the lecture our teacher covered too little ground.

176
Q

mind the store

A

be responsible for an office while others are gone.

While many employees went for lunch,Sue was minding the store.

177
Q

throw the book at

A

to penalize someone;be harsh on

My boss threw the book at me when he discovered that I had used the company’s time for my own advantage.

178
Q

put one’s foot in one’s mouth

A

to say or do the wrong thing

Fred really put his foot in his mouth when he called his boss by the wrong name.

179
Q

be up for grabs

A

become available to others

When senator retired ,his seat was up for grabs.

180
Q

show off

A

to show in order to attract attention

She has a tendency to show her possessions off.

181
Q

learn the ropes

A

become familiar with routine procedures at work /school

She didn’t know he duty,but she had an ability to learn the ropes quickly.

182
Q

to land on one’s feet

A

recover safely from unpleasant situation

After serious difficulties James landed on his feet quickly.

183
Q

be a far cry from

A

be very different from

I like Seattle,but it’s a far cry from my ideal destination.

184
Q

get out from under

A

recover own financial situation

After years of financial difficulties,a couple got out from under the debt.

185
Q

give someone a big hand

A

to applause

When the vocalist sung,the audience gave him a big hand.

186
Q

goof off

A

waste time

When our boss is away,all employees goof off.

187
Q

talk back

A

to answer in a rude manner

If you talk back to me like that once more,you’re going to lose the best friend.

188
Q

get out of line

A

disobey or ignore normal procedures

Any employee, who get out of line, is punished.

189
Q

keep after

A

remind constantly,nag

Jim is so forgetful,so it’s necessary to keep after him.

190
Q

play by ear

A

play music once heard,but never read

That pianist can play most popular music by ear.She never needs to read it.

english idioms (1 decks)

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