TIME & MOVEMENTS Flashcards
remove by force
Chrissy accidentally broke the handle off the antique vase.
break off
make something untidy or unattractive, do something incorrectly
The hairdresser has completely messed up his hair
mess up
hit someone or something by mistake
I banged into the door while leaving the house.
bang into
fall to pieces
The old book came apart in the librarian’s hands.
come apart
hit something and make it fall to the ground
The dog knocked over the plant pot as it chased the cat.
knock over
hit something with your foot and fall to the ground as a result
Takira tripped over one of her son’s toys.
trip over
break something into pieces
Colin accidentally drove into a tree and smashed up his van.
smash up
become blocked
The drain was clogged up with old leaves, so l had to unblock it.
clog up
disassemble something, separate it into its parts
Jorge took the old clock apart to fix it.
take apart
use something so much that it cannot be used anymore
My son has worn out another pair of shoes!
Wear out
destroy by tearing into pieces
When I got home, I found that the dog had torn a cushion apart
Tear apart
break something into pieces by ripping it
After her favorite band split up, Jo tore up all her posters of them.
tear up
fall to the ground from a standing position
When Omar fell over in the backyard, his dad rushed over to help him.
fall over
fall to the ground from a higher point or surface
Rodrigo slammed the door so hard that the pictures fell off the wall.
fall off
be in a very bad state, fall to the ground (about a building)
The old manor house Andrei wants to buy looks as if it’s about to fall down.
fall down
break into pieces (because of age or bad quality)
Sanjay’s old car is falling apart. He’s had it since he was a teenager.
fall apart
fall from an enclosed place
David’s wallet fell out of his pocket while he was running for the bus.
fall out (of)
crumble and fall to the ground
After the leak in the room above, it looked like the ceiling might fall in.
fall in
avoid any unnecessary risks
It might rain later. I’ll play it safe and take an umbrella.
unharmed and safe
The rescue team found the climbers safe and sound.
safety is the most important thing
Make sure you wear a helmet when you re cycling! Remember,
safety first!
in the care of someone responsible
Zahira is an excellent scuba teacher. You re in safe hands with her.
it was safe to do something
The bear had left, and the coast was clear. We could continue with our trek.
unharmed or uninjured
After the crash, I called my mom to tell her I was still in one piece.
think about the consequences of taking risks
Are you sure you want to buy that motorcycle? I think you should look before you leap.
Be careful so that you avoid problems later
I always wear goggles when I do an experiment. Better safe than sorry!
.
full of danger
The route through the jungle was fraught with danger.
dangerously close
That bike almost hit me! It was too close for comfort.
in a very dangerous or insecure situation
Elsa’s job at the café is hanging by a thread after she dropped another tray of drinks.
potentially getting into trouble
You’re skating on thin ice, Dai.
You’ve arrived late for school every day this week.
close to a dangerous situation
Blake is teetering on the brink of losing his job. His boss has given him a final warning.
put yourself at risk
If you don’t do your violin practice, you run the risk of failing your test next week.
take a great risk
You have to take your life in your hands every time you cross this road.
extremely dangerous
I advised Kathy not to go into the water. It would be risking life and limb.
nearly had an accident, or got into danger
Marco had a narrow escape, but managed to avoid being hit by the truck.
a situation where something bad nearly happened
Hayley had a close shave.
That ball almost hit her!
not out of danger
Jill’s operation went well, but
she’s not out of the woods yet.
by the smallest possible amount of time
Maddy caught the train by the skin of her teeth. It left a few seconds later.
punctual
Victoria is always on time for her English class.
very rarely
Huan only cooks at home once in a blue moon.
lasted far too long
That meeting really dragged on.
Colm was almost asleep by the end.
lasted far too long
an extremely long time
You’ll have to wait until the cows come home before Yuri fixes your car.
spending time in an unproductive way
The teacher told Cory to stop wasting time on his phone.
hurry up
We must get a move on or we’ll miss the start of the play.
a boring experience that passes very slowly
Driving to work during rush hour is such a drag. The traffic’s terrible!
a very long time
It’s been ages since I last went to the circus. I haven’t been since I was a child.
passed very quickly or too quickly
Today has flown by, and I still have so much work to do!
past the appropriate time
It’s nearly midnight. It’s about time we went home.
unexpectedly soon or quickly
Finley’s growing up so quickly!
He was walking before we knew it.
at the last possible moment
We arrived in the nick of time. The train was about to leave.
kept busy while waiting
Our flight was delayed for a few hours, so we killed time playing cards.
extremely early in the morning
We were up at the crack of dawn to catch our flight.
early in the morning
Ren arrived bright and early for his first day at work.
the middle of the night; the quietest part of the night
I was woken in the dead of night by a loud noise outside.
through the whole night
I worked on my assignment from dusk till dawn.
very late at night
Fred stayed up until the wee hours, chatting with his grandfather.
almost but not quite remembered
The answer to the teacher’s question was on the tip of my tongue.
a poor practical memory
I can’t believe I forgot to bring the sandwiches! I’ve got a memory like a sieve.
was very easy to forget
That boring lecture went in one ear and out the other!
most people have forgotten
Memories are fading of what the world was like before TV.
remember something important that might be useful later
You should keep in mind that it gets cold in the winter and pack some warm clothes. (Us)
forgot the main point of what he was talking about
Jacob was explaining the diagram when he suddenly lost his train of thought.
came quickly into someone’s mind
When my son asked me to recommend a book, two titles sprang to mind immediately.
the ability to remember information or images in great detail
Martha has a photographic memory.
She copied that painting perfectly and she’d only seen it once.
help me to remember
The police showed me a photo of the suspect to jog my memory.
that anyone alive can remember
It’s the worst winter in living memory. I’ve never seen so much snow.
is familiar
That name rings a bell! I think I went to college with her.
I can’t remember its name
I’ve seen that animal before, but its name escapes me.
thinking hard, or making an effort to remember
I’ve been racking my brain all morning but can’t remember where
I put my passport. (US)
although I tried not to think about it
I enjoyed the party, but at the back of my mind I knew I had to catch the last train home.
brought back memories
Looking at my old medals stirred up memories of competing in the Olympics.
talked about the past in a happy way
Emi and Sofia took a trip down memory lane as they talked about their school days.
avoid remembering or thinking about
Keeping busy at work is helping me erase the memory of my ex-girlfriend.
I forgot
I’m sorry I didn’t get you a present. It slipped my mind that it was your birthday.
I couldn’t remember anything at all
When the hotel receptionist asked me for my phone number, my mind went blank
in the unlikely event
I think you’ll need to replace your washing machine, but I’ll take a look on the off-chance that I can fix it
a small possibility
There was only a slim chance that we’d see a cheetah, so we were amazed when we spotted one
fairly likely to experience
The weather forecaster announced that we’re in for a chance of rain tomorrow.
have no chance
We don’t stand a chance of getting into the museum before lunchtime.
something good that happens by chance
Winning the lottery was a stroke of luck for us
good luck for someone who has begun a new activity
It was just a case of beginner’s luck when I won that card game. I’d never played it before.
Don’t ask for anything else
I’ve already bought you ice cream.
Don’t push your luck!
lucky or able to do something
You’re in luck! We have one dress left in your size
unlucky or unable to do something
I’m afraid you’re out of luck. The last train has just left the station.
very good luck that has nothing to do with planning or effort
I hadn’t studied for my tests, so it was sheer luck when I passed them.
the most likely to win
Buster is the hot favourite to win the dog show. (UK)
a strong possibility
It looks like a medal is in the cards for Noriko after that amazing throw.
almost certain
The result of the experiment is a foregone conclusion
it is unlikely
Isabella says she will pass her English test, but don’t hold your breath!
unrealistic or unlikely to happen
I think Ruben’s dreams of becoming a pop star are totally pie in the sky.
never; it is very unlikely
Kerry will only clean up her room when pigs fly! (US)
impossible to predict
It’s anyone’s guess which player will win the game. They’re both superb.
made something good much less likely to happen
I had an interview for a great job, but blew it when I arrived half an hour late.
despite circumstances that made it unlikely
Against all odds, Ryder completed his round-the-world sailing trip today.
despite circumstances that made it unlikely
Against all odds, Ryder completed his round-the-world sailing trip today.
very uncertain
Russell has injured his knee. It’s touch-and-go whether he’ll be able to play in the tournament this month.
extremely slowly
The traffic usually moves at a snail’s pace during the rush hour
made good progress
The hikers forged ahead in spite of the terrible snowstorm.
in one direction, then back again
The children threw the ball back and forth as they played outside.
made a lot of progress
Astronauts made great strides in space exploration in the 1960s.
take her belongings and move somewhere else
Marion is going to up sticks and move to Bristol. (UK)
go for a short walk after sitting down for a long time
I’ve been at my desk all day. I’m going to stretch my legs and make some coffee.
done something to start a process
I want to buy a house this year, so I’ve set the wheels in motion and arranged some viewings.
done something that has never been done before
Our company has blazed a trail with these new environmentally friendly cars.
while walking or traveling
I was late for my business meeting, so I had to eat lunch on the run. (US)
open and working well
Maisie’s restaurant is up and running. The first diners arrived at lunchtime.
rushing around trying to do too many things at once
I’m running around like a headless chicken trying to get the meal ready for my guests tonight
very close to doing something
Scientists are on the verge of developing intelligent robots
slowly, but at a steady rate of progress
Slowly but surely, my daughter is learning to ride a bike.
started to behave in a more organized and serious wa
Julia used to be so disorganized, but has really got her act together recently.
begin a trip or a drive
After squeezing our luggage into the car, we were ready to hit the road.
not making any progress
I’ve been going around in circles trying to write this report, but I haven’t been given enough information.
working well again after experiencing problems
After losing a few games earlier this month, the team is back on track now.
I have to start again or try another idea
The client hates my design for the company logo, so it’s back to the drawing board.
back to the beginning
We had just finished repairing the road and now it has been damaged in a storm. It’s back to square one.
a tiny amount
What we’ve saved is just a drop in the ocean compared to what we need.
a large number of
Kaitlin’s received stacks of letters from the bank, but hasn’t opened them.
a large number of
The Olympic swimming team has won tons of medals.
almost all our belongings
We always take everything but the kitchen sink when we travel.
a large number of
The Olympic swimming team has won tons of medals.
plus or minus; apart from
Rajesh has won every possible award for his movies, give or take one or two.
a huge number of
I’ll give you a thousand-and-one reasons why you shouldn’t buy that house.
slowly and in small numbers
The guests began to arrive at the party in dribs and drabs.
small in number; scarce
Customers were few and far between because of the rain.
every part of something
Sam bought his brother’s business, lock, stock, and barrel.
almost no
I’m so tired. I got precious little sleep last night.
a short distance
Carla’s school is just a stone’s throw away from the bus stop.
a distant, inaccessible part
The castle is in a far-flung corner of the island. It takes hours to drive there.
into the distance
The forest stretched as far as the eye can see.
a very short distance
The car avoided hitting my bike by just a hair’s breadth.
a short distance away
You don’t need to drive to the store.
It’s just around the corner.
close enough to walk to from
My new apartment is within walking distance of my workplace.
long distances away
People came from far and wide to watch the rock concert.
to places that are less popular or difficult to reach
I love to travel off the beaten path when I’m on vacation. (US)
by a very small amount or distance
Jennifer won the marathon by a whisker.
a place that is difficult to get to
Sharon lives in the middle of nowhere.
You can’t get there by train.
be in the future
The building project has just begun.
Months of construction work lie ahead before it’ll be finished.
lie ahead
wait for something with excitement
Elly and George are looking forward to going to the beach later.
look forward to
happen in the period before an event
All the streets were decorated in the weeks leading up to the festival.
lead up to
approach, happen soon
Colin is working hard because the deadline for his article is coming up.
come up
develop, become successful
Kira had dreamed of becoming a great actor, but her plans didn’t pan out.
pan out
make someone think about the past
Being all together stirs me up some good memories
stir up
remember, think about the past
Roland looks back on his college days with pleasure.
look back (on)
make someone think about the past
Finding my old toys brought back happy memories of my childhood.
bring back
suddenly come into someone’s mind (about memories or emotions)
When I recognised him, memories of our days come flooding back
flood back
make someone remember a person, place, or event from the past
That man on the left remind me of your father
remind of
make someone think about the past
This dress takes me back to my childhood in the 1960s.
take back (to)
think about an event in the past
I like to listen to music and think back to my days as a musician in Paris.
think back (to)
come into being at a particular time in the past
Many of the buildings in my city date back to the 19th century.
date back to
become, transform into
The house was turned into a convenience store in the 1980s.
turn into
return to its original form
We are planning to turn it back into a house and live there.
turn back into
move to an earlier time
The doctor’s off this afternoon, so could we bring your appointment forward to 11 o’clock this morning?
bring forward (to)
move an appointment to a later date, postpone
Claude is unwell today. We’ll have to push our meeting back to tomorrow.
push back (to)
move forward
In my country, the clocks go forward one hour in the spring.
go forward
move backward
The clocks go back one hour in the fall.
go back
started to live life in a much better way
Mike’s made a fresh start this year.
He’s eating much more healthily.
done something with lots of enthusiasm right from the start
The sales team has hit the ground running since we launched our new smartphone
began
The New Year’s celebrations kicked off with a band playing rock music.
become successful
Sophie’s café finally got off the ground when she lowered her prices.
started to
a beginning that shows lots of potential
The soccer team made a promising start to the season, beating last year’s winners.
began extremely well
Mia’s fashion firm got off to a flying start. She has already won three awards.
someone starting an activity or a job for the first time
The pottery course was far too difficult for a newbie like me.
started to behave in a better way
Tim’s turned over a new leaf. He used to watch TV in the evenings, but now he goes jogging.
start doing something with enthusiasm
Let’s get the ball rolling!
Here’s a brush and some paint for you.
start doing something immediately
I need to get going on the dinner. The guests are arriving in an hour!
stop working
After selling the last sandwich, Dean decided to call it a day.
adding the final details to it
My cakes going to be great.
I’m just putting the finishing touches on it. (US)
slowed down and stopped
Trains across the city ground to a halt because of the snow.
came closer to its end
As the day drew to a close, we collected our things and left the beach.
make something end or stop happening
Jen is campaigning to put an end to the sale of plastic bottles.
an important event that marks the end of a period of time
It was the end of an era when our boss retired after 30 years.
nothing lasts forever
My vacation in Bali was so relaxing, but all good things must come to an end.
the ideal way to finish a good day
A tasty pizza after a day of sightseeing provided the perfect end to a perfect day.
it will be over soon
I’ve been marking tests all day, but the end is in sight!
an appropriate way to end something
Winning the best actor award was a fitting end to Goro’s career.
reach an agreement after much discussion
The negotiating teams stayed up until after midnight hammering out a new treaty.
hammer out
decide the details about something
We want to get married in summer, but we haven’t pinned down a location yet.
pindown
reject a suggestion or idea
I asked Sabrina if she wanted to go camping, but she threw out the idea.
throw out
do something without preparation
Giovanni forgot about the art project, but he managed to throw something together.
throw together
make plans before an event happens
You should plan ahead before setting off on a long car journey.
plan ahead
think about the future and plan for it
You need to think ahead and save some money for the future.
think ahead
think about the future and plan for it
You need to think ahead and save some money for the future.
think ahead
find the time to do something
We’ve been meaning to get a new kitchen for years, but we never get around to it.
get around to
think about what might happen in the future
Look ahead and picture what you want to be doing in five years’ time.
look ahead
do something different to what you had originally planned
Isaac had been planning to study medicine but he ended up studying French
End up
do something you have planned to do (after some thought or discussion)
My dad wanted to buy motorcycle for ages, but I never expected him to go through with it
Go through with
take something into consideration
before making a plan
Allor for traffic delays when estimating how long it will take
Allow for
not do something you had agreed to do
Ed had promised to do a bungee jump with me, but backed out at the last minute.
back out
decide not to do something you had planned to do because you are afraid (informal)
Dexter was going to ask Becky out on a date, but he chickened out.
chicken out
avoid doing something you should do (informal)
Adi always manages to wriggle out of helping with the cleaning.
wriggle out of
avoid doing something you had agreed to do in a sneaky way (informal)
The store weaseled out of giving us a refund by claiming we had broken the vase.
weasel out of
fail to keep a promise or agreement
Seb said he’d help me paint the house, but he went back on his promise.
go back on
avoid doing something you had agreed to do
Cleo didn’t want to go out, so she pretended to be sick to get out of it.
get out of
