Verbs+prepositonss/adverb combinations

Question 1

account for (tr)

Answer 1

give a good reason for, explain satisfactorily (some action or expenditure)

Question 2

allow for (tr)

Answer 2

make provision in advance for, take into account (usually some additional requirement, expenditure, delay, etc.)

Question 3

answer back (intr), answer somebody back

Answer 3

answer a reproof impudently

Question 4

ask for (tr)

Answer 4

request, demand

Question 5

ask for somebody

Answer 5

a=ask for news of

b=ask to speak to

Question 6

ask someone in (object before in)

Answer 6

invite him to enter the house

Question 7

ask someone out (object before out)

Answer 7

invite hime to an entertainment, or to a meal (usually in a public place)

Question 8

back away (intr)

Answer 8

step or move back slowly (because confronted by some danger or unpleasantness)

Question 9

back out (intr)

Answer 9

withdraw (from some joint action previously agreed on), discontinue or refuse to provide previously promised help or support

Question 10

back somebody up

Answer 10

support morally or verbally

Question 11

be in (intr)

Answer 11

be at home/in this building

Question 12

be out (intr)

Answer 12

be away from home/from this building for a short time - not overnight

Question 13

be away (intr)

Answer 13

be away from home / from this place fro at least a night

Question 14

be back (intr)

Answer 14

have returned after a long or short absence

Question 15

be for(tr)

Answer 15

be in favour of (often used with gerund)

Question 16

be against (tr)

Answer 16

be opposed to (often used with gerund)

Question 17

be in for (tr)

Answer 17

be about to encounter (usually something unpleasant)

Question 18

be over/past (intr)

Answer 18

be finished

Question 19

be up (intr)

Answer 19

be out of bed

Question 20

be up to (tr)

Answer 20

be physically or intellecually strong enough (to perform a certain action). The object is usually “it”, though a gerund is possible.

Question 21

be up to something/some mischief/some trick/no good

Answer 21

be occupied or busy with some mischievous act. Note that the object of up to here is always some very indefinite expression such as these given above. It is never used with a particular action

Question 22

it is up to someone (often followed by an infinitive)

Answer 22

it si his responsibility or duty.

Question 23

bear out (tr)

Answer 23

confirm

this report bears out my theory.

Question 24

bear up(intr)

Answer 24

support bad news bravely, hide feelings of grief

Question 25

blow out (tr)

Answer 25

extinguish (a flame) by blowing

Question 26

blow up (tr or intr)

Answer 26

a=destroy by explosion, explode, be destroyed

b=fill with air, inflate

Question 27

boil away (intr)

Answer 27

be boiled until all (the liquid) has evaporated

Question 28

boil over (intr)

Answer 28

to rise and flow over the sides of the container (used only of hot liquids)

Question 29

boil down to

Answer 29

a. (intr) to be the essential element in something

b. (tr) to summarize; reduce to essentials

Question 30

break down figures

Answer 30

take a total and sub-divide it under various headins so as to give additional information

Question 31

break down a door etc

Answer 31

cause to collapse by using force

Question 32

break down (intr)

Answer 32

collapse, cease to function properly, owing to some fault or weakness

Question 33

break down

Answer 33

a=used of people, it normally implies a temporary emotional collapse

Question 34

break down

Answer 34

b=it can express collapse of mental resistance

Question 35

break down

Answer 35

c=when used of health it implies a serious physical collapse

Question 36

break down

Answer 36

d=it is very often used of machines

Question 37

break down

Answer 37

e=it can be used of negociations

Question 38

break in (intr), break into (tr)

Answer 38

a=enter by force

b=interrupt someone by some sudden remark. I was telling them about my travels when he broke in with a story of his own.

Question 39

break in (a young horse/pony/etc)

Answer 39

train him for use

Question 40

break off (tr or intr)

Answer 40

detach or become detached

Question 41

break off (tr)

Answer 41

terminate (used of agreements or negotiations)

Ann has broken off her engagement to Tom

Question 42

break off (intr)

Answer 42

stop talking suddenly, interrupt oneself

They were arguing but broke off when someone came into the room.

Question 43

break out (intr)

Answer 43

a=begin (used of evils such as wars, epidemics, fires, etc)

b=escape by using force from a prison, etc.

Question 44

break up (tr or intr)

Answer 44

disintegrate, cause to disintegrate

Divorce breaks up a lot of families

Question 45

break up (intr)

Answer 45

terminate (used of school terms, meetings, parties, etc.