English lessons and practice games are intended for people aged 13 and over.
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account for
Explain the reason for something
act as
Serve a particular function
act on
Follow advice/information
act up
Work unreliably or develop problems
add to
Increases one thing
add up
Reasonable / fit together
add up to
Add together to make a total
aim at
Target an audience/goal
allow for
Take into account/anticipate a factor
amount to
Add up to a particular total
answer back
Responding in a disrespectful manner
appeal to
Be attractive or interesting to someone
apply to
Be relevant or in force for someone
arrive at
Reach a conclusion or decision
ask after
Ask someone about their situation
ask for
Offer / ask for something
ask out
Invite someone to go on a date
attach to
Give something a particular importance or value
attend to
Give someone or something the attention needed
average out
Have a particular average
back down
Give way / give up the tough stance
back out
Withdraw from what you have agreed to do
back out of
Withdraw from a commitment already made
back up
Support / take someone's side
bank on
Rely on someone or something
base on
Base an idea or design on something
beef up
Strengthen or improve something
begin with
Have something as the first part
believe in
Believe in the value/effectiveness of a thing
belong to
Belongs/belongs to someone
block out
Prevent light or sound from entering
block up
Obstruct an opening or passage
blow away
Blown away by the wind
blow out
Blow out the fire/candle
blow over
Pass and be forgotten after a while
blow up
Pump/inflate to inflate
bounce back
Recovering / regaining spirit after difficulties
bow out
Withdraw from a role or activity
bowl over
Greatly surprise and impress someone
branch out
Expand into a new area
break away
Leave a group to act independently
break down
Broken / stopped working
break in
Interject into the conversation
break up
Sound / signal is intermittent
brighten up
Become happier
bring about
Create/bring about a change
bring along
Bring / invite along
bring back
Evokes memories/emotions
bring forward
Move an event to an earlier time
bring in
Introducing a new rule
bring out
Release a new product
bring up
State a topic for discussion
brush up
Review to do better
budget for
Plan enough money for an expense
build on
Develop from the existing foundation
build up
Gradually increase/develop
bump into
Meeting someone by chance
butt in
Interrupt when others are speaking
buy up
Buy all or a large amount of the available supply
call back
Phone someone again, often to return their call
call for
Demanding / needing something
call out
Call / speak loudly for others to hear
calm down
Become less upset, angry, or excited
care for
Caring for people in need
carry out
Carry out tasks/plans
catch on
Gradually understand how/what it means
catch up
Catch up with the person/group ahead
catch up on
Make up for the lack of work/sleep
catch up with
Talk with someone and exchange recent news
cater to
Meet the needs of a particular group
change into
Transform into
change over
Switch to another method/tool
check in
Check-in procedures
check on
Check that someone or something is all right
check out
Check out procedures
check out
See/discover interesting stuff
check over
Check everything carefully
check through
Check one at a time to find one thing
cheer on
Cheer/encourage the person who is doing it
cheer up
Cheer up / make someone happier
chill out
Relax/rest comfortably
chop up
Cut or chop into small pieces
clean up
Clean up dirt/clutter
clear out
Remove all things from one place
clear up
Clarifying the misunderstanding
clear up
The sky is clear / the weather is improving
clown around
Behave in a silly, playful way
combine with
Join one thing with another
come across
Found / found by chance
come along
Come along / join along
come along
Progressing / gradually getting better
come apart
Separate into parts
come by
Manage to obtain something
come down to
Mainly depends on key factors
come from
Coming from/originating in
come in
Car / train / flight arrives
come off
Loose / slip from the mounting position
come on
The program begins to broadcast
come out
Published/released
come over
Visit someone at home
come to
There is a total amount of money
come up
Rising on the horizon
come up
A topic is mentioned/appears
come up against
Encounter a difficult obstacle/opponent
come up with
Come up with ideas/solutions
come with
Be supplied together with something
compare to
Describe a likeness between one thing and another
compare with
Examine similarities and differences between things
concentrate on
Direct your attention to a task
consist of
Be made up of particular parts
contribute to
Help cause a result or make it possible
cool down
Become less hot, or make food less hot
cool down
Cool down / soothe after exercise
cool off
Calm down / calm down
could do with
Would like or need something
count down
Count backwards towards a starting point
count in
Count one person in the participating group
count out
Do not include one person in the participating group
crack up
Suddenly laugh a lot
crank out
Produce a lot quickly with little care
crank up
Increase a volume or level
crash out
Fall asleep quickly because of tiredness
crop up
Appear or arise unexpectedly
cross out
Cross out the written word
cry out
Give a sudden loud cry
cut across
Go across to shorten the road
cut back on
Cut spending/consumption
cut off
Causing the call to be disconnected
cut out
Cut a shape out of the material
cut out
Stop an annoying behavior
cut up
Cut into small pieces
dawn on
Gradually realise something
deal with
Handling / resolution
decide on
Decide on an option
depend on
Depends on a condition
deter from
Discourage someone from doing something
devote to
Give time or effort to something
die down
The wind/noise subsides
die out
Become extinct or disappear completely
dig up
Dig something out of the ground
dip into
Use part of a supply of saved money
dish out
Serve food in portions
dispose of
Get rid of unwanted material
divide up
Divide something into shares or parts
do away with
Completely abandon things that are no longer needed
do up
Install / tie tightly
do up
Renovate / beautify the house
do without
Can still do without one thing
doze off
Fall into a light sleep
draw on
Apply existing knowledge/experience
draw up
Prepare a plan/text
dream of
Dream about something in the future
dream up
Invent an imaginative idea
drop by
Visit for a moment
drop off
Take someone to a place and leave them there
drop off
Bring items to be delivered at one location
dry up
Dry / run out of water
eat out
Eating out / at a restaurant
embark on
Begin a new project or undertaking
end up
Finally fall into/do a thing
end with
End with one thing
engage in
Take part in an activity
even up
Make two sides equal or more balanced
face up to
Accept and face something difficult
factor in
Include a factor when calculating or planning
fall apart
Burst / break into many parts
fall back on
Use backup plans when needed
fall behind
Being behind schedule/falling behind
fall off
Decrease in amount or level
fall out
Disagreement/angry with each other after an argument
fall over
Fall / fall down
fall through
Fail to happen as planned
feel for
Sympathize with people in difficulty
figure out
Understand / find the solution
fill in
Fill in the information
fill up
Filling a container
find out
Find out / discover
finish with
After using it / don't need it anymore
fire up
Make someone enthusiastic and motivated
fit in
Integrate with the group
fit together
Fit correctly when parts are joined
fix up
Repair / make better
fizzle out
Gradually lose strength or interest and stop
flick through
Look quickly through the pages of a book or magazine
flood in
Arrive in large numbers
focus on
Give your attention to a particular subject
follow up
Take further action after an earlier step
free up
Make time or resources available
freshen up
Wash/touch up to look more fresh
function as
Serve a particular role or purpose
gear to
Design to suit a particular audience
get across
Communicate an idea successfully
get ahead
Progress / achieve better results
get along with
Have a friendly relationship with someone
get around
Travel from one place to another
get around to
Finally took the time to do it
get away
Escape / no longer be held
get back
Receive / get your things back
get back to
Contact again for answers
get by
Make ends meet with limited resources
get down
Make someone feel sad or discouraged
get down to
Start focusing on working seriously
get in
Get in/get in the car
get into
Started liking/caring about
get off
Leave a bus, train, or plane
get on
Board a bus, train, or plane
get on with
Continue / get down to business
get on with
Get along well/have a good relationship with
get out
Get out of where you are inside
get over
Recovering from illness or sadness
get through
Can call / contact by phone
get through
Complete a certain amount of work
get together
Gather / meet
get up
Leave your bed to start the day
get up
Stand up after being down
give away
Giving / giving without taking money
give back
Return what was received/borrowed
give in
Give in / give in to pressure
give off
Emit smell/light/heat
give out
Distributed to many people
give out
Supplies are running out / are no longer enough
go about
How to do something
go against
Conflict with a rule or wish
go ahead
Proceed / keep going
go along with
Agree/accept an opinion
go away
Going away from home to rest/go out
go back
Return to the previous place
go back on
Fail to keep a promise
go down
Price/level decreased
go for
Trying to achieve/achieve a goal
go into
Talk/find out details about
go off
The bell/alarm starts ringing
go on
Continue talking/telling
go out
Leave your home to do something elsewhere
go out
The light/flame goes out
go over
Review/check carefully
go through
Going through difficult times
go together
Match or look good together
go up
Price/level increased
go with
Matching color/style
go without
Continue without one thing
grow apart
Become less close over time
grow into
Bigger to fit loose clothes
grow on
Tiger makes anyone like it more
grow out of
Growing up makes things no longer fit
grow up
Growing up / maturing
hand back
Return it to the previous person
hand down
Pass something to a younger generation
hand in
Submit papers/documents
hand out
Distribute portions to everyone
hand over
Hand over / give to someone else
hang around
Stay around a place to wait
hang on
Hold / hold firmly
hang out
Spend relaxed time in a place or with other people
hang up
Hang up your clothes
have over
Have someone visit your home
head back
Travel back towards an earlier place
head for
Go towards / towards
head off
Leave to begin a journey
hear about
Learn news about something
hear from
Received news from someone
help out
Lend a hand when needed
hide away
Hide something out of sight
hold back
Suppress/prevent emotional expression
hold off
Delay taking action for a while
hold on to
Hold / cling tightly
hold out for
Refuse less and wait for what you want
hold up
Slow down / cause delay
hurry up
Move or complete a task more quickly
improve on
Produce something better than an earlier version
infer from
Draw a conclusion from evidence
invest in
Spend money on something expected to be useful
invite in
Invite someone to come inside
invite over
Invite someone to your home
involve in
Include someone in an activity
iron out
Resolve remaining problems or details
jazz up
Make something more lively or attractive
join in
Participate in ongoing activities
jot down
Write a short note quickly
jumble up
Mix things into a confused order
jump at
Accept a welcome opportunity eagerly
jump in
Join now / contribute to the activity
jut out
Project beyond a surface or an edge
keep at
Persevere and continue working
keep away from
Keep your distance/stay away
keep down
Keep something at a low level
keep from
Prevent someone or something from doing something
keep off
Do not step/walk onto a surface
keep on
Continue working continuously
keep out
Keep it from entering
keep to
Follow a schedule or stay within a limit
keep up
Maintain good quality/performance levels
key in
Enter data using the keyboard
kick back
Relax and take it easy
kick off
Start an event/activity
kid around
Joke or behave playfully
kneel down
Lower yourself onto one or both knees
knock off
Finish work for the day
know of
Be aware that someone or something exists
known as
Be called a particular name
known for
Be recognised for a quality or achievement
knuckle down
Start working seriously
latch onto
Quickly adopt and follow an idea
laugh off
Treat a minor problem lightly by laughing
launch into
Begin speaking or doing something energetically
lay down
Set/prescribe principles
lay out
Presented for ease of viewing/use
laze around
Relax without doing much
lead off
Begin an activity or discussion
lead to
Leads to/produces results
lead up to
Happen during the period before an event
lean on
Rely on someone for emotional support
leave behind
To forget / leave behind
leave in
Keep something in an edited version
leave out
Omitted / not included
leave to
Assign a task to someone to take care of
left over
Remaining after use
let down
Disappointing others
let in on
Share a secret or private information with someone
let out
Allow someone or an animal to go out
let up
Rain/pressure is less strong
lie down
Move your body into a flat position to rest
lift up
Raise an object to a higher position
light up
Illuminate/brighten a place
lighten up
Become less tense or serious
listen in
Listen to a conversation without being invited
live on
Have a particular food as a main source of nourishment
live up to
Meet expectations or justify a reputation
liven up
Make activities more fun/exciting
lock away
Store in a locked place
lock up
Lock the door / lock it for safety
long for
Strongly wish for someone or something absent
look after
Look after / care for
look around
Observe/explore the surroundings
look at
Look at a person/thing
look back
Remember / think back about the past
look down on
Looking down on/seeing others as inferior
look forward to
Looking forward with excitement
look in on
Visit briefly to check that someone or something is all right
look into
Investigate/investigate a problem
look on
Watching without participating
look out
Beware of immediate danger
look out for
Pay attention to finding opportunities / things you need
look over
See status/content check
look through
Look through multiple pages/sections
look up
Look up information
look up to
Admiration/respect
mail out
Send a batch of items by post
make into
Turn existing materials/things into something else
make of
How to think/understand something
make out
Recognize / hear clearly what is difficult to distinguish
make up
Create / come up with fantasy
make up
Make peace after an argument
make up for
Compensate for an omission/missed thing
map out
Plan the stages of something clearly
mark down
Reduce the marked selling price
mark up
Increase a selling price
measure up
Meet a required standard
meet up
Meet someone as arranged
mess around
Spend time playing instead of doing the task
mess up
Do wrong / ruin things
miss out
Missed opportunities / interesting things
mistake for
Wrongly identify one thing as another
mix up
Mistaking one thing for another
move in
Move in and start living
move on
Move on to the next task / stage
move out
Move away from where you live
move over
Move aside to make room
muddle through
Manage despite confusion or limited skill
nail down
Make a detail definite
name after
Give a name in honour of someone or something
narrow down
Reduce a list of possible choices
nod off
Fall asleep / doze off
notch up
Achieve another success or score
note down
Record information in writing so you can remember it
object to
Express opposition to something
occur to
Come into someone’s mind
open up
Openly share what's in your heart
opt for
Choose one of the available options
opt out
Choose not to participate in an activity
order in
Order food for delivery
own up
Admit responsibility for a mistake
pack away
Pack and store things after use
pack up
Pack / arrange things to take away
pan out
Develop or turn out in a particular way
pass by
Passing by a place
pass on
Forward items/information to others
pass up
Choose not to take an opportunity
patch up
Repair a relationship or settle a disagreement
pay back
Return borrowed money
pay into
Pay money into an account or fund
pay off
Brings good results after effort
pay out
Pay a sum of money to someone
pay up
Pay money that is owed, often after a delay
perk up
Become more cheerful or lively
phase in
Introduce something gradually in stages
phase out
Remove something gradually in stages
pick on
Repeatedly target someone unfairly
pick out
Choose from many things
pick up
Go to collect someone, often by car
pick up on
Notice a sign or a subtle meaning
piece together
Combine clues to understand what happened
pile up
Accumulate in increasing amounts
pipe down
Become quieter or stop talking
pitch in
Join in and help with a task
plan ahead
Make plans in advance
play around
Experiment with different possibilities
plug in
Plug in / connect using the plug
point out
Point out/bring attention to others
point to
Suggest or indicate a result
polish off
Finish eating the remaining food
polish up
Refresh and improve a skill
pop in
Come visit / meet for a while
pop out
Go out briefly and return
pour in
Arrive continuously in large numbers
prop up
Support something so it stays upright
provide for
Supply what someone needs to live
pull off
Doing a difficult job successfully
pull over
Pull over and stop
pull through
Overcoming a critical condition
pull up
Pull the tree out of the ground
put across
Communicate an idea clearly
put aside
Save / keep aside for later use
put away
Put something back where it belongs
put back
Put it back in place
put down
Put an object down
put down to
Assume that something is caused by something
put forward
Propose an idea
put in
Devote time or effort to a task
put off
Postponed to another time
put on
Dress yourself in an item of clothing
put on
Organize / present a show
put out
Publish or release
put through
Connect the call to another person
put together
Join/assemble the parts
put together
Synthesize the parts into a plan
put up with
Endure unpleasant things
queue up
Wait in line for your turn
rake in
Earn or receive a lot of money
rally round
Come together to support someone in difficulty
reach out
Extend/stretch out your hand
read out
Read aloud to others
read up on
Learn about a topic by reading
reflect on
Think carefully about an experience
rely on
Rely on/trust helpers
remind of
Make someone think of a person or experience
result in
Leads to/produces results
return to
Go back to an earlier place or activity
revert to
Return to an earlier method or state
roll out
Introduce a product or system for use
roll up
Wind a flexible material into a round or tube shape
root out
Find and remove something undesirable
rope in
Persuade someone to help or take part
round up
Round the number up
rub off
Pass a quality or attitude to others
rule out
Eliminate a possibility
run across
Found / found by chance
run by
Show an idea to someone for feedback
run into
Encountered an obstacle
run on
Operates thanks to an energy source
run out of
Running out / using up something
run through
Practice/watch the whole thing again
rush into
Act or decide without enough thought
see off
Send someone off on their way
see out
Accompany a guest to the exit
see through
Follow a task until it is completed
see to
Take care of / make sure things get done
seek out
Make an effort to find someone or something
sell off
Sell unwanted or remaining items
sell out
Sold out / sold out
send for
Ask for someone or something to be brought or to come
send off
Send letters/papers
send out
Send something to several recipients
send out for
Ask for food to be brought to you
set aside
Dedicate time/resources
set out
Clearly present ideas/steps
settle down
Stabilized/less agitated
settle for
Accept an option that is less than desired
settle in
Become comfortable in a new place
settle on
Finally choose after consideration
settle up
Pay the full amount owed
shop around
Compare prices in many places
show off
Show off / show off for others to see
shut off
Stop a supply of water, power or gas
shut out
Keep outside light or noise from entering
sign off
End a message with a closing
sign up
Register to take part
sing along
Join in singing with other people or recorded music
sink in
Become fully understood
sit back
Remain inactive instead of helping
sit down
Move into a sitting position
sit in for
Temporarily take someone’s place
sit in on
Attend as an observer
sit out
Stay until an unpleasant event ends
sit up
Sit in a more upright position
size up
Examine someone or something to form a judgement
sleep in
Sleep comes later than usual
slip up
Make an accidental mistake
slow down
Slow down / reduce speed
snap up
Quickly take a good bargain or opportunity
sort out
Classify / arrange orderly
speak for
Express someone else’s views
speak out
Express your opinion/what needs to be said
speed up
Move or happen faster
spell out
Explain something fully and clearly
split up
Divide a group into smaller groups
spread out
Spread out on a surface
spruce up
Make something look neater and more attractive
stand by
Be ready and waiting to help/take action
stand for
Is an abbreviation/representation for
stand in
Temporarily take someone’s role
stand out
Stand out / be easily recognized
stand up
Move from sitting to an upright position on your feet
stand up for
Speak up to protect someone
stand up to
Resist someone who is treating you unfairly
start off
Begin an activity in a particular way
start out
Start from an initial role/status
start up
Establish a new organisation or activity
stay away
Keep away from a person or place
stay on
Stayed longer than expected
stay up
Awake, not yet asleep
step down
Leave a leadership position
step in
Intervene to help resolve a situation
step out
Go out for a moment
step up
Increase level/effort
stick at
Keep working at something difficult
stick by
Remain loyal and supportive
stick out
Protruding / protruding from the surface
stick to
Follow / don't deviate from the plan
stick with
Continue with the given selection
stock up
Buy or gather supplies for later
stop by
Visit a place briefly on the way
stop off
Stop for a moment on the way
stop over
Stop for a while on the way
straighten out
Resolve a misunderstanding
sum up
Summarise the main points
switch off
Turn off the device using the switch
switch on
Turn on the device using the switch
tail off
Become gradually quieter or weaker and stop
take after
Like a family member
take apart
Disassemble into parts
take away
Take it out of your current place
take back
Retract what you said
take down
Take down the hanging object
take in
Understand/absorb information
take off
Remove an item of clothing from your body
take off
Leave the ground and begin flying
take on
Compete/confront an opponent
take over
Take over work/responsibilities
take up
Start a new hobby/activity
take up
Taking up space / taking up time
talk into
Convince someone to agree to do something
talk out of
Persuading someone not to do something
talk through
Step-by-step explanation/instructions
tear up
Tear into small pieces
tell apart
Distinguish between two similar things/people
think of
Have an opinion about
think over
Consider carefully
think up
Come up with a new idea
throw away
Get rid of an unwanted item as rubbish
throw in
Include an extra item at no additional cost
tie up
Tie with string/knot
tone down
Make something less intense
top up
Add more to fill something up
toss around
Discuss possible ideas informally
touch on
Mention a topic briefly
toy with
Consider an idea without a firm intention
track down
Find after a determined search
try out
Try it to see if it fits/works
tune in
Listen to or watch a broadcast
turn down
Refuse the offer
turn in
Go to bed (informal)
turn into
Transform into something else
turn off
Switch off a device or light
turn on
Turn on the device/light
turn out
How it turned out/had the result
turn over
Flip to the other side
turn to
Who to turn to for help
turn up
Increase volume/activity level
wait on
Serve guests food or drinks
wait up
Stay awake waiting for someone
wake up
Become awake after sleeping
warm up
Reheat / warm food
warm up
Warm up before an activity
wash away
Remove or carry something away with water
wash down
Have a drink with or after food
wash out
Cause an outdoor event to be cancelled by rain
wash up
Wash the dishes (British English)
watch out for
Pay attention / be wary of
water down
Dilute a liquid by adding water
wear off
Feeling/effects gradually decrease
wear out
Making things wear out/broken due to heavy use
weigh in
Join a discussion with an opinion
weigh up
Consider the advantages and disadvantages
whip up
Prepare something quickly
win back
Regain something through effort
win over
Persuade someone to turn their support
wind down
Reduce activity gradually towards an end
wind up
End an ongoing activity
work out
Calculate / find the solution
wrap up
Wrap with paper/wrapping material
wrap up
End / complete an activity
write out
Write something in full
write up
Write a full version
zero in on
Focus closely on a particular target
zip up
Pull the zipper to close
zoom in
Zoom in for a closer view
zoom out
Zoom out for a wider view
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