|
Abide
by
|
Respect
or obey (the law, a decision, a rule...) |
If
you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules. |
|
Account
for |
Give
a reason or an explanation |
I
hope you can account for all the money you spent. Data
show delta variant accounted for some 22.7% of cases. |
|
Ache
for |
Want
someone or something very much |
He
was so lonely he ached for the sound of a human voice.
|
|
Act
on |
Take
action as a result of something |
The
police decided to act on the anonymous call they received. |
|
Act
out
|
Demonstrate
something with gestures and actions |
The
children acted out the scene in the classroom. |
|
Act
up |
Cause
pain or annoyance by functioning badly |
Dad’s
poor knee is acting up again. |
|
Add
up |
Make
sense; seem reasonable |
She
explained what happened but the details she gave just don’t add up. |
|
Adhere
to |
Support;
follow; act in accordance with |
All
contestants must adhere to the rules. |
|
Advise
against |
Recommend
not to do something |
The
doctor advised him against carrying heavy loads. |
|
Agree
with |
Have
the same opinion as some else |
I
agree with you. I think she deserves the award too. |
|
Aim
at |
Direct
towards a target |
The
policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker. |
|
Allow for |
Take into consideration; include in a calculation |
It will take longer. You have to allow for heavy traffic at rush hour.” “We must allow for food expenses too. Let’s add 20€ per person.” |
|
Allude to |
Mention or make reference to something in an indirect way |
I don’t understand. What problem is she alluding to? |
|
Amount to |
Reach; be equivalent to |
The total repair work will amount to 1200€.” “His statement amounted to a confession. |
|
Angle for |
Try to obtain something by hinting or suggestin | From the way he’s speaking I
suspect Tom is angling for a free ticket. |
|
Answer back |
Reply rudely to someone in authority when you are expected to remain silent |
I’m your teacher. Don’t answer back! |
|
Answer for |
Be held responsible for something |
Normally parents have to answer for their children’s behaviour. Speak on behalf of someone. I agree with your proposal, but I can’t answer for my associate.” |
|
Answer to |
Be responsible to/be controlled by (someone) |
Who do you answer to in your job?” |
|
Appeal to |
Plead or make an earnest request |
The organisers appealed to the crowd to stay calm. Be
attractive or interesting. The
idea of camping in the woods doesn’t appeal to me at all.
|
|
Apply for |
Make a formal request for something (job, permit, loan, etc.) |
When he saw the advertisement he decided to apply for the job. |
|
Arrive at |
Reach (an agreement, a decision, a conclusion) |
It is hoped that they will arrive at an agreement at the end of the meeting.
|
|
Ask after |
Enquire about someone’s well-being |
My mother is always asking after you.
|
|
Ask around |
Mention it to people you see or meet |
I’ll ask around and see if anyone has seen your cat.
|
|
Ask in |
Invite someone to come inside |
I couldn’t leave her standing outside in the cold so I asked her in.
|
|
Ask out |
Invite someone to lunch, dinner, the cinema |
John has asked Mary out several times.
|
|
Attest to |
Prove to be true; bear witness to |
The number of visitors attests to the popularity of the website.
|
|
Avail (oneself) of |
Take advantage of something (an opportunity) |
When the sales begin you should avail yourself of the opportunity and buy that coat.
|
|
Average out at |
Result in an average (amount) |
The price of lunch averages out at $10 per person. |
