off 1 / Qf ; AmE ; / adverb , preposition For
special uses with many verbs, for example go off , look at
the verb entries.
1 down or away from a place
or a position on sth :
to fall off a ladder/motorbike/wall We got
off the bus. I shouted to him but he just walked off . I must
be off ( = I must leave here )
. It's getting late. When are you off to Spain?
( figurative ) We've got off the subject.
2 used to say that something
has been removed : She took her coat off . He
shook the rain off his umbrella.
3 joined to and leading away
from : My road is off the Cowley Road.
4 at some distance from sth :
The Isle of Wight is just off the south
coast of England. Christmas is still a long way off ( = it is a long time till then ) .
5 (used about a machine, a
light, etc.) not connected, working or being used : Please
make sure the TV/light/heating is off . OPPOSITE on
6 not present at work,
school, etc. : She's off work/ off sick with a
cold. I'm having a day off ( = a day's holiday )
next week.
7 (used about a plan or
arrangement) not going to happen; cancelled : The
meeting/wedding/trip is off . OPPOSITE on
8 cheaper; less by a certain
amount : cars with £400 off £400 off the price
of a car
9 not eating or using sth : The
baby's off his food.
IDIOMS
off and on ; on and off sometimes;
starting and stopping :
It rained on and off all day.
off limits that you are not allowed to do; where you are
not allowed to go
off the top of your head top 1
well/badly off having/not having a lot of
money
after / "A:ftJ(r) ; AmE / preposition
, conjunction , adverb
1 later than sth; at a later
time : Ian phoned just after six o'clock. the
week after next I hope to arrive some time after lunch. They
arrived at the station after the train had left. After we had
finished our dinner, we went into the garden. I went
out yesterday morning, and after that I was at home all day. That
was in April. Soon after , I heard that he was ill. It
is more common to use afterwards at the end of a sentence: We played
tennis and went to Angela's house afterwards.
2 … after … repeated
many times or continuing for a long time :
day after day of hot weather I've
told them time after time not to do that.
3 following or behind sb/sth :
Shut the door after you. C comes
after B in the alphabet.
4 looking for or trying to
catch or get sb/sth : The police were after him. Nicky
is after a job in advertising.
5 because of sth : After the way
he behaved I won't invite him here again.
6 used when sb/sth is given
the name of another person or thing : We called our son Bill
after his grandfather.
IDIOM
after
all 1 used when sth is different
in reality to what sb expected or thought : So you
decided to come after all! ( = I thought you weren't going to come )
2
used for reminding sb of a certain fact : She
can't understand. After all, she's only two.
out 1 / aUt ; AmE / adverb , preposition For special
uses with many verbs, for example look out , look at the verb entries.
1 away from the inside of a
place :
He opened the drawer and took a fork out . She
opened the window and put her head out . Can you
show me the way out ? look at out of
2 not at home or in your
place of work : The manager was out when she called. I'd
love a night out – I'm bored with staying at home.
3 a long distance away from a
place, for example from land or your country : The
current is quite strong so don't swim too far out .
4 (used about the sea) when
the water is furthest away from the land : Don't swim when the tide
is on the way out .
5 used for showing that sth
is no longer hidden : I love the spring when all the flowers are out
. The secret's out now. There's no point
pretending any more.
6 made available to the
public; published : There'll be a lot of controversy when her book comes out next
year.
7 in a loud voice; clearly : She
cried out in pain.
8 not in fashion : Short
skirts are out this season.
9 ( spoken ) not
possible or acceptable :
I'm afraid Friday is out . I've
got a meeting that day.
10 (used about a player in a game or sport) not allowed to continue
playing : If you get three answers wrong, you're out .
11 ( sport ) (used about a ball, etc.)
not inside the playing area and therefore not allowed
12 (used when you are calculating sth) making or containing a
mistake; wrong : My guess was only out by a few centimetres.
13 (used about a light or a fire) not on; not burning : The lights
are out . They must be in bed. Once the fire was
completely out , experts were sent in to inspect the damage.
IDIOMS
be out for sth ; be out
to do sth to try hard to get or do sth :
I'm not out for revenge.
be/come out to tell family, friends, etc. that you are a homosexual
out-and-out complete :
It was out-and-out war between us.
out loud = aloud
get / get ; AmE / verb ( present participle getting ; past got / gQt ; AmE /; past
participle got AmE gotten / "gQtn ; AmE / )
1 [ transitive ] ( no passive
) to receive, obtain or buy sth :
I got a letter from my sister. Did you
get a present for your mother? Did you
get your mother a present? She got a job in
a travel agency. Louise got 75% in
the maths exam. I'll come if I can get time off work. How
much did you get for your old car ( = when you sold it ) ? to get a
shock/surprise
2 [ transitive ] have/has
got sth to have sth :
I've got a lot to do today. Lee's
got blond hair. Have you got a spare
pen?
3 [ transitive ] ( no passive
) to go to a place and bring sth back; fetch :
Go and get me a pen, please. Sam's
gone to get his mother from the station.
4 [ intransitive ] to become;
to reach a particular state or condition; to make sb/sth be in a particular
state or condition :
It's getting dark. to get angry/bored/hungry/fat
I can't get used to my new bed. to get
dressed When did you get married ? to get pregnant Just
give me five minutes to get ready . He's
always getting into trouble with the police. She's
shy, but she's great fun once you get to know her.
5 [ intransitive ] to arrive
at or reach a place :
We should get to London at about ten. Can you
tell me how to get to the hospital? What
time do you usually get home ? I got half way
up the mountain then gave up. How far have you got with your
book? look at get in , on , etc.
6 [ intransitive, transitive
] to move or go somewhere; to move or put sth somewhere :
I can't swim so I couldn't get across
the river. My grandmother's 92 and she doesn't get out of
the house much. We couldn't get the piano upstairs. My foot
was swollen and I couldn't get my shoe off.
7 [ intransitive ] used
instead of 'be' in the passive :
She got bitten by a dog. Don't
leave your wallet on the table or it'll get stolen.
8 [ transitive ] get sth
done, mended, etc. to cause sth to be done, mended
, etc. :
Let's get this work done, then we can
go out. I'm going to get my hair cut .
9 [ transitive ] get
sb/sth to do sth to make or persuade sb/sth to do sth :
I got him to agree to the plan. I can't
get the television to work.
10 [ transitive ] to catch or have an illness, pain, etc. :
I think I'm getting a cold. He gets
really bad headaches.
11 [ transitive ] to use a form of transport :
Shall we walk or get the bus?
12 [ intransitive ] to hit, hold or catch sb/sth :
He got me by the throat and
threatened to kill me. A boy threw a stone at me
but he didn't get me.
13 [ transitive ] to hear or understand sth :
I'm sorry, I didn't get that.
Could you repeat it? Did you get that joke that
Karen told?
14 [ transitive ] get (sb) sth ; get sth
(for sb) to prepare food :
Can I get you anything to eat? Joe's
in the kitchen getting breakfast for everyone.
15 [ intransitive ] get to do sth to have
the chance to do sth :
Did you get to try the new computer?
16 [ intransitive ] ( used with verbs in the -ing form ) to start
doing sth :
We don't have much time so we'd better get working. I got talking
to a woman on the bus. We'd better get going if we
don't want to be late.
IDIOM
get somewhere/nowhere (with sb/sth) to
make/not make progress :
I'm getting nowhere with my research.
RELATED VOCABULARY
For other idioms containing get , look at the noun and adjective
entries, for example for get rid of look at rid .
PHRASAL VERBS
get about/around to move or travel from
place to place :
My grandmother needs a stick to get around
these days.
get about/around/round (used about news, a story,
etc.) to become known by many people
get sth across (to sb) to succeed in making people
understand sth :
The party failed to get its
policies across to the voters.
get ahead to progress and be successful in sth, especially
a career
get along 1 ( spoken
) ( usually used in the continuous tenses ) to leave a place :
I'd
love to stay, but I should be getting along now.
2 get on
get around 1 get about/around
2 get about/around/round
get around sb get round/around sb
get around sth get round/around sth
get around to sth/doing sth get
round/around to sth/doing sth
get at sb to criticize sb a lot :
The teacher's always getting at me
about my spelling.
get at sb/sth to be able to reach sth; to
have sth available for immediate use :
The files are locked away and I can't get at them.
get at sth ( only used in the continuous tenses ) to try to
say sth without saying it in a direct way; to suggest :
I'm not quite sure what you're getting at – am I
doing something wrong?
get away (from…) to succeed in leaving or
escaping from sb or a place :
He kept talking to me and I couldn't get away from
him. The thieves got away in a stolen car.
get away with sth/doing sth to do sth bad and not be
punished for it :
He lied but he got away with it.
get back to return to the place where you live or work
get sth back to be given sth that you had lost or lent :
Can I borrow this book? You'll get it back
next week, I promise.
get back to sb to speak to, write to or
telephone sb later, especially in order to give an answer :
I'll get back to you on prices when I've got some more
information.
get back to sth to return to doing sth or
talking about sth :
I woke up early and couldn't get back to
sleep. Let's get back to the point you
raised earlier.
get behind (with sth) to fail to do, pay sth,
etc. on time, and so have more to do, pay, etc. the next time :
to get behind with your work/rent
get by (on/in/with sth) to manage to live or do sth
with difficulty :
It's very hard to get by on such a low income. My
Italian is good and I can get by in Spanish.
get sb down to make sb unhappy
get down to sth/doing sth to start working on sth :
We'd better stop chatting and get down to
work. I must get down to answering these
letters.
get in to reach a place :
What time does your train get in?
get in;
get into sth 1 to climb into a car : We all
got in and Tim drove off.
2
to be elected to a political position : She got
into Parliament in 1999.
get sb in to call sb to your house to do a job
get sth
in 1 to collect or bring sth
inside; to buy a supply of sth : It's going to rain – I'd
better get the washing in from outside.
2
to manage to find an opportunity to say or do sth : He
talked all the time and I couldn't get a word
in.
get in on sth to become involved in an
activity
get into sb ( informal )
(used about a feeling or attitude) to start affecting sb strongly,
causing them to behave in an unusual way :
I wonder what's got into him – he isn't usually
unfriendly.
get
into sth 1 to put on a piece of
clothing with difficulty : I've put on so much
weight I can't get into my trousers.
2
to start a particular activity; to become involved in sth : How did
you first get into the music business? She has got into the
habit of turning up late. We got into an
argument about politics.
3
to become more interested in or familiar with sth : I've
been getting into yoga recently.
get off (sb/sth) used especially to tell sb
to stop touching you/sb/sth :
Get off (me) or I'll call the police! Get off that
money, it's mine!
get off
(sth) 1 to leave a bus, train,
etc.; to climb down from a bicycle, horse, etc.
2
to leave work with permission at a particular time : I might
be able to get off early today.
get off (with sth) to be lucky to receive no
serious injuries or punishment :
to get off with just a warning
get on 1
to progress or become successful in life, in a career, etc.
2 ( only used in the
continuous tenses ) to be getting old :
He's
getting on – he's over 70, I'm sure.
3 ( only used in the
continuous tenses ) to be getting late :
Time's
getting on – we don't want to be late.
get on/along to have a particular amount of success :
How are you getting on in your course? ‘How
did you get on at your interview?’ ‘I got the job!’
get on/along with sb ; get
on/along (together) to have a friendly relationship with sb :
Do you get on well with your
colleagues?
get on/along with sth to make progress with sth
that you are doing :
How are you getting on with that essay?
get on/onto sth to climb onto a bus, train,
bicycle, horse, etc. :
I got on just as the train was about to leave.
get on for ( only used in the continuous tenses ) to be
getting near to a certain time or age :
I'm not sure how old he is but he must be getting on for
50.
get on to sb (about sth) to speak or write to sb
about a particular matter
get on with sth to continue doing sth,
especially after an interruption :
Stop talking and get on with your work!
get out (used about a piece of information) to become
known, after being secret until now
get sth out (of sth) to take sth from its
container :
I got my keys out of my bag.
get out of sth/doing sth to avoid a duty or doing
sth that you have said you will do
get sth out of sb to persuade or force sb to
give you sth
get sth out of sb/sth to gain sth from sb/sth :
I get a lot of pleasure out of music.
get
over sth 1 to deal with a problem
successfully : We'll have to get over the problem of finding
somewhere to live first.
2
to feel normal again after being ill or having an unpleasant
experience : He still hasn't got over his wife's death.
get sth over with ( informal )
to do and complete sth unpleasant that has to be done :
I'll be glad to get my visit to the dentist's
over with.
get round get about/around/round
get round/around sb ( informal )
to persuade sb to do sth or agree with sth :
My father says he won't lend me the money but I think I can get round him.
get round/around sth to find a way of avoiding
or dealing with a problem
get round/around to sth/doing sth to find
the time to do sth, after a delay :
I've been meaning to reply to that letter for ages but I haven't
got round to it yet.
get through sth to use or complete a
certain amount or number of sth :
I got through a lot of money at the weekend. I got through
an enormous amount of work today.
get (sb) through (sth) to manage to complete sth
difficult or unpleasant; to help sb to do this :
She got through her final exams
easily.
get
through (to sb) 1 to succeed in making sb
understand sth : They couldn't get through to him that he was
completely wrong.
2
to succeed in speaking to sb on the telephone : I
couldn't get through to them because their phone was engaged all day.
get to sb ( informal )
to affect sb in a bad way :
Public criticism is beginning to get to the
team manager.
get sb/sth together to collect people or things
in one place :
I'll just get my things together and then
we'll go.
get together (with sb) to meet socially or in
order to discuss or do sth :
Let's get together and talk about it.
get up to stand up :
He got up to let an elderly woman
sit down.
get (sb) up to get out of bed or make sb get out of bed :
What time do you have to get up in the
morning? Could you get me up at 6 tomorrow?
get up
to sth 1 to reach a particular point
or stage in sth : We've got up to the last section of
our grammar book.
2
to be busy with sth, especially sth secret or bad : I
wonder what the children are getting up to?
round 2 / raUnd ; AmE / adverb , preposition
For special uses with many verbs, for example come round , get
round , go round , etc. see the verb entries.
1 in a circle or curve; on
all sides of sth :
He had a bandage right round his head.
We sat round the table, talking late
into the night. We were just talking about Ravi and he came round the corner . How
long would it take to walk round the world? ( figurative ) It
wasn't easy to see a way round the problem ( = a way of solving it ) .
2 in a full circle : The
wheels spun round and round but the car wouldn't move.
3 turning to look or go in
the opposite direction : Don't look round but the
teacher's just come in. She turned the car round and drove
off.
4 from one place, person,
etc. to another : Pass the photographs round for
everyone to see. I've been rushing round all day.
5 in or to a particular area
or place : Do you live round here? I'll
come round to see you at about 8 o'clock.
6 in or to many parts of sth
: Let me show you round the house. He
spent six months travelling round Europe.
IDIOMS
round about (sth) in the area near a place;
approximately :
We hope to arrive round about 6.
the other way round in the opposite way or
order :
My appointment's at 3 and Lella's is at 3.15 – or was it the
other way round ? Around has the
same meaning as round and is more common in American English.
of / Jv ; AmE strong form Qv ; AmE / preposition
1 belonging to, connected
with, or part of sth/sb : the roof of the house
the result of the exam the
back of the book the leader of the party
a friend of mine ( = one of my
friends )
2 made, done or produced by
sb : the poems of Milton
3 used for saying what sb/sth
is or what a thing contains or is made of : a woman
of intelligence the city of Paris a glass
of milk a crowd of people It's
made of silver. a feeling of anger
4 showing sb/sth : a map
of York a photograph of my
parents
5 used for showing that
sb/sth is part of a larger group : some of the
people three of the houses
6 used with measurements,
directions and expressions of time and age : a litre
of milk the fourth of July a girl
of 12 an increase of 2.5% five
miles north of Leeds
7 used for indicating the
reason for or cause of sth : He died of pneumonia.
8 used with some adjectives :
I'm proud of you. She's
jealous of her.
9 used with some verbs : This
perfume smells of roses. Think of a number.
It reminds me of you.
10 used after a noun describing an action to show either who did the
action or who it happened to : the arrival of the
president ( = he arrives ) the
murder of the president ( = he is murdered )
at / Jt ; AmE strong form &t ; AmE / preposition
1 used to show where sb/sth
is or where sth happens : at the bottom/top of the page He was
standing at the door. Change trains at Chester. We were
at home all weekend. Are the children at school? ‘Where's
Peter?’ ‘He's at Sue's.’ ( = at Sue's house )
2 used to show when sth
happens : I start work at 9 o'clock. at the
weekend at night at Easter She got
married at 18 ( = when she was 18 ) .
3 in the direction of sb/sth
: What are you looking at ? He
pointed a gun at the policeman. Don't
shout at me!
4 because of sth : I was
surprised at her behaviour. We laughed at his
jokes.
5 used to show what sb is
doing or what is happening : They were hard at work . The two
countries were at war .
6 used to show the price,
rate, speed, etc. of sth : We were travelling at about 50
miles per hour.
7 used with adjectives that
show how well sb/sth does sth : She's not very good at French.
8 ( computing ) the symbol (@) used in email addresses
up 1 / Vp ; AmE / preposition , adverb For
special uses with many verbs, for example pick sth up , look at
the verb entries.
1 at or to a high or higher
level or position :
The monkey climbed up the tree. I
carried her suitcase up to the third floor. Put
your hand up if you know the answer. I walked up the hill.
2 in or into a vertical position
: Stand up , please. Is he
up ( = out of bed ) yet?
3 used for showing an
increase in sth : Prices have gone up . Turn
the volume up .
4 used with verbs of closing
or covering : Do up your coat. It's cold. She
tied the parcel up with string. I found
some wood to cover up the hole.
5 to the place where sb/sth
is : She ran up to her mother and kissed
her. A car drove up and two men got out.
6 coming or being put
together : The teacher collected up our exam
papers. Asif and Joe teamed up in the doubles competition.
7 (used about a period of
time) finished : Stop writing. Your time's up .
8 into pieces : We
chopped the old table up and used it for firewood. She
tore up the letter and threw it away.
9 used for showing that an
action continues until it is completed : Eat up ,
everybody, I want you to finish everything on the table. Can you
help me clean up the kitchen?
10 in a particular direction : I live just up the road . Move up
a little and let me sit down.
11 in or to the north : My parents have just
moved up north . When are you going up to Scotland?
12 ( computing ) working; in operation : Are the
computers back up yet?
13 ( informal ) used for showing that sth is spoiled :
I really messed up when I told the interviewer
I liked sleeping.
IDIOMS
be up
for sth 1 to be available to be
bought or chosen : That house is up for sale. How
many candidates are up for election?
2 ( informal ) to be
ready to do sth and enthusiastic about doing it :
Is
anyone up for a swim?
be up to sb to be sb's responsibility :
I can't take the decision. It's not up to me.
not up to much ( informal )
not very good :
The programme wasn't up to much.
up against sth/sb facing sth/sb that causes
problems
up and down backwards and forwards, or rising and falling :
He was nervously walking up and down
outside the interview room.
up and running (used about sth new)
working well
up to
sth 1 as much/many as : We're
expecting up to 100 people at the meeting.
2
as far as now : Up to now,
things have been easy.
3
capable of sth : I don't feel up to
cooking this evening. I'm too tired.
4
doing sth secret and perhaps bad : What
are the children up to? Go and see.
what's up? ( informal )
what's the matter?
above / J"bVv ; AmE / preposition
, adjective , adverb
1 in a higher place : The
people in the flat above make a lot of noise. The
coffee is in the cupboard above the sink.
2
in an earlier part (of sth written) : Contact
me at the above address/the address above . HELP The opposite is below , but note that below is
not used before a noun: Contact me at the address below.
3 more than a number, amount,
price, etc. : children aged 11 and above A score of 70 and above will get
you a grade B. You must get above 50% to pass. above-average
temperatures OPPOSITE below
look at over
4 with a higher position in
an organization, etc. : The person above me is the
department manager. OPPOSITE below
5 too proud to do sth : He
seems to think he's above helping with the cleaning.
IDIOMS
above all (used to emphasize the main point) most
importantly :
Above all, stay calm!
(be) above board (used especially about a
business deal, etc.) honest and open
over 1 / "JUvJ(r) ; AmE / adverb , preposition
For special uses with many verbs, for example get over sth , look at
the verb entries.
1 straight above sth, but not
touching it :
There's a painting over the
bookcase. We watched the plane fly over . look at
above
2 covering sth : He was
holding a towel over the cut. She
hung her coat over the back of the chair.
3 across to the other side of
sth : The horse jumped over the fence. a
bridge over the river
4 on or to the other side : The
student turned the paper over and read the first
question.
5 down or sideways from an upright position : He
leaned over to speak to the woman next to him. I fell
over in the street this morning.
6 above or more than a
number, price, etc. : She lived in Athens for over ten
years. suitable for children aged 10 and over
7 used for expressing
distance : He's over in America at the moment. Sit
down over there . Come over here , please.
8 not used; still remaining :
There are a lot of cakes left over from the
party.
9 ( used with all )
everywhere :
There was blood all over the place . I can't
find my glasses. I've looked all over for them.
10 used for saying that sth is repeated : You'll
have to start all over again ( = from the beginning ) . She
kept saying the same thing over and over again .
11 about; on the subject of : We quarrelled over money.
12 during : We met several times over the
Christmas holiday.
on / Qn ; AmE ; / adverb , preposition For
special uses with many verbs and nouns, for example get on , on holiday ,
see the verb and noun entries.
1 (also formal upon )
supported by, fixed to or touching sth, especially a surface :
on the table/ceiling/wall We sat on the beach/grass/floor. She was
carrying the baby on her back. Write it down on a piece of paper. The ball hit
me on the head.
2 in a place or position : on
a farm/housing estate/campsite a house on the river/seafront/border I live on
the other side of town.
3 showing direction : on
the right/left on the way to school
4
used with ways of travelling and types of travel : on the
bus/train/plane We came on foot ( = we walked ) . Eddie went past on his
bike. to go on a trip/journey/excursion HELP
Note that we say in the car .
5 with expressions of time : on
August 19th on Monday on Christmas Day on your birthday
6 working; being used : All
the lights were on. Switch the television on . OPPOSITE off
7 wearing sth; carrying sth
in your pocket or bag : What did she have on ? to put
your shoes/coat/hat/make-up on I've got no money on me.
You should carry ID on you at all times.
8 about sth : We've got a
test on irregular verbs tomorrow. a talk/a book/an article on Japan
9 happening or arranged to
happen : What's on at the cinema? Is the meeting still on, or has it been
cancelled?
10 using sth; by means of sth : I was (talking) on the
phone to Laura. I saw it on television . I cut
my hand on some glass. Dave spends most evenings
on the Internet .
11 showing the thing or person that is affected by an action or is
the object of an action : Divorce can have a bad effect on children. He
spends a lot on clothes. Don't waste your time on that.
12 using drugs or medicine; using a particular kind of food or fuel :
to be on medication/antibiotics/heroin Gorillas live on leaves and fruit.
Does this car run on petrol or diesel?
13 receiving a certain amount of money : What will you be on ( = how much will you earn ) in your new
job? He's been (living) on unemployment benefit since he lost his job.
14 showing that sth continues : The man shouted at us but we
walked on. The speeches went on and on until
everyone was bored.
15 showing the reason for or basis for sth : She
doesn't eat meat on principle . The
film is based on a true story.
16 compared to : Sales are up 10% on last year.
17 immediately; soon after : He telephoned her on his return from
New York.
18 paid for by sb : The drinks are on me!
IDIOMS
from now/then on starting from this/that
time and continuing :
From then on she never smoked another cigarette.
not on ( informal )
not acceptable :
No, you can't stay out that late. It's just not on.
off and on ; on and off off 1
be/go on at sb go 1
into / "IntJ ; AmE
before vowels "IntJ ; AmE "Intu: ; AmE / preposition
1 moving to a position inside
or in sth : Come into the house. I'm
going into town. OPPOSITE out of ( 1 )
2 in the direction of sth : Please
speak into the microphone. At this point we were
driving into the sun and had to shade our eyes.
3 to a point at which you hit
sth : I backed the car into a wall. She
walked into a glass door.
4 showing a change from one
thing to another : We're turning the spare room into a study. She
changed into her jeans. Translate the passage
into German.
5 concerning or involving sth
: an inquiry into safety procedures
6 ( mathematics ) used when you are talking about dividing
numbers : 7 into 28 goes 4 times.
IDIOM
be into sth ( spoken )
to be very interested in sth, for example as a hobby :
I'm really into canoeing.
with / wID ; AmE wIT ; AmE / preposition
1 in the company of sb/sth;
in or to the same place as sb/sth : I live with my
parents. Are you coming with us? I
talked about the problem with my tutor.
2 having or carrying sth : a girl
with red hair a house with a garden the man
with the suitcase
3 using sth : Cut it
with a knife. I did it with his help.
4 used for saying what fills,
covers, etc. sth : Fill the bowl with water. His
hands were covered with oil.
5 in competition with sb/sth;
against sb/sth : He's always arguing with his
brother. I usually play tennis with my
sister.
6 towards, concerning or
compared with sb/sth : Is he angry with us? There's
a problem with my visa. Compared with Canada,
England has mild winters.
7 including sth : The
price is for two people with all meals.
8 used to say how sth happens
or is done : Open this parcel with care. to
greet sb with a smile
9 because of sth; as a result
of sth : We were shivering with cold. With all the
problems we've got, we're not going to finish on time.
10 in the care of sb : We left the keys with the
neighbours.
11 agreeing with or supporting sb/sth : We've
got everybody with us on this issue. OPPOSITE against
12 at the same time as sth : I can't concentrate with you
watching me all the time.
IDIOM
be with sb to be able to follow what sb is saying :
I'm not quite with you. Say it again.
to / tJ ; AmE , before vowels tu ; AmE , strong form tu: ; AmE / preposition
, adverb
1 in the direction of; as far
as : She's going to London. Turn to
the left. Pisa is to the west
of Florence. He has gone to school.
2 used to show the end or
limit of a series of things or period of time : from
Monday to Friday from beginning to end
3 used to show the person or
thing that receives sth : Give that to me. I am
very grateful to my parents. What
have you done to your hair? Sorry,
I didn't realize you were talking to me.
4 (nearly) touching sth;
directed towards sth : He put his hands to his ears.
They sat back to back. She
made no reference to her personal problems.
5 reaching a particular state
: The meat was cooked to perfection. His
speech reduced her to tears ( = made her cry ) .
6 used to introduce the
second part of a comparison : I prefer theatre to opera.
7 (used for expressing
quantity) for each unit of money, measurement, etc. : How
many dollars are there to the euro?
8 (used to say what time it
is) before : It's ten to three ( = ten minutes before three o'clock ) .
9 used to express sb's
opinion or feeling about sth : To me, it
was the wrong decision. It sounded like a good
idea to me. I don't think our friendship means anything to
him.
10 used for expressing a reaction or attitude to sth : To my
surprise, I saw two strangers coming out of my house. His
paintings aren't really to my taste.
11 used with verbs to form the infinitive
: I want to go home now. Don't
forget to write. I didn't know what to do.
12 / tu: ; AmE / (used about a door) in or into a closed position :
Push the door to .
IDIOM
to and fro backwards and forwards
behind / bI"haInd ; AmE / preposition
, adverb
1 in, at or to the back of
sb/sth : There's a small garden behind the
house. The sun went behind a cloud. You go
on ahead. I'll follow on behind . Look
behind you before you drive off. He ran off but the police
were close behind .
2 behind (in/with) (sth) later or
less good than sb/sth; making less progress than sb/sth :
The train is twenty minutes behind schedule.
Jane is behind the rest of the class in
maths. We are a month behind with the rent. look at ahead
3 supporting or agreeing with
sb/sth : Whatever she decides, her family will be behind her.
4 responsible for causing or
starting sth : What is the reason behind his
sudden change of opinion?
5 used to say that sth is in
sb's past : It's time you put your problems behind you ( = forgot about them ) .
6 in the place where sb/sth
is or was : Oh no! I've left the tickets behind ( = at home ) .
in 1 / In ; AmE / adverb , preposition For
special uses with many nouns, for example in time , look at the noun entries.
For special uses with many verbs, for example give in , look at the verb
entries.
1 (used to show place) inside
or to a position inside a particular area or object :
a country in Africa an island in the Pacific in a box I read about
it in the newspaper. He lay in bed . She put
the keys in her pocket. His wife's in hospital . She
opened the door and went in. My suitcase is full. I can't get any more in. When
does the train get in ( = to the station ) ?
2 at home or at work : I
phoned him last night but he wasn't in. She
won't be in till late today.
3 (showing time) during a
period of time : My birthday is in August. in spring/summer/autumn/winter He
was born in 1980. You could walk there in about an hour ( = it would take that long to walk there
) .
4 (showing time) after a
period of time : I'll be finished in ten minutes.
5 wearing sth : They were
all dressed in black for the funeral. I've never seen you in a suit before. a
woman in a yellow dress
6 showing the condition or
state of sb/sth : My father is in poor health. This
room is in a mess ! Richard's in love . He's in
his mid-thirties.
7 showing sb's job or the
activity sb is involved in : He's got a good job in advertising. All her
family are in politics ( = they are politicians ) . He's in the army.
8 contained in; forming the
whole or part of sth : There are 31 days in January. What's in this
casserole?
9 used for saying how things
are arranged : We sat in a circle. She had her hair in plaits.
10 used for saying how sth is written or expressed : Please write
in pen. They were talking in Italian/French/Polish . to work
in groups/teams
11 used with feelings : I watched in horror as the
plane crashed to the ground. He was in such a rage I didn't
dare to go near him.
12 used for giving the rate of sth and for talking about numbers : One
family in ten owns a dishwasher.
13 received by sb official : Entries should be in by 20
March. All applications must be in by Friday.
14 (used about the sea) at the highest point, when the water is
closest to the land : The tide's coming in.
IDIOMS
be in for it/sth to be going to experience
sth unpleasant :
He'll be in for a shock when he gets the bill. You'll be in for it
when Mum sees what you've done.
be/get in on sth to be included or involved
in sth :
I'd like to be in on the new project.
have (got) it in for sb ( informal )
to be unpleasant to sb because they have done sth to upset you :
The boss has had it in for me ever since I asked to be considered
for the new post.
down 1 / daUn ; AmE / adverb , preposition
1 to or at a lower level or
place; from the top towards the bottom of sth : Can you
get that book down from the top shelf? ‘Where's
Mary?’ ‘She's down in the basement.’ Her
hair hung down her back. The rain was running down
the window.
2 along : We
sailed down the river towards the sea. ‘Where's
the nearest garage?’ ‘Go down this road and take the
first turning on the right.’
3 from a standing or vertical
position to a sitting or horizontal one : I think I'll sit/lie down
.
4 to or in the south : We went
down to Devon for our holiday.
5 used for showing that the
level, amount, strength, etc. of sth is less or lower : Do you
mind if I turn the heating down a bit?
6 (written) on paper : Put
these dates down in your diary.
7 down to sb/sth even
including :
We had everything planned down to the
last detail.
IDIOMS
be down to sb to be sb's responsibility :
When my father died it was down to me to
look after the family's affairs.
be down to sth to have only the amount
mentioned left :
I need to do some washing – I'm down to my
last shirt.
down and out having no money, job or home
down under ( informal )
(in) Australia
under / "VndJ(r) ; AmE / preposition
, adverb
1 in or to a position that is
below sth : We found him hiding under the
table. The dog crawled under the gate and ran into the
road.
RELATED VOCABULARY
Compare under , below , beneath and
underneath . You use under to say that one thing is directly under another
thing. There may be a space between the two things: The cat is asleep under the table
or one thing may be touching or covered by the other thing: I
think your letter is under that book. You can
use below to say that one thing is in a lower position than another thing:
They live on the floor below us. The skirt comes down to just below the knee. You use
under (not below ) to talk about movement
from one side of something to the other side: We swam under the
bridge. You can use beneath in formal writing to say
that one thing is directly under another thing, but under is more
common. You can use underneath in place of under when you
want to emphasize that something is being covered or hidden by another thing:
Have you looked underneath the sofa as well as behind it?
2 below the surface of sth; covered by sth :
Most of an iceberg is under the
water. He was wearing a vest under his
shirt.
3 less than a certain number;
younger than a certain age : People working under 20 hours
a week will pay no extra tax. Nobody under eighteen
is allowed to buy alcohol.
4 governed or controlled by
sb/sth : The country is now under martial
law.
5 according to a law,
agreement, system, etc. : Under English
law you are innocent until you are proved guilty.
6 experiencing a particular
feeling, process or effect : He was jailed for driving
under the influence of alcohol. a building under construction
The manager is under pressure to
resign. I was under the impression that Bill was
not very happy there.
7 using a particular name : to
travel under a false name
8 found in a particular part
of a book, list, etc. : You'll find some information on rugby under ‘team
sports’.
below / bI"lJU ; AmE / preposition
, adverb
at or to
a lower position or level than sb/sth :
Do not
write below this line. The temperature fell below
freezing during the night. Her
marks in the exam were below average. I don't
live on the top floor. I live on the floor below . temperatures
of 30° and below note at under
OPPOSITE above
Oxford Student's Dictionary of English © Oxford University
Press, 2007
beneath / bI"ni:T ; AmE / preposition
, adverb
1 in, at or to a lower
position than sb/sth; under : The ship disappeared
beneath the waves. He seemed a nice person
but there was a lot of anger beneath the surface. note at under
2 not good enough for sb : She
felt that cleaning for other people was beneath her.
about 1 / J"baUt ; AmE / adverb
1 ( especially AmE around ) a
little more or less than; approximately :
It's about three miles from here to
the city centre. I got home at about half past
seven.
2 ( informal ) almost;
nearly :
Dinner's just about ready.
3 ( also around ) in many
directions or places :
I could hear people moving about upstairs.
Don't leave your clothes lying about all over
the floor.
4 ( also around ) (used
after certain verbs) without doing anything in particular :
The kids spend most evenings sitting about , bored.
5 ( also around ) present
in a place; existing :
It was very late and there were few people about . There
isn't much good music about these days.
IDIOM
be about to do sth to be going to do sth very
soon :
The film's about to start. I was
just about to explain when she interrupted me.
about 2 / J"baUt ; AmE / preposition
1 on the subject of : Let's
talk about something else. What's your book about ? He told
me all about his family. I don't like it, but
there's nothing I can do about it.
2 ( also around ) in many
directions or places; in different parts of sth :
We wandered about the town for an hour or
two. Lots of old newspapers were scattered about the room.
3 in the character of sb/sth
: There's something about him that
I don't quite trust. I like the food, the climate, and everything
else about this country.
IDIOM
how/what
about…? 1 (used when asking for
information about sb/sth or for sb's opinion or wish) : How
about Ruth? Have you heard from her lately? I'm
going to have chicken. What about you?
2
(used when making a suggestion) : What
about going to a film tonight?
not / nQt ; AmE / adverb
1 used to form the negative
with the verbs be , do and have ( auxiliary
verbs ) and with verbs such as can , must , will , etc. ( modal
verbs ) . Not is often pronounced or written n't in informal
situations : It's not /it isn't raining now. I
cannot/can't see from here. He didn't invite me. Don't you like spaghetti? I hope
she will not /won't be late. You're German, aren't you?
2 used to give the following
word or phrase a negative meaning : He told me not to
telephone. She accused me of not telling the truth. Not one
person replied to my advertisement. It's not easy. He's
not very tall.
3 used to give a short
negative reply : ‘Do you think they'll get divorced?’ ‘I hope not .’ ( = I hope that they will not . ) ‘Can I
borrow £20?’ ‘ Certainly not !’ ‘Whose turn is it to do
the shopping?’ ‘Not mine.’
4 used with the word or to give a
negative possibility : Shall we tell her or not ?
IDIOMS
not at
all 1 used as a way of replying
when sb has thanked you : ‘Thanks for the present.’ ‘Not at all, don't
mention it.’
2
used as a way of saying ‘no’ or ‘definitely not’ : ‘Do you mind
if I come too?’ ‘Not at all.’ The instructions are not at all
clear.
not only… (but) also used for emphasizing the
fact that there is something more to add :
They not only have two houses in
London, they also have one in France.
hit 1 / hIt ; AmE / verb [ transitive ] ( present participle hi tt
ing ; past ,
past participle hit )
1 to make sudden, violent
contact with sb/sth : The bus left the road and hit a tree. to hit somebody
in the eye/across the face/on the nose Strike is a
more formal word than hit . Beat means
to hit many times: He was badly beaten in the attack.
2 hit sth (on/against sth) to knock
a part of your body, etc. against sth :
Peter hit his head on the low beam.
3 to have a bad or unpleasant
effect on sb/sth : Inner city areas have been badly hit by
unemployment. Her father's death has hit her very
hard.
4 to experience sth
unpleasant or difficult : Things were going really well until we hit this
problem.
5 to reach a place or a level
: If you follow this road you should hit the
motorway in about ten minutes. The price of oil hit a new
high yesterday.
6 to suddenly come into sb's
mind; to make sb realize or understand sth : I
thought I recognized the man's face and then it hit me – he
was my old maths teacher!
IDIOMS
hit it off (with sb) ( informal )
to like sb when you first meet them :
When I first met Tony's parents, we didn't really hit it off.
hit the nail on the head to say sth that is exactly
right
hit the jackpot to win a lot of money or
have a big success
hit the roof ( informal )
to become very angry
PHRASAL VERBS
hit back (at sb/sth) to attack (with words) sb
who has attacked you
hit on sth to suddenly find sth by chance :
I finally hit on a solution to the
problem.
hit out (at sb/sth) to attack sb/sth :
The man hit out at the policeman.
