to back (up)

drive a vehicle backwards (in reverse)

I haven't got room to get out. Could you back your car a bit, please. (Or could you back up a bit, please?

back s.o. up

confirm the truth of what they are saying

If you don't believe me, ask the others. They'll back me up.

to back up

(files on a computer) save a copy in case of loss of the main file

I always back up my files in case the computer crashes.

Don't forget to back it up.

bad-mouth s.o.

to say bad things about s.o.

He was really in the wrong to bad-mouth her to the boss

to bawl someone out.

To shout angrily at s.o.

I tried to explain but he bawled me out.

 To be in on sth.

to be party to / to know about sth. often illegal or in some way secret.

Everyone thought the mayor was clean, but he was in on every shady deal in town.

to beat s.o. up

to attack s.o. and hit them several times with fists

.The bullies beat him up just because he did well in class.

They beat her up and stole her money.

Some of the big boys sometimes beat up the little ones.

blow sth. up

inflate sth.

Would you blow the ballons up for the children?"

blow up  (intrans. and intrans)

to explode  

They were playing with a firework near the bonfire and it caught fire and blew up.

The soldiers blew up the building so that the enemy couldn’t use it.

blow up (intrans. of people)

also to blow one’s top

become very angry.

I don’t want to tell my husband I’ve crashed the car. He’s sure to blow up / He’s sure to blow his top..

bone up on sth

make an effort to improve one’s knowledge of some subject

I don’t know much about tax but I’m going to bone up on it before I fill in my tax forms.

break down (intrans.)

cease to function

My car broke down and I had to be towed to the garage.

break in / break into somewhere.

to enter a building illegally

The burglar broke into the house while they were away.

You don’t leave the house empty, do you? Aren’t you afraid s.o. will break in?

break sth. (usually new shoes) in

wear them until they feel more comfortable.

The shoes are a bit tight but I’m wearing them for a while each day to break them in.

break sth [news] to s.o.  

tell s.o. bad news

I don't know how to break this to you but....I am afraid I have bad news for you.

break s.o. in

break a horse in

to get s.o. accustomed to a new routine.

train it to be ridden

I’ve got the job of breaking the new girl in.

break up (with)

end a personal relationship.

I thought you and James were going to get engaged.

Oh, I don’t see him much now. I broke up with him last year.

bring / take sth. back

return something.

Have you taken your books back to the library yet?

Yes, you can borrow my notes but bring them back when you’ve finished.

bring it off

to manage to do sth. difficult / unexpected.

Fancy Jim risking all that money and getting the company established. Not many people could have brought it off in the present economic situation.

bring sth. up

mention during conversation or meeting

Everything was going well until she brought up the matter of the missing money.

‘The last time you drove the car it cost a fortune to repair.’

‘Oh, don’t bring that up again!’

bring up (a child)

raise / rear.

I brought up my sister’s children because she died when they were very young.

The children’s parents both died when they were babies so their grandparents brought them up.

brush up on sth.

to study sth. again for a short time.

We’re going to France on holiday so I must brush up on my French. I’ve forgotten a lot.

to buck s.o. up

to encourage s.o.

That news is sure to buck her up

to buck up [intrans]

To get more lively or start to hurry

Come on. Buck up. We haven't got all day

burn down (trans. and intrans.)

be destroyed / consumed by fire or to destroy by fire (usually buildings).

The building burned down last year.

The soldiers burned down the school they thought had been used as the enemy headquarters.

butt in

interrupt a conversation).

Excuse me butting in, but I can tell you something about that.

butter s.o. up

be deliberately nice to s.o. with the hope of getting some benefit

He praised his mum's cooking in order to butter her up so that she would let him go to the party.

Index of other hints and practice for learners of English

Back to Daf's home page

back to main English page