>ADD UP (2), SET UP (3)

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add up = accumulate, gather little by little and gradually become a lot

examples:

  • Mary washes cars, cleans houses, irons people’s clothes for money, babysits. With all these kinds of work money adds up and it is almost a regular salary. 
  • Money can’ t add up if you keep spending all the time. 
  • Since my mother moved in with us, I ‘m afraid our problems have added up.
  • If you save some euros every week you ‘ll see how quickly it adds up and you ‘ll be able to buy that motorcycle. 
  • He spends a lot on food, a lot on his amusement, a lot on drinks. By the end of the month when he receives bills too all expenses add up and he is left broke.
  • First, he was rude to me. Then he started making fun of me in front of others. Sometimes he teased me for my accent. It all adds up and now I don ‘t want to see him anymore.

set up = build, put something in a place

examples:

  • After the accident the police set up roadblocks on the road.
  • They should have set up a STOP sign here. It ‘s really dangerous.
  • The government set up tents for the people who were left homeless after the earthquake.
  • The Town Hall set up a medical unit near the block of flats that had caught fire.
  • When we reached the top of the mountain we set up a flag.
  • They set up a new branch of these clothes stores in our city.
  • Could you please set up your videocameras over there? You ‘re blocking the light here.
  • We set an iron fence up all around the garden.
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>ORDER AROUND, ORDER ABOUT

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order about = order around = give orders all the time, tell others what to do all the time

examples:

  • Stop ordering the children around. They know what to do.
  • The general ordered the soldiers around the first couple of weeks at the army from morning until night.
  • He just loves ordering people about. He ‘s so obnoxious!
  • Don ‘t just stand there ordering us about. Come and give us a hand!
  • A good boss doesn ‘t order people around.She or he inspires them and sets the example.
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>LET OFF (1)

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let (somebody) off = let someone go without punishment

examples:

  • I ‘ll let you off this time but next time be more careful.
  • We can ‘t just let him off. It ‘s not the first time we ‘ve caught him stealing.
  • I ‘ll let you off with a warning now but if you drive your motorcycle without a helmet next time I will drive you to the traffic police myself!
  • They let him off lightly because he was only twelve years old.
  • The Court was very lenient. They let him off.
  • The traffic police let him off with just a fine for driving drunk. If you ask me, they should have removed his number plate. He was let off lightly, wasn ‘t he?
  • The boss let me off this time but said that if I ever make the same mistake, he ‘ll fire me.
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>LAY DOWN (2)

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lay down = establish something, say what others must do

examples:

  • The new government has laid down new laws.
  • The ministry is going to lay down new rules in the market.
  • The contract lays down the conditions for the sale.
  • It is laid down in the regulations that students are not allowed to bring mobile phones to school.
  • Teachers lay down the school rules in cooperation with the students.
  • Follow the instructions laid down in the booklet to fit the machine.
  • Great scientists have laid down the principles of Physics.
  • The Prime Minister laid down the general directions but nothing has been decided yet.
  • It is laid down what you have to do in this case. Just read the law.
  • Governments have to lay down tough standards for public health.
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>SET UP (2)

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set up = organize

examples: 
  • She set up an appointment with a doctor who specializes in her problem. 
  • They set up a committee to investigate the case. 
  • We set up a meeting but she never came. 
  • We set up an interview to hire a new assistant. 
  • They set up a fund for the victims of the earthquake.
  • Are you going to set up the food for the party yourself?
  • We set up the rooms for our guests. 
  • The army set up a mission to free the prisoners.
  • We must set up a new system in the company to advertise our work.
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>SET ASIDE (1), HANG OUT (1)

>set aside =save a part of something in order to use it later

examples:

  • If we want to go on holiday, we should set aside some money.
  • Good parents always set aside some time every day to play with their children.
  • I set aside some money every month.
  • We have set aside some money for a new car.
  • We have set aside a room for our guests. You can visit us any time you like.
  • Set aside some pizza for Tommy.
  • I ‘ll be late. Please, set aside some birthday cake for me.
  • I ‘ll be very busy this weekend but I ‘ll set some time aside for you.
hang out (with somebody) = often spend time with somebody or at a place
examples:

  • Why are you hanging out with such bad people?
  • My mum doesn’t really like the people I hang out with.
  • If you want to find us, we usually hang out at the new sports club.
  • Teenagers like to hang out with people of their own age.
  • I know all the places my older brother hangs out and all the people he hangs out with.
    Posted in HANG OUT (1), SET ASIDE (1) | Leave a comment

    >SELL OFF (1)

    >sell off = sell something quickly and at a low price

    examples:
    • He needed money right away, so he sold off his car. 
    • I ‘m not going to sell off my mother ‘s jewels! 
    • He lost all his money gambling and had even to sell off his house. 
    • We ‘re not selling off. If we get a good price on the house, we ‘re selling. Otherwise, we ‘re waiting.
    • He ‘s selling off property to pay his debts. 
    • Stores are selling off winter clothes during the summer.
    • The store is selling off products that are about to expire.
    • This new shop is selling off things at bargain prices! Let ‘s go and check it out!
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    >SET UP (1)

    >set up = start (a business, a committee, an institution, a home)

    examples:

    • He set up a very successful business on the island.
    • They set up a new school in the village for local children.
    • The two brothers set up a company together in 2009.
    • After their marriage Mary and Tom set up their home in a nice village away from city life.
    • They set up a shop that sold fishing equipment.
    • He inherited a fortune and set up a home for abandoned children.
    Posted in SET UP (1) | Leave a comment

    >SET UP

    >set up = start (a business, a committee, an institution, a home)

    examples:

    • He set up a very successful business on the island.
    • They set up a new school in the village for local children.
    • The two brothers set up a company together in 2009.
    • After their marriage Mary and Tom set up their home in a nice village away from city life.
    • They set up a shop that sold fishing equipment.
    • He inherited a fortune and set up a home for abandoned children.
    Posted in SET UP (1) | Leave a comment

    >MOVE OVER (1), CALL UP (1)

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    move over = change place and stand a bit further to let someone else pass or sit
    examples:

    • This man needs to get to hospital right away! Move over and let us pass!
    • Move over, I want to sit here, right next to you. 
    • Everyone moved over to let the injured man pass. 
    • I thought there was no seat for me but then everyone moved over one seat and I could sit too. 
    • If you move over a bit we can all sit together. 
    • Move over, so that we can all sit on the bench.
    • Move over! You ‘re taking up the whole bed!
    • I shouted at the driver of the car in front of us to move over and let us pass. 

    call up = phone 

    • He called me up in the middle of the night to say he was sorry.
    • Many people called us up to congratulate us. 
    • Call me up tomorrow if you have any news. 
    • If you ‘re so anxious to find out what happened, just call him up and ask! 
    • I ‘ll call you up tomorrow.
    • Call up the office and say you ‘re sick. 
    • Call up the pizza restaurant and order two pizzas.
    Posted in CALL UP (1), MOVE OVER (1) | Leave a comment