Copyright 2005-2012 Sally Jennings at Speak-Read-Write.com
1. to make up = to concoct
He makes up the most unbelievable stories.
2. to round out = to complete
Items four and five round out the selection.
3. to be spoken for = to be reserved
Is this seat spoken for?
4. to look over = to view, to examine
He looked over the books for sale and chose one.
5. to stand up for = to defend
He stood up for his little sister so bullies would not attack her.
6. to sugar-coat = to make palatable
She sugar-coated the story about the awful mistake she made, so her father was
not angry.
7. to find out = to learn
Her father never found out how much of his money she spent.
8. to talk back = to sass, to answer rudely
The teenager talked back to her father all the time. It made him angry.
9. to keep in mind = to remember
Keep your reader in mind as you write; stay focused on communication.
10. to
spell out = to outline point by point
The mother spelled out the ten-year-old's new chores: clean her bedroom,
feed the dog, and wash dishes.
11. to mix up = to confuse
They always mix up the twins and call Sarah "Sandra" and Sandra "Sarah."
12. to round up = to gather
"Round up all the three-year-olds," said the daycare supervisor.
13. to fit in with = to belong
He doesn't fit in with this group of people, because he is too shy.
14. to leave alone = to ignore
Leave the hurt cat alone or it will claw you.
15. to settle down = to become quiet
The toddler had a hard time settling down to go to sleep at night.
16. to find a way = to determine a method
They will find a way to pay her college bills.
17. to work it out = to decide on, to negotiate
They worked out an agreement between the two quarrelling groups.
18. to calm down = to become quiet, to relax
"Calm down," the mother said to her toddler "stop all that screaming."
19. to set a deadline = to fix an end-date, to declare a closing date
They set the application deadline at May 30th.
20. to fool around = to play carelessly
The boy was fooling around on his new skateboard when he fell and broke his arm.
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