Flashcards based on "Random idiom flashcards set to learn" set
Prev Next
1 of 10
[pitch into] {v.}, {informal}
1. To attack with blows or words.
He pitched into me with his fists.
He pitched into the idea of raising taxes.
Syn.: [LAY INTO] (1),(2), [RIP INTO].
2. To get to work at; work hard at.
She pitched into the work and had the house cleaned up by noon.
He pitched into his homework right after dinner.
Compare: [LAY INTO], [SAIL INTO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
[let up] {v.}, {informal}
1. To become less, weaker, or quiet; become slower or stop.
It's raining as hard as ever. It's not letting up at all.
It snowed for three days before it let up and we could go outdoors.
2. To do less or go slower or stop; relax; stop working or working hard.
Grandfather has been working all his life. When is he going to let up?
Let up for a minute. You can't work hard all day.
Jim ran all the way home without letting up once.
Compare: [SLOW DOWN].
Contrast: [BEAR DOWN].
3. To become easier, kinder, or less strict. — Usually used with "on".
Let up on Jane. She is sick.
Syn.: [EASE UP].
4. or [change up]
To pitch a ball at less than full speed in baseball. — Usually used with "on".
John pitched a ball that was very fast and the batter missed it. Then he let up on the next pitch and the batter was badly fooled.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
[keep up] {v.}
1a. To go on; not stop; continue.
The rain kept up for two days and the roads were flooded.
Compare: [KEEP ON].
1b. To go on with (something); continue steadily; never stop.
Mrs. Smith told John to keep up the good work.
The teacher asked Dick to stop bothering Mary, but he kept it up.
Compare: [KEEP AT].
2a. To go at the same rate as others.
John had to work hard to keep up.
Billy was the youngest boy on the hike, but he kept up with the others.
Compare: [CATCH UP], [KEEP PACE].
Contrast: [FALL BEHIND], [GET BEHIND] (1).
2b. To keep (something) at the same level or rate or in good condition.
The shortage of tomatoes kept the prices up.
Grandfather was too poor to keep up his house.
3. To keep informed. — Usually used with "on" or "with".
Mary is interested in politics and always keeps up with the news.
Compare: [KEEP TRACK].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
[keep on] {v.}
1. To go ahead; not stop; continue.
The neighbors asked them to stop making noise, but they kept right on.
Columbus kept on until he saw land.
- Often used before a present participle.
Relentlessly, the boy kept on asking about the birds and the bees.
The boy kept on talking even though the teacher had asked him to stop.
Syn.: [GO ON]. Compare: [KEEP AT], [KEEP UP].
2. To allow to continue working for you.
The new owner kept Fred on as gardener.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
[go on] {v.}
1a. To continue; not stop.
After he was hit by the ball, Billy quit pitching and went home, but the game went on.
The TV picture began to jump, and it went on like that until Father turned a knob.
I asked Jane a question but she went on reading and didn't answer.
Mother told Jim to stop, but he went on hitting Susan.
Syn.: [KEEP ON].
1b. To continue after a pause; begin with the next thing.
"Go on! I'm listening," said Mother.
The teacher pointed to the map, and went on, "But the land that Columbus came to was not India." — Often used before an infinitive.
Father said Mother had gone to the hospital, and went on to say that Grandmother was coming to take care of us.
1c. (Of time:) To pass.
As time went on, Mary began to wonder if John had forgotten their date.
The years went on, and Betty's classmates became gray-haired men and women.
2. To happen.
Mr. Scott heard the noise and went to see what was going on in the hall.
The teacher knows what goes on when she leaves the room.
Syn.: [TAKE PLACE].
3. To talk for too long, often angrily.
We thought Jane would never finish going on about the amount of homework she had.
4. To fit on; be able to be worn.
My little brother's coat wouldn't go on me. It was too small.
5. Stop trying to fool me; I don't believe you. — Used as a command, sometimes with "with".
When Father told Mother she was the prettiest girl in the world. Mother just said, "Oh, go on, Charles."
"Aunt May, your picture is in the paper." "Go on with you, boy!"
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
[keep an eye on] or [keep one's eye on] or [have one's eye on] {v. phr.}
1. To watch carefully; not stop paying attention to.
Keep an eye on the stove in case the coffee boils.
You must keep your eye on the ball when you play tennis.
A good driver keeps his eye on the road.
The teacher had her eye on me because she thought I was cheating.
Billy keeps a jealous eye on his toys.
The lion tamer keeps a sharp eye on the lions when he is in the cage.
Compare: [LOOK OUT], [LOOK OVER].
2. To watch and do what is needed for; mind.
Mother told Jane to keep an eye on the baby while she was in the store.
Mr. Brown told John to keep an eye on the store while he was out.
Syn.: [TAKE CARE OF] (1).
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
[sit by] {v.}
1. To stay near; watch and care for.
The nurse was told to sit by the patient until he woke up.
Mother sat by her sick baby all night.
2. To sit and watch or rest especially while others work.
Don't just sit idly by while the other children are all busy.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
[look out] or [watch out] {v.}
1. To take care; be careful; be on guard. — Usually used as a command or warning.
"Look out!" John called, as the car came toward me.
"Look out for the train," the sign at the railroad crossing warns.
2. To be alert or watchful; keep watching.
A collector of antique cars asked Frank to look out for a 1906 gas head lamp.
Compare: [EYE OUT], [ON THE WATCH].
3. {informal}
To watch or keep (a person or thing) and do what is needed; provide protection and care. — Used with "for".
Lillian looked out for her sister's children one afternoon a week.
Uncle Fred looked out for his brother's orphan son until the boy was through college.
Compare: [LOOK AFTER].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
[eye out]
Careful watch or attention; guard. — Used after "keep", "have" or "with".
Keep an eye out. We're close to Joe's house.
- Usually used with "for".
Mary has her eye out for bargains.
They went through the woods very quietly, with an eye out for Indians.
Compare: [LOOK OUT] (2), [ON GUARD], [ON THE ALERT], [ON THE WATCH].
A Dictionary of American Idioms