- BACK AWAY
- (intransitive)to retreat backwards
The crowd backed away as the terrorist blew himself up.
- BACK DOWN
- (intransitive)to concede in a disagreement
The mugger backed down when he saw that Max was carrying a 9mm handgun.
- BACK UP
- (separable)to make copies of computer files just in case something happens to the original files
Please be sure to back up your files before you go home each day.
- BACK UP
- (separable)to help or support
I will back my friends up no matter what they do.
- BACK UP
- (separable)to go in reverse
When Steve passed the beautiful girl hitchhiking on the freeway, he immediately stopped the car, backed up, and offered her a ride.
- BAIL OUT
- (intransitive)to jump out of an airplane (usually when it?s going to crash)
Luckily the pilot bailed out before his plane hit the side of the mountain.
- BAIL OUT
- (intransitive)to quit or stop doing something (usually when experiencing difficulties)
The congressional candidate bailed out of the race because there was no hope that he could raise enough money to win.
- BAIL OUT
- (separable)to rescue someone from a difficult situation
Max?s uncle bailed him out of the financial problems he was having.
- BALL UP
- (separable)to roll or form something into a round shape
When max does his laundry, instead of folding everything nicely when it?s done, he just balls everything up and throws it in a bag.
- BASH IN
- (separable)to damage something by hitting it violently
Vandals bashed in the windows of my new Lamborghini.
- BEAT UP
- (separable)to hurt someone by hitting and/or kicking them repeatedly
The bully beat the other kids up for their lunch money.
- BLACK OUT
- (intransitive)to lose consciousness momentarily
Max had a very severe headache and blacked out several times, so his doctor admitted him to the hospital.
- BLEND IN
- (intransitive)to match or look the same as the surroundings
In Max's neighborhood, if you don't blend in, you'll get beat up.
- BLOW OFF
- (separable)to remove with powerful force
The bomb blew the roof off the house.
- BLOW UP
- (intransitive)to suddenly become angry
The teacher blew up when she discovered that the students hadn't done their homework.
- BLOW UP
- (separable)to explode or to destroy something with an explosion
Mary was arrested for blowing up Max's car with a homemade bomb.
- BLOW UP
- (separable)to inflate
Al's job was to sell the balloons. Jim's job was to blow them up.
- BONE UP ON
- (inseparable)to review, study, or practice a subject for a short period of time
I need to bone up on my math as I have a university entrance exam at the end of the month.
- BOSS AROUND
- (separable)to tell someone what to do repeatedly
Mary likes to boss people around.
- BREAK DOWN
- (intransitive)to stop functioning
John had to learn to become a good mechanic as his car was always breaking down.
- BREAK DOWN
- (intransitive)to lose control of one's emotions
Max broke down in tears when he heard that Mary had been arrested.
- BREAK IN
- (separable)to work or repeatedly use something so that it becomes comfortable or easily usable
Max's shoes hurt him as he had not yet broke them in.
- BREAK IN
- (intransitive)to forcibly enter a building
Max called the police when he thought he heard someone breaking in.
- BREAK INTO
- (inseparable)to forcibly enter
Mary broke into the car to steal the stereo.
- BREAK OUT
- (intransitive)to suddenly develop or erupt
A riot broke out in Los Angeles today.
- BREAK UP
- (separable)to cause to disperse or scatter
What time did the cops break the party up last night?
- BREAK UP (WITH)
- (separable)to end a relationship
Have Tom and Mary broken up yet? I'm thinking about asking Mary out on a date. The Beatles broke up a long time ago. Some people say that Yoko broke the band up. I'm going to break up with Mary. she bores me.
- BRING ABOUT
- (inseparable)to make happen
Max?s new girlfriend brought about some positive changes in his behavior.
- BRING AROUND
- (separable)to guide someone or convey something
I will bring the new intern around the office when she gets here.
- BRING AROUND
- (separable)to persuade, to cause to some on to do something through persuasion
Mary?s passionate speech brought Max around to donating to her organization.
- BRING DOWN
- (separable)to cause to fall
Michael Moore is hoping to bring the Bush administration down.
- BRING FORTH
- (separable)to produce or give rise to
The eager new intern brought forth many new ideas on how to run the company.
- BRING IN
- (separable)to arrest someone; to bring someone to the police station (usually for questioning)
The police brought Max in for robbing the bank.
- BRING IN
- (separable)to reach a verdict
The judge declared a mistrial because the jury could not bring in a verdict.
- BRING IN
- (separable)to earn money
Jill hates her new job, but she?s bringing in a lot of money.
- BRING ON
- (separable)to cause to appear
Bring on the birthday cake!
- BRING UP
- (separable)to raise or rear
Mowgli was a boy brought up by wolves.
- BRING UP
- (separable)to mention
When talking to Mary, Max never brings up her criminal record.
- BRUSH UP ON
- (intransitive)to practice; to improve your skill or knowledge
Max went back to school to brush up on mathematics.
- BURN DOWN
- (separable)to destroy by fire
Please don't smoke in bed for you may burn the house down.
- BUTT IN
- (intransitive)to enter a conversation uninvited
"Excuse me for butting in, but I couldn't help overhearing...
