| back away |
To move backwards, in fear or dislike |
When he saw the bear, he backed away in fright. |
| back down |
To withdraw, concede defeat |
Local authorities backed down on their threats to build on that part of the beach. |
| Back out |
go back on, withdraw from promise |
He agreed to help but backed out at the last moment. |
| back up |
To give support or encouragement |
I am going to be very strict with him. I hope you will?back?me?up?on this? |
| bank on |
To base your hopes on something / someone |
I'm banking on you to help with the charity event. |
| Be cut out for |
suitable |
He is cut out for an administrative career. |
| Be in for |
about to take place (unpleasant) |
On account of his bad habits he is in for trouble. |
| Be laid up with |
confined to bed |
She is not going out as she is laid up with flue. |
| Be taken aback |
be surprised |
I was taken aback to hear of the news of his failure. |
| Bear on/upon |
relevant (bearing on) |
Your remarks have no bearing on the main problem. |
| Bear out |
support the argument, corroborate |
I am sure my classmates will bear out my statement. |
| Bear with |
to show patience, cooperate |
In view of the heavy losses suffered by the company, the shareholders were requested to bear with. |
| black out |
To faint, lose consciousness |
Jenna fell in the parking lot and?blacked out. |
| block off |
To separate using a barrier. |
The police blocked off the street after the explosion. |
| Blow out |
extinguish |
The candle blew out as the gust of wind came in. |
| Blow over |
Pass off without harm, come to an end |
Don't worry, the crisis are likely to blow over. |
| blow up |
To explode |
Tommy blew up the red balloon. |
| boil down to |
To be summarized as |
It all boils down to who has more power. |
| boot up |
To start a computer by loading an operating system or program |
You need to boot up your computer before you begin to work. |
| break away |
To separate from a crowd |
One of the wolves broke away from his pack. |
| break down |
To go out of order, cease to function |
The washing machine broke down so we had to call in the |
| Break in |
To enter a building or a place forcefully |
Someone tried to break into our house last Saturday. |
| break into |
To enter by force |
Burglars broke into my car last night. |
| Break off |
To cancel or put an end to something |
Diana broke off her engagement. |
| break out |
To start suddenly |
Rioting broke out after the government raised the fuel prices again. |
| break out of |
To escape from a place by force |
Several prisoners broke out of jail. |
| Break through |
discover secret |
If you break through a barrier, you succeed in forcing your way through it. |
| break up |
To come to an end (marriage, relationship) |
She broke up with Daniel after dating him for five years. |
| Break with |
quarrel |
After long and fruitful friendship the two friends broke with each other. |
| Bring about |
cause to happen |
The administration helped bring about a peaceful settlement. |
| Bring on |
To cause something to happen |
Excessive drinking and smoking can bring on serious health hazards like heart attacks, lung diseases and cancer. |
| Bring out |
explain the meaning, publish |
When asked to explain, she could not bring out the meaning of the poem. |
| Bring round |
to make one agree, bring to senses |
I was able to bring my mother round to my views with great difficulty. |
| bring up |
To raise (a child) |
Sara is bringing up her children by herself. |
| Brush up |
To review or improve on some skill that you already possess or some information you already know. |
I will have to help my sister brush up her French before she leaves for Paris. |
| brush up on |
To improve, refresh one?s knowledge of something |
I must brush up on my French before going to Paris next month. |
| bump into |
To meet by chance or unexpectedly |
I bumped into Adam at the bank. He says "hello". |
| burn out |
stop (something) working |
The light bulb burnt out. Please change it. |
| Burst out |
To display sudden powerful emotion or to speak suddenly or emotionally |
The whole room burst out into laughter the moment the boys left. |
