2012 March | online-english-lessons.eu

March 28, 2012 By Angela Boothroyd

1. To perk up is to sudenly become happier or more lively, especially after feeling tired, sad or ill. To perk up someone (or perk someone up) is to make someone feel happier or more lively.   Examples of use: a) I’m so tired. I need a cup of strong coffee to perk me up! […]

March 27, 2012 By Angela Boothroyd

To leaf through something is to turn the pages of a book, magazine or pile of papers quickly, without reading them or looking at them carefully.   Examples of use: 1. He leafed through an old magazine while he waited for the doctor. 2. While she was waiting she leafed through a magazine. 4. He […]

March 21, 2012 By Angela Boothroyd

1. To pack up something (or pack something up) is to collect your things together and put them into bags or boxes so that you can take or send them somewhere. Examples of use: a) We got to the market late – the sellers were packing up their stalls and going home. b) Her husband […]

March 20, 2012 By Angela Boothroyd

To skive off (something) is to not go to work or school when you should go. If you skive off lessons or work you do not attend or turn up. Informal UK English. Examples of use: 1. We skived off work and went surfing. 2. She phoned work and told her boss she was ill, […]

March 14, 2012 By Angela Boothroyd

1. To thin down something (or thin something down) is to make something less thick by adding water or another liquid to it (to dilute it). Examples of use: a) This soup is too thick. You need to thin it down with a little water. b) He thinned down the sauce with some vegetable stock. […]

March 13, 2012 By Angela Boothroyd

Here in the UK we have a reputation for being obsessed with the weather – and it’s true, we do love to talk about the weather One of the reasons for this is that our weather is unpredictable and it changes frequently; and so perhaps it’s not surprising that we have so many idioms and […]

March 10, 2012 By Angela Boothroyd

To squirrel away something (or squirrel something away) is to store something (especially money) in a safe or secret place so you can use it later. A squirrel is a tree-dwelling rodent with a long bushy tail, that eats mainly nuts, berries and seeds. Squirrels bury nuts and other food underground in autumn. During the […]