to come across: to meet or find unexpectedly (also: to run across); to be perceived or judged as (also: to come off) Examples of TO COME ACROSS A woman walking her dog came across a butchered body left on a pile of branches. I came across this story out of Georgia on a National Park…

to make fun of: to laugh at, to joke about Examples of TO MAKE FUN OF If you make fun of yourself first, you stop other people from making fun of you. That’s like a fighter on the canvas making fun of his opponent’s knockout punch.

to miss the boat: to ​lose an ​opportunity to do something by being ​slow to ​act Examples of TO MISS THE BOAT There were ​tickets ​available last ​week, but he ​missed the ​boat by ​waiting till today to ​try to ​buy some. The precious metals market was looking up several months ago, but unfortunately most…

to be carried away: to be greatly affected by a strong feeling Examples of TO BE CARRIED AWAY Once I started dusting the living room, I got carried away and ended up rearranging the furniture. “You can get one toy,” she told her son at the toy store. “I don’t want you to be carried…

to get back: to return Examples of GET BACK We’ll need to get back to headquarters, now that we’ve finished our mission. I like to get back to my hometown in the suburbs every couple of weeks, to visit my parents and to catch up with old friends.

to pick up: to lift from the floor, table, etc., with one’s fingers Examples of PICK UP He went to pick up his kids from soccer practice. Don’t forget to pick up milk at the store!