to keep time
to keep time: to operate accurately (for watches and clocks) Examples of TO KEEP TIME The clock keeps quite good time. The old clock keeps perfect time; it’s never fast or slow.
to pull off
to pull off: to succeed in doing something difficult; to exit to the side of a highway Examples of TO PULL OF The group of investors pulled off a big deal by buying half the stock in that company. I wonder how they pulled it off before the company could prevent it. The motorist pulled…
to take off
to take off: to leave the ground (for airplanes); to leave, often in a hurry Examples of TO TAKE OFF Tens of thousands of airliners take off from airports around the world each day. We are also invited and Jacob plans to take off work for the wedding on Wednesday.
to look down on
to look down on: to feel superior to, to think of someone as less important Examples of TO LOOK DOWN ON People who are in positions of power should be careful not to look down on those who work for them. A lot of people look down on us because we’re homeless,” she says.
to look up to
to look up to: to admire, to respect greatly Examples of TO LOOK UP ON Adaptability, diversity and positive thought will lead others to look up to you. Traditionally juries love judges, because they look up to them and respect them.
to look on
to look on: to watch as a spectator, to observe Examples of TO LOOK ON Residents looking on from apartment block windows waved and whistled in support. The other is just how good it feels to be looking on with a solid balance sheet.
to take pains
to take pains: to work carefully and conscientiously Examples of TO TAKE PAINS She takes pains to do everything well; she’s our best employee. She takes pains to conceal his true identity from her villagers and even her husband.
to stand a chance
to stand a chance: to have the possibility of accomplishing something Examples of TO STAND A CHANCE With coast guard teams using the Stiletto, smugglers seem not to stand a chance. Poor little child doesn’t stand a chance at a good life, being with such losers.
to stand for
to stand for: to represent, to signify; to tolerate Examples of TO STAND FOR He stands for shrinking the federal budget almost in half, legalizing marijuana. The citizens wouldn’t stand for the increase in crime in their city, so they hired more police officers and built another jail.
to come across
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…