to cut out: to remove by cutting; to stop doing something (for thesecond definition, also: to knock it off) Examples of TO CUT OUT Employees coached her as she used their machinery to cut out and assemble shoes. Use the cutter to cut out 12 discs and use to line the bases in the muffin…
to cut off: to shorten by cutting the ends; to disconnect or stop suddenly Examples of TO CUT OFF The rude waitress tried to cut me off while I was placing my order. “I’ll need to cut off the microphone, if you don’t behave yourself,” the chairman said to the angry committee member.
to make the best of: to do the best that one can in a poor situation Examples of TO MAKE THE BEST OF Even though my car broke down in a strange town, I’m going to make the best of it and have a nice lunch while it’s getting repaired. The annoying optimist was always…
to grow out of: to outgrow, to become too old for; to be a result of Examples of TO GROW OUT OF Mom knew I was going to grow out of my adolescent crabbiness. She bought her friend’s baby bigger shoes, that she wouldn’t grow out of so quickly.
to go off: to explode; to sound as an alarm; to leave suddenly withoutexplanation Examples of TO GO OFF The journalist decided to go off on his own, quit the newspaper, and started his own website. The boring horror movie even had somebody who left to explore, despite being warned not to go off on…
for once: this one time, for only one time Examples of FOR ONCE For once they were the stars, not just a sideshow in the track-and-field circus. For once I agree that the brilliant Shaw talks his way into a theatrical morass.
to keep in mind: to remember, not to forget (also: to bear in mind) Examples of TO KEEP IN MIND The game show host reminded the contestant to keep in mind she hadn’t seen what was behind door number three yet. Keep in mind that losing weight doesn’t just mean eating healthy; you also need…
to have in mind: to be considering, to be thinking Examples of TO HAVE IN MIND As for the long-term future of the scheme, I wonder what your sons have in mind. Do you have anything in mind?
to see eye to eye: to agree, to concur Examples of TO SEE EYE TO EYE We didn’t always see eye-to-eye and we had words but now I’m older I understand. Not that a president and his or her veep have to see eye-to-eye on everything.
hard of hearing: partially deaf, not able to hear well Examples of HARD OF HEARING The elderly man pretended to be hard of hearing, so nobody would bother him on the train. Playing in too many rock bands made the musician hard of hearing while he was still young.