narrow-minded: not willing to accept the ideas of others Examples of NARROW-MINDED – You should be ashamed of yourself for being so narrow minded and short sighted.– But I think it is rather narrow minded to assume that they are without feeling.
to look out on: to face, to overlook Examples of TO LOOK OUT ON – We really enjoy our new apartment that looks out on a river.– Their rear window looks out on a lovely garden.
to fool around: to waste time (also: to screw around); to joke, not to be serious Examples of TO FOOL AROUND – The problem doesn’t seem to be that participants are bored and fooling around.– I’ve been fooling around with the 5mx and find it a generally agreeable machine.
to come to an end: to end, to stop Examples of TO COME TO AN END – When our lunch came to an end, it wasn’t clear which dish had been our favorite.– The colony came to an end in 1963 when independence was agreed with the British.
to beat around the bush: to avoid discussing directly, to evade the issue Examples of TO BEAT AROUND THE BUSH – Most candidates beat around the bush on controversial topics like health care.– We sensed his genuine interest, but we beat around the bush in terms of money.
to slow down: to go, or cause to go, more slowly Examples of TO SLOW DOWN – Your best approach is to slow down and allow yourself extra time for everything.– You’re eating too fast to digest your food well. Slow down!
button your lip: do not tell anyone Examples of BUTTON YOUR LIP – Button your lip about the speeding ticket. Don’t tell Dad.– Chris, if it’s all the same to you, could you just pitch and button your lip?
butter up: be nice to, suck up to Examples of BUTTER UP – Butter him up before you ask to borrow his car.– So I’m trying to butter up those officials so we do get a call once in a while.
to clear up: to make understandable (also: to straighten out); to become sunny Examples of TO CLEAR UP – The teacher tried to clear up our confusion about the meaning of the difficult paragraph in the reading.– It’s rather cloudy this morning. Do you think that it will clear up later?
to throw up: to erect or construct quickly; to vomit Examples of TO THROW UP – The Red Cross threw up temporary shelters for the homeless victims of the earthquake.– The ill patient is unable to digest her food properly, so she is throwing all of it up.