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 look into: to investigate, to examine carefully (also: to check into) Examples of TO LOOK INTO I’m going to look into the delay and I should have an answer for you in about five minutes. The journalist is going to look into the meeting records, so she can get to the truth.

to lie down: to place oneself in a flat position, to recline Examples of LIE DOWN Bell told the woman to lie down on the floor because he had a gun, Chitwood said. She asks them to lie down, close their eyes and imagine they are at the hospital.

to back up: to drive or go backwards (S); to defend, to support (S); to return to a previous thought Examples of TO BACK UP So it plans to buy back up to $10 million of its stock over the next few months Unfortunately, the rates haven’t gone back up, and people are dealing with…

to take part in: to be involved in, to participate in (also: to be in on) Examples of TAKE PART IN The students in 1968 believed that it was their destiny to take part in an overhaul of their whole society. The model was excited to take part in her first runway show.

to wear out: to use something until it has no value or worth anymore, tomake useless through wear Examples of TO WEAR OUT I was the first one to leave the party, because I didn’t want to wear out my welcome. I had to have my shoes fixed; the hike caused me to wear out…