to miss the boat: to lose an opportunity to do something by being slow to act
to take place: to occur, to happen according to plan Examples of TAKE PLACE The organization’s rules mandate that the conference has to take place in a new country every year. Jamie was frantic when he thought that the hearing was going to take place at 9:00, but it was really at 11:00.
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 go up to: to approach (also: to come up to, to walk up to, to run up to, to drive up to, etc.)The related forms have the same meaning, but the type of movement isdifferent. Examples of TO GO UP TO A woman came up to the pair, and Calipari expected her to ask for…
to be up to: to be responsible for deciding; to be doing as a regular activity Examples of TO BE UP TO I can tell when you’re up to something, but I don’t know what yet. Sam is always getting up to trouble.
The acid test: A test which will really prove the value, quality, or truth of something.Examples: The acid test for the vaccine will be its performance in African countries where malaria is raging more fiercely than in Colombia. The new show was well received but viewing figures for the next episode will be the real…
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…