to take off: to remove (usually said of clothes) Examples of TAKE OFF The chef forgot to take off his apron when he sat down to eat. With his diet, he was hoping to take off some weight before his vacation at the beach.

a lost cause: a hopeless case, a person or situation having no hope of positivechange. Examples of A LOST CAUSE Repeat these steps as necessary to remove the stain, but it may be a lost cause. Even this late in the game, the search for the black boxes is not a lost cause.

few and far between: not frequent, unusual, rare Examples of FEW AND FAR BETWEEN It’s hard to find a trustworthy lawyer; they’re few and far between. Friendships like ours are few and far between, my best friend told me.  

to run away: to leave without permission; to escape Examples of TO RUN AWAY Police said three suspects ran away, but one was arrested in the immediate area. Someone who runs away becomes a coward, while someone who fears nothing is rash.

to bring out: to show or introduce (to the public); to make available Examples of TO BRING OUT Most automobile companies bring out new models each year. My mother brought some snacks out for my friends and me to have.

to wait up for: to wait until late at night without going to bed Examples of TO WAIT UP FOR Would it be terribly rude to wait up for him to chat about his lawn maintenance? He said he waited up for a while, but then fell asleep.