to take apart: to disassemble, to separate the parts of something Examples of TO TAKE APART He’d have to take it apart each winter and put it back together again by spring. As a child, Gary used to take doorknobs apart and put them back together.

to rule out: to refuse to consider, to prohibit Examples of TO RULE OUT Despite the man’s condition, he could not be ruled out as a suspect, Akers said. The price of half-decent tomatoes at this time of year rules that one out.

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 build up: to increase slowly, to make stronger gradually Examples of TO BUILD UP They certainly have built up a vibrant user community in a short period of time. These deficits have been built up over the past 10 years and nobody said a peep.  

to get away: to get free, to escape Examples of TO GET AWAY We always try to get away from the noise and heat of the city for a month or two each summer. o No one knows how the suspected criminal got away from the police.

a bone of contention: something which people argue and disagree over.Examples: Medicaid costs have long been a bone of contention between counties and the state. How climate change will affect hurricanes has long been a bone of contention.