to be the matter: to be unsatisfactory, to be improper, to be wrong Examples of TO BE THE MATTER There is something the matter with the whole discussion of gun control. But he could not pretend that the matter is something he could easily ignore.

to count on: to trust someone in time of need (also: to depend on) Examples of COUNT ON We’ll be able to count on Todd; everyone knows he’s reliable and gets things done on time. The store manager was able to count on the celebrity to make a big purchase.

to live up to: to fulfill (a standard or promise) Examples of TO LIVE UP TO It was clear that the lazy student would never live up to his family’s expectations. It surprised us that the car salesperson lived up to all the promises he made.

to look forward to: to expect or anticipate with pleasureThis idiom can be followed by a regular noun or a gerund. Examples of TO LOOK FORWARD TO Without a vacation coming up, I have nothing to look forward to. Mark and Kyle were looking forward to a chance to talk.

by oneself: alone, without assistance Examples of BY ONESELF He drove four hours to Los Angeles, by himself, for the audition. Frustrated with her useless team, Carol finished the project by herself.

to look for: to try to find, to search for Examples of LOOK FOR If you’re playing poker, you need to look for very subtle cues from the other players. My landlord told me to look for a package at the front door.