Welcome to Online English Section with explanation in AffairsCloud.com. Here we are providing here some important idioms and phrases, which is BASED ON IBPS PO/CLERK/LIC AAO/RRB & SSC CGL EXAM and other competitive exams.
up to date: modern; current, timely
Hyphens (–) separate the parts of this idiom when it precedes a noun form, as in the third example. The verb to update derives from this idiom.
- The president insisted that the company bring its aging equipment up to date.
- This catalog is not up to date. It was published several years ago.
- The news program gave an up-to-date account of the nuclear accident.
- The newscaster said that he would update the news report every half hour.
out of date: not modern; not current, not timely; no longer available in published form.
Again, hyphens separate the parts of this idiom when it precedes a noun form as, in the second example. The passive verb to be outdated derives from this idiom.
- Many people buy new cars when their old cars become out of date.
- I don’t know why Gene likes to wear out-of-date His clothes are so outdated that even his girlfriend hesitates to be seen with him.
- This book can’t be ordered any more because it is out of date.
to blow up: to inflate, to fill with air ; to explode, to destroy (or be destroyed) by explosion
- Daddy, could you please blow up this balloon for me?
- When the airplane crashed into the ground, it blew up
- The military had to blow the missile up in midair when it started to go the wrong way.
to catch fire: to begin to burn
- Don’t stand too close to the gas stove. Your clothes may catch fire.
- No one seems to know how the old building caught fire.
to burn down: to burn slowly, but completely (usually said of candles); to destroy completely by fire
- There was a large amount of wax on the table where the candles had burned down.
- The fire spread so quickly that the firefighters could not prevent the whole block of buildings from burning down.
to burn up: to destroy completely by fire; to make angry or very annoyed (also to tick off)
To burn up and to burn down (previous idiom) share the same definition but also have different definitions.
- She didn’t want anyone to see the letter, so she burned it up and threw the ashes away.
- It really burns me up that he borrowed my car without asking me first.
- Mike got ticked off that his friends never offered to help him move to his new apartment. He had to do everything himself.
to burn out: to stop functioning because of overuse; to make tired from too muck work
- This light bulb has burned out. Could you get another one?
- Studying all day for my final exams has really burned me out.
to make good: to succeed
- He is a hard worker, and I’m sure that he will make good in that new job.
- Alma has always made good in everything that she has done.
stands to reason: to be clear and logical
This idiom is almost always used with the pronoun subject it and is followed by a that clause.
- It stands to reason that a person without experience.
- It stands to reason that he isn’t going to pass the course if he never studies.
to break out: to become widespread suddenly
- An epidemic of measles broke out in Chicago this past week.
- If a nuclear war ever breaks out, it is unlikely that many people will survive.
- The news says that a large fire has broken out in a huge chemical plant.
as for: regarding, concerning (also: as to)
- As for the money, we will simply have to borrow some more from the bank.
- There is no doubt as to her intelligence; she’s the smartest one in the class.
to feel sorry for: to pity, to feel compassion for (also: to take pity on)
- Don’t you feel sorry for someone who has to work the night shift?
- I helped drive Pierre around when he broke his foot because I took pity on him.
