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.
to break down: to stop functioning
Compare this idiom with to burn out . To burn out means that electrical equipment becomes hot from overuse and stops functioning. To break down means that something stops functioning mechanically, whether from overuse or not.
- I just bought my new car yesterday and already it has broken down.
- The elevator broke down, so we walked all the way up to the top floor.
to turn out: to become or result; to appear, to attend (also: to come out)
The noun form turnout derives from the second definition of the idiom.
- Most parents wonder how their children will turn out as adults.
- Hundreds of people came out for the demonstration against new taxes.
- What was the turnout for the public hearing on the education reforms?
once in a blue moon: rarely, infrequently
- Snow falls on the city of San Diego, California, once in a blue moon.
- Once in a blue moon my wife and I eat at a very expensive restaurant.
to give up: to stop trying, to stop a bad habit ; to surrender
- I’m sure that you can accomplish this task. Don’t give up yet!
- If you give up smoking now, you can certainly live a longer life.
- The soldiers gave themselves up in the face of a stronger enemy forces.
to cross out: to cancel by marking with a horizontal lines
- The teacher crossed out several incorrect words in Tanya’s composition.
- I crossed the last line out of my letter because it had the wrong tone to it.
to take for granted: not to appreciate fully ; to assume to be true without giving much thought
A noun or pronoun often follows the verb take.
- John took his wife for granted until once when he was very sick and needed her constant attention for a week.
- He spoke English so well that I took it for granted he was an American.
- He took for granted that I wasn’t American because I spoke English so poorly!
to take into account: to consider a fact while evaluating a situation Again, a noun or pronoun often follows the verb take.
- The judge took the prisoner’s young age into account before sentencing him to three months in jail.
- Educators should take into account the cultural backgrounds of students when planning a school curriculum.
to make clear: to clarify, to explain
- Please make clear that he should never act so impolitely again.
- The supervisor made it clear to the workers that they had to increase their productivity.
clear-cut: clearly stated, definite, apparent
- The president’s message was clear-cut: the company had to reduce personnel immediately.
- Professor Larsen is well known for his interesting and clear-cut presentations.
to have on: to be wearing
- How do you like the hat which Grace has on today?
- When Sally came into the room, I had nothing on except my shorts.
to come to: to regain consciousness; to equal, to amount to
- At first they thought that the man was dead, but soon he came to.
- The bill for groceries at the supermarket came to fifty dollars.
to call for: to require; to request, to urge
- This cake recipe calls for some baking soda, but we don’t have any.
- The member of Congress called for new laws to regulate the banking industry.
