Essential Idioms in English

1.    To take part: participate

a.    Martin was sick and could not take part in the meeting last night.

b.    I did not want to take part in their argument.

2.    At all: to any degree, in the least – generally used only in a negative sense with ‘not” or “hardly”

a.    He said that he did not have any money at all.

b.    When I asked her teacher whether she was tired, she said, “Not at all”

3.    To look up: to search for a word, a price, a telephone number, etc. – especially in a dictionary or catalogue where one must turn over pages

a.    Every student should look up all new words in his dictionary each day.

b.    Ellen said that she did not know Robert’s number but that she would look it up in the telephone book.

c.    Look this date up in the dictionary, please.

4.    To wait on (upon): to serve, attend to – in a store or shop

a.    A very pleasant young woman waited on me in Macy’s yesterday.

b.    The clerk asked, “Have you been waited on yet, sir?”

5.    At least: a minimum of

a.    Every student should spend at least two hours on his homework every night.

b.    Gloria has been sick in bed for at least two months.

6.    So far: up to the present time

a.    So far John has been the best student in our English class.

b.    How many idioms have we studied in this book so far – 42 or 142?

7.    To take a walk: to go for a walk, promenade

a.    Last evening we took a walk along Broadway.

b.    It is a fine day. How would you like to take a walk along Fifth Avenue?

8.    To take a seat: to sit down

a.    He asked me to come in and take a seat.

b.    After a few minutes he said, “Won’t you lease take a seat?”

9.    To try on: to test, try before buying – said only of clothes

a.    He tried on several suits and finally picked out a blue one.

b.    Try this brown suit on next.

10. To think over: to consider carefully before deciding

a.    I shall think over your offer and give you my answer tomorrow.

b.    You don’t have to decide this matter at once. You can think it over and give me your decision tomorrow.

11. To take place: to happen, occur

a.    The meeting took place in Constitution hall.

b.    Where did the accident take place?

12. To put away: to set aside, return something to its proper place

a.    After John finished reading the report, he put it away in his safe.

b.    The mother told the child to put her toys away.

c.    Put your book away, it is time for lunch.

adopted from Essential Idioms in English Robert J. Dixson