to check up on: to examine with the purpose of determining condition (also:
to check on)
This idiom has the related noun form checkup.
o The government always checks up on the background of employees who
are hired for sensitive military projects.
o The doctor wants me to have a thorough medical checkup as part of a
preventive medicine program.
to stick up: to point or place upwards (S); to rob (S)
o You should put some water on your hair. It's sticking up in the back.
o A masked thief stuck up a grocery store in the neighborhood last night.
LESSON 26
to come about: to happen
o I didn't find any explanation in the newspaper about how the political
coup came about.
o The flood came about as a result of the heavy winter rains.
to bring about: to cause to happen
This idiom is used to indicate who or what caused something to come about.
o John brought about the accident because of his carelessness.
o The heavy rains we have each spring bring about serious flooding.
to build up: to increase slowly, to make stronger gradually (S)
o They built up their savings account so that they could buy a new house.
o The professional athlete exercises regularly to build her strength up.
to die down: to decrease, to lessen in strength
o The hurricane became a less serious tropical storm when its winds died
down.
o We let the fire in the fireplace die down and enjoyed watching the
embers as they glowed in the dark.
to fade away: to diminish gradually in time or distance
o The memory of that unpleasant experience has slowly faded away.
o The music of the band gradually faded away as the parade passed
down the street.
to die out: not to exist anymore; to be in the process of disappearing
o Scientists still are not sure exactly why the dinosaurs died out.
o That strange, new style of dancing is slowly dying out.
to make out: to read or see clearly (S); to prepare a legal document, such as
a will, a check, etc. (S)
o The letter was so poorly handwritten that I couldn't make out many of
the words.
o Harold, please make the check out to Acme Piano Company.