Robert_J._Dixson]_Essential_Idioms_in_English__Ph

(Barré) #1
o Our plan to travel to Europe last summer fell through when we were
unable to save up enough money.
o Felix made plans to have a party for everyone in his office, but they fell
through at the last moment.

to give in: to surrender, to stop resisting
o Completely surrounded by our soldiers, the enemy finally gave in.
o Management gave in to the strikers' demands and agreed to a
shortened work week.


to give off: to release, to produce, to release
o When water boils, it gives off stream.
o The flowers in this garden give off a strange odor.


to give out: to distribute; to become exhausted or depleted (also: to run out)
The first definition has the same meaning as the second definition of to pass
out in Lesson 19.
o An usher stood at the door of the theater giving out programs.
o I couldn't finish the ten-mile race because my energy gave out.
o Jeff plans to stay in Las Vegas and gamble until his money runs out.


to have it in for: to want revenge on, to feel hostile towards (also: to hold a
grudge against)
o Martina expects to lose her job because her boss has had it in for her
for a long time.
o The teacher has held a grudge against Al ever since the time that he
insulted her in front of the class.


to have it out with: to quarrel with, to confront
o I am going to have it out with Jack about all the times that he has told
us lies.
o Ben had it out with his roommate about coming back home so late and
making a lot of noise.


to hold off: to delay, or to be delayed, in occurring (S)
This idiom has the same meaning as to put off in Lesson 5 when a noun or
pronoun is used as an object, as in the second example.
o If the rain holds off for a few more days, they can finish planting the
rest of the crop.
o The judge agreed to hold off making a decision until new evidence
could be introduced into court.


to hold out: to endure, to be sufficient; to survive by resisting; to persist in
one's efforts
The first definition for to hold out has the opposite meaning of the second
definition for to give out (seventh idiom, this lesson).
o If our supply of food and water holds out, we plan to camp here for
another week. However, whenever it gives out, we'll have to leave.
o That nation's troops cannot hold out much longer against the superior
forces of the enemy.

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