1. To die down – to become more quiet; to diminish, to subside
Usual subjects: feelings (excitement, nervousness, anger, love/hatred); natural events (storm, wind, fire); sounds (music, voices, noises)
My anger at him has died down since he apologized to me.
After the storm, the strong winds died down.
The loud music died down after the police came.
2. To come about – to happen, to occur; to be caused
Usual subject: event (accident, death, failure/success, defeat); situations (problem, discussion, argument)
This idiom is most often used in a How-Question, when we want to know the cause of something
How did the automobileaccident come about?
His success came about after he started working harder.
The argumentcame about because they were talking about politics.
3. To stand out – to be noticeable. To be prominent; to be clearly seen
Usual subjects: color, tone, figure, shape, people
With this subject, there is a contrast with something else.
A very tall man wearing a big hat stood out in the crowd of people.
The large black letters on this small white signreally stand out.
Joe is so intelligent that he stands out in class.
4. To break down – to fail to function, to stop working properly
Usual subjects: machines (typewriter, engine, air conditioning); vehicles(car, truck, plane, train)
The travelers were delayed because the bus had broken down.
It would be very regrettableif the air conditioning broke down on a very hot day.
5. To fall through – to fail to occur, not to happen
Usual subjects: plan, project, arrangement, agreement, contract
If your new contract agreement falls through, the workers in your company will go on strike.
The plan for a new park fell through because no citizenwanted higher taxes.
The project is so well planned that it couldn’t possibly fall through.
6. To get ahead – to make progress, to succeed
Usual subjects: people
Anyone can get ahead in life if he or she really tries hard.
Can a criminalget ahead by stealing money from a bank?
The dream of most politicians is to get ahead in national politics.
7. To get around – to travel, to move about
Usual subject: living things (people, animals); information (news, idea, secret, gossip)
It’s difficult for a person with a broken leg to get around.
Everyone knows him well; he really gets around.
How did my secret get around to all my friends so quickly?
8. To hold on – to wait, to pause
Usual subjects: people
This idiom is usually used in a polite commandform. or in indirect speech. It is commonly used when asking someone to wait on the telephone.
Please hold on; I’ll see if the doctor is in. (polite command)
I asked him to hold on before he finally left. (Indirect speech)
Unusual: He held on before he left.
It is usually followed by a time expression such as “ a second, a minute.”
Please hold on a second! Could you hold on a minute? (A question form. is possible)
9. To open up – to talk honestlyand freely; to reveala secret
Usual subject: people
This idiom basically means that one doesn’t hide his true feelings.
Their marriage plans fell through because neither one of them could ever open up to the other.
In court, you are expected to open up about what you know.
10. To come up – to arise
Usual subjects: a problem, question, issue
A serious problem came up after the project had been started.
Many questions came up about the quality of the project.
A political issue came up which embarrassedthe candidate.
11. To break in – to interrupt(someone who is already speaking)
Usual subjects: people
While I was explaining my point of view, he broke in to argue with me.
During the regular TV program, the newsman broke in to tell about the recent disaster.
When your teacher is speaking, you shouldn’t break in.
12. To catch on – to finally understand
Usual subject: people
This idiom means that someone had difficulty in understanding something, but finally was able to understand.
After two hours of trying to learn the new game, he caught on.
The lady in the back of the room repeated her question several times but I still couldn’t catch on
13. To look on – to watch, to observe, to be a spectator
Usual subjects: people
I looked on as they tried to fix the machine, which had broken down.
The shopkeeper could only look on as the armed robbersstole all of his money.
When people are playing sports, I don’t enjoy looking on; I would rather play also!
14. To settle down – 1) to become calm, quiet, or peaceful
2) to begin a normal, stablelife
Usual subjects: living things (people, animals)
#1 ---The children settled down when their teacher entered.
The barking dogs settled down after the loud truck passed by.
#2 --- Many young people are now getting steady jobs, getting married, and settling down in their own homes.
Many people settle down in San Diego because of the fine weather.
15. To show up – to arrive, to appear
Usual subjects: people
This idiom is often used when someone appears somewhere late.
He finally showed up an hour late.
I hope our teacher doesn’t show up so that we can leave.
