Commonly used english part 77 docx

sell Idioms sell like hotcakes - to sell quickly, to sell rapidly... sell someone on a plan or idea - to convince someone of something I could not sell my friend on my suggestion that w

see the sights

- to see the important things in a place

We stopped downtown during our holiday so that we could see the sights

see the world/things through rose-colored glasses

- to see only the good things about something, to be too optimistic

She is unrealistic and tends to see the world through rose-colored glasses

see things

- to imagine sights that are not real, to think that one sees something that is not there

He is always daydreaming and imagining that he is seeing things

see through (someone or something)

- to understand someone`s true character or motivation, to understand the real reason for something

I could easily see through the supervisor's attempt to fire the woman from her job

see to it (that something is done)

- to take the responsibility to do something, to make sure that something is done

"Will you please see to it that the garbage is taken out in the morning."

see to (someone or something)

- to take care of someone or something

I will see to the rental car and my friend will see to the airplane tickets

see which way the wind is blowing

- to determine what is the most suitable thing to do

I want to see which way the wind is blowing before I decide what to do about my job

.

seeing is believing

- one must believe something that one sees

Seeing is believing and I did not believe the price of the car until I actually saw it

seize an opportunity

- to take advantage of an opportunity

I seized the opportunity to take the extra class as soon as I heard about it

seize upon (something)

- to take hold of something and make an issue of it

The opposition politician seized upon the mistake of the other politician

sell Idioms

sell like hotcakes

- to sell quickly, to sell rapidly

sell out (someone or something)

- to be disloyal, to betray someone or something

The man does not want to sell out his moral values when he begins work for the new company

sell (someone) a bill of goods

- to deceive someone, to get someone to believe something that is not true

I believe that the salesman sold me a bill of goods and the product does not have much value

sell (someone) on a plan or idea

- to convince someone of something

I could not sell my friend on my suggestion that we buy a new computer together

sell (someone) short

- to underestimate oneself or someone else

My friend is selling himself short when he thinks that he will not be good at any other job

sell (something) out

- to sell all of something

They sold the concert out in every city that it went to

sell (something) for a song

- to sell something very cheaply

They sold the furniture for a song

sell (something) off

- to sell much or all of something

The computer company decided to sell off some of their real estate business

sell (something) on credit

- to sell something now and let the purchaser pay for it later

We decided to sell the stereo system on credit

.

send Idioms

send away for (something)

- to write a letter asking for something

I sent away for some information but it has not arrived yet

send (someone) about his or her business

- to send someone away (in an unfriendly manner)

I sent the man about his business when he interrupted my work last evening

send (someone) off

- to participate in saying good-bye to someone who is leaving

send (someone) packing

- to tell someone to leave, to dismiss someone

The company sent the man packing because of his bad attitude to his job

send (someone) to the showers

- to send a player out of the game and off the field/court etc

The coach decided to send the player to the showers after his poor performance during the game

send (someone) up

- to sentence someone to prison

The judge sent the man up for seven years for robbing a bank

send (something) C.O.D.

- to send merchandise to someone who will pay for it when it is delivered

The company sent the computer printer C.O.D

send up a trial balloon

- to suggest something and see how people respond to it

The company sent up a trial balloon to see how people would react to their new product

separate but equal

- to be segregated but of equal value or quality

The teaching staff and adminstration were separate but equal regarding decisions that were made at the school

separate the men from the boys

- to separate competent people from less competent people

Some people say that joining the military is a good way to separate the men from the boys

serve as a guinea pig

- to allow some kind of test to be performed on someone

The students served as a guinea pig for the school board's plan to change the school curriculum

serve notice on (someone)

- to announce something to someone

We served notice on the apartment manager that we would leave the apartment at the end of the month

serve (someone`s) purpose

- to be useful to someone for a certain need

The small screwdriver should serve my purpose until I find the correct size

serve (someone) right

- to get the punishment or results that one deserves

My friend never studies at all so it serves him right to fail his exam

serve time

- to spend time in jail

The man served time when he was young but now he is a good citizen

set Idioms

set a precedent

- to establish a pattern, to set a policy that must be followed in future cases

The legal case set a precedent that will be followed for many years in the future

set a trap

- to prepare a trap to catch an animal or a person who is doing something

wrong/illegal

The conservation officers set a trap to try and catch the bear

set about to (do something or go somewhere)

- to begin/start something, to prepare to go somewhere

We set about to prepare the office for the move to a bigger building

set back (someone or something)

- to cause someone or something to get behind schedule, to slow down someone or something

The flood set back the efforts of the farmers to plant their crops

set eyes on (someone or something)

- to see someone or something for the first time

I do not know if my friend is here or not I have not set eyes on her since yesterday

set fire to (something)

- to put something to flames

The workers set fire to the building by accident

set foot (somewhere)

- to step or go somewhere

I have never set foot in that restaurant and I never will in the future

set forth (something)

- to explain something exactly or clearly

The manager carefully set forth the terms of the rental contract

set forth (somewhere)

- to start to go somewhere, to begin a trip

We set forth on our holiday at 7:00 this morning

set great store on (someone or something)

- to like or value someone or something

Our company sets great store on their ability to attract good people

set in

set in one's ways

- to lead a fixed lifestyle

My grandfather is set in his ways and he does not like to change his habits at all

set one`s heart on (something)

- to want something very much

I set my heart on a nice holiday this winter but I will not be able to go because I have

no money

set one`s mind at rest

- to free oneself from worry

I told my father the reason that we can`t come in order to set his mind at rest

set one's sights on (something)

- to select something as one's goal

The local politician has set his sights on being elected to a higher office

set out (somewhere)

- to leave on a journey

Marco Polo set out for China many years ago

set out to (do something)

- to decide and begin to try to do something, to attempt to do something

My friend set out to learn Spanish when he went to Mexico

set sail

- to start sailing, to begin a sea voyage

set (someone) back

- to cost someone

"How much did your new suit set you back?"

set (someone) back on his or her heels

- to surprise/shock/overwhelm someone

The announcement by the principal set the teachers back on their heels

set (someone or something) free

- to release someone or something

The conservation officers went to the mountains and set the bear free

set (someone or something) loose

- to set someone or something free, to release someone or something that you are holding

The wildlife department decided to set loose the bear that it had captured

set (someone or something) straight

- to explain something to someone

The police officer set the woman straight about how the driving laws operate

set (someone's) teeth on edge

- to irritate someone (often a person or a noise)

The constant noise from the stereo next door set my teeth on edge

set (someone) up (in business)