Commonly used english part 83 docx

stand Idioms can`t stand someone or something - to not be able to tolerate someone or something, to dislike someone or something usually used in the negative My friend can`t stand the ot

split (someone) up

- to separate two or more people (from one another)

The teacher had to split the two boys up because they were fighting

split (something) fifty-fifty

- to divide something into two equal parts

I decided to split the prize fifty-fifty with my friend

split the difference

- to settle a money or other disagreement by dividing the difference

We had to pay extra money for the rental car so we decided to split the difference and each pay half

a split ticket

- a voting ticket with candidates from more than one political party

My friend always votes for a split ticket when he votes and never votes for only one political party

split up

- to separate

They seemed like a nice couple but they suddenly decided to split up last month

splurge on (something)

- to spend a lot of money for something

He splurged on a beautiful present for his girlfriend

spoken for

- to be taken/reserved

All of the tickets to the concert are spoken for

spook (someone)

- to startle someone

The loud thunder and lightning spooked the horse

spoon-feed (someone)

- to make something very easy for someone

He is a very strict teacher and never likes to spoon-feed his students

sporting chance

- a reasonably good chance

The man does not have a sporting chance of winning any money in the lottery

spout off about (someone or something)

- to talk too much about someone or something

The woman is always spouting off about her many problems

spread like wildfire

- to spread rapidly and without control

The panic over the bad drinking water spread like wildfire throughout the city

spread oneself too thin

- to try to do too many things at one time

My sister has been spreading herself too thin lately and is not accomplishing very much of anything

no spring chicken

- a young person (used with a negative)

My aunt is no spring chicken She is almost 96-years old

spring for (something)

- to buy something, to pay for something

I decided to spring for a new camera before I go on my vacation

spring (something) on (someone)

- to surprise someone with something

I wish that my friend would not suddenly spring his crazy plans on me

spruce (something) up

- to clean/redecorate something

We spruced up the community center for the summer holidays

(on the) spur of the moment

- suddenly

We decided to go to Hong Kong on the spur of the moment

square Idioms

square accounts with (someone)

- to settle one's financial accounts with someone, to get even with someone

I went to the store to square accounts with the manager

square away (something)

- to put something away or in order, to take care of something, to square the yards of a sailing vessel

"Have you squared away your plans for your holidays yet?"

a square deal

- a fair and honest transaction

I always receive a square deal when I do business with the local shops in my area

a square meal

- a nourishing/filling meal

We sat down and ate our first square meal in many days when we visited my

grandparents

square off to do (something)

- to get ready for an argument or fight

The two candidates squared off to debate the important issues of the election

square one

- the beginning

We had to go back to square one and start the project over

a square peg in a round hole

- a person who does not fit into a job or position

My friend was like a square peg in a round hole when he tried to do the job of an accountant

square things up with (someone)

- to pay someone what one owes him or her

I squared things up with my friend and gave him the money that I owed him

square up to (someone or something)

- to face someone or something bravely

The young man was forced to square up to the mistakes that he had made

.

squawk about (something)

- to complain about something

People are always squawking about the bad service in that restaurant

squeak by (someone or something)

- to just barely get by someone or something

I was able to squeak by the deadline and submit my scholarship application on time

squirrel (something) away

- to hide or store something

The boy was able to squirrel some extra food away before he left on the camping trip

stab (someone) in the back

- to betray someone

I dislike that man because he tried to stab me in the back during the last meeting

stack the cards/deck for or against (someone or something)

- to arrange things unfairly for or against someone or something

The company is stacking the cards against some people by demanding more and more qualifications for the job

stack up (something)

- to make a stack of things

I stacked up the magazines that I planned to give to the flea market

stake a claim to (something)

- to make a claim for something

Everybody in our class tried to stake a claim to the extra textbooks that were offered free

stall off (someone or something)

- to put off or delay someone or something

I believe that I will be able to stall off the start of the meeting for several hours

stamp out (something)

- to destroy something completely, to make something disappear

The government is making a great effort to stamp out smoking among teenagers

one's stamping grounds

- a place where a person spends/spent much of his time

My cousin went back to his old stamping grounds which he remembered as a

teenager

stand Idioms

(can`t) stand (someone or something)

- to not be able to tolerate someone or something, to dislike someone or something (usually used in the negative)

My friend can`t stand the other people in her class

stand a chance of (doing something)

- to have a possibility of doing something

Our team stands a good chance of winning the championship this year

stand behind (someone or something)

- to endorse or guarantee something, to support someone

The company will always stand behind their products

stand by

- to be near, to be waiting to do something when you are needed

There is a doctor standing by in case there is a medical emergency

stand by (someone)

- to follow or keep one`s promise to someone, to be loyal to or support someone The woman always stands by her husband when he has a problem

stand clear of (something)

- to keep away from something

"Please stand clear of the door while we are moving the piano."

stand corrected

- to admit that one has been wrong

I was forced to stand corrected when I made a mistake about the time of the train

stand for (something)

- to signify/mean something

I did not know what the letters stood for so I was not able to write the full name of the company

stand for (something)

- to speak in favor of something, to show that one supports something

All of the candidates stand for a platform of law and order

not stand for (something)

- to not allow something to happen, to not permit something

Our teacher will not stand for somebody coming to his class late

stand in awe of (someone or something)

- to look upon someone or something with wonder, to feel respect for someone or something

Everybody stands in awe of the coach of the football team

stand in for (someone)

- to be a substitute for someone

The other actor stood in for the famous actor when he was sick

stand in (someone's) way

- to be a barrier to someone's desires or intentions

The woman did not want anyone to stand in her way of getting a promotion in the company

stand off from (someone or something)

- to stay at a distance from someone or something, to stay apart from someone or something

He always stands off from the other students in his class

stand off (someone or something)

- to keep someone or something from coming near or winning

We were able to stand off the other teams and win the tournament

stand on ceremony

- to be formal

"You do not need to stand on ceremony here You can relax."

stand on one`s own two feet

- to be independent

My friend learned to stand on his own two feet when he was very young

stand one`s ground

- to maintain and defend one`s position

Our supervisor stood his ground over his decision to fire the employee

stand out

- to be more noticeable than those around you

He likes to wear clothes that make him stand out from the crowd

stand over (someone or something)

- to watch someone or something closely, to keep checking someone or something all the time

The father stood over his son all day to make sure that he was studying for his final exams

stand pat

- to be satisfied with things, to be against changing

We should stand pat and not do anything to cause any problems with the negotiations

stand (someone) in good stead with (someone or something)

- to be a great advantage to someone

It will stand you in good stead with the company if you do the extra work

stand still for (something)

- to tolerate or endure something, to not move for something

The little boy refused to stand still for his medical examination

stand to reason

- to make sense, to be logical

It stands to reason that the new employee will make an effort to work hard if his effort

is respected