Lesson 12

Up to date.... out of date…. blow up… catch fire…. burn down….. burn up…. burn out…. make good… stands to reason…. break out…. as for…. feel sorry for
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Up to date: modern, current, timely
Hyphens (-) separate the parts of this idiom when it precedes a noun form, as in the third example. The verb to update derives from this idiom.
Ø The president insisted that the company bring its aging equipment up to date.
Ø This catalog is not up to date. It was published several years ago.
Ø The news program gave an up-to-date account of the nuclear accident. The newscaster said that he would update the news report every half hour.
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Out of date: not modern, not current, not timely, no longer available in published form
Again, hyphens separate the parts of this idiom when it precedes a noun form as, in the second example. The passive verb to be outdated derives from this idiom.
Ø Many people buy new cars when their old cars become out of date.
Ø I don’t know why Gene likes to wear out-of-date clothing. His clothes are so outdated that even his girlfriend hesitates to be seen with him.
Ø This book can’t be ordered any more because it is out of date.
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To blow up: to inflate, to fill with air (S), to explode, to destroy (or be destroyed) by explosion (S)
Ø Daddy, could you please blow up this balloon for me?
Ø When the airplane crashed into the ground, it blew up immediately.
Ø The military had to blow the missile up in midair when it started to go the wrong way.
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To catch fire: to begin to burn
Ø Don’t stand too close to the gas stove. Your clothes may catch fire.
Ø No one seems to know how the old building caught fire.
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To burn down: to burn slowly, but completely (usually said of candles), to destroy completely by fire (S)
Ø There was a large amount of wax on the table where the candles had burned down.
Ø The fire spread so quickly that the firefighters could not prevent the whole block of buildings from burning down.
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To burn up: to destroy completely by fire (S), to make angry or very annoyed (S) (also: to tick off)
To burn up and to burn down (previous idiom) share the same definition but also have different definitions.
Ø She didn’t want anyone to see the letter, so she burned it up and threw the ashes away.
Ø It really burns me up that he borrowed my car without asking me first.
Ø Mike got ticked off that his friends never offered to help him move to his new apartment. He had to do everything himself.
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To burn out: to stop functioning because of overuse, to make tired from too much work (S)
Ø This light bulb has burned out. Could you get another one?
Ø Studying all day for my final exams has really burned me out.
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To make good: to succeed
Ø He is a hard worker, and I’m sure that he will make good in that new job.
Ø Alma has always made good in everything that she has done.
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Stands to reason: to be clear and logical
This idiom is almost always used with the pronoun subject it and is followed by a that clause.
Ø It stands to reason that a person without experience cannot do the work as well as an experienced one.
Ø It stands to reason that he isn’t going to pass the course if he never studies.
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To break out: to become widespread suddenly
Ø An epidemic of measles broke out in Chicago this past week.
Ø If a nuclear war ever breaks out, it is unlikely that many people will survive.
Ø The news says that a large fire has broken out in a huge chemical plant.
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As for: regarding, concerning (also: as to)
Ø As for the money, we will simply have to borrow some more from the bank.
Ø There is no doubt as to her intelligence; she’s the smartest one in the class.
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To feel sorry for: to pity, to feel compassion for (also: to take pity on)
Ø Don’t you feel sorry for someone who has to work the night shift?
Ø I helped drive Pierre around when he broke his foot because I took pity on him.
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E X E R C I S E S
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Choose the appropriate idiomatic expression to substitute for the italicized word or words in each sentence below. Idioms from previous lessons are indicated by number.
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1. I had to use a lot of paper and matches before I was able to get the wood in the
fireplace to begin to burn.
a. to burn down
b. to catch fire
c. to burn up
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2. If you stay up late every night, it seems logical that you’ll get sick.
a. stands to reason
b. makes good
c. feels sorry for
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3. The coach inflated several of the players’ soccer balls that were too soft.
broke out
made out (lesson 10)
blew up
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4. From the beginning I knew that I wanted to go to medical school and to become
a doctor.
a. All along (lesson 2)
b. As for
c. At least (lesson 4)
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5. This set of reference books is so old that the library should buy one that is more
current.
out of date
first-rate
up to date
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6. I pity Marilyn because everything of value in her house was stolen by thieves.
a. tick off
b. count on (lesson 6)
c. feel sorry for
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7. If you continue without taking a break, this difficult work will make you tired.
a. burn you out
b. burn you up
c. burn you down
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8. Those two sisters look so much alike that I often get confused about their
names.
mixed up (lesson 10)
broken out
out of date
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9. Regarding me, I don’t care where we go today. It’s up to you.
a. To be about to (lesson 8)
b. As for
c. To think of (lesson 7)
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10. It makes me annoyed that Jocelyn didn’t call to cancel our appointment.
burns me up
breaks me out
burns me down
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Fill in each blank with the appropriate form of an idiomatic expression from this unit only.
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Matt: Have you heard the news? A big fire ____________ in the downtown area
early this morning. A whole block was affected.
Lisa: Really? How many buildings have ________________?
Matt: More than ten, I believe. Haven’t you seen the smoke in the air?
Lisa: Yes, I wondered what that was. Doesn’t the fire department have the fire
under control by now?
Matt: No, it doesn’t. Their equipment is so _____________ that it isn’t effective in
fighting the fire.
Lisa: Boy, I bet that the people who lost their stores are really ____________
about that. I would be very angry if it was my business.
Matt: _________ me, I ____________ all the workers who have lost their jobs
because of the fire.
Lisa: It ____________ that the city government is going to have to buy ________
Equipment now.
Matt: Let’s hope so.