Lesson 28

Let up.... lay off.... bring out….. bring back… wait up for…. leave alone….. let alone….. break off… wear off…. wear down…. on the whole…. Touch and go
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To let up: to slacken, to lessen in intensity, to relax or ease one’s effort (also: related idiom: to take it easy)
Ø If the rain doesn’t let up soon, we won’t be able to have our picnic.
Ø When Jane is working, she never lets up for a moment.
Ø Jane should take it easy or she’ll get exhausted.
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To lay off: to abstain from, stop using as a habit, to release or discharge from a job (also: related idiom: to let go) (S)
Ø If you’re trying to lose weight, you should lay off sweet things.
Ø If business continues to be slow, we will have to lay off some workers.
Ø It will be necessary to let the youngest employees go first.
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To bring out: to show or introduce (to the public) (S), to make available. (S)
Ø Most automobile companies bring out new models each year.
Ø My mother brought some snacks out for my friends and me to have.
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To bring back: to return a bought or borrowed item (also: to take back) (S)
To brink back is used when you are speaking at the place that an item is bought or borrowed, to take back is used when speaking at another place.
Ø Ma’am, our store policy is that you can bring back the dress as long as you have your sales receipt.
Ø You can borrow my car if you promise to bring it back by six o’clock.
Ø I have to take this book back to the library today.
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To wait up for: to wait until late at night without going to bed
Ø Don’t wait up for me. I may be back after midnight.
Ø We waited up for our son until two o’clock in the morning before we called the police.
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To leave (someone or something) alone: not to disturb, to stay away from (S) (also: to say nothing of)
Ø Leave the baby alone for a while and she may go to sleep.
Ø After the cat had scratched Peter twice, he let it alone.
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Let alone: and certainly not (also: not to mention, to say nothing of)
Let alone is used after negative forms. The example that follows let alone is much less possible than the example that precedes let alone.
Ø I’m too sick today to walk to the kitchen, let alone to go to the zoo with you.
Ø He doesn’t even speak his own language well, let alone French.
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To break off: to terminate, to discontinue (S)
Ø After war began, the two countries broke off diplomatic relations.
Ø Elsa and Bob were once engaged, but they have already broken it off.
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To wear off: to disappear gradually
Ø My headache isn’t serious. It will wear off after an hour or so.
Ø The effect of the painkilling drug didn’t wear off for several hours.
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To wear down: to become worn gradually through use (also: to wear away, to wear through) (S)
Compare with to wear out (to become useless from wear) in Lesson 8.
Ø If you drag your feet while you walk, you’ll wear down your shoes quickly.
Ø The pounding of ocean waves against the coast gradually wears it away.
Ø Johnny has worn through the seat of his pants.
Ø Helga threw away that dress because she had worn it out.
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On the whole: in general, in most ways (also: by and large)
Ø He is, on the whole, a good student.
Ø By and large, I agree with your suggestions.
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Touch and go: risky, uncertain until the end
Ø The complicated medical operation was touch and go for several hours.
Ø The outcome of the soccer final was touch and go for the entire match.
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E X E R C I S E S
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Substitute an idiomatic expression for the word or words in italics, making any necessary grammatical changes as well. Then complete each sentence appropriately with your own idea. Also try to use idioms from previous lessons.
Example:
1. Mary discontinued her relationship with Paul because she couldn’t…
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Mary broke off her relationship with Paul because she couldn’t put up with him anymore.
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The effect of the wine disappeared gradually after I…
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I think that we should wait without going to bed for our daughter until she…
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In general, it is best for a student learning English to…
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The company was forced to release hundreds of workers because business…
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Sir, you can return your jacket to the store if you…
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The outcome of the 100-meter race was uncertain because the four runners…
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I have no time to visit the park, and certainly not the…
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If the snowstorm doesn’t slacken, we won’t be able to…
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I want you not to disturb me so that I…
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Answer these questions orally by making use of the idiomatic expressions studied in this lesson.
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If you want to keep a favorite pair of shoes, what can you do when the sole (bottom) of the shoes wears down?
Have you ever been worried and had to wait up for someone? Why was the person late?
Why do automobile companies bring out new car models each year?
In your country, is it possible to take back an item to a store after you have bought it?
Why is it important to let up if you have been working for several hours without a break?
Give an example of when you should leave a child alone.
Why should smokers lay off smoking cigarettes?
How long does it take for the effects of a drug such as alcohol to wear off?
On the whole, what is your favorite music?