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to look after someone or something; to deal with a task
Can you take care of my dog this weekend?— Can you take care of my dog this weekend?
I'll take care of the paperwork tomorrow.— I'll take care of the paperwork tomorrow.
to be clear, logical, or reasonable
Your explanation makes sense to me.— Your explanation makes sense to me.
It doesn't make sense to buy a new one.— It doesn't make sense to buy a new one.
to remove or throw away something unwanted
We need to get rid of these old boxes.— We need to get rid of these old boxes.
I finally got rid of my cold.— I finally got rid of my cold.
to happen, especially at a planned time and place
The wedding will take place in June.— The wedding will take place in June.
The meeting took place in the main office.— The meeting took place in the main office.
to not be able to stop yourself from doing or feeling something
I can't help laughing when he tells jokes.— I can't help laughing when he tells jokes.
She can't help feeling a little nervous.— She can't help feeling a little nervous.
to use an opportunity or situation to benefit yourself
We took advantage of the sale to buy new shoes.— We took advantage of the sale to buy new shoes.
Don't let people take advantage of your kindness.— Don't let people take advantage of your kindness.
responsible for managing or controlling something
She's in charge of the whole marketing team.— She's in charge of the whole marketing team.
Who's in charge of ordering supplies?— Who's in charge of ordering supplies?
to stay in contact with someone, especially by messaging or calling
Let's keep in touch after graduation.— Let's keep in touch after graduation.
We still keep in touch through email.— We still keep in touch through email.
to have a friendly relationship with someone
My sister and I get along really well.— My sister and I get along really well.
He gets along with everyone at work.— He gets along with everyone at work.
over a long period of time; eventually
Eating healthy pays off in the long run.— Eating healthy pays off in the long run.
It's cheaper to buy quality shoes in the long run.— It's cheaper to buy quality shoes in the long run.
to succeed in arriving somewhere or achieving something
We made it to the airport just in time.— We made it to the airport just in time.
I don't think I'll make it to the party tonight.— I don't think I'll make it to the party tonight.
to spend time doing something unimportant while waiting
We played cards to kill time at the airport.— We played cards to kill time at the airport.
I killed time by reading a magazine.— I killed time by reading a magazine.
from the very beginning, without using anything already made
She baked the bread from scratch.— She baked the bread from scratch.
We had to rebuild the website from scratch.— We had to rebuild the website from scratch.
with the top part at the bottom; in a state of disorder
The picture was hanging upside down.— The picture was hanging upside down.
The move turned our lives upside down.— The move turned our lives upside down.
with the inner side facing out; very thoroughly
He wore his sweater inside out by mistake.— He wore his sweater inside out by mistake.
She knows this city inside out.— She knows this city inside out.
the advantages and disadvantages of something
Let's weigh the pros and cons before deciding.— Let's weigh the pros and cons before deciding.
There are pros and cons to working from home.— There are pros and cons to working from home.
the good and bad experiences in life or a situation
Every relationship has its ups and downs.— Every relationship has its ups and downs.
We've had our ups and downs, but we're okay now.— We've had our ups and downs, but we're okay now.
very annoyed or bored with something, especially something repeated
I'm sick and tired of his excuses.— I'm sick and tired of his excuses.
She's sick and tired of the constant noise.— She's sick and tired of the constant noise.
annoyed and impatient because of a repeated problem
I'm fed up with all this traffic.— I'm fed up with all this traffic.
He's fed up with waiting for a reply.— He's fed up with waiting for a reply.
unharmed, in good condition after a dangerous or difficult situation
The hikers returned safe and sound.— The hikers returned safe and sound.
We arrived home safe and sound despite the storm.— We arrived home safe and sound despite the storm.
something very easy to do
Don't worry, the test was a piece of cake.— Don't worry, the test was a piece of cake.
Fixing this bug was a piece of cake for her.— Fixing this bug was a piece of cake for her.
to do or say something that relaxes people meeting for the first time
He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.— He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
Let's play a game to break the ice.— Let's play a game to break the ice.
to leave and start a trip or journey
We should hit the road before traffic gets bad.— We should hit the road before traffic gets bad.
It's getting late, let's hit the road.— It's getting late, let's hit the road.
feeling slightly ill
I've been feeling a bit under the weather today.— I've been feeling a bit under the weather today.
She's staying home because she's under the weather.— She's staying home because she's under the weather.
suddenly and unexpectedly, without any warning
She called me out of the blue after years.— She called me out of the blue after years.
The news came completely out of the blue.— The news came completely out of the blue.
in the same difficult situation as someone else
Don't worry, we're all in the same boat.— Don't worry, we're all in the same boat.
Many students are in the same boat with rising tuition.— Many students are in the same boat with rising tuition.
completely and finally, so the matter is settled
Let's settle this once and for all.— Let's settle this once and for all.
I want to fix this problem once and for all.— I want to fix this problem once and for all.
immediately, at that exact place or time
He was offered the job on the spot.— He was offered the job on the spot.
She decided on the spot to accept the offer.— She decided on the spot to accept the offer.
without checking facts or thinking carefully; from memory
Off the top of my head, I'd say around fifty people.— Off the top of my head, I'd say around fifty people.
I can't remember his number off the top of my head.— I can't remember his number off the top of my head.
used to say something sounds simple but is actually hard to do
Losing weight is easier said than done.— Losing weight is easier said than done.
Quitting smoking is easier said than done.— Quitting smoking is easier said than done.
said when someone arrives or finishes late, but it is still good that they did
He apologized after ten years, but better late than never.— He apologized after ten years, but better late than never.
You finally called me back—better late than never.— You finally called me back—better late than never.
not something important or serious; not a problem
Don't worry, it's no big deal.— Don't worry, it's no big deal.
Losing the game was no big deal to him.— Losing the game was no big deal to him.
the overall situation, rather than small details
Let's focus on the big picture instead of small details.— Let's focus on the big picture instead of small details.
Try to see the big picture before you decide.— Try to see the big picture before you decide.
the most important point or final result
The bottom line is, we need more money.— The bottom line is, we need more money.
Bottom line: he didn't finish the job on time.— Bottom line: he didn't finish the job on time.
a general, practical guideline based on experience
As a rule of thumb, drink eight glasses of water a day.— As a rule of thumb, drink eight glasses of water a day.
A good rule of thumb is to save ten percent of your income.— A good rule of thumb is to save ten percent of your income.
to earn just enough money to pay for basic needs
It's hard to make ends meet on a small salary.— It's hard to make ends meet on a small salary.
They work two jobs just to make ends meet.— They work two jobs just to make ends meet.
to decide something firmly, especially after thinking about it
I still haven't made up my mind about the job offer.— I still haven't made up my mind about the job offer.
She made up her mind to move to a new city.— She made up her mind to move to a new city.
to watch or pay close attention to someone or something
Can you keep an eye on my bag for a minute?— Can you keep an eye on my bag for a minute?
The doctor is keeping an eye on her condition.— The doctor is keeping an eye on her condition.
to relax and not worry or work too hard
Just take it easy this weekend and rest.— Just take it easy this weekend and rest.
Take it easy, we still have plenty of time.— Take it easy, we still have plenty of time.
used to encourage someone to keep trying during a difficult time
Hang in there, the exam will be over soon.— Hang in there, the exam will be over soon.
I know it's tough right now, but hang in there.— I know it's tough right now, but hang in there.
to learn how to do something after practicing
It took me a while to get the hang of driving.— It took me a while to get the hang of driving.
You'll get the hang of the new software soon.— You'll get the hang of the new software soon.
having the same understanding or agreement about something
Let's make sure we're on the same page before the meeting.— Let's make sure we're on the same page before the meeting.
The team wasn't on the same page about the deadline.— The team wasn't on the same page about the deadline.
to fail to appreciate something because it is always there
We often take our health for granted.— We often take our health for granted.
Don't take her kindness for granted.— Don't take her kindness for granted.
to help someone with a task
Can you give me a hand with these boxes?— Can you give me a hand with these boxes?
He gave her a hand moving the furniture.— He gave her a hand moving the furniture.
to fail to keep count of or stay informed about something
I lost track of time while reading.— I lost track of time while reading.
We lost track of how many emails we sent.— We lost track of how many emails we sent.
to stay informed about or record the progress of something
I use an app to keep track of my expenses.— I use an app to keep track of my expenses.
It's hard to keep track of all these passwords.— It's hard to keep track of all these passwords.
to eat something quickly, often informally
Let's grab a bite before the movie starts.— Let's grab a bite before the movie starts.
I only had time to grab a bite at the airport.— I only had time to grab a bite at the airport.
to delay a decision until the next day in order to think about it more
I'm not sure yet; let me sleep on it.— I'm not sure yet; let me sleep on it.
Why don't you sleep on it and tell me tomorrow?— Why don't you sleep on it and tell me tomorrow?