From BBC Learning English: Grammar Towards Advanced
7 uses of ’light'
light (B1)
start to make something burn
Stand well back when you light the fireworks.
light (B1)
brightness
I’m going to paint the living room walls light green.
shed light on (C2)
give new information to help explain a situation
I don’t understand what’s gone wrong. Can you shed light on the situation?
light (A1)
pale in colour
out like a light (C1)
in a deep sleep
The kids played on the beach for hours. When I put them to bed they went out like a light.
in the light of (C1)
because of certain facts
The police decided to drop the prosecution in the light of the new information.
brings to light (C2)
reveals something previously unknown
The cause of the problem was brought to light by the engineer’s inspection.
9 uses of ‘run’
make your blood run cold (C2)
make you feel very scared
I knew he wanted to hurt me. The look in his eyes made my blood run cold.
run (A1)
move fast by taking steps that are much quicker than walking
running (B2)
flowing
run up against (something) (C2)
start to experience a problem
I’m sorry this is late. We thought it would be ready on time, but we ran up against quite a few difficulties.
runs through (C2)
thinks about
running through (his head) (C2)
thinking about
I’ve got so many ideas running through my head. I don’t know which one to work on first.
run the risk of (C2)
do something that might cause something bad to happen
If you don’t use anti-virus software when you’re online, you’re running the risk of cyber-attack.
runs away (B2)
escapes; leaves somewhere quickly and/or secretly
Juan was just 15 years old when he ran away to join the circus.
runs after (B1)
chased
9 uses of ‘cut’
cut out (C1)
stop eating
My doctor told me to cut out dairy products for a few weeks to see if I feel any better.
to cut a long story short(C1)
to only talk about the most important or interesting details
cut (someone) short (C2)
stop (someone) from finishing what they are saying or doing
shortcut (B2)
different route or direction that saves time
There are no shortcuts to learning English - you need to practise every day!
cut to the chase (C2)
don’t waste time, just get to the important bit
I haven’t got all day! Will you just hurry up and cut to the chase.
cutting down (A2)
making a tree fall to the ground by cutting it near the base
woodcutters (B2)
people whose job is to cut down trees
**
cut (someone/something) up** (B1)
use a sharp tool to separate something into pieces
cutbacks (C2)
reduction in money available to spend
Because of company cutbacks, we no longer have free coffee and cake in the mornings!
11 uses of ’look'
looking for (A1)
trying to find
has the looks (C2)
appears intelligent and/or handsome
the look of (B2)
the appearance of
looks on (C1)
has a particular opinion
looks like (B1)
seems
looking to (C2)
planning to
looks as if (B2)
appears to be
looks over (C2)
reads
look down on (B2)
believe that someone is less important than you
look up (C1)
improve
look forward to (C2)
be excited and happy about a future event
5 uses of ‘stand’
stand up for (B2)
give support to; defend
can’t stand (B1)
strongly dislike
don’t stand a chance (C2)
have little possibility of success
stand for (C2)
represents an idea or priniciple
stands to lose (C2)
be in a situation where you may lose an advantage
won’t stand for (C1)
refuse to accept or allow a situation
stand out (B2)
be noticeably better than other people
stands by (B2)
supports someone in a difficult situation
stands (C1)
remains; exists in a place
4 uses of ‘round’
driving him around the bend (C2)
making him very annoyed
comes round (C2)
begins to accept something previously rejected
round and round (B2)
moving in a circular direction
round the clock (C1)
all day and all night
round (A2)
on all sides (of something)
goes round to (A2)
visits
in a roundabout kind of way (C2)
more or less; sort of
round off (B2)
finish; complete (something)
9 uses of ‘sound’
sound out (B2)
talk to someone to find out their thoughts and ideas
by the sound of it (C2)
basing your ideas on information you have heard or read
sounds (B2)
seems
doesn’t like the sound of (something) (C1)
is unhappy about a situation he has heard about
not a sight or sound of (someone) (C2)
nobody has seen or heard from (someone)
sounds strange (A2)
seems unusual
sound (A2)
something that can be heard
sounds as though (B1)
appears to be true, based on what you have heard
sounds like (B1)
(also) appears to be true, based on what you have heard
8 uses of ‘break’
breaks the news (C2) tells someone about something bad
break off (B2)
end a relationship
breaks into (B1)
enters a place by force
break up (B1)
end a relationship
breaks down (B1)
gets upset; starts to cry
break her promise (B2)
not do something she had agreed to do
breaking (A2)
separating into smaller pieces
breaks her heart (B2)
makes her feel extremely sad
10 uses of ‘make’
makes (A1)
creates
has made a name for himself (C2)
has become well-known for something
makes (B1)
causes something to happen
to make matters worse (B2)
to cause a bad situation to get even worse
makes for (B2)
moves towards
makes a start (C2)
begins to do something
makes his blood boil (C2)
causes him to be very angry
makes up his mind (B1)
finally decides
make of (C2)
understand the meaning of
makes time (C1)
finds spare time to do something
13 uses of ’turn'
take a turn for the worse (C2)
suddenly become worse
turns out (B2)
is discovered to be
turns a blind eye (C1)
ignores
turning (A1)
changing direction
turn back (B2)
travel in the direction they came from
turn of events (C2)
outcome of a situation
turn up (B2)
arrive
turns into (B1)
changes; becomes
9 uses of ‘stick’
stick up for (C2)
support
sticks (B2)
goes into
stick with (B2)
stay close to
stick by (C2)
continue to support
stick (B1)
a long, thin piece of wood
stuck (B2)
unable to move
can’t stick (C1)
hates
stick (B2)
become attached
stick together (B2)
support each other
11 uses of ‘set’
set (B2)
(a story) situated in a particular time and/or place
set their sights on (C2)
have a particular goal (to do something)
dead set against (C1)
completely opposed to
sets off (B1)
starts a journey
set out (C2)
started doing something in order to achieve an aim
sets him off (C2)
causes him to start
setback (C1)
problem that causes a situation to be delayed or get worse
set (B1)
planned
set on (B2)
determined to achieve
sets on (B2)
attacks
all set (C1)
ready
12 uses of ‘pay’
pay up (C1)
pay money that is owed
pays a heavy price (C2)
suffers terrible consequences
pay attention (B1)
watch or listen carefully
pay (A1)
give money in exchange for goods or services
pay off (B2)
be successful after taking a risk
pay handsomely (C1)
give a lot of money in exchange for goods or services
pay in cash (A2)
pay using coins and notes rather than by cheque or credit card
be in the pay of (C2)
work for someone (often secretly and/or dishonestly)
pay (B1)
money you receive for doing a job
pay day (B2)
the day you receive your wages from your job
pay (C2)
be punished
without paying a penny (B1)
not giving money in return for goods or services
dead
dead (A2)
not alive
dead certain (C1)
completely sure about something
deadly danger (B2)
extreme danger
the dead of night (C1)
the middle of the night
stops dead in his tracks (C2)
stop suddenly
dead silence (C1)
completely quiet
stone dead (C1)
completely dead
dead giveaway (C2)
something that accidentally but clearly reveals a secret
dead ringer (C2)
exact likeness
8 uses of ’take'
takes (A1)
brings a person or thing from one place to another
taken someone into (your) care (C1)
agreed to look after someone and be responsible for them
takes the opportunity (B2)
uses the situation to do something he wants to do
take (someone) off to (C1)
move (someone) from one place to another
take refuge (C2)
find shelter (from danger or unhappiness)
takes pity on (B2)
feels sympathy for
takes an instant dislike to(B2)
immediately feels hostility towards something or someone
seems/is taken with (C1)
is attracted to
taken advantage of (C2)
used a situation to get what you want (often by deceit)
takes up (B2)
begins a hobby, job or activity
take off (B2)
start to become successful
take a turn for the worse (C1)
start to go wrong
take care of (B1)
look after
13 uses of ’long'
all day long (B1)
continuously throughout the day
long (A1)
measuring a large distance between two points
before long (B1)
soon; quickly
last long (B1)
continue for a lot of time
a long way off (B1)
a large distance away
take long (B2)
need a lot of time
long gone (C1)
departed a large amount of time ago
as long as I live (B2)
for the rest of my life
no longer (B2)
not any more
a long shot (C2)
an attempt that is unlikely to succeed
at long last (B2)
finally; after a lot of time and/or effort
so long as (C1)
on the condition that
longed (C2)
wanted to do something very much
Bill longed to have a bit more excitement in his life, so he signed up for a course in skydiving.
10 uses of ‘stay’
stay (A2)
live in a place for a short time
stay out of his way (C1)
avoid him
stay on (C1)
continue to be in a place
stay over (B2)
sleep in a place for the night instead of going home
stays up (B2)
doesn’t go to bed at the usual time
stay away from (C1)
avoid
stay put (C2)
not move from a place
stay (A1)
continue to be in a place
stay out of trouble (C2)
not get involved with something that will cause problems
stay together (B1)
continue to be with each other
5 uses of ‘sleep’
loses sleep over (something) (C2)
worries about (something)
sleeps through it (C1)
remains sleeping despite the noise
sleep (A1)
rest, in a natural state of unconsciousness
sleep (B2)
has enough beds for a particular number of people to sleep in
sleeping like a baby (C1)
sleeping very well
get some sleep (B1)
have a period of sleep
falls asleep (B1)
starts to sleep
didn’t sleep a wink (C2)
slept very badly
sleep on it (C2)
think about something before making a decision
5 uses of ‘see’
see (B2)
find out; assess the possibility of
see (A1)
notice with their own eyes
you see (C1)
let me explain
see how (C2) – believe (something is possible)
wait and see (C1)
wait until later to find out what will happen
see sense (C2)
realise he is wrong
sees red (C2)
gets angry
see (B1)
understand
see eye to eye (C2)
agree with each other
5 uses of ‘keep’
keep away from (B2)
not go near (a person, place or thing)
keep (B1)
continue
keeps him company (B2)
stays with him so he is not alone
keep his eyes open (C2)
be alert and attentive
keep (something) a secret (B1)
not tell anyone about (something)
5 uses of ‘get’
getting out of hand (C2)
becoming hard to control
get (A1)
catch
gets underway (C2)
begins
get (A2)
become
get to (B2)
have the opportunity to (do something)
get away (B2)
escape
get worse (B1)
become more unpleasant
get off (A2)
leave a vehicle
get through (C1)
survive a bad experience
getting up to (something) (C2)
being involved in; doing
5 uses of ‘come’
come into (C2)
received or found (something)
coming across as (C1)
behaving like
comes (A1)
arrives
comes up with (B2)
thinks of (an idea or plan)
come with (A1)
join
come to the rescue (C2)
help
yet to come (B2)
going to happen
comes to light (C2)
is revealed
come naturally (C1)
is very easy
5 uses of ‘cry’
a far cry from (C1)
very different to
cry (A2)
produce tears from her eyes
a shoulder to cry on (C2)
a person who listens to your problems and gives you sympathy
cries (B1)
says loudly
cry your eyes out (C2)
get very upset and cry a lot
crying out for (C2)
really wanting or needing
for crying out loud (C2)
(said to express anger)
crying out (C2)
shouting in fear or pain
5 uses of ‘go’
go shopping (A1)
visit shops to buy things
go downhill (C2)
become worse
it goes without saying (B2)
it is obvious
go to (A2)
attend
go into detail (B2)
talk about all the facts
goes by (B2)
passes
to go (C1)
remaining
go without (C1)
not have something that you need or usually have
touch and go (C2)
uncertain
give it a go (B2)
try something
goes (B1)
develops
go with (B1)
match; look good next to
10 uses of ‘catch’
catching (B2)
touching; reflecting on
catch my breath (C1)
take a short rest
caught off guard (C2)
surprised
catches sight of (C1)
suddenly sees
catch hold of (B2)
grab; seize
catch his death (C2)
develop a severe cold or chill
4 uses of ’touch'
touch and go (C2)
uncertain; with a risk of not succeeding
a touch (C2)
a small amount
touched (B2)
emotionally affected
touches (B1)
puts his hand on
4 uses of ‘right’
right (B1)
exactly
in her own right (C2)
not relying on anything or anyone else
right (B1)
most suitable
right (B2)
morally acceptable
right through (C2)
all the way
has no right (C1)
does not have a good reason
do the right thing (B2)
take action that is morally correct
right away (B1)
immediately
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/towards-advanced/unit-28/session-4
4 uses of ‘with’
travelling with (A1)
taking (something) on a journey
with (B1)
on; to
with (B2)
because of
with bated breath (C2)
anxiously; nervously
with (B2) REPEAT
because of
12 uses of ‘out’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/towards-advanced/unit-30/session-4/activity-1
out (C1)
a long way from home
set out (C1)
begin an attempt
out of (B1)
from an amount or number
out of his mind (C2)
unable to deal with things normally because of something bad
get out (B1)
become known
find out (A1)
discover
out (A1)
not at home
out (B1)
determined
out (B1)
available to everyone
sets out (C2)
begins (a journey)
gives out (B2)
makes; produces
left out (B2)
not included