off 1 / Qf ; AmE ; / adverb , preposition For
special uses with many verbs, for example go off , look at
the verb entries.
1 down or away from a place
or a position on sth :
to fall off a ladder/motorbike/wall We got
off the bus. I shouted to him but he just walked off . I must
be off ( = I must leave here )
. It's getting late. When are you off to Spain?
( figurative ) We've got off the subject.
2 used to say that something
has been removed : She took her coat off . He
shook the rain off his umbrella.
3 joined to and leading away
from : My road is off the Cowley Road.
4 at some distance from sth :
The Isle of Wight is just off the south
coast of England. Christmas is still a long way off ( = it is a long time till then ) .
5 (used about a machine, a
light, etc.) not connected, working or being used : Please
make sure the TV/light/heating is off . OPPOSITE on
6 not present at work,
school, etc. : She's off work/ off sick with a
cold. I'm having a day off ( = a day's holiday )
next week.
7 (used about a plan or
arrangement) not going to happen; cancelled : The
meeting/wedding/trip is off . OPPOSITE on
8 cheaper; less by a certain
amount : cars with £400 off £400 off the price
of a car
9 not eating or using sth : The
baby's off his food.
IDIOMS
off and on ; on and off sometimes;
starting and stopping :
It rained on and off all day.
off limits that you are not allowed to do; where you are
not allowed to go
off the top of your head top 1
well/badly off having/not having a lot of
money
after / "A:ftJ(r) ; AmE / preposition
, conjunction , adverb
1 later than sth; at a later
time : Ian phoned just after six o'clock. the
week after next I hope to arrive some time after lunch. They
arrived at the station after the train had left. After we had
finished our dinner, we went into the garden. I went
out yesterday morning, and after that I was at home all day. That
was in April. Soon after , I heard that he was ill. It
is more common to use afterwards at the end of a sentence: We played
tennis and went to Angela's house afterwards.
2 … after … repeated
many times or continuing for a long time :
day after day of hot weather I've
told them time after time not to do that.
3 following or behind sb/sth :
Shut the door after you. C comes
after B in the alphabet.
4 looking for or trying to
catch or get sb/sth : The police were after him. Nicky
is after a job in advertising.
5 because of sth : After the way
he behaved I won't invite him here again.
6 used when sb/sth is given
the name of another person or thing : We called our son Bill
after his grandfather.
IDIOM
after
all 1 used when sth is different
in reality to what sb expected or thought : So you
decided to come after all! ( = I thought you weren't going to come )
2
used for reminding sb of a certain fact : She
can't understand. After all, she's only two.
out 1 / aUt ; AmE / adverb , preposition For special
uses with many verbs, for example look out , look at the verb entries.
1 away from the inside of a
place :
He opened the drawer and took a fork out . She
opened the window and put her head out . Can you
show me the way out ? look at out of
2 not at home or in your
place of work : The manager was out when she called. I'd
love a night out – I'm bored with staying at home.
3 a long distance away from a
place, for example from land or your country : The
current is quite strong so don't swim too far out .
4 (used about the sea) when
the water is furthest away from the land : Don't swim when the tide
is on the way out .
5 used for showing that sth
is no longer hidden : I love the spring when all the flowers are out
. The secret's out now. There's no point
pretending any more.
6 made available to the
public; published : There'll be a lot of controversy when her book comes out next
year.
7 in a loud voice; clearly : She
cried out in pain.
8 not in fashion : Short
skirts are out this season.
9 ( spoken ) not
possible or acceptable :
I'm afraid Friday is out . I've
got a meeting that day.
10 (used about a player in a game or sport) not allowed to continue
playing : If you get three answers wrong, you're out .
11 ( sport ) (used about a ball, etc.)
not inside the playing area and therefore not allowed
12 (used when you are calculating sth) making or containing a
mistake; wrong : My guess was only out by a few centimetres.
13 (used about a light or a fire) not on; not burning : The lights
are out . They must be in bed. Once the fire was
completely out , experts were sent in to inspect the damage.
IDIOMS
be out for sth ; be out
to do sth to try hard to get or do sth :
I'm not out for revenge.
be/come out to tell family, friends, etc. that you are a homosexual
out-and-out complete :
It was out-and-out war between us.
out loud = aloud
get / get ; AmE / verb ( present participle getting ; past got / gQt ; AmE /; past
participle got AmE gotten / "gQtn ; AmE / )
1 [ transitive ] ( no passive
) to receive, obtain or buy sth :
I got a letter from my sister. Did you
get a present for your mother? Did you
get your mother a present? She got a job in
a travel agency. Louise got 75% in
the maths exam. I'll come if I can get time off work. How
much did you get for your old car ( = when you sold it ) ? to get a
shock/surprise
2 [ transitive ] have/has
got sth to have sth :
I've got a lot to do today. Lee's
got blond hair. Have you got a spare
pen?
3 [ transitive ] ( no passive
) to go to a place and bring sth back; fetch :
Go and get me a pen, please. Sam's
gone to get his mother from the station.
4 [ intransitive ] to become;
to reach a particular state or condition; to make sb/sth be in a particular
state or condition :
It's getting dark. to get angry/bored/hungry/fat
I can't get used to my new bed. to get
dressed When did you get married ? to get pregnant Just
give me five minutes to get ready . He's
always getting into trouble with the police. She's
shy, but she's great fun once you get to know her.
5 [ intransitive ] to arrive
at or reach a place :
We should get to London at about ten. Can you
tell me how to get to the hospital? What
time do you usually get home ? I got half way
up the mountain then gave up. How far have you got with your
book? look at get in , on , etc.
6 [ intransitive, transitive
] to move or go somewhere; to move or put sth somewhere :
I can't swim so I couldn't get across
the river. My grandmother's 92 and she doesn't get out of
the house much. We couldn't get the piano upstairs. My foot
was swollen and I couldn't get my shoe off.
7 [ intransitive ] used
instead of 'be' in the passive :
She got bitten by a dog. Don't
leave your wallet on the table or it'll get stolen.
8 [ transitive ] get sth
done, mended, etc. to cause sth to be done, mended
, etc. :
Let's get this work done, then we can
go out. I'm going to get my hair cut .
9 [ transitive ] get
sb/sth to do sth to make or persuade sb/sth to do sth :
I got him to agree to the plan. I can't
get the television to work.
10 [ transitive ] to catch or have an illness, pain, etc. :
I think I'm getting a cold. He gets
really bad headaches.
11 [ transitive ] to use a form of transport :
Shall we walk or get the bus?
12 [ intransitive ] to hit, hold or catch sb/sth :
He got me by the throat and
threatened to kill me. A boy threw a stone at me
but he didn't get me.
13 [ transitive ] to hear or understand sth :
I'm sorry, I didn't get that.
Could you repeat it? Did you get that joke that
Karen told?
14 [ transitive ] get (sb) sth ; get sth
(for sb) to prepare food :
Can I get you anything to eat? Joe's
in the kitchen getting breakfast for everyone.
15 [ intransitive ] get to do sth to have
the chance to do sth :
Did you get to try the new computer?
16 [ intransitive ] ( used with verbs in the -ing form ) to start
doing sth :
We don't have much time so we'd better get working. I got talking
to a woman on the bus. We'd better get going if we
don't want to be late.
IDIOM
get somewhere/nowhere (with sb/sth) to
make/not make progress :
I'm getting nowhere with my research.
RELATED VOCABULARY
For other idioms containing get , look at the noun and adjective
entries, for example for get rid of look at rid .
PHRASAL VERBS
get about/around to move or travel from
place to place :
My grandmother needs a stick to get around
these days.
get about/around/round (used about news, a story,
etc.) to become known by many people
get sth across (to sb) to succeed in making people
understand sth :
The party failed to get its
policies across to the voters.
get ahead to progress and be successful in sth, especially
a career
get along 1 ( spoken
) ( usually used in the continuous tenses ) to leave a place :
I'd
love to stay, but I should be getting along now.
2 get on
get around 1 get about/around
2 get about/around/round
get around sb get round/around sb
get around sth get round/around sth
get around to sth/doing sth get
round/around to sth/doing sth
get at sb to criticize sb a lot :
The teacher's always getting at me
about my spelling.
get at sb/sth to be able to reach sth; to
have sth available for immediate use :
The files are locked away and I can't get at them.
get at sth ( only used in the continuous tenses ) to try to
say sth without saying it in a direct way; to suggest :
I'm not quite sure what you're getting at – am I
doing something wrong?
get away (from…) to succeed in leaving or
escaping from sb or a place :
He kept talking to me and I couldn't get away from
him. The thieves got away in a stolen car.
get away with sth/doing sth to do sth bad and not be
punished for it :
He lied but he got away with it.
get back to return to the place where you live or work
get sth back to be given sth that you had lost or lent :
Can I borrow this book? You'll get it back
next week, I promise.
get back to sb to speak to, write to or
telephone sb later, especially in order to give an answer :
I'll get back to you on prices when I've got some more
information.
get back to sth to return to doing sth or
talking about sth :
I woke up early and couldn't get back to
sleep. Let's get back to the point you
raised earlier.
get behind (with sth) to fail to do, pay sth,
etc. on time, and so have more to do, pay, etc. the next time :
to get behind with your work/rent
get by (on/in/with sth) to manage to live or do sth
with difficulty :
It's very hard to get by on such a low income. My
Italian is good and I can get by in Spanish.
get sb down to make sb unhappy
get down to sth/doing sth to start working on sth :
We'd better stop chatting and get down to
work. I must get down to answering these
letters.
get in to reach a place :
What time does your train get in?
get in;
get into sth 1 to climb into a car : We all
got in and Tim drove off.
2
to be elected to a political position : She got
into Parliament in 1999.
get sb in to call sb to your house to do a job
get sth
in 1 to collect or bring sth
inside; to buy a supply of sth : It's going to rain – I'd
better get the washing in from outside.
2
to manage to find an opportunity to say or do sth : He
talked all the time and I couldn't get a word
in.
get in on sth to become involved in an
activity
get into sb ( informal )
(used about a feeling or attitude) to start affecting sb strongly,
causing them to behave in an unusual way :
I wonder what's got into him – he isn't usually
unfriendly.
get
into sth 1 to put on a piece of
clothing with difficulty : I've put on so much
weight I can't get into my trousers.
2
to start a particular activity; to become involved in sth : How did
you first get into the music business? She has got into the
habit of turning up late. We got into an
argument about politics.
3
to become more interested in or familiar with sth : I've
been getting into yoga recently.
get off (sb/sth) used especially to tell sb
to stop touching you/sb/sth :
Get off (me) or I'll call the police! Get off that
money, it's mine!
get off
(sth) 1 to leave a bus, train,
etc.; to climb down from a bicycle, horse, etc.
2
to leave work with permission at a particular time : I might
be able to get off early today.
get off (with sth) to be lucky to receive no
serious injuries or punishment :
to get off with just a warning
get on 1
to progress or become successful in life, in a career, etc.
2 ( only used in the
continuous tenses ) to be getting old :
He's
getting on – he's over 70, I'm sure.
3 ( only used in the
continuous tenses ) to be getting late :
Time's
getting on – we don't want to be late.
get on/along to have a particular amount of success :
How are you getting on in your course? ‘How
did you get on at your interview?’ ‘I got the job!’
get on/along with sb ; get
on/along (together) to have a friendly relationship with sb :
Do you get on well with your
colleagues?
get on/along with sth to make progress with sth
that you are doing :
How are you getting on with that essay?
get on/onto sth to climb onto a bus, train,
bicycle, horse, etc. :
I got on just as the train was about to leave.
get on for ( only used in the continuous tenses ) to be
getting near to a certain time or age :
I'm not sure how old he is but he must be getting on for
50.
get on to sb (about sth) to speak or write to sb
about a particular matter
get on with sth to continue doing sth,
especially after an interruption :
Stop talking and get on with your work!
get out (used about a piece of information) to become
known, after being secret until now
get sth out (of sth) to take sth from its
container :
I got my keys out of my bag.
get out of sth/doing sth to avoid a duty or doing
sth that you have said you will do
get sth out of sb to persuade or force sb to
give you sth
get sth out of sb/sth to gain sth from sb/sth :
I get a lot of pleasure out of music.
get
over sth 1 to deal with a problem
successfully : We'll have to get over the problem of finding
somewhere to live first.
2
to feel normal again after being ill or having an unpleasant
experience : He still hasn't got over his wife's death.
get sth over with ( informal )
to do and complete sth unpleasant that has to be done :
I'll be glad to get my visit to the dentist's
over with.
get round get about/around/round
get round/around sb ( informal )
to persuade sb to do sth or agree with sth :
My father says he won't lend me the money but I think I can get round him.
get round/around sth to find a way of avoiding
or dealing with a problem
get round/around to sth/doing sth to find
the time to do sth, after a delay :
I've been meaning to reply to that letter for ages but I haven't
got round to it yet.
get through sth to use or complete a
certain amount or number of sth :
I got through a lot of money at the weekend. I got through
an enormous amount of work today.
get (sb) through (sth) to manage to complete sth
difficult or unpleasant; to help sb to do this :
She got through her final exams
easily.
get
through (to sb) 1 to succeed in making sb
understand sth : They couldn't get through to him that he was
completely wrong.
2
to succeed in speaking to sb on the telephone : I
couldn't get through to them because their phone was engaged all day.
get to sb ( informal )
to affect sb in a bad way :
Public criticism is beginning to get to the
team manager.
get sb/sth together to collect people or things
in one place :
I'll just get my things together and then
we'll go.
get together (with sb) to meet socially or in
order to discuss or do sth :
Let's get together and talk about it.
get up to stand up :
He got up to let an elderly woman
sit down.
get (sb) up to get out of bed or make sb get out of bed :
What time do you have to get up in the
morning? Could you get me up at 6 tomorrow?
get up
to sth 1 to reach a particular point
or stage in sth : We've got up to the last section of
our grammar book.
2
to be busy with sth, especially sth secret or bad : I
wonder what the children are getting up to?
round 2 / raUnd ; AmE / adverb , preposition
For special uses with many verbs, for example come round , get
round , go round , etc. see the verb entries.
1 in a circle or curve; on
all sides of sth :
He had a bandage right round his head.
We sat round the table, talking late
into the night. We were just talking about Ravi and he came round the corner . How
long would it take to walk round the world? ( figurative ) It
wasn't easy to see a way round the problem ( = a way of solving it ) .
2 in a full circle : The
wheels spun round and round but the car wouldn't move.
3 turning to look or go in
the opposite direction : Don' look round but the
teacher's just come in. She turned the car round and drove
off.
4 from one place, person,
etc. to another : Pass the photographs round for
everyone to see. I've been rushing round all day.
5 in or to a particular area
or place : Do you live round here? I'll
come round to see you at about 8 o'clock.
6 in or to many parts of sth
: Let me show you round the house. He
spent six months travelling round Europe.
IDIOMS
round about (sth) in the area near a place;
approximately :
We hope to arrive round about 6.
the other way round in the opposite way or
order :
My appointment's at 3 and Lella's is at 3.15 – or was it the
other way round ? Around has the
same meaning as round and is more common in American English.
of / Jv ; AmE strong form Qv ; AmE / preposition
1 belonging to, connected
with, or part of sth/sb : the roof of the house
the result of the exam the
back of the book the leader of the party
a friend of mine ( = one of my
friends )
2 made, done or produced by
sb : the poems of Milton
3 used for saying what sb/sth
is or what a thing contains or is made of : a woman
of intelligence the city of Paris a glass
of milk a crowd of people It's
made of silver. a feeling of anger
4 showing sb/sth : a map
of York a photograph of my
parents
5 used for showing that
sb/sth is part of a larger group : some of the
people three of the houses
6 used with measurements,
directions and expressions of time and age : a litre
of milk the fourth of July a girl
of 12 an increase of 2.5% five
miles north of Leeds
7 used for indicating the
reason for or cause of sth : He died of pneumonia.
8 used with some adjectives :
I'm proud of you. She's
jealous of her.
9 used with some verbs : This
perfume smells of roses. Think of a number.
It reminds me of you.
10 used after a noun describing an action to show either who did the
action or who it happened to : the arrival of the
president ( = he arrives ) the
murder