Lesson 11

to keep out: not  to  enter, not allow to enter

• There was a large sign outside the door that said, “Danger! Keep out!”
• I’ve told you to keep the dog out  of the house.

to keep away (from): to stay at a distance (from); to avoid use of (also: stay  away from)

• Please be sure to keep the children away from the street!
• The signs on the burned -out house said, “Keep Away! Danger Zone”.
• It’s important to stay away from dangerous drugs.

to find fault with: to criticize, to complain about something

• It is very easy to find fault with the work of others, but more difficult to accept criticism of one’s own work.
• Mrs. Johnson is always finding fault with her children, though they really try to please her.

to be up to: to be  dependent on the decision of another: to be doing as a regular activity; to feel able to do something The second definition is most often used in question as a form of greeting.

• I don’t care whether we go to  the reception or not. It’s up to you.

ill at ease: uncomfortable or worried in a situation

• Speaking in front of large audience makes many people feel ill at ease.

to do over: to revise, to do again

A noun or pronoun must separate the two parts of this idiom.

• You’d better do the letter over because it is written so poorly.

to look into: to investigate, to examine carefully (also: to check into )

• The police are looking into the matter of the stolen computers.

to take hold of:to grasp, to grip with the hands

• You should take hold of the railing as you go down those steep stairs.

to get through: to finish, to complete

This idiom is followed either by the- ing form of a verb ( a gerund) or by the preposition with.

• I didn’t get through studying last night until almost eleven o’clock.

from now on: from this time into the future

• Mr. Lee’s doctor told him to cut down on eating fatty foods from now on,  or else he might suffer heart disease.
• I’m sorry that i dropped by at a bad time.  From now on I’ll call ahead of time.

to keep track of: to keep  or maintain a record of; to remember the location or status of

• Steve keeps track of all the long – distance telephone calls related to his business that he makes from his home or cell phone.

to get carried away:  to act in an extreme manner A related idioms is to go overboard.

• Even if you have an awful day at work, you shouldn’t get carried away and quit  your job.
• James went overboard while shopping for his wife’s birthday  present. He spent way too much money!