1. inside out: with the inside facing the outside
- Ex: Someone should tell little Bobby that his shirt is inside out.
- Ex: The high winds ruined the umbrella by blowing it inside out
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2. upside down: with the upper side turned toward the lower side
- Ex: The accident caused on car to turn upside down, its wheels spinning in the air.
- Ex: One of the students was only pretending to read her textbook; the teacher could see that the book was actually upside down.
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3. to fill in: to write answers in; to inform, to tell
- Ex: For the second definition, the idiom can be followed by the preposition on and the information that someone is told.
- Ex: You should be careful to fill in the blanks on the registration form correctly.
- Ex: Barry was absent from the meeting, so I’d better fill him in.
- Ex: Has anyone filled the boss in on the latest public relation disaster?
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| 4. to fill out: to complete a form
This idiom is very similar to the first definition above. To fill in refers to completing various parts of a form, while to fill out refers to completing a form as one whole item.
- Ex: Every prospective employee must fill out an application by giving name, address, previous jobs, etc.
- Ex: The teenager had some trouble filling the forms out by himself, so his mother helped him.
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5. to take advantage of: to use well, to profit from; to use another person’s weaknesses to gain what one wants
- Ex: I took advantage of my neighbor’s superior skill at tennis to improve my own ability at the game.
- Ex: Teddy is such a small, weak child that his friends take advantage of him all the time. They take advantage of him by demanding money and making him do things for them.
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6. no matter: regardless of
This idiom is a shortened form of it doesn’t matter. It is followed by a question word such as how, where, when, who, etc.
- Ex: No matter how much money he spends on his clothes, he never looks well dressed.
- Ex: No matter where that escaped prisoner tries to hide, the police will find him sooner or later.
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7. to take up: to begin to do or study, to undertake; to occupy space, time, or energy
- Ex: After today’s exam, the class will be ready to take up the last chapter in the book.
- Ex: The piano takes up too much space in our living room. However, it would take too much time up to move it right now; so we’d better wait until later.
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| 8. to take up with: to consult someone about an important matter
The important matter follows the verb take, while the person consulted follows with.
- Ex: Can I take the problem up with you right now? It’s quite urgent.
- Ex: I can’t help you with this matter. You’ll have to take it up with the manager.
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9. to take after: to resemble a parent or close relative (for physical appearance only, also: to look like)
- Ex: Which of your parents do you take after the most?
- Ex: Sam looks like his father, but he takes after his mother in personality.
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| 10. in the long run: eventually, after a long period of time
This idiom is similar in meaning to sooner or later.
- Ex: The difference is that in the long run refers to a more extended period of time.
- Ex: In the long run, the synthetic weave in this carpet will wear better than the woolen one. You won’t have to replace it so soon.
- Ex: If you work hard at your marriage, you’ll find out that, in the long run, your spouse can be your best friend in life.
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11. in touch: having contact
- Ex: James will be in touch with us soon to relay the details of the plan.
- Ex: I certainly enjoyed seeing you again after all these years. Let’s be sure to keep in touch.
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12. out of touch: not having contact; not having knowledge of
- Ex: Marge and I had been out of touch for years, but then suddenly she called me up the other day. Ex: Larry has been so busy that he seems out of touch with world events
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