Page 2
Vamp up
Make something more exciting, attractive,
etc.
The place is dull and you need to V AMP
it UP.
Vamp up Invent, maker up, improvise.
I had to VAMP UP a reason for being so
late.
Veg out Relax, do nothing.
I'm going to VEG OUT in front of the TV
tonight.
Venture
forth
Leave somewhere safe or comfortable.
If the storm has finished, we could
VENTURE FORTH.
Wade in
Start something or get involved, often
without thinking or to forcefully.
He just WADED IN without listening to
what anyone had to say.
Wade in Attack.
The hooligans WADED IN when they
saw fans from the other team.
Wade into
Become embroiled or involved in a
situation, without thinking or planning
usually.
They WADED INTO the negotiations and
the deal collapsed.
Wade
through
Get to the end of something with
difficulty.
It took me ages to WADE THROUGH the
book.
Wait about Wait somewhere doing nothing.
I WAITED ABOUT for an hour, but they
didn't come.
Wait
around
Wait somewhere doing nothing.
They were just WAITING AROUND to
see if anything was going to happen.
Wait behind
Stay somewhere after other people have
left.
I WAITED BEHIND to ask the lecturer a
question.
Wait in
Stay at home because someone is going to
visit.
I WAITED IN for the guy to fix the TV.
Wait on Serve people in a restaurant.
They have two people WAITING ON
each table.
Wait on Sell goods in a shop.
He WAITS ON customers in an
electronics store.
Wait on
Provide someone with everything they
need or want.
He has a butler who WAITS ON him.
Wait on
Wait for a result before being able to make
a decision.
They're WAITING ON the results of the
vote before taking a final decision.
Wait out
Wait till something has finished, usually
something unpleasant.
We'll have to WAIT OUT this uncertainty.
Wait up Not go to bed because you are waiting.
I was worried and WAITED UP until they
got home safe and sound.
Wait up! Stop (imperative). Wait up! I need to talk to you.
Wait upon Provide someone with what they require.
They used to have servants WAITING
UPON them.
Wait upon
Wait for a result before being able to make
a decision.
They must WAIT UPON the outcome of
the match before they know who they'll
be playing.
Wake up Stop sleeping. I WOKE UP at half past six this morning.
Walk away
from
Leave something you don't like.
You can't just WALK AWAY FROM your
problems.
Walk away Win easily. She WALKED AWAY WITH the first
Page 3
Vamp up
Make something more exciting, attractive,
etc.
The place is dull and you need to V AMP
it UP.
Vamp up Invent, maker up, improvise.
I had to VAMP UP a reason for being so
late.
Veg out Relax, do nothing.
I'm going to VEG OUT in front of the TV
tonight.
Venture
forth
Leave somewhere safe or comfortable.
If the storm has finished, we could
VENTURE FORTH.
Wade in
Start something or get involved, often
without thinking or to forcefully.
He just WADED IN without listening to
what anyone had to say.
Wade in Attack.
The hooligans WADED IN when they
saw fans from the other team.
Wade into
Become embroiled or involved in a
situation, without thinking or planning
usually.
They WADED INTO the negotiations and
the deal collapsed.
Wade
through
Get to the end of something with
difficulty.
It took me ages to WADE THROUGH the
book.
Wait about Wait somewhere doing nothing.
I WAITED ABOUT for an hour, but they
didn't come.
Wait
around
Wait somewhere doing nothing.
They were just WAITING AROUND to
see if anything was going to happen.
Wait behind
Stay somewhere after other people have
left.
I WAITED BEHIND to ask the lecturer a
question.
Wait in
Stay at home because someone is going to
visit.
I WAITED IN for the guy to fix the TV.
Wait on Serve people in a restaurant.
They have two people WAITING ON
each table.
Wait on Sell goods in a shop.
He WAITS ON customers in an
electronics store.
Wait on
Provide someone with everything they
need or want.
He has a butler who WAITS ON him.
Wait on
Wait for a result before being able to make
a decision.
They're WAITING ON the results of the
vote before taking a final decision.
Wait out
Wait till something has finished, usually
something unpleasant.
We'll have to WAIT OUT this uncertainty.
Wait up Not go to bed because you are waiting.
I was worried and WAITED UP until they
got home safe and sound.
Wait up! Stop (imperative). Wait up! I need to talk to you.
Wait upon Provide someone with what they require.
They used to have servants WAITING
UPON them.
Wait upon
Wait for a result before being able to make
a decision.
They must WAIT UPON the outcome of
the match before they know who they'll
be playing.
Wake up Stop sleeping. I WOKE UP at half past six this morning.
Walk away
from
Leave something you don't like.
You can't just WALK AWAY FROM your
problems.
Walk away Win easily. She WALKED AWAY WITH the first
with prize.
Walk back
from
Retract a statement.
They declined to WALK BACK FROM
their comments despite the controversy.
Walk in on
Enter somewhere unexpectedly and see
something.
He WALKED IN ON them planning to
sack him.
Walk into Get work without effort.
He WALKED INTO a great job straight
after university.
Walk into
Be unaware of the presence of something
and either enter it (a trap) or bump into it
(an obstruction).
You WALKED INTO that one [You
became victim to a trap I set]orI
WALKED INTO a door and broke my
nose.
Walk off
Go for a walk to reduce the effects of an
illness or bad feeling.
I tried to WALK OFF my hangover.
Walk off
with
Win easily. He WALKED OFF WITH the award.
Walk off
with
Take something without permission or
steal.
Someone WALKED OFF WITH my
umbrella so I got soaked.
Walk on Continue walking.
I saw the accident but just WALKED ON
as I didn't want to have to give a
statement.
Walk out
Leave work because of a dispute with the
management.
The workers WALKED OUT because the
felt that safety wasn't being handled
correctly.
Walk out
Leave a place angrily or because you are
not satisfied.
The film was a bore so I WALKED OUT
halfway through.
Walk out on Leave somebody angrily. He WALKED OUT ON his wife last year.
Walk
through
Explain or demonstrate something
carefully to someone.
He WALKED me THROUGH the
procedures.
Walk up Go to someone.
A man WALKED UP and asked me the
time.
Waltz
through
Pass or succeed easily.
She WALTZED THROUGH the tests and
got the highest score.
Wander off
Leave a place, usually without telling
other people.
She WANDERED OFF and got lost in the
crowd.
Wander off Stop paying attention.
The lecture was boring and my mind
WANDERED OFF after ten minutes.
Want out
Want to leave a relationship or
arrangement.
Jackie wasn't happy with her marriage
and WANTED OUT.
Warm up Do exercises before a sport.
The team WARMED UP half an hour
before the volleyball match.
Wash away
When floods or waves completely remove
a structure, building, etc..
The ice cream stall on the beach was
WASHED AWAY in the storm last night.
Wash down Drink in order to swallow something solid.
I WASHED the antibiotics DOWN with a
glass of water.
Wash out
Rain so heavily that an event has to be
cancelled.
The rain WASHED OUT the
championship final.
Wash over Suddenly experience a strong emotion.
He felt numb as grief WASHED OVER
him.
Page 4
Vamp up
Make something more exciting, attractive,
etc.
The place is dull and you need to V AMP
it UP.
Vamp up Invent, maker up, improvise.
I had to VAMP UP a reason for being so
late.
Veg out Relax, do nothing.
I'm going to VEG OUT in front of the TV
tonight.
Venture
forth
Leave somewhere safe or comfortable.
If the storm has finished, we could
VENTURE FORTH.
Wade in
Start something or get involved, often
without thinking or to forcefully.
He just WADED IN without listening to
what anyone had to say.
Wade in Attack.
The hooligans WADED IN when they
saw fans from the other team.
Wade into
Become embroiled or involved in a
situation, without thinking or planning
usually.
They WADED INTO the negotiations and
the deal collapsed.
Wade
through
Get to the end of something with
difficulty.
It took me ages to WADE THROUGH the
book.
Wait about Wait somewhere doing nothing.
I WAITED ABOUT for an hour, but they
didn't come.
Wait
around
Wait somewhere doing nothing.
They were just WAITING AROUND to
see if anything was going to happen.
Wait behind
Stay somewhere after other people have
left.
I WAITED BEHIND to ask the lecturer a
question.
Wait in
Stay at home because someone is going to
visit.
I WAITED IN for the guy to fix the TV.
Wait on Serve people in a restaurant.
They have two people WAITING ON
each table.
Wait on Sell goods in a shop.
He WAITS ON customers in an
electronics store.
Wait on
Provide someone with everything they
need or want.
He has a butler who WAITS ON him.
Wait on
Wait for a result before being able to make
a decision.
They're WAITING ON the results of the
vote before taking a final decision.
Wait out
Wait till something has finished, usually
something unpleasant.
We'll have to WAIT OUT this uncertainty.
Wait up Not go to bed because you are waiting.
I was worried and WAITED UP until they
got home safe and sound.
Wait up! Stop (imperative). Wait up! I need to talk to you.
Wait upon Provide someone with what they require.
They used to have servants WAITING
UPON them.
Wait upon
Wait for a result before being able to make
a decision.
They must WAIT UPON the outcome of
the match before they know who they'll
be playing.
Wake up Stop sleeping. I WOKE UP at half past six this morning.
Walk away
from
Leave something you don't like.
You can't just WALK AWAY FROM your
problems.
Walk away Win easily. She WALKED AWAY WITH the first
with prize.
Walk back
from
Retract a statement.
They declined to WALK BACK FROM
their comments despite the controversy.
Walk in on
Enter somewhere unexpectedly and see
something.
He WALKED IN ON them planning to
sack him.
Walk into Get work without effort.
He WALKED INTO a great job straight
after university.
Walk into
Be unaware of the presence of something
and either enter it (a trap) or bump into it
(an obstruction).
You WALKED INTO that one [You
became victim to a trap I set]orI
WALKED INTO a door and broke my
nose.
Walk off
Go for a walk to reduce the effects of an
illness or bad feeling.
I tried to WALK OFF my hangover.
Walk off
with
Win easily. He WALKED OFF WITH the award.
Walk off
with
Take something without permission or
steal.
Someone WALKED OFF WITH my
umbrella so I got soaked.
Walk on Continue walking.
I saw the accident but just WALKED ON
as I didn't want to have to give a
statement.
Walk out
Leave work because of a dispute with the
management.
The workers WALKED OUT because the
felt that safety wasn't being handled
correctly.
Walk out
Leave a place angrily or because you are
not satisfied.
The film was a bore so I WALKED OUT
halfway through.
Walk out on Leave somebody angrily. He WALKED OUT ON his wife last year.
Walk
through
Explain or demonstrate something
carefully to someone.
He WALKED me THROUGH the
procedures.
Walk up Go to someone.
A man WALKED UP and asked me the
time.
Waltz
through
Pass or succeed easily.
She WALTZED THROUGH the tests and
got the highest score.
Wander off
Leave a place, usually without telling
other people.
She WANDERED OFF and got lost in the
crowd.
Wander off Stop paying attention.
The lecture was boring and my mind
WANDERED OFF after ten minutes.
Want out
Want to leave a relationship or
arrangement.
Jackie wasn't happy with her marriage
and WANTED OUT.
Warm up Do exercises before a sport.
The team WARMED UP half an hour
before the volleyball match.
Wash away
When floods or waves completely remove
a structure, building, etc..
The ice cream stall on the beach was
WASHED AWAY in the storm last night.
Wash down Drink in order to swallow something solid.
I WASHED the antibiotics DOWN with a
glass of water.
Wash out
Rain so heavily that an event has to be
cancelled.
The rain WASHED OUT the
championship final.
Wash over Suddenly experience a strong emotion.
He felt numb as grief WASHED OVER
him.
Wash up
Clean everything used to prepare food and
eat it.
The children WASHED UP after lunch.
Wash up
When something in the sea or river is left
on the shore or bank.
After the crash, several bodies WASHED
UP on the beach.
Wash up Wash face and hands.
Be sure you and the kids WASH UP
before dinner.
Waste away
Become very thin and weak, usually due
to illness.
He WASTED AWAY as the cancer got
worse.
Watch out Be careful (imperative). Watch out- there's ice on the road.
Watch out
for
Be careful of something.
WATCH OUT FOR bats in the caves;
many have rabies.
Watch over
Keep an eye on something or someone to
check that there's no trouble.
The lecturer WATCHED OVER the
students as they did the experiment.
Water down
Make something weaker and less
effective.
The Freedom of Information Act was
WATERED DOWN by the Government
and didn't give ordinary people much
access to official data files
Wave aside
Ignore or refuse to consider what someone
says.
They WA VED ASIDE our objections and
carried on with the plan.
Wave down Make a hand signal to stop a vehicle.
They WA VED the van DOWN and got a
lift after the accident.
Wave off
Go to a place where someone is leaving to
wave goodbye.
We WAVED her OFF at the station.
Wave on
Make a hand signal to tell someone to
keep moving.
The accident was bad, but the police
WAVED us ON.
Wean off Slowly stop a dependency on something.
We will have to WEAN him OFF his
obsession.
Wear away Erode, remove gradually.
The lawn has been WORN AWAY by
people walking across it and it's just bare
soil now with hardly a blade of grass.
Wear down Make something weaker.
The stress of my job is WEARING me
DOWN.
Wear off Stop having an effect.
The anaesthetic WORE OFF and my
tooth started hurting.
Wear out Use something until it stops working.
She played the video so many times that
she WORE the tape OUT.
Weed out Remove, get rid of.
The company WEEDED OUT the
unsuccessful sales reps.
Weigh down
on
Burden with responsibilities, duties, etc.
The requirements of her new job
WEIGHED DOWN ON her.
Weigh in
Have a certain weight (in sports like
boxing).
The champion WEIGHED IN at 120
kilos.
Weigh in Enter an argument forcefully.
He disliked the plan and WEIGHED IN
with some heavy criticism.
Weigh in on
Enter an argument or discussion to express
a strongly felt idea.
She WEIGHED IN ON their immigration
policies.
Weigh on Make someone consider carefully.
The issues raised WEIGHED ON her
mind.
Page 5
Vamp up
Make something more exciting, attractive,
etc.
The place is dull and you need to V AMP
it UP.
Vamp up Invent, maker up, improvise.
I had to VAMP UP a reason for being so
late.
Veg out Relax, do nothing.
I'm going to VEG OUT in front of the TV
tonight.
Venture
forth
Leave somewhere safe or comfortable.
If the storm has finished, we could
VENTURE FORTH.
Wade in
Start something or get involved, often
without thinking or to forcefully.
He just WADED IN without listening to
what anyone had to say.
Wade in Attack.
The hooligans WADED IN when they
saw fans from the other team.
Wade into
Become embroiled or involved in a
situation, without thinking or planning
usually.
They WADED INTO the negotiations and
the deal collapsed.
Wade
through
Get to the end of something with
difficulty.
It took me ages to WADE THROUGH the
book.
Wait about Wait somewhere doing nothing.
I WAITED ABOUT for an hour, but they
didn't come.
Wait
around
Wait somewhere doing nothing.
They were just WAITING AROUND to
see if anything was going to happen.
Wait behind
Stay somewhere after other people have
left.
I WAITED BEHIND to ask the lecturer a
question.
Wait in
Stay at home because someone is going to
visit.
I WAITED IN for the guy to fix the TV.
Wait on Serve people in a restaurant.
They have two people WAITING ON
each table.
Wait on Sell goods in a shop.
He WAITS ON customers in an
electronics store.
Wait on
Provide someone with everything they
need or want.
He has a butler who WAITS ON him.
Wait on
Wait for a result before being able to make
a decision.
They're WAITING ON the results of the
vote before taking a final decision.
Wait out
Wait till something has finished, usually
something unpleasant.
We'll have to WAIT OUT this uncertainty.
Wait up Not go to bed because you are waiting.
I was worried and WAITED UP until they
got home safe and sound.
Wait up! Stop (imperative). Wait up! I need to talk to you.
Wait upon Provide someone with what they require.
They used to have servants WAITING
UPON them.
Wait upon
Wait for a result before being able to make
a decision.
They must WAIT UPON the outcome of
the match before they know who they'll
be playing.
Wake up Stop sleeping. I WOKE UP at half past six this morning.
Walk away
from
Leave something you don't like.
You can't just WALK AWAY FROM your
problems.
Walk away Win easily. She WALKED AWAY WITH the first
with prize.
Walk back
from
Retract a statement.
They declined to WALK BACK FROM
their comments despite the controversy.
Walk in on
Enter somewhere unexpectedly and see
something.
He WALKED IN ON them planning to
sack him.
Walk into Get work without effort.
He WALKED INTO a great job straight
after university.
Walk into
Be unaware of the presence of something
and either enter it (a trap) or bump into it
(an obstruction).
You WALKED INTO that one [You
became victim to a trap I set]orI
WALKED INTO a door and broke my
nose.
Walk off
Go for a walk to reduce the effects of an
illness or bad feeling.
I tried to WALK OFF my hangover.
Walk off
with
Win easily. He WALKED OFF WITH the award.
Walk off
with
Take something without permission or
steal.
Someone WALKED OFF WITH my
umbrella so I got soaked.
Walk on Continue walking.
I saw the accident but just WALKED ON
as I didn't want to have to give a
statement.
Walk out
Leave work because of a dispute with the
management.
The workers WALKED OUT because the
felt that safety wasn't being handled
correctly.
Walk out
Leave a place angrily or because you are
not satisfied.
The film was a bore so I WALKED OUT
halfway through.
Walk out on Leave somebody angrily. He WALKED OUT ON his wife last year.
Walk
through
Explain or demonstrate something
carefully to someone.
He WALKED me THROUGH the
procedures.
Walk up Go to someone.
A man WALKED UP and asked me the
time.
Waltz
through
Pass or succeed easily.
She WALTZED THROUGH the tests and
got the highest score.
Wander off
Leave a place, usually without telling
other people.
She WANDERED OFF and got lost in the
crowd.
Wander off Stop paying attention.
The lecture was boring and my mind
WANDERED OFF after ten minutes.
Want out
Want to leave a relationship or
arrangement.
Jackie wasn't happy with her marriage
and WANTED OUT.
Warm up Do exercises before a sport.
The team WARMED UP half an hour
before the volleyball match.
Wash away
When floods or waves completely remove
a structure, building, etc..
The ice cream stall on the beach was
WASHED AWAY in the storm last night.
Wash down Drink in order to swallow something solid.
I WASHED the antibiotics DOWN with a
glass of water.
Wash out
Rain so heavily that an event has to be
cancelled.
The rain WASHED OUT the
championship final.
Wash over Suddenly experience a strong emotion.
He felt numb as grief WASHED OVER
him.
Wash up
Clean everything used to prepare food and
eat it.
The children WASHED UP after lunch.
Wash up
When something in the sea or river is left
on the shore or bank.
After the crash, several bodies WASHED
UP on the beach.
Wash up Wash face and hands.
Be sure you and the kids WASH UP
before dinner.
Waste away
Become very thin and weak, usually due
to illness.
He WASTED AWAY as the cancer got
worse.
Watch out Be careful (imperative). Watch out- there's ice on the road.
Watch out
for
Be careful of something.
WATCH OUT FOR bats in the caves;
many have rabies.
Watch over
Keep an eye on something or someone to
check that there's no trouble.
The lecturer WATCHED OVER the
students as they did the experiment.
Water down
Make something weaker and less
effective.
The Freedom of Information Act was
WATERED DOWN by the Government
and didn't give ordinary people much
access to official data files
Wave aside
Ignore or refuse to consider what someone
says.
They WA VED ASIDE our objections and
carried on with the plan.
Wave down Make a hand signal to stop a vehicle.
They WA VED the van DOWN and got a
lift after the accident.
Wave off
Go to a place where someone is leaving to
wave goodbye.
We WAVED her OFF at the station.
Wave on
Make a hand signal to tell someone to
keep moving.
The accident was bad, but the police
WAVED us ON.
Wean off Slowly stop a dependency on something.
We will have to WEAN him OFF his
obsession.
Wear away Erode, remove gradually.
The lawn has been WORN AWAY by
people walking across it and it's just bare
soil now with hardly a blade of grass.
Wear down Make something weaker.
The stress of my job is WEARING me
DOWN.
Wear off Stop having an effect.
The anaesthetic WORE OFF and my
tooth started hurting.
Wear out Use something until it stops working.
She played the video so many times that
she WORE the tape OUT.
Weed out Remove, get rid of.
The company WEEDED OUT the
unsuccessful sales reps.
Weigh down
on
Burden with responsibilities, duties, etc.
The requirements of her new job
WEIGHED DOWN ON her.
Weigh in
Have a certain weight (in sports like
boxing).
The champion WEIGHED IN at 120
kilos.
Weigh in Enter an argument forcefully.
He disliked the plan and WEIGHED IN
with some heavy criticism.
Weigh in on
Enter an argument or discussion to express
a strongly felt idea.
She WEIGHED IN ON their immigration
policies.
Weigh on Make someone consider carefully.
The issues raised WEIGHED ON her
mind.
Weigh out
Measure a certain amount of something by
weight.
Could you WEIGH OUT 200 grammes of
that for me?
Weigh up Assess.
They WEIGHED the pros and cons UP
carefully before deciding.
Weird out Disturb, cause concern or worry.
The way he spoke was WEIRDING me
OUT.
Well up Feel tears starting.
I felt tears WELLING UP when I heard
the news.
Well up Feel an emotion strongly.
Anger WELLED UP inside us when we
saw what they had done.
Well up
Experience an emotion or feeling, start to
cry.
Tears WELLED UP when I heard they
had died.
Wheel
around
Turn quickly and face in the opposite
direction.
When he heard the whistle, he
WHEELED AROUND to see what was
happening.
Wheel out
Use something like an explanation that has
been used many times before and has lost
its impact.
They WHEELED OUT the same old
excuses last time this happened.
Wheel
round
Turn quickly and face in the opposite
direction.
She WHEELED ROUND when he told
her to stop.
While away
Spend time doing something because you
have nothing better to do.
We WHILED a couple of hours AWAY
playing computer games.
Whip into Enter rapidly (as for a brief errand).
Ben WHIPPED INTO the convenience
store for a bag of crisps.
Whip out Remove quickly.
The police officer WHIPPED OUT her
radio and called for back-up.
Whip out of Exit rapidly.
Lola WHIPPED OUT OF a side street
without looking and broadsided a police
car.
Whip
through
Do something quickly. She WHIPPED THROUGH the task.
Whip up Make food quickly.
We got back late and WHIPPED UP
dinner.
Whip up
Mix liquid food quickly to make it thick
and creamy.
I WHIPPED UP the egg whites.
Whip up
Make people feel more strongly about
something.
The boss tried to WHIP UP some support
for her new policies.
Whisk away Take to another place quickly.
The police WHISKED the minister
AWAY when the trouble started.
White out
Use correction fluid to cover a mistake in
a written text.
Could you pass the Tippex? I need to
WHITE this mistake OUT.
Wig out Become excited and lose control.
He WIGGED OUT when he heard that he
had failed.
Wiggle out Avoid doing.
He was supposed to be in charge but tried
to WIGGLE OUT.
Wiggle out
of
Avoid doing something.
I WIGGLED OUT OF having to work
late.
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