I. preposition
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a situation comes about (= it happens )
▪
I don’t know how this situation has come about.
about/almost equal
▪
They are about equal in height and weight.
be in no/any doubt about sth
▪
The government is in no doubt about the seriousness of the situation.
be quick about it
▪
‘Can I just finish this first?’ ‘OK, but be quick about it .’
be/get out and about (= go to places where you can meet people )
▪
Most teenagers would rather be out and about with their friends.
bring (about) change ( also effect a change formal ) (= cause change )
▪
The war brought about radical social change.
▪
Treatment is aimed at effecting a change in the child’s negative behaviour.
cause/bring about a shift
▪
The affair has brought about a shift in the government’s attitude towards immigration.
cause/bring about an increase
▪
The heatwave brought about a massive increase in water consumption.
cause/lead to/bring about destruction
▪
It's clear that the bomb was intended to cause death and destruction.
discuss/talk about a subject
▪
Have you discussed the subject with your husband?
don’t know the first thing about (= I know nothing about )
▪
I don’t know the first thing about looking after children.
doubtful about (doing) sth
▪
At first we were doubtful about employing Charlie.
draw/make inferences (about/from sth)
▪
What inferences have you drawn from this evidence?
fall about laughing British English (= laugh a lot )
▪
He saw the look on my face and he just fell about laughing.
fell about laughing
▪
It was so funny everyone just fell about laughing .
go about your chores (= do your chores )
▪
I got up and went about my chores, feeding the cats and making tea.
going about their business
▪
The villagers were going about their business as usual.
got enough to worry about (= she already has a lot of problems or is very busy )
▪
Don’t tell Mum about this – she’s got enough to worry about .
had no illusions about
▪
She had no illusions about her physical attractiveness.
has...qualms about
▪
The manager has no qualms about dropping players who do not perform well.
have a laugh about/at/over sth (= laugh about something )
▪
The farmer had a good laugh at our attempts to catch the horse.
have fantasies about
▪
I used to have fantasies about living in Paris with an artist.
Have you heard the one about
▪
Have you heard the one about the chicken who tried to cross the road?
have/feel no compunction about (doing) sth
▪
He had no compunction about interfering in her private affairs.
how’s about ... ? American English
▪
How’s about going to the beach this afternoon?
It's a shame about
▪
It's a shame about the weather.
keep/have your wits about you (= be ready to think quickly and do what is necessary in a difficult situation )
know all about
▪
I know all about David and what he’s been up to!
know all about
▪
Politicians know all about the power of language.
know nothing about
▪
We know nothing about her family.
know what...are talking about
▪
The staff are dedicated people who clearly know what they are talking about .
leave...lying about
▪
Don’t leave tools lying about .
look green about/around the gills (= look pale and ill )
nothing to get excited about (= not very good or special )
▪
The food was nothing to get excited about .
One of the nice things about
▪
One of the nice things about Christmas is having all the family together.
only dream about
▪
He’s got the sort of money that you and I can only dream about .
prattling on about
▪
What’s Sarah prattling on about ?
raise doubts about sth (= make people unsure about something )
▪
His handling of the matter has raised doubts about his competence.
round about (= in the surrounding area )
▪
He owned all the land round about .
sb’s worries/concerns about the future
▪
their worries about the future of the English countryside
something strange about
▪
She felt there was something strange about Dexter’s voice.
(there is) something different/odd/unusual about sb/sth
▪
There was something rather odd about him.
there is something/nothing sinister about sb/sth
▪
There was something sinister about Mr Scott’s death.
There’s something about
▪
There’s something about her voice that I find really sexy.
up and about (= out of bed after an illness and moving around normally )
▪
It’s good to see you up and about again .
went on and on about
▪
He just went on and on about his new girlfriend.
what all the fuss was about (= why people liked it so much )
▪
Until I heard her sing I couldn’t see what all the fuss was about .
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(make) encouraging/optimistic etc noises (about sth)
(there are) no two ways about it
▪
No two ways about it, Blue says to himself: he knows everything.
▪
No two ways about it, Clint Schneider was dynamite.
▪
That was the job description, no two ways about it.
▪
There are no two ways about it.
I don't know about you, but ...
I'm/we're/you're talking (about) sth
a mine of information (about/on sth)
▪
A trip to Brussels to meet the responsible officials can turn up a mine of information.
▪
His column in the Angling Times was the first thing that I turned to and what a mine of information.
▪
If used properly, the diary was a mine of information.
▪
Study a local map and the Ordnance Survey, which is a mine of information.
a song and dance (about sth)
▪
Barney, he had these two sons - tried to set up a song and dance act.
▪
But to the children of Gloucestershire, it's just making a song and dance about having fun.
▪
I think most conductors would have stopped and made a song and dance.
▪
If she had wanted to stay she'd have made a song and dance, but it was better to move.
▪
Look here, there's no need to make a song and dance of it.
▪
This theme has a curious persistence, but one does not need a song and dance about it.
be daft about sth
be hung-up about/on sth
be in two minds (about sth)
▪
As ever, he was in two minds about Clarac's value to the project.
▪
Do you know, he was in two minds about accepting?
▪
For a second he was in two minds about it.
▪
I am in two minds whether to change the engine or repair it.
▪
In her own cottage a few miles away the witch Agnes Nitt was in two minds about her new pointy hat.
▪
Please be warned: they are capable of getting through that gap which you are in two minds about bothering to block.
▪
They were not to be in two minds.
▪
This time she seemed to be in two minds about what to do.
be mad about/for/on sb/sth
▪
Everyone was mad about youth nowadays.
▪
Floyd was mad for her, but his father refused to let him borrow the car.
▪
I was mad about her being killed, mad at whoever killed her.
▪
Maybe he was mad for a while, then not mad.
▪
She insisted she only wanted a memento, but I think she was mad about the parking surcharge.
▪
Somehow the word got round that I was mad about maritime art.
▪
Well, of course, she must take it up ... his wife was mad on it.
be noised abroad/about/around
be nuts about/over sb/sth
be obsessing about/over sth/sb
be potty about sb/sth
be soppy about sb/sth
be unclear about sth
▪
If not, those involved will be unclear about what is expected and monitoring and control will be ineffective.
▪
In those days we still were unclear about how the work would develop and whether we would move towards independence or not.
▪
Many young people - I am in no way blaming them - are unclear about their personal plans.
▪
Most of the applicants I interview either do not know about it or are unclear about the details.
▪
Most workers were unclear about what their marginal tax rates were, and consequently did not have any very clearly calculated response.
be wild about sth/sb
be wrong (about sb/sth)
▪
But even if I was wrong about Bryce, it's impossible I could be wrong about Magee.
▪
But now, for the first time, she begins to think she might be wrong .
▪
I want Mum to ask the doctor why they keep testing me - what do they think is wrong ?
▪
They argue that the legislated-excellence movement is wrong not only about how children learn, but also about what they should learn.
▪
This turns out to be wrong .
▪
Well, actually you could be forgiven for thinking that, and actually you'd be wrong .
▪
What if the man who designed them was wrong ?
be/feel conflicted (about sth)
be/go/keep on about sth
▪
And they don't go on about his obvious flaws, like him being a doctor and having three dozen girlfriends.
▪
Everyone goes on about Cher's dresses, showing her navel.
▪
However, this is the party that goes on about unemployment as though it had a good record on unemployment.
▪
It sounded stupid the way she went on about loving the sea.
▪
It went on about 15 minutes too long.
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The first I knew about it was Malcolm going on about rubber.
▪
This made him wary as he went on about his chores and tried not to let Lucky see him.
▪
Why do I go on about this, I wonder.
beat about/around the bush
▪
Don't beat about the bush.
▪
Eliot did not beat about the bush.
▪
I am not a person to beat about the bush.
▪
I meant to be open with him but when it came to it I beat about the bush.
▪
Let us stop beating about the bush.
▪
No need to beat about the bush sweetie.
▪
She winced at their infelicities, at the clumsy way they beat about the bush.
bugger sb about
concern yourself with/about sth
▪
Our country's leaders must concern themselves with environmental protection.
▪
Back in the days when he had yet concerned himself with the world.
▪
Burun Khan may have told you that we know of such machines, but do not concern ourselves with them.
▪
By contrast, total quality and continuous improvement concern themselves with improving performance in smaller chunks.
▪
For several weeks I did not concern myself with any thought of the future.
▪
In its pure form, a no-fault system, as its name suggests, does not concern itself with blame.
▪
The committee will concern itself with matters relating to administration, marketing, finance, playing, development, and public relations.
▪
The physical anthropologists concern themselves with the history and distribution of the varieties of mankind considered as species and sub-species.
▪
What has been at stake that we concerned ourselves with this?
crazy about sb/sth
dotty about sb/sth
fuck sb around/about
go about sth
go about sth
go about your business
▪
The street was filled with ordinary people going about their business .
▪
He was indifferent to the attention he received, calmly going about his business , never using his influence to manipulate others.
▪
Normally it went about its business either on foot or in an arabeah, the horse-drawn cab distinctive to the city.
▪
Sara went about her business , more troubled than ever about Jenny's imminent arrival.
▪
The 49ers are counting on Deese to epitomize that professionalism as he goes about his business with Smith.
▪
They went about their business , expecting him to appear at any moment.
▪
While Deion Sanders received most of the pre-game ballyhoo, his bookend Brown went about his business with little or no fanfare.
▪
Yesterday, as the group of pickers went about their business , police said there had been no further incidents.
▪
You have to laugh about it and go about your business .
hang about (sth)
▪
For a while they hang about on trees; then they die, fall off and lie about on the ground.
▪
I didn't hang about getting to Armstrong and getting him started and headed back to Plumstead Road.
▪
I used to hang about the school waiting for him to come out.
▪
No birds, no booze, no groupies hanging about.
▪
Now they're off and married, so we hang about and get the trouble.
▪
Sometimes the men hang about, especially around the younger women.
▪
There the loading was still under way and the women were still hanging about.
▪
This one had lustreless brown hair, very straight, hanging about a pale, underground face.
hang about!
have a bee in your bonnet (about sth)
have a moan (about sth)
have a thing about sb/sth
▪
Judith has a thing about people chewing gum.
▪
But, in this country, we used to have a thing about self-sufficiency.
have something to say about sth
▪
You'd better tell your dad about the dent in the car - I'm sure he'll have something to say about it.
▪
However, Trevor Francis' Birmingham will have something to say about that.
▪
I shall have something to say about original boards a little later.
▪
Jen looked at me as if I ought to have something to say about this.
▪
Jerome would have something to say about that...
▪
Mind you, Sunderland, of course, could have something to say about that at Hillsborough tomorrow afternoon.
▪
Rodman would have something to say about juvenile fantasies of self-reliance if I told him that one.
have you heard the one about ...
how about ... ?
▪
How about if I read you and Mia a story?
▪
How about some iced tea?
how about if ... ?
how about that!/how do you like that!
it's about time
▪
"Joey's home." "Well, it's about time ."
▪
A case of bread and circuses, and it's about time some one said it for the rave generation.
▪
All we can say is, it's about time !
▪
But I was thinking it's about time we got back to Nurse's house.
▪
But it isn't, and it's about time the public knew that.
▪
I think it's about time I went back home.
▪
I was hoping there was, cos it's about time I got back home - it's getting pretty late.
▪
Yes, it's about time that was stopped.
just about
▪
Building community Gross inequality is not just about economics, it is about moral choice.
▪
But the debate over free candidate time is not just about good government.
▪
It was just about to dive as the train ran on.
▪
Landowners became anxious not just about the birds but about access to their habitat.
▪
Preston employees got the same type of information, not just about specific behavior, but about the company as a whole.
▪
Shrimp takes a starring role on the menu at just about every restaurant in town.
▪
Whiners are hard to like and hard to take seriously by just about everyone they work with.
keep sth quiet/keep quiet (about sth)
keep sth quiet/keep quiet about sth
know what you are talking about
▪
Look, I know what I'm talking about because I was there when it happened.
▪
Pilger knows what he is talking about, having spent several years as a reporter in Vietnam.
▪
Rolim seemed to know what he was talking about, but his theories raised some questions for me.
▪
Wayne, you don't know what the hell you're talking about.
▪
And those who hint that this approach increases the guilt of the patient simply do not know what they are talking about.
▪
But the debate will be between two insiders who know what they are talking about.
▪
But we ensure we first know what we are talking about.
▪
Engineers should only offer an opinion if they know what they are talking about.
▪
They are not the only people who know what they are talking about when it comes to children and education.
▪
They have demonstrated publicly, through close scrutiny by their peers, that they know what they are talking about.
make (all) the right noises (about sth)
make a (lot of) noise about sth
▪
Apparently Bradford is interested in having it and Bristol has also made noises about it.
▪
I made noises about the absence of a bank in this so-called international airport; but what choice did I have?
▪
It was extended, but the Provisionals continued to make noises about renewing the violence.
▪
Kirchberg is where the peace and quiet is worth making a noise about.
make a big deal of/out of/about sth
▪
But Vassar taught me that I could do whatever I wanted to do without making a big deal out of it.
make a big thing of/about/out of sth
▪
It was Arbor Day, and their teacher, Miss Ellis, made a big thing out of it.
make a fuss/kick up a fuss (about sth)
make no bones about (doing) sth
▪
Mr. Stutzman makes no bones about his religious beliefs.
▪
At least he made no bones about it.
▪
He made no bones about displaying his artistic temperament.
▪
He made no bones about stating his own views or criticising theirs.
▪
I make no apology or make no bones about being partisan.
▪
The secretary was enormously dissatisfied with how some of our programs were being managed, and made no bones about it.
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These five women made no bones about national honor or scientific achievement.
▪
Well, the two of them had made no bones about what they thought of her.
make no mistake (about it)
▪
Make no mistake about it - I am not going to put up with this anymore.
▪
And make no mistake about it, she knew I was there.
▪
And make no mistake , the family works overtime to make its instructions felt.
▪
And make no mistake , there will be plenty of bets.
▪
I tried to make no mistakes , but they called me naughty every moment of the day.
▪
In the second 250 race Robert made no mistakes , leading all the way to win from McCallen and Coulter.
▪
The Pinot Noirs from Burgundy are often expensive, make no mistake .
make noises about doing sth
▪
Apparently Bradford is interested in having it and Bristol has also made noises about it.
▪
I made noises about the absence of a bank in this so-called international airport; but what choice did I have?
▪
It was extended, but the Provisionals continued to make noises about renewing the violence.
muck sb about/around
nice ... shame about the ...
▪
Nice lips, shame about the teeth.
▪
Nice smile, shame about the lies, the splits and the job losses.
not be fussed (about sth)
not before time/and about time (too)
not give a damn (about sb/sth)
▪
For opening doors and not giving a damn about what anybody else has to say to it.
▪
I think their nonchalance about not caring or not giving a damn about record sales is just not true.
▪
It was nature that had turned her grey, she said, and she did not give a damn .
▪
My ideal would be to not give a damn as much as possible.
▪
This time she yelled his name, not giving a damn if she looked a fool, and dived after him.
not give a fig/not care a fig (about/for sth/sb)
not give a shit (what/whether/about etc)
▪
As David said, the union simply does not give a shit .
not have a bad word to say about/against sb
not have the first idea about sth
not know/care beans (about sb/sth)
nothing to worry about
▪
It's just a simple check-up. There's nothing to worry about.
▪
You're a bright girl, and you've got nothing to worry about, as long as you finish all your assignments.
▪
As long as those trousers were still in circulation, I felt sure there was nothing to worry about.
▪
Bland reassurances came from the officials in charge of the spraying, who said there was nothing to worry about.
▪
But Mel still insisted they had nothing to worry about.
▪
I can reassure you that your sexy dreams are nothing to worry about.
▪
Nine times out of ten, using this tactic, you discover that there's nothing to worry about.
▪
There was nothing to worry about: if there had been, the fuzz would have come in with a warrant.
▪
You can then realistically reassure yourself that you have nothing to worry about.
▪
You have nothing to worry about.
nothing to write home about
▪
Jim and Marcia's new house is nothing to write home about.
▪
A few long-range efforts, but nothing to write home about.
▪
Three, it is nothing to write home about ... Home ... What's the first thing you remember?
on/about your person
▪
At the time he died he was carrying the bomb on his person .
▪
Away to the police surgeon to be probed for invisible cells hidden about her person .
▪
Don't worry, he's not about to escape with film concealed about his person .
▪
Her long blonde hair tumbled artistically about her person .
▪
His favourite weapons are a.357 Desert Eagle, which he always carries on his person , and a Franchi Spas shotgun.
▪
I distributed them properly about my person , and put on my hat.
▪
We healed them with our doctor's hands and placed them about our person .
piss sb about/around
put (sth) about
▪
Due in part to unrelenting rain throughout the month, drivers have put in only about 9, 000 laps during practice.
▪
Early in the welfare debate, assorted government agencies began putting it about that the teen-age birth rate was dropping.
▪
Edward, utterly wretched, put his arms about her and she raised her mouth to his.
▪
He put his arm about her then, and drew her close.
▪
It was actually put up about 1670 after a sketch by Francesco Caratti.
▪
The hazardous weather conditions put concerns about budget developments and the economy on the back burner.
▪
The two partners put up about $ 60 million for the new venture.
▪
We ask that you use this evening to put any questions about our industry to any of the staff here.
put sth about
▪
Due in part to unrelenting rain throughout the month, drivers have put in only about 9, 000 laps during practice.
▪
Early in the welfare debate, assorted government agencies began putting it about that the teen-age birth rate was dropping.
▪
Edward, utterly wretched, put his arms about her and she raised her mouth to his.
▪
He put his arm about her then, and drew her close.
▪
It was actually put up about 1670 after a sketch by Francesco Caratti.
▪
The hazardous weather conditions put concerns about budget developments and the economy on the back burner.
▪
The two partners put up about $ 60 million for the new venture.
▪
We ask that you use this evening to put any questions about our industry to any of the staff here.
put yourself about
rave about/over sth
round about
sb is not shy about (doing) sth
something about sb/sth
▪
Something about Frank's attitude just makes you want to hit him.
▪
There's something strange about the woman's eyes in the painting.
▪
After witnessing scurvy's dire effects, naval surgeon James Lind decided to do something about it.
▪
I know something about him that he doesn't know I know.
▪
If the result is none too pleasant, it's time to do something about it.
▪
Once you know how others perceive you, you can do something about it.
▪
Some may see them entirely differently, arguing that they prove something about homophobia or how gay men react to anti-gay oppression.
▪
That night I recognized at once something about him.
▪
The only current team in the majors never to have appeared in postseason play decided to do something about it.
▪
When will he do something about that deplorable record?
speak volumes (about/for sth)
▪
But the juxtaposition of the two buildings speaks volumes about the rapid disappearance of regional, vernacular, even weirdo architecture.
▪
His grin spoke volumes to the back row.
▪
Jack's tone spoke volumes, but Polly was trying not to listen.
▪
Often, though, he speaks volumes when he chooses not to speak at all.
▪
Other than the face, hands are the most visible part of one's body and invariably speak volumes about a person.
▪
The 8 successful trips so far speak volumes.
▪
The perpetual grin and I-just-won-the-lottery look on his face spoke volumes: The guy was ecstatic.
▪
Your body language will speak volumes about your happy state. 4 Inhibition decreases.
sth doesn't bear thinking about
▪
The reaction I'll get when my parents find out doesn't even bear thinking about.
talk about lazy/cheap/hungry etc
talking of/about sth
tell me about it
▪
"I'm totally sick of my boss." "Yeah, tell me about it."
▪
But I was pleased they had told me about it once.
▪
Can you tell me about it?
▪
Her father, Meir Ahronson, told me about it himself.
▪
I remember the day when they told me about it.
▪
She had had a rewarding session with the dressmaker and wanted to tell me about it.
▪
You got problems, man, you tell me about it.
that (about) sums it up
▪
This was their task but that sums it up too simply.
that's about the size of it
the one about ...
▪
And then the one about Mum.
▪
Did you read the one about his Christmas cards?
▪
He says his favourite Monty Python sketch is the one about Jean-Paul Sartre.
▪
She is still processing his last statement, the one about needing an operation.
▪
They would in fact be applying a test for review not dissimilar to the one about to be examined. 2.
the thing about/with sb/sth
▪
As usual Eva entered into the spirit of the thing with energy and determination.
▪
I knew all the things about it that are unique.
▪
Power: that was the thing about magic.
▪
She had shredded the thing with her hips.
▪
That was one of the things with black and white, the shadows, the dimension that you can get.
▪
That was the thing about Alice: she saw my life before I did.
▪
The strength of our feelings is one of the things about women that most unnerve men.
▪
Yes, will is the thing with Seve.
think of/about doing sth
▪
I've often thought about starting my own business.
throw your weight about/around
▪
But being annual they would be open to reprisals if they threw their weight around too much.
▪
But that bloody Caitlin, he had to throw his weight around.
▪
Do we in petty ways throw our weight around?
▪
How dare the Nottinghamshire police suppose they can throw their weight around in this way?
▪
It's a chance for rugby to throw its weight around.
▪
Maybe she could have handled that a little more tactfully instead of sounding as though she was throwing her weight around.
▪
Mortgage traders were the sort of fat people who grunt from the belly and throw their weight around, like sumo wrestlers.
▪
Very strong in his own way, not swaggering or throwing his weight about, but a great inner strength.
we'll see about that
▪
"I want to go to Joshua's tonight." "Well, we'll have to see about that."
▪
Kim wants to go to this party, huh? Well, we'll see about that!
what about ...?
what are you talking about?
▪
What are you talking about? - Ron has lots of money.
▪
And I was like, I was just like, what are you talking about?
▪
And, anyway, what are you talking about, the rich man in his castle?
while I'm/you're etc at/about it
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
About this weekend - is everyone still going?
▪
an article about the famine
▪
Basically, the job's all about helping people get off welfare.
▪
I'm not sure what it is about her, but guys really like her.
▪
I'm reading a really good book at the moment - it's about the French Revolution.
▪
I've been thinking about what you said, and I've decided that you're right.
▪
There was death all about her.
▪
They were talking about music.
▪
This leaflet should answer all the questions you have about switching to digital TV.
▪
Toby talks about you all the time.
▪
Trash and food were strewn about the room.
▪
What's all the fuss about ?
▪
What did you like best about the book?
II. adverb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ VERB
bring
▪
And hope persists that the group's larger political efforts will bring about positive change in their own lives.
▪
The Incas also had gold, but it helped bring about their downfall.
▪
It could bring about greater price transparency and so more competition for consumers.
▪
And a combined navy and army operation brought about the fall of the stronger Fort Morgan on August 23.
▪
Such a transfer could and would only be brought about by a bourgeois-democratic revolution.
▪
Practice leadership based on the courage to live the change you wish to bring about .
▪
A definition which fails to confront abuse fails to bring about effective interventions and risks increasing the incidence of abuse.
▪
Thus began a series of violent public demonstrations that brought about severe property damage, bloodshed, and death.
care
▪
I don't care about anything but being safe, she thought.
▪
In the end, all you really cared about was what the Krausses of this world would think.
▪
Even the cash-flow predictions they cared about so much were nothing to her but answers she wanted ticked.
▪
He looked momentarily intrigued as he saw her, as though he actually cared about what she might be doing.
▪
Maybe they're songwriters - they don't really care about really good guitar players.
▪
There is one special boy I care about .
▪
This is a domestic drama, with characters you come to care about as people.
▪
These are the things I care about , on one of my two or three favorite sports days of the year.
come
▪
On the other hand, a reduction in costs can come about through elimination of waste.
▪
But the record clearly indicates that ordinance came about primarily due to the efforts of McKasson and Councilman Steve Leal.
▪
His next big career break came about almost by accident.
▪
They know that what they have learned came about through extended effort, in concert with others, on topics that mattered.
▪
Britain should therefore not hesitate to use whatever powers and diplomatic skills she possesses to ensure that it does not come about .
▪
The addition of neural network methods came about because of several problems.
▪
In the event the anticipated collapse of the first genetic engineering company amid a pile of bad debts did not come about .
▪
It is logically possible that any degree of perfection may come about .
complain
▪
It has put together a machine with little to complain about .
▪
So what do we have to complain about ?
▪
The bishop has complained about commercialised money-making projects in the past.
▪
He also agreed to revise training operations to quell noise that Okinawans have complained about for years.
▪
Those who complain about dear money and strong sterling would doubtless see this as an even worse regime.
▪
Actresses complain about not having challenges.
▪
Thus, it is a reasonable thing to complain about .
concern
▪
But this has already given rise to concern about hidden or back-door sponsorship.
▪
Not the First Lady because all she was concerned about was cutting waste and saving taxpayer money.
▪
None the less, there is still concern about exactly how the 80 percent is to be measured.
▪
The bill was blocked last year by conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats concerned about over-zealous federal law enforcement.
▪
Researchers, however, are less concerned about radioactivity than the toxic nature of depleted uranium, a heavy metal.
▪
Perhaps concern about the environment has induced them to learn more about a key environmental science.
forget
▪
This man with an interest in the murder everyone had forgotten about .
▪
For a blissful three hours I completely forgot about Alistair Dodge.
▪
Disposal of our domestic rubbish is something we tend to forget about once it's been picked up by the dust-cart.
▪
Richard realized that he would have to forget about electrical engineering, but he had no idea what else to major in.
▪
He seemed to have forgotten about only letting me loose on water.
▪
But now what we have to do is forget about the past and build on the present.
▪
The dress was put in a drawer, unfinished but not forgotten about .
▪
You then put it out of the way and forget about it for about an hour and a half.
hear
▪
Doyle confirms this: Most of the good songs which I heard about came to me that way.
▪
And it did more for baseball than the impending labor agreement we keep hearing about .
▪
I think I heard about thirty.
▪
There was a time when I heard about good things only.
▪
IRs hears about a lot of young acts from prestige Talent.
▪
Yet how often have you experienced or heard about organization change efforts that seem to have no connection to performance at all?
▪
If Mr Gore had even managed to carry his home state, we wouldn't be hearing about dimpled chads now.
▪
I can hardly wait to hear about left temporal lobe epileptics.
know
▪
This policy has paid clear dividends which we all know about .
▪
The Sumerians are the most ancient users of alcohol that we know about .
▪
He enjoyed educating himself in the things he wanted to know about .
▪
The Rainbow and Princess are ones I only know about .
▪
I dared not go down myself ... nobody knew about our relationship.
▪
How much did these men know about Oliver?
▪
Is there a cure that they do not know about ?
▪
Just knowing about it had given her a new sense of calm.
learn
▪
You need to learn about good breeding.
▪
Carbon paper executives probably jumped off buildings when they learned about Xerox copiers.
▪
There are three important things to learn about bullies from the Bible's description of Herod.
▪
In the WhoUs Who section, you learn about famous scientists.
▪
We have so much to learn about female nutrition.
▪
I learned about editing, and, because the magazine had a staff of six, I learned some-thing about management.
▪
Pupils learn about how a printing press works.
▪
We did not learn about the war until the following day when my mother heard the news on the radio.
move
▪
She spotted other figures moving about , and from some place close by she heard agonized sobbing.
▪
We moved about a hundred feet at a slow walk.
▪
All the lights were on and people seemed to be moving about in every room.
▪
He could also move about in a battery-operated wheelchair, which was designed to look like a toy car.
▪
A gas exerts pressure because its molecules are moving about rapidly and in random directions.
▪
The prehensile pectoral fins actually grasp the weed as the fish moves about .
▪
His temperament, his drive for action and for moving about are moderate.
▪
They thus built on the momentum they had gained in convention by moving about among the people.
read
▪
So the following six months to a year I spent the time abroad walking and seeing the places I had read about .
▪
I used to send my songs off to outfits in Hollywood that I had read about in magazines.
▪
I knew what she was reading about .
▪
Years later, I would think of their sheen as being rather like the membranes enclosing viruses I had read about .
▪
Then there's new positions I've been reading about , yaar.
▪
Even the mythic good guys you read about have warts.
▪
My mentors were people I read about , such as Richard Byrd, the explorer, rather than people I knew.
▪
I think of a starving boy I read about in the newspaper.
set
▪
He set about trying to expel me.
▪
Amelia, her finances considerably reduced, saw an opportunity and set about getting her Kinner.
▪
With single-minded purpose and consummate skill, Morel set about organizing a movement.
▪
As he watched her, he set about encouraging that quality in her sculpture.
▪
Then she settled Victoria in the big chair and set about making tea.
▪
From there he set about recording his solo debut.
▪
He must set about getting something like that himself.
▪
When Physioc refused to sell his property, the government condemned it and set about to take it under eminent domain laws.
speak
▪
Yes, this now celebrated affair, which I've not spoken about before, did actually happen.
▪
As they arrived, he asked the local candidate, with whom he was travelling, what he should speak about .
▪
I could also not speak about what was severed between my mother and me that morning and neither could she.
▪
Rain wondered what they had spoken about , how long the conversation had lapsed before she joined them.
▪
It is fear, or rather fears, that I want to speak about in this book.
▪
Unilateralism is refreshing, if it means plain speaking about inadequate treaties or misguided policies.
▪
Black leaders will refrain from hammering at the issue out of an uneasiness at speaking about intergenerational oppression.
talk
▪
I do not understand what they are talking about , and I do not have the knowledge to take up their suggestions.
▪
Some boys I know in Philly talk about you a lot.
▪
He would talk about what is going on in the budget battle, what is going on in the Medicare debate.
▪
Barron and Miller both talk about a 1994 fire in Idaho.
▪
But the debate will be between two insiders who know what they are talking about .
think
▪
When Mohibullah went to prison I was so upset I thought about giving up squash completely.
▪
But I also wanted Leanne to think about what she was saying.
▪
You don't have a family to think about of course, he said.
▪
Now, there are other things to think about if we want to make this a better place.
▪
Just thinking about it overwhelms me with its complexity.
▪
I sensed all this profoundly when I first began to think about what might lie beneath the surface of the oceans.
▪
Is that all you ever think about ?
▪
It might give John a few things to think about .
worry
▪
Oh, don't worry about it-I've heard it all before.
▪
They worry about not receiving the approval of teachers, parents, and peers.
▪
It is the criminal activity surrounding the supply of illegal drugs that we should really worry about .
▪
She worries about him all the time. 1943 I am fourteen months old when my father goes away to war.
▪
I only had the first one to worry about .
▪
I so worry about her, I sometimes cry for hours to myself.
▪
All you're worried about is when you're gon na get your next hit.
▪
I had enough people to worry about .
write
▪
But what among all the streaks of wickedness in human nature are you going to write about ?
▪
His madness and his recovery were still very much present to him, and he would occasionally talk or write about both.
▪
You can think about it, talk about it, write about it, dedicate your life to it.
▪
When describing their feelings about writing , my clients have used such words as agonizing, excruciating, and torturous.
▪
Some students may write about the avoidance of a major depression, others about the decision to focus on high employment.
▪
But most of the philosophers who have written about and explored the nature of being have not been so crude.
▪
I write about how I have to write about my life to give it some shape, some order.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
About six months ago he suffered a major heart attack.
▪
He left the house round about four o'clock.
▪
Her music lesson is about 45 minutes long.
▪
It's been about five years since I've seen Linda.
▪
It's two-thirty. They should be arriving about now.
▪
It should cost about $1500.
▪
She's 11 months old and just about ready to start walking.
▪
The cathedral was completed in about the middle of the 16th century.
▪
The chance of men being born colourblind is about 1 in 12.
▪
The church is about a mile away.
▪
The job should be finished round about March next year.
▪
Tim's about 25 years old.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
For about $ 30, 000.
▪
The first such creature appeared about 550 million years ago.
▪
The two-month trip will take her more than 26, 000 miles in about three dozen legs.
▪
Yes, we've got about twenty drawings.
III. adjective
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(make) encouraging/optimistic etc noises (about sth)
(there are) no two ways about it
▪
No two ways about it, Blue says to himself: he knows everything.
▪
No two ways about it, Clint Schneider was dynamite.
▪
That was the job description, no two ways about it.
▪
There are no two ways about it.
I don't know about you, but ...
I'm/we're/you're talking (about) sth
a mine of information (about/on sth)
▪
A trip to Brussels to meet the responsible officials can turn up a mine of information.
▪
His column in the Angling Times was the first thing that I turned to and what a mine of information.
▪
If used properly, the diary was a mine of information.
▪
Study a local map and the Ordnance Survey, which is a mine of information.
a song and dance (about sth)
▪
Barney, he had these two sons - tried to set up a song and dance act.
▪
But to the children of Gloucestershire, it's just making a song and dance about having fun.
▪
I think most conductors would have stopped and made a song and dance.
▪
If she had wanted to stay she'd have made a song and dance, but it was better to move.
▪
Look here, there's no need to make a song and dance of it.
▪
This theme has a curious persistence, but one does not need a song and dance about it.
be in two minds (about sth)
▪
As ever, he was in two minds about Clarac's value to the project.
▪
Do you know, he was in two minds about accepting?
▪
For a second he was in two minds about it.
▪
I am in two minds whether to change the engine or repair it.
▪
In her own cottage a few miles away the witch Agnes Nitt was in two minds about her new pointy hat.
▪
Please be warned: they are capable of getting through that gap which you are in two minds about bothering to block.
▪
They were not to be in two minds.
▪
This time she seemed to be in two minds about what to do.
be noised abroad/about/around
be obsessing about/over sth/sb
beat about/around the bush
▪
Don't beat about the bush.
▪
Eliot did not beat about the bush.
▪
I am not a person to beat about the bush.
▪
I meant to be open with him but when it came to it I beat about the bush.
▪
Let us stop beating about the bush.
▪
No need to beat about the bush sweetie.
▪
She winced at their infelicities, at the clumsy way they beat about the bush.
bugger sb about
concern yourself with/about sth
▪
Our country's leaders must concern themselves with environmental protection.
▪
Back in the days when he had yet concerned himself with the world.
▪
Burun Khan may have told you that we know of such machines, but do not concern ourselves with them.
▪
By contrast, total quality and continuous improvement concern themselves with improving performance in smaller chunks.
▪
For several weeks I did not concern myself with any thought of the future.
▪
In its pure form, a no-fault system, as its name suggests, does not concern itself with blame.
▪
The committee will concern itself with matters relating to administration, marketing, finance, playing, development, and public relations.
▪
The physical anthropologists concern themselves with the history and distribution of the varieties of mankind considered as species and sub-species.
▪
What has been at stake that we concerned ourselves with this?
fuck sb around/about
go about sth
go about sth
go about your business
▪
The street was filled with ordinary people going about their business .
▪
He was indifferent to the attention he received, calmly going about his business , never using his influence to manipulate others.
▪
Normally it went about its business either on foot or in an arabeah, the horse-drawn cab distinctive to the city.
▪
Sara went about her business , more troubled than ever about Jenny's imminent arrival.
▪
The 49ers are counting on Deese to epitomize that professionalism as he goes about his business with Smith.
▪
They went about their business , expecting him to appear at any moment.
▪
While Deion Sanders received most of the pre-game ballyhoo, his bookend Brown went about his business with little or no fanfare.
▪
Yesterday, as the group of pickers went about their business , police said there had been no further incidents.
▪
You have to laugh about it and go about your business .
hang about (sth)
▪
For a while they hang about on trees; then they die, fall off and lie about on the ground.
▪
I didn't hang about getting to Armstrong and getting him started and headed back to Plumstead Road.
▪
I used to hang about the school waiting for him to come out.
▪
No birds, no booze, no groupies hanging about.
▪
Now they're off and married, so we hang about and get the trouble.
▪
Sometimes the men hang about, especially around the younger women.
▪
There the loading was still under way and the women were still hanging about.
▪
This one had lustreless brown hair, very straight, hanging about a pale, underground face.
hang about!
have a bee in your bonnet (about sth)
have a moan (about sth)
have a thing about sb/sth
▪
Judith has a thing about people chewing gum.
▪
But, in this country, we used to have a thing about self-sufficiency.
have something to say about sth
▪
You'd better tell your dad about the dent in the car - I'm sure he'll have something to say about it.
▪
However, Trevor Francis' Birmingham will have something to say about that.
▪
I shall have something to say about original boards a little later.
▪
Jen looked at me as if I ought to have something to say about this.
▪
Jerome would have something to say about that...
▪
Mind you, Sunderland, of course, could have something to say about that at Hillsborough tomorrow afternoon.
▪
Rodman would have something to say about juvenile fantasies of self-reliance if I told him that one.
have you heard the one about ...
how about ... ?
▪
How about if I read you and Mia a story?
▪
How about some iced tea?
how about if ... ?
how about that!/how do you like that!
it's about time
▪
"Joey's home." "Well, it's about time ."
▪
A case of bread and circuses, and it's about time some one said it for the rave generation.
▪
All we can say is, it's about time !
▪
But I was thinking it's about time we got back to Nurse's house.
▪
But it isn't, and it's about time the public knew that.
▪
I think it's about time I went back home.
▪
I was hoping there was, cos it's about time I got back home - it's getting pretty late.
▪
Yes, it's about time that was stopped.
just about
▪
Building community Gross inequality is not just about economics, it is about moral choice.
▪
But the debate over free candidate time is not just about good government.
▪
It was just about to dive as the train ran on.
▪
Landowners became anxious not just about the birds but about access to their habitat.
▪
Preston employees got the same type of information, not just about specific behavior, but about the company as a whole.
▪
Shrimp takes a starring role on the menu at just about every restaurant in town.
▪
Whiners are hard to like and hard to take seriously by just about everyone they work with.
keep sth quiet/keep quiet (about sth)
know what you are talking about
▪
Look, I know what I'm talking about because I was there when it happened.
▪
Pilger knows what he is talking about, having spent several years as a reporter in Vietnam.
▪
Rolim seemed to know what he was talking about, but his theories raised some questions for me.
▪
Wayne, you don't know what the hell you're talking about.
▪
And those who hint that this approach increases the guilt of the patient simply do not know what they are talking about.
▪
But the debate will be between two insiders who know what they are talking about.
▪
But we ensure we first know what we are talking about.
▪
Engineers should only offer an opinion if they know what they are talking about.
▪
They are not the only people who know what they are talking about when it comes to children and education.
▪
They have demonstrated publicly, through close scrutiny by their peers, that they know what they are talking about.
make (all) the right noises (about sth)
make a (lot of) noise about sth
▪
Apparently Bradford is interested in having it and Bristol has also made noises about it.
▪
I made noises about the absence of a bank in this so-called international airport; but what choice did I have?
▪
It was extended, but the Provisionals continued to make noises about renewing the violence.
▪
Kirchberg is where the peace and quiet is worth making a noise about.
make a big deal of/out of/about sth
▪
But Vassar taught me that I could do whatever I wanted to do without making a big deal out of it.
make a big thing of/about/out of sth
▪
It was Arbor Day, and their teacher, Miss Ellis, made a big thing out of it.
make a fuss/kick up a fuss (about sth)
make no bones about (doing) sth
▪
Mr. Stutzman makes no bones about his religious beliefs.
▪
At least he made no bones about it.
▪
He made no bones about displaying his artistic temperament.
▪
He made no bones about stating his own views or criticising theirs.
▪
I make no apology or make no bones about being partisan.
▪
The secretary was enormously dissatisfied with how some of our programs were being managed, and made no bones about it.
▪
These five women made no bones about national honor or scientific achievement.
▪
Well, the two of them had made no bones about what they thought of her.
make no mistake (about it)
▪
Make no mistake about it - I am not going to put up with this anymore.
▪
And make no mistake about it, she knew I was there.
▪
And make no mistake , the family works overtime to make its instructions felt.
▪
And make no mistake , there will be plenty of bets.
▪
I tried to make no mistakes , but they called me naughty every moment of the day.
▪
In the second 250 race Robert made no mistakes , leading all the way to win from McCallen and Coulter.
▪
The Pinot Noirs from Burgundy are often expensive, make no mistake .
make noises about doing sth
▪
Apparently Bradford is interested in having it and Bristol has also made noises about it.
▪
I made noises about the absence of a bank in this so-called international airport; but what choice did I have?
▪
It was extended, but the Provisionals continued to make noises about renewing the violence.
muck sb about/around
not before time/and about time (too)
not give a damn (about sb/sth)
▪
For opening doors and not giving a damn about what anybody else has to say to it.
▪
I think their nonchalance about not caring or not giving a damn about record sales is just not true.
▪
It was nature that had turned her grey, she said, and she did not give a damn .
▪
My ideal would be to not give a damn as much as possible.
▪
This time she yelled his name, not giving a damn if she looked a fool, and dived after him.
not give a fig/not care a fig (about/for sth/sb)
not give a shit (what/whether/about etc)
▪
As David said, the union simply does not give a shit .
not know/care beans (about sb/sth)
nothing to worry about
▪
It's just a simple check-up. There's nothing to worry about.
▪
You're a bright girl, and you've got nothing to worry about, as long as you finish all your assignments.
▪
As long as those trousers were still in circulation, I felt sure there was nothing to worry about.
▪
Bland reassurances came from the officials in charge of the spraying, who said there was nothing to worry about.
▪
But Mel still insisted they had nothing to worry about.
▪
I can reassure you that your sexy dreams are nothing to worry about.
▪
Nine times out of ten, using this tactic, you discover that there's nothing to worry about.
▪
There was nothing to worry about: if there had been, the fuzz would have come in with a warrant.
▪
You can then realistically reassure yourself that you have nothing to worry about.
▪
You have nothing to worry about.
nothing to write home about
▪
Jim and Marcia's new house is nothing to write home about.
▪
A few long-range efforts, but nothing to write home about.
▪
Three, it is nothing to write home about ... Home ... What's the first thing you remember?
on/about your person
▪
At the time he died he was carrying the bomb on his person .
▪
Away to the police surgeon to be probed for invisible cells hidden about her person .
▪
Don't worry, he's not about to escape with film concealed about his person .
▪
Her long blonde hair tumbled artistically about her person .
▪
His favourite weapons are a.357 Desert Eagle, which he always carries on his person , and a Franchi Spas shotgun.
▪
I distributed them properly about my person , and put on my hat.
▪
We healed them with our doctor's hands and placed them about our person .
piss sb about/around
put (sth) about
▪
Due in part to unrelenting rain throughout the month, drivers have put in only about 9, 000 laps during practice.
▪
Early in the welfare debate, assorted government agencies began putting it about that the teen-age birth rate was dropping.
▪
Edward, utterly wretched, put his arms about her and she raised her mouth to his.
▪
He put his arm about her then, and drew her close.
▪
It was actually put up about 1670 after a sketch by Francesco Caratti.
▪
The hazardous weather conditions put concerns about budget developments and the economy on the back burner.
▪
The two partners put up about $ 60 million for the new venture.
▪
We ask that you use this evening to put any questions about our industry to any of the staff here.
put sth about
▪
Due in part to unrelenting rain throughout the month, drivers have put in only about 9, 000 laps during practice.
▪
Early in the welfare debate, assorted government agencies began putting it about that the teen-age birth rate was dropping.
▪
Edward, utterly wretched, put his arms about her and she raised her mouth to his.
▪
He put his arm about her then, and drew her close.
▪
It was actually put up about 1670 after a sketch by Francesco Caratti.
▪
The hazardous weather conditions put concerns about budget developments and the economy on the back burner.
▪
The two partners put up about $ 60 million for the new venture.
▪
We ask that you use this evening to put any questions about our industry to any of the staff here.
put yourself about
rave about/over sth
round about
something about sb/sth
▪
Something about Frank's attitude just makes you want to hit him.
▪
There's something strange about the woman's eyes in the painting.
▪
After witnessing scurvy's dire effects, naval surgeon James Lind decided to do something about it.
▪
I know something about him that he doesn't know I know.
▪
If the result is none too pleasant, it's time to do something about it.
▪
Once you know how others perceive you, you can do something about it.
▪
Some may see them entirely differently, arguing that they prove something about homophobia or how gay men react to anti-gay oppression.
▪
That night I recognized at once something about him.
▪
The only current team in the majors never to have appeared in postseason play decided to do something about it.
▪
When will he do something about that deplorable record?
speak volumes (about/for sth)
▪
But the juxtaposition of the two buildings speaks volumes about the rapid disappearance of regional, vernacular, even weirdo architecture.
▪
His grin spoke volumes to the back row.
▪
Jack's tone spoke volumes, but Polly was trying not to listen.
▪
Often, though, he speaks volumes when he chooses not to speak at all.
▪
Other than the face, hands are the most visible part of one's body and invariably speak volumes about a person.
▪
The 8 successful trips so far speak volumes.
▪
The perpetual grin and I-just-won-the-lottery look on his face spoke volumes: The guy was ecstatic.
▪
Your body language will speak volumes about your happy state. 4 Inhibition decreases.
sth doesn't bear thinking about
▪
The reaction I'll get when my parents find out doesn't even bear thinking about.
talk about lazy/cheap/hungry etc
talking of/about sth
tell me about it
▪
"I'm totally sick of my boss." "Yeah, tell me about it."
▪
But I was pleased they had told me about it once.
▪
Can you tell me about it?
▪
Her father, Meir Ahronson, told me about it himself.
▪
I remember the day when they told me about it.
▪
She had had a rewarding session with the dressmaker and wanted to tell me about it.
▪
You got problems, man, you tell me about it.
that (about) sums it up
▪
This was their task but that sums it up too simply.
that's about the size of it
the one about ...
▪
And then the one about Mum.
▪
Did you read the one about his Christmas cards?
▪
He says his favourite Monty Python sketch is the one about Jean-Paul Sartre.
▪
She is still processing his last statement, the one about needing an operation.
▪
They would in fact be applying a test for review not dissimilar to the one about to be examined. 2.
the thing about/with sb/sth
▪
As usual Eva entered into the spirit of the thing with energy and determination.
▪
I knew all the things about it that are unique.
▪
Power: that was the thing about magic.
▪
She had shredded the thing with her hips.
▪
That was one of the things with black and white, the shadows, the dimension that you can get.
▪
That was the thing about Alice: she saw my life before I did.
▪
The strength of our feelings is one of the things about women that most unnerve men.
▪
Yes, will is the thing with Seve.
think of/about doing sth
▪
I've often thought about starting my own business.
throw your weight about/around
▪
But being annual they would be open to reprisals if they threw their weight around too much.
▪
But that bloody Caitlin, he had to throw his weight around.
▪
Do we in petty ways throw our weight around?
▪
How dare the Nottinghamshire police suppose they can throw their weight around in this way?
▪
It's a chance for rugby to throw its weight around.
▪
Maybe she could have handled that a little more tactfully instead of sounding as though she was throwing her weight around.
▪
Mortgage traders were the sort of fat people who grunt from the belly and throw their weight around, like sumo wrestlers.
▪
Very strong in his own way, not swaggering or throwing his weight about, but a great inner strength.
we'll see about that
▪
"I want to go to Joshua's tonight." "Well, we'll have to see about that."
▪
Kim wants to go to this party, huh? Well, we'll see about that!
what about ...?
what are you talking about?
▪
What are you talking about? - Ron has lots of money.
▪
And I was like, I was just like, what are you talking about?
▪
And, anyway, what are you talking about, the rich man in his castle?
while I'm/you're etc at/about it