Ask out

DEFINITION

(separable) To request someone to go on a date with you.

EXAMPLES

I asked Mary out again. She refused.

Bail out

DEFINITION

• (intransitive) to jump out of an airplane. • (separable) to rescue someone from a difficult situation. • (intransitive) to quit or stop doing something.

EXAMPLES

*The congressional candidate bailed out of the race because there was no hope that he could raise enough money to win. *Max's uncle bailed him out of the financial problems he was having. *Luckily the pilot bailed out before his plane hit the side of the mountain.

Black out

DEFINITION

(intransitive) To lose consciousness momentarily.

EXAMPLES

Max had a very severe headache and blacked out several times, so his doctor admitted him to the hospital.

Break out

DEFINITION

(intransitive) To suddenly develop or erupt.

EXAMPLES

A riot broke out in Los Angeles today.

Come out

DEFINITION

• (intransitive) to turn out, result. • (intransitive) to become known, to come into public view, to debut

EXAMPLES

*Everything came out fine in the end. *The news of the candidates misconduct came out just before the election.

Cross out

DEFINITION

• (separable) to draw a line through something

EXAMPLES

I didn't have an eraser, so I had to cross out my mistakes instead.

Drowm out

DEFINITION

(separable) To make a sound inaudible with a louder sound.

EXAMPLES

Max uses his iPod to drown out all of the people's voices around him.

Back somebody up

DEFINITION

To back somebody up means to provide them with support publically. In this same way, you can also back up a story, meaning that you support the story or validate it being true.

EXAMPLES

• I didn’t take your sandwich. Scott can back me up because he was with me all day.
• Do you remember that time you had to back Tony up when he got in a fight?

Back up

DEFINITION

To back up can also mean to move backward. It’s both used figuratively, such as moving backward in time or a conversation. And literally, in the case of taking a step backward.

EXAMPLES

• Wait, let’s back up for a minute. Did you say you were in Vegas last weekend?
• We’re standing too close to the water. Let’s back up because I don’t want to get wet.

Back down

DEFINITION

To back down means to give up or a fight/argument. Or, to let go of something you’re defending in a fight/argument.

EXAMPLES

• If a hunter kills the Alpha male, the rest of the lions will back down from a fight.
• Animal rights are important. I will never back down in my struggle to protect the rights of field mice.

Back into

DEFINITION

The phrasal verb back into is most commonly used when talking about driving a car. It means to move backward into a space or to move backward and hitting an object.

EXAMPLES

• I’m so sorry for backing into your mailbox. I didn’t see it there.
• Some people rather backing into parking spots because it’s easier to get out.

Come back

DEFINITION

Coming back means to return to a place you were before. It can be a physical place or a place in a conversation.

EXAMPLES

• When will you come back to Amsterdam next? I’d love to see you.
• Did you hear that Justin Bieber is coming back to Tokyo for a second concert?

Get back

DEFINITION

Get back means to either regain something that was yours before or to return to a place you were before.

EXAMPLES

• Can I get back that $20 you borrowed from me last week?
• I will get back home from work by about 5 pm today.

Back out

DEFINITION

To back out means to leave or quit. It’s both used in real terms, like backing out of a room. Or as a way to explain an action taken. It’s also associated with literally moving backward.

EXAMPLES

• Gustave has backed out of the 100-meter race after breaking his leg last week.
• Nearly a quarter of all accidents in America happen when backing out of the driveway.