Back away- Retreat or go backwardsBack down- Retract or withdraw your position or proposal in an argumentBack into- Enter a parking area in reverse gearBack off- RetreatBack out- Fail to keep an arrangement or promiseBack out of- Fail to keep an agreement, arrangementBack up
- Exit a parking area in reverse gear- Make a copy of computer data
- Support
- Drive a vehicle backwards
Bag out- Criticise
Bail out- Save, rescueBail out of
- Remove water from something that is flooded
- Jump out of a plane because it is going to crash- Pay a bond to release someone from jailBail out on- Stop supporting someone when they are in troubleBail up- Talk to someone and delay them
- Rob someone at gunpoint
Ball up- Confuse or make things complicated
- Roll or form into a round shape
Balls up- Spoil, ruin
Bang about- Move in a place making a lot of noiseBang around- Move in a place making a lot of noiseBang on about- Keep talking about somethingBang out- Play a musical instrument loudlyBang up- Put someone in prison
- Damage badly
Bank on- Count or rely on
Barge in- Enter a place and interruptBarge into- Enter a place and interrupt people rudely
Bash about- Mistreat physicallyBash in- Break, damage or injure by hittingBash out- Write something quickly without much preparationBash up- Break, damage or hurt by hitting
Bawl out- Scold, shout at someone
- Scold
- Sing or shout unpleasantly loudly
Be after- Try to find or getBe along- ArriveBe away- Be elsewhere; on holiday, etc.Be cut out for- Be suitable, have the necessary qualitiesBe cut up- Be upsetBe down- Be depressedBe down on
- Be reduced or less- Have negative feelings toward someoneBe down with- Be illBe fed up- Be bored, upset or sick of somethingBe in- Be at home or at workBe in on
- Be submitted, arrive- Be involved inBe not on- Be unacceptableBe off- Be bad (of food)Be on
- Depart, leave- Be functioning (of machines)Be on about
- Take place
- Take medication or drugs, especially when they affect the person badly
- Be at the top of one’s game, performing very well- Mean, try to sayBe onto- Pursue, be aware of someone's true natureBe out- Be absent from a placeBe out of- Have no more leftBe out to- AttemptBe snowed under- Have too much workBe taken aback- Be shocked or surprisedBe taken with- Like somethingBe up- Be out of bedBe up for
- Have increased or risen
- When the time for something finishes or expires- Be enthusiastic about an upcoming eventBe up to- Be good enough
- Doing something naughty or wrong
Bear down on- Move towardsBear on- Influence, affectBear out- Confirm that something is correctBear up
- Confirm that something is correct- Resist pressureBear up under- Cope with something difficult or stressfulBear with- Be patient
Beat down- Strong sunshineBeat out- Narrowly win in competitionBeat up- Attack violently
Beaver away- Work hardBeaver away at- Work hard doing something
Bed down- Sleep somewhere less comfortable than normalBed out
- Become established or successful over time- Move a plant outside
Beef up- Make something stronger or more solid
Belt out- Sing something loudlyBelt up- Be quiet
- Fasten your seatbelt
Bend down- Lower the top half of your bodyBend over- Lower the top part of your bodyBend over backwards- Do a lot to try to help or please someone
Black out- Fall unconscious
- Lose light
Blank out- Censor text so that words cannot be read
- Have a temporary memory failure
Blare out- A loud sound or music
Blast off- Leave the ground- spaceship or rocket
Blaze away- Fire a gun repeatedly
Bliss out- Be extremely relaxed and happy
Block in- Park a car and obstruct another carBlock off
- Shade or fill in- Obstruct an exit to prevent people from leavingBlock out- Stop light from entering or leavingBlock up
- Try not think about or feel something because it is upsetting or painful- Fill a space so that nothing can pass
Blow away- KillBlow down
- Beat rivals or competitors by a large margin
- Impress greatly
- When the wind moves something from a place- When the wind forces something to fallBlow in- Arrive, sometimes suddenly or unexpectedlyBlow off- Not keep an appointmentBlow out
- Ignore, not do something- Extinguish candles, matches, etc.Blow over
- Defeat decisively- When a scandal gets forgottenBlow up- Explode
- Inflate
- Enlarge (e.g., photograph).
Blurt out- Say something quickly without thinking, especially if you shouldn't
Bog down- Slow make progressBog in- Eat enthusiasticallyBog into- Eat something enthusiasticallyBog off!- Get lost
Boil down- Simplify, reduce to the essentialsBoil down to- Amount toBoil over- When a hot liquid spills out of a containerBoil up
- When people lose their tempers and things get nasty- Feel a negative emotion strongly
- Cook or heat something to boiling point
Bone up on- Study hard
Book in- Make a reservation in advanceBook into
- Check in at a hotel- Make a reservation in advanceBook up
- Check in at a hotel- Reserve
Boot up- Start a computer
Border on- Be located next to a place
- Be very nearly something
Boss about- Use excessive authority to control peopleBoss around- Use excessive authority to control people
Botch up- Ruin or spoil something
Bottle away- Store upBottle out- Lack courage to do somethingBottle up- Not express your feelings
Bottom out- Pass the lowest point and start rising
Bounce into- Force someoneBounce back- RecoverBounce off- Test ideas
Bowl over- Surprise someone greatly
Box in- Prevent something from moving, especially vehiclesBox up- Pack things in boxes to move them
Branch out- Move into a different area of business, etc.
Break away- Leave an organisation, usually to form a new oneBreak down- End negotiations unsuccessfullyBreak in
- Start crying
- Stop working- Go into a building to steal somethingBreak off
- Interrupt something
- Train a horse to be ridden
- Carefully use new products until they are fully functional.- Break a piece from somethingBreak out in
- End a relationship- Sweat heavily, develop skin sores or irritation.Break out of- EscapeBreak through- Pass a barrier or obstacleBreak up- Break into many pieces
- Close an educational institution for the holidays
- Finish a relationship
- Become inaudible over the telephone because of interference
Breeze along- Move easily and quicklyBreeze in- Enter a place quicklyBreeze into- Enter a place quicklyBreeze through- Pass easily, succeed
Brighten up- Improve (weather)
- Become happier
- Make something more attractive or pleasant
Bring about- Make something happenBring along- Bring someone or something to certain placeBring around
- Help someone improve- Persuade or convince someoneBring back
- Bring something with you when you visit
- Get someone talking about something- Cause someone to rememberBring down
- Return- Make a government fallBring forth
- Make something cheaper- Produce something, make it known or visibleBring forward
- Produce
- Make something happen
- Remove something from where it is kept or hidden- Make something happen earlier than originally plannedBring in- EarnBring on- Cause something to happen or speed up the processBring out
- Make something appear- Release or publishBring out in
- Elicit a response- Cause a health problem or reactionBring round- Make someone wake up from unconsciousness or an anaestheticBring up- MentionBring Up
- Raise a child- Be officially charged with a crime
Brush off- Ignore, pay little attentionBrush up- Improve a skill quickly
Bubble over- Become very excited
Buck up- Hurry (either transitive or reflexive)
- Smarten up, improve
Bucket down- Rain heavily
Budge up- Move to make space for someone
Buff up- Clear, clean or make something shineBuff up on
- Improve- Improve your knowledge quickly
Bug off!- Go awayBug out- Open your eyes wide in surprise
- Leave somewhere in a hurry
Build up- Develop a company
- Increase
Bulk out- Make something bigger or thicker
Bump into- Meet by chanceBump off- KillBump up- Increase
Bundle off- Send someone somewhereBundle out- ExpelBundle up- Put on warm clothing
- Wrap or tie things together
Bunk off- Not go to school when you should
Buoy up- Make someone feel more positive
Burn down- Burn completelyBurn off- Remove by burning or similar processBurn out- Lose enthusiasm and energy to continue in a demanding jobBurn up- Destroy completely by fire
- Drive at high speed
- To be or cause to be highly annoyed
Burst into- Catch fire very quickly
- Laugh, cry or clap loudly
Butt in- InterruptButt out- Not be involved in other people's business
Butter up- Praise or flatter someone excessively
Buy in- Force a CD or record into the charts by buying lots of copiesBuy into- Accept an ideaBuy off- Pay someone to stop them causing troubleBuy out- Buy somebody's share in a companyBuy up- Buy all of something
Buzz around- Move quickly around a placeBuzz off- Leave somewhereBuzz off!- Go away (imperative)
