Verbes à particules

take to
- develop a habit
Hugo took to drink after his wife left him.

- to like or start liking somebody or something
I haven't taken to my new school.


let down
- to disappoint somebody
Henry is my true friend and he has never let me down.


get along ( with somebody )
- have a friendly relationship ( with )
Sally couldn't get along with her husband. They got divorced 2 years ago.


break off
- to separate something
A boy broke off a piece of roll and ate in a hurry.

- break off a relation or contact
The two countries broke off their diplomatic relations because of their disagreements.


hold somebody off, hold off somebody, hold something off, hold off something
- to stop and prevent somebody from doing something
Marc wants to drop out of high school. I'll try to hold him off.

- to delay something, to refrain from doing something
The rain had held off all night.


take something back, take back
- to return something for exchange
Take the set-top box back to the store. It doesn't work.

- to take back what one has said, written, promised
I regret having said that to her. I'd like to take it back.


take up something, take something up
- to start doing something, to begin an activity, to like something
I took up tennis three years ago.

- to reduce in size
I have to take up my coat. It's too long.


turn something around
- to go from bad to good
Turn your life around. You shouldn't live this way.


pick on somebody
- to tease or bully; to criticize somebody
The kids pick on him because of his stammering.


cut off somebody/something, cut somebody off, cut off somebody
- to stop a telephone conversation by breaking the connection
We got cut off in the middle of our call.

- to cause someone to feel alone, to stop having friendly or close terms
This man was a bad father. He cut off his kids completely.


clam up
- to become silent, to refuse to talk or reply
She clammed up and didn't answer the question.


answer back
- to reply rudely to a person who has more authority than you
Why do you answer back to your teacher?


go off, go off ( a bomb )
- to make a characteristic noise as a signal
My alarm clock always goes off at 7 a.m.

- to explode
The bomb will go off in five hours

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