LEARN ENGLISH WITH COMIC STRIPS

come on! = do it! (we encourage somebody to do something)

examples:

get up = stand up

trip over (something) = hit your foot against something and almost fall

While I was running to answer the phone, I tripped over a book and fell flat on the floor.
Don' t run in the house, you kids. You' re always tripping over and crying.
She tripped over and sprained her ankle.
Grandpa tripped over and broke his leg.
Pick up the magazines off the floor. Someone might trip over.

add up = accumulate, gather little by little and gradually become a lot

examples:

Mary washes cars, cleans houses, irons people's clothes for money, babysits. With all these kinds of work money adds up and it is almost a regular salary.
Money can' t add up if you keep spending all the time.
Since my mother moved in with us, I 'm afraid our problems have added up.
If you save some euros every week you 'll see how quickly it adds up and you 'll be able to buy that motorcycle.
He spends a lot on food, a lot on his amusement, a lot on drinks. By the end of the month when he receives bills too all expenses add up and he is left broke.
First, he was rude to me. Then he started making fun of me in front of others. Sometimes he teased me for my accent. It all adds up and now I don 't want to see him anymore.

set up = build, put something in a place

examples:

After the accident the police set up roadblocks on the road.
They should have set up a STOP sign here. It 's really dangerous.
The government set up tents for the people who were left homeless after the earthquake.
The Town Hall set up a medical unit near the block of flats that had caught fire.
When we reached the top of the mountain we set up a flag.
They set up a new branch of these clothes stores in our city.
Could you please set up your videocameras over there? You 're blocking the light here.
We set an iron fence up all around the garden.

order about = order around = give orders all the time, tell others what to do all the time

examples:

Stop ordering the children around. They know what to do.
The general ordered the soldiers around the first couple of weeks at the army from morning until night.
He just loves ordering people about. He 's so obnoxious!
Don 't just stand there ordering us about. Come and give us a hand!
A good boss doesn 't order people around.She or he inspires them and sets the example.

let (somebody) off = let someone go without punishment

examples:

I 'll let you off this time but next time be more careful.
We can 't just let him off. It 's not the first time we 've caught him stealing.
I 'll let you off with a warning now but if you drive your motorcycle without a helmet next time I will drive you to the traffic police myself!
They let him off lightly because he was only twelve years old.
The Court was very lenient. They let him off.
The traffic police let him off with just a fine for driving drunk. If you ask me, they should have removed his number plate. He was let off lightly, wasn 't he?
The boss let me off this time but said that if I ever make the same mistake, he 'll fire me.

lay down = establish something, say what others must do

examples:

The new government has laid down new laws.
The ministry is going to lay down new rules in the market.
The contract lays down the conditions for the sale.
It is laid down in the regulations that students are not allowed to bring mobile phones to school.
Teachers lay down the school rules in cooperation with the students.
Follow the instructions laid down in the booklet to fit the machine.
Great scientists have laid down the principles of Physics.
The Prime Minister laid down the general directions but nothing has been decided yet.
It is laid down what you have to do in this case. Just read the law.
Governments have to lay down tough standards for public health.

set up = organize

examples:

set aside =save a part of something in order to use it later

examples:

hang out (with somebody) = often spend time with somebody or at a place
examples:

Why are you hanging out with such bad people?
My mum doesn't really like the people I hang out with.
If you want to find us, we usually hang out at the new sports club.
Teenagers like to hang out with people of their own age.
I know all the places my older brother hangs out and all the people he hangs out with.

sell off = sell something quickly and at a low price

examples:

He needed money right away, so he sold off his car.
I 'm not going to sell off my mother 's jewels!
He lost all his money gambling and had even to sell off his house.
We 're not selling off. If we get a good price on the house, we 're selling. Otherwise, we 're waiting.
He 's selling off property to pay his debts.
Stores are selling off winter clothes during the summer.
The store is selling off products that are about to expire.
This new shop is selling off things at bargain prices! Let 's go and check it out!

set up = start (a business, a committee, an institution, a home)

examples:

He set up a very successful business on the island.
They set up a new school in the village for local children.
The two brothers set up a company together in 2009.
After their marriage Mary and Tom set up their home in a nice village away from city life.
They set up a shop that sold fishing equipment.
He inherited a fortune and set up a home for abandoned children.

hope you liked them!