Phrases & Expressions

To start eating food with great enthusiasm and enjoyment.

• The kids tucked in straight away.
• Let's tuck in before it gets cold.

To stop listening to or paying attention to something.

• I tried to study, but I kept tuning out.
• He tuned out the annoying music.

To wait somewhere for a long time without doing anything useful.

• Stop waiting around and start working.
• He hates waiting around for public transport.

To serve food and drinks to customers in a restaurant or cafe.

• The waiter will wait on your table shortly.
• She worked for years waiting on tables.

To move away from a place or group without telling anyone.

• The children wandered off into the woods.
• Don't wander off from the group.

To clean the inside of something with water.

• Wash out the cups before you put them away.
• She washed out the bottle and filled it with fresh water.

Used to introduce information that was not known or expected, but is now revealed to be true.

• As it turns out, the keys were in my pocket.
• As it turns out, he was lying all along.

Colder than the temperature at which water freezes (0°C or 32°F).

• The temperature dropped below freezing last night.
• It's been consistently below freezing for a week.

Describing a place with lots of light and space, feeling fresh and pleasant.

• The room was bright and airy.
• They want a bright and airy kitchen.

To persuade someone to change their opinion or agree with you.

• I hope I can bring him round to my way of thinking.
• She didn't like the plan, but we soon brought her round.