Phrases & Expressions

To complete or finish a task, meeting, or activity.

• Let's wrap up this meeting.
• I need to wrap up my work.

To make a part of a picture or image appear larger.

• Zoom in on the details of the painting.
• The camera zoomed in on her surprised face.

To make a part of a picture or image appear smaller and show more of the surrounding area.

• Zoom out to see the whole city on the map.
• Zoom out so we can see the entire garden.

(Especially of children) to behave badly.

• The children started acting up during the long car ride.
• The dog acts up when left alone.

To reach a particular total when amounts are added together.

• Your purchases add up to forty-five dollars, including tax.
• Small daily expenses can add up to a large amount each month.

To stop insisting on something or to withdraw from an argument or demand.

• He refused to back down from his demands.
• The company finally backed down under public pressure.

To move away from someone or something; or to stop bothering or criticizing someone.

• Back off! You're too close.
• He backed off when I asked him to.

To be patient with someone or wait while they do something.

• Please bear with me — I'll be ready in a moment.
• The teacher bore with the noisy class.

To lose consciousness briefly.

• He blacked out during the intense heat.
• She blacked out after standing up too quickly.

To recover quickly after a difficult time, an illness or a failure.

• She bounced back after her illness.
• The economy is starting to bounce back.