Phrases & Expressions

To begin to work hard and seriously at something.

• If Don buckles down now, he might still graduate this year.
• Team, if we want to win, we're going to need to buckle down.

To gain weight, especially muscle, by eating more and exercising.

• He wants to bulk up for the competition.
• She has been eating more protein to bulk up.

To interrupt a conversation or activity rudely.

• Nancy is always butting in to other people's business.
• Sara is so rude — she's always butting in on other people's conversations.

To examine something carefully to ensure it is correct or safe.

• Please check over the report for errors.
• The doctor checked over the patient.

To get into a car, bed or small space, often with some effort.

• The kids climbed in the back of the car.
• He climbed in through the window.

To climb out of an enclosed space.

• The children climbed out of the pool to get their towels.
• He climbed out the window.

To move over something by climbing.

• The children climbed over the fence to get their ball.
• He climbed over the wall.

To cut out a piece of text or an image from a newspaper or magazine.

• She clipped out the recipe from the paper.
• Please clip out this article for me.

For the sky to become full of clouds.

• The sky clouded over and it started to rain.
• By lunchtime it had clouded over, so we went home.

To be the most important or basic factor in a situation.

• In the end, it all comes down to how much effort you put in.
• The decision comes down to whether we can afford it.