Phrases & Expressions

To heat a metal object until it becomes liquid, often so the metal can be reused.

• The old coins were melted down and made into new ones.
• The factory melts down scrap metal to make new car parts.

To fall asleep for a short time, especially when you did not intend to.

• The old man often nods off in his armchair.
• I almost nodded off during the boring lecture.

To choose one thing or action instead of another.

• Most customers opt for the cheaper model.
• In the end, we opted for a quiet holiday by the sea.

To choose to participate in an activity or service.

• You must opt in to receive marketing emails.
• Did you opt in for overdraft protection?

To choose not to be part of an activity, system, or agreement.

• You can opt out of the newsletter at any time.
• He opted out of the school trip this year.

To give knowledge, skills, or objects to younger generations.

• My grandmother passed down her recipes to my mother.
• This ring has been passed down in our family for generations.

To put money into a bank account.

• I need to pay this cheque in at the bank today.
• He paid in the cheque.

To continue working steadily at a difficult or boring task.

• Only 842 more cookies to bake — let's keep plugging away!
• Don't give up on chemistry — if you keep plugging away, you'll eventually master it.

To switch off a machine or device, or to be switched off.

• Please power down your laptop before the plane lands.
• The computer powers down automatically after an hour.

To separate something into pieces using force.

• He pulled the bread apart.
• The children pulled the old toy apart to see how it worked.