Phrases & Expressions

To calculate the total amount of a series of numbers or costs.

• She spent the evening trying to tot up her monthly expenses.
• Let us tot up the scores before announcing the winner.

To be much taller than the people or things nearby.

• At sixteen, he already towers above his parents.
• The new hotel towers above the old houses along the beach.

To sell something and buy a cheaper or smaller one instead.

• After their children left home, the couple traded down to a small flat and saved the difference.
• During the recession, many shoppers traded down from famous brands to supermarket own-label products.

To replace something you own, especially a property or vehicle, with a better and more expensive one.

• As their family grew, they traded up to a four-bedroom house with a garden.
• Some smartphone users trade up to the newest model as soon as it comes out.

To treat someone's rights, feelings or hopes as unimportant and ignore them completely.

• Human rights groups accused the regime of trampling on the basic freedoms of its citizens.
• The new law has been criticised for trampling on the privacy of ordinary internet users.

To cause a public discussion about an issue to start, often suddenly.

• The documentary triggered a debate about the use of animals in scientific research.
• The minister's comments triggered a heated debate about the cost of school meals.

To stop being pleasant or successful and become unfriendly or unpleasant.

• Their business partnership turned sour when one of them was accused of taking money from the company.
• Relations between the two countries turned sour after a dispute over fishing rights.

A very large number of times, often more than seems reasonable.

• I've told you umpteen times to save your work before you close the laptop!
• My laptop has crashed umpteen times this month, so I'm finally buying a new one.

Having made a formal promise, especially in a court of law, that you will tell the truth.

• The witness admitted under oath that she had not actually seen the accident happen.
• Lying under oath is a serious crime that can lead to a prison sentence.

To gradually make people trust something less.

• Repeated scandals have undermined public confidence in the police.
• Fake news stories can seriously undermine confidence in the media and in democratic institutions.