Phrases & Expressions

To increase the size, amount, or importance of something.

• We need to scale up production.
• Can you scale up this operation?

To agree completely.

• We don't always see eye to eye.
• They finally saw eye to eye on the matter.

To sell very quickly and in large quantities.

• The new phones sold like hotcakes.
• Tickets for the concert are selling like hotcakes.

To delay making a decision until the next day, allowing more time to think.

• That's a big decision; you should sleep on it.
• Let me sleep on it and I'll tell you my answer tomorrow.

Eventually, at some future time.

• Sooner or later, you'll understand.
• It'll happen sooner or later.

An expression used when a person you have just been talking about unexpectedly appears.

• We were just talking about Tom, and speak of the devil, here he comes!
• Oh, speak of the devil! I was just wondering where you were.

To tell many people about something, often to encourage participation or awareness.

• Please spread the word about the event.
• He quickly spread the word that the meeting was cancelled.

To be a short form of a word or name.

• What does NASA stand for?
• The letters "km" stand for kilometre.

To be easily noticed because of being different or better.

• She stands out in a crowd.
• His work really stands out.

To take control of something from someone else.

• After 11 hours of driving, I was getting tired — fortunately, my friend offered to take over.
• My new boss will be taking over some of my projects.