Fall apart
fall apart & falls apart falling apart fell apart fallen apart
1. fall apart p.v. When the parts of something become completely separated because it is old or in bad condition, itfalls apart.
These old shoes are starting tofall apart.
There's no way to fix this thing. It has completelyfallen apart.
2. fall apart p.v. When a plan, arrangement, system, or agreement fails, itfalls apart.
After five difficult years, their marriage totallyfell apart.
The peace agreement is slowlyfalling apart.
3. fall apart p.v. When people suddenly lose control and start laughing or become very upset or emotional, theyfall apart.
Sallyfell apart when she heard the tragic news.
Tom was so funny at the party last night that I justfell apart laughing.
| get back at | |||
| get back at & gets back at | getting back at | got back at | gotten/got back at |
1. get back at p.v. When youget back at people, you do something bad to them because they have done something bad to you.
John won't forget what you did to him. He'll definitelyget back at you someday.
She wants toget back at her ex-husband for the way he treated her.
| Infinitive | ||||
| present tense | -ing form | past tense | past participle | |
| go about | ||||
| go about & goes about | going about | went about | gone about |
1. go about p.v. When yougo about something orgo about doing something, you begin or continue to follow all the steps necessary to do it.
/ have no idea how togo about opening a restaurant. Everyday he quietlywent about his business and never caused any problems.
| grow out of | |||
| grow out of & grows out of | growing out of | grew out of | grown out of |
1..grow out of p.v. When people become too tall or too big to wear an item of clothing, theygrow out of the item of clothing.
/ bought Susie's shoes one size too big, but she's quicklygrowing out of them.
Do you want these clothes for your daughter? Mine hasgrown out of them.
2. grow out of p.v. When people become too mature for a toy, for an interest, or for a form of behavior, they havegrown out of it.
Judy had a big crush on a rock star when she was in high school, but after a while she grew out of it.
Jim's son is going through a difficult stage, but he'llgrow out of it in a couple of years.
head into head into & heads into heading into headed into headed into
1. head into p.v. When youhead into or areheaded into a place or area, you begin to enter it.
/ almost had an accident as I washeading into town.
We scared away the bear, and itheaded slowlyinto the woods.
Jim washeaded into Ashland when his car broke down.
Rip up
rip up & rips up ripping up ripped up ripped up
1. rip ...up p.v. When you tear paper or cloth into many pieces, yourip itup.
Nancy was furious when she read Tom's letter, and she angrilyripped itup.Alwaysrip up a check before you put it in the wastebasket.
ripped up part.adj. After a piece of paper or cloth has been torn into many small piece, it isripped up.
After the kids opened their Christmas presents, the floor was covered with ripped up paper.
| Infinitive | ||||
| present tense | -ing form | past tense | past particip | |
| wear down | ||||
| wear down & wears down | wearing down | wore down | worn down |
1. wear... down p.v. When somethingwears down or when someonewearssomethingdown, the top or surface gradually disappears because of friction.
The feet of thousands of visitors a year haveworn down the marble steps.
The mechanic told me that my car's brake pads haveworn down badly and need to be replaced.
worn down part.adj. After the top or surface of something has gradually disappeared because of friction, it isworn down.
The marble steps are very old andworn down.
The tread on these tires is dangerouslyworn down.
2. wear ... down p.v. When peoplewear youdown, they gradually persuade you, through persistent pressure, to change your mind about a decision.
He wouldn't tell me the answer, but little by little, Iwore himdown.
She still will not give us permission, but I think we'rewearing herdown.