BOSS ABOUT
Meaning : Use excessive authority to control people.
USE : She BOSSES everyone ABOUT.
BOSS AROUND
Meaning : Use excessive authority to control people.
USE : He BOSSES everyone AROUND.
BOTCH UP
Meaning : Ruin or spoil something.
USE : I BOTCHED UP the whole project and it had to be cancelled.
BOTTLE UP
Meaning : Store up.
USE : He kept his feelings BOTTLED AWAY
BOTTLE OUT
Meaning : Lack courage to do something
USE : She was going to tell her boss exactly what she thought, but BOTTLED OUT in the end.
BOTTLE UP
Meaning : Not express your feelings.
USE : She BOTTLED UP her feelings even though she was furious with them and kept quiet
BOTTOM OUT
Meaning : Pass the lowest point and start rising.
USE : The recession BOTTOMED OUT and the economy is recovering well.
BOUNCE INTO
Meaning : Force someone.
USE : They have BOUNCED the government INTO calling an early election.
BOUNCE BACK
Meaning : Recover.
USE : The economy is BOUNCING BACK from the recession.
BOUNCE OFF
Meaning : Test ideas.
USE : They BOUNCED ideas OFF each other in a brainstorming session.
BOWL OUT
Meaning : Hit someone's wicket in cricket with the ball.
USE : He BOWLED the player OUT first ball.
BOWL OVER
Meaning : Surprise someone greatly.
USE : I was BOWLED OVER by the news.
BOWL OVER
Meaning : Knock someone to the ground.
USE : He was BOWLED OVER by the crowd rushing out.
BOX IN
Meaning : Prevent something from moving, especially vehicles.
USE : I was BOXED IN by the bus and couldn't change lane.
BOX UP
Meaning : Pack things in boxes to move them.
USE : At the end of term, I BOXED my books UP and sent them home.
BRACE UP
Meaning : Feel more confident or optimistic about something.
USE : You should BRACE UP and stop worrying.
BRANCH OUT
Meaning : Move into a different area of business, etc..
USE : The supermarkets have BRANCHED OUT into banking.
BREAK AWAY
Meaning : Leave an organisation, usually to form a new one.
USE : The SDP BROKE AWAY from the Labour Party.
BREAK DOWN
Meaning : End negotiations unsuccessfully.
USE : The talks between management and the unions BROKE DOWN acrimoniously,
BREAK DOWN
Meaning : Start crying.
USE : He BROKE DOWN in tears.
BREAK DOWN
Meaning : Stop working.
USE : My car's BROKEN DOWN, so I came by taxi.
BREAK IN
Meaning : Go into a building to steal something.
USE : The burglars BROKE IN and stole the TV and video.
BREAK IN
Meaning : Interrupt something.
USE : I'm sorry to BREAK IN on your conversation, but there's a problem.
BREAK OFF
Break a piece from something.
USE : She BROKE OFF a square of chocolate and gave it to her dog.
BREAK OFF
Meaning : End a relationship.
USE : She BROKE OFF Chocolates among her child's
BREAK OUT
Start (war, conflict).
USE : They're worried that war will BREAK OUT.
BREAK OUT OF
Meaning : Escape.
USE : Three dangerous Category A prisoners BROKE OUT OF Wandsworth Prison last night.
BREAK THROUGH
Meaning : Pass a barrier or obstacle.
USE : The crowd BROKE THROUGH the police barriers and attacked the hunters.
BREAK UP
Meaning : Break into many pieces.
USE : The plate BROKE UP when he dropped it on the floor.
BREAK UP
Meaning : Finish a relationship.
USE : They had been going out for a couple of years before they BROKE UP.
BREAK UP
Become inaudible over the telephone because of interference.
USE : You're BREAKING UP; I'll call you back in a minute and see if we get a better connection.
BREEZE ALONG
Meaning : Move easily and quickly.
USE : The film BREEZES ALONG for the first hour, then becomes rather dull and slow.