To talk about getting knowledge we can use words like find out or learn.

I want to learn English. (NOT I want to know English.)

I know him. (NOT I learn him.)

Last year I learnt to swim. (NOT Last year I knew to swim.)

He went to school to learn algebra. (NOT He went to school to know algebra.)

Later on he realized his mistake. (NOT Later on he knew his mistake.)

Learn can be followed directly by an infinitive. A structure with learn how to is also possible. Usually there is no difference of meaning.

He soon learnt to use a computer. OR He soon learnt how to use a computer.

It is not easy to learn to drive in a city. OR It is not easy to learn how to drive in a city.

Learn is an irregular verb in British English. The three forms are: learn / learnt / learnt.

In American English, learn is regular. The three forms are: learn / learned / learned.

She learned some French when she was in France. (US)

She learnt some French when she was in France. (GB)

I can’t stand hot weather. (= I can’t endure hot weather.)

Stand for something

To stand for something is to represent it; to be a sign for it

What do your initials stand for?
We stand for justice.
That India stands for peace should be known to everybody.

Stand out (be easily seen, stick out)

Most new cameras on the market have nothing to make them stand out from the rest.

Stand up to someone (be ready to oppose him)

We must have the courage to stand up to corrupt politicians.

Stand up for someone (support or defend him)

You must stand up for the needy and the oppressed.

Idioms with run

To run a risk (take a chance)

I quit stock trading because I didn’t want to run risks.

Run someone over (knock someone down with a car or a moving vehicle)

The boy was run over by a speeding car.

Run out of something (have none left when one needs it)

We have run out of sugar. (= We don’t have any sugar left.)

1. James ………………………….. on the final lap.

a) Pulled ahead
b) Pulled on
c) Pulled out
d) Pulled in

2. The boys fought until their mother …………………. them ……………………..

a) Pulled apart
b) Pulled on
c) Pulled ahead
d) Pulled in

3. It ……………………… me ………………………… to see him treat his wife like that.

a) Pulls apart
b) Pulls on
c) Pulls ahead
d) Pulls in

4. The boy kept ………………………….. his mother’s sleeve, wanting to leave.

a) Pulling at
b) Pulling on
c) Pulling ahead
d) Pulling in

5. I couldn’t get into the bus before it ………………………..

a) Pulled out
b) Pulled away
c) Pulled in
d) Pulled at

6. Most of the old buildings were ……………………… to make room for the new shopping mall.

a) Pulled off
b) Pulled down
c) Pulled ahead
d) Pulled at

7. Slowly, the train …………………………. on platform 4.

a) Pulled in
b) Pulled on
c) Pulled off
d) Pulled ahead

8. Let’s stop at a ……………………….. on the way and grab a bite.

a) Pull on
b) Pull off
c) Pull out
d) Pull for

Answers

1. Pulled ahead
2. Pulled apart
3. Pulls apart
4. Pulling at
5. Pulled away
6. Pulled down
7. Pulled in
8. Pull-in

As he had not paid the bill, his electricity was cut off.

Cut through (take or be shortcut)

This path cuts through the woods.

Cut and run (to leave a place quickly to avoid being caught or detained)

When it became clear that he would get caught, he cut and run.

Cut both ways (to have both advantages and disadvantages)

Possessiveness in a relationship cuts both ways. (= It has both advantages and disadvantages.)

Cut loose (behave in an unrestrained way; break away from the influence of somebody)

At last, he realized that it was time to cut loose from his family. (= It was time to stop being influenced by his family.)

Cut your coat according to your cloth (not spend more money than you have)

If you don’t want to fall into the debt trap, you must cut your coat according to your cloth.

Cut somebody short (interrupt somebody who is speaking)

I tried to explain, but she cut me short.

Cut something short (Make something last for less time than planned)

We had to cut our trip short because Ann fell ill.

Not cut it (fall short of requirements or be unable to cope with a situation)

His usual excuses just don’t cut it with me.

Be cut out for (be suitable for)

He is not cut out for that sort of work.

Judicial means legal.
He is working in the judicial department.

Judicious means prudent.
The book consists of a judicious selection of light as well as thought provoking essays.

Momentary and momentous

Momentary means lasting for a moment.
I experienced a momentary pang as I heard the tragic news.

Momentous means very important.
It was a momentous decision whose significance was not realized at that time.

Masterful and masterly

Masterful means imperious.
He was very masterful and would not entertain any argument.

Masterly means skilful.
He gave a masterly analysis of the whole situation.

Official and officious

Official means pertaining to an office.
The Governor made an official visit to the city.

Officious means ‘offering service that is not wanted’.
When I stayed in the Guest House I found the caretaker too officious.

Popular and populous

Popular means ‘liked by people’.
He is a popular actor.

Populous means ‘thickly populated’.
Mumbai is a populous city.

Industrial and industrious

Industrial means pertaining to industry.
In recent years the country has made remarkable industrial development.

Industrious means hardworking.
He is very industrious, but his brother is lazy.

Facilitate and felicitate

Facilitate means ‘make easy’.
Audio visual aids have facilitated the teaching of science subjects.

Felicitate means congratulate.
We held a meeting to felicitate Mr James on his winning the award for the best writer.

1.    The new headmaster ………………. many changes in the school.

a)    Affected

b)    Effected

2.    I have many ………………… to whom I have to give lodging, food and clothes.

a)    Dependants
b)    Dependents

3.    This shop is not ……………………. to sell liquor.

a)    Licenced
b)    Licensed

4.    When an object is standing still it is ………………….

a)    Stationary
b)    Stationery

5.    He is very polite to his parents and treats them with great ……………..

a)    Difference
b)    Deference

6.    I can’t ……………….. this pain.

a)    Bear
b)    Bare

7.    Do you follow the ……………………?

a)    Herd
b)    Heard

8.    What a lion eats is its ………………..

a)    Prey
b)    Pray

9.    The ………………… a native of India is a brave wild animal.

a)    Boar
b)    Bore

10.    A ………………… looks like a big rabbit.

a)    Hair
b)    Hare

Answers

1.    Effected
2.    Dependants
3.    Licensed
4.    Stationary
5.    Deference
6.    Bear
7.    Herd
8.    Prey
9.    Boar
10.    Hare

1.       I don’t like his style of writing because it is too ……………………

a)      verbose

b)      verbal

2.       He gave a …………………… analysis of the situation facing the country.

a)      masterly

b)      masterful

3.       It was his ………………… nature that made him popular among his friends.

a)      ingenuous

b)      ingenious

4.       At this …………………… I am unable to give a more satisfactory explanation.

a)      junction

b)      juncture

5.       He proved his …………………… by facing the situation with tact and confidence.

a)      metal

b)      mettle

6.       We entered the church in a …………………….mood.

a)      reverend

b)      reverent

7.       Everyone should have a basic understanding of the ………………… of economics.

a)      principals

b)      principles

8.       The museum has some remarkable relics of …………………… sculpture.

a)      ancient

b)      antique

9.       The bill, passed by the parliament, has to obtain royal ……………………. before it can become law.

a)      ascent

b)      assent

10.   We must try to arrive at an ………………….. settlement of the dispute.

a)      amiable

b)      amicable

Answers

1. a)      verbose

2. a)      masterly

3. a)      ingenuous

4. b)      juncture

5. b)      mettle

6. b)      reverent

7. b)      principles

8. b)      antique

9. b)      assent

10. b)      amicable

Bed of roses: a very comfortable existence

Stardom is not a bed of roses.

Get out of bed on the wrong side

If you get out of bed on the wrong side, you are in a bad mood throughout the day.

He must have got out of bed on the wrong side: he gets annoyed very easily.

As you make your bed, so you must lie in it (One has to face the consequences of one’s actions and take the responsibility for them.)

Ceiling

Hit the roof / ceiling (become very angry)

She hit the ceiling when she realized that he had been cheating on her.

Cupboard

A skeleton in the cupboard (closely kept secret)

Her shameless affair with a married man is the skeleton in the family cupboard.

Door

Lay something at someone’s door (say that somebody is responsible for something that has gone wrong)

The failure of the employee welfare scheme can be laid at the company’s door. (=The company is responsible for the failure of the employee welfare scheme.)

Shut the door in someone’s face

If someone shuts the door in your face, he / she refuses to talk to you.

She shut the door in my face without saying a word.

Lose (verb) (rhymes with choose)

Act now if you don’t want to lose this opportunity.

Loose* (verb), loose* (adjective) (rhymes with goose)

When he loosed his dog it ran away.
This knot is loose and will soon come undone.

Taste (rhymes with waste)
Test (rhymes with nest)

The food tasted nice.
He tested the food in the laboratory.

Pore* (noun), pour* (verb) (rhymes with door)
Poor (adjective) (rhymes with tour)

Tiny holes in your skin are called pores.
He poured the tea into the cup.
We should help the poor and the needy.

Patrol (pa-trol, accent on ‘trol’)
Petrol (pe-trol, accent on ‘pet’)

There were no policemen on patrol.
Motor vehicles use petrol.

Latter (adjective) (rhymes with matter)
Later (adverb) (rhymes with waiter)
Letter (noun) (rhymes with better)

The latter (second) part of the film is more interesting than the former (first) part.
I will come later.
I haven’t received your letter yet.

Bath (path)
Bathe (lathe)

We take a bath to clean our bodies.
We bathe, or have a bathe, to enjoy ourselves.

Princes (accent on ‘prin’)
Princess (accent on ‘cess’)

Princes are the sons of a king.
A princess is the daughter of a king.

The correct pronunciation is indicated by adding a well-known word in brackets which rhymes with the word whose pronunciation is often confused. Example: wick (sick). This means that the word ‘wick’ rhymes with the word ‘sick’.

Floor (rhymes with door)

A cat lies on the floor.

Flour*, flower* (rhymes with shower)

Bread is made of wheat flour.
Rose is a beautiful flower.

Weak*, week* (rhymes with leak)

His illness made him very weak.
There are seven days in a week.

Wick (rhymes with sick)

A oil lamp needs a wick.

Heir (pronounced exactly like ‘air’)

He is the heir to the throne.

Hair*, hare* (rhymes with care)

The baby looks very cute but it has no hair.
A hare looks like a big rabbit.

Wonder (rhymes with plunder)
Wander (rhymes with yonder)

I wonder why he is angry with me.
Gipsies wander over the country.

Advice (rhymes with nice) (noun)
Advise (rhymes with eyes) (verb)

He gave me some advice.
He advised me to save money.

Leave (rhymes with deceive)
Live (rhymes with give)

The train leaves at 9 am.
I live with my parents.

Quite (rhymes with white)
Quiet (rhymes with diet)

You are quite right.
He is a quiet boy.

Price (rhymes with nice)
Prize (rhymes with eyes)

What is the price of this book?
He won the first prize in the quiz competition.