CPE - USE OF ENGLISH - Unit 1

act on - You should act on your doctor's advice and try a new diet instead.

• To take action or do something in response to a particular situation or information.
• To ignore or not respond to a particular situation or information.
• To think about a particular situation or information without taking any action.
• To wait and see what happens in a particular situation or information.

act up - My daughter always acts up at the supermarket when I refuse to buy her candy.

• To behave in a calm and composed manner.
• To behave in a polite and respectful manner.
• To behave in a disruptive or unruly manner.
• To behave in a shy and introverted manner.

answer back - Stop answering your mother back!

• reply
• respond
• retort
• respond rudely

answer for - The company will have to answer for any damage done by its employees.

• say something back

• talk about something

• explain the reason

• be responsible for something

answer to - He has to answer to a tough boss.

• be under the command of sb

• talk back

• describe something

• give details

back down - Forces tend to back down when Philippine officials ignore their nonlethal pressure.

• Withdraw or retreat from a position or confrontation
• Stand still and refuse to move.
• Ignore or disregard a situation or problem.
• Advance or move forward in a position or confrontation.

back out - She backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning.

• Cancel or revoke a decision or action.
• Advance or move forward with a commitment or agreement.
• Ignore or disregard a commitment or agreement.
• Withdraw or retreat from a commitment or agreement

back up - Be sure to back up your work.

• restore
• delete
• copy
• support/ confirm

bear on - Two kinds of theories bear on literary studies.

• tiger on -

• be relevant to

• wait

• hang on

  .

bear with -Bear with me a moment while I make a call.

• To be patient or tolerant
• To be aggressive.
• To be annoyed.
• To be understanding.