Learn some prepositional phrases:
DELIGHT
Delight in: take great pleasure in.
e.g. We all delight
in your baby.
Delight with:
please someone with something.
e.g. He delighted his wife with a diamond bracelet.
ANSWER
Answer for: be responsible for.
e.g. You will have to answer for your mistakes.
Answer to: explain or justify for.
e.g. You will have to answer to the judge for what you did.
HOLD
Hold someone or
something at bay: keep someone or something at
a safe distance.
e.g. The bombing might be able to hold the enemies at bay, at
least for a while.
Hold back on
something: withhold something.
e.g. Hold back on this. We might need it in the days to come.
Hold by: stick to a promise.
e.g. I hope you will hold by this agreement.
Hold good for
someone or something: remain open
e.g. an offer to someone or something.
e.g. Does it hold good for everyone, including members of the
family?
Hold no brief for
someone or something: not to tolerate
someone or something.
e.g We should hold no brief for social injustice.
Hold off from doing
something: delay or postpone doing
something.
e.g. Can you hold off buying this car? We can't afford it.
Hold out: survive.
e.g. I don't think we can hold out much longer with this kind of
income.
Hold a candle to
someone or something: be equal to
someone or something.
e.g. You don't hold a candle to your brother when it comes to
playing the guitar.
Hold one's head up: be confident.
e.g. Hold your head up when
it comes to public speaking.
FADE
Fade down: diminish.
e.g. The thunder faded down, and soon the sun came out.
Fade up: increase the sound gradually.
e.g. Let's fade up the music when the speaker finished his speech.
HORSE
Horse around: play around nosily and roughly.
e.g Stop horsing around! It's time to go home!
ABIDE
Abide by: follow a set of rules.
e.g. We must abide by all the instructions from the Mayor.
Abide with: stay with someone.
e.g. She is your wife; you must abide with her no matter what.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
