Question 1
Can you make _____ this prescription, please?
In British English, make up a prescription means to prepare the medicine a doctor has ordered. The pharmacist reads the prescription and makes it up for you.
Question 2
Some working parents _____ being absent all day by giving their children lots of presents.
Make up for something means to do something good so that a bad situation feels better. The parents give presents to balance their absence. Not make up, because we need for before the thing being balanced.
Question 3
Heidi and John had a big quarrel but later _____.
Make up (intransitive) means to become friends again after an argument. The clue is had a big quarrel but later: They quarrelled but later made up.
Question 4
I don’t believe a word you’re saying. I think you’ve made the whole thing _____.
Make something up means to invent a story that is not true. The clue is I don't believe a word you're saying.
Question 5
The other day, I came _____ an advert for a job you might be interested in.
Come across something means to find or see it by chance. I came across an advert = I saw it without looking for it.
Question 6
How did you come _____ that cut on your chin?
Come by something means to get or receive it, often when we ask how it happened. How did you come by that cut? = How did you get that cut?
Question 7
How is the new book coming _____ (progressing), Simon?
Come along means to make progress or develop. How is the book coming along? = How well is it progressing? Not come up, which means to appear or be mentioned.
Question 8
The policeman told the people to _____ when they stopped to watch the accident.
Move along means to stop standing in one place and keep walking. Police tell crowds to move along so they don't block the street. Not go off, which means to explode, ring (an alarm) or go bad (food).
Question 9
Although she was only sixteen she looked a lot older. In fact, she could easily pass _____ twenty-one.
Pass for means to be accepted as something or someone you are not, often because of how you look. She is sixteen but could pass for twenty-one. Not pass off, which needs as: pass yourself off as.
Question 10
We _____ from the hotel early the following morning.
Set off means to start a journey. The clue is from the hotel early the following morning. Not called off, which means cancelled.
Question 11
Before we start the meeting today I’d like to _____ (distribute) some notes I’ve made about the forthcoming advertising campaign.
Pass out (something) can mean to give things to everyone in a group, like hand out. The hint (distribute) shows this meaning. Not send out, which usually means sending by post or email, not handing round in a meeting.
Question 12
He stole one of the officers’ uniforms and managed to escape by passing himself _____ as a guard.
Pass yourself off as someone means to pretend to be that person so others believe it. He wore a uniform and passed himself off as a guard.
Question 13
All my hard work paid _____ in the end - I came top of the class in the exam.
Pay off (intransitive) means to be successful or bring good results after effort. The clue is I came top of the class. Not pay up, which means to pay money you owe.
Question 14
He put six rings on the table and told her to _____ the one she liked best.
Pick out means to choose one thing from a group. She can pick out the ring she likes best. Not pick on, which means to treat someone unkindly.
Question 15
Excuse me, sir, but may I ask how you came _____ (obtained) these goods?
Come by something means to get or obtain it, as the hint (obtained) shows. How did you come by these goods? is often asked when someone suspects they were not obtained honestly.
Question 16
Laughing Boy (horse) _____ second in the 2.15 race at Ascot.
Come in + position means to finish a race in that place. The horse came in second = it finished second.
Question 17
He _____ quite a lot of money when his parents died.
Come into money means to receive it, usually after someone dies. The clue is when his parents died: he came into (inherited) money.
Question 18
There were so many people leaving the hotel that it took nearly an hour to _____.
Check out means to pay your bill and leave a hotel. The clue is people leaving the hotel. Not check in, which is what you do when you arrive.
Question 19
The police will check _____ your story, so tell the truth.
Check up on something means to find out whether it is true. The clue is so tell the truth: the police will check up on your story. Not check in to, which means to register at a hotel or airport.
Question 20
Rosemary _____ a beautiful necktie for her husband’s birthday.
Pick out means to choose something carefully from several. Rosemary picked out a nice tie. Not picked on, which means treated someone unfairly.
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