to misbehave; to behave in a troublesome or unco-operative way. (Informal.) □ John, why do you always have to act up when your father and I take you out to eat? □ My arthritis is acting up. It really hurts. □ My car is acting up. I could hardly get it...[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    a proverb meaning that it is better to do something about a problem than just talk about it. □ Mary kept promising to find work. John finally looked her in the eye and said, “Actions speak louder than words!” □ After listening to the MP promising to cut...[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    to make a problem worse; to say or do something which makes a bad situation worse; to make an angry person get even more angry. □ To spank a crying child just adds fuel to the fire. □ Bill was shouting angrily, and Bob tried to get him to stop by laughi...[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    to make a bad situation worse; to hurt the feelings of a person who has already been hurt. □ First, the basement flooded, and then, to add insult to injury, a pipe burst in the kitchen. □ My car barely started this morning, and to add insult to injury, ...[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    to make a mathematical total; to combine facts in order to come to a conclusion. (See also the following entry.) □ Ive got to finish adding the figures up. □ Hurry and add up the numbers. □ When you total up all the facts, you see things entirely differ...[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    to mean something; to signify or represent something; to result in something. (Informal.) □ All this adds up to trouble! □ I dont understand the situation. It just doesnt add up....[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    See up in years....[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    easily frightened; always frightened, timid, or suspicious. □ After Tom was robbed, he was afraid of his own shadow. □ Jane has always been a shy child. She has been afraid of her own shadow since she was three....[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    in a manner which is just barely adequate; not very well. □ He thanked me—after a fashion—for my help. □ Oh yes, I can swim, after a fashion....[繼續(xù)閱讀]

    anyway; in spite of what had been decided. (Often refers to a change in plans or a reversal of plans.) □ Mary had planned to go to the bank first, but she came here after all. □ It looks like Tom will study law after all....[繼續(xù)閱讀]