MAGIC M MAGIC magicked, magicked, magicking magic away ~Iawayl Imagicawayl~ BrE to make something disappear quickly and without any effort: The new government was facing a serious political problem which couldn't be magicked away. magic up I magic I sth I up I I magic up ~ to make something appear quickly and with- out any effort: The program can magic upfacts on any subject within a couple of minutes. MAJOR majored, majored, majoring +1 major in I sth I AmE to study something as your main subject at a college or university: She decided to major in biology. • COMPARE: minor in MAKE made, made, making make after 1 make after I sblsth I NOT PASSIVE BrE to chase someone or something: Hencke made after the man, but all he could see was his back in the distance. * SIMILAR TO: chase make awar with 1 1 make away with I sth I NOT PASSIVE BrE informal to steal something and escape with it: Thieves made away with thousands of dollars worth ofjewellery. * SIMILAR TO: make off with 2 I make away with l~ BrE old-fashioned to kill someone, especially after deciding to do it and planning it secretly: Mrs Jonathan now realized that she would never get a divorce. So she decided to make away with him instead. * SIMILAR TO: kill, do away with informal 322 I make for ~ NOT PASSIVE to move towards something: At last the film finished and we got up and made far the exit. I The two pilots made far Barber s Point and awaited instructions for take-off. * SIMILAR TO: head for .1 be made for each other I if two people are made for each other, they each seem to be the perfect person for the other to have a happy relationship with: I'd like to see Seb and Carrie get married. They're made for each other. 3 I make for ~ NOT PASSIVE to help to cause a particular effect or situa- tion, or to produce a particular result: The game was played in heavy rain, which made for very dangerous conditions. I With restau- rants open late into the night, it all makes for a festive atmosphere. I The authors descrip- tion is vivid and thorough, and this makes for a very good read. I make ~ into ~ to change something in order to use it in a different way or for a different purpose: Sagan s best-selling book is being made into a movie by director Robert Zemeckis. I The assistant showed us how an ordinary-looking sofa could be made into two beds . * SIMILAR TO: turn into ~T I make Isb I into Isth I to change someone so that they become a different sort of person or have a different position in society: The film made her into a star overnight. I Russell had spent a year in prison before he was found not guilty. It had made him into a bitter man. * SIMILAR TO: turn into make of I what do you make of I sthlsb? I if you ask someone what they make of some- thing or someone, you want to know what their opinion of or reaction to them is: "I say, what do you make of this? "Martin said, point- ing to a small article in that mornings paper. not know what to make of sth/sb (=not know how to understand or react towards something or someone) When the company suddenly announced that its regional offices were closing, we didn't know what to make of it. I Hudson didn't like children, and never really knew what to make of his son. * SIMILAR TO: think of Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. make off I make off I X to leave quickly, especially in order to escape: Detectives believe that the gunmen made off in the direction of Barnwell Park. * SIMILAR TO: take off make off with" X" s I make off with I~ NOT PASSIVE to steal something and escape with it: Biggs and sixteen others made offwith £2.5 million in the Great Train Robbery of 1965. * SIMILAR TO: make away with I make out @El I make @El out I NOT PASSIVE if you can make something out, you can see or hear it, but with difficulty: In the semi- darkness, Delaney could just make out the Russian s face. not be able to make sth out (=not be able to see or hear something clearly) The words were in small print and I couldn't quite make them out. I Maurice could hear voices in the kitchen below, but he couldn't make out what was being said. :2 I make out @El I make I~ NOT PASSIVE, USUALLY NEGATNE if you can make something out, you can understand it although it is difficult to under- stand: Nobody could make out exactly what Murphy was trying to say. I I can't make out why she did that, can you? from what sb can make out . (=according to what someone understands about a situation, although it may not be correct) From what I can make out, the girl ran straight into the road, without stopping to look. * SIMILAR TO: work out especially SrE, figure out 3 I make I sth/sb lout to be I~ to describe something or someone, usually wrongly, as a particular type of thing or per- son, because you want people to believe that it is true: He was a good man, but the press made him out to be weak and unimportant. I So what about fox-hunting? Is it really the bloody sport that its made out to be? 4 I make out (that>] especially BrE to try to make people believe that something is true when it is not: Don't you make out I'm a liar, Eric, or l'll knock you down! I When Mum came in I was still feeling really annoyed so I made out that 1 was watching ti: * SIMILAR TO; pretend 323 MAKE 5 I make out a cheque/bill etc I to write the necessary information on a cheque, bill ete: We sat down to wait while the receptionist made out our bill. I I mailed a check for $30.80, made out to Lakewood Country Club. * SIMILAR TO; write out 6 I can't make I~ if you can't make someone out, you cannot understand what kind of person they are, or why they behave as they do: Dorothy s such a quiet reserved person. I've never been able to make her out at all. * SIMILAR TO: can't figure sb out, can't work sb out SrE 7 I make outl AmE informal to kiss and touch someone in a sexual way: A couple of teenagers were making out in the back of the movie theater. * SIMILAR TO; snog SrE informal 8 I how did you make out? I spoken used to ask if someone was successful: How did you make out in the race yesterday? - I make ISthJ over I BrE to officially give money or property to someone else, so that it legally belongs to them + to When Rose reached sixty, she made over the farm to her son. I make towards I sth I especially BrE to start moving towards some- thing: Without a word, Bert gently picked up the frightened child and made towards the house. "4"1 make up I~ USUALLY PASSNE if a number of parts or members make up something, they combine together to form it: Women made up over 40% of the workforce. I the countries that make up the United Nations be made up of Indonesia is made up of over 13,000 islands. I The group was made up of a psychologist, a social worker, and myself make-up N [uj the things or people that something con- sists of: There have been a lot of changes to the make-up of the team. "1'\.[ make up your mind/make your mind up I to make a definite decision or choice, after thinking about it for a long time: I wish he'd hurry up and make up his mind. I In the fall of 1945 he made up his mind to quit school. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. MAKE + what/whichlwhether etc The doctors couldn't make up their minds what to do. + (that) By the time they got home he had already made up his mind that he wanted to marry her. sb's mind is made up (=they have decided to do something and are determined to do it) From the moment she saw her first ballet her mind was made up. She wanted to be a dancer. and nothing else. * SIMILAR TO: decide Imakeuplsthl Imake~ to think of a lie, excuse, or story that is not true in order to deceive someone: Diana s brother accused the press of harassing her and making up stories about her. I I bet he's making it all up. * SIMILAR TO: invent made-upADJ not true and intended to deceive someone: She just gave them some made-up story about how she needed the money for an emergency. Imakeup~ Imake~ to think of something new using your imag- ination, for example the words for a new song, story ete: The soldiers used to make up rude songs about him. I He couldn't remember any fairy stories, so he made one up about a magic carpet - the children loved it. make it up as you go along (=decide how to do something while you are doing it instead of planning it before) We didn't have any experience when we started the company, so we just made it up as we went along. * SIMILAR TO: invent 5 Imakeup~ Imade~ to prepare or arrange something so that it is ready to be used - use this about lists, beds, sandwiches, or medicines: My wife's made up a bed for you in the spare room. I Shall I make up some sandwiches? * SIMILAR TO: prepare, get ready 6 1 make upl 1 make it upl if two people who have had an argument make up, they talk to each other and agree to become friends again + with Although the father had made up with his daughter, there was still a strain between him and his son-in-law. kiss and make up spoken (=become friendly again with someone after an argument) Alderson isn't about to kiss and make up with his adversaries soon, and has issued a string of lawsuits against them. * SIMILAR TO: patch up 324 7 [make uplsth[ [makels~ if you make up time that you have taken off work, you spend that time working later: Janine took the morning off and told her boss that she'll make it up later. I I'm going home early - I'll make up the time tomorrow. make-up test N [cl AmE a test in school or college that you do later than other people in the class, because you were not there to do it at the same time 8 Imakeupl~ to add to an amount or number, so that you have the amount or number that you need in order to do something: I'm paying £800 towards the car, and my parents say they'll make up the rest of the money. I We need two more players to make up the team. make up the difference (=pay the remaining money that is needed) 70% of the theatre's costs are covered by ticket sales, with a government grant making up the difference. 9 I make up [ill [ make ~ to put coloured creams, powders etc onto someone's face to change the way they look: She had been made up to look like an old woman. make-up N [uj coloured creams, powders etc that people, especially women and actors, put on their face to change their appearance: I always go for heavy sixties-style eye make-up. I She paused before applying her make-up and stared at the mirror. 10 Imakeup~ Imake~ to make a dress, suit etc by cutting and sewing cloth: We have these suits made up for us in the Far East. I If you have a sewing machine you can save money on clothes by making them up yourself. make up for <t, 1 make up for I sth [ if a good situation makes up for a bad one, it makes you forget the bad situation and feel happy again: Last night 's victory made up for all the problems we've had in previous games. more than make up for sth (=be so good that it makes the bad situation seem unimportant) She felt exhausted, but the sheer pleasure of having reached the summit more than made up for it. * SIMILAR TO: compensate for 2 1 make up for ~ NOT PASSIVE to do something good for someone after doing something bad to them, so that they forgive you: Can I buy you lunch to make up for being late? I Mike forgot his wife's birth- day - so he took her to Paris to make up for it. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 3 I make up for I~ to have so much of a good quality that it is not important that you do not have enough of another quality: Perhaps Sue lacked natural skill, but she certainly made upfor that with her enthusiasm. I What the diamonds lacked in size, they apparently made up for in quality. 4 I make up for lost time' a to work more quickly or at times when you do not usually work, because something has prevented you from domg your work: I was ill last week, so I had to work all weekend to make up for lost time. b to become involved in an activity very eagerly, because you wish you had discov- ered it earlier in your life: Ursula didn't start dancing until she was 40, so now she feels she s trying to make up for lost time. make up to +1 make it up to IsbJ to do something good for someone after dis- appointing them or treating them badly, so that they forgive you: I'm sorry I haven't seen you much lately, but I'll make it up to you, I promise. 2 I make up to ~ NOT PASSNE to talk to someone in a very friendly way because you want to have sex with them: Paul came to the party uninvited, and then started making up to all the women. * SIMILAR TO: chat up BrE informal 3 I make up to ~ NOTPASSNE BrE old-fashioned to be very friendly to some- one in authority because you want them to do something for you: students who start making up to the teacher just before the exams * SIMILAR TO: suck up to Informal MAP mapped, mapped, mapping map out Imapout~ Imaplsth~ to plan something carefully' or to explain carefully what your plans are: Felicity s future had been mapped out for her by wealthy and adoring parents. I The Chancellor mapped out yesterday what he hopes is Britain s road to recovery. MARCH marched, marched, marching march on Imarchon~ to walk to a particular place in a large group in order to attack it or to protest about 325 MARK something: Mikael gathered his troops and prepared to march on Addis Ababa. I Demon- strators marched on the government in Berlin, and demanded that its leaders answer for their policies. MARK marked, marked, marking I mark I sb/sth ~ to show or consider that someone or some- thing is a particular type of person or thing: Townsend's skill and speed mark him as a player of potential. I When she first saw Patrick she had marked him as a bully. * SIMILAR TO: mark down as BrE, label mark down 1 I mark I sth ~ I mark down ~ to reduce the price of something: Pentos shares were marked down by 14p to 56p. I The store was having its final sale on Friday, with everything marked down by 20%. * SIMILAR TO: reduce • OPPOSITE: mark up markdown N [cl a reduction in the price of something: We are offering a 20% markdown on selected products. 2 Imarkdownl~ Imarkl~downl to write something down, especially in order to keep a record: As part of the diet, I had to mark down everything I ate each day. * SIMILAR TO: jot down 3 I mark I sb/sth I down I I mark down ~ if teachers mark a student or their work down, they give the student a lower score: Miss Perkovich marked me down three points for beginning a sentence with 'but '. mark down as ~downasl~ BrE to consider someone or something to be a particular type of person or thing: From the start of his rugby career, Andrew has been marked down as a very exciting player. I The Netherlands was marked down as a particu- larly attractive area for economic expansion. * SIMILAR TO: mark as 1 I mark off I~ I mark I sth I~ to separate an area of ground or show where its border is: Within the garden, hedges are valuable for marking off special areas and'M providing shelter. I The Voskresenye Gates i mark off the north side of Red Square. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. MARK 326 :z I mark Isth/sb ~ I mark off I~ to make something or someone different from other things or people of a similar type + from Each of the city's districts has its own distinct character that marks it offfrom its neighbours. * SIMILARTO: distinguish formal 3 Imarkl~ Imarkoff@El to put a mark beside or through something that is written on a list, to show that it has been dealt with or chosen etc: I began to mark the days off on a chart. I He marked off the names of people he could rely on for support. * SIMILARTO: cross off, tick off BrE, check off mark out 1 I mark I sb/sth ~ I mark out ~ BrE to make someone or something seem dif- ferent from or better than other people or things, especially in a very noticeable way: Felipe was broad-shouldered and slim. He still had that athletic look that had marked him out so long ago. + as Her considerable experience of inter- national law marked her out as exceptional. + from It's the way real ale is produced that marks it out from other beers. * SIMILARTO: distinguish :z I mark out @El I mark [sth lout I to separate a particular area from the area around it, by drawing lines or using other signs: The area marked out here is intended as a viewing platform for spectators. 3 I be marked out (for ~ if someone is marked out for something, they have special qualities and abilities which make them likely to achieve it + for Right from the beginning, he seemed to have been marked out for a career in baseball. * SIMILARTO: be destined - 1 Imarkup§j Imark~ to increase the price of something, especially so that it will sell for more than has been paid for it: It annoys farmers to see how much their produce has been marked up by the time it reaches the shops. I The market was relieved that the figures were not worse, and marked the shares up 7p. * SIMILARTO: put up, hike up • OPPOSITE: mark down mark-up N [cl an increase in the price of something, especially the difference between the amount a store pays for something and the amount it sells it for: The mark-up on eggs between producer and supermarket is between 160% and 170%. :z I mark §I up] Imark up 1 5th I BrE to put a mark beside something that is written on a list, to show that you have dealt with it or chosen it: It was Lawrie 'sjob to col- lect the rents and mark them up in a book. I The vehicles are all tested first and their parts are marked up for repair as necessary. 3 Imarkupl~ ~ to write any necessary instructions for changes on a piece of writing or music that is intended to be printed: Text must be checked and marked up for corrections. MARRY married, married, marrying marry above yourself/ marry above your station aid-fashioned to marry someone of a higher social class than your own: In the book, Rose Trelawny is a singer who tries to marry above her station. • OPPOSill: marry beneath you/yourself old-fashioned marry beneath I marry beneath youlyourselfl to marry someone of a lower social class than your own: People said that Elsie had married beneath her, when she married James Abott, afarm worker. • OPPOSITE: marry above yourselflmarry above your station old-fashioned marry into I marry into @El to marry someone from a particular family or social group, especially a rich or important one, and so become part of it: Douglas Robinson married into the Roosevelt family of Oyster Bay. marry off I marry off I sb \ [ marry I sb I off I old-fashioned to arrange for someone, espe- cially a female member of your family, to get married or to marry someone you have chosen: In country areas it was common for fathers to marry off their daughters when they reached twelve or thirteen. + to The Duke's daughter, Anne, was seized and married off to Charles VIII of France. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 327 MATCH MASQUERADE masqueraded, masqueraded, masquerading I marry outl old-fashioned to marry someone whose reli- gion or social background is different to your own: A lot of Jewish people were frightened that their children might marry out and raise their children as non-Jews. + of The film centres on a clever young man who marries out of his working-class back- ground. I marry up I I marry up I sth I Imarryls~ erE old-fashionedif two things marry up or if you marry them up, they join together or connect + with The two halves can then be trimmed and married up. I The new parts should marry up with the old system. * SIMILAR TO: connect MARVEL marvelled,marvelled,marvellingerE marveled,marve/ed,marvelingAmE marvel at Imarvelat~ to be very surprised by something, especially a quality that you admire about something or someone: Those who watch the programme marvel at the speed of Carole s brain. I Visitors never cease to marvel at the beauty of the Taj Mahal. lOne can only marvel at the wisdom of the writers of the US constitution. MASH mashed, mashed, mashing mash up I mash I st~ I mash up ~ to crush food until it is soft and smooth: He was busy mashing up vegetables for the baby s lunch. MASK masked, masked, masking I mask off~ I mask I~ to cover a surface, for example with paper, so that you can paint or do something else to the area that surrounds it without affecting the part you have covered: Remove the door handles and carefully mask off any areas that you do not want to paint. masquerade as I masquerade as ~ USUALLY PROGRESSNE to pretend or appear to be something or someone different: I have better things to do than discuss the silly stories that masquerade as news in some local newspapers. , By mas- querading as poisonous insects, these flies avoid attacks from birds. I We had a cup of hot brown stuff which masqueraded as tea. MATCH matched, matched, matching match against 1 I match I sb/sth I against ~ USUALLY PASSNE to make two people, teams etc compete against each other to see which one is best: The two men were matched against each other in Game 3 of the American League Champion- ship series. 2 ~~s-th-I-a-g-ai-n-st~~ USUALLY PASSIVE to compare one thing with another in order to see whether they are the same: The cor- rect answers can be matched very quickly against each candidate s test. I No fingerprints were found in the car which could be matched against the ones in the flat. match up 1 I match upl if two things match up, they are similar or suitable for each other in some way + with What other people say does not always match up with our own experience. + against especiallyerEIts important to select employees who match up against a particu- lar job profile. * SLMILAR TO: match 2 I match I sb/sth I~ I match up I sb/sth I to bring together two people or things that seem to be suitable for each other + with She only invited me to dinner to try and match me up with her brother. I When choosing a furnishing fabric, remember to match it up with the other colours in the room. 3 I match upl especiallyerE to be of a good enough standard: If they want to be players on the international scene, their standards will have to match up. I It was fashionable to be incredibly thin and my figure just didn't match up. * SIMILAR TO: measure up Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. MATCH 328 4 I match upl especiallyAmEif a team, player etc matches up with another team, player etc, they play at a similar standard and compete against each other well + against/with The Raiders didn't match up well against the Chiefs, who seemed to get all the opportunities they needed. matchup N [cl AmE a match or competition between two or more teams or people: In the Clinton- Dole-Powell matchup, Clinton won with nearly 44% of the vote. + with The nation S na.l team is heading into tonight's Final Four matchup with Kentucky. match up to I match up to ~ to be as good, interesting etc as something or someone else: I'd already read the book, but the filmed matched up to it in every way. lOur neighbours returnedfram their holiday early, complaining that Rome did not match up to London! match up to your expectations/hopes/ ideals etc (=be as good as you expected, hoped etc) I was really disappointed by Hollywood. It didn't match up to my expec- tations at all. * SIMILAR TO: measure up. live up to MAUL mauled, mauled, mauling maul around/about ~ around/about I BrE informal to pull something or someone from one position to another in a rough or violent way: Some of the women complained about the medical examination, saying that they had been mauled about and treated like pieces of meat. MAX maxed, maxed, maxing - 1 Imax outl AmE informal if you max out on something, you have too much of it and do not want any more + on Today's audiences have maxed out on violent movies and are demanding family- oriented films. 2 Imaxoutl AmE informal to put as much time, effort, money etc as possible into doing something: Jordan has been maxing out in every game and keeping up a fast pace. rnaxed-out AD) AmE informal if a system, process, method etc is maxed-out, it is being used to the highest degree possible: I'Veneed to take care of the city's maxed-out sewage system by finding ways to conserve water. 3 I max out your credit card I AmE informal to spend the highest amount that your credit card will allow: College stu- dents often max out their credit cards and spend years repaying the debt. MEASURE measured, measured, measuring I measure I sb/sth I against I sb/sth I to judge how good or bad someone or some- thing is, by comparing them with someone or something else: With the government's national tests, it is now possible to measure each child against fixed standards. I The administration's achievements are less impressive if we measure them against their intentions. measure yourself against sb/sth If all musi- cians measured themselves against Mozart, they would get very depressed. measure off I measure ~ I measure off I 5th I to measure a length of something. especially material and cut it oH from a larger piece: They decided on a dark green material, and the elderly assistant measured off the required length. measure out I measure out ~ I measure I 5th lout I to weigh or measure a particular amount of something that you want to use, ofren in order to make something: I showed the chil- dren how to measure out and mix the ingredi- ents for the cake. I The shop assistant got down the dress material and measured it out carefully. 1 I measure up I X to be of a good enough standard how does sblsth measure up (=used when asking what someone or something is like and whether they are good enough) What happens to teachers who don't measure up? I How does your new house measure up? Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. + to I wondered how he would measure up to being chairman. I Some of the college 50 courses do not measure up to the required standard. 2 I measure up I I measure ~ I measure up §] K to measure the exact size of something, for example a room or a piece of furniture: In most cases, when you buy new carpets, the firm will measure up for you. I We hadn't mea- sured up properly, and when the washing machine arrived it wouldn't fit in the space. 3 I measure ~ I measure up I sb I K to look at someone carefully in order to decide what your opinion of them is, espe- cially when you first meet them: The two men shook hands and silently measured each other up. * SIMILAR TO: size up, weigh up measure up again$t I measure ~ up against I~ to compare someone or something with another person or thing, in order to find which is better, bigger ete: How does the com- pany 50 performance measure up against the best in the world? measure up to I measure up to ~ to be as good as someone or something else, when you compare them: According to our research, girls still do not measure up to boys in science subjects. MEET mer, met, meeting - I meet upj to meet someone, either because you have arranged to, or by chance: If you'd like to meet up for a drink sometime, give me a call. I The members of the band had all had various music jobs before they met up a year ago. + with We met up with the rest of the group in Frankfurt. * SIMILAR TO: meet, get together 2 I meet upl if two or more things meet up, they join or come together at a particular place: A number of paths run down through the woods and meet up at the bottom. + with She was wearing a tiny white T-shirt that didn't meet up with her jeans. * SIMILAR TO: join 329 MELT meet with "''!r I meet with ~ NOT PASSIVE to have a meeting with someone in order to discuss or arrange something: Buchanan will meet with his advisers on Thursday to decide on his next course of action. 2 I meet with ~be met with I§] if something meets with or is met with a par- ticular reaction, that is the way people react to it: The architects design did not meet with their approval. I A decision to hold the confer- ence in Berlin met with resistance from our colleagues. I The governments proposals were met with opposition by all the parties con- cerned. I News of the merger has been met with great excitement in the city. 3 I meet with §] NOT PASSNE if someone or something meets with success, failure, problems etc, they experience suc- cess, failure, problems ete: The company s efforts to expand met with some success. meet with an accident (=have an accident) Bill looked serious. "One of our workers has met with an accident," he said. MELLOW mellowed, mellowed, mellowing mellow out I mellow out I I mellow ~ out I AmE informal to become relaxed and calm, or to make someone become relaxed and calm: I just like to go home and mellow out in front of the TV after work. I She 50 really mellowed him out in the two years they've been dating. * SIMILAR TO: relax, chill out spoken informal MELT melted, melted, melting 1 I melt away I »: to gradually disappear: Harman saw her hopes of promotion slowly melt away. I He laughed suddenly, and all the irritation in his face melted away. + into The high rocky cliff. melted away into long stretches of silvery beach. I Olivia saw his hard look melt away into tender- ness. * SIMILAR TO: fade away 2 I melt away I if people melt away, they gradually move away from someone or somewhere, often until they have completely disappeared: By the time the police appeared, most of the crowd had melted away. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. MELT + into He looked back briefly, but Coleman had already melted away into the darkness. 3 I melt away I [ melt away [ sth I [melt I sth [ away I to melt or to make something melt com- pletely or until it has disappeared: The next day it was a surprise to wake up and find that the snow had melted away. I The hot steam melts away the sticky oils and greases in the carpet, releasing dirt which can be vacuumed up later. ~ sth I down I I melt down I s~ to heat metal until it becomes a liquid and can be used again: Silver from this period is rare, as it was melted down in the Revolution tofund wars. I The beautiful copper engraving had been melted down to make a tea-kettle. meltdown N [c,v] a very dangerous situation in which the material in a nuclear reactor melts and burns through its container, allowing radioactivity to escape. A nuclear reactor is a large machine that produces nuclear energy: One incident at Greifswald in 1976 nearly caused a meltdown, which would have been a disaster even greater than Chernobyl. melt into 1 [melt into ~ to disappear or change and be replaced by something else: She watched the hope In his face melt into disappointment. I The crowd's cheers melted into gasps of admiration and approval. 2 I melt into ~ if people melt into a crowd, a wood etc, they move towards it and into It until they are part of it and cannot be seen: Lesley said goodbye and watched him melt into the crowds. lOne of the boys ran straight past and melted into the shadows before anyone could stop him. I There was no-one at the party that he knew or wanted to know. He decided to meltinw~ebackground * SIMILARTO: disappear MERGE merged, merged, merging I merge in[ BrE if two or more things merge in, they are so similar in style, colour, appearance etc that you do not notice much difference between them 330 + with I chose vel)' pale curtains that would merge in with the walls. * SIMILARTO: blend in merge into 1 I merge into [ sth I to gradually disappear or seem to disappear and become part of something else: Autumn slowly merged into winter. I Wefollowed the track south until it eventually merged into a minor road leading to the village. I As night fell, their figures merged into the landscape. 2 I merge into the background I BrE to be in a position in which you are not at all noticeable or important: Evans went to live among the people of southern Sudan, hoping to merge into the background of their everyday lives. MESS messed, messed, messing I mess around/about I informal to behave in a silly way, when you should be working or helping someone: Stop messing about you two! I I used to mess about a lot in class when I was at school. * SIMILARTO: muck about/around BrE informal, fool around AmE informal 2 I mess around/about I informal to spend your time enjoying yourself and relaxing or playing: She spends most of her weekends messing around at the beach. 3 ~ around/about I BrE informal to treat someone badly, for exam- ple by not being completely honest With them or by not doing what you have agreed to do: Linda s upset because some guy's been messing her around. I I still haven't had my money from the insurance company - they've really messed me around * SIMILARTO: muck sb about/around BrE informal, mess with 1 I mess around/about with ~ informal to try to change something in order to try to improve it or make It work better, espe- cially when it would be better If you did not: I came home tofind Mike messing around with the television. I It's a lovely song - I just wish people wouldn't mess around with it. I The mes- sage here is simple - don't mess around with a system that already works perfectly well. * SIMILARTO: muck about/around with especially BrE informal, mess with informal Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 2 I mess around/about with I~ informal to have a sexual relationship with someone who is married or already has a boyfriend or girlfriend: 1 can't stand men who mess around with other people s wives. * SIMILARTO: fool around with, play around with Informal 3 I mess around with I~ AmE informol to treat someone badly, for example by not being completely honest with them or by not doing what you have agreed to do: Cranberg told his attorneys to quit messing around with him. * SIMILARTO: mess sb around/about BrE informal I mess up I sth I Imess I sth I up I informal to spoil something important, espe- cially something that it has taken you a long time to plan or do: 1fyou make a mistake like that it can easily mess up a whole day s work. I I'm sorry if 1 messed up all your plans. mess things up (=spoil someone's plans) If we can't get our passports in time it'll really mess things up for the holiday. * SIMILARTO: cock up BrE Informal, foul up Informal 2 I mess 1 5th I uEJ I mess up 1 5th I informal to make something dirty or untidy: Don't come in here with those muddy boots. You'll mess up the carpet. be messed up Her hair was all messed up, as though she 'cl just gotten out of bed. 3 Imess upl Imess~ Informal to make a mistake or do something badly: The hardest thing in the world is to stand up and say, "1 messed up and it was my fault." I "How did the exam go?" "Terrible. 1 think 1 really messed it up." mess up big time (=make a bad mistake) When politicalfigures mess up big time like this, they always make the same excuse. * SIMILARTO: cock up BrE Informal 4 Imess~ Imessup~ Informal to upset someone badly or to make them have emotional or mental problems: She had a lot of problems when she was young, which really messed her up in later years. * SIMILARTO: screw up Informal messed-up AD) someone who is messed-up has serious emotional or mental problems: When 1 made the film Midnight Express, J had to play a man who was permanently messed-up. 1 with something or 331 MILL someone that may cause problems or be dangerous: She always told her kids never to mess with drugs. * SIMILARTO: fool with AmE Informal 2 I mess with I sb I --< spoken informal to annoy or cause trouble for someone, especially someone dangerous: Just keep your mouth shut. That s Johnny's house. No one messes with him. I "Ifyou mess with me, Deacon," he said in a slow voice, "I'll rip your head off" 3~~ ;t. Informal to try to change or improve some- thing that does not look right or is not work- ing well: 1 wish you 'cl stop messing with the TV,I'm trying to watch it. * SIMILARTO: mess around with informal METE meted, meted, meting I mete I sth lout I I mete out ~ \( formal to give someone a punishment, or type of treatment, especially one that is severe or unfair: Severe punishments are metered out to anyone who dares to oppose the military government. * SIMILARTO: deal out, administer formal MILITATE militated, militated, militating I militate against l~ formal to make it difficult or unlikely that something will happen or that someone will succeed: Today s crowded world militates against a sense of community. I It has been suggested that the increasing importance of science and technology in the workplace will militate against women. MILL milled, milled, milling I mill around/about I I mill around/about ~ informal if a lot of people mill around, they move around within a place or area, especially slowly, or while waiting for something to happen: There was chaos outside, with people milling around the body, waitingfor an ambu- lance to arrive. I The guests were milling about the courtyard, with glasses of champagne in their hands. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. . decided to make away with him instead. * SIMILAR TO: kill, do away with informal 322 I make for ~ NOT PASSIVE to move towards something: At last the film finished. and has issued a string of lawsuits against them. * SIMILAR TO: patch up 324 7 [make uplsth[ [makels~ if you make up time that you have taken off work,