COMB THROUGH
Researchers have been combing through data files trying to detect problems.
The police combed through the area looking for the criminal.

GIVE OFF
Some flowers give off their fragrance at night.
He sat on the old sofa which gave off dust as soon as you touched it.
His body gave off the radiation of a fire.

PLAY DOWN

President Putin and his government are playing down the significance of the revolution. There are no special events at the Kremlin.

STEP DOWN

The chairman was forced to step down due to ill health.
Sandra stepped down as treasurer.

EBB AWAY

But after the initial wave of shock and anger ebbed, Rogers had a different idea.
At this point, you're tired, stressed, and your confidence has ebbed.
My enthusiasm was ebbing away.

LIVE OFF

He is 25 and still living off his parents.
Unemployment forced him to live off his parents until he found work.

LIVE ON

1. These fish live on small sea creatures such as shrimp.
They seem to live on nothing but chips and chocolate.
2. They have to live on a pension of £350 a month.

LET (SOMEBODY, SOMETHING) OFF

1. I will let you off this time, but don't do it again.

2. You have worked hard all week, so I will let you off today.

SHOOT (SOMEBODY, SOMETHING) DOWN

1. I tried to help but all my suggestions were shot down in flames as always.
3. Union members shot down a four-year contract proposal.
shoot down an idea/a clame/ a plan

CHOKE SOMETHING BACK

Choking back my anger, I tried to speak calmly.
"John has had an accident," she said, choking back the tears.

STAND BY (SOMEONE)

The football manager stood by his goalkeeper even though he'd make a terrible mistake.

SQUARE UP

The nomination have been confirmed and tha gloves are off - the candidates for next month's National Assembly elections are squaring up for their May 1st showdown.

FISH SOMETHING OUT

1. Police fished a body out of the river this morning.

2. He fished out a coin from his pocket.

REVEL IN SOMETHING
/ˈrɛv(ə)l/

She's revelling in her newly found freedom.
He revelled in his role as team manager.
David revelled in the situation and said it was just what he was hoping for.

CLEAN UP

The gymnast Simone Biles cleaned up at the 2016 Olympics.
Billie Eilish cleans up at the Grammys - she wins the four biggest awards.

PUT (SOMETHING, SOMEONE) FORWARD

1. The proposals that you have put forward deserve serious consideration.

2. I wasn't convinced by any of the arguments that he put forward.

PUT SOMETHING DOWN TO SOMETHING

I put the children's bad behaviour down to the fact that they were tired.
She did seem rather unhappy, but I just put it down to the pressure she was under at work.

RULE OUT

The president has ruled out the use of US troops.
Police said arson could not be ruled out.

LET DOWN

The families of the victims feel that the justice system has let them down.

EVEN OUT

A last-minute goal by Spain evened out the score to 2-2.
It's not fair if Carl has a lot more jobs to do than you, so let's even things out a bit.

DASH OFF

The article was dashed off at short notice, that's why it's full of mistakes.
I dashed off a couple of notes.

SEIZE ON
SEIZE UPON
/siːz/

Companies were quick to seize on the possibilities offered by new technology.

EMBARK ON
EMBARK UPON
/ɪmˈbɑːk/

She has a great job that takes her all over the world and lets her embark on all kinds of adventures.
After leaving college, Lucy embarked on an acting career.

BOUNCE BACK

Her hat trick shows she’s really bouncing back from her broken leg.
The Amazon will never bounce back from deforestation.
Apple’s shares fell dramatically, but bounced back before the end of the day.

GRAPPLE WITH

The government continued to grapple with the issue of public transport.

HAND OUT

1. Would you hand these papers out for me?
Ralph was handing out drinks.

2. They won’t hand out your phone number without permission.

GET ON WITH something

The sooner we finish the speeches, the sooner we can get on with the celebration.
They couldn't get on for lack of materials.

GO ALONG WITH SOMETHING

Diminished happiness goes along with increased prosperity.

WASH AWAY

1. Heavy rains have washed away the bridge.
2. The nurse washed away the blood.
3. The sea washed away the stains and wounds of the world. (O.Wilde)

WORK someone UP
BE / GET WORKED UP

It took so little to work them up.

HONE IN ON something

GET WIND OF something

De Gaulle (де Гол) got wind of the invasion in August 1942.
I don't want my colleagues to get wind of the fact that I'm leaving.

STAND TO DO something

Many small companies stand to lose financially if the new law is introduced.

MULL something OVER
/mʌl/

I need a few days to mull things over before I decide if I'm taking the job.

FERRET OUT something
/ˈfer·ət/
If there are others who are responsible it might be worth an attempt to ferret them out.

FERRET somebody/something OUT
He is determined to ferret out the truth about what happened.