Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition or adverb particle.
1. The soldiers killed the terrorists by acting ...................... tips from the villagers.
To act on is to take action on the basis of information received.
2. The children acted ................................ the story of Snow White on stage.
To act out is to perform with actions and gestures.
3. The car has started acting ....................... again. It doesn't start.
To act up is to behave badly.
4. Your explanations just don't add ...................
When things add up, they make sense.
5. Mutton or beef does not agree .................................. me.
If something does not agree with you, it has a negative impact on you.
6. Commercials aimed ........................ children must be banned.
To aim at is to target.
7. You must never answer ........................... your elders.
To answer back is to reply rudely to an elderly person.
8. You will never manage to argue me .......................
To argue somebody down is to beat them in an argument.
9. Her children live abroad but they ask ..................... her every day.
To ask after somebody is to inquire about their health.
10. If you like her, why don't you ask her ..................... for lunch?
To ask somebody over is to invite them.
11. The brave villagers forced the invaders to back ..................................
To back off is to retreat.
12. She had promised to lend me some money but backed .................. at the last moment.
To back out of a promise is to fail to keep it.
Answers
1. The soldiers killed the terrorists by acting on tips from the villagers.
2. The children acted out the story of Snow White on stage.
3. The car has started acting up again. It doesn’t start.
4. Your explanations just don’t add up.
5. Mutton or beef does not agree with me.
6. Commercials aimed at children must be banned.
7. You must never answer back your elders.
8. You will never manage to argue me down.
9. Her children live abroad but they ask after her every day.
10. If you like her, why don’t you ask her over for lunch?
11. The brave villagers forced the invaders to back off.
12. She had promised to lend me some money but backed out at the last moment.
