spread jn singular]
the spread of sth (=when ideas, feelings etc are spread) the spread of liberal ideas in the 19th century
get around . get oraond [phrasal verb I]
informal if news or information gets around, people tell other people, so that soon many people know about it; News soon got around that Nick was back in town. I It s a small place, so news and gossip get around pretty quickly.
Stand /staend/ [и I] to be in a standing position: I was standing next to the entrance. I There were no seats, so we
had to stand. I Who's that girl standing over there?
stand doing sth (=stand while you are doing something) She stood watching him as he turned to go. stand up straight (=with your back and legs straight) The ceilings were so low that Mark couldn't stand up straight, stand still (=stand without moving) Stand still a moment while I brush your hair. standing - stood - have stood
be on your feet /hi: nn p:r fi:t to he standing, especially for a long time, with the result that you feel tired - use this especially about people who have to stand and walk a lot in their jobs: I've been on my feet all day and I need to rest.
on tiptoe/on tiptoes on Uptoo (zj.- standing on your toes, especially when
you stretch your body in order to see something or reach something: She stood on tiptoe and tried to see over the fence.
lean li:n; {u I) to stand while resting part of your body against a wall, a table etc + against/on Kay was leaning against the school wall, smoking a cigarette. I Joe leaned on the gate and watched them drive away.
leaning - leaned (also leant bhim-h) - have leaned (also have leant hRiib i)
И to stand after sitting or lying down
get up get 'лр, [phrasal verb 11 to stand after you have been sitting, bending, or lying down: She got up and turned off
the TV.
get up from а с К air/seat/so/a etc Max got
up from his chair and shook her hand, get up off the floor/ground/grass etc
One of her friends helped her to get up off the floor.
get up to do sth I was left with Maria when the others got up to dance.
Stand Up /stsnd лр/ [phrasa/ verb II to stand after you have been sitting: 7 must go now," she said, standing up. I Everyone stood up as the bride and her father entered the church.
get to your/eet ,get ts jo:r fi:t/ to stand
up, especially slowly or when it is difficult for you: He got to his feet, looking pale and anxious. I Somehow Jenny managed to get to her feet and stumble out of the room.
El to put your foot down on something
stand on stK/step on sth (also tread ОП Sth British) staend on (sth). step on (sth), tred on (sth)||-a:n-/ [phrasa/ verb T| to put your foot down on something while you are standing or walking, especially accidentally: I think I must have stood on some glass. I Be careful! You nearly trod on my foot.
Stamp ОП Sth stsemp on (sth)||-o:n- {phrasat verb T] to deliberately put your foot down very hard on something: There was a big cockroach in the kitchen and Barbara stamped on it.
START
opposite stop ^ see also beginning, finish, end
II to start doing something
Start sta:rt [v I/T] We can't start until Carol gets here. I I'm starting a new job next week. I Have you started that book yet? (-started reading it) start doing stk I've just started learning German. I If the baby starts crying, give her some milk.
start to do sth Has Gemma started to write that report yet? start by doing sth l=do something as the first part of an activity) Start by melting the butter in the frying-pan. start with sth (=do something or deal with something as the first part of a long activity) Tina wanted to paint the whole apartment, and she decided to start with the kitchen.
get started (=start a journey, activity etc, especially one that will take a long time) It was a fine morning, and the boys were eager to get started.
begin bigin/ [u \/T\ especially written to
707
START
start doing something: When the children were quiet, Martha began. I They began their journey in Venice.
begin to do sth Ann began slowly to climb the steps to the castle. I i began to realize that she no longer loved me. begin doing sth The audience suddenly began shouting and cheering. begin by doing sth (-do something as the first part of an activity) They began by asking me questions about my previous job.
A
+ with The speaker began with a short introduction about the history of the town.
Begin means the same as start, but begin is more formal. It is not usually used in conversation, but it is often used when you are describing past events or telling a story.
beginning - began - have begun
get down, to sth /get daon tu: (sth)
[р/irasa/ verb Tj informal to finally start doing something, after you have been avoiding doing it or after something has prevented you from doing it: Come on Bill - it's time you got down to some homework.
get down to doing sth Once the summer's here we must get down to painting the outside of the house.
A
Qget cracking /get 'kraekiq/ spokf.n informal to start doing something immediately. because you are in a hurry or there is a lot to do: Come on1 - get cracking. I want this whole house clean when I get back. I You'd better get cracking if you want to get to the airport by ten.
Only use get cracking in the infinitive or in commands. Don't say 'we got cracking' etc.
0 to start doing something regularly
Start/begin /sto:rt, bi'gin/ [v T] to start doing something which you then do regularly start/begin doing sth I started doing aerobics two years ago. I She was only 16 when she began seeing Alan, who was already married. start/begin to do sth His parents got divorced last year - that's when he started to take drugs.
START
beginning - began - have begun
Begin is more formal than start and is not usually used in conversation.
take up Sth teik 'лр (sth)/ [phrasal verb T] to become interested in a sport or activity. and start to spend time doing it: When did Bryan take up golf?
turn to sth Г31ГП tu: (sth) [phrasal verb T) turn to crime/drugs/alcohol etc to start doing something dangerous or illegaclass="underline" Hal turned to drinking after his wife and kids were killed in a car crash. I Research shows that young people without jobs are most likely to turn to crime.