Webster's New World American Idioms Handbook (50 page)

1.
to register to stay at a hotel or attend a convention; to settle the bill and leave a hotel or hospital ♦
After we
check in,
let’s go to the pool.
♦
You must
check out
of your room by 11:00 a.m.
Grammar note:
To register at a hospital, use the verb
to be admitted.
You can also use the idiom
check into/check out of.

2. (S)
to record that borrowed items have been returned; to borrow items, usually books and other materials, from a library or equipment room ♦
You’re allowed to
check out
five books and two videos at one time.
♦
It usually takes me an hour to
check in
all the returned library books.

3.
to quit or leave in a hurry or out of boredom or restlessness ♦
This movie is boring. I’m
checking out.
See you later.

1.
to enter or exit by force, usually through a door or window ♦
A burglar
broke in
and stole some jewelry.
♦
He tried to
break out
of prison, but he didn’t succeed.
Note:
Break out
can be separable when expressed as
breaking
someone
out
of jail, prison, or a routine.

2. (S)
to force oneself or someone else to change his or her regular schedule, habits, or day-to-day routine. Often put as
break out of.
♦
Taking a vacation helps you
break out
of your monotonous routine.
♦
Yoga and tennis helped
break
me
out
of my inactive lifestyle.

to submit something by hand, generally paperwork, a report, or project/to distribute something by hand, generally paper or other products or material ♦ Hand in
your project proposals next Monday.
♦
They
handed out
free tickets to the concert
.

to submit something by hand, generally paperwork, a report, or project/to distribute something by hand, generally paper or other products or material ♦
I’ll
pass out
the exam now.
♦
Please
pass
your workbooks
in,
and I’ll collect them.
Note:
Pass in/pass out
is often used in a classroom or meeting where participants may pass the materials from one to another to distribute or return them. The idiom
pass in
can only be used in a group setting.

to begin/end occupancy of a residence, office, neighborhood, or professional position ♦
Our neighbors just
moved out,
and now some new people are
moving in.
Grammar Note:
Often put as
move into/move out of.

1. (S)
to be knowledgeable or aware; to pay close attention to/to turn one’s attention away from (often talk, music, or noise) ♦
She’s really
tuned in
to the art world.
♦
I live on a noisy street, but I’ve learned to
tune
it
out.

2. (S)
to adjust a radio or TV to a particular frequency, station, or channel to receive information or a specific program/to adjust the radio or TV dial to eliminate static or interference ♦ Tune in
at 6 p.m. for the nightly news on channel 4.
♦
I tried to
tune out
the static on this station, but it’s still there.

1.
to get involved in someone else’s personal business or conversation/disengage from someone else’s personal business or conversation ♦
He
butts in
everyone’s business. It’s annoying!
♦
It’s their problem; I tried to help, but I think I should
butt out.

2.
to interrupt/enter an existing conversation ♦
Sorry for
butting in,
but I have a quick question.

1.
to visit a home without an invitation ♦
I wish they wouldn’t
drop in
unannounced.
♦
Feel free to
drop in
anytime. I’m usually home.
Grammar note:
Drop in
is often followed by the word
unannounced,
meaning to visit people without telling them ahead of time.

2.
to stop quickly at a home, shop, or office, often put as
drop in to
or
drop in at
♦
I need to
drop in
at the post office to get some stamps.
♦
Let’s
drop in
to the library for a minute and return these books.

to invite someone to enter a home, office, or other structure ♦
She talked to him at the door, but she didn’t
invite
him
in. ♦
Tommy,
ask
our guests
in;
don’t leave them standing on the front porch.

to sleep later than usual, generally by choice, often on the weekend or during a vacation ♦
We like to
sleep in
on Sunday morning.
♦
I feel well rested today because I
slept in.

to go to bed, ready for sleep, at the end of the evening ♦
We usually
turn in
around 11:00 p.m.
♦
It’s late. Let’s
turn in.
Note:
Don’t use
turn in
to refer to taking a nap or falling asleep unexpectedly. Also,
turn in
is rarely used when referring to children, because they are usually put to bed or sent to bed by an adult.
Grammar note:
And certainly don’t say
turn
the children
in
! That means to surrender them to the police for their crimes!

Sorry for Interrupting . . .

If you’ve ever tried to join a conversation of American English speakers, you’ve probably discovered that to get a chance to speak, you have to interrupt someone, or jump in at the slightest pause. There will rarely be a long pause, or any organized taking of turns. So, it’s no surprise that American English has a number of idioms that mean to interrupt a conversation.
Butt in
is just one of them. There is also
cut in, break in,
and
jump in.
They all mean to interrupt, but
break in
implies that more effort is required to enter the conversation;
jump in
suggests active participation with plenty to say; you can
cut in
with just a word or two.

[See
jump in,
dive in, break in,
and
cut in
later in this section.]

to substitute for someone, take someone’s place, or fill an extra work position ♦
They asked me to
fill in
for an employee who’s out sick.
♦
Thanks for
filling in
during the holiday shopping rush.
Note:
This idiom is also put
to fill in for.

to help with a job, project, or chore ♦
On the weekend, everyone
pitches in
to clean the house.
♦
Thanks for
pitching in
when we had the party.

to substitute for someone or take someone’s place, often at an event or a ceremony ♦
My assistant will
stand in
for me at the meeting while I’m out of town.
♦
Thanks for
standing in
at the reception when my brother couldn’t come.
Note:
This idiom is also put as to
stand in for.

1.
to suddenly enter or interrupt a conversation, discussion, or speech, often with some news or information ♦
The announcer
broke in
with news of the World Cup results.
♦
It’s hard to
break into
a discussion when everyone is talking fast.

2.
to force oneself ahead in a line ♦
When he tried to
break in
line, people told him to go to the end.

1.
to suddenly (and often rudely) enter or interrupt a conversation, discussion, or speech ♦
She told her son not to
cut in
when other people are talking.
♦
Commercials have
cut in
to this program every 10 minutes!

2.
to force oneself ahead in a line, often simply put as
to cut;
to get into a line of traffic, often abruptly or recklessly ♦
The line was so long that I let two old ladies
cut in
front of me.
♦
He
cut in
traffic, nearly causing an accident.

1.
to start doing something with enthusiasm and without hesitation; to involve oneself completely and wholeheartedly in something ♦
She
dove into
the project with much enthusiasm.
♦
If you want to learn computer skills, you just have to
jump in
and start trying.

2. (NS)
to get into an ongoing discussion or conversation (generally only with
jump in
) ♦ Jump in
the discussion whenever you want. Don’t wait to be invited.

1.
to report by phone or in person about one’s whereabouts or schedule ♦
I have to
check in
at home with my parents before dark.
♦
Should I
check in
with the office during my vacation?

2.
to present a plane ticket or your name at the ticket counter to confirm your reservation and receive a boarding pass ♦
You should
check in
two hours early for international.
♦
Wow! Look at the long line of people waiting to
check in.

3. (S)
to check something in; to present your luggage or other items to be put in the cargo section of a plane or train; often put simply as
to check
♦
You have to
check
that bag
in;
it’s too big to carry on the plane.
♦
We usually
check in
all our bags.