to work out

to work out: to exercise; to develop, to advise (a plan); to proceed or end successfully (S)

The noun form workout derives from the first definition of this idiom.

• Jane works out at the fitness center every other morning before going to school. She gets a good workout there.
• The advertising department worked out a plan to increase company sales.
• We couldn't come up with a good plan for solving the problem, but we agreed to work it out at a later date.
• Blake's sketches for his engineering project look incorrect. I doubt it will work out.

to wait up for

to wait up for: to wait until late at night without going to bed

• Don't wait up for me. I may be back after midnight.
• We waited up for our son until 11:45 P.M. before we called the police.

to bring back

to bring back: to return a bought or borrowed item (also: to take back (S) )

To bring back is used when you are speaking at the place that an item is bought or borrowed. To take back is used when speaking at another place.

• Our store policy is that you can bring back the dress as long as you have your sales receipt.
• You can borrow my car if you promise to bring it back by six o'clock.
• I have to take this book back to the library today.

to bring out

to bring out: to show or introduce (to the public) (S); to make available (S)

• Most automobile companies bring out new models each year.
• My mother brought some snacks out for my friends and me to have.

to lay off

to lay off: to abstain from or reduce the amount of; to release or discharge from a job (also: related idiom: to let go (S) )

• If you're trying to lose weight, you should lay off sweet things.
• If business continues to be slow, we will have to lay off some workers.
• It will be necessary to let the newest employees go first.

to let up

to let up: to slacken, to lessen in intensity; to relax or ease one's effort (also: related idiom: to take it easy)

• If the rain doesn't let up soon, we won't be able to have our picnic.
• When Jane is working, she never lets up for a moment.
• Jane should take it easy or she'll get exhausted.

break a story

break a story: be the first to write or distribute a piece of news

• Nightly News was the first program to break the story about the company's financial problems.

break the law

break the law: disobey a law

• When Dana crossed the street against the red light, she actually broke the law.

break a habit

break a habit: stop doing something that you have done regularly for a long time, often something harmful

• It took a long time for Joao to break the habit of staying up until two in the morning- he'd been doing it since he was in his teens!

take you pick

take you pick: select one of two or more things offered

• There's vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry - take your pick.