WOUND

WOUND

• The deep wound, which was made by a sharp knife, is healing slowly.
• He got a gunshot wound in the chest and died.

TO OVERCOME

TO OVERCOME

• She managed to overcome her fear of height.
• It may be difficult for her to overcome the feeling of loneliness after her husband has died.

to drop (someone) a line

to drop (someone) a line: to write a note to someone (S)

• As soon as I get to Florida, I'll drop you a line and tell you about my new job.
• If you have time, drop me a line now and then while you're traveling.

to stop by

to stop by: to visit or stop somewhere briefly (also: to drop by, to drop in on)

To drop by and to drop in on are used for visits that are unplanned or unexpected.

• Let's stop by the supermarket and pick up a few grocery items.
• Since we're in the neighborhood, let's drop by Jiro's house. Do you think he'd mind if we dropped in on him?

to hold on

to hold on: to grasp tightly  or firmly; to wait, to be patient (also: to hang on)

The second definition is often used when someone is talking on the telephone.

• The little girl held on to her mother's hand and refused to let go as they walked through the large crowd of people.
• (on the telephone) Could you please hold on a moment while I get a pencil and paper?
• Hang on, Miranda, I'm not ready to go yet.

to name after

to name after: to give the same name as another(S)

• Helen's parents named Helen after her grandmother.
• My grandson is named after Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States.

to stress out

to stress out: to worry, be anxious, of reel stress; to cause to worry, be anxious, or feel stress (S)

• Samantha is stressing out because her son is sick. Once his health improves, she'll feel much better too.
• Lance doesn't like to go over his finances because money matters stress him out.

to take by surprise

to take by surprise: to surprise, to amaze, to astonish(S)

A noun or pronoun usually divides this idiom.

• The offer of a high-paying position with another company took me by surprise.
• The president's announcement that the university was in financial trouble didn't take anyone by surprise.

to be well-off

to be well-off: to have enough money to enjoy a comfortable life, to be rich (also: to be well-to-do)

• They live in the best section of town in a large home; they are very well-off.
• By the time I reach the age of fifty-five, I hope to be well-to-do and to travel frequently.

to be better off

to be better off: to be in a more favorable condition or situation

The opposite of this idiom is to be worse off.

• Jim would be better of staying at home because of his cold.
• You'd be much better off working in an office than in a factory.
• The economies of some nations are worse off than they were several decades ago.