outfit

outfit (n): a set of clothes worn together, especially for a special occasion:

• She bought a new outfit for the party.
• a cowboy outfit

informal/a group of people who work together as a team or organization:

• My outfit was sent to Italy during the war.
• a small advertising outfit in San Diego

British English/a set of equipment that you need for a particular purpose or job [= kit]:

• a tyre repair outfit

TO IMPROVE

TO IMPROVE

• The standars of living have improved a lot. Almost everyone can afford a TV and a computer nowadays.
• The fortification of the town had to be improved in order to protect people against the enemy.

JUSTICE

JUSTICE

• Although she's a boring teacher, she has a strong sense of justice. She always grades fairly.
• He was taken to the court of justice for a serious crime.

SCHOLARSHIP

SCHOLARSHIP

• I could afford my studies at Oxford, because I was given a scholarship.
• Nowadays, only students from poor families have a chance to get a scholarship.

to get lost

to get lost: to become lost; to go away in order not to bother

The second definition provides a very informal, even rude, meaning that should be used only with close friends. It is usually used in a joking manner.

• While driving in Boston, we got lost and drove many miles in the wrong direction.
• Todd kept bothering me while I was studying, so I told him to get lost.

to bring up

to bring up: to rear, to raise from childhood(S); to mention, to raise an issue, to introduce a topic (S)

• Parents should bring up their children to be responsible members of society.
• Jung wanted to bring the scheduling problem up at the club meeting, but finally she decided against doing so.
• One of the students brought up an interesting point related to the subject in our textbook.

to be the matter

to be the matter: to be unsatisfactory, to be improper, to be wrong

In a question, this idiom is used with what or something. In an answer, something or nothing is usually used.

• A: What is the matter, Corrine? You look very upset.
• B: Yes, something is the matter. I've lost my purse!
• A: Is something the matter, Chet ? You don't look well.
• B: No, nothing is the matter. I'm just a little under the weather.

to break the news

to break the news: to deliver new, usually upsetting, information

• I hated to break the news to Adam that he was fired from his job.
• This morning, the radio station broke the news that the president had died.

to hold still

to hold still: not to move (S)

• Please hold still while I adjust your tie.
• If you don't hold that camera still. you'll get a blurred picture.

to catch up

to catch up: to work with the purpose of fulfilling a requirement or being equal to others

The idiom is often followed by the preposition with and a noun phrase. It is similar in meaning to keep up with.

• The student was absent from class so long that it took her a long time to catch up.
• If you are not equal to others, first you have to catch up with them before you can keep up with them.