An avocation is a hobby or minor occupation that a person pursues for pleasure, in contrast to the vocation that pays the bills. To use avocation in a sentence, treat it as a countable noun… Read More »Avocation in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Youngling vs youngster is a choice between two words for the young: use youngster for a child in everyday modern English, and reserve youngling for a young animal or a deliberately old-fashioned, literary tone. “Three… Read More »Youngling vs Youngster: Which Should You Use?
Press on means to continue steadily despite difficulty, and it takes no object. To use press on in a sentence, put the subject before the verb and stop there: “The team pressed on through the… Read More »Press On in a Sentence: Meaning and Examples
A gulch is a narrow, steep-sided valley cut by a stream, smaller than a canyon and rougher than a ditch. To use gulch in a sentence, treat it as a countable noun: “The trail dropped… Read More »Gulch in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Usage
Buy up is a phrasal verb meaning to buy large amounts of something, often all that is available. To use buy up in a sentence, put the thing being bought after buy or between buy… Read More »Buy Up in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Tell off is a phrasal verb meaning to scold someone for doing something wrong. To use tell off in a sentence, put the person between tell and off: “the coach told the players off”. The… Read More »Tell Off in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Try out is a phrasal verb meaning to test something to see whether it works, or to compete for a place on a team. To use try out in a sentence, keep the object with… Read More »Try Out in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Steer away is a phrasal verb meaning to turn or guide something away from a person, place or risk. To use steer away in a sentence, name what moves, then add away from and the… Read More »Steer Away in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Throw back means to send something back through the air, to reflect light or heat, or to remind someone of an earlier time. Decide which sense you need, then name what goes back: “The angler… Read More »Throw Back in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Push through means to force something such as a plan or a bill to completion despite opposition, or to keep going until a hard task is finished. Decide whether a thing is forced or a… Read More »Push Through in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Brackish describes water that mixes fresh water with seawater, saltier than a river but less salty than the open ocean. The adjective normally sits before a noun such as water, marsh or pool: “Crabs shelter… Read More »Brackish in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Vapor vs vapour is not a choice of meaning but of spelling: American English writes vapor, while British and most Commonwealth English writes vapour. To use the word in a sentence, match the spelling to… Read More »Vapor vs Vapour: Which Spelling Should You Use?
Take back is a separable phrasal verb with several senses: retract words you have said, return an item, or regain something you lost. To use take back in a sentence, choose the sense first and… Read More »Take Back in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
String together means to connect separate things, words or events into one continuous series. To use string together in a sentence, name what is being joined and keep the pieces in order: “She strung three… Read More »String Together in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Fit out means to equip a room, building, ship, van or other space with everything it needs to be used. To use fit out in a sentence, name the place first: “They fitted out the… Read More »Fit Out in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples
Stand for means to represent or symbolize something, to tolerate behaviour, or to be a candidate in an election. To use stand for in a sentence, keep the phrase together and place the meaning after… Read More »Stand For in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples