– to take the blame for something * Even though all four of the kids were responsible for breaking the window, Lionel took the heat.

– to delay; to reschedule for a later time * She’s too busy right now to take time off from work, so we decided _______ our vacation from August to September.

– a phrase used when someone expect one thing but gets something else; to wonder about something that is mysterious or unclear and then to find out what it is * We thought that there was a dangerous animal trapped under the car, but it _______ a cat.

– to delay to give yourself more time * He didn’t have enough money to pay his rent and tried _______ the landlord by telling her that he had already sent a check in the mail.

– to expect; to predict; to think something is likely to happen * All of the employees in the company anticipated getting a large cash bonus at the end of the year.

– to give something the most effort that you can; to try as hard as you can * The university research team pulled out all the stops to make the discovery before any other university.

– to watch someone very closely, usually making the person being watched uncomfortable * Stop breathing down my neck! I’ll finish cooking dinner faster if you stop bothering me.

– the boundaries or the outside limit of something * The wide _______ of power he has in this company allows him to make decisions at all levels of management.

– a phrase used to mean that it is too late to ask for something now; you should have asked for it earlier * The time to ask for a day off this week was last week when I was making up the schedule.

– to disappoint someone * I’ll give you another chance, but don’t let me down this time.