| back down | stop defending your opinion in a debate | Jane never backs down. She always wins arguments. |
| back out | not keep (a promise, agreement,deal) | Sam backed out at the last second. |
| back out of + | not keep (a promise, agreement, deal) | Sam backed out of the agreement at the last second. |
| back * up + | give support | You need examples to back up your opinion. |
| back up | move backwards, reverse | Could you back up a little so I can open this drawer. |
| bawl * out | criticize, reprimand (inf.) | She bawled him out for arriving late. |
| bear down on + | bite | The soldier had to bear down on the leather strap while the doctor removed a bullet from the soldier's arm. |
| bear down on + | take strong measures against | The U.S.A. is bearing down on drug traffickers. |
| bear on + | have to do with | This information may bear on this case. |
| bear up | withstand | I didn't think he would bear up so well in that situation. |
| bear up under + | withstand | How did he bear up under such extreme pressure. |
| bear with + | be patient | Please bear with me while I fill out the paperwork. |
| blow in | visit unexpectedly (inf.) | My cousin blew in unexpectedly with his entire family. |
| blow over | pass without creating a problem | All this negative publicity will blow over in a couple of weeks. |
| blow * up + | make explode;destroy using explosives | The terrorists blew the bridge up. |
| blow up | explode | The bomb blew up before they could defuse it. |
| blow up | suddenly become very angry | When Joan heard the news, she blew up and rushed out of the room. |
| break * down + | analyze in detail | We need to break this problem down in order to solve. |
| break down | stop working properly | The truck broke down in the desert. |
| break down | become mentally ill | She broke down after her husband died. |
| break * in + | wear or use something new until it is comfortable | I need to break these shoes in before I go hiking. |
| break in | interrupt | While we were discussing the situation, Terri broke in to give her opinion. |
| break in | enter a place unlawfully | The burglar broke in between midnight and 3 AM. |
| break in on + | interrupt (a conversation) | Jane broke in on the conversation and told us to get back to work. |
| break into + | enter a house unlawfully | The burglar broke into the house between midnight and 3 AM. |
| break into + | interrupt (a conversation) | Jane broke into the conversation and told us what she knew. |
| break * off + | end something | Sally broke her engagement to John off. |
| break out | appear violently | Violent protests broke out in response to the military coup. |
