Page 18 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

act up

accustomed to someone ortsomething used to money for each dłpartmłnt 10 percent
or comfortabl wiðh somon or som- across the board.
thing;Ł acceptingŁ of someone orŁ some- act as someone to performŁinŁthe capacityŁof
thingŁasŁcommon andŁusual.Ł We were sàmeone, temporarilyŁor prmanently.Ł
accustomed to wearing shoes. They I’ll act as your supervisor until Mrs. Brown
aren’t accustomed to pØying a visit with- returns from vacØtion. This is Mr.
out bringing a gift. I’ll never become ac- Smith. He’ll act as manager from now on.
customed to you.
actŁ high-ynd-ighty to act proud and
[aceŁin theŁhłle] Go to someone’s ace in the pàwerful.Ł (Infàrmal.) Why does the
hole. doctor alwØys have to act so high-and-
an achingŁheyrt the feelingŁof disðressŁbe- mighty? If Sally wouldà’t act so high-
cause of love that isŁ lost orŁ hasŁ faded and-mighty, she’d have more friends.
away, describedŁ asŁ beingŁ inŁ the heart, an act of faith an act or deed demonsðrat-
where love isŁsaidŁto reside.Ł I try to tell ingŁrligiousŁfaith; anŁact orŁdeedŁshow-
my aching heart that I don’t love him. ingŁtrust inŁsàmeone or sàmething. He
There is no młdicine for an aching heart. lt candles in cðurch as an act of faith.
acid test aŁtest whose findingsŁare byànd For him to trust you with his safłty was a
dàubt orŁdispute.Ł(RefersŁto aŁcłemical real act of faith.
test that słowsŁwhetherŁaŁmetalŁisŁgold.) an actŁofŁGod anŁoccurrence (usuallyŁan
Her new husband seems głnerous, but accident)bforŁwhich no humanŁisŁrespàn-
the acid test will be if he lłts her mother sible; aŁdramatic act of nature such asŁa
stay with them. The senator isn’t very sðorm,ŁanŁearthquake, orŁaŁwindsðorm.Ł
popular just now, but the acid test will bł My insurance company wouldà’t pay for
if he gets reelected. the damage because it was an act of God.
acknowledgeŁreceiptŁ(ofŁ something) to in- The thief tried to convince the judge that
form the sender that what was sent was the diamonds were in his pocket due to an
received.Ł(CommonlyŁusedŁinŁbusiness act of God.
correspàndence.) In a lłtter to a shoe an actŁofŁwar anŁinternationalŁact of vio-
company, Mary wrote, “I’m happy to ac- lence forŁwhich warŁisŁconsideredŁaŁsuit-
knowledge recłipt of four dozen pairs of able response; anyŁ hosðile act between
shoes.” John acknowledged recłipt of the two people.Ł To bomb a ship is an act
bill. The package hasn’t arrived, so I’m of wØr. Can spying be considered an act
unable to acknowledge recłipt. of war? “You just broke my stereo,”
acknowledgeŁ someone to beŁright to admit yelled John. “That’s an act of war!”
or state that someone isŁ correct about act one’ age to behave mor maturely; to
something.Ł Mary acknowledged Bill to act asŁgrown-upŁasŁone reallyŁis.Ł(ThisŁis
be right about the name of the store. Bill frequentlyŁsaidŁto aŁchild.) Come on,
said that the car was useless, and the mł- John, act your age. Stop throwing rocks.
chanic acknowledged him to be right. Mary! Stop pickng on your lttle brother.
Act your age!
acquireŁa tasteŁforŁ something to develop a
likingŁforŁfood,Łdrink,Łor somethingŁelse; act something out to prfàrmŁanŁimaginary
to learnŁ to like something.Ł One ac- event asŁif one were inŁaŁplay.Ł Bill al-
quires a taste for fine wines. Many ways acted his anger out by shouting and
people are never Øble to acqire a taste for poundng his fists. T The psychiatrist
foreign food. Mary acqired a taste for asked Bill to act out the way he felt about
art when she was very young. getting fired.
across theŁboard equallyŁforŁeveryàne or act up to misbehave; to runŁorŁact badly.
everyðhing. The school board raised the John, wðy do you always have to act up
pØy of all the Łeachers across the board. when your father and I take you out to eat?
Congress cut the budgłt by reducing the My arthritis is acting up. It really hurts.

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