to pick out: to choose, to select Examples of PICK OUT I took Gregory to the mall to pick out his first suit for the ceremony. I’m so happy! How did you manage to pick out the perfect ring?

to keep time: to operate accurately (for watches and clocks) Examples of TO KEEP TIME The clock keeps quite good time. The old clock keeps perfect time; it’s never fast or slow.

to miss the boat: to ​lose an ​opportunity to do something by being ​slow to ​act Examples of TO MISS THE BOAT There were ​tickets ​available last ​week, but he ​missed the ​boat by ​waiting till today to ​try to ​buy some. The precious metals market was looking up several months ago, but unfortunately most…

to dress up: to wear formal clothes, to dress very nicely Examples of DRESS UP There are whole websites full of people who like to dress up their cats and dogs. On casual Fridays, we don’t need to dress up at my office.

to pull off: to succeed in doing something difficult; to exit to the side of a highway Examples of TO PULL OF The group of investors pulled off a big deal by buying half the stock in that company. I wonder how they pulled it off before the company could prevent it. The motorist pulled…

over and over (again): repeatedly (also: time after time, time and again) Examples of OVER AND OVER I told you, over and over, not to call me by that nickname, and you still call me by that nickname. The monkey with the miniature cymbals banged them together over and over again.