Fall apart

fall apart & falls apart falling apart fell apart fallen apart

1. fall apart p.v. When the parts of something become completely separated because it is old or in bad condition, itfalls apart.

These old shoes are starting tofall apart.

There's no way to fix this thing. It has completelyfallen apart.

2. fall apart p.v. When a plan, arrangement, system, or agreement fails, itfalls apart.

After five difficult years, their marriage totallyfell apart.

The peace agreement is slowlyfalling apart.

3. fall apart p.v. When people suddenly lose control and start laughing or become very upset or emotional, theyfall apart.

Sallyfell apart when she heard the tragic news.

Tom was so funny at the party last night that I justfell apart laughing.

get back at
get back at & gets back at	getting back at	got back at	gotten/got back at

1. get back at p.v. When youget back at people, you do something bad to them because they have done something bad to you.

John won't forget what you did to him. He'll definitelyget back at you someday.

She wants toget back at her ex-husband for the way he treated her.

Infinitive
	present tense	-ing form	past tense	past participle
go about
	go about & goes about	going about	went about	gone about

1. go about p.v. When yougo about something orgo about doing something, you begin or continue to follow all the steps necessary to do it.

/ have no idea how togo about opening a restaurant. Everyday he quietlywent about his business and never caused any problems.

grow out of
grow out of & grows out of	growing out of	grew out of	grown out of

1..grow out of p.v. When people become too tall or too big to wear an item of clothing, theygrow out of the item of clothing.

/ bought Susie's shoes one size too big, but she's quicklygrowing out of them.

Do you want these clothes for your daughter? Mine hasgrown out of them.

2. grow out of p.v. When people become too mature for a toy, for an interest, or for a form of behavior, they havegrown out of it.

Judy had a big crush on a rock star when she was in high school, but after a while she grew out of it.

Jim's son is going through a difficult stage, but he'llgrow out of it in a couple of years.

head into head into & heads into heading into headed into headed into

1. head into p.v. When youhead into or areheaded into a place or area, you begin to enter it.

/ almost had an accident as I washeading into town.

We scared away the bear, and itheaded slowlyinto the woods.

Jim washeaded into Ashland when his car broke down.

Rip up

rip up & rips up ripping up ripped up ripped up

1. rip ...up p.v. When you tear paper or cloth into many pieces, yourip itup.

Nancy was furious when she read Tom's letter, and she angrilyripped itup.Alwaysrip up a check before you put it in the wastebasket.

ripped up part.adj. After a piece of paper or cloth has been torn into many small piece, it isripped up.

After the kids opened their Christmas presents, the floor was covered with ripped up paper.

Infinitive
	present tense	-ing form	past tense	past particip
wear down
wear down & wears down	wearing down	wore down	worn down

1. wear... down p.v. When somethingwears down or when someonewearssomethingdown, the top or surface gradually disappears because of friction.

The feet of thousands of visitors a year haveworn down the marble steps.

The mechanic told me that my car's brake pads haveworn down badly and need to be replaced.

worn down part.adj. After the top or surface of something has gradually disappeared because of friction, it isworn down.

The marble steps are very old andworn down.

The tread on these tires is dangerouslyworn down.

2. wear ... down p.v. When peoplewear youdown, they gradually persuade you, through persistent pressure, to change your mind about a decision.

He wouldn't tell me the answer, but little by little, Iwore himdown.

She still will not give us permission, but I think we'rewearing herdown.