Read Webster's New World American Idioms Handbook Online
Authors: Gail Brenner
When
Doing Without
Would Be Good
In the following example,
I could do without
means “I wish I could avoid or be rid of this inconvenience.”
The expressions
could
do without
and
can do without
convey that one would be happy not to have an unpleasant, annoying, or inconvenient situation. Sometimes the situation already exists, like the extra work in the example above. In this case, the expression
could do without
implies that the situation must be endured, although it is not wanted. The following are more examples:
Sometimes,
could
or
can do without
is said as an indirect request that something unpleasant be stopped, as in the following example: “‘I
can do without
your bad attitude,’ she told her teenage daughter.”
The expression
can do without
is also used to convey that one hopes to avoid a future unpleasant situation, as in the following example: “I avoid sweet and sugary food. I
can do without
expensive dental bills!”
When
Doing
and
Going Without
Is Okay
Sometimes
doing without
and
going without
is not a problem. The expressions
can
(or
could
)
do without
and
can
(or
could
)
go without
are often used to imply that one is okay or can manage well without something.
Grammar Note:
In this context an adverb such as
fine, well
, or
okay
is often placed after the verb.
Here are some examples:
Common Phrasal Verbs with
For
Many phrasal verbs using the preposition
for
have multiple meanings and uses. Phrasal verbs with
for
are always transitive and usually non-separable. However, some of them can be separated by an indirect object, prepositional phrase, or adverb, as in this example: “He
cared
lovingly
for
his elderly parents.” The preposition
for
serves as a transition between the verb and direct object, and helps give special meaning to the idiom.
The Idioms
Come For
and
Go For
The idioms
come for
and
go for
have a number of meanings, and all are very common. In the first examples that follow, the idiom is expressed as either
come for
or
go for
depending on the location of the speaker or the person or thing being spoken about at the time of speaking. The next section, “Using
Come For
and
Go For
Correctly,” explains when to use the verb
come
and when to use the verb
go
for these idioms.
come for (
or
go for) (NS)
1.
to pick up someone, to retrieve, or to go and get something and possibly bring it back to one’s starting point ♦
What time will you
come for
me this evening?
♦
The landlord has
come for
the rent; we must pay him now.
2.
to attack someone or something, to run or rush toward someone or to grab at someone in a threatening manner as if to attack; also phrased
come at
someone ♦
The boxing champion said to his opponent, “
Come for
me. I’m ready!”
♦
A mugger
went for
the lady’s purse, but she kicked him and ran away.
Using
Come For
and
Go For
Correctly
When the meaning is to retrieve, pick up, or go to get something, use
come for
to refer to the place where you or someone you’re talking to is located, or will be located, at the time of speaking. Use
go for
to refer to a place where you or someone you’re talking to is not located. Here are some examples:
When the meaning is to attack, or to run or rush at someone as if to attack use
come for
when the action is directed toward or near the speaker (or someone being quoted as a speaker). Use
go for
when the action is directed somewhere away from the speaker. Here are some examples:
Other Uses of Go
For
Go for
has a number of other meanings and uses. The following are some of the most common:
go for (NS)
1.
to choose or decide on something; to accept something for its merit or other qualities ♦
After looking at a number of cars, we finally
went for
the Honda.
♦
I think they’re going to
go for
my proposal.
2.
to pursue a goal or try to achieve something, to act on or pursue something enthusiastically, to encourage someone to do something; often said (slang)
Go for it!
♦
I’m planning to
go for
my master’s degree next year.
♦
You finally have the chance to travel. So, I say g
o for
it!
3.
to cost a specific amount, or to sell something for a specific amount ♦
Their house
went for
$500,000.
♦
These shoes
go for
$20 on sale.
4.
to like or to be attracted to something or someone; often put as
really go for
or
sure go for
♦
I think he really
goes for
her.
♦
I never
went for
the grunge style
.
Grammar Note:
When the helping verb
could
is used with
go for,
the meaning is
I want
or
I would like
to have
something, as in this example: “I
could
really
go for
some ice cream right now.”
More Phrasal Verbs with
For
The following phrasal verbs, listed in alphabetical order, are some of the most common that use the preposition
for:
allow for (NS)
1.
to leave room for, to permit or make possible ♦
The boys’ new shoes
allow for
some growth.
♦
Our wedding budget
allows for
only 100 guests.
2.
to consider as an influencing factor and act accordingly ♦
We will need to
allow
an extra hour
for
traffic.
♦
They hadn’t
allowed
time
for
possible delays when they planned their connecting flight.
ask for (NS)
1.
to request ♦
They
asked for
a quiet table at the back of the restaurant.
♦
The police
asked for
everyone’s cooperation with the manhunt.
2.
to invite problems or punishment by persisting in an action that may cause trouble; often phrased
to ask for it
♦
He really
asked for
it when he drove his mom’s car without a driver’s license.
♦
The girl told her teacher, “Yes, I did hit him, but he
asked for
it!”
call for (NS)
1.
to come to get or retrieve someone or something ♦
I’ll
call for
you around two o’clock.
♦
Someone from the thrift shop is here to
call for
the old furniture we’re donating.
2.
to be the reason for or to deserve a special response or action; often phrased
calls for a celebration, calls for a drink,
or
calls for action
♦
The news of your promotion
calls for
a celebration.
♦
The extent and seriousness of this winter’s flu epidemic
calls for
new research on immunization.
3.
(in the negative) to be unjustified; to not deserve a certain, usually harsh response or action; generally phrased
not called for
or
uncalled for
♦
His angry letter wasn’t
called for. ♦
It was an accident, so I think the boy’s punishment was
uncalled for.
4.
to require or be a necessary component of something ♦
This recipe
calls for
five eggs.
♦
The zookeeper’s job
calls for
someone skilled in animal behavior.
5.
to demand or request that certain action be taken ♦
The workers’ strike
called for
better working conditions and overtime pay.
♦
The Women’s League for Peace and Freedom
called for
all people to get out and vote.
Polite Offer and Refusal
“Would you care for
...” is a common way to make a polite offer, as in “Would you
care for
something to drink?” The answer can be “Yes, I would.” But don’t use the idiom “care for” in the answer, because in an affirmative statement
care for
generally means to love someone or to provide care. It sounds very funny to say “Yes, I
care for
a drink.”
The negative,
do not care for,
is often used as a polite refusal. For example, if offered an extra serving of food that you wish to refuse, you can say, “Thank you, but I
don’t care
for
any more.”
The negative form is also a common and polite way to suggest dislike. For example, “I really
don’t care for
that hairstyle” or “She
didn’t care for
his rude comment.”
Grammar Note:
To avoid confusion, people generally don’t say “didn’t care for” when talking about providing care for someone. Saying, “I didn’t care for her” sounds like “I didn’t like her.” Instead, use the idiom
take care of,
as in “I didn’t
take care of
my mother when she was sick; my sister did.” Or, another option is “I
wasn’t caring for
my mother; my sister was.”
care for (NS)
1.
to provide care for someone, to take care of someone’s needs ♦
She
cared for
her sick mother for many months.
♦
When I’m at work, my aunt
cares for
my two children.
2.
to like or love someone. In this context an adverb is often placed directly after the verb. ♦
He
cares
deeply
for
her.
♦
You always want to protect the people who you
care for.
head for (NS)
to go in the direction of something; for example, a location, an outcome, or the future. An adverb or prepositional phrase is often placed directly after the verb. ♦
After school, the kids
headed
straight
for
the beach.
♦
If he keeps drinking, he’s
headed for
big trouble.
live for (NS)
1.
to devote oneself totally to something or someone; to define one’s purpose by something or someone ♦
He
lives for
golf.
♦
She
lived for
her children, who where everything to her.
2.
to hope and wait in anticipation; typically phrased
live for the day
♦
Dan said, “I
live for the day
I can retire.”
♦
We all
live for the day
someone finds a cure for cancer.