Phrasal verbs
stand up to
To defend yourself against a powerful person or organization when they treat you unfairly:
He wasn't afraid to stand up to bullies
Behind the scenes
In a way not apparent to the public
"Some employees work behind the scenes and receive little thanks"
ask (someone) out
to invite someone to come with you to a place such as the cinema or a restaurant, especially as a way of starting a romantic relationship
up to (sb)
to depend on someone
It's up to you if you want to leave now
give someone a dirty look
A facial manner that signifies disapproval
"He gave me a dirty look"
Hold back
to not do something, often because of fear or because you do not want to make a bad situation worse:
He held back, terrified of going into the dark room.
Act on (sth)
to do something as a reaction to a particular thing such as an instruction, a feeling, or some information:
Acting on impulse can get you into a lot of trouble.
Cut (someone) to the quick
To deeply hurt someone emotionally
"Her thoughtless remark cut him to the quick"
Get to (somebody)
To annoy or affect somebody
The pressure of work is beginning to get to him.
Push someone around
to tell someone what to do in a rude or threatening way:
If you think you can push me around like that, you're mistaken.
Rub it in
Say something that makes someone feel even worse about a mistake
I know I shouldn’t have paid that much for the poster – don’t rub it in, OK?
put something across/over someone
to cause a piece of false information to be believed by one or more people
Shake (someone) down
to get money from someone by using threats or tricks
One for the road
an alcoholic drink just before leaving:
Before I went home, she persuaded me to have one for the road.
Work on someone
To try to influence someone by constantly persuading him/her