part1

work out,

Grammar: intransitive for exercise and success, transitive for solving/calculating, separable (pronoun must go in the middle: work it out),

Collocations: work out at the gym, work out a problem, work out a solution, work out a plan, work out a deal, work out how/what/when, work out fine/well/badly, work out at a price, work out for someone, work out with someone,

Synonyms: figure out (more American), calculate (formal, numbers only), exercise (formal/medical), resolve (formal, problems/conflicts), turn out (focuses on final result),

Notes: noun form is workout (one word), verb is work out (two words), cannot say work out it, in American English figure out is often preferred for solve/understand

Meaning: To exercise, to solve or calculate, to end successfully, or to understand someone.

Examples: "I've been … at the gym every morning and I feel much stronger." "Don't worry, everything will … in the end." "Can you … how much we each need to pay?" "I just can't … why she's being so cold towards me." "We need to … a schedule that suits everyone."

point out,

Grammar: separable (pronoun must go in the middle: point it out), followed by noun or that-clause or wh-clause, can be used to identify someone physically,

Collocations: point out a mistake, point out an error, point out a problem, point out a fact, point out a difference, point out that + clause, point something out to someone, point someone out (identify),

Synonyms: mention (softer, less focused), highlight (more formal, writing/presentations), note (more formal, often written), indicate (more formal, evidence/signs), show (broader, can mean demonstrate),

Notes: no about after point out, stress usually falls on out, used for both physical identification and verbal highlighting

Meaning: To draw attention to something someone didn't notice, or to identify someone or something.

Examples: "She … that I had forgotten to attach the file to my email." "I'd like to … that we're running out of time." "Can you … which one is the correct answer?" "He was quick to … the flaws in my plan." "The teacher … the difference between the two tenses."

put off,

Grammar: separable (pronoun must go in the middle: put it off), followed by noun or verb-ing (NOT to do), common structure put off + noun + until + time,

Collocations: put off a meeting, put off an appointment, put off a decision, put off a wedding, put off doing something, put off until tomorrow, put off till next week, put off for a period, keep putting something off,

Synonyms: postpone (more formal), delay (can be unintentional), procrastinate (formal/psychological), defer (very formal, decisions/payments), reschedule (neutral, practical),

Notes: also means discourage or distract (the noise put me off), also means repel (his bad manners put me off), noun form is put-off (rare), don't confuse with put out (extinguish) or put on (wear)

Meaning: To delay or postpone something to a later time.

Examples: "They … the wedding until next summer because of the pandemic." "I keep … going to the dentist because I'm scared." "Can we … the decision until we have more information?" "Don't … your revision, the exam is next week." "The bad weather … us … going for a walk."

set off,

Grammar: intransitive for starting a journey, transitive for triggering, separable for triggering (pronoun in the middle: set it off), followed by on/for/at for journeys, followed by noun for triggers,

Collocations: set off on a journey, set off on a trip, set off on an adventure, set off for a place, set off at a time, set off an alarm, set off a chain reaction, set off a debate, set off a panic, set someone off (emotionally),

Synonyms: set out (similar for journeys, often longer/more purposeful), depart (formal, transport schedules), leave (neutral, general), trigger (formal, reactions), start (general, broader),

Notes: past tense is set off (not setted off), also means to make something stand out (the red dress set off her dark hair), don't use for explode (use go off), don't use for start a car (use start)

Meaning: To start a journey, or to cause something to start like an alarm or a reaction.

Examples: "We … for the airport at 4am to catch our flight." "The fire alarm was … by burnt toast." "She … on a solo backpacking trip around Asia." "His joke … a chain reaction of laughter in the room." "Don't talk about politics, it'll … him … again."

be off,

Grammar: intransitive, often in present simple for future meaning, can be used in past, negative form I'm not off until 6,

Collocations: be off to a place, be off for a period, be off work, be off school, be off sick, be off today, be off tomorrow, be off with someone,

Synonyms: head to (more American), leave for (more neutral/formal), set off for (focuses on moment of departure), go to (general, neutral), depart for (formal, schedules),

Notes: more common in British English, Americans say I'm heading to or I'm leaving for, don't say I'm off to home (say I'm off home), also means cancelled (the meeting is off), also means wrong/spoiled (the milk is off in British English), also means away (she's off today)

Meaning: To be leaving or to have left for a place.

Examples: "I'm … to the gym, see you later!"

"Where are you … to this weekend?"

"She's … to Japan for a business trip next week."

"The meeting is … because the boss is sick."

"I'm … now, have a good evening!"