Over (changing position)

• Go over to

The school went over to mixed-ability teaching three years ago.

What makes them go over to a party they once fought against?

• Change over

When did the UK change over to the metric system?

• Ask over

Backward and Forward

• back and forth

We ran back and forth, carrying buckets of water.

• in and out
• to and fro

The swing rocked to and fro.

Be at the moment

• be about to

I was about to get undressed when there was a knock on the door.

Deal with

• see about

Can you see about getting us a lift home?

• see to

You’d better take her to hospital and get her ankle seen to.

• attend to

We still have a number of other matters to attend to.

• cope with

a seminar on coping with stress in the workplace

• carry off

Both actors have the stylish self-confidence needed to carry off these roles.

• win a prize

At last week’s Oscars, a small number of films carried off nearly all the prizes.

• overcome

What can I do to overcome my fear of rejection?

• get through

The refugees will need help to get through the winter.

Not frequent

• few and far between

Opportunities for promotion are few and far between.

Hence

• from now/then/that moment etc on

The new rules will apply to all members from now on.

From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor.

Large amount

• quite a few

The letter arrived quite a few days ago.

• a good few

I’ve turned down a good few job offers.

Quickly

• in (less than) no time : ทันที

We called the fire brigade (จนท.ดับเพลิง), which arrived in less than no time.

• at once

Bake for 35 minutes and then serve at once.

• all at once/all of a sudden

All of a sudden there was a knock at the door.

• on the spot

Any workers found breaking these rules will be sacked on the spot.

• ที่เกิดเหตุ

We’ll have a police officer on the spot immediately.

Reduce

• cut down on

These improvements will cut down on traffic noise.

• cut back on

plans to cut back investment in education

We’re trying to cut back on the amount we spend on food.

• bring down

Our principal responsibility is to bring down the level of unemployment.

• narrow down : possibilities แคบลง

We’re working to narrow down the list of possible suspects.

• peter out : จบลง น้อยลง

The conversation soon petered out.

Sometimes

• now and then/again

Now and then I receive letters from my former students.

She comes to London every now and again.

• off and on

She’s been taking drugs off and on since she was 16.

• at times

She was fun to be with at times.

• but not often
• (every) once in a while

I still see Ken once in a while

Make sure you take a break every once in a while.

• from time to time

I still think of him from time to time.

• every so often

She still phones me every so often.

Desultory

• Desultory
• Intermittent

a dull day with intermittent rain

• sporadic

The explosions were only sporadic now.

When

• As soon as : ทันที

I’m ready to go out as soon as it stops raining.

• just before/after : ก่อน/หลังจาก ทันที

My parents had got married just after the war.

• Once

Once we were through the gates, she went off and left me on my own.