"to have a screw loose"

Definition: To be insane or irrational.

"I think old Mr. Jacobs has a screw loose; he keeps trying to feed his cats bird seed."

Source: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/have_a_screw_loose

"to back"

'to back away from' something or someone means to retreat or move backwards from something, usually slowly, because you are frightened of them.

· When I saw the snake, I slowly backed away from it and called for help.

· He tried to back away from the man with the knife but was trapped.

'to back away from' an idea or suggestion means to disassociate yourself from it and not support it.

· He was going to say yes to the proposal but then backed away from it and didn't.

· He backed away from plans for a vote of no confidence.

'to back down' means to admit that you were wrong or that you have been defeated.

· When he was confronted with the facts, he quickly backed down.

· He wouldn't back down. He maintained his position in spite of all the evidence.

'to back off' means avoiding a difficult situation by not becoming involved in it.

· Let me deal with this. Just back off .

· At first she was very aggressive but then she backed off.

'to back onto' describes how the back of a house or building faces in a specific direction.

· The house backs onto the river. We have a lovely view.

· The building backs onto the car park in the city centre.

'to back out' means to withdraw from an agreement that has been made.

· He is no longer going to pay the amount we agreed. He has backed out of our agreement.

· We were going to go on holiday together but then he backed out at the last minute.

'to back out' your car means to reverse it from a place or position.

· I broke the mirror backing out of the parking lot.

'to back up' means to give an idea, support or to prove it.

· He had figures from some very reliable sources to back up his arguments.

· He didn't have any receipts to back up his insurance claim after the burglary.

'to back up' also means to make a copy of something in case the original is damaged, especially on the computer.

· Before you start installing new software, back up your files.

'to back someone up' means to support or to help them.

· That's exactly what happened. The others will back me up.

· Nobody backed me up. I was left alone to defend myself against the criticism.

"to ask"

'to ask after' someone means to ask for information about how they are and what they are doing.

· Sue was asking after you. I told her you were fine.

· He asked after my mother. He wanted to know how she was doing.

'to ask around' means to ask several people for help or information.

· I asked around to see if anyone knew someone who could rent me a room.

· When I needed to buy a new car, I asked around and someone offered me this one.

'to ask for' means to say that you want something.

· I asked for the chicken but you have brought me the beef.

· I must remember to ask for a receipt so that I can get reimbursed.

'to ask for' can also mean to do something which is likely to lead to trouble or problems.

· Walking around the streets alone at night was asking for trouble.

· If you go to that part of town, you're asking for trouble. It's very dangerous there.

'to ask for someone' means to ask to speak to them.

· He asked for Carol but there is no one working here called Carol.

· If you need anything, ask for Henry. He'll be able to help you.

'to ask someone in' means to invite them into the room or your home.

· If someone comes to the door, don’t ask them in.

· Sometimes when I'm out in the garden, the neighbours ask me in for a drink.

'to ask someone out' means to invite them to go somewhere with you.

· He asked me out so I expected him to pay for dinner.

· We often invite our friends out for a drink in the pub.

'to ask someone over' means to invite them to come visit you in your home.

· I've asked Diane from across the road over for a cup of coffee later.

· He asked me over to see what they had done in the garden.

"big stink"

Definition: a major issue; a scandal; a big argument.

"Don’t make such a big stink about it."

Source: McGraw-Hill's Super-Mini American Slang Dictionary. Richard A. Spears, Ph.D.

"All show and no go"

Definition: phr. equipped with good looks but lacking action or energy. (Used to describe someone or something that looks good but does not perform as promised.)

“That shiny car of Jim’s is all show and no go.”

Source: McGraw-Hill's Super-Mini American Slang Dictionary. Richard A. Spears, Ph.D.

"Beat one's gums"

Definition: [television] to waste time talking a great deal without results.

“I’m tired of beating my gums about this stuff.”

Source: McGraw-Hill's Super-Mini American Slang Dictionary. Richard A. Spears, Ph.D.

"All walks of life"

Definition: Fig. all social, economic, and ethnic groups.

"The people who came to the street fair represented all walks of life.”

Source: McGraw-Hill's Super-Mini American Idioms Dictionary. Richard A. Spears, Ph.D.

"at a stretch"

Definition: continuously; without stopping.

“The baby doesn’t sleep for more than three hours at a stretch.”

Source: NTC’S American Idioms Dictionary. Richard A. Spears, Ph.D. 3rd edition.