PHRASAL

MEANING

EXAMPLES / TRANSLATION

idle away

waste (time, etc.) in idleness
 

Ken idled away his time until he got a job in the plant.
Ken se la pasó perdiendo el tiempo hasta que consiguió un trabajo en la fábrica.

inquire about
 

ask for information about

Before the race many people inquired about the horses.
Antes de la carrera mucha gente averiguó (consultó, buscó información) sobre los caballos.

inquire after

ask about somebody's
health, welfare, etc.

Nobody inquired after the child's health in all his years.
Nadie preguntó por la salud del pequeño en todos estos años.

inquire into

investigate

Every student will have to inquire into a variety of grammar topics for this final exam.
Para este examen final los estudiantes tendrán que investigar una serie de temas gramaticales.

inquire of

seek information about

The detective tried to inquire of Dr. Dalmon's murder.
El detective trató de buscar información sobre el asesinato del Dr. Dalmon.

invite in

ask someone into one's
house, a room, etc.

He invited the stranger in and gave him a meal.
Hizo pasar al extraño y le ofreció comida.

invite out

ask someone to go out to a party, a meal, movies, etc.

We have been invited out to Luciana's birthday.
Hemos sido invitados al cumpleaños de Luciana.

iron out

remove, make smooth
(problems, difficulties)

Finally, husband and wife ironed out their problems together.
Finalmente, marido y mujer resolvieron juntos sus problemas.