Similar but Different
W
Win means to be the best or the first in a competition.
The film won an Oscar.
Our team won the match.
Earn means to get something, usually money, for your work or effort.
I need to find a job where I can earn more money.
His outstanding performance in the play-offs has earned him a spot in the line-up for the final match.
Gain means to get something useful - attention, knowledge, favour - whether or not you deserve it.
He gained a lot of experience working with his father.
There's nothing to gain by postponing the meeting.
Beat means to reach a place or succeed in doing something before someone else.
If you want to beat the rush hour traffic I suggest you leave early.
We were set to close the deal but the guys from Xerox beat us.
During is followed by a noun.
I managed to sleep during the flight.
While is followed by a subject and a verb.
I managed to sleep while we were flying from Paris to Mexico.
Bring means moving something towards the speaker.
Can you come here and bring your notepad with you?
Take means moving something to another place.
Could you take these reports over to John's office?
Fetch means to go, get something, and bring it back.
Could you fetch the flash report from Antonio's desk?
Carry does not specify direction but suggests support with arms or body.
I had to carry my suitcases from reception up to my room.
Expect - Hope - Wait - Wish - Look forward to
Expect means that you think something will happen.
I'm expecting an important phone call.
Look forward to means that you think something will happen and you feel happy about it.
I'm looking forward to Jaime's party.
Hope means that you want something to happen and you think there is a possibility.
I hope it doesn't rain.
Wish means that you want something to happen which is impossible or very unlikely.
I wish I were 20 years younger.
Wait means to stay without doing anything until someone or something comes or happens.
We waited 20 minutes for the bus.
Job is a countable noun.
You get a job to earn a living.
Work is an uncountable noun. It refers to the activity, nature or place of a job or business.
The work on the new airport should be under way soon.
What kind of work do you do?
You can reach him at the office. He should be at work by now.
Learning English can be hard work.
Wages is payment made for work done; calculated by the hour, day or week.
At these wages we can only afford to have them clean the office once a week.
Salaries are usually paid once a month.
A fee is what you pay a professional for his or her services.
Wash up in American English is to clean oneself or part of one's body with liquid. Wash up in British English means to wash the dishes, plates etc. after a meal.
Both words refer to harm or damage to a person or animal but a wound is usually made intentionally and with a weapon.
On the Way - In the Way - By the way
On the way means travelling towards.
The shopping centre is on the way to her house.
In the way means the space or room needed for movement or activity.
We can't have the party in this room. There's too much furniture in the way.
By the way means in addition. It is often used to introduce a subject that is important to you.
By the way, I finally got tickets to the match.
The Last Word In - The Last Word On
The last word on means the word or phrase that ends an argument, usually giving the advantage to the speaker.
Why does she always have to have the last word on every topic?
The last word in means the most modern.
This computer is the last word in technology.