Sens: a few steps from the beach

à quelques pas de la plage

step Idiome

in step

doing things in a similar way, together Are you in step with our youth? Do you understand how they feel?

out of step

not with the others, not designed for today Your business plan is out of step with the 21st century. It's old.

step aside

resign, quit so someone else can do the job If Jon will step aside, Harvey can become president.

step by step

gradually He has made a great effort and step by step he has learned how to use a computer.

step down

resign, leave a position, bow out It was time for Pierre to step down - time for him to resign.

Step on it!

Hurry up!

step on it

go faster, hurry "Step on it," he yelled as the taxi took him to the airport a little late.

step on one

do something that embarrasses or offends someone else He stepped on a lot of people

step on people

hurt people to get ahead, use people to succeed I want wealth, but I don't want to step on people to get it.

step on the gas

go faster, hurry I decided to step on the gas in order to get to work on time.

step on their toes

offend them, upset them When I mentioned their debt, did I step on their toes?

step out of line

do something bad, misbehave If John steps out of line again, I'll remind him of the rules.

step/tread on one

do something that embarasses or offends someone else I don't want to tread on my supervisor's toes as he has not been in a good mood lately.

step up

rise to a higher or more important position, be promoted He stepped up to the position of manager after the old manager was fired.

step up to the plate

do your best, take action, take your turn Pedro said,

take steps

begin to make plans or arrangements, make preparations The company has begun to take steps to stop people from smoking in the main office building.

watch your step

stay out of trouble, keep your nose clean "The referee told me not to fight. ""Watch your step,"" he said."

step off

to back away from a confrontation

step to

engage a confrontation;"So don't step to me 'cause you boys 'll get wacked" -- Ice-T (Power)

step back

1．yield ground by moving to the rear；recede后退
He stepped back to admire the painting．他退了几步来欣赏这幅画。
We stepped back politely to let the ladies pass．我们礼貌地后退，让女士们过去。
2．move backwards from surprise，shock，etc．由于吃惊而后退
When he saw it，he stepped back in surprise．他一看到它，就吃惊得往后退。
She stepped back，hardly able to believe her ears．她吃惊地往后退缩，简直不能相信自己的耳朵。

step in

1．walk in走进
Would you mind stepping in for a moment？进来坐一会好吗？
The clerk stepped in and asked for Mr．Black．办事员走进来要找布莱克先生。
2．intervene either to help or hinder插进来（帮助或阻止）；干预
If the government does not step in，there will be no trains on Monday．政府要是不干预的话，星期一将没有任何火车。
The police are reluctant to step in．警察不愿插手干预。
Father stepped in and forbade me to go campimg．父亲进来干预不准我去野营。

step out

1．go out from a place走出去
He just stepped out for a breath of fresn air．他只是出去换换新鲜空气。
I'm just going to step out for a minute．我正要出去一会儿。
2．walk fast快走；加快步伐
As it was getting dark we stepped out so as to reach the village．天快黑了，我们快点走，好赶到村里。
Step out，you still have a long way to go．走快点，你还得走很长一段路呢。
3．engage in social activities；enjoy oneself socially出去娱乐
She'really stepping out these days：the theatre last night，dinner tonight and dancing tomorrow．她这几天确实交际很多：昨天去看戏，今晚参加晚宴，明天又要去跳舞。
You're all dressed up，Mary；you must be stepping out tonight．你穿得这样漂亮，玛丽，今晚想必有什么约会。

watch one's step

1．be careful not to make an error 小心；谨慎行事；留意不犯错
Watch your step，young man！If you're late for work again you will lose your job．当心，年轻人！如果你上班再迟到，你就会丢了工作。
2．be careful not to fall or stumble 小心走路；留意不要跌倒或摔跤
Watch your step；the roads are icy．当心不要摔跤，路很滑。

take steps to prevent

Idiom(s): take steps (to prevent sth)

Theme: PREVENTION

to do what is necessary to prevent something.
• I took steps to prevent John from learning what we were talking about.
• I have to keep John from knowing what I've been doing. I can prevent it if I take steps.

step-by-step

Idiom(s): step-by-step

Theme: AMOUNT - SMALL

little by little, one step at a time. (Refers both to walking and following instructions.)
• Just follow the instructions step-by-step, and everything will be fine.
• The old man slowly moved across the lawn step-by step.

step sth up

Idiom(s): step sth up

Theme: SPEED

to cause something to go faster.
• The factory was not making enough cars, so they stepped up production.
• The music was not fast enough, so the conductor told everyone to step it up.

step right up

Idiom(s): step (right) up

Theme: MOVEMENT

to move forward, toward someone.
• Step up and get your mail when I call your name.
• Come on, everybody. Step right up and help yourself to supper.

step on one's toes

Idiom(s): step on one's toes

Theme: OFFENSIVE

to interfere with or offend someone. (Note the example with anyone.)
• When you re in public office, you have to avoid stepping on anyone's toes.
• Ann stepped on someone's toes during the last campaign and lost the election.

step into the breach

Idiom(s): step into (the breach)

Theme: SUBSTITUTION

to move into a space or vacancy.
• When Ann resigned as president, I stepped into the breach.
• A number of people asked me to step in and take her place.

step into one's shoes

Idiom(s): step into one's shoes

Theme: SUBSTITUTION

to take over a job or some role from someone.
• I was prepared to step into the boss's shoes, so there was no disruption when he left for another job.
• There was no one who could step into Alice's shoes when she left, so everything came to a stop.

step down from

Idiom(s): step down (from sth)

Theme: WITHDRAW

to resign a job or a responsibility.
• The mayor stepped down from office last week.
• It's unusual for a mayor to step down.

at one's doorstep

Idiom(s): at someone's doorstep AND on someone's doorstep

Theme: RESPONSIBILITY

in someone's care; as someone's responsibility.
• Why do you always have to lay your problems at my doorstep?
• I shall put this issue on someone else's doorstep.
• I don't want it on my doorstep.

on one's doorstep

follow in one's footsteps

Idiom(s): follow in someone's tracks AND follow in someone's footsteps

Theme: SAMENESS

to follow someone's example; to assume someone else's role or occupation.
• The vice president was following in the president's footsteps when he called for budget cuts.
• She followed in her father's footsteps and went into medicine.

Step on someone's toes

If you step on someone's toes, you upset them, especially if you do something that they should be in charge of.

at one's door|at one's doorstep|door|doorstep

adv. phr. 1. Very close; very near where you live or work. Johnny is very lucky because there's a swimming pool right at his doorstep. Mr. Green can get to work in only a few minutes because the subway is at his door. 2. See: LAY AT ONE'S DOOR.

dog one's steps|dog|step|steps

v. phr. To follow someone closely. All the time he was in Havana, Castro's police were dogging his steps.

follow in one's footsteps|follow|follow in one's t

v. phr. To follow someone's example; follow someone exactly, He followed in his father's footsteps and became a doctor.
Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.

in step|step

adv. or adj. phr. 1. With the left or right foot stepping at the same time as another's or to the beat of music; in matching strides with another person or persons. The long line of soldiers marched all in step: Left, right! Left, right! Johnny marched behind the band in step to the music. 2. In agreement; abreast.

Often followed by "with". Mary wanted to stay in step with her friends and have a doll too.
Antonym: OUT OF STEP.

keep step with|keep|step

v. phr. To maintain the same degree of progress as someone else. The United States has no choice but to keep step with potential enemies in terms of modern defense systems.

out of step|out|step

adv. or adj. phr. 1. Not in step; not matching strides or keeping pace with another or others. George always marches out of step with the music. 2. Out of harmony; not keeping up.

Often followed by "with". Just because you don't smoke, it doesn't mean you are out of step with other boys and girls your age.
Antonym: IN STEP.

step all over|all over|step|walk|walk all over|wal

v. phr. informal>/B> To make (someone) do whatever you wish; make selfish use of; treat like a slave; impose upon. Jill is so friendly and helpful that people walk all over her./ We wanted the man's business, so we let him step all over us.
Compare: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
step down|step
v. 1. To come down in one move from a higher position to a lower. As soon as the train stopped, the conductor stepped down to help the passengers off. 2. To make go slower little by little. The train was approaching the station, so the engineer stepped it down.
Compare: SLOW DOWN, STEP UP. 3. To leave a job as an official or some other important position. When the judge became ill, he had to step down.
step in|step
v. 1. To go inside for a quick visit. It was a cold night, and when the policeman passed, we invited him to step in for a cup of coffee. 2. To begin to take part in a continuing action or discussion, especially without being asked. When the dogs began to fight, John stepped in to stop it before they were hurt. When Bill had done as much as he was able to on his model plane, his father stepped in to help him.
step inside|step
v. To come or go inside. Mother invited the callers to step inside.
step into|step
v. 1. To come or go into. The taxi stopped, and we stepped into it. Mr. Jones called to his secretary to step into his office. 2. To begin to do, undertake. When the star became sick, his understudy stepped into his part. When Bill graduates from college, he will step into a job in his father's bank.
step into one's shoes|shoe|shoes|step
v. phr. To do what someone else usually does after he has stopped doing it. When Bill's father died, Bill had to step into his father's shoes to support his mother. A coach trains the junior varsity to step into the shoes of the members of the varsity team when they graduate. When the boss retires, his son will step into his shoes.
Compare: IN ONE'S SHOES.
step off|step
v. 1. To walk or march quickly. The drum major lowered his baton and the band stepped off. 2. or pace off. To measure by taking a series of steps in a line. The farmer stepped off the edge of the field to see how much fencing he would need. The referee stepped off a five-yard penalty against our team.
step on it|gas|step|step on the gas
v. phr. 1. To push down on the gas pedal to make a car go faster. Be very careful when you step on the gas. Don't go too fast.
Compare: GIVE IT THE GUN. 2. informal To go faster; hurry. Step on it, or we'll be late for school. John is a slow starter, but he can step on the gas when it looks as if he might lose the race. Lee was wasting time at breakfast and his father told him to step on it or they would miss the bus.
step on one's toes|step|toe|toes|tread|tread on on
v. phr. To do something that embarrasses or offends someone else. If you break in when other people are talking, you may step on their toes. Mary is pretty, and she often treads on the toes of the girls by stealing their boyfriend.

More Idioms/Phrases

step all over step down step in step inside step into step into one's shoes step off step on it step on one's toes step out step out on step up stepped up sterling character stew in one's own juice stick around stick by one

English Vocalbulary

a fly in the ointment a fortiori a friend in need is a friend indeed A G a gay life a girl in every port a going plant a good ball a good name is better than good oil a grand affair a great deal a great future is reserved for you a great lady a great number of a great piece of luck A.H. a-ha experience a house divided against itself steep sinonim