sort out .  arrange things neatly or into groups分类

The child was sorting out the bricks into different colors．那孩子在把砖分成不同的颜色种类。

These things will take some sorting out．这些东西要清理一阵子呢！

 sort out .  resolve an argument解决；澄清

You will have to sort out your differences yourselves．你们得自己解决你们的分歧。

You'd better send somebody over there to sort the situation out．你最好派个人去那儿把情况弄清。

 sort out .  organize整顿（人员等）

He took just one month to sort out his new office and the secretarial staff．他仅用了一个月就整顿好了他的新办公室及秘书人员。

She told him to sort himself out or she would leave him．她告诉他把自己管好，否则她将离开他。

The school was sorted out in a matter of two months．那所学校用了差不多两个月的时间就整顿好了。

 sort out .   attack somebody  either verbally or physically惩处；惩罚

If you don't stop fighting， I shall come and sort you out．你们要是继续打架，我就要出来惩治你们了。

sound off . tell what one knows or thinks in a loud， clear voice， esp． to brag or complain高声发表意见（尤指吹牛或抱怨）

George sounded off about how the game should have been played．乔治高声谈论这场比赛本来应该如何进行。

Do we have to listen to her sounding off again about her holiday? 我们是不是又要听她抱怨她的假期?

sound out . try to discover the opinion or intention of somebody 努力发现…的观点或意图；刺探

Could you sound the director out on the question of the new appointment? 你能从主任那儿打听到对新的任命的看法吗?

I’m not sure what he intends to do．Will you try to sound him out? 我不清楚他打算干什么。你能去探探他的口气吗?

space out . place things apart from one another按一定间隔安排

Their four children were spaced out two years apart．他们家四个孩子之间都相差两岁。

The foresters spaced the seedlings out in rows．林务员把树苗一行行等距栽种。

Can I space out payments over five months? 我可以分五个月偿还货款吗?

spark off .  cause something to erupt or explode 引爆

Just one match sparked off a terrible forest fire．仅仅一根火柴就引起了一场可怕的森林火灾。

spark off .  be the immediate cause of something violent or frightening导致；为…直接原因

I have no idea what sparked their quarrel off this time．我不知道这次又是什么引起了他们之间的争吵。

The management's attitude may spark off a series of strikes．厂方的态度可能会引起一系列的罢工。

His proposal sparked off a heated debate，他的建议引起了一场激烈的辩论。

speak about . talk about谈及；谈论

We won't speak about the unfortunate period in your family history．我们不会谈及你家的那段不幸历史。

speak for . support支持

at the meeting John spoke for the change in the rules．约翰在会上支持改变规则。

He was asked to speak for the motion that nuclear weapons should be abolished．他被要求支持废除核武器的动议。

Although most members of the committee spoke for the bill，a few still held different views．虽说委员会中的多数成员赞同这项议案，但还有一些人持不同看法。

speak for .  act as a representative for somebody ，so as to give his views代表…发表意见

I speak for my wife as well as myself when I thank you all for your great kindness．我代表我妻子和我本人感谢你们大家的巨大帮助。

Just be quiet a minute and let John speak for himself．静一会，让约翰为他自己辩解。

Have you got anyone to speak for you? 你找到人代表你发言了吗?

at others think I do not know； I can only speak for myself．别人怎么想我不知道，我只能代表我自己讲话。

speak for . ask for索要

The teacher was giving away some books· Fred and Charlie spoke for the same one．老师正在分发书，弗莱德和查理要的是同一本。

speak for . give an impression of留下…印象；证明；表明

Facts speak for themselves．事实本身就是很好的说明。

His patient nursing speaks for his comradeship．他的耐心护理足以说明他的同志情谊。

speak for .  book or reserve订购

All the rooms in the hotel have been spoken for by the organizers of the conference．旅馆所有的房间都被会议的组织者们预订了。

They have spoken for five tickets in the front row at the theatre．他们已预定了5张前排戏票。

speak ill of . express a bad opinion of讲…的坏活；贬损；中伤

Never speak ill of people behind their backs．千万别在背后说人家坏话。

Don't speak ill of the dead．不要贬损死者。

speak of . mention；talk about提及；谈到

The book speaks of the writer's childhood．这本书谈到了作家的童年。

He speaks very highly of the boy's behaviour．他高度赞扬那男孩的行为。

In his lecture， he spoke of the increasing use of computers．他在演讲中谈及了计算机日益广泛的使用。

speak of . suggest the idea of说明；表明

This gift of money speaks of your generosity．你捐赠这笔钱说明你很慷慨。

speak of . be worth mentioning值得一提

The town had no industry to speak of before liberation．解放前这个小镇没有工业可言。

speak one's mind . say openly what one thinks说心里话；畅所欲言

When we asked the students what they thought of the new plan， they spoke their minds freely．当我们征求学生们对新计划的意见时，他们都畅所欲言。

John thought it was wrong to keep Jack out of the club and he spoke his mind about it ．约翰坦率指出摒杰克于俱乐部门外是不对的。