Have you taken to colourful compounds yet? Take in these examples to spruce up your vocabulary.
tac
k on
To add something
Example: The mechanic decided to tack on a free car wash to his services.
tail off
To become silent or inaudible; to lessen
Example: The sounds in the forest tailed off around midnight when the temperatures dropped to below freezing.
take after
To resemble, be like
Example: She took after her daughter with her penchant for big necklaces and large parasols.
take in
To fully understand or absorb
Example: We took in the whole experience, staying out all day and talking with all the vendors.
take to
To make a habit of; to like
Example: Despite never having seen snow, she took to skiing in an instant.
take up
To begin to do
Example: The magician took up cardiopulmonary resuscitation to ensure he could revive frightened guests at his shows.
talk back
To reply rudely
Example: After reprimanding Lucy for disrupting the class, the teacher was shocked when she talked back.
talk up
To promote or speak in support
Example: Frank tended to talk up his ability to walk on his hands.
think up
To contrive or invent
Example: They’d think up the craziest schemes, which they naturally couldn’t pull off.
thrash out
To discuss thoroughly, resolve
Example: Committee members thrashed out policy options until they nearly gave in from exhaustion.
tide over
To sustain or help through
Example: The dozen eggs would tide the household over for the holidays.
tip off
To warn or give information
Example: Will Trump tip off Putin about the next breach of security?
toss off
To write or do quickly
Example: The copywriters tossed off a few headlines, but they weren’t satisfactory.
toy with
To consider, treat casually
Example: She toyed with the idea of eating the whole chocolate cake at one sitting.
trump up
To concoct, charge or accuse falsely
Example: The press secretary felt the media had been trumping up accusations about the president.
urge on
To encourage, impel
Example: Steve urged his horse on although it had galloped for four miles.
use up
To consume completely, exhaust
Example: I used up all my change in the parking meter.
usher in
To signal or mark, inaugurate
Example: “America first!” seemed to usher in a new era – whether or not it’s true.
veer off
To change suddenly
Example: He veered off the subject when she entered the room.
veg out
To relax, do nothing 
Example: If you’re going to veg out in front of the TV, put on these 3D glasses and watch Avatar.
vouch for
To support or back, give assurances
Example: I didn’t like his attitude, but I could vouch for what he said in his speech.
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