to be

'to be away' means to have gone to another place.

• Sandra won't be back until next month, she is away in China at the moment.
  
• I'm sorry but Martin is away on holiday this week. Can I help you?
  

'to be down' means to be unhappy or depressed.

• Until I found a new job, I was down for a long time.
  
• Sue has been down since she turned 50.
  

'to be down' can also mean the opposite of 'to be up', to have fallen or got smaller.

• The dollar is down one cent against the euro.
  
• Profits are down this quarter due to bad sales in Europe.
  

'to be in' means to be at home.

• I tried to phone Donna last night but she wasn't in so I couldn't speak to her.
  
• I'll be in this afternoon if you'd like to come for tea.
  

'to be off' means to leave or to start on a journey.

• I'll see you tomorrow morning, I'm off now. Have a nice evening.
  
• We're off to Florida on Tuesday. The flight leaves at ten o'clock.
  

'to be off' can also mean that food is old and has gone bad.

• Don't eat that yoghurt, I think it's off. It's been in the fridge for ages.
  
• Smell the milk, I think it's off.
  

'to be on' means that something is taking place

• That documentary is on TV tonight but I don't know which channel it is on.
  
• Let's go shopping on Saturday. The sales are on at the moment.
  

'to be on' can also mean to be working or switched on.

• I think he must be deaf, the TV was on very loud.
  
• When I arrived, the lights were on but nobody was at home.
  

'to be out' is the opposite of 'to be in' so means to not be at home or to be absent.

• I'm sorry but Jack's out. Can I take a message?
  
• Marie is out until lunchtime. She's got an appointment at the dentist this morning.
  

'to be up' means to have risen, got higher.

• Prices are up more than ten per cent.
  
• Unfortunately our costs are up more than twenty per cent because of the increase in the cost of petrol.
  

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