Boil down to and come down to name the one factor that settles an issue; measure up to means to reach an expected standard.
Reducing to the essential point
Not ""It all boils to money." (drops the particle 'down', so the phrase falls apart)" — say ""It all boils down to money."". Boil down to needs all three words; without down it is not the idiom and the meaning is lost.
Try it: Ira: What made the meeting run so long this afternoon? Farid: By evening, the whole debate ___ one question: who pays. Choose the words for the blank. (boiled down to / gave rise to / allowed for) Answer: boiled down to — Boil down to reduces a long debate to its one essential question.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
boil down to
/bɔɪl daʊn tu/
After months of discussion, the problem boiled down to one issue: trust.
come down to
/kʌm daʊn tu/
In the end, the decision came down to cost rather than design.
measure up to
/ˈmɛʒər ʌp tu/
The revised draft did not measure up to the client's expectations.
Causing a result
Give rise to means to cause, go back on means to break a promise, and allow for means to leave room in a plan.
Not ""The road gave rise delays." (drops the preposition 'to', so the object has nothing to attach to)" — say ""The road gave rise to delays."". Give rise to always keeps the to before its object; it is the formal way to say something caused a result.
Try it: Ira: The repair company promised us a visit on Friday. Farid: Then they canceled the visit, so they ___ their promise. Choose the words for the blank. (went back on / gave rise to / came down to) Answer: went back on — Go back on means to break a promise made earlier.
Try it: Mei: How long should we book the room for the rehearsal? Lani: Two hours, so we ___ a late start. Choose the words for the blank. (allow for / measure up to / boil down to) Answer: allow for — Allow for means to leave room in a plan for something that might happen.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
give rise to
/ɡɪv raɪz tu/
The new road gave rise to a long debate about traffic.
go back on
/ɡoʊ bæk ɑn/
The supplier chose to go back on the agreement after receiving a higher offer.
allow for
/əˈlaʊ fər/
Any realistic budget must allow for delays caused by weather and supply issues.
Everyday three-part verbs
In everyday talk, get around to means finally doing something put off, brush up on refreshing a skill, and go along with accepting a plan.
Not ""Wei got around replying to Mei at last."" — say ""Wei got around to replying to Mei at last."". Keep the to, and put the -ing form after it.
Try it: Ira: Have you updated your climbing log yet? Diego: Not yet. I'll ___ it once the exams are over. Choose the words for the blank. (get around to / brush up on / go along with) Answer: get around to — Get around to means finally doing a job you have put off, like updating the log.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
get around to
/ɡɛt əˈraʊnd tu/
Wei got around to replying to Mei after a busy week.
brush up on
/brʌʃ ʌp ɑn/
Before the tournament, Camila brushed up on her chess openings.
go along with
/ɡoʊ əˈlɔŋ wɪð/
Hiroshi rarely argues; he usually goes along with whatever the group decides.
What are the common mistakes?
Incorrect
Correct
Why
"It all boils to money." (drops the particle 'down', so the phrase falls apart)
"It all boils down to money."
Boil down to needs all three words; without down it is not the idiom and the meaning is lost.
"The road gave rise delays." (drops the preposition 'to', so the object has nothing to attach to)
"The road gave rise to delays."
Give rise to always keeps the to before its object; it is the formal way to say something caused a result.