10 Common Phrases with “USE” and How to Master Them
Using the verb “use” and its related phrases is essential for clear, precise English. Below are 10 common phrases with “use,” each with meaning, examples, and quick tips to master them.
1. use up
- Meaning: consume the entirety of something
- Example: “We used up all the printer paper.”
- Tip: Pair with countable/uncountable nouns; emphasize completion.
2. make use of / make good use of
- Meaning: employ something for a purpose
- Example: “She made good use of her free time to study.”
- Tip: “Make use of” is slightly more formal; “make good use of” adds a positive evaluation.
3. be of use / be useful
- Meaning: to help or be helpful
- Example: “This tool will be of use when assembling the shelf.”
- Tip: Use “be of use” in formal contexts; “be useful” is more conversational.
4. get some use out of
- Meaning: derive utility or benefit from something
- Example: “You’ll get some use out of that old laptop for basic tasks.”
- Tip: Often implies limited or partial usefulness.
5. put to good use / put to use
- Meaning: apply something productively
- Example: “They put the donated funds to good use.”
- Tip: “Put to good use” emphasizes positive outcomes; “put to use” is neutral.
6. used to (do)
- Meaning: indicates a past habitual action
- Example: “I used to run every morning.”
- Tip: Don’t confuse with passive forms—“used to” expresses past routine, not necessity.
7. be of no use / useless
- Meaning: not helpful or ineffective
- Example: “The broken key was of no use.”
- Tip: For stronger emphasis, use “completely useless” or “of no use whatsoever.”
8. have no use for
- Meaning: not want or need something
- Example: “I have no use for outdated software.”
- Tip: Conveys personal preference or irrelevance more than incapability.
9. call/use into question
- Meaning: to doubt or challenge something
- Example: “The new evidence calls into question the earlier findings.”
- Tip: Formal phrase; “call into question” often appears in academic or professional contexts.
10. use someone/something as an example
- Meaning: cite or reference for illustration
- Example: “She used his success as an example to motivate the team.”
- Tip: Can be shortened to “use as an example” in casual speech.
Quick Mastery Tips
- Focus on collocations: learn which words commonly pair with “use” (e.g., use up, put to use).
- Pay attention to formality: choose phrases like “be of use” for formal writing and “be useful” for speech.
- Practice substitution: replace “use” with synonyms (employ, utilize, make use of) to feel nuance.
- Create sentences: write 2–3 personal examples for each phrase to internalize meaning.
Short Practice Exercise
- Rewrite: “I don’t need that old phone.” → “I have no use for that old phone.”
- Fill in: “We ____ all the milk, so we need more.” → “used up”
- Transform: “She used the time well.” → “She put the time to good use.”
Use these phrases regularly in writing and speech to build confidence and precision.