Upon
is more formal and less commonly used thanon
.) •I will act on this immediately.
2. to take action because of some special information. •The police refused to act upon his complaint because he was an ex-convict.
3. to perform on something, usually the stage (in a theater). •Ken has never acted on the stage or in front of a camera.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
be in the act of doing something — phrase to be doing something at a particular moment, especially when something else happens or when someone interrupts you She stopped in the act of turning and stared at me. Thesaurus: to do somethingsynonym Main entry: act … Useful english dictionary
catch someone in the act (of doing something) — phrase to find someone and interrupt them when they are doing something wrong He denies all guilt, even though he was caught in the act. Thesaurus: to notice or recognize something or someonesynonym Main entry: act … Useful english dictionary
in the act of doing something — in the act (of doing something) : while doing something When they arrived, I was just in the act of starting to make dinner. He tried to rob a bank and was caught in the act. = He was caught in the act of robbing a bank. • • • Main Entry: ↑act … Useful english dictionary
act on/upon — [phrasal verb] act on/upon (something) : to use (something, such as a feeling or suggestion) as a reason or basis for doing something They never acted on the information they had. We were too late to act upon his suggestion. It s okay to feel… … Useful english dictionary
act — [n1] something done accomplishment, achievement, action, deed, doing, execution, exploit, feat, move, operation, performance, step, thing, undertaking; concept 1 Ant. cessation, idleness, inactivity, inertia, quiet, quiet, repose, rest, stoppage … New thesaurus
be in the act of doing something — to be doing something at a particular moment, especially when something else happens or when someone interrupts you She stopped in the act of turning and stared at me … English dictionary
in the act (of doing something) — in the act (of doing sth) idiom while you are doing sth • He was caught in the act of stealing a car. • It is often difficult to tell when someone is using drugs unless they are caught in the act. Main entry: ↑actidi … Useful english dictionary
Act your age! — Act (your) age! something that you say to someone who is being silly to tell them to behave in a more serious way. Oh, act your age, Chris! You can t expect to have your own way all the time … New idioms dictionary
Act age! — Act (your) age! something that you say to someone who is being silly to tell them to behave in a more serious way. Oh, act your age, Chris! You can t expect to have your own way all the time … New idioms dictionary
act — act1 [ ækt ] noun *** ▸ 1 single thing someone does ▸ 2 law ▸ 3 part of play, etc. ▸ 4 performance ▸ 5 behavior hiding truth ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) count a single thing that someone does: act of violence/vandalism/terrorism/kindness/bravery/desperation … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
act — act1 W1S1 [ækt] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(action)¦ 2¦(law)¦ 3¦(pretending)¦ 4 get your act together 5¦(play)¦ 6¦(performance)¦ 7¦(performer)¦ 8 a hard/tough etc act to follow 9 get in on the act 10 act of God … Dictionary of contemporary English
