| balance out | To stabilize or equalize. “Spices help balance out the body's energy.” |
| be there | To be present and emotionally available. “You have to be there for someone in a real way.” |
| bring about | To cause or produce. “GMOs brought about major changes in agriculture.” |
| bring along | To bring something or someone with you. “Guests are expected to bring along a gift.” |
| bring out | To highlight or emphasize. “Japanese dishes bring out the natural flavor of ingredients.” |
| bring together | To unite. “Chinese cuisine brings people together from all cultures.” |
| build up | To develop gradually or strengthen. “Dinner parties help build up bonds.” |
| carry | To contain or express. “Every culture carries its own social codes.” |
| carry out | To conduct or perform. “Scientists carry out genetic modification in labs.” |
| catch on | To become popular. “Chinese takeout quickly caught on in the West.” |
| center around | To focus on. “Japanese cooking centers around simplicity and presence.” |
| cut down on | To reduce consumption. “Doctors recommend cutting down on processed foods.” |
| deal with | To manage a problem. “Farmers must deal with pests without chemicals.” |
| draw on | To use as a source. “Chinese chefs draw on regional traditions.” |
| end up | To result in. “Most fast food ends up replacing home-cooked meals.” |
| fill up | To become full. “Processed snacks fill you up quickly — but not for long.” |
| follow through | To complete or carry out. “Even meat-based dishes follow through on Ayurvedic logic.” |
| get back to | To return to something. “Getting back to presence takes intention.” |
| give in | To yield to temptation. “It's hard not to give in to sugary snacks.” |
| give rise to | To cause or lead to. “This diet has given rise to a leaner population.” |
| give way to | To be replaced by something else. “Face-to-face contact gave way to digital ones.” |
| grow up | To be cultivated. “These crops grow up without synthetic fertilizers.” |
| hold on to | To preserve. “China has held on to its culinary identity.” |
| hold together | To keep something united. “Small gestures hold together the strongest bonds.” |
| keep up | To maintain. “Many ties are kept up through quick messages.” |
| line up with | To match or be in harmony with. “Meals should line up with the person’s constitution.” |
| look after | To care for. “Indian food aims to look after physical and emotional health.” |
| make room | To create space for something. “You need to make room in your schedule.” |
| make up | To form or compose. “These rituals made up the foundation of connection.” |
| pass around | To distribute or circulate. “Images are quickly passed around online.” |
| phase out | To gradually eliminate. “Some countries are phasing out GMO imports.” |
| rely on | To depend on. “Many farms rely on GMO seeds to boost production.” |
| return to | To go back to a previous state. “Returning to rituals is an act of resistance.” |
| run out of | To use up completely. “Small farms often run out of resources quickly.” |
| set up | To prepare or arrange. “Setting up the table communicates care.” |
| show up | To appear or be present. “It’s not enough to show up — be fully there.” |
| sit down with | To share a moment around a table. “There’s something special in sitting down with someone.” |
| slow down | To reduce pace. “We need courage to slow down.” |
| spread out | To expand across a wide area. “Chinese food has spread out across the globe.” |
| stand for | To represent or support. “Many people stand for stricter labeling of GMOs.” |
| stand next to | To be physically near someone. “Being present is more than standing next to someone.” |
| step into | To enter. “Guests step into your personal space.” |
| stick to | To follow faithfully. “Organic farmers stick to strict cultivation rules.” |
| take off | To remove. “In some cultures, guests take off their shoes.” |
| take on | To assume a role. “Social media has taken on a new function.” |
| take over | To dominate or replace. “Processed food has taken over many people’s daily diets.” |
| take root | To establish deeply. “Chinese cuisine has taken root in many countries.” |
| track down | To find or locate. “Anyone can be tracked down online.” |
| turn back to | To refocus on something. “We must turn back to what really matters.” |
| work through | To resolve or deal with. “People work through disagreements at the table.” |
