1. get down to: to finally start doing something, especially work, after you have been avoiding doing it or after something has prevented you from doing it

例：

Come on Sam—it's time you got down to some homework. （山姆，赶紧的，该开始做作业了。）

It's time to stop delaying and get down to work. （别拖拖拉拉了，开始做事吧。）

get down to to doing something

When the summer comes, we must get down to painting the outside of the house. （夏天一来，我们就要把房子外墙漆一下了。）

get down to business

OK, can everyone take a seat now, and we'll get down to business. （好了，大家都就座吧，我们开始谈正事。）

2. start on: to start a piece of work that will take a fairly long time

例：

The exam was almost over and I hadn't even started on question 3. （考试都快结束了，我还没开始做第三道题。）

It was time to start on all those little jobs around the house that he'd been putting off. （房子周围的那些琐碎活儿早该干了，他一直拖着不干，现在是时候开始干了。）

We can't start on the building work until planning permission comes through. （建筑许可证没批下来，就不能动工。）

3. set about: to start a long and fairly difficult piece of work, especially in an energetic and determined way

例：

They set about creating a new Web site. （他们开始建一个新的网站。）

Philip set about the task with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm. （菲利普满怀热情地开始做事。）

set about doing something

If there is a serious problem, it's far better to admit it and set about tackling it. （如果出了大问题，与其回避，不如承认问题所在并着手处理。）

4. set :

例：

We have no idea what set her crying? （我们都不知道她怎么就哭起来了。）

Her question set me to wondering if I had made the right decision. （她问的这个问题，让我反思自己的决定是否正确。）

Sources say that the governor has set the wheels in motion for a run for the presidency. （有消息表明，这个州长已经开始准备竞选总统了。）

Why don't we set to work really early, and try to get it finished in one day? （我们不如早点开始工作，好在一天内做完。）

Workmen had already set to work to clear the fallen trees. （工人已经开始清理倒下的树木了。）

5. settle down to: to start doing something after a delay or interruption that has stopped you giving it your full attention

例：

After lunch the children settled down to finish their homework. （午饭过后，孩子们开始做作业。）

I sorted out my mail, and then settled down to some serious work. （我把信件整理好，然后开始做正经事。）

settle down to doing something

It was two o'clock before I could finally settle down to writing the next chapter. （我2:00才开始写下一段。）

注：这个词组后接动词原形或ing形式都可以。

6. launch into: to suddenly start doing something

例：

Don't just launch into exercise without warming up first. （做运动前一定要先热身。）

7. put something on: to start cooking something 开始煮

例：

Shall I put the pasta on now? （我现在可以开始煮意面了吗？）

8. come to/grow to/get to: to gradually start to like, fear, expect etc. something over a period of time

例：

At first I thought he was a bit strange, but I grew to like and respect him over the years. （一开始，我觉得他有点奇怪，但这么多年相处下来，我逐渐开始喜欢他、敬仰他了。）