Unit 10 (week ten)

Feelings

A. Feelings go up and down
Up and down phrasal verbs connected with feelings often refer to positive (up) and negative
(down) emotions and emotional events, or a more emotional intensity (up ) or less emotional intensity (down).
UP
Brighten up, will you! You're depressing everyone! = suddenly look or feel happier
The film cheered us up considerably. = made us start to feel happier
There's no point in being hung up about it; there's nothing we can do. = becoming very worried about something and spend a lot of time thinking about it (informal).
DOWN
She broke down when she was told the bad news. = was unable to control her feelings and started to cry.
Calm down! Losing your temper won’t solve the problem. = stop feeling angry, upset, or excited.
I need some time to cool down before I can see him again. = become calmer.

B. More verbs connected with feelings - examples from horoscopes
Scorpio
There’s something you need to tell someone that is making you very angry, so don’t bottle up [1] your emotions. If you do, there is a danger that you will tear yourself apart [2].

1 not allow yourself to show or talk about your feelings, especially feelings of anger and sadness (informal)
2 make yourself very unhappy

Virgo
A letter or e-mail will make your heart beat faster, but don’t get carried away [3]; proceed carefully. At work things are getting better, and you should jump at [4] the chance of a new challenge which will be offered to you soon.

3 become so excited about something that you do not control what you say or do and you forget about everything else
4 eagerly accept a chance to do or have something

Leo
You may be unwilling at first to take part in an activity suggested by a close friend, but talk about it, and you may warm to [5] it a bit more. In fact, the idea could soon grow on [6] you and you’ll find yourself doing something you never expected to do and talking to [7] it enthusiastically.

5 become more enthusiastic about an idea
6 you like smth more and more, although you did not like it at first (informal)
7 starting to like it

Gemini
You feel for a female colleague at work who seems to have so many problems and hung-ups [9], but be careful; you could soon become more involved than you want to. She will have to pull herself together [10] sooner or later; it’s her life, not yours.

8 feel sorry for someone who is unhappy or in a difficult situation
9 feelings of embarrassment or fear about something, often when it is not necessary to feel that way (informal)
10 become calm after being very upset or angry

Relationships

A. Talking about relationships
Dear Auntie Jo,
I think I’ve fallen for [1] the new guy who’s just started work in our office. He fitted in [2] at once. He and I get along [3] really well, but he hasn’t asked me out [4] yet. What should I do?
Miranda Buxton
1 (informal) become very attracted to
2 felt happy in a group of people because he was similar to them
3 like each other and are friendly
4 invited someone to go to a place like a cinema or a restaurant, usually to start a romantic relationship

Dear Auntie Jo,
I’ve been going out with [1] my boyfriend for ten months now and we’re planning to get married next year. But last week we fell out [2] over something really stupid. He heard a male friend of mine tell me my hair looked nice and he thought it was a chat-up [3] line. He got so jealous and wouldn’t speak to me. Do you think a minor falling-out [4] like this is a bad sign for our future marriage, or am I worrying too much?
Tanya Wilson
1 having a romantic relationship with
2 had an argument that damaged our relationship
3 (noun, informal) a way of talking which suggests you are sexually attracted to someone and want them to be attracted m you (from the verb chat up)
4 (noun) argument (from the verb fall out)

B. Being attracted to someone
If you hit it off with someone = immediately like and become friendly with them (informal
If you pair off with someone = start a romantic relationship with them
If you chat someone up = talk In a way that shows them that you are sexually attracted to them and you try to make them attracted to you
If you go for a particular type of person or thing = like that type of person or thing

Relationships: problems

Here are some more letters to Auntie Jo, the agony aunt. Read these letters from a popular young people's magazine along with Jo’s replies below.

Dear Auntie Jo,
My boyfriend and I have just split up [1] after a year together. For the first six months everything was great, but them we just seemed to drift apart [2]. I didn’t really want to finish with [3] him, but he wanted to break off our relationship. Should I ask him if we can start again and try to rediscover the magic of those first six months?
Linda (aged 19)

‘When two people grow apart [5], it’s usually because they are basically different. The fact that he broke off with [6] you means he recognizes that you don’t really have a lot in common. You’re young. Let him go!”

1 ended a relationship or marriage
2 gradually become less friendly and the relationship ends
3 end a romantic relationship (informal)
4 end a relationship
5 gradually become less friendly, often because you do not have the same interests and opinions any more
6 ended a romantic relationship with someone

Dear Auntie Jo,
My parents broke up [1] last year and I’ve been depressed ever since. I see each of them regularly, and I love them, but I feel they have let me down [2]. Is there anything I can do to persuade them to make up [3] and live together again so that my sister and I can have a normal life like other kids?
Brian (aged 16)

"Brian, a marriage break-up [4] is always very sad, but there’s not so much you can do. They are adults and they have made their own choices. You feel you’re missing out [5] on a normal young person’s life, but you’re not alone. A third of all marriages in Britain end in divorce. Be brave and talk to your friends about it."

1 their marriage or relationship ended
2 disappointed me by failing to do what they agreed or what I expected them to do
3 forgive each other and become friendly again
4 (noun) the act or event of breaking up
5 not doing or getting something you would enjoy or that would be good for you, or not having something other people have

Dear Auntie Jo,
A couple of years ago my uncle ran off with [1] another woman. She was much younger than him, in fact she was only 20 and he was 52. it ended in disaster. He left her last year and returned to his wife. But the neighbours all stare at him and laugh at him; it seems he’ll never live it down [2]. He’s doing his best to settle down [3] and be a good husband and uncle again, but I feel so unhappy for him. What can I do?
Iona (aged 17)

“People can be very cruel, Iona, and your uncle may have to settle for [4] a lot more embarrassment before the neighbours forget what happened. The best thing you can do is to show your uncle that you love him and support him and show him that you accept him, and all his faults.”

1 secretly left a place with someone in order to live with them or marry them, especially when other people think this is wrong
2 stop feeling embarrassed about smth you did by waiting until people forget about it
3 start living in a place where you intend to stay for a long time
4 accept smth, often smth that is not exactly what you want, or is not the best

Secrets and conversations

A. Secrets
Angela: You're keeping something from [1] me, aren't you?
Steve: Well, sort of. Jill really opened up [2] to me last night. She poured out [3] a lot of thin
but made me promise not to tell anyone and I can't go back on [4] my word.
Angela: Go on. You can tell me, I won't let on [5] to Jill or anyone else.
Steve: No, I can't. In the course of her outpouring [6] she owned up [7] to something quite
serious and I really can't tell you about it. You'd be far too shocked!

1 not telling me about something
2 started to talk more about herself and her feelings
3 talked very honestly about what was making her unhappy
4 not do something that you promised you would do
5 tell someone about something that was supposed to be a secret
6 (noun) long and emotional expression of what she was feeling
7 admitted she had done smth wrong

B. Conversations
Keep on at sb = talk to someone about smth many times, usually to complain about smth they have dome or not done. E.g.: I wish you wouldn’t keep on at me about my handwriting! No-one else has problems reading it.
Talk down to sb = talk to someone as if they were less clever than you. E.g.: The best teachers don’t talk down to pupils but speak to them as equals.
Play down smth or play smth down = try to make people believe that smth is not very important or is unlikely to happen. E.g.: There is no point in trying to play down the incident – too many people saw exactly what happened.
Pin down smb or pin smb down = make someone give you exact details or a decision about something. E.g.: He’s the most infuriating man – you can never pin him down to a date on anything.
Have it out with smb (informal) = talk to someone about smth they have said or done that has made you angry in order to improve the situation. E.g.: Once Sally had had it out with Kim about the housework, things got much better.
Wind up smb or wind smb up (informal) = tell someone smth that is not true in order to make a joke or to annoy them. E.g.: Stop pretending that you’ve lost your sister’s new jacket. It’s not fair to wind her up like that.
Mouth off (informal) = talk about a subject as if you know more than everyone else or to complain a lot about something. E.g.: Robert is often mouthing off about his boss behind his back, but he’d never say anything to his face.
Shut smb up (informal) = stop talking or making a noise, or make someone else do this. E.g.: Would you please shut up while I’m trying to concentrate on these papers.

New phrasal verbs

A. New phrasal verbs particularly used by the media and young people
Be partied out = have had enough of parties because you have been to so many. E.g.: After a whole week of birthday celebrations, I feel totally partied out!
Big up smth or big smth up = praise something very highly. E.g.: He begged up that new film but when I went to see it I was really disappointed.
Bliss out (+ on) = become or make someone become totally happy and relaxed. E.g.: They blessed out on music.
Buy into smth = completely believe in a set of ideas. E.g.: I don’t really buy into all that homeopathic medicine stuff.
Chill out = relax completely, or not allow things to upset you. E.g.: Chill out! Life’s too short to get so stressed!
Sex up smth or sex smth up = make smth seem more exciting than it really is. E.g.: Sports promoters are trying to sex up cricket for the younger generation.
Text back smb or text smb up = send a text message in reply. E.g.: I’ll text you back when my meeting finishes.

B. More examples of new phrasal verbs
Hi, Tanya,
How are things with you? Better than with me, I hope. I feel totally stressed-out [1]. Things started badly when I was late for work today – I needed some money and stopped at a shop where I bought a load of things I didn't really need but they still refused me cashback [2]. Then when I got to work I discovered that today wasn't a dress-down [3] day as I'd thought - and everyone else was looking smart while I'd come in my jeans. Then I discovered that all the e-mails I sent yesterday have bounced back [4] to me. I feel like screaming! I've been working soooo hard for soooo long - I think I'm suffering from burnout [5]! I wish I had loads of money - I'd go and veg out [6] in the Caribbean.
Penny

1 (adjective) very worried and anxious
2 (noun) money from your bank account that you can get from a shop when you buy goods with a debit card
3 (adjective) used about a day for dressing in less formal clothes than normal
4 didn't get to their destination and have been sent back
5 (noun) the condition of being ill or tired because you have been working too hard
6 relax by doing nothing (informal)

TASK: Write a story (250 words) describing life of a young man/woman of modern society. Remember to use phrasal verbs of this unit.

Unit 9 (week nine)

Work: jobs and career

A. Talking informally about your work or career
Well, to get ahead [1] in a job like mine you have to be prepared to take on [2] a lot of responsibility and work long hours.
When the boss first took me on [3] he filled me in [4] on what the job involved, but he didn’t tell me I would have to do so much traveling!
Well, I stood down [5] as Chairman in 1998, and Mary Wilmott took over [6]. As you all know, she has carried out [7] some important reforms in the company and has been very successful.
I’m 60 now, so I think it’s time for me to step down [8] and hand over [9] to a younger person.
1 be successful in your job
2 accept a particular job or responsibility
3 began to employ me
4 gave me the information I needed in order to do something
5 left an important job or official position so that someone else can do it instead
6 started doing a job or being responsible for something that someone else was doing or was responsible for before you
7 done or completed something, especially something important
8 leave your job, especially so that someone else can do it
9 give someone else responsibility or control

B. More work-related phrasal verbs
Ellen: Frances, do you think you could fix up a staff meeting for me? [provide or arrange something for someone]
Frances: Yes, I'll do that. When were you thinking of?
Ellen: Well, let's pencil it in for Friday morning and see whether everyone else is free then. [arrange for something to happen on a particular date, knowing the arrangement might be changed later]
Keith: Why are you back home already? Did you knock off early today? [informal: stop working, usually at the end of a day]
Bob: I wish I could say that. The truth is I've just been laid off. [lost your job because there is no work for you to do, from the verb lay off someone]
Keith: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Veronica: Did you ever follow up that phone call you had with the oil company? [do something in order to make the effect of an earlier action or thing stronger or more certain]
Jim: No, I really should do something about it.
Mona: It's amazing how much we can get done when we all pull together, isn't it? [work as a group in order to achieve something]
Ricky: Yes, although sometimes it's also good if people just leave you to it. [informal: go away from someone so that they do something by themselves or so they can continue what they are doing]

Work: being busy

A. Being busy
Nick: I haven't seen you for ages. Have you been a bit tied up [1] at work?
Tim: Yes, I've been incredibly busy. I was away for a conference and the work just piled up [2] while I was away. I've been snowed under [3] ever since. Although I slave away [4] till seven at night and even work at weekends, I still can't seem to catch up [5] with everything!
Nick: Sorry, I asked!
1 been so busy that you are unable to see or speak to anyone else or go anywhere (informal)
2 became more and more (used of something unpleasant, e.g. work, bills or debts)
3 had so much work to do that I have problems dealing with it
4 work very hard with little or no rest
5 do something you did not have time to do earlier

B. Working hard
Ray: How are things going for you at work at the moment, Stella?
Stella: Well, we're branching out [1] into a new product line - children's clothes - so I'm pretty busy. At the moment I'm working on [2] some new designs for leisurewear. We're working towards [3] having a complete range for children of all ages. It's quite difficult but I'm sure I'll develop some good designs if I keep at [4] it.
Ray: Well, you always were good at sticking at [5] things.
Stella: Well, I'd certainly rather do a project myself than have to chase up [6] other people to make sure they're doing what they promised to do. But sometimes you have to do that just to keep things moving along [7].
Ray: Do you think you could squeeze in [8] lunch with me sometime?
Stella: Mm, possibly, but not till next week.
Ray: That's fine. But don't try to wriggle out of [9] it at the last minute!
1 starting to do something different from what you usually do
2 spending time working in order to produce something
3 trying hard to achieve
4 continue working bard at something difficult or something which takes a long time
5 continuing to work hard at something even though it is hard or takes a long time
6 ask people to do something that they said they would do but have not done yet
7 developing in a satisfactory way
8 manage to see someone or do something when you are very busy and do not have much time available
9 avoid doing something that other people think you should do, often in a dishonest way (informal)

Money: salaries, bills, payments

A. Formal and informal
Many phrasal verbs have more formal, non-phrasal equivalents.
take out sth or take sth out = withdraw - get money from a bank: I took €100 out at the ATM yesterday. You may not withdraw more than €500 in 24 hours.
cut back sth or cut sth back = reduce - decrease the amount of money that is being spent on something. The government is cutting back on the education budget. The education budget is to be reduced next year.
pay back sth/sb or pay sth/sb back = repay - pay someone the money that you owe them: Lend me ten pounds and I'll pay you back tomorrow. Poor countries find it very difficult to repay their debts.
come to sth = total – be a particular total when amounts or numbers are added together: The bill for the meal came to $86 all together. Healthcare expendinure totalled $120 billion last year.

B. Paying bills and debts
I won't pay off the mortgage on my house until 2024. [pay back all the money you owe]
My tax bill has arrived. I have to pay up by 30 December. [pay money that you owe, especially when you do not want to]
My kids ran up a phone bill of L400! [caused you to owe a large amount of money]
I know I already owe you €20. Can you lend me another 20 and I'll settle up with you when I get paid next week. [pay someone the money that you owe them]

C. Other verbs connected with money
I’ve been offerd a chance to go to New Zeland next year. So I’ve startrd saving up [1] already. I’m trying to set aside [2] a fixed amount each month so that I’ll have enough.
It was a terrible holiday. Everything went wrong. And it cost us $900, but I guess we’ll have to just write that off [3]. We won’t get it back [4].
They were giving away [5] free tickets at the Concert Hall today and I got one. Then I was in a bookshop buying a magazine and I picked up [6] a book on Italian cookery at a knockdown [7] price. It had been reduced from $20 to $15.

1 keeping money so that I can buy something with it in the future
2 use money for one purpose and no other purpose
3 accept that an amount of money has been lost
4 it will not be returned
5 giving something to somebody without asking for payment
6 bought something when you have gone to a place to do something else
7 (adjective) very cheap

Money: buying and selling

A. Shopping and buying goods
Tom: That leather bag's £120. Shall I see if he'll sell it cheaper?
Lily: Yes, why don't you try and beat him down to £100. [make someone reduce the price of something]
Jill: Did you manage to get that car you wanted for a lower price?
Sandy: Yes, the dealer knocked 10% off the price because I offered to pay cash. [reduced the price by a certain sum]
Nora: This is a nice old vase. Is it an antique?
Beryl: Yes it is, but I picked it up for €30. It was a real bargain. [bought it at a cheap price]
Fran: It would be nice to buy something for our teacher now that the course is ending.
Paco: Yes, we should club together and get her some flowers or a nice gift. [put our money together as a group]
Larry: I'm not going to buy stuff at those gift shops again. They really ripped me off last time. [informal: cheated me by making me pay too much]
Sue: Yes, a lot of those tourist shops are a real rip-off. You can get the same things in ordinary shops for half the price. [noun: from the verb rip off]
Martin: Shall we buy the TV set here? It's a big store.
Pilar: No, let's shop around a bit. They may be cheaper somewhere else. [look at different shops and compare prices]
Aaron: Mick is selling Madonna's autograph for $20. Should I buy it?
Ritchie: If I were you I'd snap it up. It could become very valuable in the future.[slightly informal: buy it quickly because the price is good]
Meg: The car failed its annual test yesterday. Two of the tyres are badly worn.
Simon: Oh no! Now we have to fork out for two new ones! [informal: pay for something, especially when you do not want to]
B. Other buying verbs
Learn these verbs in pairs to help you remember them.
We should stock up on fruit and vegetables and not buy so much junk food. [buy large quantities of]
We should never skimp on healthy foods. [spend too little money on or use too little of]
We splashed out [spent a lot of money on something we didn't really need] on lots of new furniture last month and ran up [caused ourselves to have to pay] a huge bill.
They're selling off printers at half price at the computer store. [selling to get rid of them]
Shall we go and look at them right away in case they sell out? [have none left]

Business

A. Starting and doing business
Tim Benson started up [1] his own business in his first year at the university. He set up [2] a small company hiring out [3] bicycles to other students. He was very successful and claims that his profits ran into [4] thousands of euros a month, a lot of money for a student. As a spin-off [5] he used to sell cycling clothes and equipment to the students and that also was a good earner for him. ‘I was really happy with that set-up [6], says Tim, ‘as I loved cycling myself’.

1 created (a business or other organization)
2 started (a company or an organization)
3 allowing people to use for a short time in exchange for money
4 reached a particular level
5 (noun) extra business in some way related to an earlier successful business
6 (noun) business arrangement

B. Ups and downs in business
Read this conversation about Ken's business activities.
Bob: Doesn't Ken own his computer business any more?
Rita: No, he sold up [1] and used the money to buy a small chain of clothing outlets [2].
Bob: Really? Has he done well?
Rita: Yes. His turnover [3] was so big he managed to take over [4] a jewellery company that had been a success but was winding down [5] because of bad management. They were no longer able to pay for the upkeep [6] of the stores.
Bob: Wow! How much did he have to pay of his own money?
Rita: Well, he poured a lot of money into [7] it he puts it at [8] around a million - but he saved it from going under [9] and it's making a profit now. In fact he says the profit on wedding rings alone runs to [10] several millions. He says he’s glad he decided to risk the takeover [11].
Bob: So he's a rich man now then?
Rita: He's very rich, but you know something? He still drives around town in that old car of his!
1 sold a business (or house) in order to go and do something else (or live somewhere else)
2 (noun) shops
3 (noun) amount of money or business made by a company in a period of time
4 get control of a company by buying most of its shares
5 gradually reducing the amount of work being done until it closes completely
6 (noun) cost or process of keeping a building or something in good condition
7 provided a lot of money for something over a long period
8 roughly calculates at a particular amount
9 failing financially
10 reaches a particular amount, usually a large amount
11 (noun) act of gaining control of a company

TASK: WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR FRIEND USING THE PHRASAL VERBS ABOVE.

Unit 8 (week eight)

Disagreeing

A. Disagreement at work
There was an outcry [1] at work today because the boss announced that he wanted us all to take a pay cut. We had a union meeting at lunchtime and we all agreed to stick together [2] and refuse to agree to his requests. Our union leader spoke out [3] very clearly to our boss and to the local press this afternoon. We’re sure that the boss well have to give in [4] in the end. Although in some ways I’d rather stay out of [5] it myself, I have no choice but to support my fellow union members.
1. (noun) public expression of anger and disapproval
2. support each other, especially in a difficult situation
3. publicly expressed an opinion, usually to oppose or criticise something or someone
4. finally agree to what someone wants after a period of refusing to agree
5. not become involved in an argument or discussion

B. Private disagreements
Read Cilla’s letter to an agony aunt, Esther.
"Dear Esther,
Please can you help me. My big sister and I always used to be good friends, but we fell out [1] when I started going out with a new boyfriend. Now she is always trying to put me down [2] and it is really beginning to get to [3] me. My boyfriend usually tries to stick up for [4] me, but then she just laughs at him too. Two years ago my boyfriend used to go out with my sister, but surely she doesn’t hold this against [5] us? What can we do?
Cilla"

1. argued with each other and stopped being friends
2. make me feel stupid or unimportant by criticising me
3. make me feel upset or angry
4. defend me when I am being criticized
5. like or respect them less because they have done something wrong or something that she does not like.

C. Back
The verb back is often used to refer to the position you take in an argument or decision.
up sh (or back sb up) = to say that someone is telling the truth
BACK down = admit that you are wrong or have been defeated, often because you are forced to
out = decide not to do something that you were going to do or had agreed to do
Examples:
When I make my point at the meeting, please back me up.
The government backed down on its controversial plans to increase income tax.
Jill had agreed to come sailing with us tomorrow, but she's backed out.

Persuading

A. Verbs with talk and put
To PUT across/over sth or PUT sth across/over = explain or express sth clearly so that people understand it easily. E.g.: He’s an excellent teacher. He puts his subject across/over so well.
To PUT forward sth or PUT sth forward = state an idea or opinion, or suggest a plan, so that it can be considered or discussed. E.g.: The company has put forward a plan to build a new hotel in the city centre.
To PUT sth to sb = suggest an idea or plan to someone so they can be considered or discussed. E.g.: Your proposal is interesting. I’ll put it to the committee tomorrow.
To TALK sb around = persuade someone to agree with you or to do what you want them to do. E.g.: Dad won’t let me go away with my friends, but Mum might be able to talk him around/round.
To TALK sb into sth/doing sth = persuade someone to do something which they may be unwilling to do at first. E.g.: She talked me into going jogging every day before work.
To TALK sb out of sth/doing sth = persuade someone not to do sth. E.g.: My sister wants to leave college but my parents are trying to talk her out of it.

B. Other verbs connected with persuading people
PRIME MINISTER CALLS FOR [1] WAR ON DRUGS
Minister brushes aside [2] opposition to new tax plan
UNION BOSS BRINGS EMPLOYER ROUND [3] TO PAY DEAL
Doctors press for [4] shorter working hours
CITY ROPES IN [5] LOCAL INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENT PLAN
"I was just having the media on [6], and they fell for [7] it," says star who faked his own death

1. says he thinks a particular thing should be done, usually in order to change or improve a situation
2. refuses to listen to what someone says, or refuses to think about something seriously
3. persuades someone to agree with you or to do what you want them to do
4. try to persuade someone, usually someone in authority, to give you something or to allow something to happen
5. (informal) persuades someone to help yon with something, especially when they do not want to
6. (informal) persuading someone that something is true when it is not, usually as a joke
7. were tricked into believing something that is not true

Praising and criticising

A. Praising and criticising
Max: Now that you've been in our company for a month, what do you think of the other people in your department?
David: Well, there is one outstanding [1] person and that's Jessica. She's a first-class personal
assistant. She stands out [2] from the others.
Max: That's good to hear. What about Rick? What do you think of him?
David: He's very able, but I wish he wasn't such a show-off [3]! I don't know who he's trying to impress.
Max: It's the female staff. I think. He alwavs shows off [4] more with women around.
David: Yes, I guess he's just a bit screwed-up [5]. But otherwise his performance is fine – his work certainly measures up [6].
Max: So there are no real problems then?
David: Well, I am very worried about Sally. She seems to be screwing everything up [7] at the moment. I'd had such good reports of her that it really surprised me. I tried asking her what she was playing at [8] but she just burst into tears.
Max: Why don't you have a word with Jessica? Perhaps she can find out what's wrong.

1. (adjective) extremely good, or of a very high standard
2. is much better than other people or things
3. (noun) person who tries to impress in an annoying way
4. tries to make people admire his abilities or achievements in a way other people find annoying
5 (adjective, informal) confused, unhappy about himself and his life
6. is good enough
7. (informal) making a mistake with everything, or damaging or spoiling everything
8. (always used in the continuous form; always used in questions) doing; when you ask what someone is playing at, you are surprised or angry about their behaviour

B. Ways of criticising
If you LAY INTO someone, you criticise or attack them in an angry way.
The headmaster really laid into the boys for arriving in school so late.
If you PICK ON someone, you choose one person from a group of people to criticise or treat unfairly, especially when they are smaller or weaker than you.
Mark was a quiet, studious child and the big boys in the class used to pick on him.
If you RUN DOWN someone or something, or RUN someone or something DOWN, you criticise that person or thing, often unfairly.
Pam's big sister is always running her down even though Pam is far cleverer than her.
If you HIT BACK, you criticise or attack someone who has criticised or attacked you.
Jack is constantly criticising his sons - I'm sure they'll hit back eventually.
If you TAKE OUT something ON someone or TAKE something OUT ON someone, you treat someone badly because you are upset or angry, even though they have done nothing wrong.
Of course Mary is upset at losing her job but she shouldn't take it out on her family.
If you RUB something IN (informal), you talk to someone about something which they want to forget because they feel bad about it.
I know it was all my fault. I just wish everyone would stop rubbing it in!

Exclamations and warnings

A. Reactions and responses
Ahmed: I just wanted to ask you a couple of questions.
Sara: Fine. No problem. Fire away! [something you say to tell someone you're ready for them to start asking you questions, or to start speaking]
Hilary: Oh, everything is so awful at the moment.
Petra: Oh, lighten up, will you! You'll make everyone as miserable as you! [something you say to tell someone to stop being so serious or annoyed]
Vera: Joanna wants you to give a talk to her students next Monday.
Dan: Joanna? Next week? Hang on / hold on! Who's Joanna? Is she someone I know?
[something you say when you are confused or surprised by something and you need time to think]
Kylie: I feel like lulling Roger! I'm never, ever going to speak to him again!
Lorna: Steady on! I know he acted stupidly, but he's not a bad person really. [something you say to tell someone that you think what they are saying is too extreme]
Gary: You see, what I want to say is, well, I mean, it's like, er, it's difficult to say it.
Ken: Come on! Spit it out! What is it? [come on something you say to encourage someone to do something you want them to do, especially to hurry up, to try harder, or to tell you something; spit it out something you say to encourage someone to tell you something which they do not want to tell you]
Lou: Some of the students are very poor, and can't afford textbooks.
Kate: Poor! Come off it! They have enough money for mobile phones. [something you say to tell someone that you do not believe them or that you disagree with them]

B. Commands and warnings
Step on it! We're late = said to someone, especially someone who is driving, when you want them to go faster
Watch out! Mind out! Look out! There's a car coming! = said to tell someone to be careful so that they can avoid danger or an accident
Go on! Hurry up! We've not got all day! = said to encourage someone to do something or to tell someone to do something more quickly
You're doing very well! Keep it up! = said to encourage someone to continue to do something, especially to continue to work hard or well
[On the phone] Hold on. I'll get Mike for you. It's best if you speak to him = said to ask someone to wait a moment
Belt up! I'm trying to listen to the radio = said angrily to someone to tell them to be quiet

TASK: WRITE A DIALOGUE (OR SEVERAL DIALOGUES) USING THESE PHRASAL VERBS.

Unit 7 (week seven)

Communication

A. Managing subjects and topics
Kathryn Taylor is speaking to her colleagues at a weekly business meeting. She gives an outline of what she is going to say.
Well, there are a couple of matters which I want to bring up [1] today for discussion. But before we get on to [2] those questions, I just want to run through [3] the schedule for the next week’s sales conference, which you all have copies of. Someone asked me if we could talk about the new computer system, but I’d prefer to leave that aside [4] for today and come back to [5] it another time. I’m sure I don’t need to spell out [6] how important it is that we’re all thoroughly prepared for next week’s conference, so maybe we can deal with [7] that first. So, let’s have a quick run-through [8] of the schedule and discuss each event in turn.
1 start to talk about
2 start talking about after discussing something else
3 repeat something, usually quickly, to make sure it is correct
4 not discuss it so that we can discuss something else
5 return to discuss it at a future time
6 explain in detail
7 discuss or give our attention to
8 noun: a practice or repetition to make sure something is correct (from the verb run through)

B. Communicating and interacting with others
In these dialogues the second speaker uses a phrasal verb to repeat the first speaker's meaning
Jim: I wish they had done what they said they would do.
Nan: Yes, they should have kept to what they promised and not changed their minds.
Freda: I don't know who to ask for help or advice on this matter. It's very delicate.
Lou: Yes, it's difficult to know who to turn to, isn't it?
Anne: Lucy was extremely enthusiastic and excited about coming to work for us.
Fiona: Yes, she was absolutely bubbling over with excitement when I spoke to her.
Paul: She acts as if she was the boss, telling everyone what to do.
Mia: Yes, she's always ordering people about/around.
Karen: I saw a sign saying that the car park will be closed tomorrow. Can you tell
everybody else, please?
Tony: Yes, I'II pass the news on*. I'II send an e-mail to everyone in the office.
Harry: I see Grace said no to the job.
Zoe: Yes, she turned the offer down*.
*The object can also appear after the partide in these two phrasal verbs.

Describing situations

A. Dialogues commenting on situations
Mary: It's such a cold day. I wish I could get out of the bike ride Jack's planned. [avoid doing something that you should do, often by giving an excuse]
Bill: Why, don't you suggest cancelling it? I'm sure the others would also prefer not to go in weather like this.
Sandy: I have identical twins, Flora and Florence, in my class - I always mix them up. [confuse two people or things by thinking that one person or thing is the other person or thing]
Mike: Yes, I muddle them up too. It doesn't help that their names are so similar. [confuse two people or things in your mind]
Meg: I really don't like sharing an office with Sue - she thinks the whole world revolves around her and her insignificant problems. [thinks she's more important than anyone else]
Anna: Yes, I know. I think she is one of the most self-centred people I've ever met.
John: We've been running up against [1] quite a lot of problems here recently.
Rita: I know. As soon as we deal with one problem, another immediately crops up [2] and now I feel I can't bank on [3] things turning out [4] well in the end.
1 beginning to experience
2 suddenly appears, usually when you are not expecting it
3 depend on something happening
4 happening in a particular way or having a particular result

Milly: The situation at work is so annoying at the moment! There's been a small mix-up [1] of orders and everyone is making a great drama out of it.
Tom: Oh come on! You can rise above [2] that. Just back off [3] and let others handle things.
1 (noun) mistake caused by confusion
2 not allow something bad that is happening or is being done to you upset you or affect your behaviour
3 stop being involved in a situation, expecially to let others deal with it themselves

B. An island revolution
Holidaymakers who were caught up [1] last week in a revolution on the Caribbean island of St. Maria have now returned home. The situation first hotted up [2] when rebels seized the Presidential Palace. The returning tourists report that they were all thrown together [3] in one of the largest hotels and were not allowed to leave until the situation calmed down [4].
1 (always in passive) involved in a situation, often when you don't want to be
2 (informal) became more exciting, with a lot more activity
3 forced to be together and get to know each other
4 became more peaceful

Giving and getting information

A. Referring to information in academic writing
Verbs which are useful in academic writing.
Come under sth = be included in or may be found in: Sanderson (1985) studied mistakes involving prepositions, tenses and other items which come under the heading of grammatical errors in second language learning.
Draw on/upon sth = use information or your knowledge or experience of something to help you do sth: In designating the experiment, Fiona Farr draws upon earlier studies done in America and Asia.
Point out sth (often that) = present a new fact, especially one that is important in the present discussion or situation: Willis (1998) points out that economic statistics often show a sharp rise just before a serious recession.
Turn to sth/sb = begin to think, speak or write about a subject: I should now like to turn to another issue which is often neglected: parental control.

B. Noticing and understanding information
In these conversations, the second person repeats what the first person says, using a phrasal
verb.
Pam: I didn't fully understand what he was saying for a few minutes.
Ed: Yes, it took me a few minutes to latch on to what he was talking about.
Rory: I found it difficult to understand the full importance of the decision.
Suraya: Yes, me too. I found it hard to take in its significance at fist.
Briony: We must be careful to notice any difficulties that occur once we start the project.
Winston: Yes, we'll have to watch out for possible problems.
Pepe: Could you try and get some information about how to contact Keith Phelps?
Rana: Yes, I'II try and find out his contact details.
Olivia: Jill, will you make sure that Rita has sent those faxes for me?
Jill: Yes, I'll check up on her right away and see if she's done them.
Aine: Don, I can't find that market report we wrote about three years ago?
Don: OK, I'll try and track it down. I must have it on the computer somewhere.
C. Other verbs connected with information
Sally: What's the capital of Ecuador?
Mick: Oh, Bogota? No? Caracas? Oh, I don't know, I give up. [stop trying to think of the answer to a joke or question]
Sally: It's Quito.

I said something that upset Mo. I didn't mean to, it just slipped out. [I didn't intend to say it]
The total on the bill and the total on the credit card statement should match up, but don't
[be the same]. There must be a mistake.

TASK: WRITE AN EXTRACT FROM A DETECTIVE STORY (250 words).

Unit 6 (week six)

Cause and effect

A. Verbs with off
A number of phrasal verbs associated with cause and effect have the particle off.
The terrorists set the bomb off in the middle of the rush hour. [caused an explosion]
We accidentally set off the burglar alarm when we came into the house. [made the alarm ring]
The scandal set off a series of events which caused the collapse of the government and a general election. [caused a series of events or a lot of activity, often without intending to do so]
You shouldn't have mentioned flying saucers. You've set him off now. He'll talk for hours.
[made him start to talk about something he often talks about]
The ending of the play really set her off. I didn't know whether she was laughing or crying.
[made her start to laugh or try]
The crisis sparked off a bitter civil war. [caused something to suddenly happen or exist]
The Prime Minister’s speech triggered off violent protests in cities up and down the country. [make something suddenly begin, often a difficult or violent situation]
B. Other cause and effect verbs
Read these spoken extracts.
— The new airport has brought about a lot of changes on this island. [made something happen]
— I don’t know what lies behind Mr Wild’s attack on me [is the real reason for]. Maybe he’s trying to pay me back for something I said about him [do something unpleasant to me because I have done something unpleasant to him]. Or maybe he’s just stirring things up [causing arguments or bad feeling between people, usually on purpose].
— This photograph brings back memories of when we lived in Scotland, when I was a child [makes me remember or think about something from the past].
— The doctors still haven’t ruled out the possibility that he might have cancer [decided that something is impossible].
— I think most problems teenagers experience spring from a feeling of insecurity [are caused by].

Change

A. Up meaning more or better
When up is used in a phrasal verb with an idea of change, it often adds an idea of becoming
more or better.
The number of students getting good marks in their exams is going up. [increasing]
I was afraid no-one would come to my lecture, but the room is filling up nicely now.
[becoming fuller]
Things were bad last week but the situation is looking up now. [improving]
Business was down at the beginning of the year, but is picking up now. [improving after a
bad period]
Would you like me to heat up the rice or will you have it cold? [make warmer]
Simon's been ignoring the situation for ages - it's time he woke up to what's happening.
[became more aware of a situation or problem]

B. Other phrasal verbs relating to change
When I look back over the last year I see an awful lot of changes in my life. For instance at work, there has been an almost total changeover if staff in the office [n.: a change of using or having one thing to using or having another (from change over)]. Then during the year we have phased out [gradually stopped using] all the old computers and phased in [gradually started using] a completely new system of office administration. I wasn’t sure how things would pan out at first and there were a few problems to begin with [develop or happen]. However, the arguments about the new system blew over quite quickly [became less important and were then forgotten].

At the beginning of the year, my girlfriend left me and it took me a while to get over that [begin to feel better after an experience that has made you unhappy]. But everything’s fine with my personal life too now. Best of all, of course, is the fact that I’ve managed to give up smoking this year [stop a habit or stop doing or having something unhealthy]. I didn’t feel too good for the first few weeks but that’s all worn off now [gradually disappeared]. I stuck with my new regime and now I feel fitter than I have for ages [did as I had planned and did not change to something else (informal)].

Starting and finishing

A. Starting
If you set about smth/doing smth then you start doing smth that uses a lot of time of time or energy – The kitchen looked as if it hadn’t been cleaned or tidied for months but Jessica set about making it look as good as new.
If you set out then you start a journey – We set out at 7 a.m. and didn’t return until after dark.
If you start off or start out then you begin life, existence or a profession in a particular way – Yvonne started out as a model but soon realized that it was not the career for her.

Note that the noun the outset, from the verb to set out, means the beginning, e.g. – There were problems from the outset and things became progressively worse.

B. Finishing
Joe called off [decided to stop the activity that has already started] the building work his team was doing on the new company offices because he had heard that the company was going bankrupt. He knew the money was going to dry up [end or stop coming], so he was not prepared to continue. Most of the team immediately broke off [stopped or interrupted] what they were doing but some of them first finished off [completed the last part of what they were doing] the task they were working on. Joe himself quickly polished off [finished something quickly and easily] the last of his paperwork and then packed up too [collected his things together, usually after finishing doing something].

Suzanna is trying to give up [stop doing or having something] smoking. At first she cut down [reduced the amount or number] to five rather than fifteen a day, but she is finding it very hard. She says that a cigarette helps her to wind down [gradually relax after something that has made you feel tired or worried] after a hard day at work. She hopes her determination won’t fizzle out [gradually end or disappear, usually in a disappointing way] after a few weeks as she is very anxious not to give up [stop doing something before you have completed it, usually because it is too difficult] this new regime.

TASK: WRITE A PAGE OF A DIARY OF ANY PERSON YOU CAN THINK OF, USIN THE PHRASAL VERBS ABOVE. REMEMBER TO WRITE NO MORE/LESS THAN 250 WORDS.

Unit 5 (week five)

TIME: SPENDING TIME

AT WORK
Florence works as a nurse. When she starts work she has to clock on [1] and when she leaves she clocks off [2]. If the machine shows that she has worked an extra long shift, then she is able to take time off [3] at a later date. She was planning to take a holiday in July this year but has had to bring it forward [4] as July is going to be a particularly busy time for her hospital this year. Florence loves her work but her hospital is understaffed and she hates to always be pressed for [5] time. She finds it almost impossible to fit in [6] time to talk to the patients although she feels that is an important part of her job. She can chat for a few minutes but then she has to press on [7] with her other duties. The hospital employs many nurses from overseas; but when their work permits run out [8] after two years they have to leave.

1 record the time she arrives at work, usually at a machine with a clock (also clock in);
2 record the time she leaves work (also clock out)
3 spend time away from work
4 change the date or time of something so that it happens earlier than expected
5 not have enough of something, usually time or money
6 find time to do somethng or see someone
7 continue doing something in a determined way
8 come to an end (of the period of time of a document or agreement); more formal equivalent is expire

AT LEISURE
When Florence does have spare time, she likes to relax. She usually hangs out [1] with friends she was at school with. They have knocked around together [2] for years and love whiling away [3] their days off, going round the shops or just chatting at one of their homes. Sometimes they go away for a weekend and muck about [4] at Florence’s aunt’s cottage in the countryside. Last time they did that, a colleague of Florece’s latched on to [5] them. The others didn’t really like her at first, especially as they always had to hang on [6] while she got ready, but now they all like her very much.

1 spend a lot of time (informal)
2 spent a lot of time with one another because they are good friends (informal)
3 spending time in a relaxed way either because they are waiting for something or have nothing special to do
4 waste time doing silly things (informal)
5 spent time with them, especially when they did not want her with them
6 wait, usually for a short time (informal)

TIME: PASSING OF TIME

THE PAST

Journey into the past at the Charnbury Folk Museum

If you’re young, come on a journey into the past before you were born. If you’re a senior, let us take you back [1] to your childhood. Think back [2] to what everyday life was like 50, 60, 100 years ago, before TV, before computers, before fridges and washing machines. Many of our exhibits date back [3] to the early 19th century.
Is that old vacuum cleaner in your attic just a leftover [4] from a bygone [5] era or is it a piece of industrial history? Come and find out.
Open: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults - €2.00; Concessions - €1.20
Address: Palmer Square, Charnbury
Tel: 0211 4684536

1 make you remember a period or an event in the past
2 think about things that happened in the past
3 have existed since a particular time
4 (noun) something which exists from an earlier time
5 (adjective) from a time which does not exist any more

Leftover (noun) and bygone (adjective) are formed from the verbs be left over and go by.
We used some balloons that were left over from the Christmas party to decorate the house
for her birthday. [still existedlwere unused from an earlier time]
As time goes by you realise that your parents' advice was in your best interest. [passes]
Note that bygone also exists as a noun, but it is usually always in the plural bygones.

TIME MOVING
I'm sorry to hold you up but you must sign these forms before you go in. [delay you]
If there are no hold-ups, we should arrive by about seven o'clock. [noun: delays]
Jim, can you hurry the kids up. The coach is about to leave. [make them act more quickly]
Mum walks so fast. It's quite hard to keep up with her. [go at the same speed as someone]
The meeting dragged on and everyone got irritable. [continued for too long]
I'm sorry I'm late. My French lesson ran on, so I didn't leave school till 4.30 p.m. [continued
for longer than expected]
Three weeks passed by before I got a reply to my letter of complaint. [went past]
It's difficult to plan for the future. Nobody knows what lies ahead.

LOCATION

DESCRIBING WHERE PLACES ARE
We stayed in a lovely hotel which was tucked away in a little valley. – was in a quiet or hidden place that not many people see or go to (from be tucked away)
Our room opened onto a balcony with lovely views of the countryside. - opened in the direction of the countryside or had a view of it (from open onto sth)
Fields and woods stretched away to the horizon. - Continued over a long distance (from stretch away)]
We could see a few farmhouses which were spread out over the landscape. - were in different parts of a large area and not close together (from be spread out)
We felt we were completely cut off from the busy modern world! - very far away from other places and people (from be cut off)

PEOPLE IN LOCATIONS
Read this conversation between two students.
Deb: Come in, John.
John: What a great room!
Deb: Well, I like it. It was a bit dull when I moved in, but I bought these nice curtains which help to brighten it up [1]. In fact, I like it so much here that I'd rather stay in [2] than go out most evenings.
John: You're lucky! The room I rent is so miserable that I stay out [3] as long as I can! I even stayed on [4] in the library tonight until it closed! Anyhow, I've come to bring you your file – you left it behind [5] at the seminar this morning.
Deb: Oh, thanks. How silly of me. I'm glad you noticed it.
John: Well, I stayed behind [6] to ask the Prof some questions and then saw it lying there.
Deb: Thank you very much. Would you like a coffee now you're here?
John: Well, I can't stay now. But I'd love to call back [7] another time if that’s OK?
Deb: Sure, that’d be nice.

1 make more attractive, often by adding colours
2 remain at home, especially in the evenings
3 come home late or not come home at night
4 stayed in a place longer than planned
5 left a place without taking something with you
6 did not leave a place when others left it
7 go back to a place to visit someone

TASK: WRITE A MYTH (YOU MAY MAKE IT UP OR RETELL ONE OF THOSE YOU KNOW). MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MIX A MYTH UP WITH A LEGEND. REMEMBER TO WRITE NO MORE/LESS THAN 250 WORDS.

Unit 4 (week four)

KEY VERBS

VII. Take
A. Take in a physical sense
If you take apart something or take something apart you separate it into its different parts.
Rod loves taking clocks apart, but he never manages to put them together again.
If you take back something or take something back, you return it to the person or organisation that you bought or borrowed it from.
When you go into town to take back your library books could you also take these trousers back to the shop for me - they're too small.
If you take aside somebody or take somebody aside, you separate someone from a group of people so that you can speak to them privately.
My boss took me aside at the Christmas party and told me he was going to give me a promotion in the New Year.
If you take off, you suddenly leave a place, without telling anyone where you are going.
Most people stayed at the party until quite late, but Rose took off early for some reason.
B. Take in an abstract sense
take up sth or take sth up - start doing a particular job or activity. - My son has recently taken up stamp collecting as a hobby.
take off sth or take sth off (sth) - subtract a particular amount from a total - The shop assistant took off ten per cent because the item was damaged.
take away sth or take sth away - subtract a first number from a second number - If you take it away from 33, you’re left with 22.
take back sth or take sth back - admit that something you said was wrong - I shouldn't have called you lazy - I take it back.
take in sth or take sth in - look at something carefully noticing all the details - He showed us a photo of his house, but I was so tired that I didn't really take it in.
C. Other senses of take
Lucy has started swimming regularly. She has taken out [1] a year's membership at a local
sports club and has taken to [2] going to the swimming pool every lunch hour. She is so taken
up with [3] her swimming that she wouldn't even take me up on [4] my offer to buy her lunch in
the best restaurant in town. The exercise certainly takes it out of her [5]- she is too exhausted
to go anywhere in the evenings.
1 subscribed to or registered for something officially
2 started to do something often
3 very busy doing something
4 accept
5 makes her feel very tired

KEY PARTICLES

VIII. Up
A. Read this text about someone complaining about having to do housework. Notice how the
particle up sometimes expresses the idea of completing or totally finishing something.

I spent all morning yesterday clearing up [1] my study. There were books and papers everywhere. Then I had to sweep up [2] the rubbish and dead leaves on the terrace. After that I tried to tidy up [3] my bedroom. There were dirty clothes all jumbled up [4] in a pile on the floor. I had to hung up [5] four jackets and several pairs of trousers I’d left lying on chairs. That took me an hour. Then I discovered the washbasin was clogged up [6] in the bathroom, so I had to clear that. By that time I’d used up [7] al my energy and I was too tired to do anything, so I just fell asleep on the sofa.
1 making a place tidy and clean, especially by putting things where they usually belong
2. remove rubbish or dirt, usually from the floor using a brush
3. make a room or a group of things tidy by putting things in the correct place
4. (adjective) mixed together in an untidy way (from the verb jumble up)
5. hang something, especially clothes, on a hook
6. blocked
7. finished a supply of something

Note how the particle up can be used for emphasis:
Eat up your vegetables, children! Drink up your juice! Paul's used up all the milk.
These three sentences could be written without up, but using up emphasises the meaning of 'finish it all or completely'.

B. Read this live Internet chat between Robert and Gemma.
G: Hi Rob, are you there?
R: Hi Gemma, what’s new?
G: My sister Val showed up [1] at last. She’s been promising to come for weeks.
R: Great!
G: Yeah, she turned up [2] yesterday evening.
R: What’s she doing these days?
G: She’s just opened up [3] a restaurant serving exotic food from different countries. It’s in that shopping mall in Dunston, you know.
R: Wow! That’s original. It’ll certainly liven Dunston up [4] a bit, it’s such a boring place. How did she think of that?
G: Oh, she’s always full of new ideas.
R: So, what’s the set up [5]? Is she the only person involved?
G: No, she has a business partner that they divide up [6] the work – and the profits!
R: Sounds like fun.
G: Yeah, but she says it’s hard work. She spends half the day chopping up [7] food and cleaning the kitchen.
R: Mm. Maybe we’re better off working in office jobs…

1 arrived, especially at a place where people were expecting her
2 arrived
3 started a new shop or business
4 make something more
5 interesting and exciting
6 (noun) the way that something is arranged (from the verb set up)
7 separate something into smaller parts or groups cutting something, especially food, into small pieces

TASK: WRITE A RIDDLE (DON'T WRITE THE ANSWER TO IT!) REMEMBER TO WITE NOT MORE/LESS THAN 250 WORDS.