Easy phrasel verbs
Chapter 1 - Alan returns from holiday
Run out of - to have no more of something
This morning, I wanted some toast but I’d run out of bread. So, I rushed out of the house and got into the car. I turned the key but the car didn’t start - I’d run out of petrol! I ran down the road to the shop but they’d run out of sliced bread. I decided to buy some rolls instead. Then I realised I’d run out of money. I’m always doing it and the shopkeeper has run out of patience with me. I came home, looked at the clock and saw that I’d run out of time for breakfast.
Put off - postpone doing something
It’s my own fault - I’m always putting things off. I don’t like shopping so I put off going to the shops. I hate filling up the car with petrol so I put off going to the petrol station. I hate queuing so I put off going to the bank and now I’ve got toothache because I’ve been putting off going to the dentist for weeks.
Get back - to return
I have got an excuse: I got back last night. I’d been away on holiday and the flight got back late and it was even later by the time I got back to the house. I can tell you, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to getting back to work.
Hold up - delay
The problem is that there was a hold up with my flight coming back. First of all, we were held up at the airport because of a storm and no flights could take off. Then we were held up waiting for other flights to take off. Finally, we were held up at the airport when we got back because the baggage carousel was broken.
Break down - stop working
On my way home the taxi broke down. Can you believe my luck? Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait too long for the breakdown recovery vehicle to arrive but I was still worried: I don’t have any luck with mechanical things. Before I went on holiday my car, my computer and my printer all broke down.
Give in - to stop fighting, admit defeat
I used to get annoyed about it but now I just give in. With technology, I can’t win so I might give in. It’s like when Terry asks me stupid questions, like what’s the capital of Guatemala? ‘I don’t know,’I say, ‘I give in.’
Show off - to boast and display
I can’t wait to get back to work and show off my tan and the photos of the beautiful beach. There’s even a picture of me standing next to a Ferrari. I pretended it was mine - just to show off!
Test 1: summarize Chapter 1
Alan _____________ of bread because he _____________ going to the shops. He hadn’t been shopping because he ______________ late. The flight was late because it was ___________. He was also late because his taxi ______________. He doesn’t have much luck with technology so he finds it’s easier just to ____________. Anyway, he doesn’t care because he can _____________ his tan.
Test 2: complete the sentences
1. Can you believe that’s the third time this week the photocopier has _____________?
2. What time do you think you’ll _____________ from the meeting?
3. Julie loves herself; she’s such a ______________.
4. I don’t know, I ____________.
5. I think I’ll ______________ visiting my sister until next week.
6. I hope you like your coffee black, I’ve ____________ of milk.
7. He’s probably been _____________ in the traffic.
Chapter 2 - Alan goes to work
Dress up - to dress smartly for a special occasion
Oh well, better get to work, thought Alan, but what to wear? Should I dress up? There’s a meeting with a client in the afternoon but on the other hand, it’s a hot day and a suit would be really uncomfortable. Anyway, I hate dressing up: I’m more of a casual type of guy. Besides, a short sleeved shirt will show off that great holiday tan!
Pick up - to collect
Drop off - deliver or take somebody or something somewhere
Now with the car broken down, the next problem is how to get to work. I know, I’ll ring Terry and see if he can give me a lift in his car.
‘Hi Terry, it’s Alan. I’ve just got back off holiday and my car’s broken down. Any chance you could pick me up and take me to work?’
‘ Hi Alan. I’d like to but I’ve got to drop off the car at the garage this morning.’
‘Oh pity.’
‘Yeah, tell you what. If you want I could pick you up in ten minutes and drop you off at the roundabout. You could get the bus from there and it drops you off right outside work.’
‘Great thanks. Let’s do that. I’ll wait outside.’ ‘Bye.’
Ten minutes later, Terry picked up Alan from the house and dropped him off at the bus stop near the roundabout.
Get on, get off - get on a bus, tram, train, plane, bike but not car
Alan waited at the bus stop for the 157 bus that would drop him off outside work. The 420 came and he thought about getting on that but he wasn’t sure of the route. Eventually, the 157 came and he got on but only just. It was so crowded. People were pressed against each other and each time the bus stopped, still more people got on. Hardly anybody seemed to be getting off.
Pass out - faint
People pressed against his chest so much that he could hardly breathe. He started to feel sick. In fact, he was beginning to think, he might pass out. It happened once before on a busy tram. He passed out and people thought he was drunk but he wasn’t. He didn’t want to pass out again. As the bus stopped, he reached for the bell, the doors opened and he got off. He was two stops away from work but at least he could breathe and hadn’t passed out.
Run into - meet someone without expecting to
He walked along the street feeling a little dizzy and overheated. It hadn’t been a good return or a good start to the day. Surely it couldn’t get any worse.When he turned the corner he ran into Amanda Mathews. She was gorgeous and he’d always fancied her. She worked in the same company of Crook and Swindle but in another department. He ran into her in the corridor from time to time. She looked at his creased and sweaty shirt and said,
‘ Hi Alan, feeling the heat?’
If he wasn’t so hot, she would have seen him blushing. Now he wished he’d dressed up. He wished that he hadn’t run into her looking such a mess.
‘A little. Going to work? Perhaps we could walk together.’ ‘Sure, why not. I’m glad I ran into you.’
Test 1: summarize Chapter 2
Alan didn’t _____________ because he prefers casual clothes. He asked his friend Terry to _____ him ______ and _____ him _______ at work. He took him part of the way and Alan _____________ a bus. But he felt sick and thought he would ______________. He _____________ and walked and then ____________ Amanda Mathews.
Test 2: complete the sentences
1. I think this Sunday, I’ll _____________ my bike and go for a ride in the park. 2. I was late for work because I _____________ at the wrong stop. 3. I need to go and _____________ a parcel from the post office. 4. Guess who I ____________ in the supermarket? 5. I’m catching an early flight tomorrow; could you ____ me ______ at the airport. 6. The lift was so crowded, I thought I would _____________. 7. It’s Jenny’s 30th birthday party, I think I should _____________.
Chapter 3 - Alan arrives at work
Cheer up - to become happier, to make somebody/something more cheerful
Finally they got to work. They got into the crowded lift and Amanda got out on the fourth floor. They didn’t even say goodbye. Then he saw Kevin.
‘Cheer up,’ said Kevin, ‘it may never happen.’
He was the kind of person who thought he was funny but was annoying. He carried on. ‘Oh I forgot, you’ve just got back from holiday, you’ll need cheering up. Knowing your luck, I bet it rained all week!’
‘Actually, the weather was good but my car broke down so I had to get the bus to work.’
Kevin got out on the seventh floor and Alan went onto the eighth. He didn’t feel cheered up at all.
Catch up - to reach somebody who is ahead by going faster
The problem with going on holiday is that when you return, there’s so much to catch up on. Alan thought about all of the things he needed to catch up on. He needed to catch up on his emails: his in box would be a nightmare. He needed to catch up on his work: three reports to finish by the end of the week. He’d need to catch up on all the news and of course, catch up on all the gossip. Maybe a coffee would give him some energy as he didn’t get the chance to catch up on his sleep. He headed towards the kitchen and saw his colleague Benny, but he was walking so quickly, he had to almost run to catch up with him.
‘Benny, what’s the rush?’ He asked
‘Can’t stop now, I’ve got to catch up with the sandwich guy. He just left.’
'That’s typical of Benny', thought Alan. He gets behind on everything.
Pay back - return owed money
He got to the kitchen and made a coffee. He opened the fridge. Would you believe it? They’d run out of milk! Then Benny arrived panting but looking pleased with his sandwich.
‘Alan, hi mate. I hate to ask but could you pay me back that tenner I lent you before you went away. I’ve run out of money.’
‘Sure, I’m sorry you had to ask. I like to pay back my debts.’
Alan was lying. He couldn’t really afford to go on holiday and he had borrowed money to go. Now he’d have to pay back his parents, pay back his brother and pay back three colleagues; £100, £50 and 3 x £20; £210 altogether. Looks like it’s pay back time, he thought.
Look after - take care of something or somebody
Finally, Alan sat down at his desk and switched on his computer. He was just working his way through his emails when his boss arrived and put a friendly hand on his shoulder - never a good sign.
‘Alan!’ He said, enthusiastically. ‘Great to see you’ve got back safely.’
‘Thanks’
‘I’ve got one or two things I’d like you to look after.’
‘Oh yes?’
‘Yes, there’s the Jenkins contract of course, and while you are doing that, you might as well look after Marshall Holdsworth too.’ ‘
Thanks.’(More work - he thought)
‘ Yes, but most of all ...,’and now Alan realised they weren’t alone but accompanied by a tall, tanned, Mediterranian with thick, black hair, ‘I’d like you to look after Demetrius'.
‘Demetrius?’
‘Yes, Demetrius my nephew, he’s here on work experience for a few weeks so I’d like you to look after him and train him for us.’
Alan had a reputation for looking after things. As a child he looked after a dog with a broken leg. He looked after his grandmother when she was sick. As the oldest child, he’d looked after his brother and sister.
Get on with sb - be friends
Demetrius looked at Alan and smiled but it was the sort of creepy smile that makes you uncomfortable. Alan forced a smile.
‘Super!’ said the boss, ‘I can see you two are going to get on like a house on fire!’
Alan wasn’t so sure. He wasn’t very good at getting on with people and he certainly didn’t think he’d get on with Demetrius. What a strange name!
Test 1: summarize Chapter 3
Finally, Alan got to work and Kevin tried to _______ him ____. Alan needed to ____________ on all his work. He also had to _____________ the money he owed Benny. The boss asked him to _____________ his nephew Demetrius but Alan wasn’t sure that he would __________ with him.
Test 2: complete the sentences
1. If you take out a loan, you have to ______________ the money. 2. If I’m sad, I find that a comedy show always ________ me ___. 3. My sister asked if I would _____________ her son this weekend. 4. It helps if you ___________ the people you work with. 5. The trouble with going on holiday is that you need to _____________ your work when you get back.