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dress up

1/8/2020

We use [dress something up] to mean present something so it appears better than it really is:

I think this finance report has been manipulated. [replacing phrasal verb]
I think this finance report has been embellished just a bit. [replacing phrasal verb]
I think this finance report has been enhanced a little more than is honest. [replacing phrasal verb]

I like the idea but something tells me this has been dressed up a bit. Let’s do a little research.
The project looks good. Too good. I think someone has dressed up the projections just a little.
The Government’s ability to dress up the problems as an opportunity are well-known and only show their lack of creative solutions.

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put forward

30/7/2020

We use [put something forward] to mean submit a plan, proposal, or theory for consideration:

I would like all of you to give me some ideas for a new strategy. [replacing phrasal verb]
I would like all of you to propose some new ideas for a strategy. [replacing phrasal verb]
I would like all of you to suggest some ideas for a new strategy. [replacing phrasal verb]

We’ve put forward two proposals to the Board but I’m not sure either will be suitable considering our resources.

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put about

27/7/2020

We use [put something about] to mean spread information or rumours:

Who’s been spreading those rumours? [replacing phrasal verb]
Spreading information which is false is hardly a way to do business; but it happens. [replacing phrasal verb]
Someone’s been spreading porkies about our business and I want to know who. [replacing phrasal verb] [porkies = rhyming slang a lie]

We’re going to need to do something about Mary putting about these problems of a hiring crisis.
Openness helps stop individuals putting about stories of half-information and half-truths.
If you really want to stop people putting about falsehoods, be open and true.

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have on

25/7/2020

We use [have someone on] to mean try to make someone believe something that is untrue, especially as a joke:

You’re joking! The supplier can’t do that. [replacing phrasal verb]
This is a joke! The supplier can’t do that. [replacing phrasal verb]

It is frequently used to express disbelief in what is considered a mistake outside the normal range e.g. excessive charges, longer than expected waiting times:

The bank’s having us on! Do they really expect us to pay this?
Three months for new tyres? Are they having us on?

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get ahead

22/7/2020

We use [get ahead] to mean be successful:

We need to be more creative if we’re to be successful in this market. [replacing phrasal verb]
We need to be more creative if we’re to prosper and increase market share. [replacing phrasal verb]

Do you really think it’s possible to get ahead in life without a degree?
Once he understood the dynamics of the company, he really got ahead and rose to Chairman in less than ten years.

Our online courses and modules are designed with you in mind:

flexible: you have busy lives, so our courses fit your schedule
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fight off

20/7/2020

We use [fight someone off] to mean defend oneself against an attack by someone or something:

If we are going to defend ourselves, our services needs to be the best. [replacing phrasal verb]
Our service needs to be the best, if we are going to win this fight. [replacing phrasal verb]

Unless we fight off the competition with stellar service, we won’t last long.

Our online courses and modules are designed with you in mind:

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run into

15/7/2020

We use [run into] to mean meet by chance:

I ran into George this morning and he says they’re selling the London office.

I saw Fred and we’ve arranged to meet Monday to discuss the plans. [replacing phrasal verb]
I bumped into Fred and we’re meeting Monday to discuss the plans. [replacing phrasal verb]
It was by chance I met Fred this morning and we’ve arranged to meet on Monday to discuss the plans. [replacing phrasal verb]

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head off

13/7/2020

We use [head someone or something off] to mean:

prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking advance action:

The only way we can head off disaster is to improve our service offering and increase opening times.
We know the other companies are going to only one exhibition, so if we split our resources and attend all three exhibitions, we would have a consistent visual presence which may head off a fall in sales through lack of attendance.
We need to be one step ahead of the competition if we are to stay in business and I think we can head them off by focusing on our service quality, which is something they are lacking.

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put away

10/7/2020

We use [put something away] in a couple of contexts:

To save money for future use:

I try to put away some money every week towards my holiday.
If we put a little away each week, we should have a sufficient fund should things go wrong.

Consume food or drink in large quantities:

Did you see how much food he put away?

However, if we [put someone away] it means to confine someone in a prison or psychiatric hospital. It may be necessary but not exactly pleasant. Or maybe yes:

Sometimes I feel you’ve put me away as you rarely visit me anymore. [humorous]
After the court case, he was put away for several years. [serious]

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flexible: you have busy lives, so our courses fit your schedule
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figure out

7/7/2020

We use [figure something out] to mean to solve or discover the cause of a problem:

I can’t understand how he did it but we now have enough money! [replacing phrasal verb]
We now have enough money but can you see how he did it? [replacing phrasal verb]

Are these all the numbers? I really can’t figure out what they mean.
Look at this email and figure it out for me, please. It’s unreadable.

Our online courses and modules are designed with you in mind:

flexible: you have busy lives, so our courses fit your schedule
practical: we use everyday examples and situations to help you understand
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making words matter

phrasal verbs

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dress up

We use [dress something up] to mean present something so it appears better than it really is:

put forward

We use [put something forward] to mean submit a plan, proposal, or theory for consideration:

put about

We use [put something about] to mean spread information or rumours:

have on

We use [have someone on] to mean try to make someone believe something that is untrue, especially as a joke:

get ahead

We use [get ahead] to mean be successful:

fight off

We use [fight someone off] to mean defend oneself against an attack by someone or something:

run into

We use [run into] to mean meet by chance:

head off

We use [head someone or something off] to mean:

put away

We use [put something away] in a couple of contexts:

figure out

We use [figure something out] to mean to solve or discover the cause of a problem: