Blog Archives

Back to Blog

set up

31/8/2020

We use [set something up] to mean place or erect something in position and make the arrangements necessary for something:

How long will it take to assemble the stand? We need to factor in the time. [replacing phrasal verb]
How long will it take to put together the stand? We need to factor in the time. [replacing phrasal verb]

Can you organise a meeting for Tuesday week at 8am? [replacing phrasal verb]
Are you the one I need to talk to about arranging the conference room? [replacing phrasal verb]

Could you set up the dining room as a temporary office?
This kitchen isn’t set up for mass production. It’ll be better to rent a proper kitchen.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

cut in

27/8/2020

We use [cut in] to mean interrupt someone while they are speaking:

I wish she’d stop interrupting every time someone tries to speak. [replacing phrasal verb]
She always wants to say something when someone else is trying to speak. [replacing phrasal verb]

I had to cut in when he just wouldn’t stop going on about the problems.
Feel free to cut in; we’re quite informal here.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

0 Comments

Back to Blog

get at

25/8/2020

We use [get at] to mean imply (something):

We’ve spent an hour in this room and I still can’t understand what he’s talking about. [replacing phrasal verb]
We’ve spent an hour in this room and I still can’t see what he means. [replacing phrasal verb]
We’ve spent an hour in this room and I still don’t know what he’s implying. [replacing phrasal verb]

Whatever he’s getting at, I don’t like it.
I can see what you're getting at. It's a difficult decision but I don't see how I can help you.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

act up

22/8/2020

We use [act up] to mean (of a thing) fail to function properly and to behave badly:

Just when we need to publish this report, the printer stops functioning properly. [replacing phrasal verb]
Just when we need to publish this report, the printer stops working properly. [replacing phrasal verb]

I asked John to go the conference because I can’t and now he starts acting up.
Sonia’s acting up again. Someone needs to talk with her as no-one can work in that room.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

pull out

21/8/2020

We use [pull out] to mean withdraw from an undertaking or retreat, or cause to retreat, from an area:

Unfortunately, we need to withdraw from that new development as we’ve not enough funds. [replacing phrasal verb]
Unfortunately, we need to leave that new development as we’ve not enough funds. [replacing phrasal verb]

He was forced to pull out of the race because of an injury.

We need to change our decisions about the pensions market and withdraw our funds before March. [replacing phrasal verb]
We’re reconsidering our position in the pensions market. [replacing phrasal verb]
We’ve decided to sell and leave the pensions market as of March. [replacing phrasal verb]

We’re pulling out of the pensions market as of March.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

speak out

17/8/2020

We use [speak out] to mean express one's opinions frankly and publicly:

Although he says he likes people to be open he hates it when we say what we think. [replacing phrasal verb]
Although he says he likes people to be open he hates it when we are frank. [replacing phrasal verb]
Although he says he likes people to be open he hates it when we speak openly. [replacing phrasal verb]

The government should be forthright in speaking out against human rights abuses.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

go about

14/8/2020

We use [go about] to mean begin or carry on with something:

I’m sorry but I think you’re proceeding in the wrong way. [replacing phrasal verb]
I’m sorry but I think you’re starting this all wrong. [replacing phrasal verb]
I’m sorry but I think you’re tacking this in the wrong way. [replacing phrasal verb]

I think he should leave the marketing team to go about their business and stop trying to micro-manage them.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

think over

11/8/2020

We use [think something over] to mean consider something carefully:

We should consider their offer over the weekend. [replacing phrasal verb]
We should examine their offer during the weekend. [replacing phrasal verb]
We should give thought to their offer over the weekend. [replacing phrasal verb]

Before we sign anything we really need to think this over as it’s a lot of money.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

sit in

6/8/2020

We use [sit in] to mean attend a meeting or discussion without taking an active part in it:

I really don’t like it when she’s present but says nothing at my meetings. She makes me nervous. [replacing phrasal verb]
I really don’t like it when she attends my meetings but takes no part. She makes me nervous. [replacing phrasal verb]

I need to be impartial and sitting in as you discuss the staff might be seen as prejudicing my decision.
Fred and I will sit in during the discussion, as this is part of the training.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

think up

3/8/2020

We use [think something up] to mean use one's ingenuity to plan or invent something:

We need to give a reason. We can’t just delay with no explanation. [replacing phrasal verb]
We need to invent an excuse. We can’t just delay with no explanation. [replacing phrasal verb]
We need to create a reason. We can’t just delay with no explanation. [replacing phrasal verb]

If you can think up a plan to save the project, I’ll be forever grateful.
I can’t think up a good reason for delaying the opening but if we can, it would give us the time we need.
The idea was thought up by my mother while she was cooking. How she connected the two ideas, I still don’t know.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

Start your free trial

0 Comments

Back to Blog

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.

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
practice: there is only one way to improve; mistakes are there to help us learn
support: a personal mentor works with you

Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals and try our free trial.

start your free trial

0 Comments

making words matter

phrasal verbs

Argot Writing Capital

Archives

Categories

set up

We use [set something up] to mean place or erect something in position and make the arrangements necessary for something:

cut in

We use [cut in] to mean interrupt someone while they are speaking:

get at

We use [get at] to mean imply (something):

act up

We use [act up] to mean (of a thing) fail to function properly and to behave badly:

pull out

We use [pull out] to mean withdraw from an undertaking or retreat, or cause to retreat, from an area:

speak out

We use [speak out] to mean express one's opinions frankly and publicly:

go about

We use [go about] to mean begin or carry on with something:

think over

We use [think something over] to mean consider something carefully:

sit in

We use [sit in] to mean attend a meeting or discussion without taking an active part in it:

think up

We use [think something up] to mean use one's ingenuity to plan or invent something:

dress up

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