1 the basics

Question 1

You can LOOK UP any new words in your dictionary.

Answer 1

find the meaning

Question 2

I tried to phone her but i couldn’t GET THROUGH.

Answer 2

get a connection

Question 3

I just can’t MAKE Jim OUT at all.

Answer 3

I just can’t understand Jim’s behaviour.

Question 4

I’ll LOOK you UP next time I’m in London.

Answer 4

visit s/o you have not seen for a long time

Question 5

We were too tired to cook at home so we decided to EAT OUT.

Answer 5

eat in a restaurant

without object

Question 6

This photograph BRINGS BACK happy memories.

Answer 6

makes me remember or think about sth from the past

non-human object

Question 7

I’d love to ASK Sally OUT.

Answer 7

invite Sally to go to a place like a cinema or a restaurant

human object

Question 8

I’ll LOOK AFTER the baby while you’re cooking.

Will you LOOK AFTER my bike while I’m away?

Answer 8

(either human or non-human object)

the object must come after the particle

Question 9

I’ll RING you BACK later.

Answer 9

phone you again

the object must come after the particle

Question 10

I DROPPED OFF the package at her house.

I DROPPED the package OFF at her house.

Answer 10

delivered/left

the object can be before or after the particle

Question 11

I SENT OFF the order last week but the goods haven’t TURNED UP yet.

Answer 11

send off = post

turn up = arrive

Question 12

I CAME ACROSS an interesting book in the library. I TOOK DOWN the title. Here it is.

Answer 12

come across = find

take down = write

Question 13

We ASKED some friends AROUND to watch a film, but the video was PLAYING UP and it eventually BROKE DOWN.

Answer 13

ask around = invite home
play up = not work properly
break down = stop working

Question 14

I BROUGHT UP this problem at the last meeting. It’s really time to SORT OUT the problem.

Answer 14

bring up = mention

sort out = deal with

Question 15

I wish he’d stop MESSING us ABOUT! He’s PUT the meeting OFF three times and now he wants to CALL it OFF altogether.

Answer 15

mess about = cause inconvenience
put off = postpone
call off = cancel

Question 16

I’m LOOKING FORWARD TO the weekend.

Answer 16

to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen

Question 17

She’s been GOING OUT WITH him for six months now.

Answer 17

(especially of young people) to spend time with somebody and have a romantic or sexual relationship with them

Question 18

Her son is so horrible. I don’t know how she PUTS UP WITH him.

Answer 18

to accept or continue to accept an unpleasant situation or experience, or someone who behaves unpleasantly

Question 19

The school decided to DO AWAY WITH the language lab as no-one was using it.

Answer 19

to get rid of something or stop using something:
+ These ridiculous rules and regulations should have been done away with years ago.
+ Computerization has enabled us to do away with a lot of paperwork.
+ How could they do away with a beautiful old building like that and put a car park there instead?

Question 20

How can some students GET AWAY WITH doing no work and yet pass the exams?

Answer 20

to succeed in avoiding punishment for something
+ By jumping over the barriers, he got away without paying for a ticket.
+ Everyone thinks he’s guilty of the robbery, but it looks like he’s going to get away with it.
+ It’s time they put a stop to his bad behaviour. He’s been getting away with it for too long.

Question 21

How can some students GET AWAY WITH doing no work and yet pass the exams?

Answer 21

to succeed in avoiding punishment for something
+ Everyone thinks he’s guilty of the robbery, but it looks like he’s going to get away with it.
+ It’s time they put a stop to his bad behaviour. He’s been getting away with it for too long.