Chapter 14 - Speaking Flashcards
blurt … out …
blurted out
say something very suddenly and perhaps without thinking
ex. “I think it’s not a good idea” my friend blurted out.
break … in …
broke in
interrupt, speak before someone else has finished
ex. My friend broke in the conversation that cute guy and I had… I didn’t have time to get his number.
break in on __
broke in on
interrupt (what someone else is saying or doing)
ex. It is not polite to break in on what another person is saying.
break … off …
broke off
end, stop before final decisions are reached, postpone
ex. We had to break off our conversation because we were heading to two different ways.
butt in
butted in
interrupt, speak before someone else has finished, speak or act in someone else’s affairs (informal)
ex. My brother always butts in when I’m talking to my friend because he just wants to piss me off.
chime in
chimed in
add something (usually in agreeing) to what has just been said ex. I was telling the story to my brother when my friend chimed in a few words to add details to my story.
cry out
cried out
exclaim, speak or yell in pain or excitement
ex. “Ouch” I cried out when I hurt my finger.
go on and on
went on and on
continue (speaking or something else) for a long time
ex. George can’t shut up. He can go on and on about a subject without breathing!
shout … down …
shouted down
shout so that someone else cannot be heard
ex. I could not hear the singer because the crowd was shouting out nonsense and cheering.
speak about __
spoke about
talk concerning, mention (= speak of)
ex. I was speaking about the TV show when you came in.
speak for __
spoke for
talk in favor of
ex. My lawyer spoke for me at the court.
speak of __
spoke of
talk concerning, make mention of (= speak about)
ex. He speaks of WWII in his oral presentation.
speak out
spoke out
say publicly (frankly, boldly) what one believes ex. Everyone was afraid to speak out.
talk back to __
talked back to
answer (especially in a disrespectful or contradictory manner)
ex. Some students talk back to their teacher.
talk down to __
talked down to
talk to (another person) as an inferior ex. The boss talked down to his employees.
