Common phrases in everyday English
Known as phrasal verbs, these phrases are a grouping of words (a verb plus preposition or adverb) that when used together have a different meaning than when they are used separately.
Sounds complicated but when we look at some examples you will no doubt realise you have seen many of them before. Do you feel confident using them?
Read on to see some example sentences:
Get along with
"It's important to get along with your customers."
Building good working relationships with your customers will create loyalty to your brand.
Look up to
"I look up to my manager as she always knows how to handle a difficult situation."
To aspire to be like that person or handle certain situations in a similar way.
Look down on
"She looks down on me as I earn less money than her."
To think badly of someone due to a particular set of circumstances.
Come up with
"She always comes up with great ideas on how we can raise money for local charities."
To develop ideas that other people might not think about.
Put up with
"I can't put up with that noise any longer! When are they going to stop digging up the road?"
To continue to suffer with something that you cannot stand.
Face up to
"We need to face up to the problems that long term sickness can bring."
To accept the situation and find a way to deal with it.
Live up to
"I hope this catering service lives up to the hype."
To be as good as you were promised something would be.
Run out of
"Unfortunately we have run out of stock on that item at the moment."
To not have anything left of a particular item.
Come across
"Let me know if you come across any potential new customers at the trade fair."
To find something unexpectedly.
Get away with
"I think we should get away with hiring the smaller venue, if we invite fewer guests."
To achieve something that you didn't think you would.
Keep up
"We need to keep up with our competitors in this fast changing market."
To keep pace with, or go at the same speed as, someone else. If not, you will be left behind.
Choose a couple of these phrases and try to use them in your next conversation.
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