Casual reading if possible.
Hang on a second - don't make a decision before you know all the facts.
- Explanation: Both "hang on" and "hold on" mean "wait"
I hadn't seen him in several years, so it was nice to catch up over lunch.
- Explanation: To "catch up with" someone can mean to exchange news about your lives after not having seen the person for a while.
It's really a small problem - you shouldn't make it out to be worse than it is.
- Explanation:
To "make something out to be (something else)" means to describe or portray it as different than it really is.
The salesman talked me into buying the best model.
- Explanation:
To "talk someone into" doing something means to convince them to do it. The opposite is to "talk someone out of" doing something, meaning to convince them NOT to do it.
Our plans for a weekend trip fell through because my husband had to work overtime.
- Explanation:
If a project or plan "falls through," it means it fails and is not successful or not implemented.
My neighbor dropped by yesterday afternoon for a cup of tea.
- Explanation:
To "stop by" or "drop by" means to go for a quick, informal visit.
I was blown away by the sheer size of the mountains.
- Explanation:
If you are "blown away" by something, it means you are extremely amazed or impressed.
The exceptions to the rules in English always throw me off.
- Explanation:
If something "throws you off," it means it confuses you and leads you in a wrong direction.
It makes me uncomfortable when someone I've just met starts hitting on me.
- Explanation:
To "hit on" someone means to flirt with them, to clearly demonstrate romantic/sexual interest in them.
Your mom's gonna be mad when she finds out you broke the window.
- Explanation:
The phrasal verb "find out" means to discover or learn some new knowledge.
The baseball game was called off because of the rain.
- Explanation:
To "call off" an event means to cancel it.
Whenever I'm sad, playing with my dog always cheers me up.
- Explanation:
The phrasal verb "cheer up" means to make someone who is sad happier.
I missed yesterday's episode, can you fill me in on what happened?
- Explanation:
To "fill someone in" on something means to give them information/updates that they previously missed.
Lots of people fail at starting a business, but my cousin pulled it off.
- Explanation:
If you "pull something off" it means you succeed at that thing (especially something that is difficult/challenging).
All the students pitched in to clean up the classroom.
- Explanation:
To "pitch in" means to contribute help to a group effort.
He was kicked out of college for cheating on a test.
- Explanation:
If someone is "kicked out," it means they are forced to leave a group, school, or house.
If someone's making unreasonable demands, you shouldn't give in.
- Explanation:
To "give in" means to yield or submit to something.
I hope I don't slip up when giving my speech!
- Explanation:
To "slip up" means to make a mistake.
It's annoying when people promise to do something, but later back out.
- Explanation:
To "back out" means NOT to do something you previously committed to.
We came across some old photographs while cleaning our parents' attic.
- Explanation:
To "come across" something means to find it unexpectedly.
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