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Idioms using phrasal verbs A
Problems at work and home Reply
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Hi Millie, How’s your awful new boss? Still planning a total reorganisation of the office or have you persuaded her not to throw the baby out with the bathwater1? Let me know if you need an evening out to let off steam2 – it’s about time we met up again. We’ve been told at our company that we won’t be getting a salary increase this year. They took the sting out of it3 by giving us a Christmas bonus, but people are not happy. My boss is still as difficult as ever. Her personal assistant’s resigned, but I think that might be cutting off her nose to spite her face4 as she’ll find it hard to find anything else as well-paid. She can usually run rings round5 anyone, so it must have been a shock for her to get a boss she couldn’t manipulate. I badly need your advice. Joey’s beginning to turn up the heat in our relationship – he’s dropping hints about marriage. He invited me to meet his parents last weekend. We got on like a house on fire6 but I just don’t feel ready to put down roots yet. Should I stop seeing him? I don’t want to but maybe it’d be kinder? I can’t make up my mind. Let me know what you think. Lydia 1
4 get rid of the good parts of something doing something because you are angry as well as the bad parts though it may cause you more problems 2 5 talk or act in a way that helps get rid of outwit, be cleverer than 6 immediately liked each other strong feelings 3 make something that is unpleasant less so
B
Progress meeting Oscar
Well, Anna, you’ve been here for a month now and it’s time we had a little chat.
Anna
OK. Well, I know I got off on the wrong foot1 by deleting all last year’s client information, but I hope you’ll agree I’ve got my act together2 now?
Oscar
Erm, not exactly. I’ve tried my best to show you where you’re going wrong, but I just appear to be going round in circles3. Nothing ever seems to get any better. You dig your heels in4 and don’t make any effort to change.
Anna
Oh, I don’t think that’s fair. I’m sure Stan would put in a good word for me5. I’ve helped him out with one of his projects.
Oscar
Hmm, well Stan needs to clean up his act6 too. If you don’t start making up for lost time7 soon, we’re going to have to let you go.
Anna
Oh, no, please. Just give me a bit more authority and I’ll come into my own8.
Oscar
Oh, Anna. Wake up to the fact9 that you won’t get any more authority unless you pull out all the stops10 and your work improves significantly.
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6 started badly (informal) start to behave better 7 (informal) organised myself more effectively doing something to compensate for not 3 using a lot of time and effort with no results doing it previously 4 8 refuse to do what others try to persuade you be very successful 9 to do be realistic 5 10 say good things about me to someone in authority do all you can 2
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English Phrasal Verbs in Use Advanced
