21 Sound

A

B Loud or unpleasant sounds

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Hi Finn, Thanks for your email. I’ve more or less settled in to my new cottage. It’s lovely – except for the neighbours. They are just so noisy! I can hear their sound system blasting out1 at all hours of the day and night and one of them plays the trumpet – he’s belting out2 jazz most evenings. At least he plays well, so that noise doesn’t grate on3 me as much as it might! Much worse is the fact that one of them has a very loud voice and is also very bad-tempered. When she’s angry she bangs things down4 and her voice booms out5 and sometimes the arguments even drown out6 my own music. I’ve asked them nicely if they could keep the noise down a bit, but they have ignored me. And I thought I was moving to a quiet village where the only loud noise would be bells pealing out7 on a Sunday morning! Hope all goes well with you. Cheers, John

1 producing a lot of noise, especially loud music 2 (informal) playing a musical instrument or singing very loudly 3 (of sound or behaviour) annoy 4 puts down with force because she is angry

Sounds starting and finishing

5 makes a very loud noise 6 prevent from being heard 7 ringing loudly (of bells)

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Hi John, Interesting to hear about your new cottage. I’m attaching an ad for some earplugs which claim to help you shut anything out1! I moved into a new flat a month or so ago, too. It’s next to the football stadium. I can’t see the matches, but I can follow what’s going on from the sounds I hear. A cheer goes up2 whenever the home team shoots. But the sound quickly dies down3 if the ball doesn’t go in. Every time there’s a match I find myself listening out for4 the cheers. When I told my girlfriend that I wanted to stay at home to listen to the sounds of a football match, she burst out5 laughing, thinking I was joking, and started talking about how we could decorate the flat. When another cheer went up from the stadium, though, her voice trailed off 6 and she rushed to the window in excitement. Then she stayed in the flat with me and spent all afternoon at the window watching spectators going in and out of the stadium. Cheers, Finn

1 prevent a sound from being heard (can also be used about preventing a sight from being seen) 2 if a shout (e.g. cheer, cry, groan) goes up, a lot of people make that noise at the same time 3 becomes less loud or strong and then stops 4 making an effort to hear a noise which you are expecting 5 (of a sound) suddenly started (collocates with laughing, crying, with a comment/remark) 6 gradually became quieter and then stopped

21.1

Put these phrasal verbs into two groups, a ‘noisy’ group (making noise) and a ‘not noisy’ group (reducing noise).

belt out boom out die down trail off keep down blast out

making noise reducing noise

21.2

21.3

21.4

dictionary.cambridge.org Complete these sentences with phrasal verbs from 21.1. Use each verb only once.

1 She was telling us about how angry Simon had made her, but her voice entered the room. 2 As we entered the club, the singer was out his latest song.

3 Rock music was out from an open window as I passed the house. off when he

4 Children, please the noise down – Grandpa’s having a rest.

5 Major Frogshort’s voice 6 At 6 p.m. the noise of the machines out across the square as he issued orders to his men. down and the workers went home.

Choose the correct particle to complete these sentences.

1 Suddenly a cheer went as the president appeared on the balcony. a) out b) up c) on 2 I’ll listen for your call and come down to the street so you don’t have to park. a) with b) to c) out 3 Faye was so angry she banged her phone . a) down b) on c) away 4 These ear defenders shut 90% of external noise. a) down b) away c) out 5 When she heard how the story ended, she burst laughing. a) into b) out c) in 6 I love to hear the bells pealing at New Year. a) out b) on c) off 7 The noise of a plane passing overhead drowned the radio and I missed the news. a) down b) off c) out 8 She has such an awful voice; it just grates me every time she sings. a) to b) at c) on

Answer these questions. Use a dictionary if necessary.

1 If someone’s voice drones on, are you likely to enjoy listening to them or not? 2 If birds are chirping away and if a person is chattering away, away suggests a continuing sound.

True or false? 3 What particle would be best here? The cheers of the crowd built to a roar as the runners approached the finish line. 4 What particle would be best here? The noise of the train died as it headed towards the distant coast. 5 What phrasal verb with ring can be used for all of these things? church bells a cry a shot a shout applause 6 What phrasal verb with come would fit in this sentence? Suddenly an announcement the public address system warning everyone to evacuate the building.