24 Understanding and having ideas

A

B Understanding

As a maths teacher I find it interesting to see how pupils cope with my subject. Some pick up every new topic very quickly, while others take rather longer to catch on1. Some have to grapple with2 the topic for a long time but eventually understand it very well. Some find it goes in better if they are presented with the whole picture right from the beginning, whereas others like me to break a topic down into small bite-sized chunks. Then they gradually piece it all together for themselves. Although some find it harder than others to keep up3 with what I tell them, everyone usually cottons on4 in the end.

1 (informal) understand 2 try hard to deal with 3 be able to understand something that is happening or changing fast 4 (informal) begins to understand

Having ideas

phrasal verb definition of phrasal verb example

occur to sb come into your mind It suddenly occurred to me that he hadn’t told me his name.

hit on (an idea) have a good idea (especially one that solves a problem) We weren’t sure how to celebrate our anniversary until James hit on the idea of spending the weekend in Paris.

rough out write or draw the outline of an idea without going into details

reflect on (slightly formal) think very hard about something

think up sth or think sth up

play with (an idea) create an idea or plan using your imagination and intelligence Can you help me think up an idea for my presentation?

consider an idea but usually do not do it The headteacher played with the idea of introducing compulsory lessons in good manners.

leap out at be immediately obvious The novelist said he always roughs out several plots before he decides which one to use.

We all need to take some time to reflect on what has happened.

I couldn’t solve the crossword clue last night, but this morning the answer leapt out at me.

C Discussing ideas

I have some great colleagues. Whenever I have a problem at work, I talk it through1 with my supervisor. She always comes at2 problems from a slightly different angle, and thrashing an issue out3 with her helps me to see the problem more clearly and to find a solution. Then there is my marketing team. I am very proud of them. In our regular meetings to discuss new promotional activities, we bounce our ideas off4 each other until we find something that we all like. We find that batting our ideas around5 like this is really productive and results in great campaigns.

1 discuss something in order to understand 4 (informal) tell someone about an idea to

it better

find out what they think of it 2 approaches 5 (slightly informal) discussing different 3 discussing something in order to find a solution ways of dealing with an issue

24.1

24.2

24.3

Complete this conversation using verbs from the box.

reflect break rough cotton thrash hit grapple occur piece bounce talk

Student I’ve been (1) with this idea you talked about in your lecture, that written language is becoming more like spoken language these days, but I’m finding it difficult. I’ve been trying to (2) out some chapters for my dissertation and I like this topic, but I think I need to (3) it through with you first.

Lecturer Well, why don’t I (4) a few ideas off you? Then you can see if they make sense. When you write emails to your friends, how formal are they?

Student Pretty informal usually.

Lecturer Let’s just (5) on that for a moment. What makes them informal?

Student I suppose it’s grammar for one thing. I use contractions like ‘I’m’ or ‘it’s’ instead of ‘I am’ or ‘it is’. And slang words and so on.

Lecturer Yes, and hasn’t it (6) to you that what you’re doing is sort of talking to people rather than writing to them?

Student Ah. I see. I think I’ve (7) on now. Things like email and text messages and chat rooms and so on are changing the way we write, is that it?

Lecturer Exactly. Go away and think about it a bit more and I’m sure you’ll a few more ideas. Look at a few newspapers and magazines. Try and the topic down into different themes, like grammar and vocabulary.

Student OK, thanks. I’ll probably be able to (10) it all together now. (8) on (9)

Lecturer Yes, and come back if you need more help and we can and try and clarify it more. OK? Bye. (11) it out together

Choose the correct particle to complete these sentences.

1 I’ve been trying to think about / up / over a plan for a surprise birthday party for Theodore, but I haven’t hit on / out / up the right idea yet. 2 I thought about the problem for ages, but then the solution just leapt over / away / out at me. 3 Some of the trainees are very good at picking on / over / up new techniques, while others take a long time to catch on / across / in. 4 It’s hard to keep up to / with / for all the reading for my literature course. 5 We formed a committee to bat a few ideas over / up / around for the college open day. 6 For a while we played with / on / at the idea of making all the courses compulsory, but we dropped it because it would be so unpopular. 7 I think we should try and come into / on / at the problem from a different angle. 8 I tried to explain it to him, but new information takes a long time to go on / in / off sometimes!

Find phrasal verbs from the opposite page which seem to treat ideas as if they are:

1 balls that can be played with 2 parts of a puzzle 3 things that you need physical strength to deal with

Max stared at the crossword for ages, but then the answer suddenly leapt out at him.