31 Work

Read these statements by different people talking about their jobs.

I’ll be retiring next year. I already find that I can farm out1 tasks I used to do myself. I’m slowly easing off2 now so that I can step aside3 next year knowing I’ve left everything in good hands.

The boss 1 give work to other people instead of doing it yourself 2 starting to work less or do things with less energy 3 leave a job or position, especially so that someone else can do it We never like to call people out4 on strike, but when we do, we have to be determined to see it through5 to the end. We have to keep talking constructively and try not to get bogged down6 in lengthy negotiations which only prolong the strike.

The union representative

4 order workers to strike 5 continue doing a job until it is finished, especially when it is difficult 6 (informal) become so involved in the details of something that you cannot achieve anything My job is monotonous. I just slog away7 day after day. People like me get passed over8 for promotion, so we’re not motivated. I often feel like packing this job in9 and finding something else. One day I’ll just hand in my notice and go.

The assembly-line worker

The administrative assistant

7 (informal) keep working very hard, usually for a long time 8 are not given a higher position because it is given to someone else 9 (informal) stopping doing something, especially a job IIn this job you just have to fling yourself into10 your work and beaver away11 to get things done each day. I spend a lot of time running round helping other people. It’s not a bad job, and sometimes I’m allowed to get off12 early if I’ve stayed late the day before.

10 start to spend a lot of your time and energy doing something 11 (informal) work hard at something for a long time, especially something you are writing 12 leave the place where you work, usually at the end of the day

The scientist 13 have the right qualities for something, especially a job 14 start to work or study hard, especially if you have not been working very hard before canlt find ‘buckle down’

The office worker 15 (informal) work hard at something for a long time 16 make something quickly and not very carefully 17 do only the things that you have to do without trying to go faster or be more successful

I decided to go in to research, as I wanted to do something exciting. I don’t think I’m cut out for13 teaching. University was fun, but now I’ve got to knuckle down14 and build my career.

Well, in this job you just plug away15 and hope the day will pass quickly. If I have to write a report, I do what I can to cobble something together16, but I don’t ever feel that I achieve anything worthwhile. Most people in my position just coast along17 and dream of the summer holidays.

31.1

31.2

31.3

31.4

Answer these questions about the phrasal verbs in this unit.

1 Which verb focuses on working with enthusiasm? 2 Which three verbs focus on stopping work? 3 Which two verbs focus on working without using too much energy? 4 Which four verbs focus on working hard? 5 Which verb is based on an animal metaphor? 6 Which two verbs are based on metaphors connected with the land?

Rewrite the underlined parts of these sentences using the word in brackets in an appropriate form. Make any other necessary changes.

1 Louise always approaches her work with great enthusiasm. (fling) 2 I really think that it is time you applied yourself much more seriously to your studies. (knuckle) 3 As a research scientist, you just have to keep working hard at your experiments over a long period of time and eventually you’ll get results. (plug) 4 If this morning’s meeting goes smoothly, I should be able to leave work by 1 p.m. (get) 5 The meeting was going well until we got really involved with the details of the sales conference party. (bog) 6 I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to say in my speech, but I’m sure I’ll be able to get something ready by tomorrow morning. (cobble) 7 There comes a time when it is best for an older manager to withdraw and let a younger person take over. (step) 8 I always say that if you start a job, you should make sure you finish it. (see)

Correct the six mistakes with particles in this paragraph.

I’d hate a job where I could just coast about without needing to think about what I was doing. I’d far rather keep busy and really don’t mind how much I have to slog off each day. I’d soon pack off any job that didn’t keep me working hard. I fling myself onto everything I do. Even when I was at school, I used to beaver up at my homework as soon as I got home from school. My sister certainly never used to knuckle into work in the way I did.

Complete these sentences using verbs from the box and the correct particles. Put the verbs in the correct form and make any other necessary changes.

call cut ease farm go hand pass run

1 I can’t stand the sight of blood, so I’m not really

nursing. 2 If you hate your job so much, why don’t you just your notice? 3 When several workers were unfairly dismissed, the trade union official decided it was time to on strike. 4 As a PA I spend most of my time after my boss. 5 We’ve had a very busy few months at work, but things are beginning to now. 6 Liam is very good at his job, so I can’t understand why he always gets while less able people get promoted. 7 Our company has started doing a lot of outsourcing, which means that we jobs that we previously used to do ourselves. 8 Ever since she was a child she has wanted to medicine.