PHRASAL VERBS, IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING ‘WORK’

CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR PHRASAL VERBS AND IDIOMS

PHRASAL VERBS, IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING ‘WORK’

Exercise 1:

Complete sentences 1 – 10 with an appropriate form of work (for example, present continuous, past simple, etc), and an appropriate particle or particles, to make phrasal verbs.

1	The exact details of the event haven't been __________ yet. (To decide or agree on something)
2	We'll have to __________ Joey to find out what's going on. (To try to influence someone, often in order to get information from them)
3	In my experience, the best way of __________ tension is by playing a good game of tennis. (To get rid of a feeling, or get rid of some weight, by doing something that involves physical activity)
4	Are you __________ tell me that you've lost my camera? (To prepare yourself to do something difficult, or try to prepare someone for bad news. This phrasal verb needs 2 particles.)
5	I've finally __________ what that strange noise in the attic is. (To solve a problem by considering the facts)
6	The total cost of our holiday last year, including flights and accommodation, __________ at about £300. (To add up to a particular amount)
7	When I damaged my father's car, he made me __________ the cost of the repairs. (To pay someone what you owe them by doing a job for them instead of giving them money)
8	I'm not very hungry. Perhaps I should go for a walk to __________ an appetite. (To develop a particular feeling)
9	If she __________ improving her game, she could be a champion. (To try hard to develop or improve something)
10	Unless we __________ getting fit before the game, we won't win. (To spend time producing or improving something)

Exercise 2:

Try to decide what the idioms and other expressions in sentences 11 – 20 mean, then check your answers in the back of the book.

11	He cooked us a fantastic breakfast. We had the whole works!
12	Everything was going really well, and then the boss threw a spanner in the works.
13	We'll have our work cut out for us if we want to continue making money from this project.
14	I was hot, tired and in a really bad mood, but a cold shower worked wonders!
15	You will pass your exams, but only if you work your socks off.
16	He was very hungry, and made short work of the meal I had cooked.
17	We're only a little bit late, and we have got a good excuse, so don't get so worked up!
18	It is very difficult to obtain a visa to visit the country, but if you know how to work the system it can be very easy.
19	I've worked my fingers to the bone for this company for twenty years, and now they tell me that they don't need me anymore!
20	I work in the customer complaints department for a major airline, so being shouted at by angry customers is all in a day's work for me.

ANSWER KEY

Exercise 1: 1. worked out 2. work on 3. working off 4. working up to 5. worked out 6. worked out 7. work off 8. work up 9. works at 10. work on Exercise 2: 11. We had everything (for example, bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, etc). We can also say the full works or the full Monty. 12. The boss did something that suddenly stopped a process or plan. 13. We will have a difficult job to do. 14. The cold shower had an extremely (and surprisingly) good result. 15. You will need to work very hard to pass your exams. People from the USA sometimes say work your butt off. 16. He ate the meal very quickly. This expression can be used in other situations to mean deal with something quickly and efficiently. If you make short work of someone, you defeat an opponent quickly and easily "Harrison wasn't playing very well, and Jennings made short work of him in the second set" 17. Don't get upset, angry or excited. We can also say Don't work yourself up. 18. People who work or play the system do or get what they want despite the rules that make it difficult. 19. I've worked very hard. This expression is often used when hard physical work is involved. 20. All in a day's work is an expression used for saying that a particular situation or experience is normal for someone, although most people would find it difficult or unusual. It is often used as a sentence on its own: "I've been shouted at, spat at, sprayed with paint and had eggs thrown at me today!" "Never mind, Prime Minister. All in a day's work, eh?"