Phrasal Verbs

Unit 1.5 - "On": Other meanings

Guess the meanings of the phrasal verbs from context:
1. Someone fell into the river! Don't just look on! Do something to help!
2. Many people look down on the poor and the uneducated.
3. I feel sorry for that small boy. He is always being picked on by bigger and older kids at school.
4. Due to expansion, our company has decided to take on five more salespersons next month.

See Explanations ê

Look on (inseparable)	To watch an activity or event without becoming involved in it >>Demonstrators tore down the statue as police calmly looked on.
Look down on (inseparable)	To feel someone or something is inferior or contemptible >>You shouldn't *look down on* him just because he is unemployed. >>She tends to *look down on* anything that is made in China.
Pick on (inseparable)	To criticize or bully someone, who usually is smaller or weaker than you >>He was *picked on* at school because he was much smaller than the other kids.
Take on (separable)	To begin to employ someone >>We usually take on extra staff over Christmas. >>They only took her on because she's the manager's niece. To compete against someone or fight someone >>I might take you on at tennis some time. >>The government *took on* the unions and won.

Exercises:
- Complete the following dialogs:
  - A: I heard that you're a good chess player.
  - B: Well, I'm not too bad. Want to me ?
  - A: Uh... not now, maybe later.
  - A: I really hate being the youngest in the family.
  - B: Why?
  - A: My older brothers and sisters are always me! The other day, my older brother was punching and hitting me, and my sister just .
  - B: That's terrible!
  - A: Look! Those teenagers are that poor homeless man again!
  - B: I feel so sorry for the man. Everybody him.
  - A: Let's not just . Let's go and help the poor man out.
  - B: Are you kidding? Are you going to those teenagers? They... they look threatening to me. They are scary!
  - A: Oh, come on! Don't be such a wimp! Let's go!

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