Guess the meanings of the
phrasal verbs from context:
The meeting was
called off because our boss was
sick.
I need a cold drink to
cool off.
You paid $100 for this? You've
been ripped off!
Jim is
showing off his new beautiful girlfriend to everyone
at the party.
I was told
off by my boss for losing an important client.
The effect of the painkiller has
worn off and my headache is
coming back.
See Explanations
ê
Explanations:
Call off
(separable)
To cancel something >>The baseball
match was called off
because of the heavy rain.
Cool off
(separable)
To
become cooler, or to make someone or something cooler
>>Let's go for
a swim to cool off.
To
become calmer, or to calm someone down >>I won't talk
to you until you cool off.
Rip
off
(separable)
To charge someone excessively for
something
>>Stay away from that store - it is always trying to
rip tourists
off.
Show off
(separable)
To show someone or something that you
are proud of to others >>John invited
us all to his house for dinner to show
off his newly renovated kitchen.
Tell off
(separable)
To scold or reprimand
someone
>>The teacher told off
the students for not paying attention in class.
Wear off
(inseparable)
To stop
having an effect; to gradually
disappear >>The
anesthetic wore off after
a couple of hours and my wound started to hurt. >>After the
excitement of being in a different country has
worn off, he began to feel
homesick.
Exercise:
Complete the following conversation:
Ann: Why
does our boss look so mad?
Jim:
Oh, John lost an important client. That's why. The boss is
John
now as we speak.
Ann:
Oh no! I need to talk to him about this report, but I'd better
wait till he has
.
Jim:
That's a wise thing to do!
Ann:
So, how was the soccer game last night?
Jim:
Didn't you hear? It was
because of the storm. Hey,
what's Mary doing?
Ann:
Oh, she is going around the office
her new engagement ring.
Jim:
Really? Did she
it
to you?
Ann:
Of course she did! She kept saying it was a very expensive ring
but I think her fiancé was
by the jewelry store.
Jim:
Oh well. She looks really happy and excited though.
Ann:
Yeah? But how long will the excitement last? It's gonna
soon, I think.
