Phrasal verb: run over (someone/something)

"run over (someone/something)"

Meaning: drive a vehicle over a person or thing

Example: Harry ran over your basketball when he parked the car at the garage.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
keep (something) from
let (someone) in
make up

Idiom: rain or shine

"rain or shine"

Meaning: (describing something scheduled) no matter what the weather is.

Example: We'll be leaving for Coron tomorrow, rain or shine.


Last week's idioms:
in over (one's) head
jump the gun
keep an eye out for
leave well enough alone
macho

Idiom: a quick study

"a quick study"

Meaning: someone who learns new things quickly and easily.

Example: Joshua has a clean and shiny car. He's a quick study in car detailing.


Last week's idioms:
in over (one's) head
jump the gun
keep an eye out for
leave well enough alone
macho

Phrasal verb: pass out

"pass out"

Meaning: faint

Example: A friend passed out during the fun run, but I heard he's now ok.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
keep (something) from
let (someone) in
make up

Idiom: plastic

"plastic"

Meaning: credit card(s)

Example: That store only accepts cash. Your plastic won't be honored there.


Last week's idioms:
in over (one's) head
jump the gun
keep an eye out for
leave well enough alone
macho

Idiom: on the dot

"on the dot"

Meaning: exactly at a given time.

Example: Dad is leaving at 5:00 on the dot. Wake up early, or he'll go to Coron without you.


Last week's idioms:
in over (one's) head
jump the gun
keep an eye out for
leave well enough alone
macho

Idiom: nosh

"nosh"

Meaning: snack

Example: Jill, if you want something to nosh on, grab some fruits by the kitchen counter.


Last week's idioms:
in over (one's) head
jump the gun
keep an eye out for
leave well enough alone
macho

Phrasal verb: make up

"make up"

Meaning: forgive each other

Example: James and Kris had an argument yesterday, but they made up this morning.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
do (something) over
end up
fall down
get along/on
hand (something) in

Idiom: macho

macho"

Meaning: super masculine / masculine to an extreme (in appearance and behavior)

Example: Tony avoids washing the dishes. He thinks he's too macho to do that.


Last week's idioms:
dicey
Easy does it!
feel blue
get it
hassle (noun)

Phrasal verb: let (someone) in

"let (someone) in"

Meaning: allow to enter

Example: Let Mr. De la Cruz in once he arrives at the front gate.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
do (something) over
end up
fall down
get along/on
hand (something) in

Idiom: leave well enough alone

"leave well enough alone"

Meaning: do nothing (because doing something would make things worse)

Example: Avoid telling Jon how to detail his car. Leave well enough alone.


Last week's idioms:
dicey
Easy does it!
feel blue
get it
hassle (noun)

Phrasal verb: keep (something) from (someone)

"keep (something) from (someone)"

Meaning: not tell

Example: They kept their relationship from Aludra's parents for around six months.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
do (something) over
end up
fall down
get along/on
hand (something) in

Idiom: keep an eye out for

"keep an eye out for"

Meaning: watch for.

Example: Keep an eye out for Jenny. She'll be out of that room in a few minutes.


Last week's idioms:
dicey
Easy does it!
feel blue
get it
hassle (noun)

Idiom: jump the gun

"jump the gun"

Meaning: do something before it's time to do it.

Example: The celebration we planned for Momay was supposed to be a surprise, but Andro jumped the gun. He told Momay that he was in charge of the food for her party.


Last week's idioms:
dicey
Easy does it!
feel blue
get it
hassle (noun)

Idiom: in over (one's) head

"in over one's head"

Meaning: in a situation that is too much / too difficult for one to manage

Example: I've been trying to do this project for some time now. I think I'll be asking for your help. I'm in over my head. I just won't be able to handle this by myself.


Last week's idioms:
dicey
Easy does it!
feel blue
get it
hassle (noun)

Phrasal verb: hand (something) in

"hand (something) in"

Meaning: submit

Example: I have to hand in my writing tasks to Coach Jon by Saturday.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
ask around
back (someone) up
call (someone) back

Idiom: hassle (noun)

"hassle" (noun)

Meaning: a troublesome situation; something troublesome that interrupts one's normal routine.

Example: It would be a hassle to bring this letter to Mr. Baker, but he needs to receive this soon.


Last week's idioms:
yes-man
zilch
all right
be a piece of cake
can't make heads or tails of (something)

Phrasal verb: get along/on

"get along/on"

Meaning: like each other

Example: My aunt and my sister-in-law don't get along. They have heated arguments on the household chores.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
ask around
back (someone) up
call (someone) back

Idiom: get it

"get it"

Meaning: understand something (often negative).

Example: I don't get it. What are you talking about?


Last week's idioms:
yes-man
zilch
all right
be a piece of cake
can't make heads or tails of (something)

Phrasal verb: fall down

"fall down"

Meaning: fall to the ground

Example: Our neighbor's cat fell down from that tree.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
ask around
back (someone) up
call (someone) back

Idiom: feel blue

"feel blue"

Meaning: feel sad and depressed.

Example: I'm feeling blue because our puppy has been missing for days.


Last week's idioms:
yes-man
zilch
all right
be a piece of cake
can't make heads or tails of (something)

Phrasal verb: end up

"end up"

Meaning: eventually reach/do/decide

Example: We ended up buying ice cream instead of watching tv.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
ask around
back (someone) up
call (someone) back

Idiom: Easy does it!

"Easy does it!"

Meaning: Be very careful! / Don't do anything too fast or too hard!

Example:
Tom: I'm going to use a rotary buffer to polish the paint of my car.
Jerry: Easy does it! If you move the buffer too fast, you might burn the paint.


Last week's idioms:
yes-man
zilch
all right
be a piece of cake
can't make heads or tails of (something)

Phrasal verb: do (something) over

"do (something) over"

Meaning: do again

Example: My coach wants me to do my writing task over because he wants me to make some improvement on it.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
ask around
back (someone) up
call (someone) back

Idiom: dicey

"dicey"

Meaning: uncertain; taking too much of a chance

Example: I wouldn't spend that much for a lotto ticket. The chances for success are too dicey.


Last week's idioms:
yes-man
zilch
all right
be a piece of cake
can't make heads or tails of (something)

Phrasal verb: call (someone) back

"call (someone )back"

Meaning: return a phone call

Example: I called you back but your sister said you went out for a break.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
run into (someone/something)
send (something) back
take after (someone)
use (something) up
wake up

Idiom: can't make heads or tails of (something)

"can't make heads or tails of (something)"

Meaning: can't understand something at all; find something confusing and illogical

Example: Noah can't make heads or tails of your text message. He said he might need a "jejemon" translator to understand it.


Last week's idioms:
R and R
_____-savvy
take it easy
under the weather
Was my face red!

Phrasal verb: back (someone) up

"back (someone) up"

Meaning: support

Example: Mama Pet backed Ringo up over his decision to leave the house.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
run into (someone/something)
send (something) back
take after (someone)
use (something) up
wake up

Idiom: be a piece of cake

"be a piece of cake"

Meaning: be very easy

Example: Bryan believed that his IELTS exam was a piece of cake.


Last week's idioms:
R and R
_____-savvy
take it easy
under the weather
Was my face red!

Phrasal verb: ask around

"ask around"

Meaning: ask many people the same question

Example: Abby asked around but nobody has seen her umbrella.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
run into (someone/something)
send (something) back
take after (someone)
use (something) up
wake up

Idiom: all right

"all right"

Meanings: expression of reluctant agreement; fair; not particularly good; unharmed; in satisfactory condition

Example: This new paint polish I'm testing is just all right, but it's not the best polish I've ever had.


Last week's idioms:
R and R
_____-savvy
take it easy
under the weather
Was my face red!

Idiom: zilch

"zilch"

Meaning: nothing

Example:
April: "Hi May, how many sheets of paper did you bring?"
May: "Zilch. I forgot to bring them."


Last week's idioms:
R and R
_____-savvy
take it easy
under the weather
Was my face red!

7 Reasons for Getting Low Scores at IELTS

While I was browsing around Facebook, I came across the posts of Mr. Peter at Bell Vietnam (Facebook Profile: facebook.com/bellvietnam). He was sharing the reasons for getting low scores at the IELTS exam.

With his permission, I'm reproducing these valuable tips for you guys. Read on.

Why don't people get a high score at the IELTS? Here are 7 of the common reasons. Avoid these frequent mistakes and you are one step closer to IELTS SUCCESS!

1. Not having a study plan.

Some people feel overly confident about their IELTS exam and don't bother studying. Others think it is all about luck. To succeed at IELTS is all about discipline and you have got to have a plan. It takes constant and consistent practice to reach a high band score and, even if you are busy, you should carefully plan your studies. Devote at least one hour every day to preparing.

2. Not following instructions.

How can you hope to do well if you don't do what is needed? Many IELTS candidates fail to get their desired band score not because their English is poor, but because they don't read the instructions properly. The NUMBER ONE rule in IELTS is to FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS carefully. The most common mistake made is in the Yes/No/Not given type questions. People tend to answer True/False instead. Another frequent mistake is that people give complete word answers when only a letter is needed. So, don't forget to read the instructions!

3. Poor time management.

In many exams, especially IELTS, time is never on your side. Many IELTS candidates fail to finish the four modules and how can you hope to score highly if you don't even finish the exam? Completing each task is essential if you want to get a high band score and succeed at IELTS. This means it's important to plan your time well. Quick thinking is an essential skill to develop. You have to be able to listen, read, write and speak quickly to get the marks you want.

4. Panicking.

Many people panic when they go in to their IELTS test, especially in the Speaking component. When faced with a difficult question their mind tends to go blank. How can you solve this? Good preparation is a start. When you are well prepared you will find it easier to focus and your confidence will grow. Have a selection of expressions prepared for every questions you might be asked!

5. Not reading enough.

If little goes in then little will come out. Like feeding your body, you also have to feed your mind. Take time to read in English - magazines, newspapers, journals or on the Internet. The type of materials you will encounter in IELTS reading texts can be found in magazines like Time and Newsweek or the editorial sections of newspapers. Not only will reading increase your vocabulary but it will also improve your argumentation skills you can use in speaking and writing.

6. Making the same mistakes again & again.

It's OK to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. If you keep making the same mistakes again and again then there is little point in practicing. This is especially true in writing with spelling and grammatical errors. The most common mistakes people make are with subject-verb agreement, tense consistency and prepositions. Look at the mistakes you make and constantly review them.

7. Thinking negative thoughts.

DON'T! If you think you will not get a high score in the IELTS exam then you probably won't. Worrying about the test is not productive and gets you nowhere. The IELTS exam is not difficult if you know how to approach it. So be confident and always think positively!

Many thanks for these tips, Peter. God bless. :)

Idiom: yes-man

"yes-man"

Meaning: someone who tries to get approval by agreeing with everyone.

Example: Ringo is a favorite because he is a yes-man. He always agrees with what the manager says.


Last week's idioms:
R and R
_____-savvy
take it easy
under the weather
Was my face red!

Phrasal verb: wake up

"wake up"

Meaning: stop sleeping

Example: I have to wake up early for this Sunday's fun run.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
make (something) up
pass away

Idiom: Was my face red!

"Was my face red!"

Meaning: I was very embarrassed.

Example: When I got to meet my boyfriend I noticed that I was not able to fix my hair. Was my face red!


Last week's idioms:
make a mountain out of a molehill
No way!
Ok
pay the piper
quite a few

Phrasal verb: use (something) up

"use (something) up"

Meaning: finish the supply

Example: I used all of the car wax up so I need to buy some more.


Last week's phrasal verbs:
make (something) up
pass away

Idiom: under the weather

"under the weather"

Meaning: ill; sick; unwell

Example: Arnel was feeling under the weather yesterday, that's why he wasn't able to attend the class.


Last week's idioms:
make a mountain out of a molehill
No way!
Ok
pay the piper
quite a few