Archive for the 'People and relationships' Category
Phrasal Verb: invite over
To invite over somebody (or invite somebody over) is to ask them if they would like to visit you at your home.
To invite around / round somebody or invite somebody around / round means the same thing.
Examples of use:
1. Why don't you invite your boss over for a meal on Friday?
2. I have been invited around to Emma's house.
3. Whenever his parents are away he invites his friends over for a party!
4. We would like to invite you round to our house but our kitchen isn't finished.
5. James invited us over for tea and cakes.
| infinitive | invite over |
| present simple | invite over and invites over |
| -ing form | inviting over |
| past simple | invited over |
| past participle | invited over |
Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'invite over' in a sentence?
Who do you invite over to your home?
Image by kevindooley
Idiom: a heart of gold
If someone has a heart of gold they are a very kind and generous person.
Examples of use:
1. My grandmother's neighbour has a heart of gold. She helps my grandmother with her shopping and visits her every day.
2. He looks and acts like a very grumpy old man, but he has a heart of gold.
Can you write a sentence with the idiom 'heart of gold'?
Do you know someone who has a heart of gold?
Further reading and listening for more advanced learners:
An article about a lady who has been nominated for an award for her work helping others in her community, and who is described as having a heart of gold
And an article and audio file interview about a vending machine in Abu Dabi which dispenses small gold bars in exchange for cash! – from the BBC World Service
Image by Smath.
Phrasal Verb: live down
To live down something (or live something down) is to stop feeling embarrassed about something you have done, or a mistake you have made.
Examples of use:
1. He forgot to moor the boat properly. It will be a long time before he lives that down!
2. A. I feel so stupid for falling over on stage in front of all those people.
B. Don't worry. You will soon live it down.
3. She's still trying to live down the fact that her skirt fell down at work!
4. He crashed his car into a lampost at the weekend. He says he'll never live it down.
| infinitive |
live down |
| present simple |
live down and lives down |
| -ing form |
living down |
| past simple |
lived down |
| past participle |
live down |
Can you write a sentence with the phrasal verb 'live down'?
Have you done something that was difficult to live down?
Image by TomJByrne
Phrasal Verb: ask over / round
To ask somebody over (or ask somebody round) is to invite them to come to your house.
Examples of use:
1. Janet and Anthony have asked us over for a meal.
2. We asked our neighbours over for a barbecue last weekend.
3. Gaby and Jared seem very nice. Why don't you ask them round for drinks?
| infinitive |
ask over / round |
| present simple |
ask over / round or asks over / round |
| -ing form |
asking over / round |
| past simple |
asked over / round |
| past participle |
asked over / round |
Can you write a sentence with the phrasal verb 'ask over'?
Have you asked somebody over to your house?
Image by victoriapeckham
Phrasal Verb: ask out
To ask somebody out is to ask them to go on a date with you, to a place such as the cinema or a restaurant, as a way of starting a romantic relationship with them.
Examples of use:
1. If you like him that much why don't you ask him out?
2. Jamie is too shy to ask Kamila out.
3. I'm going to ask him out tonight. Wish me luck!
4. He has asked her out five times but she keeps saying 'no'!
| infinitive |
ask out |
| present simple |
ask out and asks out |
| -ing form |
asking out |
| past simple |
asked out |
| past participle |
asked out |
Can you write a sentence with the phrasal verb 'ask out'?
Have you asked somebody out?
Image by nalilo
Phrasal Verb: look somebody up
To look somebody up (or look up somebody) is to locate and visit someone you have not seen for a long time.
Examples of use:
1. Look me up if you are ever in England.
2. I went to Newcastle on business last week and I looked up an old friend.
3. My friends were on holiday in my city, so they looked me up and we all went to a restaurant for a meal.
| infinitive | look up |
| present simple | look up and looks up |
| -ing form | looking up |
| past simple | looked up |
| past participle | looked up |
Image by glennharper
Phrasal Verb: meet up
To meet up is to meet someone, or a group of people, in order to do something together.
Examples of use:
1. My friend and I meet up for lunch once a week.
2. We met up for dinner and then went to the theatre.
3. Sian and I are meeting up at 2pm tomorrow.
| infinitive |
meet up |
| present simple |
meet up and meets up |
| -ing form |
meeting up |
| past simple |
met up |
| past participle |
met up |
Image by Poiseon Bild & Text
Phrasal verb: call round
To call round is to visit someone who lives not far away, for a short period of time. British and American English.
Examples of use:
1. I think I'll call round and see if my grandmother needs anything.
2. We called round yesterday, but you were out.
3. Mrs Green's son calls round after work every day. She looks forward to his visits.
4. Why don't you call round tomorrow? We can have a cup of tea and a chat.
| infinitive |
call round |
| present simple |
call round and calls round |
| -ing form |
calling round |
| past simple |
called round |
| past participle |
called round |
Image by Monica Arellano-Ongpin
Phrasal Verb: settle down
To settle down is to start living in a place where you plan stay for a long time, usually with a person that you love, and especially after having different partners or travelling a lot.
Example of use:
1. I worked in many different countries when I was younger, but I came back to the UK in 2005 and settled down and got married.
When two people settle down together they set up a life together and perhaps get married, buy a house and start a family.
Example of use:
1. Alice and Peter are settling down and buying a house together. They are getting married in June.
2. They make a lovely couple. I hope they settle down together.
To settle down is also to become less active, anxious or upset.
Examples of use:
1. Will you settle the children down?! I'm trying to work!
2. Settle down and stop worrying about your English exam. You'll do very well, I'm sure.
3. Settle down class, and get your books out. Today we're going to learn about phrasal verbs.
When an intense or chaotic situation becomes less intense or chaotic it settles down.
Examples of use:
1. There was a fight between the rival football fans but things have settled down now.
2. The shoppers charged in when the shop doors opened for the big sale. Thank goodness they have settled down now!
| infinitive |
settle down |
| present simple |
settle down and settles down |
| -ing form |
settling down |
| past simple |
settled down |
| past participle |
settled down |
Image by madaboutasia
Valentine’s Day: phrasal verbs, idioms and sayings
In the UK on the 14th February, many people will be showing their love for each other by sending Valentine cards, chocolates and flowers, or maybe by writing a poem or a love letter.
The British Library holds the oldest known Valentine’s message written in English. It was written in 1477 by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston.
It's believed that the first recorded Valentine card was sent by the Duke of Orleans in 1415. He is said to have written messages of love to his wife from his prison cell.
The tradition of exchanging Valentine gifts is said to have started in the later Middle Ages (the period of European history from approximately AD1000 to 1500), when it was believed that the 14th of February marks the beginning of the mating season for birds, and so the day became associated with love and romance.
It is not certain who the Saint Valentine associated with Valentine's Day was. He might have been a Roman priest and Christian martyr executed during the rule of Claudius II the Goth; or he might have been Valentine, Bishop of Turni, who was martyred in Rome.
Phrasal verbs, idioms and sayings for Valentine's Day 
Chat up To chat up somebody (or chat somebody up) is to talk to them in a flirtatious way to show you are attracted to them, and to try and make them interested in you.
Get together If people get together they meet so they can spend time together and do something together.
Eat out To eat out is to eat away from home, at a cafe or restaurant. Many people eat out at a restaurant on Valentine's Day.
Hit it off If you hit it off with someone you quickly get on very well with them.
Pair off To pair off is to start a romantic relationship.
Go out with To go out with someone is to have a romantic relationship with them.
Fall for If you fall for someone you fall in love with them.
Fall head over heels in love To fall head over heels in love with someone is to fall in love with them very suddenly, and with great intensity.
Pour out If you pour out your feelings to someone you tell them everything about how you are feeling.
Settle down When two people settle down together they set up a life together and perhaps get married, buy a house and start a family.
Move in together To move in together is to start living with someone else – usually someone you are having a romantic relationship with.
Live for If you live for somebody they are the most important thing in your life.
Wear your heart on your sleeve If you wear your heart on your sleeve you are very open about your feelings for someone, and show everyone how you are feeling.
Lovebirds If two people are clearly very much in love with each other they are often called 'the lovebirds'. Lovebirds are small parrots that are well known for showing great affection to their mates.
How do people celebrate Valentine's Day around the world? I would love to hear about Valentine's Day traditions in your country.
Image of flamingoes by Kjunstorm
Image of couple in love by Candida.Performa
