This is the seventh in our list of phrasal verb examples that you would learn in PC TECH classes.  Look through our previous blogs to read more:

“Do you get along with your boss?”  [Like; cooperate with]

“We are all getting on in years.”  [Becoming older]

“I don’t get around much anymore.”  [Travel; move locally]

“You should get away for a few days.”  [Take a break or vacation]

“He will never get away with lying.”  [Do something or act in a way and remain without being caught or noticed]

“Please get that back to me when you have finished.” [Return]

“When we were children, my brother got even with me for taking his favorite toy.”  [Take  revenge]

“I want to get back into painting.”  [Resume an interesting activity]

“You can get on the bus at the next corner.”  [Enter; board]

“Have you gotten over your cold?”  [Recovered from]

“I think you are too worried about that little problem.  Get over it.”  [Don’t think about it anymore]

“I will finish reading that book when I get around to it.” [Find the time]

“Let’s get together Friday evening.” [Meet, usually for an informal occasion]

“You should get up earlier if you are often late for work.” [Rise from bed]

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

In the month of February, along with Valentines day, and President’s day, comes another widely celebrated annual observance: Black History Month.  Also, known as African American History Month.

Before Americans were ‘recognizing’ African Americans, there was Negro History Week. This began in 1926.  In time, gradually, the recognition became Black History Month. It was in 1970, the evolution of Black History Month began.

We owe this commemoration of African Americans, to man named Carter G. Woodson. Cater was born to parents who were both former slaves, and spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines. But this didn’t falter him. He enrolled in high school at the age of 20, and graduated 2 years later! He later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. Carter was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population.

Thus: The establishment of Negro History Week begins. Carter G. Woodson, the now scholar, established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History ( which is now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915. He chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Dougloass and Abraham Lincoln.

There has, however, been criticism over the general term, ‘Black History Month’. Actor, Morgan Freeman, was quoted as saying:

”I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history.”

Looking past criticism, because that’s what African American History month is about, let us esteem in the famous words of Martin Luther King Jr:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs&feature=kp

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Here are more examples of phrasal verbs that we often use in PC TECH classes.  Look through our previous blogs to read more:

“Should we eat out tonight, or do you want to eat in?”  [Eat at a restaurant or eat at home]

“We could decide where to go last evening, but we ended up walking around Times Square.”  [Made a final decision]

“My shoes were of such poor quality that they fell apart after a month.”  [Broke]

“We had a bad storm during the night and the big tree in front of our house fell down.”  [Collapsed]

“I can’t find my credit card.  I must have fallen out of my purse.”  [Came out from the inside of something]

“It’s very difficult for me to figure out that math problem.” [Solve; understand]

“Please fill me in when you get more information.”  [Provide information]

“You will need to fill out this form before you take the test.”  [Write information in the blank spaces]

“Here is my water bottle; please fill it up.”  [Add (e.g. liquid) to the top]

“Where do they live?  Can you find out?”  [Get the information]

“I couldn’t get across to him that he needs a passport to visit Canada.”  [Make someone understand]

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

We continue with more examples of some of the phrasal verbs used in American English idioms.  We often use these verbs in PC TECH classes.  Look through our previous blogs to read more:

“We were talking on the phone when we were suddenly cut off.”  [Interruption of communication service]

“Cutting out coupons from newspapers is a good way to save money at a supermarket.”  [Removing, usually with a scissors]

“Cut it out!.”  [A command to stop doing something annoying]

“You will have to do your homework over.”  [Re-write]

“You should do away with food that is out of date”  [Discard; get rid of]

“I have to do up a report for my boss.” [Prepare]

“People usually dress up for a wedding.”  [Wear formal clothing]

“In many American businesses and schools, Friday is often a day to dress down.”  [Wear informal clothing]

“We were walking towards Times Square when one guy in our group dropped back to send a text message”  [Went slower to get behind]

“Please drop in anytime.”  [Visit without an appointment]

“Would you kindly drop this package off at the post office?”  [Take to or deliver to a location]

“The student dropped out of high school when he became 17.”  [Quit taking classes]

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Here are more examples of some of the phrasal verbs used in American English idioms.  We often use these verbs in PC TECH classes.  Look through our previous blogs to find more:

“I have only had this shirt for a month and it is already coming apart at the seams.”  [Splitting/separating]

“Yesterday my brother came down with the flu.”  [Became ill]

“Please come forward if you can help us with this job.”  [Approach]

“Can I count on you to deliver this package to the post office?”  [Depend on]

“Please cross out the incorrect answers.”  [Write lines through]

“They will have to cut back on dining at fine restaurants to save money.”  [Do less of something]

“We will have to cut that old tree down before it falls on the house.”  [Remove]

“I’m sorry to cut in, but I have something important to tell you.”  [Interrupt]

“She was driving on Fifth Avenue when a taxi cut in to her lane.”  [Suddenly drove a car/truck/bus in front of another driver]

“Cut off a big piece of cheese to feed your mouse.”  [Use a sharp instrument to remove something]

“The electric company cut his electricity off when he failed to pay his bills for several months.”  [Stopped a service]

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Here are some examples of commonly used English Slang:

”Fox” – very attractive

”Flaky” – unreliable

”Flashback” – remembered

”Big mouth” – talk too much

”Bread” – money

”Chicken” – coward

”Dead” – quiet

”Glitch” – defect

”Put the moves on” – seduce

”High” – intoxicated on drugs or alcohol

”Hyped” – excited

”Gig” – job

”Vibe” – feeling

”Get it” – understand

”Yo” – hey

”Get into” – become seriously interested in

”Meltdown” – total collapse

”Nuts” – crazy

”Knocked up” – pregnant

”Take a hike” – leave

”Piece of cake” – easy to do

”Pig out” – eat a lot or overeat

”Ditch” – leave

”Face-off” – confrontation

”Jerk around” – waste time or cause trouble

”Keep one’s cool” – remain calm

”Go down” – happening

”Go bananas” – go crazy

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Here are more examples of phrasal verbs used in American English idioms.  Look through our previous blogs to find more:

“Please call me up when you get some news.”  [Make a phone call]

“Hey calm down, it’s not the end of the world!”  [Relax; take it easy]

“Sorry, I don’t care for hot dogs.”  [Dislike]

“I can’t go out tonight; I have to catch up with my homework.”  [Complete what is not yet finished]

“Make sure you check in at the registration desk before you attend the meeting.”  [Give your name and other information]

“We had to check out of our hotel earlier so we could get to the airport on time.”  [Leave]

“I want to check that restaurant out before we make a reservation.”  [Get information]

“Cheer up, Mike, things will get better.”  [Be happy; don’t be so sad]

“She visited the hospital to cheer her friend up.”  [Make someone happier]

“Let’s chip in to buy a birthday gift for the boss.”  [Help to do something]

“I have to clean up my kitchen before I leave today.”  [Make neat or tidy]

“While I was looking through my bag, I came across a picture of my former girlfriend.”  [Unexpectedly found]

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City