GO AWAY
Meaning: To go and stay in another place (e.g. another city, region or country) for a number of days.
"What are your plans for Christmas?"
"We're GOING AWAY for 7 days. We're visiting my wife's family in Germany."
"I'm having a party next weekend. Do you want to come?"
"Sorry, I can't. I'm GOING AWAY for the weekend. I'm going to Paris to see a friend from university who lives there now."
SEE OFF
Meaning: To go with somebody to the airport, train or bus station to say goodbye to them there.
"Where's Peter?"
"He's gone with Sue to the airport to SEE her OFF. He'll be back after she's caught her flight."
"You don't have to come and SEE me OFF at the bus station, I'm sure you've got things to do."
"No, I haven't and I don't know when the next time we'll see each other will be."
ALLOW FOR
Meaning: To take something into consideration (because it could happen) when planning to do something.
If we are having a picnic, we need to ALLOW FOR the possibility it will rain. And if it does, where can we go or what can we take so we don't get wet.
Although it should only take us 30 minutes to get to the train station, we should ALLOW FOR problems with traffic when travelling there. So, I think we should leave here 50 minutes before the train is due to leave.
SET OFF
Meaning: To leave a place to go somewhere.
The train leaves at 12.30, so we should SET OFF from here in 20 minutes if we don't want to miss it.
It's such a long journey to come here. I SET OFF from home at 7 in the morning and I didn't get here until 10 at night.
GET BACK
Meaning: To tell a person when (the time or day) you are going to return to a place that you are living in, staying or working at.
"So, you're enjoying your holiday in Spain?"
"Yes, I am. But I'm looking forward to GETTING BACK home next week."
"What time do you think that you'll GET BACK here tonight?"
"I've got a lot of work to do, but I should be there at about 8 or 9 I think."
FALL THROUGH
Meaning: When something which is organised or a plan to do something fails to/doesn't happen.
We had organised a music festival in the village, but it FELL THROUGH in the end when only 10 people bought tickets for it.
"Are you guys still going to Munich in October?"
"No, it's FALLEN THROUGH. We couldn't find a hotel in the city and it was very expensive to fly there."
TAKE OFF
Meaning: When you arrange/organise to not attend work for a short period of time (e.g. to go on holiday etc...).
I've just been invited to a wedding in Italy next Friday. Would it be ok if I TAKE OFF the Thursday and Friday from work so that I can go?
"Can you go to a meeting in Paris on Tuesday?"
"Tuesday, I can't. I'm TAKING the day OFF. My mother's having an operation and I'm going to be in the hospital with her."
SORT OUT
Meaning: To organise/arrange for something to happen.
So, we are going to Madrid on the 26th of July for two nights. I'll buy the flights for all of us. Simon can you SORT OUT the hotel? Find and reserve one for all of us.
"I think it will be a good idea to get a DJ to play music at the party."
"I know somebody who can do that, so I can SORT that OUT."
GET ROUND
Meaning: To travel/move around a place (e.g. a city, a region etc...).
We're going on holiday to London next week. What is the best way to GET ROUND the city. Metro or bus?
When you are in Madrid, you can easily GET ROUND the whole city by using the metro.
CHECK OUT
Meaning: To see what a place or thing is like.
A new bar has opened in the town centre and we're going to CHECK OUT if it is good or not. Do you want come with us?
"Did you go to that restaurant in Madrid I recommended?"
"Yeah, we CHECKED it OUT and it looked really good. But we didn't eat there because it was really busy."
Practice
Now that you know the phrasal verbs, practise them by creating your own sentences with them.
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