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3 posts tagged with "British English"

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Phrasal Verb - mess about

· 2 min read
Raymundo CH

Image illustrating the verb mess about

Image uploaded to Pixabay by OnzeCreativitijd

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Definition​

to engage in idle, aimless, or superficial activity, especially in a playful or reckless manner; to trifle or dawdle; to waste time or engage in unproductive activity.

Examples​

No.Example
1I was supposed to work on my project, but I think I'm going to mess about on social media instead.
2The kids started to mess about in the park after school.
3She's been messing about with her looks for hours, trying to get the perfect selfie.
4I don't have time to mess about, I need to finish this task.
5Why do you keep messing about and not taking this seriously?
6The tourists started to mess about on the town square, taking photos with the locals.
7I tried to focus on my work, but my colleagues started to mess about on the office floor.
8The kids love to mess about in the sandbox during recess.
9Stop messing about and take care of your responsibilities.
10The artist spent most of the day messing about with her paint colors and textures.

Phrasal Verb - Piping Down

· 2 min read
Raymundo CH

Image illustrating the verb Piping Down

Image uploaded to Pixabay by ShepherdMedia

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Definition​

To pipe down means to quiet or calm down, usually when someone is being too loud or noisy. It can also imply that someone should stop speaking or make their voice lower to avoid disturbing others. In more informal contexts, it can be used to tell someone to stop talking nonsense or stop being so boisterous.

Examples​

No.Example
1Please pipe down, I'm trying to study.
2Can you pipe down and have a conversation without shouting?
3Children, pipe down and let grandma talk!
4Stop chattering and pipe down, we need to have a meeting.
5Pipe down, you're being too loud in the library.
6She laughed and said 'Pipe down, I'm not that mad.'
7Pipe down and listen, I'm about to tell a secret.
8Grandma asked them to pipe down and eat their dinner quietly.
9When the children wouldn't pipe down, the parents gave them headphones.
10I tried to pipe down but couldn't help replaying the worst part of the argument in my head.

Phrasal Verb - Cropping Up

· 2 min read
Raymundo CH

Image illustrating the verb Cropping Up

Image uploaded to Pixabay by klaber

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Definition​

To crop up in this context means to happen or appear unexpectedly, often in a sudden and surprising manner. It can also mean to become suddenly known or popular. The term can be used interchangeably with 'pop up' or 'show up', but it tends to have a more casual and conversational tone.

Examples​

No.Example
1I hadn't thought about it, but the idea of starting my own business has been cropping up in my head for years.
2The news of the celebrity's affair cropped up in the tabloids last week.
3As we were walking through the park, we heard the sound of kids cropping up and playing loudly.
4When I mentioned the company's new product, the discussion instantly started cropping up on social media.
5She hadn't expected to run into her old friend at the party, but they started cropping up in conversation as soon as they saw each other.
6The rumors of the movie's sequel had been cropping up online for months before it was officially announced.
7At first, we thought it was just a one-off comment, but the controversy started cropping up all over the internet.
8As the season progressed, the show started cropping up more and more in people's conversations.
9Despite being hesitant at first, the new restaurant's popularity started cropping up all over town.
10The stylish design of the house cropped up as the focus of many architectural magazines last year.