English Language Resource Center

Changing Sentences: Phrasal Verbs and Idioms

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Directions: Read the story and then change the sentences by substituting the idioms given in parentheses for words in the sentence. The idioms are in the order that they will appear in the sentence. Retype each of the sentences in the boxes below. (Reading and retyping will help your English improve quickly.)

When you are finished, click on "Our Version" to see the answer.

Try to write your own sentence before you click on "Our Version." The first sentence is done for you.

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Advice about People

       Don’t submit to the pressure of a salesman, and don’t get angry because he talks for too long, doesn’t give you the information that you need, and forces you to suffer. Find out the truth about the situation by asking what company he or she works for. Look at the person’s shoes, clothes and tie; if he or she is wearing a lot of heavy clothing to protect against cold in the summertime, or wearing a tank top with sleeveless vest in the middle of the coldest, darkest part of winter, the situation is suspicious. If you’re made uncomfortable and uneasy by any stranger, you should listen to your instincts and refrain from starting a conversation with him or her. The way things are, most of the people you see in the city are well intentioned and not trying to hurt or fight with you. Some, however, will try to make you angry if you let them, and this is why, more often than not, it makes sense to not draw attention to yourself in while in New York City.

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Original:  Don’t submit to the pressure of a salesman and don’t get angry because he doesn’t give you the information that you need, and he makes you suffer. (give in to/ get fed up with/ runaround/ put you through)

Changed version:  Don’t give in to the pressure of a salesman and don’t get fed up with the runaround that he puts you through.

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1. Find out the truth about the situation by asking what company he or she works for. (get to the bottom of)

Write your sentence here:

    

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2. Look at the person’s shoes, clothes and tie; if he or she is wearing a lot of heavy clothing to protect against cold in the summertime, (check out/ bundled up/)

Write your sentence here:

    

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3. or wearing a tank top with sleeveless vest in the middle of the coldest, darkest part of winter, the situation is suspicious. (donning/ in the dead of/ something is up)

Write your sentence here:

    

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4. If you’re made uncomfortable and uneasy by any stranger, you should listen to your instincts and refrain from starting a conversation with him or her. (creeped out/ trust your gut/ striking up)

Write your sentence here:

    

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5. The way things are, most of the people you see in the city are well intentioned and not trying to hurt or fight with you. (as it stands/ come across/ out for blood)

Write your sentence here:

    

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6. Some, however, will try to make you angry if you let them, and this is why, more often than not, it makes sense to not draw attention to yourself while in New York City. (ruffle your feathers/ keep a low profile/ the Big Apple)

Write your sentence here:

    

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