Phúc tried to hold back his tears after a small disappointment and was listened to by his friend.
hold back
I tried to hold back my tears when I felt disappointed.
Read the example again
I tried to hold back my tears when I felt disappointed.
She could not hold her laughter back.
Read the example again
She could not hold her laughter back.
View meaning & usage
Suppress/prevent emotional expression
hold back tears / laughterhold something back
The meaning in the lesson is to restrain the expression of emotions, not to withhold information or prevent progress. Past tense “held”.
Haven't studied yet
Phúc excitedly showed his friends the toy he had just made.
show off
He wanted to show off the toy he had made.
Read the example again
He wanted to show off the toy he had made.
I showed my new drawing off to my friends.
Read the example again
I showed my new drawing off to my friends.
View meaning & usage
Show off / show off for others to see
show off somethingshow something off
Showing off something to attract attention. The phrase can also refer to a boastful attitude, depending on the context.
Haven't studied yet
Phúc interrupted for a moment to announce that the bus had arrived.
break in
I had to break in to tell them the bus was here.
Read the example again
I had to break in to tell them the bus was here.
Sorry to break in, but your mum is waiting outside.
Read the example again
Sorry to break in, but your mum is waiting outside.
View meaning & usage
Interject into the conversation
break inbreak in on a conversation
In a lesson, you interrupt a conversation, often to announce what needs to be said. Past tense “broke”; Do not use the meaning of breaking in.
Haven't studied yet
The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 51, 139, 63, 116, 13. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
Recall it · Use it
One step forward every day
Practice completed!
Your browser could not save your play history. Results from this session may be lost when you close the page.
Sentences using suggestions are counted as needing more practice. Review schedule based on each phrase's meaning.
Drag a wire from the dot beside a phrase to the dot beside its matching picture. You can also tap a phrase, then a picture. Drag again to change a pair before checking.
Read the picture descriptions for more context. Similar expressions are accepted when they fit the particular scene.
Phrases
Actions in the pictures
Picture description
Phúc gets along well with his friends while using the drawing table.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Phúc explains happily so that you are not sure if you agree to support the class activity.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Phúc tried to hold back his tears after a small disappointment and was listened to by his friend.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Phúc excitedly showed his friends the toy he had just made.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Phúc interrupted for a moment to announce that the bus had arrived.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Choose a phrase to begin.
Your browser could not save your play history. Results from this session may be lost when you close the page.
A conversation in context
Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.
Mai
Do you get on with the new team?
Read the example again
Do you get on with the new team?
Alex
Yes, though I still need to win over one person to our idea.
Read the example again
Yes, though I still need to win over one person to our idea.
Mai
Give them time, and do not hold back useful information.
Read the example again
Give them time, and do not hold back useful information.
Compare the uses
get on with / win over
“Get on with” someone means have a friendly relationship; “win over” means gain support from someone initially unconvinced. An existing relationship differs from changing an opinion.
Practice and check your answers
Try answering before revealing the suggested answer. This practice is not scored.
The answers below are models. Other answers can also work if they preserve the facts, meaning and structure requested in the task.
A situation to apply what you have learned
A new volunteer already has friendly relationships in a team, but one member still opposes her proposal.
Describe the existing relationships.
Show the answer and explanation
She gets on with her teammates.
“Gets on with her teammates” describes friendly relationships without claiming universal support for her proposal.
Replace “the doubtful member” with “him”: Win the doubtful member over.
Show the answer and explanation
Win him over.
“Him” replaces the doubtful member and goes between “win” and “over”: “win him over”.
Write a patient response about gaining support.
Show the answer and explanation
I will explain the proposal clearly and give him time to consider it.
Explaining clearly and allowing consideration seeks support without claiming that he has already been persuaded.
The usage comparisons are checked against the Cambridge Dictionary entries linked beside the compared expressions. The additional conversations and exercises are written for this course.
Progress is saved on the device. Sign in with Google to save with the same account and continue on another device.
