Linh groups small tasks into one time slot to leave more time available for a group activity on the right-hand schedule.
free up
Doing the chores early will free up time this afternoon.
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Doing the chores early will free up time this afternoon.
We freed up a table for the art group.
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We freed up a table for the art group.
View meaning & usage
Make time or resources available
free up time / spacefree something up
This means making time, space or resources available. With a pronoun, use “free it up”.
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Linh prepares an activity calendar and a box of materials for next week before the group starts.
plan ahead
We should plan ahead for the busy week.
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We should plan ahead for the busy week.
Planning ahead helps me avoid rushing.
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Planning ahead helps me avoid rushing.
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Make plans in advance
plan aheadplan ahead for something
This emphasises preparing before an event, rather than waiting until the last moment to decide.
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Linh divides task cards into three groups and gives one set to each friend.
divide up
We divided up the work between three friends.
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We divided up the work between three friends.
Divide the paper up equally so everyone has some.
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Divide the paper up equally so everyone has some.
View meaning & usage
Divide something into shares or parts
divide up somethingdivide something updivide something up between people
This means dividing a whole into parts. With a pronoun, use “divide it up”; add “equally” to emphasise equal shares.
Haven't studied yet
The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 15, 63, 46, 97, 36. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
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Phrases
Actions in the pictures
Picture description
Linh moves a meeting card from Friday to Wednesday on a calendar, with an arrow towards the earlier day.
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Picture description
Linh signals a pause before painting a poster because the design is not yet final.
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Picture description
Linh groups small tasks into one time slot to leave more time available for a group activity on the right-hand schedule.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Linh prepares an activity calendar and a box of materials for next week before the group starts.
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Picture description
Linh divides task cards into three groups and gives one set to each friend.
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Choose a phrase to begin.
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A conversation in context
Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.
Mai
Could we bring the meeting forward to Wednesday?
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Could we bring the meeting forward to Wednesday?
Alex
Yes, but hold off sending the invitations until the room is confirmed.
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Yes, but hold off sending the invitations until the room is confirmed.
Mai
That should free up Friday for finishing the project.
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That should free up Friday for finishing the project.
Compare the uses
bring forward / hold off
“Bring forward” moves something earlier; “hold off” delays doing something. State the old and new times clearly when changing a schedule.
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 lesson originally planned for Friday moves to Wednesday. Invitations must wait until a room is available.
Describe moving the lesson earlier.
Show the answer and explanation
The lesson has been brought forward to Wednesday.
Moving from Friday to Wednesday is earlier, so it is “brought forward”, not postponed.
Complete: Hold ___ sending invitations until the room is confirmed.
Show the answer and explanation
off
“Hold off sending” delays invitations until the room is confirmed; the expression takes “sending”.
Explain the benefit for Friday.
Show the answer and explanation
The change frees up Friday for preparing the exhibition.
Moving the lesson away from Friday “frees up Friday” for another preparation task.
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.
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