Nhi watched the butterfly fly away before she could take a photo and did not chase the butterfly.
get away
The butterfly got away before I could take a photo.
Read the example again
The butterfly got away before I could take a photo.
The rabbit got away through a gap in the fence.
Read the example again
The rabbit got away through a gap in the fence.
View meaning & usage
Escape / no longer be held
get awayget away from someone / something
The meaning in the lesson is to escape; different from doing something wrong without being detected in “get away with”. Past tense “got”.
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The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 31, 61, 25, 122, 50. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
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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
Nhi and Minh followed the path across the park to reach their destination faster.
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Picture description
Nhi held firmly to the handrail on the bus while standing next to Minh.
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Picture description
Nhi and Minh watched the bus arrive at the stop.
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Picture description
Nhi and Minh went out into the hallway for a moment from the small living room.
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Picture description
Nhi watched the butterfly fly away before she could take a photo and did not chase the butterfly.
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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
I am stepping out to get some bread.
Read the example again
I am stepping out to get some bread.
Alex
You can cut across the square, but watch for the bikes.
Read the example again
You can cut across the square, but watch for the bikes.
Mai
I will. Hang on a moment and I will bring your bag.
Read the example again
I will. Hang on a moment and I will bring your bag.
Compare the uses
cut across / step out
“Cut across” takes a shorter route across an area; “step out” means go out, often briefly. One describes a route, the other leaving your current place.
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 worker leaves an office briefly to buy envelopes. A route across a courtyard is shorter, and the courtyard steps have a handrail.
Describe the brief absence.
Show the answer and explanation
She is stepping out to buy envelopes.
Leaving the office briefly to buy envelopes is “stepping out”, rather than leaving the job.
Complete: You can cut ___ the courtyard to save time.
Show the answer and explanation
across
“Cut across the courtyard” takes the shorter route through it; “across” identifies that route.
Give an instruction about using the handrail with hang on.
Show the answer and explanation
Hang on to the handrail as you go down the steps.
“Hang on to the handrail” asks for a firm grip on the steps, rather than asks someone to wait.
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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