Family relationships
Alison and Frankie are two teenagers who have the same problem; They are both complaining about living at home with their parents...
Alison: My parents really don’t understand me. They’re always criticising me!
Frankie: It’s the same in my house... My mum wants me to tidy up all the time. She says that my room is always messy even after I’ve tidied it!
Alison: I have exactly the same problem with my mum... Another problem is that they don’t allow me to stay out with my friends in the evenings. It’s really not fair!
Frankie: Why don’t they trust us? I can’t understand them...
Alison: I wonder what they were like when they were teenagers...
Frankie: Me too… I think we should tell them how we’re feeling!
Alison: Do you really think they will understand us?
Frankie: I hope so. Isn’t it worth trying?
Alison: OK, maybe you’re right. Let’s give it a go…
PHRASAL VERBS
Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example sentence | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
To let down someone | To make someone disappointed when you have not fulfilled a promise. | She promised that she would be there but she let me down. | Feelings |
To break down | 1. To become very upset. 2. When something stops working | 1. She broke down when she opened her results. 2. The lift broke down. | Feelings |
To bring somebody/something down | 1. To make someone lose their powerful position. 2. To make something end. | 1. He brought his boss down by exposing personal emails. 2. The rise in export prices could bring the hospitality industry down. | Feelings |
To bottle something up | To refuse to talk about things when someone is worried or upset. | After his father passed away, he bottled his emotions up and wouldn’t talk to anyone. | Feelings |
To get something across | To make someone believe or understand something | He tried to get his point across but his manager wouldn’t listen. | Feelings |