Fast Track to Fluency 

Lesson 6: Take off (3rd meaning)

Alternative: to leave

Example 1:

• Thanks for inviting me to the party, it was great but I’m going to take off now.
• Thanks for inviting me to the party, it was great but I’m going to leave now.

Example 2:

• • The robber took off as quickly as he could from the bank.
  • The robber left as quickly as he could from the bank.

 

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Lesson 7: Take (the amount of time) off (4th meaning) separable

Alternative: to not work

Example 1:

• I asked my boss if I could take 3 days off this week.
• I asked my boss if I could not work for 3 days this week.

Example 2:

• I need to take some time off of work to de-stress a bit.
• I need to not work to de-stress a bit.

 

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Lesson 8: Run Down (1st meaning) separable

Alternative: to criticize

Example 1:

• My friend is always running me down for my choice in music
• My friend is always criticizing my choice in music.

Example 2:

• She left her boyfriend after 2 years because he was always running her down.
• She left her boyfriend after 2 years because he was always criticizing her.

 

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Lesson 9: (to feel) Run Down (2nd meaning)

Alternative: to have low energy

Example 1:

• I think I’m starting to get sick, I’m feeling so run down.
• I think I’m starting to get sick, I’m feeling very low on energy.

Example 2:

• After completing the 25km marathon, he felt very run down for 3 days.
• After completing the 25km marathon, he had low on energy for 3 days.

 

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Lesson 10: Track down – separable

Alternative: to find (someone or something)

Example 1:

• It’s easy to track Curtis down because he always has his cell phone with him.
• It’s easy to track down Curtis because he always has his cell phone with him.
• It’s easy to find Curtis because he always has his cell phone with him.

Example 2:

• I need to track down a new charger for my laptop at one of the stores here.
• I need to track a new charger down for my laptop at one of the stores here.
• I need to find a new charger for my laptop at one of the stores here.

 

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