Page 168 - Spoken English Flourish Your Language

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SpokenEnglish II
Pick out = choose or select
Example: The victim couldn't pick out her attacker from the pho-
tos the police showed her.
Pick up =improve
Example: Sales picked up a bit during the Christmas period.
Pick up = learn quickly
Example: She picked up Spanish in six months.
Pile up = accumulate
Example: Work just keeps on piling up and I really can't manage to get it all done.
Pipe down =be quiet (often as an imperative)
Example: The lecturer asked the students to pipe down and pay
attention.
Play down = try to tnake something seem less important
Example: The Government has tried to play down the importance of the minister's resignation.
Plug in =connect tnachines to the electricity supply
Example: He plugged the TV in and turned it on full blast.
Plumpfor = choose
Example: I plumped for the steak frites.
Point out = make someone aware ofsomething
Example: He pointed out that I only had two weeks to get the whole thing fInished.
Polish off= finish
Example: She polishes off half a bottle of neat spirits every night. Pop out =go outfor a short time