Hello good people, for today’s 5 at 5, I would like to put some context into the slightly confusing words or themes in the news around the word today. My focus today would be on phrasal verbs. When you are done you can check out my list of phrasal verbs. I think it will be a good supplementary resource. So, you can consider this a news bulletin containing a dictionary. I hope you enjoy it!
1.) Ministers seek to stamp out rip-offs with new consumer protections – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
One of the interesting things about phrasal verbs is how ridiculous it sounds if taken literally. Imagine the government putting their big boots on rip-off businesses. Now that would serve them right. While that is a rather fascinating image to conjure up, the context of the phrasal verb’s use is what we are after.
Stamp out-
Meaning- to end something bad or unpleasant by taking strong and determined action
Are there any synonyms for this phrasal verb?
You guessed right if you included disrupt, hamper, interfere with in your list.
2.) Afghan refugees to be put up in Newcastle until permanent homes found elsewhere in UK – Stoke-on-Trent Live (stokesentinel.co.uk)
While there are many meanings of the phrasal verb put up ranging from giving money to building a wall, in this context we are referring to allowing someone stay in your house.
Put up-
Meaning-to let someone stay in your house
What synonyms can you think of?
I think accommodate and take in are quite appropriate in this context.
3.) Driver tried to carry on with two tyres after police deployed stinger | Nottinghamshire Police
If you are old enough you will be familiar with the carry on series, a rather funny one too.
Carry on essentially means to continue on a course of action. In this case the driver continued driving even after two of his tyres were punctured. Quite a dangerous act I must say.
Carry on
Meaning-to continue doing something
And synonyms?
I think continue and press ahead are most suitable in this context. So shall we carry on.
Meaning: a person who takes a position of power or importance illegally or by force.
Usage: Prince Michael, the usurper of the throne has shown himself to be a compassionate king, defying initial opinion.
4.) Astronomers work out when the first stars shone – BBC News
The first thing that comes to mind when I hear work out is a sweat-filled gym. Howver, in this context it means to understand something.
Work out
Meaning- To calculate something
Synonyms?
Most appropriate in this case would be solve and figure out.
This hardly needs an explanation: to seek normally implies , finding something. However, as a phrasal verb and in this context it means to be particularly dogged about finding the item being searched for.
5.) Researchers seek out bad weather to gather data for self-driving cars – The Irish News
Seek out-
Meaning- to find someone or something by looking for them in a determined way
Any synonyms come to mind?
Well come synonyms that would be most appropriate in this context include comb, search, and go through.
There is your lot for the day, I hope you enjoyed it. If you like this article, check out other articles on EnglishXP, we have got resources to improve your speech, vocabulary and writing. If you are in the mood for games, try out this tongue twister.
References
