Phrasal Verbs Practice – 136

pick up on something to notice something about the way someone is behaving or feeling, even though they are trying not to show it .Children pick up on our worries and anxieties : to return to a point or an idea that has been mentioned and discuss it more .I’d like to pick up on a point that Steven made earlier

pick somebody up on something : to criticize someone slightly for something they have said .I knew he was lying and I should have picked him up on it

play something up : to emphasize something, sometimes making it seem more important than it really is .Play up your strongest arguments in the opening paragraph

play (somebody) up : if children play up, they behave badly .Jordan’s been playing up in school .I hope the kids don’t play you up

play (somebody) up : to hurt you or cause problems for you .My knee’s been playing me up this week

.Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal verbs

.N1. Children …………………… our worries and anxieties .N2. …………………… your strongest arguments in the opening paragraph .N3. Jordan’s been …………………… in school .N4. My knee’s been …………………… me …………………… this week

:Answers

pick up on / Play up / playing up / playing – up