1. hang out (with someone)
   Intransitive
   Meaning: spend time relaxing (informal)
   Example: Let’s hang out at my apartment tonight.  We can order some food and watch a movie.

The following is a funny article from The Onion, a satirical publication in the United States:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/hanging-out-continues-to-grow-in-popularity-among,1800/

There are a lot of phrasal verbs and slang in the article!  Do you know what they all mean?

buckle down: to concentrate on a task with determination

shape up: to improve

goof off: to joke around or misbehave

kick back: to relax

screw/mess around: to joke around or misbehave

hook up: to become romantically or sexually involved with someone

flip out: to panic

get down: to lose one’s inhibitions—to enjoy oneself

jam away: to listen to or play music in a spontaneous way

take up: to join a new activity

straighten tight: to set priorities

bust forward: to move forward towards a goal

1. turn something off
   Transitive, Separable
   Meaning: to stop the energy, to deactivate
   Example: Please turn off the television and do your homework.

         turn something on
         Transitive, Separable
         Meaning: to activate, to start the energy
         Example: Turn on the lights.  I can’t see anything!

Did you know that the average American turns the TV on for four hours a day?  How   often do you watch television?  What’s your favorite television show?

1. take off
   Intransitive
   Meaning: start to fly, depart
   Example: Oh no, I’m going to be late.  My plane takes off in thirty minutes!

         take something off
         Transitive, Separable
         Meaning: remove something
         Example: It is polite to take off your shoes when you enter someone’s house.

Did you know that in China and Japan it is normal for the host to provide slippers for their guests to put on after they take off their shoes?  Additionally, when using a restroom, house slippers are taken off and a different pair, just for the restroom should be used.

In Ethiopia, the Orthodox people don’t wear their shoes when they enter a church to show respect to God.  In a similar way, Muslim people also take off their shoes when they enter a Mosque.

In the United States, some people prefer to have guests take their shoes off when entering the house.  It is always a good idea to ask your host, just in case.

1. get up
   Intransitive
   Meaning: get out of bed
   Example: I got up early today to study for my exam.

   When I was a child I used to sleep walk.  I would get up in the middle of the night and roam around the house until my parents heard me and told me to go back to bed.  Unlike the movies, sleepwalkers do not walk with their hands extended in front of them.  In the morning I would have no recollection of anything. Once I even sleep walked in a hotel!  Have you ever sleep walked?

2. Meaning: stand
         Example: Everyone got up when the judge entered the courtroom.

1. cut back on something
   Transitive, Inseparable
   Meaning: consume less
   Example: My doctor suggested I cut back on alcohol.

Did you know that 63% of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese?

In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food. Nowadays the spending is nearly $150 billion.  Maybe we need to cut back on fast food!

1. do something over
   Transitive, Separable
   Meaning: do again (transitive, separable)
   Example: My teacher wants me to do over my essay because it wasn’t well written.

When actors/actresses make mistakes during filming, and have to do scenes over, this is called a “blooper.”  Watch some funny “Friends” bloopers here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2c8s_MvwrE

1. get around to something
   Transitive, Inseparable
   Meaning: finally find time to do something
   Example: I don’t know when I’m going to get around to cleaning the house this week.

   Is there something that you’ve been trying to get around to?  Do it today!