Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the phrasal verbs that make your social English sound natural, friendly, and authentic.
- Identify common social phrasal verbs.
- Apply these verbs in daily conversations.
- Improve your fluency when talking about relationships.
你将学到什么
想让你的英语听起来不再像“课本”，而是更有“人情味”吗？在 B1 这个进阶阶段，掌握社交短语动词就是你的“秘密武器”。本章将带你深度解锁 6 个高频短语，让你的表达瞬间鲜活起来。你会学到如何在聊天中自然地“挑起话题”(bring up)，以及如何用 show up 描述朋友在聚会上的惊艳亮相。比如，当你想让朋友在电话里稍等片刻，一句地道的 Hold on 会比生硬的 Wait 听起来亲切得多。此外，我们还会探讨如何表达更深层的情感：无论是照顾 (look after) 家人的责任感，还是不愿辜负 (let down) 朋友期待的细腻心思，亦或是寻找生活重心、安定下来 (settle down) 的心路历程。学完这一章，你将不再只是机械地堆砌单词，而是能在真实的社交场合——无论是办公室闲聊还是周末聚餐——自信、准确地传递你的情感与态度。准备好告别尴尬的中式英语，开启这段地道口语的进阶之旅吧！
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短语动词: Bring Up灵活运用
bring up让你能自然地introduce topics(开启话题)、聊聊parenting(抚养) 并避免尴尬的grammar mistakes(语法错误)。 -
让某人失望（短语动词：Let down）别让你的英语水平
let down！掌握这个短语的关键在于理解它表达的是“未达到预期”而产生的失望感。记住let me down就像一个三明治！ -
照顾事物：'Look after'Look after 的核心就是对某人或某物负责，提供照顾或监管。你拥有三个关键词：
supervise监管，take care of照顾，responsibility责任。 -
如何使用 'Settle Down' (平静与稳定)Master 'settle down' to express calmness or finding stability in your life.
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等一下！使用 'Hold on'想让别人等得心服口服？掌握
hold on这个万能“暂停键”，让你在电话和日常聊天中瞬间变身native speaker。 -
抵达与出现：使用“Show Up”掌握
show up，让你在非正式场合聊起“露面”或“出现”时更地道。记得它是一对“好搭档”，通常show和up要连在一起用哦！
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: Use six essential social phrasal verbs to narrate personal stories and interact with friends.
章节指南
Overview
bring up, let down, look after, settle down, hold on, and show up, are used constantly in everyday interactions.How This Grammar Works
My colleague brought up an interesting point about the new project.It’s also used for raising a child:
She was brought up in a small town.If someone doesn't meet your expectations, they might let you down:
I hope you don’t let me down by being late.This verb beautifully conveys disappointment. When you take responsibility for someone or something, you look after them:
Can you look after my plants while I’m on holiday?To move from a restless state to a calm or stable one, you settle down:
After a busy year, he just wants to settle down and relax.For a brief pause in conversation or asking someone to wait, we use hold on:
Please hold on for a minute while I find that information.Finally, when someone arrives, especially in a casual way, they show up:
I hope he shows up for the party tonight.These verbs are dynamic and indispensable for social interaction!
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Using
raiseinstead ofbring upfor topics:
He raised the issue of salaries.(While technically correct,
bring up is far more natural for topics in conversation.)He brought up the issue of salaries.
raise works for children, bring up is the go-to for introducing subjects in dialogue.- 1✗ Confusing
let downwith simplydisappoint:
I disappointed my friend because I forgot her birthday.
I let down my friend because I forgot her birthday.
Let down implies failing to meet an expectation or promise, often carrying a stronger emotional weight than just disappoint.- 1✗ Incorrect particle for
hold on:
Can you hold up a second?
Can you hold on a second?
Hold up means to delay or rob, not to wait. Hold on is correct for asking someone to pause.
Real Conversations
A
Hey, did you manage to settle down in your new apartment yet?
B
Mostly, yes! It took a few days to unpack everything. By the way, I wanted to bring up something about our weekend plans.
A
B
A
B
Quick FAQ
Are English social phrasal verbs used in formal settings?
While many phrasal verbs are informal, some, like bring up (for a topic) or hold on (as in wait), can be used in slightly more formal contexts. However, generally, they lend a more casual tone.
Can bring up only be used for people or topics?
Mostly, yes. It's primarily used for introducing a subject into discussion or for the upbringing of a child. You wouldn't typically bring up an object in the same way you'd pick up an object.
What's the main difference between show up and arrive?
Arrive is a neutral, formal verb for reaching a destination. Show up is more casual and often implies a slight element of surprise or simply making an appearance, sometimes after a delay or without much fanfare.
Is hold on just for phone calls?
No! While very common on the phone, hold on is also used in face-to-face conversations to ask someone to wait briefly, or literally to grip something firmly (e.g.,
Hold on to the railing!).
Cultural Context
look after is very common in British English, American English speakers might more frequently say take care of, though look after is still widely understood and used. These verbs are primarily informal, helping to build rapport in everyday chats.关键例句 (6)
I really hope I don't `let my team down` during the presentation.
我真的希望我在演示过程中不要让我的团队失望。
让某人失望（短语动词：Let down）My internet connection always `lets me down` when I'm streaming Netflix.
每当我刷 Netflix 的时候，我的网络连接总是掉链子。
让某人失望（短语动词：Let down）After the exciting news, it took me a while to `settle down`.
Después de las noticias emocionantes, me costó un tiempo calmarme.
如何使用 'Settle Down' (平静与稳定)They've been traveling for years and now plan to `settle down` in Canada.
Han estado viajando por años y ahora planean establecerse en Canadá.
如何使用 'Settle Down' (平静与稳定)Hey, `hold on` a second, I need to find my charger before we leave.
嘿，等一下，出发前我得找一下充电器。
等一下！使用 'Hold on'If you `hold on` for a moment, I'll transfer your call to the right department.
如果您能稍等片刻，我会将您的电话转接到相关部门。
等一下！使用 'Hold on'技巧与窍门 (4)
代词的位置
You should bring it up now.
代词必须放中间
He let me down.
别拆散它们！
I will look after the children.
The 'To' Rule
核心词汇 (5)
Real-World Preview
The Party Planning
Review Summary
- Bring + [topic] + up
- Let + [person] + down
- Look after + [someone/thing]
- Settle down
- Hold on
- Show up
常见错误
With these phrasal verbs, the pronoun object usually goes between the verb and the particle.
You must include the preposition 'after' to change the meaning from 'see' to 'care for'.
Remember to conjugate the verb part (hold -> held) in the past tense.
本章规则 (6)
Next Steps
You are doing amazing! Keep practicing these verbs in your daily life to make them second nature.
Listen to a casual English podcast and identify these verbs.
快速练习 (10)
Find and fix the mistake:
My name didn't show on the list up.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 抵达与出现：使用“Show Up”
She didn't ___ for the meeting, and no one knew why.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 抵达与出现：使用“Show Up”
My parents ____ me up to be independent.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 短语动词: Bring Up
Find and fix the mistake:
Hold! Is that really true?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 等一下！使用 'Hold on'
Which one is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 如何使用 'Settle Down' (平静与稳定)
After the party, it took the children an hour to settle ___.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 如何使用 'Settle Down' (平静与稳定)
My old car always ___ when I need it most.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 让某人失望（短语动词：Let down）
Find and fix the mistake:
I need to settle down *for* my studies.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 如何使用 'Settle Down' (平静与稳定)
Could you ___ for a moment while I grab my keys?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 等一下！使用 'Hold on'
选择正确的句子：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 等一下！使用 'Hold on'
Score: /10
常见问题 (6)
I'll bring it up later）、抚养孩子（They brought up their kids well）以及非正式地表示呕吐（He brought up his dinner）。bring it up）。如果是名词，拆不拆都可以（bring the topic up 或 bring up the topic）。My old car always lets me down on rainy days.My phone battery let me down right when I needed to make an important call.I look after my pet.
She looks after her plants.
