1 What does pick up mean in these examples from the text on p54? In which is it used literally, and in which idiomatically? I'm glad you picked up on that, Kirsty. The professor picked up a bag of dried peas. In which of the pictures is the use of pick up misunderstood? Why? She picked up a little Italian. Buongiorno: She picked up a little Italian. 2 Work with a partner. In each group of sentences, which phrasal verb is literal? Which two are idiomatic? What do they mean? 1 a My mum brought up five children while working full-time. b The hotel porter will bring your bags up to your room. c Don't bring up the subject of money too early in a job interview. 2 a My business really took off last year. b Would you mind taking off your shoes? c The flight took off half an hour late, but we still managed to arrive on time. 3 a I was so tired I dropped off to sleep while watching TV. b The box dropped off the back of the truck as it went round the corner. c If you want a lift, I can drop you off at the rail station. 4 a Don't worry, the dog can't get over that wall - it's too high! b I can't get over the fact that he lied to me! c It's difficult to get over to young people why pensions are important.

1. In the examples provided:

• "I'm glad you picked up on that, Kirsty." - This use of "pick up" is idiomatic. It means to notice or understand something, often something that isn't explicitly stated.
• "The professor picked up a bag of dried peas." - This use of "pick up" is literal. It refers to the physical act of lifting or retrieving something.
• "She picked up a little Italian." - This again is idiomatic. It means to learn or acquire a bit of knowledge about the Italian language, rather than physically picking up something.

In the context of the pictures, if "pick up" is misunderstood in the last example, it could be due to the assumption that it refers to physically acquiring the language rather than the metaphorical act of learning or absorbing knowledge, which is not correct when discussing language acquisition.

2. For each group of sentences:

• Literal: b. The hotel porter will bring your bags up to your room. (This refers to the physical action of moving bags to a higher location.)
• Idiomatic: a. My mum brought up five children while working full-time. (This means to raise or nurture children.)
• Idiomatic: c. Don't bring up the subject of money too early in a job interview. (This means to introduce or raise a topic for discussion.)

• Literal: b. Would you mind taking off your shoes? (This refers to the physical action of removing shoes.)
• Idiomatic: a. My business really took off last year. (This means that the business started to grow rapidly or become successful.)
• Idiomatic: c. The flight took off half an hour late, but we still managed to arrive on time. (This means that the flight departed from the airport.)

• Literal: b. The box dropped off the back of the truck as it went round the corner. (This refers to the physical action of something falling off.)
• Idiomatic: a. I was so tired I dropped off to sleep while watching TV. (This means to gradually fall asleep.)
• Idiomatic: c. If you want a lift, I can drop you off at the rail station. (This means to let someone get out of a vehicle at a specific location.)

• Literal: a. Don't worry, the dog can't get over that wall - it's too high! (This refers to the physical action of jumping or climbing over an obstacle.)
• Idiomatic: b. I can't get over the fact that he lied to me! (This means to come to terms with or to accept something surprising or upsetting.)
• Idiomatic: c. It's difficult to get over to young people why pensions are important. (This means to communicate or explain something effectively to someone.)