11(^166) Spoken English II
Pick out = choose or select
Example: The victim couldn't pick out her attacker from the pho-
tos the police showed her.
Pick up = improve
Example: Sales picked up a bit during the Christmas period.
Pick up = learn quickly
Example: She picked up Spanish in six months.
Pile up = accumulate
Example: Work just keeps on piling up and I really can't manage to
get it all done.
Pipe down = be quiet (often as an imperative)
Example: The lecturer asked the students to pipe down and pay
attention.
Play down = try to tnake something seem less important
Example: The Government has tried to play down the importance
of the minister's resignation.
Plug in = connect tnachines to the electricity supply
Example: He plugged the TV in and turned it on full blast.
Plump for = choose
Example: I plumped for the steak frites.
Point out = make someone aware of something
Example: He pointed out that I only had two weeks to get the
whole thing fInished.
Polish off = finish
Example: She polishes off half a bottle of neat spirits every night.
Pop out = go out for a short time