A Day at Work · Lesson 1 of 3
The morning meeting
Maya and Leo meet their team at the office. They review the plan and choose the next jobs.
Follow the scene
Learn the phrases in the order they happen.
Read the situation first. Then connect each phrase to the action Maya and Leo take in the story.
Story beat 1
Start together
The team arrives, takes their seats, and shares quick updates.
“Maya showed up at the office ten minutes before the morning meeting.”
In plain English: Maya arrived at the office ten minutes before the morning meeting.
+Why “up”?
A person, thing, signal, idea, or truth becomes present, visible, active, or known.
“Maya and Leo sat down beside the team before the morning office meeting began.”
In plain English: Maya and Leo took their seats beside the team before the morning office meeting began.
+Why “down”?
Movement goes from high to low.
“Leo caught up on the project news before the office meeting began.”
In plain English: Leo learned the project news he had missed before the office meeting began.
+Why “up”?
You stay at the needed level, pace, or state.
Story beat 2
Review the plan
They examine the work and draw attention to the most important points.
“Maya went over the project plan with Leo in the office meeting room.”
In plain English: Maya carefully reviewed the project plan with Leo in the office meeting room.
+Why “over”?
You examine or discuss something carefully, repeat an action, or keep thinking about it.
“Leo brought up the late delivery during the office meeting.”
In plain English: Leo mentioned the late delivery during the office meeting.
+Why “up”?
A person, thing, signal, idea, or truth becomes present, visible, active, or known.
“Maya pointed out a missing date on the office schedule during the meeting.”
In plain English: Maya drew attention to a missing date on the office schedule during the meeting.
+Why “out”?
Something comes into the open. People can see it, know it, or understand it.
Story beat 3
Choose the next steps
The group discusses the options, reaches a decision, and assigns responsibility.
“Maya and Leo talked over the late delivery with the office team.”
In plain English: Maya and Leo discussed the late delivery fully with the office team.
+Why “over”?
You examine or discuss something carefully, repeat an action, or keep thinking about it.
“Maya and Leo agreed on a new delivery date in the office meeting.”
In plain English: Maya and Leo made a shared choice about a new delivery date in the office meeting.
+Why “on”?
After considering the options, the mind makes one choice.
“Leo took on the job of checking the final numbers after the office meeting.”
In plain English: Leo accepted responsibility for checking the final numbers after the office meeting.
+Why “on”?
Weight piles on top of you. What is on you is yours to carry.
Check what stuck
Can you read the situation without a translation?
Choose the meaning that fits each sentence. You will get an explanation immediately, so mistakes become part of the lesson.
What does the phrasal verb mean?
“Maya showed up at the office ten minutes before the morning meeting.”
Optional phrase bank
15 more phrases from this scene
The core lesson is complete. Open this bank when you want a broader vocabulary challenge.
+
Optional phrase bank
15 more phrases from this scene
The core lesson is complete. Open this bank when you want a broader vocabulary challenge.
come up
Create an idea or plan, or find an answer
“The office team came up with a plan for the late delivery after Maya asked for ideas.”
decide on
Make a final choice about something
“The office team decided on Leo's job after Maya explained the project plan.”
draw up
Compose or formulate
“Maya drew up a list of team jobs during the office meeting.”
fall behind
Fail to keep pace or make progress as quickly as others
“Maya warned that the project would fall behind if the delivery arrived late.”
focus on
Direct attention or effort on something
“Maya asked the office team to focus on the three most urgent jobs.”
go along
Agree with or support someone's plan
“Leo went along with Maya's plan when the office team chose the next jobs.”
map out
Plan something in detail step by step
“Leo mapped out the project tasks during the office meeting.”
plan out
Plan something in detail in advance
“Maya planned out the next stage of the office project with her team.”
put forward
Propose or suggest
“Leo put forward a new schedule during the office meeting.”
speak up
Talk more loudly so people can hear you
“Leo spoke up when the office team could not hear him in the meeting room.”
talk through
Discuss something thoroughly step by step
“Maya talked through each project task with Leo during the office meeting.”
think over
Consider something carefully before deciding
“Leo thought over Maya's schedule before the office team made a decision.”
work out
Plan or develop something carefully in detail
“Maya and Leo worked out a schedule for the office project during the meeting.”
work together
Cooperate on a task as a group
“Maya and Leo worked together to prepare the project schedule after the office meeting.”
write down
Record information on paper so it can be remembered
“Maya wrote down the three jobs the team chose in the office meeting.”
Your route through A Day at Work
Continue the story when you are ready.
- 1
Lesson 1 · You are here
The morning meeting
Open a meeting, review a plan, and agree who will take each task.
9 min · 9 core phrases - 2
Lesson 2
A last-minute problem
Explain a technical problem, ask for help, and get the work moving again.
9 min · 9 core phrases - 3
Lesson 3
The presentation
Start a presentation, explain ideas clearly, and finish with useful next steps.
9 min · 9 core phrases
Sink In — iOS & Android
Make the phrases stay with you
Sink In connects the particle patterns behind these phrases, then brings each meaning back before you forget it.
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- Check meaning, particle choice, and similar phrases.