A Night Out · Lesson 2 of 2
In a queue
Maya and Leo arrive at the club and wait outside. The door staff are checking names.
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
Join the queue
Maya and Leo arrive, find the end of the line, and wait with everyone else.
“Leo showed up at the club queue while Maya was speaking to door staff.”
In plain English: Leo arrived at the club queue while Maya was speaking to door staff.
+Why “up”?
A person, thing, signal, idea, or truth becomes present, visible, active, or known.
“Maya and Leo queued up at the club door for the name check.”
In plain English: Maya and Leo formed a line and waited.
+Why “up”?
Separate people or pieces form one line, pair, group, or connection.
“Maya and Leo waited around outside the club until the guest-list check began.”
In plain English: Maya and Leo stayed outside the club until staff began checking the guest list.
+Why “around”?
A person stays near a place or group, or moves among several places.
Story beat 2
Check the list
At the door, the staff check names and ask the group to wait.
“At the club door, a worker checked off Maya's name and Leo's name.”
In plain English: The worker marked both names as counted on the club's guest list.
+Why “off”?
Something is delayed, interrupted, reduced, or brought to an end.
“At the club door, a worker read out Maya's and Leo's names.”
In plain English: The worker said both names aloud.
+Why “out”?
Something comes into the open. People can see it, know it, or understand it.
“"Hold on," security told Maya and Leo while checking the club list.”
In plain English: Security asked Maya and Leo to wait briefly.
+Why “on”?
An action, event, state, or path continues or moves to a later point.
Story beat 3
At the door
Some people enter, while others are refused or left outside.
“The club guard let Maya and Leo in after finding their names.”
In plain English: The guard allowed Maya and Leo to enter.
+Why “in”?
A person, vehicle, message, or result reaches a place or becomes present there.
“Security turned Maya and Leo away because they were not on the club list.”
In plain English: Security refused to let Maya and Leo enter the club.
+Why “away”?
A person, object, look, or choice becomes more distant from its starting point.
“Leo felt shut out when security found Maya's name but not his.”
In plain English: Leo felt excluded because only Maya was on the club list.
+Why “out”?
Out can mean away from sight, people, or access. You cannot see it, reach it, or join it.
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?
“Leo showed up at the club queue while Maya was speaking to door staff.”
Optional phrase bank
34 more phrases from this scene
The core lesson is complete. Open this bank when you want a broader vocabulary challenge.
+
Optional phrase bank
34 more phrases from this scene
The core lesson is complete. Open this bank when you want a broader vocabulary challenge.
bear with
Be patient while someone finishes or fixes something
“"Bear with me," the guard told Maya and Leo at the club door.”
check in
Register at a hotel, airport or event
“Maya and Leo checked in at the club's guest-list desk.”
close up
Move closer together so there is no gap
“Door staff asked Maya and Leo to close up the gap in the club queue.”
cross off
Draw a line through a name or item to remove it from a list
“Maya's name was listed twice, so the club worker crossed one off.”
cross off
Decide a person or thing is no longer to be considered
“The club manager crossed Leo off the guest list after he argued with security.”
crowd around
Press close in a thick group
“People crowded around Maya and Leo near the club door.”
crowd in
Move into a small space in large numbers
“People crowded in beside Maya and Leo when the club opened.”
duck under
Lower the head or body to pass beneath something
“Leo ducked under the club rope while Maya waited in the queue.”
frown on
Disapprove of something
“Club staff frowned on queue-jumping while Maya and Leo waited.”
hang about
Spend time waiting or loitering somewhere
“Maya and Leo hung about by the club queue during the name check.”
hang around
Stay nearby without a purpose
“Maya and Leo hung around the club door while security fixed a problem.”
hang around
Stay in a place without doing much
“Maya and Leo hung around outside the club after the failed name check.”
hold behind
Keep someone or something back from going forward
“Security held Maya and Leo behind the club barrier.”
keep out
Prevent someone or something from entering
“A barrier kept Maya and Leo out while staff checked the club list.”
kick out
Force someone to leave
“Security kicked a man out of the queue outside the club after he pushed Leo.”
let into
Allow someone or something to enter a place
“After checking the guest list, the door staff let Maya and Leo into the club.”
line up
Wait in a queue, especially in American English
“Maya and Leo lined up outside the club while security checked the guest list.”
lock out
Prevent someone from entering by locking the door
“Door staff locked Maya and Leo out while they waited in the club queue.”
mark off
Indicate that something is done by marking it
“At the club door, security marked off Maya's name and Leo's name after checking them.”
move on
(of police) order people to leave a place
“Security moved Maya and Leo on when they blocked the club door.”
move past
Continue beyond a place or point
“Maya and Leo moved past the first security check as the club queue went forward.”
open up
Open a building or container so something can be accessed
“Staff opened up the club while Maya and Leo queued outside.”
pat down
Search someone by feeling over their clothes
“Security patted Leo down while Maya waited at the club barrier.”
pile in
Start enthusiastically as a group
“Maya and Leo piled in when the club door opened.”
press back
Push or force something or someone backward
“Security pressed Maya and Leo back from the crowded club door.”
push in
Move into a queue ahead of others without permission
“Leo stopped a man trying to push in ahead of Maya at the club.”
put up
Raise or lift
“Security put the barrier up, letting Maya and Leo approach the club door.”
queue behind
Stand in a line behind another person
“Maya and Leo queued behind three people at the club.”
read off
Read aloud from a list or screen
“The club worker read off Maya's and Leo's names.”
sail through
Pass with apparent ease
“Leo sailed through the club's security check while Maya waited in the queue.”
send away
Order someone to leave
“The club guard sent Maya and Leo away after checking the list.”
slip in
Enter quietly without being noticed
“Leo slipped in through the club door beside Maya before security checked the guest list.”
tick by
Of time, pass second by second, often when waiting
“Minutes ticked by as Maya and Leo waited in the club queue.”
wait for
Stay until someone or something arrives or happens
“Maya and Leo waited for security to check their names in the club queue.”
Your route through A Night Out
Continue the story when you are ready.
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