Speak Up | Cut Off | Get Over | Get Through | Hang On

speak up

to speak louder

Can you speak up a little?

cut off

to get disconnected while talking on the phone; to interrupt someone when they are speaking

Sorry I couldn’t hear the rest of the story – I was cut off!

get over

to recover from an illness or an unpleasant experience

It takes a long time to get over the death of a loved one

get through

to complete a task, usually a difficult one

We need to get through all these files by the end of the day.

hang on

to wait for a short period of time

Hang on! There is someone at the door. I will call you later.

A Long Week for Ayako

When Ayako woke up on Monday with a sore throat, she hoped that she would get over it in a day or two. But by Friday it was worse than ever. She had a lot of homework to get through, but she just couldn't focus. She tried to tell her mother, but was cut off, “Nothing is more important than your education.” How was she going to do her gym class feeling like this? When Ayako arrived, the coach was talking to some of his star pupils.She cleared her throat weakly. “Hang on,” the coach said to the other students. He turned sternly to Ayako. “Speak up,” he barked. Ayako looked down at her feet as she spoke. “Coach, I've been sick all week, would it be all right if I sat this one out today?” He looked her up and down. “Of course, Ayako. Go and see the nurse.” Finally she could rest and get over this awful flu.