Phrasal verbs: Getting in touch

Copy (smb) in – to send someone a copy of an email or letter that you are sending to another person.

Cut (sb) off – if someone or something cuts you off when you are talking on the telephone, they make the telephone line stop working.

Dash (sth) off – to write or draw something quickly because you are in a hurry.

Fire (smth) off – to quickly send a message or give instructions.

Get back (to smb) – to phone, write, or speak to someone at a later time because you were busy or could not answer their question earlier.

Get onto (smb) – to write or speak to someone in order to ask them to do something for you.

Get through – to be connected to a place by telephone.

Hang up – to stop using a telephone at the end of a conversation.

Phone in – to telephone the place where you work in order to give a message.

Put (smb) through – to connect someone to someone to speak to on the telephone.

Ring back – to phone someone again.

Send (smth) off – to post something to someone.

Send (smth) on – to send a letter or a message on someone’s mail.

Send (smth) out – to send a lot of copies of the same document to a large number of people.

Ex.1.  Complete the sentences with in, off, on or out. Use one word three times.

1.  My credit card payment is due, so I want to send this cheque _______ today.

2.  Don’t forget to copy me _______ on that letter you are sending to Mr Morgan.

3.  I have written that kind of letter many times, so I was able to dash it _______.

4.  My flatmate moved out a year ago, but I still have to send _______ his mail.

5.  I saw the bill and decided to fire a letter of complaint _______ immediately.

6.  Our wedding is in August, so we want to send _______ the invitations in May.

Ex.2.  Complete the text with back, in, off, onto, through or up. Use two words twice.

I didn’t feel well yesterday, so I decided to phone (1) _______ sick this morning. I managed to get (2)_______ to the switchboard alright, but then I got cut (3) _______. I had to ring (4) _______, and this time the operator was able to put me (5) ______ to my boss. Unfortunately, my boss wasn’t very pleased about my news – some important visitors were coming after lunch. He asked me to get (6) _______ to him by twelve if I thought I could come in for two o’clock. If not, he would have to get (7) _______ another colleague and ask him to attend the meeting instead. My boss was so angry I thought he was going to hang (8) _______ on me.

Ex.3.  Complete the sentences with phrasal verbs from Ex.1 and Ex.2. Use it or them where necessary.

1.  If you telephone your place of work, you _______ .

2.  If you write or draw something very quickly without putting much effort into it, you _______ .

3.  If you send an application for a job by post, you _______.

4.  If you send something to a lot of different people or places, you _______ .

5.  If you connect someone to someone else by telephone, you _______ .

6.  If you contact someone, especially by telephone or letter, you _______ .

7.  If you make sure that someone receives a copy of a letter that you are sending to someone else, you _______ .

8.  If you write a letter quickly because you are angry, you _______ .