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Music

65 cards to learn, plus a reading text that puts the key phrases in context.

65 cards

absent

absent from something

Verb Pattern

agreement

come to/reach (an) agreement (on/about sth); in agreement (on/about/with) sth

Collocation

apply

apply for sth; apply in writing

Verb Pattern

arrangement

make an arrangement (with/for sb) (to do); have an arrangement (with sb) (to do)

Collocation

attached

attach sth to sth; attached to sth

Verb Pattern

begin

begin doing/to do/sth; begin by doing

Verb Pattern

business

do business (with sb);in business;go somewhere on business; business trip; small business; big business

Collocation

complaint

have/make a complaint (about sth) (to sb); letter of complaint (to sb) (about sth)

Collocation

day

have/take/get a day off; day job; day trip; day by day; the other/next day

Collocation

decision

make/take a decision (to do sth); come to/reach/make a decision (about sth)

Collocation

depend

depend on sth/sb

Verb Pattern

duty

do one’s duty;a sense of duty; on/off duty; have a duty to sb/to do

Collocation

effort

make an effort (to do); put effort into sth/doing

Collocation

experience

have an experience; have/gain/get experience in/of sth/doing; experienced in/at sth/doing

Collocation

experienced

experienced in/at sth/doing

Verb Pattern

good

good for sb (to do sth); good at sth/doing; good to sb

Verb Pattern

hold

put/keep sb on hold; hold on (to sth); hold sth

Collocation

interest

have/take/express an interest in sth/doing; in your interest to do; earn/get/pay interest

Collocation

interview

have/go to/attend an interview; job interview

Collocation

job

do a job; have a job (to do); apply for a job; take/get a job; in a job

Collocation

qualify

qualify as/in sth

Verb Pattern

responsible

responsible for sth/doing

Verb Pattern

specialise

specialise in sth/doing

Verb Pattern

train

train to do

Verb Pattern

work

do some work; have work to do; go to work; at work; work hard; out of work; place of work

Collocation

back out

decide not to do something you agreed to do

But you promised to help me this weekend - you can't back out now

bring out

produce and start to sell a new product

did you hear that REM have just brought out a new album?

close down

stop operating (for companies)

Lots of local businesses are closing down every month

see through(to)

continue (or help to continue) to the end of sth unpleasant or difficult

I'll see the course through the end although I don't quite like it

see to

deal with

Could you answer the phone while I see to the baby?

set out

start working on sth in order to achieve an aim

We set out to build a successful company, no matter what

set to

start doing sth in a determined or enthusiastic way

we only had a few hours to get the party ready, so we set to work quickly

set up

start (a business, organisation, etc)

You're a good cook, you could definitely set up a restaurant

slow down

decrease speed

the train started to slow down as it approached the station

speed up

increase speed

when I realised I was running out of time, I decided to speed up to finish the exam

stand in for

do sb’s job for them while they are not available

John will stand out for Mark while he's ill

take on

start to employ; accept (work or responsibility)

The company should urgently take on a programmer

take over

take control of (a business, etc)

When my father retired, I took over the company

business

an organisation that buys or sells products or services

Sheryl's parents run a small clothing business

career

a job or profession that you work at for some time

Rosen had decided on an academic career

commute

to travel regularly to and from work

my father commutes to work every day

company

an organisation that sells services or goods

max works for a large oil company

deliver

to take something such as goods or letters and give them to someone

I can deliver the letter this afternoon

earn

to receive money for work that you do

most people here earn about $70.000 a year

employee

someone who is paid regularly to work for a person or organisation

there are six part-time employees working here

employer

a person or organisation that pays workers to work from them

the factory is the largest single employer in the area

fire

to make someone leave their job as a punishment

she was fired for refusing to include the information in the report

firm

a business, or a company

Josh works for a law firm in Chicago

gain

to get more of something, usually as a result of a gradual process

I've gained a lot of weight this winter

job

work that you do regularly to earn money

Andy got a holiday job at a factory in Bristol

overtime

extra hours that someone works at their job

do you get paid extra for doing overtime

pay

money that you receive for doing your job

They were demanding higher pay

pension

an amount of money that someone receives regularly when they no longer work

my grandma gets a small pension from the state

promotion

a move to a job at a higher level

his main objective is to get a promotion

raise

an increase in the amount that you are paid for

Why don't you ask for a raise?

resign

to state formally that you are leaving your job

he made it clear that he was not resigning from active politics

retire

to stop working permanently, especially when you are old

he retired from the army last month

rise

an increase in size, amount, quality or stenght

the proposed tax rise was not unexpected

sack

to force someone to leave their job

hundreds of workers are to be sacked at the factory

salary

a fixed amount that you earn each month or year from your job

I get an annual salary of $70.000

staff

the people who work from a particular organisation or institution

the embassy employs around 50 people on its full-time staff

union

an organisation that represents the workers in a particular industry

we encourage all employees to join a union

wage(s)

a regular amount that you earn for working

I have usually spent all my wages by tuesday

win

to get something as a prize for defeating other people or because you're lucky

he won $100.000 in the lottery

work

a job that you're paid to do

it's not easy to find work

Music in context

A short text using 17 of the key phrases. Tap a highlighted phrase for its meaning.

My older brother Tony is very . He can play any tune from memory, without looking at . He spends all his free time strumming a guitar (playing a guitar), , and writing .

Tony and his friends formed a band that has attracted in our city. They started out in bars and clubs, and they used the money they earned to .

A from that CD then became on the local radio station thanks to its catchy tune (memorable melody) and .

Their second at the end of the year; they’ll at their next show. Tony dreams of – he’s just waiting for his big break (big opportunity to become famous) to get his foot in the door of the .

As for me, I love to my brother’s music, but a career in music isn’t for me – I’m and I always !

All 17 phrases from this text
  • musically giftedhe has a natural talent for music
  • sheet musicmusical notation written on paper
  • composing musiccreating music
  • song lyricsthe words to a song
  • a sizable followinga lot of fans
  • playing gigsgiving small, informal performances
  • record their debut albumrecord their first CD
  • remixed tracka song that has been modified electronically
  • a massive hita very popular song
  • upbeat tempofast rhythm
  • album will be releasedit will be made available to the public
  • record it live
  • going on tour
  • music industry
  • singing alongsinging together
  • completely tone-deafunable to correctly identify different musical notes
  • sing off-keysing the incorrect melody