Visual Phrasal Verbs — Unit 16: Play

Exercise 1: Choose the best phrasal verb.

1. The company tried to ___ the problem in the news.

2. He likes to ___ his parents' fears to get attention.

3. The child started to ___ during the long car trip.

4. She tried to ___ the boss by agreeing with everything.

5. The whole story will ___ over the next few weeks.

6. Don't ___ with the machine if you don't know how it works.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích (Exercise 1)

1. play sth down — Dùng khi cố làm cho vấn đề có vẻ ít nghiêm trọng hơn.
2. play on sth — Dùng khi lợi dụng cảm xúc hoặc nỗi sợ của người khác.
3. play up — Dùng khi trẻ em cư xử nghịch hoặc gây rắc rối.
4. play up to sb — Dùng khi cố làm ai đó hài lòng để được lợi.
5. play out — Dùng khi sự việc diễn ra theo thời gian.
6. play (around) with sth — Dùng khi nghịch hoặc thử với đồ vật.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct meaning.

1. He was playing along with his friends' joke.

play along (with sb) play away play sth down play sb for

2. She was playing at being a doctor.

play at being sb play on play up play away

3. The manager played one worker off against another.

play sb off against sb play around play out play up to sb

4. He played me for a fool.

play sb for play on sth play away play up

5. Her old injury is playing up again.

play up play away play along (with sb) play at being sb

6. The speaker played up the benefits of the plan.

play sth up play sth down play on play around

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích (Exercise 2)

1. play along (with sb) — Tham gia hoặc giả vờ đồng ý với trò đùa.
2. play at being sb — Giả làm hoặc đóng vai ai đó.
3. play sb off against sb — Làm hai người cạnh tranh hoặc chống lại nhau.
4. play sb for — Xem hoặc đối xử với ai như một kiểu người nào đó.
5. play up — Dùng khi bộ phận cơ thể hoặc máy móc hoạt động không tốt.
6. play sth up — Nhấn mạnh hoặc làm điều gì có vẻ quan trọng hơn.

Exercise 3: Write the correct phrasal verb.

1. He likes to ___ when he is bored and tries new ideas.

2. The actor tried to ___ the audience's emotions.

3. She agreed to ___ and not spoil the surprise.

4. The details will ___ naturally over time.

5. He was ___ a famous singer at the party.

6. Don't ___ the risks; they are serious.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích (Exercise 3)

1. play around — Nghĩa là thử nhiều thứ một cách không nghiêm túc.
2. play on — Lợi dụng cảm xúc của người khác.
3. play along with sb — Hợp tác với kế hoạch hoặc trò đùa.
4. play out — Diễn ra dần theo thời gian.
5. play at being sb — Đóng giả làm người khác.
6. play sth down — Không nên làm giảm mức độ nghiêm trọng.

Exercise 4: Look at the picture and choose the best answer.

Exercise Context — A bright office meeting room. A manager stands between two employees and compares their work, making them compete. One employee is praising the manager with a big smile. On a table, a worker is casually pressing buttons on a new machine. A presentation screen shows a chart where the manager highlights only the good results and hides the problems. In the corner, a small child wearing a toy doctor coat pretends to be a doctor. Everyone is visible and clear.

1. Which phrasal verb matches the manager making two employees compete?

2. Which phrasal verb matches the employee praising the manager?

3. Which phrasal verb matches the worker pressing buttons on a machine?

4. Which phrasal verb matches showing only the good results?

5. Which phrasal verb matches the child pretending to be a doctor?

6. Which phrasal verb is the opposite of making problems look smaller?

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích (Exercise 4)

1. play sb off against sb — Quản lý làm hai nhân viên cạnh tranh với nhau.
2. play up to sb — Cố làm sếp hài lòng để được lợi.
3. play (around) with sth — Nghịch hoặc thử với máy móc.
4. play sth up — Nhấn mạnh điểm tốt.
5. play at being sb — Đóng giả làm bác sĩ.
6. play sth up — Làm điều gì có vẻ quan trọng hơn.

Exercise 5: Choose the best answer.

1. He continued to ___ after everyone told him to stop joking.

2. She didn't know he was ___ a trick on her.

3. The newspaper tried to ___ the economic problems.

4. He was ___ a millionaire and expected special treatment.

5. The teacher asked the class to ___ and follow the activity.

6. Many people wondered, '___ ?' when he made that strange decision.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích (Exercise 5)

1. play on — Tiếp tục kéo dài hoặc tiếp diễn.
2. playing around with — Đang nghịch hoặc thử điều gì đó.
3. play sth down — Làm cho vấn đề có vẻ nhỏ hơn.
4. playing at being sb — Giả làm người giàu.
5. play along with sb — Hợp tác với hoạt động.
6. what is he playing at? — Câu hỏi khi ai đó hành động khó hiểu.

Exercise 6: Choose the correct phrasal verb.

1. He was unfaithful to his wife.

play away play along with sb play on play up

2. The advertisement tried to use people's fears.

play on sth play away play out play up

3. The machine is not working well today.

play up play around play away play sb for

4. She made the success sound bigger than it was.

play sth up play sth down play away play on

5. He thought they would believe his story and played them for fools.

play sb for play away play along with sb play around

6. The team played up to the expectations of the fans.

play (up) to sth play away play out play at being sb

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích (Exercise 6)

1. play away — Có quan hệ ngoài tình cảm chính thức.
2. play on sth — Lợi dụng cảm xúc hoặc nỗi sợ.
3. play up — Máy móc hoạt động thất thường.
4. play sth up — Nhấn mạnh quá mức.
5. play sb for — Xem ai như kẻ ngốc.
6. play (up) to sth — Làm điều phù hợp với kỳ vọng hoặc hình ảnh nào đó.