Unit 23: Phrasal verbs
Have no fear
Select a unit
- 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3 If or whether?
- 4 5 ways to use 'would'
- 5 Let and allow
- 6 Passive voice
- 7 Unless
- 8 Mixed conditionals
- 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12 The continuous passive
- 13 Future perfect
- 14 Need + verb-ing
- 15 Have something done
- 16 Wish
- 17 Word stress
- 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19 Passive reporting structures
- 20 The subjunctive
- 21 When and if
- 22 Inversion
- 23 Phrasal verbs
- 24 The future
- 25 Modals in the past
- 26 Narrative tenses
- 27 Phrasal verb myths
- 28 Conditionals review
- 29 Used to - review
- 30 Linking words of contrast
Session 5
The team have a late night at a restaurant awards ceremony and Gordon gets an unexpected last-minute prize. What can it be? Learn some sleep-related phrases
Activity 1
Drama: The White Elephant
Episode 23: Sleepy
It's been a late night for the team at The White Elephant but Gordon seems remarkably lively. That's until he hears about an award that only he could win! Watch and learn some sleep-related phrases.
Watch the video and complete the activity

Mary
Phew, what a night!
Peter
[yawning] Yes, amazing. I've never done anything like that before.
Mary
Nor I. My first ever awards ceremony.
Peter
I didn't sleep a wink when I got home. I was still buzzing from meeting all those celebrity chefs.
Gordon
'Didn't sleep a wink' did you say Peter? I slept like a log - celebrity chefs don't excite me. They may be famous but can they cook?
Mary
Well, they certainly win a lot of awards.
Peter
Yes - The Poison Ivy won 'Restaurant of the Year' - it's a shame we didn't win any awards though.
Gordon
Yes, well I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it - what is an award anyway but just a piece of metal that sits on the shelf gathering dust. A real award is a customer thanking me for an excellent meal.
Peter
Really? I thought you said getting an award would be the highlight of your career?
Mary
Peter, I think it's best if we let sleeping dogs lie - you know how sensitive he is.
Gordon
Now where's my sleeping partner?
Ceilia
I hope you didn't mean me - I'm the only boss here. Sorry I'm late, I had a bit too much champagne last night - but at least I slept like a baby.
Mary
Lucky you. Peter and I may need a catnap later!
Gordon
You've got no stamina - honestly! You two left earlier than me.
Mary
Well, that's because you kept putting your arm around me.
Ceilia
Did he indeed?! Well, after that woman on the dance floor slapped you round the face and you left... the judges gave out another award.
Gordon
Another award - really?
Ceilia
Yes - and guess what? We won it!
Gordon
At last - some recognition - my true talents are there in writing to be seen - come on then Peter, what does it say?
Peter
'Gordon Grater - Most Arrogant Chef' - oh, congratulations!
Mary
Oh Gordon - it looks like you need some beauty sleep!
Download
You can download the drama from our Unit 23 downloads page.
Vocabulary
I didn't sleep a wink
I didn't sleep at all
slept like a log
slept very well
I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it
don't worry about it
let sleeping dogs lie
leave the situation alone to avoid causing trouble
sleeping partner
a partner in a business who provides money for it but doesn't actively manage it
I slept like a baby
slept very well
a catnap
a short sleep
beauty sleep
an amount of sleep needed to look good and healthy
Drama quiz
3 Questions
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 23?
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 23?
Hint
It's connected to satisfaction.Question 1 of 3
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 23?
Hint
Mary uses it.Question 2 of 3
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 23?
Hint
Look at the vocab reference again.Question 3 of 3
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
End of Session 5
Next time, Peter the waiter is shaken up when he nearly gets hit by a van but Gordon has no sympathy as he brags about his new mobile business venture. Can the two things be connected?
Session Vocabulary
I didn't sleep a wink
I didn't sleep at allslept like a log
slept very wellI wouldn't lose too much sleep over it
don't worry about itlet sleeping dogs lie
leave the situation alone to avoid causing troublesleeping partner
a partner in a business who provides money for it but doesn't actively manage itI slept like a baby
slept very wella catnap
a short sleepbeauty sleep
an amount of sleep needed to look good and healthy