Unit 5 Vacation Time

Unit 5 Vacation Time

Have off to have time when one doesn’t have to work at one’s job or attend school

             Also: take off, be off

             GRAMMAR/USAGE NOTES: These idioms are separable, and the object is usually placed after the verb. They are used with time expressions such as days, weeks, months, and years.

             ▪ Next week would be a good time to go fishing, since I have a few days off.

             ▪ Can you take off a couple of weeks for a Caribbean island vacation?

             ▪ I’m sorry, but Mr. Watanabe is off until next month. Would you like to leave a message?

On leave on holiday from military service, not on active duty

             ▪ Sergeant Anders went on leave to attend his sister’s wedding.

             ▪ The naval officers were assigned to be on leave in Singapore for a week.

Go away to travel

             Also: get away

             ▪ Mr. Walters has to go away often to run gis international import/export business.

             ▪ Are you going to be able to get away this holiday weekend?

See off to say farewell (often by accompanying someone to an airport, station, etc.)

             GRAMMAR NOTE: This idioms is separable.

             ▪ Everyone was quite as the day we saw my parents off at the airport.

             ▪ The whole family went to the cruise terminal to see off the nerlyweds.

Take in to experience, to enjoy by viewing

             Also: soak in

             USAGE NOTE: These idioms are most often used with words like attractions and sights.

             ▪ The amusement park was so crowded that we couldn’t take in all the attractions

             ▪ We saved a whole week of our trip to soap in the sights and sounds of Paris.

Check in to register at a hotel

             Also: check into

             Related form: check-in(noun or adjective)

             ▪ The group leader told the tourists that it would be two hours before they could check in.

             ▪ The elderly couple asked if they could check into the hotel before soon.

             ▪ There was no line at check-in, so Holly got to her room quickly.

             ▪ Could you please tell me you check-in time?

Check out (of) to end one’s stay at a hotel

             Related form: check-out(noun or adjective)

             ▪ The Zorbas got up early and checked out of the hotel by 6:00 A.M.

             ▪ Beatrice stood in the long line at check-out while we waited in the lobby.

             ▪ Ted called the hotel operator to inquire about the check-out time.

Book up to reserve all rooms.

             GRAMMAR NOTE: This idiom is often used in the passive form.

             ▪ The organizers of the computer convention booked up several hotels and conference facilities.

             ▪ I’m sorry, we don’t have any more rooms available. The hotel is fully booked up.

Get back to return home from vacation

             USAGE NOTE: This idiom is also used for returing from work, recreation, errands, and so on.

             ▪ The salesperson wanted to know when the boss would get back from vacation.

             ▪ Our trip was so terrible that I couldn’t wait to get back.

             ▪ Jerry went hunting early in the morning  and didn’t get back until dark.