Unit 20 Visiting

Pay a visit to visit (usually by previous arrangement)

Also: call on

GRAMMAR NOTE/USAGE NOTES: Thess idioms describe more formal visits that are usually prearranged. An object can be put after the verv in pay a visit.

▪ The country doctor paid a visit to a sick patient on a distant farm.

▪ I made sure to pay Alexandra a visit when I traveled to Chicago.

▪ The salesman called on the manager at the appointed time.

Drop in (on) to visit (usually not by previous arrangement)

Also: drop by, come by, come over

USAGE NOTE: Only the main entry can be used with on, followed by the identity of the person who is visited.

▪ It’s a pleasure to see you again. Please drop in any time.

▪ When Stan dropped in on an old friend, she was quite surprised to see him.

▪ I wanted to drop by earlier, but when it got so late I decided not to come over.

▪ Why don’t you come by tonight and we’ll talk some more?

Swing by to visit (often for the prupose of getting or buying something)

Also: stop by

USAGE NOTE: These forms can also be used for informal visits (see previous entry).

▪ Why don’t you swing by my house to vorrow the tools that you need?

▪ Doreen stopped by the supermarket on her way home from work.

Stop over to visit (usually overnight)

Related form: stopover(noun meaning “short stop”)

USAGE NOTE: Both idioms usually refer to an airplane trip.

▪ On our trip north, we stopped over in San Francisco for two days.

▪ The airplane make a stopover in New York before continuting to Paris.

Get together to meet or gather for a visit

Related form: get-together(noun)

USAGE NOTE: This idiom is used for family gatherings and other group visits.

▪ All of my relatives get together at Thanksgiving for a turkey feast.

▪ If you’d like, we can have a get-together this weekend in my backyard.

Show in to guide someone idside, especially into one’s home.

Also: come on in

GRAMMAR NOTE: Show in is separable. Come on in is an invariable expression.

▪ Someone is knocking at the door. Could you show them in?

▪ Hey, Joe, I’m glad you could make it. Come on in!

make oneself at home to relax by removing one’s coat, sitting down, and getting comfortable

USAGE NOTE: This idiom is used when guests first arrive.

▪ I’m glad you could come. Please make yourself at home.

▪ Helena’s guests made themselves at home in her warm and cozy living room.

Feel at home to feel comfortable, to be relaxed

USAGE NOTE: This idiom is often used when it takes some time to feel relaxed in a ner environment.

▪ The Jognsons are good hosts. They know how to make their guests feel at home.

▪ It’s difficult to feel at home in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language.

Take a seat to sit on a couch, chair, stool, or other similar pieces of furniture

▪ Give me your coat and then take a seat in the living room. The meeting will begin soon.

Show out to guide someone out of somewhere such as one’s workplace or home

Also: see out

GRAMMAR NOTE: These idioms are separable.

▪ The zoo ranger had to show out several families that were still in the zoo when it closed.

▪ It was so nice of you to come. Let me see you out.