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Talking about Bad Habits

Alex and Robert are talking about bad habits and how to overcome them…


Alex: Robert, what’s up? You seem nervous about something?


Robert: I am… I’m a bundle of nerves! I’m trying to write an essay, but my mind has gone

blank. I can’t think of anything else except tomorrow’s driving test. How could you tell?


Alex: Because you’ve been really quiet all morning and you’re biting your nails too…


Robert: When I get really nervous, I start biting my nails and I don’t even realise that I’m

doing it! I’ve had this habit since I was young, and I can’t get rid of it!


Alex: Yeah, I noticed that. It’s hard to break a bad habit. I should know… My bad habit is

procrastinating. It’s the number one thing that I hate about myself. When I know I have

something to do, I always put it off until the last minute or the night before…


Robert: Really? I would never have thought the smartest person in the class would say that

he procrastinates! You always hand in the assignments on time, and you do really well too!


Alex: We all have our flaws… I’m not really aware of how I react in stressful situations

either.


Robert: Actually, I’ve noticed that you tap your fingers when you get nervous.


Alex: Really? I’ve never noticed that! I have an idea… what if we keep an eye on each other

and watch out for any bad habits. Then, we can point them out to each other and make a

conscious effort to stop them – that makes sense, right?


Robert: Yeh, that’s a really good idea! I’m in!

Cups of Coffee
Talking about Bad Habits

PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal verb
Meaning
Example sentence
Categories
To put away something

To store things where they are usually kept.

Please put away your toys when you’re finished with them.

Daily Life
To hang something up

To stop using something because you are no longer doing the activity or sport.

After the final fight of his career, he hung up his boxing gloves.

Daily Life
To hang up

To end a phone conversation

I couldn’t hear him on the phone so I hung up.

Daily Life
To put up with something or somebody

To accept or continue to accept and unpleasant situation.

I can put up his room being messy but I can’t put up with him leaving a mess around the house.

Daily Life
To get up to

1.  To do something.

2.  To do something that others would disapprove of.

1.  What did you get up to on holiday?

2.  The children have been getting up to mischief recently.

Daily Life
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