Travel

Travel English runs almost entirely on phrasal verbs. You don't board a taxi and you don't enter a train — the verb changes with the vehicle, and nobody explains why.

take off — to leave, to depart. Informally it works for people; literally it is what a plane does when it leaves the ground.

"We need to take off now or we'll miss our flight." "The plane takes off at 6 a.m., so let's be at the airport by 4."

check in — to register your arrival at a hotel or an airport, and hand over your luggage. check out — to leave the hotel and settle the bill, usually by a set time.

"We can check in at the hotel any time after 2 p.m." "Don't forget to check out before 11, or they'll charge us for another night."

get in — to enter a car, a taxi, or another small vehicle. get on — to board a bus, train, plane or bike.

The split is about size: you get in something you sit down inside, and you get on something you climb aboard. Confusingly, a train or flight can also get in — meaning it arrives.

"Quick, get in the taxi — it's starting to rain!" "We need to get on the train before it leaves at noon."

get around — to travel from place to place within an area: how you move about a city or region.

"How do you plan to get around Rome — metro or a scooter?" "It's really easy to get around the city by bike."

see someone off — to go with them to the station or airport they are leaving from, to say goodbye. Note where the person sits: you see them off.

"We went to the airport to see our grandparents off." "She came to the station to see me off before the trip."