Prices going up and down B1
Moaning about prices, and how the local shops are getting on.
Prices going up and down
bring down — reduce the level or amount of somethingA: The air conditioning bill is so high this month!
B: Maybe setting the temperature a bit higher will bring down the cost.
come down B2 — decrease in price or levelA: Are flight tickets still expensive?
B: No, they've come down since last month.
How a shop's getting on
break even — no profit or lossA: How did your garage sale go?
B: Not bad—we didn't make any profit, but at least we broke even.
pick up B2 — improveA: How's your cold?
B: Much better, my energy is finally picking up.
Getting into trouble
run up B2 — to allow a bill or debt to increaseA: Why is my credit card statement so high?
B: You probably ran up a lot of charges eating out last month.
bank on B2 — depend on something happeningA: Do you think the bus will be on time?
B: I wouldn't bank on it—it's usually late.
Going furtherB2 · once the core feels easy
cut off B2 — stop supply (water, money, etc.)A: Why can't you use the heating?
B: They cut off the gas because we missed a payment.
Prices again
Ravi: Have you seen petrol? It's gone up again.
Kate: I know. They reckon they'll bring prices down after the summer.
Ravi: I'll believe it when they actually come down.
The corner shop
Kate: The corner shop's really struggling — they're barely breaking even.
Ravi: The whole high street's dead. Hopefully things pick up soon.
Getting into debt
Kate: He's run up a huge credit-card bill again.
Ravi: He can't keep banking on a bonus to clear it.