Vocabulary
Fall, feel, lay
Study the following vocabulary.
I was exhausted after a long week of work, so I decided to lay down my pen and lay aside my work and take a short nap. I feel asleep immediately, and I had the strangest dream. I had been laid off from work, and I thought my whole world was falling apart. I did not feel up to doing anything, especially looking for a new job. I spent the next few weeks laid up in bed. Eventually I was able to leave the house, so I decided to look for a new job. However, it was clear that my bad luck was not over. On the way out the door, my shoe fell off because I had not tied it, and then I fell over into a pile of garbage. Just then I felt someone tapping my shoulder. It was my boss trying to wake me up. He could tell that I was very tired, and he felt badly for me – so he let me go home early and take a long weekend!
fall apart – to break into pieces, to no longer be possible to exist or operate
The whole country is falling apart as a result of the war.
fall for – to be attracted to, to fall in love with; to be tricked into believing
It was a big problem when the young woman fell for her best friend.
fall over – to be unable to stay standing and fall to the ground
He lost his balance and fell over.
fall off – to become separated from
The door handle has fallen off.
feel for – to have sympathy for, to have a feeling towards someone
When I realized she was a single mother, I really felt for her.
feel up – to to feel capable of doing something
If you feel up to it, we could walk into town and go shopping.
lay aside – to put to one side and not use or think about it
They laid aside their differences until the crisis was over.
lay down – to put something down or stop using it; to state officially that a rule must be obeyed
He stopped writing and laid down his pen.
Clear guidelines have been laid down for teaching religion in public schools.
lay off – to dismiss workers
The struggling company had to lay off hundreds of workers.
lay up – to be unable to work or take part in an activity because of illness or injury
He’s been laid up with the flu for a week.