Grammar：Chip in
【明報專訊】Something has happened and Pat is in a bad mood. Momo and Dr Panda are discussing what to do about it.
“ MoMo: What is going on? Pat hasn't come out of her room for two days. The food I've left at her door is completely untouched ! ”
“ Dr Panda: I have no clue. Poor dear, I can hear her crying all day long. What should we do? ”
“ MoMo: Let's buy her something! How about that new headgear she's been on about? We can both chip in. ”
“ Dr Panda: Good idea. Though it's expensive, I think it's worth it. The lights on the headgear she's wearing now have been blinking nonstop. I think something's wrong with them. ”
“ Bill: I can chip in too. ”
“ MoMo: Wow, even Bill has chipped in to the conversation. Were we talking that loudly? I hope Pat didn't hear us. ”
“ Dr Panda: We should probably discuss this somewhere privately. Plus, if Eason overhears our conversation, he will only come up with all sorts of mischief. ”
■English highway﹕Chip in
is a phrasal verb that can mean contributing something (money, time, help, etc.) to a cause, purpose, etc.
e.g. They all chipped in to buy Rosa a birthday present.
It can also mean to interrupt a conversation with a remark, suggestion, etc.
e.g. During the meeting, the new employee chipped in with many useful suggestions.
■ Gear up
(Answers on next text)
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of "chip in".
1. They should all __________ to get Maddie a new phone. It's the least they can do after they broke her old one.
2. The conversation between the employees became awkward after their boss __________.
3. Everybody in the city __________ to rebuild the town church after the flood.
■Glossary
untouched (adj) 原封不動的
headgear (n) 頭飾(帽子、頭盔等)
overhear (v) 無意中聽到
mischief (n) 惡作劇
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[Smarties' Power English 第333期]
