The Language of Communication & Expression
📘 Phrasal Verb Series – Think in English (Part 1)
🌿 The Language of Communication & Expression
“To communicate is not to translate words — it’s to share perception.” 🌱
1️⃣ Bring up – To lift an idea into the open.
When you bring up a topic, you don’t just mention it —
you lift it from your mind and place it into shared space.
It’s an act of courage, of visibility.
🪶 Example:
- “She brought up an interesting point during the meeting.”
→ 단순히 말한 게 아니라, 생각을 ‘세상 위로 꺼낸’ 순간.
💬 “bring up”은 마음속 생각을 세상 위로 올려두는 용기입니다.
2️⃣ Point out – To direct someone’s eyes to what matters.
You point out not to blame, but to guide.
It’s showing others what they may have missed.
🪶 Example:
- “He pointed out a mistake in my report.”
→ 비난이 아니라 ‘길을 잡아주는’ 순간.
💬 “point out”은 지적이 아니라, ‘보게 하는 안내’입니다.
3️⃣ Figure out – To find clarity through confusion.
To figure out is to draw lines until meaning takes shape.
English imagines thinking as sketching.
🪶 Example:
- “I can’t figure out why she left so suddenly.”
→ 혼란 속에서 의미의 선을 그려가는 마음.
💬 “figure out”은 혼란을 모양 잡힌 이해로 바꾸는 행위입니다.
4️⃣ Find out – To uncover what’s hidden.
When you find out, the truth was always there —
you simply lifted the curtain.
🪶 Example:
- “He found out the truth at last.”
→ 베일을 걷고 이미 존재하던 진실을 마주한 순간.
💬 “find out”은 새로 생긴 게 아니라, 이미 있던 진실의 발견입니다.
5️⃣ Come up with – To create from the invisible.
Ideas don’t fall from the sky — they rise from within.
To come up with is to let your thought surface.
🪶 Example:
- “She came up with a brilliant idea.”
→ 생각이 위로 떠오르는 순간의 번뜩임.
💬 “come up with”은 마음 깊은 곳에서 올라오는 창조의 언어입니다.
6️⃣ Talk over – To think aloud together.
To talk over something is to polish an idea by conversation.
It’s not debate — it’s shared thinking.
🪶 Example:
- “Let’s talk it over before making a decision.”
→ 말로 다듬는 공동의 사유.
💬 “talk over”은 논쟁이 아닌, 함께 생각하는 말이에요.
7️⃣ Get across – To bridge your thought to another mind.
When you get across a message,
you’ve successfully crossed the river between two people.
🪶 Example:
- “I tried to get my point across, but they didn’t understand.”
→ 마음과 마음 사이의 강을 건너려는 시도.
💬 “get across”는 마음의 다리를 놓는 표현입니다.
8️⃣ Cut off – To stop the connection or flow.
Sometimes we cut off people, calls, or feelings —
not out of hate, but to protect silence.
🪶 Example:
- “She cut off all contact after the argument.”
→ 미움이 아니라 평화를 지키기 위한 멈춤.
💬 “cut off”는 단절이 아닌, 조용한 보호의 언어입니다.
9️⃣ Speak up – To give your voice the courage to stand.
To speak up is not to be loud — it’s to be clear.
It’s when your truth finally finds its sound.
🪶 Example:
- “You should speak up if something feels wrong.”
→ 침묵 대신 진실이 목소리를 찾는 순간.
💬 “speak up”은 크게가 아니라 ‘명확하게’ 말하는 용기입니다.
🔟 Hand in – To release what you’ve made.
When you hand in your work, you let it go —
from effort to evaluation. It’s trust in what you’ve done.
🪶 Example:
- “I handed in my assignment this morning.”
→ 노력의 결실을 세상에 맡기는 믿음의 동작.
💬 “hand in”은 제출이 아니라, ‘수고를 내려놓는 행위’입니다.
🌸 Closing Thought
“Communication in English is not about words —
it’s about movement: from thought to connection.” 🌿