My Neighbour Mishka

The travelling salesman

Advanced phrasal verbs (various) 4

There are a lot of people who get taken in by conmen every year. These conmen go around talking people into handing over their money. According to Uncle Bob, the reason they get away with it is that people go by appearances. You should never judge a book by its cover, according to Uncle Bob. If you go by appearances you will get taken in sooner or later. But not Uncle Bob, he can see through people. His says he is a fine judge of character. Anyway, Uncle Bob recently came into some money. His great-great Grandmother Hilder had died leaving him a few thousand pounds. The next day a travelling salesman man turned up at his door. He soon talked Uncle Bob into investing in his company. So Uncle Bob happily handed over his money. That was the last he ever saw of the salesman or his money. Uncle Bob couldn’t believe he had been taken in. “But he came across as such a nice young man.” Uncle Bob told me “ Clean shaven and wearing a smart suit.” “So, Uncle Bob, what was he selling?” I eventually asked him “It was a wonderful business opportunity” Uncle Bob said. “Edible mobile phones. If you ever get lost in the mountains, you can call for help, and then eat the phone to give you energy until help arrives.” Uncle Bob did actually make some strawberry flavoured mobile phones himself but strangely the idea never caught on. Maybe he should have tried vanilla.

Talk someone into: convince someone to do something get away with it

judge a book by its cover: judge something by its looks a fine judge of character: a good judge of people

1. Match the verbs to the meaning.

1. Get taken in

2. Hand over

3. Get away with doing something

4. Go by appearances

5. See through someone

6. Come into some money

7. Turn up

8. Come across

9. Catch on

a. become popular

b. give

c. appear suddenly

d. be deceived

e. know when someone is being untruthful

f. not get caught doing something

g. appear to be

h. inherit money

i. judge by how something looks on the outside

2. Go through the story with your partner. Do not write anything! Then you can reuse it again and again.

There are a lot of people who get t____ in by conmen every year. These conmen go around tal____ people into handing over their life savings. According to Uncle Bob, the reason they get a____ with it is that people go ___ appearances. You should never judge a book by its cover, according to Uncle Bob. If you go by appearances you will get taken in sooner or later. But not Uncle Bob, he can s__ through people. His says he is a fine judge of character. Anyway, Uncle Bob recently came into some money. His great- great Grandmother Hilder had died leaving him a few thousand pounds. The next day a travelling salesman man tu___ up at his door. He soon ta____ Uncle Bob into investing in his company. So Uncle Bob happily ha____ over his money. That was the last he ever saw of the salesman or his money. Uncle Bob couldn’t believe he had been ta____ in. “But he ca_____ across as such a nice young man.” Uncle Bob told me “ Clean shaven and wearing a smart suit.” “So, Uncle Bob, what was he selling?” I eventually asked him “ It was a wonderful business opportunity. He wanted me to invest in his company which produced edible mobile phones. If you ever get lost in the mountains, you can call for help, and then eat the phone to give you energy until help arrives.” Uncle Bob did actually make some strawberry flavoured mobile phones himself but strangely the idea never cau____ on. Maybe he should have tried vanilla?

3. Ask and answer these questions with your partner. Use the phrasal verbs in your answer.

1. Why do you think some people get taken in so easily?

2. Do you think you could ever be taken in by a conman?

3. To what extent can you judge a book by its cover? Can you go by appearances?

4. Do you think you are a fine judge of character? Can you see through people?

5. If you came into some money, what would you buy?

6. Have you ever thought of a really good business idea?

Answers: 1d 2b 3f 4i 5e 6h 7c 8g 9a