Pablo and Felipe: The lunch bet

Pablo was halfway through his lunch when Felipe dropped into the chair opposite him. Pablo had a notebook open beside his plate, covered in figures. Felipe had brought a sandwich and was trying to balance his phone on top of a packet of crisps.

“What are you studying?” Felipe asked. “Expressions with be,” Pablo said. “I came across ‘be in’. It can mean you want to take part in something.” Felipe put down his phone. “So if you’re out, you don’t want to take part?” “That’s right. In this context, ‘I’m in’ means I’ll take part, and ‘I’m out’ means I won’t.”

A bet over lunch

Felipe grinned. “Let’s make it interesting. No phones. We take turns naming expressions with be and explaining what each one means. Whoever names the most gets lunch paid for by the other.”

“You’re on,” Pablo said. “I’m in.” “And if I change my mind?” Felipe asked. “Then you’re out,” Pablo replied. “Deal. I’m in!”

They put their phones face down on the table. Pablo tapped his pen. “I’ll start. ‘Be in’ means agree to take part. ‘Be out’ means not take part.”

“Good. My turn: ‘Be up to’ can ask what someone is doing: ‘What are you up to?’ It can also ask whether someone is responsible for a choice: ‘It’s up to you.’” “Two meanings already,” Pablo said. “That’s one expression,” Felipe replied. “I’m keeping score.”

The list gets longer

Pablo took his turn. “‘Be over’ means finished. ‘The meeting is over.’ ‘Be away’ means not here for a period of time. ‘Bruna is away this week.’”

“Then ‘be back’ means return,” Felipe said. “‘I’ll be back after lunch.’ And if you’re ‘tied up’, you’re busy and can’t do something right now. ‘Pablo is tied up with the quarterly report.’” Pablo looked up. “That one is uncomfortably accurate.”

“‘Be into’ means really like or be interested in something,” Pablo said. “Felipe is into video games.” “Correct. And ‘be in on’ means be included in or know about something. If you’re in on a plan, you know about it and are part of it.”

They went back and forth. Pablo added “‘be about to’—something is going to happen very soon.” Felipe answered with “‘be known for’—the thing someone or something is famous for.” Pablo challenged him: “That’s useful, but it’s not a phrasal verb.”

Felipe paused. “Fair point. We said expressions with be, not only phrasal verbs. Some are fixed expressions or be followed by a preposition. The label depends on the grammar.” Pablo nodded. “Good correction. Keep going.”

No phones—and one winner

The lunch rush had thinned out by the time Pablo ran out of ideas. Felipe was still going. He named “‘be fed up with’”—to be annoyed or tired of something—then “‘be proud of’”—to feel pleased about something you or someone else has done.”

“That’s enough,” Pablo said, laughing. “You win. I’m out of this competition.” “Out of the competition, but still in for paying?” Felipe asked. “Unfortunately, yes.”

Felipe put his phone back in his pocket. “For the record, I’m in for dessert too.” Pablo shook his head. “You’re pushing your luck.” They cleared the table, with Felipe’s lunch paid for—and Pablo already planning a rematch.