'Step' without moving your foot

The word 'step' here describes someone taking an action in a particular direction, which in this case is Hyundai who has started offering cars that use gas.

So don't get confused with the phrasal verb, "to step on somebody", which means to treat somebody who is less important or in a less powerful position unfairly or unkindly.

If he cared about you he would not have stepped on you.

 Another expression is, "Step on it'; you use it to tell someone to hurry or to drive faster.

 Step on it or I'll miss the plane.

 Next will be 'step in' and 'step into something'.

If someone steps in, in a difficult situation or an argument, which people are unable to solve, they get involved so that they can help find the solution.

We tried many solutions but none seemed to work so we asked the expert to step in.  

Compare the above sentence with the following one.

With his qualifications and experience, Henry would step into any job without any question.

You will notice that the meaning of the phrasal verb 'step into something' is different from "step in'; when you step into something, you get it very easily.

 The next two phrasal verbs are often seen in headlines, 'step up' and 'step down'.

The first, 'to step up something' is to increase the speed or amount or the degree of it.

The central bank has stepped up measures to control the inflation rate.

On the other hand, we use 'to step something down', to reduce the amount, supply or rate of something.

This transformer will step down the voltage that feeds this model train.

 The last one to be explained today is 'to step down'. When a person steps down or steps aside from an important position, they resign from it to allow another person to take their place.

Mr Graham made it clear that he would step down when his children are ready to take over the business.

Complete the following sentences using the expressions explained

1. The conflict on the western border has prompted the army to ...... security measures in the area.

2. Most of the top students usually ...... a job straight after graduation.

3. It is not a secret that Kenny likes to ...... anybody; so a dead rat on his desk is not really a surprise, is it?

4. Come on, ...... ; we don't have much time left before the guests show up.

5. Once the patient shows signs of recovery, the doctor will ...... the medication.

6. Mr Thompson ...... from the premiership after he failed to prove his innocence in the embezzlement case.

7. The two boys blamed each other for the poor grade for their group assignment until Mr Parker ...... .

Answers: 1. step up, 2. step into, 3. step on, 4. step on it, 5. step down, 6. stepped down, 7. stepped in

By Parnsap Yomanage