On/in/at (other uses)

On/in/at (other uses)

A. On holiday etc.

(be/go) on holiday/on business/on a trip/on a tour/on a cruise etc.:

* Tom's away at the moment. He's on holiday in France. (not' in holiday')

* Did you go to Germany on business or on holiday?

* One day I'd like to go on a world tour.

Note that you can also say: 'go to a place for a holiday/for my holiday(s)':

* Tom has gone to France for a holiday. (not 'for holiday')

* Where are you going for your holidays next summer?

B. Other expressions with on

on television/on the radio:

* I didn't watch the news on television, but I heard it on the radio. on the phone/telephone:

* You can't phone me. I'm not on the phone. (= I haven't got a phone.)

* I've never met her but I've spoken to her on the phone.

(be/go) on strike/on a diet:

* There are no trains today. The railway workers are on strike.

* I've put on a lot of weight. I'll have to go on a diet.

(be) on fire:

* Look! That car is on fire!

on the whole (= in general):

* Sometimes I have problems at work but on the whole I enjoy my job.

on purpose (= intentionally):

* I'm sorry. I didn't mean to annoy you. I didn't do it on purpose.

But: by mistake/by chance/by accident (see Unit 127).

C. Expressions with in

in the rain/in the sun (=sunshine)/in the shade/in the dark in bad weather etc.:

* We sat in the shade. It was too hot to sit in the sun.

* Don't go out in the rain. Wait until it stops.

(write) in ink/in biro/in pencil:

* When you do the exam, you're not allowed to write in pencil.

Also: in words, in figures, in BLOCK LETTERS etc.:

* Please fill in the form in block letters.

(pay) in cash:

* I paid the bill in cash. but I paid by cheque by credit card (see Unit 127).

(be/fall) in love (with somebody):

* Have you ever been in love with anybody?

in (my) opinion:

* In my opinion, the film wasn't very good.

D. At the age of... etc.

We say: at the age of .../at a speed of .../at a temperature of ... etc. For example:

* Jill left school at 16. or ... at the age of 16.

* The train was travelling at 120 miles an hour. or ... at a speed of 120 miles an hour.

* Water boils at 100 degrees celsius