Phrasal verbs typically used with the word ‘idea’

Read this post if you want to know...

a) whether you should or you shouldn't use such adjectives as 'creative', 'responsible' and 'strategic' in your career profile or CV

b) who was the first to use brainstorming sessions

c) what arguments against brainstorming are commonly put forward

d) what phrasal verbs collocate naturally with the word 'idea'

LinkedIn, a business-oriented social networking service, annually publishes a list of words most overused by people in their career profiles and the adjective ‘creative’ is invariably on this list. In 2013 it was the third most overused word after ‘responsible’ and ‘strategic’ and in 2014 it was again in third place this time after ‘motivated’ and ‘passionate’. It is small wonder that so many people searching for a better job are keen to describe themselves as creative. Creativity seems to be the number one skill for the 21st century, when things are changing at a breathtaking pace and well-established rules and sure-fire recipes can no longer guarantee your professional survival.

Yet, the problem plenty of people run into is how to boost their creative energy. Alex Osbourne (1888-1966), co-founder of BBDO, which is now a worldwide advertising agency network, believed that “in order to increase our imaginative potential, we should focus only on quantity. Quality will come later.” In 1939 he set himself the task to increase the number of ideas the employees of his agency could THINK UP and suggested a new way of holding staff meetings which he called brainstorming.

 Alex Osbourne formulated four basic rules for brainstorming sessions:
1) no criticism or negative feedback on ideas group members PUT FORWARD
2) the more ideas COME TO them, the better
3) group members should BOUNCE ideas AROUND and try to BUILD ON them
4) the most weird and exaggerated ideas should be encouraged to help people break out of established thinking patterns.

Alex Osbourne’s idea TOOK OFF and is now widely used not only by advertising agencies but also in design firms, financial institutions, think tanks, government offices, classrooms, to name but a few. Yet, there is controversy over the real value of brainstorming. There are two main arguments against it: 1) individuals produce better ideas than groups 2) constructive negative feedback improves the quality of ideas. What do you think: is brainstorming a waste of time or is it a good way of unlocking people’s creative potential?

Look at the phrasal verbs in CAPITALS. All of them can be used to talk about ideas.

a. If you create an idea, you THINK it UP.
b. If you suggest an idea for discussion, you PUT it FORWARD.
c. If an idea enters your mind, it COMES TO you.
d. If you discuss ideas in a group, you BOUNCE or TOSS them AROUND.
e. If you develop or improve an idea, you BUILD ON it.
f. If your idea TAKES OFF, it becomes successful and other people and companies start using it.

Test yourself. Which phrasal verb from the list above (a-f) best completes each of the following sentences*?
1. They like to get together and ____ ideas ____
2. We need to __________ the ideas we have had so far.
3. The idea ____ me when we were on holiday.
4. She’d have to ___________ a good reason for being late.
* sentences come from http://www.macmillandictionary.com/

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