10 Useful Phrasal Verbs For Any Topic Flashcards
I look up to my teacher.
To admire
To crop up
To appear unexpectedly/suddenly
I have to work late today, something cropped up at work.
A problem/task
Shops
Restaurants
Opportunities
In my hometown, Chinese restaurants are/ have been cropping up everywhere.
To nail down
To identify clearly
To nail down a reason/time/dates/answer
Why do you think…?
Well it’s hard to nail the reason, but maybe it’s because…
To single out
To choose one from a group
Why do you think…?
I would single out one main reason, and that is…
To iron out
To get rid of/ to remove
Problems
Difficulties
Misunderstaning
I can iron out the problem.
How do you solve this problem?
The best way to iron out this problem is to…
To pack in
To stop doing something
I went to the gym for 3 months but then I packed it in. I just didn’t have enough time to go.
Hobby
Job
Course
I want to pack in my job. It’s not very rewarding and badly paid.
I took up painting, but then I packed it in, because I didn’t enjoy it very much.
To ache for
To desire strongly/ to long for
I’m aching for a holiday. I’ve been achcing for a holiday. I’m aching for a beer. Companionship A night out with friends
To drag on
A drag (n) something is boring To last longer than necessary
The pandemic has dragged/beed dragging on for such a long time.
The party dragged on for such a long time.
The conversation dragged on for a long time.
The lesson dragged on for ages.
The meeting dragged on for ever.
To do away with something
To remove, stop, abolish Law Rule Tax Restriction Obligation
What do you think about…?
I wish we could do away with face masks.
The government should do away with this law.
We should do away with exams for ever.
I think we should do away with exams, the government should abolish them.
To set back
It set me back - it cost me a lot of money
This car set me back a few thousand pounds.
It set me back a lot of money.
It set me back a fortune.
It set me back a fair penny.
To slip up
To make a mistake
Work
Relationship
Government
The government has slipped up.
I slipped up at work yesterday. I made a huge mistake. I lost my manager’s presentation.
I slipped up last week. I forgot my wife’s birthday.
To flick through
To look through quickly
Books
Magazines
Photos
Describe an article/ a piece of news/ a photo
I was flicking through the newspaper the other day and I saw an article about healthy eating…
To swipe through
I was swiping through my Facebook feeds the other day and I saw an interesting photo. Let me tell you more about that…
