C2.1. Unit 1-4 Phrasal verbs Flashcards
bring about something
Harold’s working to bring about changes in the industry.
to cause something to happen
bring something about
He brought about his company’s collapse by his reckless spending.
to cause something to happen
catch up with sb.
I ran after her and managed to catch up with her.
to reach someone in front of you by going faster than them
cheer (someone) up
She was sick so I sent her some flowers to cheer her up.
If someone cheers up, or something cheers someone up, they start to feel happier/better
cheer sth up
A coat of paint and new curtains would really cheer the kitchen up.
to make a place look brighter or more attractive
come about
How did the problem come about in the first place?
to happen, or start to happen
come up with sth
She’s come up with some amazing plan to double her income.
to suggest or think of an idea, plan or solution
cut down
I’m trying to cut down on caffeine.
She used to work 50 hours a week, but recently she’s cut down.
to do or use less of something
double down on sth
Expect to see Fox double down on its marketing efforts to give the movie a big boost.
to continue to do something in an even more determined way than before
end up
to finally be in a particular place or situation.
Sth unexpected happened, there is an unexpected outcome.
get in with someone
He’s trying to get in with the teachers.
to be or become popular or friendly with someone
to start socializing with (formal register)/to start hanging out (informal register)
go about something
What’s the best way of going about this?
to begin to do something or deal with something
hang around (somewhere)
I spent most of my youth hanging around the bars of Dublin.
to wait or spend time somewhere, usually for no particular reason
hang around
Go and pack but don’t hang around - we have to go in an hour.
to move or do things slowly
help sb out
Her parents helped (her) out with a $500 loan.
If you help out, you do a part of someone’s work or give someone money. To help sb to get out from a bad/delicate/dramatic situation.
jump at something
She jumped at the chance of a trip to Paris.
to accept something (an/the opportunity, chance) eagerly
move along
to proceed, continue, go forward, to progress.
pay off
All her hard work paid off in the end, and she finally passed the final exam.
If something you have done pays off, it is successful.
If sth. pays off = it’s worth it.
pay sb off
to bribe sb
pay sth off
We should be able to pay off the debt within two years.
to pay back money that you owe
to finish paying
plow through something
informal
We ploughed through the mud.
I’ve got an enormous pile of papers to plough through.
You’ll never manage to plough through all that food.
to go through a substance or an area of something with difficulty
to finish reading, eating, or dealing with something with difficulty
put something up
Why don’t you put up your hood/umbrella?
I put my hand up to ask the teacher a question.
to raise something, or to fix something in a raised position
run out of sth
There is no more of sth
set about something
[ + -ing verb ] I have no idea how to set about changing a tire on a car.
I tried to apologize, but I think I set about it the wrong way.
to start to do or deal with something
settle in
Once we’ve settled in, we’ll have you over for dinner.
to become familiar with somewhere new, such as a new house, job, or school, and to feel comfortable and happy there.
Adjust, adapt, make yourself comfortable.
take sb on
She was taken on as a laboratory assistant.
to employ or hire someone
Also: to compete against or fight someone (e.g. The government took on the unions and won).
take sth on
She took too much on and made herself sick.
to accept a particular job or responsibility
track something/someone down
He finally managed to track down the book he wanted.
to find something or someone after looking for it, him, or her in a lot of different places
turn up (somewhere)
She turned up at my house late one night.
to arrive or appear somewhere, usually unexpectedly or in a way that was not planned
come across
I came across an old photo album while cleaning the attic.
to find or encounter something or someone by chance.
come around
Come around tonight and we’ll watch a movie.
to visit someone in their home or to change one’s opinion.
come down
A lot of trees came down in the storm.
to fall and land on the ground
come down with something
I think I’m coming down with the flu.
to start to suffer from an illness, especially one that is not serious
come in
Please come in and take a seat.
to enter a place or to be useful
come off
There was some sort of property deal that didn’t come off.
to happen as planned, or to succeed
come on
The heat comes on at six in the morning.
to start to happen or work
come over
Why don’t you come over this weekend?
To visit someone’s house.
carry something out
The hospital is carrying out tests to find out what’s wrong with her.
to do or complete something, especially that you have said you would do or that you have been told to do
make off
The burglars made off before the police arrived.
to leave quickly, usually in order to escape
make up for something
No amount of money can make up for the death of a child.
This year’s good harvest will make up for last year’s bad one.
to take the place of something lost or damaged or to compensate for something bad with something good
get something across
We tried to get our point across, but he just wouldn’t listen.
This is the message that we want to get across to the public.
to manage to make someone understand or believe something
get around
Spain last week and Germany this week - he gets around, doesn’t he!
get around (somewhere)
News of her pregnancy soon got around (the office).
to travel to a lot of places
If news or information gets around, a lot of people hear about it
get down
1) The cat got down from the tree.
2) The gloomy weather really gets me down.
3) Let’s get down to business.
1) To descend or move to a lower position.
2) To depress or sadden someone.
3) To concentrate or write something down.
get in
1) She got in the car and drove away.
2) What time did you get in last night?
3) He got in to his dream university.
1) To enter a place, vehicle, or group.
2) To arrive at a destination.
3) To be accepted into a school, organization, etc.
get off
1) We got off the train at the next station.
2) He got off with just a warning.
3) What time do you get off work?
1) To leave a vehicle, place, or situation.
2) To avoid punishment.ç
3) To stop work (for the day).
come up against something
If you come up against difficulties, let me know and I’ll help out.
to have to deal with a problem
