CAE - Phrasal verbs

Question 1

Bear something out

Answer 1

Confirm the truth

Helen’s alibi was borne out by he sister

Question 2

Bring something off

Answer 2

Succeed in doing something

The team tried for years to win the competition and the finallly brought it off

Question 3

Bring something on

Answer 3

Cause the onset of an illness

Sitting in the damp brought on his rheumatism

Question 4

Bring someone round

Answer 4

influence someone to your point of view

After much discussion, I brought the committee round to my point of view

Question 5

Carry something off

Answer 5

complete successfully - perhaps despite a problem

Jane had a difficult role to play, but she carried it off

Question 6

Come in for

Answer 6

receive - especially criticism, blame

The government has come in for a lot of criticism over the decision

Question 7

come off

Answer 7

take place successfullly

I’m afraid that deal didn’t come off after all.

Question 8

Do away with

Answer 8

abolish - colloquial

Dog licences have been done away with

Question 9

Draw up

Answer 9

come to a stop

a white sports car drew up outside the door

Question 10

Fall about

Answer 10

show amusement - especially laughing

Everyone fell about when Jane told her Joke

Question 11

Fall through

Answer 11

fail to come to completion

The plan fell through at the last minute

Question 12

Feel up to

Answer 12

Feel capable of doing

Old Mr Smith didn’t feel up to walking all that way.

Question 13

Get on for

Answer 13

approach a certain age / time / number

He must be getting on for seventy

Question 14

Get up to

Answer 14

do something - usually bad when about children

The children are getting up to something in the garden.

Question 15

Give out

Answer 15

be exhausted

When our money gave out we had to borrow some

Question 16

Go back on

Answer 16

break a promise

The management has gone back on its promise

Question 17

Go in for

Answer 17

make a habit of

I don’t go in for that kind of thing

Question 18

Go off

Answer 18

become bad - food

This milk has gone off

Question 19

Have something on

Answer 19

deceive - colloquial

I don’t believe you. You’re having me on.

Question 20

Hit it off

Answer 20

get on well with - colloquial

Mark and Sarah hit it off at the party

Question 21

Hold with

Answer 21

agree with - an idea

I don’t hold with the idea of using force

Question 22

Make for

Answer 22

result in

The power steering makes for easier parking

Question 23

Make someone out

Answer 23

understand someone’s behaviour

Janet is really odd. I can’t make her out

Question 24

Play up

Answer 24

behave or work badly

The car is playing up again. It won’t start

Question 25

Put across

Answer 25

communicate ideas

Harry is clever but he can’t put his ideas across

Question 26

Put oneself out

Answer 26

take trouble - to help someone

Please don’t put yourself out making a meal. A sandwich will do

Question 27

Run someone down

Answer 27

criticize

She’s always running down her husband

Question 28

Run over

Answer 28

check - also run through

Let’s run over the plan once more

Question 29

Run up against

Answer 29

encounter - usually a problem

We’ve run up against a slight problem

Question 30

Set about

Answer 30

start working

We must set about reorganizing the office

Question 31

Sink in

Answer 31

be understood gradually

Slowly the realization that I had won began to sink in

Question 32

Stand for

Answer 32

represent - initials

I will not stand for this kind of behaviour in my house

Question 33

Take to someone

Answer 33

Develop a liking for

You’ll soon take to your new boss, I’m sure

Question 34

Work out

Answer 34

calculate - also work out at for specific amounts

The hotel bill worked out at over 500$

Question 35

to take issue with

Answer 35

to be unhappy about something

The organisers took issue with the press coverage of the event