Phrasal Verbs Flashcards
to sort out
To find a solution or to put things in order
Ex.: Greg will sort out our problem
I’ve had a sort-out in the bedroom, it looks better now
to stand out
To be very noticeable
Ex.: The black lettering stands out against/from that background
to set up
To establish
Ex.: An inquiry into the accident has been set up
To configure
Ex.: Let me set up this game for you
to set in
To begin, usually seeming to continue in a serious way
Ex.: The rain looks as if it has set in for the rest of the day
In winter, darkness sets in so early
to slip up/dowm
To make a mistake
Ex.: We can’t afford to slip up when we are risking so much money
to pin (someone) down
To make someone provide details about something or make a decision about something
Ex.: I’vetried askingStephanie, but she’s proving difficultto pin downtoa particular date.
To stop someone from escapingby surroundingand shootingat them if they tryto escape
Ex.: Government forceswere pinneddown by resistance fighters30 miles north of the capital.
to play up
To not work as it should (to work badly)
Ex.: The starter motorwasplaying up again.
To cause trouble
Ex.: Is your ulcerplaying up again?
To misbehave
Ex.: The boyshave been playingup at school again
to point out (something)
To direct attention toward something
Ex.: Angela pointed out some spelling errorsin my paper
to bring up (something)
To mention it
To talk about it
Ex.: Greg felt he ought to bring up that subject
Ihateto bring upbusinessatlunch
to bring up (someone)
To care for a child until it is an adult - seems like “to raise”
Ex.: Anauntbrought him up
He was brought up onjazz
to bring on (something)
Tocausesomething tohappen,especially. somethingbad
Ex.: Ithinktheloudmusicbrought myheadacheon
to bring about (something)
To cause something to happen
Ex.: Harold is workingto bring aboutchangesin theindustry
to carry out
Toperformorto completeajob oractivity
Tofulfill
Ex.: I waselectedto carry out aprogram, thegovernorsaid, and I have everyintentionof carrying it out
The plan was successfully carried out
to carry off
Tosuceedin doing orachieving something, especially when this isdifficult
Ex.: Liz had a difficult role to play, but she carried it off
to carry away
Tocausesomeone tobecomeveryexcitedand tolosecontrol
Ex.: Thecrowdwerecarriedaway by hispassionatespeech
to get/be carried away
Tobecomeveryexcitedabout something
Ex.: Themanagerwarnedhisyoungplayersnot to getcarriedaway by theemotionof theoccasion
to catch on
Tobecomefashionableorpopular
Ex.: Iwonderif thegamewillevercatchon withyoungpeople
Funk music is catching on in Brazil
Tounderstand,especiallyafter along time
Ex.: He doesn’t takehintsveryeasily, but he’llcatchon eventually
to come about (other phrasal verb that CAN assume the same meaning)
To happen or to start to happen
Ex.: How did theideafor anartsfestivalcome about?
Obs.: to come up CAN have the same meaning in some contexts
to come down to (something)
If a situation of decision comes down to something, that is the thing that influences it most
Ex.: It all comes down to money in the end
It all comes down to whether you are prepared or not
“Resumir-se a”
to come in for (something)
To receive blame or criticism
Ex.: The government has come in for a lot of criticism
The mayor came in for a lot of criticism of his remarks
to let (someone) in on (something)
Totellsomeone something,especially private information, thatothersalreadyknow
Ex.: Mychildrenneverwantto let me in on what they do inschool.
They haven’t let Greg in on the plans yet.
live up to (something)
To achieve/reach what is expected, especially high standards
Ex.: We expected a lot of her, and her performance lived up to our expectations.
You have failed to live up to my expectations.
to live down (something) OR to live (something) down
To make people forget that you made a big mistake or did something very embarrassing in the past
Ex.: If you show up with green hair, your parents will never let you live it down.
stand for (something)
Torepresent something
Ex.: SheexplainedthatDINstands for “do it now”.
Tosupportoracceptparticularprinciplesorvalues
Ex.: I’m notsure what the Republican candidatestands for.
to stand out
To be very easy to see or notice (“sobressair”)
Ex.: The green letters really stand out the page.
To be much better than other similar things or people (“destacar-se”)
Ex.: One candidate stood out from the rest.
to stand in for (someone)
To do something that someoneelsewas going to do because they cannot be there (“substituir alguém”)
Ex.: She stood in for me when I was sick.
Ricardo has kindly agreed to stand in for me next week.
to stand up to (someone/something)
1) Todefendyourself against apowerfulpersonor organization when theytreat youunfairly
Ex.: He wasn’tafraidtostandup tobullies.
2) Todealeffectivelywith apersonorsituation
Ex.: She stood up to herbosswhen heaccusedher ofarrivinglate andleavingworkearly.
3) To not bechangedordamagedby something
Ex.: Will thelorriesstandup to the journey over rough roads?
to hit upon (something)
to have a good idea, especially one that solves a problem
Ex.: He hit upon a new idea.
We hit upon the idea of writing to the mayor to ask for his help.
to come off
to happen as planned or to succeed
Ex.: The party came off realy well.
Unfortunately the deal didn’t come off after all.
to end up in a particular position
Ex.: The team played hard and came off with a victory.
to come up, in this sentence:
“Something has just come up at home and I’m needed there”
Why isn’t better to use “come about”?
to come up, in the previous sentence, means:
to happen, USUALLY UNEXPECTEDLY
Ex.: Something came up so I can’t meet you.
Why not use “come about”?
Because come about is just “to happen or to start to happen”, while come up means something UNEXPECTED.
to come up against (something)
to have to deal with a problem
Ex.: Sometimes we come up against a problem we can’t solve.
If you come up against difficulties, let me know and I’ll help out.
to come up to (something)
to reach the usual or necessary standard
to reach expectations
Ex.: The essay didn’t come up to his usual standard
The food didn’t come up to my expectations
to come up with (something)
to suggest or to think of an idea or plan (“surgir com algo”, uma ideia ou plano)
Ex.: Can you please come up with an idea to help me?
We need to come up with a great idea to make money.
She has come up with some amazing scheme to double her income
to settle for (something)
toacceptoragreeto something, or todecideto have something,althoughit is notexactlywhat youwantor it is not thebest (“conformar-se com algo, aceitar algo”)
Ex.: Ten years from now make sure you can say that you created your life, not settle for it.
Hewantsafullrefundand he won’tsettlefor anything less.
to speed up (something)
to go orhappen faster, or tocausesomething to happen faster. (“agilizar”)
Ex.: Thecarsuddenlysped up and went through a red light.
Hedevelopeda newsystemtohelp speed up the work.
to turn out
tohappenin aparticularway or to have a particular result,especiallyanunexpectedone
(“resultar”, “dar”)
Ex.: How did therecipeturnout?
Nothing so far was turning out quite as expected.
to set off
tostartajournet
(“pôr-se a caminho”, “sair”, “partir”)
Ex.: Whattimeare you setting off tomorrow morning?
We set off again at a gentler pace.
to go over (something)
toexaminesomething, such as apieceof writing or somenumbers, inorderto makesurethat it is correct
(“revisar algo”)
Ex.: I’m just going over myessayone moretime.
Let’s go over the plan one more time.
to go under
to sink
to fail financially (bankrupt)
to go in for (something)
to do somethingregularly, or toenjoysomething
Ex.: I’ve never really gone in forclassicalmusic, but Ilovejazz.
Do you go in for jogging?
to takepartin acompetition:
Ex.: Are youplanningto go in for the 100 meters race?
Why don’t you go in for the writing competition?
to make up for (something)
to use as areplacementfor something missing, lost, orlacking.
to compensate, to take the place of something damaged or lost
Ex.: Noamount ofmoneycan make up for the death of achild.
What helacksinsize, Hayes makes up for intoughnesson thebasketballcourt.
to lay down
to put away orstopusing something:
Ex.: Lay downyour weaponsandsurrender.
tostatesomethingplainly, especially as anofficialrule
Ex.: Thecoachlaid down therulesfrom the firstdayofpractice.
to bring out (something)
to produceaparticularquality (“trazer à tona”)
Ex.: Sometimes acrisisbrings out the bestin people.
to produce something for people to buy
Ex.: The greeting-cardcompanyis bringing out a new lineof Mother’sDaycards.
to cope with
to deal with
to handle
to add up
toincreasegraduallyuntil there is alargeamount
Ex.: Thechangesinairqualityaresmall, but after a while they do add up andaffectpeople’shealth.
to seem reasonable or likely (to make sense)
Ex.: Watsonclaimedhe was athomeat thetimeof themurder, butpolicesaid hisstorydidn’t add up.
to make room for (someone)
tomoveyourbodyormoveother things, so that there isspacefor it, him, or her.
Ex.: Could you make room for us to sit down?
to bargain for/on (something)
to expect or be prepared for something
Ex.: We hadn’tbargainedon such alongwait.
Thestrenghtofoppositionto the project was more thanshe’dbargainedfor.
They hadn’t bargained for there being so much traffic, and they missed the plane.
to bear (something) out How is the past form?
tosupportthetruthof something (“comprovar”)
Ex.: Hisversionofeventsjust isn’tborneout by the facts.
Grace’s alibi was borne out by her sister.
Past form -> to borne out
to creep up
If thevalueoramountof somethingcreepsup, it slowly increases
Ex.: Over the lastyear, therateof inflation hascrept up toalmostseven percent.
to bring off (something)
to succeed in doing something difficult
Ex.: The candidate tried the exam for years and he finally brought it off.
Terry brought off thepresentationwithout ahitch.
