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.
to bring (someone) round to (something)
to influence someone
Ex.: He brought the comittee round to his point of view, after a long discussion.
to bring (someone) around
to make someonebecomeconsciousagain after beingunconscious
Ex.: I gave him asniffofsmellingsaltstobringhim around.
topersuadesomeone to have the same opinionas you have
Ex.: At first theyrefusedbut Imanagedto bring them around (tomy way ofthinking).
to make ends meet
to have just enoughmoneytopayfor the things that you need
(“sustentar-se”)
Ex.: I’ve taken a secondjobin theeveningsjust to make endsmeet.
How on Earth do you manage to make ends meet?
to set (someone/something) apart
If aqualityorcharacteristicsets someone or something apart, itshowshim, her, or it to be different from, and usuallybetterthan,othersof the same type
Ex.: What set herapartfromthe othercandidatesfor the jobwas that she had a lot oforiginalideas.
to count (someone) in
toincludesomeone in anacrivityorarrangement
(“incluir alguém”)
Ex.: ‘Do youwantto comeswimmingtomorrow?’ ‘Yes,countme in.’
to crop up
to happen or appear unexpectedly
Ex.: I’m afraid I can’t go. Something has cropped up
Hernamekeepscroppingupinconversation
to grow out of (something)
If yougrowout of aninterestor way ofbehaving, youstophaving or doing it as youbecomeolder
Ex.: Grace has grown out of playing with dolls
Lucas says hewantstojointhearmywhen he turns18, but Ihopehe’llgrowout of theidea.
to have it in for (someone)
to bedeterminedtocriticizeorharmsomeone:
Ex.: She’s always had it in for me.
That lady has it in for me.
to look (something) up
to look at a book or computer in order to find information (“procurar algo”)
Ex.: Ilookedit up on the internet.
to look up to (someone)
torespectandadmiresomeone (“ter respeito para alguém”)
to look into (something)
toexaminethefactsabout asituation (“investigar algo”)
Ex.: They arelookinginto thecausesof theaccident.
to look on (something)
towarchsomethinghappenbut notbecome involved in it
Ex.: Alargecrowdlookedon as thebandplayed.
to consider
Ex.: I look on this town as my real home.
to step down
to give up a job or a position
Ex.: She stepped down ascaptainof theteam.
The director has stepped down after criticism from employees.
to stick up
topointup above asurfaceand notlieflat
(“sobressair-se, ficar arrepiado”)
Ex.: Your hair’sstickingup.
to stick up for (someone/something)
tosupportordefendsomeone or something, especially when thatpersonor thing is beingcriticized:
Ex.: I canstickup for myself.
It’ssweetthe way hesticksup for his littlebrother.
to do (something) up
to repair or decorate a building so that it looks attractive (“reformar algo”)
Ex.: They are having their apartment done up.
to fasten something (“amarrar algo”, “fechar algo”, “abotoar algo”)
Ex.: Doyourcoatup. It’scoldoutside.
to draw up (something)
topreparesomething in writing,especially plansor aformaldocument
Ex.: Thelawyersdrew up acontractover the weekend.
to come to a stop
Ex.: The car drew up outside the door.
to cut (something) off
tostopprovidingsomething such aselectricity or water (“cortar algo”)
Ex.: If we don’tpaythebill, thegaswill becutoff.
to cut down on (something)
toeatordrinkless of aparticularthing, usually in order toimproveyourhealth
(“diminuir, reduzir (o consumo de algo)”)
Ex.: I’mtryingtocutdown on theamount ofsugar I eat.
He has decided to cut down on smoking.
to catch up with (someone/something)
toreachthe samelevelorqualityas someone or somethingelse
(“alcançar (alguém/algo)”)
Ex.: She’s doingextraworktocatchup with therestof theclass.
toreachsomeone or something that is infrontof you by movingfaster
(“alcançar (algo/alguém)”)
Ex.: Wesooncaught up withthecarinfront.
to stave (something) off
tostopsomethingbadfromhappening, or to keep anunwantedsituationorpersonaway, usuallytemporarily
Ex.: We werehopingtostaveoff these difficult decisions untilSeptember.
Tell me what you do to stave off stress.
(two people) to hit it off
Ifpeoplehit it off, they like each otherimmediately.
(“dar-se bem”)
Ex.: Greg and Grace really hit it off at the party.
to hold up (someone)
to make you move slowly or to make you late
Ex.: I’m sorry I was hold up in traffic.
to hold (something) down
to keep something at a low level, especially costs (prices, wages)
Ex.: toholddownprices/wages.
to look down on (someone)
tothinkthat you arebetterthan someone:
Ex.: Shethinkstheylookdown on her because she doesn’t have ajob.
Medical students look down on other students.
to look up to (someone)
torespectandadmiresomeone
(“ter respeito e admiração para alguém”)
Ex.: I really look up to my father.
to occur to (someone)
tosuddenlythinkof something
(“ocorrer a alguém”)
Ex.: It occurredtome that he might belying.
to drop in/by (on someone)
tovisitsomeone for ashorttime, usually without arranging it before
(“aparecer”, “visitar alguém”)
Ex.: Idropped in onGeorge on my wayhome.
to drop off -> synonym
to start to sleep
synonym - to fall asleep
Ex.: The students dropped off during the class.
He dropped off in front of TV.
to see about (something)
topreparefor ordealwith anactionorevent, or to arrange for something to be done
Ex.: It’s getting late - I’dbetterseeaboutlunch.
You shouldseeabout gettingyourhaircut.
We’ll have to see about getting you a room.
to see to (something)
to do something that has to be done
to take care of
Ex.: Theyhiredaneventplannerto see to all of thedetailsof theparty.
Please see to it that no one comes in without identification.
Can you see to the cat’s food?
to face up to (something)
toacceptthat adifficultsituationexistsand is something you mustdealwith
(“enfrentar algo corajosamente”)
Ex.: Eventually hefacedup to hismoneyproblems.
You must face up to your responsibilities.
to end up
tofinallybe in aparticularplaceorsituation
Ex.: They’retravellingacrossEuropebytrainand areplanningto end upinMoscow.
Much of thismeatwillprobablyend upasdogfood.
to come across (something)
to find something by chance (“encontrar algo por acaso”, “deparar-se com algo”)
Ex.: He came across some old letters in a drawer.
Greg came across this old picture.
to fall apart
tobreakintopieces
(“fazer-se em pedaços”, “despedaçar-se”)
Ex.: Theseoldbootsarefallingapart.
to have a lot ofproblemsthat you cannotdealwith
(“perder o controle da situação”)
Ex.: Shefellapartafter herhusbanddied.
to fall about
tolaughwithout beingabletostop
Ex.: Wefellabout when weheardherreply.
to take up (something)
to start doing a particular job or activity (“começar a fazer algo”)
Ex.: I’ve taken up knitting.
to fill an amount of space or time (“ocupar algo”)
Ex.: This desk takes up too much room.
My children take up most of my time.
to do away with (something)
to get rid of something
Ex.: To do away with the daily grind for a moment.
to come down with (something)
tocatchor showsignsof anillness
Ex.: Ifeellike I’m coming down with acold.
IthinkI’m coming down withflu.
I hope you’re not coming down with flu.
to not stand for (something)
If you will notstandfor something, you will notaccept asituationor aparticulartypeofbehaviour
Ex.: I wouldn’tstandfor thatsortofbehaviourfrom him, if I were you.
I can’t stand for such rudeness.
to be taken aback
to be very shocked or surprised
Ex.: I wassomewhattaken abackbyherhonesty.
to be taken in by (something)
to be deceived (“iludido”, “enganado”) by (something)
Ex.: Don’t be taken in by his apparent shyness.
to live on (money)
to live on (food)
Money:
If youliveon anamountofmoney, that is the money that you use tobuythe things that you need
Ex.: Welivedon very little when we first got married.
We live on the money the government gives us.
Food:
to onlyeataparticular typeoffood
Ex.: I more or lessliveonpasta.
to fall back on (something)
to use something forhelpbecause no other choice is available
Ex.: Theorganizationhas noincomeand noreservesto fall back on.
I’ll always have my family to fall back on.
to fall out with (someone)
to argue with someone and stop being friendly with them
Ex.: Grace has fallen out with her husband.
Helefthomeafterfallingoutwithhisparents.
She’dfallenout with herboyfriendoverhis ex-girlfriend.
to fall through
to fail to happen
Ex.: Wefoundabuyerforourhouse, but then the sale fell through.
The plan fell through at the last minute.
to feel up to (something)
to have the energy to do something
Ex.: I don’t feel up to going outtonight.
She didn’t feel up to walking anymore.
to take (it) out on (someone)
totreatsomeonebadlybecause you areupset or angry,evenif they have done nothingwrong:
Ex.: Iknowyou’ve had abadday, but you don’t have to take it out on me!
to get the message/meaning across
to make someone understand
Ex.: We need to get the messageacrossthattoo muchsunisdangerous.
The teacher had the feeling she wasn’t getting the message across.
to get at (something)
“What are you getting at?”
to suggest (What's your point?, What are you trying to say?)
to get down to (something)
tostarttodirectyoureffortsandattentiontowards something
Ex.: I’ve got a lot ofworkto do, but I can’tseemto get down toit.
I must get down tobookingthehotels.
It’s high time we got down to some real work
to get away with (something)
toescapeblameorpunishmentwhen you do somethingwrong, or toavoidharmorcriticismfor something you did:
Ex.: Shethoughtshe could get away withcheating on hertaxes.
to get on/along with (someone)
to have a good relationship
Ex.: We’re getting on muchbetternow that we don’tlivetogether.
1) to get over (an illness or a bad/unusual experience)
2) to get over (something)
1) to recover from that
Ex.: Greg got over his illness now.
I can’t get over howshorthe is(= it surprised me).
2) to overcome, toacceptanunpleasantfactor situation after dealingwith it for a while
Ex.: They’reupsetthat you didn’tcall, but they’ll get over it.
to make for (something)
to be one thing, or the mostimportantthing, that causes something
Ex.: Everyoneagreed thatfilminginside a chocolate factorywould make for goodtelevision.
Studying hard makes for good results.
to make off with (something)
to steal something
Ex.: The thief made off with a valuable watch.
Somebodybrokeinto theshopand made off with severalTVs.
to take over (something)
to getcontrolof something, or to do something insteadof someoneelse
Ex.: In 1964, the army took over Brazil.
She took overmanagementof this department last winter.
1) to take to (someone/something)
2) to take to (something)
1) to like something or someone, to develop a link for something or someone
Ex.: We took toournewneighborsveryquickly.
You’ll soon take to your new teacher, I’m sure.
Thechildrenhave really taken totennis.
2) tostartto use or do something as ahabit
Ex.: She’s taken towalkingalong the beach after work.
to take up (something)
to begin to do something
Ex.: I’m not very good atgolf– I only took it up recently.
I’ve recently taken up jogging.
to make up (something)
to invent, to say or write something that is nottrue
Ex.: I made up anexcusebecause I didn’twantto go.
He made up the whole story.
to pull (something) off
tosucceedin doing somethingdifficult
(“conseguir algo”)
Ex.: How did hemanagetopullthat off?
It was a hard job, but we pulled it off.
to get round/around (doing something)
to find time to do something, tondo something that you have intended to do for a long time
Ex.: Sorry, but I haven’t got round to fixing the tap yet.
to get up to (something)
to do something, often something that other people would disapprove of.
Ex.: What have you been got up to lately?
Iwonderwhat those two got up toyesterday.
She’s been getting up to all sorts of mischief lately.
to get on with (something)
to resume, to continue doing something after stopping
Ex.: We don’t have alldayto finishthisjob, so can we just get on with it?
Stop talking and get on with your homework.
to give off (something)
to produce heat, light, a smell or a gas
Ex.: The fish had begun to give off a strange smell.
Thattinyradiatordoesn’t give off muchheat.
to talk (someone) into (something/doing something)
topersuadesomeone to do something:
Ex.: He’s against theidea, but IthinkI cantalkhim intoit.
Greg talked me into going to Cardiff.
to tell (someone) off
tospeakangrilyto someone because they have done somethingwrong
Ex.: The teacher told me off for being late.
Theteachertold me offforswearing.
to chip in (something)
to split the value
to give somemoney,especially when several people are givingmoneytopayfor something together
Ex.: They each chipped in $50 to take their parents out todinner.
Yes, we can chip in the bill.
to put in for (something)
to make anofficialrequestto have or do something
Ex.: I’m putting in for ajobat thehospital.
Richard’sfinallyput in for hisdrivingtest.
She has put in for a teaching job.
to put yourself out
to make aneffortto do something to help someone, evenif it is notconvenient
Ex.: Ethan is alwayswillingto put himself out for other people.
Please, don’t put yourself out making a meal. I can easily go to a restaurant.
to go back on (something)
tofailtokeepapromise, or tochange a decision or agreement
Ex.: Jason istotallyunreliableand always goes back on his word.
The government has gone back on its promise.
There is enough of (something) to go round
If there is enough of something to go round, there is enough for everyone in agroupofpeople
Ex.: Are there enoughpencilsto go round?
There aren’t enough sheets of paper to go round.
to go through with (something)
tocompletesomething that you have begun or promised
Ex.: He’dthreatenedtoquitmanytimes, but I neverthoughthe’d go through with it.
In the end, she couldn’t go through it.
to put off (something)
to put off (someone)
to postpone something
to discourage someone
to join in (something)
to take part of something, to participate
Ex.: Try to join in the listening activities to improve this skill.
to not hold with (something, usually an idea)
to not approve of an idea or activity
Ex.: I’m afraid I don’t hold with the idea of giving up.
