Phrasal verbs Flashcards
Bring up
Raise: Some parents are criticized for the way they bring up their children.
Fall out
Exchange or express diverging or opposite views, typically in a heated or angry way; Argue: The committee members fell out over plans for the new health center.
Face up to
Accept an unpleasant state of affairs, and try to deal with it: They refused to face up to their responsibilities, with disastrous consequences.
Call off
Not to go ahead with something: At the last minute we had to call off our visit to the museum.
Count on
Rely- Depend: I can always count on my best friend to be there when I need him.
Catch up with
Get to the same level: Many developing countries are failing to catch up with their more developed neighbors.
Die down
Becomes less strong: As the wind dies down, the heat and humidity gradually begin to rise.
Drop out of
leave: An alarming number of students drop out of school early every year.
Figure out
Find it hard to understand; Discover: Major international companies can’t figure out the popularity of the anti-capitalist movement.
Find out
Discover- Realize: If they examined the issues more closely, they would find out the reasons for the changes.
Grow up
Change from being children to being adults: As we grow up our priorities change.
Hand in
Giving their teachers: Students can be quite creative with the reasons they give for not handing in their
homework.
Keep up with
Rise at the same speed as: Salaries very rarely keep up with the cost of living.
Leave out
Does not include: The article is very detailed, but leaves out the reasons for demographic change.
Point out
Show: The lecturer pointed out all of the places on the map where similar incidents had occurred.
Look into
Research: Before you write your essay, you should look into the Party’s history.
Carry on
Continue: Many employees carried on working despite pressure from the unions.
Fall behind
Become late: Once people fall behind with their mortgage payments, they come under extreme financial pressure from their bank.
Cut down / back on,
Reduce: The first step to a healthier lifestyle is to cut down on amount of salt you consume.
Cut out
Stop eating: It is becoming more common for people to cut out meat from their diet.
Take over
Assumed control: In the late 1990s, a lot of large supermarket chains took over premises that had previously been run by small, independent retailers.
Make do with
Use something because there is nothing else available: When computer technology fails us, we have to make do with more primitive methods. They’re called ‘pen and paper’.
Put forward
Suggest or state the case for something: In this essay, I’d like to put forward the arguments for and against globalism.
Look back on
Think about something that happened in the past: When I look back on my childhood, I remember the many sacrifices my parents made for me.
Break down
Peace talks between the two countries collapsed when neither side reached an agreement.
Peace talks between the two countries broke down when neither side reached an agreement.
Work out
I’m trying to calculate if we’ve sold more this year than last year.
I’m trying to work out if we’ve sold more this year than last year.
Wear off
The effects of the drug disappear after a few hours.
The effects of the drug wear off after a few hours.
Wear out
A lot of people exhaust themselves through overwork.
A lot of people wear themselves out through overwork.
Pull through
Despite the severity of the disease, many people recover with the help of appropriate drugs.
Despite the severity of the disease, many people pull through with the help of appropriate drugs.
Sort out
Through careful negotiation, they were able to resolve the problem.
Through careful negotiation, they were able to sort out the problem.
Split up
When parents start to live apart, it can be particularly difficult for their children to cope.
When parents split up, it can be particularly difficult for their children to cope.
Show up
At the opening night, only a few audience members came.
At the opening night, only a few audience members showed up.
Pull out of
The Australian partners stopped being a part of the deal at the last moment.
The Australian partners pulled out of the deal at the last moment.
Let off
People celebrate the Chinese New Year by exploding fireworks in the street.
People celebrate the Chinese New Year by letting off fireworks in the street.