Phrasal verbs

Question 1

Abide by

Answer 1

Accept or follow a decision or rule

We have to ABIDE BY what the court says.

Question 2

Account for

Answer 2

To explain

They had to ACCOUNT FOR all the money that had gone missing

Question 3

Ache for

Answer 3

Want something or someone a lot

My partner’s been away for a fortnight- I am ACHING FOR her

Question 4

Act on

Answer 4

1. To take action because of something like information received.
   The police were ACTING ON a tip from an informer and caught the gang red-handed.
2. Affect
   The medicine only ACTS ON infected tissue

Question 5

Act out

Answer 5

1.Perform something with actions and gestures
They ACTED OUT the story on stage
2.Express an emotion in your behaviour
Their anger is ACTED OUT in their antisocial behaviour

Question 6

Act up

Answer 6

Behave badly or strangely

My computer’s ACTING UP; I think I might have a virus

Question 7

Act upon

Answer 7

1.To take action because of something like information received
The police were ACTING UPON a tip-off
2.Affect
The enzyme ACTS UPON certain proteins

Question 8

Add on

Answer 8

Include in a calculation

You have to ADD the vat ON to the price they give

Question 9

Add up

Answer 9

1.To make a mathematical total
We ADDED UP the bill to check it was correct
2.Be a satisfactory explanantion for something
She explained why the work wasn’t ready, but her story doesn’t ADD UP

Question 10

Add up to

Answer 10

1. Have a certain result
   Trains delays are getting worse and with the high fares, it all ADDS UP TO misery for the commuters
2. Come to a certain amount or figure
   The total costs ADD UP TO several million euros

Question 11

Agree with

Answer 11

Affect (negative way)

I feel terrible- that food didn’t AGREE WITH my stomach

Question 12

Aim at

Answer 12

1.To target
The magazine is AIMED AT teenagers
2.Intend to achieve
They’re AIMING AT reducing costs

Question 13

Allow for

Answer 13

Include something in a plan

You should ALLOW FOR delays when planning a journey

Question 14

Allow of

Answer 14

Make possible, permit
The rules don’t ALLOW OF any
exceptions

Question 15

Angle for

Answer 15

Try to get something indirectly

He’s been ANGLING FOR an invitation, but I don’t want him to come

Question 16

Answer back

Answer 16

To reply rudely to someone in authority
Her mother was shocked when she started ANSWERING her BACK and refusing to
help

Question 17

Answer for

Answer 17

1. Be held responsible for a problem
   The government should be made to ANSWER FOR their failure
2. Speak on behalf of someone

Question 18

Argue down

Answer 18

1. Beat someone in a debate
2. Persuade someone to drop the price of something
3. Try to persuade people not to accept a proposition