Phrasal verbs Flashcards
keep around
to continue to possess
Whether you rent or own your home, you should always keep a good toolkit around
keep at
to continue to do or work on something
I kept at it and finally finished at three this morning
keep away
to prevent from gaining access
I’ve told him to keep away, but he won’t listen
tuck away
to hide
The sugar is tucked away on the top shelf
phase something out
to gradually stop using something
The airlines are phasing out any aircraft that is more than 20 years old
take on
accept work or responsibility
he took me on as an apprentice
add up
putting all the facts together
I’m afraid all the evidence adds up, he’s completely guilty of the crime
stand around
to stand without doing anything
People were standing around waiting to get inside the theater
draw out
make something last longer
It was long and drawn out, I hated the lecture
pull out
withdraw from an undertaking
Tom isn’t fit, I think he will pull out of the competition
lay off
discharge a worker temporarily or permanently because of a shortage of work
Bradley’s layed off 100 workers today at the plant
find out
discover a fact or piece of information
She found out that he had been seeing another woman
make out
to pretend, put on an act
Karl made out to be a consultant, but he was really a fraud
make off
leave hurriedly, especially in order to avoid duty or punishment
Stop that thief! He’s making off with my wallet!
stand down
withdraw or resign from a position or office
After 10 years as chairman, Mel has decided to stand down
keep off
avoid encroaching on or touching something
I’ve kept off meat for one month and I can feel the difference
back down
to admit that you were wrong or that you have been defeated
party leaders backed down and rescinded the resolution
change over
exchange roles or duties with another person
we were allowed to split the night duty between us, changing over at 2 a.m
look after
take care of someone or something
Meg is expected to come straight home from school and look after her younger sister
throw up
vomit
I leaned over and threw up again
play up
misbehave
I hadn’t had much sleep—the kids had been playing up
feel up to something
to have the energy to do something
I don’t feel up to going out tonight
set up
establish a business, institution, or other organization
she set up the business with a £4,000 bank loan
play down
to make something seem less important than or not as bad as it really is
The doctor tried to play down the seriousness of my father’s illness, but we weren’t fooled
stand about
waiting around in the same place
They were standing about for ages during the system outage
stand for
If one or more letters stand for a word or name, they are the first letter or letters of that word or name and they represent it
In other words the letters stand for building,
antennae, span and earth, all of which you can
jump from.
bear out
confirm
A theory borne out by data
prop up
stop something falling using something else
Alice had propped herself up with pillows so she could read in bed
lap up
to accept or receive something with great pleasure, without thinking about whether it is good, true or sincere
It’s a terrible movie but audiences everywhere are lapping it up
take a punt
To make an attempt at; to try.
John’s taking a punt at writing for an online magazine
Stress out
To feel worried because of too much work or pressure
I was really stressed out before finals
Burn out
Ruin one’s health through overwork
Doing one task for too long can cause you to burn out
Drag by
If time drags by it seems to pass very slowly
The last few weeks of the summer really dragged by
Cut corners
to do something in the easiest, cheapest, or fastest way
I don’t like to cut corners when I have company for dinner
Slip by
if time or an opportunity slips by, it passes and you fail to use it or to gain an advantage from it
I had the chance to switch jobs, but I let it slip by.
