Phrasal Verbs T8

ramp up

(especially in reference to the production of goods) increase or cause to increase in amount. Ex) Obama's proposal also mentions how efforts will be made to _______ ________ hydropower production from existing dams

Get across

(of an idea) be communicated clearly. Ex) Your meaning didn't really ________ ________.

Take up on

- (________ someone _____ on something) to accept an offer or invitation that someone has made Ex) I've decided to _________ you _____ on that job offer.

Wear off

- If a feeling or the effect of something _________ __________, it gradually disappears Ex) Most patients find that the numbness from the injection _________ _________after about an hour. Ex) The shine on the leather will _________ ________pretty quickly.

Work up

- to develop a particular feeling Ex) We went for a long walk to ________ ________ an appetite. Ex) I just can't ________ _______ any enthusiasm for this trip.

turn off

1) To cause someone to dislike, become averse to, or lose interest in something. 2) To cause someone to lose sexual interest or excitement.

con (someone) out of (something)

To obtain something from someone through deception Ex) I can't believe that shady salesman _________ you_______ _____ hundreds of dollars.

Tee up

To put someone or something into a position of readiness for some imminent action. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "tee" and "up." Senators from both political parties helped tee up the legislation, with a vote expected as early as Tuesday.

kick back

To relax, typically by reclining and/or engaging in a sedentary activity. Often used in the phrase "kick back and relax."

Hammer away

To work hard on something persistently over time Ex) Yes, we're still trying to _________ __________ the details of this contract. Ex) We kept ____________ _________ until we could make ourselves understood, without embarrassment, in friendly conversation.

put on the back burner

When you put something on a back burner, you make it a low priority. In other words, you've decided that the task or activity on a back burner isn't immediately important. Ex) the actress shared that she was putting her dating life on the back burner.

Drag on

You say that an event or process ______ _____when you disapprove of the fact that it lasts for longer than necessary. Ex) The conflict with James has ________ ________ for two years.

Drown (someone or something) out

[for a sound] to be so loud that someone or something cannot be heard. The noise of the passing train ________ ________ our conversation.

Square off

assume the attitude of a person about to fight Ex) The two opposing sides __________ __________in first presidential debate.

Up to par

at an expected or usual level or quality Ex) I can promise that the tipple will be ________ _______ ______.

Be fed up

be bored, annoyed, or disappointed, especially by something that you have experienced for too long Ex) I'm _______ ________ with my job. He got ________ ______with all the traveling he had to do.

come down with

begin to suffer from (a specified illness). Ex) I ___________ _______________with influenza.

Tell apart

distinguish or separate one from another. Ex) The twins were so identical that it was impossible to ________ them __________.

pass on

give someone something, for example a message, that someone else has given you I will ________ this document _______ to him when I see him next.

Keep at

persist with something. Ex) It was the best part of a day's work but I ________ _______ it.

Break it up

said to stop people fighting: Ex) _________ _____ ______, you two!

Splash out

spend money freely. Ex) If you're really ready to ________ _______, book into one of the six private penthouse suites.

back down

stop demanding sth, stop saying that you will do sth If you ____________ _____________ in an argument you cease to oppose.

get back at someone

take revenge on (someone). Ex) I wanted to _________ _______ __________ them for what they did.

Buy into

to accept that an idea is right and allow it to influence you Ex) I never __________ _________ this idea that you have to be thin to be attractive.

let up

1) To cease or become less intense. (Usually used in reference to weather) Ex) I'm hoping the rain lets up soon./The snow hasn't let up for nearly a week. 2 )To apply less force to something. Often followed by "on." Ex) Let up on the accelerator a little, or you'll burn out the engine. 3) To put less pressure on or be more lenient with someone. Often followed by "on." Ex)They are not going to let up on us in the second half, so we better be ready to battle with them.

Keep to oneself

1) To refrain from attempting to communicate or make connections with others. Ex) If you want to make friends, you can't ________ _________yourself all the time. Start meeting people! 2) To not reveal or share some thought, idea, opinion, or piece of information with anyone else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "keep" and "to." Ex) Please tell them to________the news to themselves for the time being. We're not ready to announce anything publicly yet.

Run up

1) allow a debt or bill to accumulate. Ex) He______ ________ debts of $153,000.

Rip off

1) cheat someone, especially financially. Ex) She thought he was _______ her ______when he asked for $50.

Write off

1) dismiss someone or something as insignificant. Ex) The boy had been______ ________ as a non-achiever.

Drop back

1) fall back or get left behind. Ex) The colt was struggling to stay with the pace and started to _______ ______.

Come about

1) happen; take place. Ex) Can you tell us more about how the project _________ _________?

Float around

1) if something is __________ _________, you have seen it somewhere near but you are not certain where it is Ex) There's a pen ________ ___________ here somewhere. 2) if an idea is__________ __________, it has been suggested but not yet considered Ex) We have various issues ___________ ___________ that we need to discuss.

Come into

1) reach or be brought to a specified situation or result. Ex) New data protection requirements ______ _______ effect in May

Do away with

1) remove or put an end to something Ex) Some airlines have ______ ________ ________ reclining seats. 2) kill someone Ex) She didn't have the courage to ________ ________ _______ him.

Catch on

1) to become popular or fashionable Ex) Sports drinks have _________ _________ as consumers have become more health-conscious. 2) to understand Ex) He didn't ______ __________ at first. ________on _______: Then I ______ _________ to what it was the man was saying.

Tick someone off

1) to make angry or indignant Ex) The cancellation really________ me______

Wear down

1) to make someone gradually lose their energy or confidence Ex) They were ________ _________ the stress of feeding five children.

brush up

1) to practise and improve your skills or knowledge of something Ex) I took a class to brush up my German before the trip. 2) to improve the appearance of something Ex) We need to brush up this old house before any prospective buyers get here.

Brush off

1) to refuse to listen to someone, or to accept that something might be true or important. She ________ ________ the comments and criticism and got on with her day.

Wind down

1) to start to relax gradually after a period of hard work or a worrying situation: The City has started to ______ _______before the Christmas break.

Pull off

1) to succeed in doing something that is difficult Ex) Hanley pulled off a surprise victory in the semi-final. * _______ it _______ (=to succeed at what you are trying to do): They nearly managed to get the loan but just failed to _________ it ________.

Rub in

1)To make someone feel worse about an already bad, unpleasant, or undesirable situation or outcome. A: "You know that this means you won't get to qualify for the state championships, right?" B: "Sheesh, no need to ______it _______, Dave." Why do you always __________ ________ my problems at work whenever we get into an argument? 2)To flaunt one's success or good fortune in order to make someone else jealous. She loves ________ _________ the fact that she got promoted before me.

Plow into

1)to crash into (someone or something) usually at a high speed. Ex) The car _______ __________ the guardrail./ The vehicle ________ ____________ the outdoor tables at the restaurant.

Prey on

1. to hunt and kill (something) for food The wolves _______ _____small animals. 2. to hurt, cheat, or steal from (someone) Ex) criminals who ________ ______ lonely elderly people.

level off

If a rate or amount levels off, it stops rising or falling and stays at the same level. Ex) House prices now seem to be levelling off after the steep rises of the last few years./Unemployment rose to ten percent and then levelled off.

boil down to

If a situation or problem boils down to something, that is the main reason for it Ex) The problem boils down to one thing - lack of money. Ex) It's difficult to choose which appliance to buy, but in the end it usually boils down to cost.

Grow apart

If two people in a close relationship _______ _______, or if they grow away from each other, they gradually begin to have a less close relationship, usually because they no longer have the same interests and want the same things Ex) When my friend moved to a different country I tried to stay close with her, but we slowly _________ _______.

make up to someone

If you say that you will make it up to someone, you are promising that you will do something good for them after they have been upset or disappointed, especially by you. Ex) I'll ________ _______ _______ to you, I promise.

in (one's) element

In the state of doing something that one is very comfortable with or proficient in. Ex) My mother is _____ _______ _________ in the kitchen and can make just about any dish.

Double down

to become more tenacious, zealous, or resolute in a position or undertaking the administration needs to ____________ ________ on the call for political reform. / Keep ________ _________ on racism and sexism! The term is increasingly used as a media euphemism when political figures tell bald-faced lies and when confronted with contradictory statements, the politician not only fails to retract their claims but instead expresses an increased certainty in their truth.

Come apart

to break, crumble, or disassemble into smaller pieces or components (unintentionally); to fall apart or come undone. Ex) The cookie was so soft that it just ___________ __________ in my hands./ Hold that mechanism carefully so it doesn't _________ ___________.

bring about

to cause to happen; 'I was worried that the heavy rain would ______ ______ a landslide.'

Attend to something/someone

to deal with something or someone Ex) We still have a number of other matters to ________ _____. He likes work that requires him to _________ ____ a lot of detail.

take it upon/on oneself

to do something that needs to be done even though no one has asked one to do it Ex) Thank you for__________ ______ _______ _________ to organize the meeting.

fall through

to fail to happen or be completed (plans, arrangements, schemes, etc.). Our plan to go camping _________ _________.

doze off

to fall asleep especially for a short period of time Ex) A few students __________ ________during the movie.

hold someone​/​something dear ​

to feel that someone or something is very important to you ndeed, one of the important values which health care professionals have to________ _________ is great respect for human life.

Dose up

to give a measured amount of a drug to someone * _________someone (up) with something Ex) I'll have to _______ myself _____with vitamin C.

Tip off

to give someone a warning or secret information about something Ex) They were arrested after the police were _________ _______.

fall out with

to have a disagreement and stop being friends I _______ _______ ______ my best friend over something so small!

get on

to have a good relationship I _______ ___________ quite well with my brother.

Feel up to

to have the energy to do something Ex) I don't _________ _______ _____ going out tonight.

hear of

to know about, to be familiar with, to consider; The second definition is always used in the negative. Ex) When I asked for directions to Mill Street, the police officer said that she had never ________ ________ it.

break down

to lose control emotionally or mentally to stop working to separate into smaller parts

Weigh on

to make (someone or something) sad, depressed, or worried Ex) The bad news is really weighing on me. I can tell that something is ______ _______ his mind.

Jazz up

to make (something) more interesting, exciting, or attractive Ex) The company wants to_________ _______ its image. She tried to _________the room _____ with a new rug. He __________ ________ the food with a spicy sauce.

swear off

to make a decision to stop doing, using, or being involved with something harmful, such as drugs or alcohol, or something that is not good or helpful Ex) After years of addiction, he _________ __________drugs completely. Abstaining and refraining.

put off

to make someone not want to do something, or to make someone not like someone or something. Ex) Lack of parking space was ___________ potential customers __________. Robert's attitude towards women really __________ me _______. I ________ him _________ the idea of going shopping with me.

put (something) across to (someone)

to make something clear to someone; to convince someone of something to get a plan accepted. Ex) I don't know how to ________this point ___________to my class./She's not very good at ________ her views ____________.

take the edge off sth

to make something unpleasant have less of an effect on someone: Ex) Have an apple - it'll _________ ________ ___________ ______ your hunger. His apology______ ________ ________ __________ her anger.

bring up

to mention or to start discussing a subject. to raise a child. She often __________ ________ the same topic in conversation. He was ___________ _________ to be polite.

comes to

to reach a particular state or situation referring to a situation or concept. I have ________ __________ the conclusion that I would like to continue studying. When it ______________ __________ singing, I should probably just do it when I am alone and not around others.

hear from

to receive news or information form; this can be by receiving a letter, telephone call, etc., from a person or organization.

edge out

to slowly become more successful, popular, etc., than (someone or something) Ex) The company is gradually _________ ___________ the competition.

give up

to stop trying to do something (often because it is too difficult). After trying for the 100th time, I __________ ________.

come up with

to think of; to produce. an idea / a plan / a suggestion etc. Together, they ___________ ________ __________ a great plan for their weekend.

put up with

to tolerate or accept an unpleasant situation or person without complaining. I guess I will ________ ________ ________ it for now!

spread yourself too thin

to try to do too many things at the same time, so that you cannot give enough time or attention to any of them. Ex)I realized I'd been ________ ________ ________ _________ so I resigned as secretary of the golf club.

see through

to understand the truth about someone or something and not be deceived or tricked I can ___________ ____________ him. His intentions are clear and I am not going to tolerate it.