Idioms for School/College, Review All Phrasal Verbs
Burned-out/ Burnt-out
(adj.) tired and unmotivated because of too much stress and work Ex: Many teachers and students feel ________________ at the end of the semester. After a few weeks of break, they are ready to start again!
Hang out
(informal) to spend a lot of time in a place Ex: Come to the beach and ____________ with us! We'll be here till 5 pm. Intransitive
Writer's block
(n.) when you can't think of what to write or how to continue with your writing Ex: When I have ___________________, I like to talk to a friend about my ideas. Then, I can write down the words I said.
Make up (a test/assignment)
(v.) To take a test or complete an assignment that you missed because you were absent Ex: Professor, can I ____________ last week's test? I was sick that day.
Take a shot
(v.) To try or guess at something Ex: If you don't know the answer, just _________________!
Cram for a test
(v.) study at the last minute; study a lot of information at one time Ex: Tonight is going to be a very long night because I need to _________________ tomorrow.
Cut me some slack
(v.) to be less strict with someone because they are going through a difficult time Ex: I was supposed to fail that class because I missed two exams, but the professor decided to ___________________ because I told her that I had been very sick.
Cut/ skip/ ditch class
(v.) to choose not to go to class without having a good reason for being absent Ex: The 12th grade students decided to _________________ to see their favorite band in concert. Then, they got in trouble with their parents and the school.
Ace the test
(v.) to get a very high score (an A) on a test Ex: I studied so hard, I know I'll _____________!
Racking my brain
(v.) to make a great effort to think of or remember something Ex: I'm _________________________, but I just can't think of the answer.
Learn (something) by heart
(v.) to memorize something Ex: I need to __________the irregular past tense verbs ___________ before my quiz next week.
Brush up on (something)
(v.) to review something in order to refresh one's memory Ex: You should ________________ math before you take the SAT.
Drop out (of school)
(v.) to stop going to school before finishing your degree Ex: He had to _____________________ to help take care of his family.
Hit the books
(v.) to study hard Ex: I have a final next week, so I'd better _______________ this weekend.
Burn the candle at both ends
(v.) to work or study from early in the morning until late at night and so get very little rest Ex: If you ____________________ for a long time, you might make yourself sick! Everyone needs some time to relax.
Get along (with)
If two or more people _______________________, they like each other and are friendly to each other Ex: The brothers don't _______________. They are always arguing. Intransitive
Take care of sb
Looking after someone (especially children, the elderly, the sick, or pets) Ex: It's a lot of work to _________________ a puppy! Transitive & Inseparable
Bring sth/sb up
MULTIPLE MEANINGS (1) raise (children) Ex: Parents ___________ their children in many different ways. (2) mention, start to talk about Ex: Please don't ____________ that topic. It's so unpleasant! Transitive & Separable
Pick sth/sb up
MULTIPLE MEANINGS: (1) lift Ex: Can you help me __________ this box? (2) go to (someone's house) and transport them in your car to another location. Ex: Can you __________ me __________ and take me to work? (3) to learn something without trying Ex: If you go to Spain, you'll _____________ some Spanish. Transitive & Separable
Help sb out
assist (someone) Ex: Could you ______ me ___________? I can't carry this box alone. Transitive & Separable
Fill sth in
complete by writing in a blank space (usually one item on the form) (separable) Ex: Please ____________ your name on this line. Transitive & Separable
Think sth over
consider Ex: I need to _____________ it ____________ before I make a decision. Transitive & Separable
Talk sth over
discuss Ex: I'm not sure what to do. Can we ________ the problem __________? Transitive & Separable
Give sth away
donate, get rid of by giving Ex: She lost weight, so she is going to ___________ her clothes that no longer fit her. Transitive & Separable
Figure sth out
find the solution to a problem (often through effort) Ex: Did you __________ why your boss never came to work today? I hope nothing is wrong! Transitive & Separable
Cheer sb up
make happier Ex: I wanted to ___________ my son, so I bought him his favorite candy. Transitive & Separable
Get through sth
pass or assist someone in passing (a difficult or testing experience or period) Ex: We hope to ____________________ 2020 and have a better year in 2021! Transitive & Inseparable
Throw sth away/out
put in the trash, discard You can ____________ that food. It's already expired. Transitive & Separable
Give sth up
quit doing something or quit trying Ex: My doctor told me I need to _____________ eating unhealthy food. Transitive & Separable
Call sb back
return a telephone call Ex: I know you don't have time to talk on the phone right now, so could you _________ me __________ later? Transitive & Separable
It's not the end of the world.
something is not as terrible as it seems to be Ex: I know it seems really horrible that you failed the test, but I promise you that ______________________. In 5 years, you won't even remember that this happened.
Lay sb off
stop employment (by employer) Ex: The company may need to _______________ some workers because their profits have fallen. Transitive & Separable
Put up with sth*
to accept or continue to accept an unpleasant situation or experience, or someone who behaves unpleasantly Ex: I ___________________ you and your bad habits because I love you! Transitive & Inseparable
Look up to sb
to admire and respect someone Ex: I __________________ my sister. She's my role model. Transitive & Inseparable
Show up
to arrive where you have arranged to meet somebody or do something Ex: In the US, we say it's "fashionably late" if you __________ to a party a few minutes after it starts. Intransitive
Get by
to be able to live or deal with a situation with difficulty Ex: It's hard to ______________ in a new country when you don't know the language, but it gets easier with time. Intransitive
Watch out for sth/sb
to be careful of something Ex: In warm, humid weather, you should ___________________________ mosquitos! Transitive & Inseparable
Count on sb
to be confident that you can depend on someone Ex: I hope my daughter feels that she can always _____________ me. I always want to support her. Transitive & Inseparable
Be into sb/sth*
to be interested in Ex: Could you ____________ her? You always blush whenever you see her! Transitive & Inseparable
Take after sb
to be similar to an older member of your family Ex: They ____________ their parents. All of them have brown hair and brown eyes and love playing sports! Transitive & Inseparable
Turn into sth/sb
to change and become someone or something different, or to make someone or something do this Ex: In 2020, most teachers had to _________________ online educators! Transitive & Inseparable
Come over
to come to a place, especially somebody's house, to visit for a short time Ex: Do you want to _______________ and watch the presidential debate with me? Intransitive
Stick to sth
to continue doing or using something and not change to anything else Ex: A: You love music so much and you play the guitar so well! Why don't you try singing? B: My singing voice is terrible! I think I should ________________ playing the guitar! Transitive & Inseparable
Pick on sb
to criticize, punish, or be unkind to the same person often and unfairly Ex: Bullies often _______________ other children who are different in some way. For example, they may tease a girl because she's smart and gets the highest grades in the class. Transitive & Inseparable
Put sth off
to decide or arrange to do something at a later time Ex: It's not a good idea to ______________ doing your homework. Transitive & Separable
Call sth off
to decide that a planned event or activity will not happen because it is not possible, useful, or wanted now Ex: We need to _________________ the meeting because the boss is sick. Transitive & Separable
Stand up for sb/ sth
to defend or support a particular idea or a person who is being criticized or attacked Ex: True friends ________________ each other when someone is picking on them. Transitive & Inseparable
Grow up
to develop into an adult Ex: When our children ____________, we hope they will be open-minded and considerate. Intransitive
Work out
to do exercises to make your body stronger Ex: I'm going to the gym to ________________. Intransitive
Fill in for sb
to do someone else's work for them because they cannot or will not do it themselves Ex: I can't come to work tomorrow. Would you __________________ me? Transitive & Inseparable
Pig out on sth*
to eat too much Ex: On American holidays, we always _________________ pies, bread, mashed potatoes, etc. Transitive & Inseparable
Hang up
to end a phone call Ex: I have to ___________. I'm getting another call. Intransitive
Break up (with)
to end a romantic relationship Ex: They fight all the time, but they don't want to _____________. They love each other. Intransitive
Check sth out
to examine something or get more information about it in order to be certain that it is true, safe, or suitable, to go to a place in order to see what it is like Ex: You should _________________ the neighborhood before you buy a house there. Transitive & Separable
Fall for sb*
to fall in love with Ex: It's a bad idea to ______________ your co-worker! It might be hard to keep things professional at work. Transitive & Inseparable
Get over sth
to get better after an illness, or feel better after something or someone has made you unhappy Ex: It can be hard to _________________ a breakup, especially if you were together for a long time. Transitive & Inseparable
Go out
to leave a place in order to go somewhere else Ex: Let's _________________ to eat tonight. Intransitive
Clean sth up
to make a person or place clean and tidy Ex: Please __________________ your room before your grandparents come over! Transitive & Separable
Come by
to make a short visit to a place, in order to see somebody Ex: If you ______________ my work tomorrow, I'll give you a discount on some furniture. Intransitive
Get together (with)
to meet in order to discuss something or to spend time together Ex: Do you want to ____________ next weekend? Maybe we can go hiking. Intransitive
Get back (to)
to return to someone or something Ex: I'd better ____________________. I've been away from work for too long. Intransitive
Speak up
to say something in a louder voice so that people can hear you Ex: Can you _________________? I couldn't hear what you said. Intransitive
Get away with sth
to succeed in doing something bad or wrong without being punished or criticized Ex: My baby brother is so cute! No one can get mad at him, so he can ______________________ anything! Transitive & Inseparable
Drop sb/sth off
to take someone or something to a place, usually by car as you travel somewhere else Ex: I need to _________________ my daughter ___________ at school. Transitive & Separable
Catch up (with)
to talk to someone you have not seen for a while to discover what they have been doing. Ex: I haven't seen you in ages! Let's get together next weekend and ____________. Intransitive
Call sb up
to telephone someone Ex: I should __________ him ___________. We haven't talked in a long time. Transitive & Separable
Look down on sb
to think that someone is less important than you Ex: Don't ______________________ Tim just because he's a new employee! He'll has a lot of valuable experience from his last job. Transitive & Inseparable
Get rid of sth
to throw something away or give something to someone because you do not want it now Ex: In the US, it's common to do spring cleaning. We clean up our houses and _________________ old clothes that we don't wear anymore. Transitive & Inseparable
Check up on sb/sth
to try to discover what someone is doing in order to be certain that that person is doing what they should be doing Ex: I need to _____________________ my son while he's doing online learning. He likes to play video games during his Zoom class. Transitive & Inseparable
Show off
to try to make other people admire your abilities or achievements in a way which is annoying Ex: He just bought a new car. He's going to drive to his friend's house so he can ____________ a little bit. Intransitive
Hold on
to wait (especially on the telephone) Ex: _____________! I'll be with you in a moment. Intransitive
Fill sth out
write information on a form (the whole form) Ex: Could you help me __________ this job application? Transitive & Separable