Phrasal verbs

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PPH HRRAASSAALL VVEERRBBSS 11

FCE

Account for [Account for something].- explain (money, difference, actions) When you account for something, you explain or give a reason for it.

How will you account for the money you spent?

Act out [Act something out].- 1 perform (script, story) When you act something out, you perform it or make it into a play.

The script itself is well written and well acted out by the cast.

Add up [Add something up].- calculate (bill, expenses, figures, numbers) When you add something up, you calculate the total.

You made a mistake while you were adding these numbers up.

Answer back.- When you answer back, you reply rudely.

 Don't answer back to your mum! Apply for [Answer for something].- (job, permit, permission, grant, scholarship, loan) When you apply for something, you fill in a form or write a formal letter asking for it. 

No credit? No problem! Apply for your new Visa Card and MasterCard Today!

Ask for [Ask for something] .- (help, receipt, trouble) When you ask for something, you request it.

They have written to the actress asking for her help in raising money for Nicaraguan children.

Ask out [Ask somebody out].- When you ask somebody out, you ask somebody to go to the theatre, a restaurant, etc, with you.

Take out

Jerry's too scared to ask her out. Have you asked her out yet?

Back up [Back somebody/something up].- When you back somebody up, you support them.

Four witnesses backed him up.

Be back.- When you are back, you have returned.

Come back

What time will you be back?

Be off.- 1 When you are off, you leave a place.

Go away

She's off to Barbados this year. 2 When something is off, it's disconnected or it's not working.

The power was off for about 3 hours. 3 When an event is off, it has been cancelled.

Due to the many last minute cancellations tonight's party is off.

Blow down [blow something down].- (trees, gates, buildings) If the wind blows something down, it makes it fall to the ground by blowing on it.

Several trees were blown down in the night.

Blow out [Blow out, blow something out].- (match, candle, flame, lamp) When something blows out or you blow it out, it's extinguished.

Put something out

I blew out the candles and we ate cake.

Blow up [Blow up, blow something up].- 1 When something blows up, it explodes.

Terrorists intended to blow up the parliament when the president was speaking there, but police foiled the plans.

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PPH HRRAASSAALL VVEERRBBSS 11

FCE

Break down.- 1 (car, system, machine, talks, negotiations, marriage, argument, plan) When something breaks down, it stops working because it has a serious problem.

Sorry I'm late. The car broke down on the way here.

2 When a person breaks down, they lose control and start crying.

Crack up

When he told her he didn't love her anymore, she broke down.

Break in [Break in, break into something].- (building, house, grounds, computer, system) When you break in or break into a place or system, you enter it using force or by breaking the law.

Break out

An unemployed programmer from Britain has been accused of breaking into a large number of US military computers.

Break off [Break something off].- (agreement, engagement, relations, relationship, alliance) When you break something off, you put an end to it because of a problem.

I was extremely stunned when Mac and Brumby broke off their engagement. Break out.- 1 (riots, violence, row, fire, epidemic, disease, war, rash, spots, sweat, tears, argument) When something breaks out, it begins suddenly or violently.

A terrible war has broken out in the Middle East.

2 When you break out, you escape.

Break in

The two criminals broke out of prison yesterday.

Break up 1 [Break something up].- (fight,quarrel, party, crowd, marriage, relationship, couple, alliance, school, meeting) When you break something up or something breaks up, it stops.

He broke up with her after three years.

2 If something breaks up, or if you break it up, it breaks into smaller pieces.

The tides and currents have broken the ship up.

Bring about [Bring something about].- Cause (reform, changes) When you bring something about, you make something happen.

This bill, together with that concerning private pensions, will bring about the reform of the pension system in Romania.

Bring back [Bring something back].- (memories) When something brings something else back, it makes you think about something that happened a long time ago.

Looking at the photos brought back a lot of memories of my visit to the place.

Bring up [Bring somebody up].- When you bring somebody up, you look after a child until it has grown up.

It isn't easy to bring up children nowadays.

Bring up [Bring something up].- (issue, matter, point, subject) When you bring something up, you mention a subject or topic.

Come up, drag up

She brought up the topic of how badly paid her job is.

Build up [Build something up].- (muscles, strength, stamina, reputation, sales, speed, collection, profits) When you build something up, you increase the amount of something.

 

A little practice will soon build up your confidence. It is important to have a daily exercise routine to build up your muscles, weakened by a long period of illness.

Call back [Call back, call somebody back].- When you call back or call somebody back, you return a phone call or call again later.

Phone back, ring back

I'll call you back as soon as I hear anything.

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PPH HRRAASSAALL VVEERRBBSS 11

FCE

Call off [Call something off].- cancel When you call something off, you cancel an event.

Be off, put off

The concert was called off because of rain.

Calm down [Calm down, calm somebody down].- When you calm down, you become more relaxed.

He was very upset about it, but he calmed down eventually.

Carry on.- Continue When you carry on, or carry on doing something, you continue doing something. on, keep on

 

Go

He carried on as if nothing had happened. If things carry on the way they are, you'll lose your job.

Carry out [Carry something out].- Do (survey, investigation, research, review, plan, threat) When you carry something out, you do a task.

The government is going to carry out a survey on the nation's health.

Catch on.- (idea, fashion, concept) When something catches on, it becomes popular.

The idea eventually caught on and became fashionable by the 1980s.

Cater for.- (people, tastes, needs) Provide what is wanted or needed by someone or something.

This shop caters for all musical tastes.

Check in [Check in, check something in].- When you check in, you arrive at a hotel or airport and report your arrival at reception or check-in desk.

We checked into the hotel a little after midnight.

Check out.- When you check out, you pay and leave.

After breakfast I checked out of the hotel.

Check out [Check something out].- When you check something out, you check that something is correct or it's what you want.

You've got to check the facts out before you start torturing yourself.

Cheer up [Cheer up, cheer somebody up, cheer something up].- When you cheer up, you try to feel happier.

I got you this. I thought it might cheer you up.

Clear up [Clear up, clear something up].- 1 (kitchen, mess) When you clear up, or clear something up, you tidy & clean or remove dirt and clean.

Clean up

I cleared up the mess from the kids in the back garden. 2 (doubt, problem, disagreement, misunderstanding, confusion, issue, crime, mystery) When you

clear something up, you find an answer or an explanation for something or settle it.

3 (weather) When bad weather clears up, it improves.

Sort out

I think this misunderstanding will be cleared up soon. Brighten up

The weather is horrible at the moment. I hope it clears up later.

Close down [Close something down].- (factory, plant, business, company, shop, production, operations) When you close something down, you close it permanently.

3

Shut down


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