Phrasal Verbs 1 (Advanced)

 

break into – to get into a building or car by using force, usually in order to steal something.

break into – to use someone else’s computer without permission in order to find out or change information.

break into – to start to use an amount of money or food that you have been saving.

break into – to open a container of food or drink in order to start eating or drinking what is in it.

break into – to use paper money to buy something because you do not have enough coins to pay for it.

break into – to become involved in a type of business or activity that is difficult to become involved in.

break into – to suddenly start to do something.

 

grow up – to gradually change from being a child to an adult.

grow up! – something that you say to an adult in order to tell them to stop behaving stupidly.

 

throw away – to get rid of something because you do not want or need it any more.

throw away – to waste a skill or an opportunity to do something good.

 

get into – to become interested in an activity or subject, or to start being involved in an activity.

get into – to succeed in getting a place at school.

get into – to succeed in becoming a member of a team.

get into – to start to have a particular habit or way of behaving.

get into – to be thin enough to be able to put your clothes on.

get into – to become involved in a difficult situation, often without intending to, or to make someone do this.

get into – to criticize someone.

 

phone up – to telephone someone.

 

log on(also onto, in, into) – to put your name into a computer so that you can start using it.

 

hack into – to get into someone else’s computer system without permission in order to look at some information or do something illegal.

 

run up – to run to where the person is.

run up – if you run up a debt (e.g. bill, deficit), you do things that cause you to owe a large amount of money.

run up – to make something very quickly, especially by sewing.

run up – to raise a flag to the top of its pole.

run up – to make the price or value of something (e.g. stocks) increase.

 

find out – to get information about something because you want to know more about it, or to learn a fact or piece of information for the first time.

find out – to discover that someone has done something wrong.

 

go about – to start to do something or deal with something.

go about – to continue with an activity.

go about – if someone goes about doing something, they spend their time behaving badly or doing something that is unpleasant for other people.

go about – if an illness goes about, a lot of people get it.

go about – if a story or piece of news goes about, a lot of people are talking about it.

go about – to dress up or behave in a particular way.

go about – if a boat or a ship goes about, it turns around.

 

keep at – to keep working hard at something difficult or something that takes a long time, or to make someone continue to work hard.

 

track down – to find someone or something after searching for them in many different places.

 

set about – to start doing something, especially something that uses a lot of time or energy.

set about – to start dealing with something in a particular way.

set about – to attack someone physically.

 

shut down – if a factory or business shuts down, or if someone closes it down, it closes and stops working.

shut down – if a machine shuts down, or if someone shuts it down, it stops operating.

 

hand over – to give something to someone else.

hand over – to give someone else responsibility for or control of something or someone.

 

keep ahead – to continue to be more advanced and successful than other people, or to make sure that someone is more advanced or successful than other people.

 

* Definitions and exercises from: Cambridge International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs

 

Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal verb from the Advanced Phrasal Verb list.

1. A student had managed to __________ some top-secret government data.
2. All prisoners of war will be __________ after the ceasefire.
3. American banks are starting to __________ the British financial market.
4. Anyone can __________ this computer.
5. Both chemical factories were __________ for safety reasons.
6. Business was bad during the recession and we __________ debt.
7. Can you not do something Rob? You _____ us _____ this mess!
8. Could you lend me 50 cents – otherwise I will have to __________ a $10 bill to pay for the soda.
9. Did she __________ university?
10. Do not believe anything you hear, there are all kinds of rumors __________.
11. Dr. Clark will be __________ responsibility for her patients from next month.
12. England had the chance to take the lead in the second half and they just _____ it _____.
13. Everyone __________ in fur coats and thermal boots.
14. He announced his decision to resign and __________ to his junior.
15. He __________ their computer system and stole some top-secret records.
16. He had drunk too much and __________ a fight outside the restaurant.
17. He has often thought about having an affair, but is worried that his wife would __________.
18. He is hoping to __________ the school team.
19. He knew that if his parents __________ about the party he would never be allowed to stay in the house again on his own.
20. He lived in dread of being __________.
21. He __________ a lot of debts while he was unemployed.
22. Heavy buying __________ the price of stocks higher than expected.
23. Here seems to be a lot of flu __________ at the moment.
24. How can we __________ solving this problem?
25. How did you __________ journalism?
26. I am going to __________ those magazines if you have finished reading them.
27. I am trying to __________ one of my old school friends.
28. I got home and immediately __________ cleaning the house.
29. I __________ the habit of having a snack at about 11 each morning.
30. I had not spoken to you for ages so I thought I would _____ you _____.
31. I have put on so much weight that I cannot __________ any of my clothes any more.
32. I need to __________ exactly what went wrong.
33. I need to finish a job but I do not know how to __________ the task.
34. I __________ behind him and slapped him on the back.
35. I think they are __________ the problem the wrong way.
36. I told him that a letter from the bank had just arrived and he __________ a sweat.
37. I wish she would not __________ telling people that I am depressed.
38. I would like to help, but what is the best way to __________ it?
39. In spite of last night’s bomb attack most people seem to be __________ their business as usual.
40. It was work that required intense concentration and he _____ us _____ it all afternoon.
41. Learning a language is hard work – you will have to __________ it.
42. Learning to drive is not easy, as you will soon __________.
43. Learning to take disappointments is all part of __________.
44. __________ using your own name and password.
45. My car has been __________ twice this month.
46. Next time, could you use the cheese that is open before you go __________ a new packet?
47. Oh __________, for God’s sake, it really is not that funny!
48. Our food supply ran out after five days and we had to __________ our emergency rations.
49. Ring the restaurant to __________ if they still have a table free.
50. She can __________ a dress in a couple of hours on her sewing machine.
51. She _____ herself _____ trouble with the police.
52. She __________ in New Zealand.
53. She has been __________ yoga recently.
54. She __________ to me and put this package in my hands.
55. She tends to whistle as she __________ her household chores.
56. That is right Jo, you __________ him!
57. The audience __________ tears as the band came on stage.
58. The boat __________ as it came close to the shore.
59. The British flag was __________ on the roof.

60.  The computer system __________automatically at 8pm.

61. The driver was forced to __________  the keys and was left standing on the roadside.
62. The job provides good experience for people who want to __________ charity work.
63. The selling power of the name alone will _____ them _____ of their rivals.
64. These potatoes are past their best – I think I should _____ them _____.
65. They dragged him into an alley and __________ him with their fists.

66.  They have finally managed to __________that book I wanted.

67. They will have to work hard to __________ in the opinion polls.
68. Three thousand people will lose their jobs if the car manufacturer __________.
69. We __________ that it was his birthday and so we decided to buy him a small present.
70. We had to __________ a completely different routine once the baby arrived.
71. We __________  the most enormous bill in the first restaurant we went to.
72. What do you want to be when you __________?
73. Why do you not __________ and see if there are any tickets left for tonight?
74. Without warning, she had __________ a run and he thought that he would never catch up.
75. You can always __________ your savings if you are short of cash.
76. You cannot __________ treating people like that!
77. You have spent years doing all that training and now you are going to _____ it all _____.

Answer Key

1. A student had managed to hack into some top-secret government data.
2. All prisoners of war will be handed over after the ceasefire.
3. American banks are starting to break into the British financial market.
4. Anyone can log on this computer.
5. Both chemical factories were shut down for safety reasons.
6. Business was bad during the recession and we got into debt.
7. Can you not do something Rob? You got us into this mess!
8. Could you lend me 50 cents – otherwise I will have to break into a $10 bill to pay for the soda.
9. Did she get into university?
10. Do not believe anything you hear, there are all kinds of rumors going about.
11. Dr. Clark will be handing over responsibility for her patients from next month.
12. England had the chance to take the lead in the second half and they just threw it away.
13. Everyone went about in fur coats and thermal boots.
14. He announced his decision to resign and hand over to his junior.
15. He broke into their computer system and stole some top-secret records.
16. He had drunk too much and got into a fight outside the restaurant.
17. He has often thought about having an affair, but is worried that his wife would find out.
18. He is hoping to get into the school team.
19. He knew that if his parents found out about the party he would never be allowed to stay in the house again on his own.
20. He lived in dread of being found out.
21. He ran up a lot of debts while he was unemployed.
22. Heavy buying ran up the price of stocks higher than expected.
23. Here seems to be a lot of flu going about at the moment.
24. How can we go about solving this problem?
25. How did you get into journalism?
26. I am going to throw away those magazines if you have finished reading them.
27. I am trying to track down one of my old school friends.
28. I got home and immediately set about cleaning the house.
29. I got into the habit of having a snack at about 11 each morning.
30. I had not spoken to you for ages so I thought I would phone you up.
31. I have put on so much weight that I cannot get into any of my clothes any more.
32. I need to find out exactly what went wrong.
33. I need to finish a job but I do not know how to set about the task.
34. I ran up behind him and slapped him on the back.
35. I think they are setting about the problem the wrong way.
36. I told him that a letter from the bank had just arrived and he broke into a sweat.
37. I wish she would not go about telling people that I am depressed.
38. I would like to help, but what is the best way to go about it?
39. In spite of last night’s bomb attack most people seem to be going about their business as usual.
40. It was work that required intense concentration and he kept us at it all afternoon.
41. Learning a language is hard work – you will have to keep at it.
42. Learning to drive is not easy, as you will soon find out.
43. Learning to take disappointments is all part of growing up.
44. Log on using your own name and password.
45. My car has been broken into twice this month.
46. Next time, could you use the cheese that is open before you go breaking into a new packet?
47. Oh grow up, for God’s sake, it really is not that funny!
48. Our food supply ran out after five days and we had to break into our emergency rations.
49. Ring the restaurant to find out if they still have a table free.
50. She can run up a dress in a couple of hours on her sewing machine.
51. She got herself into trouble with the police.
52. She grew up in New Zealand.
53. She has been getting into yoga recently.
54. She ran up to me and put this package in my hands.
55. She tends to whistle as she goes about her household chores.
56. That is right Jo, you get into him!
57. The audience broke into tears as the band came on stage.
58. The boat went about as it came close to the shore.
59. The British flag was run up on the roof.

60.  The computer system shuts down automatically at 8pm.

61. The driver was forced to hand over the keys and was left standing on the roadside.
62. The job provides good experience for people who want to break into charity work.
63. The selling power of the name alone will keep them ahead of their rivals.
64. These potatoes are past their best – I think I should throw them away.
65. They dragged him into an alley and set about him with their fists.

66.  They have finally managed to track down that book I wanted.

67. They will have to work hard to keep ahead in the opinion polls.
68. Three thousand people will lose their jobs if the car manufacturer shuts down.
69. We found out that it was his birthday and so we decided to buy him a small present.
70. We had to get into a completely different routine once the baby arrived.
71. We ran up the most enormous bill in the first restaurant we went to.
72. What do you want to be when you grow up?
73. Why do you not phone up and see if there are any tickets left for tonight?
74. Without warning, she had broken into a run and he thought that he would never catch up.
75. You can always break into your savings if you are short of cash.
76. You cannot go about treating people like that!
77. You have spent years doing all that training and now you are going to throw it all away.

 

Phrasal Verbs 3 (Intermediate)

 

back up – to say that someone is telling the truth; to support or help someone; if a musician backs up another musician, they play music or sing with them; to prove that something is true; to drive a car backwards; to make a copy of computer information so that you do not lose it; if traffic backs up, the vehicles have to wait in a long line because there are too many of them.

keep up – to go at the same speed as someone or something that is moving forward, so that you stay the same level with them; to increase or to make progress at the same speed as something or someone else so that you stay the same level with them; to be able to understand or deal with something that is happening or changing very fast; to continue without stopping or changing, or to continue something without allowing it to stop or change; to not allow something that is at a high level to fall to a lower level; to practice a skill that you learned in the past so that you continue to be good at it; to keep a building in good condition, usually by providing money to repair it; to make someone go to bed later than they usually do; to continue to do something, especially to work hard or to do good work.

update – to bring up to date.

build up – to increase in amount, size, or strength, or to make something increase in amount, size, or strength; to develop and improve something; to gradually make or create something; to praise someone or something and say that they are very important or special; to make someone healthier and stronger after an illness, especially by making sure they eat a lot.

set up – to start a company or organization; to make arrangements that something can happen or exist; to trick someone in order to make them do something, or in order to make them seem guilty of something that they have not done; to give someone the money that they need to start a business; to start working for yourself in your own company; to get all the necessary equipment ready for a particular activity; the way in which equipment for a particular activity is set up; if something (e.g. sleep, breakfast) sets you up, it prepares your body for the day by making you feel healthy and energetic.

upgrade – to improve, raise to a higher grade or level.

catch up – to reach someone in front of you by going faster than them; to reach the same quality or standard as someone or something else; to learn the newest facts about something.

start up – if a business or other organization starts up, or if someone starts one up, it is created and starts to operate; if a vehicle or engine starts up, or if someone starts it up, it starts to work; if a sound or activity starts up, or if someone starts it up, it starts to happen; to sit up or stand up suddenly because you are surprised; to begin to work or to manage a business.

free up – to make time or money available for a particular use by not using it in another way; to do something for someone so that they are available to do something else.

 

*** Definitions from: Cambridge International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs (except update and upgrade: Geddes & Grosset New English Dictionary and Thesaurus)
Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal verb from the Intermediate Phrasal Verb list.

 

I along with my brother, were able to _________ enough money to create a _________ in computer software. As we wanted to _________ our words to our potential clients, we poured all of our time and effort into making the company succeed. We were eventually able to _________ a huge clientele, _________ a sister company based on customer service, and hire hundreds of employees. The sister company was able to _________ our clients servers with one click of a button. Soon, we were so successful, that every new competitor was trying to emulate us and trying to _________ with our advances. When we felt that we could not _________ our business empire anymore, we decided to sell the business and start to _________ on some well deserved leisure time.
Answer Key

 

I along with my brother, were able to free up enough money to create a start-up in computer software. As we wanted to back up our words to our potential clients, we poured all of our time and effort into making the company succeed. We were eventually able to build up a huge clientele, set up a sister company based on customer service, and hire hundreds of employees. The sister company was able to update our clients servers with one click of a button. Soon, we were so successful, that every new competitor was trying to emulate us and trying to keep up with our advances. When we felt that we could not upgrade our business empire anymore, we decided to sell the business and start to catch up on some well deserved leisure time