Phrasal Verbs

Question 1

Brush up (on)

Answer 1

Repasar

Gary wants to brush up his Spanish before going to Madrid.

Question 2

Come round (to)

Answer 2

Estar de acuerdo con alguien

I didn’t like the idea at first but I’ve come round to it now.

Question 3

Come up (with)

Answer 3

Ocurrírsele una idea de repente

Lee came up with the brilliant idea of booking a clown for the end–of–term party.

Question 4

Face up (to)

Answer 4

Plantarle cara

If you face up bullies, they usually leave you alone afterwards.

Question 5

Figure out

Answer 5

Descubrir / Resolver

He finally figured out why his car wouldn’t start.
How did you figured out that math problem?

Question 6

Hit upon

Answer 6

Ocurrírsele algo de repente

I have hit upon a great way to save money: stay in bed all day.

Question 7

Make out

Answer 7

Ver / Descifrar / Pretender

I can’t make out the sign from this far away.
Liam tried to make out that he was sick, but he wasn’t.

Question 8

Mull over

Answer 8

Reflexionar

He paused to mull over his various options before making a decision.

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME

Question 9

Piece together

Answer 9

Descifrar

It was hard to piece together what she meant.

Question 10

Puzzle out

Answer 10

Comprender

We are still trying to puzzle out why he did it.

Question 11

Read up (on/about)

Answer 11

Investigar / Documentar

We will read up on the history of Holland before visiting Amsterdam.

Question 12

Take in

Answer 12

Asimilar / Pillar

I’m not sure I took it all in but I understood most of it.

Question 13

Think over

Answer 13

Pensar

Think over what I said and let me know tomorrow what your decision is.

PROBLEM / DECISION

Question 14

Think through

Answer 14

Pensar bien / Pensar detenidamente

I need to think it through before making a decision.

Question 15

Think up

Answer 15

Ocurrírsele algo

Hey Jane, I just thought up a solution to your problem.

Question 16

Swot up (on)

Answer 16

Empollar

Question 17

Find out

Answer 17

Descubrir / Enterarse

I just found out that my sister is pregnant.

Question 18

Check out

Answer 18

Verificar / Comprobar

The inspector checked out the suspect’s alibi by questioning his friends.

Question 19

Suss out

Answer 19

Darse cuenta

Susie reckons she’s sussed out a great way to get into the club for free.

Question 20

Pile out

Answer 20

Salir en avalancha

We all pilled out into the playground.

Question 21

Back up

Answer 21

Respaldar / Hacer copia de seguridad

I didn’t believe Simon’s story until Janie backed him up.
Make sure you back all your data up, just in case you get a virus.

Question 22

Change around

Answer 22

Cambiar algo de sitio

The room looks very different since you changed the furniture around.

Question 23

Change into

Answer 23

Transformarse o convertirse / Ponerse

If you kiss a frog it just might change into a handsome prince.
Why don’t you change into something more comfortable?

Question 24

Do away with

Answer 24

Deshacerse de algo

Did you hear that they are going to do away with private universities altogether?

Question 25

Do up

Answer 25

Abrochar / Renovar Do your coat up or you will catch a cold. We bought an old farmhouse in France, intending to do it up.

Question 26

Fade away

Answer 26

Desvanecerse As the years passed, her memories of her childhood faded away.

Question 27

Key in

Answer 27

Teclear Key in your name and email address on the online application form.

Question 28

Make into

Answer 28

Transformar algo en otra cosa She made her old pair of jeans into a new skirt.

Question 29

Mix up

Answer 29

Mezclar / Confundir con I’m going to mix up some strawberry milkshakes. They are identical twins and I can’t help mi I’m them up.

Question 30

Switch on / off

Answer 30

Encender / Apagar Switch on / off the lights.

Question 31

Take apart

Answer 31

Desmontar He took the engine apart

Question 32

Test out

Answer 32

Probar I think I’ll test out this new floor polish.

Question 33

Turn into

Answer 33

Transformarse en A caterpillar will eventually turn into a butterfly.

Question 34

Use up

Answer 34

Gastar todo Mary used up all my gas and didn’t refill the tank.

Question 35

Wear out

Answer 35

Agotar / Deteriorar Hard work will wear you out if you don’t take breaks. Our children have worn out the knees of their trousers.

Question 36

Bring up

Answer 36

Criar o educar / Sacar un tema / Vomitar It’s not a good idea to bring up politics with my family. The couple adopted the child and brought him up.

Question 37

Cheer up

Answer 37

Animar / Alegrar Here’s a plate of chocolate ice cream to cheer you up.

Question 38

Dress up

Answer 38

Vestirse elegante The actress loves dressing up for films premieres.

Question 39

Make up

Answer 39

Reconciliarse / Inventar I haven’t made up with Alex yet after yesterday’s fight. How could you made up such a ridiculous excuse?

Question 40

Take up

Answer 40

Comenzar He took up woodworking after inheriting his grandfather tools.

Question 41

Tidy up

Answer 41

Organizar I want to tidy up my room before the guests arrive.

Question 42

Turn up

Answer 42

Aparecer / Dejarse caer I didn’t expected him to turn up at my party as he wasn’t invited.

Question 43

Do up

Answer 43

Redecorar We should do up Jake’s bedroom now he has left home.