PHRASAL VERBS Flashcards
Ramp up
If a business ramps up its activity, it increases it:
The company plans to ramp up production in order to meet the increased demand for its products.
In response to the pandemic, the government decided to ramp up its vaccination campaign.
The team needs to ramp up its training if it wants to win the championship.
The organization is looking to ramp up its fundraising efforts in order to support more projects.
The city is planning to ramp up its public transportation system in order to reduce traffic congestion.
The school is trying to ramp up its online learning resources to better support students during remote learning.
Stem from
to start or develop as the result of something:
Her problems stem from her difficult childhood.
Their disagreement stemmed from a misunderstanding.
to be the result of something
Most people’s insecurities stem from something that happened in their childhood.
Clamp down on
to take strong action to stop or limit a harmful or unwanted activity:
The government is clamping down on teenage drinking.
to take strict action in order to prevent something, especially crime
a campaign by police to clamp down on street crime
The US government is clamping down on drugs.
to clamp down hard on bullying
Lay off
To stop employing someone, usually because there is no work for them to do:
Because of falling orders, the company has been forced to lay off several hundred workers.
used to tell somebody to stop doing something
Lay off me will you—it’s nothing to do with me.
lay off doing something
Lay off bullying Jack.
Iron out
to get rid of any problems or difficulties that are affecting something
There are still a few details that need ironing out.
to remove problems or find solutions:
We’re still trying to iron out some problems with the computer system.
We hope they can iron out their differences and get on with working together.
Weigh in
to give an opinion or enter a discussion or argument:
The senator weighed in with a blistering attack on welfare cheats.
to join in a discussion, an argument, an activity, etc. by saying something important, persuading somebody, or doing something to help
We all weighed in with our suggestions.
Finally the government weighed in with financial aid.
Can I weigh in here?
“I’d love for everyone to weigh in on this topic. What are your thoughts on the new policy?”
“I think it’s important for us to hear from all stakeholders before making a decision. Can we schedule a meeting where everyone can weigh in?”
“I appreciate your opinion, but I’d like to hear from others before we make a final decision. Can we give everyone a chance to weigh in?”
“Before we move forward with this plan, let’s take a few minutes to let everyone weigh in. Do you have any concerns or suggestions?”
“I’m not sure which option is the best one. Can you weigh in and share your perspective?”
To get rid of
to remove something that you do not want any longer:
I can’t wait to get rid of that ugly old couch.
to make yourself free of somebody/something that is annoying you or that you do not want; to throw something away
Try and get rid of your visitors before I get there.
The problem is getting rid of nuclear waste.
I can’t get rid of this headache.
We got rid of all the old furniture.
Turn out
to happen in a particular way or to have a particular result, especially an unexpected one:
As events turned out, we were right to have decided to leave early.
How did the recipe turn out?
to be discovered to be; to prove to be
turn out that…
It turned out that she was a friend of my sister.
turn out to be/have something
The job turned out to be harder than we thought.
The house they had offered us turned out to be a tiny apartment.
Come across
To meet or find by chance: For example, “I came across an old friend while I was shopping downtown.” In this context, “come across” means to unexpectedly encounter someone or something.
To give a certain impression or appear in a certain way: For example, “She comes across as very confident in interviews.” In this context, “come across” means to give a certain impression or present oneself in a certain way.
To convey or express something in a clear or effective way: For example, “I’m not sure if my point came across in the presentation.” In this context, “come across” means to effectively communicate something so that it is understood.
Here are some additional examples of how “come across” can be used in different contexts:
I was cleaning out my closet and came across some old photographs.
When he speaks, he comes across as very knowledgeable and authoritative.
I’m not sure if I’m coming across as sincere in my apology.
The humor in his writing doesn’t always come across to everyone who reads it.
She tried to explain her point of view, but it didn’t really come across to the other person.
Put up with
to accept or continue to accept an unpleasant situation or experience, or someone who behaves unpleasantly:
I can put up with the house being messy, but I hate it if it’s not clean.
He’s so moody - I don’t know why she puts up with him.
They have a lot to put up with (= they have a lot of difficulties).
to accept somebody/something that is annoying, unpleasant, etc. without complaining
SYNONYM tolerate
I don’t know how she puts up with him.
I’m not going to put up with their smoking any longer.
stress someone out
to make someone feel very nervous and worried:
Interviews always stress me out.
come up with something
to suggest or think of an idea or plan:
He’s come up with a new way to use up cold chicken.
Gavin came up with the idea of dividing the rooms in half.
We’ll think about a present for her and see what we can come up with.
The family struggled to come up with the funds for the funeral.
bring something up
to start to talk about a particular subject:
She’s always bringing up her health problems.
“I’d like to bring up a sensitive topic that I think we should discuss as a team.”
“I know we’re here to talk about the budget, but can I bring up an idea for a new project?”
“I didn’t want to bring it up earlier, but I think we need to address the issue of employee turnover.”
“During our meeting tomorrow, I plan to bring up the topic of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.”
Stand out
to be very noticeable:
The black lettering really stands out on that orange background.
to be much better than other similar things or people:
We had lots of good applicants for the job, but one stood out from the rest.
to be easily seen or noticed:
The applicant we hired was so well qualified, she stood out from all the rest.
Look up
to try to find a piece of information by looking in a book or on a computer:
If you don’t know what the word means, look it up in a dictionary.
How can you look the word up if you don’t know how to spell it?
The software looks up words automatically.
Does anybody look up slang words in the dictionary?
I had to look up the word ‘possession’ to check how to spell it.
You could try looking him up in a dictionary of biography.
to become better:
I hope things will start to look up in the new year.
Our financial situation is looking up at last.
Figure out
to finally understand something or someone, or find the solution to a problem after a lot of thought:
[ + question word ] I can’t figure out why he did it.
I find him really odd - I can’t figure him out at all.
Can you figure out the answer to question 5?
We need to figure out what went wrong.
It took them ages to figure out how to assemble the chest of drawers.
As soon as she figures out what happened, you’re in trouble.
Run out
to finish, use, or sell all of something, so that there is none left:
I’ve run out of milk/money/ideas/patience.
“Do you have any milk?” “Sorry, I’ve run out.”
If a supply of something runs out, all of it has been used or it is completely finished:
The milk has run out.
My patience is beginning to run out.
Pop into
to visit briefly:
Why don’t you pop in and see us this afternoon?
If you pop into a place, you visit there briefly, usually for some purpose:
All I have to do on the way home is pop into the drugstore.
When I opened the can of biscuits, the dough popped into my face.
The teacher asked the students to pop into groups of two for the next activity.
I saw a squirrel pop into the tree hollow as I walked by.
The cork on the champagne bottle popped into the air, signaling the start of the celebration.
The idea suddenly popped into my head while I was showering this morning.
to put something quickly into something else:
Pop the CD-ROM into a personal computer.
Just pop your supper in the microwave.
Pick up
o collect, or to go and get, someone or something:
When you’re in town could you pick up the books I ordered?
Whose turn is it to pick the children up after school?
The crew of the sinking tanker were picked up (= saved from the sea) by helicopter.
to lift someone or something using your hands:
If she starts to cry, pick her up and give her a cuddle.
I picked up the kids’ clothes that were lying on the floor.
I went to pick up the phone/receiver, but it had stopped ringing.
Throw away
to get rid of something by treating it as garbage:
When are you going to throw away those old magazines?
Cut back on
to spend less, do less, or use less of something:
The government has announced plans to cut back on defence spending by 10 percent next year.
If exercise is causing you pain, you should cut back.
to do less of something, or use something in smaller amounts, especially money:
With orders down, many companies are cutting back.
We are trying to cut back on travel costs.
The firm has cut back hours at its factory.
Bear with
to be patient and wait while someone does something:
If you’ll just bear with me for a moment, I’ll find you a copy of the drawings.
Calm down
to stop feeling upset, angry, or excited, or to stop someone feeling this way:
She sat down and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
She was angry at first but we managed to calm her down.
Calm down, for goodness sake. It’s nothing to get excited about!
Get back to sb
to talk to someone again, usually on the phone, in order to give them some information or because you were not able to speak to them before:
I’ll get back to you later with those figures.
Fill in
to write or type information on a document in spaces that are provided for it:
Companies will encourage customers to fill in questionnaires about themselves.
Please print off a copy of the agreement, fill it in, sign it and send it back.
Get along
If two or more people get along, they like each other and are friendly to each other:
I don’t really get along with my sister’s husband.
Go over
to examine or look at something in a careful or detailed way:
Forensic scientists are going over the victim’s flat in a search for clues about the murderer.
Remember to go over your essay for grammar and spelling mistakes before you hand it in to me.
I’ve gone over the problem several times, but I can’t think of a solution.
Hand in
to give something to someone in a position of authority:
Have you handed in your history essay yet?
I’ve decided to hand in my resignation (= tell my employer I am leaving my job).
I handed in my notice to my boss yesterday
put in
to officially make a claim, request, etc.
The company has put in a claim for damages.
Ring up
call someone by phone.
“Harriet rang Dorothy up the next day”
Put forward
to state an idea or opinion, or to suggest a plan or person, for other people to consider:
The proposals that you have put forward deserve serious consideration.
I wasn’t convinced by any of the arguments that he put forward.
Many suggestions have been put forward, but a decision is unlikely until after next year’s general election.
The peace plan put forward last August has been revived for the latest round of negotiations.
She has decided to put her name/put herself forward as a candidate.
Set out
to give the details of something or to explain it, especially in writing, in a clear, organized way:
The board has set out its goals/plans/proposals for the coming year.
Your contract will set out the terms and conditions of your employment.
to arrange something, usually a number of things, in an attractive or organized way:
The farmers’ market was full of brightly coloured vegetables set out on stalls.
Every evening Michael sets out the breakfast dishes on the table, ready for the morning.
to give the details of something or to explain it in a clear, organized way, especially in writing:
set out plans/goals/proposals
Your contract will set out the terms and conditions of your employment.
She set out the ingredients to start cooking.
The company set out a new policy to improve employee productivity.
The author set out to write a book about his experiences.
We set out early in the morning to avoid traffic on the way to the airport.
The scientist set out to prove his hypothesis through experiments.
The artist set out to create a series of paintings inspired by nature.
to intentionally start doing something or to embark on a particular course of action.
Nobody sets out to train “dumb”
Get around
to be able to go to different places without difficulty, especially if you are old or ill:
My grandmother is finding it harder to get around these days.
to succeed in avoiding or solving a problem:
We can get around the problem of space by building an extension.
I usually get around the city by bike or public transportation.”
“How do you get around the language barrier when you travel to a foreign country?”
“He managed to get around the company’s policy by finding a loophole.”
“She always finds a way to get around her strict parents’ rules.”
“I can’t seem to get around this difficult math problem.”
“It’s important to get around and meet new people when you’re in a new city.”
“They were able to get around the
give up something
to stop owning, using, or claiming something:
They were forced to give up their home because they couldn’t pay the mortgage.
“Give up” can be used in several ways, such as to quit something, to surrender or to stop trying. Here are some examples of how the phrase can be used:
After months of trying, John finally gave up on his dream of becoming a professional basketball player.
It’s important not to give up when faced with challenges or obstacles. Keep trying and don’t lose hope.
Despite his best efforts, the boxer was forced to give up the fight after sustaining a serious injury in the ring.
She was determined to finish the marathon, but after running for several hours without a break, she eventually had to give up due to exhaustion.
He promised himself he wouldn’t give up until he had accomplished his goal of running a marathon, and after months of training, he finally achieved it.
Many people give up on their hobbies or passions as they get older, but it’s important to continue pursuing what makes you happy.
The detective was close to solving the case, but he knew he couldn’t give up until he had all the evidence he needed to make an arrest.
Despite her initial reluctance, she decided to give up her job and start her own business, which turned out to be a successful venture.
After years of playing football, he had to give it up due to a knee injury.
She loved playing the piano, but gave it up after getting a job that required long hours.
He had to give up eating sweets after being diagnosed with diabetes.
She loved smoking, but gave it up for the sake of her health.
He used to enjoy playing video games, but gave it up after realizing it was taking up too much of his time.
Leo’s decision to give up basketball came as a disappointment to me
Get ahead
to besuccessfulin theworkthat you do:
It’stoughfor a woman to getaheadinpolitics.
If you want to get ahead in your career, you need to work hard and constantly improve your skills.
She worked overtime to get ahead on her project.
He is always looking for ways to get ahead of his competitors in the market.
Some people think that networking is the best way to get ahead in their careers.
If you want to get ahead financially, you need to start saving and investing your money wisely.
show off
to behave in a way that is intended to attract attention or admiration, and that other people often find annoying:
She only bought that sports car to show off and prove she could afford one.
He’s always showing off to his classmates.
Pick out
to recognize, find, or make a choice among different people or things in a group:
Can you pick out the three deliberate mistakes in this paragraph?
The critics picked him out as the outstanding male dancer of the decade.
Can you pick out the red sweater from the pile of clothes?
The detective was able to pick out the culprit from the lineup.
She picked out a beautiful dress for the party.
He picked out the most important points from the lengthy report.
The detective was able to pick out the suspect from a lineup.
Can you help me pick out a new pair of shoes?
She carefully picked out each ingredient for the recipe.
Pick on
to criticize, punish, or be unkind to the same person often and unfairly:
He gets picked on by the other boys because he’s so small.
The new student was being picked on by some of the older students.
Why do you always pick on your little sister?
The boss seemed to be picking on him for no reason.
I don’t like it when you pick on me for my mistakes.
The teacher noticed that one of the students was picking on another and immediately intervened.
Pick through
to look at the things in a group and take only what you want:
I had to pick through the rubbish to find my electricity bill.
After the hurricane, we had to pick through the debris to find our belongings.
The archaeologists carefully picked through the layers of soil to uncover artifacts from ancient times.
After the yard sale was over, people continued to pick through the remaining items, hoping to find a hidden treasure.
The chef picked through the basket of fresh produce to select the best ingredients for her dish.
It took me hours to pick through all the paperwork on my desk to find the one document I needed.
The students picked through the pile of books to find the one that contained the information they were looking for.
The bird was picking through the grass in search of worms and insects to eat.
The detectives had to pick through the suspect’s alibi to find any inconsistencies in his story.
Set off
to cause an activity or event, often a series of events, to begin or happen:
The court’s initial verdict in the police officers’ trial set off serious riots.
to cause a loud noise or explosion, such as that made by a bomb or an alarm (= a warning sound) to begin or happen:
Terrorists set off a bomb in the city centre.
Somebody set the alarm off on my car.
to cause someone to start doing something:
[ + -ing verb ] Every time I think about it, it sets me off laughing.
She’s finally stopped crying - don’t set her off again.
We need to set off early in the morning to avoid traffic.”
“The fireworks set off a car alarm in the neighborhood.”
“The sound of the alarm set off a panic in the building.”
“She set off on a backpacking trip around Europe with her best friend.”
“The baking soda and vinegar mixture set off a chemical reaction.”
“The insult he made towards her set off a heated argument.”
“The music set off a party atmosphere in the room.”
“The detective finally found a clue that set off a breakthrough in the case.”
“The discovery of a new planet set off a wave of excitement in the scientific community.”
