Phrasal Verbs Flashcards
to move backwards
back UP
= to move backwards
Ex.:
We passed the house we were looking for, so we had to back up a little bit to get to it.
I backed the car up against the garage wall.
to prove something to be true
back UP
= to prove something to be true
Ex.:
There was not enough evidence to back up the theory so we can’t know if it really works out.
What I told you is true, and now I have even more evidence to back it up.
to support someone by confirming that they are telling the truth
back UP
= to support someone by confirming that they are telling the truth
Ex.:
We told our version of the events, certain that the witnesses would back us up.
They won’t back up anyone who is known for lying.
to provide help or support for someone or something
back UP
= to provide help or support for someone or something
Ex.:
If I decide to take on the job, can I count on you to back me up?
The political party backs up any candidate who follows its basic principles.
to become clogged and impassable
back UP
= to become clogged and impassable.
Ex.:
I’m calling the plumber right now because the toilet is backed up again.
Traffic is totally backed up, due to all that construction.
to return to an item previously mentioned
back UP
= to return to an item previously mentioned.
Ex.: Whoa, ______! What have you just said? Janet and Jim are getting married?
to duplicate a file or program so that the original is not lost
back UP
= to duplicate a file or program so that the original is not lost.
Ex.: Every computer manual warns you to back up your work frequently in case of a power outage or computer failure.
to go down something backwards, such as a ladder or inclined driveway
back DOWN
= to go down something backwards, such as a ladder or inclined driveway.
Ex.:
Harry backed down the ladder safely.
to retreat from a particular idea or course of action, often in conflict
back DOWN
= to retreat from a particular idea or course of action, often in conflict.
Ex.: I refuse to back down—this law must be passed, in the interest of public safety.
to yield to a person or a thing; to fail to carry through on a threat
back DOWN
= to yield to a person or a thing; to fail to carry through on a threat.
Ex.:
Jane backed down from her position on the budget.
to place something in a high or upright position
set UP
= to place something in a high or upright position
Ex.:
Please set the books up on the top shelf.
to assemble, erect or organize something
set UP
= to assemble, erect, or organize something
Ex.:
The kids set up a tent in the backyard.
I bought a new table, but I’m not sure how to set it up.
We need to set up a good schedule for taking the kids to school.
to lay out a plan to do something
set UP
= to lay out a plan to do something
Ex:
The police caught the gang trying to set up a kidnapping.
They didn’t commit the crime, but they did set it up.
to establish something; found something
set UP
= to establish something; found something
Ex:
We used the money to set up a new charity.
to give someone everything that is needed
set UP
= to give someone everything that is needed
Ex: Don’t worry that you forgot to pack your good clothes; I’ll set you up.
to establish someone in business by providing capital, equipment, or another backing
set UP
= to establish someone in business by providing capital, equipment, or another backing
Ex:
I wanted to start an Italian restaurant, and my grandparents, who were in the business for years, helped set me up.
to treat someone, especially to drinks
set UP
= to treat someone, especially to drinks
Ex:
The bartender sets up all of his close friends for one beer.
If you don’t have enough money for another beer, I’ll set you up.
to create the needed conditions for something
set UP
= to create the needed conditions for something
Ex: The team’s defence set up a good play.
to put someone or something into a position of authority or power; invest someone with power
set UP
= to put someone or something into a position of authority or power; invest someone with power
Ex: The leaders of the coup set the general up as a dictator.
to give the impression, especially a false impression, that someone is something
set UP
= to give the impression, especially a false impression, that someone is something
Ex:
She set herself up as an authority on Latin, but she really doesn’t know that much.
The newspapers set him up as a star athlete, but he had only played three professional games.
to put someone into a compromising situation by deceit or trickery
set UP
= to put someone into a compromising situation by deceit or trickery
Ex: He set up the tourists by convincing them he needed bus fare to get home, and then he stole their money.
to arrange for someone to meet someone as a possible mate
set UP
= to arrange for someone to meet someone as a possible mate
Ex: A friend set me up with his brother, we’re going out tonight. The dating service set us up.
to stimulate or exhilarate
set UP
= to stimulate or exhilarate
Ex.: That victory really set up our team, we were highly excited.
to put something on the surface of something
set DOWN
= to put something on the surface of something
Ex:
They set the boxes down on the floor.
I set down my book and closed my eyes.
to put something in writing; record something
set DOWN
= to put something in writing; record something
Ex:
I set down some ideas for a novel.
The committee set their findings down in a report.
to land some aircraft
set DOWN
= to land some aircraft
Ex: The pilot set the plane down hard.
to deem, consider, or regard someone or something to be a certain type of person or thing, usually in a derisive way
set DOWN
= to deem, consider, or regard someone or something to be a certain type of person or thing.
Ex:
I had set her down as nothing but a fool, but she proved me wrong.
to regard someone as something
set (sb) DOWN AS (sth)
= to regard someone as something
Ex: They set her down as a liar and never trusted her again.
to attribute some event to some cause
set (sth) DOWN TO (sth else)
= to attribute some event to some cause
Ex: Let’s not be disheartened by this outcome, we should ____ this error ____ to inexperience.
to divide or break something into pieces
break UP
= to divide or break something into pieces
Ex: He broke up a piece of chocolate and scattered the pieces on top of the cake.
to cause a relationship or partnership to end
break UP
= to cause a relationship or partnership to end
Ex:
Personal tensions broke the rock band up. They won’t play together anymore.
I’m not trying to break up their marriage. I think they should stay together.
to cause a crowd or gathering to disperse
break UP
= to cause a crowd or gathering to disperse
Ex:
The protest rally was getting very big and noisy when the police came and broke it up.
The teacher came outside to break up the group of children that were fighting.
to cause someone to laugh or cry very hard
break UP
= to cause someone to laugh or cry very hard
Ex: That story that you told was really funny, it broke me up!
to be inaudible or indecipherable, as of a voice on the telephone or a broadcast of some kind
break UP
= to be inaudible or indecipherable, as of a voice on the telephone or a broadcast of some kind.
Ex.: I’m sorry, can you repeat that? The phone call is horrible. You’re breaking up.
to disrupt the monotony of something
break UP
= to disrupt the monotony of something
Ex.:
I need to walk around and get some coffee—anything to break up a morning of research.
of a machine, to malfunction or break altogether
break DOWN
= Of a machine, to malfunction or break altogether
Ex.:
I’m afraid the blender is breaking down. It stopped working again today.
She didn’t come to the party because her car broke down on the way here.
to fail or cease
break DOWN
= to fail or cease
Ex: Negotiations have broken down again. We still do not have a positive outcome.
to destroy a physical structure
break DOWN
= to destroy a physical structure
Ex.: I’ll break this door down if you don’t come out here right now!
to dismantle a societal obstacle
break DOWN
= to dismantle a societal obstacle
Ex.: We owe a lot to the pioneering activists of earlier eras, who battled prejudice and broke down barriers.
to lose control of one’s emotions, often sadness
break DOWN
= to lose control of one’s emotions, often sadness
Ex.: My mother seemed fine this morning, but she completely broke down at the funeral and cried through the whole thing.
to methodically explain something step by step
break DOWN
= to methodically explain something step by step
Ex.: Can you break down the healthcare proposal to me? It’s too long and complex.
to reduce something to its component parts
break DOWN
= to reduce something to its component parts
Ex: If you break down water, it’s just hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
to get someone else to do what one wants, often by coercion
break DOWN
= to get someone else to do what one wants, often by coercion
Ex.: I’ll threaten him if I have to—anything to break him down and get that classified information from him.
to give in to pressure; to acquiesce
break DOWN
= to give in to pressure; to acquiesce
Ex.: If we keep asking mom and dad to get pizza, eventually they’ll break down and order it.
