Phrasal verbs

362   Introduction

In modern English it is very usual to place prepositions or adverbs after certain verbs so as to obtain a variety of meanings:

givt away – give to someone/anyone

give up – abandon (a habit or attempt)

look after – take care of

look for « search for, seek

look out – beware

The student need not try to decide whether the combination is verb + preposition or verb + adverb, but should consider the expression as a whole.

It is also important to learn whether the combination is transitive

(i.e. requires an object) or intransitive (i.e. cannot have an object):

look for is transitive: / am looking for my passport.

look out is intransitive: Look out! This ice isn’t safe!

Each of the combinations given in the following pages will be marked

’tr’ (- transitive) or ’intr’ (» intransitive), and the examples of the use

of each will help to emphasize this distinction.

Note that it is possible for a combination to have two or more different meanings, and to be transitive in one/some of these and intransitive in others. For example, take off car. mean ’remove’. It is then a transitive expression:

He took off his hat.

take off can also mean ’rise from the ground* (used of aircraft). Here it is intransitive:

The plane took off at ten o ’clock.

Transitive expressions: the position of the object

Noun objects are usually placed at the end of these expressions:

/ am looking for my glasses.

With some expressions, however, they can be placed either at the end or immediately after the verb, i.e. before the short word. We can say:

He took off his coat or He took his coat off. Pronoun objects are sometimes placed at the end’of the expression:

/ am looking for them. But they are more often placed immediately after the verb:

He took it off.

This position is usual before the following short words: up, down, in, out, away, off and on (except when used in the expression call on visit). ,

38 Phrasal verbs

Examples given of the use of each expression wifl show all possible positions of noun or pronoun objects in the following way:

I’ll give this old coat away, (give away this old coat/give it away) i.e. with this expression the noun object can come before or after the away; the pronoun object must come before the away. When only one example is given the student may assume that the pronoun object has the same position as the noun object.

When these expressions are followed by a verb object the gerund form of the verb is used:

He kept on blowing his horn.

Where gerunds are usual this will be shown by examples. Note that some expressions can be followed by an infinitive:

It is up to you to decide this for yourself.

Some of the younger members called on the minister to resign.

The lecturer set out to show that most illnesses were avoidable. go on can be followed by either infinitive or gerund but there is a considerable difference in meaning. See 270 A.

363    Verb + preposition/adverb combinations account

account for (tr) = give a good reason lor, explain satisfactorily (some

action or expenditure).

A treasurer must account for the money he spends.

He has behaved in the most extraordinary way; I can’t account for

his actions at all/I can’t account for his behaving like that.

allow

allow for (tr) = make provision in advance for, take into account (usually some additional requirement, expenditure, delay etc.):

It is 800 kilometres and I drive at 100 k.p.h., so I’ll be there in eight

hours. – But you ’II have to allow for delays going through towns

and for stops for refuelling.

Allowing for depreciation tour car should be worth £2,000 this time

next year.

anawer

anawer back (intr), answer somebody back «• answer a reproof impudently:

FATHER: Why were you so late last night? You weren’t in till 2 a.m.

SON: You should have teen asleep.

FATHER: Don’t answer me back. Answer my question.

aak after/for somebody – ask for news of:

/ met Tom at the party; he asked after you. (asked how you were/how you were getting on)

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back

38 Phrasal verb* ask for

(a) = ask to speak .to:

Go to the office and ask for my secretary.

(b) m request, demand:

The men ashed for more pay and shorter hours. ask someone in (object before in) =» invite him to enter the house: He didn ’t ask me in; he kept me standing at the door while kt nod the message.

ask someone out (object before out) » invite someone to an entertainment or to a meal (usually in a public place):

She had a lot of friends and was usually asked out in the evenings,

so she seldom spent an evening at home.

be

back away (intr) = step or move back slowly (because confronted by some danger or unpleasantness):

When he took a gun out everyone backed away nervously. back out (intr) = withdraw (from some joint action previously agreed on), discontinue or refuse to provide previously promised help or support:

He agreed to help but backed out when he found how difficult it was, back somebody up = support morally or verbally:

The headmaster never backed up his staff, (backed them up) If a , parent complained about a teacher he assumed that the teacher was in the wrong.

be against (tr) *= be opposed to (often used with gerund): I’m for doing nothing till the police arrive./I’m against doing anything til! the police arrive.

be away (intr) = be away from home/this place for at least a night, be back (intr) = have returned after a long or short absence: / want to see Mrs Pitt. Is she in? ~ No. I’m afraid she’s out at the moment or No, I’m afraid she’s away for the weekend. ~ When will she be back? ~ She ’II be back in half an hour/next week. be for (tr) – be in favour of (often used with gerund). be in (intr) – be at home/in this bidding.

be in for (tr) – be about to encounter (usually something unpleasant): Did you listen to the weather forecast? I’m afraid we’re in fora bumpy flight.

If you think that the work is going to be easy you ’re in for a stuck. be over (intr) * be finished:

The storm is over now; we can go on.

be out (intr) – be away from home/from this building for a short time – not overnight. be up (intr) – be out of bed:

Don’t expect her to answer the doorbell at eight o’clock on Sunday morning. She won’t be up.

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38 Phrasal verbs

be up to (tr) – be physically or intellectually strong enough (to perform a certain action). The object is usually it, though a gerund is possible:

After kis illness ttu Minister continued in office though he teas no

longer up to the work/up to doing the work.

be up to something/some mischief/some trick/no good – be occupied or busy with some mischievous act: •

Don’t trust him; he is up to something/some trick.

The boys are very quiet. I wonder what they are up to. Note that the object of up to here is always some very indefinite expression such as these given above. It is never used with a particular action.

it is up to someone (often followed by an infinitive) – it is his responsibility or duty:

It is up to the government to takr action on violence.

I have helped you as much as I can. Now it is up to you. (You must

continue by your own efforts.)

bear

bear out (tr) = confirm:

This report bears out my theory, (bears my theory out/bean it out)

bear up (mtr) = support bad news bravely, hide feelings of grief: The news of her death was a great shock to htm but he bore up bravely and none of us realized how much he felt it.

blow

blow out (tr) « extinguish (a flame) by blowing:

The wind blew out the candle, (blew the candle out/blew it out) blow up (tr or intr)

(a) = destroy by explosion, explode, be destroyed:

They blew up the bridges so that the enemy couldn ’t follow them. (blew the bridges up/blew them up) Just as we got to the bridge it blew up,

(b) = fill with air, inflate, pump up:

The children blew up their balloons and threw them into the air. (blew the balloons up/blew them up)

boil

boil away (intr) = be boiled until all (the liquid) has evaporated:

/ put the kettle on the gas ring and then went away and forgot about

it. When I returned, the water had all boiled away and the flame had

burnt a hole in the kettle.

boil over (intr) = to rise and flow over the sides of the container (used only of hot liquids):

The milk boiled over and there was a horrible smell of burning.

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38 Phrasal verbs break

break down figures – take a total and sub-divide it under various

headings so as to give additional information:

You say that 10.000 people use this library. Could you break that down into age-groups? (say how many of these are under 25, over

50 etc.)

break down a door etc. • cause to collapse by using force:

The firemen had to break down the door to get into the burning house, (break the door down/break it down)

break down (intr) – collapse, cease to function properly, owing to

some fault or weakness:

(a) Used of people, it normally implies a temporary emotional collapse: He broke down when telling me about his son’s tragic death, (tie was overcome by his sorrow; he wept.)

(b) It can express collapse of mental resistance:

At first he refused to admit his guilt but when he was shown the evidence he broke down and confessed.

(c) When used of health it implies a serious physical collapse:

After yean of overwork his health broke down and he had to retire.

(d) It is very often used of machines:

The car broke* down when we were driving through the desert and it took us two days to repair it.

(e) It can be used of negotiations:

The negotiations broke down (were discontinued) because neither side would compromise. break in (intr), break into (tr)

(a) = enter by force:

Thieves broke in and stole the silver.

The house was broken into when the owner was on holiday.

(b) = interrupt someone by some sudden remark:

/ was telling them about my travels when he broke in with a story of his own.

break in (a young horse/pony etc.) (tr) = train him for use:

You cannot ride or drive a horse safely before he has been broken in. break off (tr or intr) = detach or become detached:

He took a bar of chocolate and broke off a bit. (broke a bit off/broke it off)

A piece of rock broke off and fell into the pool at the foot of the cliff. break off(tr) = terminate (used of agreements or negotiations):

Ann has broken off her engagement to Tom. (broken her

engagement off/broken it off) break off (intr) – stop talking suddenly, interrupt oneself:

They were in the middle of an argument but broke off when someone

came into the room. break out (intr) (a) – begin (used of evils such as wars, epidemics, fires etc.):

War broke out on 4 August.

(b)

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38 Phrasal verbs

(b) – escape by using force from a prison etc.:

They locked him up in a room but he broke out. (smashed tha door

and escaped)

The police art looking for two men who broke out of prison last night. break up (tr or intr) – disintegrate, cause to disintegrate:

// that ship stays there she will break up/she will be broken up by the

waves.

The old ship was towed away to be broken up and sold as scrap.

Divorce breaks up a lot of families, (breaks families up/breaks

them up)

break up (intr) – terminate (used of school terms, meetings, parties etc.):

The school broke up on 30 July and all the boys went kome for the

holidays.

The meeting broke up in confusion.

bring

bring someone round (tr; object usually before round)

(a) – persuade someone to accept a previously opposed suggestion: After a lot of argument I brought him round to my point of view.

(b) – restore to consciousness:

She fainted with the pain but a little brandy soon brought her round. bring a person or thing round (tr; object usually before round) bring him/it to my/your/his house:

/ have finished that book that you lent me; I’ll bring it round (to your

house) tonight. bring up (tr)

(a) – educate and train children:

She brought up her children to be truthful, (brought her children up/brought them up)

(b) – mention:

At the last committee meeting, the treasurer brought up the question of raising the annual subscription, (brought the question up/brought it up)

burn

burn down (tr or intr) – destroy, or be destroyed completely by fire (used of buildings):

The mob burnt down the embassy, (burnt the embassy

down/burnt it down)

The hotel burnt down before kelp come.

call ’ A*

1    call meaning ’visit’ (for a short time) ,M

call at a place: jHl

I called at the bank and arranged to transfer some money.       ^^B

k

38 Phrasal verbs

call for – visit a place to collect a person or thing:

/ am gotng to a pop concert with Tom. He is calling for me at eight so

I must be ready then.

Let’s leave our suitcases in the left luggage office and call for them

later on when we have the car.

call in is intransitive, and has the same meaning as look in and the colloquial drop in:

Call in/Look in on your way home and tell me how the interview

went. call on a person:

He called on all the housewives in the area and asked them to sign

the petition.

Other meanings of call for/in/on

call for (tr) – require, demand (the subject here is often an impersonal

word or phrase such as: the situation/this sort of work/this etc.; the

object is then usually some quality, e.g. courage/patience/a steady hand

etc.):

The situation calls for tact.

You ’ve got the job! This calls for a celebration. But it can also be used with a personal subject:

The workers are calling for strike action.

The relations of the dead men are calling for an inquiry. call in a person/call him in « send for him/ask him to come to the house to perform some service, send for is more authoritative than call in which is therefore a more polite form:

// was too late to call in an electrician, (call an electrician

in/call him in)

There is some mystery about his death; the police have been called in. call on somebody (usually + infinitive) = ask him to do something/ask him to help. This is a rather formal way of making a request and is chiefly used on formal occasions or in speeches etc. There is usually the idea that the person called upon will consider it his duty to comply with the, request:

The president called upon his people to make sacrifices for the good of

their country.

The chairman called on the secretary to read the minutes of the last

meeting.

Other combinations with call

call off (tr) – cancel something not yet started, or abandon something

already in progress:

They had to call off (= cancel) the match as the ground war, too

wet to play on. (call the match off/call it off)

When the fog got thicker the search was called off. (abandoned) call out (tr) – summon someone to leave his house to deal with a situation outside. It is often used of troops when they are required to leave their barracks to deal with civil disturbances:

The police couldn ’t control the mob so troops were called out.

•’•’1

38 Phrasal verbs

\

The Fire Brigade was called out several times on Ote night of

5 November to put out fires started by fireworks.

Doctors don’t much like being called out at night. call up (tr)

(a) * summon for military service:

In countries where there is conscription men are called up at On age of eighteen, (call up men/call men up/call them up)

(b) – telephone: ’ / called Tom up and told him the news, (called up Tom/called him up)

care

not to care about (tr) – to be indifferent to: ’,   The professor said that he was interested only in research; he didn’/

really care about students. care for (tr)

(a) « like (seldom used in the affirmative): He doesn ’t care for films about war.

(b) « look after (not much used except in the passive):

The house looked well cared for. (had been well looked after/was in good condition)

carry

carry on (intr) » continue (usually work or duty):

/ can’t carry on alone any longer; I’ll have to get help. carry on with (tr) is used similarly:

. The doctor told her to carry on with the treatment. carry out (tr) = perform (dudes), obey (orders, instructions), fulfil (threats):

You are not meant to think for yourself; you are here to carry out my

orders.

The Water Board carried out their threat to cut off our water supply.

(They threatened to do it and they did it.)

He read the instructions but he didn’t carry them out.

catch

catch up ’vith (tr), catch up (tr or intr) ** overtake, but not pass: / started last in the race but 1 soon caught up with the others. (caught them up/caught up)

You ’ve missed a whole term; you ’II have to work hard to catch up with the rest of the class, (catch them up/catch up)

clean

clean out (tr) a room/cupboard/drawer etc. > clean and tidy it thoroughly:

/ must clean out the spare room, (clean the spare room

out/clean it out) clean up (tr) a mess, e.g. anything spilt.

Clean up any spilt paint, (clean the spilt paint up/clean it up)

322

38 Phrasal verb* clean up (intr) is used similarly:

These painters always clean up when they’ve finished, (leave the place clean)

clear

clear away (tr) – remove articles, usually in order to make space: Could you clear away these papers? (clear these papers away/dear them away)

clear away (intr) – disperse;

The clouds soon cleared away and it became quite warm.

clear off (intr) from an open space, clear out (intr) of a room, building

= go away (colloquial; as a command it is definitely rude):

’You clear off,’ said the farmer angrily. ’You ’ve no right to put your

caravans in my field without even asking my permission.’

Clear out! If I find you in this building again, I’ll report you to the

police..

clear out (tr) a room/cupboard/drawer etc. = empty it, usually to make room for something else:

/’// clear out this drawer and you can put your things in it. (clear

this drawer out/clear it out) clear up (intr) – become fine after clouds or rain:

The sky looks a bit cloudy now but I think it will clear up. clear up (tr or intr) = make tidy and clean:

When you are cooking it’s best to clear up as you go, instead of

leaving everything to the end and having a terrible pile of things to

deal with.

Clear up this mesa, (clear this mess up/clear it up) clear up (tr)

(a) – finish (some work which still remains to be done):

/ have some letters which I must clear up before I leave tonight.

(b) •* solve (a mystery):

In a great many detective stories when the police are baffled an amateur detective comes along and clears up the mystery, (clears it up)

close

close down (tr or intr) » shut permanently (of a shop or business): Trade was so bad that many small shops closed down and big shops ’closed some of their branches down, (closed down some branches/closed them down)

close in (intr) » come nearer, approach from ail sides (used of mist,

darkness, enemies etc.):

As the mist was closing in we derided to stay where we were.

close up (Sntr) – come nearer together (of people in a line):

If you children closed up a bit there ’d be room for another one on this seat.

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38 Phrasal verbs

come across/upon (tr) = find by chance.:

When I was looking for my passport I came across these old

photographs.

come along/on (intr) » come with me, accompany me. ’Come on’ is often said to someone who is hesitating or delaying:

Come on. or we’II be late. come away (intr) = leave (with me):

Come away now. It’s time to go home. j|

come away/off (intr) = detach itself: HJ

When I picked up the teapot the handle came away in my hand.      I come in (intr), come into (tr) – enter: H

Someone knocked at my door and I said, ’Come in.’ H

Come into the garden and I’ll show you my roses. HI

come off (intr)

(a) = succeed, of a plan or scheme (used in negative).

/ ’m afraid that scheme of yours won 7 come yff. It needs mart capital than you have available.

(b) – take place; happen as arranged:

When is the wedding coming off? ~ Next June.

If we say The duchess was to have opened the bazaar we imply that thfe plan was made but didn’t come off. (She arranged to open it but later had to cancel this arrangement.)

(c) = end its run (of a play, exhibition etc.):

’Lady Windermere ’s Fan’ is coming off next week. You ’d better hurry if you want So see it. come out (intr)

(a) = be revealed, exposed (the subject here is normally the truth/the facts/the whole story etc. and usually refers to facts which the people concerned were trying to keep hidden, i.e. scandals etc.):

They deceived everybody till they quarrelled among themselves; (hen one publicly denounced the others and the whole truth came out.

(b) = be published (of books):

Her new novel will be coming out in time for the Christmas sales.

(c) = disappear (of stains):

Tomato stains don’t usually come out. come round (intr)

(a) » finally accept a previously opposed suggestion:

Her father at first refused to let her study abroad but he came round (to it) in Ihe end. (said she could go)

(b) » come to my (your/h»s etc.) house:

I’ll come round after dinner and tell you the plan. come round/to (intr; stress on to) » recover consciousness:

When we found him he was unconscious but he came round/to in half an hour and explained that he had been attacked and robbed.

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38 Phrasal verbs

come up (intr)

(a) = rise to the surface:

A diver with an aqualung doesn ’t have to keep coming up for air; he can stay underwater for quite a long time. Weeds are coming up everywhere.

(b) = be mentioned:

The question of the caretaker’s wages came up at the last meeting. come uj> (intr), come up to (tr) = approach, come close enough to talk:

A policeman was standing a few yards away. He came up to me and said, ’You can’tpark here.’

talk:

crop

crop up (intr) = appear, arise unexpectedly or by accident (the subject is normally an abstract noun such as difficulties/the subject etc. or a pronoun):

At first all sorts of difficulties cropped up and delayed us. Later we

learnt how to anticipate these.

Cut

cut down a tree = fell it:

Ifyiu cut down all the trees you will rum the land, (cui the

trees down/cut them down} cut down (tr) – reduce in sbe or amount:

We must cut down expenses or we ’It be getting into debt.

’This article is too long,’ said the editor. ’Could you cut it down to

2,000 words?’

cut in (intr) « slip into traffic lane ahead of another car when there isn’t room to do this safely:

Accidents arc often caused by drivers cutting in. cut off(tr) =• disconnect, discontinue supply .(usually of gas, water, electricity etc.). The object can either be the commodity or the person who suffers:

The Company has cut off our electricity supply because we

haven’t paid our bill, (cut our supply off/cut it off)

They’ve cut off ihe water/our water supply temporarily because they

are repairing one of the main pipes.

We were cut off in the middle of our (telephone) conversation. (This

might be accidental or a deliberate action by the switchboard

operator.)

cut someone off = form a barrier between him and safety (often used in connexion with the tide, especially in the passive):

We were cut off by the tide and had to be rescued by boat. be cut off (intr) – be inconveniently isolated (the subject is usually a place Ot residents in a certain place) r

Yov will be completely cut off if you go to Hoe in that village because

there is a bus only once a week.

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38 Phrasal verbs

cut out (tr)

(a) = cut from a piece of cloth/paper etc. a smaller piece of a desired shape:

When I am making a dress I mark the cloth with chalk and then cut it out (cut out the dress/cut the dress out) Young people often cut out photographs of their favourite pop stars and stick them to the walls.

(b) – omit, leave out:

If you want to get thin you must cut out sugar, (cut it out) be cut out for (tr) – be fitted or suited for (used of people, usually in the negative):

His father got him a job in a bank but it soon became clear that he

was not cut out for that kind of work. (He wasn’t happy and was not

good at the work.) cut up (tr) » cut into small pieces:

They cut down the tree and cut it up for firewood, (cut the tree

up/cut up the tree)

die

die away (intr) = become gradually fainter till inaudible:

They waited till the sound of the guard’s footsteps died away. die down (intr) => become gradually calmer and finally disappear (of riots, fires, excitement etc.):

When the excitement had died down the shopkeepers took down their

shutters and reopened their shops.

die out (intr) – become extinct (of customs, races, species of animals etc.):

Elephants would die out if men could shoot as many as they wished.

do

do away with (tr) – abolish:

The government should do away with the regulations restricting

drinking hours. do up (tr) « redecorate:

When I do this room up I’ll paint the walls cream, (do up this

room/do it up) do without (tr) « manage in the absence of a person or thing:

We had to do without petrol during the fuel crisis. The object is sometimes understood but not mentioned:

If there isn’t any milk we’ll have to do without (it).

draw

draw back (intr) – retire, recoil:

It’s too late to draw back now; the plans are all made. draw up (tr) = make a written plan or agreement:

My solicitor drew up the lease and we both signed it. (drew it up) draw up (intr) – stop (of vehicles):

The car drew up at ”the kerb and the driver got out.

38 Phrasal verbs drop

drop in (intr) – pay a short unannounced visit:

He dropped in for a few minutes to ask if he could borrow your power drill, (drop in is more colloquial than ’call in’.) drop out (intr) – withdraw, retire from a scheme or plan.

We planned to hire a coach for the excursion but now so many people have dropped out that it will not be needed.

enter

enter for (tr) – become a competitor/candidate (for a contest, examination, etc.):

Twelve tkousana competitors have entered for the next London Marathon.

fade

fade away (intr) – disappear, become gradually fainter (usually of sounds):

The band moved on and the music faded away. fall

fall back (intr) – withdraw, retreat (this is a deliberate action, quite different from fall behind, which is involuntary):

As the enemy advanced we fell back. fall back on (tr) – use in the absence of something better:

We had to fall back on dried milk as fresh milk wasn ’t available.

He fell back on the old argument that if you educate women they

won’t be such good wives and mothers.

fall behind (intr) – slip into the rear through inability to keep up with the others, fail to keep up an agreed rate of payments:

At the beginning the whole party kept together but by the end of the

day those who were less fit had fallen behind. ~

Befell behind with his rent and the landlord began to become

impatient.

fall in with someone’s plans – accept them and agree to co-operate:

We’d better fall in with his suggestion for the sake of peace. fall in (intr) of troops etc. – get into line fall out (intr) of troops etc. – leave the lines:

The troops fell in and were inspected. After the parade they fell out

and went back to their barracks. fall off (intr) – decrease (of numbers, attendance etc.):

Orders have been falling off lately; we need a new advertising

campaign.

If the price of seats goes up much more theatre attendances will begin

to fall off.

fall on (tr) – attack violently (the victim has normally no chance to defend himself as the attackers are too strong; it is also sometimes. used of hungry men who attack their food when they get it): |H

The mob fell on the killers and clubbed them to death. •

The starving men fell on the food, (devoured it) H

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38 Phrasal verbs

fall out (intr) = quarrel:

When thieves fall out honest men get their own. (proverb; i.e. get

back their property) fall through (intr) = fail to materialize (of plans):

My plans to go to Greece fell through because the journey turned out

to be much more expensive than I had expected.

feed

be fed up (intr), be fed up with (tr) = be completely bored (slang): / ’m fed up with this wet weather. I’m fed up with waiting; I’m going home.

feel

feel up to (tr) = feel strong enough (to do something):

/ don’t feel up to tidying the kitchen now. I’ll do it in the morning. I dont feel up to it.

fill

fill in/up forms etc. = complete them:

/ had to fill in three forms to get my new passport, (fill three forms in/fill them in)

find

find out (tr) = discover as a result of conscious effort: In the end I found out what was wrong with my hi-fi. The dog found out the way to open the door, (found it out) fini someone out = find that he has been doing something wrong (this discovery is usually a surprise because the person has been trusted): After robbing the till for months the cashier was found out.

fix

fix up (tr) = arrange:

The club has already fixed up several matches for next season. (fixed several matches up/fixed them up)

get

get about (intr) = circulate: move or travel in a general sense:

The news got about that he had won the first prize in the state lottery

and everybody began asking him for money.

He is a semi-invalid now and can’t get about as well as he used to. get away (intr) – escape, be free to leave:

Don’t ask him how he is because if he starts talking about his health

you ’II never get away from him.

I had a lot to do in the office and didn ’t get away till eight. get away with (tr) = perform some illegal or wrong act without being punished, usually without even being caught:

He began forging cheques and at first he got away with it but in the

end he was caught and sent to prison.

(b)

38 Phrasal verbs

get back (tr) – recover possession of:

If you lend him a book he ’II lend it to someone else and you ’II never

get it back, (get back your book/get your book back) get back (intr; – reach home again:

We spent the whole day in the hills and didn’t get back tilt dark. get off (intr) – be acquitted or receive no punishment (compare with get away with it, which implies that the offender is not even caught):

He was tried for theft but got off because there wasn ’t sufficient

evidence against him. (was acquitted)

The boy had to appear before a magistrate but he got off as it was his first offence, (received no punishment) get on (intr), get on with (tr)

(a) = make progress, be successful: How is he getting on at school?

He is getting on very well with his English.

(b) = live, work etc., amicably with someone:

He is a pleasant friendly man who gets on well with nearly everybody. How are you and Mr Pitt getting on? get out (intr) «> escape from, leave (an enclosed space): Don’t wory about the snake. It’s in a box. It can’t get out. News of the Budget got out be/ore it was officially announced. I’m so busy that I don’(very often get out. (out of the house) Note that the imperative ’Get out’, except when it means ’descend’ (from a vehicle), is very rude. get out of (tr) » free oneself from an obligation or habit:

I said that I’d kelp him. Now I don’t want to t-ut I can ’(get out of it. (free myself from my promise)

He says that he smokes too much but he can’t get out of the habit. Some people live abroad to get out of paying heavy taxes. get over (tr) = recover from (illness, distress or mental weakness): He is just getting over a bad heart attack, I can ’tget over her leaving her husband like that. (I haven’t recovered from the surprise; I am astonished.) He used to be afraid of heights but he has got over that now. get it over (the object is usually it which normally represents something unpleasant) – deal with it and be flushed with it:

If you have to go to the dentist why not go at once and get it over? (Be careful not to confuse this with get over it, which is quite different.)

get round a person = coax him into letting you do what you want:

Girls can usually get round their fathers. Mt

get round a difficulty/regulation – find some solution to it/evade it: I

// we charge people for admission we will have to pay entertainment        I tax on our receipts; but we can get round this regulation by saying H

that we are charging not for admission but for refreshments. Money paid for refreshments is not taxed.

get through (tr or intr) = finish a piece of work, finish successfully: He got through his exam all right, (passed it)

J2<^

38 Phrasal verbs

38 Phrasal verbs

get through (intr) = get into telephone communication:

/ am trying to call London but I can’t get through; I think all the

lines an engaged.

get up (tr) – organize, arrange (usually an amateur entertainment or a charitable enterprise):

They got up a concert in aid of cancer research. (They got it up.) get up (intr) – rise from bed, rise to one’s feet, mount:

/ get up at seven o’ clock every morning.

(For get used to mean enter/leave vehicles, see 93 D.)

go

give it to someone (who need not be

give

give something away – give it to someone (who need not be mentioned):

/’// give this old coat away, (give away this old coat away/git* it

away) give someone away (object before away) « betray him:

He said that he was not an American but his accent gave him away.

(told us that he was an American) give back (tr) = restore (a thing) to its owner:

/ must call at the library to give back Ma book, (to give this book

bock/to give it bock) give in (intr) » yield, cease to resist: ^gj

At first he wouldn ’t let her drive the car but she was so persuasivelm

that eventually he gave in. B

give out (tr) flj|

(a) » announce verbally:

They gave out the names of the winners, (gave the names out/gave them out)

(b) ” distribute, issue:

The teacher gave out the books, (gave one/some to each pupil) give out (intr) = become exhausted (of supplies etc.):

The champagne gave out long before the end of the reception.

His patience gave out and he slapped the child hard. give up (tr or intr) – abandon an attempt, cease trying to do something:

/ tried to climb the wall but after I had failed three times I gave up.

(gave up the attempt/gave the attempt up/gave it up)

A really determined person never gives up/never gives up trying. give up (tr) – abandon or discontinue a habit, sport, study, occupation:

Have you given up drinking whisky before breakfast?

Ht gave up cigarettes, (gave them up)

He tried to learn Greek but soon got tired of it and gave it up. give oneself up (object before up) » surrender:

He gave himself up to despair.

He was cold and hungry after a week on the nut so kt gave himself

up to the police.

330

go ahead (intr) – proceed, continue, lead the way:

While she was away he went ahead with the work and got a lot done

You go ahead and I’ll follow; I’m not quite ready. go away (intr) = leave, leave me, leave this place:

Are you going away for your holiday? ~ No, I’m staying at home.

Please go away; I can’t work unless I am alone. go back (intr) – return, retire, retreat:

I’m never going back to that hotel. It is most uncomfortable. go back on (tr) – withdraw or break (a promise):

He went back on his promise to tell nobody about this. (He told

people about it, contrary to his promise.) go down (intr)

(a) – be received with approval (usually of an idea):

/ suggested that she should look for a job but this suggestion did not go down at all well.

(b) = become less, be reduced (of wind, sea, weight, prices etc.): During her illness her weight went down from 50 kilos to 40. The wind went down and the sea became quite calm.

go for (tr) = attack:

The cat went for the dog and chased him out of the hall. go in for (tr) – be especially interested in, practise; enter for (a competition):

This restaurant goes in for vegetarian dishes, (specializes in them)

She plays a lot of golf and goes in for all the competitions. go into (tr) – investigate thoroughly:

’We shall have to go into this very carefully,’ said the detective. go off (intr)

(a) = explode (of ammunition or fireworks), be fired (of guns, usually accidentally):

As he was cleaning his gun it went off and killed him.

(b) – be successful (of social occasions):

The party went off very well, (everyone enjoyed it)

(c) – start a journey, leave: He went off in a great hurry.

go on (intr) – continue a journey:

Go on till you come to the crossroads. go on (intr), go on with (tr), go on + gerund * continue any action:

Please go on playing; I like it.

Go on with the treatment. It is doing you good. go on + infinitive:

He began by describing the route and went on to tell us what the trip

would probably cost. (He continued his speech and told us etc.) go out (intr)

(a) ** leave the house:

She is always indoors; she doesn ’t go out enough.

(b) = join in social life, leave one’s house for entertainments etc. She is very pretty and goes out a lot.

331

38 Phrasal verbs

(c) = disappear, be discontinued (of fashions): Crinolines went out about the middle of the last century.

(d) – be extinguished (of lights, fires etc.):

The light went out and we were left in the dark. go over (tr) – examine, study or repeat carefully:

He went over the plans again and discovered two very serious

mistakes. go round (intr)

(a) = suffice (for a number of people): Will there be enough wine to go round?

(b) – go to his/her/your etc. house:

/ said that I’d go round and see her during the weekend, (go to her

house)

go through (tr) = examine carefully (usually a number of things; go through is like look through but more thorough)’

There is a mistake somewhere; we ’II have to go through the accounts

and see where it is.

The police went through their files to see if they could find any

fingerprints to match those that they had found on the handle of the

weapon. go through (tr) = suffer, endure:

No one knows what I went through while 1 was waiting for the

verdict, (how much I suffered)

go through with (tr) = finish, bring to a conclusion (usually in the face of some opposition or difficulty):

He went through with his plan although all his friends advised him to

abandon it. go up (intr)

(a) – rise (of prices):

Tht price of strawberries went up towards the end of the season.

(b) – burst into flames (and be destroyed), explode (used of whole buildings, ships etc.):

When the fin naciud the cargo of chemicals the whole ship went up.

(Mew up)

Someone dropped a cigarette end into a can of petrol and the whole

garage went up in flames.

go without (tr) – do without. (But it only applies to things. ’Go without a person’ has only a literal meaning; i.e. it means ’start or make a journey without him’.)

grow

grow out of (tr) – abandon, on becoming older, a childish (and often bad) habit:

He used to tell a lot of lies as a young boy but he grew out of that

later on. grow up (intr) – become adult:

’I’m going to be a pop star when I grow up,’ said the boy.

332

38 Phrasal verb* hand

. hand down (tr) – bequeath or pass on (traditions/information/ possessions):

This legend has been handed down from father to son, hand in (tr) = give by hand (to someone who need not be mentioned because the person spoken to knows already):

/ handed in my resignation, (gave it to my employer)

Someone handed this parcel in yesterday, (handed it in) hand out (tr) = distribute:

He was standing at the door of the theatre handing out leaflets.

(handing leaflets out/handing them out) hand over (tr or intr) = surrender authority or responsibility to another:

The outgoing Minister handed over his department to his successor, (handed his department over/handed it over) hand round (tr) = give or show to each person present:

The hostess handed round coffee and cakes, (handed them round)

hang

hang about/around (tr or intr) «= loiter or wait (near):

He hung about/around the entrance all day, hoping for a chance to

speak to the director. hang back (intr) = show unwillingness to act:

Everyone approved of the scheme but when we asked for volunteer *

they all humg back. hang on to (tr) = retain, keep in one’s possession (colloquial):

I’d hang on to that old coat if I were you. It might be useful. hold

hold off (intr) = keep at a distance, stay away (used of rain):

The rain fortunately held off till after the school sports day. hold on (intr) =• wait (especially on the telephone):

Yes, Mr Pitt is in. If you hold on for a moment I ’II get him for you. hold on/out (intr) = persist in spite of, endure hardship or danger:

The survivors on the rock signalled that they were short of water but

could hold out for another day.

The strikers held out for six weeks before agreeing to arbitration. hold up (tr)

(a) = stop by threats or violence (often in order to rob):

Tht terrorists held up the train and kept the passengers as hostages. Masked men held up the cashier.and robbed the bank, (held him up)

(b) = stop, delay (especially used in the passive):

The bus was held up because a tree had fallen across the road.

333

38 Phrasal verb*

join •

join up (intr) – enlist in one of the armed services: •

When vxtr was declared he joined up at once. •

Jump .   _ |||

jump at (tr) = accept with enthusiasm (an offer or opportunity): He was offered a place in the .Himalayan expedition and jumped at the chance.

keep

keep somebody back (object before back) » restrain, hinder, prevent

from advancing:

Frequent illnesses kept him bach, (prevented him from making

normal progress)

keep down (tr) « repress, control:

HTiat is the best way to keep down rats* (keep them down)

Try to remember to turn off the light when you leave the room. I am

trying to keep down expenses  (keep expenses down)

keep off (tr or intr) = lefrain from walking on, or from coming too

close:

Keep off the gnus’, (park notice)

keep on = continue:

I wanted to explain but he kept on talking and didn’t give me a

chance to say anything. keep out (tr) = prevent from entering:”

My shoes are very old and don’( keep out the water, (keep the

water out/keep it out) keep out (intr) = stay outside’

’Private  Keep nut ’ (notice on door) keep up (tr) = maintain Un e»’(ort):

He began walking at four miles an hour but he couldn ’t keep up that

speed and soon began to walk more slowly, (he couldn’t keep it up)

It is difficult to keep up a conversation with someone who only says

’ Yes’ and ’No’.

keep up (intr), keep up with (tr) « remain abreast of someone who is advancing; advance at the same pace as:

A runner can ’t keep up with a cyclist.

Tht work that the class is doing is too difficult for me. I won’t In able

to k<cp up (with them).

It i> impossible to keep up with the news unless you read the

neu ^papers.

knock

knock oft (tr or intrj = stop work for the day (colloquial): En/tli^h workmen usually knock off at 5.30 or 6.00p.m. H a knack of) work in time for tea.

334

38 Phrasal verbs

knock out (tr) »• hit someone so hard that he falls unconscious: In the finals of the boring championship he knocked out his opponent, who was carried out of the ring, (knocked his opponent out/knocked him out)

lay

lay in (tr) = provide oneself with a sufficient quantity (of stores etc.) to last for some time:

She expected a shortage of dried fruit so she laid in a large supply. lay out (tr) = plan gardens, building sites etc.:

Le Notre laid out the gardens at Versailles, (laid the gardens

out/laid them out) lay up (tr) = store carefully till needed again (used of ships, cars etc.):

Before he went to Brazil for a year, he laid up his car, as he didn ’t

want to sell it. (laid it up) be laid up (of a person) = be confined to bed through illness:

She was laid up for weeks with a slipped disk.

lead

lead up to (tr) – prepare the way for, introduce (figuratively):

He wanted to borrow my binoculars, but he didn’t say so at once. He led up to it by talking about birdwatching.

leave

leave off (usually intr) = stop (doing something):

He was playing his trumpet but I told him to leave off because the neighbours were complaining about the noise. leave out (tr) » omit:

We ’II sing our school song leaving out the last ten verses.

They gave each competitor a number; but they left out No. 13 as MO

one wanted to have it. (left No. 13 out/left it out)

let

let down (tr) = lower:

When she lets her hair doom it reaches her waist, (lets down her

hair/lets it down)

You can let a coat down (lengthen it) by using the hem. let someone down (object before down)~i disappoint him by failing to act as well as expected, or failing to fulfil an agreement:

I promised him that you would do the work. Why did you let me down

by doing so little?

He sai.’ he’d come to help me; but he let me down. He never

turned up. let in (tr) – allow to enter, admit:

They let in the ticket-holders, (let the ticket-holders in/        j*

let them in) •

If you mention my name to the door-keeper he will let you in.         |

335

38 Phrasal verbs

let someone off (object before off) = refrain from punishing:

/ thought that the magistrate was going to fine me but he let me off. (Compare with get off.)

let out (tr)

(a) ~ make wider (of clothes):

That bvy is getting fatttr. You 11 have to let out his. clothes, (let his clothes out/let them out)

(b) = allow to leave. release:

He olx-ntJ the O.MT and let out the dog. (let the dog out/let it out)

live

live down a bad reputation = live in such a manner that people wili

forget it:

He ha± never quite been able to HIV down a reputation for drinking

too much which he got when he was a wung man. (live it down) live in (intr) •= live in one’s place of work (chiefly used of domestic servants):

ADVERTISEMENT. Cook wanted. £140 a week. Live in. live on (tr) = use as staple food:

It is said that for a certain period of his life Byron lived on vinegar

and potatoes in order to keep thin.

live up to (tr) = maintain a certain standard — moral, economic or behavioural:

He had high ideals and tried to live up to them, (he tried to act in

accordance with his ideals)

lock

lock up a house (tr or intr; usually intr) = lock all doors:

People usually lock up before they go to bed at night. lock up a person or thing = put in a locked place, i.e. box, sate.

prison:

She locked up the papers in her desk, (locked the papers up/locked them up)

look

look after (tr) = take care of: ”*”

Will you look after my parrot when I am away? look ahead (intr) = consider the future so as to make provision for it

// ’s time you looked ahead and made plans for your retirement. look at (tr) = regard:

He looked at the clock and said. ’It is midnight.’ look back (intr). look back on (tr) = consider the past:

Looking buck, I don’t suppose we are any worse now than people

were a hundred years ago.

Perhaps some day it will be pleasant to look back on these things.

336

38 Phrasal verb*

look balk/round (intr) – look behind (itertiy):

Don’t look round note but At woman behind ta is wearing Ike mott

extraordinary chain. look for (tr) – March for, seek:

I have lost my watch. Will you ’help mt to look for It? look forward to (tr) – expect with pleasure (often used with gerund):

/ am looking forward to her arrival/to suing her, look in (intr) – pay a short (often unannounced) visit (- caO in):

I’ll look in this evening to see how she is. look into (tr) – investigate;

Then is a mystery about his death and the polite an looking

into it. look on … as (tr) – consider:

Most people look on a television set as an essential piece of furniture.

These children seem to look on their teachers as their enemies. look on (intr) – be a spectator only, not a participator:

Two men were fighting. The rest wen looking on. look on (tr), look out on (tr) (used of windows and houses) – be facing:

His house looks (out) onto the sea. (from his house you can see the sea.) look out (intr) – be watchful, beware:

(to someone just about to cross the road) ’Look out! There’s a lorry coming!’

look out for (tr) – keep one’s eyes open so as to see something (usually fairly conspicuous) if it presents itself:

/ am going to the party too, so look out for me. look over (tr) – inspect critically, read again, revise quickly (look over is similar to go over but less thorough):

Look over what you ’ve written before handing it to the examiner.

I’m going to look over a house that I’m thinking of buying. look through (tr) – examine a number of things, often in order to select some of them; turn over the pages of a book or newspaper, looking for information:

Look through your old clothes and see if you have anything to give away.

I’d like you to look through these photographs and try to pick out the

man you saw.

He looked through the books and decided that he wouldn’t like them. look through someone – look at him without appearing to see him, as a deliberate act of rudeness:

She has to be polite to me in the office but when we meet outside she

always looks through me.

38 Phrasal verbs

look up an address/a name/word/train time/telephone number etc. look for it in the appropriate book or paper, i.e. address book/ dictionary/timetable/directory etc.:

If you don’t know the meaning of the word look it up. (look up the

word/look the word up)

I must look up the time of your train, (look for it in the timetable) look somebody up can mean ’visit’. The person visited usually lives at some distance and is not seen very often, look up is therefore different from look in, which implies that the person visited lives quite close:

Any time you come to London do look me up. (come and see me)

/ haven’t seen Tom for ages. I must find out where he lives and look

him up. (look Tom up/look up Tom)

look up (intr) – improve (the subject is usually things/business/world affairs/the weather, i.e. nothing very definite):

Business has been very bad lately but things an beeinnins to look up

now.

look someone up and down = look at him contemptuously, letting your eyes wander from his head to his feet and back again:   .

The policeman looked the drunk man up and down very deliberately

before replying to his question. look up to (tr) = respect:

Schoolboys usually look up to great athletes. look down on (tr) = despise:

Small boys often look down on little girls and refuse to play with

them.

She thinks her neighbours look down on her a bit because she’s never

been abroad.

make

make for (tr) = travel towards:

The escaped prisoner was making for the coast. make off (intr) = run away (used of thieves etc.):

The boys made off when they saw the policemen. make out (tr)

(a) – discover the meaning of, understand, see, hear etc. clearly:

/ can’t make out the address, he has written it so badly, (make the

address out/make it out)

Can you hear what the man with the loud-hailer is saying? I can’t

make it out at all.

I can’t make out why he isn ’t here yet.

(b) – state (probably falsely or with exaggeration):

He made out that he was a student looking for a job. We later learnt

that this wasn ’t true at all.

The English climate isn’t so bad as some people like to make out.

(c) = write a cheque:

CUSTOMER: Who shall I make it out to? SHOPKEEPER: Make it out to Jones and Company.

38 Phrasal verb* make up one’s mind – come to a decision.

In tin end he made up his mind to go by train. make up a quarrel/make it up – end it.

Isn’t it time you and Ann made up your quarrel, (mode it up) make up a story/excuse/explanation « invent it:

/ don’t believe your story at all. 1 think you are fust making it up. make up (tr or intr) – use cosmetics.

Most women make up/make up their faces, (make their faces up/make them up)

Acton have to be made up before they appear on stage. make up (tr) – put together, compound, compose:

Takf this prescription to the chemist’s. They will make it up for you there (make up the preaciption/make ’the prescription up) NOTICE (in tailor’s window): Customers’ own materials made up. The audience was made up of very young children. make up for (tr) – compensate for (the object is very often if): You ’II have to work very hard today to make up for the time you wasted yesterday/to make up for being late yesterday. We aren ’t allowed to drink when we are in training but we intend to make up for it after the race is over, (to drink more than usual then) miss

miss out (tr) – leave out (’leave out’ is more usual; see page 335). mix

mix up (tr) « confuse:

He mixed up the addresses so that no one got the right letters, (mixed them up)

be/get mixed up with – be involved (usually with some rather disreputable person or business):

/ don’t want to get mixed up with any illegal organization. move

move self and possessions into new house, flat.

….. -,~0i*> vrgunuanon. move

move in (intr) = move self and possessions into new house, flat rooms etc.

move out (intr) * leave house/flat etc., with one’s possessions, vacate accommodation:

/ have found a new flat. The present tenant is moving out this weekend and I am moving in on Wednesday. move on or up (intr) – advance, go higher:

Normally in schools pupils move up every year. order

order somebody about (object before about) – give him a lot of orders (often regardless of his convenience or feelings):

He is a retired admiral and still has the habit of ordering

people about.

338

339

38 Phrasal verbs

p«y

pay back (tr), pay someone back (tr or intr) – repay:

/ must pay back the money that I borrowed, (pay the money

back/pay it back)

I must pay back Mr Pitt, (pay Mr Pitt back/pay him back)

I must pay Mr Pitt back the money he lent me. (pay him back the

money/pay it back to him) pay someone back/out « revenge oneself:

/’// pay you back for this, (for the harm you have done me.) pay up (intr) = pay money owed in full (there is often a feeling that the payer is reluctant):

Unless you pay up I shall tell my solicitor to write to you.

pick ••»

pick out (tr) > choose, select, distinguish from a group:

Here are su rings. Pick out the one you like beat, (pick it out)

In an identity parade the witness has to try to pick out the criminal

from a group of about eight men. (pick the criminal out/pick him

out)

I know that you are in this photograph but J can’t pick you out.

pick up (tr)

(a) = raise or lift a person or thing, usually from the ground or from a table or chair:

He picked up the child and carried him into the house, (picked the

child up)

She scatters toys all >ver the floor and I have to pick them up.

(b) = call for, take with one (m a vehicle);

/ won’t have time to come to your house but / could pick you up at the end of your ntad.

The co<ich stops at the principal hotels to pick up tourists, but only if they arrange this’in advance, (pick tourists up/pick them up) The crew of the wrecked yacht were picked up by helicopter.

(c) «= receive (by chance) wireless signals:

Their SOS was picked up by another ship, which informed the lifeboat headquarters.

(d) = acquire cheaply, learn without effort:

Sometimes you pick up wonderful bargains in these markets. Children usually pick up foreign languages very quickly.

point

point out (tr) – indicate, show:

As we drove through the city the guide pointed out the most important buildings, (pointed the buildings out/pointed them out) •

pull

pull down (tr) = demolish (used of buildings):

Everywhere elegant old buildings are being pulled down and

340

38 Phrasal verbs

mtdiocn modern tractions are being put up. (pull down houses/Pull them down)

pull off (tr) – succeed .(the object is normally it):

Much to our surprise he pulled off the deal, (sold the goods/got the contract) (pulled it off)

pull through (tr or intr) * recover from illness/cause someone to recover:

We thought she was going to die but her own will-power pulled her tkrwgk. (tr)

He is very ill bui he ’II pull through if we look after him carefully (intr)

pull up (intr) – stop (of vehicles):

A lay-by is a space at the side of a main road, where driven can pull up if they want a rest.

put

put aside/by (tr) – save for future use (usually money), put aside often implies that the money is being saved for a certain purpose:

He puts aside £5O a month to pay for his summer holiday, (puts it aside)

Don’t spend all your salary. Try to put something by each month. put away (tr) – put tidily out of sight (usually in drawers, cupboards etc.):

Put your toys away, children: it’s bedtime, (put away the toys/put them away)

put something back – replace it where you found it/where it belongs:

When you ’ve finished with the book put it back on the shelf. put back a dock/watch – retard the hands: put the clock back is sometimes used figuratively to mean return to the customs of the past: MOTHER: Your father and I will arrange a marriage for you token the time comes.

DAUGHTER: You’re trying to put the clock back, mother. Parents don’t arrange marriages these days! (put back the dock/put it back) put down (tr)

(a) – the opposite of pick up:

He picked up the saucepan and put it down at once because the handle was almost red-hot, (put the saucepan down/put it down)

(b) – crush rebellions, movements:

Troops were used to put down the rebellion, (put the rebellion down/put (t down)

(c) • write:

Put down his phone number be/on you forget it. (put the number down/put it down)

CUSTOMER (to shop assistant): /’// take that one. Please put it donn to me/to my account, (enter it in my account) put something down to (tr) » attribute it to:

The childtn toouldn ’t answer him, but he wasn ’t annoyed as kg put it down to shyness.

341

38 Phrasal verbs

She hasn ’I been well since she came to this country; I put it down to

the climate. put forward a suggestion/proposal etc. – offer it for consideration:

The older membe/s of the committee are inclined to veto any

suggestions put forward by the younger ones, (put a suggestion

forward/put it forward)

put forward/on docks and watches – advance the hands, put forward is the opposite of put back:

In March people in England put their clocks forward/on an hour.

When summer time ends they put them back an hour. put in a claim = make a claim:

He put in a claim for compensation because he had lost his luggage

in the train crash. put in for a job/a post » apply for it:

They are looking for a lecturer in geography. Why don’t you put in

for it? put off an action – postpone it:

Some people put off making their wills till it is too late.

I’ll put off my visit to Scotland till the weather is warmer, (put my

visit off/put it off) put a person off

(a) » tell him to postpone his visit to you:

/ had invited some guests to dinner but I had to put them off because a power cut prevented me from cooking anything.

(b) – repel, deter him:

/ wanted to see the exhibition but the queue put me off.

Many people who want to come to England are put off by the stories

they hear about English weather.

put on clothes/glasses/jewellery – dress oneself etc. The opposite is take off:

He put on a black coat so that he would be inconspicuous, (put a coat on/put it on)

Sfc/ put on her glasses and took the letter from my hand. put on an expression = assume it:

He put on an air oj indifference, which didn’t deceive anybody for a moment.

put on a play • produce/perform it:

The students usually put on a play at the end of the year. put on a light/gas or electric fire/radio – switch it on:

Put on the light, (put the light on/put it on) put out any kind of light or fire – extinguish it:

Put out that light, (put the light out/put it out) put someone out (inconvenience him):

He is very selfish. He wouldn ’t put himself out for anyone. be put out – be annoyed:

She was very put out when I said that her new summer drtss didn’t suit her.

342

38 Phrasal verbs put up (tr)

(a) • erect (a building, monument, statue etc.):

He put up a shed in the garden, (put a shed up/put it up)

(b) – raise (prices):

When the importation of foreign tomatoes was forbidden, home growers put uj> their prices, (put their prices up/put them up)

put someone up (object usually before up) – give him temporary

hospitality:

If you come to Paris I will put you up. Yon needn’t look for an hotel. put someone up to something (usually some trick) – give him the idea of doing it/tell him how to do it:

He couldn’t havt thought of that trick by himself. Someone must have put kirn up to it. put up with (tr) » bear patiently:

We had to put up with a lot of noise when the children were at home. ring

ring up (tr or intr) – telephone:

/ rang up the theatre to book seats for tonight, (rang the theatre up/rang them up)

If you can’t come ring up and let me know. ring off (intr) – end a telephone call by putting down the receiver:

He rang off before I could ask his name. round

round up (tr) – drive or bring together (people or animals):

The sheepdog roundtd up the sheep (- collected them into a group) and drove them through the gate.

On the day after the riots the police rounded up all suspects/ rounded them up. (arrested them) rub

rub out (tr) • erase pencil or ink marks with an india-rubber: The child wrote down the wrong word and then rubbed it out. (rubbed the word out/rubbed out the word) rub up (tr) « revise one’s knowledge of a subject:

/ am going to France; I must rub up my French, (rub it up) run

run after (tr) » pursue (see example below). run away (intr) – flee, desert (one’s home/school etc.), elope: The thief ran away and the policeman ran after him.

He ran away from home and got a job in a garage. run away with (tr) – become uncontrollable (of emotions), galop off out of rider’s control (of horses):

Don’t let your emotions run away with you.

His hone ran away with km and he hod a bod fall. run away with the idea * accept an idea too hastily:

Don’t nut away with the idea that I am unsociable; Ijutt kaMt

time to gt out muck.

343

IWIPI

run down (tr) = disparage, speak ill of: |^l

He is always running down his neighbours, (running his     SHI

neighbours down/running them down) 1

run down (intr) – become unwound/discharged (of docks/batteries etc.):

This torch is useless; the battery has run down. be run down (intr) » be in poor health after illness, overwork etc.:

He is still run down after his illness and unfit for work. run into (tr) * collide with (of vehicles):

The car skidded and ran into a lamp-post, (struck the lamp-post) run into/across someone = meet him accidentally:

/ ran into my cousin in Harrods recently. (I met him.) run out of (tr) – have none left, having consumed all the supply:

/ have run out of milk. Put some lemon in your tea instead. run over (tr) – drive over accidentally (in a vehicle):

The drunk man stepped into the road right in front of the oncoming

car. The driver couldn ’t stop in time and ran over him. run over (tr or intr) = overflow:

He turned on both taps full and left the bathroom. When he came

back he found that the water was running over./running over the

edge of the bath. run over/through (tr) » rehearse, check or revise quickly:

We ’ve got a few minutes before the train goes, so III just run through your instructions again.

run through (tr) = consume extravagantly, waste (used of supplies or money):

He inherited a fortune and ran through it in a year. run up bills * incur them and increase them by continuing to buy things and put them down to one’s account:

Her husband said that she must pay for things at once and not run

up bills. run up against difficulties/opposition = encounter them/it:

If he tries to change the rules of the club he-will run up against a lot of opposition.

see

see about (tr) » make inquiries or arrangements:

/ must see about getting a room ready for him. see somebody off – accompany an intending traveller to his train/boat/plane etc.:

The station was crowded with boys going back to school and parents

who were seeing them off.

see somebody out – accompany a departing guest to the door of the house:

When guests leave the host usually sees them out.

Don’t bother to come to the door with me. 1 can see myself out.

*44

38 Phrasal verb*

see over a house/a building = go into every room, examine it, often with a view to buying or renting:

I’m definitely interested in the house. I’d like to see over it. see through (tr) – discover a hidden attempt to deceive:

She pretended that she loved him but he saw through her, and

realized that she was only after his money. (He wasn’t taken in by

her/by her pretence. See take in.) see to (tr) = make arrangements, put right, repair:

If you can provide the wine I’ll see to the food.

That electric fire isn ’t safe. You should have it seen to.

Please see to it that the door is locked.

sell

sell off (tr) = sell cheaply (what is left of a stock):

ASSISTANT: This line is being discontinued so we are selling off the remainder of our stock; that’s why they are so cheap, (selling the rest off/selling it off)

sell out (intr) = sell all that you have of a certain type of article: When all the seats for a certain performance have been booked, theatres put a notice saying ’Sold out’ outside the booking office. send

be sent down (intr) * be expelled from a university for misconduct; He behaved so badly in college that he was sent down and never got his degree. send for (tr) » summon:

One of our water pipes has burst. We must send for the plumber. The director sent for me and asked for an explanation. send in (tr) *• send to someone (who need not be mentioned because the person spoken to knows already):

You must send in your application before Friday, (send it to the authority concerned) (send your application in/send it in) send on (tr) « forward, send after a person:

If any letters come for you after you have gone I will send them on. fiend on your letters/send your letters on) let

set in (intr) – begin (a period, usually unpteasant):

Winter has set in early this •*?’:,. set off (tr) – start (a series erf events/:

That strike set off a aerie* ofttriket throughout the tmmfty. (set them off)

set off/out (intr) – start a journey:

They set out/off at six and hoped to arrive before dart, ’for’ is used when the destination is mentioned: –

They set out/off’for Rome.

set

345

38 Phrasal verbs

set out + infinitive (often show/prbve/fxplain or some similar verb) « begin this undertaking, aim:

In this book the author sets out to prvve ;ka! the inhabitants of the

islands came from South America. set up (tr) « achieve, establish (a record):

He set up a new record for the l.Ood n.-trei, (st i a new record up/set it up) set up (intr) – start a new business:

When he married.he left his father’s shop and $<t up on his own. (opened his own shop)

settle

settle down (intr) – become accustomed to, and contented in, a new place, job etc.: . •

He soon settled down in his new school. settle up (intr) = pay money owed:

Tell me what I owe you and I’ll settle up. shout

shout down (tr) « make a loud noise to prevent a speaker from being heard:

Tom tried to make a speech defending himself but the crowd wouldn ’t listen to his explanation and shouted him down. The moderate speakers were shouted down. show

show off (tr or intr) = display (skill, knowledge etc.) purely in order to

win notice or applause:

Although Jules speaks English perfectly, my cousin spoke French to him all the time just to show off. (to impress us with her knowledge of French)

He is always picking up very heavy things just to show off his strength, (show it off)

shut

38 Phrasal verbs

sit

shut down (tr or intr) – close down (see page 323).

sit back (intr) = relax, take no action, do no more work:

/ have worked hard all my life and now I’m going to sit back and

watch other people working.

sit up (intr) – stay out of bed till later than usual (usually reading, working, or waiting for someone):

I was very worried when he didn’t conn in and I sat up till 3 a.m.

waiting for him. _____

She sat up all night with the sick child.

stand

stand by someone (tr) – continue to support and help him: •V« ’natter what happens HI stand by you. so don ’tbe afraid.

stand for Or) – represent:

The symbol ’x’ usually stands frf *** unknown «*»*•&«« mathematics.

stand for Parliament – be a candid^ for Pariiaraent’ <&« yourself for election:

Mr Pitt stood for Parliament n^y^*5 o&buthe wasn ’t elected.

346

-„  „ Hauany stands fff ” *-    J ”

mathematics.

stand for Parliament – be a candid^ for Pariiaraent’ <&« yourself for election:

Mr Pitt stood for Parliament 6***’* a&buthe wasn’t elected. stand up for (tr) , oefend verbally:

Hts father blamed him. but his **?**” 5tOod UP ^’”^ and said that

he had acted sensibly.

Why don’ty^ stand’up/oryoursW stand up to (tr) . resist, defend on/8** against (a P”*0” or force):

This type of building stands up to P” ^ ***> «*//•

Your boss is a bully. //_** ^., ja*a up to him he’ll lead you a

stand out (mtr) „ be conspicuous b^ ^ Seen:

redhoT^ Otttfnm the cro^ txcatf ff     *”&* and *”&**** stay

”fesf UP.(intr) * remain out of bed nil P*#r than usuaj’ usuafly for

Children never want to go to bed at (***”#«*’*’’• ^always want to stay up late. •«•««’

step

SfiSiST6 rate of- ^^speed of (tte usuany refers to

This new machine will step up prod*/^0” (step ’* **

bet/^r^ICk(intr) – be surprised a^ ^acOKer^’

*^-^^teS5^-*-« Mv^LafterkisgnMd^^^ ndhmrtoo.

t*”j^J &*#*«* I tak, afiS+*!; Ifor*! *-*«» /u     ?} ” ^tWraw (remarks a^us^fons etc.):

ir^^b^y^fir^u^^^Ilu^^’^^.

r^^^^r&^^to^^tookbackav *«ke do^^’        t*CID ^V

2£2i:ta«=££5«-*. –

*Hv5^=55^5r—. ^l^^’^mta^

(a) – deceive:

££££•^’^^stor^a^^^^^^^^UUer wuumtu stones u*n aWbes.

347

38 Phrasal verbs

(b) = receive as guests/lodgers:

When our car broke down I knocked on the door of the nearest house. The owner very kindly took us in and gave us a bed for the night.

People who live by the sea often take in paying guests during the summer, (take paying guests in/take them in)

(c) = understand, receive into the mind:

/ was thinking of something else while she was speaking and I didn ’t really take in what she was saying.

I couldn ’t take in the lecture at all. It was too difficult for me. (couldn ’t take it in)

(d) = make less wide (of clothes):

.I’m getting much thinner; I’ll have to take in my clothes, (take my

clothes in/take them in)

take off (tr) = remove (when used of clothing ’take off is the opposite of ’put on’):

He took off his coat when he entered the house and put it on again when he went out. (took his coat off/took it off) take off (intr) = leave the ground (of aeroplanes):

There is often a spectators’ balcony at airports, where people can

watch the planes taking off and landing. take on (tr)

(a) = undertake work:

She wants someone to look after her children. I shouldn’t care to take on the job. They are very spoilt, (take the job on/take it on)

(b) – engage staff:

They ’re taking on fifty new workers at the factory.

(c) = accept as an opponent:

/’// take you on at table tennis. (I’ll play against you.)

/ took on Mr Pitt at draughts, (took Mr Pitt on/took him on) take out (tr) «= remove, extract:

Petrol will take out that stain, (take the stain out/take it out)

The dentist took out two of her teeth. take somebody out – entertain them (usually at some public place):

Her small boy is at boarding school quite near here. I take him out

every month, (and give him a meal in a restaurant) take over (tr or intr) = assume responsibility for, or control of, in succession to somebody else:

We stop work at ten o ’clock and the night shift takes over until the

following morning.

Miss Smith is leaving to get married and Miss Jones will be taking

over the class/Miss Jones will be taking over from Miss Smith, (see

hand over) take to (tr)

(a) = begin a habit. There is usually the impression that the speaker thinks this habit bad or foolish, though this is not necessarily always the case. It is often used with the gerund:

34H

38 Phrasal verbs

He took to drink, (began drinking too much) He took to borrowing money from the petty cash.

(b) = find likeable or agreeable, particularly at first meeting:

I was introduced to the new headmistress yesterday. I can’t say I took

to her.

He went to sea (•* became a sailor) and look to the life like a duck to

water.

(c) – seek refuge/safety in:

When they saw that the ship was sinking the crew took to the boats. After the failure of the coup many of the rebels took to the hills and became guerillas. take up (tr)

(a) » begin a nobby, sport or kind of study (there is no feeling of h criticism here):

He took up golf and became very keen on it. (took it up)

(b) – occupy (a position in time or space):

He has a very small mom and most of the space is taken up by a

grand piano.

A lot of an MP’s time is taken up with answering letters from his

constituents.

talk

talk over (tr) = discuss:

Talk it over with your wife and give me your answer tomorrow, (talk over my suggestion/talk my suggestion over)

think

think over (tr) – consider:

/ can’t decide straight away but I’ll think over your idea and let you • know what I decide, (think your idea over/think it over)

throw

throw away/out (tr) – jettison (rubbish etc.):

Throw away those old shoes. Nobody could wear them now. (throw the shoes away/throw them away) throw up (tr) – abandon suddenly (some work or plan):

He suddenly got tired of the job and threw it up. (he threw up the job/threw the job up)

tie

tie someone up – bind his hands and feet so that he cannot move: The thieves tied up the night watchman before opening the soft, (tied the man up/tied him up)

try

try on (tr) – put on (an article of clothing) to see if it fits:

CUSTOMER IN DRESS SHOP: / like this dress. Could I try it on? (try this dress on/try on this dress)

38 Phrasal verbs

try out (tr) » test:

We won 7 know how the plan works till we have tried it out. They are trying out new ways of preventing noise in hospitals, (trying them out)

turn

turn away (tr) – refuse admittance to:

The man at the door turned away anybody who hadn ’t an

invitation card, (turned them away) turn down (tr) – refuse, reject an offer, application, applicant:

/ applied for the job but they turned me down/turned down my

application because I didn’t know German.

He was offered £500 for the picture but he turned it down, (turned

•down the offer/turned the offer down) turn into (tr) * convert into:

/ am going to turn my garage into a playroom for the children.

She turned the silver candlestick into a reading lamp. ’

turn in (intr) – go to bed (used chiefly by sailors/campers etc.):

The captain turned in, not realizing that the icebergs were so close. turn on (tr) (stress on turn) = attack suddenly (the attacker is normally a friend or a hitherto friendly animal):

The tigress turned on the trainer and struck him to the ground. turn on/off (tr) = switch on/off (lights, gas, fires, radios, taps etc.) turn up/down (tr) = increase/decrease the pressure, force, volume (of gas or oil, lights, fires, or of radios):

Turn up the gas; it is much too low.

I «wsA the people in the next flat would turn down their radio. You

can hear every word, (turn the sound down/turn it down) turn out (tr)

(a) « produce:

The creamery turns out two hundred tons of butter a week, (turns it out)

(b) – evict, empty:

1 turn a person out = evict him from his house/flat/room:

At one time, if tenants didn’t pay their rent the landlord could turn them out.

2 turn out one’s pockets/handbags/drawers etc. = empty them, usually looking for something:

’Turn out your pockets,’ said the detective.

3 turn out a room = (usually) clean it thoroughly, first putting the furniture outside:

/ try to turn out one room every month if I have time. turn out (intr)

(a)  = assemble, come out into the street (usually in order to welcome somebody):

The whole town turned out to welcome the winning football team

when they came back with the Cup.

38 PhnMlvnti

(b) – develop:

I’ve never made Yorkshire pudding before so I am not quit* sure how it is going to turn out.

Marriages arranged by marriage bureaux frequently turn out well.

(c) – be revealed. Notice the two possible constructions, it turned out that. . , and he turned out to be . . .:

He told her that he was a bachelor but it turned out that he was married with six children. (She learnt this later.) Our car broke down halfway through the journey but the hiker we had picked up turned out to be an expert mechanic and was able to put things right.

Note the difference between turn out and come out. With turn out the fact revealed is always mentioned and there is no implication that the facts are discreditable. With come out we are told only that certain facts (usually discreditable) are revealed; we are not told what these facts are.

turn over (tr) – turn something so that the side previously underneath is exposed:

He turned over the stone, (turned the atone over/turned it over The initials ’PTO’ at the bottom of a page mean ’Please turn over’. ’Turn over a new leaf.’ (begin again, meaning to do better) turn over (intr)

(a) ** turn upside down, upset, capsize (used of vehicles or boats): The car struck the wall and turned over.

The canoe turned over, throwing the boys into the water.

(b) « (of people) change position so as to lie on the other side: It is difficult to turn over in a hammock.

When his alarm went off he just turned over and went to sleep again. turn up (intr) = arrive, appear (usually from the point of view of someone waiting or searching):

We arranged to meet at the station but she didn’t turn up. Don’t bother to look for my umbrella; it will turn up some day. walk

walk out (intr) = march out ir. disgust or indignation:

Some people were so disgusted with the play that they walked out in the middle of the first act.

wait

wash

wait on (tr) = attend, serve (at home or in a restaurant): He expected his wife to wait on him hand and foot. The man who was waiting on us seemed very inexperienced; he got all our orders mixed up.

wash up (tr or intr) = wash the plates etc. after a meal:

When we have dinner very late we don’t wash up till the next morning, (wash up the dishes/wash them up)

350

351

38 Phrualveite

watch

watch out (intr) – look out.

watch out for (tr) – look out for (see page 357).

wear

wear away (intr) – gradually reduce; make smooth or flat; hoOow out (used mostly of wood or stone. The subject is usually the weather, or people who walk on or touch the stone etc.):

It is almost impossible to nod the inscription on the monument as

most of the Utters Have been worn away, (by the weather) wear off (intr) – disappear gradually (can be used literally but is chiefly used for mental or physical feelings):

These glasses may seem uncomfortable at first but Out feeling will

soon wear off.

When her first feeling of shyness had worn off she started to enjoy

herself.

He began to try to sit up, which showed us that the effects of the drug

wen wearing off. wear out (tr or intr)

(a) (tr) « use till no longer serviceable; (intr) become unserviceable as a result of long use (chiefly of clothes):

Children wear out their shoes very quickly, (wear their shoes

out/wear them out)

Cheap clothes wear out quickly.

(b) (tr) » exhaust (used of people; very often in the passive):

He worked all night and wanted to go on working the next day, but we saw that he was completely worn out and persuaded him to stop.

wind

wind up (tr or intr) – bring or come to an end (used of speeches or business proceedings):

Tht headmaster wound up (the meeting) by thanking the parents.

(wound the meeting up/wound it up)

wipe

wipe out (tr) = destroy completely:

Tkf epidemic wiped out whole families, (wiped whole families oui wiped them out)

work /

work out (tr) = find, by calculation or study, the solution to some problem or a method of dealing with it; study and decide on the details of a scheme:

H( used his calculator to work out the cost, (work the cost out)

Tell me where^you want to go and I’ll work out a route.

7>u is the outline of the plan. We want the committee to work out

the details, (work them out)

.t;V_’

39 List of irregular verbs

364

Irregular verbs

The verbs in roman type are verbs which are not very common in modern English but may be found in literature. When a verb has two possible forms and one is less usual than the other, the less usual one win be printed in roman.

Compounds of irregular verbs form their past tenses and past participles in the same way as the original verb:

come come come

overcome      overcome        overcome

set set set

upset upset upset

abide arise awake

be

beat

become

befall

beget

begin

behold

amrf

berttnt

beseedt

bet

bid(- commtmef)

*rf(-*fcr)

bind

Me

abode

arose

awoke/awaked

was bun &Mf

abode

arisen

awcWawaked

vttn

borm/b&rn”

beaten

befeO ta«Dt

**r»

bdirid

bent

beamed

besought

bmtd/bet

bade

bid

bound

bit

befaaea

begotten

begum

hefteld

fe*

beamed/bereft*

besought

betWbet

bidden

btd

bound

bitten

^^w^^^^^-i’

353

29 Irregular verbs

Present and infinitive

Simple past

Past participle

bleed

bUd

bled

blow

New

blown

break

broke

broken

bntd

bnd

bnd

bring

brought

brought

broadcast

broadcast

broadcast

build

built

built ..^j

burn

bunted/burnt

burned/burnt        ••

burst

burst

burst M

buy

bought

t>o«gkt m

cent

could

be able •

cast

cast

cast ^PW

catch

caught

caught

chide

chid

chidden

choose

chose

chosen

cleave

clove/deft

dovea/deft*

cling

clung

chaig

clothe

clothed/dad

clothed/clad

come

came

come

cost

cost

cost

creep

crept

crept

crow

crowed/crew

crowed

cut

cut

cut

dare

Jared/&trst

dared/durst

deal /di:l/

dealt /deit/

dealt /delt/

dig

dug

dug

do

did

done

draw

drew

drawn

dream

dreamed/dreamt

dreamed/dreamt

/dri:m/

/dri:md, dremt/

/dri:md, dremt/

drink

drank

drunk

drive

drove

driven

dwell

dwelled/Hieett

dwelled/Hweft

eat

ate

eaten

fall

fell

fallen

feed

fed

fed

feel

felt

felt

fight

fought

fought

find

found

found

flee

fled

fled

•See footnote on page 353. tPresent only.

354

39 Irregular verbs

Present and

infinitive    Simple past

Past participle

fling

flung

fl*ng

fly

flew

flown

forbear

forbore

forborne

forbul

forbade /fa’baed/

forbidden

forget

forgot

forgotten

forgive

forgave

forgiven

jorsaite

forsook

forsaken

freeze

froze

frozen

get

got

got

gild

gilded/gilt

gilded/gilt

gird

girded/girt

girded/girt

give

gave

given

go

went

none

grind

ground

ground

grow

grew

grown

hang

hanged/hung

hanged/hung*

nave

had

had

hear /hia(r)/

heard /hard/

heard /hard/

hew

hewed

hewed/hewn

hide

hid

hidden

hit

hit

hit

hold

held

held

hurt

hurt

hurt

keep

kept

kept

kneel

knelt

knelt

knit**

knit

knit

know

knew

known

lay

laid

laid

lead

led

led

lean

leaned/leant    –

leaned/leant

/L:n/

/li:nd, lent/

/Ii:nd, lent/

leap

leaped/leapt

leaped/leapt

/Ii:p/

fli-.pt, lept/

/lirpt, lept/

learn

learned/learnt

leaned/learnt

leave

W

left

lend

lent

lent

let

let

let

lie

lay

lam

*See footnote on page 353.

** – unite/draw together, knit (» make garments from wool) is a

regular verb.

tPresent only.

355