Essential Phrasal Verbs: Your Key to Fluency

By Saiful Alam

Welcome to "Essential Phrasal Verbs: Your Key to Fluency" This book has been written for anyone who wants to improve their understanding and usage of English phrasal verbs, whether you are a native speaker or learning English as a second language.

 

Phrasal verbs are an integral part of the English language and are used frequently in both written and spoken English. However, many learners find them challenging to understand and use correctly due to their complex nature and often unpredictable meanings.

 

This book aims to demystify phrasal verbs and make them more accessible to learners of all levels. Through clear explanations, real-life examples, and practical exercises, you will learn how to use phrasal verbs correctly and confidently in your everyday communication.

 

The book is organized into thematic units, covering a wide range of topics and situations where phrasal verbs are commonly used. Each unit is designed to be self-contained, allowing you to focus on specific areas of interest or difficulty.

 

Whether you are a student preparing for an exam, a professional seeking to improve your business English, or simply someone who wants to speak English with greater fluency and accuracy, this book is your essential guide to mastering English phrasal verbs.

 

I hope you find this book informative, engaging, and helpful in achieving your language goals. Good luck on your journey to fluency!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saiful Alam
• Release date: Mar 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223667933

Book preview

Act on

To take action or make a decision based on a particular piece of information or advice.

We need to act on the feedback from our customers and improve our services.

To follow through on a particular plan or course of action.

The government needs to act on climate change and implement sustainable policies.

To behave or react in response to a particular situation or stimulus.

We need to act on our values and stand up for what is right.

To carry out a particular task or responsibility.

The manager needs to act on the employee's performance review and provide feedback.

To have an effect or influence on a particular situation or outcome.

The recent market trends will likely act on the company's financial performance.

Act upon

To take action or make a decision based on a particular piece of information.

The company will act upon the feedback received from customers to improve its products.

To execute or carry out a particular plan or strategy.

The government will act upon its promises to reduce unemployment rates.

To respond to a particular situation or circumstance.

We must act upon the current economic challenges to maintain our stability.

To influence or affect someone's behavior or actions.

His parents' advice had a positive effect and he decided to act upon it.

To follow or obey a particular law, rule or guideline.

It is important to act upon traffic laws to ensure safety on the road.

Answer to

To be accountable or responsible to someone or something.

As the CEO, I answer to the board of directors.

To be subject to or under the authority of someone or something.

The new employee answers to the supervisor.

To respond or react to a particular name or title.

The horse answers to the name 'Buddy'.

To provide an explanation or justification for something.

The spokesperson had to answer to the media for the company's controversial decision.

To comply or conform to a particular standard or expectation.

We have to answer to the regulations set by the government agency.

Ask around

To inquire or ask for information from multiple sources or people.

If you need recommendations for a good restaurant, ask around among your friends and family.

To ask for help or assistance from a group of people.

We need volunteers for the charity event, so I'm going to ask around in the community.

To ask for someone's opinion or feedback.

I'm not sure which outfit to wear to the party, so I'm going to ask around and get some opinions.

To investigate or research a particular topic or subject.

I'm going to ask around and see if anyone knows of any job openings in my field.

To spread information or gossip through word of mouth.

The news of the celebrity breakup started to ask around quickly.

Ask for

To request or demand something from someone.

I need to ask for a raise at my next performance review.

To invite or encourage someone to provide a particular service or product.

The restaurant manager asked for feedback from the customers.

To seek or pursue a particular opportunity or goal.

I'm going to ask for a promotion at work.

To require or depend on a particular condition or circumstance.

Success in this job often asks for long hours and hard work.

To express or show a particular desire or interest.

I asked for a book on gardening for my birthday.

Back down

To retreat or withdraw from a particular position or stance.

After much debate, the government decided to back down on its controversial policy.

To concede or compromise on a particular issue or point.

In order to reach a resolution, both sides had to back down on some of their demands.

To show weakness or submission in a particular situation.

She didn't want to back down in front of her colleagues, even though she knew she was wrong.

To lose or withdraw support for a particular cause or person.

The company's investors started to back down after news of the scandal broke.

To avoid or disengage from a particular conflict or confrontation.

The manager decided to back down from the argument to avoid further escalation.

Back on

To resume a previous activity or habit.

I'm finally back on my exercise routine after taking a break for a few weeks.

To re-engage with someone or something after a period of distance or separation.

It's good to be back on speaking terms with my old friend.

To recover from an injury or setback and return to normal activities.

After a long rehabilitation process, the athlete is finally back on the field.

To restore power, service, or function to a particular device or system.

The technician was able to fix the internet connection and get us back online.

To regain control or momentum in a particular situation.

After a rocky start, our team was able to get back on track and win the game.

Back up

To move or position something to a particular location or direction.

I need to back up the car so we can load the groceries.

To support or reinforce a particular argument, claim, or position.

The scientist used data to back up his theory.

To create a copy or duplicate of a particular file or document.

It's important to back up your computer files regularly.

To retreat or move away from a particular position or situation.

The hikers had to back up when they reached a steep cliff.

To provide or offer assistance or help.

I'll back you up if you need help with the project.

Bake off

To bake something until it is fully cooked.

I need to bake off this cake for another 10 minutes.

To compete in a baking competition.

She entered the bake-off at the county fair and won first prize.

To bake something until it has formed a hard or crispy crust.

The bread needs to bake off in a very hot oven to get a good crust.

To remove something by baking or cooking it away.

She tried to bake off the oil stains on her favorite shirt.

To finish baking something after a period of refrigeration or rest.

I let the dough rest overnight before I baked it off in the morning.

Be into

To have a strong interest or passion for something.

I'm really into jazz music and try to go to concerts whenever I can.

To be currently engaged or involved in something.

I'm into a new project at work that's been keeping me busy.

To be fashionable or trendy.

Skinny jeans are still really into this season.

To be deeply committed or dedicated to something.

I'm into fitness and work out at the gym every day.

To be willing or eager to participate in something.

Are you into going to the new restaurant that just opened?

Be up

To be awake or not sleeping.

I'm usually up by 6 am on weekdays.

To be present or available for a particular event or occasion.

Are you up for going to the concert with me tonight?

To be suitable or appropriate for a particular task or purpose.

I think this dress will be up for the formal dinner.

To be in good physical or mental health.

I'm not feeling up to going out tonight.

To be prepared or ready for a particular challenge or opportunity.

I'm not sure if I'm up for the promotion, but I'll think about it.

Bend down

To lower one's body or head.

I had to bend down to tie my shoelaces.

To look down at something or someone.

He bent down to get a closer look at the tiny bird.

To decrease in size or intensity.

The storm finally began to bend down after hours of heavy rain.

To be submissive or obedient to someone or something.

The government is not willing to bend down to the demands of the protesters.

To pick up or retrieve something from a lower position.

She bent down to pick up the coins she dropped on the floor.

Bite off

To take a large or ambitious amount of something on.

I think I bit off more than I can chew with this project.

To break or tear off a piece of something with one's teeth.

He bit off a large chunk of the apple and chewed thoughtfully.

To make a harsh or critical remark to someone.

She bit off his head when he arrived late to the meeting.

To start or begin something with enthusiasm or energy.

I'm ready to bite off this new challenge and see where it takes me.

To confront or handle a difficult situation with determination or courage.

Sometimes in life, you just have to bite off the hard tasks and get them done.

Blow away

To remove or take away by the force of wind.

The storm blew away all the leaves in the yard.

To amaze or impress someone greatly.

The breathtaking view from the mountaintop blew me away.

To defeat or outperform someone by a wide margin.

The champion boxer easily blew away his opponent.

To kill someone by the force of an explosion or weapon.

The bomb blew away several innocent civilians.

To dispose of or get rid of something quickly or easily.

She blew away all the clutter in her room by donating it to charity.

Blow down

To knock down or cause to fall by the force of wind.

The strong winds blew down several trees in the park.

To destroy or demolish a particular structure or building.

The hurricane blew down several buildings along the coast.

To overcome or defeat someone or something.

The opposing team was blown down by the superior skills of our players.

To criticize or rebuke someone severely.

The boss blew down the employee for making a mistake.

To reject or refuse a proposal or request.

The committee blew down the proposal for increased funding.

Blow out

To extinguish a flame or fire.

Please blow out the candles on the birthday cake.

To burst or rupture, especially due to pressure.

The tire blew out while we were driving on the highway.

To exceed or surpass a particular limit or expectation.

The team blew out the competition with a score of 10-0.

To fail or fall apart, especially with regard to plans or arrangements.

The deal blew out at the last minute.

To overexert oneself, especially during physical activity.

He blew out his knee while playing basketball.

Blow over

To pass without causing significant damage or harm.

The storm blew over quickly without causing any major damage.

To be forgotten or ignored after a short period of time.

The controversy surrounding the politician's remarks eventually blew over.

To calm down or become less intense.

The argument between the siblings eventually blew over and they made up.

To dissipate or scatter.

The smoke from the fire blew over to the neighboring town.

To be dismissed or resolved without consequence.

The accusations against the company eventually blew over without any legal action.

Boil away

To evaporate a liquid by boiling it.

She let the soup simmer until most of the water boiled away.

To disappear or be used up gradually over time.

The funding for the project boiled away as expenses continued to mount.

To boil something until it has evaporated or dissolved completely.

She boiled away the caramel until it was thick and sticky.

To focus intently on something to the exclusion of everything else.

She was so absorbed in her work that she boiled away the hours without even noticing.

To boil something vigorously to remove impurities or excess water.

The chef boiled the pasta in heavily salted water to boil away any impurities.

Bottle away

To store something in a bottle or container for later use.

I like to bottle away my homemade jams and jellies for the winter months.

To conceal or hide something in a secretive or deceptive manner.

He tends to bottle away his feelings and avoid conflict.

To suppress or restrain an emotional or physical response.

I had to bottle away my frustration when the project was delayed yet again.

To hoard or collect something obsessively.

He tends to bottle away every little memento or souvenir from his travels.

To waste or squander something valuable.

We can't afford to bottle away any more of our limited resources.

Bottom out

To reach the lowest point of a situation or trend.

The stock market finally bottomed out after months of decline.

To collapse or fail completely.

The company's finances bottomed out after a series of bad investments.

To come to a sudden and unexpected stop.

The car's brakes failed, causing it to bottom out on the side of the road.

To become completely exhausted or depleted.

I've been working so much lately that my energy has completely bottomed out.

To reveal the truth or reveal the underlying cause of a problem.

The investigation finally bottomed out the source of the corruption within the company.

Bowl out

To dismiss someone or something abruptly or unceremoniously.

After his poor performance, the coach decided to bowl him out of the game.

To knock down or defeat someone or something decisively.

The opposing team was easily bowled out in the first round.

To exit a situation or location quickly or forcefully.

We had to bowl out of there before the storm hit.

To reveal a secret or private information.

She accidentally bowled out her friend's surprise party plans.

To hit a ball in a cricket match that results in the batter being declared out.

The bowler successfully bowled out the opposing team's top player.

Bowl over

To knock down or knock over someone or something.

The strong winds were so powerful they nearly bowled over the trees.

To surprise or shock someone in a positive way.

He was completely bowled over by the surprise birthday party.

To impress or overwhelm someone.

The presentation was so well done that it bowled over the entire audience.

To win over or persuade someone.

The charity's mission and impact bowled over potential donors.

To intoxicate or make someone drunk.

After a few too many drinks, she was completely bowled over.

Box in

To enclose or trap someone or something in a small space.

The car was boxed in by other vehicles on both sides.

To restrict or limit someone's movements or