The Ultimate Phrasal Verbs Handbook: Learn, Practice, and Master

By Saiful Alam

 

Welcome to "The Ultimate Phrasal Verbs Handbook: Learn, Practice, and Master"! Phrasal verbs are a vital part of the English language, and they can be a challenge to master. This book is designed to help you overcome that challenge by providing you with a comprehensive guide to phrasal verbs.

 

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and one or more particles (such as prepositions or adverbs) that together create a new meaning. These verbs are commonly used in English, and mastering them is essential for anyone looking to improve their fluency and comprehension of the language.

 

In this handbook, you will find a wide range of phrasal verbs, along with clear explanations of their meanings and usage. You will also have access to numerous examples that demonstrate how these verbs are used in context.

 

But this book is more than just a reference guide. It's also a practice book, with numerous exercises and quizzes designed to help you consolidate your knowledge and develop your skills. By working through the exercises and quizzes, you'll be able to apply what you've learned and improve your confidence in using phrasal verbs in your daily life.

 

"The Ultimate Phrasal Verbs Handbook: Learn, Practice, and Master" is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their English language skills. Whether you're a student, a professional, or simply someone who wants to communicate more effectively, this book will help you achieve your goals. So, let's get started and master phrasal verbs together!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saiful Alam
• Release date: Mar 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223650331

Book preview

Preface

Welcome to The Ultimate Phrasal Verbs Handbook: Learn, Practice, and Master! Phrasal verbs are a vital part of the English language, and they can be a challenge to master. This book is designed to help you overcome that challenge by providing you with a comprehensive guide to phrasal verbs.

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and one or more particles (such as prepositions or adverbs) that together create a new meaning. These verbs are commonly used in English, and mastering them is essential for anyone looking to improve their fluency and comprehension of the language.

In this handbook, you will find a wide range of phrasal verbs, along with clear explanations of their meanings and usage. You will also have access to numerous examples that demonstrate how these verbs are used in context.

But this book is more than just a reference guide. It's also a practice book, with numerous exercises and quizzes designed to help you consolidate your knowledge and develop your skills. By working through the exercises and quizzes, you'll be able to apply what you've learned and improve your confidence in using phrasal verbs in your daily life.

The Ultimate Phrasal Verbs Handbook: Learn, Practice, and Master is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their English language skills. Whether you're a student, a professional, or simply someone who wants to communicate more effectively, this book will help you achieve your goals. So, let's get started and master phrasal verbs together!

Abide by

To comply or conform to a particular rule, law, or standard.

All employees are required to abide by the company's dress code policy.

To accept or respect a particular decision or agreement.

We must abide by the judge's ruling in the case.

To endure or tolerate a particular situation or circumstance.

We had to abide by the long wait times at the DMV.

To remain or continue in a particular place or state.

I plan to abide by in this city for at least another year.

To acknowledge or recognize a particular authority or power.

We must abide by the regulations set forth by the federal government.

Above all

Most importantly.

Above all, we need to make sure everyone is safe.

To emphasize that something is more important than anything else.

Above all, we need to stick to our principles.

To describe something as the most important quality or characteristic. Her honesty is above all the reason why I trust her.

To stress something as the most significant or valuable.

Above all, we need to remember that time is our most precious resource.

To describe something as being the greatest or most significant.

His above all performance in the game earned him the MVP award.

Access to

To be able to use or obtain a particular resource or service.

As a member of the club, I have access to the gym facilities.

To have the opportunity or permission to do something.

Employees have access to flexible work arrangements.

To enter or reach a particular area or location.

We were denied access to the private beach because we weren't hotel guests.

To gain or acquire information or knowledge about a particular topic or subject.

I had access to all the necessary resources for my research project.

To be able to interact with or communicate with a particular person or group.

The CEO has access to the company's board of directors.

Account for

To explain or justify a particular action or decision.

The politician had to account for their controversial remarks during the debate.

To be responsible for a particular outcome or result.

The company had to account for the loss of revenue due to the pandemic.

To represent or constitute a particular proportion or amount of something.

Sales of the new product accounted for over 50% of the company's revenue last quarter.

To take into consideration or include a particular factor or circumstance.

The new policy will need to account for the needs of all employees.

To keep track of or record a particular item or resource.

We need to account for all the inventory in the warehouse before we can restock.

Act out

To behave badly or inappropriately, especially as a way of expressing one's emotions.

The child acted out in class because they were upset about their parents' divorce.

To perform or demonstrate a particular action or behavior.

The actors will act out the scene during the rehearsal.

To express or portray a particular emotion or idea through one's actions or behavior.

The dancer will act out the joy and sorrow of the character through movement.

To reenact or simulate a particular event or situation.

The forensic team will act out the crime scene to try to piece together what happened.

To role-play or engage in a particular fantasy or scenario.

The couple enjoys acting out different scenarios in the bedroom.

Act up

To misbehave or cause trouble.

The children were acting up during the class.

To malfunction or not work properly.

My computer is acting up again.

To become ill or experience health issues.

My knee is acting up again and it's difficult to walk.

To behave in a rebellious or nonconformist manner.

She started acting up and dyeing her hair different colors.

To express emotions in a dramatic or exaggerated way.

She always acts up and cries when she doesn't get her way.

Add up

To make sense; to be logically consistent.

Her story doesn't add up; there must be something she's not telling us.

To total up; to calculate the sum of.

I need to add up all my receipts to see how much money I spent on the trip.

To increase gradually in number or amount.

The bills are really starting to add up this month.

To have one's actions or behavior viewed in a particular way.

If you keep acting suspiciously, people will start to think that things don't add up.

To accumulate or gather over time.

If you don't clean your room regularly, clutter will start to add up quickly.

Add up to

To result in a particular sum or amount.

The purchases at the store added up to $100.

To contribute to a particular total or outcome.

The individual contributions of the team members added up to the overall success of the project.

To make sense or seem reasonable.

The pieces of the puzzle started to add up to a clear picture.

To equate or compare with a particular value or standard.

Does his behavior add up to the company's code of conduct?

To increase or accumulate over time.

The small changes in lifestyle can add up to significant health benefits in the long run.

Agree with

To have the same opinion or belief as someone else.

I agree with my coworker that we need to change our strategy.

To find something or someone pleasing or suitable.

This outfit really agrees with your complexion.

To make a grammatically correct sentence or phrase.

The verb needs to agree with the subject in number and tense.

To be compatible with or not cause negative reactions in one's body.

I can't eat spicy food because it doesn't agree with my stomach.

To accept or be willing to comply with a particular request or condition.

I'll agree with your proposal if you can provide more details.

Aim at

To target or direct something at a particular object or goal.

The archer aimed at the bullseye in the center of the target.

To have a particular intention or purpose in mind.

The company's new marketing campaign is aimed at increasing brand awareness.

To strive or work towards a particular goal or objective.

He's aiming at becoming the top performer in his department.

To point or position something in a particular direction.

The camera was aimed at the stage during the performance.

To criticize or blame someone or something.

She aimed her frustration at her co-worker for not completing their task.

All but

Almost or nearly.

She all but guaranteed her team's victory with a perfect performance.

Everything except for.

The storm all but destroyed the small town.

Very close to achieving something.

He was all but certain to win the election.

To do everything except for one thing.

I've finished all but the final paragraph of my essay.

To describe something that is nearly impossible or unlikely.

The plan was all but doomed to fail from the start.

Allow for

To take into consideration or anticipate a particular possibility or circumstance.

We need to allow for delays in our travel plans due to the weather.

To provide enough space or time for a particular activity or event.

We need to allow for a two-hour break between the two sessions.

To grant permission or make an exception for a particular request or situation.

We can allow for an extension on the deadline if there are exceptional circumstances.

To tolerate or accept a particular behavior or attitude.

We can't allow for disrespectful behavior in the workplace.

To factor in or include a particular element or variable in a calculation or analysis.

We need to allow for inflation in our financial projections.

Allow of

To permit or make possible something.

The size of the room doesn't allow of more than two beds.

To admit of or be susceptible to a particular interpretation or analysis. The ambiguous language of the poem allows of several interpretations.

To be compatible with or not preclude something else.

Her schedule doesn't allow of any free time for hobbies.

To give permission for something.

The teacher allowed of extra credit for the students who did well on the test.

To tolerate or overlook something.

The boss wouldn't allow of any excuses for being late to work.

Answer back

To reply in a disrespectful or defiant manner.

The student answered back to the teacher and was reprimanded.

To respond in a quick and efficient manner.

He answered back to the email immediately.

To respond to a call or signal.

The dog answered back to the whistle.

To repeat or echo a particular sound.

The mountains answered back with an echo.

To provide an appropriate response or solution.

The software was able to answer back to the user's input accurately.

Apply for

To submit an application or request for a particular position, program, or opportunity.

I'm going to apply for the job at the new company.

To seek or request permission or approval for a particular action or request.

We need to apply for a permit to build the new structure.

To be relevant or applicable to a particular situation or circumstance.

The same principles apply for all types of businesses.

To assign or allocate something to a particular use or purpose.

We can apply the funds from the grant to research and development.

To put into practice or implement a particular idea or theory.

We need to apply the principles of sustainability to our business practices.

Argue for

To present and defend a particular argument or point of view.

The lawyer argued for his client's innocence in court.

To advocate or support a particular cause or position.

I strongly argue for more funding for education.

To make a persuasive case for a particular decision or action.

She argued for a change in company policy to improve employee morale.

To engage in a heated or contentious debate or discussion.

The politicians argued for hours over the proposed legislation.

To challenge or dispute a particular statement or claim.

I had to argue for my grade when I felt the exam was unfairly graded.

Argue out

To discuss or debate a particular topic or issue until a resolution is reached.

We need to argue out our differences before making a decision.

To fight or quarrel with someone until a compromise is reached.

The couple argued out their differences and decided to give their relationship another chance.

To settle or resolve a particular dispute or conflict.

The lawyers argued out the terms of the settlement.

To discuss or negotiate the terms of a particular agreement or contract.

We need to argue out the details of the business deal before signing the contract.

To come to a mutual understanding or agreement after a discussion or debate.

The committee argued out their differences and reached a unanimous decision.

Ask after

To inquire about someone's health or well-being.

When you see Jane, could you please ask after her mother's recovery?

To express interest or concern about someone or something.

He asked after my new job and seemed genuinely interested in how I was doing.

To request information about someone or something.

I asked after the availability of the product and was told it would be restocked next week.

To seek an update or status report about something.

I need to ask after the progress of the construction project.

To check in on someone or something.

I like to ask after my elderly neighbor from time to time to make sure she's doing okay.

Ask over

To invite someone to one's home.

We should ask over our new neighbors for dinner sometime soon.

To request that someone come to a particular place.

He asked me over to his office to discuss the new project.

To ask for an explanation or clarification.

I had to ask him over what he meant by his cryptic comment.

To inquire about the possibility of hosting an event or gathering.

I'm going to ask over a few friends for a game night this weekend.

To extend an invitation for someone to attend an event or gathering.

She asked me over to her daughter's birthday party next week.

Back off

To retreat or withdraw from a particular situation or confrontation.

He told the aggressive driver to back off and stop tailgating him.

To stop doing something or pursuing a particular course of action.

He decided to back off from the business deal after learning more about the risks involved.

To move away from a particular location or area.

The hiker backed off from the edge of the cliff.

To decrease or reduce the intensity or aggressiveness of something.

The government had to back off from its proposed tax hike after facing public backlash.

To stop interfering in someone else's business or personal affairs.

She told her nosy neighbor to back off and respect her privacy.

Back out

To withdraw or retreat from a commitment or promise.

He agreed to lend me the money but backed out at the last minute.

To reverse or undo a previous decision or action.

The company backed out of the merger deal after discovering some irregularities in the other party's financial statements.

To remove or extract something from a space or position.

I had to back out the car from the narrow driveway carefully to avoid hitting the wall.

To refuse or decline an invitation or offer.

She had to back out of the dinner invitation because of a sudden family emergency.

To move backward or away from a location or situation.

The crowd backed out of the way as the police car sped by with its sirens blaring.

Bang out

To play a musical piece loudly and energetically.

The band started to bang out their latest hit.

To produce or create something quickly and efficiently.

She managed to bang out a report in just a few hours.

To strike or hit something forcefully and repeatedly.

The construction workers were banging out the nails with their hammers.

To finish or complete something quickly.

He managed to bang out the last few pages of the novel in a marathon writing session.

To write something quickly and without much attention to detail.

He banged out a quick email to his boss explaining his absence from work.

Be taken aback

To be surprised or shocked by something.

I was taken aback by the news of his sudden death.

To be caught off guard or unprepared.

I was taken aback by the difficult question and didn't know how to answer it.

To feel intimidated or overwhelmed by someone or something.

I was taken aback by her confidence and intelligence during the interview.

To experience a sudden setback or obstacle.

We were taken aback by the sudden change in weather, which delayed our travel plans.

To be offended or insulted by something.

She was taken aback by the rude comment from her colleague.

Bear away

To carry or transport something away from a particular place.

The workers used a forklift to bear away the heavy crates from the loading dock.

To win or achieve victory in a particular competition or contest.

The team was able to bear away the championship trophy for the third year in a row.

To remove or take something away from a particular situation or context.

The editor decided to bear away the controversial paragraph from the article.

To distract or divert someone's attention away from a particular subject or topic.

I tried to bear away the conversation from the difficult topic.

To overcome or conquer a particular obstacle or difficulty.

Despite the challenges, he was able to bear away the project successfully.

Bear down

To focus or concentrate one's efforts or attention on something.

The students need to bear down and study hard for their upcoming exams.

To press or push something down firmly.

The workers will bear down on the pavement to make it more even.

To intensify or increase pressure or force.

The hurricane is bearing down on the coastal areas, and people are evacuating.

To overcome or defeat an opponent or obstacle.

The team needs to bear down and win the championship game.

To use one's authority or power to compel or persuade someone.

The supervisor will bear down on the employees to meet the project deadline.

Bear down on

To put pressure on someone or something.

The coach told the team to bear down on the defense and score a goal.

To focus one's attention or efforts on a particular task or goal.

She needed to bear down on her studies if she wanted to pass the exam.

To approach something or someone rapidly or aggressively.

The storm clouds were bearing down on the city, and we needed to take cover.

To insist or demand something forcefully.

The boss was bearing down on the employees to finish the project by the deadline.

To confront or deal with a difficult situation or problem.

She had to bear down on her fear of public speaking to give the presentation.

Bear on

To be relevant or connected to a particular