Phrasal Verbs 1
break into – to get into a building or car by using force, usually in order to steal
something.
break into – to use someone else’s computer without permission in order to find
out or change information.
break into – to start to use an amount of money or food that you have been
saving.
break into – to open a container of food or drink in order to start eating or
drinking what is in it.
break into – to use paper money to buy something because you do not have
enough coins to pay for it.
break into – to become involved in a type of business or activity that is difficult
to become involved in.
break into – to suddenly start to do something.
grow up – to gradually change from being a child to an adult.
grow up! – something that you say to an adult in order to tell them to stop
behaving stupidly.
throw away – to get rid of something because you do not want or need it any
more.
throw away – to waste a skill or an opportunity to do something good.
get into – to become interested in an activity or subject, or to start being
involved in an activity.
get into – to succeed in getting a place at school.
get into – to succeed in becoming a member of a team.
get into – to start to have a particular habit or way of behaving.
get into – to be thin enough to be able to put your clothes on.
get into – to become involved in a difficult situation, often without intending to,
or to make someone do this.
get into – to criticize someone.
phone up – to telephone someone.
log on(also onto, in, into) – to put your name into a computer so that you can
start using it.
hack into – to get into someone else’s computer system without permission in
order to look at some information or do something illegal.
run up – to run to where the person is.
run up – if you run up a debt (e.g. bill, deficit), you do things that cause you to
owe a large amount of money.
run up – to make something very quickly, especially by sewing.
run up – to raise a flag to the top of its pole.
run up – to make the price or value of something (e.g. stocks) increase.
find out – to get information about something because you want to know more
about it, or to learn a fact or piece of information for the first time.
find out – to discover that someone has done something wrong.
go about – to start to do something or deal with something.
go about – to continue with an activity.
go about – if someone goes about doing something, they spend their time
behaving badly or doing something that is unpleasant for other people.
go about – if an illness goes about, a lot of people get it.
go about – if a story or piece of news goes about, a lot of people are talking
about it.
go about – to dress up or behave in a particular way.
go about – if a boat or a ship goes about, it turns around.
keep at – to keep working hard at something difficult or something that takes a
long time, or to make someone continue to work hard.
track down – to find someone or something after searching for them in many
different places.
set about – to start doing something, especially something that uses a lot of
time or energy.
set about – to start dealing with something in a particular way.
set about – to attack someone physically.
shut down – if a factory or business shuts down, or if someone closes it down, it
closes and stops working.
shut down – if a machine shuts down, or if someone shuts it down, it stops
operating.
hand over – to give something to someone else.
hand over – to give someone else responsibility for or control of something or
someone.
keep ahead – to continue to be more advanced and successful than other people,
or to make sure that someone is more advanced or successful than other people.
Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal verb from the
Advanced Phrasal Verb list.
1. A student had managed to __________ some top-secret
government data.
2. All prisoners of war will be __________ after the ceasefire.
3. American banks are starting to __________ the British financial
market.
4. Anyone can __________ this computer.
5. Both chemical factories were __________ for safety reasons.
6. Business was bad during the recession and we __________ debt.
7. Can you not do something Rob? You _____ us _____ this mess!
8. Could you lend me 50 cents – otherwise I will have to __________
a $10 bill to pay for the soda.
9. Did she __________ university?
10.
Do not believe anything you hear, there are all kinds of
rumors __________.
11.
Dr. Clark will be __________ responsibility for her patients
from next month.
12.
England had the chance to take the lead in the second half
and they just _____ it _____.
13.
Everyone __________ in fur coats and thermal boots.
14.
He announced his decision to resign and __________ to his
junior.
15.
He __________ their computer system and stole some topsecret records.
16.
He had drunk too much and __________ a fight outside the
restaurant.
17.
He has often thought about having an affair, but is worried
that his wife would __________.
18.
He is hoping to __________ the school team.
19.
He knew that if his parents __________ about the party he
would never be allowed to stay in the house again on his own.
20.
He lived in dread of being __________.
21.
He __________ a lot of debts while he was unemployed.
22.
Heavy buying __________ the price of stocks higher than
expected.
23.
Here seems to be a lot of flu __________ at the moment.
24.
How can we __________ solving this problem?
25.
How did you __________ journalism?
26.
I am going to __________ those magazines if you have
finished reading them.
27.
I am trying to __________ one of my old school friends.
28.
I got home and immediately __________ cleaning the house.
29.
I __________ the habit of having a snack at about 11 each
morning.
30.
I had not spoken to you for ages so I thought I would _____
you _____.
31.
I have put on so much weight that I cannot __________ any
of my clothes any more.
32.
I need to __________ exactly what went wrong.
33.
I need to finish a job but I do not know how to __________
the task.
34.
I __________ behind him and slapped him on the back.
35.
I think they are __________ the problem the wrong way.
36.
I told him that a letter from the bank had just arrived and he
__________ a sweat.
37.
I wish she would not __________ telling people that I am
depressed.
38.
I would like to help, but what is the best way to __________
it?
39.
In spite of last night’s bomb attack most people seem to be
__________ their business as usual.
40.
It was work that required intense concentration and he _____
us _____ it all afternoon.
41.
Learning a language is hard work – you will have to
__________ it.
42.
Learning to drive is not easy, as you will soon __________.
43.
Learning to take disappointments is all part of __________.
44.
__________ using your own name and password.
45.
My car has been __________ twice this month.
46.
Next time, could you use the cheese that is open before you
go __________ a new packet?
47.
Oh __________, for God’s sake, it really is not that funny!
48.
Our food supply ran out after five days and we had to
__________ our emergency rations.
49.
Ring the restaurant to __________ if they still have a table
free.
50.
She can __________ a dress in a couple of hours on her
sewing machine.
51.
She _____ herself _____ trouble with the police.
52.
She __________ in New Zealand.
53.
She has been __________ yoga recently.
54.
She __________ to me and put this package in my hands.
55.
She tends to whistle as she __________ her household
chores.
56.
That is right Jo, you __________ him!
57.
The audience __________ tears as the band came on stage.
58.
The boat __________ as it came close to the shore.
59.
The British flag was __________ on the roof.
60.
The computer system __________ automatically at 8pm.
61.
The driver was forced to __________ the keys and was left
standing on the roadside.
62.
The job provides good experience for people who want to
__________ charity work.
63.
The selling power of the name alone will _____ them _____
of their rivals.
64.
These potatoes are past their best – I think I should _____
them _____.
65.
They dragged him into an alley and __________ him with
their fists.
66.
They have finally managed to __________ that book I
wanted.
67.
They will have to work hard to __________ in the opinion
polls.
68.
Three thousand people will lose their jobs if the car
manufacturer __________.
69.
We __________ that it was his birthday and so we decided to
buy him a small present.
70.
We had to __________ a completely different routine once
the baby arrived.
71.
We __________ the most enormous bill in the first
restaurant we went to.
72.
What do you want to be when you __________?
73.
Why do you not __________ and see if there are any tickets
left for tonight?
74.
Without warning, she had __________ a run and he thought
that he would never catch up.
75.
You can always __________ your savings if you are short of
cash.
76.
You cannot __________ treating people like that!
77.
You have spent years doing all that training and now you are
going to _____ it all _____.