In this Facebook Live session, Amnah shares 25 more phrasal verbs that you can use at work! Watch the replay here.
Or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.
What are phrasal verbs?
A phrasal verb is a combination of words (verb + preposition OR verb + adverb OR verb + adverb + preposition) that when used together, usually take on a different meaning to that of the original verb.
When we use phrasal verbs, we use them like normal verbs in a sentence.
Here are the 25 phrasal verbs shared in the session:
1. account for
to be the reason why something exists or happens
A number of factors account for the differences between the two scores.
The increase in carbon dioxide emissions may account for changes in the climate.
2. bear with
used as a polite way of asking someone to be patient while you do or finish something
If you just bear with me for a few more minutes, we’ll have all the paperwork finished.
3. consists of
to be made of particular parts or things
Breakfast consisted of bread and a cup of coffee.
My role seemed to consist of standing and smiling at people.
4. deal with
to take action to do something, especially to solve a problem
The government must now deal with the problem of high unemployment.
I spent the morning dealing with my emails.
5. end up
to be in a particular place or state after doing something or because of doing it
Keep on doing that and you’ll end up in serious trouble.
You’ll just end up with more problems to fix down the road.
6. factor in
to include a particular amount or factor when you calculate something
Total spending was virtually the same after factoring in inflation.
7. gloss over
to ignore or avoid unpleasant facts
He could no longer gloss over his failures.
8. hold off
to deliberately delay doing something
He may decide to hold off for a few days.
She held off calling him until the last possible moment.
9. indulge in
to become involved in (something, especially something that is considered wrong or improper)
Both candidates have promised not to indulge in further personal attacks for the remainder of the campaign.
10. jot down
to write something in a quick informal way
Carry a small notepad in your pocket and jot down your observations.
11. kick off
to begin, or to begin something
I’d like to kick off with a quick look at last month’s sales figures.
We are kicking off the event with a student performance.
12. lay off
to end someone’s employment, especially temporarily, because there is not enough work for them
They’ve had to cut back production and lay off workers.
13. mark up
(of a retailer) to add a certain amount to the cost of goods to cover overhead and profit.
She marks up prized garments by at least 50 per cent.
14. nail down
to definitely decide, arrange, or complete something
They’re on the verge of getting the agreement nailed down.
15. opt out
to decide not to take part in something or to stop taking part in it
The firm opted out of the company car scheme last year.
If you opt out before December 1st, your deposit will be refunded.
16. point out
to tell someone something
Thank you for pointing that out.
He pointed out that we had two hours of free time before dinner.
17. queue up
to wait for something in a queue. The usual American word is line up.
There was a long line of fans queueing up for tickets.
18. ramp up
to increase, or to increase something such as a rate or level, especially the rate at which goods are produced
Operations quickly ramped up.
We’ve had to ramp up production to meet demand.
19. settle for
to accept someone or something that is not exactly what you wanted because you cannot have what you wanted
Injuries and illness forced the team to settle for third place.
Why settle for second best when you can have something better?
20. think over
to consider a problem or decision carefully
Let’s think over his proposal before we see him again.
21. use up
to use all of a supply of something
I’ve used up all my annual leave entitlement, and it’s only March.
22. vouch for
to assert or confirm as a result of one’s own experience that something is true or accurately so described.
The explosive used is of my own formulation, and I can vouch for its efficiency.
23. wind up
to end something
I’d like to wind up the meeting soon.
24. yield up
to finally allow people to see something that has been hidden
This latest dig has yielded up over a hundred pieces of fine Roman silverware.
25. zoom in on
to focus on, examine closely
The moderator got the panelists to zoom in on the healthcare issue.
