Phrasal verbs |
| back out |
decide not to do sth you agreed to do |
But you promised to help me this
weekend - you can't back out now! |
| bring out |
produce and start to sell a new product |
Did you hear that REM have just brought out a new album? |
| close down |
stop operating (for companies) |
What is the government doing about the fact that dozens o local
businesses are closing down every month? |
| see through (to) |
continue (or help to continue) to the end of sth unpleasant or difficult |
I’m not enjoying my computer course any more, but I’ll
see it through to the end. |
| see to |
deal with |
Could you answer the door while I see to the baby? |
| set out |
start working on sth in order to achieve an aim |
In the beginning, we set out to build a successful
company, but we never expected to become millionaires. |
| set to |
start doing sth in a determined or enthusiastic way |
We only had a few hours to get the party ready so we
set to work quickly. |
| set up |
start (a business, organisation, etc) |
You're such a good cook that I think you should set up a restaurant. |
| slow down |
decrease speed |
The train started to slow down as it approached the
station. |
| speed up |
increase speed |
I realised that I might not have enough time to
fin,sh the exam so I started to speed up. |
| stand in for |
do sb's job for them while they are not available |
Mr Howard will be standing in for Mrs O'Connell while
she's ill. |
| take on |
start to employ |
There’s so much work to do in t e office that maybe
we should take on a secretary. |
| take on |
accept (work or responsibility) |
I haven’t got time to take on any
more protects at the moment. |
| take over |
take control of (a business, etc) |
When Mr Barker retired, his daughter
took over the family business. |
| turn down |
not accept (an offer, request, etc) |
I applied to join the Air Force, but
they turned me down because of my eyesight. |
