Phrasal verbs |
break down |
stop working (for a machine, etc) |
That's the third time our car's broken
down this month! |
carry out |
perform an experiment, etc |
The investigators have been carrying
out tests on the pieces of plane
recovered after the accident. |
come off |
succeed |
Well, I think it's a stupid plan and I'll be amazed if it comes
off. |
come on |
develop or make progress |
Your piano playing is really coming on,
isn't it? |
come up with |
think of (an idea, a plan, etc) |
Who do you think came up with the idea
of the bicycle? |
cut off |
stop the supply of sth |
The snow meant that the village was cut off for over a month. |
find out |
discover information, etc |
I've always wanted to find out more
about the ancient Egyptians. |
give off |
produce sth such as heat or a smell |
The fridge gets hot next to the cooked because the cooker gives off a lot of heat. |
narrow down |
reduce the number of possibilities |
I still haven't decided which university to go to, but I've narrowed it down to about four. |
plug in |
connect to the electricity supply |
I couldn't understand why the vacuum clearer wasn't working and then I realised I hadn't plugged it in. |
put through |
connect by phone |
I'll just put you through to the supervisor, Mrs Edwards. |
turn into |
change into sth different |
It started as the holiday of a lifetime but soon
turned into a nightmare. |
turn off |
stop a machine working |
Would you please turn that stereo off and
get your homework done? |
work out |
find the solution to a problem, etc |
If you look at the context, maybe you
can work out what the word means. |