Phrasal verbs |
| add up to |
if separate amounts add up to a total amount, together they form that total; combine to produce a particular result or effect |
These new measures do not add up to genuine reform. |
| break down |
divide something such as a total amount into separate parts breakdown (n) |
The amount doesn't seem quite so bad when you break it down into monthly payments. |
| build up |
increase or make something increase |
The food industry
needs to build up consumer confidence again. |
| build up |
gradually develop |
Many popular writers built up their
reputations during the war. |
| build up |
talk about someone or something in a very positive way so that people are impressed with them |
They've built him up
to be something that he isn't. |
| build up |
make someone bigger, healthier and stronger, especially by making them eat more build-up (n) |
You need lots of fresh fruit to help build you up. |
| buy off |
give someone money so that they do not act against you |
Efforts to buy her off have failed. |
| buy out |
pay money to your business partner so that you can control all of a business you previously owned together buyout (n) |
Efforts to buy her off have failed. |
| buy up |
buy large amounts of something or all of it that is available |
Developers have been buying up old theatres and converting them into cinemas. |
| carry over |
take something that you earn or are given in onE year or period of time into the next one carry-over (n) |
You are not allowed to carry over holiday entitlement from one year into the next |
| clock up |
reach a particular number or amount |
Dawson has clocked up 34 years as a police officer. |
| club together |
if people club together, each of them gives some money so all the money collected can be used to buy something |
Let's all club together and get her a nice present |
| drum up |
try to make people support you or buy something from you |
Advertisements should help to drum up some business. |
| mount up |
get much larger |
The costs are beginning to mount up. |
| pay back |
give someone the same amount of money that you borrowed from them |
I'll be able to pay you back next week. |
| pay out |
spend or pay money, especially a lot of money |
We've paid out thousands of pounds in health insurance over
the years. |
| pay out |
provide money from an amount invested over a period of time |
It'll be a few years before our investments start paying out. |
| size up |
think carefully and form an opinion about a person or a situation |
He sized up the situation and then decided what to do. |
| take away |
remove one number or quantity from another number or quantity |
If you take three away from five, you're left with two. |
| weigh down |
make someone heavy and unable to move easily |
If you take three away from five, you're left with two. |
| weigh down |
cause problems for someone or something or make someone worried |
The entire industry has been weighed down
by economic uncertainty. |
