Phrasal verbs |
| brush up (on) |
practise and improve your skills or knowledge of something |
I took a class to brush up (on) my German before the trip. |
| come (a)round (to) |
change your opinion or decision because someone has persuaded you to agree with them |
I didn't agree at first but I've come (a)round to the idea now. |
| come up with |
think of something such as an idea or a plan |
Is that the best you can come up with? |
| face up to |
accept something and try to deal with it |
He was the only one who faced up to the problem. |
| figure out |
be able to understand something or solve a problem; understand what someone is like and why they behave in the way they do |
We had to figure out the connection between the two events. |
| hit upon |
suddenly have an idea; discover something by chance |
She was scared he might hit upon the truth. |
| make out |
see, hear or understand someone or something with difficulty; suggest, imply |
Can you make out a face here in the photograph? |
| mull over |
think carefully about something over a period of time |
They'll need time to mull over the proposals. |
| piece together |
learn the truth about something by considering all the separate bits of information you have |
Detectives are still piecing together the circumstances surrounding the incident. |
| puzzle out |
solve a confusing or complicated problem by thinking carefully about it |
She seemed to be trying to puzzle out who the caller might be. |
| read up (on/about) |
get information on a particular subject by reading a lot about it |
I need to read up on my British history. |
| swot up (on) |
study something very hard, especially for an examination |
I've got to swot up the French Revolution for tomorrow's test. |
| take in |
understand and remember something that you hear or read; accept something as real or true; trick someone into believing something that is not true |
I'm not sure how much of his explanation she took in. |
| think over |
consider a problem or decision carefully |
Let's think over his proposal before we see him again. |
| think through |
consider the facts about something in an organised and thorough way |
Have you had time to think things through? |
| think up |
invent or imagine something, especially an excuse |
She'd have to think up a good reason for being late. |
