Phrasal verbs | Sunday Observer

Phrasal verbs

10 May, 2021

Phrasal verbs are an important feature of the English language. The meaning of a phrasal verb often bears no relation to the meaning of either the verb or the particle which it is used with it. Many phrasal verbs have several different meanings.
Chuck out (to get rid of something you do not need)
I want to chuck out these old newspapers.
Chuck in (to stop doing an activity, especially a job or a course of studies)
Ben chucked in his law studies to become a musician.
Chuck out (to force someone to leave a place)
The boy was chucked out of school for taking drugs.
Churn out (to produce large amounts of something, especially of low quality)
The factory churns out thousands of toys annually.
Churn up (to damage the surface of something)
Heavy vehicles churn up the mud on rural roads.
Clamp down (to stop or limit a particular activity)
Police clamp down on street crime.
Clean out (to clean the inside of something)
I want to clean the cupboards out during the vacation.
Clean up (to make something clean)
Clean up the room before you leave.
Clear off (to leave a place quickly)
Clear off and leave me alone!
Clear out (to leave a place)
The landlord gave me a week to clear out of his flat.
Clear up (if the weather clears up, it improves)
I hope the weather will clear up in the evening.
Clock in (to record the time you arrive at work)
I had to clock in at 9 a.m. on weekdays.
Clock out (to record the time you leave work)
Clock out as you leave the building.
Close down (if a business closes down, it stops doing business)
Many of the tourist hotels closed down due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Close in (to get close to someone)
The police closed in on the murder suspect.
Close off (to put something across a road to prevent people entering a building or area)
The police closed off certain areas of the city to traffic.
Close out (to make something end quickly)
The Prime Minister closed out the interview with a joke.
Cloud over (if the sky clouds over, it becomes covered with clouds)
The children watched as the sky clouded over, waiting for the rain to come.
Clown around (to behave in a silly way) The children were clowning around when the teacher walked into the classroom.
Clutch at (to get hold of something)
A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
Coast along (to do only the things that you have to do without trying to be more successful)
Some students coast along in class in order to know enough to pass the examination.
 

Comments