This lesson covers 50 C2 phrasal verbs on Academic. At Proficiency you must distinguish particles that change meaning subtly and match register across formal and informal contexts. Complete the runner, then use the glossary below to consolidate each verb. Detailed explanations appear in Review mode once you finish the set.
whittle away
to gradually reduce the size or importance of something until it does not exist any more
Constant budget cuts began to slowly _____ the department's research capacity.
spur on
to encourage someone to try harder in order to achieve something
The positive early results continued to _____ the research team to work even harder.
dry up
to stop speaking when you are acting or making a speech, especially because you suddenly forget what to say next
The normally eloquent professor suddenly _____ halfway through his keynote address.
lead into
if a subject you are talking about or a discussion leads into another subject or discussion, it is the reason why you start talking about the second subject or start the second discussion
The opening remarks were designed to smoothly _____ the main discussion topic.
breeze through
to succeed in something [e.g. exam] very easily
The brilliant young researcher _____ her doctoral defence without any difficulty.
kick out
to force someone to leave a place or an organisation
The university decided to _____ the student for repeated violations of laboratory safety.
read on
to continue reading and read the next part of something
The audience was so captivated that everyone decided to _____ to the final chapter.
sail through
to succeed very easily, especially in a test, examination etc.
The brilliant young researcher managed to _____ her doctoral defence without any difficulty.
set aside
to use something, especially time, for one purpose and no other purpose
The university decided to _____ a specific budget for diversity initiatives.
not care for
to not like something or someone
The senior professor does not really _____ the new digital teaching methods.
share out
to divide something into smaller amounts and give one amount to each person or thing in a group
The grant money was carefully _____ among the different research teams.
potter around
to spend time in a pleasant, relaxed way, often doing small jobs in or around the house
The retired professor still likes to _____ in the old laboratory on weekends.
strike up
to start a conversation or relationship with someone
The two scientists quickly managed to _____ a productive conversation at the conference.
rise above
to not allow something bad that is happening or being done to you to upset you or to affect your behaviour
The research team managed to _____ the recent criticism and continue with their work.
soldier on
to continue doing something, although it is difficult or unpleasant
Despite the setbacks the small team decided to _____ with the original research plan.
nod off
to fall asleep when you do not intend to go to sleep
The exhausted intern began to _____ during the late-night data review.
knuckle down
to start to work or study hard, especially if you have not been working very hard before
The team finally decided to _____ and finish the grant application before the deadline.
scrape through
to manage with a lot of difficulty to succeed in something [e.g. exam]
The student only just managed to _____ the final examination.
see through
to continue doing a job or activity until it is finished, especially when it is difficult
The dedicated team was determined to _____ the long and difficult project.
come around
if a regular event comes around, it happens at its usual time
The annual ethics conference will _____ again next spring.
pile up
to become a pile, or to make a lot of things into a pile by putting them on top of each other
Unanswered emails began to _____ on the researcher's desk during the conference.
hanker after
to want something very much, especially something you know you should not want
Many scientists still _____ the days when research funding was more generous.
get back into
to begin doing something again after not doing it for a period of time
After a year away she decided to _____ full-time research.
spring up
if something springs up, it suddenly appears or begins to exist
New research centres began to _____ across the country after the funding announcement.
invest in
to use a lot of time or effort trying to achieve something or trying to make something successful
The university decided to heavily _____ the development of the new quantum lab.
pull up
to move a piece of furniture [esp. chair] near to something or someone
The professor decided to _____ a chair and join the students' discussion.
swing around
to suddenly turn around so that you can see someone or something behind you
The entire audience suddenly _____ to see who had entered the auditorium.
single out
to choose one person or thing from a large group in order to criticise or praise them
The panel decided to _____ only the most innovative proposals for further funding.
pass by
to visit somewhere for a short time, usually while you are going somewhere else
I plan to _____ the old professor's office on my way to the conference.
point out
to highlight
The reviewer kindly _____ several important flaws in the methodology.
reflect on
to think very hard about something, or to express your thoughts about something in what you say or write
The senior professor took time to _____ the long-term impact of her research career.
move on
to move forward in one’s life and not look back to the past
It's time for the department to _____ and focus on the next phase of research.
dumb down
to make something [e.g. textbook, curriculum] simpler and easier to understand
Critics accused the textbook publisher of trying to _____ the advanced curriculum for commercial reasons.
cater for
to provide all the things that people need or want in a particular situation
The new university campus was designed to _____ students with a wide range of dietary requirements.
pick up on
to react to something that you have noticed or something that has happened
The experienced professor immediately _____ the subtle flaw in the student's reasoning.
shrug off
to not worry about something and treat it as unimportant
The experienced professor simply _____ the harsh criticism and continued with her work.
shine through
if a quality that someone has shines through or shines through something, that quality is very easily noticed
The researcher's genuine passion for the subject really _____ during the presentation.
come along
to start to exist, happen, or be available
A fantastic opportunity to present at the global summit has just _____ .
give up
to stop doing an activity or piece of work before you have completed it, usually because it is too difficult
She decided to _____ her academic career to focus on public health policy.
keep up
to be able to understand or deal with something that is happening or changing very fast
It's increasingly difficult to _____ with the rapid pace of new publications in the field.
live on
to continue to exist
The scientific debate is expected to _____ for many years to come.
dig up
to take something out of the ground by digging
Archaeologists plan to carefully _____ the ancient artefacts from the construction site.
head up
to be in charge of an organisation
She was chosen to _____ the new interdisciplinary research centre.
pick out
to choose one thing or person or several things or people from a large group
The panel was asked to carefully _____ the most promising candidates from the shortlist.
roll around
to laugh a lot about something
The entire audience began to _____ at the unexpected joke during the lecture.
move up
if a student moves up, or if a teacher moves them up, they are put in a higher level or class
The promising young researcher was quickly _____ to a senior position.
fritter away
to waste something [esp. money, time] by using it in a careless way for unimportant things
He managed to _____ his entire research grant _____ on unnecessary equipment.
squash in
to manage to get yourself or someone else into a very small space, or place that is full of people
The small lecture room could barely _____ all the delegates for the final session.
hook up
to meet someone for a particular purpose
The two research groups decided to _____ to combine their expertise on the project.
break down
to divide information or a piece of work into smaller parts so that it is easier to understand or deal with
We need to _____ the complex data _____ into smaller, more manageable sections for the report.