This lesson covers 30 C2 phrasal verbs on Daily Life & Routines. 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.
lead up to sth
if a period of time or a series of events leads up to an event or activity, it happens until that event or activity begins
The busy days leading up to the holiday were exhausting.
let out sth or let sth out
to make a piece of clothing wider by removing the sewing from the side edges and then sewing closer to the edge of the material
The seamstress let out the dress so it would fit comfortably.
knock down sth or knock sth down
to destroy and remove a building or part of a building [esp. wall]
They knocked down the old wall to make the kitchen larger.
put out sth or put sth out
to put something outside the house, especially so that it can be collected
We put the recycling out early on Tuesday morning.
put up sth or put sth up
to fasten a piece of furniture [e.g. shelves, cupboard] to a wall or assemble something
They put up new shelves in the living room.
set aside sth or set sth aside
to use something, especially time, for one purpose and no other purpose
I set aside an hour each evening for cooking.
come around/round
if a regular event comes around, it happens at its usual time
Christmas comes around faster every year.
tie back sth or tie sth back
to fasten something that usually hangs down [esp. hair] so that it is fixed in position and not hanging down
Tie back your hair before you start cooking.
get into sth
informal to be thin enough to be able to put your clothes on
After the holiday, he could not get into his old jeans.
hold over sth or hold sth over
to delay something and to arrange to do it at a later time
They held over the housework until the next day.
let out sth
to make a piece of clothing larger or looser
She let out the waistband after gaining weight.
take up sth or take sth up
to shorten a piece of clothing [e.g. skirt, trousers]
She took up the hem of the dress.
fit in
to be able to be done between other activities
I can fit the grocery shopping in before work.
come up
if an event is coming up, it will happen soon
My sister’s birthday is coming up next week.
hurry along
to make someone do something more quickly, or to make something happen more quickly
Hurry along, or we will be late for dinner.
let down sth or let sth down
to make a piece of clothing longer by removing the sewing from the bottom folded edge and then sewing closer to the edge of the material
The tailor let down the hem of the skirt.
put aside sth
to keep something for later use or for a special purpose
She put aside a clean towel for the guests.
take in sth
to make a piece of clothing smaller or tighter
The tailor took in the trousers at the waist.
do out sth or do sth out
British & Australian to decorate or clean a room
They did out the spare room before their guests arrived.
clean up after sb
to remove dirt someone has made, or to make a place tidy by putting things back where they belong
The children were asked to clean up after themselves.
double up as sth
if something designed for one purpose can double up as something else, it can also be used for something else
The sofa doubles up as a bed for visitors.
part with sth
to give something away, usually when you do not want to
She could not bear to part with her grandmother’s old chair.
push sth to
to close a door or window by pushing it
Please push the door to when you leave.
put away sth or put sth away
to put something in the place where it is usually kept
Put away the toys before dinner.
do up sth or do sth up
to wrap something [esp. present] in paper
She did up the birthday present with bright paper.
set back sb/sth or set sb/sth back
to make something happen more slowly, or to make something happen later than it should happen
The broken washing machine set the routine back by a day.
drop in
to visit someone unexpectedly or for a short time
My neighbour dropped in for a quick coffee.
clear up after sb
to remove dirt someone has made, or to make a place tidy by putting things back where they belong
He always clears up after his dog in the park.
know sth from sth
to know the difference between something and something else, so that you can recognise either of them
Even young children should know a towel from a blanket.
keep sb in
to make a child stay at school or at home, especially as a punishment
The parents kept their son in after he broke the vase.