This lesson covers 50 C2 phrasal verbs on Medicine. 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.
pin down
to force someone to stay in a horizontal position by holding them
The medical team had to carefully _____ the patient during the emergency procedure.
gobble down
to eat very quickly
The exhausted team _____ their lunch _____ in less than five minutes.
knock out
to make someone become unconscious or to make someone fall asleep
The anaesthetic quickly _____ the patient before the procedure.
double over
to suddenly bend your body forwards because you are laughing a lot or you are in pain
The pain from the experimental treatment made several volunteers suddenly _____ .
tie down
to fasten something or someone in a particular position, especially by using ropes
The medical team had to carefully _____ the patient during the emergency procedure.
flare up
if a disease that you had before flares up, you suddenly get it again
The patient's chronic condition unexpectedly _____ during the stressful conference.
do in
to make someone extremely tired
The 18-hour shift completely _____ the entire medical team.
clean out
to steal everything from a place
Burglars _____ the entire warehouse of valuable medical supplies during the night.
wash down
to drink something while you are eating food or taking medicine in order to help you swallow it
The patient was advised to _____ the large tablet with a full glass of water.
fight off
to use violence so that something or someone goes away
The immune system works hard to _____ the invading virus during the early stages of infection.
not agree with
if a type of food or drink does not agree with you, it makes you feel slightly ill
The experimental diet seems to _____ several volunteers in the study.
heal up
if a wound heals over, new skin grows over it
The surgical wound is expected to _____ completely within two weeks.
pack in
to manage to do a lot of activities in a period of time
The new schedule allows us to _____ three additional patient consultations.
cut out
to stop eating or drinking something, usually in order to improve your health
The doctor strongly advised the patient to completely _____ sugar _____ from her diet.
slice up
to cut or divide something into parts
The team carefully _____ the experimental tissue samples for microscopic analysis.
block up
to fill a hole so that nothing can pass through it
Construction debris has completely _____ the drainage system _____ at the new hospital site.
feel up
to sth/doing sth to feel physically and mentally strong enough to do something
After months of recovery the athlete finally _____ competing at international level again.
stretch out
to hold a part of your body straight out in front of you
The patient was asked to slowly _____ her arm during the physical examination.
look forward
to sth/doing sth to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen
The entire department is really _____ the results of the long-awaited clinical trial.
light up
if your face or eyes light up, or if something [e.g. smile] lights them up, you suddenly look very happy or excited
Her face immediately _____ when she heard the positive clinical trial results.
plug into
if a piece of electrical equipment plugs into a supply of electricity or another piece of electrical equipment, it works by being connected to that supply of electricity or that piece of equipment
The new device can easily _____ the existing hospital monitoring system.
bear up
to deal with a very sad or difficult situation in a brave and determined way
The medical staff had to _____ under the enormous pressure during the pandemic surge.
prey on
to take advantage of someone who is weak or vulnerable
The virus is known to _____ individuals with weakened immune systems.
shoot up
if the number, amount, or rate of something shoots up, it increases very quickly
The demand for the new vaccine began to _____ almost overnight.
pull down
to destroy a structure because it is not wanted anymore
The old hospital wing was finally _____ to make way for the new research centre.
come down
if a price or level comes down, it becomes lower
The minister promised the price of essential medicines would soon _____ .
gear towards
to design something so that it is suitable for a particular purpose, situation, or group of people
The entire training programme is _____ the specific needs of emergency medicine specialists.
die away
if something, especially a sound, dies away, it gradually becomes less strong or clear and then stops
The sound of the emergency sirens slowly _____ as the rescue operation concluded.
have on
if you have clothes or shoes on, you are wearing them
The surgeon always _____ a special pair of gloves during delicate procedures.
look after
to take care of someone or something by doing what is needed to keep them well or in good condition
The senior nurse is responsible for _____ the most critical patients in the ward.
focus on
to give a lot of attention to one particular activity, situation or idea
The new study will _____ the long-term effects of the vaccine on different age groups.
wolf down
to eat something very quickly because you are very hungry
The exhausted team _____ their lunch in less than five minutes.
dwell on
to think or talk about a particular subject for too long
It is important not to _____ past failures when planning future clinical trials.
cobble together
to make something quickly and not very carefully
The emergency team had to _____ a temporary solution _____ in less than 48 hours.
flag down
to make a vehicle stop by waving at the driver
The emergency team managed to _____ an ambulance on the busy motorway.
contend with
to have to deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation
The hospital must simultaneously _____ staff shortages and rising patient numbers.
keep down
if you keep the noise of something [e.g. music, voice] down, you stop it from becoming too loud
The hospital is struggling to _____ the noise levels in the intensive care unit.
go through
to experience an unpleasant or difficult situation or event
The patients had to _____ several rounds of experimental treatment.
come into it
if you say that a particular emotion or quality [e.g. pride, love, luck] comes into it when you are describing a situation, you mean that it influences the situation
When discussing global health equity, cultural sensitivity definitely _____ .
waste away
to gradually get thinner and weaker, usually because of illness
The patient began to noticeably _____ after several weeks without proper nutrition.
drink up
to completely finish your drink
Please _____ your coffee before we begin the sterile procedure.
cope with
to deal successfully with a problem or difficult situation
The young doctor is still learning how to _____ the emotional demands of intensive care.
tire out
to make someone very tired
The 18-hour shift completely _____ the entire medical team.
plump up
to make something [e.g. cushion, pillow] rounder and softer, especially by shaking it
The nurse carefully _____ the patient's pillow before the night shift began.
put on
if a person or animal puts on weight, they become heavier
The patient began to _____ significant weight after starting the new medication.
come through
to manage to get to the end of a difficult situation
The patient managed to _____ the risky experimental treatment.
disagree with
if a type of food disagrees with you, it makes you feel slightly ill or uncomfortable
The rich hospital food seems to _____ several patients recovering from surgery.
be cut out for
to have the right qualities for something, especially a job
She quickly realised she simply wasn't _____ the high-pressure world of emergency surgery.
pull through
to succeed in dealing with a difficult period of your life, or to help someone else to do this
The patient is expected to _____ the complex surgery with proper post-operative care.
draw on
to use information from somewhere
The architect decided to _____ her extensive knowledge of sustainable materials for the new hospital design.