This lesson covers 20 C2 phrasal verbs on Research & Methodology. 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.
know of
to have heard of someone or something and to be able to give some information about them, but not very much
I only _____ the researcher by reputation until I met her at the conference.
keep in
to make a child stay at school or at home, especially as a punishment
The school decided to _____ the students after the serious breach of laboratory safety.
witter on
to talk for a long time about unimportant things
The uninspiring speaker continued to _____ about minor details for almost an hour.
cross over
to start to support a different, often opposing, person or group
Several senior scientists decided to _____ to the rival research institute.
call in on
to visit a place or person for a short time, usually while you are going somewhere else
On my way to the conference I plan to _____ the old professor who inspired my career.
talk at
to talk to someone without listening to them or allowing them to speak
The senior professor tended to _____ the students rather than engage them in genuine discussion.
couldn’t ask for
if you say that you couldn’t ask for someone or something better, you mean that that person or thing is the best of their kind
With this team of experts we really _____ a more dedicated group of researchers.
strike back at
to attack someone who has attacked you
The research team decided to publicly _____ the unfair criticism of their methodology.
show off
to show someone or something that you are proud of to a group of people
The young researcher couldn't resist _____ her latest publication to the entire department.
fight back
to try hard not to show an emotion, or to try hard not to let your emotions control what you do
The research team decided to _____ against the unfair criticism of their methodology.
expand on
to give more details about something you have said or written
The professor asked the student to _____ her initial hypothesis during the seminar.
turn around
to turn so that you are facing the opposite direction, or to make someone or something do this
The entire audience suddenly _____ to see who had entered the auditorium.
major in
to study something as your main subject at university
She decided to _____ environmental science at the new university.
get out of
to enjoy something or think that something is useful
She really _____ her weekly mentoring sessions with the senior professor.
cream off
to separate the cleverest or most skilful people from a group and treat them differently
The elite university tends to _____ the brightest students from state schools.
scrape by
to manage to live when you do not have much money
Many young researchers are forced to _____ on very modest stipends.
split up
to divide into smaller parts or groups, or to divide something into smaller parts or groups
The large research group was forced to _____ into smaller specialised teams.
double up as
if something designed for one purpose can double up as something else, it can also be used for something else
The new conference room can conveniently _____ a temporary laboratory when needed.
split off
to stop belonging to a particular group or political party and form a separate one
A small group of researchers decided to _____ and form their own independent laboratory.
be bogged down
to become so involved in the details of something that you cannot achieve anything
The research project became completely _____ in bureaucratic paperwork and never progressed.