This lesson covers 30 C2 phrasal verbs on Sport, Games & Competition. 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.
beat down
if the rain beats down, it comes down in large amounts with force
Rain beat down throughout the outdoor match.
catch up
to reach someone who is ahead of you in a race or competition
The runner caught up with the leader on the final lap.
climb down
if you climb down from a tree, you go back down to the ground
The climber carefully climbed down from the practice wall.
pick up sth/sb or pick sth/sb up
to lift something or someone by using your hands
She picked up the ball before taking the throw-in.
move in
to begin living in a new house or area
The new athlete moved into the training residence before the season began.
fall behind (sb)
to fail to remain level with a group of people that is moving forwards
She fell behind the leading runners on the steep hill.
get around
to travel to a lot of different places
The cyclist loves getting around to different competitions.
go in for sth
to take part in a sport, competition, or activity
She decided to go in for the regional tennis competition.
kick off (sth)
informal to start
The tournament kicks off on Saturday morning.
fall back
to move into a lower position or become less successful than others
The team fell back after conceding an early goal.
go off
to happen in a particular way
The opening ceremony went off without any problems.
fall behind (sb)
to fail to score as many points as another team or player in a competition
The team fell behind by two points before half-time.
go around doing sth
if someone goes around doing something, they spend their time behaving badly or doing something that is unpleasant for other people
The coach told the players not to go around blaming each other.
break down
if a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working
The team bus broke down on the way to the stadium.
take on sb
to agree to compete against or challenge someone
The champion agreed to take on the challenger.
drop off sb/sth or drop sb/sth off
to take someone to a place that they want to go to, or to deliver something to a place, usually in a car, often when you are going somewhere else
The coach dropped the players off at the training ground.
run about/around
to run and play
The children ran around during the warm-up.
go back over sth
to examine or think about something again or after it has happened
After the match, the team went back over its mistakes.
go after sb
to chase or follow someone in order to catch them
The defender went after the attacker to win the ball back.
stand up to sb
to resist or confront an opponent or challenger
The young player stood up to the experienced champion.
beat down
if the sun beats down, it shines strongly and makes the air very hot
The sun beat down on the players during the final.
set out
to begin something with a specific aim
The team set out to win the national title.
go on to sth
to start to do something after you have finished something else
After winning the heat, he went on to the final.
break through (sth)
if the suns breaks through or breaks through the clouds, it starts to appear from behind the clouds
The sun broke through the clouds before the race started.
pick up on sth
to react to something that you have noticed or something that has happened
The coach picked up on the player’s lack of confidence.
run rings round
to outwit and be cleverer than people
The striker ran rings round the defenders.
pick up sth or pick sth up
if a device picks up a signal or programmes broadcast by a radio station, it receives them
The radio picked up the live commentary from the stadium.
take off sth or take sth off
to spend time away from your work
She took a week off from work to compete in the tournament.
pass sb by
if an event or opportunity passes you by, you do not notice it or you do not get any advantage from it
The chance to join the team passed him by while he was injured.
take away from sth
to make something seem less good or successful
The argument took away from an otherwise exciting game.