This lesson covers 20 C2 phrasal verbs on Student Life. 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.
sign over
to give someone else your property or legal rights to something by signing an official document
The inventor finally agreed to _____ all patent rights to the university.
clear up after
to remove dirt someone has made, or to make a place tidy by putting things back where they belong
The cleaning staff always have to _____ the students after practical chemistry classes.
drop off
to fall asleep
The exhausted researcher began to _____ during the late-night data analysis.
walk in on
to go into a room and see what someone is doing when they did not want anyone to see them
The senior professor accidentally _____ the team discussing the confidential results.
fuss over
to pay too much attention to someone or something, especially because you want to show that you like them
The senior professors tend to _____ the new PhD students during their first semester.
hand in
to tell your boss officially that you do not want to do your job anymore
The professor decided to _____ her notice after 25 years at the university.
hold forth
to talk about a particular subject for a long time, often in a way that other people find boring
The visiting professor loved to _____ about the future of artificial intelligence.
get on with
to like someone, and enjoy spending time with them
The two lead researchers really _____ each other and collaborate extremely well.
go back over
to examine or think about something again or after it has happened
We should _____ the data one more time before submitting the paper.
count towards
to be part of what is needed in order to complete something or achieve something
All peer-reviewed publications will _____ the requirements for promotion to full professor.
clean up after
to remove dirt someone has made, or to make a place tidy by putting things back where they belong
The interns are expected to _____ the senior researchers after every experiment.
stumble on
to find or meet by chance
While reviewing old archives the historian unexpectedly _____ a previously unknown treaty.
stream into
to move continuously in one direction, especially if a lot of people do this at the same time
Delegates began to _____ the main auditorium as the keynote speech was about to begin.
squash up
if people who are sitting or standing together squash up, they move closer together in order to make space for someone else
The students had to _____ on the bench to make space for the visiting professor.
pile into
to enter a place or vehicle quickly and not in an organised way
The delegates immediately _____ the lecture hall as soon as the doors opened.
have heard of
to know a little about someone or something because you have read, seen, or been told something about them before
Most people have _____ the groundbreaking work of this particular research group.
pile out of
to leave a place or vehicle quickly and not in an organised way
The audience began to _____ the auditorium immediately after the final presentation.
settle in
to begin to feel relaxed and happy in new surroundings
It took the new researcher several weeks to fully _____ to the demanding laboratory environment.
sweep aside
to refuse to think about something or let it affect your performance
The committee quickly tried to _____ any concerns about the new methodology.
sign up
to arrange for someone to sign a document stating that they will work for you
Several new researchers decided to _____ for the advanced training programme.