This lesson covers 30 C2 phrasal verbs on Success, Failure & Achievement. 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.
carry off sth
to win a prize or succeed at something difficult
She carried off the top prize at the competition.
stand out
to be noticeably better, more important, or more attractive than others
Her final presentation stood out from all the others.
come out
if you describe how something or someone comes out at the end of a process or activity, you describe what condition they are in or what they have achieved
The project came out better than anyone expected.
doom (sb/sth) to sth
to make someone or something sure to fail or suffer in a particular way
A lack of funding could doom the project to failure.
finish off
to end or complete something
The team finished off the project with a final quality check.
fall apart
if an organisation, system, or agreement falls apart, it fails or stops working effectively
Without clear leadership, the partnership began to fall apart.
improve on sth
to do something in a better way or with better results than when it was done before
The second version improved on the first one.
live up to sth
to be as good as what was expected or promised
The final product lived up to the customers’ expectations.
get (sb) through sth
to succeed in an examination or competition, or to help someone or something do this
Her tutor helped her get through the difficult exam.
press on
to continue doing something in a determined way
Despite the obstacles, the team pressed on.
bring off sth
to succeed in achieving something difficult
The team brought off a difficult launch despite the delays.
come on
to improve in a skill, or to make progress
His writing has really come on this year.
cope with sth
to deal successfully with a problem or difficult situation
She coped with the pressure and completed the course.
fall through
if a plan or agreement falls through, it fails to happen
The funding agreement fell through at the last moment.
win through
to finally succeed after trying hard to achieve something
After months of effort, the campaign won through.
get up to sth
to reach a particular place in something that you are doing and to stop there
The team got up to the testing stage before funding stopped.
breeze through sth
slightly informal to succeed in something [e.g. exam] very easily
She breezed through the interview and got the job.
succeed in sth/doing sth
to achieve something that you have been trying to get or do
She succeeded in completing the project on time.
count towards sth
to be part of what is needed in order to complete something or achieve something
Each completed module counts towards the final qualification.
add up to sth
to have a particular result or effect
Several small improvements can add up to a major success.
run out
if a supply of something runs out, there is none left because it has all been used
Time ran out before the team could finish.
finish with sth
to stop using or needing something
When you have finished with the equipment, put it away.
dry up
if a supply of something dries up, it ends
The supply of materials dried up before the work was complete.
aim at sth/doing sth
to intend to achieve something, or to be intended to achieve something
The programme aims at helping students achieve their goals.
capitalise on sth
to use a situation in order to achieve something good for yourself
The company capitalised on the positive publicity.
get by
to have or know just enough of something to be able to deal with a particular situation but not have or know as much as you would like
With only basic skills, she still managed to get by.
win out
if a particular emotion or type of behaviour wins out, it is stronger than other emotions or types of behaviour
In the end, determination won out over doubt.
bottom out
if a situation, level, or rate that is getting worse bottoms out, it reaches the lowest point and remains at that level or amount, usually before improving
After months of losses, the share price bottomed out.
slip away
if a period of time slips away, it seems to pass quickly
The weeks slipped away while they prepared for the launch.
get into sth
to succeed in getting a place at a school, college, or organisation
He got into the graduate programme after a long application process.