This lesson covers 30 C2 phrasal verbs on Work & Careers. 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.
hold out for sth
to wait until you get what you want and to refuse to accept anything less
The candidate held out for a better salary offer.
focus (sth) on sth
to give a lot of attention to one particular activity, situation or idea
The manager focused the meeting on the most urgent task.
take sb off sth
to stop someone doing a particular task
The manager took him off the customer-support rota.
keep sb/sth from doing sth
to prevent someone from doing something, especially work, by spending time with them
Too many meetings keep staff from doing their real work.
coast along
to do only the things that you have to do without trying to go faster or be more successful
He has been coasting along instead of trying for promotion.
put down sb or put sb down
to put someone’s name on a list or document, usually in order to arrange for them to do something
The supervisor put Maya down to organise the team lunch.
set about sth
to begin doing a task, especially in a determined way
The manager set about solving the staffing problem.
be cut out for sth
to have the right qualities for something, especially a job
She is clearly cut out for a career in research.
pitch in
to help with work that needs to be done
Everyone pitched in to prepare the office for the event.
go after/for sth
to try to get something that you want [e.g. job]
She decided to go for the senior analyst role.
stand in for sb
to temporarily do another person's job or role
I am standing in for my manager while she is away.
carry through sth
to complete a task or plan despite difficulties
The manager carried the project through despite the delays.
get off
to leave the place where you work, usually at the end of the day
We usually get off at five on Fridays.
be bogged down
to become so involved in the details of something that you cannot achieve anything
The team was bogged down in paperwork and could not make progress.
keep it up
to continue to do something, especially to work hard or to do good work
Your work has improved; keep it up.
rely on sth/sb
to need something or someone in order to survive, be successful, or work correctly
The project relies on accurate data from every department.
walk out
to stop working because of a disagreement with your employer
The workers walked out after the negotiations failed.
start sb off
to help someone to start an activity, especially a piece of work
The mentor started the new employee off with a simple task.
happen on sb/sth
to find something or meet someone without planning to
The recruiter happened on a strong candidate while reviewing old applications.
see to sth
to deal with a task or arrange for it to be done
The assistant will see to the travel arrangements.
see sth through
to continue doing a job or activity until it is finished, especially when it is difficult
The team saw the project through despite the setbacks.
jut out
to stick out from a surface or beyond the edge of something
The new shelf juts out from the office wall.
step aside
to leave a job or position, especially so that someone else can do it
The director stepped aside so that someone new could lead the team.
work around/round sth
to organise activities to ensure that a problem does not prevent you from doing what you want to do
The team worked around the technical problem and met the deadline.
take up sth or take sth up
to start doing a particular job or activity
He took up a role in project management.
keep (sb) ahead
to continue to be more advanced and successful than other people, or to make sure that someone is more advanced or successful than other people
Regular training keeps the team ahead of its competitors.
keep on doing sth
to continue to do something, or to do something again and again
He kept on checking emails after work had ended.
pass over sb
to fail to choose someone for a job, promotion, or opportunity
The manager passed her over for promotion.
go in to sth
to choose a particular type of work as your job
After graduation, he went into teaching.
keep at sth
to continue to do something (until it is finished)
Keep at the task, and you will finish it.