This lesson covers 26 C2 phrasal verbs on Academic. 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.
have down as
to think that someone is a particular type of person, especially when they are not in fact like that
I had always _____ her _____ a very conservative researcher until this paper.
read up on
to do background reading on
Before the meeting I need to quickly _____ the latest developments in the field.
leap out at
if something leaps out at you, you notice it immediately
The obvious flaw in the methodology immediately _____ anyone reviewing the paper.
stem from
if a problem or difficult situation stems from something, it is caused by it
The current controversy is widely believed to _____ a simple misunderstanding in the original paper.
count against
to make someone or something more likely to fail
His lack of recent publications may _____ him when applying for the senior lectureship.
get by
to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need, but nothing more
Many young researchers are barely able to _____ on their modest stipends.
hang around with
to spend time with someone
The young researcher tends to _____ the more senior professors.
ramble on
to talk or write for a long time about things that are not interesting to other people
The guest speaker continued to _____ about unrelated topics for almost an hour.
settle on
to agree on something
The committee finally managed to _____ a date for the international conference.
put forward
to state an idea or opinion, or to suggest a plan, so that it can be considered or discussed
The research team decided to _____ a completely new hypothesis for peer review.
be steeped in
to have a lot of (particularly tradition or history)
The university campus is _____ centuries of academic tradition and innovation.
give in
to sth if you give in to an emotion or desire, you stop trying not to feel it and you allow your actions to be controlled by that emotion or desire
The research team refused to _____ to pressure and continued with the original methodology.
gain on
to get nearer to someone or something that you are chasing
The rival research team is beginning to _____ us in the race to publish the breakthrough.
tail off
to decrease in amount or level
Attendance at the optional seminars began to _____ towards the end of the semester.
do out
to decorate or clean a room
The university decided to _____ the entire lecture hall in a modern minimalist style.
fling yourself into
to start to spend a lot of your time and energy doing something
The new researcher decided to _____ the challenging project with full enthusiasm.
start off
to help someone to start an activity, especially a piece of work
The conference is scheduled to _____ with a short welcome address by the host institution.
look down on
to think that someone is less important than you, or to think that something is not good enough quality for you to use
Some senior academics tend to _____ research that is not published in top-tier journals.
put through
to pay for someone to study at college or university
The company generously offered to _____ the promising young researcher through her PhD.
round off
to do something as a way of finishing an event or activity in a satisfactory way
The keynote speaker was invited to _____ the conference with a final summary.
count out
to not include someone in an activity
Please do not _____ the junior researchers _____ ; their input is vital.
tend towards
to be likely to choose a particular thing
The committee seems to be _____ the more conservative interpretation of the new data.
boom out
to speak in a loud voice, or to make a loud noise
The speaker's voice _____ across the crowded auditorium during the keynote address.
fly at
to attack someone suddenly and violently
The normally calm professor suddenly _____ the student who questioned his methodology.
drink in
to look at, listen to, or experience something with all your attention and to enjoy it very much
The delegates _____ every word of the Nobel laureate's inspiring lecture.
come out of
if something comes out of a process or an event, it is one of the results
The most innovative ideas often _____ intense collaboration between different disciplines.