This lesson covers 30 C2 phrasal verbs on Conflict, Criticism & Disagreement. 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.
pin down sb or pin sb down
to discover or define something exactly
The investigators finally pinned down the cause of the conflict.
cave in
to agree to something that you were against before, after someone has persuaded you or threatened you
After days of pressure, the minister caved in.
defer to sb/sth
formal to accept someone else’s opinion because they know more than you or are more important than you
The committee deferred to the expert’s judgement.
break up (sth) or break (sth) up
if a fight breaks up, or if someone breaks it up, the people in it stop fighting or are made to stop fighting
The police had to break up the fight outside the stadium.
skirt around/round sth
to avoid discussing a difficult subject or problem
The spokesperson skirted around the most controversial issue.
egg on sb or egg sb on
to encourage someone to do something, often something that is wrong, stupid, or dangerous, or to be encouraged to do something
His friends egged him on instead of calming him down.
cater for sb/sth
to provide all the things that people need or want in a particular situation
The settlement must cater for the needs of both groups.
weigh up sth or weigh sth up
to consider something carefully by comparing the advantages and disadvantages
The committee weighed up the risks of each option.
buoy up sth or buoy sth up
to make someone feel more hopeful or confident
The leader’s speech buoyed up supporters after the setback.
push over sb/sth or push sb/sth over
to push someone or something so that they fall to the ground
The angry crowd pushed over the barrier at the entrance.
fight off sb/sth or fight sb/sth off
to successfully defend against or resist something
The lawyer fought off the accusation with clear evidence.
win round sb or win sb round
to get other people to agree with your idea after a long discussion or argument
The mediator won the reluctant members round to the compromise.
iron out sth or iron sth out
to find a way of solving small difficulties or problems, or to find a way of ending a disagreement
The chair tried to iron out the remaining differences.
do in sb or do sb in
informal to kill someone or defeat someone completely
In the crime novel, the villain tried to do him in before the trial.
gang up
informal to form a group to act against someone else
The two critics ganged up on the new writer.
smooth over sth or smooth sth over
to settle a disagreement so that it’s no longer a problem
The manager tried to smooth over the disagreement.
bust-up n
informal an angry argument
The meeting ended in a noisy bust-up over the new policy.
think through sth or think sth through
to plan carefully
Before responding, she thought through the consequences.
turn up the heat
to increase pressure or make a situation more intense
The parents turned up the heat when their son refused to apologise.
hammer out sth or hammer sth out
to reach an agreement after a lot of argument or discussion
The two sides hammered out a deal after long talks.
shout down sb or shout sb down
to shout in order to prevent someone who is saying something that you disagree with from being heard
The crowd tried to shout down the speaker.
slam down sth or slam sth down
to put something down with a lot of force
She slammed the report down after reading the criticism.
wipe out sth or wipe sth out
to destroy or get rid of something
The campaign aims to wipe out discrimination in the workplace.
breakdown n
when talks between two groups of people fail because of a disagreement or problem
A breakdown in talks left the two sides without an agreement.
strike back (at)
to attack someone who has attacked you
The candidate struck back at his critics in a public statement.
sketch out sth or sketch sth out
to roughly plan something
The mediator sketched out a plan for ending the dispute.
stick up for sth
to defend or fight for something important [e.g. rights]
The union representative stuck up for the junior staff.
shoot down sb/sth or shoot sb/sth down
informal to criticise someone’s ideas or suggestions and refuse to consider them
The board shot down the proposal without proper discussion.
side with sb
to support a person or group in an argument
I sided with the residents who opposed the development.
storm out
to leave a place in an angry way
He stormed out of the station after missing the train.