This lesson covers 30 C2 phrasal verbs on Daily Life & Routines. 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.
mop up (sth) or mop (sth) up
to use a cloth or a mop to remove a liquid that has been dropped or that has spread
He mopped up the spilled juice from the floor.
be getting on
mainly British & Australian informal when time is getting on, it is getting late
By the time the family finished dinner, it was getting on.
spin out sth or spin sth out
to make something continue for as long as possible
The children tried to spin out bedtime for another ten minutes.
chuck away/out sth or chuck sth away/out
informal to get rid of something that is not needed anymore
Please chuck away any packaging that cannot be recycled.
break up sth or break sth up
if an event breaks up a period of time, it makes it more interesting by being different to what you are doing for the rest of the time
A short walk can break up a long day of housework.
straighten up sth or straighten sth up
to make a place tidy
Please straighten up the living room before your grandparents arrive.
getup n
informal the particular clothing, especially when strange or unusual, that someone is wearing
Her colourful getup made the neighbours smile.
built-in adj
if something is built-in, it is made so that it fits into part of a wall or room
The new kitchen has a built-in oven that saves space.
pull on sth
to put on clothes quickly
He pulled on a jumper before going outside.
cast-offs n
clothes which have been given to somebody else because the first owner cannot use them any more
The children passed their cast-offs on to a younger cousin.
drag out (sth) or drag (sth) out
to continue for longer than is necessary, or to make something do this
Do not drag out the cleaning; finish it before lunch.
smarten up (sb/sth) or smarten sb/sth up
to make a person or a place look tidier
They smartened up the hallway before the party.
pull sth to
to close a door or window by pulling it towards you
She pulled the curtains to before going to bed.
roll up sth or roll sth up
to fold the edges of a piece of clothing that you are wearing [e.g. sleeves, trousers] in order to make them shorter
He rolled up his sleeves before washing the car.
eke out sth or eke sth out
to use something slowly or carefully because you only have a small supply of it
We eked out the last of the milk until the shops opened.
pull up
to move a piece of furniture [esp. chair] near to something or someone
Pull up a chair and have some tea.
have on sth or have sth on
if you have clothes or shoes on, you are wearing them
He had his slippers on while making breakfast.
clear sth away or clear away sth
to remove things in order to make a place tidy
After dinner, we cleared the plates away.
fling off sth or fling sth off
to remove very quickly
She flung off her coat as soon as she came home.
space out sth or space sth out
to arrange things so that there is enough space or time between them
Space out the appointments so that no one has to wait.
wash down sth or wash sth down
to clean a large object or surface [e.g. floor, walls] with a liquid
We washed down the kitchen floor after the party.
separate off sth or separate sth off
to remove something from a large group of things
Separate off the clothes that need dry cleaning.
separate out sb/sth or separate sb/sth out
to divide a group of people or things into smaller groups
She separated out the socks by colour.
fold up (sth) or fold (sth) up
to make something [e.g. cloth, paper, chair] into a smaller, neater and usually flatter shape by folding it, or to be able to be folded in this way
Fold up the laundry before putting it away.
bring forward sth or bring sth forward
to change the date or time of an event so that it happens earlier than planned
They brought the dentist appointment forward to Monday.
clutter up sth or clutter sth up
to fill something in an untidy or badly organised way
Old newspapers cluttered up the hallway.
dress up (sb) or dress (sb) up
to put on someone else’s clothes to make yourself look like someone else, or to make someone do this, usually as a game
The children dressed up as pirates for the party.
smooth down sth or smooth sth down
to press your hair or your clothes with your hands in order to make them flat
She smoothed down her skirt before answering the door.
zip up sth or zip sth up
to fasten a piece of clothing by using its zip (= a long metal or plastic fastener), or to help someone close the zip on a piece of clothing they are wearing
He zipped up his jacket before leaving the house.
plump up sth or plump sth up
to make something [e.g. cushion, pillow] rounder and softer, especially by shaking it
Plump up the cushions before guests arrive.