This lesson covers 25 C2 phrasal verbs on Legal. 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.
listen out for
to make an effort to hear a noise which you are expecting
The security team was told to carefully _____ any unusual sounds during the night.
pull over
if the police pull someone who is driving a car over, they order them to drive the car to the side of the road and stop
The police officer signalled the driver to _____ for a routine check.
bore into
if someone’s eyes bore into you, they look at you very hard and make you feel nervous
The detective's eyes seemed to _____ the suspect during the intense interrogation.
provide for
if a law or agreement provides for something, it allows it to happen or exist
The new legislation will _____ the creation of specialised research ethics boards.
drag into
to talk about or bring someone or something into a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially when that person or thing is seen as being connected with the situation
The scandal threatened to _____ innocent colleagues into the investigation.
catch out
to discover that someone is lying or doing something wrong
The tax authorities managed to _____ several companies that had been evading VAT.
shut up
to stop talking or making a noise, or to make someone do this
The normally talkative witness suddenly _____ when asked about the missing files.
firm up
to make something [e.g. agreement, details, prices] more definite or less likely to change
The legal team needs to _____ the contract details before the signing ceremony.
write out
to write (or rewrite) in full
The lawyer was asked to carefully _____ the full terms of the new contract.
lie around
if things are lying around, they are untidily left in places where they should not be
Confidential documents were left _____ the office after the meeting.
get out
if news or information gets out, people hear about it even though someone is trying to keep it secret
Somehow the confidential test results managed to _____ before the official announcement.
sift through
to examine a large collection of something, especially papers, usually in order to discover something or to decide what is important
The investigators spent weeks carefully _____ thousands of pages of evidence.
go back
to sth if a situation goes back to a particular state, it returns to that state
The negotiations may have to _____ to the original draft after the latest disagreement.
catch up with
if someone in authority [e.g. police, tax officials] catches up with you, they discover that you have been doing something wrong and often punish you for it
Eventually the authorities will _____ the executives responsible for the accounting fraud.
clam up
to become silent or to refuse to speak about something, usually because you are shy or afraid
The normally talkative witness suddenly _____ when asked about the missing files.
hammer out
to reach an agreement after a lot of argument or discussion
The two sides finally managed to _____ a compromise agreement after weeks of talks.
come round
to to agree with somebody else’s idea or opinion after a long time thinking about it or discussing it
After reviewing all the evidence the committee finally _____ to the proposed solution.
keep back
to not tell someone everything you know about a situation or an event that has happened
The company was accused of trying to _____ vital safety information from regulators.
look into
to investigate or find out about something
The regulatory body has promised to fully _____ the reported safety concerns.
cover up
to stop people from discovering the truth about something bad
The company was accused of trying to _____ the safety test failures.
preside over
to be in charge of an event or situation and have official responsibility for it
The senior judge will _____ the high-profile ethics hearing next month.
wring out of
to force or persuade someone to give you money or information
The investigators finally managed to _____ a full confession out of the suspect.
leak out
if secret information leaks out, people who should not know this information find out about it
Somehow the confidential test results managed to _____ before the official announcement.
be snowed under
to have so much work that you have problems dealing with it
The legal team is completely _____ with discovery requests ahead of the trial.
put away
to put something in the place where it is usually kept
Please make sure to neatly _____ all the confidential files after the meeting.