This lesson covers 30 C2 phrasal verbs on Science, Technology & Change. 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.
blot out sth or blot sth out
if smoke or a cloud blots out the sun, it covers it and prevents it from being seen
Thick smoke blotted out the sun during the field test.
chase sb/sth off/out or chase off/out sb/sth
to run after a person or an animal in a threatening way in order to make them leave
The device emits a sound to chase pests off the crops.
wipe off sth or wipe sth off
to remove information stored on part of a computer [esp. memory, hard drive]
The technician wiped the old files off the hard drive.
wash away sth or wash sth away
if water [e.g. rain, flood] washes something away, it carries it away
Heavy rain washed away part of the riverbank.
overcast adj
if the sky is overcast, it is grey and covered in cloud
The sky was overcast, so the solar panels produced less power.
lift-off n
the moment when a spacecraft leaves the ground
The engineers watched the satellite’s lift-off from the control room.
broken down adj
if a machine or vehicle is broken-down it no longer works
The technicians replaced the broken-down server before the data was lost.
shut down (sth) or shut (sth) down
if a machine shuts down or someone shuts it down, it stops operating
The technician shut down the computer after the test.
print off sth or print sth off
to print a particular number of copies of something
Please print off two copies of the test results.
send out sth or send sth out
if a plant sends out something [e.g. roots, shoots], it grows
The plant sent out new roots after being repotted.
flush out sb/sth or flush sb/sth out
to force a person or animal to come out of the place they are hiding in
The wildlife officer flushed the animal out of its hiding place.
warm up (sth) or warm (sth) up
if an engine or machine warms up, or if you warm it up, it starts working so that it becomes warm enough to work well
Let the engine warm up before taking measurements.
drop-down menu
a list of choices which appears on a computer screen
Choose an option from the drop-down menu.
steam up (sth) or steam (sth) up
if a glass surface steams up, or if something steams it up, it becomes covered with very small drops of water
The windscreen steamed up during the cold morning drive.
dig up sth or dig sth up
to take something out of the ground by digging
The archaeologists dug up a damaged sensor from the site.
mist over/up
if something made of glass [e.g. windscreen, glasses] mists up, or if something mists it up, it becomes covered with small drops of water and you cannot see through it any more
The glasses misted up when she entered the warm laboratory.
call up sth or call sth up
to find and show information on a computer screen
The researcher called up the old results on the screen.
log in/into sth
to connect a computer to a system of computers by typing your name or password, usually so that you can start working
Enter your password to log into the research network.
downpour n
a sudden, heavy fall of rain
A sudden downpour interrupted the outdoor experiment.
wire up sth/sb or wire sth/sb up
to connect something or someone to a piece of electrical equipment by using electrical wires
The electrician wired up the new control panel.
pelt down
informal to rain very heavily
Rain pelted down during the outdoor equipment test.
back up (sth) or back (sth) up
to make a copy of computer information so that you do not lose it
Always back up the research data before updating the software.
pop-up adverts n
advertisements that open quickly on a computer screen in front of what you are working on
Pop-up adverts kept appearing while he was reading the online report.
back-up n
support, help or something that you have arranged in case your main plans or equipment go wrong
The laboratory kept a back-up of the results on a separate drive.
scroll down/up
to move text or other information on a computer screen, in order to view a different part of it
Scroll down to see the next section of the instructions.
fend for yourself
to take care of yourself without needing help from other people
Once the satellite loses contact, it has to fend for itself.
dry out (sth) or dry (sth) out
to make something dry, or to become dry
The soil will dry out quickly in direct sunlight.
cut off sth or cut sth off
to stop the supply of something such as electricity, gas or water
The storm cut off electricity to the weather station.
pull up sth or pull sth up
to remove something from the ground
The engineers pulled up the damaged cable from the ground.
offshoot n
plant which has developed from a larger plant
The new robotics group began as an offshoot of the engineering department.