What are Phrasal Verbs? - Phrasal Verbs Explained for ESL Students

What are Phrasal Verbs? - Phrasal Verbs Explained for ESL Students

'run to'

to ask someone to help or protect you when you should be able to look after yourself

(run to sb) You're in your thirties, so you shouldn't still have to run to your parents for help when things go wrong.

He's such a baby. He goes running to a teacher whenever the other kids tease him.

"put up with"

If you put up with something, you accept it even though you don't like it.

Synonyms: tolerate, stand, endure

(put up with sb) We've been putting up with these noisy neighbours for long enough. I'm going to complain to our landlord. 

(put up with sth) I'm going to buy an air conditioner. I can't put up with the heat any longer!

"fall off"

1 (insep) (bike, horse, button) When you fall off something, you separate from it and fall down.

He fell off his bike and hurt himself.

2 (insep) (attendance, interest, quality, profits) When something falls off, it decreases or becomes less or fewer. = Drop off

Attendance has fallen off this term.

"fall behind in"

• To fail to keep up a pace; lag behind.
• To be financially in arrears.
• To go slower than scheduled, lag

Don't fall behind in your work!

Mary has missed several days of school and now she is falling behind in her studies.

"face up to"

(phrasal verb)  to acknowledge something difficult or embarrassing

(intr, adverb + preposition) to accept (an unpleasant fact, reality, etc.)

I'll never be able to face up to my girlfriend after getting so drunk last night at the party and kissing another girl by mistake.

It is hard to face up to the facts sometimes.

"try out"

     David Beckham has been a soccer star for so long, it’s hard to imagine him trying out for his first team. But everyone has to start somewhere, and if you want to prove yourself, you have to try out.

     Sports teams, plays, and bands all require you to try out for a position or role. You have to demonstrate your talent and show that you are a good fit. When you try out, you do a small performance, showing off your best work.

     Beckham now has children who are old enough to try out for soccer teams just like he did when he was little. He says there is a lot of pressure on his kids to do well at team tryouts. People expect them to play just like their dad, even though they are still just kids. Maybe it would be better if they tried out for swimming or basketball instead.

     What have you tried out for in the past? Did you make it? 

“My brother and I both tried out for the debate team, but only I earned a position.”

“Will you try out for the basketball team with me?”

“I would love to be in my school’s play, but I’m too nervous to try out.”

"chew someone's ear off "

Good listeners make good friends. Someone who talks constantly about himself and never asks any questions may seem boring and selfish.

When you chew someone’s ear off, you talk on and on and on…and on. You don’t let the other person get a single word in, or pause to ask her about herself.

Sometimes we call a person who always chews people’s ears off a “chatterbox.” You might also say that someone talked your ear off. But saying that someone chewed your ear off is an even stronger way to say that he just wouldn’t shut up.

“I’m sorry for chewing your ear off, but I have so much to tell you!”

“Marcy always chews my ear off about her annoying boyfriend when we go out for coffee.”

“I had a meeting with my boss. He chewed my ear off for over an hour.”

"keep back"

1. If you keep something back, you don't tell someone about it.

    Synonym: withhold (formal)

keep back sth 

The police suspected that he was keeping back some important information.

keep sth back 

I could tell that she was keeping something back from me.

1. If something keeps you back, it stops you from getting where you want to go.

    Synonym: hold back, hinder, hamper

keep sb back 

She's a talented musician, but her health problems are keeping her back.

The country wants to develop, but their poor education system will keep them back.

"ward off"

to stop something that's harmful or dangerous from coming nearSynonym: fend off

ward off sth 

Many people believe that vitamin C can ward off the common cold.

ward sth off 

Did you know that garlic and crosses can be used to ward off Dracula and other vampires?

"Fall in"

If a roof or a ceiling falls in, it falls to the floor because it's been weakened or damaged.
Synonym: cave in

There was a loud crash, and then the ceiling fell in. 

Two firefighters were trapped under heavy beams after the roof fell in.