Phrasal Verbs (Advanced)

To be the main reason for something or the most basic part of something.

"The problem simply boils down to a lack of funding."

To improve your knowledge, skill, or memory of something you used to know.

"I need to brush up on my French before I visit Paris."

To be recognized as the most important or basic factor.

"In the end, it all comes down to who you know."

To appear or happen unexpectedly.

"Several new issues cropped up during the negotiations."

To fail to happen or be completed (often used for plans).

"Our plans for the weekend fell through."

To defend yourself against an attack or repel someone.

"He had to fend off several attackers."

To believe that an action or remark has a significance that it does not actually have.

"Don't read too much into his casual remark."

To explain something very clearly and in detail.

"Do I really need to spell it out for you?"

To temporarily do the job of someone else.

"Jane is standing in for the manager while he's on vacation."

To exclude someone or something as a possibility.

"The police have ruled out suicide as a cause of death."

To make a provisional arrangement or appointment.

"Let's pencil in a meeting for next Thursday."

To think deeply about something for a long time.

"I'll need some time to mull over your proposal."

To avoid considering something, such as an embarrassing mistake.

"The report glossed over the company's financial problems."

To remove problems or find solutions.

"We need to iron out a few details before signing the contract."

To withdraw a claim or assertion in the face of opposition.

"Neither side was willing to back down during the argument."

To cause something to happen.

"The new manager plans to bring about major changes."

To explain the reason for something or to form a particular amount.

"Can you account for your absence last night?"

To prepare a written document, such as a contract.

"My lawyer will draw up the contract tomorrow."

To begin a new or important venture.

"She is about to embark on a new career."

To add more details to a plan or idea.

"Your essay needs to be fleshed out with more examples."

To delay doing something or delay an event.

"We will hold off on buying a new car until next year."

To gradually stop using or producing something.

"The company decided to phase out their older models."

To increase the level or amount of something sharply.

"The factory is ramping up production to meet demand."

To prevent something bad from affecting you for a period of time.

"He drank a lot of coffee to stave off sleep."

To manage to use something in a way that brings good results.

"The company hopes to tap into a new market."

To give an opinion or enter a discussion/argument.

"Would you like to weigh in on this topic?"

To surrender or give way to arguments, demands, or pressure.

"The government refused to yield to the protesters' demands."

To confirm that something is correct.

"The facts do not bear out his story."

To start to do an activity that you have not done before.

"The bookstore decided to branch out into selling coffee."

To finally do what someone wants after you have been strongly opposing them.

"Under pressure from stakeholders, the CEO finally caved in."

To make something easier to understand, often by reducing its intellectual content.

"The textbook was dumbed down for a younger audience."

To obtain or win something with a lot of effort and difficulty.

"The team managed to eke out a narrow victory."

To waste time, money, or energy on trifling matters.

"He frittered away his inheritance on expensive cars."

To depend completely on something.

"The success of the project hinges on getting the funding."

To establish conclusively or force someone to be specific.

"We need to nail down the dates for the conference."

To do or provide what someone wants, even when it is not sensible or right.

"Politicians shouldn't just pander to the voters' fears."

To recite information rapidly and easily from memory.

"She reeled off a list of names without looking at her notes."

To get rid of an illness or something that is causing you problems.

"I can't seem to shake off this cold."

To help someone through a difficult period, often with money.

"Could you lend me $50 to tide me over until payday?"

To try to make people feel a strong emotion or to quickly prepare food.

"The speaker tried to whip up the crowds' enthusiasm."

To direct all your attention towards a particular thing.

"We need to zero in on the main cause of the problem."

To suddenly or violently attack someone, either physically or verbally.

"He lashed out at the reporter who asked him a difficult question."

To enclose an area with tape or rope so that people cannot enter.

"The police cordoned off the area around the suspicious package."

To start working hard.

"Exams are coming up, so it's time to knuckle down and study."

To make a noise that prevents another noise from being heard.

"The loud music drowned out our conversation."

To make someone or something look neater or more attractive.

"We need to spruce up the house before the guests arrive."

To finish doing something that takes a long time and is difficult.

"I have to plough through all these documents by tomorrow."

To try to repair or improve something by making small changes.

"He has been tinkering with his car engine all day."

To attribute something to a cause or source.

"He ascribed his success to hard work and determination."

To consider that something is caused by a particular thing.

"We can chalk that failure up to inexperience."