Game for learners of English - Phrasal Verbs
As a native English speaker with very little formal grammar education, I have always just used phrasal verbs without appreciating the deeper grammatical structures. In fact, I'd never even heard of the term 'phrasal verb' until a couple of months ago!
Now that I am starting to understand more of the Spanish language structure, I can see why phrasal verbs must be such a difficult concept for somebody learning English to understand.
So, let's play a game 
Click on NEWEST to see the latest sentence and phrasal verb.
Write a sentence which includes the latest phrasal verb. Then add your own phrasal verb for the next person.
For example:
'ran into'
192 Answers
I must take the time to call on my grandmother. ( call + on = visit ). Next phrase "Take off ".
To squirrel away = to save or hide ( like a squirrel hides nuts for the winter.
= "To hoard"
My grandmother squirrels away all her spare money - for when she gets old she says.
New phrasal " to put away / to put aside"
Phrasal Verb: Take off
Meaning:
1) To leave or depart; or
2) to remove
Example:
1) The plane takes off at 8 p.m. so I have to take off at 6 p.m. to catch it.
2) Take off your clothes, please.
Next Verb: Call up
Mix up
Now you've mixed me up completely!
Ahora sí me has confundido por completo!
New phrasal verb - make up
Pick up :
Let me know what time your train gets in and I’ll pick you up from the station and drive you home. (recoger)
I have to leave, tomorrow we can pick the conversation up from where we stopped. (retomar)
I can't remember all the phrasals. I'll be happy if I'm able to pick up some of them in these threads (pillar, picotear)
Next one:
To hold up
My doctor has already fixed up the operation, but another doctor told me he knows another method of treatment.
Mi médico ya ha arreglado sobre la operación, pero otro médico me dijo que sabe otro trataimento .
Next one: pick up
to put on
Can mean to apply something
She put on her make-up.
I put a new coat of paint on my house.
The spoilt child put on airs and graces.
New phrasal verb to put to
x
To water down: to weaken, literally (as in a drink) or figuratively (as in an idea).
So many people put in their ideas that the original plan got watered down.
My ice melted and now my drink is watered down.
Next up:
To Fix Up
My friend is really good at making up stories, but her stories just don't add up. (inventar)
Did you make up with your ex, or are you still mad at each other? (reconciliarse)
Then, if you add the word for:
I'll have to make up for, some day, all the effort Billy is putting into teaching me English. (compensar)
I've just have learnt a...
new phrasal:
To squirrel away
isn't it lovely?
Set up = I can think of at least a couple of meanings for this one. First to arrange something, For example 'I set up a really good night out for everyone'
The second one is a way of saying you were not responsible for something, that someone else made it look like you did it. For example a thief might say ' I didn't steal those things, someone else put them in my house, I was set up'
Next : run by
Check up:
With rosaverde's help:
I had a check up at the doctor's yesterday. (ir a revisión médica)
Ayer tuve que ir al médico a hacerme una revisión
Next one:
To get at
Phrasal Verb: Call Up
I'm going to call up my mother today. (to call on the telephone) (llamar por teléfono)
I was called up for military service a year ago. (to bring forward) (adelantar)
She called up my information on her computer. (to bring forward) (adelantar)
New phrasal verb: Mix up
I don't really know the "to rat out" phrasal verb so my guess is that not many people do.
My guess is that it means to get very drunk. (If not sorry)
Here is another "rat" phrasal verb
to rat on
Run by
The literal meaning is simply to run past a person or thing:
- He ran by me in the park.
The less literal meaning is to present an idea or draft of a project to someone else in order to get their approval or hear their opinion of the matter:
- My coworker wants a coffee machine in the office, so she's going to run the idea by our boss today.
Next: turn down
