Game for learners of English - Phrasal Verbs

Question

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'

This is the best game ever ! Thank you SO MUCH! - Vicente1, Nov 13, 2011

you are welcome vicente :) - billygoat, Nov 13, 2011

Thanks a lot, Billy!!!!! This is great! :D - PrincessMariam, Nov 13, 2011

I'm pleased you like it princess :) - billygoat, Nov 13, 2011

I just realised that I know very few of them. - ianta, Nov 14, 2011

I can't believe that Ianta - your English is really good! - billygoat, Nov 14, 2011

Just in case anyone is thinkng that English speakers are "taught" phrasal verbs - well we are not - we just "grow up" with them. :) - ian-hill, Nov 15, 2011

I feel sorry for anyone who is trying to learn these! Really great game though! - MLucie, Nov 16, 2011

Awesome game Billygoat and fun too! :) - SusanaEspana, Nov 16, 2011

awesom! - Himself12794, Nov 19, 2011

I predict this thread will remain amusing, instructive, and continue to grow for a long, long time! :) - pesta, Nov 22, 2011

Thanks for moving the list guys!! - Nicole-B, Nov 22, 2011

great game, great efforts, many thanks to you - aelborady, Nov 23, 2011

Answer 1

go through

To examine or read a book, folder, written composition, a crime scene, etc.

I went through his things but I couldn't find his cell phone.

To pursue a certain course*

Messages that go through diplomatic channels to the ambassador.

Also literal.

She got a traffic ticket because she went through the red light.

Next:

go through with

Answer 2

I seem to have "stopped" this thread with "to gob smack". Lo siento.

Let's restart with this one

to figure out

Answer 3

to work up

Has several uses

He started slowly but worked up to 10 miles a day.

Empezó despacio pero aumentó gradualmente hasta las 10 millas por día.

He worked up a sweat after only 2 miles.

New phrasal verb to work away

Answer 4

This is a question more than an answer:

Is gob smack a phrasal verb, or rather a compound noun?

I've heard "gobbed smacked", but not as a verb, but as an adjective. So I can't go with this one. I have no clue

Hi Laura - well if someone is "gob smacked" it means someone or something "gob smacked" them. It means they are very surprised. - ian-hill, Dec 5, 2011

Obama's mum is white. I am gob smacked. - ian-hill, Dec 5, 2011

I must admit it is a bit unusual. - ian-hill, Dec 5, 2011

Skip it and do another one amiga - ian-hill, Dec 5, 2011

It belongs to the few English "be" verbs - like "to be born" - ian-hill, Dec 5, 2011

I never heard this one, but urbandictionary lists an entry for this as a single word, gobsmacked. - pesta, Dec 5, 2011

That would make it an adjective - right? - ian-hill, Dec 5, 2011

Yes, but the backformation of verb 'gobsmack' is also in urbandictionary. Not a common word, and nobody knows what a 'gob' is, anyway. :) - pesta, Dec 5, 2011

It is slang for "a mouth" so if you smack someone in the mouth it falls open as it does when one is really surprised / astounded. - ian-hill, Dec 5, 2011

Answer 5

Back to to run in

I'm not going on motorways until I've run the car in.

No saldré a la autopista hasta que le haya hecho el rodaje al coche.

It can also mean to arrest someone (surrender them to the police)

to turn back

The weather got so bad that we turned back.

El tiempo se puso tan mal que volvimos atrás.

New phrasal verb to turn against

Answer 6

turn against= rise against

The people turned against the injustice.

Some bad people can turn the situation against someone.

next: go beyond

Answer 7

gross out

To offend or be offended by something disgusting.

My little brother showed me how he ate a worm, wow! he really grossed me out!

Next:

line up

We know he is only pretending... right? or is he? :) - pesta, Nov 26, 2011

Answer 8

to line up = to stand in a line ( Queue up in Brit English)

They lined up to shake the Prime Minister's hand. literal

Hicieron cola para dar la mano al Primer Ministro.

The boy lined up all his toys. literal

I have a new job lined up. idiomatic (I will start a new job soon)

..........

.........

This is how the team lined up.

New phrasal verb to dish out

Answer 9

Get off my lawn!

New idiom: Get up

nice one Maria. You were slightly out of step though so I've edited your post with the next phrasal verb - hope you don't mind :) - billygoat, Nov 25, 2011

Thanks billygoat, I don't want to be out of step. je je or, out of line for that matter. - Maria-Russell, Nov 25, 2011

ot even "out of favour" right:) - ian-hill, Nov 25, 2011

That is correct, hill top. - Maria-Russell, Nov 25, 2011

or, hilltop, whatever. - Maria-Russell, Nov 25, 2011

out of the past, out of luck, out of time, I'm sorry we're out of time. - Maria-Russell, Nov 26, 2011

Answer 10

The money has run out - He's running out of money ( = finish, exhaust)

next:to run across

Oooh, I hate when that happens...:) - pesta, Nov 25, 2011

Also, the verb run out is simply the skillful act of shooting all the pool balls left on the table without a miss. It can occur early or late in the game. If it happens early, the opponent never gets a shot. - Maria-Russell, Nov 26, 2011

Answer 11

to dig out of

I heard this expression as follows:

Man, are you in trouble now. You're going to have a hard time digging yourself out of this one

to run in:

I must run in my new car.

Also like an expression

I had a run in with my new boss, wow, that was rough (a fight or quarrel)

Also:

We are all blond, runs in my family (inherent to my family)

I am sure there are some more meanings, jeje

Next, suggested by Princess:

To turn back

Just in case "I had a run in with my new boss" this run in is a compound noun. - ian-hill, Nov 26, 2011

Though it is an idiom, " runs in my family' is no phrasal verb. It is : runs / in my family. Not runs in/ my family. Run in my new car on the other hand is a phrasal verb : run in / a car. In phrasal verbs verb + particle/preposition form a unit. - Castor77, Nov 26, 2011

Answer 12

To come out

can mean:

to leave a place - He came out of the theatre at 10pm

Also

used when a person reveals to the world at large that they are not heterosexual.

He came out last year

Also

to bloom

The flower came out yesterday - Some flowers only come out at night.

New phrasal verb to run in

Answer 13

I ran across Mary in town yesterday. = I met Mary in town unexpectedly yesterday

Ayer me topé con Mary en el centro.

New phrasal verb to run away with

Answer 14

out of line=inappropriate, unsuitable, not fitting

If thoughts of the rest are out of line with yours it doesn't mean you are wrong.

next: get along

Out of line is an adjectivial phrase, not a verbal phrase. Should we keep this?? - pesta, Nov 25, 2011

'Get along' is an excellent choice. - pesta, Nov 25, 2011

Thanks pesta, I got carried away with ian hill's last post. - Maria-Russell, Nov 25, 2011

Answer 15

Why can't we all just get along.

Next: run out