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
Next phrasal verb = measure up
To get back into/in:
- I got back into the groove.
- I got back in sync.
- He got back in rhythm.
- She got back in time.
Suggests returning to something you had once previously left, usually timing.
Next Verb:
to flip out
To come up with : To think up / To propose
1.- I couldn't come up with a good excuse for handing the work in late 
2.- The boss got surprised when his employee came up with new ideas for the proyect
It could also mean "To find or "To discover"
The doctor came up with a cure for the disease 
.
New phrasal verb: To get back into
to come up
I can hear somebody coming up the stairs.
Oigo a alguien subiendo por las escaleras.
New phrasal verb to come up with
To break up:
I'm very surprised to hear that they've broken up. They seemed so happy together. (romper una relación)
Estoy sorprendida de que lo hayan dejado. Se les veía muy felices juntos.
Sometimes the conexion on Skype is bad and Billy's voice breaks up so I can't understand what he is saying. (romperse la comunicación)
A veces la conexión en Skype es mala y la voz de Billy no llega con claridad, por eso no entiendo lo que me dice.
Today is the "day of reflection" in Spain, so the police were sent to break up the protest against the government. (disolver)
Hoy es jornada de reflexión en España, así que la policía se está encargando de disolver las protestas contra el gobierno -los indignados-
Next phrasal:
To come up
Although 'jack in' 'ferret out' etc are fun for me lol, I'm not sure how often our Spanish speaking friends would use them, so I'll answer this and move us back towards some more commonly used phrasal verbs.
Ferret out = persistently search for something. Imagine a ferret digging away!
My daughter is so excited when Christmas is approaching I know she always tries to ferret out her presents. I'm not sure whether she actually finds them though!
Next verbal phrase = 'open up'
Dress up
We are going to the Opera house, we have to dress up for the evening.
Salimos a la ópera , tenemos que ponernos ropa elegante
to jack up (increase)
The wholesalers have jacked up their prices.
Los mayoristas han subido los precios.
new phrasal verb to jack in
Look up, this can be taken as a literal command, to look upwards. More commonly it means to use a book, or the internet to find out more about something. I often look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary, and this morning I wanted to know more about the origins of a familiar song so I looked it up on Wikipedia. Another meaning is to have great respect for someone. For example my daughter has great respect for her karate teacher, she really looks up to him.
Now an idiom close to my heart ferret out LOL
To run down:
Don’t worry if she runs you down and criticises your work. We all get it. (poner verde)
No te preocupes si te pone a parir y critica tu trabajo. Nos lo hace a todos.
The old man was crossing the road and he was run down by a car. (atropellar)
El viejecillo cruzaba la calzada y lo atropelló un coche.
With Billy's help:
I have been working so hard I feel really run down. I think I will take a long hot bath then have an early night (estar/sentirse cansado)
He trabajado tanto que estoy reventada. Me parece que me voy a dar un buen baño caliente y a acostarme tempranito.
With Lector's help:
The boss gave us a run-down of the procedures (directrices)
El jefe nos dio unas directrices de los procedimientos de actuación
Next phrasal:
To set back
to set in
In his eyes you can see that the fear had begun to set in.
also: take residence, settle in, establish itself, sink in (intransitive)
En su ojos se puede ver que el miedo había comenzado a establecerse.
To set in motion the new plan, we will need money.
also: launch, execute, implement.......something (transitive)
Para poner en marcha el plan nuevo, necesitaremos dinero.
next: made up
He was making up stories for the children. (To invent)
Estaba inventando cuentos para los niños.
She made up an excuse for being late. (She lied).
Se inventó una excusa por haber llegado tarde.
New phrasal verb To make do
to put up with
No sé como aguanta las cosas .. I don't know how he puts up with things .
New: to scare stiff
to pad out
Meaning: Make a text longer by including extra content, often content that isn't particularly relevant
Example: I couldn't think of much to write, so I PADDED the essay OUT with a few lengthy quotes.
or I couldn't think of much to write, so I PADDED OUT the essay with a few lengthy quotes.
New - to pack up
Buck up:
to cheer up -> Alegrar esa cara
You've lost your wallet!? Well, don't just sit there and stop looking at me with that sad face! Buck up and go find it!
¿¡Que has perdido la cartera!? Pues ¡no te quedes ahí sentado mirándome de esa manera! ¡Alegra esa cara y corre a encontrarla!
To own up
Hmmm by the way:
Where is pesta ?
