Phrasal verbs and Idioms

Phrasal verbs:
Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and one or two other particles such as a preposition or an adverb.
Examples,
• Stand with, look into, cope with, etc.

Some important phrasal verbs are:
• Call around
• Dive into
• Clean up
• Get along with
• Get away with
• Give up
• Give away
• Look after
• Look forward to
• Put on
• Put up with
• Take after
• Take out
• Hold up
• Bring up

Idioms:
Idioms are expressions that have a deeper or figurative meaning rather than a rational literal one. Idioms can be used to simplify what's being said or to catch the interest of the audience. These terms can be used as a single word or as a group of words in a statement.
Example,
• Beat around the bush- to avoid talking about what is important
1. Don’t beat around the bush and get to the point.

Some important idioms are:
• A blessing in disguise
• Beating a dead horse
• Bite the bullet
• Cost an arm and a leg
• Cut corners
• As fit as a fiddle
• Wild goose chase
• Killing two birds with one stone
• No pain, no gain
• Piece of cake
• Every dog has his day
• It takes two to tango

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the most suitable option.

1. By jumping over the barriers, he ______ without paying for a ticket.
a. got away
b. got along
c. got about
d. go above

2. The president would not feel obligated to _______ a deal he didn’t like.
a. go into
b. go along with
c. go about
d. go upon

3. She _______ me with her love of horses.
a. stands after
b. takes upon
c. takes after
d. takes along

4. The general ordered his troops to ________ for a possible attack.
a. stand with
b. stand alone
c. stand upon
d. stand by

5. He _________ his company’s collapse by his reckless spending.
a. brought up
b. brought without
c. brought about
d. brought in

6. After two spent wandering in the snow, I realised we were on a ___________.
a. piece of cake
b. wild goose chase
c. elephant in the room
d. devil’s advocate

7. Being laid off was a ________________ – within a month I got a much better job.
a. blessing in disguise
b. wild goose chase
c. burning bridges
d. speak of the devil

8. She may want to argue, but _____________ and I won’t stoop to her level.
a. pulling her leg
b. the last straw
c. let the cat out of the bag
d. it takes two to tango

9. My grandmother is 90, but she is ____________.
a. on the ball
b. feels under the weather
c. as fit as a fiddle
d. cuts corners

10. I don’t like to __________ when I have a company for dinner.
a. count chickens before they hatch
b. cut corners
c. skin of my teeth
d. bite the bullet

Answers

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. C
6. B
7. A
8. D
9. C
10. B