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The List of Idioms

The list of over 60 phrasal verbs, and nouns formed from phrasal verbs, that have been used in the text

face up to - deal with a problem, show courage in accepting sth.

go over - think about sth. carefully, examine it

trot out - give opinions, reasons, arguments that have been used too often

turn out - happen, result

go in for - take part in

come out - become publicly available

take off - be successful

see to - deal with sth.; make sure that sth. happens

come off - take place as planned, succeed

call for - ask publicly for sth.

take to - start to like

crop up - appear

slip away - leave quietly

dig up - find by searching

look through - look quickly in or examine sth.

store away - keep sth. packed and save for the future

tuck away - put away tidily, store in a safe place

be taken aback - be very surprised

thumb through - look quickly (esp. through a book or magazine)

pick up - become friendly with sb. esp. because you find them attractive

pick on - decide to choose sth.

come up with - think of an idea, plan etc.

turn up - come

talk over - discuss

hold on - wait

butt in - interrupt

stand for - accept, tolerate

put forward - suggest sth.

go along with - agree to a suggestion

get down to - start doing sth. that needs a lot of energy or work

look up to - admire

carry out - organise and perform

hand in - give

harp on - talk about sth. continuously

get out of - avoid doing sth.

pass on - send (e.g. information) from person to person

turn into - become sth. else by changing

take off (e.g. a day) - have a holiday

make-up - cosmetics applied to a face to make it look better

make it to - be successful in a particular activity

be penned up - be shut in an enclosed area, be restricted

run after - chase

act up - ham up

cheer up - feel happier

set out - start a journey or make plans to do sth.

embark on - start sth. long and difficult

give out - give sth. to a number of people

come across - find by chance

bring along - take sth. to a place you’re going to

lay-by - a space next to a road where vehicles can stop

try out - test

check up  - examine to see if sth. is correct

throw up - vomit

let out - set free

put off - discourage from doing sth.

fix up - arrange

take in - cheat sb.

put on - pretend

make out - understand

jot down - write hastily

cross out - draw a line through a written word / sentence to remove it

stick by - be loyal to sb.


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