The 50 Important Phrasal Verbs in English

50 phrases captions

Hello, lovely students, and welcome back to English with Lucy.

Today, I've got another monster of a lesson for you.

We are going to learn 50 of the most useful phrasal verbs in context through a

story so they really get stuck in your brain for life.

But I'm not just going to sit here, read a list of phrasal verbs, give you an

example, blah, blah, blah.

I want this one to be a bit more exciting, so I've gone ahead and created

five short stories that use all of these

phrasal verbs so that you can learn each one in context and not be bored to tears.

Don't worry, I'll still make time to give you their meanings and all of that fun stuff.

Now, before we get started with today's lesson, I want to let you know that I

have made you a free PDF and it contains a full transcript of all of the stories,

plus every single one of the phrasal verbs we're discussing today laid out

beautifully with some additional vocabulary, all the examples,

definitions, and of course, a quiz at the end so you can test your understanding.

If you'd like to download your copy, just click on the link in the description box,

you enter your name and your email address, you sign up to my mailing list,

and the PDF will arrive directly in your inbox.

After that, you will automatically

receive my free weekly PDFs alongside all of my news, course offers, and updates.

You can unsubscribe at any time.

Okay, let's get started with the first

short story of the day.

Way back in my uni days, my best friend,

Emily, started her first job as a waiter in a bustling cafe.

Nervous but determined, she decided to look up some tips while sitting on the

bus to work.

Just as she was starting to relax, the

bus suddenly broke down.

She quickly got off the bus and shot off

on foot.

Her new colleague, Sarah, helped her calm

down and get on with her duties.

Emily came across challenging customer

after challenging customer, but she managed to keep her cool.

Sarah's guidance was invaluable as she continued to look after Emily throughout

her shift.

During the busy lunch rush, Emily knocked

over a tray of glasses onto her phone.

Her phone went black and wouldn't turn on.

As the day came to an end, Emily felt a sense of relief.

What a day!

Okay, we have our first ten phrasal verbs here.

The first one is to look up, to look up, and this is to search for information or advice.

She looked up the recipe online before attempting to bake the cake.

Number two is to break down, to break down, and this is to stop functioning or

to fail suddenly.

Unfortunately, my car broke down on my

way out of town.

Number three is to get off, to get off,

and this is to leave or exit from a vehicle or transportation.

We say to get off if you leave walking, and we say to get out if you have to

climb out.

So you get off a bus, a plane, a tram.

You get out of a car or taxi.

Number four is to shoot off, to shoot

off, and this is to move quickly or suddenly.

As soon as the bell rang, the children

shot off towards the playground.

Number five is to calm down, to calm down.

This is to become less anxious or agitated.

I always try to take a deep breath to

calm down before giving a presentation.

Number six is to get on with something,

to get on with something.

Someone is different, but to get on with

something is to continue with a task or activity, especially after an interruption.

Right, that's enough TV- time to get on with your homework.

Number seven is to come across, to come across, and this is to encounter or find

a person or thing unexpectedly.

You won't believe who I came across at

the bookshop today!

Number eight is to look after, to look after.

This is to take care of or to provide assistance to someone.

Jane will look after the children while we're at dinner.

Number nine, to knock over, to knock over.

This is to accidentally cause something

to fall or tip over.

The strong wind knocked over many of the

newly planted trees in the park.

And number 10, our last for this story,

to turn on, to turn on.

This is to activate or start a device or appliance.

Can you turn on the heater?

It's freezing in here!

Okay, that's 10 phrasal verbs down.

Let's learn a few more with our next story.

Now, I want to tell you about the time my cousin, Arthur, decided to set up a

charming little tea shop in our hometown.

He was known for whipping up tasty scones

and aromatic brews.

However, when he applied for a loan, the

bank manager turned him down, believing his venture wouldn't work out.

Despite this minor setback, Arthur refused to give up on his dream.

Focused on proving them wrong, he took on the challenge of transforming our

grandmother's dilapidated cottage into a delightful tearoom.

He dusted off some old family recipes, figured out the perfect blend of teas,

and even caught up on the latest baking trends.

As the grand opening day approached,

villagers started to queue outside his tearoom, eager to taste his treats.

Arthur had truly turned the tables on his doubters.

His tearoom became a thriving success,

and even the bank manager had to eat humble pie when he came to enjoy a cuppa.

Arthur never missed the chance to offer his doubters a treat when they came by

as opposed to telling them off.

He made sure not to faff about when it

came to achieving his dreams.

Oh, we have fantastic phrasal verbs in there.

Let's start with number 11, to set up.

To set up.

This is to establish or create something like a business or organisation.

Sarah decided to set up a charity to help underprivileged children in her community.

Number 12, to whip up.

To whip up.

This is to quickly and skillfully prepare something, usually food.

My mum used to whip up the most delicious pasta in just a few minutes.

13, to turn down.

To turn down.

This is to reject an offer, request, or opportunity.

Unfortunately, we've had to turn down

several incredible job applicants due to budget constraints.

Number 14, to work out.

To work out.

This is to have a positive outcome.

I haven't found a publisher for my book

yet, but I'm sure it'll work out.

15, to give up.

To give up.

This is to quit or stop trying, usually

due to difficulties or challenges.

After hours of trying to solve the

puzzle, she finally gave up.

Number 16 is to take on.

To take on.

This is to accept responsibility or challenge.

Mark was eager to prove himself to the higher ups and quickly agreed to take on

the team leader role.

17 is to dust off.

To dust off.

This is to revive or reuse something

neglected or forgotten.

Ali decided it was time to dust off the

guitar he bought as a teenager and learn to play once and for all.

18, to figure out.

To figure out.

This is to find a solution to a problem or discover a way to do something.

He read the instructions several times, but still couldn't figure out how to

assemble the bookshelf.

Number 19 is to catch up.

To catch up.

This is to get up to date or reach the

same level as others.

After missing a few classes, Lisa needed

to catch up on her coursework.

Number 20, to tell off.

To tell off.

This is to scold or reprimand someone for

their behaviour or actions.

We sat in silence as Miss Langford told

Rachel off for being 10 minutes late to class.

And number 21, my favourite in the list,

I must say, to faff about.

To faff about.

This is to waste time or engage in unproductive activities.

Instead of studying for his exams, Tom would often faff about on social media.

That one's very slang.

You've now

learnt 21 phrasal verbs.

Well done.

How about a few more?

Next story.

Have I ever told you about how I dreamt of becoming a professional violinist when

I was younger?

When I brought up my interest in the

violin to my parents, they got me a beginner violin to practise with.

But I always struggled to nail the right fingerings and bow technique.

One day, I met an older woman named Isabella, who was a fantastic violinist.

Her passion for music rubbed off on me instantly.

Luckily, she took me under her wing and

taught me a lot.

As the years went by, I began to lose

interest in the violin, and I cut back on how much I was playing.

It felt like I was letting Isabella down and my own dreams.

I contemplated giving it up altogether.

It was a difficult decision to make, but

I decided to call off my pursuit of becoming a professional musician.

I sorted out my priorities and decided the best decision was to give up so I

could pursue whatever truly made me happy.

I found a new path in life, and I looked

forward to all that life had in store for me.

In the end, the lessons I learnt from

Isabella about passion, determination, and following one's heart paid off in

ways I couldn't have imagined.

Life can be funny, but it always turns

out exactly as it's supposed to.

Okay, 10 more phrasal verbs.

Let's start with number 22, to bring up, to bring up.

This is to mention or introduce a topic or subject in conversation.

Sarah decided not to bring up the fact that she was moving out of the country

during the family dinner.

23 is to rub off, to rub off on or onto somebody.

This is to have a positive influence on someone, causing them to adopt certain

qualities or habits.

Her enthusiasm for volunteering began to

rub off on her friends, inspiring them to join, too.

Number 24 is to go by, to go by.

This is to pass or elapse.

The years seemed to go by quickly as she watched her children grow up.

25 is to cut back, to cut back on something.

This is to reduce something.

I need to cut back on the amount of money I spend on takeaways.

26 is to let down, to let down.

This is to disappoint or fail to meet

someone's expectations.

Marion says she will be here tomorrow.

She won't let me down, will she?

27 is to call off, to call off.

This is to cancel or terminate an event, plan or activity.

Due to bad weather, they had to call off the outdoor picnic and reschedule it.

28 is to sort out, to sort out.

This is to resolve or organise a

situation or problem.

I've got to sort out the plumbing issue

in the kitchen;

it's becoming quite a nuisance.

29 is to look forward to, to look forward to.

This is to anticipate or be excited about

a future event or experience.

The whole family looks forward to the

annual reunion;

it's the highlight of the year!

30, to pay off, to pay off.

This is to yield positive results or

success as a result of hard work.

Putting in effort into your studies now

will pay off in the long run.

What you're doing right now to improve

your phrasal verbs and your English will pay off in the long run, I promise.

And number 31, to turn out, to turn out.

This is to result or develop in a

particular way, often unexpectedly.

Despite initial doubts, the project

turned out to be a great success.

Okay, next lot of phrasal verbs, I'm

going to tell you the juicy story.

We say a story is juicy when it contains

gossip or interesting or personal information.

I'm going to tell you the juicy story of

Tom and Elizabeth.

They were inseparable throughout sixth

form and were the of all their peers.

But in our final year, something changed dramatically.

Their relationship, once unbreakable, suddenly fell apart in the most public

way possible, right in the common room.

It was quite ugly, with harsh words

exchanged and tears shed.

Despite their friends’ encouragement to

make up, they couldn't come up with a way to reconcile.

It seemed like their love had withered, replaced by bitterness and resentment.

Tom, always the stubborn one, insisted on maintaining his distance.

On the other hand, Elizabeth desperately wanted to take back what she'd said and

rekindle what they once had.

Weeks turned into months and the tension

between them refused to budge.

They would merely brush one another off

when they were in the same room.

But time has a way of healing wounds, and

slowly but surely, they began to cheer up.

A sense of gratitude gradually grew on

them, allowing them to move on separately.

Okay, we have 10 phrasal verbs to look at.

Number 32, to fall apart.

To fall apart.

This is to disintegrate or break down, often referring to relationships or

structures or clothes.

Clothes can fall apart.

As the years passed, the once grand mansion began to fall apart, its walls crumbling.

33, to make up.

To make up.

This is to reconcile or to resolve differences, typically after a

disagreement or conflict.

They knew they had to make up and mend

the rift in their friendship after their heated debate.

34 is to come up with something.

To come up with something.

This is to devise or create a solution, plan or idea.

In her quest for adventure, she often came up with creative ways to appreciate

the small things in her life.

35 is to insist on.

To insist on.

This is to demand firmly, even if others disagree.

Abraham's dedication to his art was evident;

he insisted on perfection, even if it

meant countless revisions.

36, to take back.

To take back.

This is to admit that something you said

or thought was wrong.

She wanted to take back her hurtful

words, but knew the damage was already done.

37, to turn into.

To turn into.

This is to become.

Their casual flirtation turned into a deep, meaningful connection that neither

could ignore.

38 is to brush off.

To brush off.

This is to dismiss or ignore someone or

something casually, often without consideration.

He refused to brush off criticism and

instead used it as motivation.

39 is to cheer up.

To cheer up.

This is to become happier or to make

someone feel happier.

Music has a magical way of cheering up

the soul, even in the most difficult times.

40 is to grow on.

To grow on.

And this is to gradually become more

likable or acceptable over time.

We often grow on someone, meaning we

become more likable to them.

At first, our new colleague seemed

reserved, but over time, he began to grow on everyone.

Everyone began to like him and accept him.

And 41, to move on.

To move on.

This is to continue with life after a

challenging period.

After a period of unemployment, she

managed to move on by starting her own business.

Okay, last story of the day.

This one is about my two little rascals, Diego and Alfonso.

One sunny afternoon, while I was busy working on a project at home, I

accidentally left the garden gate slightly ajar.

Diego, my mischievous dog, and Alfonso, my curious cat, seized the opportunity to

set out on a grand adventure together.

I only found out about their escape when

I heard a commotion outside and saw the gate was wide open.

Panic filled my heart as I rushed out, calling their names.

As I searched the village, I ran into my neighbour, Ms Jenkins, who told me that

she had seen the unlikely duo gallivanting around the park.

I wondered to myself what they could possibly be getting up to.

I hurried to the park, and there they were, Diego and Alfonso, chasing butterflies.

I could see that they were warming to the excitement of their little adventure.

Before I could reach them, they decided to make a dash through the bushes.

My attempt to cut them off was useless.

I ended up letting them have their day.

I tagged along behind them wherever they went, just observing.

Hours later, as the sun began to set, they finally turned up, looking tired and

muddy.

When Will arrived home, I filled him in on what had happened.

All he could do was shake his head and laugh as he looked at our two exhausted

pets, fast asleep on the floor.

We have nine phrasal verbs to cover with

that one.

42 is to set out, to set out.

And this is to begin a journey or start an activity.

The explorers set out to try to reach the South Pole.

43 is to find out, to find out.

This is to discover or learn something

often unexpectedly.

I found out too late that my favourite

singer was coming to town.

44 is to run into, to run into.

This is to meet someone or something by chance.

While shopping, I ran into a childhood

friend I hadn't seen in years.

45, to get up to, to get up to.

This is to be involved in or busy with something, especially something unexpected.

And it sometimes implies it's something naughty or mischievous.

He used to get up to all kinds of mischief when he was younger.

46 is to warm to, to warm to.

And this is to begin to enjoy something

or to become more enthusiastic about something.

My dad finally warmed to the idea of

moving in with us.

47 is to cut off, to cut off.

This is to block or intercept someone or something's path.

My husband cannot walk in a straight line and always cuts me off whenever we walk

down the street together.

48, to tag along, to tag along.

This is to go somewhere with a person or a group, usually when you have not been invited.

I used to always tag along with my older sister and her friends when they went out

for the day.

49 is to turn up, to turn up.

This is to arrive at a place or event often unexpectedly or after being missing.

Just when we thought he wouldn't make it, he turned up at the party with a surprise

gift.

And number 50, we made it.

This is to fill somebody in, to fill

somebody in on something.

This is to provide someone with

information or details about an event or situation.

Could you please fill me in on the

details of the project?

I've been out of the loop.

Right, that's it from today's lesson.

I hope you enjoyed the five stories and

the 50 phrasal verbs.

That was a lot of information for such a

short amount of time, which is why I have created that free PDF for you.

Don't forget to download it.

It's also got the quiz.

You can test your understanding.

The link is in the description box.

If you really, seriously want to learn English, if you want to go more in depth

and you want to learn with me, I have released my B1, B2, and C1 English programmes.

They are 12-week programmes with teacher feedback.

If you'd like to learn more about them,

just visit englishwithlucy.com.

I will see you in the next lesson.