Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. Use the list below as a reference guide when you find an expression that you don’t recognize. The examples will help you understand the meanings. If you think of each phrasal verb as a separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it more easily.

Beef up

to increase or improve something, or to make it more interesting.

Ex : The organization plans to beef up its marketing effort.

Bristle at

To show anger or indignation;

Ex :She bristled at his insolent remarks.

Clam up

To say nothing. (Closing one’s mouth in the way that a clam closes up.)

Ex: The minute they got him in for questioning, he clammed up.

To size someone or something up

To observe someone or something to get information; to check someone or something out.

Ex : The comedian sized the audience up and decided not to use his new material.

To crow about something

To brag about something.

Ex : Stop crowing about your successes!

She is crowing over her new car.

Fawn over

To flatter someone or attend to
someone excessively

Ex : Please stop fawning all over
the guests. You are embarrassing me.

Wipe out

To destroy completely; To eradicate.

Ex : In today’s modern world, the old values have been wiped out.

Bounce off

To try an idea or concept out on someone or a group.

Ex : Let me bounce off this idea, if
I may.

Mull over

To think about something; to ponder or worry about something.

Ex : I’ll mull over your suggestions and reply to you next week.

Plod along

To move along slowly but deliberately.

Ex : The movie plodded along putting most of the audience to sleep.

Enjoy the lesson!