More Important Phrasal Verbs – KLEE General English Test 2
Covers: More Important Phrasal Verbs
Directions: Choose the correct particle or the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Click an option to check your answer, or click View Answer for the answer and explanation.
"He backed out of the deal at the last minute." "Backed out" means
- A. signed
- B. renegotiated
- C. praised
- D. withdrew from an agreement
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Back out = withdraw from a promise.
"The facts bear out the witness's statement." "Bear out" means
- A. confirm, support
- B. contradict
- C. reveal
- D. weaken
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Bear out = confirm.
Please bear ____ me for a moment.
- A. up
- B. with
- C. on
- D. out
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Bear with = be patient with.
"The controversy soon blew over." "Blew over" means
- A. reached court
- B. became worse
- C. passed without serious effect
- D. exploded
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Blow over = pass without serious effect.
War broke ____ in 1939.
- A. down
- B. off
- C. up
- D. out
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Break out = start suddenly.
"The car broke down on the highway." "Broke down" means
- A. slowed down
- B. stopped functioning
- C. crashed
- D. was stolen
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Break down = stop functioning.
"The reforms brought about great change." "Brought about" means
- A. reported
- B. reversed
- C. caused to happen
- D. stopped
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Bring about = cause.
"The publisher brought out a new edition." "Brought out" means
- A. published
- B. criticised
- C. translated
- D. withdrew
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Bring out = publish.
"The minister brushed aside the criticism." "Brushed aside" means
- A. reported
- B. accepted
- C. answered fully
- D. dismissed as unimportant
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Brush aside = dismiss.
"The situation calls for prompt action." "Calls for" means
- A. reports
- B. prevents
- C. requires, demands
- D. delays
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Call for = demand, require.
"The bank called in the loan." Here "called in" means
- A. wrote off
- B. asked for the return of
- C. sanctioned
- D. reduced
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Call in = ask for the return of (also summon).
"We called on our teacher." "Called on" means
- A. visited briefly
- B. complained about
- C. telephoned
- D. replaced
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Call on = visit briefly.
The order was carried ____ immediately.
- A. out
- B. over
- C. on
- D. off
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Carry out = execute.
"I came across an old friend at the station." "Came across" means
- A. avoided
- B. argued with
- C. waited for
- D. met by chance
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Come across = meet or find by chance.
"Good jobs are hard to come by." "Come by" means
- A. keep
- B. leave
- C. obtain
- D. refuse
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Come by = obtain.
She came up ____ a brilliant solution.
- A. by
- B. with
- C. to
- D. for
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Come up with = produce an idea.
You should cut down ____ sugar.
- A. with
- B. to
- C. on
- D. off
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Cut down on = reduce.
"Many species are dying out." "Dying out" means
- A. migrating
- B. becoming extinct
- C. falling ill
- D. multiplying
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Die out = become extinct.
"The partners fell out over money." "Fell out" means
- A. quarrelled
- B. became rich
- C. joined hands
- D. agreed
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Fall out = quarrel.
"He got over his illness quickly." "Got over" means
- A. ignored
- B. spread
- C. caught
- D. recovered from
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Get over = recover.
"Her face gave away the secret." "Gave away" means
- A. forgot
- B. betrayed
- C. hid
- D. distributed
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Give away = betray a secret (also distribute free).
Never go back ____ your word.
- A. to
- B. from
- C. on
- D. off
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Go back on = break a promise.
"The milk has gone off." Here "gone off" means
- A. finished
- B. exploded
- C. boiled
- D. gone bad
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Go off = go bad (also explode, ring).
"The court handed down its verdict." "Handed down" means
- A. delivered
- B. leaked
- C. reversed
- D. postponed
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Hand down = deliver a judgment.
"They ironed out their differences." "Ironed out" means
- A. listed
- B. hid
- C. increased
- D. resolved
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Iron out = resolve difficulties.
"The factory laid off 200 workers." "Laid off" means
- A. dismissed
- B. promoted
- C. trained
- D. hired
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Lay off = dismiss workers.
"Never look down on the poor." "Look down on" means
- A. help
- B. regard as inferior
- C. take care of
- D. pity
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Look down on = regard as inferior.
I look forward to ____ you.
- A. meet
- B. have met
- C. meeting
- D. met
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Look forward to + gerund.
"I could not make out what he said." "Make out" means
- A. understand
- B. repeat
- C. write
- D. forget
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Make out = understand or see with difficulty.
"Nothing can make up for lost time." "Make up for" means
- A. recall
- B. compensate
- C. measure
- D. waste
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Make up for = compensate.
"His grandfather passed away last year." "Passed away" means
- A. moved away
- B. fell ill
- C. died
- D. retired
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Pass away = die.
The patient is critical, but he will pull ____.
- A. over
- B. up
- C. down
- D. through
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Pull through = recover from serious illness.
"He put forward a new plan." "Put forward" means
- A. abandoned
- B. rejected
- C. proposed
- D. postponed
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Put forward = propose.
The fire was put ____ quickly.
- A. on
- B. off
- C. up
- D. out
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Put out = extinguish.
We have run out ____ petrol.
- A. of
- B. with
- C. off
- D. from
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Run out of = exhaust the supply of.
"The High Court set aside the lower court's order." "Set aside" means
- A. confirmed
- B. annulled
- C. delayed
- D. copied
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Set aside = annul a decree.
"They staved off bankruptcy." "Staved off" means
- A. faced
- B. declared
- C. averted
- D. caused
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Stave off = prevent, avert.
"The Supreme Court struck down the provision." "Struck down" means
- A. enacted
- B. declared invalid
- C. upheld
- D. amended
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Strike down = declare a law invalid.
She takes ____ her mother.
- A. after
- B. on
- C. over
- D. up
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Take after = resemble a parent.
"He took up painting." "Took up" means
- A. gave up
- B. criticised
- C. sold
- D. began
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Take up = begin a hobby or job.
"Only ten members turned up." "Turned up" means
- A. voted
- B. objected
- C. arrived
- D. left
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Turn up = arrive.
"The effect of the medicine wore off." "Wore off" means
- A. increased
- B. faded gradually
- C. started
- D. was harmful
Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Wear off = fade gradually.
"The test weeds out weak candidates." "Weeds out" means
- A. helps
- B. selects
- C. trains
- D. removes
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Weed out = remove unwanted elements.
"The company was wound up." "Wound up" means
- A. closed down
- B. started
- C. expanded
- D. renamed
Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Wind up = close down.
"The bank wrote off the bad loans." "Wrote off" means
- A. recovered
- B. renewed
- C. listed
- D. cancelled
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Write off = cancel a debt.