Grammar
notes: phrasal verb list M-P
make something out
to manage to see or hear
make it out to
someone
to write a cheque
What's this
figure here in the accounts? I can't make it out.
You'll really have to improve your accent when you speak Spanish. I can't make
out what you're saying.
Who shall
I make it out to?
Shall I make the cheque out for
cash?
make up for
something
to compensate for
At least
the sales contract from the Ministry will make
up for the orders we lost because
of the transport strike.
When everyone comes back from hoilday we'll have to work extra hours to make
up for lost time.
miss something out
to not include
Can you check
through the list and see if I've missed anything out?
If you miss out the @ in
an email address, the message won't get sent.
own up (to
something)
to admit to
OK. Own
up! Who's taken my cigarettes?
The boss is never going to forget about that report being lost. I suppose
I should own up to having
left it in a taxi.
pass someone over
to not consider for promotion
If they pass me over for
promotion again this year I'm going to find a new job.
He's depressed because he's been
passed over again.
pay something off
to finish paying money you owe
Once we pay
off the bank loan, we'll
be able to invest our profits in the company.
If you took out a 25-year mortgage in 1995 to buy your house, it won't
be paid off until 2020.
phase something in
to introduce gradually
The changes
in pension contributions can be
phased in gradually as people join the firm.
We'll be phasing the changes in over
the next few years so as to minimise disruption to the production process.
pick up
to improve
pick something up
to learn by experience
Sales are
often slow in the summer. Things should pick
up around October.
If orders don't pick up soon we'll have to think
about reducing production.
Probably the best way to learn the job is to sit with one of the staff and
see what they do. You'll soon pick it up.
The new secretary speaks four languages. Apparently she picked them up while
travelling around Europe.
point something out
to draw attention to
I really
must point out how
important this meeting is. The company's future depends
on it.
I pointed it out to
him in the meeting but he didn't seem to think it was important.
pull something off
to succeed in doing something
The negotiations
went on and on, but he finally pulled off the
deal.
He's pulled it off!
We've won the order!
pull out (of
something)
to not continue
Once the
other company discovered the size of the order, they pulled
out.
We made it completely clear that we wouldn't sell for less than £3m,
so the buyer pulled out of
the deal.
put something forward
to make a suggestion
The new manager put
forward her ideas for cutting
costs as soon as the meeting started.
She wanted a ban on overtime, but I put that forward at
the last meeting and everyone thought it was a terrible idea.
put in for something
to request officially
I've put
in for three weeks' holiday next
August, but they probably won't let me have more than two.
There's a job going now that the Head of Personnel has retired. Why don't
you put in for it?
put something off
to postpone
put someone off
to dissuade
to distract
The report
isn't finished yet, so we'll have to put the
meeting off until next week.
The expansion programme has been
put off until the economy improves.
What do you mean, he wants to come to the office this afternoon? Can't you put him off?
Can I borrow your office? The roadworks outside my window are putting me off my
work.
put someone through
to connect by phone
Hello, could
you put me through to
the Sales Department, please?
I'm sorry, you were put
through to this extension by mistake. I'll transfer you to the right
department.
Links
to exercises and pdf files
Grammar
notes from this page - pdf file for download or printing
Gapfill exercise - online
Gapfill
exercise - pdf file for download or printing
Phrasal verbs A-B: account for --> brush
up
Phrasal verbs C: call for --> cut
off
Phrasal verbs D-F: deal with --> fit
in
Phrasal verbs G: get across --> go
under
Phrasal verbs H-L: hand out --> look
up to
Phrasal verbs R-S: reckon on --> sum
up
Phrasal verbs T-Z: take down --> work
out
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