Phrasal verbs—verb plus adverb or preposition—are essential in everyday English communication and are highly valued in the IELTS exam. This article introduces topic-based phrasal verbs to help you sound fluent, more like a native speaker. Let’s explore!
1. What Is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is a short phrase acting like a verb, combining a main verb with an adverb or preposition. The meaning often changes significantly compared to the base verb.
Example: I came across them in a blog post.
Here, “come” by itself means to move forward. When combined with “across,” the phrasal verb means to discover something by chance.
2. Why Learn Phrasal Verbs by Topic?
Benefits:
Easier to remember: Grouping related phrasal verbs helps link meanings.
More effective learning: Understanding different contexts helps you apply them correctly.
Saves time: You learn multiple useful expressions in a single theme instead of random lists.
3. Common IELTS-Themed Phrasal Verbs
Education
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
fall behind | lag behind classmates | He was ill and fell behind in schoolwork. |
catch up | make up missed lessons | I am catching up on last week’s assignments. |
go over | review notes | I always go over my notes before exams. |
drop out | leave school early | Teenagers who drop out struggle to find jobs. |
hand in / turn in | submit work | I handed in my homework late again. |
Family & Friends
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
get along | have a good relationship | You two seem to get along well. |
grow apart | drift apart | He and his wife grew apart over time. |
get together | gather socially | We get together with relatives every weekend. |
lose touch | lose contact | I lost touch with Peter for five years. |
Environment
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
clean up | tidy or clean | The community cleaned up the park. |
cut down | reduce or fell trees | They cut down many trees near the road. |
use up | consume entirely | Don’t use up all the milk. |
die out | become extinct | Many species may die out soon. |
Travel & Holidays
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
pick someone up | collect someone by car | Can you pick me up at the station? |
check in | register at hotel/airport | We checked in at 3 pm. |
take off | aircraft departure | The plane will take off soon. |
speed up | go faster | He needs to speed up or we’ll be late. |
Feelings & Emotions
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
cheer up | become happier | I cheered her up with some funny stories. |
break down | become upset or cry | She broke down hearing the sad news. |
bottle up | suppress emotions | He bottled up his feelings for years. |
Food & Cooking
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
boil down | reduce liquid by boiling | She boiled down the sauce to make it richer. |
whip up | prepare quickly | I can whip up an omelet in minutes. |
gobble down | eat quickly | He gobbled down a sandwich. |
Work & Career
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
carry out | perform or complete | They carried out the experiment successfully. |
take over | assume control | The big company will take over the small one. |
slack off | do less work | He has been slacking off at work lately. |
pile up | accumulate tasks | Work piles up at year-end deadlines. |
Free Time & Hobbies
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
take up | start a hobby | She took up painting last year. |
give up | quit a hobby | He gave up tennis after the injury. |
hang out | spend time socially | We hang out with friends every Friday. |
Decision & Planning
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
sleep on it | wait before deciding | I need time to sleep on it and decide tomorrow. |
weigh up | consider pros and cons | We weighed up options before choosing. |
come up with | propose a solution | She came up with a brilliant marketing idea. |
These phrasal verbs can significantly boost your lexical resources and fluency in your IELTS Speaking and Writing.
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