Phrasal Nouns
Phrasal Adjectives
around / about
down
on/out
100

Meaning: When there is more of something than is needed

Sentence: More television coverage of the election would be _______. 

Overkill

100

Meaning: weak, damaged through much use

Sentence: Like every toy, wooden toys get _____.

worn out

100

Meaning: when talking about rumors - it means that are made in a way that makes people excited

Sentence: Rumors and gossip have been ______ the office building about you!

flying around

100

meaning: to put something down with a lot of force

Sentence: : I got angry and _______ the phone.

slam down

100

Meaning: to continue to exist

Sentence: Even though he passed away, his memory will ______.

live on

200

Meaning: Support

Sentence: We have an extra radio as a _____in case this one doesn't work.

back-up

200

Meaning: friendly; energetic and find it easy to be with others

Sentence: His friendly, ______ personality enables him to fit in comfortably with any crowd.

outgoing

200

meaning: when things are untidily left in places they shouldn't be 

sentence: You should clean your room; don't leave all your trash ______.

lying around/about

200

Meaning: when a price or level becomes lower

Sentence: House prices have _______ recently.

come down

200

Meaning: to find something or meet someone without planning to

Sentence: I was cleaning my house and I _________ my old yearbook from highschool.

happened on

300

Meaning: The moment at which something unpleasant starts.

Sentence: The drug must be taken from the _____ of the infection.

Onset

300

meaning: sad and depressed

Sentence:  He looked so ______ I took pity on him. 

downcast

300
meaning: when talking about news or information - it means a lot of people hear about it


Sentence: News _____ fast!

get around

300

meaning: (metaphorical) prevent someone from having the freedom to do what they want to do. 

Sentence: He's _____ by having to work every Saturday.

Tied down

300

Meaning: To talk for a long time in a very boring and monotonous voice.

Sentence: The history lecturer just kept ________ for hours during class and no one was paying attention.

droning on

400

Meaning: When two groups fail to reach an agreement in talks.

Sentence: During the police _____, the fugitive refused to surrender even though he was surrounded

stand-off

400

meaning: slightly unpleasant or worrying so that you are discouraged from getting involved.

Sentence: his scar is somewhat ______. 

off-putting

400

Meaning: to avoid discussion a difficult subject or problem.

Sentence: Please don't ______ this issue!

skirt around

400

Meaning: to make someone feel depressed.

Sentence: This movie is really _______ me _____.

getting .... down.

400

Meaning: to talk about something in a way that others find boring OR irritating

Sentence: I don't want to ______ about the past

harp on 

500

Meaning: A situation in which two people or things seem equally likely to be chosen or two possible results seem equally likely to happen. 

Sentence: It's a _____ whether oil prices will go up or down over the days ahead.

Toss-up

500

meaning: happening or becoming available soon

sentence: They promised that the money would be _______. 

forthcoming

500

Meaning: to organize activities to ensure that a problem does not prevent you from doing what you want to do.

Sentence: He is being a problem; We will just have to ______ him for now.

work around

500

meaning: be remembered 

Sentence: He will ______ in history as the best artist of our time.

go down

500

meaning: to continue doing something in a determined way.

Sentence: We must _____ with the work if we want to finish on time. 

press on

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