Phrasal Verbs: Discussion Questions

Match the definitions to the phrasal verbs and complete the questions with an appropriate phrasal
verb in the accurate form. Select from the list below.

look forward to / try out / give in to / shop around for / let down / put off /
go over / look up to / use up / turn down / count on / send back /

to await eagerly
to return (something) to its origin
to consider, examine, or check (something)
to test an idea; experiment
to compare the prices and quality of goods or services before you decide to buy them
to have a great deal of respect and admiration for (someone)
to postpone; delay
to finally agree to what someone wants, after refusing for a period of time
to finish a supply of something
to cause someone to be disappointed, often because you have failed to do what you promised to
to reject; refuse to accept
to be dependent upon

1. Can you describe a time your company __________ something _______ that didn’t work?
What was the purpose or aim of the initiative? Why wasn’t it successful?
2. Do you usually _________________ the things you buy, or do you tend to make purchases more
compulsively?
3. Who do you ________________ most at work? How would you describe this person?
How does he/she help you at work?
4. Describe a time you had to __________________ someone’s demands or requests.
Why was it necessary to concede defeat in this way?
5. What things do you normally __________________ with your boss or line manager?
How often do you discuss these matters?
6. When is your next vacation? Where are you going to go? Are you ___________________ it?
Is there anything else coming up in the future that you are excited for?
7. Do you procrastinate a lot? What type of things do you _________________ doing?
Why might you sometimes avoid completing tasks that need to be done?
8. Have you ever ordered something online that you had to ___________________?
What was wrong with the product?
9. Have you ever _________________ a job offer or a promotion? What was it?
Why did you decide not to accept the role?
10. Have you ever ________________ your vacation days very early in the year? Why?
Do you usually ________________ your vacation days right away, or do you save them? Why?
11. Who do you __________________ at work? What makes them worthy of admiration?
12. Describe a time someone ___________ you ________ (either professionally or personally). Why
did you feel disappointed by their actions or choices?
Conversation Questions

How do you help out your friends and family?

What time do you usually get up? Do you wish you could get up earlier or later?

Do you ever get picked up and given a lift to go somewhere?

Do you talk your friends into doing bad things?

What is the best or worst thing your friends talked you into?

Is there anything you turned down but now regret it?

Have any of your friends borrowed money and not paid you back?

How often do you get together with your high school or elementary school friends?

Have you ever blown anything up? What was it and how did it happen?

Have you ever had to take care of someone or something (sibling, pet, babysitting, etc.)? Did
you enjoy it?

What is your favourite place to eat out at?

Do you know anyone who dropped out of high school or university?

Is there anyone you don’t get along with? Who and why?

How do you pick out the clothes you are going to buy?

Is there anything you need to cut down on?

Have you ever run into a celebrity?

Complete the questions by choosing the correct phrasal verb from the list below.
Put the verbs in the correct form.

back out of - to withdraw from are a responsibility

die out - to be in the process of going extinct
eat out – to have a meal outside of your home, e.g. in a restaurant
go out – to leave one's home to go to a social event
lock out - to be prevented from entering a place
phase out - to gradually stop the use, production or operation
sign out of - to indicate that one is leaving
wipe out – to destroy, annihilate

- Where do you like to ______________ to with friends or family?

- Do you prefer to ______________ or enjoy a home-cooked meal?
- Which websites and platforms do you regularly have to ________ in and __________?
- Have you ever been ______________ of your home? How did you resolve the situation?
- Are there any commitments that you have had to ______________ recently?
- Which traditions and/or cultural practices are ______________ in your part of the world?
- Have any businesses or industries been ______________ in your region in recent months?
- Which types of vehicles, sources of energy or food sources do you think will be ______________
in favour of more environmentally friendly alternatives in future?