By Steven M.

Davies

B2.2
Verbs
Unit 5: Law
 By Steven M. Davies

Definition
To gently persuade someone to tell or 1. To coax (something) out of
give you something (someone)
Phrase
Andrew has some gossip, so I am
going to coax what happened out of
him by buying him a drink.
Mary tried to coax the cat out of her
favorite chair by offering it some
food.
Sally coaxed her best friend’s secret
out of her by gentle persuasion and
flattery.
 2. Confess to
Verb + preposition
Definition

To admit that you have done something wrong or something that you feel bad or guilty about.

Examples

The suspect has confessed to the murder.

The detective thinks that the suspect doesn’t have any intention of confessing to the crime.

The suspect confessed to the crime after the detective had coaxed some evidence out of him.

The athlete confessed to cheating by using banned supplements.

By Steven M. Davies
 3. Confront with
Verb + preposition
Definition

To face, deal, or meet with a difficult situation or person.

Examples

These days, many people are confronted with financial pressures.

Animals that live in the Serengeti are constantly confronted with the danger of drought.

When confronted with the evidence, the suspect had no choice but to confess to his crime.

A friend of mine was confronted with this situation, too.

By Steven M. Davies
 4. Cover up
Phrasal Verb
Definition
Definition
A person who covers up something that they do not want people to know about wants to hide the truth.
A person who covers up something that they do not want people to know about wants to hide the truth.
Examples
Examples
He suspects that there is a conspiracy to cover up the crime.
He suspects that there is a conspiracy to cover up the crime.
They knew that they had done something wrong and lied to cover it up.
They knew that they had done something wrong and lied to cover it up.
The corporation covered up the fraud they had carried out by destroying all of the evidence.
The corporation covered up the fraud they had carried out by destroying all of the evidence.
They criminal gang covered up their crime by burning down the warehouse they had used.
They criminal gang covered up their crime by burning down the warehouse they had used.

By Steven M. Davies
 5. Follow up
Phrasal Verb
Definition

To follow something up is to pursue or investigate something further

Examples

The salesperson decided to follow up the letters with phone calls.

We are going to have a meeting next Monday to follow up what we discussed last week.

She’s having a second appointment with the dentist to follow up the one she had the last month.

The police officer is visiting the town centre to follow up reports of a disturbance there.
By Steven M. Davies
 6.6.Get
Getaway
awaywith
with
Phrasal
PhrasalVerb
Verb
Definition
Definition
To get away with something is to escape punishment for a crime or wrongdoing.
To get away with something is to escape punishment for a crime or wrongdoing.
Examples
Examples
A lot of people strongly believe that famous actor CJ Sampson got away with murdering his ex-wife.
A lot of people strongly believe that famous actor CJ Sampson got away with murdering his ex-wife.
The football player used his hand to control the ball, but as the referee didn’t see it, he got away with it.
The football player used his hand to control the ball, but as the referee didn’t see it, he got away with it.
One of the children hid a chocolate bar under a bag of chips and got away with not paying for the chocolate
One of the children hid a chocolate bar under a bag of chips and got away with not paying for the chocolate
bar.
bar.
By jumping over the barriers, David got away with not paying for a ticket.
By jumping over the barriers, David got away with not paying for a ticket.

By Steven M. Davies
 7.7.Get Hold Of (something)
Get Hold Of (something)
Phrasal
PhrasalVerbs
Verbs
Definition By Steven M. Davies
Definition
To obtain something, particularly something that is much desired in that moment.
To obtain something, particularly something that is much desired in that moment.
Examples
Examples
Does anyone know where I can get hold of some stamps?
Does anyone know where I can get hold of some stamps?
I’ve managed to get hold of some plane tickets just hours before the flight is due to take off.
I’ve managed to get hold of some plane tickets just hours before the flight is due to take off.
Football fans were paying hundreds of dollars over the internet to get hold of tickets for the final.
Football fans were paying hundreds of dollars over the internet to get hold of tickets for the final.
For many years, he has been trying to get hold of a rare Marvel comic on E-Bay and other sites.
For many years, he has been trying to get hold of a rare Marvel comic on E-Bay and other sites.
 By Steven M. Davies

8.8.Inform on (somebody)
Inform on (somebody)
Phrasal
PhrasalVerb
Verb
Definition

To secretly give the police or someone in authority incriminating information about someone.

Examples

The rule has always been that you don’t inform on a friend.

The terrorists said that anyone caught informing on them would be killed.

The thieves realized someone must have informed on them when the police unexpectedly turned up at the
bank.

Despite pressure from the police, the gang member refused to inform on the other conspirators.
 9. Stand up to (somebody)
Phrasal Verb
Definition By Steven M. Davies
Definition
To defend yourself against a powerful person or organization when they treat you unfairly.
To defend yourself against a powerful person or organization when they treat you unfairly.
Examples
Examples
He wasn’t afraid to stand up to bullies.
He wasn’t afraid to stand up to bullies.
Wow, I can’t believe that you stood up to the boss like that. You have guts.
Wow, I can’t believe that you stood up to the boss like that. You have guts.
We need to stand up to these big companies that try to pollute our waters.
We need to stand up to these big companies that try to pollute our waters.
Employees are aware of their rights and are not afraid to stand up to employers who break laws.
Employees are aware of their rights and are not afraid to stand up to employers who break laws.
 Phrasal
PhrasalVerbs
Verbs
By Steven M. Davies Exercise
Exercise11
1. The journalist decided to coax out of/follow up the rumours by doing some initial investigative work.
1. The journalist decided to coax out of/follow up the rumours by doing some initial investigative work.
2. The dutiful accountant informed on/got away with the colleagues who had been stealing money from the
2. The dutiful accountant informed on/got away with the colleagues who had been stealing money from the
company accounts.
company accounts.
3. Is the best way to deal with bullies by standing up to/covering up them?
3. Is the best way to deal with bullies by standing up to/covering up them?
4. The company tried to cover up/stand up to its employment of undocumented workers by falsifying the
4. The company tried to cover up/stand up to its employment of undocumented workers by falsifying the
paperwork.
paperwork.
5. Currently, businesses are followed up/confronted with problems brought about by the pandemic situation.
5. Currently, businesses are followed up/confronted with problems brought about by the pandemic situation.
6. Boris such a charming talker that he is able to get away with/confess to treating people with disrespect.
6. Boris such a charming talker that he is able to get away with/confess to treating people with disrespect.
7. Police units have been scrambled to confront with/follow up reports of a homicide in 47th Street.
7. Police units have been scrambled to confront with/follow up reports of a homicide in 47th Street.
8. The suspect has blood on his hands but we haven’t been able to coax a confession out of/stand up to him yet.
8. The suspect has blood on his hands but we haven’t been able to coax a confession out of/stand up to him yet.
9. Somehow Alvin managed to get hold of/follow up the band’s new album before it had even been released.
9. Somehow Alvin managed to get hold of/follow up the band’s new album before it had even been released.
 Phrasal
PhrasalVerbs
Verbs
Exercise
Exercise11(answers)
(answers)
1. The journalist decided to follow up the rumours by doing some initial investigative work.
1. The journalist decided to follow up the rumours by doing some initial investigative work.
2. The dutiful accountant informed on the colleagues who had been stealing money from the company
2. The dutiful accountant informed on the colleagues who had been stealing money from the company
accounts.
accounts.
3. Is the best way to deal with bullies by standing up to them?
3. Is the best way to deal with bullies by standing up to them?
4. The company tried to cover up its employment of undocumented workers by falsifying the paperwork.
4. The company tried to cover up its employment of undocumented workers by falsifying the paperwork.
5. Currently, businesses are confronted with problems brought about by the pandemic situation.
5. Currently, businesses are confronted with problems brought about by the pandemic situation.
6. Boris such a charming talker that he is able to get away with treating people with disrespect.
6. Boris such a charming talker that he is able to get away with treating people with disrespect.
7. Police units have been scrambled to follow up reports of a homicide in 47th thStreet.
7. Police units have been scrambled to follow up reports of a homicide in 47 Street.
8. The suspect has blood on his hands but we haven’t been able to coax a confession out of him yet.
8. The suspect has blood on his hands but we haven’t been able to coax a confession out of him yet.
9. Somehow Alvin managed to get hold of the band’s new album before it had even been released.
9. Somehow Alvin managed to get hold of the band’s new album before it had even been released.
 • Confront with
Phrasal Verbs • Confront with
• Cover up
• Cover up
Exercise 2 • Get hold of
• Get hold of
1. In marketing, you should ____________ your sales letter with a phone call. • Get away with
• Get away with
2. Mike is too mild-mannered and shy to ________________ his opponents and detractors. • Confess to
• Confess to
3. The government’s attempt to ________________ the scandal failed. • Stand up to
• Stand up to
4. • Coax (sth) out of
People who have _________________ their neighbours for breaking lockdown rules have been criticized • Coax (sth) out of
in some quarters. (someone)
(someone)
• Follow up
5. Chris managed to ________________ some money _____________ his parents so he could buy a new • Follow up
drumkit. • Inform on
• Inform on
6. When the defendant left the court he was ________________ hoards of angry protestors demanding his
conviction.

7. David was running late for work but he managed to _______________ a taxi quite quickly.

8. Under intense questioning, the suspect _______________ stealing from the gas station.

9. The criminal network talked about how they could pull off a daring heist and __________________ it..
 • Confront with
Phrasal Verbs • Confront with
• Cover up
• Cover up
Exercise 2 (answers) • Get hold of
• Get hold of
1. In marketing, you should follow up your sales letter with a phone call. • Get away with
• Get away with
2. Mike is too mild-mannered and shy to stand up to his opponents and detractors. • Confess to
• Confess to
• Stand up to
3. The government’s attempt to cover up the scandal failed. • Stand up to
• Coax (sth) out of
4. People who have informed on their neighbours for breaking lockdown rules have been criticized in • Coax (sth) out of
(someone)
some quarters. (someone)
• Follow up
• Follow up
5. Chris managed to coax some money out his parents so he could buy a new drumkit.
• Inform on
• Inform on
6. When the defendant left the court he was confronted with hoards of angry protestors demanding
his conviction.

7. David was running late for work but he managed to get hold of a taxi quite quickly.

8. Under intense questioning, the suspect confessed to stealing from the gas station.

9. The criminal network talked about how they could pull off a daring heist and get away with it.
 Phrasal Verbs
Speaking
1. What problems has COVID-19 confronted you with?

I have been confronted with + gerund…

I have been confronted with having to stay home a lot/not being able to travel/doing my job differently.

2. Have you ever tried to get hold of something rare?

I have gotten hold of + noun

I have gotten hold of rare DVDs because I like watching old movies.

3. What kinds of things do you follow up?

I follow up + noun (+ by + gerund phrase)

I follow up interesting news reports by reading about them on Twitter.

4. How should we stand up to injustice?

We should stand up to injustice + by + gerund

We should stand up to injustice by being confident in ourselves.