CHAPTER 9

PHRASAL VERBS

REPORTER:
ALICIA C. ABERGAS
 KEEP TO

TO AVOID LEAVING A PLACE OR A PATH

EX. YOUR FATHER SAID THAT YOU MUST KEEP TO THE HOUSE
AT NIGHT.
TO STICK TO A SCHEDULE
EX. IF YOU DON’T WANT ANY DELAY, KEEP TO THE SCHEDULE.
TO RESTRICT ONESELF TO
EX. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BETH IS THAT SHE ALWAYS KEEP TO
THE POINT.
KEEP SOMEONE UNDER
TO MAKE SOMEONE STAY IN A STATE OF DIFFICULTY
EX. A DICTATOR MUST BE DRIVEN OUT BECAUSE HE KEEPS THE NATION
UNDER OPPRESSION.

KEEP UP/ KEEP UP WITH

> TO MOVE AT THE SAME RATE AS SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ELSE.
EX. 1. SHE HAS TO WORK HARD LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IF SHE WANTS TO KEEP
UP.
2. I TRIED TO KEEP UP WITH MY WORK AFTER I LEAVE.
TO MAINTAIN A COMMITMENT TO DO OR PAY SOMETHING REGULARLY
EX. THE POOR FAMILY CAN HARDLY KEEP UP WITH THE PAYMENTS FOR THE
HOUSE.
KEEP SOMEONE UP
TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GOING TO SLEEP
EX. THE NEW NEIGHBORS HAVE KEPT US UP AT NIGHT FOR A
WEEK NOW.
KEEP (SOMETHING )UP
TO CONTINUE DOING SOMETHING
EX. MY TEACHER TOLD ME TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
TO MAKE SOMETHING STAY AT A HIGH LEVEL
EX. THE MANAGER PERSONALLY TALKED TO THE TEAM
DURING THE BREAK TO KEEP THE MORALE UP.
• LEAD (SOMEONE) ASTRAY
TO MAKE SOME ACT OR THINK WRONGLY
EX. TROUBLESOME FRIENDS CAN LEAD ANYONE ASTRAY.
• LEAD (SOMEONE) ON
TO MISLEAD OR TO DECEIVE SOMEONE BY GIVING HIM FALSE HOPE
EX. I THOUGH YOU LIKE ME BUT YOU JUST LED ME ON.
• LEAD ON TO/LEAD UP TO
TO CAUSE
EX. VICES WILL LEAD ON TO ANOTHER VICES.
• LIVE (SOMETHING) DOWN
TO SUCCESSFULLY MAKE OTHERS FORGET SOMETHING EMBARRASSING
THAT HAPPENED.
EX. THE EX-CONVICT TRIED TO LIVE DOWN THE PAST TO START ANEW.
• LIVE OFF/LIVE ON
TO DEPEND ON SOMETHING OR SOMEONE AS A SOURCE OF SUPPORT OR
INCOME
EX. IF YOU THINK YOU CAN LIVE OFF SOMEONE ELSE’S HARD WORK THE REST
OF YOUR LIFE, THINK AGAIN!
TO FEED ONLY ON A SPECIFIC KIND OF FOOD

EX. 1. SNAKES GENERALLY LIVE OFF RATS AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS.

2. WHEN MY BROTHERS AND I WERE YOUNGER, WE USED TO LIVE ON

CHICKEN AND BREAD.
• LIVE (SOMETHING) OUT
TO MAKE OR DO SOMETHING IMAGINED REAL
EX. SHES’S TRYING TO LIVE OUT HER DREAM OF WORKING IN
HOLLYWOOD.
TO SPEND THE REST OF ONE’S LIFE IN A SPECIFIC SITUATION OR A
SPECIFIC PLACE
EX. ROMY WANTS TO LIVE OUT HIS DAYS IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE IN
THE PROVINCE.
• LIVE TOGETHER
TO SHARE A HOME AND HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP (SPECIALLY
OF A COUPLE NOT MARRIED TO EACH OTHER)
EX. SOME PREFER TO LIVE TOGETHER THAN TO GET MARRIED.
• LIVE UP TO
TO FULFILL EXPECTATIONS OR AN URDERTAKING
EX. GERARD HAS LIVED UP TO HIS FAMILY NAME. HE NOW RUNS THE FAMILY
BUSINESS.
• LIVE WITH
TO TOLERATE OR TO ACCEPT
EX. ONE HAS TO LIVE WITH THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS PERFECT.
• MAKE A WAY WITH/ MAKE OFF WITH
TO CARY SOMETHING AWAY ILLEGALLY
EX. THE ROBBERS MADE A WAY WITH ALL THE MONEY INSIDE THE VAULT.
• MAKE DO
TO MANAGE EVEN WITH INADEQUATE MEANS
EX. WE WILL MAKE DO EVEN WITH LIMITED TIME AND MONEY.
• MAKE FOR
TO MOVE TOWARD
EX. AS SOON AS THE THIEVES STOLE THE DIAMONDS, THEY MADE FOR
THE BUILDING OUTSIDE THE TOWN.
• MAKE (SOMETHING) OF
TO GIVE A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF IMPORTANCE TO SOMETHING
EX. SINCE WE ARE IN THE FOOD BUSINESS, WE SHOULD MAKE MUCH
OF THE INCREASE IN FOOD COMMODITIES.
TO UNDERSTAND

EX. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS PROBLEM.

• MAKE OFF
TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY
EX. THE COUPLE MADE OFF WITHOUT PAYING FOR THE MEAL THEY ATE.
• MAKE (SOMEONE/SOMETHING) OUT
TO DECIPHER OR TO MANAGE WITH SOME DIFFICULTY TO UNDERSTAND
EX. THEY CANNOT MAKE OUT THE SYMBOLS ON THE CAVE WALLS.
TO PRETEND
EX. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY HE MADE OUT THAT HE WAS THE
OWNER’S SON.
TO WRITE OUT A DOCUMENT OR A LIST
EX. THE SECRETARY WAS TOLD TO MAKE OUT THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING.

• MAKE UP
TO RECONCILE
EX. STOP FIGHTING AND MAKE UP SO THAT YOU’LL BE FRIENDS AGAIN.
• MAKE (SOMETHING) UP/ MAKE UP FOR
TO COMPENSATE FOR SOMETHING MISSED, LOST, OR FAULTY
EX. JANICE SAID SHE NEEDED TO LEAVE EARLY BUT SHE WOULD MAKE UP THE TIME
TOMORROW.

TO COMPROMISE OR TO CONSTITUTE

EX. THEY MAKE UP 90% OF THE VOTE.