Grammar notes: phrasal verbs T-Z

List of verbs

take something down
to note information

You'll need to take down everything we say in the meeting, enter it on the computer, then print it out and give everyone a copy.

OK, I'll take down all your details and then your complaint can be passed to the relevant department.

take something on
to assume responsibility
to employ

Your secretary can take on the extra work until we find a permanent replacement.

I don't really want to be promoted because I don't want to take on the extra responsibility.

We'll need to take on extra staff over the summer to cover the people on holiday.

take something out
to obtain a legal or official document

The company can take out a short-term loan to pay for the new computer system, and then pay it back with the money saved by reducing the number of staff.

We took out extra insurance to cover possible losses caused by computer viruses.

take something over
to gain control

take over from someone
to replace

The shop was taken over by one of its competitors.

We took the company over in 1996, and since then we have doubled profits.

We need to recruit a new secretary to take over from yours while she's on maternity leave.

touch on something
to mention

I'd like to touch on a number of subjects in this meeting.

The manager didn't touch on the subject of staff reductions in the meeting with the union rep.

turn something down
to refuse, reject
to reduce

I'm afraid your application has been turned down again.

I'd love to accept your offer of a job, but I'll have to turn it down because I'm happy with my present company.

It's so hot in this office! Can't we turn the heating down?

turn (something) out
to produce

turn out to be
turn out that
to end as

Once we get the new machinery installed, the factory will be able to turn out twice the number of cars it produces today.

Your plan for cutting costs turned out to be very successful, so we've decided to give you a bonus.

It turned out that the new manager went to school with the director, but they hadn't seen each other for 20 years.

walk out
to leave in protest

The factory staff walked out when they heard that the union representative had been disciplined for attending a meeting.

If you walk out now you won't have the opportunity to come back!

weigh something up
to assess

We'll have to weigh the situation up very carefully before we take any action.

I weighed up all the pros and cons before I decided to leave the old job and take the new one.

wind (something) down
to reduce business

The business has been winding down ever since the director left it to his brother.

When production was relocated to Manchester, the London branch was gradually wound down.

work something out
to solve a problem

work out
to be all right in the end

Can you give me a hand? I can't work this calculation out at all.

I've read the instructions, but I still can't work out how this program works.

Don't worry. It'll all work out OK.

Links to exercises and pdf files

Grammar notes from this page - pdf file for download or printing
Matching exercise - online
Gapfill exercise - online
Gapfill exercise - pdf file for download or printing
Phrasal verbs A-B: account for --> brush up
Phrasal verbs C: call for --> cut off
Phrasal verbs D-F: deal with --> fit in
Phrasal verbs G: get across --> go under
Phrasal verbs H-L: hand out --> look up to
Phrasal verbs M-P: make out --> put through
Phrasal verbs R-S: reckon on --> sum up