phrasal verb and collocations

“break up with someone” = end a relationship with someone “Jacob feels terrible because his
girlfriend broke up with him last night.”
“tie the knot” = get married“ When are you going to tie the knot? You and Sarah have been
engaged for two years.”
“crack the books” = start studying“ The reason why he isn’t doing very well is that he rarely
cracks the books.”
“cut class” = miss school
“Although some of my daughter’s friends cut class a lot, she is at school every day.”
“soft-hearted” = gentle, kind “He might not seem very understanding, but you’ll see he’s soft-
hearted once you get to know him.”

“run in the family” = physical or personality traits that are similar“ All their kids are very
athletic; it seems to run in the family.”
“a balancing act” = a difficult situation where you try to do several different things at the same
time“ Working and studying at the same time is a real balancing act.”
“high-and-mighty” = self-important and proud“ Sarah always acts high-and-mighty, and she
thinks she is better than everyone else because she is a well-known movie star.”
“feel at home” = feel comfortable or relaxed“ The more you learn about the culture here, the
more you will feel at home.“

“move in” = start living somewhere “Some of my adult children have moved back in because
they want to save money.“
“read someone like a book” = understand someone very well “My teacher can read students like
a book. He knows which students study, and which students don’t.“
“go by the book” = follow rules exactly“ If you always go by the book in your work, your
company will trust you more.“
“no spring chicken” = no longer young “I don’t think he’ll be able to hike to the summit because
he’s no spring chicken.“
“play it safe” = be careful and not take chances“ My knee still hurts, so I’m going to play it safe
and not go jogging today.“

phrasal verb and collocations 1

 “strapped for cash” = short of money“ I’m a little strapped for cash, so I can’t eat out very
often.”
“come into money” = get money suddenly“ Steve came into money when his father passed away
last year.“
“nose around” = look for something private or hidden“ The kids sometimes nose around the
house for Christmas gifts.”
“umpteen (also, umpteenth)” = a great number of“ I have umpteen presents to buy before
Christmas Eve.“
“nose around” = look for something private or hidden“ The kids sometimes nose around the
house for Christmas gifts.”
“umpteen (also, umpteenth)” = a great number of“ I have umpteen presents to buy before
Christmas Eve.“
“crack a book” = to open books to study (usually a negative meaning)“Brandon hardly ever
cracked a book in high school, but he still was able to graduate.”
“cut class” = to skip school“ Why do you always cut class? You won’t pass the class if you do.“
“on the spur of the moment” = without planning or preparation” I decided to go to the party on
the spur of the moment, so I threw on some clothes and left.”
“be decked out” = be dressed in formal clothes for nice occasions “She was decked out in a
beautiful dress, and everyone was surprised
“break up with someone” = end a relationship with someone “Jacob feels terrible because his
girlfriend broke up with him last night.”

“tie the knot” = get married“ When are you going to tie the knot? You and Sarah have been
engaged for two years.”
“crack the books” = start studying“ The reason why he isn’t doing very well is that he rarely
cracks the books.”
“cut class” = miss school

“Although some of my daughter’s friends cut class a lot, she is at school every day.”
“soft-hearted” = gentle, kind “He might not seem very understanding, but you’ll see he’s soft-
hearted once you get to know him.”

phrasal verb and collocations 2

 “run in the family” = physical or personality traits that are similar“ All their kids are very
athletic; it seems to run in the family.”
“a balancing act” = a difficult situation where you try to do several different things at the same
time“ Working and studying at the same time is a real balancing act.”

“high-and-mighty” = self-important and proud“ Sarah always acts high-and-mighty, and she
thinks she is better than everyone else because she is a well-known movie star.”

“feel at home” = feel comfortable or relaxed“ The more you learn about the culture here, the
more you will feel at home.“
“move in” = start living somewhere “Some of my adult children have moved back in because
they want to save money.“

“read someone like a book” = understand someone very well “My teacher can read students like
a book. He knows which students study, and which students don’t.“

“go by the book” = follow rules exactly“ If you always go by the book in your work, your
company will trust you more.“
“no spring chicken” = no longer young “I don’t think he’ll be able to hike to the summit because
he’s no spring chicken.“

“play it safe” = be careful and not take chances“ My knee still hurts, so I’m going to play it safe
and not go jogging today.“

“strapped for cash” = short of money“ I’m a little strapped for cash, so I can’t eat out very
often.”
“come into money” = get money suddenly“ Steve came into money when his father passed away
last year.“

“nose around” = look for something private or hidden“ The kids sometimes nose around the
house for Christmas gifts.”
“umpteen (also, umpteenth)” = a great number of“ I have umpteen presents to buy before
Christmas Eve.“
“nose around” = look for something private or hidden“ The kids sometimes nose around the
house for Christmas gifts.”

“umpteen (also, umpteenth)” = a great number of“ I have umpteen presents to buy before
Christmas Eve.“

phrasal verb and collocations 3

 “crack a book” = to open books to study (usually a negative meaning)“Brandon hardly ever
cracked a book in high school, but he still was able to graduate.”
“cut class” = to skip school“ Why do you always cut class? You won’t pass the class if you do.“

“on the spur of the moment” = without planning or preparation” I decided to go to the party on
the spur of the moment, so I threw on some clothes and left.”

“be decked out” = be dressed in formal clothes for nice occasions “She was decked out in a
beautiful dress, and everyone was surprised

“pass with flying colors” = pass a class or test with high marks “Many students passed the test
with flying colors.”
“break up with someone” = end a relationship with someone “Jacob feels terrible because his
girlfriend broke up with him last night.”

“tie the knot” = get married“ When are you going to tie the knot? You and Sarah have been
engaged for two years.”

“crack the books” = start studying“ The reason why he isn’t doing very well is that he rarely
cracks the books.”
“cut class” = miss school

“Although some of my daughter’s friends cut class a lot, she is at school every day.”

“soft-hearted” = gentle, kind “He might not seem very understanding, but you’ll see he’s soft-
hearted once you get to know him.”

“run in the family” = physical or personality traits that are similar“ All their kids are very
athletic; it seems to run in the family.”
“a balancing act” = a difficult situation where you try to do several different things at the same
time“ Working and studying at the same time is a real balancing act.”

“high-and-mighty” = self-important and proud“ Sarah always acts high-and-mighty, and she
thinks she is better than everyone else because she is a well-known movie star.”

“feel at home” = feel comfortable or relaxed“ The more you learn about the culture here, the
more you will feel at home.“
“move in” = start living somewhere “Some of my adult children have moved back in because
they want to save money.“

phrasal verb and collocations 4

 “read someone like a book” = understand someone very well “My teacher can read students like
a book. He knows which students study, and which students don’t.“

“go by the book” = follow rules exactly“ If you always go by the book in your work, your
company will trust you more.“
“no spring chicken” = no longer young “I don’t think he’ll be able to hike to the summit because
he’s no spring chicken.“

“play it safe” = be careful and not take chances“ My knee still hurts, so I’m going to play it safe
and not go jogging today.“

“strapped for cash” = short of money“ I’m a little strapped for cash, so I can’t eat out very
often.”
“come into money” = get money suddenly“ Steve came into money when his father passed away
last year.“

“nose around” = look for something private or hidden“ The kids sometimes nose around the
house for Christmas gifts.”

“umpteen (also, umpteenth)” = a great number of“ I have umpteen presents to buy before
Christmas Eve.“
“nose around” = look for something private or hidden“ The kids sometimes nose around the
house for Christmas gifts.”

“umpteen (also, umpteenth)” = a great number of“ I have umpteen presents to buy before
Christmas Eve.“

“crack a book” = to open books to study (usually a negative meaning)“Brandon hardly ever
cracked a book in high school, but he still was able to graduate.”
“cut class” = to skip school“ Why do you always cut class? You won’t pass the class if you do.“

“on the spur of the moment” = without planning or preparation” I decided to go to the party on
the spur of the moment, so I threw on some clothes and left.”
“be decked out” = be dressed in formal clothes for nice occasions “She was decked out in a
beautiful dress, and everyone was surprised

“pass with flying colors” = pass a class or test with high marks “Many students passed the test
with flying colors.”

“drop out of school” = stop attending school; quit school “My sister dropped out of school
because she didn’t have money to pay for tuition.”

phrasal verb and collocations 5

 “burn the candle at both ends” = work to excess that affects your physical and emotional well-
being “It’s just not wise to burn the candle at both ends; it’s just impossible to work full time, go
to school, and spend time with family.”

“work one’s tail off” = work very hard “I have to work my tail off just to pay my rent.”

“sick as a dog” = very sick “She has been sick as a dog for a week, and she really needs to see a
doctor.”

“run down” = very tired and exhausted “Jeff is feeling run down, so he decided not to come to
the party.”

movie buff
” = someone who knows a lot about movies

If you want to know anything about the movie industry, ask Phil. He’s a real movie buff

phrasal verb and collocations 6