Unit 2 - Phrasal Verbs

Front 1

brush up (on)

Back 1

practise and improve your skills or knowledge of something

Hint 1

I took a class to brush up (on) my German before the trip.

Front 2

come (a)round (to)

Back 2

change your opinion or decision because someone has persuaded you to agree with them

Hint 2

I didn't agree at first but I've come (a)round to the idea now.

Front 3

come up with

Back 3

think of something such as an idea or a plan

Hint 3

Is that the best you can come up with?

Front 4

face up to

Back 4

accept something and try to deal with it

Hint 4

He was the only one who faced up to the problem.

Front 5

figure out

Back 5

be able to understand something or solve a problem; understand what someone is like and why they behave in the way they do

Hint 5

We had to figure out the connection between the two events.

Front 6

hit upon

Back 6

suddenly have an idea; discover something by chance

Hint 6

She was scared he might hit upon the truth.

Front 7

make out

Back 7

see, hear or understand someone or something with difficulty; suggest, imply

Hint 7

Can you make out a face here in the photograph?

It's not as simple as some people make out.

Front 8

mull over

Back 8

think carefully about something over a period time

Hint 8

They'll need time to mull over the proposals.

Front 9

piece together

Back 9

learn the truth about something by considering all the separate bits of information you have

Hint 9

Detectives are still piecing together the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Front 10

puzzle out

Back 10

solve a confusing or complicated problem by thinking carefully about it

Hint 10

She seemed to be trying to puzzle out who the caller might be.

Front 11

read up (on/ about)

Back 11

get information on a particular subject by reading a lot about it

Hint 11

I need to read up on British History.

Front 12

swot up (on)

Back 12

study something very hard, especially for an examination

Hint 12

I've got to swot up on the French Revolution for tomorrow's test.

Front 13

take in

Back 13

understand and remember something that you hear or read;

accept something is real or true;

trick someone into believing something that is not true; include something

Hint 13

I'm not sure how much of his explanation she took in.

He still hasn't really taken in his father's death.

Don't be taken in by their promises.

The tour takes in some incredible scenery.

Front 14

think over

Back 14

consider a problem or decision carefully

Hint 14

Let's think over his proposal before we see him again.

Front 15

think through

Back 15

consider the facts about something in an organised and thorough way

Hint 15

Have you had time to think thinks through ?

Front 16

think up

Back 16

invent or imagine something, especially an excuse

Hint 16

She'd have to think up a good excuse for being late.