1. To round up something (or round something up) is to increase a number to the nearest whole number, or to the nearest number ending in zero. Example of use: Here's the money I owe you: I've rounded it up to £10. 2. To round up somebody or something (or round somebody or [...]
English Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verb: cobble together
April 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
To cobble together something, or cobble something together, is to make something very quickly and not very carefully. Examples of use: 1. Why don’t you stay for lunch? I’m sure I can cobble together something delicious. 2. We need a report on the new project by this afternoon. Can you cobble something together, please? 3. [...]
Phrasal verb: ramble on
April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
To ramble on is to talk or write for a long time about something that is not interesting to other people. Examples of use: 1. My English teacher rambled on for hours about adverbial clauses and conjunctions. 2. We love getting letters from our friend in Italy, but she does ramble on about her [...]
Phrasal verb: splash out
April 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
To splash out is to spend a lot of money on something, especially something that you don't really need. Mainly informal UK English. Often followed by 'on'. Examples of use: 1. They won the lottery and splashed out on jewellery, designer clothes and antique furniture. 2. Let's splash out and book a holiday to [...]
Phrasal verb: witter on
April 6, 2011 By 1 Comment
To witter on is to talk in a long-winded way, for a long time, about things that are not very important. This expression is informal British English. Examples of use: 1. I wish you would stop wittering on while I'm trying to do my homework! 2. My new neighbour is lovely but she does [...]
Phrasal verb: warm to
March 19, 2011 By 2 Comments
To warm to somebody or something is to start to like somebody or something. Examples of use: 1. My mother didn't like my boyfriend when they first met, but she is warming to him now. 2. We're warming to the idea of relocating our business to Italy. 3. It will take him a long time [...]
Phrasal verb: mull over
March 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
To mull over something (or mull something over) is to think very carefully about something over a period of time – usually before making a decision. Examples of use: 1. I'll mull over your ideas and let you know my decision tomorrow. 2. I need to mull things over for a few days before I [...]
Phrasal verb: tinker with
March 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
To tinker with something is to make small changes to something, often in an unskilled way, to try and repair it or improve it. Examples of use: 1. He's been tinkering with that old car for months. The engine still won't start. 2. My grandfather loved tinkering with clocks and watches. 3. My husband [...]
Phrasal verb: plump up
March 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
To plump up something (or plump something up) is to make something fuller, softer and rounder, especially by shaking it. For example, a pillow or a cushion. Examples of use: 1. Nurse, can you plump up my pillows for me, please? 2. She plumps up the cushions on her sofa several times a day! 3. [...]
Phrasal verb: flip through
March 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
To flip through something is to look quickly or casually at the pages of something (e.g. a book or magazine). flick through has the same meaning. Examples of use; 1. I flipped through the latest issue of Vogue magazine at the train station. 2. I saw your advert when I was flipping through the local [...]
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