Advanced English Phrasal Verbs Collection

A complete set of VOCABULARY flashcards translating and defining complex English phrasal verbs from the lecture transcript.

wipe out

to destroy or eliminate something completely

scrape through

to only just succeed in passing an exam or dealing with a difficult situation

mug up

to learn a lot of information about a subject in a short time, especially for an exam

knuckle down

to start to work or study hard

hinge on

to depend on something completely

dumb down

to make something simpler and easier to understand, often reducing its quality

grapple with

to try to deal with or understand a difficult problem or idea

ferret out

to discover something by searching thoroughly for it

see through

to recognize that something is not true and not be tricked by it

bowl over

to surprise or impress someone very much

gloss over

to avoid talking about something unpleasant or embarrassing by not dealing with it in detail

stem from

to originate from or be caused by something

usher in

to mark the start of something new

cream off

to take the best people or things from a group

peter out

to gradually become smaller, weaker, or less important and then end

boil down to

to summarize something; to be the main or most important reason for something

suss out

to figure out or understand something

soldier on

to continue doing something despite difficulties

whittle away

to gradually reduce the size or importance of something

egg somebody on

to encourage someone to do something, especially something foolish

thrash something out

to discuss something thoroughly in order to reach a decision or agreement

shore up

to support or strengthen something that is weak or likely to fail

bottle up

to refuse to express strong emotions, especially anger or sadness

box somebody in

to put someone in a situation where they have very few choices and cannot act freely

bear out

to support the truth of something; to confirm

cotton on to something

to begin to understand or realize something

drone on

to talk for a long time in a boring way

drum up

to try to get support or business

stand up for

to defend or support someone or something

accede to something

to agree to a demand, request, or treaty

brim with

to be full of something

rough out

to draw or write something without including all the details

own up to something

to admit that you have done something wrong

belt out

to sing or play a musical instrument very loudly

capitalize on

to use a situation to get some benefit for yourself

buy into

to accept that an idea or plan is good and agree to support it

explain away

to give reasons why something is not your fault, or why something is not important

hammer out

to reach an agreement or solution after long and difficult discussions

wring something out of somebody

to force someone to give you information or money

laugh off

to try to make people think that something is not serious or important by making a joke about it

farm out

to send work to other people instead of doing it yourself

hush up

to prevent people from knowing about something

bounce back

to return to a normal condition quickly after experiencing trouble or difficulty

encroach on something

to gradually take more of someone's time, possessions, rights, etc. than is right or acceptable

bottom out

to reach the lowest point in a changing situation and be about to improve

cave in

to fall down or inwards; to finally agree to something after refusing for a period of time

stumble on

to discover something by chance

be steeped in something

to have a lot of a particular quality or to be full of a particular influence

be snowed under

to have so much work that you have problems dealing with it all

weigh up

to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of something