unit 2: (phrasal verbs) thinking and learning

brush up (on)

I thought I'd ——— my French before going to Paris.

• to improve your knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten

• I thought I'd ——— my French before going to Paris.

come (a)round (to)

He’ll —— my point of view eventually.

• to change your opinion of something

• He’ll —— my point of view eventually.

come up with

They —— a plan to make us more efficient.

• to suggest or think of an idea or plan

• They —— a plan to make us more efficient.

face up to = face the fact that

She's going to have to—————the fact that he's not going to marry her.

• to accept that a difficult situation exists

• She's going to have to—————the fact that he's not going to marry her.

figure out

Can you——- how to open this?

• to understand someone or something, or to find the answer to something by thinking

• Can you——- how to open this?

hit upon

When we first———— the idea, everyone told us it would never work.

• to think of an idea unexpectedly or unintentionally

• When we first———— the idea, everyone told us it would never work.

make sth/sb out

The numbers are too small - I can't —— at all.

• to see, hear, or understand something or someone with difficulty

• The numbers are too small - I can't —— at all.

mull sth over

I need a few days to —— things ——before I decide if I'm taking the job.

• to think carefully about something for a long time

• I need a few days to —— things ——before I decide if I'm taking the job.

piece together

The ancient skull has been ——— from fragments.

• to create something by joining the separate parts of it together or by joining different things together

• The ancient skull has been ——— from fragments.

puzzle out

I still can't —— how I managed to spend so much money last month.

• to discover or understand something by thinking hard about it

• I still can't —— how I managed to spend so much money last month.

read up (on/about)

It's a good idea to ——— a company before going for an interview.

• to spend time reading in order to find out information about something

• It's a good idea to ——— a company before going for an interview.

swot up (on)

She's at home, ———- her maths.

• to learn as much as you can about a subject, especially before an exam

• She's at home, ———- her maths.

take in

I can't believe she was ——- by him.

• to cause someone to believe something that is not true, or to trick or deceive someone

• I can't believe she was ——- by him.

take in

I had to read the letter twice before I could—— it all ——.

• to completely understand the meaning or importance of something

• I had to read the letter twice before I could—— it all ——.

think over

I'll ——-— and give you an answer next week.

• to consider an idea or plan carefully before making a decision

• I'll ——-— and give you an answer next week.

think through

I need some time to ——— - I don't want to make any sudden decisions.

• to carefully consider the possible results of doing something:

• I need some time to ——— - I don't want to make any sudden decisions.

think up

Just give him five minutes and he’ll —— an excuse.

• to invent a plan or solution, especially an excuse

• Just give him five minutes and he’ll —— an excuse.