This PV means: "to show that you are not connected to someone or something to avoid trouble" The company were very keen to dissociate themselves ........ the shamed director to avoid any bad publicity.
off
behind
from
out
This PV means: "to deal with a problem without letting it affect you" One thing you need to learn in this job is to rise ........ criticism.
on
over
above
up
This PV means: "to lower the intellectual quality of something with the aim of appealing to the general public" I really do feel that the TV networks are ______ down the news. Most of the features are so trivial.
slowing
scaling
dumbing
lowering
This PV means: "to gradually develop an appetite" After a nice long walk in the hills we'll have worked ........ an appetite.
through
along
out
up
This PV means: "to compete for the best position" The two runners are jockeying ........ position as they approach the final lap.
for
back
with
in
This PV means: "to act as encouragement" It was my teacher's talent for art that _______ me on to take up a similar career.
led
pushed
pulled
spurred
This PV means: "to produce large numbers of something rapidly" The author was accused of having _______out trashy romantic novels for his entire career.
churned
pushed
thrown
sent
This PV means: "to accumulate debts" We have run ___________ quite a lot of debt since Kevin lost his job.
in
along
up
out
This PV means: "to start a friendship with someone" I struck _____ a friendship with a lovely Brazilian woman on holiday.
down
off
out
up
This PV means: "to remove money from a source" He was suspended from work following allegations that he was ........ off money from the company accounts.
stripping
slicing
siphoning
weaning
This PV means: "to think about something for a period of time"I wouldn't brood ........ the bad news if I were you. Just forget it and get on with your life.
on
for
with
in
This PV means: "to depend on something in order to be successful" The deal is almost complete. It all ........ on the Chairman agreeing to sign.
rests
hangs
stands
sits
This PV means: "to suddenly realize the reality of something. "I'd been talking to him for ages when it suddenly dawned ........ me that we'd actually met many years before.
with
about
on
for
This PV means: "to protrude" The building consists of a patchwork of balconies ........ out from flat, featureless walls.
pressing
pointing
jutting
hanging
This PV means: "to tell somebody off" The teacher gave the boy a real dressing ........ for fighting in the playground.
back
out
down
off
This PV means: "to give out" I've got this really irritating colleague at work who is always ........ out advice when it's not wanted.
dishing
putting
spreading
laying
This PV means: "to share the cost of something" If we all ______________ together we'll be able to buy them a lovely wedding present.
group
club
join
fit
This PV means: "to stop yourself from remembering something" She found it very difficult to blot ........ the memory of the car crash and spent many sleepless nights thinking about the incident.
out
back
away
down
This PV means: "to find the solution to a problem" Have you managed to figure ........ how to do Question 3 yet?
out
up
in
for
This PV means: "to look for an argument" Are you in a bad mood? You've been _______ for an argument all day.
going
trying
spoiling
making
This PV means: "to offer yourself up for election to a post" Karen has let it be known that she intends to _________for President.
bid
carry
offer
stand
This PV means: "to look quickly through a book, magazine or newspaper" I'll just ______ through the newspaper to see if there's anything interesting then you can have it.
go
flick
turn
run
This PV means: "to hide valuable things in order to save or collect them" Although he always gave the impression he was hard up, it was well known that he had a large amount of money stashed ___________ in the bank.
out
up
away
back
This PV means: "to have a strong desire for something "Since hearing that Sam has bought another car I've been hankering ........ buying a new model myself.
about
with
for
after
This PV means: "to revise" I'm staying in tonight to swot ............ phrasal verbs before tomorrow's test.
in on
up on
away for
up with
This PV means: "to get support." The union official has been talking to all the workers and trying to drum ........ support for the idea of strike action.
with
up
along
out
This PV means: "to be nice to someone in order to get them to do what you want"You're going to have to butter your father ........ if you want him to let you use the car this weekend.
away
through
down
up
This PV means: "when two people in a relationship become less close" Since I moved to a new city, Alan and myself have drifted ........ and rarely keep in contact.
off
back
apart
away
This PV means: "to spread a story that is uncertain or untrue" Someone has been putting it ........ that I'm unhappy in my job. But it's totally untrue.
away
aside
along
about
This PV means: "to take part in an activity but not seriously" He dabbled ........ politics whilst he was at university but never really had any political ambitions.
in
by
for
on
This PV means: "to close down a business"A decision was made to wind ........ the business as it was very close to being bankrupt.
up
in
out
through
This PV means: "to spend a lot of money" I always seem to be shelling ........ money on the car lately. It's costing me a fortune!
on
out
away
in
This PV means: "to become unnoticed" The army uniform is designed so that the soldiers ........ in with their surroundings.
slide
make
blend
slip
This PV means: "to be given an amount of money to live on during financially difficult times" My parents gave me some money to ........ me over until my grant for university arrived.
carry
lead
tide
cover
This PV means: "to be given a job that you do not want" I got .......... with a load of extra work today because Frank was off sick.
slapped
pressed
saddled
packed
This PV means: "to remove from somewhere quickly" The celebrity was whisked ........ from the theatre before the journalists had the chance to question her.
out
along
off
away
This PV means: "to be damaged beyond repair" Have you heard? Danny's _____ his car off in an accident. Fortunately he wasn't hurt but the car is a wreck.
written
finished
smashed
broken
This PV means: "to be old and no longer working properly" This TV is totally clapped ........ I can't even get a picture.
out
off
away
down
This PV means: "to have the characteristics described" The police had several suspects on their files, all of whom answered........ the description given by the witnesses.
for
about
to
with
This PV means: "to hide on a ship or plane with the aim of travelling for free" He had this romantic idea of ........ away on board a cruise ship and starting a new life for himself in Mexico.
stashing
passing
concealing
stowing
This PV means: "to make someone less nervous and prepared to talk" Initially he was very shy but I managed to _______ him out and got him to relax.
talk
draw
iron
push
This PV means: "to originate" Her fear of the dentist stems ........ an upsetting experience she had as a child.
on
from
in
back
This PV means: "to persuade (someone), through logical argument, to agree with you or do something" We can't afford to lose such a valuable colleague. Can't we .......... with her not to resign?
go
meet
logic
reason
This PV means: "to be somewhere not easily found" We found a lovely little restaurant tucked _____ in the old part of town.
aside
up
away
back
This PV means: "to talk at length in a boring, monotone way" The Manager gave another of his boring speeches today and must have droned ........ for an hour at least.
through
along
on
out
This PV means: "to do a piece of work badly"The builders really botched ........ the job they were doing for us and we had to insist they do it again.
away
out
down
up
This PV means: "to avoid discussing something or deal with it in a trivial way" The spokesman for the Government tried to ______ over the poor opinion poll figures by claiming they were not representative.
slip
slide
gloss
run
This PV means: "to believe that someone has a quality" Of course I know it's a dangerous thing to do. Credit me __________ some sense!
for
on
with
of
This PV means: "to warm yourself up" I was freezing cold and as soon as I got in I sat in front of the fire to thaw ........ .
out
away
back
through
This PV means: "to ask someone questions to find out their views "Why don't you speak to the boss and sound her ........ about the possibility of promotion.
in
out
with
back
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