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SCALE DOWN skeɪl daʊn

Phrasal Verb

  • reduce in size.
Example Sentence: Since the end of the Cold War, most European countries have scaled down their armed forces.
 

SAVE UP seɪv ʌp

Phrasal Verb

  • save money.
Example Sentence: If you want a new bike, you'd better start saving up.
 

PUT UP WITH  

Phrasal Verb

  • tolerate.
Example Sentence: He's not easy to live with - I think Jo puts up with a lot.
 

PUT OFF pʊt ɔf

Phrasal Verb

  • postpone.
Example Sentence: They had decided to put the wedding off until her brother came home from abroad.
 

PLAY UP pleɪ ʌp

Phrasal Verb

  • have problems.
Example Sentence: The car is beginning to play up again. It must be its age.
 

PICK UP pɪk ʌp

Phrasal Verb

  • getting better.
Example Sentence: Business is finally picking up after the recession.
 

PHASE OUT feɪz aʊt

Phrasal Verb

  • stop over time.
Example Sentence: Sweden is planning to phase out its nuclear reactors by the year 2013.
 

NARROW DOWN næroʊ daʊn

Phrasal Verb

  • reduce number.
Example Sentence: The police department attempted to narrow down the list of suspects.
 

MIX UP mɪks ʌp

Phrasal Verb

  • make untidy.
Example Sentence: I've just spent two hours sorting those papers so please don't mix them up.
 

MESS UP mɛs ʌp

Phrasal Verb

  • make mistake.
Example Sentence: This is an important meeting, so don't mess up!
 

MAKE UP FOR  

Phrasal Verb

  • compensate.
Example Sentence: This year's good harvest will make up for last year's bad one.
 

MAKE UP meɪk ʌp

Phrasal Verb

  • create a story.
Example Sentence: I'd made up some story about having to go home to see my sick mother.
 

LOOK INTO lʊk ɪntu

Phrasal Verb

  • investigate.
Example Sentence: Police are reported to be looking into the case.
 

KEEP UP WITH  

Phrasal Verb

  • reach same point.
Example Sentence: She was walking so fast that I couldn't keep up with her.
 

HOLD UP hoʊld ʌp

Phrasal Verb

  • delay.
Example Sentence: The match was held up for ten minutes as police cleared fans off the pitch.
 
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