Shadowing Practice: The 50 Important Phrasal Verbs in English - Learn English Speaking with Video
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- Hello, lovely students, and welcome back to English with Lucy.
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Today, I've got another monster of a lesson for you.
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We are going to learn 50 of the most useful phrasal verbs in context.
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through a story so they really get stuck in your brain for life but i'm not just going to sit here
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read a list of phrasal verbs, give you an example, blah, blah, blah.
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I want this one to be a bit more exciting.
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So I've gone ahead and created five short stories
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that use all of these phrasal verbs so that you can learn each one in context and not be bored to tears.
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Don't worry, I'll still make time to give you their meanings and all of that fun stuff.
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Now, before we get started with today's lesson, I want to let you know that I have made you a free PDF and it contains a full transcript
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plus every single one of the phrasal verbs we're discussing today, laid out beautifully with some additional vocabulary,
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all the examples, definitions, and of course a quiz at the end so you can test your understanding.
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If you'd like to download your copy, just click on the link in the description box, you enter your name and your email address, you sign up to my mailing list,
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and the PDF will arrive directly in your inbox.
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After that you will automatically receive my free offers and updates.
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You can unsubscribe at any time.
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Okay, let's get started with the first short story of the day.
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Way back in my uni days, my best friend Emily started her first job as a waiter in a bustling cafe.
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Nervous but determined, she decided to look up some tips while sitting on the bus to work.
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Just as she was starting to relax, the bus suddenly broke down.
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She quickly got off the bus and shot off on foot.
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Her new colleague, and get on with her duties.
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Emily came across challenging customer after challenging customer, but she managed to keep her cool.
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Sarah's guidance was invaluable as she continued to look after Emily throughout her shift.
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During the busy lunch rush, Emily knocked over a tray of glasses onto her phone.
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Her phone went black and wouldn't turn on.
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As the day came to an end, Emily felt a sense of relief.
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What a day.
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Okay, we have our first 10 phrasal verbs here.
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The first one is.. to look up to look up, and this is to search for information or advice.
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She looked up the recipe online before attempting to bake the cake.
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Number two is to break down, to break down, and this is to stop functioning or to fail suddenly.
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Unfortunately, my car broke down on my way out of town.
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Number three is to get off, to get off, and this is to leave or exit from
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We leave walking and we say to get out if you have to climb out.
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So you get off a bus, a plane, a tram.
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You get out of a car or taxi.
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Number four is to shoot off.
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To shoot off.
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And this is to move quickly or suddenly.
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As soon as the bell rang, the children shot off towards the playground.
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Number five is to calm down.
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to calm down.
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This is to become less anxious or agitated.
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I always try to take a deep breath to calm down before giving a presentation.
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Number six is to get on with something.
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To get on with something.
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Someone is different.
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To get on with something is to continue with a task or activity, especially after an interruption.
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Right, that's enough TV.
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Time to get on with your homework.
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Number seven is to come across.
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to come across.
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And this is to encounter or find a person or thing unexpectedly.
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You won't believe who I came across at the bookshop today.
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Number eight is to look after.
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to look after.
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This is to take care of or to provide assistance to someone.
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Jane will look after the children while we're at dinner.
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Number nine, to knock over.
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To knock over.
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This is to accidentally cause something to fall or tip over.
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The strong wind knocked over many of the newly planted trees in the park.
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And number 10, our last for this story, to turn on to turn on.
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This is to activate or start a device or appliance.
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Can you turn on the heater?
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It's freezing in here.
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Okay, that's 10 phrasal verbs down.
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Let's learn a few more with our next story.
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Now I want to tell you about the time my cousin, Arthur, decided to set up a charming little tea shop in our hometown.
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He was known for whipping up tasty scones and aromatic brews.
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However, believing his venture wouldn't work out.
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Despite this minor setback, Arthur refused to give up on his dream.
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Focused on proving them wrong, he took on the challenge of transforming our grandmother's dilapidated cottage into a delightful tea room.
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He dusted off some old family recipes, figured out the perfect blend of teas and even caught up on the latest baking trends.
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As the grand opening day approached, villagers started to queue outside his tea room, eager to taste his treats.
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Arthur had truly turned the tables on his doubters.
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His tea room became a thriving success, and even the bank manager had to eat humble pie when he came to enjoy a cuppa.
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Arthur never missed the chance to offer his doubters a treat when they came by, as opposed to telling them off.
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He made sure not to faff about when it came to achieving his dreams.
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Oh, we have fantastic phrasal verbs in there.
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Let's start with number 11.
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To set up.
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To set up.
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This is to establish or create something, like a business or organisation.
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Sarah decided to set up a charity to help underprivileged children in her community.
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Number 12 to whip up To whip up.
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This is to quickly and skillfully prepare something, usually food.
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My mum used to whip up the most delicious pasta in just a few minutes.
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13. to turn down to turn down.
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This is to reject an offer, request or opportunity.
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Unfortunately, we've had to turn down several incredible job applicants due to budget constraints.
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Number 14, to work out to work out.
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This is to have a positive outcome.
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I haven't found a publisher for my book yet, but I'm sure it'll work out.
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Fifteen.
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"to give up".
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To give up.
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This is to quit or stop trying, usually due to difficulties or challenges.
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After hours of trying to solve the puzzle, she finally gave up.
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Number sixteen is to take on.
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to take on.
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This is to accept responsibility or challenge.
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Mark was eager to prove himself to the higher -ups and quickly agreed to take on the team leader role.
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17 is to dust off.
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To dust off.
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This is to revive or reuse something neglected or forgotten.
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Ali decided it was time to dust off the guitar he bought as a teenager
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and learn to play once and for all.
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18. "to figure out, to figure out." This is to find a solution to a problem or discover a way to do something.
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He read the instructions several times, but still couldn't figure out how to assemble the bookshelf.
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Number 19 is to catch up.
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to catch up.
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This is to get up to date or reach the same level as others.
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After missing a few classes, Lisa needed to catch up on her coursework.
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Number 20: To tell off to tell off.
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This is to scold or reprimand someone for their behaviour or actions.
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We sat in silence as Miss Langford told Rachel off for being ten minutes late to class.
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And number 21, my favourite in the list, I must say.
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To faff about.
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To faff about.
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This is to waste time or engage in unproductive activities.
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Instead of studying for his exams, Tom would often faff about on social media.
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That one's very slang.
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You've now learnt 21 phrasal verbs.
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Well done!
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How about a few more?
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Next story: Have I ever told you about how I dreamt of becoming a professional violinist when I was younger?
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When I brought up my interest in the violin to my parents, they got me a beginner violin with.
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but I always struggled to nail the right fingerings and bow technique.
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One day I met an older woman named Isabella, who was a fantastic violinist.
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Her passion for music rubbed off on me instantly.
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Luckily, she took me under her wing and taught me a lot.
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As the years went by, I began to lose interest in the violin, and I cut back on how much I was playing.
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It felt like I was letting Isabella down and my own dreams.
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I contemplated giving it up altogether.
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It was a difficult decision to make, but I decided to call off my pursuit of becoming a professional musician.
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I sorted out my priorities and decided the best decision was to give up
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so I could pursue whatever truly made me happy.
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I found a new path in life and I looked forward to all that life had in store for me.
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In the end, the lessons I learnt from Isabella about passion, determination and following one's heart paid off in ways I couldn't have imagined.
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Life can be funny, but it always turns out exactly as it's supposed to.
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Okay, 10 more phrasal verbs.
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Let's start with number 22, to bring up to bring up.
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This is to mention or introduce a topic or subject in conversation.
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Sarah decided not to bring up the fact that she was moving out of the country during the family dinner.
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23 is to rub off, to rub off on or onto somebody.
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This is to have a positive influence on someone, causing them to adopt certain qualities or habits.
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Her enthusiasm for volunteering began to rub off on her friends, inspiring them to join too.
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Number 24 is to go buy.
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"to go by." This is to pass or elapse.
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The years seemed to go by quickly as she watched her children grow up.
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25 is to cut back to cut back on something.
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This is to reduce something.
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I need to cut back on the amount of money I spend on takeaways.
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26 is to let down, to let down.
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This is to disappoint or fail to meet someone's expectations.
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Marion says she will be here tomorrow.
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She won't let me down, will she?
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27 is to call off, to call off.
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This is to cancel or terminate an event, plan or activity.
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Due to bad weather, they had to call off the outdoor picnic and reschedule it.
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28 is to sort out.
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To sort out.
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This is to resolve or organise a situation or problem.
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I've got to sort out the plumbing issue in the kitchen.
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It's becoming quite a nuisance.
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29 is to look forward to.
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To look forward to.
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This is to anticipate or be excited about a future event or experience.
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The whole family looks forward to the annual reunion.
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It's the highlight of the year.
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30, to pay off to pay off.
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This is to yield positive results or success as a result of hard work.
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Putting in effort into your studies now will pay off in the long run.
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What you're doing right now to improve your phrasal verbs and your English will pay off in the long run, I promise.
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And number 31, to turn out, to turn out.
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This is to result or develop in a particular way, often unexpectedly.
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Despite initial doubts, the project turned out to be a great success.
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Okay, next lot of phrasal verbs.
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I'm going to tell you the juicy story.
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We say a story is juicy when it contains gossip or interesting or personal information.
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I'm going to tell you the juicy story of Tom and Elizabeth.
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People suddenly fell apart in the most public way possible, right in the common room.
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It was quite ugly, with harsh words exchanged and tears shed.
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Despite their friend's encouragement to make up, they couldn't come up with a way to reconcile.
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It seemed like their love had withered, replaced by bitterness and resentment.
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Tom, always the stubborn one,
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insisted on wanted to take back what she'd said and rekindle what they once had.
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Weeks turned into months, and the tension between them refused to budge.
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They would merely brush one another off when they were in the same room.
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But time has a way of healing wounds, and slowly but surely, they began to cheer up.
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A sense of gratitude gradually grew on them, allowing them to move on separately.
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Okay, we have ten phrasal verbs to look at.
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Number 32: to fall apart to fall apart.
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This is to disintegrate or break down, often referring to relationships or structures. Or clothes.
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Clothes can fall apart.
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As the years passed, the once grand mansion began to fall apart, It's walls crumbling.
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to makeup to make up.
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This is to reconcile or to resolve differences, typically after a disagreement or conflict.
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They knew they had to make up and mend the rift in their friendship after their heated debate.
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34 is to come up with something.
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To come up with something.
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This is to devise or create a solution, plan or idea.
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In her quest for adventure, she often came up with creative ways to appreciate the small things in her life.
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35 is to insist on to insist on.
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This is to demand firmly, even if others disagree.
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Abraham's dedication to his art was evident.
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He insisted on perfection, even if it meant countless revisions.
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36 to take back to take back.
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This is to admit that something you said or thought was wrong.
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She wanted to take back her hurtful words but knew the damage was already done.
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to turn into to turn into.
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This is to become.
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Their casual flirtation turned into a deep, meaningful connection that neither could ignore.
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38 is to brush off, to brush off.
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This is to dismiss or ignore someone or something casually, often without consideration.
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He refused to brush off criticism and instead used it as motivation.
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39 is to cheer up, to cheer up.
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This is to become happier or to make someone feel happier.
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Music has a magical way of cheering up the soul, even in the most difficult times.
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40 is to grow on, to grow on.
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And this is to gradually become more likable or acceptable over time.
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We often grow on someone, meaning we become more likable to them.
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At first, our new colleague seemed reserved, - Okay.
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He began to grow on everyone.
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Everyone began to like him and accept him.
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And 41, to move on, to move on.
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This is to continue with life after a challenging period.
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After a period of unemployment, she managed to move on by starting her own business.
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Okay, last story of the day.
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This one is about my two little rascals, Diego and Alfonso.
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One sunny afternoon, while I was busy working on a project at home, I accidentally left the garden gate slightly ajar.
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Diego, my mischievous dog, and Alfonso, my curious cat, seized the opportunity to set out on a grand adventure together.
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I only found out about their escape I saw the gate was wide open.
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Panic filled my heart as I rushed out, calling their names.
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As I searched the village, I ran into my neighbour, Miss Jenkins, who told me that she had seen the unlikely duo gallivanting around the park.
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I wondered to myself what they could possibly be getting up to.
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I hurried to the park and there they were.
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Diego and Alfonso, chasing butterflies.
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I could see that they were warming to the excitement of their little adventure.
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Before I could reach them, They decided to make a dash through the bushes.
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My attempt to cut them off was useless.
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I ended up letting them have their day.
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I tagged along behind them, wherever they went, Just observing.
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I'm not sure.
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Hours later, as the sun began to set, they finally turned up looking tired and muddy.
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When Will arrived home, I filled him in on what had happened.
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All he could do was shake his head and laugh as he looked at our two exhausted pets
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"Fast asleep on the floor." We have nine phrasal verbs to cover.
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with that one.
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42 is to set out to set out.
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And this is to begin a journey or start an activity.
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The explorers set out to try to reach the South Pole.
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Forty -three is to find out to find out.
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This is to discover or learn something often unexpectedly.
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I found out too late that my favourite singer was coming to town.
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44 is to run into, to run into.
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This is to meet someone or something by chance.
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While shopping, I ran into a childhood friend I hadn't seen in years.
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45, to get up to, to get up to.
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This is to be involved in or busy with something, and it sometimes implies it's something naughty or mischievous.
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He used to get up to all kinds of mischief when he was younger.
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46 is to warm to to warm to, and this is to begin to enjoy something or to become more enthusiastic about something.
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My dad finally warmed to the idea of moving in with us.
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47 is to cut off to cut off.
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This is to block or intercept someone or something's path.
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My husband cannot walk in a straight line and always cuts me off whenever we walk down the street together.
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48 to tag along to tag along.
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This is to go somewhere with a person or a group, usually when you have not been invited.
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I used to always tag along with my older sister and her friends when they went out for the day.
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49 is to turn up, to turn up.
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This is to arrive at a place or event, often unexpectedly or after being missing.
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Just when we thought he wouldn't make it,
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he turned up at the party with in on something.
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This is to provide someone with information or details about an event or situation.
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Could you please fill me in on the details of the project?
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I've been out of the loop.
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Right, that's it from today's lesson.
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I hope you enjoyed the five stories and the 50 phrasal verbs.
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That was a lot of information for such a short amount of time, which is why I have created that free PDF for you.
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Don't forget to download it.
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It's also got the quiz.
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You can test your understanding. in the description box.
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If you really seriously want to learn English, if you want to go more in depth and you want to learn with me, I have released my B1,
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B2, and C1 English programs.
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They are 12 week programs with teacher feedback.
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If you'd like to learn more about them, just visit englishwithlucy .com.
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I will see you in the next lesson.
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Mwah!
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Context & Background
In this engaging lesson, the speaker, a seasoned English educator, aims to demystify phrasal verbs, essential components of everyday English conversation. By weaving a relatable story about a newcomer to the workforce, the speaker provides a dynamic context for learning. The lesson features the use of 50 important phrasal verbs within narratives that illustrate their meanings and applications. This method not only makes learning enjoyable but also ensures that students can internalize these phrases effectively for real-life communication.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Look up: To search for information or advice. Example: "She looked up the recipe online before trying to bake the cake."
- Break down: To stop functioning or fail suddenly. Example: "Unfortunately, my car broke down on my way out of town."
- Get off: To leave or exit from a vehicle. Example: "You get off the bus, but you get out of the car."
- Shoot off: To move quickly or suddenly. Example: "As soon as the bell rang, the children shot off towards the playground."
- Calm down: To become less anxious or agitated. Example: "I take a deep breath to calm down before giving a presentation."
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To maximize your understanding of phrasal verbs using the shadowing technique, follow this step-by-step guide:
- Listen Actively: Start by watching the video and pay close attention to the pronunciation and usage of the phrasal verbs. Try to note down any new phrases you encounter.
- Practice Repetition: Utilize the shadowspeak method by repeating what you hear immediately after the speaker. This will help you improve English pronunciation and internalize the rhythm of the language.
- Engage with Context: As you repeat, focus on the context in which the phrasal verbs are used, as context is key to understanding their meanings and proper usage.
- Record Yourself: Use your phone or a recording device to capture your pronunciation. Compare it to the original speech to identify areas for improvement.
- Use in Conversations: Integrate the new phrases into your everyday conversations. Practice with friends or in language exchanges to solidify your learning and gain confidence.
Incorporating these phrases into your speech will enrich your vocabulary and enhance your communicative competence. Remember, the more you practice with the shadow speech technique, the more natural your use of English will become!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to whip · used to get · used to always tag |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've gone · have made · we've had |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was known · was already done · be involved |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.