B1+ Phrasal verbs I – B1+ English Vocabulary

B1+ Phrasal verbs I

In this Upper-intermediate Vocabulary Lesson on Phrasal Verbs, you will learn useful phrasal verbs that are common in everyday English. The vocabulary chart, definitions, and examples below will help you understand and remember the terms.



1 If you back down, you stop defending your opinion or position because of pressure from others.

• Despite the criticism, she refused to back down.

2 If you blow up, you suddenly become very angry.

• My dad blew up when he saw the damage to his car.

3 If you come up with something, you think of an idea, answer, or solution.

• Can you come up with a better plan?

4 If you fall for something, you are deceived by it and believe it is true.

• I can’t believe he fell for that online scam.

5 If you get ahead, you become successful in your work or life.

• She worked hard to get ahead in her career.

6 If you get over something, you recover from an illness, problem, or difficult experience.

• It took him months to get over the breakup.

7 If you go ahead, you start or continue with a plan or activity.

• We’ve got everyone’s approval, so let’s go ahead with the project.

8 If you hold on to something, you keep it instead of selling, giving away, or losing it.

• She still holds on to the letters he wrote years ago.

9 If you keep away from something or someone, you avoid them.

• The doctor told him to keep away from sugary foods.

10 If you look around, you explore a place or examine it.

• We spent an hour looking around the old town.

11 If you look back on something, you think about it after it has happened.

• At the time, I was anxious about my future, but now I look back on those years with fondness.

12 If you make up for something, you compensate for a loss, mistake, or problem.

• He bought her flowers to make up for forgetting her birthday.

13 If something pays off, it produces good results after a lot of effort.

• All those hours of study finally paid off.

14 If you rule out something, you decide that it is not possible or suitable.

• The police haven’t ruled out foul play.

15 If you see through someone or something, you recognize the truth behind a lie or deception.

• She immediately saw through his excuses.

16 If something or someone stands out, they are easy to notice because they are different from others.

• Her bright red coat really stood out in the crowd.

17 If you take over something, you gain control of it or become responsible for it.

• A new manager will take over the department next month.

18 If something turns out a particular way, that is the way it happens or develops.

• The event turned out better than we expected.

19 If you work on something, you spend time improving or developing it.

• She’s currently working on a new book.

20 If you write off something, you decide that it is no longer useful, valuable, or worth considering.

• Don’t write off the idea before you’ve tested it.

After completing the exercises in this lesson on Phrasal verbs, you can use the unit’s Vocabulary Flashcards to revise and help you memorize the terms.