Phrasal verbs exercise

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate phrasal verb.

1. The boy is really ……………………….. by his parents’ divorce.

a) screwed up
b) scratched out
c) sealed off
d) set off
e) shaken off

2. Parents should think twice before …………………………. on expensive gadgets for their children.

a) sprucing up
b) splashing out
c) sticking around
d) dishing out
e) spewing out

3. I make it a point not to argue with her. She can ………………………, but she can’t take it.

a) spark it off
b) dish it out
c) shoot it off
d) mug it up
e) shake it off

4. Shyam has agreed to …………………… me when I am away on vacation.

a) stand by me
b) stand me up
c) stand in for
d) stand out
e) stand down

5. The speeding motorist was …………………. by the traffic cop.

a) pulled over
b) pulled in
c) pulled down
d) pulled off
e) pulled through

6. Although he lived with them for well over two years, he never really ……………………. his roommates.

a) took to
b) took after
c) took on
d) took up
e) took out

7. I know you have had a bad day, but you can’t ………………………. me.

a) take it out on
b) took up
c) take to
d) take after
e) take off

8. They offered him an excellent job in the US, but he ……………………. because he did not want to leave India.

a) turned it off
b) turned it down
c) turned it out
d) Turn it up
e) turned it on

9. The passengers were relieved when the bomb threat ……………………. to be a hoax.

a) turned on
b) turned out
c) turned up
d) turned into
e) turned off

10. He is quite good at ………………………… famous film stars.

a) taking off
b) taking after
c) taking on
d) taking to

Answers

1. The boy is really screwed up by his parents’ divorce.

2. Parents should think twice before splashing out on expensive gadgets for their children.

3. I make it a point not to argue with her. She can dish it out, but she can’t take it.

4. Shyam has agreed to stand in for me when I am away on vacation.

5. The speeding motorist was pulled over by the traffic cop.

6. Although he lived with them for well over two years, he never really took to his roommates.

7. I know you have had a bad day, but you can’t take it out on me.

8. They offered him an excellent job in the US, but he turned it down because he did not want to leave India.

9. The passengers were relieved when the bomb threat turned out to be a hoax.

10. He is quite good at taking off famous film stars.

Explanations

1. When something screws up somebody, it confuses or hurts them.

2. To splash out is to spend too much money on something.

3. To dish something out is to give something (usually something bad) freely and in large amounts.

4. To stand in for somebody is to do their job temporarily.

5. To pull over is to ask a motorist to stop.

6. To take to somebody is to like them.

7. To take it out on somebody is to be rude to them because you are upset for some reason.

8. To turn something down is to refuse to accept it.

9. When something turns out a particular way, it happens that way.

10. To take off somebody is to copy their way of talking or their behavior.