Idioms & Phrases • Topic 2 of 4

Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is a verb plus a particle whose combination has a special meaning. The same verb changes meaning with different particles: 'give up' = quit, 'give in' = surrender, 'give away' = donate/reveal.

The particle changes everything

Keep the same verb but swap the particle and the meaning flips. This is exactly what SSC tests.

Phrasal verbMeaning
give upquit / stop trying
give insurrender / yield
give awaydonate / reveal
put offpostpone
call offcancel
look aftertake care of
turn downrefuse / reject
run out ofexhaust the supply of
Learn verb + particle as one item. "give up" and "give in" look almost identical but mean quit vs surrender — memorise the exact pair, not the verb alone.

✅ Solved examples

1. Meaning of "give up".
To quit / stop trying.
2. Meaning of "put off".
To postpone.
3. Meaning of "call off".
To cancel.
4. Meaning of "look after".
To take care of.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. Meaning of "give in".
Stop resisting.
—
—
To surrender / yield
2. Meaning of "run out of".
Supply.
—
—
To exhaust the supply of
3. Meaning of "carry out".
Tasks.
—
—
To perform / execute
4. Meaning of "turn down".
Reject.
—
—
To refuse / reject
5. Meaning of "bring up".
Children/topic.
—
—
To raise (a child or a topic)

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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