Phrasal Verbs
Word List 2
Figurative
If something is
figurative, it is intended
metaphorically.
When we say
'someone jumped on
me', we don't usually
mean that someone
physically attacked us,
but that someone
quickly came up to us,
or began talking to us
suddenly.
Phrasal Verb                           Meaning

account for >>>>>>>>>>>>> explain
break down >>>>>>>>>>>>> stop working
break in >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> interrupt
catch on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  understand
come about >>>>>>>>>>>>>  occur
come up >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  arise
die down >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> subside
dispense with >>>>>>>>>>>> eliminate, do without
fall through >>>>>>>>>>>>>  fail
grate on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> irritate
get ahead >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> succeed
get around >>>>>>>>>>>>>> travel, move around
hold on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> wait
jump on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  attack (often figurative)
look on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> observe
open up >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> speak freely
prevail upon >>>>>>>>>>>>> persuade
settle down >>>>>>>>>>>>>  become quiet
show up >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  appear
The baby has caught
on to fishing,
The caption above is
figurative and means
that the baby
understands how to
fish. The caption to the
right is literal, because
the fish is actually
caught on the hook.
Phrasal verbs are
figurative; they are not
intended to be taken
literally.
A fish is caught on the
baby's hook.
Free Praxis Prep is a service of Multicultural Education Programs at the University of Southern Maine
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