Vocabulary

  • beef up: To be made stronger and stronger
  • cut up: Be cut up (about) to be upset or angry
  • think about: To consider something carefully.
  • boil down: To reduce in volume by boiling; to concentrate.
  • duck out: To leave a place or situation quickly and often without being noticed.
  • swallow up: To completely consume or engulf something.
  • to do with: To be about something; concern
  • duck down: To lower your body quickly to avoid something.
  • veg out: To relax in a lazy or inactive way, often watching TV.
  • have to: Must do
  • pan out: (Of events) to happen as you expected them to
  • look at: To use your eyes to focus on something
  • chicken out: To decide not to take a risky action
  • boil over: When a boiling liquid overflows the container.
  • work out
  • beefing up: To be made stronger and stronger
  • walk down: To walk along or down something.
  • fishing for: Currently trying to get attention or praise from other people.
  • box in: To trap or prevent movement by surrounding closely.
  • in a box: Contained or confined inside a box or small space.
  • talking about: To discuss a particular topic.
  • in secret: Done or kept in a way that is not known or seen by others.
  • shut up: To close something, e.g. a shop
  • at home: In one's own residence or country.
  • break it down: To simplify something complex into smaller, more manageable parts.
  • down with: Suffering from an illness.
  • chew over: To think carefully about something
  • chew out: To scold someone severely
  • for example: As an illustration or instance.
  • turn on
  • the bottom line: The most important thing; the essential point.
  • make peace: To end a state of conflict or war by agreeing to peaceful terms.
  • factor in: To include something as an important element when making a decision or calculation.
  • in general: Typically; usually; on the whole.
  • in terms of
  • in school: Attending an educational institution.
  • on the scene: Present at a location, especially where something has happened.
  • at least: As a minimum
  • come back: To reply to someone, often forcefully
  • situation: Place, position or area that something is in
  • basically: Used before you explain something simply, clearly
  • consequence: Importance of a person or thing
  • scene: Incident where someone behaves angrily, badly
  • squeeze: Amount of liquid from firmly pressing e.g. orange
  • bit: Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
  • victim: Person/thing affected by an unpleasant event
  • disrupt: To cause a disturbance in an activity in progress
  • mean: Average of a set of numbers
  • decision: Choice made after thinking; final judgment
  • security: Department in a company in charge of protection
  • complete: To finish or reach the end of doing something
  • nervous: Concerning the system of nerves in the body
  • accept: To agree to receive or take something offered
  • swallow: To believe (something that is not true)
  • apparatus: Tools or instruments used for a specific activity
  • quiz: A game in which players answer questions on topics
  • hatred: Very strong feeling of dislike; hate
  • bottom: The part of your body you sit on
  • border: To be right next to another country or state
  • important: Having power or authority
  • intend: To plan or want to do something
  • cliff: High, vertical or steep surface of rock or ice
  • phrasal: Concerning or consisting of a phrase
  • control: A device designed to operate a machine
  • chew: To bite something many times without swallowing it
  • counselor: Person offering professional advice to others
  • preposition: Word such as 'at' 'on' etc. showing position/time
  • catch: Amount of something that has been caught
  • pole: One of two opposite ideas, qualities or positions
  • comedian: An entertainer whose job is to make people laugh
  • animate: To give life, energy, or motion to something
  • shut: To stop being open for business
  • find: To become aware of something that is happening
  • person: Man, woman or child
  • laugh: To make a happy sound when something is funny
  • boil: To become extremely angry or excited
  • panoramic: Having a full and wide view of something
  • embarrass: To cause someone to feel ashamed
  • wide: Having a great distance from one side to the other
  • pan: To follow an object being filmed with a camera
  • cheat: To be unfaithful to (your wife, boyfriend etc.)
  • yell: A sudden loud cry or shout
  • con: To trick or deceive someone
  • delicious: Very pleasing to eat; especially pleasing
  • stew: To cook meat or vegetables in hot water
  • clam: Kind of shellfish
  • artist: A person skilled and creative in art e.g. painter
  • fashion: Style of dress or activity popular at some time
  • duck: To avoid doing something that is difficult
  • idiomatic: Concerning idioms
  • salesman: Person whose job is to sell things
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  • not found vocabularyNo vocabulary matches your filters
    • animate

      US /ˈænəˌmet/

      UK /'ænɪmeɪt/

      • Transitive Verb
      • To give life, energy, or motion to something
      B2
      More
    • apparatus

      US /ˌæpəˈretəs, -ˈrætəs/

      UK /ˌæpə'reɪtəs/

      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • Tools or instruments used for a specific activity
      B1TOEIC
      More
    • artist

      US /ˈɑrtɪst/

      UK /ˈɑ:tɪst/

      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • A person skilled and creative in art e.g. painter
      A2
      More
    • at home

      US /æt hom/

      UK /æt həum/

      • Phrase
      • In one's own residence or country.
      • Adjective
      • Feeling comfortable and relaxed.
      More
    • at least

      US /æt list/

      UK /æt li:st/

      • Adverb
      • As a minimum
      • Not less than
      • Phrase
      • No less than; at the minimum
      • Used to indicate that something is positive in a bad situation.
      C2
      More
    • basically

      US /ˈbesɪkəli,-kli/

      UK /ˈbeɪsɪkli/

      • Adverb
      • Used before you explain something simply, clearly
      • In essence; when you consider the most important aspects of something.
      A2
      More
    • beef up

      US /bif ʌp/

      UK /bi:f ʌp/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To be made stronger and stronger
      A2
      More
    • beefing up

      US

      UK

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To be made stronger and stronger
      C2
      More
    • boil

      US /bɔɪl/

      UK /bɔɪl/

      • Intransitive Verb
      • To become extremely angry or excited
      • Transitive Verb
      • To cook in very hot water
      • To make liquids hot so they turn to gas
      A2
      More
    • boil down

      US /bɔɪl daʊn/

      UK /bɔil daun/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To reduce in volume by boiling; to concentrate.
      • To be summarized or reduced to the essentials.
      A2
      More
    • boil over

      US /bɔɪl ˈoʊvɚ/

      UK /bɔɪl ˈəʊvə/

      • other
      • When a boiling liquid overflows the container.
      • other
      • When emotions, especially anger, erupt suddenly.
      B2
      More
    • border

      US /ˈbɔrdɚ/

      UK /'bɔ:də(r)/

      • Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
      • To be right next to another country or state
      • To form the edge of something
      • Noun
      • Outer part or edge of something
      • Line separating one country, state from another
      A2TOEIC
      More
    • bottom

      US /ˈbɑtəm/

      UK /'bɒtəm/

      • Noun
      • The part of your body you sit on
      • Lowest position, often in a company or contest
      • Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
      • To hit the lowest part of something
      • To provide with a bottom.
      A2TOEIC
      More
    • box in

      US /bɑks ɪn/

      UK /bɒks ɪn/

      • other
      • To trap or prevent movement by surrounding closely.
      B2
      More
    • break it down

      US

      UK

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To simplify something complex into smaller, more manageable parts.
      • To explain something in a detailed and understandable way.
      A2
      More
    • cheat

      US /tʃit/

      UK /tʃi:t/

      • Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
      • To be unfaithful to (your wife, boyfriend etc.)
      • To escape death or harm, through luck or skill
      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • One who is unfaithful to their wife, partner etc.
      • One who lies or breaks rules to get what they want
      B1
      More
    • chew

      US /tʃu:/

      UK /tʃu:/

      • Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
      • To bite something many times without swallowing it
      • Noun
      • Act of biting something many times
      B1
      More
    • chew out

      US

      UK

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To scold someone severely
      A1
      More
    • chew over

      US

      UK

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To think carefully about something
      B1
      More
    • chicken out

      US /ˈtʃɪkən aʊt/

      UK /ˈtʃikin aut/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To decide not to take a risky action
      • To decide not to take a risky action
      • Intransitive Verb
      • To back out of something due to fear or cowardice.
      A1
      More
    • clam

      US /klæm/

      UK /klæm/

      • Countable Noun
      • Kind of shellfish
      C2
      More
    • cliff

      US /klɪf/

      UK /klɪf/

      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • High, vertical or steep surface of rock or ice
      • A critical or dangerous situation.
      • Proper Noun
      • Person's name
      • A surname.
      B1
      More
    • come back

      US /kʌm bæk/

      UK /kʌm bæk/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To reply to someone, often forcefully
      • To be remembered
      A1
      More
    • comedian

      US /kəˈmidiən/

      UK /kəˈmi:diən/

      • Countable Noun
      • An entertainer whose job is to make people laugh
      A2
      More
    • con

      US /kɑ:n/

      UK /kɒn/

      • Transitive Verb
      • To trick or deceive someone
      • Noun
      • Argument pointing out the negatives of a position
      B2
      More
    • consequence

      US /ˈkɑnsɪˌkwɛns,-kwəns/

      UK /ˈkɔnsikwəns/

      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • Importance of a person or thing
      • Outcome of an event; result
      A2
      More
    • counselor

      US /ˈkaʊnsəlɚ, -slɚ/

      UK /'kaʊnsələ/

      • Noun
      • Person offering professional advice to others
      B1
      More
    • cut up

      US /kʌt ʌp/

      UK /kʌt ʌp/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • Be cut up (about) to be upset or angry
      • To criticize someone severely
      A1
      More
    • delicious

      US /dɪˈlɪʃəs/

      UK /dɪˈlɪʃəs/

      • Adjective
      • Very pleasing to eat; especially pleasing
      B1TOEIC
      More
    • disrupt

      US /dɪsˈrʌpt/

      UK /dɪsˈrʌpt/

      • Transitive Verb
      • To cause a disturbance in an activity in progress
      B2TOEIC
      More
    • down with

      US /daʊn wɪð/

      UK /daun wið/

      • Adjective
      • Suffering from an illness.
      • Agreeable to; in favor of.
      • Interjection
      • An expression of opposition to something.
      A1
      More
    • duck

      US /dʌk/

      UK /dʌk/

      • Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
      • To avoid doing something that is difficult
      • To lower your head to avoid hitting something
      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • Common type of water bird
      B1
      More
    • duck down

      US /dʌk daʊn/

      UK /dʌk daʊn/

      • other
      • To lower your body quickly to avoid something.
      A2
      More
    • duck out

      US /dʌk aʊt/

      UK /dʌk aut/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To leave a place or situation quickly and often without being noticed.
      A2
      More
    • embarrass

      US /ɛmˈbærəs/

      UK /ɪm'bærəs/

      • Transitive Verb
      • To cause someone to feel ashamed
      A2
      More
    • factor in

      US /ˈfæktɚ ɪn/

      UK /ˈfæktə in/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To include something as an important element when making a decision or calculation.
      B2
      More
    • fashion

      US /ˈfæʃən/

      UK /'fæʃn/

      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • Style of dress or activity popular at some time
      • Industry that creates new styles of clothes
      • Transitive Verb
      • To make things into a particular shape
      A2
      More
    • fishing for

      US

      UK

      • Phrasal Verb
      • Currently trying to get attention or praise from other people.
      • Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
      • Present continuous of trying to catch fish.
      A1
      More
    • for example

      US

      UK

      • Phrase
      • As an illustration or instance.
      More
    • hatred

      US /ˈhetrɪd/

      UK /ˈheɪtrɪd/

      • Uncountable Noun
      • Very strong feeling of dislike; hate
      B2
      More
    • have to

      US /hæv tu/

      UK /ˈhæv tə/

      • Auxiliary Verb
      • Must do
      A1
      More
    • idiomatic

      US /ˌɪdiəˈmætɪk/

      UK /ˌɪdiəˈmætɪk/

      • Adjective
      • Concerning idioms
      B2
      More
    • in a box

      US /ɪn ə bɑks/

      UK /ɪn ə bɒks/

      • other
      • Contained or confined inside a box or small space.
      B2
      More
    • in general

      US /ɪn ˈdʒɛnərəl/

      UK /in ˈdʒenərəl/

      • Phrase
      • Typically; usually; on the whole.
      • Not specific or detailed; broadly.
      • Adjective
      • Not detailed or specific; overall.
      C2
      More
    • in school

      US /ɪn skul/

      UK /ɪn sku:l/

      • other
      • Attending an educational institution.
      A1
      More
    • in secret

      US /ɪn ˈsiːkrət/

      UK /in ˈsiːkrət/

      • Phrase
      • Done or kept in a way that is not known or seen by others.
      B1
      More
    • in terms of

      US

      UK

      • Phrase
      • With regard to; concerning a particular aspect.
      A1
      More
    • intend

      US /ɪnˈtɛnd/

      UK /ɪnˈtend/

      • Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
      • To plan or want to do something
      A2TOEIC
      More
    • look at

      US /lʊk æt/

      UK /luk æt/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To use your eyes to focus on something
      • To focus your eyes on something carefully
      A1
      More
    • make peace

      US

      UK

      • Intransitive Verb
      • To end a state of conflict or war by agreeing to peaceful terms.
      B1
      More
    • on the scene

      US /ɑn ði sin/

      UK /ɔn ðə si:n/

      • Phrase
      • Present at a location, especially where something has happened.
      • Involved or active in a particular area or activity.
      B1
      More
    • pan

      US /pæn/

      UK /pæn/

      • Transitive Verb
      • To follow an object being filmed with a camera
      • To criticize, e.g. a film, in a strong way
      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • Open metal container used for cooking
      • Steel drum
      A2
      More
    • pan out

      US /pæn aʊt/

      UK /pæn aut/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • (Of events) to happen as you expected them to
      • To develop in a particular way.
      A2
      More
    • panoramic

      US / ˌpænəˈræmɪk/

      UK /ˌpænə'ræmɪk/

      • Adjective
      • Having a full and wide view of something
      B2
      More
    • phrasal

      US

      UK

      • Adjective
      • Concerning or consisting of a phrase
      B1
      More
    • pole

      US /pol/

      UK /pəʊl/

      • Noun
      • One of two opposite ideas, qualities or positions
      • Most northern or most southern point on a planet
      • Transitive Verb
      • To move a boat with a stick or pole
      B1
      More
    • quiz

      US /kwɪz/

      UK /kwɪz/

      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • A game in which players answer questions on topics
      • Brief spoken or written test, given to students
      • Transitive Verb
      • To ask a person many questions about something
      B1
      More
    • salesman

      US /ˈselzmən/

      UK /'seɪlzmən/

      • Countable Noun
      • Person whose job is to sell things
      B2
      More
    • scene

      US /sin/

      UK /si:n/

      • Noun
      • Incident where someone behaves angrily, badly
      • View that looks like a picture
      A2TOEIC
      More
    • security

      US /sɪˈkjʊrɪti/sə'kjurətɪ/

      UK /sɪ'kjʊərətɪ/

      • Noun
      • Department in a company in charge of protection
      • Financial document, like stocks, bonds and notes
      A2TOEIC
      More
    • shut

      US /ʃʌt/

      UK /ʃʌt/

      • Intransitive Verb
      • To stop being open for business
      • Transitive Verb
      • To close something, e.g. a door
      A2
      More
    • shut up

      US /ʃʌt ʌp/

      UK /ʃʌt ʌp/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To close something, e.g. a shop
      • To (cause someone to) be silent or not speak
      • Interjection
      • An expression of disbelief or surprise
      A2
      More
    • squeeze

      US /skwiz/

      UK /skwi:z/

      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • Amount of liquid from firmly pressing e.g. orange
      • Act of putting pressure on, as to get liquid out
      • Transitive Verb
      • To force or threaten someone to give you something
      • To strongly compress something to get liquid out
      C1
      More
    • stew

      US /stu, stju/

      UK /stju:/

      • Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
      • To cook meat or vegetables in hot water
      • Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
      • Type of dish mixing meat, vegetables, and gravy
      B2
      More
    • swallow

      US /ˈswɑː.loʊ/

      UK /'swɒləʊ/

      • Transitive Verb
      • To believe (something that is not true)
      • To make food go from your mouth to your stomach
      • Countable Noun
      • Small northern bird with downward-pointing wings
      A2
      More
    • swallow up

      US

      UK

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To completely consume or engulf something.
      • To use a large amount of something, especially money or time.
      A1
      More
    • talking about

      US

      UK

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To discuss a particular topic.
      • To be constantly mentioning or bringing up a subject.
      A1
      More
    • the bottom line

      US /ði ˈbɑtəm laɪn/

      UK /ðə ˈbɔtəm lain/

      • Noun
      • The most important thing; the essential point.
      • The net income or profit of a company.
      A2
      More
    • think about

      US /θɪŋk əˈbaʊt/

      UK /θiŋk əˈbaut/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To consider something carefully.
      • To remember or call to mind.
      A1
      More
    • to do with

      US

      UK

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To be about something; concern
      A1
      More
    • turn on

      US /tɚn ɑn/

      UK /tə:n ɔn/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To cause someone to be interested or excited
      • Transitive Verb
      • To activate or switch on a device or appliance.
      • To suddenly attack or criticize someone.
      A1
      More
    • veg out

      US /vɛdʒ aʊt/

      UK /vedʒ aʊt/

      • other
      • To relax in a lazy or inactive way, often watching TV.
      B2
      More
    • victim

      US /ˈvɪktɪm/

      UK /ˈvɪktɪm/

      • Noun
      • Person/thing affected by an unpleasant event
      • Person feeling helpless in times of bad luck
      B1TOEIC
      More
    • walk down

      US /wɔk daʊn/

      UK /wɔ:k daun/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To walk along or down something.
      • To proceed along an aisle, especially at a wedding.
      A1
      More
    • work out

      US /wɚk aʊt/

      UK /wə:k aut/

      • Phrasal Verb
      • To find a way to do something, by thinking
      A1
      More
    • yell

      US /jɛl/

      UK /jel/

      • Noun
      • A sudden loud cry or shout
      • Intransitive Verb
      • To shout loudly at someone in pain or excitement
      B1
      More
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    01:03

    She took a brave step forward, leaving behind her comfort zone to chase her dreams.

    Vocabulary
    • brave

      adj. Having courage

    • comfort zone

      phr. A familiar situation where one feels safe

    Explanation
    a brave step is a noun phrase, where brave is an adjective modifying the noun step, meaning "a courageous step". forward is an adverb modifying step, meaning "ahead". The whole phrase serves as the object, answering the "what" of took (verb) — she took a brave step forward.

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    brave

    US/brev/
    UK/breɪv/
    adj.Brave
    v.t.To bravely face
    A2 Elementary

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    80
    A2
    #duck#boil#phrasal#swallow#beef#clam

    15 PHRASAL VERBS with meanings you can’t guess!

    0
    林宜悉 posted on 2025/07/19
    Ever get tripped up by phrasal verbs that make no sense? Adam from EngVid is here to help you master 15 tricky ones, especially those related to food, that you definitely won't guess the meaning of! You'll pick up essential vocabulary and practical phrases perfect for everyday conversations and even the workplace.

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