Phrasal Verbs Practice – 149

set about something/somebody
to start doing or dealing with something, especially something that needs a lot of time and effort
.A team of volunteers set about the task with determination

set about doing something
?How do senior managers set about making these decisions
:literary to attack someone by hitting and kicking them
.They set about him with their fists

serve something out
: to complete a particular period of time in prison or doing a job
.(Dillon’s almost served out his sentence (=in prison
.The Senator’s illness means he may not serve out his term
:to put food onto plates
?Serve out the rice, will you

set forth

set something forth
to explain ideas facts, or opinions in a clearly organized way in writing or in a speech om set out
.He set forth an idealistic view of society
: literary to begin a journey
.They were about to set forth on a voyage into the unknown

set something/somebody down
: to write about something so that you have a record of it
.I wanted to set my feelings down on paper
: to state how something should be done in an official document or set of rules
.Clear guidelines have been set down for teachers
: to stop a car, bus etc and allow someone to get out
.The driver set her down at the station

set somebody/something back

set somebody/something back
to delay the progress or development of something, or delay someone from finishing something
.Environmental experts said the move would set back further research
.Illness had set me back a couple of weeks
to cost someone a lot of money

set somebody back $50/£100 etc
.This jacket set me back over £1,000

.Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal verbs

(Set back (2) / set about / serve out /set forth (2) / set down (3

.N1. The driver ………… her ………… at the station
.N2. Clear guidelines have been ………… for teachers
.N3. I wanted to ………… my feelings ………… on paper
.N4. They were about to ………… on a voyage into the unknown
.N5. He ………… an idealistic view of society
.N6. The Senator’s illness means he may not ………… his term
.N7. A team of volunteers ………… the task with determination
.N8. This jacket ………… me ………… over £1,000
.N9. Illness had ………… me ………… a couple of weeks

:Answers

Set – down / set down / set – down / set forth / set forth / serve out / set about / set – back / set – back