Phrasal Verbs Practice – 155

slip something in
: to use a word or say something without attracting too much attention
.He had slipped in a few jokes to liven the speech up

slip away
: to leave a place secretly or without anyone noticing
.He slipped away into the crowd
: if something such as an opportunity slips away, it is no longer available
.This time, Radford did not let her chance slip away

Start in
: to begin doing something, especially with a lot of effort
.I decided to just start in and see what I could do

start in on
.Lilly started in on her burger
to begin criticizing someone or complaining to them about something

start in on
.Mom turned away from Rose and started in on me

stand somebody up
: to not meet someone who you have arranged to meet
.I was supposed to go to a concert with Kyle on Friday, but he stood me up

stand in
to temporarily do someone else’s job or take their place

stand-in

stand in for
?Would you mind standing in for me for a while

stake something out
: to watch a place secretly and continuously stakeout
.Police officers have been staking out the warehouse for weeks
: to mark or control a particular area so that you can have it or use it
.We went to the show early to stake out a good spot
to state your opinions about something in a way that shows how your ideas are clearly separate from other people’s ideas
.Johnson staked out the differences between himself and the other candidates

sound somebody/something – out
: to talk to someone in order to find out what they think about a plan or idea
.He sounded people out and found the responses favorable
.They want to sound out his opinion before they approach him formally

sound somebody/something out about
.I wanted to sound her out about a job that I’m thinking of applying for

.Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal verbs

Sound out / stake out / stand in / stand someone up / slip away / start in / slip in / start in on someone

.N1. I wanted to ……… her ……… about a job that I’m thinking of applying for
.N2. Johnson ……… the differences between himself and the other candidates
?N3. Would you mind ……… for me for a while
. ……… N4. I was supposed to go to a concert with Kyle on Friday, but he ……… me
.N5. He ……… into the crowd
.N6. I decided to just ……… and see what I could do
.N7. He had ……… a few jokes to liven the speech up
.N8. Mom turned away from Rose and ……… on me

: ANSWERS

Sound – out / staked out / standing in / stood – up / slipped away / start in / slipped in / started in