Phrasal Verbs Practice – 75

knuckle down
to suddenly start working or studying hard

syn.get down to
.If he doesn’t knuckle down soon, he’ll never get through those exams

knuckle down to
.He is clearly ready to knuckle down to the task

leak out
: if secret information leaks out, a lot of people find out about it
.No sooner had the news leaked out than my telephone started ringing

pass somebody over
if you pass someone over for a job, you choose someone else who is younger or lower in the organization than them
This is the second time I’ve been passed over for promotion. = someone else has been given a higher job instead of me

occur to somebody
if an idea or a thought occurs to you, it suddenly comes into your mind

it occurs to somebody to do something
?I suppose it didn’t occur to you to phone the police
.It never seems to occur to my children to contact me

(it occurs to somebody (that
.It had never occurred to him that he might be falling in love with her

nod off
: to begin to sleep, usually when you do not intend to and are sitting somewhere
.I missed the movie because I kept nodding off

prop something up
: to prevent something from falling by putting something against it or under it
.The builders are trying to prop up the crumbling walls of the church

prop something up against
.paintings propped up against the wall
to help an ECONOMY, industry, or government so that
: it can continue to exist, especially by giving money
prop yourself up to hold your body up by leaning against something

prop yourself up on/against/with
.She propped herself up on one elbow

. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal verbs

Prop something up / nod off / knuckle down / leak out / occur to someone / pass somebody over

.N1. The government introduced measures to …………… the stock market
?N2. I suppose it didn’t …………… you to phone the police
.N3. No sooner had the news …………… than my telephone started ringing
.N4. He is clearly ready to …………… to the task
.N5. This is the second time I’ve been …………… for promotion
…………… N6. I missed the movie because I kept

:Answers

N1. prop up
N2. occur to
N3. leaked out
N4. knuckle down
N5. passed over
N6. nodding off