Phrasal Verbs Practice – 77

predispose to make someone more likely to suffer from a particular health problem predispose somebody to something .Diabetes predisposes patients to infections to make someone more likely to behave or think in a particular way predispose somebody to something .Parents who smoke predispose children to smoking predisposed adjective genetically predisposed to gain weight

plough something back to use money that you have earned from a business to make the business bigger and more successful plough something back into .Companies can plough back their profits into new equipment

play along to pretend to agree to do what someone wants, in order to avoid annoying them or to get an advantage .She felt she had to play along or risk losing her job play somebody along .to tell someone something that is not true because you need their help in some way

perk up to become more cheerful, active, and interested in what is happening around you, or to make someone feel this way .She seemed kind of tired, but she perked up when Helen came over perk somebody up .There’s no doubt coffee perks you up to become more active, more interesting, more attractive etc, or to make something do this perk something up .A little chili will perk up the sauce

patch something/somebody up :to end an argument because you want to stay friendly with someone .Try to patch up your differences before he leaves (patch it/things up (with somebody .He went back to patch things up with his wife :to repair a hole in something by putting a piece of something else over it .We’ll have to patch up the hole in the roof :to give quick and basic medical treatment to someone who is hurt .We patched up the wounded as best we could

pass on someone or something .to accept or approve someone or something She refused to pass on Ted, so he will not be appointed. The committee passed on the proposal, so work can now begin

pore over something :to read or look at something very carefully for a long time .She was poring over a book

peter out :to gradually become smaller, less, weaker etc and then come to an end .The road became narrower and eventually petered out .Public interest in the environment is in danger of petering out

peal : also peal out) if bells peal, they ring loudly) .The bells pealed out on Christmas Day

. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal verbs

peter out / pore over something / pass on someone or something / patch something / somebody up / perk up / play along / plough something back / predispose / peal out

.N1. Diabetes ……………. patients to infections .N2. Companies can ……………. their profits into new equipment .N3. Try to ……………. your differences before he leaves .N4. She seemed kind of tired, but she ……………. when Helen came over .N5. She refused to ……………. Ted, so he will not be appointed .N6. She felt she had to ……………. or risk losing her job .N7. She was ……………. a book ……………. N8. The road became narrower and eventually .N9. The bells ……………. on Christmas Day

:Answers

Predisposes / plough back / patch up / perked up / pass on / play along / poring over / petered out / pealed out