1000 Phrasal Verbs In Context

1000 Phrasal Verbs In Context © Matt Errey 2007

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1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context C c (11/13)

could do
with

My house could do with a new paint job. It’s looking dull and a bit

dirty.

could do with sth

Neil’s been working too
hard. He could do with a
long, relaxing holiday.

✍ ^

couldn’t
ask for

We won the game by six goals to one. We couldn’t have asked for a

better result.

couldn’t ask for sth

I couldn’t have asked for a
better birthday. All my
friends and family came.

✍ ^

count down
We counted the seconds down to midnight, and then everyone called
out ‘Happy New Year!’

count down
count sth down
count down sth
After counting down from
100 to 1, they launched the
rocket.

✍ 

count in

If you’re going out dancing tonight, you can count me in. I’d love to go

along.

count sb in

Salima said to count her

in if we’re booking a table

for dinner.

✍ 

count on
You can count on John. He’s very reliable, so if he says he’ll have it done
on time, it’ll definitely be done on time.

count on sb/sth

I can count on my family
and close friends to be
there if I need help.

✍  see also:^ bank on,

depend on, rely on

count out
If you’re going to the pub, count me out. I’d like to come along but I
promised my wife I’d go straight home tonight.

count sb out

Bob said to count him out
if we’re booking a table
for dinner. He’s too busy.

✍ ^

cover up
The president’s party covered up the fact that he’d been treated for
addiction to drugs and alcohol, and most people never found out.

cover up sth

cover sth up

Governments try to cover
up mistakes or corruption
any way they can.

✍ ^

crack down
Don’t drink before you drive. The police are cracking down on drunk
drivers and you could end up in jail.

crack down

crack down on sth

Politicians often promise
to crack down on
corruption, but few do.

✍  see also:^ clamp down^

crack up
(informal)

He cracked up after losing all his savings on the stock exchange, and

tried to kill himself.

crack up

She cracked up due to
stress from work and
ended up in hospital.

✍ 

crack up
(informal)

We all cracked up when Sally started acting and speaking like our boss.

We couldn’t stop laughing.

crack up

The audience cracked up
whenever the comedian
told a funny joke.

✍ ^