1000 Phrasal Verbs In Context

1000 Phrasal Verbs In Context © Matt Errey 2007

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1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context PQ pq (3/10)

pay out
If you win the lottery, you mightn’t get all the money at once. They
might pay it out in installments over several years.

pay sth out

pay out sth

Insurance companies had
to pay out millions after
the hurricane struck.

✍ ^

pay up
We used to sell our products on credit, but we often had to wait too long
for customers to pay up, so now we require payment in advance.

pay up

Our insurance company
always questions our
claims before paying up.

✍  see also:^ settle up^

perk up
Jules was really quiet at the party until Jamal got there, and then she
perked up and started to have fun. I think she likes him.

perk up

perk sb/sth up

The share market was
quiet last month, but it’s
perking up again now.

✍  see also: liven up

phase in

We’re phasing in a new dress code. From now on it’ll be casual clothes

on Fridays, but eventually it’ll be casual clothes every day.

phase in sth

phase sth in

The government will

phase the new taxes in

over the next two years.

✍  see also: bring in

phase out
It’s about time the old dress code was phased out. Most other
companies already allow their staff to wear casual clothes if they like.

phase out sth

phase sth out

We’ll phase the old bonus
system out over the next
couple of years.

✍  see also:^ do away with^

pick on
My son says the older boys pick on him at school. They tease him and
try to make him look weak in front of the other kids.

pick on sb

Joe sounds childish when
he says things like ‘The
boss always picks on me.’

✍ ^

pick out
Have a look at the colour chart and let me know which one you’d pick
out for the kitchen.

pick out sth/sb

pick sth/sb out

There were many shirts to
choose from and it took
him ages to pick one out.

✍  see also:^ decide on, go for^

pick out
I looked for him in the crowd, but it was getting dark and I couldn’t
pick him out.

pick out sb/sth

pick sb/sth out

We need a strong logo
that’s easy to pick out
among many other logos.

✍ 

pick up
I hurt my back when I picked up a heavy sofa and put it in the back of
my truck. Now I can barely walk.

pick sth/sb up

pick up sth/sb

If you pick a baby up,
make sure you support its
head.

✍  see also: lift up

pick up
Let me know what time your train gets in and I’ll pick you up from the
station and drive you home.

pick sb/sth up

pick up sb/sth

Don’t forget to send
someone to the post office
to pick up that package.

✍ ^