Advanced Phrasal Verbs (Multi-Word Verbs and Idiomatic Usage)

What are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are idiomatic phrases made up of a verb and another element, such as a preposition or an adverb. The meaning of the phrasal verb is often very different from the meaning of its individual parts.

At an advanced level, phrasal verbs are common in both informal and formal contexts, and they add nuance and sophistication to your language.

The company had to call off the meeting due to the storm. (call off = cancel)
She came up with a brilliant idea for the new campaign. (came up with = created/invented)

1. Common Advanced Phrasal Verbs

Here are some common phrasal verbs used in professional and academic settings.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
To factor in	To consider or include something in a decision or calculation	We need to factor in the cost of travel when planning the budget.
To ramp up	To increase the speed, power, or cost of something	The company is ramping up production to meet demand.
To iron out	To resolve small problems or details	We need to iron out a few issues before we launch the product.
To fall through	To fail to happen	Our plans to travel fell through at the last minute.

2. Phrasal Verbs in Different Contexts

The same phrasal verb can have different meanings depending on the context.

To take on:
- To accept a challenge or responsibility: She decided to take on the role of project manager.
- To hire an employee: We are taking on five new interns this summer.
- To compete against someone: The team will take on their rivals this weekend.
To put forward:
- To propose or suggest an idea: He put forward a new plan to increase sales.
- To change the time of something so it happens earlier: The meeting has been put forward to 10 am.

3. Three-Part Phrasal Verbs

Some phrasal verbs consist of three parts: a verb, an adverb, and a preposition. These are almost always inseparable.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
To come up against	To face a difficult problem or opponent	We came up against a lot of opposition to our proposal.
To get away with	To do something wrong without being punished	He cheated on the exam and got away with it.
To look down on	To think that you are better than someone	She looks down on people who are not as educated as she is.
To stand up for	To defend or support a particular idea or person	You need to stand up for what you believe in.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

✗ Incorrect	✓ Correct	Why
We need to discuss about the plan.	We need to talk over the plan.	Discuss is a transitive verb. Talk over is a phrasal verb that means to discuss.
I'll look for the information and call you back.	I'll look up the information and call you back.	Look for means to search for a lost item. Look up means to find information in a book or on a computer.
She's looking after her keys.	She's looking for her keys.	Look after means to take care of someone or something. Look for means to try to find something.

Summary

Category	Example Phrasal Verbs
Business	To weigh up, to draw up, to set up, to buy out
Academic	To carry out, to point out, to put forward, to sum up
Social	To catch up, to fall out, to get on with, to meet up

💡 The key takeaway: Learning phrasal verbs in context is the most effective way to remember them. Pay attention to how native speakers use them in movies, books, and conversations.