Synopsis
Learn a phrasal verb every day with this series of short podcasts by Luke Thompson from Luke’s English Podcast. Each episode contains definitions, explanations and improvised examples of each phrase to help you understand and remember these complex but important parts of the English language! Transcripts are available at http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/
Episodes
-
#120 - TO PHASE IN/OUT
28/09/2015 Duration: 04minphase in = to gradually start using something phase out = to gradually stop using something Listen to the episode for examples. Donate to Luke at www.teacherluke.co.uk
-
#119 - TO PETER OUT
28/09/2015 Duration: 02minTo slowly get weaker or softer and then to disappear/end completely. E.g. "The music just petered out as the band stopped playing" "We followed the path through the forest but eventually it just petered out." "I can't talk to Jeff about anything. Our conversation always just peters out, unless we're talking about biscuits." Transcript here http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/119-to-peter-out/
-
#118 - TO PERK UP
25/09/2015 Duration: 02min1. to become more lively, happy and energetic 2. something perks something/someone up = it makes it more lively or exciting. More details and transcripts at www.teacherluke.co.uk
-
#117 - TO PENCIL IN
25/09/2015 Duration: 02min1. To arrange an appointment, meeting or date in a diary, but it's not a fixed plan - it might change later. Transcript here http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/117-to-pencil-in/
-
#116 - TO PAY OFF
25/09/2015 Duration: 04min1. to get the benefit of something later 2. to repay a loan or debt 3. to bribe someone to do something bad 4. to bribe someone to keep a secret Transcript here http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/116-to-pay-off/
-
#115 - TO PASS OUT
16/06/2015 Duration: 01min1. To hand something out to everybody. To give something to everybody in a place. E.g. "all the students were silent as the exam papers were passed out" 2. To become unconscious, to faint. "She passed out due to heat exhaustion" More info at teacherluke.co.uk/Phrasal-verb-a-day
-
#114 - TO PASS AWAY
12/06/2015 Duration: 02min= to die (but it is a slightly less upsetting word than 'die') E.g. "Actor Christopher Lee passed away yesterday after suffering from heart failure".
-
#113 - TO PAN OUT
03/06/2015 Duration: 04min= when a situation develops in a certain way "We're not sure how this is going to pan out" Or "It didn't pan out as we expected" For more details visit teacherluke.co.uk
-
#112 - TO PAIR OFF
28/05/2015 Duration: 02min1. When two people get together and start a romantic or sexual relationship. (We usually use this to talk about other people's behaviour, not our own). E.g. "I'm in my 30s now and all my friends seem to be pairing off and getting married, but I'm still single" -to pair off 2. -to pair someone off with someone = to try and make two people start having a romantic or sexual relationship together. "I think your wife is trying to pair me off with her friend". More info at http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/112-to-pair-off/
-
#111 - TO PALM OFF
27/05/2015 Duration: 06minThis means to get rid of something that you don't want any more by giving it to someone else, while being dishonest about it. E.g. "I can't believe they palmed off that broken Nintendo on me!" (They sold me the Nintendo, giving me the impression that it was a bargain and a good thing to buy, but they were just trying to get rid of it because it was broken). For a transcript (soon) check this page on my website http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/111-to-palm-off/
-
#110 - TO PAD OUT
27/05/2015 Duration: 05minThis has several meanings, one of them literal and the other one quite idiomatic. 1. To fill some clothing with soft material (padding) to make it thicker, warmer or protective. "This coat is really warm after I padded it out with an extra layer of wool." or "If the shoulders aren't the right shape we can pad them out a bit." 2. To fill some work (e.g. a piece of writing, radio, TV, a film) with unnecessary information in order to make it longer. "The student clearly had nothing to say in her essay so she just padded it out with irrelevant statistics" Leave comments and read transcriptions at http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/110-to-pad-out/
-
#109 - TO PACK UP
27/05/2015 Duration: 05minThis one is a bit similar to 'pack in' but not exactly the same. 1. to put things into a bag or box in order to then take or send them somewhere. E.g. "The workmen packed up their equipment and went home". 2. When equipment stops working. E.g. "Our dishwasher has packed up again. We're going to need to ask someone to come and fix it." 3. To stop doing something, to quit. E.g. "I think I'm going to pack up my job and go travelling." (this is quite similar to 'pack in') Transcript coming soon at http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/109-to-pack-up/
-
#108 - TO PACK IN
26/05/2015 Duration: 05min= to squeeze lots of things into something else E.g. To get lots of audience members into your theatre because your show is popular, or to pack lots of kids into a classroom. = to stop doing something, give up E.g. "I'm going to pack in my job and travel around the world" Also- "oh pack it in!" = stop doing that because it's really annoying! Transcript coming soon at teacherluke.co.uk here http://wp.me/P4IuUx-3Yb
-
#107 - TO OWN UP
25/05/2015 Duration: 08min= to confess, to admit to doing something bad or embarrassing To own up TO something E.g. "Jeff owned up to stealing the biscuits" "You have to own up to the mistakes you've made. Don't hide them. Own up to them, and move on" Transcript coming soon here: http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/107-to-own-up/
-
#106 - TO OWE TO
24/05/2015 Duration: 06minListen to the episode for the definitions and examples. Transcript coming soon here http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/106-to-owe-to/
-
#105 - TO BE OVERCOME WITH
22/05/2015 Duration: 08minThis is usually passive (with the verb 'be' and a past participle - 'overcome') and basically it means to to be full of emotion, or to feel very strong emotions, like grief, curiosity, fear, sadness, regret, remorse or joy. For more information click here
-
#104 - TO OPT OUT
04/03/2015 Duration: 07min= to choose not to be involved, or to choose to stop being involved in something. opt + out (+ of) "The UK might opt out of the new EU agreement" "More and more schools are choosing to opt out of the national curriculum"
-
#103 - TO OPT IN
04/03/2015 Duration: 06min= to choose to be involved in something "We're setting up a new space project which involves a trip to Mars. If you have #2,000,000,000 you can opt in, if you want". Also: Opt into "By opting into this program, you agree never to return to earth again" http://wp.me/P4IuUx-2TM
-
#102 - TO OPT FOR
04/03/2015 Duration: 02min= to choose opt + for + noun "North Korea may opt for long range missiles in response to what it believes to be increasing provocation from South Korean military exercises" http://wp.me/P4IuUx-2TI
-
#101 - TO OPEN UP
12/02/2015 Duration: 14minThis is an extra-long episode of APVAD because this phrasal verb has quite a lot of different meanings. Here are 10 definitions, with examples, of this commonly occurring phrasal verb. Use "A Phrasal Verb A Day" to really enrich your vocabulary. Tell you friends and share the knowledge. Click here for a transcript (soon) and loads more information: http://teacherluke.co.uk/phrasal-verb-a-day/101-to-open-up/