Fill in the blanks. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of phrasal verbs.
1. Cut ……………………………… on your calorie intake if you want to lose weight.
Correct!
Wrong!
To cut down is to reduce.
2. Although I was an eligible candidate, my application was …………………………………
Correct!
Wrong!
To turn down is to reject.
3. Those who are leading highly stressful lives need to ……………………………… a bit.
Correct!
Wrong!
4. He was a bad boss who always talked ………………………………. to his subordinates.
Correct!
Wrong!
To talk down is to make someone feel less important.
5. Whenever I stay at home, I make it a point to dress ……………………………..
Correct!
Wrong!
To dress down is to wear very casual or everyday clothing.
6. The police are cracking …………………………… on drug dealers.
Correct!
Wrong!
To crack down is to take disciplinary action.
7. Although I had invited him to my party, he didn’t show ………………………………….
Correct!
Wrong!
To show up is to arrive.
8. Be careful when you charge the battery. It might blow …………………………….
Correct!
Wrong!
To blow up is to explode.
9. He turned ……………………………. a new leaf and stopped drinking and smoking.
Correct!
Wrong!
To turn over a new leaf is to improve.
10. He pretended to be a casting director and she was taken …………………………..
Correct!
Wrong!
To take somebody in is to deceive them.
11. Women make ……………………………… roughly 50% of the world population.
Correct!
Wrong!
12. I ended ………………………………. paying through the nose.
Correct!
Wrong!
Answers
- Cut down on your calorie intake if you want to lose weight.
- Although I was an eligible candidate, my application was turned down.
- Those who are leading highly stressful lives need to slow down a bit.
- He was a bad boss who always talked down to his subordinates.
- Whenever I stay at home, I make it a point to dress down.
- The police are cracking down on drug dealers.
- Although I had invited him to my party, he didn’t show up.
- Be careful when you charge the battery. It might blow up.
- He turned over a new leaf and stopped drinking and smoking.
- He pretended to be a casting director and she was taken in.
- Women make up roughly 50% of the world population.
- I ended up paying through the nose.
- I ended up paying a lot more than I expected to.
- Women make up 60 percent of the total staff.
