Fill in the blanks. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of phrasal verbs.
1Cut ............... on your calorie intake if you want to lose weight.
Wrong!
To cut down is to reduce.
2Although I was an eligible candidate, my application was ...............
Wrong!
To turn down is to reject.
3Those who are leading highly stressful lives need to ............... a bit.
Wrong!
4He was a bad boss who always talked ............... to his subordinates.
Wrong!
To talk down is to make someone feel less important.
5Whenever I stay at home, I make it a point to dress ...............
Wrong!
To dress down is to wear very casual or everyday clothing.
6The police are cracking ............... on drug dealers.
Wrong!
To crack down is to take disciplinary action.
7Although I had invited him to my party, he didn’t show ...............
Wrong!
To show up is to arrive.
8Be careful when you charge the battery. It might blow ...............
Wrong!
To blow up is to explode.
9He turned ............... a new leaf and stopped drinking and smoking.
Wrong!
To turn over a new leaf is to improve.
10He pretended to be a casting director and she was taken ...............
Wrong!
To take somebody in is to deceive them.
11Women make ............... roughly 50% of the world population.
Wrong!
12I ended ............... paying through the nose.
Wrong!
Done.
Score: 0/12
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.

