Fill in the blanks with an appropriate phrasal verb.
1. They held a press conference last week to ……………………….. support for their proposal.
To drum up support is to gain support.
2. The deal ………………………. at the last minute for reasons that were not clear.
If a deal falls through, it fails and it is abandoned.
3. He .............................. the channels hoping to find something interesting.
Please select 2 correct answers
To flip through is to change from one channel to another. Flick through has the same meaning.
4. It is not uncommon for people to ………………………… alternative medicine when modern drugs don’t work.
When you fall back on something/somebody you turn to it/them when you are in difficulty.
5. The word .......................... that she was having an affair with her boss.
When news gets around, it spreads.
6. He is not a bright student and he doesn’t do well in his tests. He just manages to ........................
To get by is to live on very little money, or to manage to do something with difficulty.
7. The meat smells awful. It must have .............................
If meat goes off, it is not good anymore.
8. Legal battles are slow and expensive. In many cases, the appeals process ………………………….. for years.
If something drags on, it lasts longer than necessary.
9. She was tired and ....................... while watching TV
Please select 2 correct answers
To drop off is to fall asleep. Doze off has the same meaning.
10. Human rights activists have been asking the government to ............................. the death penalty.
To do away with something is to abolish it.
11. I think it was the lack of sleep more than the drinks that really …………………………..
When something does you in, it makes you tired.
12. His marriage ………………………….. when his wife discovered that he had been cheating on her.
When things fall apart, they disintegrate or break into pieces. When relationships fall apart, they fail to work.
Answers
1. They held a press conference last week to drum up support for their proposal.
2. The deal fell through at the last minute for reasons that were not clear.
3. He flicked through / flipped through the channels hoping to find something interesting.
4. It is not uncommon for people to fall back on alternative medicine when modern drugs don’t work.
5. The word got around that she was having an affair with her boss.
6. He is not a bright student and he doesn’t do well in his tests. He just manages to get by.
7. The meat smells awful. It must have gone off.
8. Legal battles are slow and expensive. In many cases, the appeals process drags on for years.
9. She was tired and dozed off / dozed down while watching TV.
10. Human rights activists have been asking the government to do away with the death penalty.
11. I think it was the lack of sleep more than the drinks that really did me in.
12. His marriage fell apart when his wife discovered that he had been cheating on her.
