To soup up something (or soup something up) is to change something, especially an engine or car, to make it more powerful; or to make something more interesting, attractive or appealing. If something is souped-up (adjective) it has been made more powerful or more attractive. Informal English.   Example sentences: 1. He’s driving round in […]

An introduction to English phrasal verbs   Here’s a slideshow I made to explain some aspects of English phrasal verbs. I hope it’s useful 🙂   What are phrasal verbs? from Angela Boothroyd      

To bend over backwards is to make a special effort for someone or something. Informal English.   Example sentences 1. She bent over backwards to give the children a good Christmas. 2. We bent over backwards to help him when he lost his job. 3. He bent over backwards for his son, but never had […]

To witter on is to talk in a long-winded* way about things that are not very important. This expression is informal British/UK English.   Pronunciation of ‘witter’:  /ˈwɪtə(r)/   *long-winded (adjective) – using too many words or tediously long   Example sentences: 1. I wish you would stop wittering on while I’m trying to work! […]

To settle up is to pay someone money that you owe them. This phrasal verb is often followed by ‘with’.   Examples of use: 1. Can I settle up when I get paid? 2. You go and wait for the taxi and I’ll settle up with the waiter. 3. He owes us £50 for the […]

  To put across something (or put something across) is to explain or express something clearly and effectively so that people can understand it easily.   Examples of use: 1. I find it difficult to put across my ideas during meetings at work. 2. Our English teacher always puts things across well. 3. The politician […]

  To mull over something (or mull something over) is to think very carefully about something over a period of time – usually before making a decision.   British/UK English pronunciation: mull over /ˈmʌl ˈoʊ·vər/   Examples of use: 1. We need time to mull things over before we decide how to move forward with […]

Using phrasal verbs (multi-word verbs) in your informal speech makes it sound more natural and more accomplished. They are also common in written English and in some formal English. Here are 50 of the most frequently used phrasal verbs, with lots of examples showing you how they’re used in everyday life. 50 common English phrasal […]