B2 Phrasal verbs for work - created from Mind Map

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PHRASAL VERBS FOR WORK - Serena's blog

Here you will find a brief description of the meaning of the phrasal verb

FOR

CARE FOR

To pay attention to something and look after it.

She cares for the elderly.

LOOK FOR

to hope for something; to expect something

We will be looking for an improvement in the employment rates this season.

PROVIDE FOR

provide for somebody

to give somebody the things that they need to live, such as food, money and clothing.

She has three children to provide for.

provide for something (formal)

to make preparations to deal with something that might happen in the future

The company failed to provide a suitable service to its clients.

COVER FOR

1. cover for somebody to do somebody’s work or duties while they are away.

I'm covering for Jenny while she's on holiday.

2. [intransitive] cover for somebody to invent a lie or an excuse that will stop somebody from getting into trouble.

I have to go out for a minute—will you cover for me if anyone asks where I am?

SIT IN FOR

to do somebody’s job or perform their duties while they are away, sick, etc.

INVOLVE (somebody) IN

to make somebody experience something, especially something unpleasant.

You have involved me in a great deal of problems.

ENGAGE IN

to take part in something.

She got involved in the organisation of the community's events.

CONSIST IN

consist in doing something

used to explain what forms the main part of a job

My job mainly consist in checking the system.

DEAL IN

to buy and sell a particular product

The company deals in computer software.

FIT IN

to become a part of an environment or system

I don't think I fit in with the people at work.

SEND IN

send somebody in

to order somebody to go to a place to deal with a situation.

Sarah, can you please send Tom in? We'll need to solve this problem before the lunch break.

send somethingˈin

to send something by post/mail to a place where it will be dealt with.

Have you sent in your application yet?

FILL IN

to complete a form with information.

Please fill in the application form.

DEAL WITH

to take appropriate action in a particular situation or according to who you are talking to, managing, etc.

SYNONYM handle

My sister is used to dealing with all kinds of people in her job.

CATCH UP WITH

to reach the same level or standard as somebody who was better or more advanced.

After missing classes he had to work hard to catch up with the other students.

FALL BEHIND WITH SOMETHING

(also ˌfall beˈhind on something especially in North American English)

to not pay or do something at the right time

They had fallen behind on their mortgage repayments.

The company has fallen behind with deliveries again.

MEET WITH

to come together with somebody

COME UP WITH

to produce an idea or a solution to a problem

Sally finally came up with an idea for the recruitment plan.

RELY ON

synonym: depend on

Many families in Majorca rely on the summer season for work.

STAY ON

to continue working for a company.

We hope he will stay on as manager at the end of his contract.

DEPEND ON

Synonym rely on

to need something in order to do well.

Children rely on their parent's common sense.

KEEP ON

to continue doing something

KEEP SOMEBODY ON

to continue to employ somebody

We've decided to keep John on. He's a really reliable person.

TAKE ON

to hire somebody for a job

IN CHARGE OF

to be responsible for a certain task

My sister is in charge of the sales department.

GIVE UP

to stop trying to do something.

I give up! This machine will not start. I've tried umpteen times.

SET UP

to start a business

I plan to set up my own business by the end of the year.

START UP

to start a business

My father started up the company when he was made redundant.

PACK UP

to stop working

Let's pack up at three. I'm exhausted and we all need a rest.

WRITE UP

to record something in writing in a full and complete form, often using notes that you made earlier to write up your notes/the minutes of a meeting

MOVE UP

to go or promote to a higher position in a company.

Peter soon moved up to a senior position.

LOCK UP

to close a place

Let's lock up and leave. See you next Monday.

TAKE UP

to start a new activity, especially a hobby or a sport.

He took up building huge Lego structures some years ago and surprisingly got a job with them.

CALL UP

to make a call by phone

SIGN UP

ˌsign ˈup (for something)

to arrange to do a course of study by adding your name to the list of people doing it.

ˌsign ˈup to something

1 (British English) to commit yourself to a project or course of action, especially one that you have agreed with a group of other people, countries or organizations.

How many countries have signed up to the protocol on climate change?

2 sign up to do something to agree to take part in something.

We have about 100 volunteers signed up to help so far.

HEAR FROM

to receive news from somebody or a group of people

It's been ages since we last heard from Midannto.

GO OVER

to check information carefully.

We went over the invoice three times and it isn't correct.

TAKE OVER

ˌtake ˈover (from somebody) | ˌtake somethingˈover (from somebody)

1 to begin to have control of or responsibility for something, especially in place of somebody else.

2 to gain control of a political party, a country or a company.

Many staff members were made redundant when the company was taken over.

PUT OFF

to cancel an event

The meeting was put off until the following Monday.

LAY OFF

lay somebody off

to stop employing somebody because there is not enough work for them to do

SYNONYM redundant

125 workers at the factory have been laid off.

KNOCK OFF

to stop doing something, especially work

Do you want to knock off early today?

FILL OUT

to complete a form with information

SEND OUT

to send a letter or information by email or mail.

KICK OUT

to stop employing somebody, especially because they have done something wrong or the company they worked for does not want to employ them.

synonym: to give the sack

Jones was kicked out of the company after they discovered he'd been taking money from the till.