Unit 10: I can describe physical actions
This unit focuses on phrasal verbs that describe physical actions and their figurative meanings. Key items include: roll sth up, deal sth out, stick your tongue out, zip sth up, double up in pain, take sth up, let sth down, prop sth up, screw sth up, curl up, mop sth up, chuck sth away/out, spread sth out, roll your sleeves up, stick it out, shore sth up, and hand sth out. Many of these verbs can describe both literal actions and abstract situations.
Advanced note: the particle often changes meaning. “Up” may suggest completion (mop up), support (prop up), reduction in length (take up trousers), or preparation (roll sleeves up). Context is essential.
Exercises
- roll your sleeves up
- stick it out
- prop up
- screw up
- mop up
- deal out
- curl up
- take up
- _____ the milk on the floor.
- _____ the cards to the players.
- _____ your jacket before leaving.
- _____ the note and throw it away.
- _____ the industry with government money.
- _____ the rug for storage.
- _____ the photos on the table.
- _____ the project until December.
- roll your sleeves up
- prop up the company
- take up a post
- curl up with embarrassment
- mop up details
- deal out penalties
- screw up an exam
- stick your tongue out
- Zip up it.
- She spread out them.
- He screwed the exam up badlyly.
- I curled up with happy.
- Deal the cards out to everyone.
- They propped up it.
- Roll up your sleeve.
- I sticked it out.
- support → use prop up
- continue until the end → use stick out
- start a new responsibility → use take up
- give punishments → use deal out
- finish final details → use mop up
- make shorter → use take up
- throw away → use chuck out
- be very embarrassed → use curl up
- roll up
- zip up
- double up
- spread out
- screw up
- prop up
- mop up
- hand out
Further Practice
Focus on distinguishing physical and figurative uses. Remember that some verbs have close synonyms: prop up = shore up; deal out = hand out in some contexts; double up = double over.
- Let down can mean shorten clothing.
- Spread out means discard.
- Double over may describe pain.
- Mop up can mean finish details.
- Screw-up is a noun.
- Take up can mean start a job.
- Zip up means open completely.
- Chuck out means throw away.
- support a weak business
- continue despite difficulty
- close a jacket
- throw away rubbish
- prepare for hard work
- distribute cards
- arrange across a surface
- ruin a plan
- The child _____ his tongue out.
- Please _____ the map out.
- She _____ up on the sofa.
- They _____ up the fence.
- We must _____ up the details.
- He _____ up in pain.
- Don’t _____ up the interview.
- I’ll _____ up the trousers.
- shore up = ?
- hand out = ?
- double over = ?
- throw away = ?
- continue = ?
- start a post = ?
- close securely = ?
- finish remaining tasks = ?
- zip up
- chuck out
- spread out
- roll up
- deal out
- take up
- stick out
- mop up
- roll up sleeves
- take up a job
- curl up on a sofa
- curl up with embarrassment
- prop up a tree
- prop up an industry
- mop up milk
- mop up details
Extension and Review
Use the target vocabulary accurately in realistic situations. Pay attention to object position in separable phrasal verbs (e.g. screw it up, zip it up, spread them out).
- support the company
- continue until the end
- ruin the presentation
- throw the packet away
- start a new position
- close the coat
- finish remaining tasks
- distribute punishments
- _____ your sleeves up
- _____ your tongue out
- _____ the cards out
- _____ up in pain
- _____ the milk up
- _____ the map out
- _____ the note up
- _____ the jacket up
- When might you curl up?
- Why take up trousers?
- Why prop up a tree?
- Who deals out cards?
- What can be spread out?
- Why mop up details?
- What causes doubling up in pain?
- When do people roll sleeves up?
- zip up / close / fasten / spill
- prop up / support / shore up / abandon
- chuck out / discard / keep / throw away
- screw up / ruin / spoil / improve
- deal out / distribute / hand out / hide
- curl up / crouch / settle / scatter
- roll up / coil / wrap / flatten
- mop up / clean / wipe / create
- We need to _____ before signing.
- She managed to _____ despite problems.
- Please _____ these leaflets.
- He _____ when the singer called his name.
- Don’t _____ this opportunity.
- The child _____ at his sister.
- I _____ the blanket and stored it.
- The state tried to _____ the sector.
- Use roll up.
- Use deal out.
- Use take up.
- Use prop up.
- Use screw-up.
- Use curl up.
- Use mop up.
- Use chuck out.