British English listening Speaking Practice Shadowing Learn English Sound British

Today, you're going to improve both your English listening and speaking skills, as well as practice everyday phrasal verbs, like these, which are used all the time by native speakers but are so difficult to learn. Here's how it works. I'm going to say the phrasal verb and its meaning, then I'll use it in the sort of English sentence that you hear every day in the UK. All you have to do is listen and repeat, copying the pronunciation as closely as you can. Help us arrows on the screen to show you whether your voice should go up or down. By the end, you'll be surprised at how natural you sound. Hi, I'm Steve, let's do this. Work through. To deal with something, step by step. Did he work through the list before lunch? Carry off. To succeed in doing something difficult. She carried off the performance with confidence. Face up to. To accept something difficult. I faced up to it in the end. Zoom in. To focus closely on something. She zoomed in to read the tiny print. Come along. To improve or develop. Is the project coming along as planned? Pick out. To choose something. I picked out a new mug for the kitchen. Bring in. To introduce something new. Did they bring in a new rule last week? Cut back. To reduce something. She cut back on snacks last month. Stick to. To continue doing something without changing. Do they stick to the plan on weekends? Drop by. To visit someone briefly. She dropped by to see her aunt. Go over. To review something. Did he go over his notes before the meeting? Turn back. To return to where you came from. We turned back when it got dark. Work out. To understand something. Did she work out the meaning quickly? Come across. To find something by chance. I came across an old photo in a drawer. Break into. To begin doing something suddenly. Did she break into laughter at the joke? Cut out. To remove something completely. He cut out busy drinks for a while. Bring up. To mention a topic. Did she bring up the idea during lunch? Drop off. To fall asleep. I dropped off during the film. Think over. To consider something carefully. Did she think over the offer overnight? Look into. To investigate something. She looked into the issue and found the cause. Pass on. To give something to someone. Did he pass on the message straight away? Turn around. To change direction. She turned around when she heard her name. Take in. To understand something. Did he take in the information slowly? Call back. To return a phone call. I called back when I was free. Move on. To stop focusing on something. Did they move on from their mistake quickly? Turn out. To result in a particular way. It turned out better than expected. Hold back. To stop yourself from doing something. Did she hold back from crying? Go off. To stop liking something. He went off that program after a few episodes. Keep up. To continue at the same level. Can she keep up with the group easily? Point out. To show or mention something. She pointed out the error to him. Get around to. To finally do something. Did he get around to cleaning the cupboard? Put aside. To save something for later. I put aside a bit of money for the trip. Look back. To think about the past. Did he look back at his childhood fondly? Stand out. To be noticeable. She stood out in the crowd. Think up. To invent something. Did he think up a new activity for the group? Take after. To resemble someone. She takes after her dad. Settle down. To become calm. Did he settle down after the noise stopped? Pass out. To faint. She passed out in the heat. Show up. To appear somewhere. Did he show up earlier than expected? Hang on. To wait a moment. I hung on while he checked the details. Put up with. To tolerate something. Did he put up with the drilling all morning? Run out. To have none left. We ran out of bread. Look out. To be careful. Did she look out for cyclists? Get by. To manage with what you have. He got by on very little money. Call off. To cancel something. Did they call off the picnic because of the rain? Stand by. To support someone. She stood by her friend during the problem. Cut in. To interrupt someone. Did he cut in while she was speaking? Drop out. To stop taking part. She dropped out of the course. Go ahead. To start something. Did he go ahead and book the room? Check in. To register your arrival. We checked in at the hotel. Check out. To leave a hotel. Did he check out before breakfast? Come round. To visit someone. She came round to see how he was. Lay off. To stop employing someone. Did they lay off several staff? Look up. To admire someone. He looked up to his coach. Give away. To reveal something. Did she give away the secret? Pick up. To learn something without much effort. I picked up the accent quickly. Get along. To have a good relationship. Do they get along well? Bring in. To introduce something new. They brought in a new timetable. Take up. To start a new activity. Did she take up yoga last year? Turn up. To arrive somewhere. He turned up late because of traffic. Look for. To try and find something. Did she look for her glasses everywhere? Put on. To dress yourself in something. I put on my jumper. Take off. To remove something you're wearing. Did she take off her hat indoors? Wake up. To stop sleeping. He woke up before his alarm. Calm down. To become less upset. Did she calm down after a short walk? Give in. To finally agree to something. He gave in and let her choose the film. Get over. To recover from something. Did she get over her cold quickly? Carry on. To continue doing something. I carried on working until six. Break off. To stop doing something suddenly. Did he break off his speech when the noise started? Set off. To begin a journey. Did they set off before sunrise? Turn on. To start a machine working. She turned on the kettle. Turn off. To stop a machine working. Did he turn off the lights? Watch out. To be alert. I watched out for loose stones. Write down. To record something. Did he write down the instructions? Sort out. To organize something. She sorted out her paperwork. Pulled on. To wait for a short time. Did he hold on while she checked the list? Make out. To see or hear something clearly. I couldn't make out the number. Grow up. To become an adult. Did he grow up near the coast? Set up. To arrange something. She set up the chairs for the meeting. Pick up. To lift something from a surface. Did he pick up the pen from the floor? Think over. To consider something carefully. I thought over the suggestion. Go off. To stop liking something. Did he go off that band last year? Run into. To meet someone unexpectedly. She ran into an old neighbour. Work on. To try and improve something. Did he work on his pronunciation? Wind down. To relax after activity. I wound down with a warm drink. Bring up. To mention a topic. Did he bring up the idea again? Come up. To be mentioned or appear. The issue came up during the call. Do without. To manage despite not having something. Did she do without her laptop all day? Put off. To delay something. He put off the cleaning until later. Think over. To consider something carefully. Did she think over the plan once more? Now you've learnt all those phrasal verbs and you know how to say them correctly, watch this video and there you'll be able to see them being used in a conversation. Give it a click and I'll see you there.