Phrasal Verbs

run out 0

run out: meaning and explanation

to run out of something= to use something up/finish something, meaning that there is none remaining

This phrasal verb can be used both with physical things (e.g. food) as well as more abstract things (e.g. time, patience, money, energy).

It is common to use the phrasal verb in the present perfect in order to focus on a present result, e.g. We have run out of milk = we need to go and buy some/I can’t make a cup of tea.

The phrasal verb can also be used in the continuous, to communicate the idea that something is close to being gone/used up, e.g. We’re running out of sugar – can you add it to the shopping list?

Have a go at this dictation exercise to hear this phrasal verb being used in context – how much can you understand?

Dictation #1

Accent: Scotland

Medium

the exam went , but I time couldn't finish .

Easy

On the the exam went pretty , but I out of time couldn't finish the question.

About the sentence

…On the whole, the exam went pretty well…

On the whole = in general/overall. e.g. On the whole, the weather in the UK is better than people think.

Discussion questions

Write your answers to these questions in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you with some feedback:

  • Is there anything in your kitchen that you have run out of/are running out of?
  • Have you ever run out of patience with someone? What happened?
  • Can you think of a time when you ran out of time or money?

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opt in 1

i: Opt in: meaning and explanation

ii: Micro-listening exercise: listen to opt in being used in context

iii: Discussion questions

to opt in: meaning and explanation

If you opt into something or opt in to do something, then you agree to participate in something or do something. e.g. We offer a generous pension scheme which our employees can opt into if they wish.

This phrasal verb is commonly used to describe an official or explicit decision to participate in something. By choosing to participate, you are accepting certain rules or conditions.

When you buy something online for example, you will probably see an option to receive further communications from the company. If you tick this box, then you are opting in and the company is able to send you marketing emails.

We can use the phrasal verb opt out with the reverse meaning, when we choose not to participate or be involved in something. This is often used for things which people are automatically involved in unless they decide to no longer participate. e.g. All new employees are added to the company’s health insurance scheme, unless they decide to opt out. 

Opt-in and opt-out can be used as a nouns, e.g. We have managed to negotiate an opt-out from future projects.

Have a go at this dictation exercise to hear this phrasal verb being used in context – how much can you understand?

Micro-listening

Accent: North America

Source: Planet Money, Billboards. This episode looks at how billboards continue to be the most effective form of advertising. In this section, the speaker is giving an example of the way that new technology allows billboard advertisements to be highly personalised.

Difficult

. , . , : " Macy's".

Medium

Say you up to the third floor mall. If you've share your data, that you're . So when you elevator, the mall billboard : "Shoes are 20% Macy's".

Easy

Say you to go up to the third floor of a mall. If you've in to share data, advertisers know that you're for shoes. So when you step that elevator, the mall billboard say: "Shoes are 20% at Macy's".

About the sentence

…say you were to go up to the third floor of a mall…

Say is being used here to introduce a hypothetical situation as an example. e.g. Say you won the lottery. Would you keep working?

Notice the alternative structure for the 2nd conditional (to describe unreal or hypothetical situations in the present): If + subject + were + infinitive. e.g. If you were to spend a little less money on clothes, then you would probably be able to afford a bigger place.

Discussion questions

Write your answers to these questions in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you with some feedback:

  • Have you opted out of anything recently?
  • As of this year, the UK will have an opt-out system for organ donation. What do you think this means?
  • Do you normally opt into or out of marketing emails?

Photo by Aaron Sebastian on Unsplash

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rule out 0

rule out: meaning and explanation

If you rule something out, then you eliminate it as an option and no longer consider it. e.g. I think we can rule out having the Christmas party on the roof terrace of The Shard – we just can’t afford it this year.

Ruling something out can also be used to say that something is impossible, or definitely won’t happen. e.g. During his speech, the Prime Minister ruled out the possibility of stepping down before the next election. 

This phrasal verb is often used with the noun ‘possibility’ – to rule out the possibility of something happening.

This phrasal verb is often use negatively to say that something is still an option or a possibility. e.g. I think it is unlikely that we’ll be making additional redundancies this year, but I wouldn’t rule it out completely.

Have a go at this dictation exercise to hear this phrasal verb being used in context – how much can you understand?

Dictation #1

Accent: North America

Medium

Although it’s , we can’t that someone fire .

Easy

Although it’s very likely, we can’t out the that someone started fire deliberately.

About the sentence

…someone started the fire deliberately…

Deliberately is a useful synonym of on purpose or intentionally.

Discussion questions

Write your answers to these questions in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you with some feedback:

  • Think about your life over the next 5 years. Is there anything that you think definitely won’t happen?
  • Do you have any plans for the weekend? Is there anything that you are not considering as an option?

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back down 8

back down: meaning and explanation

If you back down, then you accept or admit that you are wrong about something, or you accept that you have lost an argument or fight. e.g. The argument went on all night, but my brother eventually backed down and apologised.

This phrasal verb can be used negatively to describe a situation in which someone will not admit that they are wrong or have lost an argument. They won’t back down. e.g. It was obvious that he had made a big mistake, but he wouldn’t back down.

Have a go at this dictation exercise to hear this phrasal verb being used in context – how much can you understand?

Dictation #1

Accent: Ireland

Difficult

– , .

Medium

He’s – he he’s , but to .

Easy

He’s so – he knows he’s the wrong, but refuses to down.

About the sentence

…He’s so stubborn…

If someone is stubborn, then it is difficult to change their mind, attitude or position on something, even if they are probably wrong. This is synonymous with the word determined, but has more negative connotations.

…he knows he’s in the wrong…

If you say that someone involved in an argument is in the wrong, then you are saying that they are responsible for the argument or have done something bad or morally wrong. e.g. Sorry, but I’m not the one who is in the wrong here.

Discussion questions

Write your answers to these questions in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you with some feedback:

  • Are you a stubborn person or do you back down when you know you are in the wrong?
  • Can you remember a time when someone refused to back down?

Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash

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