Phrasal verbs in context

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1. The meeting is cancelled. We need to call it off. What does call off mean here?

   cancel
   Call off means cancel an arranged event. With the pronoun it, say call it off.

2. Please turn down the music; I cannot hear the caller. What does turn down mean here?

   reduce the volume
   Turn down means make the sound quieter in this context. It can have other meanings elsewhere.

3. The bus leaves at six, so I get up at five. What does get up mean here?

   leave bed
   Get up means leave your bed and start the day here.

4. We have run out of paper. What has happened?

   No paper remains.
   Run out of something means have none left. Keep of before the thing that is gone.

5. Could you look after my plants while I am away? What is the request?

   take care of the plants
   Look after means take care of someone or something.

6. I do not know this word. I will look it up in a dictionary. What will I do?

   find its meaning in a reference
   Look up means search for information in a reference. With it, use look it up.

7. Our train breaks down between two stations. What has happened?

   It stops working.
   Break down means stop working when used about a machine or vehicle.

8. We put off the picnic until Sunday because of rain. What did we do?

   postponed it
   Put off an event means postpone it to a later time. The event is delayed, not necessarily cancelled.

9. Please fill in your name on this form. What should you do?

   write your name in the space
   Fill in means supply requested information in a form or space.

10. I tried on the jacket before buying it. What did I do?

    wore it briefly to check the fit
    Try on clothes means put them on briefly to see how they fit or look.

11. The teacher gave out the worksheets. What did the teacher do?

    distributed them
    Give out means distribute things to people in this sentence.

12. Please pick me up outside the library at four. What should the driver do?

    collect me there
    Pick someone up means collect them, often in a vehicle. The pronoun comes between pick and up.