Phrasal Verbs — Literal and Non-Literal Meanings
Hello. In this lesson we’re going to explore several common phrasal verbs. We’ll learn them through short examples, useful collocations, and clear comparisons between literal and non-literal meanings. First, we will look at what each phrasal verb means in context. Then, we will notice the words that often go with it. Finally, we will take note whether the meaning is literal or non-literal.
Let’s start with “break up”. Literally, “break” means to separate something into pieces. As a phrasal verb it can have a non-literal meaning to end something. For example: “The teacher had to break up a fight in the corridor.” Here it means to stop and separate the people involved. But in “They broke up after three years together,” it means their relationship ended. This is non-literal.
Another useful phrasal verb is “fall for”. You do not physically fall. If you fall for a trick, you believe something false. For example: “I can’t believe I fell for his excuse again.”
If you fall for a person, it means you start to love or like them romantically. For example: “She fell for her new classmate after they worked on a project together.” Both meanings are non-literal.
Now let’s look at “turn down”. This phrasal verb can be more literal when we talk about sound. For example: “Could you turn down the volume? It’s too loud.” Here, you reduce the level. But when we say, “He turned down my offer of help,” it means he refused it. That meaning is non-literal.
Some phrasal verbs are used in social situations. “Strike up” means to start something, especially a conversation or relationship. For example: “She struck up a conversation with the person sitting next to her on the train.” This is non-literal.
“Bump into”, however, can be literal or non-literal. “He bumped into the door” means he physically hit it by accident. But “I bumped into an old classmate yesterday” means I met that person unexpectedly.
Next, we have “come up with”. This means to think of or produce an idea, plan, excuse or trick. For example: “The group came up with a brilliant idea for the presentation.” You are not physically coming up; the meaning is non-literal. Another example is: “He came up with a clever trick to surprise his friends.”
Another one is “settle down”. It can mean to become calm and start focusing. For example: “After chatting for ten minutes, the students settled down to do some work.” It can also mean to start a stable life with someone: “After years of travelling, he settled down with his girlfriend.”
Finally, let’s look at “do with”. It often means “need” or “find useful”: “I could do with some help before the deadline.”
To remember phrasal verbs, always learn them with a collocation and an example sentence. Don’t just write “turn down = reduce or refuse”. Write “turn down the volume” and “turn down help”. This will help you notice the difference between literal and non-literal meanings and use the phrasal verbs naturally.
