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Today you’re going to learn how to sound more natural in English by learning eight common phrasal verbs that native speakers use in their daily conversations.
I’m going to give you eight phrasal verbs in this video, but if you want even more phrasal verb practice, check out the exclusive practice videos that are available to members of my YouTube channel. Just click on the join button below to become a member of my channel, and you’ll have instant access to exclusive practice videos and audio English lessons, including More Body Part Phrasal Verbs, and additional pronunciation videos, filmed up close and in slow motion.
YouTube member Lungile Patience Mahlalela just joined my channel as an Accent Premium member, which includes private training sessions with me. Thanks for joining, Lungile, and I’m excited to work with you during your private lesson!
Phrasal Verbs in American English
So what’s the big deal about phrasal verbs? Why do all the English teachers on YouTube talk about them so much? Well, because phrasal verbs are a super common feature of English - native speakers use them in all levels of conversation and writing - but they are tricky to learn.
Phrasal verbs combine a verb or noun with one or more particles, often prepositions or adverbs. Sometimes their meanings are fairly straightforward and easy to understand, like the phrasal verb “sit down.”
This phrasal verb makes sense. The verb “to sit” literally means to lower one’s body down so that the lower part of the body is resting on a chair or other surface. That usually involves moving the body down from its current upright position. So the phrasal verb “sit down” makes sense.
But sometimes phrasal verbs are idiomatic, which means their meaning can’t typically be deduced from the literal meanings of their individual words. You usually have to memorize them as a fixed expression rather than relying on the definition of each individual word.
For example, the phrasal verb “look after” has an idiomatic meaning. The first word, look, isn’t exactly what this phrasal verb is about. It’s not necessarily about looking at something, though that can be part of it. The second word, after, is a preposition, and the definition of after has nothing to do with the definition of the phrasal verb “to look after.”
The phrasal verb “look after” means to take care of or to be responsible for someone or something, like in the sentence, “She looks after her younger brother while their parents are at work.”
Phrasal verbs can be frustrating to learn, but they are oh so important to sounding natural when speaking English.
Body Part Phrasal Verbs in American English
I thought it would be fun to focus on phrasal verbs that use a body part as one of the words, but their meaning has nothing to do with that body part. That means the best way to learn these phrasal verbs is to memorize them as one expression, just like you would for an idiom. I’ll give you the definition and pronunciation of the phrasal verb, plus plenty of examples of how you can use it in a sentence.
In order to provide you with variety, I’m only going to discuss one phrasal verb per body part, but many of these body parts are used in multiple phrasal verbs. So if you want to learn all of the most common phrasal verbs that use body parts, then check out the members-only practice videos, which you can access by becoming a member of my YouTube channel.
To Head Off
Here’s your first body part: the head.
The phrasal verb is: To head off. This phrasal verb has multiple meanings, but I want to give you two of the most common meanings.
First, it can mean to depart or set out from a location, especially with the intention of reaching another destination.
Before the storm hits, let’s head off to the store to stock up on supplies.
Tom decided to head off early to avoid traffic on the way to the airport.
Second, it can mean to intercept or prevent something from happening.
The police were able to head off the protestors before they reached the government building.
One phrasal verb, to head off, but two common meanings.
Can you understand the phrasal verb head off in these conversations?
So, initiatives to head off the problem of space junk were not followed up on, as were solar sails…
You have a war between the conservative wing of the Trump administration - led by the often squabbling Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon. They’re trying to head off a power play from the New York business wing of the Trump administration…
But I can report that you don’t head off into the long haul of writing a book without some kind of obsession.
To head off. To depart or set out from a location, as in, “I need to head off now if I want to catch the train.” It also means to intercept or prevent something from happening, as in, “The company is raising wages to head off a strike.”
To Face Down
The next body part is the face.
The phrasal verb is: to face down. To face down something means to confront or challenge someone or something boldly or fearlessly.
She faced down her critics and stood her ground.
Despite his fear, John summoned the courage to face down the bullies and defend his friend.
Can you understand the phrasal verb face down in these conversations?
They’re already inside, so you have to face down the demon alone.
If I imagined the meat coming at me many times, I also imagined what would actually happen if I did face down this bull…
How could he face down these senators if he didn’t stand up to it?
To face down. To confront or challenge someone or something boldly or fearlessly.
The brave firefighter faced down the roaring flames to rescue the trapped family from the burning building.
To Mouth Off
The next body part is the mouth.
The phrasal verb is to mouth off. To mouth off means to speak rudely, loudly, or inappropriately, often in a disrespectful or confrontational manner.
He got in trouble for mouthing off to the teacher.
During the meeting, he couldn’t resist mouthing off about his opinions on the company’s management.
Can you understand the phrasal verb mouth off in these conversations?
Some people in solitary aren’t even sure they exist, so they’ll mouth off to a corrections officer.
You don’t mouth off at police officers. To the extent you can, you get badge numbers and all that, and you come home.
…like respect, titles, praise, the ability to mouth off and not worry about the consequences…
To mouth off. To speak loudly, rudely, or inappropriately, often in a disrespectful or confrontational manner.
Jack tends to mouth off whenever he’s had a few drinks, saying things he later regrets.
To Nose Around
The next body part is the nose.
The phrasal verb is to nose around. To nose around means to snoop or pry into someone else’s business or affairs.
I caught my neighbor nosing around in my garden yesterday.
I noticed someone nosing around my desk at work, looking through my belongings.
Can you understand the phrasal verb nose around in these conversations?
…but we’ll nose around in there a little deeper just to make sure that we have everything covered.
…to put on civilian clothes and go out into different communities and to nose around.
…but I know you spent a day being me, and you just went poking your nose around in my business.
To nose around. To snoop or pry into someone else’s business or affairs.
The detective spent hours nosing around the crime scene, searching for clues.
To Hand In
The next body part is the hand.
The phrasal verb is to hand in. To hand in means to submit or give something, especially a piece of work or assignment, to someone in authority.
Don’t forget to hand in your homework by the end of the day.
I need to hand in my resignation letter to HR before I leave the company.
Can you understand the phrasal verb to hand in in these conversations?
I would ask your professor before you hand in the assignment for grading, saying, “Look, Dr. So and So..”
To hand in. To submit or give something, especially a piece of work of assignment, to someone in authority.
Students are required to hand in their assignments by the end of the week.
To Knuckle Down
The next body part is the knuckle.
The phrasal verb is to knuckle down. To knuckle down means to apply oneself diligently and earnestly to a task or activity.
With exams approaching, she decided to knuckle down and study every night.
The team realized they needed to knuckle down and put in extra practice if they wanted to win the championship.
Can you understand the phrasal verb knuckle down in these conversations?
And when times get hard, knuckle down and prove that you can rise to the occasion.
It was clear to us very quickly that we simply had to knuckle down and get to work…
We have to knuckle down and get back to learning how to write…
To knuckle down. To apply oneself diligently and earnestly to a task or activity.
To Butt In
The next body part is the butt.
The phrasal verb is: to butt in. To butt in means to intrude or interrupt a conversation or activity, often without being invited or welcome.
She always butts in when we’re trying to have a private conversation.
Please don’t butt in while I’m speaking; it’s rude to interrupt.
Can you understand the phrasal verb butt in in these conversations?
We’d butt in. We’d argue with each other. We’d start interdisciplinary fights.
I get to butt in front of the long lines as I’m passing them by…
And we’ll interrupt each other. I’ll butt in. They’ll butt back in and out…
To butt in. To intrude or interrupt a conversation or activity, often without being invited or welcome.
Tom tends to butt in with his opinions even when they’re not relevant to the conversation.
To Back Down
The last body part is the back.
The phrasal verb is to back down. To back down means to retreat from a position or decision, especially due to pressure or opposition.
He refused to back down in the face of criticism.
The company initially threatened legal action, but eventually backed down when confronted with evidence.
Can you understand the phrasal verb back down in these conversations?
I think it would be very, very difficult for him to back down at this point.
…then we’re part of the problem, and I will never back down from that stance.
This is going to be a big issue. We’re not going to back down on it.
To back down. To retreat from a position or decision, especially due to pressure or opposition.
He challenged his opponent to a debate and didn’t back down, even when faced with strong arguments.
Now you have eight body part phrasal verbs that you can use, and I challenge you to use all of them this week! Create a sentence right now using one of them and add it to the comments below.
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And as always, thank you for watching and I hope you have a wonderful day!
