Phrasal Verbs 2

ALLOW FOR: Take into consideration, include in a calculation.

  • You’d better leave early to allow for heavy traffic.
  • I suggested him to better take an ATM card to allow for the heavy expenses he had to make.
  • Saving allows not only for the good times, but also for the bad ones.
  • His preparations, not allowing for rainy conditions led to a bad show at the wedding.
  • People who allow for all the bad times, are the best planners.

AMOUNT TO: Reach; be equivalent to

  • The total cost amounts to Rs.1500
  • All of his efforts amounted to nothing.
  • The trip to shimla amounts to Rs. 5000 per head.
  • One Dollar amounts to 50 Rupees.
  • Your total expenses for a month amount to Rs. 50000, which is too high.

ANGLE AT: To show from a particular point of view.   

  • The documentary was angled at young viewers.
  • If you angle at this being in my place, you’ll find this expenditure genuine.
  • This looks like a waste but if you angle at it from the other side, this area is beautiful.
  • Nothing is useless until you angle at it from a positive attitude.
  • This documentary was angled at young people who don’t care for their parents in old age.

ANGLE FOR: Try to obtain something by hinting.

  • I suspect Tom is angling for a free ticket.
  • He angled me for getting free tickets for the party tonight but I ignored.
  • He was too shy to ask me, but he angled me twice for a bike ride.
  • The boy angled for getting an ice cream but in vain as his parents had their attention somewhere else.
  • Teacher angled at Vincent for keeping quiet in class, which he understood and obeyed.

ANSWER BACK: Reply rudely.

  • Don’t answer back to your mother like that.
  • Whole family was irritated because of Prashant’s answering back attitude.
  • Never ever answer back to your elders.
  • We must teach our children never to answer back to anyone.
  • David’s father scolded him when he answered back to an uncle living nearby.

ANSWER FOR: Be responsible for something.

  • Normally the parents have to answer for their children’s behaviour.
  • You should be strong enough to be answerable for your mistakes.
  • Before doing anything, make sure you can answer for it.
  • Teacher asked both the students to answer for the fight and apologise to each other.
  • If you don’t answer for your acts, you will never be respected in the society.


ANSWER FOR: Speak on behalf of someone.

  • I agree, but I can’t answer for my associate.
  • I can’t answer for my office as I am not the head there.
  • I can’t answer for the CEO until i have the authority.
  • Mr Roy was not present but his secretary answered for him.
  • Donald was nervous answering for his boss as any mistake could land him in trouble.

ANSWER TO: Be responsible for someone or be controlled by someone.

  • Who do you answer to in your job?
  • How many people are answerable to you in your office ?
  • No matter how old you get, you are always answerable to your family.
  • Inform the person you are answerable to, if ever you want a leave from the office.
  • John’s father was called to the school as he was the one who was answerable to him.

APPEAL TO: To plead or to make an earnest request.

  • The organisers appeal to the crowd to stay calm.
  • Politicians appeal to people to vote for them.
  • We made an appeal to the society to maintain the cleanliness.
  • Why do you appeal to someone who is not going to listen to you ?
  • The bowler appeal to the umpire for a new ball, but the umpire rejected it.

APPEAL TO: Be attractive or interesting

  • Camping doesn’t appeal to me.
  • He is of a very appealing nature.
  • Going on a long drive always appeals to me.
  • He wore new clothes to look appealing at his brother’s marriage.
  • Football is the most appealing sport of all.