Phrasal Verbs 8

CHIP IN: Contribute to, or participate in, something done by a group

  • Bob had decided to retire and we’re going to buy him a present. Do you want to chip in?
  • Just make an announcement that anyone who wants to chip in should submit the money by tomorrow.
  • Do you want to chip in our blood donation camp?
  • We are starting a library. Anyone who wants to chip in can send their names to us.
  • It’s a noble cause and we should all chip in.

CLAM UP: Refuse to speak

  • When the teacher arrived, she clammed up.
  • He clammed up in police custody.
  • The multimillionaire businessman clammed up during the interview.
  • He clammed up in court because his lawyer advised him to do so.
  • He spoke so much in the house, but at the party he just clammed up.

CLAMP DOWN ON: Act strictly to prevent something.

  • The government decided to clamp down on smoking in public areas.
  • His father clamped down on his poor performance in semester exams by increasing his study hours.
  • He clamped down on the losses made by his company by hiring new officials.
  • Raul clamped down on the company after they fired him without any notice.

CLOSE DOWN: Stop operating (company, restaurant or cinema)

  • We have to close down because we aren’t making any profits.
  • There was a restaurant nearby, but now it has closed down.
  • The company closed down as it could not make any profits in last five years.
  • It’s time to close down the theatre as the owner passed away.
  • The airport was closed down for two hours when a security alarm was

COME ACROSS: Find by chance

  • Julie came across some photographs of her grandparents in the attic.
  • I just came across these papers when i was going through the book.
  • When you go on a safari in a reservation forest, you may come across a large no. of deer.
  • I just came across your house when I was passing by the street.
  • On a drive from Delhi to Leh, you will come across some of the most beautiful places in India.

COME ACROSS: Appear, seem, make an impression

  • The candidate came across as a dynamic person during the interview.
  • It came across like a Hyena but it was a dog.
  • He came across like a person from a poor background.
  • Many people are not actually as they come across to us.
  • He comes across as a friendly person.

COME DOWN WITH: Become ill with

  • The architect planned to attend the inauguration but unfortunately he came down with the flu over the weekend.
  • We had to postpone our weekend trip to Goa as Mark came down with chickenpox.
  • Millions of chickens came down with the bird flu that had spread in 2012.
  • Those who have come down with chickenpox once, never get it again.
  • He missed his semester exams because he came down with high fever.

COME FORWARD: Present oneself

  • The police have asked the witnesses to come forward.
  • National blood council is anxious for more donors to come forward.
  • Police said that many people had come forward with information about the attack.
  • No witnesses to the accident have come forward yet, despite the police appeal.
  • None has yet come forward with any information about the missing girl.

COME UP AGAINST: Be faced with or opposed by

  • The project came up against a lot of criticism.
  • He came up against all the odds and finally secured a good rank in engineering entrance exam.
  • They came up against a lot of opposition to their plan for a solar power facility.
  • Steven came up against a lot of opposition from her family when she quit the job.
  • If you come up against difficulties, let me know and I’ll help.

COME UP WITH: Produce an idea or a plan.

  • Sacha came up with a great idea for the party..
  • Michael is the one who always comes up with great ideas to solve any problem.
  • He came up with a brilliant plan to increase the sales of his company by over 90%.
  • William, the idea that you have come up with is not acceptable to many.
  • Ronald came up with an idea to visit the zoo.