7. Focus on: separable phrasal verbs with long objects

We have seen that the object of separable verbs can be placed between the verb and the particle or after the particle:

clear: I looked up the word.

clear: I looked the word up.

When the object is short — one word or just a few words in length — the mean­ing is clear either way. However, when the object is several words long, it can be awkward and confusing to place the object between the particles:

clear: I looked up the words that our teacher said were really important and would probably be on the fiunal exam.

confusing: I looked the words that our teacher said were really important and would probably be on the final exam up.

It boils down to the following.

Short objects can be placed between the verb and the particle or after the particle:

She put on her dress. She put her dress on.

pronouns, such as him, her, and it must be placed between the verb and the particle:

She put it on.

and long objects should be placed after the particle to avoid confusion:

She put on the new dress with the red, yellow, and blue flowers that she bought last week for 40 percent off.

1. cut... up p.v. When you use a knife or pair of scissors to cut something so that there are many small pieces, you cut it up.

The boy's mother is cutting a piece of meat up for him. I was so angry at her that I cut her picture up and flushed it down the toilet.

cut up part.adj. After something has been cut up, it is cut up.

This steak is for Aunt Kathy, but give the cut-up one to Uncle Fred — he doesn't have any teeth.

1. hold... up p.v. When a wall, column, or other structure supports the weight of something above it, such as a ceiling, it holds it up.

The workers were killed when they removed a colum holding the roof up. The house was held up by jacks the foundation was repaired.

2. hold... up p.v. When you prevent something from happening or cause it to happen late, you hold it up. When things or people delay you, they hold you up.

The band hasn't arrived yet, and they're holding up the whole wedding. I'm sorry I'm late. I was held up by traffic.

holdup n. Something that prevents something else from happening or causes it to happen late is a holdup.

Why haven't you finished this work yet? What's the holdup?

3. hold... up p.v. When you use a gun or other weapon to rob a person, bank, or store, you hold it up. Stick up is the same as hold up.

The jewelry store owner was held up by three men wearing ski masks. Some idiot tried to hold the bank up with a squirt gun.

holdup n. When someone uses a gun or other weapon to rob a person, bank, or store, it is a holdup. A stickup is the same as a holdup.

The robber fired his gun in the air and yelled, "This is a holdup." There was a holdup at First National Bank this morning.

4. hold up p.v. When an object remains in good condition after heavy use, it holds up.

These cheap shoes won't hold up more than six weeks.

Some Roman aqueducts have held up for 2,000 years.

5. hold up p.v. When a plan, idea, or agreement is still believed in or respected after a period of time, it has held up.

Einstein's theories have held up despite occasional challenges. The ceasefire is holding up longer than anyone expected.

1. let ...out p.v. When you allow animals or people to leave a place by giving permission or opening a door, you let them out.

The guard lets the prisoners out of their cells every day at 1:00. I opened the door and let the dog out.

2. let... out p.v. When you make an item of clothing bigger by changing the seams, you let it out.

After I gained twenty pounds, I had to have all my pants let out. The tailor let her old dress out so that she could wear it again.

3. let... out p.v. When you reveal secret or sensitive information, you let it out.

This information is secret. Don't let it out. I was furious when my secretary let out that I had interviewed for a new position.

4. let out p.v. When you make a sound that shows your emotion or feelings, you let out that sound.

Heather knew Jim was lying again, and let out a sigh. The lion let out a loud roar before he attacked the hunter.

1. point... out p.v. When you bring things or people to someone's attention or indicate the location of things or people with your hand or index finger, you point them out.

As we walked through the museum, the tour guide pointed several famous paintings out. General Johnston showed the satellite photo to the reporter and pointed out the enemy tanks.

2. point ...out p.v. When you are writing or speaking and you stress or emphasize some important information you think the reader or listener needs to know, you point out the information.

I pointed several flaws out in Prof. Childress's theory.

He said that he thought my plan was basically good but that he wanted to point out several possible problems.

1. run over (to) p.v. When you run from where you are to where someone else is, you run over or run over to that person.

I saw a man hitting a child, and I ran over and stopped him.

When I saw Melanie, I ran over to her and gave her a big hug.

2. run... over p.v. When you drive over people or things with a car, truck, or other vehicle causing damage, injury, or death, you run them over.

John was run over by a bus and killed.

I ran over a glass bottle and got a flat tire.

3. run over p.v. When liquid in a container fills the container and goes over the top, it runs over.

Keep on eye on the bathtub so that it doesn't run over.

There's too much water in this pot. It's going to run over the side.

4. run over p.v. When you go beyond a limit, you run over or run over the limit.

I hope the 11:00 meeting doesn't run over; I'm meeting a client for lunch at 12:00.

The speaker was given fifteen minutes for her speech, but she ran over.

1. see ... about p.v. When you talk to someone to get permission for something or to arrange something, you see about it or see someone about it.

Is Luis going to see about changing his flight from the fifth to the sixth?

The carpet in my office is filthy. I need to see the maintenance guy about getting it shampooed.

2. see about p.v. When you are upset about a change or a new policy, and you want to say that you will take some action or talk to someone in authority to prevent or reverse the change or new policy, you say "I'll see about that" or "We'll see about that."

Now they're saying I can't even smoke in my own office. I'll see about that! Those crooks in City Hall want to double my real estate taxes. We'll just see about that.

1. take ... apart p.v. When you completely separate the parts of something, you take it apart. Take apart is the opposite of put together.

I had to take my bike apart when I moved. The mechanic took the engine apart.

1. take ... in p.v. When you bring a car or other household appliance to a mechanic or repair person, you take it in.

Sally took her car in to have the oil changed. The VCR is broken again. I need to take it in.

2. take ... in p.v. When you take in a play, movie, museum, or other attraction, you go to it or see it.

We stopped in Charleston and took in the sights. After dinner we took in a movie.

3. take... in p.v. When you allow people to live with you, you take them in.

Judy's brother had nowhere to go, so she took him in. The Ortegas offered to take their neighbors in after the fire.

4. take... in p.v. [usually passive] When you are taken in by someone, that person successfully tricks or deceives you.

Stalin was taken in by Hitler's assurances. They were completely taken in by Jake's elaborate hoax.

5. take ... in p.v. When you make an item of clothing smaller by changing the seams, you take it in. Т.е. противоположно Let out.

She likes some of her maternity clothes so much that she's going to take them in after the baby is born.

If I lose any more weight, I'll have to have all my pants taken in.