Health 2 — Phrasal Verbs
Health · 8 phrasal verbs · Level B1
shake off
Meaning: to get rid of an illness or a bad feeling
shake OFF transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: I can't shake off this cold — it's been two weeks.
In conversation: Walk in the sun to shake off the stress.
Common partners: shake off a cold · shake off a bad mood
⚠️ Common mistake: Shake off works for colds, moods, and followers you want to lose.
A Can you shake off that cough?
B Tea and sleep are helping.
fight off
Meaning: to resist illness or attack successfully
fight OFF transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: Vitamin C helps your body fight off infections.
In conversation: He fought off sleep during the night shift.
Common partners: fight off an infection · fight off sleep
⚠️ Common mistake: Fight off = defend and win (for now): your body fights off germs every day.
A Rest helps you fight off the virus.
B Then I'm going straight to bed.
pass away
Meaning: to die (polite, gentle expression)
pass a-WAY intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: When someone dies, Americans often say pass away: her grandfather passed away peacefully last spring.
In conversation: He passed away at ninety-four, surrounded by family.
Common partners: pass away peacefully · pass away at home
⚠️ Common mistake: Pass away is the polite way to say die — use it with people, never with phones or plants.
A Her dog passed away last week.
B Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that.
pull through
Meaning: to survive a dangerous illness or situation
pull THROUGH intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: The doctors say she will pull through.
In conversation: He pulled through the surgery well.
Common partners: pull through an operation · pull through together
⚠️ Common mistake: Pull through = survive something serious. For a common cold it's too dramatic.
A Will he pull through?
B The surgery went well — yes.
swell up
Meaning: to become bigger because of injury or illness
swell UP intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: My ankle swelled up after the fall.
In conversation: Bee stings make his hand swell up.
Common partners: swell up after a sting · a swollen ankle
⚠️ Common mistake: The adjective is swollen: a swollen knee. The verb is swell up.
A Your finger is swelling up!
B Ice it — quickly, please.
break out
Meaning: to suddenly start (war, fire, disease) / a rash appears
break OUT intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: A rash broke out on her arms.
In conversation: Fires break out quickly in dry summers.
Common partners: break out in a rash · war breaks out
⚠️ Common mistake: Break out IN a rash/sweats: I broke out in a cold sweat.
A She broke out in a rash.
B Probably the new soap. Stop using it.
come around
Meaning: to regain consciousness / to visit / to change your opinion
come a-ROUND intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: He fainted but came around in a minute.
In conversation: Come around for coffee this weekend!
Common partners: come around after fainting · come around to an idea
⚠️ Common mistake: THREE friendly meanings: wake up, visit, or finally agree (He came around to our plan).
A He came around quickly after fainting.
B Give him water and space.
black out
Meaning: to suddenly lose consciousness for a short time
black OUT intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: If you stand up too fast, you can black out for a second.
In conversation: He blacked out from the heat.
Common partners: black out from the heat · black out for a second
⚠️ Common mistake: A city blackout (noun) = no electricity. A person blacks out = faints. Cousins, not twins.
A I nearly blacked out in the sun.
B Sit down and drink some water.
Practice
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