Te confesaré algo. Siempre he tenido una relación de amor-odio con los verbos seguidos de preposición o adverbio. Phrasal verbs de B2, B1 o de nivel avanzado. Me daba igual. No los tragaba.

Era verlos y echarme las manos a la cabeza. Y por mi experiencia, como profesora y estudiante, este sentimiento es bastante común.

Sin embargo, desde hace poco tiempo, los también llamados “verbos frasales” han comenzado a gustarme.

¡Te lo digo en serio! Parece que ya les he cogido el tranquillo. “I’ve got the hang of phrasal verbs now”, como diría en inglés.

Por lo menos, ya no resoplo cada vez que veo un verbo en inglés seguido de una, o varias, preposiciones. Más bien, me ocurre todo lo contrario.

Ahora disfruto retándome a mi misma, intentando descifrar su significado cuando es un nuevo phrasal verb para mí, o si, por el contrario, se trata de uno que ya conocía y, entonces, aprovecho para recordarlo.

Compartiré contigo mis trucos para estudiar y aprender los verbos acompañados de preposición o phrasal verbs tanto en nivel B1, como B2 y C1

Te voy a contar cómo aprendo e interiorizo los phrasal verbs, dando igual si son B2, B1 o C1. Desde luego, memorizarlos no me funciona. Normalmente necesito:

• verlos en contexto
• leer su descripción en inglés (uso diccionarios monolingües)
• averiguar si tienen sinónimos
• pensar en su equivalente en español
• buscar ejemplos reales en internet
• hacer mis propias frases

Después, poco a poco, los voy usando en mí día a día, ya sea escribiendo o hablando yo sola en voz alta.

La verdad es que si no incorporas los phrasal verbs a tu vocabulario y los activas, difícilmente los asimilarás.

Lo creas o no, a fuerza de utilizarlos, te saldrán directamente sin pensar. Y es ahí, en ese preciso momento, cuando comenzarás a aprenderlos y entenderlos de verdad.

Lista de phrasal verbs B2 muy comunes en inglés

En este post encontrarás 60 phrasal verbs de nivel B2 muy comunes, y algunos importantes de nivel B1 y C1 al final. La gran mayoría me los he encontrado en exámenes FCE o First de Cambridge.

Como verás, no es una simple lista de verbos frasales. No solo he añadido su significado o descripción en inglés, sino también:

• sinónimos (como phrasal verb o verbo normal)
• frases de ejemplo
• posibles traducciones al español
• su versión en sustantivo o adjetivo (si existe y es común): verbo y preposición formando una única palabra, junta o separada por un guión.

¿Preparado? Pues, coge boli y papel porque empezamos.

⚠⚠ ADVERTENCIA DE SEGURIDAD (DISCLAIMER):

«Las autoridades consideran este post no apto para leerlo del tirón debido a su excesiva longitud. Úsese como guía o manual de consulta tantas veces como sea necesario cuando le asalten las dudas sobre el uso y manejo de los phrasal verbs de nivel B2

Fdo.: El Búho Inglés 🦉

1. BREAK DOWN

– ESTROPEARSE, AVERIARSE, DEJAR DE FUNCIONAR (when a vehicle, machine, etc. stops working)

Our washing machine broke down just one week after the guarantee had expired

– EMPEZAR/ROMPER A LLORAR (you cannot control your feelings and start to cry)

When I gave my mum the bad news, she broke down and cried/break down in tears

– DESGLOSAR, DIVIDIR, SEPARAR, DESMONTAR, etc. (to divide or separate things into smaller parts)

Let’s break down our expenses by month and categories

Carbohydrates and proteins are broken down in the stomach

It’s not easy to understand, so let me break it down for you (=to explain something step by step)

– FRACASAR, FALLAR, SALIR MAL, NO FUNCIONAR, etc. (when relationships, health, negotiations, etc. fail)

At one point, the peace talks broke down completely

Many marriages have broken down since the pandemic

It’s a well-known fact that health may break down under the pressure of work

– ECHAR/TIRAR ABAJO, DERRIBAR (to make something fall down –door, fence, etc.- by hitting it hard)

Firefighters had to break the door down to reach the people who were trapped inside the building

– A BREAKDOWN (noun): AVERÍA, FRACASO, RUPTURA, CRISIS (NERVIOSA), DESGLOSE, etc.

The breakdown of the peace negotiations was not unexpected

Marital breakdown can be followed by debt problems

My mun is still recovering from her last nervous breakdown

2. CALL OFF

– SUSPENDER, CANCELAR, DESCONVOCAR (to cancel: meeting, wedding, trip, strike, match, etc.)

Today’s match has been called off because of bad weather

They’ve called off the protest/game/march

3. CALM DOWN

– TRANQUILIZARSE, CALMARSE (to become calm or make somebody/something become calm)

We decided to wait indoors until things calmed down

Please, calm down and tell us what’s going on

Believe it or not, it took me two hours to calm down after the argument

4. CATCH UP (with/on) – 👀 mucho ojo con los B2 phrasal verbs de tres partes: a verb, a particle and a preposition 👀

– PONERSE AL DÍA/TANTO SOBRE (to do something you have not done earlier or learn the latest news/talk to somebody to exchange new information)

I have a lot of work to catch up on

I used the train journey to catch up with/on the morning news

Let’s have a coffee next week and catch up (on each other’s news/on all the gossip)

I just want to go home and catch up on some sleep

– ALCANZAR, PILLAR A (to reach the same level or standard as somebody/something else)

Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you/I’ll catch you up

After missing a term, he is finding it hard to catch up (with others) at school

– A CATCH-UP (noun): ACTUALIZACIÓN, PUESTA AL DÍA, EMPATE

I have a catch-up meeting with my manager at midday

We must get together for a coffe and a catch-up

When it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, we’re always playing catch-up with Japan

Go on! You’re on the right track! 😉

5. CLEAR UP

– ESCLARECER, RESOLVER, ACLARAR (to solve: mystery, issue, doubts, misunderstanding, etc.)

I hope my explanations clear up any confusion

The thing is, they never cleared up the mystery of the missing money

– RECOGER, ORDENAR (to tidy a place by making it clean and neat)

I’m sick and tired of always having to clear up after you (=tidy your things)

I want you to clear all this mess up

– DESAPARECER, PASARSE, IRSE (when an illness, infection –cough, cold, rash, spots, etc disappear and you feel better)

Most colds clear up after a few days

Has your rash (=sarpullido, erupción) cleared up yet?

– DESPEJAR, MEJORAR (when weather improves because the clouds or rain go away)

I hope it clears up for tomorrow’s picnic

– A CLEAR-UP (noun): EL PROCESO DE ORDENAR/DESPEJAR un sitio deshaciéndote de cosas que ya no quieres/usas

We will, no doubt, need to have a big clear-up in this room

6. CLOSE DOWN

– CERRAR (PERMANENTEMENTE), DEJAR DE OPERAR (when a company, shop, organization, etc. stops operating as a business)

Restaurants are closing down all over the country because of the coronavirus pandemic

– SHUT DOWN (sinónimo)

The bookshop is shutting down after 25 years of business

– A CLOSE-DOWN/CLOSEDOWN (noun): CIERRE

After its closedown, the station returned at noon and continued until after midnight

7. COME ACROSS

– ENCONTRAR(SE), TOPARSE CON (to find something or meet somebody by chance or unexpectedly; encounter sth/sb is more common in written English and considered a formal verb)

I came across a word I’d never seen before

I came across some children who were sleeping on the streets

– RUN ACROSS something/somebody (sinónimo)

8. COME DOWN (with)

– CONTRAER, CAER ENFERMO DE (to become ill with/catch an illness, usually not a serious one)

I think I’m coming down with flu

I feel like I’m coming down with a cold

Keep going! Estos phrasal verbs de B2 están chupados

9. COME UP (with) – here’s another example of B2 phrasal-prepositional verbs

– IDEAR, TENER UNA IDEA (cuando se te ocurre algo), PRESENTAR, PLANTEAR (to suggest, think, find something -idea, plan, solution, suggestion, answer, result, proposal, strategy, explanation, etc.)

Is that the best you can come up with?

Listen! I’ve just come up with a plan to double our montly income

10. COUNT ON

– CONTAR CON, CONFIAR EN, ESTAR SEGURO DE, DAR (ALGO) POR DESCONTADO (to rely on somebody or something, trust sb to do sth or that sth will happen)

I can always count on my parents to help me

You can count on him for good advice

I was counting on you driving me home

She’ll be late, you can count on it

11. CUT DOWN (on)

– ACORTAR, RECORTAR (to make something shorter, reduce the size/amount/number of something)

We need to cut the article down to 1000 words

This new system should cut down the time spent in meetings

– REDUCIR, DISMINUIR EL CONSUMO DE (to do less, avoid or reduce the consumption of something, usually because it’s bad for your health)

The doctor told my father to cut down on fatty foods/fattening food/alcohol/his smoking

My doctor has advised me to cut down on the amount of salt in my diet

I’ll have a tea, please. I’m trying to cut down on caffeine

– CORTAR, TALAR (to cut a plant, tree, etc. and make it fall down)

Some trees have been cut down after the recent storm damage

12. CUT OFF

– CORTAR, AMPUTAR (to remove something by cutting it or to stop the supply)

He had his middle finger cut off in an accident at work

He cut off his hair for charity

Our water supply has been cut off for not paying the last bill

– INTERRUMPIR, CORTARSE LA COMUNICACIÓN (to interrupt somebody who is speaking, usually on the phone)

We were cut off in the middle of our conversation.

We could get cut off – the battery in my phone is low

– BLOQUEAR, CORTARLE EL PASO A (to block or get in the way of something/somebody)

The new factory cuts off our view of the hills

Many villages have been cut off by the heavy snow

– AISLAR(SE), AISLAR A (to cause someone to be/feel alone or become separate)

She feels very cut off living in the country

When his wife died, he cut himself off from everyone

Why did all his friends suddenly cut him off?

– A CUTOFF/CUT-OFF (noun) : CORTE (supply), TOPE/LÍMITE (date)

The government has announced a cut-off in overseas aid

31 May is the cutoff date for applications to be accepted

C’mon! You’re getting there 💪

13. CHEER UP

– ANIMAR(SE), LEVANTAR EL ÁNIMO, ALEGRAR(SE) (to become more cheerful or less sad or make somebody/something happier or brighter)

Come on, cheer up! Things aren’t really that bad

New curtains and a new coat of white paint can cheer up a dull room

Talking to you cheered me up a lot

14. DEAL WITH

– NEGOCIAR, HACER NEGOCIOS CON (to do business with a person, company, organization, etc.)

Our online shop deals directly with its customers

– OCUPARSE/ENCARGARSE DE, MANEJAR (to take action in orderto solve/handle a problem or achieve something)

We discussed different ways of dealing with the problem

I’m not good at dealing with stress

– TRATAR/LIDIAR CON (to try to manage/talk to someone effectively)

I’m used to dealing with all kinds of people in my job

– TRATAR, ABORDAR EL TEMA DE (to talk/be about a subject, issue, matter, etc.)

Her poems often deal with the subject of death

I likes novels that deal with serious moral issues

15. DO UP

– ABROCHAR, ANUDAR, ATAR, SUBIR, PEINARSE/ARREGLARSE EL PELO (to fasten/tie clothes –coat, shoes, button, etc.- or tie/arrange your hair in a particular way)

This dress does up at the back. Could you help me?

Do up your shoelaces before leaving home, please

Her long dark hair was done up in a ponytail/bow/knot

– ENVOLVER (to wrap something in cloth, paper, etc.)

She was carrying a package/parcel done up in coloured paper and ribbon

– ARREGLAR (to repair, paint, decorate or improve an old house, car, etc. so that it looks attractive)

Many people make money by buying old houses and doing them up

16. DO WITHOUT

– ARREGLARSE SIN, PRESCINDIR DE, NO NECESITAR (to manage, live, work, perform, etc. successfully without something/somebody)

I think we can do without a dishwasher for a week

There’s no more milk, so we’ll have to do without

He’s an essential part of the team and we can’t do without him

Yeah, you’d better have a break and grab a coffee! ☕

17. DRESS UP

– PONERSE/VESTIRSE ELEGANTE (to get dressed smartly or put on/wear clothes that are more formal/elegant than those you usually wear)

There’s no need to dress up –it’s an informal dinner

– DISFRAZAR(SE) (to put on/wear special clothes to change your appearance for fun)

All little kids love dressing up as their favorite superheros and superheroines

– DISFRAZAR, MEJORAR LA APARIENCIA (to try to improve/make something different, especially in a way that’s better or more impressive than it really is)

Politicians tried to dress up the bill as a new strategy for combating poverty

He tries to dress it up, but he’s basically a barman

18. DROP BY/IN

– PASARSE, DEJARSE CAER POR (to visit somewhere/somebody briefly)

I have to drop by the office on my way home

Why don’t you drop by for a cup of coffee sometime?

19. DROP OFF

– DORMIRSE, QUEDARSE DORMIDO (to start to sleep, fall asleep)

My husband usually drops off in front of the telly

– DISMINUIR (to decrease or become lower/less in level, value, price, etc.)

Business often dropped off a little during the summer

She used to be a local celebrity but her popularity has dropped off recently

– DEJAR EN UN SITIO (to take someone/something to a particular place, especially by car)

Can you drop the kids off at school this morning?

The taxi will drop you off at the corner

– A DROP-OFF (noun): DISMINUCIÓN/CAÍDA/REDUCCIÓN, ACCIÓN DE DEJAR COSAS/PERSONAS en un sitio

Sales suffered a 53 per cent drop-off last year

The road is busy with parents doing school drop-offs

20. DROP OUT (of)

– ABANDONAR, DEJAR (to leave school, course, competition, activity, etc. without finishing)

She started a degree in law but dropped out after only a year

I was injured after two laps and dropped out of the race

He decided to drop out of active politics and spend his life travelling

Phrasal verbs de B2, ¿sabéis qué? ¡Ya os he pillado el truco!

21. FACE UP TO (it seems to me that three-word phrasal verbs are all over the place in a B2 level of English, huh?)

– AFRONTAR, HACER FRENTE A (to accept and deal with something that is difficult, bad or unpleasant)

You have to face up to your responsibilities/the problem

She had to face up to the fact that she would never walk again

22. FALL OUT (with)

– PELEARSE, REÑIR (to argue with someone and stop being friendly with them)

My sister-in-law left home after falling out with her parents

– CAERSE (when something –hair, a tooth, etc.- become loose and drop)

A nasty side effect of the treatment is that your hair starts to fall out

– A FALLOUT (noun): SECUELAS

The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has been global

23. FIGURE OUT

– (CONSEGUIR) ENTENDER, RESOLVER, ENCONTRAR LA SOLUCIÓN (to finally understand something or somebody, to find a answer or solve a problem)

I spent 30 minutes figuring out a way/how to make this new software work

I couldn’t figure out what the teacher was talking about/I can’t figure out why he did it

– calcular (to calculate an amount, cost or result of something)

Have you figured out how much the wedding will cost?

24. GET ACROSS

– HACER(SE) ENTENDER, HACER LLEGAR UN MENSAJE/IDEA (to communicate, make people understand: facts, feelings, ideas, meaning, view, etc. successfully)

What message are you trying to get across to the students?

Our ideas are good but we need to find a better way of getting them across

Although highly intelligent, he’s not very good at getting his ideas across

You’re nearly halfway there! 🤗

25. GET AWAY (from/with) – no doubt, B2 phrasal verbs with three parts are commonplace 😅

– ALEJARSE, ESCAPAR(SE), HUIR DE (to go somewhere to have a holiday, to go away, to leave a place or escape from somebody)

We’re hoping to get away for a few days at Christmas/for the summer

I had to get away from the party. It was awful

A police officer grabbed him, but he got away with all the money and some jewels

– SALIRTE CON LA TUYA, LIBRARSE DE ALGO (sin castigo, multa, etc.)

You’ll never get away with it

He was lucky to get away with only a fine

– A GETAWAY (noun): HUIDA, FUGA, ESCAPADA (=vaciones cortas)

Three masked men made their getaway in a van parked outside the bank

I’m planning a weekend getaway

26. GET BY (on/in/with)

– APAÑÁRSELAS, ARREGLÁRSELAS CON (to manage or live/deal with a situation by having very little of something you need –money, knowledge, equipment, etc.)

We’re not well-off (=ricos) but we get by

Honestly, I don’t know how she can get by on six hours’ sleep a night

I can get by with my computer at the moment, but a more powerful one would be much better

27. GET (sb) DOWN

– DEPRIMIRSE, DESANIMARSE, DEJAR A ALGUIEN CON EL ÁNIMO POR LOS SUELOS (to make someone feel unhappy, sad, depressed or lose hope)

Doing the same thing every single day can get you down

28. GET THROUGH

– PASAR POR, SUPERAR (to deal with/experience something, sometimes difficult or unpleasant)

To be honest with you, I don’t know how I got through the first months after my mum’s death

– SUPERAR, APROBAR (to succeed in/pass an exam, competition, law, etc.)

She got through her driving test without too much trouble

Getting a bill through Congress is a long process

– TERMINAR, ACABAR (to finish doing/complete something –work, subject, task, etc.)

She got through all our questions in about five minutes

We’ve got a pile of paperwork to get through before we can go out

– COMUNICARSE (to communicate with somebody, especially by phone)

I tried to call her twice but couldn’t get through.

– USAR, GASTAR (to use up/finish something)

We’re getting through a lot of coffee/toilet paper lately

29. GET OVER

– SUPERAR, RECUPERARSE, REPONERSE (to recover from/overcome something unpleasant or bad: problem, illness, loss, tragedy, the end of a relationship, etc.)

She never completely got over the loss of her first child

I was just getting over the flu when I got a tomach bug

She was disappointed at not getting the job, but I’m sure she’ll get over it

Respira hondo que aquí vienen otros 30 phrasal verbs B2 muy importantes

30. GO OFF

– IRSE, MARCHARSE (to leave for a particular purpose, especially when you end your work/duties)

She’s gone off on holiday with her family

Yesterday, some colleagues and I went off to get a drink after work

– SALIR, IR – en el sentido de suceder u ocurrir (to happen in a particular way)

The party went off well -just as we had planned

– APAGARSE, IRSE (to stop working or being available –light, electricity supply, heating, etc.)

All the lights in the town suddenly went off

– PASARSE, PONERSE MALO, ECHARSE A PERDER (when food or drink is no longer fresh and no good to eat or drink)

If you don’t put the milk back in the fridge, it will go off

Cream goes off quickly if you leave it in a warm place

– EMPEORAR, ECHARSE A PERDER (to become/get worse in quality, beauty, etc).

Her books have gone off in recent years

He used to be very good-looking, but he’s gone off

– DEJAR DE GUSTARTE/DE ESTAR INTERESADO (to stop liking or lose interest in someone/something)

I’ve gone off beer. I’m into wine now

I went off him as soon as he started calling me every single day

– ESTALLAR, DISPARARSE (to explode or be fired –gun, bomb, etc.)

The gun went off by accident in a crowded street

– SONAR (make a noise, usually sudden and loud as a signal or warning –car/fire alarm, alarm clock, etc.)

Seriously? Didn’t you hear your alarm clock going off this morning?

31. LET (sb) DOWN

– DEFRAUDAR, DECEPCIONAR, (HACER) QUEDAR MAL, FALLAR A (to disappoint somebody by failing to help/support them or not to do what people expect you to do because you agreed to).

This car won’t let you down

I’m relying on your help tomorrow – please don’t let me down

32. LOOK BACK (on/at)

– MIRAR HACIA ATRÁS (to think about/reflect on, remember something that happened in the past)

One day we’ll look back on this and laugh

Honestly, looking back now, I admit I didn’t always do the right thing

🤜 Le voy a dar un toque de sofisticación a la segunda frase de ejemplo – you’ll thank me later 😜

¡Verás qué sencillo es! Es un cambio sutil, pero muy acertado; especialmente cuando necesitas emplear un lenguaje más formal en un writing de examen de nivel: «Honestly, in retrospect (C2), I admit I didn’t always do the right thing».

33. LOOK DOWN ON (once again, another classic example of three-part phrasal verbs for B2 English learners)

– MIRAR POR ENCIMA DEL HOMBRO, MENOSPRECIAR A (to think you’re better/more important than somebody else or that something is not good enough for you)

She looks down on people who haven’t had a university education

OMG! Ya llevas más de 30 verbos frasales 🙌

34. LOOK FORWARD TO (usado al final de un email o carta, es uno de los phrasal verbs B2 de manual)

– TENER GANAS DE, ESTAR DESEANDO ALGO CON ILUSIÓN (to feel please/excited about an event, activity, etc. that’s going to happen and you expect to enjoy it)

My mother, who had worked hard her whole life, was looking forward to her retirement

I’m really looking forward to the weekend/meeting you again

I look forward to hearing from you soon (=espero tener noticias suyas/tuyas pronto)

35. LOOK INTO

– INVESTIGAR, ESTUDIAR, CONSIDERAR (to examine, try to find out the facts about sth –matter, problem, issue, case, situation, possibility, option, implication, etc.)

We are looking into the possibility of moving in

36. LOOK UP TO (many of these three-part phrasal verbs are often used in informal b2 contexts)

– ADMIRAR, RESPETAR A (to admire and respect somebody)

My parents are a role model and I’ve always looked up to them

– LOOK DOWN ON (antónimo) 👆

37. MAKE UP (with/of/for)

– INVENTARSE (to invent: explanation, story, excuse, etc. in order to deceive or entertain)

He made up some excuse about his dog eating his homework

I told my children a story, making it up as I went along

– HACER LAS PACES, RECONCILIARSE (to become friendly with someone again after an argument)

Why don’t you two forget your differences, kiss and make up?

Have you made it up with your siblings?

– ESTAR FORMADO/CONSTITUIDO/COMPUESTO POR (to combine together, form, constitute something)

This compelling book is made up of twelve separate short stories

– PREPARAR, HACER (to prepare, arrange something)

Could you make up a list of all the things we need for tomorrow’s party?

You should stay the night – I’ll make up a bed for you in the spare room

– COMPENSAR (to compensate for or replace something/somebody that has been lost or damaged)

I worked extra hours to make up for the time I had missed

After all the delays, we were anxious to make up for lost time

No amount of money can make up for the death/loss of a child

I’m sorry I was late. To make up for it, let me treat you to lunch? (para compensarlo, déjame invitarte a comer)

When you have a disability, you learn to make up (=compensate) by doing other things well

– MAKEUP/MAKE-UP (noun): MAQUILLAJE

I never wear makeup

He was given an Oscar for his make-up work on the film

Don’t give up! Sólo unos pocos phrasal verbs de B2 más y lo tienes

38. PASS AWAY

– FALLECER (to die)

My granny on my mother’s side passed away just before the coronavirus pandemic started

An explanatory note: 👉 en inglés, al igual que en español, a veces es preferible usar el verbo «fallecer» para evitar decir «morir», término que puede sonar un poco brusco según la ocasión; en realidad, no es más que un eufemismo, you know, una palabra o expresión «más suave» que sustituye a otra considerada tabú o de mal gusto 🤐

Así que, si quieres sonar un poco más «polite» en inglés, mejor optar por «pass away». Pero mucho cuidado con las preposiciones porque ¡las carga el diablo! No vayas a confundirte entre «AWAY» y «OUT» (ojo al siguiente phrasal verb de B2) y acabes ¡liándola un poquito! 😂 Quiero decir, que no es lo mismo «irse al otro barrio» que «desmayarse» 😅 Pay attention, my friend!

39. PASS OUT

– DESMAYARSE, PERDER EL CONOCIMIENTO (to become unconscious/faint suddenly, usually for a short time)

People everywhere were passing out from the heat

– REPARTIR, DISTRIBUIR (to distribute/give something to each person in a group)

The teacher passed out the the examination papers to have a look at

40. POINT OUT

– INDICAR, SEÑALAR, PONER DE RELIEVE (to make a person notice someone/something by telling them or stretching one of your fingers towards them/it)

He pointed out some interesting towns to visit on the map

She pointed out some spelling errors in my paper

They pointed out that we had two hours of free time before dinner

41. PUT OFF

– APLAZAR, POSPONER, RETRASAR (to postpone something, change something to a later time/date, delay (doing) something, or push the day of a meeting, a deadline, the start of a game, etc. back)

We’ve had to put off our wedding until September because of the current circumstances

I keep putting off going to the dentist

The deadline has been put off for (=pushed back) two weeks

– DESANIMAR, QUITAR LAS GANAS, PRODUCIR RECHAZO, TIRAR/ECHAR PARA ATRÁS (to discourage, make somebody dislike somebody or something, or lose interest in/enthusiasm for something/somebody)

The accident put her off driving for life

Don’t be put off by how it looks—it tastes delicious

The smell of hospitals always puts me off

She’s very nice but her manners tend to put people off

– DISTRAER A (to interrupt somebody who is concentrated on something)

Don’t put me off when I’m trying to work

– APAGAR, DESCONECTAR (to switch/turn something off)

42. PUT UP WITH (verb + particle + preposition, again! – you’d better get used to these sort of B2 phrasal verbs)

– AGUANTAR, TOLERAR, SOPORTAR (to tolerate, accept somebody/something that is annoying, unpleasant, etc. without complaining or in a patient way)

I don’t know how she puts up with him

I don’t know how he puts up with their constant complaining

Your father will not put up with your bad behaviour/smoking any longer!

43. RUN OUT (of): algunos diccionarios lo consideran B1; otros, un «must» dentro de cualquier lista de phrasal verbs B2 que se precie)

– QUEDARSE SIN, ACABARSE, AGOTARSE (to finish a supply of something or usesomething completely and not have any left)

We’ve run out of toilet roll/milk/olive oil, etc.

My patience is beginning to run out

Time is running out for them

I ran out of petrol on the way home, but as luck would have it, I was vey near a garage

44. SET OFF/OUT

– SALIR, PARTIR (to being a journey, to start on a trip)

We set off early tomorrow morning

They’ve just set off on a round-the-world cruise

Come on, this is a walk in the park to you 😜

45. SELL OUT (of)

– AGOTARSE, VERNDERSE TODO, LIQUIDAR EXISTENCIAS (when a shop, teather, business sells all its products, goods, tickets, etc. and there’s no more available)

I went to get some wholemeal bread, but the shop had sold out

The first edition of the book/concert tickets sold out within 24 hours

The online shop sold out of the T-shirts in the first couple of hours

– A SELL-OUT (noun): ÉXITO DE TAQUILLA, TRAICIÓN (=vender a alguien – en sentido figurativo)

Friday’s show was a sellout

The peace deal was praised by some as a sellout

46. SET UP

– LEVANTAR, MONTAR (to build something or prepare something to be used)

I need one or two people to help me set up the equipment

We set up the tent to spend the night near the river

– MONTAR, ABRIR, CREAR, FUNDAR (to formally establish: company, business, etc.)

She’s planning to set up her own business nex year

– ORGANIZAR, PLANEAR, CONVOCAR (arrange for/organize/plan an event or activity to happen)

We need to set up a meeting as soon as possible to discuss the proposals

– A SET-UP (noun): SISTEMA/ORGANIZACIÓN, MONTAJE/TINGLADO

I’ve only been in this job a couple of weeks and I don’t really know the set-up

When drugs were found in her handbag, she claimed it was a set-up

47. SHOW OFF

– LUCIRSE, PRESUMIR, ALARDEAR, FARDAR, EXHIBIRSE, (TRATAR DE) IMPRESIONAR (to try to impress others/atract people’s attention/make people admire you)

He’s always showing off how well he speaks English

They like to show off by wearing expensive shoes wherever they go

She likes to wear short skirts to show off her legs

– A SHOW-OFF (noun): FANFARRÓN, FANTASMA, FANFARRONADA, FANTASMADA

He’s a real show-off in the kitchen. He loves having dinner guests but he doesn’t even know how to fry an egg

48. SLOW DOWN

– AFLOJAR EL PASO, AMINORAR LA MARCHA, REDUCIR LA VELOCIDAD (to become/go slower, or to make someone or something go at a slower speed)

Could you slow down? You’re walking too fast and I can’t keep pace with you

A car slowed down and stopped beside me

– TOMAR(SE) LAS COSAS CON MÁS CALMA (to be less active and relax more)

The doctor has told me to slow down or I’ll have another heart attack.

For me, August is a month to slow down and relax

– A SLOWDOWN (noun): DISMINUCIÓN, RALENTIZACIÓN

The economic slowdown has affected both public and privates sectors

You’re almost finished! 🤙

49. TAKE AFTER

– PARECERSE, SALIR A (to look like/behave/be similar to somebody, often an older family member)

My brother takes after my mother’s side of the family

I hope the children don’t take after their grandfathe

50. TAKE OFF (claro ejemplo de verbo más preposición de B1 que pasa a la lista de phrasal verbs de B2 cuando se usa en sentido «figurativo»)

– QUITARSE –ropa, maquillaje, etc. (to remove something from your body, especially clothes)

I’d better take my shoes off before coming in

– DESPEGAR (to leave the ground and begin to fly –aircraft, bird, etc.-, or to become successful en sentido «figurativo»)

The plane took off one hour late

His singing career really took off after that concert

– COGER/TOMARSE UNOS DÍAS LIBRES/DE DESCANSO (not go to work for a particular amount of time)

I’ve decided to take a few days off next week

– A TAKE-OFF/TAKEOFF (noun): DESPEGUE

The plane is ready for take-off

Our local company is ready for take-off

51. TAKE UP

– EMPEZAR (to start doing something new or for pleasure: job, habit, interest, activity, sport, etc.)

She takes up her new post next month

I’ve taken up yoga recently

– CONTINUAR, SEGUIR, RETOMAR, REANUDAR (to continue something that somebody didn’t finish)

I’d like to take up the point you raised earlier

– OCUPAR ESPACIO, LLEVAR TIEMPO (to use a particular amount of space or time)

The table takes up too much room

Do you have a moment? I’ll try not to take up too much of your time

52. TELL (sb) OFF

– REGAÑAR, REÑIR, ECHARLE LA BRONCA A (to speak angrily to/rebuke somebody for doing something bad)

The teacher told me off for talking today

I’m going to be/get told off for being late again

– A TELLING-OFF (noun): REPRIMENDA, ENGAÑO, BRONCA

The nurses gave me a telling-off for smoking in the hospital

53. THINK OVER

– pensárselo bien, reflexionar (to consider something –problem, idea, plan, etc.- carefully, especially before reaching a decisión)

I’ll think over your proposal and give you an answer next week

They’ve made me a good offer, but I’ll have to think it over

Okay, let’s wrap it up! 😎

54. TURN DOWN

– BAJAR, REDUCIR (to reduce the noise, heat, etc. produced by a piece of equipment by pressing a button or moving a switch)

Please turn the volume down a bit

– RECHAZAR, NO ACEPTAR (to reject/refuse/not accept: offer, application, invitation, job, etc.)

How could you turn down such a fantastic job opportunity?

She asked him to marry her but he turned her down

– A DOWNTURN (noun): BAJÓN

The company saw a downturn in sales over the last six months

55. TURN OUT (to/that)

– RESULTAR, SALIR BIEN/MAL (to result/prove to be, or develop/happen in a particular way)

The job turned out to be harder than we thought

It turned out that she was a friend of my sister

Despite our worries everything turned out well in the end

– ACUDIR, ASISTIR, IR A (to go somewhere, appear/take part in, be present at an event)

A vast crowd turned out to watch the procession

– PRODUCIR, SACAR (to produce/make something, especially in large numbers)

The factory turns out 900 cars a week

The school has turned out some of the finest engineers in the country

– A TURNOUT (noun): NÚMERO DE VOTANTES/ASISTENTES

We’re expecting a low turnout for the local elections

Sunny weather helped boost the turnout at Sunday’s football match

56. TURN UP

– APARECER, SALIR (to be found, especially by accident, after being lost)

I can’t find my car keys –they’ll turn up, don’t worry!

– SALIR, SURGIR (when an opportunity, job, better situation, etc. happens, especially by chance)

You can’t just sit around waiting for the next job to turn up

– LLEGAR, APARECER (to show up, arrive, appear, or come somewhere, especially unexpectedly)

We arranged to meet at 7.30, but she never turned up

– SUBIR, PONER ALGO MÁS FUERTE/ALTO (to increase the sound, light, heat, etc. of a piece of equipment)

Don’t turn the TV up –I’m trying to read

57. USE UP

– AGOTAR, CONSUMIR, GASTAR (to use all of something so that there is none left)

Sorry, but we’ve used up all the hot water

You could have told me that you’d used up all the toothpaste!

FYI, this is coming to and end 🥳

58. WORK ON

– TRABAJAR, ESTAR TRABAJANDO EN/CON (to be dealing with, or try hard to improve/repair something)

Have you found a babysitter yet?’ ‘No, but I’m working on it

You need to work on your listening skills a bit more

59. WORK OUT (nada entre las aguas de los phrasal verbs B2 y B1)

– RESULTAR, SALIR BIEN/MAL (to happen, develop in a particular/successful way)

Luckily, things worked out as we planned

– RESULTAR, SALIR LOS CÁLCULOS (to be the result of a calculation or to calculate the cost, price, etc)

Taking the train works out more expensive than going by car.

– HACER EJERCICIO FÍSICO/DEPORTE (to train/do physical exercise)

I try to work out five times a week

– RESOLVER, SOLUCIONAR, ARREGLAR (to solve a problem, to find the solution to something)

We finally worked out our differences

– ENTENDER (to find the answer to something or understand somebody’s character)

I’ve never been able to work her out

There will be a full investigation to work out what caused the accident

– A WORKOUT (noun): SESIÓN DE EJERCICIO FÍSICO/GIMNASIA, TANDA DE EJERCICIOS FÍSICOS

When possible, I do a 30-minute workout every morning

60. WATCH OUT (for) – B2 phrasal-prepositional verbs are everywhere, don’t you agree?

– TENER CUIDADO CON, ESTAR ATENTO A (used to warn somebody to be careful/look carefully when something dangerous or an accident seems likely to happen)

Watch out! You’re going to hit that car!

Watch out for the stairs—they’re steep

Bonus track de típicos Phrasal Verbs B1 que tienes que dominar si al nivel B2 quieres pasar

1. LOOK UP (in/on)

– BUSCAR –en el diccionario, internet (to check facts or try to find something: word, meaning, information, etc. by looking in a book, dictionary, on the internet)

I didn’t know what ‘conspicuous’ meant and had to look it up in the dictionary

If you’re not sure what the word means, look it up on the internet

2. GET ON/ALONG (with) – más phrasal verbs de 3 «cabezas» 😂 pero esta vez en nivel B1 y no B2

– LLEVARSE (BIEN/MAL), CONGENIAR CON (to have a good/friendly relationship with somebody)

I get on/along (well) with most of my colleagues

We’re getting on much better now that we don’t live together

– DESENVOLVERSE, IR, MARCHAR (to manage/deal with a situation, especially successfully)

How are you getting on with your new job?

He’s getting on/along very well at school

Parents are always anxious for their children to get on in life

Si estos dos phrasal verbs tan comunes en inglés te han sabido a poco, por aquí te dejo una recopilación de algunos de los phrasal verbs B1 más usados que deberías conocer como la palma de tu mano 🤗

Bonus track de Phrasal Verbs C1 muy usados que puedes emplear si en el nivel B2 quieres destacar

1. SOAK UP

– ABSORBER, ASIMILAR tanto de manera literal como metafórica (to absorb any liquid, enjoy/experience the sunlight or the atmosphere, and to assimilate knowledge or information)

You’d better soak that spilt coffee up on the kitchen counter

We had a great time in the parade, soaking up the sun and the lively atmosphere

Children soak up new languages at an amazing rate

2. BRUSH UP (on)

– DARLE UN REPASO A, REPASAR (to quickly improve your knowledge of something/a skill you have not used it for a time or that it’s already learned but partly forgotten)

I must brush up (on) my French before I go to Brussels next month

Si tienes ganas de más «advanced phrasal verbs», aquí va una listado de más de 20 phrasal verbs C1 que he visto con frecuencia en exámanes CAE de Cambrdige 🧐

De nivel B1, C1 o B2 los principales phrasal verbs aprenderás porque hasta en la sopa te los encontrarás

La verdad es que existen muchísimos phrasal verbs en inglés, con independencia del nivel que tengan: A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.

Lo que significa que hacer una lista de verbos frasales “no es tarea fácil” (it’s not easy or it’s no easy task). Además, puede ser tan larga como tú quieras.

Pero en esta ocasión, simplemente he hecho una selección de phrasal verbs de nivel B2 que oigo y leo constantemente en películas, series de televisión, libros, exámenes de Cambridge, podcasts y redes sociales.

¡Sí!, como ves, bebo de muchas y variadas fuentes.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I hope you make the most of this B2 phrasal verb list.  

Si quieres añadir tu granito de arena, déjame un comentario con phrasal verbs B2, o de otro nivel, que hayas echado en falta, que uses mucho, que te encanten o que, incluso, odies.

Aunque espero que tú no tengas la misma relación de amor-odio que hasta ahora yo mantenía con “mis queridos verbos frasales” (nótese aquí el tono irónico de mis palabras) 😂

Take care,

Jéssica