Lesson 7: Health & Fitness Phrasal Verbs (B2): Meanings, Patterns & 10 Exercises

Exercise 1 — Precision Cloze

Complete with the correct phrasal verb and form. Avoid repetition.

1. After two hours in the crowded hall, a few people ________ from the heat.
2. The clinic said the numbness should ________ in about forty minutes.
3. Once the rumours started, panic ________ across the dorms.
4. Do you ________ joining the client pitch this afternoon, or would you rather rest?
5. The vet was gentle when explaining why it might be kinder to ________ the horse.
6. I’ve ________ coffee after 5 p.m.; it was ruining my sleep.
7. Unexpected emails at midnight can ________ my anxiety, so I mute notifications.
8. He hasn’t ________ the breakup yet; give him time.
9. The board believes the company will ________ this liquidity scare.
10. Could you ________ the accounts while I’m on parental leave?
11. She ________ a nasty cold just before the interview.
12. He finally ________ three kilos during rehab because he was inactive.
13. She fainted briefly but ________ before the ambulance arrived.
14. The coach told us not to ________ on the plan even after the early goal against us.

Exercise 2 — Transformations (use the cue exactly)

1. The sedative stopped working after an hour. → wear off
2. Eating too quickly triggered his heartburn again. → bring on
3. Sorry, I can’t attend—I don’t have enough energy to go. → feel up to
4. The paramedics think she’ll survive the night. → pull through
5. Their daughter cares for both grandparents. → look after
6. I’ve reduced my screen time by half. → cut down on
7. He collapsed during the marathon. → pass out
8. The kids recovered from the flu quickly. → get over
9. I refuse to stop trying to persuade the council. → give up on
10. Violence started suddenly outside the stadium. → break out
11. We had to humanely euthanize our cat last winter. → put down
12. I gained a few pounds over the holidays. → put on (weight)

Exercise 3 — Surgical Error Correction

Each sentence has one error in verb choice, pattern, or register. Correct it and underline the fixed item.

1. The doctor said my anaesthetic will wear out in thirty minutes.
2. I think I’m coming down a cold.
3. They broke out a fire while cooking.
4. She gave up to eat sugar last year.
5. Can you look the twins after this evening?
6. The speaker passed out flyers in the middle of his speech because he felt dizzy.
7. I’m not feeling to travel today.
8. The shelter had to put down on the dog.
9. We hope she’ll get over the operation tonight.
10. Stress pulls through my headaches.
11. He put up five kilos after the injury.
12. Let’s cut down sugar; it’s too much.
13. She fainted, but she never came over.
14. Please don’t give up for your dream.
15. The excitement will wear out by tomorrow.
16. There was an argument, and then someone came down with on the floor.

Exercise 4 — Collocation Matrix

Match left to right to form natural phrases.

Exercise 5 — Forensic Paragraph Cloze

Complete the paragraph with correct verbs (don’t repeat).

The injection began to ________ after lunch, and by 2 p.m. the pain was back. I almost ________ while queuing in the sun, but a nurse helped me sit down. Ten minutes later, I finally ________ and felt less dizzy. She asked whether I ________ walking to the taxi rank, and I said yes. “Try to ________ caffeine for a couple of days,” she added, “or it may ________ your headaches.” I told her I’d recently ________ a strange bug anyway, and my body needed rest. “Don’t ________ your recovery,” she smiled. “You’ll ________ this more quickly than you think—most patients do.” She promised to ________ the paperwork for me while I waited.

Exercise 6 — Pronoun Placement & (In)separability

1. He decided to quit sugar: a) give up it b) give it up c) give up on it (different meaning)
2. The vet said they might have to euthanize the dog: a) put the dog down b) put down the dog c) put down it
3. Stop causing your own stress: a) bring on it yourself b) bring it on yourself c) bring on yourself it
4. Who’ll care for your plants? a) look after them b) look them after c) look after (needs object)
5. I refuse to stop trying to help this project: a) give up the project b) give up on it c) give it up on
6. She survived thanks to the surgeons: a) they pulled her through b) they pulled through her c) she pulled through her
7. He managed to recover from jet lag quickly: a) got it over b) got over it c) got over
8. The effect of the drug ended: a) wore it off b) wore off c) wore off it
9. The fight started suddenly: a) broke out a fight b) a fight broke out c) broke a fight out
10. He fainted and regained consciousness: a) passed out and came round b) passed out and came over c) passed out and came down with

Exercise 7 — Cause–Effect Logic

1. If you skip meals, you can ________ headaches.
2. The protest was peaceful until scuffles ________ at the back.
3. After the local anaesthetic ________, she felt pins and needles.
4. I don’t ________ two hours of driving, so I’ll take the train.
5. He hopes the firm will ________ this quarter despite losses.
6. They decided to ________ energy use by turning off signage at night.
7. She hasn’t ________ the shock of the news.
8. He ________ during the drill, probably from dehydration.
9. Our neighbour offered to ________ our cat during the move.
10. The toddler finally ________ and asked for juice.

Exercise 8 — Register Repair (sensitivity & precision)

Rewrite with accurate, compassionate register and a correct target phrasal verb.

1. We killed the old dog.
2. When the drug stops, the pain returns.
3. Don’t stop trying to help him.
4. She fell and slept on the floor.
5. Stop doing sugar.
6. An illness started in the camp.

Exercise 9 — Dialogue Completion (multi-verb)

Complete with at least eight different target verbs.

Nurse: You look pale. Sit down—don’t ________.
Patient: Thanks. The injection should ________ soon, right?
Nurse: Yes, in about an hour. Do you ________ walking to the café or would you prefer water here?
Patient: Water here, please. I’ve ________ cola lately and I’m trying to sleep earlier too.
Nurse: Good call; caffeine can ________ headaches.
Patient: I actually ________ a cold last week.
Nurse: Rest will help. You’ll ________ it.
Patient: The volunteers really ________ everyone in the waiting area.
Nurse: They do. If anything serious ________, the team is ready.
Patient: Thanks. I won’t ________ on this recovery plan.

Exercise 10 — Constraint Writing (200–230 words)

Write an incident report as specified. Use ≥9 target verbs and correct grammar.