Lesson 13: Entertainment Phrasal Verbs: Complete Guide with 14 Essential Expressions, Examples & Practice Exercises

• The theater company is putting on a production of Hamlet next month. Organizing and staging a theatrical performance.
• My daughter's school put on an amazing musical last weekend. Past tense—completed performance event.
• Are you planning to put on any concerts this summer? Question about organizing future entertainment.
• The community center puts on free movie screenings every Friday night. Regular, recurring entertainment events.
• Netflix is putting on a comedy special featuring five different comedians. Modern streaming context—producing content.

• The lead guitarist kept showing off during the concert, playing unnecessarily complicated solos. Negative—prioritizing personal display over collaboration.
• Some reality TV contestants are just showing off for the cameras rather than being genuine. Criticism of attention-seeking behavior.
• The magician's finale was spectacular—he really showed off his skills without seeming arrogant. Positive usage—appropriate skill display.
• Stop showing off! We all know you can dance well, but this isn't about you. Direct criticism of inappropriate behavior.
• Dancers in music videos often show off their impressive moves—that's literally their job. Neutral/positive—professional context where display is expected.

• The podcast really took off after their interview with the famous director went viral. Rapid popularity growth triggered by specific event.
• Her music career took off when her song was featured in a popular TV series. Breakthrough moment leading to success.
• The streaming series took off immediately, breaking viewership records in its first week. Instant, measurable success from launch.
• Nobody expected the low-budget horror film to take off like it did—it became a cultural phenomenon. Unexpected success exceeding predictions.
• After years of performing in small clubs, the comedian's career finally took off when he got his own Netflix special. Long-term effort leading to breakthrough.
• The dance challenge took off on TikTok, with millions of users creating their own versions. Viral social media trend—rapid spread.

• I didn't like the show at first, but it really grew on me by the third episode. Now it's my favorite series. Initial resistance transformed to strong appreciation.
• That song was weird when I first heard it, but it's growing on me. I've been humming it all day. Present continuous—ongoing process of appreciation.
• The comedian's dry humor didn't land with the audience initially, but his style grew on them throughout the performance. Audience needed time to understand and appreciate.
• Experimental films often grow on viewers after they've had time to think about them. Appreciation develops through reflection.
• I thought the lead actor was miscast, but his performance grew on me as the season progressed. Initial judgment revised through extended observation.
• Jazz didn't appeal to me as a teenager, but it's really grown on me as I've gotten older. Long-term taste development with maturity.

• I can't wait for the film festival to come around again next summer. Last year's lineup was incredible. Annual event—anticipation for return.
• When awards season comes around, all the streaming platforms release their prestige content. Regular yearly cycle influencing industry behavior.
• The new season of our favorite show comes around every fall, and we always have viewing parties. Regular programming creating social traditions.
• Comic-Con comes around once a year, and fans prepare for months in advance. Major annual event generating extended anticipation.
• Every time Halloween comes around, horror movie marathons dominate television programming. Seasonal entertainment patterns.
• The orchestra's winter concert series comes around every December, featuring holiday classics. Seasonal recurring performance schedule.

• You can always count on Pixar to deliver emotionally powerful animated films that appeal to all ages. Studio reputation establishing reliable expectations.
• The director is someone producers can count on to complete projects on time and under budget. Professional reliability in business aspects.
• Fans count on the band to put on an energetic live show—they never disappoint. Established reputation creating dependable expectations.
• We're counting on the lead actress to carry this film. She's the biggest name in the cast. Present continuous—active reliance on star power.
• Streaming services count on original content to attract and retain subscribers. Business strategy depending on specific content.
• You can count on that comedian to make controversial jokes—it's his signature style. Predictable characteristics (can be negative reliability).

• The highly anticipated sequel really let down fans. It lacked the magic of the original film. Disappointing follow-up to successful predecessor.
• The lead singer let down the entire band by missing the recording session without notice. Individual failure affecting collective project.
• After all the hype, the season finale let down viewers with its predictable plot twist. Marketing created expectations that weren't met.
• I feel let down by the streaming service—they canceled my favorite show without proper closure. Business decision creating emotional disappointment.
• The actor let down the director by not learning his lines properly before filming began. Professional preparation failure disappointing collaborators.
• Don't let down your audience. They've been loyal supporters for years. Warning about consequences of disappointing established fans.

• The young actress really takes after her mother, who was a Hollywood star in the 1980s. She has the same screen presence. Entertainment family legacy—similar performance qualities.
• He takes after his grandfather, who was a famous jazz musician. The musical talent clearly runs in the family. Inherited or learned artistic abilities.
• The director's daughter is making films now, and she definitely takes after him in her visual storytelling style. Artistic style inheritance—learned or genetic.
• She takes after her aunt, a Broadway performer, with her powerful singing voice and stage confidence. Multiple inherited performance qualities.
• Critics noted that the actor takes after his famous father not just in looks but in his intense acting style. Both physical and stylistic similarities.
• The dancer takes after her mother's grace and her father's athleticism, creating a unique performance style. Combined inheritance from multiple sources.

• The theater was named after the famous playwright who grew up in the town and later became internationally renowned. Venue naming as permanent tribute to local figure.
• The music award is named after the legendary singer who revolutionized the genre in the 1960s. Award honoring pioneer—perpetuating influence.
• The character in the film was named after the director's childhood friend who inspired the story. Personal tribute embedded in creative work.
• The concert hall was named after its largest donor, a philanthropist who loved classical music. Recognition of financial support and contribution.
• The film festival's lifetime achievement award is named after the actress who founded the festival forty years ago. Institutional honor preserving founder's contribution.
• The production company was named after the producer's daughter, who had always encouraged his creative pursuits. Personal meaning in professional business naming.

• That performance will go down as one of the greatest in cinema history. Critics are already calling it legendary. Immediate recognition of future historical significance.
• The Beatles went down as the most influential rock band of the 20th century. Established historical judgment after time passed.
• The concert went down as a disaster after the sound system failed and the lead singer walked off stage. Negative legacy—memorable for failures.
• She'll go down as a pioneer who broke barriers for women in action films. Legacy of social impact beyond entertainment value.
• That film festival will go down in history as the event that launched dozens of successful careers. Institutional legacy and broader industry influence.
• The TV series finale went down as one of the most controversial endings ever, dividing fans for years. Memorable for controversy—polarizing ensures lasting discussion.

• The two lead actors get along wonderfully, and their on-screen chemistry reflects their genuine friendship. Positive relationship enhancing artistic performance.
• The band broke up because the members couldn't get along anymore. Creative differences turned into personal conflicts. Relationship breakdown ending professional collaboration.
• Directors who get along well with actors tend to bring out better performances. Professional relationship quality affecting artistic outcomes.
• The production was smooth because the entire crew got along and worked as a cohesive team. Collective harmony facilitating efficient work.
• She's known for being easy to get along with, which is why she's constantly hired for projects. Reputation for compatibility as career asset.
• The reality show cast members don't get along, which creates drama that drives ratings. Conflict as entertainment content—lack of harmony serving commercial purpose.

• The film was so slow-paced that several audience members dropped off during the second act. Movie failing to maintain engagement—unintended sleep.
• I tried to watch the documentary, but I kept dropping off. It just couldn't hold my attention. Personal experience of disengagement—content vs fatigue.
• The opera was beautiful, but after a long day at work, I dropped off during the quieter scenes. External factors (tiredness) overcoming interest despite quality.
• The late-night show host joked that if viewers were dropping off, they weren't doing their job right. Self-aware humor about engagement as success metric.
• I always drop off when watching period dramas late at night—something about the slow pace and soft lighting. Genre characteristics plus timing creating sleep.
• Concert organizers schedule intermissions partly because audience members might drop off during very long performances. Event planning acknowledging human attention limitations.

• The orchestra's powerful brass section drowned out the strings during the climactic moment. Balance issue—one section overpowering another.
• The crowd's cheering drowned out the actor's final lines, but their enthusiasm showed how much they loved the performance. Positive reception creating audio challenge.
• In the action film, the explosion sound effects drowned out the dialogue, forcing viewers to rely on subtitles. Sound mixing problem affecting narrative clarity.
• Street noise from outside the theater drowned out the quieter scenes, frustrating the audience. External interference with performance experience.
• The sound designer intentionally used ambient noise to drown out the character's whispered confession, creating mystery. Artistic choice—deliberate audio masking for narrative effect.
• The audience's laughter drowned out the comedian's next joke, forcing him to pause and wait. Successful comedy creating practical timing challenge.

• The audience completely fell for the magician's misdirection, gasping when the reveal came. Successful magic—deception working as intended.
• I fell for the plot twist—I really believed the character was innocent until the final revelation. Narrative surprise—storytelling successfully deceiving viewer.
• The prank show relies on people falling for elaborate setups that seem completely real. Reality entertainment format based on successful deception.
• Critics didn't fall for the film's emotional manipulation—they called it cheap and manipulative. Sophisticated viewers resisting intended effect.
• The comedian's deadpan delivery made everyone fall for his outrageous stories before revealing they were jokes. Comedy technique using deception and misdirection.
• I can't believe I fell for that old movie cliché—of course the villain wasn't really dead! Self-awareness about being deceived by obvious convention.

A: Is your drama club putting on anything this semester?
B: Yes! A musical. You can count on it being great—our director never lets down the audience.
A: I hope the lead actor doesn't show off too much like last time.

A: Have you watched that new sci-fi series?
B: I tried, but I dropped off during episode two. Too slow.
A: Give it another chance—it really grows on you. By episode four it takes off.

A: She really takes after her mother, doesn't she? Same vocal style.
B: Absolutely. Her career took off immediately—she'll go down as one of the greats.
A: The music award is named after her grandmother, actually.

A: The crowd was so loud they drowned out the opening song!
B: I know! But the band and crew get along so well—they handled it perfectly.
A: You can always count on them for a great show.

A: When does the film festival come around again?
B: Next June. Last year's finale let down a lot of people, though.
A: Really? I completely fell for that documentary's twist ending!