Top 50 Phrasal Verbs & C1 Idioms for Cambridge CAE, IELTS Speaking & Business English
Mastering phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions is the fastest way to elevate your English from intermediate (B1) to advanced (C1) fluency in exams and international workplaces.
- Both IELTS Speaking Band 7.0+ descriptors and Cambridge C1 Advanced Use of English explicitly reward the natural use of phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions.
- Mind the register: phrasal verbs shine in Speaking and workplace meetings, whereas formal academic essays (IELTS Writing Task 2) prefer single-verb equivalents (e.g., "put off" -> "postpone", "bring about" -> "generate").
1. How Phrasal Verbs Work & How to Learn Them by Particle
Instead of memorizing random alphabetical lists, group phrasal verbs by their particle logic or business context. For instance, the particle "up" often signals completion or creation (set up, wrap up, draw up), while "off" frequently denotes cancellation or delay (put off, call off, hold off).
2. High-Impact C1 Idioms for Speaking & Business Meetings
Skip outdated textbook clichés like "raining cats and dogs". Instead, use natural C1 expressions that native speakers actually use: "a double-edged sword", "to be on the same page", "to cut corners", "to see eye to eye", "the tip of the iceberg", and "to hit the nail on the head".
| Phrasal Verb / Idiom | Formal Academic Equivalent | Georgian Meaning | Example in Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bring about | Cause / Generate | გამოწვევა (ცვლილების) | AI has brought about major shifts in education. |
| Come up with | Formulate / Propose | მოფიქრება (იდეის, გეგმის) | She came up with an innovative solution. |
| Put up with | Tolerate / Endure | შეგუება / ატანა | We cannot put up with delays any longer. |
| Look into | Investigate / Examine | გამოკვლევა / შესწავლა | The committee is looking into the issue. |
| Point out | Indicate / Highlight | აღნიშვნა / მითითება | As the report points out, exports rose by 12%. |
| A double-edged sword | A phenomenon with dual implications | ორმხრივი მოვლენა | Social media is a double-edged sword for teenagers. |
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