Phrasal Verbs
Six phrasal verbs native speakers use when talking about effort, responsibility, and getting ahead at work.
Meaning
To become completely exhausted — physically or mentally — from overwork, often to the point of losing motivation entirely.
Example
"She burned out after six months of nonstop deadlines and had to take a leave of absence."
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Meaning
To accept or agree to handle a task, role, or challenge — often one that involves significant responsibility.
Example
"He took on three new clients at once, which stretched his team pretty thin."
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Meaning
To keep going despite difficulty, resistance, or exhaustion — to complete something even when it gets hard.
Example
"The team pushed through two weeks of setbacks and delivered the project on time."
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Meaning
To fail to keep pace with expected progress, a schedule, or others — to drop below where you should be.
Example
"After missing a week of work, she really fell behind and had to put in overtime to catch up."
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Meaning
To advance to a higher position or level of responsibility within a company or field.
Example
"He moved up quickly because he consistently went above what was expected of him."
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Meaning
To invest time, effort, or work into something — often used when emphasizing the amount of effort required.
Example
"You have to put in the hours early in your career if you want to see results later."
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