Learn 11 practical phrasal verbs inspired by nature to boost your English vocabulary, with clear examples and exercises!
Plant and Growth-Related Phrasal Verbs
Plants and trees are enduring symbols of growth and expansion, making them perfect metaphors for human activities. Here are some examples of phrasal verbs inspired by flora:
This expression describes rapid growth or increase, much like how plants or trees can suddenly shoot up under ideal conditions. It’s often used in contexts like economics or physical growth.
Example: "Housing prices have shot up in recent months." (Los precios de la vivienda se han disparado en los últimos meses).
This means to expand into new areas or explore new activities, just as a tree grows new branches. This phrase is commonly used in professional or creative contexts.
Example: "She decided to branch out into freelance work after years in corporate jobs." (Decidió diversificarse hacia el trabajo autónomo después de años en empleos corporativos).
Removal and Reduction
Nature also inspires expressions related to elimination and reducing, symbolised by the act of pruning plants or uprooting weeds:
To root out is to remove or eliminate something completely, much like pulling a plant out by its roots. This phrase conveys a sense of thoroughness in addressing problems or issues.
Example: "The government is working to root out corruption." (El gobierno está trabajando para eliminar la corrupción de raíz
This phrase refers to reducing or limiting something, like trimming plants or trees to control their growth. It’s often used in financial or resource management contexts.
Example: "They decided to cut back on unnecessary expenses to save money." (Decidieron recortar gastos innecesarios para ahorrar dinero).
Surprise and Emergence
The unpredictable and sudden appearance of plants, mushrooms, or other natural phenomena lends itself to vivid language about surprise and emergence:
To pop up means to appear suddenly or unexpectedly, like mushrooms after a rainstorm. It’s used to describe surprise events, opportunities, or trends.
Example: "New cafes and shops are popping up all over the city." (Surgen nuevos cafés y tiendas por toda la ciudad).
Weather-Related Phrasal Verbs and Mood
Weather is an influential force in our daily lives, often reflecting or shaping our emotional states. Many phrasal verbs inspired by weather capture changes in mood and the resolution of tense situations:
This expression describes a gloomy or worried feeling, resembling the sky darkening before a storm.
Example: "Her face clouded over when she heard the bad news." (Su rostro se nubló al oír las malas noticias).
To brighten up is to feel happier or uplifted, just as the sky clears and becomes sunny.
Example: "He brightened up when he saw his friends." (Se le iluminó el rostro cuando vio a sus amigos).
This phrase evokes the image of a storm’s intensity and speed, used to describe someone leaving a place angrily.
Example: "She stormed out of the room after the argument." (Salió furiosa de la habitación tras la discusión).
Blow over: To blow over means that a tense or negative situation resolves or fades away, much like a storm passes by.
Example: "Thankfully, the disagreement blew over quickly." (Afortunadamente, el desacuerdo se disipó rápidamente).
Water-Related Phrasal Verbs and Emotion
Water is another essential part of nature that carries emotional depth, inspiring phrases that describe the intensity or flow of feelings:
Flood in: This phrase captures the overwhelming arrival of emotions, akin to a flood rushing into a space.
Example: "A wave of relief flooded in when they announced the good news." (Una oleada de alivio inundó el lugar cuando anunciaron la buena noticia).
Well up: To well up means to experience strong emotions rising up, much like water from a spring.
Example: "Tears welled up in her eyes as she thanked everyone for their support." (Se le llenaron los ojos de lágrimas al agradecer a todos su apoyo).
Nature-inspired phrasal verbs are not only linguistically intriguing but also culturally significant. They reflect our deep connection to the environment and how we use natural phenomena to describe human experiences. By incorporating these expressions into everyday language, we enrich our communication with imagery that resonates across cultures.
What are your favorite nature-inspired phrasal verbs, and how could you use them in your everyday language? Practice with the activities below!
Activity 1
Match the phrasal verb with its meaning:
1. Shoot up | a. Feel happier |
2. Cut back (on) | b. Appear suddenly |
3. Pop up | c. remove |
4. Root out | d. grow/ increase |
5. Brighten up | e. reduce/ limit |
Activity 2
Fill in the blanks using the correct phrasal verb from the table above:
Housing prices have ___ in the last six months, making it harder to buy a home.
We need to ____ any unnecessary expenses if we want to save more money.
Several shops have started to ____around the neighbourhood.
The organisation is determined to ___ corruption in the system.
Her mood seemed to ___after she received the good news.
Answers
Activity 1: D 2. E 3. B 4. C 5 A
Activity 2:
Housing prices have shot up in the last six months, making it harder to buy a home.
We need to cut back on any unnecessary expenses if we want to save more money.
Several shops have started to pop up around the neighbourhood.
The organisation is determined to root out corruption in the system.
Her mood seemed to brighten up after she received the good news.