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Difficulty: HardPhrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

Match each phrasal verb on the left with its correct contextual meaning on the right as used in standard formal English.

  • Ferret outUncover or discover information through persistent investigation
  • Cotton on toComprehend or grasp an idea after a period of uncertainty
  • Frown uponDisapprove of or regard an action with objection
  • Tide overProvide temporary support to help survive a challenging period

Answer

'Ferret out' matches with discovering information through persistent investigation; 'Cotton on to' matches with comprehending an idea after uncertainty; 'Frown upon' matches with regarding an action with disapproval; 'Tide over' matches with providing temporary support during a challenging period.
Each phrasal verb is accurately matched to its precise standard definition: 'ferret out' denotes persistent searching, 'cotton on to' denotes eventual comprehension, 'frown upon' denotes disapproval, and 'tide over' denotes temporary assistance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the figurative meaning of 'ferret out'.
'Ferret out' comes from the hunting habits of ferrets, idiomatically meaning to search out and reveal carefully concealed facts.
Connecting the idiomatic verb to careful investigation matches it directly to discovering hidden information.
2
Analyze the meaning of 'cotton on to'.
'Cotton on to' is an established phrasal verb meaning to grasp or come to understand a situation after initial confusion.
This pairs directly with understanding an idea after uncertainty.
3
Determine the usage of 'frown upon'.
'Frown upon' is a prepositional verb used to convey disapproval of an act or practice.
This corresponds directly to viewing an action with objection.
4
Identify the contextual function of 'tide over'.
'Tide over' means offering assistance sufficient to carry someone through a temporary hardship.
This matches providing temporary support to survive a challenging period.

Key Concept

Idiomatic phrasal verbs and prepositional verb semantics in formal register
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Topics

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

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