Introduction

Georgie teaches you some phrasal verbs that can be used to talk about health and fitness. 

Phrasal verbs mentioned

warm up
do light exercise or stretches to prepare the body for the main workout

  • Let’s warm up before the race by doing a light jog around the field. 

work out
train your body through exercise

  • I try to work out at least twice a week. It helps to relieve stress. 

cool down
do light exercise or stretches after the main workout to help your muscles recover

  • After running, I cool down by walking for five minutes, then stretching. 

stick to (something) 
continue doing something consistently, even if it’s difficult

  • I’m really proud of my daughter for sticking to her football training programme.

give up
stop doing something and accept defeat

  • After six attempts at jumping two metres and failing, she gave up. 

give (something) up
stop doing or consuming something that’s bad for you 

  • I’ve given up ordering takeaway pizzas because I want to eat more healthily. 

cut down (on)
reduce how much you do or consume something

  • I really need to cut down on sugary snacks after meals if I want to feel healthier. 

cut (something) out
eliminate something from your life completely 

  • Lifting weights was giving me neck pain, so I’ve cut that out of my workout routine. 

TOP TIPS!

  • If you see the word ‘something’, it usually means the verb requires an object.
  • If ‘something’ is in the middle of the phrasal verb, it means that it can be separated by the object (but doesn’t have to be).
  • If ‘something’ is at the end of the phrasal verb, it means it cannot be separated.
  • When a pronoun, e.g. him, her, them, is the object of a separable phrasal verb, it must go between the verb and the particle.