Phrasal Verbs As Nouns

 

You can “start up” a company (phrasal verb) or work in a “start-up” (phrasal noun) – a small company.

When a phrasal verb becomes a phrasal noun, does the verb sometimes come first, like “start-up”; and sometimes the preposition come first, such as “upbringing”?

Can a hyphen be used between the noun and the preposition (“start-up”) and be written it as one word (“startup”)? 

Are Hyphenated nouns considered more formal than one word? 

Bring up = upbringing

Rise up = uprising

 

25 Common Phrasal Nouns

 

blackout = when there is no electricity
What can cause a blackout in an area?

= when news is not reported
Why would a news blackout be imposed during a trial?

breakdown = when something stops working

Have you ever had to call a breakdown recovery service because your car broke down? 

What kinds of issues could cause a breakdown in negotiations between two opposite parties?

= when something is divided into smaller parts

How can getting a breakdown of your costs help you run your business better?

= when you suffer from depression and you can’t function

What can you do to avoid a nervous breakdown during moments of hardship and pressure?

break-in = when burglars enter your house by force
“This area suffers a lot of break-ins.”

Are there lots of break-ins in your area? What can be done about break-ins in an area?

burnout = when you’ve worked too hard for too long and you stop feeling happy in your job

What can cause a burnout in a person? How can you avoid a burnout?

check-up = a medical exam

How often do you go for a check-up? When was the last time you went for a check- up?

comeback = when you try to become famous or important again

Do you know of any music groups that are trying to make a comeback? How can their comeback be successsful?

crackdown = when the authorities become very strict about something

What kind of behaviour needs a crackdown on?

downturn = a reduction (often in finances)

What are the reasons behind the current economic downturn?

dropout = someone who leaves school or university early
Why would a young person becme a drop-out?

flashback = when you get a sudden memory from the past

Do you ever get any flashbacks from the past?

handout = something that is given to you – like a document or other type of support

What kinds of handouts did you receive in your English classes at school? 

What do you think about many people depending of state handouts to cover their basic necessities?

hang-up = a psychological anxiety about yourself

How can you help a young person get over their hang-ups about their looks?

kick-off = when a ball game like football or rugby starts

What happens right before the kick-off of a football match?

let-down = a disappointment

Describe some things that you consider a let-down in a relationship?

makeover = a complete change to make something / someone more attractive

Describe your ideal makeover for your house.

meet-up = where you meet people (longer than a meeting – often hours or days)

What is the best way to attend a meet-up that is organised for socialising and practising your English skills?

outbreak = when there are lots of cases of a particular illness

How has the world changed after the outbreak of the Corona-virus?

outburst = when someone shows great emotion (especially anger)

How would you deal with your boss/parent who was having an outburst due to a mistake you had made?

outcome = result

Why is it essential to do things differently if we want a different outcome?

rip-off = when something costs too much money

Describe some products of companies that you consider are a rip-off.

shout-out = when you publicly praise someone

Who would you give a shout-out to after receiving an award on a stage?

show-off = a person who does things to get attention

Why should we avoid being a show-off?

tip-off = secret information

How difficult would it be for the police to catch criminals without getting a tip-off?

turnover = the amount of money a company generates

How can you increase the turnover of your company?

workaround = a partial solution to a problem

Why should we never be complacent after finding a workaround for a problem?