Unit 2: Phrasal Verbs of Seduction

The Art of the Graft

💋 Time to put the graft in!

Phrasal verbs are the absolute bane of every English learner's life. But if you want to understand what the locals are whispering about in the smoking area of the club, you have to know them. Are you trying to crack on with someone, or are you just going to stand in the corner like a lemon? Let's master the verbs that get results.

📖 Survival Glossary: Intro Edition

1. The Cheeky Dictionary: 8 Phrasal Verbs for Friday Night

Chat (someone) up: To flirt with someone by talking to them.
Make out (with someone): To kiss passionately for a long time.
Lead (someone) on: To give someone false hope about a romantic interest.
Hit on (someone): To show someone you are sexually attracted to them.
Hook up (with someone): To have a casual sexual encounter (or at least a heavy snog).
Settle down: To commit to a serious, long-term relationship (boring!).
Sack (someone) off: To abruptly ditch or end things with someone.
Ask (someone) out: To invite someone on a formal date.

Practice: Drag the correct phrasal verb into the sentences!

ask out
chat up
hit on
hook up
lead on
make out
sack off
settle down

1. I'm too young to ; I want to enjoy being single!

2. Did you see that guy trying to the bartender? It was painful to watch.

3. It's cruel to a bloke if you have no intention of dating him.

4. I think I'm going to my date tonight, I'd rather stay home and watch Netflix.

5. He finally got the courage to his crush.

Comic Panel 2

2. Grammar Mechanics: Keep 'em Separated?

Some phrasal verbs let you put the object (the person you are pulling) directly in the middle. Others are clingy and refuse to be separated.

Type The Rule Cheeky Example
Separable If using a pronoun (him/her/it/them), it MUST go in the middle. "I chatted him up."
(NOT: I chatted up him.)
Inseparable The verb and preposition stay together forever. "I hit on her."
(NOT: I hit her on. That sounds violent!)

3. Reading: The Morning Debrief

Notice how Leo and Sam use pronouns with their phrasal verbs!

Leo: Mate, what a messy night. Did you end up going home with that girl you were chatting up?
Sam: Nah. I tried to ask her out for a drink next week, but she totally sacked me off.
Leo: Gutted! I thought she was well into you.
Sam: Yeah, I think she was just leading me on for free drinks. Anyway, what about you?
Leo: I didn't hook up with anyone, but someone did hit on me at the kebab shop.
Sam: Who?!
Leo: The guy slicing the doner meat. Free extra garlic mayo for me! 🥙

4. Interactive Practice: Don't Mess It Up

Exercise A: Pronoun Placement

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

1.

2.

3.

Exercise B: Complete the Preposition

Type the missing word (up, on, off, out).

1. He tried to chat me , but his banter was terrible.

2. We went to the back row of the cinema and made .

3. Stop hitting the bartender, she is working!

5. Speaking Practice: Spilling the Tea ☕

Use your new vocab to answer these scandalous questions with your language partner.

  1. Have you ever had to sack someone off mid-date? What was your excuse?
  2. Do you think it's obvious when someone is trying to chat you up, or are you completely oblivious?
  3. What is the worst way someone could possibly ask you out?
  4. Have you ever accidentally led someone on because you were just being polite?
  5. At what age do you think people should stop partying every weekend and finally settle down?
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