Some English common Bear phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are one of the important grammatical items you need to master if you want to communicate effectively and achieve high scores in practical English exams. Let's take a look at the meanings and common uses of some of the most common Bear phrasal verbs that you can keep in mind with PREP!

I. Some common Bear phrasal verbs

Bear down, bear up, bear away, and other Bear phrasal verbs are common in English. Let's explore their meanings and usage together with PREP!

1. Bear down

Bear down is a common Bear phrasal verb with in English. What does "Bear down" mean and in what contexts is it used? Let's find out with PREP!

• Bear down: to press or push down forcefully. Example: Let’s bear down on it with all your strength so it doesn’t move. 
• Bear down: to defeat, overpower, or exert maximum effort to accomplish something. Example: We’re giving up too many points – we have to bear down. 
• Bear down on: to move forcefully or aggressively towards something. Example: She spotted him on the other side of the room and bore down on him.

2. Bear up

Bear up is the next Bear phrasal verb that we will explore together in this article. What does "Bear up" mean? This phrasal verb implies "to have resilience, to stay as cheerful as possible during difficult times." For example:

• She’s bearing up well under the strain of losing her job. 
• “How has he been since the funeral?” “Oh, he’s bearing up.” 

3. Bear away

What does Bear away mean? How is the phrasal verb "Bear away" used? Refer to the examples below to understand the meaning and application of this phrasal verb in communication and English exams:

• Bear away: to steer a boat away from the wind. Example: To bear away from the wind, you must move your body weight to the other side of the board. 
• Bear away: to take or carry something or someone away. Example: If he could, he would steal the letter and bear it away. 

4. Bear with

What does Bear with mean? In what contexts is the phrasal verb "Bear with" used? "Bear with" means "to be patient and wait while someone does something." Here is a specific example:

• Just bear with me while I finish downloading this file. 
• Bear with me a minute, and I’ll check if Mr Garrard’s in. 

5. Bear in on/upon

What does Bear in on/upon mean? The phrasal verb "Bear in on/upon" carries the meaning of "to understand, to realize." To know how to use this phrasal verb correctly, let's refer to some related examples with PREP:

• Suddenly it was borne in on Mary that she was becoming too old to start a new career. 
• It was borne in on Linda that she was becoming too late to start a business. 

6. Bear on

What does Bear on mean? The phrasal verb "Bear on" in English has different meanings depending on the context. Let's refer to the following examples with PREP to understand how to use "Bear on" correctly:

• Bear on: to have an influence or impact. Example: The judge’s character may well bear on the final decision. 
• Bear on: to be relevant or related to. Example: They are trying to get information bearing on the accident.

7. Bear out

"Bear out" is an English phrasal verb, meaning "to confirm, verify, or prove." It is used to provide support or evidence for something. Here are two illustrative examples to help you understand how to use "bear out":

• If you tell them what happened I will bear you out on it. 
• Statistics bear out the government’s positions on the issue. 

II. Exercises on Bear phrasal verbs with detailed answers

To remember the meanings and proficiently use the phrasal verbs with "Bear" in English, you need to practice regularly. Test your knowledge with the following exercises to assess your understanding!

Exercise: Choose the correct answer:

1. The other witnesses will____________what I say.
   1. bear out
   2. bear with
   3. bear up
   4. bear down
2. How is Carmine____________since his wife died?
   1. bearing on on
   2. bearing away
   3. bearing up
   4. bearing down
3. I knew I had to____________hard in order to hit the ball.
   1. bear on
   2. bear down
   3. bear up
   4. bear out
4. These are matters that____________the welfare of the community.
   1. bear on
   2. bear up
   3. bear away
   4. bear in upon
5. Please____________me please while I finish my explanation.
   1. bear down
   2. bear on
   3. bear with
   4. bear up

Answer key:

• A
• C
• B
• A
• C

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