English phrasal verbs for talking about our pets.
Lots of my students share their homes with animals and the subject of pets often pops up in small talk. In fact sometimes the pets briefly join us in conversation class. My cat has a habit of leaping up onto my desk to dribble on my laptop at 1pm everyday. While it would be nice to think she was meow-ing hello to my students, she is usually just reminding me that she is hungry.
Anyway, for many of us, pets are part of our lives, so today I’ve got some phrasal verbs for talking about our furry, feathery and sometimes scaly (one student has a pet bearded dragon lizard) friends. I’ve included the meaning and an example sentence for each verb.
To bond with
Definition: To develop a close relationship or connection with someone, especially a pet.
Example: She spends a lot of time playing with her cat to bond with him.
To take in
Definition: To adopt or bring a pet into your home.
Example: The shelter took in several stray dogs last week.
To look after
Definition: To take care of or be responsible for someone or something, such as a pet.
Example: She looks after her neighbour's fish when they're on holiday.
To let out
Definition: To allow a pet to leave a confined space, such as a room or a cage.
Example: He lets his dog out into the garden every morning.
To clean up after
Definition: To remove or tidy up mess or waste left by a pet.
Example: It's important to clean up after your dog when you take them for a walk.
To put down
Definition: To euthanise a sick or injured animal.
Example: The vet had to put down the old dog because of its poor health.
To settle in
Definition: To become comfortable or familiar with a new environment, especially for a pet in a new home.
Example: It took the rescue cat a few days to settle in and feel at ease in her new surroundings.
To run around
Definition: To move quickly and playfully in various directions, often describing a pet's behavior.
Example: The puppy was so excited to run around in the park.
To curl up
Definition: To position oneself in a comfortable, curled-up position, often used to describe a pet's behavior when resting.
Example: After playing outside, the cat curled up on the sofa for a nap.
