Here you will learn English phrasal verbs related to natural disasters.
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Harry
Phrasal Verbs related to Natural Disasters
Hi there this is Harry, welcome back to my English learning podcast where I try to help you with your understanding of the English language, some phrasal verbs, some expressions, English idioms – whatever it takes to help you communicate in English slightly better.
In this podcast episode you’re going to learn English phrasal verbs related to natural disasters. These phrasal verbs you can, of course, use in relation to any type of natural disaster – floods, volcanoes, storms – they are connected to all types of disasters.
Intermediate to Advanced English Marathon
INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
to sweep through/over
Meaning: to move very fast through an area and take everything in its path
Example:
The heavy rains and the floods swept through the valley.
Australia bushfires swept through the dry forest, burning everything in its way.
to rip through
Meaning: to move or spread very powerfully through an area and destroy or damage things on its way
Example:
Parts of the country are damaged after severe weather ripped through the area on Tuesday morning and afternoon.
to be caught up in something
Meaning: to be trapped or to be in the middle of some unpleasant situation and find it very hard to get out of it
Example:
Many people had to abandon their homes as their villages and towns were caught up in the middle of the firestorm.
So caught up means either surrounded or burnt out, and the people were lucky to escape in, hopefully, most of the cases. But in some unfortunate situations, they weren’t so lucky, so they were caught up in the firestorm, caught up in the flooding, caught up in the earthquake.
With all of those natural disasters, we can use the same phrasal verb.
to wipe out
Meaning: to destroy something completely
Example:
The fires were so strong and hard so many acres of forestland were completely wiped out.
The floods wiped out the entire village.
As the water came down the valley, it burst the banks of the river and wiped out an entire village.
Phrasal Verbs related to Natural Disasters
to cave in
Meaning: to collapse under the weight, to fall into a big hole
Example:
The river bank caves in with the force of water.
The roof of the house caved in during the fire.
to head for
Meaning: to move toward someone or something
Example:
The flames are heading for the next village. They will continue to head for the coast the way the wind is blowing.
Meaning: to get out, to evacuate, to flee or run away
Example:
Head for the beach to get rescued by the navy.
to be cut off
Meaning: to be surrounded that there’s no escape
Example:
The village was cut off from the rest of the community when the water swept through and the bridge broke.
The intense flames and the heat cut off the only exit route.
The fire and flames were all over, and the only escape route was cut off.
So there are phrasal verbs realted to natural disasters:
- to sweep through
- to sweep over
- to rip through
- to be caught up in something
- to wipe out
- to cave in
- to head for
- to be cut off
Hopefully the people in the middle of natural disasters are not suffering too long.
More information
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
How to ask for clarification in English?
English phrasal verbs related to WEATHER
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