9 English Phrasal Verbs With 'DRAW'

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9 phrasal verbs with 'DRAW'

Draw back

1. Retreat, move backwards
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: He DREW BACK when the dog barked.

Draw down

1. Reduce levels
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: The administration want to DRAW DOWN troop numbers as soon as they can.
2. Get funding
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: The college wants to DRAW DOWN extra funding for IT provision.
3. To deplete by consumption or heavy spending
   (Separable [optional] | American English)
   
   » Example: Gas reserves were DRAWN DOWN in the recent cold spell.

Draw even

1. Equalize one’s competitive position
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The exhausted horse DREW EVEN at the finish line.

Draw in

1. Get dark earlier
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The nights are DRAWING IN now it's winter.
2. Arrive at a station (for trains)
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The train DREW IN and we got off.

Draw into

1. Get involved in something unpleasant
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I didn't want to take sides because I didn't want to get DRAWN INTO their arguments.

Draw on

1. Pass slowly (time)
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: As the lesson DREW ON, the students started to get bored.
2. Inhale smoke from a cigarette, cigar, etc
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: He DREW ON his cigarette and coughed.
3. Exploit or use knowledge, skills or information for a specific purpose or aim
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: The training DRAWS ON the expertise of various people.

Draw out

1. Make something continue longer than needed
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: The director DREW the meeting OUT with a lengthy speech.
2. Make a shy person more outgoing
   (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
   
   » Example: He was so quiet at first, but the teacher managed to DRAW him OUT and get him to participate.

Draw up

1. Prepare a contract
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: The contract was DRAWN UP by our solicitor.
2. When a vehicle stops
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The police car DREW UP alongside him at the red lights and asked him to pull over.

Draw upon

1. Exploit or use knowledge, skills or information for a specific purpose or aim
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I DREW UPON my previous experience to find the solution.

Take our Exercise on 'DRAW'