Phrasal Verb - Drying Up
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.Definition
The phrasal verb 'dry up' is a conative verb meaning to suddenly stop talking or speaking, especially because of nervousness or fear. It is often used in informal settings, and it is often associated with children who become suddenly silent or stop speaking in a social setting due to intimidation or stress.
Examples
| No. | Example |
|---|---|
| 1 | The child suddenly dried up and stopped speaking when their mom's friend walked into the room. |
| 2 | She dried up when asked to recite her poem in front of the whole class. |
| 3 | He dried up when the teacher asked him to give a presentation in front of the entire school. |
| 4 | As soon as she saw her ex-boyfriend at the party, she dried up and couldn't speak a word. |
| 5 | When confronted by the police, he dried up and stopped talking, citing his right to remain silent. |
| 6 | The volunteer shook her head and dried up when asked to help the troubled young girl. |
| 7 | Mickey Mouse dried up when it was his turn to sing in front of all his friends. |
| 8 | Mazy's confidence seemed to dry up when she got stuck in traffic to reach her interview on time. |
| 9 | Bertha dried up when asked about her family history and mishaps. |
| 10 | Due to uncertainty about the future, Sarah dried up when asked what she wanted for her birthday. |