Phrasal verbs in IT

Phrasal verbs are widely used in the field of information technology (IT) and are an important part of technical vocabulary. They can include both basic verbs and specific terms. These verbs are not translated literally, which can cause misunderstandings and confusion.

So, what is a phrasal verb? In English, a phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (a preposition, an adverb, or both) forming a stable phrase with a new, often idiomatic meaning (e.g., give away, break down, carry on). Phrasal verbs are very common in English and are frequently used in spoken language.

Phrasal verbs in English can be difficult to learn for several reasons:

• The meaning of a phrasal verb often cannot be understood simply by knowing the meanings of the individual words. For example, the meaning of "hook up" (“to connect”, “to join”) is hard to derive from the separate meanings of "hook" (“to catch”, “to trap”) and "up".

We need to hook up the new printer to the network.

• One phrasal verb can have multiple meanings depending on the context. For example, "take off" can mean “to take flight” (as for an airplane) or “to become successful”.

The plane is scheduled to take off at 7:00 AM.

The company I’m working for has really taken off in recent years.

• Phrasal verbs can have different prepositions or adverbs that change their meaning. For example, "look up" (“to search for information”) and "look into" (“to investigate”, “to consider”) have completely different meanings.

I need to look up the syntax for this programming language before I can continue coding.

I'll look into the issue with the server and get back to you.

• Some phrasal verbs can be separable, meaning the particle can stand either before or after the object. Other verbs are inseparable, and the particle always remains with the verb. For example, "turn off the computer" (or "turn the computer off") is separable; "run into some information" is inseparable.

In this article, we will explore phrasal verbs that are highly relevant to technology. The digital age has given rise to numerous new words and phrases in English as the world of technology rapidly evolves, often becoming more informal. The language of technology is rich not only in phrasal verbs but also in new nouns derived from these verbs. You will learn about both in this article.

Getting Started

A desktop computer needs to be plugged in (“connected to the main electricity supply”), turned on (“started”), and after a few seconds, it will power up (“begin to operate”). Any computer needs some time to boot up (“get ready to run programs”) and start working. 

Make sure to plug in your laptop before the battery dies.

Please turn on the monitor so we can start the presentation.

Press the button to power up the device and begin the setup process.

It usually takes a few minutes for the computer to boot up after you turn it on.

To access your account, you need to log in, which literally means "to enter a code, key, or password" for access. This verb is also commonly used as a noun—login, referring to a set of characters made up of letters and numbers that identify a user of a computer or computer network. "Sign in" can also be used interchangeably with "log in" in the context of information technology. 

Please log in to your email account to check for new messages.

After entering your username and password, click the 'Login' button to access your account.

You need to sign in to the project management software to update your tasks and progress.

To have a new application on your computer, users need to set up (“install”) the program. Then, simply click on (“press a button on the mouse”) the program icon or image to launch it. 

Before using the new printer, you'll need to set up the drivers and configure the settings.

To open the document, click on the file icon and then select 'Open' from the dropdown menu.

After opening the application, select commands from the menu. The menu is located at the top of the screen in a pulldown or dropdown panel — nouns derived from the phrasal verbs "pull down" and "drop down". 

To access additional options, click on the pulldown menu located at the top-right corner of the screen."

When you hover over the dropdown list, you'll see a variety of choices to select from.

To view information, you can use your mouse to scroll up or down (“move information on a computer screen up or down”) the page. 

To see earlier messages in the chat, you can scroll up using the scrollbar on the right.

To read more of the article, simply scroll down with your mouse or trackpad.

Storage

To prevent stressful situations, users should always back up their files by copying them to another location, such as an external drive or a cloud storage service. The phrasal verb "back up" has given rise to the noun "backup", meaning "a copy" or "the process of copying". Users who store many large files on their computers can quickly run out of space (“you will not have enough room available on your computer”), so storing files on an additional hard drive is a good idea. You can also print out necessary documents.

It's essential to back up your important files regularly to prevent data loss.

She realized she had run out of time to complete the project before the deadline.

Put your backups in a safe place.

Could you print out the meeting agenda for everyone in the office?

Potential Issues

Even when you use passwords, hackers, unfortunately, often find ways to hack into them (“get into your computer system without permission”). A hack can cause systems to go down (“stops working”), and all existing information to be wiped out (“destroyed completely”).

The cybercriminals tried to hack into the company's database but were thwarted by the security team.

The server will go down for maintenance at midnight, so save your work before then.

A severe malware attack could wipe out all the data on the company's servers, leading to significant downtime and loss of information.

If there are issues preventing you from carrying out (“doing”, “completing”) tasks, you need to figure out (“understand”) the cause. Sometimes, a user cannot access the necessary information because the content was taken down, or the system simply locked up and is temporarily unresponsive. In an IT context, "take down" typically refers to the action of making a system, service, or piece of content unavailable or offline. When a computer, application, or system locks up, it becomes unresponsive and stops functioning properly, similar to freezing. If the system does not respond to any actions, it is recommended to hold on (“wait”) patiently for a bit and then try to reload the page.   

The IT team will carry out the updates overnight.

The website was taken down for maintenance.

We need to figure out why the application is crashing.

My computer locks up whenever I try to open that program.

Hold on for a moment while I check the system for any updates.

Annoying Advertisements

Internet advertisements or pop-up ads appear ("pop up") on the screen over the web page. The noun derived from this phrasal verb, "popup", is quite commonly used.

New software updates frequently pop up on my computer, prompting me to install them.

Make sure to disable the popup blocker when filling out online forms that open in new windows.

Another example of a phrasal verb that has become a noun is "plug in”, which means "to plug something into an outlet". Nowadays, we add small programs to perform specific tasks on the computer and call them "plugins".

I forgot to plug in my laptop last night, so the battery is almost dead.

You can enhance your website's functionality by installing a security plugin.

When we sign up for a website or platform, we key in (“enter”) our email address. We may then be asked to opt in (“choose to be part of something”) to receive promotional emails. Many users try to filter out (“prevent certain content from being displayed“) all messages from advertisers, also known as spam.

If you want to receive our newsletter, please sign up on our website.

He had to key in all the data manually because the automatic upload failed.

Customers must opt in to receive promotional emails from the company.

The email system uses advanced algorithms to filter out spam messages.

Getting Off The Grid

Getting off the grid in the IT context refers to disconnecting from the internet, networks, or any digital communication systems. So if you are tired of working or simply overwhelmed by advertisements, just log out (“stop being connected to a computer system“). The phrasal verb “log off” can be used interchangeably with “log out”. After that just shut down (you can also say “turn off”) your computer, and finally, “go offline” (“disconnect from the internet or a network”).

Mark decided to get off the grid for a while, disconnecting from social media and enjoying a technology-free retreat in the mountains.

Remember to log out of your account when you're done using the shared computer.

It's important to log off your workstation at the end of the day for security reasons.

Please shut down your computer properly to avoid any data loss.

Don't forget to turn off your monitor before you leave the office.

James decided to go offline for the vacation to take a break from work.

Of course, everyday life in the IT field is not limited to these phrasal verbs; there are many more. They cover a wide range of actions and situations encountered by IT professionals, so don't stop with just these verbs and strive to enlarge your vocabulary.

Understanding and using phrasal verbs is an essential part of learning English. They are particularly useful for effectively describing actions, processes, and situations that arise when working with technology. Mastering these verbs aids in understanding the tasks required when working with computer systems and software. Additionally, phrasal verbs enhance communication with other professionals in the IT field. Using the correct terms increases clarity and helps avoid misunderstandings during collaborative projects. This proficiency also makes it easier to navigate technical documentation, manuals, and other resources.