Phrasal Verbs Related to Cause and Effect (a practical, natural guide for B2–C1 English learners)
Did you know that cause and effect sit at the very heart of good English? We use them when we explain why something happened, what it led to, and how one action triggered another. While formal writing frequently depends on expressions like cause, result, lead to, everyday English loves phrasal verbs instead. These phrasal verbs sound natural, fluent, and confident — and they are especially useful in Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced writing, discussions, articles, and spoken explanations. Phrasal verbs related to cause and effect
Let’s explore the most useful phrasal verbs connected to cause and effect, grouped by meaning, with simple explanations and real examples.
Phrasal verbs meaning “cause something to happen”
Bring about
Meaning: To cause something (often a change) to happen. It is neutral to formal; common in essays and reports.
- New policies brought about significant changes in the education system.
- The campaign brought about greater awareness of mental health.
Lead to
Meaning: To result in something; to have a particular consequence. Very common in both spoken and written English.
- Poor communication often leads to confusions.
- Regular practice leads to steady improvement.
Result in
Meaning: To cause something to happen as an outcome. It is formal; useful in academic or exam writing.
- The mistake resulted in serious delays.
- Overworking can result in burnout.
Give rise to
Meaning: To cause something new to appear or develop.
- The decision gave rise to broad criticism.
- Social media has given rise to new career paths.
Phrasal verbs meaning “start a chain reaction”
Set off
Meaning: To trigger something suddenly.
- His comment set off an argument.
- The alarm was set off by accident.
Spark off
Meaning: To start something (often a debate, reaction, or trend).
- The article sparked off a public discussion.
- One small rumour sparked off panic.
Kick off
Meaning: To begin suddenly or energetically.
- The meeting kicked off with a heated debate.
- Protests kicked off across the city.
Phrasal verbs meaning “have an effect on something”
Bring on
Meaning: To cause an unpleasant condition or feeling.
- Stress can bring on headaches.
- Cold weather often brings on colds.
Take its toll (on)
Meaning: To gradually cause damage or harm over time.
- Long working hours are taking their toll on her health.
- Years of stress took their toll.
Wear down
Meaning: To weaken someone physically or mentally over time.
- The pressure eventually wore him down.
- Constant criticism can wear people down.
Phrasal verbs meaning “cause problems or negative results”
Mess up
Meaning: To cause something to go wrong. Informal, very common.
- One mistake messed up the entire plan.
- He messed up by forgetting the deadline.
Backfire
Meaning: To have the opposite effect to what was intended.
- Her attempt to impress the boss backfired.
- The joke completely backfired.
Blow up
Meaning: To suddenly cause trouble, anger, or conflict.
- A small issue blew up into a major argument.
- The story blew up online overnight.
Phrasal verbs meaning “reduce or stop an effect”
Bring down
Meaning: To reduce something (numbers, levels, intensity).
- New measures brought down inflation.
- She managed to bring down her stress levels.
Calm down
Meaning: To make a situation or person less intense.
- The teacher calmed the class down.
- Take a moment to calm down before responding.
Ease off
Meaning: To become less strong or intense.
- The rain finally eased off.
- Tensions eased off after the agreement.
Final tip for learners
When writing essays or speaking in exams, try mixing one or two phrasal verbs with more formal vocab. This proportion shows range, control, and natural English — exactly what examiners love.
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