Choose the option that can best replace the underlined phrasal verb:
For a whole week, the doctors at the district hospital could not pin down the cause of her fever.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → ascertain
A phrasal verb is a verb joined with a small word such as up, out or together. The two words together have a new meaning.
Pin down means to find out for sure what something is. Its closest meaning is ascertain. Example: The mechanic finally pinned down the reason for the strange noise.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) conceal | to hide something | The thief concealed the gold chain in his shoe. |
| (2) eliminate | to remove or get rid of something completely | The new filter eliminates most germs from the water. |
| (3) ascertain (answer) | to find out something for certain (same as pin down) | The police are trying to ascertain who started the fire. |
| (4) investigate | to examine something carefully to find out the facts | The committee will investigate the complaint about the canteen food. |