phrasal verbs made easy

7/30/2019 Phrasal Verbs Made Easy

1/14

Verb Meaning Example

asksomeoneout invite on a dateBrian asked Judy out to dinnerand a movie.

ask around ask many people the same questionI asked around but nobodyhas seen my wallet.

add up tosomething equalYour purchases add up to$205.32.

backup reverseYou'll have to back up yourcar so that I can get out.

backsomeoneup supportMy wife backed me up overmy decision to quit my job.

blow up explodeThe racing carblew up after itcrashed into the fence.

blowsomethingup add airWe have to blow 50 balloonsup for the party.

break down stop functioning (vehicle, machine)Our carbroke down at theside of the highway in thesnowstorm.

break down get upsetThe woman broke down whenthe police told her that her sonhad died.

breaksomethingdown divide into smaller partsOur teacherbroke the final

project down into threeseparate parts.

break in force entry to a buildingSomebody broke in last nightand stole our stereo.

break intosomething enter forciblyThe firemen had to break intothe room to rescue thechildren.

breaksomethinginwear something a few times so that itdoesn't look/feel new

I need to breakthese shoes inbefore we run next week.

break in interruptThe TV station broke in toreport the news of the

president's death.

break up end a relationshipMy boyfriend and I broke up

before I moved to America.

break up start laughing (informal) The kids just broke up as soonas the clown started talking.

break out escapeThe prisoners broke out of jailwhen the guards weren't


2/14

looking.

break out insomething develop a skin conditionI broke out in a rash after ourcamping trip.

bringsomeonedown make unhappyThis sad music is bringing medown.

bringsomeoneup raise a childMy grandparents brought meup after my parents died.

bringsomethingup start talking about a subjectMy mother walks out of theroom when my fatherbringsup sports.

bringsomethingup vomitHe drank so much that hebrought his dinnerup in thetoilet.

call around phone many different places/peopleWe called around but weweren't able to find the car partwe needed.

callsomeoneback return a phone callI called the company backbutthe offices were closed for theweekend.

callsomethingoff cancelJason called the wedding off

because he wasn't in love withhis fianc.

call onsomeone ask for an answer or opinionThe professorcalled on me forquestion 1.

call onsomeone visit someoneWe called on you last night

but you weren't home.

callsomeoneup phoneGive me your phone numberand I will call you up when weare in town.

calm down relax after being angryYou are still mad. You need tocalm down before you drivethe car.

not care forsomeone/something

not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.

catch up get to the same point as someone elseYou'll have to run faster thanthat if you want to catch upwith Marty.

check in arrive and register at a hotel or airport We will get the hotel keyswhen we check in.

check out leave a hotel You have to check out of the


3/14

hotel before 11:00 AM.

checksomeone/something

outlook at carefully, investigate

The company checks out allnew employees.

check outsomeone/something

look at (informal)Check out the crazy hair onthat guy!

cheer up become happierShe cheered up when sheheard the good news.

cheersomeoneup make happierI brought you some flowers tocheer you up.

chip in helpIf everyone chips in we canget the kitchen painted bynoon.

cleansomethingup tidy, clean

Please clean up your bedroom

before you go outside.

come acrosssomething find unexpectedlyI came across these old photoswhen I was tidying the closet.

come apart separateThe top and bottom comeapart if you pull hard enough.

come down withsomething become sickMy nephew came down withchicken pox this weekend.

come forward volunteer for a task or to give evidenceThe woman came forwardwith her husband's finger

prints.

come from somewhere originate inThe art of origami comes fromAsia.

count onsomeone/something

rely onI am counting on you to makedinner while I am out.

crosssomethingout draw a line through

Please cross out your old

address and write your newone.

cut back onsomething consume lessMy doctor wants me to cutback on sweets and fattyfoods.

cutsomethingdown make something fall to the groundWe had to cut the old tree inour yard down after the storm.

cut in interruptYour fathercut in while I was

dancing with your uncle.

cut inpull in too closely in front of anothervehicle

The bus driver got angry whenthat carcut in.


4/14

cut instart operating (of an engine or electricaldevice)

The air conditionercuts inwhen the temperature gets to22C.

cutsomethingoff remove with something sharpThe doctors cut offhis leg

because it was severelyinjured.

cutsomethingoff stop providingThe phone company cut offour phone because we didn't

pay the bill.

cutsomeoneoff take out of a willMy grandparents cut my fatheroffwhen he remarried.

cutsomethingoutremove part of something (usually withscissors and paper)

I cut this ad out of thenewspaper.

dosomeone/somethingover beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal)He's lucky to be alive. Hisshop was done over by a streetgang.

dosomethingover do again (N.Amer.)My teacher wants me to do myessay over because she doesn'tlike my topic.

do away withsomething discardIt's time to do away with all ofthese old tax records.

dosomethingup fasten, close

Do your coat up before you go

outside. It's snowing!

dress up wear nice clothingIt's a fancy restaurant so wehave to dress up.

drop back move back in a position/groupAndrea dropped backto third

place when she fell off herbike.

drop in/by/over come without an appointmentI might drop in/by/over fortea sometime this week.

dropsomeone/somethingofftake someone/something somewhere andleave them/it there

I have to drop my sisteroffatwork before I come over.

drop out quit a class, school etcI dropped out of Science

because it was too difficult.

eat out eat at a restaurantI don't feel like cookingtonight. Let's eat out.

end up eventually reach/do/decideWe ended up renting a movie

instead of going to the theatre.

fall apart break into piecesMy new dress fell apart in thewashing machine.


5/14

fall down fall to the groundThe picture that you hung uplast night fell down thismorning.

fall out separate from an interiorThe money must have fallenout of my pocket.

fall out (of hair, teeth) become loose andunattached His hair started to fall outwhen he was only 35.

figuresomethingout understand, find the answerI need to figure out how to fitthe piano and the bookshelf inthis room.

fillsomethingin to write information in blanks (Br.E.)Please fill in the form withyour name, address, and phonenumber.

fillsomethingout to write information in blanks (N.Amer.)The form must be filled out incapital letters.

fillsomethingup fill to the topI always fill the water jug upwhen it is empty.

find out discoverWe don't know where he lives.How can we find out?

findsomethingout discoverWe tried to keep the time ofthe party a secret, butSamantha found it out.

getsomethingacross/over communicate, make understandableI tried to get my pointacross/over to the judge butshe wouldn't listen.

get along/on like each otherI was surprised how well mynew girlfriend and my sistergot along/on.

get around have mobilityMy grandfather can getaround fine in his new

wheelchair.

get away go on a vacationWe worked so hard this yearthat we had to get away for aweek.

get away withsomething do without being noticed or punishedJason always gets away withcheating in his maths tests.

get back returnWe got backfrom ourvacation last week.

getsomethingback receive something you had beforeLiz finally got her Sciencenotes backfrom my room-mate.


6/14

get back atsomeone retaliate, take revengeMy sistergot back at me forstealing her shoes. She stolemy favourite hat.

get back intosomething

become interested insomething again

I finally got back intomy novel and finished it.

get onsomething step onto a vehicle We're going to freeze outhere if you don't let usget on the bus.

get oversomethingrecover from an illness,loss, difficulty

I just got over the flu andnow my sister has it.

get oversomething overcome a problemThe company will haveto close if it can't getover the new regulations.

get round tosomethingfinally find time to do(N.Amer.: get around tosomething)

I don't know when I amgoing to get round towriting the thank youcards.

get togethermeet (usually for socialreasons)

Let's get together for aBBQ this weekend.

get up get out of bedI got up early today tostudy for my exam.

get up standYou should get up andgive the elderly man yourseat.

givesomeoneawayreveal hidden informationabout someone

His wife gave him awayto the police.

givesomeoneaway take the bride to the altarMy fathergave me awayat my wedding.

givesomethingaway ruin a secretMy little sistergave thesurprise party away by

accident.

givesomethingawaygive something tosomeone for free

The library was givingaway old books onFriday.

givesomethingback return a borrowed itemI have to give theseskates backto Franz

before his hockey game.

give in reluctantly stop fighting orarguing

My boyfriend didn't want

to go to the ballet, but hefinally gave in.

givesomethingout give to many people They were giving out


7/14

(usually at no cost) free perfume samples atthe department store.

givesomethingup quit a habitI am giving up smokingas of January 1st.

give up stop trying

My maths homework

was too difficult so Igave up.

go aftersomeone follow someoneMy brother tried to goafter the thief in his car.

go aftersomething try to achieve somethingI went after my dreamand now I am a publishedwriter.

go againstsomeone compete, opposeWe are going against the

best soccer team in thecity tonight.

go ahead start, proceedPlease go ahead and eat

before the food gets cold.

go back return to a placeI have to go backhomeand get my lunch.

go outleave home to go on asocial event

We're going out fordinner tonight.

go out withsomeone dateJesse has been going outwith Luke since they metlast winter.

go oversomething reviewPlease go over youranswers before yousubmit your test.

go over visit someone nearbyI haven't seen Tina for along time. I think I'll goover for an hour or two.

go withoutsomething suffer lack or deprivationWhen I was young, wewent without winter

boots.

grow apartstop being friends overtime

My best friend and Igrew apart after shechanged schools.

grow back regrowMy roses grew backthissummer.

grow up become an adultWhen Jackgrows up hewants to be a fireman.


8/14

grow out ofsomething get too big for

Elizabeth needs a newpair of shoes because shehas grown out ofher oldones.

grow intosomething grow big enough to fitThis bike is too big forhim now, but he should

grow into it by next year.

handsomethingdowngive something used tosomeone else

I handed my old comicbooks down to my littlecousin.

handsomethingin submitI have to hand in myessay by Friday.

handsomethingoutto distribute to a group of

peopleWe will hand out theinvitations at the door.

handsomethingover give (usually unwillingly)The police asked the manto hand over his walletand his weapons.

hang instay positive (N.Amer.,informal)

Hang in there. I'm sureyou'll find a job verysoon.

hang onwait a short time(informal)

Hang on while I grab mycoat and shoes!

hang outspend time relaxing(informal)

Instead of going to theparty we are just going tohang out at my place.

hang up end a phone callHe didn't say goodbye

before he hung up.

holdsomeone/something

backprevent from doing/going

I had to hold my dogbackbecause there was acat in the park.

holdsomethingback hide an emotionJamie held backhis tearsat his grandfather'sfuneral.

hold on wait a short timePlease hold on while Itransfer you to the SalesDepartment.

hold ontosomeone/something

hold firmly using yourhands or arms

Hold onto your hatbecause it's very windyoutside.

holdsomeone/somethingup

robA man in a black maskheld the bankup thismorning.


9/14

keep on doingsomething

continue doingKeep on stirring until theliquid comes to a boil.

keepsomethingfromsomeone

not tellWe kept our relationshipfrom our parents for twoyears.

keepsomeone/somethingout stop from entering Try to keep the wet dogout of the living room.

keepsomethingup continue at the same rateIf you keep those resultsup you will get into agreat college.

letsomeonedownfail to support or help,disappoint

I need you to be on time.Don't let me down thistime.

letsomeonein allow to enterCan you let the cat in

before you go to school?

look aftersomeone/something

take care ofI have to look after mysick grandmother.

look down onsomeonethink less of, considerinferior

Ever since we stole thatchocolate bar your dadhas looked down on me.

look forsomeone/something

try to findI'm looking for a reddress for the wedding.

look forward tosomething

be excited about the futureI'm looking forward tothe Christmas break.

look intosomething investigateWe are going to lookinto the price ofsnowboards today.

look outbe careful, vigilant, andtake notice

Look out! That car'sgoing to hit you!

look out forsomeone/something

be especially vigilant forDon't forget to look outfor snakes on the hikingtrail.

looksomethingover check, examineCan you look over myessay for spellingmistakes?

looksomethingupsearch and findinformation in a reference

book or database

We can lookher phonenumberup on theInternet.

look up tosomeone have a lot of respect forMy little sister hasalways looked up to me.


10/14

makesomethingupinvent, lie aboutsomething

Josie made up a storyabout why we were late.

make up forgive each otherWe were angry last night,

but we made up atbreakfast.

makesomeoneup apply cosmetics to My sisters made me upfor my graduation party.

mixsomethingupconfuse two or morethings

I mixed up the twins'names again!

pass away dieHis uncle passed awaylast night after a longillness.

pass out faint

It was so hot in thechurch that an elderlylady passed out.

passsomethingoutgive the same thing tomany people

The professorpassed thetextbooks out beforeclass.

passsomethingupdecline (usually somethinggood)

I passed up the jobbecause I am afraid ofchange.

paysomeoneback return owed moneyThanks for buying myticket. I'll pay you backon Friday.

pay forsomethingbe punished for doingsomething bad

That bully will pay forbeing mean to my littlebrother.

picksomethingout chooseI picked out threesweaters for you to tryon.

pointsomeone/somethingout

indicate with your finger I'll point my boyfriendout when he runs by.

putsomethingdownput what you are holdingon a surface or floor

You can put thegroceries down on thekitchen counter.

putsomeonedowninsult, make someone feelstupid

The students put thesubstitute teacherdown

because his pants weretoo short.

putsomethingoff postponeWe are putting offourtrip until January becauseof the hurricane.


11/14

putsomethingout extinguishThe neighbours put thefire out before thefiremen arrived.

putsomethingtogether assembleI have to put the cribtogether before the babyarrives.

put up withsomeone/something

tolerateI don't think I can put upwith three small childrenin the car.

putsomethingonput clothing/accessorieson your body

Don't forget to put onyour new earrings for the

party.

run intosomeone/something

meet unexpectedlyI ran into an old school-friend at the mall.

run oversomeone/something

drive a vehicle over aperson or thing

I accidentally ran overyour bicycle in thedriveway.

run over/throughsomething

rehearse, reviewLet's run over/throughthese lines one more time

before the show.

run awayleave unexpectedly,escape

The child ran away fromhome and has beenmissing for three days.

run out have none leftWe ran out of shampooso I had to wash my hairwith soap.

sendsomethingback return (usually by mail)My letter got sent backto me because I used thewrong stamp.

setsomethingup arrange, organizeOur boss set a meetingup with the president of

the company.

setsomeoneup trick, trapThe police set up the carthief by using a hiddencamera.

shop around compare pricesI want to shop around alittle before I decide onthese boots.

show off

act extra special for people

watching (usuallyboastfully)

He always shows offonhis skateboard

sleep over stay somewhere for the You should sleep over


12/14

night (informal) tonight if the weather istoo bad to drive home.

sortsomethingoutorganize, resolve a

problem

We need to sort the billsout before the first of themonth.

stick tosomething continue doing something,limit yourself to oneparticular thing

You will lose weight ifyou stick to the diet.

switchsomethingoffstop the energy flow, turnoff

The light's too bright.Could you switch it off.

switchsomethingonstart the energy flow, turnon

We heard the news assoon as we switched onthe car radio.

take aftersomeone resemble a family memberI take after my mother.We are both impatient.

takesomethingapartpurposely break intopieces

He tookthe car brakesapart and found the

problem.

takesomethingback return an itemI have to take our newTV backbecause itdoesn't work.

take off start to flyMy plane takes offinfive minutes.

takesomethingoffremove something(usually clothing)

Take offyour socks andshoes and come in thelake!

takesomethingoutremove from a place orthing

Can you take the garbageout to the street for me?

takesomeoneoutpay for someone to go

somewhere with you

My grandparents tookusout for dinner and a

movie.

tearsomethingup rip into piecesI tore up my ex-

boyfriend's letters andgave them back to him.

think backremember (often + to,sometimes + on)

When I think backonmy youth, I wish I hadstudied harder.

thinksomethingover consider

I'll have to thinkthis job

offerover before I makemy final decision.

throwsomethingaway dispose of We threw our old


13/14

furniture away when wewon the lottery.

turnsomethingdowndecrease the volume orstrength (heat, light etc)

Please turn the TV downwhile the guests are here.

turnsomethingdown refuse

I turned the job down

because I don't want tomove.

turnsomethingoffstop the energy flow,switch off

Your mother wants youto turn the TV offandcome for dinner.

turnsomethingon start the energy, switch onIt's too dark in here. Let'sturn some lights on.

turnsomethingupincrease the volume or

strength (heat, light etc)

Can you turn the musicup? This is my favouritesong.

turn up appear suddenlyOur cat turned up afterwe put posters up all overthe neighbourhood.

trysomethingon sample clothingI'm going to try these

jeans on, but I don't thinkthey will fit.

trysomethingout testI am going to try thisnew brand of detergentout.

usesomethingup finish the supplyThe kids used all of thetoothpaste up so we needto buy some more.

wake up stop sleepingWe have to wake upearly for work onMonday.

warmsomeone/somethingup

increase the temperatureYou can warm your feetup in front of thefireplace.

warm up prepare body for exerciseI always warm up bydoing sit-ups before I gofor a run.

wear off fade awayMost of my make-upwore offbefore I got tothe party.

work out exerciseI work out at the gymthree times a week.


14/14

work out be successfulOur plan worked outfine.

worksomethingout make a calculationWe have to work out thetotal cost before we buythe house.

Br.E.: British English; N.Amer.: North American

.

phrasal verbs made easy

Documents