Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. se the list below as a reference guide when you find an e!pression that you don"t recognize. The e!amples will help you understand the meanings. #f you think of each phrasal verb as a separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it more easily. $ike many other verbs, phrasal verbs often have more than one meaning. This list shows about %&& common phrasal verbs, with meanings and e!amples. 'nly the most usual meanings are given. Some phrasal verbs may have additional meanings. (s well as learning their meanings, you need to learn how to use phrasal verbs properly. Some phrasal verbs re)uire a direct ob*ect +someone/something,, while others do not. Some phrasal verbs can be separated by the ob*ect, while others cannot. -eview this phrasal verbs grammar from time to time so that you don"t forget the rules. Verb ask someone out ask around add up to something back something up back someone up blow up blow something up Meaning invite on a date ask many people the same )uestion e)ual reverse support e!plode add air stop functioning +vehicle, machine, Example /rian asked 0udy out to dinner and a movie. # asked around but nobody has seen my wallet. 1our purchases add up to 2%&3.4%. 1ou"ll have to back up your car so that # can get out. 5y wife backed me up over my decision to )uit my *ob. The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence. 6e have to blow 3& balloons up for the party. 'ur car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm. The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.

break down

break down

get upset

break something down

divide into smaller parts

'ur teacher broke the final pro*ect down into three separate parts. Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo. The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children. # need to break these shoes in before we run ne!t week. The T8 station broke in to report the news of the president"s death. 5y boyfriend and # broke up before # moved to (merica. The kids *ust broke up as soon as the clown started talking. The prisoners broke out of *ail when the guards weren"t looking. # broke out in a rash after our camping trip. This sad music is bringing me down. 5y grandparents brought me up after my parents died. 5y mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports. 9e drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet. 6e called around but we weren"t able to find the car

break in

force entry to a building

break into something

enter forcibly wear something a few times so that it doesn"t look7feel new interrupt

break something in

break in

break up

end a relationship

break up

start laughing +informal,

break out

escape

break out in something bring someone down bring someone up

develop a skin condition make unhappy raise a child

bring something up

start talking about a sub*ect

bring something up call around

vomit phone many different places7people

part we needed. call someone back return a phone call # called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend. 0ason called the wedding off because he wasn"t in love with his fianc:. The professor called on me for )uestion ;. 6e called on you last night but you weren"t home. <ive me your phone number and # will call you up when we are in town. 1ou are still mad. 1ou need to calm down before you drive the car. # don"t care for his behaviour. 1ou"ll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with 5arty. 6e will get the hotel keys when we check in. 1ou have to check out of the hotel before ;;=&& (5. The company checks out all new employees. Check out the crazy hair on that guy. She cheered up when she heard the good news. # brought you some flowers to cheer you up.

call something off

cancel

call on someone call on someone

ask for an answer or opinion visit someone

call someone up

phone

calm down not care for someone/something catch up

rela! after being angry

not like +formal, get to the same point as someone else arrive and register at a hotel or airport leave a hotel look at carefully, investigate look at +informal, become happier make happier

check in check out check someone/something out check out someone/something cheer up cheer someone up

chip in

help

#f everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon. Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside. # came across these old photos when # was tidying the closet. The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough. 5y nephew came down with chicken po! this weekend.

clean something up

tidy, clean

come across something

find une!pectedly

come apart come down with something come forward

separate

become sick

The woman came forward volunteer for a task or to give with her husband"s finger evidence prints. originate in rely on The art of origami comes from (sia. # am counting on you to make dinner while # am out. Please cross out your old address and write your new one. 5y doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods. 6e had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm. 1our father cut in while # was dancing with your uncle. The bus driver got angry when that car cut in. The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to

come from somewhere count on someone/something cross something out

draw a line through

cut back on something

consume less

cut something down

make something fall to the ground interrupt pull in too closely in front of another vehicle start operating +of an engine or electrical device,

cut in cut in cut in

%%>?. cut something off The doctors cut off his leg remove with something sharp because it was severely in*ured. stop providing The phone company cut off our phone because we didn"t pay the bill. 5y grandparents cut my father off when he remarried. # cut this ad out of the newspaper. 9e"s lucky to be alive. 9is shop was done over by a street gang. 5y teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn"t like my topic. #t"s time to do away with all of these old ta! records. o your coat up before you go outside. #t"s snowing. #t"s a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up. (ndrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike. # might drop in!by!over for tea sometime this week. # have to drop my sister off at work before # come over. # dropped out of Science because it was too difficult. # don"t feel like cooking

cut something off

cut someone off

take out of a will remove part of something +usually with scissors and paper, beat up, ransack +/r.E., informal,

cut something out

do someone/something over

do something over do away with something do something up dress up

do again +@.(mer.,

discard fasten, close wear nice clothing move back in a position7group come without an appointment take someone7something somewhere and leave them7it there )uit a class, school etc eat at a restaurant

drop back

drop in!by!over drop someone/something off drop out eat out

tonight. $et"s eat out. end up eventually reach7do7decide 6e ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre. 5y new dress fell apart in the washing machine. The picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning. The money must have fallen out of my pocket. 9is hair started to fall out when he was only 43. # need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room. Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number. The form must be filled out in capital letters. # always fill the water *ug up when it is empty. 6e don"t know where he lives. 9ow can we find outA 6e tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out. # tried to get my point across!over to the *udge but she wouldn"t listen. # was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along!on. 5y grandfather can get

fall apart

break into pieces

fall down

fall to the ground

fall out fall out

separate from an interior +of hair, teeth, become loose and unattached understand, find the answer

figure something out

fill something in

to write information in blanks +/r.E., to write information in blanks +@.(mer., fill to the top discover

fill something out fill something up find out

find something out

discover

get something across!over

communicate, make understandable

get along!on get around

like each other have mobility

around fine in his new wheelchair. get away get away with something get back go on a vacation do without being noticed or punished return receive something you had before 6e worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week. 0ason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests. 6e got back from our vacation last week. $iz finally got her Science notes back from my roommate. 5y sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat. # finally got back into my novel and finished it. 6e"re going to freeze out here if you don"t let us get on the bus. # *ust got over the flu and now my sister has it. The company will have to close if it can"t get over the new regulations. # don"t know when # am going to get round to writing the thank you cards. $et"s get together for a //B this weekend. # got up early today to study for my e!am. 1ou should get up and give the elderly man your seat. 9is wife gave him away to

get something back

get back at someone

retaliate, take revenge become interested in something again step onto a vehicle recover from an illness, loss, difficulty overcome a problem finally find time to do +@.(mer.= get around to something, meet +usually for social reasons, get out of bed stand reveal hidden information

get back into something

get on something

get over something

get over something

get round to something

get together get up get up give someone away

about someone give someone away take the bride to the altar

the police. 5y father gave me away at my wedding. 5y little sister gave the surprise party away by accident. The library was giving away old books on Criday. # have to give these skates back to Cranz before his hockey game. 5y boyfriend didn"t want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in. They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store. # am giving up smoking as of 0anuary ;st. 5y maths homework was too difficult so # gave up. 5y brother tried to go after the thief in his car. # went after my dream and now # am a published writer. 6e are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight. Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold. # have to go back home and get my lunch. 6e"re going out for dinner tonight.

give something away

ruin a secret give something to someone for free return a borrowed item

give something away

give something back

give in

reluctantly stop fighting or arguing give to many people +usually at no cost, )uit a habit stop trying follow someone try to achieve something

give something out

give something up give up go after someone go after something

go against someone

compete, oppose

go ahead go back go out

start, proceed return to a place leave home to go on a social event

go out with someone

date

0esse has been going out with $uke since they met last winter. Please go over your answers before you submit your test. # haven"t seen Tina for a long time. # think #"ll go over for an hour or two. 6hen # was young, we went without winter boots. 5y best friend and # grew apart after she changed schools. 5y roses grew back this summer. 6hen 0ack grows up he wants to be a fireman. Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones. This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by ne!t year. # handed my old comic books down to my little cousin. # have to hand in my essay by Criday. 6e will hand out the invitations at the door. The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons. "ang in there. #"m sure you"ll find a *ob very soon.

go over something

review

go over

visit someone nearby

go without something

suffer lack or deprivation

grow apart

stop being friends over time

grow back grow up

regrow become an adult

grow out of something

get too big for

grow into something

grow big enough to fit

hand something down

give something used to someone else submit to distribute to a group of people give +usually unwillingly, stay positive +@.(mer., informal,

hand something in hand something out

hand something over

hang in

hang on

wait a short time +informal, spend time rela!ing +informal, end a phone call

"ang on while # grab my coat and shoes. #nstead of going to the party we are *ust going to hang out at my place. 9e didn"t say goodbye before he hung up. # had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park. 0amie held back his tears at his grandfather"s funeral. Please hold on while # transfer you to the Sales Department. "old onto your hat because it"s very windy outside. ( man in a black mask held the bank up this morning. #eep on stirring until the li)uid comes to a boil. 6e kept our relationship from our parents for two years. Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room. #f you keep those results up you will get into a great college. # need you to be on time. Don"t let me down this time. ?an you let the cat in before you go to schoolA # have to look after my sick grandmother.

hang out

hang up hold someone/something back hold something back

prevent from doing7going

hide an emotion

hold on hold onto someone/something hold someone/somethingup keep on doing something keep something from someone keep someone/something out keep something up

wait a short time hold firmly using your hands or arms rob continue doing

not tell

stop from entering

continue at the same rate fail to support or help, disappoint allow to enter take care of

let someone down let someone in look after someone/something

look down on someone look for someone/something look forward to something look into something look out look out for someone/something look something over

think less of, consider inferior try to find be e!cited about the future investigate be careful, vigilant, and take notice be especially vigilant for check, e!amine search and find information in a reference book or database have a lot of respect for invent, lie about something forgive each other apply cosmetics to confuse two or more things die

Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me. #"m looking for a red dress for the wedding. #"m looking forward to the ?hristmas break. 6e are going to look into the price of snowboards today. $ook out. That car"s going to hit you. Don"t forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail. ?an you look over my essay for spelling mistakesA 6e can look her phone number up on the #nternet. 5y little sister has always looked up to me. 0osie made up a story about why we were late. 6e were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast. 5y sisters made me up for my graduation party. # mixed up the twins" names again. 9is uncle passed away last night after a long illness. #t was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out. The professor passed the

look something up

look up to someone make something up make up make someone up mix something up pass away

pass out pass something out

faint give the same thing to many

people pass something up pay someone back pay for something pick something out point someone/something out put something down decline +usually something good, return owed money be punished for doing something bad choose indicate with your finger put what you are holding on a surface or floor insult, make someone feel stupid

te!tbooks out before class. # passed up the *ob because # am afraid of change. Thanks for buying my ticket. #"ll pay you back on Criday. That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother. # picked out three sweaters for you to try on. #"ll point my boyfriend out when he runs by. 1ou can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter. The students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short. 6e are putting off our trip until 0anuary because of the hurricane. The neighbours put the fire out before the firemen arrived. # have to put the crib together before the baby arrives. # don"t think # can put up with three small children in the car. Don"t forget to put on your new earrings for the party. # ran into an old schoolfriend at the mall. # accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.

put someone down

put something off

postpone

put something out

e!tinguish

put something together

assemble

put up with someone/something put something on run into someone/something run over someone/something

tolerate put clothing7accessories on your body meet une!pectedly drive a vehicle over a person or thing

run over!through something

rehearse, review

$et"s run over!through these lines one more time before the show. The child ran away from home and has been missing for three days. 6e ran out of shampoo so # had to wash my hair with soap. 5y letter got sent back to me because # used the wrong stamp. 'ur boss set a meeting up with the president of the company. The police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera. # want to shop around a little before # decide on these boots. 9e always shows off on his skateboard 1ou should sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home. 6e need to sort the bills out before the first of the month. 1ou will lose weight if you stick to the diet. The light"s too bright. ?ould you switch it off. 6e heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio. # take after my mother. 6e

run away

leave une!pectedly, escape

run out

have none left

send something back

return +usually by mail,

set something up

arrange, organize

set someone up

trick, trap

shop around

compare prices act e!tra special for people watching +usually boastfully, stay somewhere for the night +informal, organize, resolve a problem continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing stop the energy flow, turn off start the energy flow, turn on resemble a family member

show off

sleep over

sort something out

stick to something

switch something off switch something on take after someone

are both impatient. take something apart take something back take off take something off take something out take someone out purposely break into pieces return an item start to fly remove something +usually clothing, remove from a place or thing pay for someone to go somewhere with you rip into pieces 9e took the car brakes apart and found the problem. # have to take our new T8 back because it doesn"t work. 5y plane takes off in five minutes. $ake off your socks and shoes and come in the lake. ?an you take the garbage out to the street for meA 5y grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie. # tore up my e!-boyfriend"s letters and gave them back to him. 6hen # think back on my youth, # wish # had studied harder. #"ll have to think this *ob offer over before # make my final decision. 6e threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery. Please turn the T8 down while the guests are here. # turned the *ob down because # don"t want to move. 1our mother wants you to turn the T8 off and come for dinner. #t"s too dark in here. $et"s turn some lights on.

tear something up

think back

remember +often E to, sometimes E on,

think something over

consider

throw something away

dispose of decrease the volume or strength +heat, light etc, refuse stop the energy flow, switch off start the energy, switch on

turn something down turn something down

turn something off

turn something on

turn something up

increase the volume or strength +heat, light etc, appear suddenly

?an you turn the music upA This is my favourite song. 'ur cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighbourhood. #"m going to try these *eans on, but # don"t think they will fit. # am going to try this new brand of detergent out. The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more. 6e have to wake up early for work on 5onday. 1ou can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace. # always warm up by doing sit-ups before # go for a run. 5ost of my make-up wore off before # got to the party. # work out at the gym three times a week. 'ur plan worked out fine. 6e have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.

turn up

try something on

sample clothing

try something out

test

use something up

finish the supply

wake up warm someone/something up warm up wear off work out work out work something out

stop sleeping increase the temperature prepare body for e!ercise fade away e!ercise be successful make a calculation