Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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. Use the list
below as a reference guide when you find an expression that you don't recognize.
The examples will help you understand the meanings. If you think of each phrasal
verb as a separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it more
easily. Like many other verbs, phrasal verbs often have more than one meaning.
As well as learning their meanings, you need to learn how to use phrasal verbs
properly. Some phrasal verbs require a direct object (someone/something), while
others do not. Some phrasal verbs can be separated by the object, while others
cannot. Review this phrasal verbs grammar from time to time so that you don't forget
the rules!
Verb
Meaning
Example
invite on a date
ask around
add up to something
equal
back something up
reverse
back someone up
support
My wife backed me up
over my decision to quit my
job.
blow up
explode
blow something up
add air
We have to blow 50
balloons up for the party.
break down
get upset
break down
break in
enter forcibly
break something in
break in
interrupt
break up
end a relationship
break up
break out
escape
make unhappy
bring someone up
raise a child
My grandparents brought
me up after my parents
died.
bring something up
bring something up
vomit
call around
part we needed.
return a phone call
cancel
call on someone
call on someone
visit someone
call someone up
phone
calm down
catch up
check in
check out
leave a hotel
check
someone/something out
check out
someone/something
look at (informal)
cheer up
become happier
cheer someone up
make happier
chip in
help
If everyone chips in we
can get the kitchen painted
by noon.
tidy, clean
find unexpectedly
come apart
separate
become sick
come forward
originate in
count on
someone/something
rely on
I am counting on you to
make dinner while I am out.
consume less
cut in
interrupt
cut in
cut in
clean something up
stop providing
My grandparents cut my
father off when he
remarried.
do someone/something
over
do something over
do again (N.Amer.)
My teacher wants me to do
my essay over because
she doesn't like my topic.
do away with
something
discard
do something up
fasten, close
dress up
drop back
move back in a
position/group
drop in/by/over
come without an
appointment
drop
someone/something off
take someone/something
somewhere and leave
them/it there
drop out
eat out
eat at a restaurant
end up
eventually reach/do/decide
We ended up renting a
5
fall down
fall out
fall out
fill something in
to write information in
blanks (Br.E.)
to write information in
blanks (N.Amer.)
fill something up
discover
discover
get something
across/over
communicate, make
understandable
get along/on
get around
have mobility
get away
go on a vacation
fall apart
find out
get back
return
become interested in
something again
get on something
overcome a problem
get together
get up
get up
stand
ruin a secret
give in
give something up
quit a habit
I am giving up smoking as
of January 1st.
give up
stop trying
go after someone
follow someone
go after something
go against someone
compete, oppose
go ahead
start, proceed
go back
return to a place
go out
leave home to go on a
social event
date
go over something
review
your test.
go over
go without something
grow apart
grow back
regrow
grow up
become an adult
hand something in
submit
to distribute to a group of
people
hang in
hang on
hang out
hang up
hold
someone/something
back
hide an emotion
hold on
hold onto
someone/something
hold
someone/somethingup
rob
keep on doing
something
continue doing
not tell
keep
someone/something out
keep something up
let someone in
allow to enter
look after
someone/something
take care of
look for
try to find
someone/something
look forward to
something
investigate
look out
check, examine
look something up
look up to someone
make something up
make up
make someone up
apply cosmetics to
mix something up
pass away
die
pass out
faint
pass something up
good)
because I am afraid of
change.
choose
point
someone/something out
postpone
extinguish
assemble
put up with
someone/something
tolerate
put something on
put clothing/accessories on
your body
run into
someone/something
meet unexpectedly
run over
someone/something
run over/through
rehearse, review
12
something
run away
run out
set something up
arrange, organize
set someone up
trick, trap
shop around
compare prices
show off
sleep over
stick to something
switch something on
return an item
take off
start to fly
My grandparents took us
out for dinner and a movie.
tear something up
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
letters and gave them back
to him.
think back
consider
dispose of
refuse
turn something on
14
turn up
appear suddenly
try something on
sample clothing
test
use something up
wake up
stop sleeping
warm
someone/something up
warm up
wear off
fade away
work out
exercise
work out
be successful
make a calculation
turn something up
15