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. 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.

This list shows about 200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples. Only the most usual
meanings are given. Some phrasal verbs may have additional meanings.

Verb Meaning Example

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a

ask someone out invite on a date
movie.

I asked around but nobody has seen my

ask around ask many people the same question
wallet.

add up to something equal Your purchases add up to $205.32.

You'll have to back up your car so that I

back something up reverse
can get out.

My wife backed me up over my

back someone up support
decision to quit my job.

The racing car blew up after it crashed

blow up explode
into the fence.

We have to blow 50 balloons up for the

blow something up add air
party.

Our car broke down at the side of the

break down stop functioning (vehicle, machine)
highway in the snowstorm.

The woman broke down when the

break down get upset
police told her that her son had died.

Our teacher broke the final project

break something down divide into smaller parts
down into three separate parts.

Somebody broke in last night and stole

break in force entry to a building
our stereo.

The firemen had to break into the room

break into something enter forcibly
to rescue the children.

wear something a few times so that it I need to break these shoes in before we
break something in
doesn't look/feel new run next week.

break in interrupt The TV station broke in to report the

 news of the president's death.

My boyfriend and I broke up before I

break up end a relationship
moved to America.

The kids just broke up as soon as the

break up start laughing (informal)
clown started talking.

The prisoners broke out of jail when the

break out escape
guards weren't looking.

I broke out in a rash after our camping

break out in something develop a skin condition
trip.

bring someone down make unhappy This sad music is bringing me down.

My grandparents brought me up after

bring someone up raise a child
my parents died.

My mother walks out of the room when

bring something up start talking about a subject
my father brings up sports.

He drank so much that he brought his

bring something up vomit
dinner up in the toilet.

We called around but we weren't able

call around phone many different places/people
to find the car part we needed.

I called the company back but the

call someone back return a phone call
offices were closed for the weekend.

Jason called the wedding off because he

call something off cancel
wasn't in love with his fianc.

The professor called on me for question

call on someone ask for an answer or opinion
1.

We called on you last night but you

call on someone visit someone
weren't home.

Give me your phone number and I will

call someone up phone
call you up when we are in town.

You are still mad. You need to calm

calm down relax after being angry
down before you drive the car.

not care for

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

get to the same point as someone You'll have to run faster than that if you
catch up
else want to catch up with Marty.

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

check out leave a hotel You have to check out of the hotel
 before 11:00 AM.

check The company checks out all new

look at carefully, investigate
someone/something out employees.

check out
look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
someone/something

She cheered up when she heard the

cheer up become happier
good news.

I brought you some flowers to cheer you

cheer someone up make happier
up.

If everyone chips in we can get the

chip in help
kitchen painted by noon.

Please clean up your bedroom before

clean something up tidy, clean
you go outside.

I came across these old photos when I

come across something find unexpectedly
was tidying the closet.

The top and bottom come apart if you

come apart separate
pull hard enough.

come down with My nephew came down with chicken

become sick
something pox this weekend.

volunteer for a task or to give The woman came forward with her
come forward
evidence husband's finger prints.

come from somewhere originate in The art of origami comes from Asia.

count on I am counting on you to make dinner

rely on
someone/something while I am out.

Please cross out your old address and

cross something out draw a line through
write your new one.

My doctor wants me to cut back on

cut back on something consume less
sweets and fatty foods.

We had to cut the old tree in our yard

cut something down make something fall to the ground
down after the storm.

Your father cut in while I was dancing

cut in interrupt
with your uncle.

pull in too closely in front of another The bus driver got angry when that car
cut in
vehicle cut in.

start operating (of an engine or The air conditioner cuts in when the
cut in
electrical device) temperature gets to 22C.

cut something off remove with something sharp The doctors cut off his leg because it
 was severely injured.

The phone company cut off our phone

cut something off stop providing
because we didn't pay the bill.

My grandparents cut my father off when

cut someone off take out of a will
he remarried.

remove part of something (usually

cut something out I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
with scissors and paper)

do someone/something He's lucky to be alive. His shop was

beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal)
over done over by a street gang.

My teacher wants me to do my essay

do something over do again (N.Amer.)
over because she doesn't like my topic.

do away with It's time to do away with all of these old

discard
something tax records.

Do your coat up before you go outside.

do something up fasten, close
It's snowing!

It's a fancy restaurant so we have to

dress up wear nice clothing
dress up.

Andrea dropped back to third place

drop back move back in a position/group
when she fell off her bike.

I might drop in/by/over for tea

drop in/by/over come without an appointment
sometime this week.

drop take someone/something somewhere I have to drop my sister off at work

someone/something off and leave them/it there before I come over.

I dropped out of Science because it was

drop out quit a class, school etc
too difficult.

I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat

eat out eat at a restaurant
out.

We ended up renting a movie instead of

end up eventually reach/do/decide
going to the theatre.

My new dress fell apart in the washing

fall apart break into pieces
machine.

The picture that you hung up last night

fall down fall to the ground
fell down this morning.

The money must have fallen out of my

fall out separate from an interior
pocket.

(of hair, teeth) become loose and His hair started to fall out when he was
fall out
unattached only 35.
 I need to figure out how to fit the piano
figure something out understand, find the answer
and the bookshelf in this room.

Please fill in the form with your name,

fill something in to write information in blanks (Br.E.)
address, and phone number.

to write information in blanks The form must be filled out in capital

fill something out
(N.Amer.) letters.

I always fill the water jug up when it is

fill something up fill to the top
empty.

We don't know where he lives. How can

find out discover
we find out?

We tried to keep the time of the party a

find something out discover
secret, but Samantha found it out.

get something I tried to get my point across/over to the

communicate, make understandable
across/over judge but she wouldn't listen.

I was surprised how well my new

get along/on like each other
girlfriend and my sister got along/on.

My grandfather can get around fine in

get around have mobility
his new wheelchair.

We worked so hard this year that we had

get away go on a vacation
to get away for a week.

get away with Jason always gets away with cheating in

do without being noticed or punished
something his maths tests.

We got back from our vacation last

get back return
week.

Liz finally got her Science notes back

get something back receive something you had before
from my room-mate.

My sister got back at me for stealing her

get back at someone retaliate, take revenge
shoes. She stole my favourite hat.

become interested in something I finally got back into my novel and

get back into something
again finished it.

We're going to freeze out here if you

get on something step onto a vehicle
don't let us get on the bus.

recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and now my sister
get over something
difficulty has it.

The company will have to close if it can't

get over something overcome a problem
get over the new regulations.

finally find time to do (N.Amer.: get I don't know when I am going to get
get round to something
around to something) round to writing the thank you cards.
 Let's get together for a BBQ this
get together meet (usually for social reasons)
weekend.

I got up early today to study for my

get up get out of bed
exam.

You should get up and give the elderly

get up stand
man your seat.

reveal hidden information about

give someone away His wife gave him away to the police.
someone

My father gave me away at my

give someone away take the bride to the altar
wedding.

My little sister gave the surprise party

give something away ruin a secret
away by accident.

The library was giving away old books

give something away give something to someone for free
on Friday.

I have to give these skates back to Franz

give something back return a borrowed item
before his hockey game.

My boyfriend didn't want to go to the

give in reluctantly stop fighting or arguing
ballet, but he finally gave in.

give to many people (usually at no They were giving out free perfume
give something out
cost) samples at the department store.

I am giving up smoking as of January

give something up quit a habit
1st.

My maths homework was too difficult so

give up stop trying
I gave up.

My brother tried to go after the thief in

go after someone follow someone
his car.

I went after my dream and now I am a

go after something try to achieve something
published writer.

We are going against the best soccer

go against someone compete, oppose
team in the city tonight.

Please go ahead and eat before the food

go ahead start, proceed
gets cold.

I have to go back home and get my

go back return to a place
lunch.

go out leave home to go on a social event We're going out for dinner tonight.

Jesse has been going out with Luke

go out with someone date
since they met last winter.
 Please go over your answers before you
go over something review
submit your test.

I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I

go over visit someone nearby
think I'll go over for an hour or two.

When I was young, we went without

go without something suffer lack or deprivation
winter boots.

My best friend and I grew apart after

grow apart stop being friends over time
she changed schools.

grow back regrow My roses grew back this summer.

When Jack grows up he wants to be a

grow up become an adult
fireman.

Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes

grow out of something get too big for because she has grown out of her old
ones.

This bike is too big for him now, but he

grow into something grow big enough to fit
should grow into it by next year.

I handed my old comic books down to

hand something down give something used to someone else
my little cousin.

hand something in submit I have to hand in my essay by Friday.

We will hand out the invitations at the

hand something out to distribute to a group of people
door.

The police asked the man to hand over

hand something over give (usually unwillingly)
his wallet and his weapons.

Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job

hang in stay positive (N.Amer., informal)
very soon.

Hang on while I grab my coat and

hang on wait a short time (informal)
shoes!

Instead of going to the party we are just

hang out spend time relaxing (informal)
going to hang out at my place.

He didn't say goodbye before he hung

hang up end a phone call
up.

hold
I had to hold my dog back because there
someone/something prevent from doing/going
was a cat in the park.
back

Jamie held back his tears at his

hold something back hide an emotion
grandfather's funeral.

Please hold on while I transfer you to

hold on wait a short time
the Sales Department.
hold onto Hold onto your hat because it's very
hold firmly using your hands or arms
someone/something windy outside.

hold A man in a black mask held the bank up

rob
someone/something up this morning.

keep on doing Keep on stirring until the liquid comes

continue doing
something to a boil.

keep something from We kept our relationship from our

not tell
someone parents for two years.

keep Try to keep the wet dog out of the living

stop from entering
someone/something out room.

If you keep those results up you will get

keep something up continue at the same rate
into a great college.

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

let someone down fail to support or help, disappoint
down this time.

Can you let the cat in before you go to

let someone in allow to enter
school?

look after I have to look after my sick

take care of
someone/something grandmother.

Ever since we stole that chocolate bar

look down on someone think less of, consider inferior
your dad has looked down on me.

look for I'm looking for a red dress for the

try to find
someone/something wedding.

look forward to I'm looking forward to the Christmas

be excited about the future
something break.

We are going to look into the price of

look into something investigate
snowboards today.

look out be careful, vigilant, and take notice Look out! That car's going to hit you!

look out for Don't forget to look out for snakes on

be especially vigilant for
someone/something the hiking trail.

Can you look over my essay for spelling

look something over check, examine
mistakes?

search and find information in a We can look her phone number up on

look something up
reference book or database the Internet.

My little sister has always looked up to

look up to someone have a lot of respect for
me.

Josie made up a story about why we

make something up invent, lie about something
were late.
 We were angry last night, but we made
make up forgive each other
up at breakfast.

My sisters made me up for my

make someone up apply cosmetics to
graduation party.

mix something up confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names again!

His uncle passed away last night after a

pass away die
long illness.

It was so hot in the church that an elderly

pass out faint
lady passed out.

The professor passed the textbooks out

pass something out give the same thing to many people
before class.

I passed up the job because I am afraid

pass something up decline (usually something good)
of change.

Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you

pay someone back return owed money
back on Friday.

That bully will pay for being mean to

pay for something be punished for doing something bad
my little brother.

I picked out three sweaters for you to

pick something out choose
try on.

point I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs

indicate with your finger
someone/something out by.

put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries down on the
put something down
surface or floor kitchen counter.

The students put the substitute teacher

put someone down insult, make someone feel stupid
down because his pants were too short.

We are putting off our trip until January

put something off postpone
because of the hurricane.

The neighbours put the fire out before

put something out extinguish
the firemen arrived.

I have to put the crib together before

put something together assemble
the baby arrives.

put up with I don't think I can put up with three

tolerate
someone/something small children in the car.

put clothing/accessories on your Don't forget to put on your new earrings

put something on
body for the party.

run into I ran into an old school-friend at the

meet unexpectedly
someone/something mall.
run over I accidentally ran over your bicycle in
drive a vehicle over a person or thing
someone/something the driveway.

run over/through Let's run over/through these lines one

rehearse, review
something more time before the show.

The child ran away from home and has

run away leave unexpectedly, escape
been missing for three days.

We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash

run out have none left
my hair with soap.

My letter got sent back to me because I

send something back return (usually by mail)
used the wrong stamp.

Our boss set a meeting up with the

set something up arrange, organize
president of the company.

The police set up the car thief by using a

set someone up trick, trap
hidden camera.

I want to shop around a little before I

shop around compare prices
decide on these boots.

act extra special for people watching

show off He always shows off on his skateboard
(usually boastfully)

stay somewhere for the night You should sleep over tonight if the
sleep over
(informal) weather is too bad to drive home.

We need to sort the bills out before the

sort something out organize, resolve a problem
first of the month.

continue doing something, limit You will lose weight if you stick to the
stick to something
yourself to one particular thing diet.

The light's too bright. Could you switch

switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off
it off.

We heard the news as soon as we

switch something on start the energy flow, turn on
switched on the car radio.

I take after my mother. We are both

take after someone resemble a family member
impatient.

He took the car brakes apart and found

take something apart purposely break into pieces
the problem.

I have to take our new TV back because

take something back return an item
it doesn't work.

take off start to fly My plane takes off in five minutes.

Take off your socks and shoes and come

take something off remove something (usually clothing)
in the lake!
 Can you take the garbage out to the
take something out remove from a place or thing
street for me?

pay for someone to go somewhere My grandparents took us out for dinner

take someone out
with you and a movie.

I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and

tear something up rip into pieces
gave them back to him.

remember (often + to, sometimes + When I think back on my youth, I wish

think back
on) I had studied harder.

I'll have to think this job offer over

think something over consider
before I make my final decision.

We threw our old furniture away when

throw something away dispose of
we won the lottery.

decrease the volume or strength Please turn the TV down while the
turn something down
(heat, light etc) guests are here.

I turned the job down because I don't

turn something down refuse
want to move.

Your mother wants you to turn the TV

turn something off stop the energy flow, switch off
off and come for dinner.

It's too dark in here. Let's turn some

turn something on start the energy, switch on
lights on.

increase the volume or strength Can you turn the music up? This is my
turn something up
(heat, light etc) favourite song.

Our cat turned up after we put posters

turn up appear suddenly
up all over the neighbourhood.

I'm going to try these jeans on, but I

try something on sample clothing
don't think they will fit.

I am going to try this new brand of

try something out test
detergent out.

The kids used all of the toothpaste up so

use something up finish the supply
we need to buy some more.

We have to wake up early for work on

wake up stop sleeping
Monday.

warm You can warm your feet up in front of

increase the temperature
someone/something up the fireplace.

I always warm up by doing sit-ups

warm up prepare body for exercise
before I go for a run.

Most of my make-up wore off before I

wear off fade away
got to the party.
 I work out at the gym three times a
work out exercise
week.

work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.

We have to work out the total cost

work something out make a calculation
before we buy the house.