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.

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

Brian asked Judy out to dinner

ask someone out invite on a date
and a movie.

ask many people the same I asked around but nobody

ask around
question has seen my wallet.

Your purchases add up to

add up to something Equal
$205.32.

You'll have to back up your

back something up Reverse
car so that I can get out.

My wife backed me up over

back someone up Support
my decision to quit my job.

The racing car blew up after it

blow up Explode
crashed into the fence.

We have to blow 50 balloons

blow something up add air
up for the party.

Our car broke down at the

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

break down get upset The woman broke down when

 the police told her that her son
had died.

Our teacher broke the final

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

Somebody broke in last night

break in force entry to a building
and stole our stereo.

The firemen had to break into

break into something enter forcibly the room to rescue the
children.

wear something a few times I need to break these shoes in

break something in
so that it doesn't look/feel new before we run next week.

The TV station broke in to

break in Interrupt report the news of the
president's death.

My boyfriend and I broke up

break up end a relationship
before I moved to America.

The kids just broke up as soon

break up start laughing (informal)
as the clown started talking.

The prisoners broke out of jail

break out Escape when the guards weren't
looking.

I broke out in a rash after our

break out in something develop a skin condition
camping trip.

This sad music is bringing me

bring someone down make unhappy
down.

My grandparents brought me
bring someone up raise a child
up after my parents died.

My mother walks out of the

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

He drank so much that he

bring something up Vomit brought his dinner up in the
toilet.
 We called around but we
phone many different
call around weren't able to find the car part
places/people
we needed.

I called the company back but

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

Jason called the wedding off

call something off Cancel because he wasn't in love with
his fianc.

The professor called on me for

call on someone ask for an answer or opinion
question 1.

We called on you last night

call on someone visit someone
but you weren't home.

Give me your phone number

call someone up Pone and I will call you up when we
are in town.

You are still mad. You need to

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

not care for

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

You'll have to run faster than

get to the same point as
catch up that if you want to catch up
someone else
with Marty.

arrive and register at a hotel or We will get the hotel keys

check in
airport when we check in.

You have to check out of the

check out leave a hotel
hotel before 11:00 AM.

check The company checks out all

look at carefully, investigate
someone/something out new employees.

check out Check out the crazy hair on

look at (informal)
someone/something that guy!

She cheered up when she

cheer up become happier
heard the good news.
 I brought you some flowers to
cheer someone up make happier
cheer you up.

If everyone chips in we can

chip in Help get the kitchen painted by
noon.

Please clean up your bedroom

clean something up tidy, clean
before you go outside.

I came across these old photos

come across something find unexpectedly
when I was tidying the closet.

The top and bottom come

come apart Separate
apart if you pull hard enough.

come down with My nephew came down with

become sick
something chicken pox this weekend.

The woman came forward

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

The art of origami comes from

come from somewhere originate in
Asia.

count on I am counting on you to make

rely on
someone/something dinner while I am out.

Please cross out your old

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

My doctor wants me to cut

cut back on something consume less back on sweets and fatty
foods.

make something fall to the We had to cut the old tree in

cut something down
ground our yard down after the storm.

Your father cut in while I was

cut in Interrupt
dancing with your uncle.

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

cut in start operating (of an engine The air conditioner cuts in

 or electrical device) when the temperature gets to
22C.

The doctors cut off his leg

cut something off remove with something sharp because it was severely
injured.

The phone company cut off

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

My grandparents cut my father

cut someone off take out of a will
off when he remarried.

remove part of something

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

He's lucky to be alive. His

do someone/something beat up, ransack (Br.E.,
shop was done over by a street
over informal)
gang.

My teacher wants me to do my
do something over do again (N.Amer.) essay over because she doesn't
like my topic.

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

Discard
something these old tax records.

Do your coat up before you go

do something up fasten, close
outside. It's snowing!

It's a fancy restaurant so we

dress up wear nice clothing
have to dress up.

Andrea dropped back to third

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

I might drop in/by/over for

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

take someone/something
drop I have to drop my sister off at
somewhere and leave them/it
someone/something off work before I come over.
there

drop out quit a class, school etc I dropped out of Science

 because it was too difficult.

I don't feel like cooking

eat out eat at a restaurant
tonight. Let's eat out.

We ended up renting a movie

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

My new dress fell apart in the

fall apart break into pieces
washing machine.

The picture that you hung up

fall down fall to the ground last night fell down this
morning.

The money must have fallen

fall out separate from an interior
out of my pocket.

(of hair, teeth) become loose His hair started to fall out
fall out
and unattached when he was only 35.

I need to figure out how to fit

figure something out understand, find the answer the piano and the bookshelf in
this room.

Please fill in the form with

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

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

fill something out
(N.Amer.) capital letters.

I always fill the water jug up

fill something up fill to the top
when it is empty.

We don't know where he lives.

find out Discover
How can we find out?

We tried to keep the time of

find something out Discover the party a secret, but
Samantha found it out.

I tried to get my point

get something communicate, make
across/over to the judge but
across/over understandable
she wouldn't listen.

get along/on like each other I was surprised how well my

 new girlfriend and my sister
got along/on.

My grandfather can get

get around have mobility around fine in his new
wheelchair.

We worked so hard this year

get away go on a vacation that we had to get away for a
week.

get away with do without being noticed or Jason always gets away with
something punished cheating in his maths tests.

We got back from our

get back return
vacation last week.

Liz finally got her Science

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

My sister got back at me for

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

become interested in I finally got back into my

get back into something
something again novel and finished it.

We're going to freeze out here

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

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

The company will have to

get over something overcome a problem close if it can't get over the
new regulations.

finally find time to do I don't know when I am going

get round to something (N.Amer.: get around to to get round to writing the
something) thank you cards.

meet (usually for social Let's get together for a BBQ

get together
reasons) this weekend.

get up get out of bed I got up early today to study

 for my exam.

You should get up and give

get up stand
the elderly man your seat.

reveal hidden information His wife gave him away to the

give someone away
about someone police.

My father gave me away at

give someone away take the bride to the altar
my wedding.

My little sister gave the

give something away ruin a secret surprise party away by
accident.

give something to someone The library was giving away

give something away
for free old books on Friday.

I have to give these skates

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

My boyfriend didn't want to go

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

They were giving out free

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

I am giving up smoking as of
give something up quit a habit
January 1st.

My maths homework was too

give up stop trying
difficult so I gave up.

My brother tried to go after

go after someone follow someone
the thief in his car.

I went after my dream and

go after something try to achieve something
now I am a published writer.

We are going against the best

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

Please go ahead and eat before

go ahead start, proceed
the food gets cold.
 I have to go back home and
go back return to a place
get my lunch.

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

go out
event tonight.

Jesse has been going out with

go out with someone date Luke since they met last
winter.

Please go over your answers

go over something review
before you submit your test.

I haven't seen Tina for a long

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

When I was young, we went

go without something suffer lack or deprivation
without winter boots.

My best friend and I grew

grow apart stop being friends over time apart after she changed
schools.

My roses grew back this

grow back regrow
summer.

When Jack grows up he wants

grow up become an adult
to be a fireman.

Elizabeth needs a new pair of

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

This bike is too big for him

grow into something grow big enough to fit now, but he should grow into
it by next year.

give something used to I handed my old comic books

hand something down
someone else down to my little cousin.

I have to hand in my essay by

hand something in submit
Friday.

to distribute to a group of We will hand out the

hand something out
people invitations at the door.
 The police asked the man to
hand something over give (usually unwillingly) hand over his wallet and his
weapons.

stay positive (N.Amer., Hang in there. I'm sure you'll

hang in
informal) find a job very soon.

Hang on while I grab my coat

hang on wait a short time (informal)
and shoes!

Instead of going to the party

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

He didn't say goodbye before

hang up end a phone call
he hung up.

hold I had to hold my dog back

someone/something prevent from doing/going because there was a cat in the
back park.

Jamie held back his tears at

hold something back hide an emotion
his grandfather's funeral.

Please hold on while I transfer

hold on wait a short time
you to the Sales Department.

hold onto hold firmly using your hands Hold onto your hat because
someone/something or arms it's very windy outside.

hold A man in a black mask held

rob
someone/somethingup the bank up this morning.

keep on doing Keep on stirring until the

continue doing
something liquid comes to a boil.

keep something from We kept our relationship from

not tell
someone our parents for two years.

keep Try to keep the wet dog out of

stop from entering
someone/something out the living room.

If you keep those results up

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

let someone down fail to support or help, I need you to be on time. Don't
 disappoint let me down this time.

Can you let the cat in before

let someone in allow to enter
you go to school?

look after I have to look after my sick

take care of
someone/something grandmother.

Ever since we stole that

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

look for I'm looking for a red dress for

try to find
someone/something the wedding.

look forward to I'm looking forward to the

be excited about the future
something Christmas break.

We are going to look into the

look into something investigate
price of snowboards today.

be careful, vigilant, and take Look out! That car's going to

look out
notice hit you!

look out for Don't forget to look out for

be especially vigilant for
someone/something snakes on the hiking trail.

Can you look over my essay

look something over check, examine
for spelling mistakes?

search and find information in We can look her phone

look something up
a reference book or database number up on the Internet.

My little sister has always

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

Josie made up a story about

make something up invent, lie about something
why we were late.

We were angry last night, but

make up forgive each other
we made up at breakfast.

My sisters made me up for my

make someone up apply cosmetics to
graduation party.

I mixed up the twins' names

mix something up confuse two or more things
again!
 His uncle passed away last
pass away die
night after a long illness.

It was so hot in the church that

pass out faint
an elderly lady passed out.

give the same thing to many The professor passed the

pass something out
people textbooks out before class.

decline (usually something I passed up the job because I

pass something up
good) am afraid of change.

Thanks for buying my ticket.

pay someone back return owed money
I'll pay you back on Friday.

be punished for doing That bully will pay for being

pay for something
something bad mean to my little brother.

I picked out three sweaters for

pick something out choose
you to try on.

point I'll point my boyfriend out

indicate with your finger
someone/something out when he runs by.

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

The students put the substitute

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

We are putting off our trip

put something off postpone until January because of the
hurricane.

The neighbours put the fire

put something out extinguish
out before the firemen arrived.

I have to put the crib together

put something together assemble
before the baby arrives.

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

tolerate
someone/something three small children in the car.

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

put something on
your body new earrings for the party.

run into meet unexpectedly I ran into an old school-friend

someone/something at the mall.

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

Let's run over/through these

run over/through
rehearse, review lines one more time before the
something
show.

The child ran away from

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

We ran out of shampoo so I

run out have none left
had to wash my hair with soap.

My letter got sent back to me

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

Our boss set a meeting up

set something up arrange, organize with the president of the
company.

The police set up the car thief

set someone up trick, trap
by using a hidden camera.

I want to shop around a little

shop around compare prices
before I decide on these boots.

act extra special for people He always shows off on his

show off
watching (usually boastfully) skateboard

You should sleep over tonight

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

We need to sort the bills out

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

continue doing something,

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

The light's too bright. Could

switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off
you switch it off.
 We heard the news as soon as
switch something on start the energy flow, turn on
we switched on the car radio.

I take after my mother. We

take after someone resemble a family member
are both impatient.

He took the car brakes apart

take something apart purposely break into pieces
and found the problem.

I have to take our new TV

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

My plane takes off in five

take off start to fly
minutes.

remove something (usually Take off your socks and shoes

take something off
clothing) and come in the lake!

Can you take the garbage out

take something out remove from a place or thing
to the street for me?

pay for someone to go My grandparents took us out

take someone out
somewhere with you for dinner and a movie.

I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
tear something up rip into pieces letters and gave them back to
him.

When I think back on my

remember (often + to,
think back youth, I wish I had studied
sometimes + on)
harder.

I'll have to think this job offer

think something over consider over before I make my final
decision.

We threw our old furniture

throw something away dispose of away when we won the
lottery.

decrease the volume or Please turn the TV down

turn something down
strength (heat, light etc) while the guests are here.

I turned the job down because

turn something down refuse
I don't want to move.

turn something off stop the energy flow, switch Your mother wants you to
 off turn the TV off and come for
dinner.

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

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

increase the volume or Can you turn the music up?

turn something up
strength (heat, light etc) This is my favourite song.

Our cat turned up after we put

turn up appear suddenly posters up all over the
neighbourhood.

I'm going to try these jeans on,

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

I am going to try this new

try something out test
brand of detergent out.

The kids used all of the

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

We have to wake up early for

wake up stop sleeping
work on Monday.

warm You can warm your feet up in

increase the temperature
someone/something up front of the fireplace.

I always warm up by doing

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

Most of my make-up wore off

wear off fade away
before I got to the party.

I work out at the gym three

work out exercise
times a week.

work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.

We have to work out the total

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