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PHRASAL VERBS

Verb Meaning Example

Brian asked Judy out to


ask someone out invite on a date
dinner and a movie.

ask many people


I asked around but nobody
ask around the same
has seen my wallet.
question

Your purchases add up


add up to something equal
to $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


blow up explode
it crashed into the fence.

We have to blow 50
blow something up add air
balloons up for the party.

stop functioning Our car broke down at the


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

The woman broke


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

Our teacher broke the final


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

force entry to a Somebody broke in last


break in
building night and stole our stereo.

The firemen had to break


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

wear something I need to break these


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

The TV station broke in to


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

My boyfriend and I broke


end a
break up up before I moved to
relationship
America.

The kids just broke up as


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

The prisoners broke out of


break out escape jail when the guards weren't
looking.

develop a skin I broke out in a rash after


break out in something
condition our camping trip.

This sad music


bring someone down make unhappy
is bringing me down.

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

My mother walks out of the


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

He drank so much that


bring something up vomit he brought his dinner up in
the toilet.

phone many We called around but we


call around different weren't able to find the car
places/people part we needed.

I called the
return a phone company back but the
call someone back
call offices were closed for the
weekend.
Jason called the
call something off cancel wedding off because he
wasn't in love with his fiancé.

ask for an
The professor called on me
call on someone answer or
for question 1.
opinion

We called on you last night


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

Give me your phone number


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

You are still mad. You need


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

not care I don't care for his


not like (formal)
for someone/something behaviour.

get to the same You'll have to run faster than


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

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

You have to check out of the


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

check someone/something look at carefully, The company checks out all


out investigate new employees.

check look at Check out the crazy hair on


out someone/something (informal) that guy!

She cheered up when she


cheer up become happier
heard the good news.

I brought you some flowers


cheer someone up make happier
to cheer you up.

If everyone chips in we can


chip in help
get the kitchen painted by
noon.

Please clean up your


clean something up tidy, clean bedroom before you go
outside.

I came across these old


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

The top and bottom come


come apart separate apart if you pull hard
enough.

My nephew came down


come down
become sick with chicken pox this
with something
weekend.

volunteer for a The woman came


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

The art of origami comes


come from somewhere originate in
from Asia.

count I am counting on you to


rely on
on someone/something make dinner while I am out.

Please cross out your old


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

My doctor wants me to cut


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

We had to cut the old tree in


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

Your father cut in while I


cut in interrupt
was dancing with your uncle.

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

start operating The air conditioner cuts


cut in (of an engine or in when the temperature gets
electrical device) to 22°C.

The doctors cut off his leg


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

The phone company cut


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

My grandparents cut my
cut someone off take out of a will
father off when he remarried.

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

He's lucky to be alive. His


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

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

It's time to do away with all


do away with something discard
of these old tax records.

Do your coat up before you


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

wear nice It's a fancy restaurant so we


dress up
clothing have to dress up.

Andrea dropped back to


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

come without an I might drop in/by/over for


drop in/by/over
appointment tea sometime this week.
take
someone/someth I have to drop my
drop someone/something
ing somewhere sister off at work before I
off
and leave them/it come over.
there

quit a class, I dropped out of Science


drop out
school etc because it was too difficult.

eat at a I don't feel like cooking


eat out
restaurant tonight. Let's eat out.

We ended up renting a
eventually
end up movie instead of going to the
reach/do/decide
theatre.

My new dress fell apart in


fall apart break into pieces
the washing machine.

The picture that you hung up


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

separate from an The money must have fallen


fall out
interior out of my pocket.

(of hair, teeth)


His hair started to fall
fall out become loose
out when he was only 35.
and unattached

I need to figure out how to


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

to write Please fill in the form with


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

to write
information in The form must be filled
fill something out
blanks out in capital letters.
(N.Amer.)

I always fill the water


fill something up fill to the top
jug up when it is empty.
We don't know where he
find out discover
lives. 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.

communicate, I tried to get my


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

I was surprised how well my


get along/on like each other 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.

do without being Jason always gets away


get away with something noticed or with cheating in his maths
punished tests.

We got back from our


get back return
vacation last week.

receive Liz finally got her Science


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

My sister got back at me for


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

become
I finally got back into my
get back into something interested in
novel and finished it.
something again

We're going to freeze out


step onto a
get on something here if you don't let us get
vehicle
on the bus.
recover from an
I just got over the flu and
get over something illness, loss,
now my sister has it.
difficulty

The company will have to


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

finally find time


to do I don't know when I am
get round to something (N.Amer.: get going to get round to writing
around the thank you cards.
to something)

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


get together
social reasons) this weekend.

I got up early today to study


get up get out of bed
for my exam.

You should get up and give


get up stand
the elderly man your seat.

reveal hidden
His wife gave him away to
give someone away information
the police.
about someone

take the bride to My father gave me away at


give someone away
the altar my wedding.

My little sister gave the


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

give something
The library was giving
give something away to someone for
away old books on Friday.
free

I have to give these


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

reluctantly stop My boyfriend didn't want to


give in fighting or go to the ballet, but he
arguing finally gave in.
give to many They were giving out free
give something out people (usually 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
go after someone follow someone
after the thief in his car.

try to achieve I went after my dream and


go after something
something now I am a published writer.

We are going against the


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

Please go ahead and eat


go ahead start, proceed
before the food gets cold.

I have to go back home and


go back return to a place
get my lunch.

leave home to go We're going out for dinner


go out
on a social event tonight.

Jesse has been going out


go out with someone date with 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


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

suffer lack or When I was young, we went


go without something
deprivation without winter boots.

My best friend and I grew


stop being
grow apart apart after she changed
friends over time
schools.
My roses grew back this
grow back regrow
summer.

When Jack grows up he


grow up become an adult
wants 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 big enough
grow into something now, but he should grow
to fit
into it by next year.

give something I handed my old comic


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

I have to hand in my essay


hand something in submit
by Friday.

to distribute to a We will hand out the


hand something out
group of people invitations at the door.

The police asked the man


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

stay positive
Hang in there. I'm sure you'll
hang in (N.Amer.,
find a job very soon.
informal)

wait a short time Hang on while I grab my


hang on
(informal) coat and shoes!

spend time Instead of going to the party


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

He didn't say goodbye before


hang up end a phone call
he hung up.

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

hold something back hide an emotion Jamie held back his tears at
his grandfather's funeral.

Please hold on while I


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

hold firmly using


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

A man in a black
hold someone/somethingu
rob mask held the bank up this
p
morning.

Keep on stirring until the


keep on doing something continue doing
liquid comes to a boil.

We kept our
keep something from som
not tell relationship from our parents
eone
for two years.

keep someone/something stop from Try to keep the wet


out entering dog out of the living room.

If you keep those


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

fail to support or I need you to be on time.


let someone down
help, disappoint Don't let me down this time.

Can you let the cat in before


let someone in allow to enter
you go to school?

sign in (to a I can't log in to Facebook


log in (or on) website, because I've forgotten my
database etc) password.

sign out (of a


If you don't log off somebody
log out (or off) website,
could get into your account.
database etc)

look I have to look after my sick


take care of
after someone/something grandmother.

think less of, Ever since we stole that


look down on someone
consider inferior chocolate bar your dad
has looked down on me.

look I'm looking for a red dress


try to find
for someone/something for the wedding.

look forward be excited about I'm looking forward to the


to something the future Christmas break.

We are going to look into the


look into something investigate
price of snowboards today.

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

look out be especially Don't forget to look out


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

Can you look over my essay


look something over check, examine
for spelling mistakes?

search and find


information in a We can look her phone
look something up
reference book number up on the Internet.
or database

have a lot of My little sister has


look up to someone
respect for always looked up to me.

invent, lie about Josie made up a story about


make something up
something why we were late.

forgive each We were angry last night, but


make up
other we made up at breakfast.

apply cosmetics My sisters made me up for


make someone up
to my graduation party.

confuse two or I mixed up the twins' names


mix something up
more things again!

His uncle passed away last


pass away die
night after a long illness.

It was so hot in the church


pass out faint that an elderly lady passed
out.
give the same
The professor passed the
pass something out thing to many
textbooks out before class.
people

decline (usually I passed up the job because I


pass something up
something good) am afraid of change.

return owed Thanks for buying my ticket.


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

be punished for
That bully will pay for being
pay for something doing something
mean to my little brother.
bad

I picked out three sweaters


pick something out choose
for you to try on.

I'll point my
point someone/something indicate with
boyfriend out when he runs
out your finger
by.

put what you are You can put the


put something down holding on a groceries down on the
surface or floor kitchen counter.

The students put the


insult, make
substitute
put someone down someone feel
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


put something out extinguish fire out before the firemen
arrived.

I have to put the


put something together assemble crib together before the baby
arrives.

I don't think I can put up


put up
tolerate with three small children in
with someone/something
the car.
put
Don't forget to put on your
put something on clothing/accessor
new earrings for the party.
ies on your body

run meet I ran into an old school-


into someone/something unexpectedly friend at the mall.

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

Let's run over/through these


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

leave The child ran away from


run away unexpectedly, home and has been missing
escape 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


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

Our boss set a


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

The police set up the car


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

I want to shop around a


shop around compare prices little before I decide on these
boots.

act extra special


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

sleep over stay somewhere You should sleep


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

We need to sort the


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

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

stop the energy The light's too bright. Could


switch something off
flow, turn off you switch it off.

We heard the news as soon


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

resemble a I take after my mother. We


take after someone
family member are both impatient.

He took the car


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

I have to take our new


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

My plane takes off in five


take off start to fly
minutes.

remove
something Take off your socks and
take something off
(usually shoes and come in the lake!
clothing)

Can you take the


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

pay for someone My


take someone out to go somewhere grandparents took us out for
with you dinner and a movie.
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
tear something up rip into pieces letters and gave them back to
him.

remember (often When I think back on my


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

I'll have to think this job


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

We threw our old


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

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

I turned the
turn something down refuse job down because I don't
want to move.

Your mother wants you


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

start the energy, It's too dark in here.


turn something on
switch on Let's turn some lights on.

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

Our cat turned up after we


turn up appear suddenly put posters up all over the
neighbourhood.

I'm going to try these


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

try something out test I am going to try this new


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


wake up stop sleeping
for work on Monday.

You can warm your


warm someone/something increase the
feet up in front of the
up temperature
fireplace.

prepare body for I always warm up by doing


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

Most of my make-up wore


wear off fade away
off 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


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

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