aim at sth phrasal verb to plan, hope or intend to achieve something The talks are aiming at a compromise.

[ + -ing verb ] The government's campaign is aimed at influenc ing public opinion. belong to sb phrasal verb to be someone's property This book belongs to Sarah. blow (sb/sth) up phrasal verb [ M ] to destroy something or kill someone with a bomb, or to be destroyed or killed by a bomb He drove over a landmine and his jeep blew up. blow sth up phrasal verb [ M ] FILL WITH AIR 1. to fill something with air Would you help me blow up these balloons? break down phrasal verb MACHINE 1. If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working Our car broke down and we had to push it off the road. break sth off phrasal verb [ M ] RELATIONSHIP 2. to end a relationship They've broken off their engagement. The governments have broken off diplomatic relations. break out phrasal verb START 1. If something dangerous or unpleasant breaks out, it suddenly starts War broke out in 1914. Fighting has broken out all over the city. 2. break out in a rash/spots/sweat to suddenly have spots or sweat appear on your skin She broke out in a rash after eating some strawberries. It didn't take much exercise to make him break out in (a) sweat. When I heard the noise I broke out in a cold sweat. break up phrasal verb END RELATIONSHIP 1. If a marriage breaks up or two people in a romantic relationship break up, their marriage or their relationship ends She's just broken up with her boyfriend. bring sb up phrasal verb [ M ] to care for a child until it is an adult, often giving it particular beliefs She was brought up by her grandmother. They brought her up (as/to be) a Catholic. [ + to infinitive ] David was brought up to respect authority. bring sth up phrasal verb [ M ] TALK 1. to start to talk about a particular subject She's always bringing up her health problems. call (in) on sb phrasal verb to visit someone for a short time I thought we might call in on your mother on our way - I've got some magazines for her. carry (sth) on phrasal verb [ M ] to continue doing something, or to cause something to continue Let's carry on this discussion at some other time. Carry on the good work ! Sorry to interrupt, do carry on ( with what you were saying). [ + -ing verb ] Steve just carried on playing on his computer. Daphne is carrying on the family tradition by becoming a lawyer.

carry sth out phrasal verb [ M ] to do or complete something, especially that you have said you would do or that you have been told to do Our soldiers carried out a successful attack last night. It is hoped that the kidnappers will not carry out their threat to kill the hostages. Don't blame me, I'm only carrying out my orders/instructions. catch on phrasal verb BECOME POPULAR 1. to become fashionable or popular I wonder if the game will ever catch on with young people? come back phrasal verb RETURN 1. to return to a place I'll come back and pick you up in half an hour. We've just come back from Amsterdam. come from somewhere/sth phrasal verb to be born, got from, or made in a particular place She comes from Italy. Does that quote come from Shakespeare? She could hear banging coming from the room upstairs. Where will the money for the project come from? cut sth up phrasal verb [ M ] to cut something into pieces depend on/upon sb/sth phrasal verb TRUST 1. to trust someone or something and know that they will help you or do what you want or expect them to do You can always depend on Michael in a crisis. [ + to infinitive ] I'm depending on you to keep your promise. [ + -ing verb ] You can't always depend on the trains arriving on time. HUMOROUS You can depend on Jane to be late (= she is always late) . do away with sb phrasal verb INFORMAL to murder someone do sb in phrasal verb TIRE 2. INFORMAL to make someone extremely tired That hockey match really did me in. do sth out phrasal verb [ M ] 1. UK INFORMAL to clean or tidy something I'd like you to do out your room before Chris comes to stay. 2. to decorate something They did the room out with balloons and streamers ready for the party. do (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ] to fasten something or become fastened Do your shoes/laces up before you trip over. These trousers must have shrunk - I can't do the zip up. Why won't this zip do up? do sth up phrasal verb [ M ] REPAIR 1. to repair or decorate a building so that it looks attractive I'd like to buy a run-down cottage that I can do up. do sth up phrasal verb [ M ] WRAP 2. to wrap something in paper She always does her presents up beautifully in gold and silver paper. fill sth in/out phrasal verb [ M ] to write the necessary information on an official document to fill in a form/questionnaire fill (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ] to become full, or to make something become full The seats in the hall were filling up fast. As she read the poem, their eyes filled up with tears.

fill sb up phrasal verb [ M ] If food fills you up, it makes you feel as if you have eaten enough That sandwich really filled me up. find (sth) out phrasal verb [ M ] to get information about something because you want to know more about it, or to learn a fact or piece of information for the first time How did you find out about the party? The holiday was a complete surprise - I only found out about it the day before we left. [ + question word ] I'll just go and find out what's going on outside. [ + that ] Too late, she found out that the train had been cancelled. get away phrasal verb 1. to leave or escape from a person or place, often when it is difficult to do this We walked to the next beach to get away from the crowds. 2. to go somewhere to have a holiday, often because you need to rest I just need to get away for a few days. We've decided to go to Scotland to get away from it all. get back phrasal verb to return to a place after you have been somewhere else If you get back in time, you can come with us. When we got back to the hotel, Ann had already left. get sth back phrasal verb [ M ] to be given something again that you had before Don't lend him money, you'll never get it back. get in phrasal verb ENTER 1. to succeed in entering a place, especially by using force or a trick They must have got in through the bathroom window. get in phrasal verb ARRIVE 2. to arrive at your home or the place where you work What time did you get in last night? 3. If a train or other vehicle gets in at a particular time, that is when it arrives What time is the plane expected to get in? get off (sth) phrasal verb to leave a train, bus or aircraft Get off at Camden Town. get on phrasal verb RELATIONSHIP 1. MAINLY UK ( MAINLY US get along ) to have a good relationship We're getting on much better now that we don't live together. He doesn't get on with his daughter. get on phrasal verb MANAGE 2. MAINLY UK ( MAINLY US get along ) to manage or deal with a situation, especially successfully How are you getting on in your new flat? We're getting on quite well with the decorating. get on phrasal verb OLD 4. be getting on INFORMAL to be getting old He's getting on ( a bit ) - he'll be seventy-six next birthday. get on (sth) phrasal verb to go onto a bus, train, aircraft or boat I think we got on the wrong bus. get out phrasal verb LEAVE 1. to leave a closed vehicle, building, etc I'll get out when you stop at the traffic lights. get out of sth phrasal verb AVOID

1. to avoid doing something that you do not want to do, especially by giving an excuse I reckon her backache was just a way of getting out of the housework. [ + -ing verb ] If I can get out of going to the meeting tonight I will. get over sth/sb phrasal verb to get better after an illness, or feel better after something or someone has made you unhappy She was only just getting over the flu when she got a stomach bug. It took him years to get over the shock of his wife dying. It took her months to get over Rupert when he finished the relationship. get round to sth phrasal verb UK to do something that you have intended to do for a long time I still haven't got round to fixing that tap. get through sth phrasal verb EXAMINATION 1. to succeed in an examination or competition She got through her exams without too much trouble. get to phrasal verb You ask where people or things have got to when they do not arrive or are not where you expect them to be and you want to know where they are I wonder where my glasses have got to. Where's Annabel got to? She should be here by now. get up phrasal verb STAND 1. to stand up The whole audience got up and started clapping. get sth up phrasal verb [ M ] to organize a group of people to do something He's getting up a small group to go carol-singing for charity. give sth away phrasal verb [ M ] FREE 1. to give something to someone without asking for payment The shop is giving away a sample pack to every customer. Nobody wants this type of heater anymore - I can't even give it away! give sth back phrasal verb [ M ] to return something to the person who gave it to you Has she given you those books back yet? give in phrasal verb AGREE 1. to finally agree to what someone wants, after refusing for a period of time He nagged me so much for a new bike that eventually I gave in. The government cannot be seen to give in to terrorists' demands. give in phrasal verb ADMIT DEFEAT 2. to accept that you have been defeated and agree to stop competing or fighting You'll never guess the answer - do you give in? She wouldn't give in until she received a full apology. give onto sth phrasal verb SLIGHTLY FORMAL to open in the direction of something The patio doors give onto a small courtyard. give out phrasal verb If a machine or part of your body gives out, it stops working At the end of the race his legs gave out and he collapsed on the ground. give up phrasal verb to stop trying to guess You'll never guess the answer - do you give up? I give up - how many were there? give up (sth) phrasal verb to stop doing something before you have finished it, usually because it is too difficult [ + -ing verb ] I've given up trying to help her.

give (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ] If you give up a habit, such as smoking, or something such as alcohol, you stop doing it or using it [ + -ing verb ] I gave up smoking two years ago. Don't offer him a cigarette, he's trying to give up. give sb up phrasal verb END FRIENDSHIP 1. [ M ] to stop having a friendship with someone She seems to have given up all her old friends. give sb up phrasal verb NOT EXPECT 2. ( ALSO give up on sb ) to stop expecting that someone will arrive I've been waiting half-an-hour - I'd almost given you up. go by phrasal verb 1. to move past, in space or time You can watch the trains going by from this window. You can't let an opportunity like that go by - it's too good to miss. Hardly a day goes by when I don't think about her. 2. in days gone by in the past The house was a railway station in days gone by. go down (sth) phrasal verb MOVE DOWN 1. to move down to a lower level or place He went down on his knees and begged for forgiveness. He first went down the mines when he was 17. The plane went down (= fell to the ground because of an accident, bomb, etc.) ten minutes after takeoff. Everyone took to the lifeboats when the ship started to go down (= sink) . Could I have a glass of water to help these pills go down (= to help me swallow them) ? go down (sth) phrasal verb REACH 2. to reach or go as far as Its roots can go down three metres. This path goes down to the river. Go down to (= Read as far as) the bottom of the page. go in phrasal verb ENTER 1. to enter a place I looked through the window, but I didn't actually go in. go in phrasal verb BE UNDERSTOOD 3. MAINLY UK INFORMAL If a fact or piece of information goes in, you understand it or remember it No matter how many times you tell him something, it never seems to go in. go into sth phrasal verb START 1. to start doing a particular type of work My son's planning to go into journalism. She's decided to go into business as a freelance computer programmer. 2. to start an activity, or start to be in a particular state or condition The drug is still being tested and will not go into commercial production for at least two years. How many companies have gone into liquidation/receivership during the current recession? Repeated death threats have forced them to go into hiding. Her baby was born three hours after she went into labour. Some of the fans seemed to go into a trance when she appeared on stage. go off phrasal verb STOP WORKING 1. If a light or a machine goes off, it stops working The lights went off in several villages because of the storm. go over sth phrasal verb STUDY 2. to study or explain something

I always go over my revision notes just before I go into an exam. Could you go over the main points of your argument again, Professor? go up phrasal verb RISE 1. to move higher, rise or increase The average cost of a new house has gone up by 5% to 276 500. hand sth around phrasal verb [ M ] ( UK ALSO hand round ) to pass or offer something to all the people in a group Ben, could you hand round the biscuits? hand sth out phrasal verb [ M ] to give something to each person in a group or place The teacher asked her to hand out the worksheets. They stood on the street corner handing out leaflets. hand sth over phrasal verb [ M ] to give something to someone else We were ordered to hand over our passports. hang on phrasal verb WAIT 1. INFORMAL to wait for a short time Sally's on the other phone - would you like to hang on? Do you need the toilet right now or can you hang on for a while? Hang on a minute - I'll be with you in a moment! hang on phrasal verb HOLD 2. to hold or continue holding onto something Hang on tight - it's going to be a very bumpy ride. hang onto sth phrasal verb to keep something You should hang onto that painting - it might be valuable. hang out phrasal verb INFORMAL to spend a lot of time in a place or with someone You still hang out at the pool hall? I've been hanging out backstage with the band. hang up phrasal verb to end a telephone conversation He started shouting so I hung up ( on him). Let me speak to Melanie before you hang up. hang sth up phrasal verb [ M ] to stop using and needing something because you have given up the sport or activity it is used for So when did you hang up your boxing gloves/golfclubs/ballet shoes? hear from sb phrasal verb If you hear from someone, you get a letter or telephone call from them, or they tell you something We haven't heard from her for ages. You'll be hearing from my solicitors (= They will write to you about my complaint) . hear of sb/sth phrasal verb If you have heard of someone or something, you know that that person or thing exists I'd never heard of him before he won the prize. It's a tiny country that most people have never heard of. help (sb) out phrasal verb [ M ] If you help out, you do a part of someone's work or give someone money Her parents helped (her) out with a 500 loan. hold it/that against sb phrasal verb to like someone less because they have done something wrong or behaved badly in the past He made a mistake but I don't hold it against him - we all make mistakes. hold off phrasal verb NOT DO

1. to not do something immediately [ + -ing verb ] Let's hold off making a decision until next week. US They've decided to hold off on buying a car until they're both working. hold on phrasal verb WAIT 1. INFORMAL to wait for a short time Hold on, I'll check in my diary. hold on phrasal verb HOLD 2. to hold something or someone firmly with your hands or arms She held on tightly to his waist. hold onto sth phrasal verb to hold something or someone firmly with your hands or your arms Hold onto the rope and don't let go. hold sb/sth up phrasal verb [ M ] DELAY 1. to delay someone or something Traffic was held up for several hours by the accident. hold sb/sth up phrasal verb [ M ] STEAL 2. to steal from someone using violence or the threat of violence They held the same bank up twice in one week. He was held up at gunpoint by a gang of masked youths. hunt sb/sth down phrasal verb [ M ] to search everywhere for someone or something until you find them The terrorists must be hunted down and brought to justice. leave sb/sth out phrasal verb [ M ] to not include someone or something You can leave the butter out of this recipe if you're on a low-fat diet. I've made a list of names - I hope I haven't left anyone out. None of the other children play with her, and I think she feels rather left out (= feels that no one wants to be her friend) . lie down phrasal verb to move into a position in which your body is flat, usually in order to sleep or rest He lay down on the bed and tried to relax. look after sb/sth phrasal verb to take care of or be in charge of someone or something We look after the neighbours' cat while they're away. If you look after your clothes they last a lot longer. [ R ] Don't worry about Mia - she can look after her self . look ahead phrasal verb to think about what will happen in the future and plan for these events We are trying to look ahead and see what our options are. look at sth phrasal verb THINK 1. to think about a subject carefully so that you can make a decision about it Management is looking at ways of cutting costs. look at sth phrasal verb READ 3. to read something in order to check it or form an opinion about it Can you look at my essay sometime? look at sth phrasal verb EXAMINE 4. If someone, usually an expert, looks at something, they examine it Did you get the doctor to look at your knee? look back phrasal verb to think about something that happened in the past When I look back I can see where we went wrong. It wasn't such a bad experience when I look back on it. look forward to sth phrasal verb 1. to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen I'm really looking forward to my holiday. [ + -ing verb ] She was looking forward to seeing the grandchildren again.

I'm not looking forward to Christmas this year. 2. [ + -ing verb ] FORMAL used at the end of a formal letter to say you hope to hear from or see someone soon, or that you expect something from them I look forward to hearing from you . In the circumstances, I look forward to receiving your client's cheque for the sum of 570 within the next seven days. look on/upon sb as sth phrasal verb to consider or think of someone or something as something We looked on her as a daughter. I've lived there so long I look on the town as my home. look over sth phrasal verb [ M ] to quickly examine something or someone I had a few minutes before the meeting to look over what he'd written. Would you quickly look over these figures for me and see if there are any obvious mistakes? look round (somewhere/sth) phrasal verb to visit a place and look at the things in it She spent the afternoon looking round the shops. When we went to Stratford, we only had a couple of hours to look round. look through sth phrasal verb to read something quickly I've looked through some catalogues. look sth up phrasal verb [ M ] to try to find a piece of information by looking in a book or on a computer If you don't know what the word means, look it up in a dictionary. look sb up phrasal verb [ M ] INFORMAL to visit someone who you have not seen for a long time when you are visiting the place where they live Look me up next time you're in Los Angeles.