phrasal

verb
ask someone out
ask around
add up to something
back something up
back someone up
blow up
blow something up
break down
break down
break something down
break in
break into something
break something in
break in
break up
break up
break out
break out in something
bring someone down

meaning

example sentence
Brian asked Judy out to
invite on a date
dinner and a movie.
ask many people the same I asked around but nobody
question
has seen my wallet.
equal
Your purchases add up to
You'll have to back up your
reverse
car so that I can get out.
My wife backed me up over
support
my decision to quit my job.
The racing car blew up after
explode
it crashed into the fence.
We have to blow 50 balloons
add air
up for the party.
stop functioning (vehicle,
Our car broke down at the
machine)
side of the highway in the
The woman broke down
get upset
when the police told her that
Our teacher broke the final
divide into smaller parts
project down into three
Somebody broke in last night
force entry to a building
and stole our stereo.
The firemen had to break
enter forcibly
into the room to rescue the
wear something a few times I need to break these shoes
so that it doesn't look/feel in before we run next week.
The TV station broke in to
interrupt
report the news of the
My boyfriend and I broke up
end a relationship
before I moved to America.
The kids just broke up as
start laughing (informal)
soon as the clown started
The prisoners broke out of
escape
jail when the guards weren't
I broke out in a rash after our
develop a skin condition
camping trip.
make unhappy
This sad music is bringing me

bring someone up
bring something up
bring something up
call around
call someone back
call something off
call on someone
call on someone
call someone up
calm down
not care for
catch up
check in
check out
check someone/something
out
check out
cheer up
cheer someone up
chip in

My grandparents brought me
up after my parents died.
My mother walks out of the
start talking about a subject
room when my father brings
He drank so much that he
vomit
brought his dinner up in the
phone many different
We called around but we
places/people
weren't able to find the car
I called the company back
return a phone call
but the offices were closed
Jason called the wedding off
cancel
because he wasn't in love
The professor called on me
ask for an answer or opinion
for question 1.
We called on you last night
visit someone
but you weren't home.
Give me your phone number
phone
and I will call you up when
You are still mad. You need
relax after being angry
to calm down before you
not like (formal)
I don't care for his behaviour.
get to the same point as
You'll have to run faster than
someone else
that if you want to catch up
arrive and register at a hotel We will get the hotel keys
or airport
when we check in.
You have to check out of the
leave a hotel
hotel before 11:00 AM.
The company checks out all
look at carefully, investigate
new employees.
look at (informal)
Check out the crazy hair on
She cheered up when she
become happier
heard the good news.
I brought you some flowers
make happier
to cheer you up.
If everyone chips in we can
help
get the kitchen painted by
raise a child

Please clean up your

bedroom before you go
I came across these old
come across something
find unexpectedly
photos when I was tidying
The top and bottom come
come apart
separate
apart if you pull hard
My nephew came down with
come down with something become sick
chicken pox this weekend.
volunteer for a task or to
The woman came forward
come forward
give evidence
with her husband's finger
come from somewhere
originate in
The art of origami comes
count on
I am counting on you to
rely on
someone/something
make dinner while I am out.
Please cross out your old
cross something out
draw a line through
address and write your new
My doctor wants me to cut
cut back on something
consume less
back on sweets and fatty
make something fall to the We had to cut the old tree in
cut something down
ground
our yard down after the
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
cut in
another vehicle
when that car cut in.
start operating (of an engine The air conditioner cuts in
cut in
or electrical device)
when the temperature gets
remove with something
The doctors cut off his leg
cut something off
sharp
because it was severely
The phone company cut off
cut something off
stop providing
our phone because we didn't
My grandparents cut my
cut someone off
take out of a will
father off when he
remove part of something I cut this ad out of the
cut something out
(usually with scissors and
newspaper.
beat up, ransack (BrE,
He's lucky to be alive. His
do someone/something over
informal)
shop was done over by a
clean something up

tidy, clean

My teacher wants me to do
do something over
do again (AmE)
my essay over because 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!
It's a fancy restaurant so we
dress up
wear nice clothing
have to dress up.
move back in a
Andrea dropped back to
drop back
position/group
third place when she fell off
come without an
I might drop in/by/over for
drop in/by/over
appointment
tea sometime this week.
take someone/something
I have to drop my sister off at
drop someone/something off
somewhere and leave
work before I come over.
I dropped out of Science
drop out
quit a class, school etc
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
end up
eventually reach/do/decide
movie instead of going to the
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
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
figure something out
understand, find the answer
fit the piano and the
to write information in
Please fill in the form with
fill something in
blanks, as on a form (BrE)
your name, address, and
to write information in
The form must be filled out
fill something out
blanks, as on a form (AmE) in capital letters.
I always fill the water jug up
fill something up
fill to the top
when it is empty.

find out
find something out
get something across/over
get along/on
get around
get away
get away with something
get back
get something back
get back at someone
get back into something
get on something
get over something
get over something
get round to something
get together
get up

We don't know where he

lives. How can we find out?
We tried to keep the time of
discover
the party a secret, but
Samantha found it out.
communicate, make
I tried to get my point
understandable
across/over to the judge but
I was surprised how well my
like each other
new girlfriend and my sister
My grandfather can get
have mobility
around fine in his new
We worked so hard this year
go on a vacation
that we had to get away for a
do without being noticed or Jason always gets away with
punished
cheating in his maths tests.
We got back from our
return
vacation last week.
receive something you had Liz finally got her Science
before
notes back from my room-
My sister got back at me for
retaliate, take revenge
stealing her shoes. She stole
my favourite hat.
become interested in
I finally got back into my
something again
novel and finished it.
We're going to freeze out
step onto a vehicle
here if you don't let us get on
recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and
difficulty
now my sister has it.
The company will have to
overcome a problem
close if it can't get over the
finally find time to do (AmE: I don't know when I am going
get around to something)
to get round to writing the
meet (usually for social
Let's get together for a BBQ
reasons)
this weekend.
I got up early today to study
get out of bed
for my exam.
discover

get up
give someone away
give someone away
give something away
give something away
give something back
give in
give something out
give something up
give up
go after someone
go after something
go against someone
go ahead
go back
go out
go out with someone
go over something
go over

You should get up and give

the elderly man your seat.
reveal hidden information His wife gave him away to
about someone
the police.
My father gave me away at
take the bride to the altar
my wedding.
My little sister gave the
ruin a secret
surprise party away by
give something to someone The library was giving away
for free
old books on Friday.
I have to give these skates
return a borrowed item
back to Franz before his
reluctantly stop fighting or My boyfriend didn't want to
arguing
go to the ballet, but he finally
give to many people (usually They were giving out free
at no cost)
perfume samples at the
I am giving up smoking as of
quit a habit
January 1st.
My maths homework was
stop trying
too difficult so I gave up.
My brother tried to go after
follow someone
the thief in his car.
I went after my dream and
try to achieve something
now I am a published writer.
We are going against the
compete, oppose
best soccer team in the city
Please go ahead and eat
start, proceed
before the food gets cold.
I have to go back home and
return to a place
get my lunch.
leave home to go on a social We're going out for dinner
Jesse has been going out
date
with Luke since they met last
Please go over your answers
review
before you submit your test.
I haven't seen Tina for a long
visit someone nearby
time. I think I'll go over for an
stand

When I was young, we went

without winter boots.
My best friend and I grew
grow apart
stop being friends over time
apart after she changed
grow back
regrow
My roses grew back this
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 into something
grow big enough to fit
now, but he should grow into
give something used to
I handed my old comic books
hand something down
someone else
down to my little cousin.
hand something in
submit
I have to hand in my essay by
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
Hang in there. I'm sure you'll
hang in
stay positive (informal)
find a job very soon.
Hang on while I grab my coat
hang on
wait a short time (informal)
and shoes!
spend time relaxing
Instead of going to the party
hang out
(informal)
we are just going to hang out
He didn't say goodbye before
hang up
end a phone call
he hung up.
hold someone/something
I had to hold my dog back
prevent from doing/going
back
because there was a cat in
Jamie held back his tears at
hold something back
hide an emotion
his grandfather's funeral.
Please hold on while I
hold on
wait a short time
transfer you to the Sales
hold onto
hold firmly using your hands Hold onto your hat because
someone/something
or arms
it's very windy outside.
A man in a black mask held
hold someone/somethingup rob
the bank up this morning.
go without something

suffer lack or deprivation

Keep on stirring until the

liquid comes to a boil.
keep something from
We kept our relationship
not tell
someone
from our parents for two
keep someone/something
Try to keep the wet dog out
stop from entering
out
of the living room.
If you keep those results up
keep something up
continue at the same rate
you will get into a great
fail to support or help,
I need you to be on time.
let someone down
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 website,
I can't log in to Facebook
log in (or on)
database etc)
because I've forgotten my
sign out (of a website,
If you don't log off somebody
log out (or off)
database etc)
could get into your account.
look after
I have to look after my sick
take care of
someone/something
grandmother.
Ever since we stole that
think less of, consider
look down on someone
chocolate bar your dad has
inferior
looked down on me.
I'm looking for a red dress for
look for someone/something try to find
the wedding.
I'm looking forward to the
look forward to something
be excited about the future
Christmas break.
We are going to look into the
look into something
investigate
price of snowboards today.
look out
be careful, vigilant, and take Look out! That car's going to
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 We can look her phone
look something up
in a reference book or
number up on the Internet.
My little sister has always
look up to someone
have a lot of respect for
looked up to me.
keep on doing something

continue doing

make something up
make up
make someone up
mix something up
pass away
pass out
pass something out
pass something up
pay someone back
pay for something
pick something out
point someone/something
out
put something down
put someone down
put something off
put something out
put something together
put up with
someone/something

Josie made up a story about

why we were late.
We were angry last night,
forgive each other
but we made up at breakfast.
My sisters made me up for
apply cosmetics to
my graduation party.
confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names
His uncle passed away last
die
night after a long illness.
It was so hot in the church
faint
that an elderly lady passed
give the same thing to many The professor passed the
people
textbooks out before class.
decline (usually something I passed up the job because I
good)
am afraid of change.
Thanks for buying my ticket.
return owed money
I'll pay you back on Friday.
be punished for doing
That bully will pay for being
something bad
mean to my little brother.
I picked out three sweaters
choose
for you to try on.
I'll point my boyfriend out
indicate with your finger
when he runs by.
put what you are holding on You can put the groceries
a surface or floor
down on the kitchen
The students put the
insult, make someone feel
substitute teacher down
stupid
because his pants were too
We are putting off our trip
postpone
until January because of the
The neighbours put the fire
extinguish
out before the firemen
I have to put the crib
assemble
together before the baby
I don't think I can put up with
tolerate
three small children in the
invent, lie about something

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

your body
new earrings for the party.
I ran into an old school-
run into someone/something meet unexpectedly
friend 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 something rehearse, review
lines one more time before
The child ran away from
run away
leave unexpectedly, escape
home and has been missing
We ran out of shampoo so I
run out
have none left
had to wash my hair with
My letter got sent back to
send something back
return (usually by mail)
me because I used the wrong
Our boss set a meeting up
set something up
arrange, organize
with the president of the
The police set up the car
set someone up
trick, trap
thief by using a hidden
I want to shop around a little
shop around
compare prices
before I decide on these
act extra special for people He always shows off on his
show off
watching (usually boastfully) skateboard
stay somewhere for the night You should sleep over
sleep over
(informal)
tonight if the weather is too
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
stick to the diet.
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
switch something on
start the energy flow, turn on
as we switched on the car
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.
put something on

take something back

take off
take something off
take something out
take someone out
tear something up
think back
think something over
throw something away
turn something down
turn something down
turn something off
turn something on
turn something up
turn up
try something on
try something out
use something up

I have to take our new TV

back because it doesn't
start to fly
My plane takes off in five
remove something (usually Take off your socks and
clothing)
shoes and come in the lake!
Can you take the garbage out
remove from a place or thing
to the street for me?
pay for someone to go
My grandparents took us out
somewhere with you
for dinner and a movie.
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
rip into pieces
letters and gave them back
remember (often + to,
When I think back on my
sometimes + on)
youth, I wish I had studied
I'll have to think this job offer
consider
over before I make my final
We threw our old furniture
dispose of
away when we won the
decrease the volume or
Please turn the TV down
strength (heat, light etc)
while the guests are here.
I turned the job down
refuse
because I don't want to
stop the energy flow, switch Your mother wants you to
off
turn the TV off and come for
It's too dark in here. Let's
start the energy, switch on
turn some lights on.
increase the volume or
Can you turn the music up?
strength (heat, light etc)
This is my favourite song.
Our cat turned up after we
appear suddenly
put posters up all over the
neighbourhood.
I'm going to try these jeans
sample clothing
on, but I don't think they will
I am going to try this new
test
brand of detergent out.
The kids used all of the
finish the supply
toothpaste up so we need to
return an item

wake up

stop sleeping

warm someone/something
up

increase the temperature

warm up

prepare body for exercise

wear off

fade away

work out

exercise

work out

be successful

work something out

make a calculation

We have to wake up early for

work on Monday.
You can warm your feet up in
front of the fireplace.
I always warm up by doing sit-
ups before I go for a run.
Most of my make-up wore
off before I got to the party.
I work out at the gym three
times a week.
Our plan worked out fine.
We have to work out the
total cost before we buy the