ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal
Verb
ask
someone
out
ask
around

Separable/Insepara
ble
Separable

Example

invite on a date

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and

a movie.

Inseparable

ask many people the

same question

I asked around but nobody has

seen my wallet.

aim at

Separable

point something in the

direction of
a target

The policeman aimed his gun at the

hijacker.

add up
to
somethin
g

Inseparable

equal

Your purchases add up to $205.32.

advise
against

Separable

recommend not doing

something
take into consideration,
include in a calculation

The doctor advised him against carrying

heavy loads.

allow for

Meaning

Inseparable

You'd better leave early to allow

for traffic jams.

answer
back
avail
(oneself)
of
apply for

Inseparable

reply rudely

Don't answer back your mother!

Inseparable

When the company is privatized, you

should avail yourself of
the opportunity and buy some shares.
He applied for the job he saw advertised
in the newspaper.

appeal to

Separable/Insepara
ble

abide by

Inseparable

account
for

Inseparable

take advantage of
something (an
opportunity)
make a formal request
for something
(job, permit, loan etc.)
1) plead or make an
earnest request
2) be attractive or
interesting
respect or obey. (the law,
a decision, a rule)
explain, give a reason

break
down
back
away

Inseparable
Inseparable

move backwards, in
fear or dislike

When he saw the dog, he backed

away.

Back
down.

Separable

bank on

Inseparable

Local authorities backed down on their

plans to demolish the building
Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your
help.

beef up

Inseparable

withdraw, concede
defeat
base your hopes on
someone/something
improve, make more
substantial

black out

Inseparable

Inseparable

faint, lose consciousness

1) The organizers appealed to the crowd

to stay calm.
2) A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to
me.
If you want to stay at this school, you must
abide by the rules.
I hope you can account for the money you
spent!

He beefed up his presentation with

diagrams and statistics.
When he fell off the horse he
blacked out.

block off

Inseparable

Separate using a
barrier.

The area was blocked off during

the demonstration.

blow up

Inseparable

1) explode;
2) be destroyed by an
explosion

boil down
to
boot up

Inseparable

be summarized as

1) The terrorists said the bomb would

blow up at 9 o'clock.
2) The car blew up but luckily there was
nobody in it.
The problem boils down to a lack of
money.

Inseparable

break
away

Inseparable

start a computer by
loading an
operating system or
program.
escape from captivity

Inseparable

enter by force

Inseparable

start suddenly

Rioting broke out as a result of the strike.

break out
of
break up
.
bring up

Inseparable

escape from a place by

force
come to an end
(marriage, relationship)
raise (a child)

Three prisoners broke out of jail.

brush up
on

Inseparable

improve, refresh one's

knowledge of something

bump into

Inseparable

burn out

Separable/Insepara
ble

Pedro bumped into his English teacher at

the supermarket.
1) The fuse has burnt out.
2) Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't
slow down.

butt in (on
sthg)

Inseparable

meet by accident or
unexpectedly
1) stop (something)
working
2) become exhausted
from over-working
interrupt impolitely

break
down

Inseparable

bail out

Separable/Insepara
ble

1) John's car broke down so he had to

take the bus.
2) The parents broke down when they
heard the bad news.
1) When he was arrested, his family
refused to bail him out.
2) The government bailed out the bank.

Separable

1) go out of order, cease

to function
2) lose control of one's
emotions
1) pay money to secure
someone's release
2) rescue from financial
difficulties
withdraw, concede
defeat
return a phone call

Separable

make happier

I brought you some flowers to

cheer you up.

Separable

phone

Give me your phone number and I

break
into
break out

back
down
call back

cheer
someone
up
call

Inseparable
Inseparable

Just give my a few minutes to boot

up the computer.
A few horses broke away from the
paddock.
Burglars broke into the house around
midnight.

After her marriage broke up, Emma went

to live in London
She stopped working in order to bring up
her children.
Mary had to brush up on her Spanish
before going to South America.

It's rude to butt in on a

conversation like that!

Local authorities backed down on their

plans to demolish the building.
I'll call you back as soon as possible.

someone
up

will call you up when we are in

town.

call off

Inseparable

cancel

call
on/upon
sby
calm
down
carry on

Inseparable

formally invite or request

Inseparable

become more relaxed,

less angry or upset
continue

carry out

Inseparable

carry over

Inseparable

check in

Inseparable

check out

Separable/Insepara
ble

Clam up
up.
clamp
down on
close
down
Come
across.

Inseparable

refuse to speak

Inseparable

act strictly to prevent

something
stop operating (company,
restaurant, cinema).
1) find by chance
2) appear, seem, make an
impression

come
forward
come up
against

Inseparable

present oneself

Inseparable

be faced with or opposed

by

conk out

Separable/Insepara
ble

1) stop working
2) stop or fall asleep
(from exhaustion)

1) The car conked out on the

motorway.
2) He was so exhausted, he
conked out in front of the TV.

count on

Inseparable

cross out

Inseparable

cut down
on
deal with

Inseparable

rely or depend on (for

help)
remove by drawing a line
through
reduce in number or size

I'm counting on the taxi driver to find the

theatre.
In some exercises, you are asked to cross
out the incorrect word.
The doctor told him to cut down on
cigarettes.
The manager is good at dealing with
difficult customers.

Inseparable

Separable
Separable/Insepara
ble

Inseparable

1) do something as
specified
(a plan, an order, a
threat)
2) perform or conduct
(test, experiment)
postpone until later

register at a hotel or
airport
1) pay one's bill and
leave (a hotel)
2) investigate

handle, take care of

(problem, situation)

The meeting was called off because of the

strike.
I now call upon the President to address
the assembly.
He was angry at first but he eventually
calmed down.
He carried on gardening in spite of the
rain.
1) The plan was carried out to perfection.
2) Tests are carried out to determine the
efficiency of a new drug.

As regards holidays, can you carry over

any days from one year
to the next?
For security reasons you have to check in
two hours before your flight.
1) Is Mr. Blair still at the hotel? No, he
checked out this morning.
2) I don't know if the address is still valid.
I'll check it out.
When the teacher arrived she clammed
The government has decided to clamp
down on smoking in public places.
When the factory closed down, the
employees lost their jobs.
1) Julie came across some photographs of
her grandparents in the attic.
2) The candidate came across as a
dynamic person during the interview
The police have asked any witnesses to
come forward.
The project came up against a lot of
criticism.

die down

Inseparable

calm down, become less

strong
manage without

When the applause died down, she started

to sing.
The shops are closed so we'll have to do
without sugar.

do without

Inseparable

drag on

Inseparable

last longer than

expected

We expected a short speech but it

dragged on and on!

draw up

Inseparable

dress up

Inseparable

write (contract,
agreement, document)
1) wear elegant clothes
2) disguise oneself

drop in

Inseparable

visit, usually on the way

somewhere

drop off

Separable/Insepara
ble

1) deliver someone or
something
2) fall asleep

drop out

Inseparable

leave school without

finishing

An agreement was drawn up and signed

by the two parties.
1) Do people dress up to go to the opera
in your country?
2) Children love to dress up at
Halloween.
I sometimes drop in to see my
grandparents on my way home from
school.
1) I'll drop you off at the bus stop if you
like.
2) Granddad often drops off in front of the
TV.
She decided to go to art school then
dropped out after the first term.

drop
back
Eat up

Inseparable

move back in a
position/group
To finish a meal

Empty
out

Separable

Separable

Even out Separable

Eat out

Separable

End up

Inseparable

fall
through
figure
out
fill out

inseparable

find out

separable

focus on

inseparable

inseparable
separable

Andrea dropped back to third

place when she fell off her bike.
You must eat up all of your
vegetables before you can have
cake.
to remove everything Max emptied the refrigerator out.
from a container
making it empty
to make something
Max has trouble evening out his
measure the same as sideburns since one ear is lower
something else
than the other.
to go out to a
Max was tired of eating out, so he
restaurant to eat
stayed home and had a TV dinner.
to arrive at a
Max drank so much last night that
destination or result
he ended up in a strange bed in a
which may be
strange apartment.
unplanned or
unexpected
fail; doesn't happen
Our planned boat trip fell through
because of the storm.
understand, find the
I'm trying to figure out how to
answer
assemble the bookshelves.
complete (a form/an Please fill out the enclosed form
application)
and return it as soon as possible.
discover or obtain
I'm going to call the cinema to find
information
out what time the film starts.
concentrate on
The advertising campaign will

focus on the quality of the product.

Our planned boat trip fell through
because of the storm.
I'm trying to figure out how to
assemble the bookshelves.
We FASTENED it DOWN to keep
the wind from blowing it away.

fall
through
figure
out
Fasten
down

separable

fail; doesn't happen

separable

understand, find the

answer
Tie something so
that it doesn't move

fall apart

intransitive

inseparable

Fatten up separable
Fight
back

something

separable

break into pieces

Give an animal a lot
to eat to make it fat
Defend yourself,
resist an attack

Filter out separable

Remove something
unwanted

fight
down
fall out

separable

fall to the ground

inseparable

get along inseparable

(with)
get at
inseparable

(of hair, teeth)

become loose and
unattached
be on good terms;
work well with
imply

get away

separable

escape

get by

inseparable

get in

inseparable

manage to cope or to
survive
enter

get into
(+noun)
get off

separable

enter

inseparable

1) leave (bus, train,

plane)
2) remove

get on

separable

grow up

inseparable

board (bus, train,

plane)
spend one's
childhood; develop;
become an adult

My new dress fell apart in the

washing machine.
They FATTEN the cows UP before
slaughtering them.
The army attacked the town and the
inhabitants FOUGHT BACK
fiercely.
It FILTERS OUT all the impurities
and chemicals in tap water so that
it tastes better.
The picture that you hung up last
night fell down this morning..
His hair started to fall out when he
was only 35.
I get along (well) with my motherin-law.
What exactly are you trying to get
at?
The robbers got away in a black
car.
It's difficult to get by on a low
salary.
How did the burglar get in?
How did the burglar get into the
house?
1) You should get off the bus at
Trafalgar Square.
2) She can't get the stain off her
sweater.
You can pay when you get on the
bus.
He grew up in a small village in
the mountains.

go ahead inseparable

go over

inseparable

grow
apart
get
around
get up

separable
inseparable
separable

hang out separable

hit back

inseparable

hold on

inseparable

hurry up separable

hang on

inseparable

Hack
around

inseparable

Hand
back

separable

Hide out

separable

Hit up

inseparable

iron out

inseparable

Issue
forth

inseparable

start, proceed

Please go ahead and eat before the

food gets cold.
visit someone nearby I haven't seen Tina for a long time.
I think I'll go over for an hour or
two.
stop being friends
My best friend and I grew apart
over time
after she changed schools.
have mobility
My grandfather can get around
fine in his new wheelchair.
stand
You should get up and give the
elderly man your seat.
spend time in a
Where does he hang out these
particular place,
days?
or with a group of
Who does he hang out with?
friends
retaliate; reply to an When he was attacked by the
attack
others, the boy hit back.
-wait
- 'Hold on please. I'll put you
-grip tightly
through to Mr. Brown."
- She held on to the railing as she
crossed the bridge.
be quick, act
Hurry up! We'll miss the bus.
speedily
wait a short time
Hang on while I grab my coat and
(informal)
shoes!
Waste time
I've been Hacking Around all
morning because I can't get down
to doing any revision.
Return
The police officer checked my
licence, then Handed it Back.
Go or stay
somewhere to avoid
being caught or
found
Inject drugs

The police think he's HIDING

OUT in the woods.

resolve by
discussion, eliminate
differences
Come out of a place

The meeting tomorrow will be an

opportunity to iron out difficulties.

She's been HITTING UP for years.

New initiatives ISSUE FORTH

from the government on a daily
basis.

join in

inseparable

join up

separable

jot down

separable

Jazz up

separable

keep on

separable

keep up
with

Inseparable

kick off

Inseparable

leave out Inseparable

participate

She was too shy to join in the

game.
-engage in, become - John was in the Army and Tom
a member of
joined up as soon as he left school.
- meet and unite with - The two groups of tourists joined
up at the hotel.
take quick notes
I jotted down the address while
watching the programme on TV.
Make something
The show was getting stale so they
more interesting or
JAZZED it UP with some new
attractive
scenes
continue doing
It told him to be quiet but he kept
something
on making noise.
stay at the same level Bill walks so fast it's difficult to
as someone or
keep up with him.
something
begin, start
The football match kicked off at 3
o'clock.
omit, not mention

The child's name was left out of

the report.
You promised to come to the party,
so don't let me down!
A babysitter looks after the
children when they go out.
It's time to forget the past and look
ahead.
He tends to look down on anyone
who is not successful.
Billy didn't take part in the fight.
He just looked on.
Jane went to the shops to look for a
pair of shoes.
I look forward to seeing you
soon.

let down

Separable

disappoint

look
after
look
ahead
look
down on
look on

Inseparable

take care of

Inseparable

think of the future

Inseparable

consider as inferior

Inseparable

look for

Inseparable

be a spectator at an
event
try to find something

look
forward
to
look up
to

Inseparable

await or anticipate
with pleasure

Inseparable

admire

He was a wonderful teacher and

many students looked up to him.

make
fun of
make up

Inseparable

laugh at/ make jokes

about
invent (excuse,
story)

The old lady dresses so strangely

that the kids make fun of her.
Some employees make up excuses
when they arrive late for work.

Inseparable

mix up

Separable

mistake one thing or

person for another
arrive in a new home
or office
leave your
home/office for
another one.

I don't know my neighbours' names

yet. I keep mixing them up.
You've bought a new house? When
are you moving in?.
My neighbour is leaving. He's
moving out next Saturday.

move in

Inseparable

move
out

Inseparable

nod off

Inseparable

fall asleep

note
down

Inseparable

write something

My grandfather often nods off in

front of the television.
I'll call the station and note down
the departure times.

opt out

Inseparable

I enjoy tennis but I'm so busy I had

to opt out of the tournament.

own up

Inseparable

leave a system or
decide not to
participate
admit or confess
something

Pass Out

Separable

to distribute

Put Off

Inseperable

Postpone

The teacher passed the assignment

out.
We are putting off our trip until
January because of the hurricane

Pass
away
Pick up

Inseperable

die

The old lady passed away peacefully

Seperable

collect somebody

Point out

Seperable

indicate/direct attention
to something

I'll pick you up at the station when you

arrive.
She pointed out the mistake.

Quite
Down

Seperable

to be less noisy

Class, please quiet down. I'm trying

to think

Rack up

Separable

to accumulate in
number (score)

Read off

Separable

to read aloud items

from a list or display

You?d better watch where you

park. You?re really racking up the
parking tickets.
The coach read off the names of the
players cut from the team

The boy owned up. He said he

kicked the ball through the
window.

Read
Over
Rent out

Separable

Rip up

Seperable

Run Into

Inseparable

Set back

Separable

Set up

Separable

Stand in
for

Inseparable

to be prominent or
conspicuous

Sort out

Separable

to resolve problems
or difficulties

Separable

Shout out Seperable

Shave off Seperable

to read something
thoroughly
to steal something

Before you sign the contract, please

read it over.
Max ripped twenty dollars off from
that old lady.
to escape from one's Mary ran away at the age of
guardians
thirteen.
to meet unexpectedly I was surprised when I ran into Bill
on the way to the store yesterday.
cause a delay in
We've had some problems with the
scheduling
project that have set us back at
least two days . We'll give you a
progress report tomorrow
make arrangements
An inquiry into the accident has
for something;
been set up. You'll see Mr. Thomas
establish
tomorrow. I've set a meeting up for
9:30 AM

to speak very loudly;

to announce
to remove hair by
shaving

Send
Back
Sell out

Seperable

to return something

Seperable

to compromise one's
values for personal
gain

Screw up

Seperable

Save up

Seperable

Take
Apart

Seperable

to make a mistake or
do something wrong
to collect money for
future use
to dismantle or
disassemble

Take
Back
Talk into

Seperable

to return

Seperable

to persuade to do
something

Max's car stands out among all of

the cars in the parking lot because
of its florescent green paintjob.
Max tried to sort out the
misunderstanding he had with
Mary.
Max shouted the directions to his
house out.
Michael Jordan first shaved off all
of his hair when he was in his
twenties.
I sent the soup back to the kitchen
because there was a fly in it.
Catherine sold out. I guess power
and money mean more to her than
what she said were her personal
values.
Max screwed up his relationship
with Mary
Max is saving up for a brand new
car.
Max took the engine of his car
apart, but couldn't put it back
together
Max took the defective radio back
to the sore where he bought it.
Max talked Mary into going to
Mexico with him.

Trade in

Separable

Try Out

Separable

Turn Up

Seperable

to exchange
something (usually
used) for payment or
partial payment for
something else.
to test to see if
something is suitable
to increase

Turn
Over

Seperable

to invert; rotate

Turn off

Seperable

to disgust

Turn
down

Seperable

to decrease

Please turn the radio down. It's too

loud.

Use Up

Seperable

to use all of

Max used up all of the ink printing

his pictures

vouch for

Seperable

express confidence in, or

guarantee something

You can give the keys to Andy. I can

vouch for him.

W Water
down
Wear off

Seperable

to make weaker

Seperable

to no longer affect
someone
to record in writing

Don't go to that bar. The bartender

waters down all of the drinks.
Oh no, call the doctor. the drugs
are wearing off.
In that class, you should write
down everything that the professor
says. It's likely to be on the test.
After dinner, please wipe off the
table and wash the dishes.

Write
down

Seperable

Wipe off

Seperable

Wear
down

Seperable

to clean a surface by
dragging a towel or
sponge across it
to cause to be worn
or weak

Max traded his old jalopy in as a

down payment on a new BMW.

I'm going to try out some new

recipes for dinner this week.
Please turn the radio up. I can
hardly hear it.
Once the pancake is done on one
side, please turn it over to cook the
other side.
Selfish people really turn me off

Your constant nagging is wearing

me down