An Extensive List of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example

To respect or obey a decision, a If you want to keep your job here, you
abide by
law or a rule must abide by our rules.
I hope you can account for the time you
account for To explain, give a reason
were out!
add up To make sense, seem reasonable The facts in the case just don’t add up.
To recommend not doing I advise against walking alone in this
advise against
something neighborhood.
To have the same opinion as I agree with you. I think you should go
agree with
someone else. as well.
We need to allow for unexpected
allow for To take into consideration
charges along the way.
1. To plead or make a 1. He appealed to the court to
request change its decision.
appeal to 2. To be attractive or 2. A vacation of sunbathing doesn’t
interesting appeal to me.

To make a formal request for

He applied for a scholarship for next
apply for something (job, permit, loan
semester.
etc.)
To move backwards, in fear or When he saw the bear, he backed away
back away
dislike in fright.
Local authorities backed down on their
back down To withdraw, concede defeat
threats to build on that part of the beach.
1. I’m going to be very strict with
1. To give support or him. I hope you’ll back me up
encouragement on this?
back up 2. To make a copy of (file, 2. You should back up all your
program, etc.) computer files in a secure
location.

To base your hopes on I’m banking on you to help with the

bank on
something / someone charity event.
Jenna fell in the parking lot and blacked
black out To faint, lose consciousness
out.
The police blocked off the street after
block off To separate using a barrier.
the explosion.
1. Tommy blew up the red balloon.
1. To explode
2. Don’t blow up at me. It’s not my
blow up 2. To get angry
fault.
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
It all boils down to who has more
boil down to To be summarized as
power.
To start a computer by loading You need to boot up your computer
boot up
an operating system or program before you begin to work.
One of the wolves broke away from his
break away To separate from a crowd
pack.
1. The washing machine broke
1. To go out of order, cease
down so we had to call in the
to function
repair technician.
break down 2. To lose control of one’s
2. John broke down when he heard
emotions
the news.

break into To enter by force Burglars broke into my car last night.
Rioting broke out after the government
break out To start suddenly
raised the fuel prices again.
break out of To escape from a place by force Several prisoners broke out of jail.
To come to an end (marriage, She broke up with Daniel after dating
break up
relationship) him for five years.
Sara is bringing up her children by
bring up To raise (a child)
herself.
To improve, refresh one’s I must brush up on my French before
brush up on
knowledge of something going to Paris next month.
To meet by chance or I bumped into Adam at the bank. He
bump into
unexpectedly says “hello”.
1. stop (something) 1. The light bulb burnt out. Please
working change it.
burn out 2. become exhausted from 2. She needs to work fewer hours.
over-working Otherwise she will burn out.

call back To return a phone call Could please call back in ten minutes?
The game was called off because of bad
call off To cancel
weather.
To become more relaxed, less It took Kylie several hours to calm
calm down
angry or upset down after she saw the accident.
The soldiers carried on walking in order
carry on To continue
to get to their post before dark.
1. To do something as
1. His orders were carried out to
specified (a plan, an
the letter.
order, a threat)
carry out 2. That company does not carry
2. To perform or conduct
out tests on animals.
(test, experiment)

They said I must check in at least three

check in To register at a hotel or airport
hours before my flight.
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
1. Donna checked out of the hotel
1. To pay one’s bill and
this morning.
leave (a hotel)
check out 2. I don’t know if this price is
2. To investigate
correct. I’ll check it out online.

When the police started asking

clam up To refuse to speak
questions, the suspect clammed up.
The local authorities have decided to
To act strictly to prevent
clamp down on clamp down on illegal parking in
something
handicapped parking places.
1. I was cleaning up and came
1. To find by chance across some old photos of you.
2. To appear, seem, make 2. The politician came across as a
come across
an impression complete fool during the TV
interview.

Has the owner of the winning lotto ticket

come forward To present oneself
come forward?
You can count on me to keep your
count on To rely or depend on (for help)
secret.
I’ve decided to cut down on the amount
cut down on To reduce in number or size
of sweets I eat.
1. She cut out a coupon from the
1. To remove using scissors newspaper.
cut out 2. To stop doing something 2. You need to cut out all red meat
from your diet.

To handle, take care of Catherine is not good at dealing with

deal with
(problem, situation) stress.
To calm down, become less After the storm died down, we went
die down
strong outside to see the damage it had caused.
She didn’t get a salary this month, so
do without To manage without
she’ll have to do without extra treats.
The suspect’s trial dragged on longer
drag on To last longer than expected
than we had expected!
To write (contract, agreement, They drew up a contract and had me
draw up
document) sign it.
Their wedding gave us a chance to dress
dress up wear elegant clothes
up and get out of the house.
To visit, usually on the way Why don’t you drop in to see us on your
drop in
somewhere way home?
1. To deliver someone or
something 1. I’ll drop off the papers later
drop off
2. To fall asleep today.
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
2. I often drop off in front of the
TV.

To leave school without Zack dropped out of college and joined

drop out
finishing the army.
To reduce, become less severe or
ease off Traffic usually eases off about 7pm
slow down (pain, traffic, work)
To finish in a certain way; result
end in Her marriage ended in divorce.
in
If you don’t improve your work habits,
To finally reach a state, place or
end up
action you’ll end up being fired.
His plans to trek through South America
fall through To fail; doesn’t happen
fell through when he got sick.
He’s trying to figure out how to earn
figure out To understand, find the answer
enough money to go on the trip to Spain.
To complete (a form/an Please fill out the enclosed form and
fill out
application) return it as soon as possible.
To discover or obtain I’m going to to find out who’s
find out
information responsible for the power cut.
Tom had difficultty focusing on work
focus on To concentrate on something
the day before his holiday started.
To be on good terms; work well It’s important to get along with your
get along (with)
with team supervisor.
What are you getting at? Do you think
get at To imply
I’m to blame?
I think we should get away for the
get away To escape
weekend.
Students without jobs have a hard time
get by To manage to cope or to survive
getting by.
get in To enter When did you get in last night?
How did you get into your car without
get into (+noun) To enter
the keys?
1. You should get off the train in
1. To leave (bus, train,
Kings Heath.
plane)
get off 2. I can’t get the ink stain off my
2. To remove
shirt.

I’m trying to get on the flight to

get on To board (bus, train, plane)
Brussels.
get on with To continue to do; make After they split up, she had a hard time
(something) progress getting on with her life.
get on (well)
He doesnt get on very well with the
with To have a good relationship with
other members of the committee.
(somebody)
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
He had a hard time getting out of
get out To leave
Newark because of the snow?
Edna’s trying to get out of working the
get out of To avoid doing something
night shift.
To recover from (illness,
get over Has she gotten over the flu?
disappointment)
To recover from (illness, Mary had the chickenpox last week but
get over
disappointment) she got over it.
Please get rid of that old t-shirt. It’s so
get rid of To eliminate
ragged.
Let’s get together for your birthday on
get together To meet each other
Saturday.
Will you please get up? You’ve got a
get up To rise, leave bed
class in 20 minutes.
1. To cease opposition; 1. We will never give in to the
yield terrorists’ demands.
give in
2. To To hand in; submit 2. I’ll give in my paper tomorrow.

give up To stop doing something Morris gave up drinking 10 years ago.

Andy went through a lot of pain after
go through To experience
his mother died.
To spend one’s childhood; He’s like Peter Pan. He never really
grow up
develop; become an adult grew up at all.
Please hand in your papers before
hand in To submit (report, homework)
Friday.
Susan volunteered at the shelter where
hand out To distribute
she handed out warm clothes.
To spend time in a particular Which pub does the team hang out at
hang out
place or with a group of friends after the game?
If you hang up now, I’ll never speak to
hang up To end a phone conversation
you again.
1. Please hold on and a
representative will answer your
1. To wait call.
hold on 2. To grip tightly 2. She was so scared on the
rollercoaster ride that she held
on for dear life.

Hurry up and finish your lunch or we’ll

hurry up To be quick, act speedily
miss the train.
To resolve by discussion, The two countries met at the conference
iron out
eliminate differences to iron out their differences.
Yes David, you can join in the
join in To participate
discussion any time you like.
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
1. There was a war on, so some
1. To engage in, become a kids were only sixteen when they
member of joined up.
join up
2. To meet and unite with 2. Let’s separate now and join up
later at the restaurant.

If you keep on making that noise I will

keep on To continue doing something
get annoyed.
To stay at the same level as I read the paper every day to keep up
keep up with
someone or something with the news.
The rugby match kicked off at 3
kick off To begin, start
o’clock.
Please check your form again and make
leave out To omit, not mention
sure nothing is left out.
I feel so let down because they promised
let down To disappoint
me a puppy but all I got was a doll.
Andy can you look after your sister
look after To take care of
until I get back?
She’s such a snob. She always looks
look down on To consider as inferior
down on anyone who is poor.
If you don’t want to take part in the
look on To be a spectator at an event
game you can look on for now.
Harry went to the shop to look for a new
look for To try to find something
computer.
To await or anticipate with I’m looking forward to my birthday.
look forward to
pleasure It’s in two days time.
I always looked up to my father. He was
look up to To admire
a great man.
It’s not nice to make fun of people in
make fun of To laugh at/ make jokes about
wheelchairs.
That’s a good excuse. Did you make up
make up To invent (excuse, story)
it up yourself?
To mistake one thing or person She had so many cats that she kept
mix up
for another mixing up their names.
To arrive in a new home or Did you hear? Our new neighbors are
move in
office moving in this afternoon.
To leave your home/office for When are you moving out? We need
move out
another one. your office for the new guy.
You were so tired after the game that
nod off To fall asleep
you nodded off on the couch.
own up To admit or confess something Come on. Own up. We know you did it!
Your grandfather passed away
pass away To die
peacefully in his sleep last night.
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
He didn’t drink enough water so he
pass out To faint
passed out at the end of the race.
I’ll pay you back as soon as I get the
pay back To reimburse
loan.
Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you
put off To postpone, arrange a later date
can do today.
It’s very dark in here. Please put on the
put on To turn on, switch on
light on.
The fire fighters were able to put out
put out To extinguish
fire in ten minutes.
To accommodate, give I can put you up until the weekend but
put up
somebody a bed then I’m going away.
I’ll pick you up at around 7:00 to take
pick up To collect somebody
you to the airport.
To indicate/direct attention to As I already pointed out, there was a
point out
something mistake in your calculation.
You can rely on me. I always arrive on
rely on To count on, depend on, trust
time.
Since he had a sound alibi, the police
rule out To eliminate
ruled him out as a suspect.
To escape from a place or He ran away from home and joined the
run away
suddenly leave circus.
To meet by accident or I’m so glad I ran into you. I need to ask
run into
unexpectedly (also: bump into) you something.
We’ve run out of milk. I’ll just pop next
run out of To have no more of something.
door to borrow some.
Let’s set off early to miss the rush hour
set off To start a journey;
traffic.
They set up their own company when
set up To start a business
they were still in high school.
Don’t buy that. Let’s shop around and
shop around To compare prices
see if we can find something cheaper.
He’s such a show off. He has to tell
show off To brag or want to be admired
everybody about his new computer.
I don’t think she’ll show up tonight. Her
show up To appear/arrive
daughter is sick.
shut up
To be silent, stop talking Shut up, you’re spoiling the movie!
(impolite)
I think you should sit down. It’s bad
sit down To take a seat
news.
The whole stadium stood up for the
stand up To rise from a sitting position
national anthem.
My big brother always stuck up for me
stick up for To defend
when I got into a fight.
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
To resemble, in appearance or Angie really takes after her
take after
character grandmother.
Please take care of my cat when I’m
take care of To look after
away.
The plane will take off as soon as the
take off To leave the ground
fog lifts.
I hear they’re taking on extra staff for
take on To hire or engage staff
this event.
Please take out your mobile phones and
take out To remove; extract
turn them off.
The coach told her off for not trying
tell off To reprimand/criticize severely
hard enough.
Take your time and think it over before
think over To consider
you decide.
To wear something to see if it
try on Go ahead, try it on and see if it fits?
suits or fits
I asked her out but she turned me down
turn down To refuse
flat.
To finish a product (so that
use up Your parents used up all the coffee!
there’s none left)
watch out To be careful Watch out! There’s a dog in the road.
1. Julie wore out her shoes running
1. To become unusable the marathons.
wear out 2. To become very tired 2. Julie was worn out after all that
running.

1. You should work out twice a

1. To do physical exercise
week at the gym.
2. To find a solution or
work out 2. Can you work this out? I’m no
calculate something
good at math.

wipe off To clean (board, table). I’ll wash up if you wipe off the table.