PHRASAL VERB MEANING EXAMPLE

ask someone out invite on a date Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.

add up to something equal Your purchases add up to $205.32.

You'll have to back up your car so that I can get

back something up reverse
out.

My wife backed me up over my decision to

back someone up support
quit my job.

The racing car blew up after it crashed into the

blow up explode
fence.

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

stop functioning (vehicle, Our car broke down at the side of the highway
break down
machine) in the snowstorm.

The woman broke down when the police told

break down get upset
her that her son had died.

Our teacher broke the final project down into

break something down divide into smaller parts
three separate parts.

Somebody broke in last night and stole our

break in force entry to a building
stereo.

The firemen had to break into the room to

break into something enter forcibly
rescue the children.

My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to

break up end a relationship
America.

My grandparents brought me up after my

bring someone up raise a child
parents died.

He drank so much that he brought his dinner

bring something up vomit
up in the toilet.

I called the company back but the offices were

call someone back return a phone call
closed for the weekend.

Jason called the wedding of because he

call something of cancel
wasn't in love with his fiancé.

We called on you last night but you weren't

call on someone visit someone
home.

1
 Give me your phone number and I will call you
call someone up phone
up when we are in town.

You are still mad. You need to calm down

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

get to the same point as You'll have to run faster than that if you want
catch up with
someone else to catch up with Mary.

arrive and register at a hotel

check in We will get the hotel keys when we check in.
or airport

You have to check out of the hotel before

check out leave a hotel
11:00 AM.

check someone/something out look at carefully, investigate The company checks out all new employees.

She cheered up when she heard the good

cheer up become happier
news.

cheer someone up make happier I brought you some flowers to cheer you up.

Please clean up your bedroom before you go

clean something up tidy, clean
outside.

I came across these old photos when I was

come across something find unexpectedly
tidying the closet.

The top and bottom come apart if you pull

come apart separate
hard enough.

My nephew came down with chicken pox this

come down with something become sick
weekend.

come from somewhere originate in The art of origami comes from Asia.

I am counting on you to make dinner while I

count on someone/something rely on
am out.

Please cross out your old address and write

cross something out draw a line through
your new one.

My doctor wants me to cut down on sweets

cut down on something To do less of something
and fatty foods.

The doctors cut of his leg because it was

cut something of remove with something sharp
severely injured.

The phone company cut of our phone

cut something of stop providing
because we didn't pay the bill.

2
 My teacher wants me to do my essay over
do something over do again (N.Amer.)
because she doesn't like my topic.