Phrasal verbs break in force entry to a Somebody broke in last night

building and stole our television.

Verb Meaning Example
break into something enter forcibly The firemen had to break
ask someone out invite on a date Brian asked Judy out to into the room to rescue the
dinner and a movie. children.

ask around ask many people I asked around but nobody break something in wear something I need to break these
the same has seen my wallet. a few times so shoes in before we run next
question that it doesn't week.
look/feel new
add up to something equal Your purchases add up
to RM500. break in interrupt The TV station broke in to
report the news of the
back something up reverse You'll have to back up your president's death.
car so that I can get out.
break up end a My boyfriend and I broke
back someone up support My wife backed me up over relationship up before I moved to Sibu.
my decision to quit my job.
break up start laughing The kids just broke up as
blow up explode The racing car blew up after (informal) soon as the clown started
it crashed into the fence. talking.

blow something up add air We have to blow fifty break out escape The prisoners broke out of
balloons up for the party. jail when the guards were
not looking.
break down stop functioning Our car broke down at the
(vehicle, side of the highway in the break out in develop a skin I broke out in a rash after
machine) snowstorm. something condition our camping trip.

break down get upset The woman broke

bring someone down make unhappy This sad music
down when the police told
is bringing me down.
her that her son had died.
bring someone up raise a child My grandparents
break something divide into Our teacher broke the final
brought me up after my
down smaller parts project down into three
parents died.
separate parts.
bring something up start talking My mother walks out of the not care for not like (formal) I do not care for his
about a subject room when my father brings someone/something behaviour.
up sports.
catch up get to the same You will have to run faster
bring something up vomit He drank so much that point as than that if you want
he brought his dinner up in someone else to catch up with Marty.
the toilet.
check in arrive and We will get the hotel keys
call around phone many We called around but we register at a hotel when we check in.
different were not able to find the car or airport
places/people part we needed.
check out leave a hotel You have to check out of the
call someone back return a phone I called the hotel before 11:00 a.m.
call company back but the
offices were closed for the check someone/ look at carefully, The company checks out all
weekend. something out investigate new employees.

call something off cancel Jason called the

check out look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on
dinner off because he was
busy with his recent project. someone/something that guy!

call on someone ask for an answer The professor called on me cheer up become happier She cheered up when she
or opinion for question one. heard the good news.

call on someone visit someone We called on you last night cheer someone up make happier I brought you some flowers
but you were not home. to cheer you up.

call someone up phone Give me your phone number chip in help If everyone chips in we can
and I will call you up when get the kitchen painted by
we are in town. noon.

calm down relax after being You are still mad. You need clean something up tidy, clean Please clean up your
angry to calm down before you bedroom before you go
drive the car. outside.
come across find I came across these old cut in pull in too closely The bus driver got angry
something unexpectedly photos when I was tidying in front of when that car cut in.
the closet. another vehicle

come apart separate The top and bottom come cut in start operating The air conditioner cuts
apart if you pull hard (of an engine or in when the temperature
enough. electrical device) gets to 22°C.

come down with become sick My nephew came down cut something off remove with The doctors cut off his leg
something with chicken pox this something sharp because it was severely
weekend. injured.

come forward volunteer for a The woman came cut something off stop providing The phone company cut
task or to give forward with her husband's off our phone because we
evidence finger prints. didn't pay the bill.

come from originate in The art of origami comes cut someone off take out of a will My grandparents cut my
somewhere from Asia. father off when he
remarried.
count on rely on I am counting on you to
cut something out remove part of I cut this ad out of the
someone/something make dinner while I am out.
something newspaper.
(usually with
cross something out draw a line Please cross out your old
scissors and
through address and write your new
paper)
one.
do someone/ beat up, ransack He is lucky to be alive. His
cut back consume less My doctor wants me to cut
onsomething back onsweets and fatty something over (Br.E., informal) shop was done over by a
street gang.
foods.
do something over do again My teacher wants me
cut something down make something We had to cut the old tree in
to do my essay over because
fall to the ground our yarddown after the
she doesn't like my topic.
storm.
do away with discard It is time to do away with all
cut in interrupt Your father cut in while I was
dancing with your uncle. something of these old tax records.
do something up fasten, close Do your coat up before you fall out separate from an The money must have fallen
go outside. It is snowing! interior out of my pocket.

dress up wear nice It is a fancy restaurant so we fall out (of hair, teeth) His hair started to fall
clothing have to dress up. become loose out when he was only thirty-
and unattached five.
drop back move back in a Andrea dropped back to
position/group third place when she fell off figure something out understand, find I need to figure out how to
her bike. the answer fit the piano and the
bookshelf in this room.
drop in/by/over come without an I might drop in/by/over for
appointment tea sometime this week. fill something in to write Please fill in the form with
information in your name, address, and
drop someone/ take I have to drop my blanks phone number.
something off someone/somet sister off at work before I
hing somewhere come over. fill something out to write The form must be filled
and leave information in out in capital letters.
them/it there blanks

drop out quit a class, I dropped out of Science fill something up fill to the top I always fill the water
school etc because it was too difficult. jug up when it is empty.

eat out eat at a I don not feel like cooking find out discover We don't know where he
restaurant tonight. Let's eat out. lives. How can we find out?

end up eventually We ended up renting a find something out discover We tried to keep the time of
reach/do/decide movie instead of going to the the party a secret, but
theatre. Samantha found it out.

fall apart break into pieces My new dress fell apart in get something communicate, I tried to get my
the washing machine. across/over make point across/over to the
understandable judge but she would not
fall down fall to the ground The picture that you hung up listen.
last night fell down this
morning. get along/on like each other I was surprised how well my
new girlfriend and my
sister got along/on.
get around have mobility My grandfather can get get over something overcome a The company will have to
around fine in his new problem close if it cannot tget
wheelchair. over the new regulations.

get away go on a vacation We worked so hard this year get round to finally find time I don't know when I am
that we had to get away for something to do (get around going to get round to writing
a week. to something) the thank you cards.

get away with do without being Jason always gets away get together meet (usually for Let's get together for a BBQ
something noticed or with cheating in his maths social reasons) this weekend.
punished tests.
get up get out of bed I got up early today to study
get back return We got back from our for my exam.
vacation last week.
get up stand You should get up and give
get something back receive Liz finally got her Science the elderly man your seat.
something you notes back from my room-
had before mate. give someone away reveal hidden His wife gave him away to
information the police.
get back at someone retaliate, take My sister got back at me for about someone
revenge stealing her shoes. She stole
my favourite pen. give someone away take the bride to My father gave me away at
the altar my wedding.
get back into become I finally got back into my
something interested in novel and finished it. give something away ruin a secret My little sister gave the
something again surprise party away by
accident.
get on something step onto a We are going to freeze out
vehicle here if you don't let us get give something away give something The library was giving
on the bus. to someone for away old books on Friday.
free
get over something recover from an I just got over the flu and
illness, loss, now my sister has it. give something back return a I have to give these
difficulty borrowed item skates back to Franz before
his hockey game.

give in reluctantly stop Sally did not want to go to

 fighting or the ballet, but he finally gave go over visit someone I haven't seen Tina for a long
arguing in. nearby time. I think I'll go over for
an hour or two.
give something out give to many They were giving out free
people (usually at perfume samples at the go without something suffer lack or When I was young, we went
no cost) department store. deprivation without much money.

give something up quit a habit I am giving up smoking. grow apart stop being My best friend and I grew
friends over time apart after she changed
give up stop trying My mathematics homework schools.
was too difficult so I gave up.
grow back regrow My roses grew back this
go after someone follow someone My brother tried to go summer.
after the thief in his car.
grow up become an adult When Jack grows up he
go after something try to achieve I went after my dream and wants to be a fireman.
something now I am a published writer.
grow out of get too big for Elizabeth needs a new pair of
go against someone compete, oppose We are going against the something shoes because she
best soccer team in the city has grown out of her old
tonight. ones.

go ahead start, proceed Please go ahead and eat grow into something grow big enough This bike is too big for him
before the food gets cold. to fit now, but he should grow
into it by next year.
go back return to a place I have to go back home and
get my lunch. hand something down give something I handed my old comic
used to someone books down to my little
go out leave home to go We're going out for dinner else cousin.
on a social event tonight.
hand something in submit I have to hand in my essay
go out with someone date Jesse has been going out by Friday.
with Luke since they met last
winter. hand something out to distribute to a We will hand out the
group of people invitations at the door.
go over something review Please go over your answers
before you submit your test.
hand something over give (usually The police asked the man keep on continue doing Keep on stirring until the
unwillingly) to hand over his wallet and doingsomething liquid comes to a boil.
his weapons.
keep something from not tell We kept our
hang in stay positive Hang in there. I'm sure you'll
someone relationship from our
(informal) find a job very soon. parents for two years.

hang on wait a short time Hang on while I grab my coat keep someone/ stop from Try to keep the wet
(informal) and shoes!
something out entering dog out of the living room.

hang out spend time Instead of going to the party

relaxing we are just going to hang keep something up continue at the If you keep those
same rate results up you will get into a
(informal) out at my place.
great college.
hang up end a phone call He didn't say goodbye before
he hung up. let someone down fail to support or I need you to be on time.
help, disappoint Don't let me down this time.
holdsomeone/somethi prevent from I had to hold my
let someone in allow to enter Can you let the cat in before
ngback doing/going dog back because there was
you go to school?
a cat in the park.
look take care of I have to look after my sick
hold something back hide an emotion Jamie held back his tears at
his grandfather's funeral. aftersomeone/somet grandmother.
hing
hold on wait a short time Please hold on while I
transfer you to the Sales look down onsomeone think less of, Ever since we stole that
Department. (on phone) consider inferior chocolate bar your dad
has looked down on me.
hold hold firmly using Hold onto your hat because
ontosomeone/somethi your hands or it's very windy outside. look for someone/ try to find I'm looking for a red dress
ng arms something for the wedding.

holdsomeone/ rob A man in a black look forward to be excited about I'm looking forward to the
something up mask held the bank up this something the future Christmas break.
morning.
look into something investigate We are going to look pass away die His uncle passed away last
into the price of snowboards night after a long illness.
today.
pass out faint It was so hot in the church
look out be careful, Look out! That car's going to that an elderly lady passed
vigilant, and take hit you! out.
notice
pass something out give the same The professor passed the
look out for be especially Don't forget to look out thing to many textbooks out before class.
someone/something vigilant for for snakes on the hiking trail. people

look something over check, examine Can you look over my essay pass something up decline (usually I passed up the job because I
for spelling mistakes? something good) am afraid of change.

look something up search and find We can look her phone pay someone back return owed Thanks for buying my ticket.
information in a number up on the Internet. money I'll pay you back on Friday.
reference book
or database pay for something be punished for That bully will pay for being
doing something mean to my little brother.
bad
look up to someone have a lot of My little sister has
respect for always looked up to me.
pick something out choose I picked out three sweaters
make something up invent, lie about Josie made up a story about for you to try on.
something why we were late.
point someone/ indicate with I'll point my
make up forgive each We were angry last night, something out your finger boyfriend out when he runs
other but we made up at by.
breakfast.
put something down put what you are You can put the
holding on a groceries down on the
make someone up apply cosmetics My sisters made me up for
to my graduation party. surface or floor kitchen counter.

mix something up confuse two or I mixed up the twins' names put someone down insult, make The students put the
more things again! someone feel substitute teacher
stupid down because his pants
were too short.
put something off postpone We are putting off our trip run out have none left We ran out of shampoo so I
until January because of the had to wash my hair with
hurricane. soap.

put something out extinguish The neighbours put the send something back return (usually by My letter got sent back to
fire out before the firemen mail) me because I used the wrong
arrived. stamp.

put something assemble I have to put the set something up arrange, organize Our boss set a
together crib together before the meeting up with the
baby arrives. president of the company.

put up with tolerate I don't think I can put up set someone up trick, trap The police set up the car
someone/something with three small children in thief by using a hidden
the car. camera.

put something on put Don't forget to put on your shop around compare prices I want to shop around a little
clothing/accessor new earrings for the party. before I decide on these
ies on your body boots.

run into meet I ran into an old school- show off act extra special He always shows off on his
someone/something unexpectedly friend at the mall. for people skateboard
watching (usually
run over drive a vehicle I accidentally ran over your boastfully)
someone/something over a person or bicycle in the driveway.
thing sleep over stay somewhere You should sleep
for the night over tonight if the weather is
run over/through rehearse, review Let's run over/through these (informal) too bad to drive home.
something lines one more time before
the show. sort something out organize, resolve We need to sort the
a problem bills out before the first of
run away leave The child ran away from the month.
unexpectedly, home and has been missing
escape for three days. stick to something continue doing You will lose weight if
something, limit you stick to the diet.
yourself to one
 particular thing tear something up rip into pieces I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
letters and gave them back
switch something off stop the energy The light's too bright. Could to him.
flow, turn off you switch it off.
think back remember (often When I think back on my
switch something on start the energy We heard the news as soon + to, sometimes youth, I wish I had studied
flow, turn on as we switched on the car + on) harder.
radio.
think something over consider I'll have to think this job
take after someone resemble a family I take after my mother. We offer over before I make my
member are both impatient. final decision.

take something apart purposely break He took the car throw something dispose of We threw our old
into pieces brakes apart and found the away furniture away when we
problem. won the lottery.

take something back return an item I have to take our new turn something down decrease the Please turn the
televisyen back because it volume or TV down while the guests
doesn't work. strength (heat, are here.
light etc)
take off start to fly My plane takes off in five
minutes. turn something down refuse I turned the
job down because I don't
take something off remove Take off your socks and want to move.
something shoes and come in the lake!
(usually clothing) turn something off stop the energy Your mother wants you
flow, switch off to turn the television off and
take something out remove from a Can you take the come for dinner.
place or thing garbage out to the street for
me? turn something on start the energy, It's too dark in here.
switch on Let's turn some lights on.
take someone out pay for someone My grandparents
to go somewhere took us out for dinner and a turn something up increase the Can you turn the music up?
with you movie. volume or This is my favourite song.
strength (heat,
light etc)

turn up appear suddenly Our cat turned up after we
put posters up all over the
neighbourhood.
try something on sample clothing I'm going to try these
jeans on, but I don't think
they will fit.
try something out test I am going to try this new
brand of detergent out.
use something up finish the supply The kids used all of the
toothpaste up so we need to
buy some more.
Example:
I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. RUN + INTO = MEET
He ran away when he was 15. RUN + AWAY = LEAVE HOME
Example:
He suddenly showed up. "SHOW UP" CANNOT TAKE AN OBJECT
Example:
I made up the story. "STORY" IS THE OBJECT OF "MAKE UP"
Example:
I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car.
She looked the phone number up.

wake up stop sleeping We have to wake up early

for work on Monday.

warm someone/ increase the You can warm your

something up temperature feet up in front of the
fireplace.

warm up prepare body for I always warm up by doing

exercise sit-ups before I go for a run.

wear off fade away Most of my make-up wore

off before I got to the party.

work out exercise I work out at the gym three

times a week.

work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.

work something out make a We have to work out the

calculation total cost before we buy the
house.
1. A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.

2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.

3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.

4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition. In this
Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition /
adverb.

5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb
Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb.

Example:
I ran into an old friend yesterday.
They are looking into the problem.
6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, such phrasal
verbs are marked with both * and + .

Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book.

7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the
verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.

Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book.
I looked it up in the phone book. CORRECT
I looked up it in the phone book. INCORRECT