Verb Phrasal Meaning Sample sentence(s)

verb

hold hold on wait I need more time.  Hold

on a minute, please.

go go on continue Yes, I understand

everything you're
saying.  Go on. 

go go on happen What's going on today?

bring bring up mention/comment/speak of My mentor brings up a

lot of great ideas when
we meet.
Don’t bring up politics at
dinner tonight.

come come up get/invent/create I came up with a solution

with for the problem.

show show up come/attend/arrive Mike showed up to the

office Christmas party.

break break up end a relationship Ed and Tracy broke up

last week.

give give up quit/stop trying I don't know the answer

to the math problem.  I
give up!

look look up search You can look that up on

the Internet.

add add up make sense/be logical Rachel told me she was

sick, but I saw her at the
movie theater.  Her story
doesn't add up.

put put up allow Our company will not put

with up with sexual
harassment.

watch watch out be aware and careful Watch out for the cables
on the ground.  I don't
want you to trip.
find find out learn/discover Did you find out the
name of the new sales
manager?

head head out leave It's very late.  You should

head out now.

hang hang out spend time in a casual way Sometimes we hang out
at the pub across the
street after work. 

roll roll out launch/introduce We are going to roll out

the new incentive plan
tomorrow.

turn turn out result My chocolate cake

turned out delicious!  

turn turn down reject Joshua asked Kate on a

date, but she turned him
down.

look look have a low opinion of My boss looks down on

down on people who wear jeans
to work.

cut cut down reduce We need to cut down on

on photocopies. 

break break stop working My car broke down on

down the freeway.

This data is difficult to

understand.  Help me
break divide into smaller parts or break it down.
break
down examine in smaller parts This project is too
complex.  Let's break it
down.

take take off leave It's pretty late.  I'm taking

off now.

take take off arrange an absence I'm taking off work

tomorrow because I
have an appointment.

take take off remove It's warm here.  Take off

 your coat. 

take take off ascend The plane took off at

midnight.

put put off delay We put off the meeting

due to Edgar's absence.

show show off brag or boast Chris showed off his new
sports car.