Most common phrasal verbs

1. Call off: (cancel)

EX: We need to call off the meeting due to the weather.

2. Calm down – relax after being angry

Ex. You can sit with us after you have calmed down.

3. Do over / Do (something) over – do again

Ex. I have to do the e-mail over because I sent it to the wrong person.

4. Figure out / Figure (something) out – understand or find the answer

Ex. We left early because we figured out the problem.
Ex. We figured the problem out, so we left early.

5. Give up / Give (something) up – stop trying, quit

Ex. I gave up smoking last year.

6. Hang out – spend time relaxing (informal)

Ex. I don’t have any money, let’s just hang out at my place.

7. Hold on – wait for a moment

Ex. Hold on one minute, I’m on the phone.

8. Look for / Look for (something or somebody) – search for, or try to find
Ex. I was looking for a computer, but I got a tablet instead.

9. Turn on/off – Turn (something) on/off – start or stop the power or energy
source
 Ex. Can you turn off the music if I fall asleep?
Ex. Turn the lights on please, I can’t see!

10.Turn up/down – Turn (something) up/down – increase or decrease the

volume or strength
Ex. I love this song, turn it up!
Ex. We usually turn the heat down at night.

11.Turn down / Turn (something) down - refuse

Ex. I didn’t feel good about the offer, so I turned it down.

12.Turn up – appear suddenly

Ex. My watch turned up in the washing machine.

13.Work out – exercise

Ex. I prefer to work out in the mornings.

14.Throw away (throw out)

To put something in the garbage/trash.
Ex: I accidentally threw out some important documents!

15.Get Along (+ With): To have a good relationship.

Ex: We get along with our boss

16.Find Out: To discover or learn information.

Ex: I just found out that my co-workers are going to have a surprise
birthday party for me
17.To fill in UK/ to fill out USA: complete
Ex: I need to go and fill out my visa application.

18.Break down: get upset

Ex: She broke down when the police told her that her son passed away.

19.Break in: force entry to a building

Ex: Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.

20.Break up: end a relationship

Ex: My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.

21.Dress up: Wear nice clothing

Ex: It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.

22.Drop out: quit a class, school etc

Ex: I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.

23.Get over something: recover from an illness, loss, difficulty

Ex: I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.

24.Hand (something) in: submit

Ex: I have to hand in my essay by Friday.

25.Look after somebody/ something: take care of

Ex: I have to look after my sick grandmother.

26.Take off: start to fly

Ex: My plane takes off in five minutes