PHRASAL VERBS

Verb Meaning Example

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a
ask someone out invite on a date
movie.
I asked around but nobody has seen my
ask around ask many people the same question
wallet.
add up to something equal Your purchases add up to $205.32.
You'll have to back up your car so that I
back something up reverse
can get out.
My wife backed me up over my decision
back someone up support
to quit my job.
The racing car blew up after it crashed
blow up explode
into the fence.
We have to blow 50 balloons up for the
blow something up add air
party.
Our car broke down at the side of the
break down stop functioning (vehicle, machine)
highway in the snowstorm.
The woman broke down when the police
break down get upset
told her that her son had died.
Our teacher broke the final project down
break something down divide into smaller parts
into three separate parts.
Somebody broke in last night and stole
break in force entry to a building
our stereo.
The firemen had to break into the room to
break into something enter forcibly
rescue the children.
wear something a few times so that I need to break these shoes in before we
break something in
it doesn't look/feel new run next week.
The TV station broke in to report the news
break in interrupt
of the president's death.
My boyfriend and I broke up before I
break up end a relationship
moved to America.
The kids just broke up as soon as the
break up start laughing (informal)
clown started talking.
The prisoners broke out of jail when the
break out escape
guards weren't looking.
I broke out in a rash after our camping
break out in something develop a skin condition
trip.
bring someone down make unhappy This sad music is bringing me down.
My grandparents brought me up after my
bring someone up raise a child
parents died.
My mother walks out of the room when
bring something up start talking about a subject
my father brings up sports.
He drank so much that he brought his
bring something up vomit
dinner up in the toilet.
phone many different We called around but we weren't able to
call around
places/people find the car part we needed.
 I called the company back but the offices
call someone back return a phone call were closed for the weekend.

Jason called the wedding off because he

call something off cancel
wasn't in love with his fiancé.
call on someone ask for an answer or opinion The professor called on me for question 1.
We called on you last night but you
call on someone visit someone
weren't home.
Give me your phone number and I will call
call someone up phone
you 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.
not care for
not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.
someone/something
get to the same point as someone You'll have to run faster than that if you
catch up
else want to catch up with Marty.
arrive and register at a hotel or We will get the hotel keys when we check
check in
airport in.
You have to check out of the hotel before
check out leave a hotel
11:00 AM.
check The company checks out all new
look at carefully, investigate
someone/something out employees.
check out
look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
someone/something
She cheered up when she heard the good
cheer up become happier
news.
I brought you some flowers to cheer you
cheer someone up make happier
up.
If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen
chip in help
painted by noon.
Please clean up your bedroom before you
clean something up tidy, clean
go 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.
come down with My nephew came down with chicken pox
become sick
something this weekend.
volunteer for a task or to give The woman came forward with her
come forward
evidence husband's finger prints.
come from somewhere originate in The art of origami comes from Asia.
count on I am counting on you to make dinner
rely on
someone/something while I am out.
Please cross out your old address and
cross something out draw a line through
write your new one.
My doctor wants me to cut back on
cut back on something consume less
sweets and fatty foods.
We had to cut the old tree in our yard
cut something down make something fall to the ground
down after the storm.
cut in interrupt Your father cut in while I was dancing with

pull in too closely in front of
cut in
another vehicle
start operating (of an engine or
cut in
electrical device)
cut something off remove with something sharp
cut something off stop providing
cut someone off take out of a will
remove part of something (usually
cut something out
with scissors and paper)
do someone/something
beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal)
over
do something over do again (N.Amer.)
do away with something discard
do something up fasten, close
dress up wear nice clothing
drop back move back in a position/group
drop in/by/over come without an appointment
drop take someone/something
someone/something off somewhere and leave them/it there I come over.
drop out quit a class, school etc
eat out eat at a restaurant
end up eventually reach/do/decide
fall apart break into pieces
fall down fall to the ground
fall out separate from an interior
(of hair, teeth) become loose and His hair started to fall out when he was
fall out
unattached
figure something out understand, find the answer
to write information in blanks
fill something in
(Br.E.)
to write information in blanks
fill something out
(N.Amer.)
fill something up fill to the top
your uncle.
The bus driver got angry when that car cut
in.
The air conditioner cuts in when the
temperature gets to 22°C.
The doctors cut off his leg because it was
severely injured.
The phone company cut off our phone
because we didn't pay the bill.
My grandparents cut my father off when
he remarried.
I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done
over by a street gang.
My teacher wants me to do my essay over
because she doesn't like my topic.
It's time to do away with all of these old
tax records.
Do your coat up before you go outside. It's
snowing!
It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress
up.
Andrea dropped back to third place when
she fell off her bike.
I might drop in/by/over for tea sometime
this week.
I have to drop my sister off at work before
I dropped out of Science because it was
too difficult.
I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat
out.
We ended up renting a movie instead of
going to the theatre.
My new dress fell apart in the washing
machine.
The picture that you hung up last night fell
down this morning.
The money must have fallen out of my
pocket.
only 35.
I need to figure out how to fit the piano
and the bookshelf in this room.
Please fill in the form with your name,
address, and phone number.
The form must be filled out in capital
letters.
I always fill the water jug up when it is
empty.
 We don't know where he lives. How can
find out discover
we find out?
We tried to keep the time of the party a
find something out discover
secret, but Samantha found it out.
get something communicate, make I tried to get my point across/over to the
across/over understandable judge but she wouldn't listen.
I was surprised how well my new girlfriend
get along/on like each other
and my sister got along/on.
My grandfather can get around fine in his
get around have mobility
new wheelchair.
We worked so hard this year that we had
get away go on a vacation
to get away for a week.
get away with do without being noticed or Jason always gets away with cheating in
something punished his maths tests.
get back return We got back from our vacation last week.
Liz finally got her Science notes back from
get something back receive something you had before
my room-mate.
My sister got back at me for stealing her
get back at someone retaliate, take revenge
shoes. She stole my favourite hat.
become interested in something I finally got back into my novel and
get back into something
again finished it.
We're going to freeze out here if you don't
get on something step onto a vehicle
let us get on the bus.
recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and now my sister
get over something
difficulty has it.
The company will have to close if it can't
get over something overcome a problem
get over the new regulations.
finally find time to do (N.Amer.: get I don't know when I am going to get round
get round to something
around to something) to writing the thank you cards.
get together meet (usually for social reasons) Let's get together for a BBQ this weekend.
get up get out of bed I got up early today to study for my exam.
You should get up and give the elderly
get up stand
man your seat.
reveal hidden information about
give someone away His wife gave him away to the police.
someone
give someone away take the bride to the altar My father gave me away at my wedding.
My little sister gave the surprise party
give something away ruin a secret
away by accident.
The library was giving away old books on
give something away give something to someone for free
Friday.
I have to give these skates back to Franz
give something back return a borrowed item
before his hockey game.
My boyfriend didn't want to go to the
give in reluctantly stop fighting or arguing
ballet, but he finally gave in.
give to many people (usually at no They were giving out free perfume
give something out
cost) samples at the department store.
give something up quit a habit I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
My maths homework was too difficult so I
give up stop trying
gave up.
My brother tried to go after the thief in
go after someone follow someone
his car.
 I went after my dream and now I am a
go after something try to achieve something
published writer.
We are going against the best soccer team
go against someone compete, oppose
in the city tonight.
Please go ahead and eat before the food
go ahead start, proceed
gets cold.
go back return to a place I have to go back home and get my lunch.
go out leave home to go on a social event We're going out for dinner tonight.
Jesse has been going out with Luke since
go out with someone date
they met last winter.
Please go over your answers before you
go over something review
submit your test.
I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think
go over visit someone nearby
I'll go over for an hour or two.
When I was young, we went without
go without something suffer lack or deprivation
winter boots.
My best friend and I grew apart after she
grow apart stop being friends over time
changed schools.
grow back regrow My roses grew back this summer.
When Jack grows up he wants to be a
grow up become an adult
fireman.
Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes
grow out of something get too big for because she has grown out of her old
ones.
This bike is too big for him now, but he
grow into something grow big enough to fit
should grow into it by next year.
give something used to someone I handed my old comic books down to my
hand something down
else little cousin.
hand something in submit I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
We will hand out the invitations at the
hand something out to distribute to a group of people
door.
The police asked the man to hand over his
hand something over give (usually unwillingly)
wallet and his weapons.
Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job
hang in stay positive (N.Amer., informal)
very soon.
hang on wait a short time (informal) Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
Instead of going to the party we are just
hang out spend time relaxing (informal)
going to hang out at my place.
hang up end a phone call He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.
hold
I had to hold my dog back because there
someone/something prevent from doing/going
was a cat in the park.
back
Jamie held back his tears at his
hold something back hide an emotion grandfather's funeral.

Please hold on while I transfer you to the

hold on wait a short time
Sales Department.
Hold onto your hat because it's very windy
hold onto hold firmly using your hands or
outside.
someone/something arms
hold rob A man in a black mask held the bank up
someone/something up this morning.

keep on doing Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a

continue doing
something boil.
keep something from We kept our relationship from our parents
not tell
someone for two years.
keep Try to keep the wet dog out of the living
stop from entering
someone/something out room.
If you keep those results up you will get
keep something up continue at the same rate
into a great college.
I need you to be on time. Don't let me
let someone down fail to support or help, disappoint
down this time.
Can you let the cat in before you go to
let someone in allow to enter
school?
look after
take care of I have to look after my sick grandmother.
someone/something
Ever since we stole that chocolate bar
look down on someone think less of, consider inferior
your dad has looked down on me.
look for I'm looking for a red dress for the
try to find
someone/something wedding.
look forward to I'm looking forward to the Christmas
be excited about the future
something break.
We are going to look into the price of
look into something investigate
snowboards today.
look out be careful, vigilant, and take notice Look out! That car's going to hit you!
look out for Don't forget to look out for snakes on the
be especially vigilant for
someone/something hiking trail.
Can you look over my essay for spelling
look something over check, examine
mistakes?
search and find information in a We can look her phone number up on the
look something up
reference book or database Internet.
My little sister has always looked up to
look up to someone have a lot of respect for
me.
Josie made up a story about why we were
make something up invent, lie about something
late.
We were angry last night, but we made up
make up forgive each other
at breakfast.
My sisters made me up for my graduation
make someone up apply cosmetics to
party.
mix something up confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names again!
His uncle passed away last night after a
pass away die
long illness.
It was so hot in the church that an elderly
pass out faint
lady passed out.
The professor passed the textbooks out
pass something out give the same thing to many people
before class.
I passed up the job because I am afraid of
pass something up decline (usually something good)
change.
Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you
pay someone back return owed money
back on Friday.
pay for something be punished for doing something That bully will pay for being mean to my
 bad little brother.
I picked out three sweaters for you to try
pick something out choose
on.
point I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs
indicate with your finger
someone/something out by.
put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries down on the
put something down
surface or floor kitchen counter.
The students put the substitute teacher
put someone down insult, make someone feel stupid
down because his pants were too short.
We are putting off our trip until January
put something off postpone
because of the hurricane.
The neighbours put the fire out before the
put something out extinguish
firemen arrived.
I have to put the crib together before the
put something together assemble
baby arrives.
put up with I don't think I can put up with three small
tolerate
someone/something children in the car.
put clothing/accessories on your Don't forget to put on your new earrings
put something on
body for the party.
run into
meet unexpectedly I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
someone/something
run over drive a vehicle over a person or I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the
someone/something thing driveway.
run over/through Let's run over/through these lines one
rehearse, review
something more time before the show.
The child ran away from home and has
run away leave unexpectedly, escape
been missing for three days.
We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash
run out have none left
my hair with soap.
My letter got sent back to me because I
send something back return (usually by mail)
used the wrong stamp.
Our boss set a meeting up with the
set something up arrange, organize
president of the company.
The police set up the car thief by using a
set someone up trick, trap
hidden camera.
I want to shop around a little before I
shop around compare prices
decide on these boots.
act extra special for people
show off He always shows off on his skateboard
watching (usually boastfully)
stay somewhere for the night You should sleep over tonight if the
sleep over
(informal) weather is too bad to drive home.
We need to sort the bills out before the
sort something out organize, resolve a problem
first of the month.
continue doing something, limit You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
stick to something
yourself to one particular thing
The light's too bright. Could you switch it
switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off
off.
We heard the news as soon as we
switch something on start the energy flow, turn on
switched on the car radio.
I take after my mother. We are both
take after someone resemble a family member
impatient.
 He took the car brakes apart and found
take something apart purposely break into pieces
the problem.
I have to take our new TV back because it
take something back return an item
doesn't work.
take off start to fly My plane takes off in five minutes.
remove something (usually Take off your socks and shoes and come in
take something off
clothing) the lake!
Can you take the garbage out to the street
take something out remove from a place or thing
for me?
pay for someone to go somewhere My grandparents took us out for dinner
take someone out
with you and a movie.
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and
tear something up rip into pieces
gave them back to him.
remember (often + to, sometimes + When I think back on my youth, I wish I
think back
on) had studied harder.
I'll have to think this job offer over before
think something over consider
I make my final decision.
We threw our old furniture away when
throw something away dispose of
we won the lottery.
decrease the volume or strength Please turn the TV down while the guests
turn something down
(heat, light etc) are here.
I turned the job down because I don't
turn something down refuse
want to move.
Your mother wants you to turn the TV off
turn something off stop the energy flow, switch off
and come for dinner.
It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights
turn something on start the energy, switch on
on.
increase the volume or strength Can you turn the music up? This is my
turn something up
(heat, light etc) favorite song.
Our cat turned up after we put posters up
turn up appear suddenly
all over the neighborhood.
I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't
try something on sample clothing
think they will fit.
I am going to try this new brand of
try something out test
detergent out.
The kids used all of the toothpaste up so
use something up finish the supply
we need to buy some more.
We have to wake up early for work on
wake up stop sleeping
Monday.
warm You can warm your feet up in front of the
increase the temperature
someone/something up fireplace.
I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I
warm up prepare body for exercise
go for a run.
Most of my make-up wore off before I got
wear off fade away
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.
We have to work out the total cost before
work something out make a calculation
we buy the house.