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Resources -> Improve English Vocabulary -> Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of words that perform the function of a verb. These combinations
necessarily include a verb and either an adverb or a preposition (or both). They form one
complete semantic unit because the words that comprise a phrasal verb together describe one
action. For example:
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentences
I have not seen him here
but I will ask around.
To ask the same question
ask around
from many people I am not sure if there are
vacancies, but I will ask
around the office.
She explained why the
work was not ready, but her
story does not add up.
To equal/corroborate a
add up tosomething
fact
The clues we found at the
house and the museum
must add up to something.
I want to ask her out but she
is dating someone.
To invite someone on a
asksomeoneout
date
I wish I could muster the
courage to ask her out.
The girls in school always
blow gossip up to huge
proportions.
blowsomethingup To exaggerate
My mother blows my
achievements up in front of
guests.
The captain will not back
him up just because he is
his son.
backsomeoneup To support
You may be wrong but I
will back you up because
you are my brother.
The army is going to blow
up that building with a
bomb.
blow up To explode
Our calculations were
wrong and the rocket blew
up just after liftoff.
break down To stop functioning The old train is certain to
(usually for vehicle, break down if it is not
machine, etc.) maintained properly.
My mother asked me to do
away with all the unusable
toys.
The party is at a fancy
restaurant so we need to
To be dressed in a fancier dress up appropriately.
dress up
or better way than normal
I was asked to dress up for
the mayor’s party.
He dropped back to fifth
position because he fell off
his motorcycle.
To move back in a
drop back
position
The coach asked the
attacking players to drop
back.
I thought I’d drop in and
say hi.
To come without an
drop in/by/over
appointment I was surprised when she
dropped in unannounced at
midnight.
Can you drop me off at the
To take bus stop?
someone/something
Drop someone/something off
somewhere and leave I will drop him off at the
them/it there train station before reaching
the venue.
He dropped out of the chess
club because it was too
difficult for him.
To quit a class, school,
drop out
etc.
She dropped out of college
but managed to set up her
own company.
I eat out almost five days a
week.
To eat outside of home,
eat out
usually in a restaurant
I do not feel like cooking
today so let’s eat out?
end up To do/to eventually If you do not work, you will
reach/to decide end up on the streets.
He studied history at
college but ended up
working at a bank.
This wall will fall apart if
we do not use cement.
fall apart To break into pieces
The house of cards stood
for a minute but then fell
apart.
If he does not walk
carefully on the ledge, he
To fall on the ground/ to
will fall down.
fall down fall off from somewhere
to the ground
He was walking carelessly
and thus, fell down.
The veteran cricketer has
fallen out of favour.
fall out To separate
The coach and the player
had a fall out and the latter
decided to quit.
She needs to figure out
what the problem is.
figuresomethingout To study/understand
We need to figure out the
route before commencing
the trek.
Fill in the blank spaces and
submit the sheet.
To write information in a
fillsomethingin
form, etc.
You must fill in the form in
order to obtain a ticket.
I want you to fill up the
tank with diesel.
To fill something
fillsomethingup
completely or to the top
She wanted to fill up the
entire glass with wine.
How do I find out where he
lives?
find out To search/discover
I need you to find out
whether he is lying or not.
getsomething across/over To communicate He is a good orator and has
no problem getting his
message across.
He could not get across the
message.
One must get along with
their colleagues.
get along/on To like each other
It is about time you buried
the hatchet and got along
with each other
They are planning a
romantic get away for their
anniversary.
To go on a vacation or a
get away
leave
We have not travelled in a
while so we are planning a
getaway this summer.
He will not get away with
an abusive remark like that.
do something (usually
get away with something something wrong) without
You cannot steal cars in
being noticed or punished
broad daylight and expect
to get away with it.
She did not get back home
until 5 o’clock.
get back To return
The boss needs you to get
back from the Bahamas and
complete the report.
My brother got back at me
for eating his piece of cake.
To retaliate/to take a
get back atsomeone After being humiliated in
revenge
public, she decided to get
back at her with ruthless
intent.
The train was full so we
could not get on.
get onsomething To step onto something
To reach the chandelier,
you must get on the stool.
get oversomething To recover/overcome The stock market is slowly
getting over the recession.
In each of the above cases, the phrasal verb shares no similarity with the verb that it replaces.
These are ‘idiomatic’ phrasal verbs, commonly used in informal, everyday speech. Phrasal verbs
are not necessarily idiomatic, though; they can be literal as well. For example, literal phrases
such as look up, walk across and switch off are also considered phrasal verbs, because the action
described by each cannot be described if any of the words in the phrase are omitted. If ‘up’ is
taken out of ‘look up’, the description of the action will be incomplete.
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