Phrasal verb dictionary

Alphabetical List - C

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example

I'll call you back as
call back Return a phone call
soon as possible.
The meeting was
call off Cancel called off because of
the strike.
I now call upon the
call on/upon Formally invite or request. President to address
the assembly.
He was angry at first,
Become more relaxed or less
calm down but he eventually
angry/upset.
calmed down.
He carried on
carry on Continue. gardening in spite of
the rain.
1) The plan was
carried out to
1) Do something as specified (plan,
perfection.
order, threat...)
carry out 2) Tests are carried
2) Perform or conduct (test,
out to determine the
experiment ...)
efficiency of a new
drug.
As regards holiays,
can we carry over
carry over Postpone until later.
days from one year
to the next?
For security reasons,
you have to check in
check in Register at a hotel or airport.
two hours before
your flight.
1) Is Mr. Bush still at
the hotel? No, he
1) Pay one's bill and leave (a hotel) checked out this
check out morning.
2) Investigate or verify. 2) I don't know if the
address is still valid.
I'll check it out.
clam up Refuse to speak. When the teacher
arrived, she clammed
 up.
The government
decided to clamp
clamp down on Act strictly to prevent something.
down on smoking in
public areas.
When the factory
Stop operating (company, restaurant, closed down, the
close down
cinema ...) employees lost their
jobs.
1) Julie came across
some photographs of
her grandparents in
1) Find by chance.
the attic.
come across
2) The candidate
2) Appear, seem, make an impression.
came across as a
dynamic person
during the interview.
The police have
come forward Present oneself. asked any witnesses
to come forward.
The project came up
come up against Be faced with or opposed by. against a lot of
criticism.
1) The car conked
out on the
1) Stop working. motorway.
conk out 2) He was so
2) Stop or fall asleep (from exhaustion). exhausted, he
conked out in front
of the TV.
I'm counting on the
count on Rely or depend on. taxi driver to find the
theatre.
In some exercises
you are asked to
cross out Remove by drawing a line through.
cross out the
incorrect word.
The doctor told him
cut down on Reduce in number or size. to cut down on
cigarettes.
1) She cut out a
picture in a
1) Remove using scissors. magazine.
cut out
2) Stop doing something. 2) I'm going to cut
out eating sweet
food