PHRASAL VERBS (1st List)

1. Set off = to start a journey.

Example: "We set off early in the morning."
2. Set out (to do something) = to start a journey or to begin a job, task, etc. with a particular aim
or goal
Example: "He set out to become the fastest runner in the world."
3. See * off + = to accompany someone to say goodbye at the beginning of their journey.
Example: "We saw Jessica off at the airport this morning."
4. Get on += to enter a means of transport such as a bus, train, plane, etc., or use a bike / horse
as such means. Also, to be successful or have a (good) relationship with someone.
Examples: "He got on the bus just in time." / "My brother and I get on very well."
5. Get off + = to exit a means of transport such as a bus, train, plane, etc.
Example: "We got off at the last stop of the route."
6. Get in(to) + = to enter a car/cab/van.
Example: "Get into the car, we'll talk about later."
7. Get out (of something) = to exit a car/cab/van, etc.
Example: "As soon as we got out of the car, it started raining."
8. Take off = said of a plane, the moment when it leaves the ground.
Example: "Our plane takes off in half an hour. Hurry up!"
9. Turn back/around = to start going in the opposite direction.
Example: "The boat turned around and we found ourselves back in Gibraltar."
10. Turn away = to leave a place.
Example: "Don't turn away in the middle of an argument!"
11. Drop by = to pay an informal visit to a person or a place.
Example: "I was in the neighbourhood and decided to drop by."
12. Drop * off + = to leave someone in a place (also, to fall lightly asleep).
Example: "Can you drop me off at school?"
13. Pick * up + = to collect someone from a place.
Example: "Yesterday I had to pick up the kids because the school bus wasn't working."
14. Put * up + = to offer your place for someone to spend the night there. Also, to fix something
to a wall.
Example: "I can put you up tonight, if you have nowhere else to go."
15. Look forward to + = to be thinking with pleasure about something that is going to happen.
Example: "I'm looking forward to meeting you."
16. Hurry * up + = to move quickly because you are late. To make things go faster.
Example: "You'd better hurry up if you don't want to be late."
17. Catch up (with somebody) = to study/work/exchange information to be at the same level as
somebody else.
Example: "Peter! Long time no see! I'd love to have a coffee and catch up with you one of these
days."
18. Keep up (with somebody) = to maintain the same level of work/study as others.
Example: "I'm finding it hard to keep up with the rest of students."
19. Fall behind + = to be unable to keep the same pace as the others.
Example: "No matter how much I work, I'm always falling behind my colleagues."
20. Check in = to register at a hotel or airport.
Example: "We have to check in before 8 a.m."
21. Check out = to leave a hotel.
Example: "Most hotels make you check out before 12."
22. Make for + = to move towards something.
Example: "He picked up his bag and made for the door."
23. Speed * up + = to accelerate.
Example: "We need to speed things up if we want to finish in time."
24. Stop over = to stay somewhere for a short time during a long journey.
Example: " I wanted to stop over in India on the way to Australia."
25. Hold * up + (mostly passive) = to delay or block the movement or progress of
somebody/something.
Example: "I was held up in a traffic jam."
26. Carry on / keep on (doing something) = to continue doing something.
Example: "He kept on talking for hours."
27. Turn up = to arrive somewhere.
Example: "He finally turned up at 6 in the morning."
28. Show up = same as "turn up" but more informal.
Example: "So you finally decided to show up? Great!"
29. Get around = to go to a lot of different places.
Example: "Stuart really gets around—last week he was in Dubai and this week he's in Paris."
30. Show (someone) round (a place) = to guide someone and show them the most interesting
places.
Example: "Can you please show me round the city?"