Phrasal verb dictionary

Alphabetical List - B

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example

When he saw the
back away Move backwards, in fear or dislike dog, he backed
away.
Local authorities
backed down on
back down Withdraw; concede defeat. their plans to
demolish the
cinema.
1) If I tell the
bosswe've got too
1) Give support or encouragement much work, will
back up you back me up?
2) make a copy of (file, program...) 2) It is
recommended to
back up all files.
1) When he was
arrested, his
1) Pay money to secure someone's release family refused to
bail out bail him out.
2) Rescue from financial difficulties 2) The government
bailed out the
bank.
Don't forget the
bank on Base your hopes on something/someone. date. I'm banking
on your help.
He beefed up his
presentation with
beef up Improve or make more substantial
diagrams and
statistics.
When he fell off
black out Faint; lose consciousness the horse, he
blacked out.
The area was
blocked off during
block off Separate using a barrier.
the
demonstration.
blow up 1) Explode. 1) The terrorists
said the bomb
 would blow up at
9 o'clock.
2) Be destroyed by an explosion. 2) The car blew up
but luckily there
was nobody in it.
The problem boils
boil down to Be summarized as down to a lack of
money.
Just give me a few
Start a computer by loading an operating
boot up minutes to boot
system or program.
up the computer.
A few horses
break away Escape from captivity. broke away from
the paddock.
1) John's car broke
down on the way
1) Go out of order, cease to function. to the airport.
break down 2) The parents
2) Lose control of one's emotions. broke down when
they heard the bad
news.
The burglars broke
break into Enter by force. into the house
around midnight.
1) It was decided
to break off
diplomatic
1) Stop, discontinue
relations with that
break off
country.
2) Stop speaking
2) She broke off in
the middle of a
sentence.
Riioting broke out
break out Start suddenly. as a result of the
strike.
Three prisoners
break out of Escape from a place by force.
broke out of jail.
After her marriage
broke up, Emma
break up Come to an end (marriage, relationship...)
went to live in
London.
She stopped
working in order
bring up Raise (a child).
to bring up her
children.
brush up on Improve, refresh one's knowledge of Mary decided to
 brush up on her
Spanish before
something.
going to South-
America.
Pedro bumped
into his English
bump into Meet by accident or unexpectedly.
teacher at the
supermarket.
1) The fuse has
burnt out.
1) Stop (something) working
2) Tom will burn
burn out
himself out if he
2) Become exhausted from overworking
doesn't slow
down.
It's rude to butt in
butt in (on) Interrupt impolitely.
on a conversation