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Free PDF Worksheet

50 (more) Common Phrasal Verbs
Dear English Learner,

Get ready to speak confidently! I recommend reading the worksheet out loud and using
the blank space on the last page to answer my challenge question. Click here to watch
the original video. Thanks so much for learning English with me!

Your teacher,
Vanessa

50 Important Phrasal Verbs

1. To account for: to be the explanation or cause for something

I can’t account for the missing money, I don’t know where it went!
I think the cold weather accounted for the low attendance at the game.

2. To act out: to express your feelings with actions instead of words, sometimes in a
disruptive way
The child was acting out because his mom wouldn’t let him have candy.
She was hungry, so she started to act out.

3. To act up: to cause trouble

He always used to act up in class, but he grew up to be a doctor!
My car battery has been acting up, I am afraid I need to buy a new one.

4. To allow for: to take into consideration

When you create a budget, you should allow for emergencies.
I didn’t allow for traffic this morning, I’m probably going to be late to work.

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 5. To answer for: to be held responsible for something
You will have to answer for your actions one day.
He had to answer for his crimes.

6. To apply for: to make a formal request for something

My parents encouraged me to apply for every scholarship possible.
Even if you don’t meet every qualification, you should apply for the job anyway.

7. To back down: to withdraw your position, to step away from a fight

The stray cat wasn’t going to back down–he was ready to fight.
When she realized she was wrong, she backed down and apologized.

8. To back off: to move backwards or become less aggressive

I could tell he was getting upset, so I decided to back off and give him space.
They decided to back off their threats after someone called the cops.

9. To back out of: to withdraw from something you’ve agreed to or to undo a change
They decided to back out of the cease-fire agreement.
She decided to back out of the vacation plans when she realized how much it
cost.

10. To back up: to move backwards

You need to back up, you parked the car too close to the wall.
Everyone back up, give me some space.

11. To bank on: to base your hopes on something or someone

Clark is banking on getting a holiday bonus this year.
He’s banking on her saying yes to his proposal for marriage.

12. To boil down to: to be summarized as

What a successful organization boils down to is trust and leadership.
It all boils down to who has the most money and power.

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 13. To block off: to separate or close something
The police had to block off the road because of the wreck.
I need to block off a few hours on my schedule for checking emails.

14. To blow up: to explode or to get angry

Don’t blow up at me, I warned you this would happen.
When he lit a match, the gas blew up.

15. To blow off: to not show up for something or to ignore someone

I really want to blow off work today and do something fun instead.
She didn’t even say hi to me, she just blew me off when I tried to talk to her.

16. To blow over: to go away, settle or calm down

I am waiting for the storm to blow over before I go on a hike.
Once the argument blows over, we’ll be able to come to a peaceful agreement.

17. To be blown away: to be shocked or greatly impressed

I am blown away by how much money we raised for charity!
She was blown away by how beautiful the artwork was.

18. To break even: to neither gain nor lose money

They thought they would make money on the sale, but they just broke even.
Once we account for the cost of materials and labor, we will break even.

19. To bring up: to mention

Don’t bring up her ex in conversation–she’s still really upset about it.
He tried to bring up the possibility of a raise, but his boss ignored him.

20. To call for: to require or demand

The recipe calls for chicken, but I am using pork instead.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.

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 21. To call on: to ask someone to do something
They were calling on all available staff to help with the event.
I know I can always call on her when I need something.

22. To call out: to point out, challenge, or denounce

He called me out on eating the last cookie.
The politician called out his opponent for lying to the people.

23. To carry over: to transfer something to a later point in time

For anything that didn’t get done today, carry it over to tomorrow.
If you don’t pay the bill this month, it will carry over to next month.

24. To check out: to look at or investigate

DId you check out that article I sent you? It was pretty interesting.
I want to check out the new bookstore that opened down the street.

25. To check up on: to see if something or someone is ok

I called to check up on my grandpa because he has the flu.
The kids are quiet–I should go check up on them.

26. To come around: to reluctantly agree to something or change your mind

I know you don’t agree with me on this, but I think you’ll come around.
I used to hate sci-fi movies, but I am starting to come around.

27. To come after: to pursue or follow

I was so afraid the bear was going to come after me!
Dan, I swear, that spider was coming after me.

28. To crack down on: to enforce laws or punish more severely

The police are cracking down on people who speed through the neighborhood.
The library is cracking down on people who lose or damage books.

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 29. To crack up: to laugh or cause to laugh
My son cracks up when he plays with his pet chickens.
That TV show is old, but it still cracks me up every time I watch it.

30. To cut back on: to reduce or lower

I need to cut back on sweets, but it’s so hard!
I decided to cut back on spending so that I could save up for vacation.

31. To be cut out for: to naturally be able to do something

She’s definitely cut out for teaching. She’s so patient!
I am not cut out for construction work–I hate loud noises.

32. To cut up: to cut into smaller pieces, parts, or sections

My son helps with dinner by cutting up the vegetables.
I cut up the meat to put it in the stew.

33. To fall for: to be deceived by something

I can’t believe you fell for that scam–they’ll try to take all your money!
Don’t fall for his tough guy act–he’s actually really sweet.

34. To fall in with: to get involved with someone or to agree to something

My parents always warned me about falling in with the wrong crowd.
I fell in with the other protesters as we marched down the street.

35. To fall down: to do a job poorly

Why isn’t this finished yet? You’re falling down on the job.
He was fired for falling down on the job.

36. To fall back on: to have a backup plan when other things fail
If this job doesn’t work out, I can always fall back on joining the circus.
When he was laid off, we had to fall back on our emergency savings.

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 37. To fall out: to have an argument, to no longer be on good terms
They had fallen out over whose fault it was, now they aren’t speaking to each
other.
He left home after falling out with his parents.

38. To fill in: to inform someone or provide information

I need to fill you in on everything that has happened today.
You need to fill in the correct answer on the test.

39. To fill out: to add information on a form

Once you fill out these papers, the doctor will see you.
Don’t forget to fill out every section of the job application.

40. To fill up: to become full

I made the mistake of filling up on bread before the meal came.
He wanted to fill up the gas before the storm came.

41. To give out: to distribute something

They were giving out free samples of cheese at the grocery store.
I like to give out presents during the holidays.

42. To give up on: to surrender or admit defeat

I give up on trying to eat healthy during the holidays.
He didn’t want to give up on his team, but he knew they probably wouldn’t win.

43. To give way: to collapse or break under physical stresses

Be careful, I think that floor might give way!
I am afraid that the bridge is going to give way before they can repair it.

44. To hang on: to wait a moment

Hang on, I’ll be right there.
If you want to hang on a minute, I’ll walk to the park with you.

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 45. To hold out: to wait, to have resolve in hopes that something will get better
He is holding out on buying a new car because he thinks he can find a better
deal somewhere else.
The troops held out against the attacks because they knew reinforcements were
on the way.

46. To hold up: to delay or block progress

The weather is holding up the project we were working on outside.
The wreck is going to hold up traffic for hours.

47. To keep off: to avoid touching something

The sign says “keep off the grass” but everyone is ignoring it.
He wears a hat to keep the sun off his face.

48. To keep on: to continue to do something

I know it’s hard, but keep on practicing and you’ll get better.
My dad likes to encourage me by telling me to keep on keepin on.

49. To keep up with: to move at the same rate as someone or something

When we go running, I can’t keep up with my friend–she runs way faster than I
do.
I tried to keep up with the group on the hike, but I ended up lagging behind.

50. To keep to yourself: to be private, to avoid contact with others

The neighbors are quiet, they mostly keep to themselves.
When you’re sick, it’s a good idea to keep to yourself so that you don’t get
others sick.

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 Vanessa’s Challenge Question
Use the space below to write a few sentences answering this question: Tell me about
something you think you should cut back on and why. Try to use at least 5
phrasal verbs from this lesson.

Sample answer: I think I should cut back on the amount of sweets that I eat. But it’s so
hard! At my work, they always give out candy and have cake and cookies for
celebrations. Sometimes I eat so many cookies that I fill up and don’t want to have
dinner. I know that I have to keep on trying if I am going to be healthy, but I don’t want to
give up on sweets entirely. I think I will try to cut up the cookies so that I only eat a small
part instead of several cookies. I hope it works!

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