50 Important Phrasal Verbs in English

PHRASAL VERBS
- It's two or three verbs used together and have a
different meaning then using the verb by itself.

- Examples
+ To FIGURE OUT (discover)
+ To ADD UP (aggregate)
+ To BLOW OFF (remove, take off)

- To account for
To be the explanation or cause for something

1. I think the cold weather ACCOUNTED FOR the low

attendance at the game.
(attendance = asistencia)

2. I can't account for the missing money. I don't

know where it went!
(Went = se fue)

- To act out
To express your feelings acting in a
disruptive/outburst/explossive way

1. The child ACTED OUT when her mom wouldn't giver

her any candy
(wouldn't = )

2. She was so hungry that she started to act out

- To act up
To cause trouble

1. He always used to act up in class, but guess what?

Now he's a doctor!

2. My car battery has been ACTING UP. I think i need

to get a new one.

- To allow for
To take into consideration

1. When you create a budget, you should allow for

emergencies.
(budget = presupuesto)

2. I didn't allow for traffic this morning, so i

think i'm gonna be late.

- To answer for
To be held responsible for something

1. You will have to answer for your actions someday.

2. He had to answer for his crimes.

- To apply for
To make a formal request for something
(Request = solicitud)

1. My parents encouraged me TO APPLY FOR every

scholarship possible.
(Encouraged = animó)
(Scholarship = beca)

2. Even if you don't meet the qualifications, you

should apply for the job anyway.

- To back downn
To withdraw your position, to step away from a fight
(Withdraw = retirar)

1. The stray cat wasn't going to back down. He was

ready to fight.
(Stray = extraviado)

2. When she knew that she wasn't going to win the

argument, she decide to back down.

- To back off
To move backwards or become less aggressive
(backward = hacia atrás)

1. I could tell he was getting upset, so i decide TO

BACK OFF and give him some space
(upset = molesto)

2. They decide TO BACK OFF their threats after someone

called the cops
(threats = amenazas)

- To back out of
To with draw from something you've agreed to do
(withdraw = retirar)

1. They decide TO BACK OUT OF the cease-fire agreement.

(cease = dejar de/parar)

2. They decided TO BACK OUT OF the vacation plans when

she realized how much it cost.

- To back up
To move (physically) backwards

1. You need TO BACK UP you parked way too close to me.

(You parked way = Te estacionaste)

2. Everyone BACK UP, give some space!

- To bank on
To base your hopes on something or someone
(hopes = esperanzas)

1. Clark is BANKING ON his holidays bonus this year.

(Holidays = días festivos)
2. He is banking on her saying yes to his proposal of
marriage.

- To boil down to (en resumidas cuentas)

To be summarized as/ key elements
(summarized = resumir)

1. A successful organization BOILS DOWN TO trust and

leadership.
(Successful = Exitosa) (leadership = liderazgo)

2. In politics, it all BOILS DOWN TO who has the most

money and power.

- To block off
To separate or close something

1. The police had TO BLOCK OFF a few streets while

they were clearing the wreck.
(while = mientras)
(clearing = limpiando/despejando)
(wreck = desastre/ruina/accidente)

2. I need TO BLOCK OFF a few hours in my schedule so

that i can study english with Vanessa.

- To blow up
To explode or get angry

1. Don't BLOW UP at me. I told you this would happen.

2. Don't light a match near the gasoline. It will

blow up!
(light a match = encender un cerillo)
(near = cerca)

- To blow off
To not show up (aparecer) for something or to ignore
someone

1. I really just wanted TO BLOW OFF work today and go do

something fun.

2. She didn't even say hi to me. Se just BLEW me OF!

- To blow over
To go away, settle or calm down
(settle = resolver)

1. I'm waiting for the storm TO BLOW OVER before i go

on a hike.
(hike = caminata)

2. Once the argument BLOWS OVER, we'll be able to come

to an agreement.
(agreement = acuerdo/convenio)

- To be blown away
To be shocked or greatly impressed
1. She was BLOWN AWAY by how amazing the artwork was.

2. I'm BLOWN AWAY by how much money we raised for

charity!
(raised = recaudaron/elevado)(charity = caridad)

- To break even
To neither gain nor lose money
(neither = ni)(gain = ganar)(nor = ni)

1. They thought they would make money on the sale,

but they just BROKE EVEN.

2. Once we account for the cost of materials, we will

BREAK EVEN.

- To bring up
To mention

1. Don't BRING UP her ex in conversation. It's still a

really sensitive subject.

2. He tried TO BRING UP the possibility of a raise,

and his boss just blew him off.

- To call for
To require or demand

1. This recipe CALLS FOR chiken, but using pork

instead. (instead = en cambio, en su lugar usare otra)

2. Desperate times CALL FOR desperate measures.

(measures = medidas)

- To call on
To ask someone to do something

1. They CALLED ON all the available staff to help with

the event.
(staff = personal)

2. I know i can always CALL ON her when i need

something.

- To call out
To point out, challenge or denounce
(point out = señalar)

1. He CALLED me OUT for eating the last cookie!

2. The politician CALLED OUT his oponent for lying the

people.

- To carry over
To transfer something to a later point in time

1. For anything that didn't get done today, you'll

need to CARRY it OVER tomorrow.
2. If you don't pay your bill this month, it will
CARRY OVER into the next bill.

- To check out
To look at or investigate

1. Did you CHECK OUT that article i sent you? i

thought it was pretty interesting.

2. I'm going TO CHECK OUT the new bookstore. I

wonder what they have
(wonder = preguntarse)

- To check up on
To see if something or someone it's ok

1. i need TO CHECK UP ON my grandpa because he has the

flu. (flu = gripe)

2. The kids seem misteriously quiet. I shoul CHECK

UP ON them.

- To come around
To change your mind or be reluctantly agree to something
(reluctantly = de mala gana)

1. I know you're don't agree with me on this, but i

think you will COME AROUND.

2. I used to not like sci-fi movies, i'm starting TO

COME AROUND.
(sci-fi = science fiction)

- To come after
To follow or pursue
(pursue = buscar)

1. The bear was COMING AFTER ME!

2. Dan, i swear, i thought that spider was COMING

AFTER me. That's why i screamed.

- To crack down on
To enforce laws or punish more severly
(enforce = hacer cumplir)(punish = castigar)

1. The police are CRACKING DOWN ON speeding through

the neighborhood.
(neighborhood = vecindario)(through = a traves de)

2. The library is CRACKING DOWN ON people who lose or

damage the books.

- To crack up
To laugh or cause laugh

1. My son CRACKS UP everytime he plays with our

chickens. He thinks they're so funny.
2. I know that TV show is old, but it CRACKS me UP
everytime i watch it.

- To cut back on
To reduce o lower

1. I need TO CUT BACK ON sweets. The dentists said i

might be getting a cavity.

2. I really need TO CUT BACK ON my spending and save

more money.

- To be cut out for

To be naturally able to do something

1. I think she IS CUT OUT FOR teacher. She's just a

natural teacher.

2. I AM not CUT OUT FOR construction. I hate loud

noises.

- To cut up
To cut in smaller parts or sections

1. My son helps with dinner by CUTTING UP the

vegetables.

2. I CUT UP the meat yo put itin the stew.

(stew = estofado)

- To fall for
To be deceived by something
(deceived = engañado)

1. I can't believe that you FELL FOR that scam. They're

just trying to take your money.

2.Don't FALL FOR his tough guy act. He's really a

sensitive guy.
(tough = duro)

- To fall in with
To get involved with someone or to agree to something

1. My parents always warned me about FALLING IN WITH

the wrong crowd.
(crowd = multitud/grupo)

2. I FELL IN WITH the protesters as i was walking

down the street.

- To fall down
To decrease, usually in a bad way

1. Please, don't FALL DOWN the stairs. Hold onto the

railing.
(onto = sobre)(hold onto = aferrarse a)
(railing = barandilla)
2. My stocks really FELL DOWN over the last quarter.
(my stocks = mis acciones)(quarter = cuarto/trimestre)

- To fall back on
To have a backup plan when other things fail
(backup = respaldo)

1. When i lost my job, i had TO FALL BACK ON my

savings.

2. If you lose your job, you can always FALL BACK ON

joining the circus.

- To fall out
To have an argument (discusión), to no longer be on
good terms

1. He left home after FALLING OUT with his parents.

2. They had TO FALLEN OUT over who's fault it was, and

now they don't talk to each other anymore

3. We had A FALLING OUT a couple years ago, and i

haven't seen him since.
(since = desde/desde entonces)

- To fill in
To informe some one or provide information

1. You need TO FILL IN the correct answers on a test

if you want to get a good scored.

2. You missed class yesterday? Don't worry i will FILL

you IN.

- To fill out
To add information on a form

1. Don't forget TO FILL OUT every section on the job

application.

2. You need TO FILL OUT these forms before the doctor

will see you

- To fill up
To add something or to be come full

1. I made the mistake of FILLING UP on free bread

before our meal came.

2. I need TO FILL UP my gas tank.

- To give out
To distribute something

1. They were GIVING OUT free samples of cheese at the

grocery store.
(samples = muestras)(grocery = tienda de comestibles)
2. I like TO GIVE OUT presents for christmas.

- To give up on
To surrender or admit defeat
(surrender = rendición)

1. I GIVE UP ON eating healty during the holidays.

There's so many good things to eat.

2. H edidn't want TO GIVE UP ON histeam, but he knew

that they definetly wouldn't win.

- To give way
To collapse or break under physical stresses

1. Be careful! Don't step on that floor. it might

GIVE WAY.

2. I'm worried that that old bridge might GIVE WAY

before they repair it.
(bridge = puente)

- To hang on
To wait a moment

1. HANG ON, i'll be right there.

2. If you want TO HANG ON a minute, i can walk

with you at the park.

- To hold out
To wait, to have resolve in hopes that something will
get better

1. He's HOLDING OUT on buying a new car because he

thinks that he could get a good deal somewhere else.

2. The troops HELD OUT the attacks because they knew

that reinforcementes were on their way.
(reinforcements = refuerzos)

- To hold up
To delay or block progress
(delay = demora)

1. The weather is HOLDING UP our project that we were

trying to do outside.

2. The wreck HELD UP traffic for hours

(wreck = accidente)

- To keep off
To avoid touching something
(avoid = evitar)

1. The sign sayd "KEEP OF the grass" but everyone is

ignoring it.
2. I wear a sunhat during the summer TO KEEP the sun
OFF my face.
(i wear = llevo)(sunhat = sombrero para el sol)

- To keep on
To continue to do something

1. I know it's hard to practice but KEEP ON practicing

and you'll get better.

2. My dad always told me to keep on keepin'on.

- To keep up with
To move at the same rate as someone or something
(rate = velocidad)

1. When we go running, i can never KEPP UP WITH my

friend. She runs so fast!

2. When i went to the new college, i could not KEEP

UP WITH the professor.His ideas was just over my head.

3. I cannot KEEP UP WITH that movie. It's so fast!

- To keep to yourself
To be private, to avoid contact with others

1. My neighbours just kind of KEEP TO THEMSELVES.

2. When you're sick, it's a good idea TO KEEP TO

YOURSELF so that other people don't get sick.