Phrasal verb Translation (optional) Meaning Example/use

Back up provide support for someone or his mother backed him up on

something. everything"

Be carried to be so excited that one is no They allowed themselves to be

away longer in control of one's carried away by fear.
behavior

Be taken in to find someone or something I think he's quite taken with the idea.
attractive or interesting

Blow up to explode; to be destroyed by A police officer was killed when his

an explosion car blew up.

Break down (of a machine or vehicle) to stop The telephone system has broken
working because of a fault down.

Break in to enter a building by force Burglars had broken in while we

were away.

Break off to become separated from The back section of the plane had
something as a result of force broken off.

Break out (of war, fighting or other Fire broke out during the night.
unpleasant events) to start
suddenly

Break to make new and important Scientists think they are beginning to
through discoveries break through in the fight against
cancer.

Break up to separate into smaller pieces The ship broke up on the rocks.

Bring out to make people go on strike A crisis brings out the best in her.
Bring up to care for a child, teaching him He was brought up by his aunt.
or her how to behave, etc.

Build up to become greater, more The music builds up to a rousing

powerful or larger in number climax.
Burst in to interrupt He burst in on the meeting.
somebody/something by
entering a place suddenly and
noisily
Burst out to speak suddenly, loudly and burst out doing
with strong feeling something Karen burst out laughing.

Call in to phone a place, especially the Several people have called in

place where you work sick today.
Call off to order a dog or a person to The game was called off because of
stop attacking, searching, etc. bad weather.

Call on to ask or demand that She called on the government to

somebody do something hold a vote.

Care for to look after somebody who is She moved back home to care for
sick, very old, very young, etc. her elderly parents.

Carry on to continue moving Carry on until you get to the

junction, then turn left.

Catch on to become popular or He invented a new game, but it

fashionable never really caught on.

Catch up with to finally start to cause problems She was terrified that one day her
for somebody after they have past problems would catch up with
managed to avoid this for some her.
time

Check on - to make sure that there is I'll just go and check on the children.
nothing wrong with
somebody/something
Check out to be found to be true or The local police found her story
acceptable after being examined didn't check out.

Clear away to remove something because it It's time your toys were cleared
is not wanted or needed, or in away.
order to leave a clear space

Clear up (of the weather) to become fine I hope it clears up this afternoon.
or bright

Come across to be understood He spoke for a long time but his

meaning didn't really come across.

Come along to arrive; to appear When the right opportunity comes

along, she'll take it.

Come down to break and fall to the ground The ceiling came down with a
terrific crash.

Come down to get an illness that is not very I think I'm coming down with flu.
with serious
Come off to be able to be removed
Come on used in orders to tell somebody
to hurry or to try harder
Come out
when the sun, moon or stars
come out, they appear
Come round to become conscious again
Come to to become conscious again
Come up to appear above the soil
Come up to be faced with or opposed by
against somebody/something
Come up with to find or produce an answer, a
sum of money, etc.
Count on to trust somebody to do
something or to be sure that
something will happen
Cross out to draw a line through a word,
usually because it is wrong
Cut across to affect or be true for different
groups that usually remain
separate
Cut down to kill somebody
Cut out if a motor or an engine cuts out
it suddenly stops working
Deal with to take appropriate action in a
particular situation or according
to who you are talking to,
managing, etc.
Do away with to kill somebody/yourself
That mark won't come off.
Come on! We don't have much time.
The rain stopped and the sun came
out.
Your mother hasn't yet come around
from the anaesthetic.
The idea came to me in the bath.
The daffodils are just beginning to
come up.
We expect to come up against a lot
of opposition to the plan.
How soon can you come up with the
money?
‘I'm sure he'll help.’ ‘Don't count on
it.’
I'm going to cross out these
questions.
Opinion on this issue cuts across
traditional political boundaries.
He was cut down by an assassin's
bullet.
Don't cut your parents out of your
lives.
She is used to dealing with all kinds
of people in her job.
He thinks it's time we did away with
the monarchy.
Do up to be fastened The skirt does up at the back.

Do without to manage without She can't do without a secretary.

somebody/something

Draw up it arrives and stops She waved to me as I drew up.

Face up to to accept and deal with You have to face up to your

something that is difficult or responsibilities.
unpleasant

Fall for to be strongly attracted to They fell for each other instantly.
somebody; to fall in love with
somebody
Fall out to be strongly attracted to They fell for each other instantly.
somebody; to fall in love with
somebody
Fall through to not be completed, or not Our plans fell through because of
happen lack of money.

Fit in to find time to see somebody or I'll try and fit you in after lunch.
to do something

Get across to be communicated or Your meaning didn't really get

understood; to succeed in across.
communicating something

Get at (usually used in the progressive He's always getting at me.

tenses)to keep criticizing
somebody
Get to succeed in leaving a place I won't be able to get away from the
away(from) office before 7.
Get away to steal something and escape Thieves got away with computer
with with it equipment worth $30 000.

Get down to leave the table after a meal Don’t let it get you down too much.

Get down to to begin to do something; to Let's get down to business.

give serious attention to
something
Get in to arrive at a place What time do you get into
Heathrow?
Get into to arrive at a place The train got in late.
Get on with to have a friendly relationship She and her sister have never really
with somebody got on.
Get out to become known Will we get the book out by the end
of the year?
Get out of to avoid a responsibility or duty We promised we'd go—we can't get
out of it now.
Get over to deal with or gain control of I think the problem can be got over
something without too much difficulty.
Get round to to find the time to do something I meant to do the ironing but I didn't
get round to it.
Get through to use up a large amount of We got through a fortune while we
something were in New York!
Get up to stand up after sitting, lying, The class got up when the teacher
etc. came in.
Give away to lead the bride to The bride was given away by her
the bridegroom and formally father.
allow her to marry him
Give in to admit that you have been The rebels were forced to give in.
defeated by
somebody/something
Give up to stop trying to do something I give up—tell me the answer.
Go ahead to travel in front of other people I'll go ahead and tell them you're on
in your group and arrive before the way.
them
Go by (of time) to pass The days seemed to go by very
slowly.
Go down to become ill with something Our youngest boy has gone down
with with chickenpox.
Go for to attack somebody She went for him with a knife.
Go off to leave a place, especially in She went off to get a drink.
order to do something
Go on when a performer goes on, they She doesn't go on until Act 2.
begin their performance
Go over to examine or check something
carefully Go over your work before you hand
it in.
Go through if a law, contract, it is officially The deal did not go through.
accepted or completed

Hand over to give somebody else your He handed over his responsibility for
position of power or the the firm last year.
responsibility for something

Head for Proceed or go in a certain direction Let is head for the lake
Hold back to prevent somebody/something The police were unable to hold back
from moving forward or crossing the crowd.
something

Hold on (informal) used to tell somebody Hold on! This isn't the right road.
to wait or stop
Keep away to avoid going near Keep away from the edge of the cliff.
somebody/something
Keep back to stay at a distance from Keep well back from the road.
somebody/something
Keep down to hide yourself by not standing Keep down! You mustn't let anyone
up straight see you.
Keep off to avoid eating, drinking or I'm trying to keep off fatty foods.
smoking something
Keep up with to continue to be in contact with How many of your old school friends
somebody do you keep up with?
Knock down to persuade somebody to I managed to knock him down to
reduce the price of something $400.
Knock out to make somebody go to sleep The blow knocked her out.
or become unconscious
Knock over to hit somebody and make them She was knocked down by a bus.
fall to the ground
Leave out to not include or mention He hadn't been asked to the party
somebody/something in and was feeling very left out.
something
Let down to fail to help or support I'm afraid she let us down badly.
somebody as they had hoped or
expected
Let off to not punish somebody for They let us off lightly.
something they have done
wrong, or to give them only a
light punishment
Let out to come to an end, so that it is The movie has just let out.
time for people to leave
Live for to think that She lives for her work.
somebody/something is the
main purpose of or the most
important thing in your life
Live on to continue to live or exist He lived on for fifteen years after his
wife died.
Live up to to do as well as or be as good as He failed to live up to his parents'
other people expect you to expectations.
Live with to live in the same house I still live with my mum.

Lock in to prevent somebody from At 9 p.m. the prisoners are locked in

leaving a place by locking the for the night.
door
Lock out to prevent somebody from I'd locked myself out of the house
entering a place by locking the and had to break a window to get in.
door