COMMONLY USED PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal verbs Meanings Examples

to form the total of something Students account for the vast majority of our
Account for
→ Chiếm…phần trăm customers.
Rural Americans are often older than those in
to explain the reason for something
other parts of America and that may account
Account for or the cause of something
for the slower adoption rates for internet
→ Giải thích
access.
Back (someone) My parents backed me up when I decided to
To support someone
up apply for graduate school.
Blow up = be
When I told her I couldn’t come to her party,
furious = be To become suddenly angry
she blew up.
enraged
If a machine or vehicle breaks down, Our car broke down and we had to push it off
Break down
it stops working the road.
to enter a building illegally, usually
by damaging a door or window, esp.
Thieves broke into our office downtown1 and
Break into for the purpose of stealing
stole the computers.
something
→ Đột nhập
to care for a child until they are an
Bring (someone)
adult, often giving them particular
up = raise = rear = He was brought up by his aunt.
beliefs
nurture
→ Nuôi nấng, nuôi dưỡng
Bring up to start to talk about a particular
She’s always bringing up her health problems.
(something) subject
to decide that a planned event,
especially a sports event, will not
happen, or to end an activity Tomorrow's match has been called off
Call off
because it is no longer useful or because of the icy weather.
possible
→ Hủy bỏ
Call on to come to see someone; visit She went to the hospital to call on a sick friend.
to do or complete something,
especially that you have said you
Dr Carter is carrying out research on early
Carry out would do or that you have been told
Christian art.
to do
→ Tiến hành

1
(adj and adv) in or to the central part of a city
 to reach the same quality or
standard as someone or something Will Western industry ever catch up with
Catch up (with)
else Japanese innovations?
→ Theo kịp
If someone cheers up, or something
Cheer (somebody) She was sick so I sent her some flowers to
cheers someone up, they start to feel
up cheer her up.
happier
If a business or organization closes
down or someone closes it down, it All the mines in this area were closed down in
Close down
stops operating the 1980s.
→ Đóng cửa
to happen, or start to happen How did the problem come about in the first
Come about
→ Diễn ra, xảy ra place2?
to start to suffer from an illness,
Come down with especially one that is not serious I think I’m coming down with flu.
→ Mắc bệnh (nhẹ)
To find an idea for something I need to come up with a great present for my
Come up with
→ Nghĩ ra mom’s birthday.
to do or use less of something
Cut down (on) I'm trying to cut down on caffeine.
→ Cắt giảm
to remove a part of something to
Cut off Remember to cut off the fat before you fry the
make it smaller or shorter, using a
(something) steak.
sharp tool such as a knife
to start doing something suddenly
Dive in/into When I start a new project, I like to dive right
and energetically, often without
something in and see how it works.
stopping to think
to put on formal clothes for a special
You don't need to dress up to go to the mall -
Dress up occasion
jeans and a T-shirt are fine.
→ Ăn diện
The publisher told the writers they should
Drop by/in To stop by for a visit
drop by if they ever wanted a newspaper job.
to start doing something, often We’ve fallen into the habit of getting up late
Fall into
without intending to on Saturday mornings.
The mechanic tried to figure out what was
Figure out To understand and find the answer
wrong with my car.
to be successful in the work that you
Get ahead It's tough for a woman to get ahead in politics.
do
To have a friendly relationship with
Get along (with) I get along with my neighbors really well.
someone

2
in or at the beginning (of a series of events)
 to leave or escape from a person or
We walked to the next beach to get away from
Get away (from) place, often when it is difficult to do
the crowds.
this
to punish someone because that
Get back at person has done something wrong I think he’s trying to get back at her for what
(someone) to you she said in the meeting.
→ Trả thù, trả đũa
Get something to manage to make someone We tried to get our point across, but he just
across understand or believe something wouldn't listen.
Can you hang on for just a second while I check
Hang on To pause for a conversation
this message?
To casually spend time with Do you want to come over to my house and
Hang out
someone hang out?
Look back on Remember She usually looks back on her childhood.
Look (something) I didn’t know the meaning of the word “to hold
To search
up on”, so I looked it up in the dictionary.
to state an idea or opinion, or to
Put (something) The proposals that you have put forward
suggest a plan or person, for other
forward deserve serious consideration.
people to consider
I put off learning phrasal verbs for so long. It’s
Put off To postpone something
time to start today.
Put up with To tolerate something or someone My husband puts up with my terrible singing.
Run into = come
To meet something/someone I don’t want to run into a bear while I’m
across = bump
unexpectedly hiking.
into
We ran out of milk and eggs yesterday, so I
Run out of To have nothing left
need to go to the store.
to arrive somewhere in order to join
I invited him for eight o'clock, but he didn't
Show up a group of people, especially late or
show up until 9.30.
unexpectedly
I tried guitar, piano, violin, and finally, I
Stick with To continue doing something
decided to stick with the drums.
to be similar to an older member of
Take after I hope the children don't take after their
your family in appearance or
(someone) grandfather.
character
Take (something) I’m not very good at golf – I only took it up
to begin to do something
up recently.
to discuss a problem or situation
Talk (something) with someone, often to find out their
I'd like to talk it over with my wife first.
over opinion or to get advice before
making a decision about it
 It’s a good idea to think over pig purchases
Think over To consider something seriously
before you buy them.
I was so full from dinner that I had to turn
Turn down To refuse something or someone
down dessert.
to arrive or appear somewhere,
I surprised my family when I turned up to the
Turn up usually unexpectedly or in a way
party unannounced.
that was not planned
If a feeling or the effect of something The energy from my morning tea starts to
Wear off
wears off, it gradually disappears wear off around noon.
Work (something) to understand something or to find
There will be a full investigation to work out
out = figure the answer to something by thinking
what caused the accident.
(something) out about it