phrasal verbs list in english

8/19/2019 Phrasal Verbs List in English

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Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb +preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as you

come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. se the list below as areference guide when you find an e!pression that you don"t recognize. The e!amples will helpyou understand the meanings. #f you think of each phrasal verb as a separate verb with aspecific meaning, you will be able to remember it more easily. $ike many other verbs, phrasalverbs often have more than one meaning.

This list shows about %&& common phrasal verbs, with meanings and e!amples. 'nly the mostusual meanings are given. Some phrasal verbs may have additional meanings.

(s well as learning their meanings, you need to learn how to use phrasal verbs properly. Some phrasal verbs re)uire a direct ob*ect + someone/something , while others do not. Some phrasal

verbs can be separated by the ob*ect, while others cannot. eview this phrasal verbs grammar from time to time so that you don"t forget the rules

Verb Meaning Example

ask someone out invite on a date/rian asked 0udy out to dinnerand a movie.

ask aroundask many people the same)uestion

# asked around but nobody hasseen my wallet.

add up to something e)ual1our purchases add up to 2%&3.4%.

back something up reverse1ou"ll have to back up your carso that # can get out.

back someone up support5y wife backed me up over mydecision to )uit my *ob.

blow up e!plode

The racing car blew up after it

crashed into the fence.

blow something up add air 6e have to blow 3& balloons upfor the party.

break downstop functioning +vehicle,machine

'ur car broke down at the sideof the highway in thesnowstorm.

break down get upsetThe woman broke down whenthe police told her that her son

had died.

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-phrasal-verbs.htmhttp://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-phrasal-verbs.htm


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break something down divide into smaller parts'ur teacher broke the final

pro*ect down into three separate parts.

break in force entry to a buildingSomebody broke in last nightand stole our stereo.

break into something enter forciblyThe firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.

break something inwear something a few times sothat it doesn"t look7feel new

# need to break these shoes in before we run ne!t week.

break in interruptThe T8 station broke in toreport the news of the president"s

death.

break up end a relationship5y boyfriend and # broke up

before # moved to (merica.

break up start laughing +informalThe kids *ust broke up as soonas the clown started talking.

break out escapeThe prisoners broke out of *ailwhen the guards weren"tlooking.

break out in something develop a skin condition# broke out in a rash after ourcamping trip.

bring someone down make unhappyThis sad music is bringing medown.

bring someone up raise a child5y grandparents brought meup after my parents died.

bring something up start talking about a sub*ect

5y mother walks out of the

room when my father brings up sports.

bring something up vomit9e drank so much that hebrought his dinner up in thetoilet.

call around phone many different places7people

6e called around but weweren"t able to find the car partwe needed.

call someone back return a phone call # called the company back but


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the offices were closed for theweekend.

call something off cancel0ason called the wedding off

because he wasn"t in love withhis fianc:.

call on someone ask for an answer or opinionThe professor called on me for)uestion ;.

call on someone visit someone6e called on you last night butyou weren"t home.

call someone up phone


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clean something up tidy, cleanPlease clean up your bedroom

before you go outside.

come across something find une!pectedly# came across these old photoswhen # was tidying the closet.

come apart separateThe top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.

come down with something

become sick 5y nephew came down with chicken po! this weekend.

come forwardvolunteer for a task or to giveevidence

The woman came forward withher husband"s finger prints.

come from somewhere originate in The art of origami comes from (sia.

count on someone/something

rely on# am counting on you to makedinner while # am out.

cross something out draw a line throughPlease cross out your oldaddress and write your new one.

cut back on something consume less5y doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.

cut something downmake something fall to theground

6e had to cut the old tree in ouryard down after the storm.

cut in interrupt1our father cut in while # wasdancing with your uncle.

cut in pull in too closely in front ofanother vehicle

The bus driver got angry whenthat car cut in.

cut instart operating +of an engine or

electrical device

The air conditioner cuts in when

the temperature gets to %%>?.

cut something off remove with something sharpThe doctors cut off his leg

because it was severely in*ured.

cut something off stop providingThe phone company cut off our

phone because we didn"t pay the bill.

cut someone off take out of a will5y grandparents cut my fatheroff when he remarried.


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cut something outremove part of something+usually with scissors and

paper

# cut this ad out of thenewspaper.

do someone/something over

beat up, ransack +/r.E.,informal

9e"s lucky to be alive. 9is shopwas done over by a street gang.

do something over do again +@.(mer.5y teacher wants me to do myessay over because she doesn"tlike my topic.

do away with something discard#t"s time to do away with all ofthese old ta! records.

do something up fasten, closeo your coat up before you go

outside. #t"s snowing

dress up wear nice clothing#t"s a fancy restaurant so we haveto dress up.

drop back move back in a position7group(ndrea dropped back to third

place when she fell off her bike.

drop in!by!over come without an appointment# might drop in!by!over for teasome time this week.

drop someone/something off

take someone7somethingsomewhere and leave them7itthere

# have to drop my sister off atwork before # come over.

drop out )uit a class, school etc# dropped out of Science

because it was too difficult.

eat out eat at a restaurant# don"t feel like cooking tonight.$et"s eat out.

end up eventually reach7do7decide6e ended up renting a movie

instead of going to the theatre.

fall apart break into pieces5y new dress fell apart in thewashing machine.

fall down fall to the groundThe picture that you hung up lastnight fell down this morning.

fall out separate from an interior The money must have fallen outof my pocket.

fall out +of hair, teeth become loose 9is hair started to fall out when


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and unattached he was only 43.

figure something out understand, find the answer # need to figure out how to fitthe piano and the bookshelf inthis room.

fill something into write information in blanks+/r.E.

Please fill in the form with yourname, address, and phonenumber.

fill something outto write information in blanks+@.(mer.

The form must be filled out incapital letters.

fill something up fill to the top# always fill the water *ug up when it is empty.

find out discover 6e don"t know where he lives.9ow can we find outA

find something out discover 6e tried to keep the time of the

party a secret, but Samanthafound it out.

get something across!over

communicate, makeunderstandable

# tried to get my pointacross!over to the *udge but shewouldn"t listen.

get along!on like each other # was surprised how well mynew girlfriend and my sister gotalong!on.

get around have mobility5y grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.

get away go on a vacation6e worked so hard this year thatwe had to get away for a week.

get away with something

do without being noticed or punished

0ason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.

get back return6e got back from our vacationlast week.

get something back receive something you had

before$iz finally got her Science notesback from my room-mate.

get back at someone retaliate, take revenge5y sister got back at me forstealing her shoes. She stole my

favourite hat.


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get back into something become interested in somethingagain

# finally got back into my noveland finished it.

get on something step onto a vehicle6e"re going to freeze out here ifyou don"t let us get on the bus.

get over something recover from an illness, loss,difficulty

# *ust got over the flu and nowmy sister has it.

get over something overcome a problemThe company will have to closeif it can"t get over the newregulations.

get round to something finally find time to do+@.(mer.= get around to

something

# don"t know when # am going toget round to writing the thank

you cards.

get togethermeet +usually for socialreasons

$et"s get together for a //Bthis weekend.

get up get out of bed# got up early today to study formy e!am.

get up stand1ou should get up and give theelderly man your seat.

give someone away reveal hidden informationabout someone

9is wife gave him away to the police.

give someone away take the bride to the altar 5y father gave me away at mywedding.

give something away ruin a secret5y little sister gave the surprise

party away by accident.

give something awaygive something to someone forfree

The library was giving away old books on Criday.

give something back return a borrowed item# have to give these skates back to Cranz before his hockeygame.

give inreluctantly stop fighting orarguing

5y boyfriend didn"t want to goto the ballet, but he finally gavein.

give something outgive to many people +usually at

no cost

They were giving out free perfume samples at the

department store.


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give something up )uit a habit# am giving up smoking as of0anuary ;st.

give up stop trying5y maths homework was toodifficult so # gave up.

go after someone follow someone5y brother tried to go after thethief in his car.

go after something try to achieve something# went after my dream and now# am a published writer.

go against someone compete, oppose6e are going against the bestsoccer team in the city tonight.

go ahead start, proceed Please go ahead and eat beforethe food gets cold.

go back return to a place# have to go back home and getmy lunch.

go outleave home to go on a socialevent

6e"re going out for dinnertonight.

go out with someone date0esse has been going out with $uke since they met last winter.

go over something reviewPlease go over your answers

before you submit your test.

go over visit someone nearby# haven"t seen Tina for a longtime. # think #"ll go over for anhour or two.

go without something suffer lack or deprivation6hen # was young, we wentwithout winter boots.

grow apart stop being friends over time 5y best friend and # grew apartafter she changed schools.

grow back regrow5y roses grew back thissummer.

grow up become an adult6hen 0ack grows up he wantsto be a fireman.

grow out of something get too big for Elizabeth needs a new pair ofshoes because she has grown

out of her old ones.


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grow into something grow big enough to fitThis bike is too big for him now,

but he should grow into it byne!t year.

hand something downgive something used tosomeone else

# handed my old comic booksdown to my little cousin.

hand something in submit# have to hand in my essay byCriday.

hand something outto distribute to a group of

people6e will hand out the invitationsat the door.

hand something over give +usually unwillinglyThe police asked the man tohand over his wallet and his

weapons.

hang instay positive +@.(mer.,informal

"ang in there. #"m sure you"llfind a *ob very soon.

hang on wait a short time +informal"ang on while # grab my coatand shoes

hang out spend time rela!ing +informal#nstead of going to the party weare *ust going to hang out at my

place.

hang up end a phone call9e didn"t say goodbye before hehung up.

hold someone/something back

prevent from doing7going# had to hold my dog back

because there was a cat in the park.

hold something back hide an emotion0amie held back his tears at hisgrandfather"s funeral.

hold on wait a short time Please hold on while # transferyou to the Sales Department.

hold onto someone/something

hold firmly using your hands or arms

"old onto your hat because it"svery windy outside.

hold someone/something up

rob( man in a black mask held the

bank up this morning.

keep on doing something

continue doing#eep on stirring until the li)uidcomes to a boil.


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keep something from someone

not tell6e kept our relationship from our parents for two years.

keep someone/something out

stop from enteringTry to keep the wet dog out ofthe living room.

keep something up continue at the same rate#f you keep those results up youwill get into a great college.

let someone downfail to support or help,disappoint

# need you to be on time. Don"tlet me down this time.

let someone in allow to enter ?an you let the cat in before yougo to schoolA

look after someone/something take care of # have to look after my sickgrandmother.

look down on someone think less of, consider inferior Ever since we stole thatchocolate bar your dad haslooked down on me.

look for someone/something

try to find#"m looking for a red dress forthe wedding.

look forward to

something

be e!cited about the future#"m looking forward to the

?hristmas break.

look into something investigate6e are going to look into the

price of snowboards today.

look out be careful, vigilant, and takenotice

$ook out That car"s going to hityou

look out for someone/something

be especially vigilant for Don"t forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.

look something over check, e!amine ?an you look over my essay forspelling mistakesA

look something upsearch and find information ina reference book or database

6e can look her phone numberup on the #nternet.

look up to someone have a lot of respect for 5y little sister has alwayslooked up to me.

make something up invent, lie about something0osie made up a story aboutabout why we were late.


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make up forgive each other 6e were angry last night, but wemade up at breakfast.

make someone up apply cosmetics to5y sisters made me up for mygraduation party.

mix something up confuse two or more things# mixed up the twins" namesagain

pass away die9is uncle passed away lastnight after a long illness.

pass out faint#t was so hot in the church thatan elderly lady passed out.

pass something out give the same thing to many people The professor passed thete!tbooks out before class.

pass something updecline +usually somethinggood

# passed up the *ob because # amafraid of change.

pay someone back return owed moneyThanks for buying my ticket. #"llpay you back on Criday.

pay for something be punished for doingsomething bad

That bully will pay for beingmean to my little brother.

pick something out choose# picked out three sweaters foryou to try on.

point someone/something out

indicate with your finger #"ll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.

put something down put what you are holding on asurface or floor

1ou can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter.

put someone downinsult, make someone feelstupid

The students put the substitute

teacher down because his pantswere too short.

put something off postpone6e are putting off our trip until0anuary because of thehurricane.

put something out e!tinguishThe neighbours put the fire out

before the firemen arrived.

put something together assemble

# have to put the crib together

before the baby arrives.


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put up with someone/something

tolerate# don"t think # can put up with three small children in the car.

put something on put clothing7accessories onyour body

Don"t forget to put on your newearrings for the party.

run into someone/something

meet une!pectedly# ran into an old school-friendat the mall.

run over someone/something

drive a vehicle over a person or thing

# accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.

run over!through something

rehearse, review$et"s run over!through theselines one more time before theshow.

run away leave une!pectedly, escapeThe child ran away from homeand has been missing for threedays.

run out have none left6e ran out of shampoo so # hadto wash my hair with soap.

send something back return +usually by mail5y letter got sent back to me

because # used the wrong stamp.

set something up arrange, organize 'ur boss set a meeting up withthe president of the company.

set someone up trick, trapThe police set up the car thief

by using a hidden camera.

shop around compare prices# want to shop around a little

before # decide on these boots.

show off act e!tra special for peoplewatching +usually boastfully

9e always shows off on hisskateboard

sleep overstay somewhere for the night+informal

1ou should sleep over tonight ifthe weather is too bad to drivehome.

sort something out organize, resolve a problem6e need to sort the bills out

before the first of the month.

stick to something continue doing something,limit yourself to one particularthing

1ou will lose weight if you stick to the diet.


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switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off The light"s too bright. ?ould youswitch it off .

switch something on start the energy flow, turn on6e heard the news as soon aswe switched on the car radio.

take after someone resemble a family member # take after my mother. 6e are

both impatient.

take something apart purposely break into pieces9e took the car brakes apart and found the problem.

take something back return an item# have to take our new T8 back

because it doesn"t work.

take off start to fly 5y plane takes off in fiveminutes.

take something off remove something +usuallyclothing

$ake off your socks and shoesand come in the lake

take something out remove from a place or thing?an you take the garbage out tothe street for meA

take someone out pay for someone to gosomewhere with you

5y grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.

tear something up rip into pieces# tore up my e!-boyfriend"sletters and gave them back tohim.

think back remember +often to,sometimes on

6hen # think back on myyouth, # wish # had studiedharder.

think something over consider #"ll have to think this *ob offerover before # make my final

decision.

throw something away dispose of 6e threw our old furnitureaway when we won the lottery.

turn something downdecrease the volume or strength+heat, light etc

Please turn the T8 down whilethe guests are here.

turn something down refuse# turned the *ob down because #don"t want to move.

turn something off stop the energy flow, switch off 1our mother wants you to turn


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the T8 off and come for dinner.

turn something on start the energy, switch on#t"s too dark in here. $et"s turn some lights on.

turn something upincrease the volume or strength+heat, light etc

?an you turn the music upAThis is my favourite song.

turn up appear suddenly'ur cat turned up after we put

posters up all over theneighbourhood.

try something on sample clothing#"m going to try these *eans on,

but # don"t think they will fit.

try something out test # am going to try this new brandof detergent out.

use something up finish the supplyThe kids used all of thetoothpaste up so we need to buysome more.

wake up stop sleeping6e have to wake up early forwork on 5onday.

warm

someone/something upincrease the temperature

1ou can warm your feet up in

front of the fireplace.

warm up prepare body for e!ercise# always warm up by doing sit-ups before # go for a run.

wear off fade away5ost of my make-up wore off

before # got to the party.

work out e!ercise# work out at the gym threetimes a week.

work out be successful 'ur plan worked out fine.

work something out make a calculation6e have to work out the totalcost before we buy the house.

/r.E.= /ritish EnglishF @.(mer.= @orth (merican

phrasal verbs list in english

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