Use Phrasal verbs

A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an

adverb; the combination creates a meaning different from
the original verb. Below you will find a list of phrasal
verbs in alphabetical order with their meaning and an
example of use. It’s not an exhaustive one though, since
phrasal verbs are born day after day and they are
numberless.

Phrasal
Meaning Example
Verb
Respect or obey If you want to stay at
abide by (the law, a decision, this school, you must
a rule) abide by the rules.
I hope you can
Explain; give a
account for account for the
reason
money you spent!
He was so lonely he
Want something or
ache for ached for the sound
someone very much.
of a human voice.
Take action as a The police acted on
act on
result of something the call they received.
act out Demonstrate They acted out the
something with scene in the
 gestures and actions. classroom.
Cause pain or
Dad's poor knee is
act up annoyance by
acting up again.
functioning badly
Make sense; seem Her story just doesn't
add up
reasonable add up.
Support; follow; act All contestants must
adhere to
in accordance with adhere to the rules.
The doctor advised
Recommend not
advise against him against carrying
doing something
heavy loads.
Have the same I agree with you. I
agree with opinion as someone think she deserves the
else award too.
The policeman aimed
Direct towards a
aim at his gun at the
target
hijacker.
Take into
You'd better leave
consideration;
allow for early to allow for
Include in a
heavy traffic.
calculation
amount to Reach; be equivalent 1) The total cost
to amounts to 1200€.
2) His statement
amounted to a
 confession.
Show from a The documentary was
angle at particular point of angled at young
view. viewers.
Try to obtain I suspect Tom's
angle for something by angling for a free
hinting. ticket.
Don't answer back
answer back Reply rudely
your mother!
1) Normally parents
have to answer for
1) Be responsible for
their children's
something.
answer for behaviour.
2) Speak on behalf of
2) I agree, but I can't
someone.
answer for my
associate.
Be responsible to/be
Who do you answer
answer to controlled by
to in your job?
(someone)
1) The organizers
1) Plead or make an
appealed to the
earnest request.
appeal to crowd to stay calm.
2) Be attractive or
2) Camping doesn't
interesting.
appeal to me.
apply for Make a formal He applied for the
 request for
something
job advertised.
(job, permit, loan,
etc.)
Reach It is hoped that they
(an agreement, a will arrive at an
arrive at
decision, a agreement at the end
conclusion) of the meeting.
Enquire about
My mother is always
ask after someone's well-
asking after you.
being.
I'll ask around and
Mention it to people
ask around see if anyone has seen
you see or meet.
your cat.
I couldn't leave her
Invite someone to standing outside in
ask in
come inside. the cold so I asked
her in.
Invite someone to
John has asked Mary
ask out lunch, dinner, the
out several times.
cinema ...
avail Take advantage of When the company is
(oneself) of something privatized, you
(an opportunity) should avail yourself
of the opportunity
 and buy some shares.
The price of lunch
Result in an average
average out at averages out at 10€
(amount)
per person.
Move backwards, in When he saw the dog,
back away
fear or dislike he backed away.
Local authorities
Withdraw; concede backed down on
back down
defeat. their plans to
demolish the cinema.
The thugs backed off
Retreat, abandon an
back off when they saw the
intention.
police.
Withdraw from an We made a deal. You
back out
agreement. can't back out now!
1) If I tell the boss
we've got too much
1) Give support or
work,
encouragement
back up will you back me
2) make a copy of
up?
(file, program...)
2) It is recommended
to back up all files.
bail out 1) Pay money to 1) When he was
secure someone's arrested, his family
release refused
 to bail him out.
2) Rescue from
2) The government
financial difficulties
bailed out the bank.
Consumers banded
band together Unite in a group. together to protest
against the measures.
Don't forget the date.
Base your hopes on
bank on I'm banking on your
something/someone.
help.
The interview was
Expect; be prepared
bargain for more difficult than he
for.
had bargained for.
The other witnesses
bear out Confirm will bear out my
testimony.
Please bear with me
bear with Be patient. please while I finish
my explanation.
He beefed up his
Improve or make presentation with
beef up
more substantial diagrams and
statistics.
When he fell off the
Faint; lose
black out horse, he blacked
consciousness
out.
 The area was blocked
Separate using a
block off off during the
barrier.
demonstration.
1) The terrorists said
the bomb would blow
1) Explode.
blow up up at 9 o'clock.
2) Be destroyed by
2) The car blew up
an explosion.
but luckily there was
nobody in it.
The problem boils
boil down to Be summarized as down to a lack of
money.
Start a computer by Just give me a few
boot up loading an operating minutes to boot up
system or program. the computer.
A few horses broke
Escape from
break away away from the
captivity.
paddock.
break down 1) Go out of order, 1) John's car broke
cease to function. down on the way to
2) Lose control of the
one's emotions. airport.
2) The parents broke
down when they
 heard the bad news.
The burglars broke
break into Enter by force. into the house around
midnight.
1) It was decided to
break off diplomatic
1) Stop, discontinue relations with that
break off country.
2) Stop speaking 2) She broke off in
the middle of a
sentence.
Rioting broke out as
break out Start suddenly.
a result of the strike.
Escape from a place Three prisoners
break out of
by force. broke out of jail.
After her marriage
Come to an end
broke up, Emma
break up (marriage,
went to live in
relationship...)
London.
You pretended to be a
journalist and he
Succeed in doing
bring off believed you?
something difficult
I never thought you'd
bring that off!
bring up 1) Raise (a child). 1) She stopped
 working in order to
bring up
her children.
2) Mention 2) His friends knew
something. he had lost his job but
they decided not to
bring up the subject.
Mary decided to
Improve, refresh
brush up on her
brush up on one's knowledge of
Spanish before going
something.
to South-America.
Pedro bumped into
Meet by accident or
bump into his English teacher at
unexpectedly.
the supermarket.
1) The fuse has burnt
out.
1) Stop (sth) working
2) Tom will burn
burn out 2) Become exhausted
himself out if he
from overworking
doesn't
slow down.
It's rude to butt in on
butt in (on) Interrupt impolitely.
a conversation.
I'll call you back as
call back Return a phone call
soon as possible.
call off Cancel The meeting was
 called off because of
the strike.
I now call upon the
Formally invite or
call on/upon President to address
request.
the assembly.
Become more He was angry at first,
calm down relaxed or less but he eventually
angry/upset. calmed down.
He carried on
carry on Continue. gardening in spite of
the rain.
1) The plan was
1) Do something as
carried out to
specified (plan,
perfection.
order, threat...)
carry out 2) Tests are carried
2) Perform or
out to determine the
conduct (test,
efficiency of a new
experiment ...)
drug.
As regards holidays,
can we carry over
carry over Postpone until later.
days from one year to
the next?
I must call by mother
Acquire information
catch up on to catch up on the
you have missed.
latest family events.
 I've missed some
Reach the same stage classes so I'll have to
catch up with
as someone else. work hard to catch up
with the others.
For security reasons,
Register at a hotel or you have to check in
check in
airport. two hours before your
flight.
1) Is Mr. Bush still at
1) Pay one's bill and the hotel? No, he
leave (a hotel) checked out this
check out morning.
2) Investigate or 2) I don't know if the
verify. address is still valid.
I'll check it out.
Put someone in a I told her a joke to try
cheer up
better mood. and cheer her up.
Bob has decided to
Contribute to, or
retire and we're going
participate in,
chip in to buy him a present.
something done by a
Do you want to chip
group.
in?
When the teacher
clam up Refuse to speak. arrived, she clammed
up.
 The government
clamp down Act strictly to decided to clamp
on prevent something. down on smoking in
public areas.
Stop operating When the factory
(company, closed down, the
close down
restaurant, employees lost their
cinema ...) jobs.
1) Julie came across
some photographs of
1) Find by chance. her grandparents in
the attic.
come across
2) Appear, seem, 2) The candidate
make an impression. came across as a
dynamic person
during the interview.
The architect planned
to attend the
come down inauguration but
Become ill with ...
with unfortunately he
came down with the
flu over the weekend.
The police have
Present oneself;
come forward asked any witnesses
volunteer
to come forward.
 The project came up
come up Be faced with or
against a lot of
against opposed by.
criticism.
Sacha came up with a
Produce an idea or
come up with great idea for the
plan.
party.
1) The car conked out
1) Stop working.
on the motorway.
conk out 2) He was so
2) Stop or fall asleep
exhausted, he conked
(from exhaustion).
out in front of the TV.
I'm counting on the
count on Rely or depend on. taxi driver to find the
theatre.
In some exercises you
Remove by drawing
cross out are asked to cross out
a line through.
the incorrect word.
The doctor told him
Reduce in number or
cut down on to cut down on
size.
cigarettes.
1) Remove using 1) She cut out a
scissors. picture in a magazine.
cut out
2) Stop doing 2) I'm going to cut
something. out eating sweet food.
deal with Handle, take care of The manager is good
 at dealing with
(problem, situation)
difficult customers.
1) The women were
all decked out in
beautiful
deck out dresses.
Dress; decorate
(in/with) 2) The exhibition hall
will be decked out in
the
colours of Europe.
When the applause
Calm down, become
die down died down, she
less strong.
started to sing.
dig into 1) Try to find deep 1) He dug into his
inside something. pocket and found a
coin.
2) Start to do
something. 2) It was time to dig
into the work that had
3) Take from accumulated on her
something. desk.

3) Dad had to dig into

his savings to repair
the
 roof.
1) He tried to dig up
the tree by its roots.
1) Break up the soil/
remove by digging.
dig up 2) Some newspapers
2) Discover or reveal
often try to dig up
information.
scandalous
information.
He spent the day
Distribute or give
dish out dishing out
away a lot.
invitations to tourists.
I'm afraid you'll have
to download it.
Decide to do without
dispense with They've dispensed
something.
with the paper
version.
Some people think it's
do away with Get rid of; abolish. time to do away with
the monarchy.
My parents will need
to do over their
do over Clean or redecorate. living-room soon.
The paintwork needs
refreshing.
do up Fasten (a garment) Good boy Alex! You
 know how to do up
your coat now!
The shops are closed
do without Manage without. so we'll have to
do without sugar.
We expected a short
Last longer than
drag on speech but it dragged
expected.
on and on!
1) Let's decide now
1) Make sth longer
and not drag out this
than necessary.
discussion.
2) Make someone
drag out 2) The police finally
reveal or give
dragged out a
information
confession
unwillingly.
from the suspect.
Write (contract, An agreement as
draw up agreement, drawn up and signed
document). by the two parties.
1) Do people dress up
to go to the opera in
1) Wear elegant
your
clothes.
dress up country?
2) Children love to
2) Disguise oneself.
dress up at
Halloween.
 We were childhood
Become less and less
drift apart friends but we drifted
close.
apart over the years.
He sat back, closed
drift off Gradually fall asleep. his eyes and drifted
off.
Insinuate; be trying What exactly are you
drive at
to say. driving at?
Our sales have
Fall into a position
drop behind dropped behind those
behind others.
of our competitors.
I sometimes drop in
to see my
Visit, usually on the
drop in grandparents on my
way somewhere.
way home from
school.
1) I'll drop you off at
the bus stop if you
1) Deliver someone
like.
drop off or something.
2) Granddad often
2) Fall asleep.
drops off in front of
the TV.
drop out Leave school without She decided to go to
finishing. art school, then
dropped out after the
 first term.
She turned up the
Be louder in order to music to drown out
drown out
cover another sound. the noise of the
children outside.
Reduce, become less
After Christmas, the
severe or slow down
ease off/up workload generally
(pain, traffic,
eases off.
work ...)
Egged on by his
friends, the boy
egg on Encourage
climbed over the
wall.
She embarked on a
embark
Start or engage in career that lead her to
on/upon
fame.
Finish in a certain Their marriage ended
end in
way / result in in divorce.
If he continues his
Finally reach a state,
end up misconduct, he'll end
place or action
up in prison.
even out 1) Eliminate 1) After a long
differences of discussion they
opinion. managed to even out
2) Become level or their differences.
 2) The road was
regular evened out to make it
safer.
How are you going to
Find an excuse or
explain away explain away the
plausible explanation
missing money?

Sam will have to face

Accept ad deal with
up to the fact that
face up (to) something
Jenny is not in love
unpleasant.
with him.
1) My car is so old it's
falling apart.
Disintegrate; break;
fall apart 2) Their marriage fell
fall into pieces.
apart after they both
lost their jobs.
Be able to use We were lucky to have
fall back on something in an some tinned food to
emergency fall back on.
She fell behind at
Fail to maintain a
fall behind school and had to
certain level
study harder.
Our planned boat trip
Fail / does not
fall through fell through because of
happen
the storm.
 I'm trying to figure out
Understand / find
figure out how to assemble the
the answer
wardrobe.
Temporarily Eva is absent this
fill in for substitute for morning and Julie is
another person going to fill in for her.
Please fill out the
Complete (a enclosed form and
fill out
form/application) send it back as soon as
possible.
I'm going to call the
Discover or obtain cinema to find out
find out
information what time the film
starts.
Feel comfortable or He just doesn't fit in
fit in (with)
be in harmony with with the others.
They're going to fix up
fix up Repair or renovate the house before
moving in.
Over the years their
fizzle out Gradually end
friendship fizzled out.
The advertising
Concentrate on campaign will focus
focus on
something on the quality of the
product.
 Mix one ingredient Fold in the eggs with
fold in
with another. the sugar.
She nearly freaked out
when she saw the
freak out Panic or go crazy
colour of her hair. It
was a disaster!
frown My parents always
Disapprove
on/upon frowned on smoking.
Pay excessive She's always fussing
fuss over
attention to over her grandson.
1) It's not easy to get
around the city without
1) Move from place
get a map.
to place
about/around 2) News of their
2) Spread, circulate
separation soon got
about.
get along Be on good terms / I get along (well) with
(with) work well with. my mother-in-law.
What exactly are you
get at Imply
trying to get at?
The robbers got away
get away Escape
in a black car.
Manage to cope or It's difficult to get by
get by (on)
to survive. on a low salary.
get down to Start to actually do It's time to get down to
 something. some serious work!
How did the burglar
get in Enter
get in?
get into (+ How did the burglar
Enter
noun) get into the house?
1) Leave (bus, train, 1) Get off the bus at
plane). Trafalgar Square.
get off
2) Remove from 2) She's trying to get
something. off the stain.
Board (bus, train, You can pay when you
get on
plane) get on the bus.
Continue to do
Be quiet and get on
get on with something / make
with your homework.
progress
get on (well) Have a good I get on very well with
with relationship with my colleagues.
get out Leave How did he get out?
get out of How did he get out of
Leave
(+noun) the house?
Some husbands
get out of Avoid doing
manage to get out of
(+verb) something
doing any housework.
Recover from
Charlie had the 'flu but
get over (illness,
he got over it.
disappointment)
 It's difficult to get rid
get rid of Eliminate
of old habits.
Find the necessary I finally got round to
get round (to) time to do making the list that I
something. promised.
Let's get together for
get together Meet each other
lunch one day.
I usually get up at 7
get up Rise / leave bed
o'clock.
1) He gave away most
1) Give something
of his paintings.
free of charge.
give away
2) The names of the
2) Reveal
witnesses will not be
something.
given away.
He promised to give
Return something to
give back back the money he
its owner.
borrowed..
Sarah gave up
give up Stop ing something. smoking five years
ago.
Treat something
The director glossed
briefly so as to
gloss over over the recent drop in
avoid embarrassing
sales.
details.
 Alex tends to go along
go along
Agree with; accept. with anything his wife
(with)
says.
Children go back to
go back Return school after the
holidays.
1) We decided to go
1) Leave a place away for a few days.
go away
2) Disappear / fade 2) The stain still hasn't
gone away.
There's a bakery. Let's
go in Enter go in and buy some
bread.
Go into the bakery and
go into (+
Go inside see if they sell
noun)
croissants.
Join or enter a He decided to go into
go into (+
profession or the army when he left
noun)
organization. school.
Have something as She doesn't really go in
go in for
an interest or hobby. for sports.
Leave one's home to
Many young people go
go out attend a social
out a lot.
event.
go (out) with Have someone as a Is Julie going (out)
 boyfriend/girlfriend. with Tom?
Look good with These shoes don't go
go with
something else. with my skirt.
Pete went through a lot
go through Experience. of pain after the
accident.
The curtains don't go
with the carpet.
go Match; harmonize
The curtains and
with/together (with)
carpet don't go
together.
Spend one's He grew up in a small
grow up childhood / become village in the
an adult mountains.
She read the article
hand back Return and then handed it
back.
Pass on (by My clothes were
hand down tradition, handed down to me by
inheritance...) my older sister.
All application forms
Submit (report, must be handed in
hand in
homework) before the end of the
month.
hand out Distribute Samples will be
 handed out at the end
of the demonstration.
The boy was forced to
Give to someone in
hand over hand over the mobile
authority.
phone he had stolen.
All the children rushed
Be reluctant to do towards the clown
hang back
something except one boy who
hung back.
Hang on a minute. I'm
hang on Wait
early ready.
Keep a hold on Hang on to that rope
hang on (to)
something and you'll be ok.
Spend time in a Where does he hang
particular place or out these days?
hang out
with a group of Who does he hang out
friends with?
End a telephone Don't hang up. I
hang up
conversation haven't finished yet.
Start to go He headed off to the
head off
somewhere. train station.
Go/move in a The boat was heading
head for
certain direction. for the rocks.
Aim a blow at He hit at the wasp with
hit at
something. a newspaper.
 Retaliate / reply toWhen he was attacked,
hit back
an attack the boy hit back.
Find unexpectedly She hit upon an idea
hit on/upon
or by inspiration for her new collection.
1) Hold on please. I'll
put you through to Mr.
1) Wait Brown.
hold on
2) Grip tightly 2) She held on to the
railing as she crossed
the bridge.
She held up the
hold up Show as a example
diagram for all to see.
I need help to hook up
hook up Fasten (a garment)
my dress.
hook up Link broadcasting Many networks are
(with) facilities hooked up by satellite.
Be quick / act Hurry up! We'll miss
hurry up
speedily the bus!
He idles away hours
Waste time doing
idle away every day watching
nothing much.
television.
Resolve by
The meeting tomorrow
discussion/
iron out will be an opportunity
eliminate
to iron out difficulties.
differences
 Is it alright if I stay?
impose Ask too much of
I don't want to impose
on/upon someone.
upon your hospitality.
The runner improved
improve
Make better on his previous
on/upon
performance.
I’ve been dieting all
Allow yourself to week but today I'm
indulge in
enjoy something going to indulge in a
dessert.
Guarantee
insure The house is insured
compensation for
against against fire.
damage etc.
Ask someone to join
Harry invited her out
invite out you for lunch,
for dinner.
dinner, etc.

She was too shy to join

join in Participate
in the game.
join up 1) Engage in, 1) John was in the
become a member army and Tom joined
of up as soon as he left
2) Meet and unite school.
with 2) The two groups of
tourists joined up at
 the hotel.
I jotted down the
address while
jot down Take quick notes
watching the
programme on TV.

His father encouraged

keep at Persevere. him to keep at his
studies.
Retain / force to A barrier was installed
keep back
stay back to keep back the fans.
Continue doing I told him to be quiet but
keep on
something he kept on making noise.
Stay at the same Bill walks so fast. It is
keep up with level as someone difficult to keep up with
or something him.
Go down on your Most people kneel down
kneel down
knees to pray.
The football match
kick off Begin, start
kicked off at 3 p.m.
Drink quickly He knocked back a pint
knock back
(usually alcohol) of beer and left.
knock down Strike someone or The child was knocked
something to the down by a car.
ground. The tree was knocked
 down during the storm
Cause someone to The boxer was knocked
knock out
fall unconscious. out in the first round.
have heard of / Do you know of anyone
know of have knowledge else attending the
about conference?
Make light of He laughed off the
laugh off something / unflattering review of
minimize his latest book.
Fire, dismiss, let Many factories have had
lay off
go to lay off workers.
She leafed through a
Turn over pages
leaf through magazine in the waiting
quickly
room.
Become known News of the planned
leak out
(information) merger leaked out.
Tom's name was left out
leave out Omit / not mention
of the report.
1) You promised to
1) Disappoint come to the party, so
don't let
let down
2) Lengthen (skirt, me down!
pants) 2) The skirt is too short?
I'll let it down for you.
light up Illuminate 1) 1 watched the
 floodlights light up the
castle.
2) Her face always lights
up when she sees her
grandson.
3) The screen lights up
when you turn on a
computer.
The books were lined up
line up Stand in a row.
neatly on the shelves.
Experience
My grandparents lived
live through something and
through two wars.
survive
Make something
We need to liven up the
liven up livelier or more
presentation somehow.
attractive.
Access a program You need to log in to
log in/on or database using a your account before you
password. use the services.
Log off the system and
End access to a
log off then turn off the
database.
computer.
A baby sitter looks after
look after Take care of the children when their
parents go out.
 It's time to forget the
look ahead Think of the future
past and look ahead.
My parents and their
look back on Remember the past friends like to look back
on "the good old days".
He tends to look down
look down Consider as
on anyone who is not
on inferior
successful.
Examine or I'll look into the matter
look into
investigate. and call you back.
Billy didn't take part in
Be a spectator at
look on the fight. He just looked
an event
on.
Try to find Jane went shopping to
look for
something look for a pair of shoes.
look forward Await or anticipate I look forward to seeing
to with pleasure you soon.
He was a wonderful
teacher and many
look up to Admire
students looked up to
him.
I'm the one who'll lose
lose out Be unsuccessful /
out if our plan goes
on/to suffer a loss
wrong.
make fun of Laugh at / make The old lady dresses so
 strangely that the
jokes about children make fun of
her.
He made off with my
make off Steal and hurry
briefcase while I was
with away
checking the timetable.
Some employees make
Invent (excuse,
make up up excuses when they
story)
arrive late for work.
make up It's time to shake hands
End a quarrel
(with) and make up.
With hard work I can
make up for Compensate for make up for the days
I was absent.
The coat was marked
mark down Reduce the price. down by 40% -
a real bargain!
Lose an If you leave before
miss out (on) opportunity to do Saturday you'll miss out
something. on the party.
Mistake one thing I don't know the
mix up or person for members' names yet.
another I tend to mix them up
move in Arrive in a new You've bought a new
home or office house? When are you
 moving in?
Leave your My neighbour is
move out home/office for leaving. He's moving
another one. out next Saturday.

Make someone He promised to come but

nail down say something we'll have to nail him
precisely down to a date.
Give the same
William was named after
name after name as another
his grandfather.
person
Reduce a list or The list of suspects has
narrow down a number of been narrowed down to
options. three people.
My grandfather often nods
nod off Fall asleep off in front of the
television.
nose Try to discover I don't like people nosing
about/around by searching. around my desk.
I'll call the station and
Write something
note down note down the departure
down
times.
Leave a system I enjoy tennis but I'm so
opt out or decide not to busy I had to opt out of
participate the tournament.
 Admit or The boy owned up. He
own up confess said he kicked the ball
something through the window.

The old lady passed

pass away Die
away peacefully.
Don't forget to pass on
pass on Transmit
the information.
Faint / lose She passed out when
pass out
consciousness she heard the bad news.
I will lend you 20€
provided you pay me
pay back Reimburse
back before the end of
the week.
The other children were
Choose someone to
always picking on
pick on blame, punish,
Charlie because of his
bully, etc.
red hair.
Will you help me pick
pick out Select; choose out a handbag to go
with my outfit?
Children are quick to
pick up Learn pick up a new
language.
pick up Collect; give James is coming to
 someone a lift pick me up at 8 o'clock.
My stomach is starting
Cause pain or
play up to play up again after
discomfort.
all that heavy food.
Emphasize or make
He always plays up his
play up something seem
achievements.
more important.
Minimize or make The government played
play down something appear down the gravity of the
less important situation.
pop Come or go She popped over to
across/over/ quickly in the visit her mother after
down/out direction specified lunch.
He sometimes pops in
pop in Make a brief visit
for a cup of coffee.
The question popped
pop up Arise, occur
up during the meeting.
Overcome My grandmother
pull through difficulties or caught pneumonia but
illness she pulled through.
Return something Please put away the
put away to its normal place dictionary when you've
after using it. finished using it.
put off Postpone / arrange The meeting was put
a later date off because of the
 strike.
Could you put on the
put on Turn on / switch on
light please?
Wear a garment or Put on your coat - it's
put on
piece of clothing. getting cold.
It took a long time to
put out Extinguish
put out the fire.
Go to a lot of
put (yourself) Please don't put
trouble / be
out yourself out for us.
inconvenienced.
put Leave/place
Don't forget to put out
(something) something outside
the dustbin.
out the house.
Connect two
I'll put you through to
put through people (on the
Mr. Brown.
telephone)
We can put you up if
Accommodate /
put up you'd like to come for
give someone a bed
the week-end.
I don't know how you
put up with Tolerate can put up with all the
noise.
I'll pick you up at the
pick up Collect somebody
station.
point out Indicate / direct The teacher pointed out
 attention to
the mistake.
something
She amazed everyone
Recite without by reeling off all the
reel off
effort or pause phrasal verbs she had
learned.
Don't worry. You can
Count on / depend
rely on rely on me. I can keep
on / trust
a secret.
The old lady arrived all
rig out Dress or equip rigged out in her best
clothes.
Stella arrived in the
rig-out Outfit most extraordinary rig-
out!
Return a phone John rang and asked if
ring back call (Also: call you could ring him
back) back.
He gave his name and
ring off End a phone call
then rang off.
Write it in pencil so
rub out Erase
that you can rub it out.
The police ruled out
rule out Eliminate
political motives.
run away Escape from a He ran away from
 place or suddenly home at the age of
leave fourteen.
Meet by accident
Sophie ran into Maria
run into or unexpectedly
at the shopping centre.
(also : bump into)
Have no more of What a nuisance! I've
run out of
something run out of coffee.

Due to the crisis the

Make something
scale company had to scale
smaller than
back/down down the size of the
originally intended.
plant.
Manage to find or
scrape collect enough of We finally scraped
together something you together enough money
scrape up need, usually to buy an old car.
money
scrape Succeed with How I scraped through
through difficulty the exam is a mystery!
Early Saturday
set off Start a journey morning we set off for
the ski slopes.
She set up her own
set up Start a business
company 10 years ago.
settle for Accept something I was hoping for a
 better proposal but I'll
not quite
settle for the amount
satisfactory.
you offer.
It's always wise to shop
shop around Compare prices around before buying
anything.
There's David showing
Brag or want to be
show off off in his new sports
admired
car!
We expected William
show up Appear / arrive to come but he didn't
show up.
shut up Be silent, stop
Oh shut up you idiot!
(impolite) talking
He signed away his
Give up one's
sign away property and joined a
rights or ownership
religious community.
Register (e.g. at a Let's go and eat as soon
sign in
hotel) as we've signed in.
Pay your bill and He signed out and left
sign out
leave (e.g. a hotel) for the airport.
He signed over the
Transfer ownership
sign over (to) house to his two
of something
children.
sign up (for) Enroll in an Emma signed up for a
 activity computer course.
Sign an agreement
Paul has signed up with
sign up (with) to work for
a news agency.
somebody
Select for special Two boys were singled
single out
attention out for extra coaching.
It took a while for the
To be fully
sink in scale of the disaster to
understood
sink in.
Please come in and sit
sit down Take a seat
down.
Sleep later than Tomorrow's Saturday,
sleep in
usual so I can sleep in!
You're welcome to
Stay overnight at
sleep over if you don't
sleep over someone else's
want to drive in this
home.
weather.
You slipped up there!
slip up Make a mistake His name is Alex, not
Alan!
Get rid of the
Jack went for a long
sober up effects of too much
walk to sober up.
alcohol
sort out Organize, resolve a Students should sort
problem out their books at the
 end of the school year.
1) VAT stands for
value added tax.
1) Represent, mean
stand for 2) I'm not going to
2) Tolerate
stand for such
behaviour!
The pupils stood up
Rise from a sitting
stand up when the headmaster
position
arrived.
We must decide on a
Continue without
stick to plan of action and stick
changing anything
to it.
It's important to stick
stick up for Defend
up for one's principles.
Resemble in
Jamie really takes after
take after appearance or
his dad.
character
Dismantle or The technician has to
take apart separate the take the machine apart
components in order to repair it.
Buy food at a
restaurant and Two beef curries to
take away
carry it elsewhere take away please.
to eat it.
take away Cause something to The doctor gave me
 tablets to take away the
disappear
pain.
We will take back
Agree to receive
take back goods only if you can
back/ be returned.
produce the receipt.
Retract or
I take back what I said
take back withdraw
about cheating.
something said
I'll take care of your
take care of Look after plants while you're
away.
The plane took off at 7
take off Leave the ground
o'clock.
Allow to stay in She's always taking in
take in
one's home stray cats and dogs!
Note with your She took in every detail
take in
eyes and register. of her rival's outfit.
Understand what
The man immediately
one sees, hears or
take in took in the scene and
reads / realize what
called the police.
is happening.
Business is good so the
Hire or engage
take on company is taking on
staff
extra staff.
take out Remove / extract She took out a pen to
 note the address.
Invite someone to
He took her out for a
take out dinner, the theatre,
meal on her birthday.
cinema, etc.
Persuade someone I talked John into
talk into
to do something buying a new car.
Persuade someone
I tried to talk Amy out
talk out of not to do
of leaving her job.
something
Tear up the boxes
tear up Rip into pieces before you put them in
the bin.
The teacher told her off
Reprimand /
tell off for not doing her
criticize severely
homework.
Carry out an The theory hasn't been
test out
experiment tested out yet.
I'll have to think over
think over Consider the proposal before I
decide.
You can throw away
Discard as useless or
throw away that book - it's a load of
unwanted.
rubbish!
throw up Vomit / be sick I nearly threw up when
I saw the injured
 passengers.
The children tired out
tire out Exhaust completely
their grandmother.
Land on the The plane touched
touch down
runway down exactly on time.
Think about, I've been toying with
toy with without serious the idea of starting to
intent walk to work.
The police finally
track down Find by searching tracked down the main
suspect.
Give as part
I traded in my car for a
trade in payment for a new
new model.
article.
Put on or wear
I'm not sure about the
try on something to see if
size. Can I try it on?
it suits or fits
Hundreds of fans were
Refuse entrance to
turn away turned away from the
someone
football stadium.
1) Please turn down the
1) Lower the
music; it's too loud.
turn down volume.
2) I couldn't turn down
2)Refuse
an offer like that!
turn off Stop by turning a Turn off the lights
 switch, tap or please before you
knob. leave.
1) She turned up an
1) Arrive, appear
hour late.
turn up 2) Raise the
2) Could you turn up
volume
the radio please?
Finish a product
The kids have used up
use up ( so that there's
all the toothpaste.
none left)

I veer away from

veer away Avoid, stay away
hypochondriacs if I
from from
can.
The athletes vied with
Compete or rival
vie with each other for first
with someone
place.
Express confidence You can give the keys
vouch for in, or guarantee to Andy. I can vouch
something for him.

Keep away or repel I take plenty of

ward off (sth dangerous or vitamin C to ward off
unpleasant). colds.
warm up 1) Reheat 1) She warmed up
something. some left-over soup.
 2) He told a few jokes
2) Make more lively
to warm up the
or more relaxed.
atmosphere.
Wash the dishes Who's going to help
wash up
after a meal. me wash up?
Watch out! There's a
watch out Be careful
car coming.
1) If you water down
1) Dilute or make the medicine it will be
weaker by adding easier to take.
water down
water 2) He watered down
2) Make less severe his remarks so as not
to offend anyone.
1) Julie wore out her
1) Become unusable shoes sightseeing.
wear out 2) Become very 2) At the end of the
tired day Julie was worn
out.
I can whip up
whip up Prepare quickly. something to eat if
you're hungry.
The boys wolfed down
Eat greedily and
wolf down the whole cake in no
quickly.
time!
work out 1) Do physical 1) I work out twice a
 week at the gym club.
exercise
2) It's expensive but I
2) Find a solution or
haven't worked out
calculate something
the exact cost yet.
- Before winding up
his speech he thanked
everyone for their
Finish or put an end
wind up presence.
to something
- He decided to wind
up his business and
retire.
We finally wound up
Arrive finally in a
wind up in a village with a
place.
spectacular view.
The teacher asked Lee
wipe off Clean (board, table)
to wipe off the board.
She's busy wrapping
wrap up Cover; enclose up her Christmas
presents.
Complete (a task, a The salesman hoped to
wrap up
discussion) wrap up a few deals.

EXERCISES ON PHRASAL VERBS

A. Use the following phrasal verbs in meaningful
sentences.
Take after
Run over
Look up to
Talk into
Ease off
Look out for

B. Explain the meaning of the following phrasal

verbs according to the context

1. Sarah is not cooking tonight. She’s eating out with

me.
2. Don’t eat too much, my son! Beware of throwing up!
3. At first I didn’t want to buy a car for my son, but
later I gave in.
4. Some white people look down on black people.
5. I was unable to pass the test but my neighbors backed
me up.
6. I am looking forward to seeing you very soon.