phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
ask someone out
invite on a date
Brian asked Judy out to
dinner and a movie.
ask around
ask many people
the same
question
I asked around but nobody
has seen my wallet.
add up to something
equal
Your purchases add up
to $205.32.
back something up
reverse
You'll have to back upyour
car so that I can get out.
back someone up
support
My wife backed me upover
my decision to quit my job.
blow up
explode
The racing car blew upafter
it crashed into the fence.
blow something up
add air
We have to blow 50
balloons up for the party.
break down
stop functioning
(vehicle,
machine)
Our car broke down at the
side of the highway in the
snowstorm.
break down
get upset
The woman broke
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
down when the police told
her that her son had died.
break somethingdown
divide into
smaller parts
Our teacher broke the final
project down into three
separate parts.
break in
force entry to a
building
Somebody broke in last
night and stole our stereo.
break into something
enter forcibly
The firemen had tobreak
into the room to rescue the
children.
break something in
wear something
a few times so
that it doesn't
look/feel new
I need to break these
shoes in before we run next
week.
break in
interrupt
The TV station broke into
report the news of the
president's death.
break up
end a
relationship
My boyfriend and Ibroke
up before I moved to
America.
break up
start laughing
The kids just broke upas
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
(informal)
soon as the clown started
talking.
break out
escape
The prisoners broke out of
jail when the guards weren't
looking.
break out insomething
develop a skin
condition
I broke out in a rash after
our camping trip.
bring someone down
make unhappy
This sad music
isbringing me down.
bring someone up
raise a child
My
grandparentsbrought me u
p after my parents died.
bring something up
start talking
about a subject
My mother walks out of the
room when my
father brings up sports.
bring something up
vomit
He drank so much that
he brought his dinnerup in
the toilet.
call around
phone many
different
places/people
We called around but we
weren't able to find the car
part we needed.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
call someone back
return a phone
call
I called the
companyback but the offices
were closed for the
weekend.
call something off
cancel
Jason called the
wedding off because he
wasn't in love with his
fianc.
call on someone
ask for an
answer or
opinion
The professor called onme
for question 1.
call on someone
visit someone
We called on you last night
but you weren't home.
call someone up
phone
Give me your phone number
and I will callyou up when
we are in town.
calm down
relax after being
angry
You are still mad. You need
to calm downbefore you
drive the car.
not care
forsomeone/something
not like (formal)
I don't care for his
behaviour.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
catch up
get to the same
point as
someone else
You'll have to run faster than
that if you want tocatch
up with Marty.
check in
arrive and
register at a
hotel or airport
We will get the HOTEL keys
when we check in.
check out
leave a hotel
You have to check outof the
hotel before 11:00 AM.
checksomeone/somethin
gout
look at carefully,
investigate
The company checks out all
new employees.
check
outsomeone/something
look at
(informal)
Check out the crazy hair on
that guy!
cheer up
become happier
She cheered up when she
heard the good news.
cheer someone up
make happier
I brought you some flowers
to cheer youup.
chip in
help
If everyone chips in we can
get the kitchen painted by
noon.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
clean something up
tidy, clean
Please clean up your
bedroom before you go
outside.
come acrosssomething
find
unexpectedly
I came across these old
photos when I was tidying
the closet.
come apart
separate
The top and bottomcome
apart if you pull hard
enough.
come down
withsomething
become sick
My nephew came down
with chicken pox this
weekend.
come forward
volunteer for a
task or to give
evidence
The woman came
forward with her husband's
finger prints.
come fromsomewhere
originate in
The art of origamicomes
from Asia.
count
onsomeone/something
rely on
I am counting on you to
make dinner while I am out.
cross something out
draw a line
through
Please cross out your old
address and write your new
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
one.
cut back onsomething
consume less
My doctor wants me tocut
back on sweets and fatty
foods.
cut something down
make something
fall to the
ground
We had to cut the old tree in
our yard downafter the
storm.
cut in
interrupt
Your father cut in while I
was dancing with your uncle.
cut in
pull in too
closely in front
of another
vehicle
The bus driver got angry
when that car cut in.
cut in
start operating
(of an engine or
electrical device)
The air conditioner cuts
in when the temperature
gets to 22C.
cut something off
remove with
something sharp
The doctors cut off his leg
because it was severely
injured.
cut something off
stop providing
The phone company cut
off our phone because we
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
didn't pay the bill.
cut someone off
take out of a will
My grandparents cutmy
father off when he
remarried.
cut something out
remove part of
something
(usually with
scissors and
paper)
I cut this ad out of the
newspaper.
dosomeone/somethingov
er
beat up, ransack
(BrE, informal)
He's lucky to be alive. His
shop was done over by a
street gang.
do something over
do again (AmE)
My teacher wants me
todo my essay overbecause
she doesn't like my topic.
do away withsomething
discard
It's time to do away
with all of these old tax
records.
do something up
fasten, close
Do your coat up before you
go outside. It's snowing!
dress up
wear nice
It's a fancy restaurant so we
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
clothing
have to dress up.
drop back
move back in a
position/group
Andrea dropped backto
third place when she fell off
her bike.
drop in/by/over
come without an
appointment
I might drop
in/by/over for tea
sometime this week.
dropsomeone/something
off
take
someone/somet
hing somewhere
and leave
them/it there
I have to drop my
sisteroff at work before I
come over.
drop out
quit a class,
school etc
I dropped out of Science
because it was too difficult.
eat out
eat at a
restaurant
I don't feel like cooking
tonight. Let's eat out.
end up
eventually
reach/do/decide
We ended up renting a
movie instead of going to
the theatre.
fall apart
break into pieces
My new dress fell apartin
the washing machine.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
fall down
fall to the
ground
The picture that you hung up
last night fell down this
morning.
fall out
separate from
an interior
The money must havefallen
out of my pocket.
fall out
(of hair, teeth)
become loose
and unattached
His hair started to fall
out when he was only 35.
figure something out
understand, find
the answer
I need to figure outhow to
fit the piano and the
bookshelf in this room.
fill something in
to write
information in
blanks, as on a
form (BrE)
Please fill in the form with
your name, address, and
phone number.
fill something out
to write
information in
blanks, as on a
form (AmE)
The form must be filled
out in capital letters.
fill something up
fill to the top
I always fill the water
jug up when it is empty.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
find out
discover
We don't know where he
lives. How can we find out?
find something out
discover
We tried to keep the time of
the party a secret, but
Samanthafound it out.
get somethingacross/ov
er
communicate,
make
understandable
I tried to get my
pointacross/over to the
judge but she wouldn't
listen.
get along/on
like each other
I was surprised how well my
new girlfriend and my
sister got along/on.
get around
have mobility
My grandfather can get
around fine in his new
wheelchair.
get away
go on a vacation
We worked so hard this year
that we had to get away for
a week.
get away
withsomething
do without being
noticed or
punished
Jason always gets away
with cheating in his maths
tests.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
get back
return
We got back from our
vacation last week.
get something back
receive
something you
had before
Liz finally got her Science
notes backfrom my roommate.
get back at someone
retaliate, take
revenge
My sister got back atme for
stealing her shoes. She stole
my favourite hat.
get back intosomething
become
interested in
something again
I finally got back intomy
novel and finished it.
get on something
step onto a
vehicle
We're going to freeze out
here if you don't let us get
on the bus.
get over something
recover from an
illness, loss,
difficulty
I just got over the flu and
now my sister has it.
get over something
overcome a
problem
The company will have to
close if it can't get over the
new regulations.
get round tosomething
finally find time
I don't know when I am
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
to do (AmE: get
around
tosomething)
going to get round
towriting the thank you
cards.
get together
meet (usually
for social
reasons)
Let's get together for a
BBQ this weekend.
get up
get out of bed
I got up early today to
study for my exam.
get up
stand
You should get up and give
the elderly man your seat.
give someone away
reveal hidden
information
about someone
His wife gave himaway to
the police.
give someone away
take the bride to
the altar
My father gave meaway at
my wedding.
give something away
ruin a secret
My little sister gave the
surprise party away by
accident.
give something away
give something
to someone for
free
The library was giving
away old books on Friday.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
give something back
return a
borrowed item
I have to give these
skates back to Franz before
his hockey game.
give in
reluctantly stop
fighting or
arguing
My boyfriend didn't want to
go to the ballet, but he
finally gave in.
give something out
give to many
people (usually
at no cost)
They were giving outfree
perfume samples at the
department store.
give something up
quit a habit
I am giving up smoking as
of January 1st.
give up
stop trying
My maths homework was too
difficult so Igave up.
go after someone
follow someone
My brother tried to go
after the thief in his car.
go after something
try to achieve
something
I went after my dream and
now I am a published writer.
go against someone
compete,
oppose
We are going againstthe
best soccer team in the city
tonight.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
go ahead
start, proceed
Please go ahead and eat
before the food gets cold.
go back
return to a place
I have to go back home and
get my lunch.
go out
leave home to
go on a social
event
We're going out for dinner
tonight.
go out with someone
date
Jesse has been going out
with Luke since they met
last winter.
go over something
review
Please go over your
answers before you submit
your test.
go over
visit someone
nearby
I haven't seen Tina for a
long time. I think I'll go
over for an hour or two.
go without something
suffer lack or
deprivation
When I was young, wewent
without winter boots.
grow apart
stop being
friends over time
My best friend and Igrew
apart after she changed
schools.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
grow back
regrow
My roses grew backthis
summer.
grow up
become an adult
When Jack grows uphe
wants to be a fireman.
grow out ofsomething
get too big for
Elizabeth needs a new pair
of shoes because she
has grown out ofher old
ones.
grow into something
grow big enough
to fit
This bike is too big for him
now, but he shouldgrow
into it by next year.
hand somethingdown
give something
used to
someone else
I handed my old comic
books down to my little
cousin.
hand something in
submit
I have to hand in my essay
by Friday.
hand something out
to distribute to a
group of people
We will hand out the
invitations at the door.
hand something over
give (usually
unwillingly)
The police asked the man
to hand over his wallet and
his weapons.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
hang in
stay positive
(informal)
Hang in there. I'm sure
you'll find a job very soon.
hang on
wait a short time
(informal)
Hang on while I grab my
coat and shoes!
hang out
spend time
relaxing
(informal)
Instead of going to the party
we are just going to hang
out at my place.
hang up
end a phone call
He didn't say goodbye before
he hung up.
holdsomeone/something
back
prevent from
doing/going
I had to hold my
dogback because there was
a cat in the park.
hold something back
hide an emotion
Jamie held back his tears at
his grandfather's funeral.
hold on
wait a short time
Please hold on while I
transfer you to the Sales
Department.
hold
ontosomeone/something
hold firmly using
your hands or
arms
Hold onto your hat because
it's very windy outside.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
holdsomeone/something
up
rob
A man in a black
maskheld the bank up this
morning.
keep on doingsomething
continue doing
Keep on stirring until the
liquid comes to a boil.
keep something fromso
meone
not tell
We kept our
relationship from our
parents for two years.
keepsomeone/something
out
stop from
entering
Try to keep the wet
dogout of the living room.
keep something up
continue at the
same rate
If you keep those
results up you will get into a
great college.
let someone down
fail to support or
help, disappoint
I need you to be on time.
Don't let medown this time.
let someone in
allow to enter
Can you let the cat inbefore
you go to school?
log in (or on)
sign in (to a
website,
database etc)
I can't log in to Facebook
because I've forgotten my
password.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
log out (or off)
sign out (of a
website,
database etc)
If you don't log
offsomebody could get into
your account.
look
aftersomeone/something
take care of
I have to look after my sick
grandmother.
look down onsomeone
think less of,
consider inferior
Ever since we stole that
chocolate bar your dad
has looked down onme.
look
forsomeone/something
try to find
I'm looking for a red dress
for the wedding.
look forward
tosomething
be excited about
the future
I'm looking forward tothe
Christmas break.
look into something
investigate
We are going to look
into the price of snowboards
today.
look out
be careful,
vigilant, and
take notice
Look out! That car's going to
hit you!
look out
forsomeone/something
be especially
vigilant for
Don't forget to look out
for snakes on the hiking
trail.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
look something over
check, examine
Can you look over my
essay for spelling mistakes?
look something up
search and find
information in a
reference book
or database
We can look her phone
number up on the Internet.
look up to someone
have a lot of
respect for
My little sister has
always looked up to me.
make something up
invent, lie about
something
Josie made up a story about
why we were late.
make up
forgive each
other
We were angry last night,
but we made upat
breakfast.
make someone up
apply cosmetics
to
My sisters made me upfor
my graduation party.
mix something up
confuse two or
more things
I mixed up the twins'
names again!
pass away
die
His uncle passed awaylast
night after a long illness.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
pass out
faint
It was so hot in the church
that an elderly lady passed
out.
pass something out
give the same
thing to many
people
The professor passedthe
textbooks outbefore class.
pass something up
decline (usually
something good)
I passed up the job
because I am afraid of
change.
pay someone back
return owed
money
Thanks for buying my ticket.
I'll pay you backon Friday.
pay for something
be punished for
doing something
bad
That bully will pay forbeing
mean to my little brother.
pick something out
choose
I picked out three sweaters
for you to try on.
pointsomeone/something
out
indicate with
your finger
I'll point my
boyfriendout when he runs
by.
put something down
put what you are
holding on a
You can put the
groceries down on the
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
surface or floor
kitchen counter.
put someone down
insult, make
someone feel
stupid
The students put the
substitute
teacherdown because his
pants were too short.
put something off
postpone
We are putting off our trip
until January because of the
hurricane.
put something out
extinguish
The neighbours put the
fire out before the firemen
arrived.
put somethingtogether
assemble
I have to put the
cribtogether before the
baby arrives.
put up
withsomeone/something
tolerate
I don't think I can put up
with three small children in
the car.
put something on
put
clothing/accesso
ries on your
body
Don't forget to put onyour
new earrings for the party.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
run
intosomeone/something
meet
unexpectedly
I ran into an old schoolfriend at the mall.
run
oversomeone/something
drive a vehicle
over a person or
thing
I accidentally ran overyour
bicycle in the driveway.
run
over/throughsomething
rehearse, review
Let's run
over/through these lines
one more time before the
show.
run away
leave
unexpectedly,
escape
The child ran awayfrom
home and has been missing
for three days.
run out
have none left
We ran out of shampoo so I
had to wash my hair with
soap.
send something back
return (usually
by mail)
My letter got sent backto
me because I used the
wrong stamp.
set something up
arrange,
organize
Our boss set a
meetingup with the
president of the company.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
set someone up
trick, trap
The police set up the car
thief by using a hidden
camera.
shop around
compare prices
I want to shop arounda
little before I decide on
these boots.
show off
act extra special
for people
watching
(usually
boastfully)
He always shows off on his
skateboard
sleep over
stay somewhere
for the night
(informal)
You should sleep
overtonight if the weather is
too bad to drive home.
sort something out
organize,
resolve a
problem
We need to sort the
bills out before the first of
the month.
stick to something
continue doing
something, limit
yourself to one
particular thing
You will lose weight if
you stick to the diet.
switch something off
stop the energy
flow, turn off
The light's too bright. Could
you switch it off.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
switch something on
start the energy
flow, turn on
We heard the news as soon
as we switched on the car
radio.
take after someone
resemble a
family member
I take after my mother. We
are both impatient.
take something apart
purposely break
into pieces
He took the car
brakesapart and found the
problem.
take something back
return an item
I have to take our new
TV back because it doesn't
work.
take off
start to fly
My plane takes off in five
minutes.
take something off
remove
something
(usually
clothing)
Take off your socks and
shoes and come in the lake!
take something out
remove from a
place or thing
Can you take the
garbage out to the street for
me?
take someone out
pay for someone
My
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
to go
somewhere with
you
grandparents tookus out for
dinner and a movie.
tear something up
rip into pieces
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
letters and gave them back
to him.
think back
remember (often
+ to, sometimes
+ on)
When I think back on my
youth, I wish I had studied
harder.
think something over
consider
I'll have to think this job
offer over before I make my
final decision.
throw somethingaway
dispose of
We threw our old
furniture away when we
won the lottery.
turn something down
decrease the
volume or
strength (heat,
light etc)
Please turn the
TVdown while the guests
are here.
turn something down
refuse
I turned the
job downbecause I don't
want to move.
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
turn something off
stop the energy
flow, switch off
Your mother wants you
to turn the TV off and come
for dinner.
turn something on
start the energy,
switch on
It's too dark in here.
Let's turn some lightson.
turn something up
increase the
volume or
strength (heat,
light etc)
Can you turn the musicup?
This is my favourite song.
turn up
appear suddenly
Our cat turned up after we
put posters up all over the
neighbourhood.
try something on
sample clothing
I'm going to try these
jeans on, but I don't think
they will fit.
try something out
test
I am going to try this new
brand of detergentout.
use something up
finish the supply
The kids used all of the
toothpaste up so we need to
buy some more.
wake up
stop sleeping
We have to wake upearly
phrasal verb
meaning
example sentence
for work on Monday.
warmsomeone/somethin
gup
increase the
temperature
You can warm your
feetup in front of the
fireplace.
warm up
prepare body for
exercise
I always warm up by doing
sit-ups before I go for a run.
wear off
fade away
Most of my make-upwore
off before I got to the party.
work out
exercise
I work out at the gym three
times a week.
work out
be successful
Our plan worked outfine.
work something out
make a
calculation
We have to work outthe
total cost