phrasal verb

ask someone out

meaning
invite on a date

ask around
add up to something
back something up

ask many people the

same question
equal
reverse

back someone up

support

blow up
blow something up
break down
break down
break somethingdown
break in
break into something
break something in
break in
break up
break up
break out
break out insomething
bring someone down
bring someone up
bring something up
bring something up

example sentence
Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a
movie.
I asked around but nobody has seen my
wallet.
Your purchases add up to$205.32.
You'll have to back up your car so that I
can get out.

My wife backed me up over my decision

to quit my job.
explode
The racing car blew up after it crashed
into the fence.
add air
We have to blow 50 balloons upfor the
party.
stop functioning (vehicle, Our car broke down at the side of the
machine)
highway in the snowstorm.
get upset
The woman broke down when the police
told her that her son had died.
divide into smaller parts Our teacher broke the final
project down into three separate parts.
force entry to a building Somebody broke in last night and stole
our stereo.
enter forcibly
The firemen had to break intothe room to
rescue the children.
wear something a few
I need to break these shoes inbefore we
times so that it doesn't run next week.
look/feel new
interrupt
The TV station broke in to report the news
of the president's death.
end a relationship
My boyfriend and I broke upbefore I
moved to America.
start laughing (informal) The kids just broke up as soon as the
clown started talking.
escape
The prisoners broke out of jail when the
guards weren't looking.
develop a skin condition I broke out in a rash after our camping
trip.
make unhappy
This sad music is bringing medown.
raise a child
My grandparents brought me upafter my
parents died.
start talking about a
My mother walks out of the room when my
subject
father brings up sports.
vomit
He drank so much that hebrought his
dinner up in the toilet.

phrasal verb
call around
call someone back

meaning
phone many different
places/people
return a phone call

call something off

cancel

call on someone

ask for an answer or

opinion
visit someone

call on someone
call someone up
calm down
not care forsomeone/something
catch up
check in
check out
checksomeone/somethingout
check outsomeone/something
cheer up
cheer someone up
chip in
clean something up
come acrosssomething
come apart
come down withsomething
come forward
come fromsomewhere
count onsomeone/something
cross something out

example sentence
We called around but we weren't able to
find the car part we needed.
I called the company back but the offices
were closed for the weekend.
Jason called the wedding offbecause he
wasn't in love with his fianc.
The professor called on me for question 1.

We called on you last night but you

weren't home.
phone
Give me your phone number and I
will call you up when we are in town.
relax after being angry You are still mad. You need tocalm
down before you drive the car.
not like (formal)
I don't care for his behaviour.
get to the same point as You'll have to run faster than that if you
someone else
want to catch up with Marty.
arrive and register at a We will get the hotel keys when we check
hotel or airport
in.
leave a hotel
You have to check out of the hotel before
11:00 AM.
look at carefully,
The company checks out all new
investigate
employees.
look at (informal)
Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
become happier
She cheered up when she heard the good
news.
make happier
I brought you some flowers
tocheer you up.
help
If everyone chips in we can get the
kitchen painted by noon.
tidy, clean
Please clean up your bedroom before you
go outside.
find unexpectedly
I came across these old photos when I
was tidying the closet.
separate
The top and bottom come apartif you pull
hard enough.
become sick
My nephew came down withchicken pox
this weekend.
volunteer for a task or to The woman came forward with her
give evidence
husband's finger prints.
originate in
The art of origami comes fromAsia.
rely on
I am counting on you to make dinner
while I am out.
draw a line through
Please cross out your old address and

phrasal verb
cut back onsomething
cut something down
cut in
cut in
cut in
cut something off
cut something off
cut someone off
cut something out
dosomeone/somethingover
do something over
do away withsomething
do something up
dress up
drop back
drop in/by/over
dropsomeone/somethingoff
drop out
eat out
end up

meaning

example sentence
write your new one.
consume less
My doctor wants me to cut back
on sweets and fatty foods.
make something fall to We had to cut the old tree in our
the ground
yard down after the storm.
interrupt
Your father cut in while I was dancing with
your uncle.
pull in too closely in front The bus driver got angry when that car cut
of another vehicle
in.
start operating (of an
The air conditioner cuts in when the
engine or electrical
temperature gets to 22C.
device)
remove with something The doctors cut off his leg because it was
sharp
severely injured.
stop providing
The phone company cut off our phone
because we didn't pay the bill.
take out of a will
My grandparents cut my fatheroff when he
remarried.
remove part of
I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
something (usually with
scissors and paper)
beat up, ransack (BrE,
He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done
informal)
over by a street gang.
do again (AmE)
My teacher wants me to do my
essay over because she doesn't like my
topic.
discard
It's time to do away with all of these old
tax records.
fasten, close
Do your coat up before you go outside. It's
snowing!
wear nice clothing
It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress
up.
move back in a
Andrea dropped back to third place when
position/group
she fell off her bike.
come without an
I might drop in/by/over for tea
appointment
sometime this week.
take someone/something I have to drop my sister off at work before
somewhere and leave
I come over.
them/it there
quit a class, school etc I dropped out of Science because it was
too difficult.
eat at a restaurant
I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat
out.
eventually
We ended up renting a movie instead of

phrasal verb
fall apart
fall down
fall out
fall out
figure something out
fill something in
fill something out
fill something up
find out
find something out
get somethingacross/over
get along/on
get around
get away
get away withsomething
get back
get something back
get back at someone
get back intosomething
get on something
get over something

meaning
reach/do/decide
break into pieces

example sentence
going to the theatre.
My new dress fell apart in the washing
machine.
fall to the ground
The picture that you hung up last night fell
down this morning.
separate from an interior The money must have fallen outof my
pocket.
(of hair, teeth) become His hair started to fall out when he was
loose and unattached
only 35.
understand, find the
I need to figure out how to fit the piano
answer
and the bookshelf in this room.
to write information in
Please fill in the form with your name,
blanks, as on a form
address, and phone number.
(BrE)
to write information in
The form must be filled out in capital
blanks, as on a form
letters.
(AmE)
fill to the top
I always fill the water jug upwhen it is
empty.
discover
We don't know where he lives. How can
we find out?
discover
We tried to keep the time of the party a
secret, but Samanthafound it out.
communicate, make
I tried to get my pointacross/over to the
understandable
judge but she wouldn't listen.
like each other
I was surprised how well my new girlfriend
and my sister got along/on.
have mobility
My grandfather can get aroundfine in his
new wheelchair.
go on a vacation
We worked so hard this year that we had
to get away for a week.
do without being noticed Jason always gets away withcheating in
or punished
his maths tests.
return
We got back from our vacation last week.
receive something you
Liz finally got her Science notesback from
had before
my room-mate.
retaliate, take revenge My sister got back at me for stealing her
shoes. She stole my favourite hat.
become interested in
I finally got back into my novel and
something again
finished it.
step onto a vehicle
We're going to freeze out here if you don't
let us get on the bus.
recover from an illness, I just got over the flu and now my sister
loss, difficulty
has it.

phrasal verb
get over something

meaning
overcome a problem

get round tosomething

finally find time to do

(AmE: get around
tosomething)
meet (usually for social
reasons)
get out of bed
stand

get together
get up
get up
give someone away
give someone away
give something away
give something away
give something back
give in
give something out
give something up
give up
go after someone
go after something
go against someone
go ahead
go back
go out
go out with someone
go over something
go over

reveal hidden
information about
someone
take the bride to the
altar
ruin a secret

example sentence
The company will have to close if it
can't get over the new regulations.
I don't know when I am going toget round
to writing the thank you cards.

Let's get together for a BBQ this

weekend.
I got up early today to study for my exam.
You should get up and give the elderly
man your seat.
His wife gave him away to the police.
My father gave me away at my wedding.

My little sister gave the surprise

party away by accident.
give something to
The library was giving away old books on
someone for free
Friday.
return a borrowed item I have to give these skates backto Franz
before his hockey game.
reluctantly stop fighting My boyfriend didn't want to go to the
or arguing
ballet, but he finally gave in.
give to many people
They were giving out free perfume
(usually at no cost)
samples at the department store.
quit a habit
I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
stop trying
My maths homework was too difficult so
I gave up.
follow someone
My brother tried to go after the thief in his
car.
try to achieve something I went after my dream and now I am a
published writer.
compete, oppose
We are going against the best soccer
team in the city tonight.
start, proceed
Please go ahead and eat before the food
gets cold.
return to a place
I have to go back home and get my lunch.
leave home to go on a
We're going out for dinner tonight.
social event
date
Jesse has been going out withLuke since
they met last winter.
review
Please go over your answers before you
submit your test.
visit someone nearby
I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think

phrasal verb
go without something
grow apart
grow back
grow up
grow out ofsomething
grow into something
hand somethingdown
hand something in
hand something out
hand something over
hang in
hang on
hang out
hang up
holdsomeone/somethingback
hold something back
hold on
hold ontosomeone/something
holdsomeone/somethingup
keep on doingsomething
keep something fromsomeone
keepsomeone/somethingout
keep something up

meaning

example sentence
I'll go over for an hour or two.
suffer lack or deprivation When I was young, we went
without winter boots.
stop being friends over My best friend and I grew apartafter she
time
changed schools.
regrow
My roses grew back this summer.
become an adult
When Jack grows up he wants to be a
fireman.
get too big for
Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes
because she has grown out of her old
ones.
grow big enough to fit
This bike is too big for him now, but he
should grow into it by next year.
give something used to I handed my old comic booksdown to my
someone else
little cousin.
submit
I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
to distribute to a group We will hand out the invitations at the
of people
door.
give (usually unwillingly) The police asked the man tohand over his
wallet and his weapons.
stay positive (informal) Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job
very soon.
wait a short time
Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
(informal)
spend time relaxing
Instead of going to the party we are just
(informal)
going to hang out at my place.
end a phone call
He didn't say goodbye before hehung up.
prevent from
I had to hold my dog backbecause there
doing/going
was a cat in the park.
hide an emotion
Jamie held back his tears at his
grandfather's funeral.
wait a short time
Please hold on while I transfer you to the
Sales Department.
hold firmly using your
Hold onto your hat because it's very
hands or arms
windy outside.
rob
A man in a black mask held the
bank up this morning.
continue doing
Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a
boil.
not tell
We kept our relationship fromour parents
for two years.
stop from entering
Try to keep the wet dog out of the living
room.
continue at the same
If you keep those results up you will get

phrasal verb
let someone down
let someone in
log in (or on)
log out (or off)
look aftersomeone/something
look down onsomeone
look forsomeone/something
look forward tosomething
look into something
look out
look out forsomeone/something
look something over
look something up

look up to someone
make something up
make up
make someone up
mix something up
pass away
pass out
pass something out

meaning
rate
fail to support or help,
disappoint
allow to enter

example sentence
into a great college.
I need you to be on time.
Don'tlet me down this time.
Can you let the cat in before you go to
school?
sign in (to a website,
I can't log in to Facebook because I've
database etc)
forgotten my password.
sign out (of a website,
If you don't log off somebody could get
database etc)
into your account.
take care of
I have to look after my sick grandmother.
think less of, consider
Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your
inferior
dad haslooked down on me.
try to find
I'm looking for a red dress for the
wedding.
be excited about the
I'm looking forward to the Christmas
future
break.
investigate
We are going to look into the price of
snowboards today.
be careful, vigilant, and Look out! That car's going to hit you!
take notice
be especially vigilant for Don't forget to look out forsnakes on the
hiking trail.
check, examine
Can you look over my essay for spelling
mistakes?
search and find
We can look her phone numberup on the
information in a
Internet.
reference book or
database
have a lot of respect for My little sister has always looked up to
me.
invent, lie about
Josie made up a story about why we were
something
late.
forgive each other
We were angry last night, but wemade
up at breakfast.
apply cosmetics to
My sisters made me up for my graduation
party.
confuse two or more
I mixed up the twins' names again!
things
die
His uncle passed away last night after a
long illness.
faint
It was so hot in the church that an elderly
lady passed out.
give the same thing to
The professor passed the
many people
textbooks out before class.

phrasal verb
pass something up
pay someone back
pay for something
pick something out
pointsomeone/somethingout
put something down
put someone down
put something off
put something out
put somethingtogether
put up withsomeone/something
put something on
run intosomeone/something
run oversomeone/something
run over/throughsomething
run away
run out
send something back
set something up
set someone up
shop around
show off

meaning
decline (usually
something good)
return owed money

example sentence
I passed up the job because I am afraid of
change.
Thanks for buying my ticket.
I'llpay you back on Friday.
be punished for doing
That bully will pay for being mean to my
something bad
little brother.
choose
I picked out three sweaters for you to try
on.
indicate with your finger I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs
by.
put what you are holding You can put the groceries downon the
on a surface or floor
kitchen counter.
insult, make someone
The students put the substitute
feel stupid
teacher down because his pants were too
short.
postpone
We are putting off our trip until January
because of the hurricane.
extinguish
The neighbours put the fire outbefore the
firemen arrived.
assemble
I have to put the crib togetherbefore the
baby arrives.
tolerate
I don't think I can put up withthree small
children in the car.
put clothing/accessories Don't forget to put on your new earrings
on your body
for the party.
meet unexpectedly
I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
drive a vehicle over a
I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the
person or thing
driveway.
rehearse, review
Let's run over/through these lines one
more time before the show.
leave unexpectedly,
The child ran away from home and has
escape
been missing for three days.
have none left
We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash
my hair with soap.
return (usually by mail) My letter got sent back to me because I
used the wrong stamp.
arrange, organize
Our boss set a meeting up with the
president of the company.
trick, trap
The police set up the car thief by using a
hidden camera.
compare prices
I want to shop around a little before I
decide on these boots.
act extra special for
He always shows off on his skateboard
people watching (usually

phrasal verb
sleep over
sort something out
stick to something
switch something off
switch something on
take after someone
take something apart
take something back
take off
take something off
take something out
take someone out
tear something up
think back
think something over
throw somethingaway
turn something down
turn something down
turn something off
turn something on
turn something up
turn up

meaning
boastfully)
stay somewhere for the
night (informal)
organize, resolve a
problem
continue doing
something, limit yourself
to one particular thing
stop the energy flow,
turn off
start the energy flow,
turn on
resemble a family
member
purposely break into
pieces
return an item

example sentence

You should sleep over tonight if the

weather is too bad to drive home.
We need to sort the bills outbefore the
first of the month.
You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.

The light's too bright. Could

youswitch it off.
We heard the news as soon as
we switched on the car radio.
I take after my mother. We are both
impatient.
He took the car brakes apart and found
the problem.
I have to take our new TV backbecause it
doesn't work.
start to fly
My plane takes off in five minutes.
remove something
Take off your socks and shoes and come
(usually clothing)
in the lake!
remove from a place or Can you take the garbage out to the
thing
street for me?
pay for someone to go
My grandparents took us out for dinner
somewhere with you
and a movie.
rip into pieces
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and
gave them back to him.
remember (often + to, When I think back on my youth, I wish I
sometimes + on)
had studied harder.
consider
I'll have to think this job offerover before
I make my final decision.
dispose of
We threw our old furniture awaywhen we
won the lottery.
decrease the volume or Please turn the TV down while the guests
strength (heat, light etc) are here.
refuse
I turned the job down because I don't
want to move.
stop the energy flow,
Your mother wants you to turnthe
switch off
TV off and come for dinner.
start the energy, switch It's too dark in here. Let's turnsome
on
lights on.
increase the volume or Can you turn the music up? This is my
strength (heat, light etc) favourite song.
appear suddenly
Our cat turned up after we put posters up

phrasal verb

work out
work out

example sentence
all over the neighbourhood.
sample clothing
I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't
think they will fit.
test
I am going to try this new brand of
detergent out.
finish the supply
The kids used all of the toothpaste up so
we need to buy some more.
stop sleeping
We have to wake up early for work on
Monday.
increase the temperature You can warm your feet up in front of the
fireplace.
prepare body for
I always warm up by doing sit-ups before
exercise
I go for a run.
fade away
Most of my make-up wore offbefore I got
to the party.
exercise
I work out at the gym three times a week.
be successful
Our plan worked out fine.

work something out

make a calculation

try something on
try something out
use something up
wake up
warmsomeone/somethingup
warm up
wear off

meaning

We have to work out the total cost before

we buy the house.