ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ENGLISH PHRASAL

VERBS
phrasal verb
meaning
ask sby out
invite on a date

example sentence
Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.
I asked around but nobody has seen my
ask around
ask many people the same question
wallet.
add up to sthg equal
Your purchases add up to $205.32.
You'll have to back up your car so that I can
back sthg up reverse
get out.
My wife backed me up over my decision to
back sby up
support
quit my job.
The racing car blew up after it crashed into
blow up
explode
the fence.
We have to blow 50 balloons up for the
blow sthg up add air
party.
Our car broke down at the side of the
break down
stop functioning (vehicle, machine)
highway in the snowstorm.
The woman broke down when the police
break down
get upset
told her that her son had died.
break sthg
Our teacher broke the final project down
divide into smaller parts
down
into three separate parts.
Somebody broke in last night and stole our
break in
force entry to a building
stereo.
The firemen had to break into the room to
break into sthg enter forcibly
rescue the children.
wear sthg a few times so that it
I need to break these shoes in before we run
break sthg in
doesn't look/feel new
next week.
The TV station broke in to report the news
break in
interrupt
of the president's death.
My boyfriend and I broke up before I
break up
end a relationship
moved to America.
The kids just broke up as soon as the clown
break up
start laughing (informal)
started talking.
The prisoners broke out of jail when the
break out
escape
guards weren't looking.
break out in
develop a skin condition
I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
sthg
bring sby down make unhappy
This sad music is bringing me down.
My grandparents brought me up after my
bring sby up raise a child
parents died.

phrasal verb
bring sthg up
bring sthg up
call around
call sby back
call sthg off
call on sby
call on sby
call sby up
calm down

meaning

example sentence
My mother walks out of the room when my
start talking about a subject
father brings up sports.
He drank so much that he brought his
vomit
dinner up in the toilet.
We called around but we weren't able to
phone many different places/people
find the car part we needed.
I called the company back but the offices
return a phone call
were closed for the weekend.
Jason called the wedding off because he
cancel
wasn't in love with his fianc.
ask for an answer or opinion
The professor called on me for question 1.
We called on you last night but you weren't
visit sby
home.
Give me your phone number and I will call
phone
you up when we are in town.
You are still mad. You need to calm down
relax after being angry
before you drive the car.

not care for

sby/ sthg

not like (formal)

catch up

get to the same point as sby else

check in

arrive and register at a hotel or

airport

check out

leave a hotel

check sby/ sthg

look at carefully, investigate
out
check out sby/
look at (informal)
sthg
cheer up

become happier

cheer sby up

make happier

chip in

help

clean sthg up

tidy, clean

come across
sthg

find unexpectedly

come apart

separate

come down
with sthg

become sick

I don't care for his behaviour.

You'll have to run faster than that if you
want to catch up with Marty.
We will get the hotel keys when we check
in.
You have to check out of the hotel before
11:00 AM.
The company checks out all new
employees.
Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
She cheered up when she heard the good
news.
I brought you some flowers to cheer you
up.
If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen
painted by noon.
Please clean up your bedroom before you
go outside.
I came across these old photos when I was
tidying the closet.
The top and bottom come apart if you pull
hard enough.
My nephew came down with chicken pox
this weekend.

phrasal verb

meaning
volunteer for a task or to give
come forward
evidence
come from
originate in
some place
count on sby/
rely on
sthg
cross sthg out

draw a line through

cut back on
sthg

consume less

cut sthg down make sthg fall to the ground

cut in
cut in
cut in

interrupt
pull in too closely in front of
another vehicle
start operating (of an engine or
electrical device)

cut sthg off

remove with sthg sharp

cut sthg off

stop providing

cut sby off

take out of a will

cut sthg out

remove part of sthg (usually with

scissors and paper)

do sby/ sthg
over

beat up, ransack (BrE, informal)

example sentence
The woman came forward with her
husband's finger prints.
The art of origami comes from Asia.
I am counting on you to make dinner while
I am out.
Please cross out your old address and write
your new one.
My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets
and fatty foods.
We had to cut the old tree in our yard down
after the storm.
Your father cut in while I was dancing with
your uncle.
The bus driver got angry when that car cut
in.
The air conditioner cuts in when the
temperature gets to 22C.
The doctors cut off his leg because it was
severely injured.
The phone company cut off our phone
because we didn't pay the bill.
My grandparents cut my father off when he
remarried.
I cut this ad out of the newspaper.

He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done

over by a street gang.
My teacher wants me to do my essay over
do sthg over
do again (AmE)
because she doesn't like my topic.
do away with
It's time to do away with all of these old tax
discard
sthg
records.
Do your coat up before you go outside. It's
do sthg up
fasten, close
snowing!
It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress
dress up
wear nice clothing
up.
Andrea dropped back to third place when
drop back
move back in a position/group
she fell off her bike.
drop in/ by/
I might drop in/by/over for tea sometime
come without an appointment
over
this week.
drop sby/ sthg take sby/ sthg somewhere and leave I have to drop my sister off at work before I
off
them/it there
come over.
drop out
quit a class, school etc
I dropped out of Science because it was too

phrasal verb

meaning

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

phrasal verb

meaning

get over sthg

recover from an illness, loss,

difficulty

get over sthg

overcome a problem

get round to
sthg
get together
get up

finally find time to do (AmE: get

around to sthg)
meet (usually for social reasons)
get out of bed

get up

stand

reveal hidden information about

sby
give sby away take the bride to the altar
give sby away

example sentence
let us get on the bus.
I just got over the flu and now my sister has
it.
The company will have to close if it can't get
over the new regulations.
I don't know when I am going to get 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
give sthg away ruin a secret
by accident.
The library was giving away old books on
give sthg away give sthg to sby for free
Friday.
I have to give these skates back to Franz
give sthg back return a borrowed item
before his hockey game.
My boyfriend didn't want to go to the ballet,
give in
reluctantly stop fighting or arguing
but he finally gave in.
give to many people (usually at no They were giving out free perfume samples
give sthg out
cost)
at the department store.
give sthg up
quit a habit
I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
My maths homework was too difficult so I
give up
stop trying
gave up.
My brother tried to go after the thief in his
go after sby
follow sby
car.
I went after my dream and now I am a
go after sthg try to achieve sthg
published writer.
We are going against the best soccer team in
go against sby compete, oppose
the city tonight.
Please go ahead and eat before the food gets
go ahead
start, proceed
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.
Jesse has been going out with Luke since
go out with sby date
they met last winter.
Please go over your answers before you
go over sthg
review
submit your test.
I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think
go over
visit sby nearby
I'll go over for an hour or two.

phrasal verb

meaning

go without sthg suffer lack or deprivation

grow apart

stop being friends over time

grow back

regrow

grow up

become an adult

grow out of
sthg

get too big for

grow into sthg grow big enough to fit

hand sthg
give sthg used to sby else
down
hand sthg in submit
hand sthg out to distribute to a group of people
hand sthg over give (usually unwillingly)
hang in

stay positive (informal)

hang on

wait a short time (informal)

hang out

spend time relaxing (informal)

hang up
end a phone call
hold sby/ sthg
prevent from doing/going
back
hold sthg back hide an emotion
hold on

wait a short time

hold onto sby/

sthg
hold sby/
sthgup
keep on doing
sthg
keep sthg from
sby
keep sby/ sthg
out

hold firmly using your hands or

arms

keep sthg up

continue at the same rate

let sby down

fail to support or help, disappoint

rob
continue doing
not tell
stop from entering

example sentence
When I was young, we went without winter
boots.
My best friend and I grew apart after she
changed schools.
My roses grew back this summer.
When Jack grows up he wants to be a
fireman.
Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because
she has grown out of her old ones.
This bike is too big for him now, but he
should grow into it by next year.
I handed my old comic books down to my
little cousin.
I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
We will hand out the invitations at the door.
The police asked the man to hand over his
wallet and his weapons.
Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very
soon.
Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
Instead of going to the party we are just
going to hang out at my place.
He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.
I had to hold my dog back because there was
a cat in the park.
Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather's
funeral.
Please hold on while I transfer you to the
Sales Department.
Hold onto your hat because it's very windy
outside.
A man in a black mask held the bank up this
morning.
Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a
boil.
We kept our relationship from our parents
for two years.
Try to keep the wet dog out of the living
room.
If you keep those results up you will get into
a great college.
I need you to be on time. Don't let me down
this time.

phrasal verb

meaning

example sentence
Can you let the cat in before you go to
let sby in
allow to enter
school?
I can't log in to Facebook because I've
log in (or on) sign in (to a website, database etc)
forgotten my password.
If you don't log off somebody could get into
log out (or off) sign out (of a website, database etc)
your account.
look after sby/
take care of
I have to look after my sick grandmother.
sthg
look down on
Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your
think less of, consider inferior
sby
dad has looked down on me.
look for sby/
try to find
I'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.
sthg
look forward
be excited about the future
I'm looking forward to the Christmas break.
to sthg
We are going to look into the price of
look into sthg investigate
snowboards today.
look out
be careful, vigilant, and take notice Look out! That car's going to hit you!
look out for
Don't forget to look out for snakes on the
be especially vigilant for
sby/ sthg
hiking trail.
Can you look over my essay for spelling
look sthg over check, examine
mistakes?
search and find information in a
We can look her phone number up on the
look sthg up
reference book or database
Internet.
look up to sby have a lot of respect for
My little sister has always looked up to me.
Josie made up a story about why we were
make sthg up invent, lie about sthg
late.
We were angry last night, but we made up at
make up
forgive each other
breakfast.
My sisters made me up for my graduation
make sby up apply cosmetics to
party.
mix sthg up
confuse two or more things
I mixed up the twins' names again!
His uncle passed away last night after a long
pass away
die
illness.
It was so hot in the church that an elderly
pass out
faint
lady passed out.
The professor passed the textbooks out
pass sthg out give the same thing to many people
before class.
I passed up the job because I am afraid of
pass sthg up
decline (usually sthg good)
change.
Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you
pay sby back return owed money
back on Friday.
That bully will pay for being mean to my
pay for sthg
be punished for doing sthg bad
little brother.

phrasal verb
meaning
pick sthg out choose
point sby/ sthg
indicate with your finger
out
put what you are holding on a
put sthg down
surface or floor

put clothing/ accessories on your

body
meet unexpectedly

I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.

drive a vehicle over a person or

thing

I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the

driveway.
Let's run over/through these lines one more
time before the show.
The child ran away from home and has been
missing for three days.
We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my
hair with soap.
My letter got sent back to me because I used
the wrong stamp.
Our boss set a meeting up with the president
of the company.
The police set up the car thief by using a
hidden camera.
I want to shop around a little before I decide
on these boots.

put sthg off

postpone

put sthg out

extinguish

put sthg on
run into sby/
sthg
run over sby/
sthg
run over/
through sthg

assemble
tolerate

rehearse, review

run away

leave unexpectedly, escape

run out

have none left

send sthg back return (usually by mail)

set sthg up

arrange, organize

set sby up

trick, trap

shop around

compare prices

show off
sleep over

I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.

You can put the groceries down on the
kitchen counter.
The students put the substitute teacher down
because his pants were too short.
We are putting off our trip until January
because of the hurricane.
The neighbours put the fire out before the
firemen arrived.
I have to put the crib together before the
baby arrives.
I don't think I can put up with three small
children in the car.
Don't forget to put on your new earrings for
the party.

put sby down insult, make sby feel stupid

put sthg
together
put up with
sby/ sthg

example sentence
I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.

act extra special for people

watching (usually boastfully)
stay somewhere for the night
(informal)

He always shows off on his skateboard

You should sleep over tonight if the weather
is too bad to drive home.
We need to sort the bills out before the first
of the month.

sort sthg out

organize, resolve a problem

stick to sthg

continue doing sthg, limit yourself

You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
to one particular thing

phrasal verb

meaning

example sentence
The light's too bright. Could you switch it
switch sthg off stop the energy flow, turn off
off.
We heard the news as soon as we switched
switch sthg on start the energy flow, turn on
on the car radio.
I take after my mother. We are both
take after sby resemble a family member
impatient.
He took the car brakes apart and found the
take sthg apart purposely break into pieces
problem.
I have to take our new TV back because it
take sthg back return an item
doesn't work.
take off
start to fly
My plane takes off in five minutes.
Take off your socks and shoes and come in
take sthg off remove sthg (usually clothing)
the lake!
Can you take the garbage out to the street
take sthg out remove from a place or thing
for me?
pay for sby to go somewhere with My grandparents took us out for dinner and
take sby out
you
a movie.
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and gave
tear sthg up
rip into pieces
them back to him.
remember (often + to, sometimes + When I think back on my youth, I wish I had
think back
on)
studied harder.
I'll have to think this job offer over before I
think sthg over consider
make my final decision.
throw sthg
We threw our old furniture away when we
dispose of
away
won the lottery.
decrease the volume or strength
Please turn the TV down while the guests
turn sthg down
(heat, light etc)
are here.
I turned the job down because I don't want
turn sthg down refuse
to move.
Your mother wants you to turn the TV off
turn sthg off stop the energy flow, switch off
and come for dinner.
It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights
turn sthg on
start the energy, switch on
on.
increase the volume or strength
Can you turn the music up? This is my
turn sthg up
(heat, light etc)
favourite song.
Our cat turned up after we put posters up all
turn up
appear suddenly
over the neighbourhood.
I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't
try sthg on
sample clothing
think they will fit.
I am going to try this new brand of detergent
try sthg out
test
out.
The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we
use sthg up
finish the supply
need to buy some more.

phrasal verb
wake up

meaning
stop sleeping

warm sby/ sthg

increase the temperature
up
warm up

prepare body for exercise

wear off

fade away

work out
work out

exercise
be successful

work sthg out make a calculation

example sentence
We have to wake up early for work on
Monday.
You can warm your feet up in front of the
fireplace.
I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I
go for a run.
Most of my make-up wore off before I got to
the party.
I work out at the gym three times a week.
Our plan worked out fine.
We have to work out the total cost before we
buy the house.