ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS

phrasal verb meaning example sentence

ask sby out invite on a date 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.
bring sthg up start talking about a subject My mother walks out of the room when my
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
father brings up sports.
He drank so much that he brought his
bring sthg up vomit
dinner up in the toilet.
We called around but we weren't able to
call around phone many different places/people
find the car part we needed.
I called the company back but the offices
call sby back return a phone call
were closed for the weekend.
Jason called the wedding off because he
call sthg off cancel
wasn't in love with his fiancé.
call on sby ask for an answer or opinion The professor called on me for question 1.
We called on you last night but you weren't
call on sby visit sby
home.
Give me your phone number and I will call
call sby up phone
you up when we are in town.
You are still mad. You need to calm down
calm down relax after being angry
before you drive the car.
not care for
not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.
sby/ sthg
You'll have to run faster than that if you
catch up get to the same point as sby else
want to catch up with Marty.
arrive and register at a hotel or We will get the hotel keys when we check
check in
airport in.
You have to check out of the hotel before
check out leave a hotel
11:00 AM.
check sby/ sthg The company checks out all new
look at carefully, investigate
out employees.
check out sby/
look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
sthg
She cheered up when she heard the good
cheer up become happier
news.
I brought you some flowers to cheer you
cheer sby up make happier
up.
If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen
chip in help
painted by noon.
Please clean up your bedroom before you
clean sthg up tidy, clean
go outside.
come across I came across these old photos when I was
find unexpectedly
sthg tidying the closet.
The top and bottom come apart if you pull
come apart separate
hard enough.
come down My nephew came down with chicken pox
become sick
with sthg this weekend.
come forward volunteer for a task or to give The woman came forward with her
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
evidence husband's finger prints.
come from
originate in The art of origami comes from Asia.
some place
count on sby/ I am counting on you to make dinner while
rely on
sthg I am out.
Please cross out your old address and write
cross sthg out draw a line through
your new one.
cut back on My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets
consume less
sthg and fatty foods.
We had to cut the old tree in our yard down
cut sthg down make sthg fall to the ground
after the storm.
Your father cut in while I was dancing with
cut in interrupt
your uncle.
pull in too closely in front of The bus driver got angry when that car cut
cut in
another vehicle in.
start operating (of an engine or The air conditioner cuts in when the
cut in
electrical device) temperature gets to 22°C.
The doctors cut off his leg because it was
cut sthg off remove with sthg sharp
severely injured.
The phone company cut off our phone
cut sthg off stop providing
because we didn't pay the bill.
My grandparents cut my father off when he
cut sby off take out of a will
remarried.
remove part of sthg (usually with
cut sthg out I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
scissors and paper)
do sby/ sthg He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done
beat up, ransack (BrE, informal)
over 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.
I dropped out of Science because it was too
drop out quit a class, school etc
difficult.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
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.
We're going to freeze out here if you don't
get on sthg step onto a vehicle
let us get on the bus.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and now my sister has
get over sthg
difficulty it.
The company will have to close if it can't get
get over sthg overcome a problem
over the new regulations.
get round to finally find time to do (AmE: get I don't know when I am going to get round
sthg around to sthg) to writing 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.
You should get up and give the elderly man
get up stand
your seat.
reveal hidden information about
give sby away His wife gave him away to the police.
sby
give sby away take the bride to the altar 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.
go without sthg suffer lack or deprivation When I was young, we went without winter
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
boots.
My best friend and I grew apart after she
grow apart stop being friends over time
changed schools.
grow back regrow My roses grew back this summer.
When Jack grows up he wants to be a
grow up become an adult
fireman.
grow out of Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because
get too big for
sthg she has grown out of her old ones.
This bike is too big for him now, but he
grow into sthg grow big enough to fit
should grow into it by next year.
hand sthg I handed my old comic books down to my
give sthg used to sby else
down little cousin.
hand sthg in submit I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
hand sthg out to distribute to a group of people We will hand out the invitations at the door.
The police asked the man to hand over his
hand sthg over give (usually unwillingly)
wallet and his weapons.
Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very
hang in stay positive (informal)
soon.
hang on wait a short time (informal) Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
Instead of going to the party we are just
hang out spend time relaxing (informal)
going to hang out at my place.
hang up end a phone call He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.
hold sby/ sthg I had to hold my dog back because there was
prevent from doing/going
back a cat in the park.
Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather's
hold sthg back hide an emotion
funeral.
Please hold on while I transfer you to the
hold on wait a short time
Sales Department.
hold onto sby/ hold firmly using your hands or Hold onto your hat because it's very windy
sthg arms outside.
hold sby/ A man in a black mask held the bank up this
rob
sthgup morning.
keep on doing Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a
continue doing
sthg boil.
keep sthg from We kept our relationship from our parents
not tell
sby for two years.
keep sby/ sthg Try to keep the wet dog out of the living
stop from entering
out room.
If you keep those results up you will get into
keep sthg up continue at the same rate
a great college.
I need you to be on time. Don't let me down
let sby down fail to support or help, disappoint
this time.
let sby in allow to enter Can you let the cat in before you go to
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
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.
pick sthg out choose I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
point sby/ sthg
indicate with your finger I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.
out
put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries down on the
put sthg down
surface or floor kitchen counter.
The students put the substitute teacher down
put sby down insult, make sby feel stupid
because his pants were too short.
We are putting off our trip until January
put sthg off postpone
because of the hurricane.
The neighbours put the fire out before the
put sthg out extinguish
firemen arrived.
put sthg I have to put the crib together before the
assemble
together baby arrives.
put up with I don't think I can put up with three small
tolerate
sby/ sthg children in the car.
put clothing/ accessories on your Don't forget to put on your new earrings for
put sthg on
body the party.
run into sby/
meet unexpectedly I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
sthg
run over sby/ drive a vehicle over a person or I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the
sthg thing driveway.
run over/ Let's run over/through these lines one more
rehearse, review
through sthg time before the show.
The child ran away from home and has been
run away leave unexpectedly, escape
missing for three days.
We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my
run out have none left
hair with soap.
My letter got sent back to me because I used
send sthg back return (usually by mail)
the wrong stamp.
Our boss set a meeting up with the president
set sthg up arrange, organize
of the company.
The police set up the car thief by using a
set sby up trick, trap
hidden camera.
I want to shop around a little before I decide
shop around compare prices
on these boots.
act extra special for people
show off He always shows off on his skateboard
watching (usually boastfully)
stay somewhere for the night You should sleep over tonight if the weather
sleep over
(informal) is too bad to drive home.
We need to sort the bills out before the first
sort sthg out organize, resolve a problem
of the month.
continue doing sthg, limit yourself
stick to sthg You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
to one particular thing
switch sthg off stop the energy flow, turn off The light's too bright. Could you switch it
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
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.
wake up stop sleeping We have to wake up early for work on
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
Monday.
warm sby/ sthg You can warm your feet up in front of the
increase the temperature
up fireplace.
I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I
warm up prepare body for exercise
go for a run.
Most of my make-up wore off before I got to
wear off fade away
the party.
work out exercise I work out at the gym three times a week.
work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.
We have to work out the total cost before we
work sthg out make a calculation
buy the house.