As well as learning their meanings, you need to

learn how to use phrasal verbs.

Verb Meaning Example

ask someone out invite on a Brian asked Judy o

date ut to dinner and a
movie.

ask around ask many I asked around but

people the nobody has seen my
same wallet.
question

add up equal Your purchases add

to something up to$205.32.

back something u reverse You'll have to back

p upyour car so that I
can get out.

back someone up support My

wife backed me up
over my decision to
quit my job.

blow up explode The racing car blew

upafter it crashed
into the fence.

blow something u add air We have to blow 50

p balloons up for the
party.

break down stop Our car broke

functioning down at the side of
(vehicle, the highway in the
machine) snowstorm.
break down get upset The woman broke
downwhen the
police told her that
her son had died.

break something divide into Our

down smaller teacher broke the
parts final
project down into
three separate
parts.

break in force entry Somebody broke

to a in last night and
building stole our stereo.

break enter The firemen had

into something forcibly to break into the
room to rescue the
children.

break something wear I need

in something to break these
a few times shoes in before we
so that it run next week.
doesn't
look/feel
new

break in interrupt The TV

station broke into
report the news of
the president's
death.

break up end a My boyfriend and

relationship I broke up before I
moved to America.
break up start The kids just broke
laughing up as soon as the
(informal) clown started
talking.

break out escape The prisoners broke

outof jail when the
guards weren't
looking.

break out develop a I broke out in a

insomething skin rash after our
condition camping trip.

bring someone d make This sad music

own unhappy is bringingme dow
n.

bring someone u raise a child My

p grandparents broug
htme up after my
parents died.

bring something start My mother walks

up talking out of the room
about a when my
subject fatherbrings
up sports.

bring something vomit He drank so much

up that hebrought his
dinner up in the
toilet.

call around phone We called

many around but we
different weren't able to find
places/peop the car part we
le needed.
call someone bac return a I called the
k phone call companyback but
the offices were
closed for the
weekend.

call something of cancel Jason called the

f weddingoff because
he wasn't in love
with his fiancé.

call on someone ask for an The

answer or professor called
opinion onme for question
1.

call on someone visit We called on you

someone last night but you
weren't home.

call someone up phone Give me your phone

number and I
will call youup whe
n we are in town.

calm down relax after You are still mad.

being angry You need to calm
downbefore you
drive the car.

not care not like I don't care for his

forsomeone/some (formal) behaviour.
thing

catch up get to the You'll have to run

same point faster than that if
as someone you want tocatch
else up with Marty.
check in arrive and We will get the hotel
register at keys when
a hotel or we check in.
airport

check out leave a You have to check

hotel out of the hotel
before 11:00 AM.

checksomeone/so look at The

methingout carefully, company checks
investigate outall new
employees.

check look at Check out the

outsomeone/som (informal) crazy hair on that
ething guy!

cheer up become She cheered

happier up when she heard
the good news.

cheer someone u make I brought you some

p happier flowers
to cheer you up.

chip in help If everyone chips

in we can get the
kitchen painted by
noon.

clean something tidy, clean Please clean

up up your bedroom
before you go
outside.

come find I came

acrosssomething unexpected across these old
ly photos when I was
tidying the closet.
come apart separate The top and
bottom come
apart if you pull
hard enough.

come down become My nephew came

withsomething sick down with chicken
pox this weekend.

come forward volunteer The woman came

for a task forward with her
or to give husband's finger
evidence prints.

come originate in The art of

fromsomewhere origami comes
from Asia.

count rely on I am counting

onsomeone/some on you to make
thing dinner while I am
out.

cross something draw a line Please cross

out through out your old
address and write
your new one.

cut back consume My doctor wants me

onsomething less tocut back
on sweets and fatty
foods.

cut something do make We had to cut the

wn something old tree in our
fall to the yard down after the
ground storm.

cut in interrupt Your father cut

in while I was
 dancing with your
uncle.

cut in pull in too The bus driver got

closely in angry when that
front of car cut in.
another
vehicle

cut in start The air

operating conditioner cuts
(of an in when the
engine or temperature gets to
electrical 22°C.
device)

cut something off remove The doctors cut

with off his leg because
something it was severely
sharp injured.

cut something off stop The phone

providing company cut
off our phone
because we didn't
pay the bill.

cut someone off take out of My

a will grandparents cut m
y father off when
he remarried.

cut something ou remove I cut this ad out of

t part of the newspaper.
something
(usually
with
scissors
and paper)
dosomeone/some beat up, He's lucky to be
thingover ransack alive. His shop
(Br.E., was done over by a
informal) street gang.

do something ove do again My teacher wants

r (N.Amer.) me todo my
essay overbecause
she doesn't like my
topic.

do away discard It's time to do

withsomething away withall of
these old tax
records.

do something up fasten, Do your

close coat up before you
go outside. It's
snowing!

dress up wear nice It's a fancy

clothing restaurant so we
have to dress up.

drop back move back Andrea dropped

in a back to third place
position/gro when she fell off her
up bike.

drop in/by/over come I might drop

without an in/by/overfor tea
appointmen sometime this
t week.

dropsomeone/so take I have to drop my

methingoff someone/s sisteroff at work
omething before I come over.
somewhere
and leave
 them/it
there

drop out quit a class, I dropped out of

school etc Science because it
was too difficult.

eat out eat at a I don't feel like

restaurant cooking tonight.
Let's eat out.

end up eventually We ended

reach/do/d up renting a movie
ecide instead of going to
the theatre.

fall apart break into My new dress fell

pieces apart in the
washing machine.

fall down fall to the The picture that you

ground hung up last
night fell downthis
morning.

fall out separate The money must

from an havefallen out of
interior my pocket.

fall out (of hair, His hair started

teeth) to fall outwhen he
become was only 35.
loose and
unattached

figure something understand, I need to figure

out find the out how to fit the
answer piano and the
bookshelf in this
room.
fill something in to write Please fill in the
information form with your
in blanks name, address, and
(Br.E.) phone number.

fill something out to write The form must

information be filled out in
in blanks capital letters.
(N.Amer.)

fill something up fill to the I always fill the

top water jugup when it
is empty.

find out discover We don't know

where he lives. How
can we find out?

find something o discover We tried to keep the

ut time of the party a
secret, but
Samantha found it
out.

get somethingacr communica I tried to get my

oss/over te, make pointacross/over t
understand o the judge but she
able wouldn't listen.

get along/on like each I was surprised how

other well my new
girlfriend and my
sister got
along/on.

get around have My grandfather

mobility can get
around fine in his
new wheelchair.
get away go on a We worked so hard
vacation this year that we
had to get
away for a week.

get away do without Jason always gets

withsomething being away
noticed or with cheating in his
punished maths tests.

get back return We got back from

our vacation last
week.

get something ba receive Liz finally got her

ck something Science
you had notes back from my
before room-mate.

get back retaliate, My sister got back

at someone take at me for stealing
revenge her shoes. She stole
my favourite hat.

get back become I finally got back

intosomething interested into my novel and
in finished it.
something
again

get on something step onto a We're going to

vehicle freeze out here if
you don't let usget
on the bus.

get recover I just got over the

over something from an flu and now my
illness, sister has it.
loss,
difficulty
get overcome a The company will
over something problem have to close if it
can't get overthe
new regulations.

get round finally find I don't know when I

tosomething time to do am going to get
(N.Amer.: round towriting the
get thank you cards.
around
tosomethin
g)

get together meet Let's get

(usually for together for a BBQ
social this weekend.
reasons)

get up get out of I got up early today

bed to study for my
exam.

get up stand You should get

up and give the
elderly man your
seat.

give someone aw reveal His

ay hidden wife gave him awa
information yto the police.
about
someone

give someone aw take the My

ay bride to the father gave me aw
altar ayat my wedding.

give something a ruin a My little

way secret sister gave the
surprise
 party away by
accident.

give something a give The library

way something was giving
to someone away old books on
for free Friday.

give something b return a I have to give these

ack borrowed skates back to
item Franz before his
hockey game.

give in reluctantly My boyfriend didn't

stop want to go to the
fighting or ballet, but he
arguing finally gave in.

give something o give to They were giving

ut many outfree perfume
people samples at the
(usually at department store.
no cost)

give something u quit a habit I am giving

p up smoking as of
January 1st.

give up stop trying My maths

homework was too
difficult so I gave
up.

go after someone follow My brother tried

someone to go after the thief
in his car.

go try to I went after my

after something achieve dream and now I
something
 am a published
writer.

go compete, We are going

against someone oppose against the best
soccer team in the
city tonight.

go ahead start, Please go

proceed ahead and eat
before the food gets
cold.

go back return to a I have to go

place back home and get
my lunch.

go out leave home We're going out for

to go on a dinner tonight.
social event

go out date Jesse has

with someone been going out
with Luke since
they met last
winter.

go review Please go over your

over something answers before you
submit your test.

go over visit I haven't seen Tina

someone for a long time. I
nearby think I'll go
over for an hour or
two.

go suffer lack When I was young,

withoutsomethin or wewent
g deprivation
 without winter
boots.

grow apart stop being My best friend and

friends over I grew apart after
time she changed
schools.

grow back regrow My roses grew

back this summer.

grow up become an When Jack grows

adult up he wants to be a
fireman.

grow out get too big Elizabeth needs a

ofsomething for new pair of shoes
because she
has grown out
of her old ones.

grow grow big This bike is too big

into something enough to for him now, but he
fit should grow into it
by next year.

hand somethingd give I handed my old

own something comic
used to books down to my
someone little cousin.
else

hand something i submit I have to hand

n in my essay by
Friday.

hand something to We will hand

out distribute out the invitations
to a group at the door.
of people
hand something give The police asked the
over (usually man to hand
unwillingly) over his wallet and
his weapons.

hang in stay Hang in there. I'm

positive sure you'll find a job
(N.Amer., very soon.
informal)

hang on wait a short Hang on while I

time grab my coat and
(informal) shoes!

hang out spend time Instead of going to

relaxing the party we are
(informal) just going tohang
out at my place.

hang up end a He didn't say

phone call goodbye before
he hung up.

holdsomeone/so prevent I had to hold my

methingback from dogback because
doing/going there was a cat in
the park.

hold something b hide an Jamie held back his

ack emotion tears at his
grandfather's
funeral.

hold on wait a short Please hold

time on while I transfer
you to the Sales
Department.
hold hold firmly Hold onto your hat
ontosomeone/so using your because it's very
mething hands or windy outside.
arms

holdsomeone/so rob A man in a black

methingup maskheld the
bank up this
morning.

keep on continue Keep on stirring

doingsomething doing until the liquid
comes to a boil.

keep something f not tell We kept our

romsomeone relationshipfrom ou
r parents for two
years.

keepsomeone/so stop from Try to keep the wet

methingout entering dogout of the living
room.

keep something u continue at If you keep those

p the same resultsup you will
rate get into a great
college.

let someone dow fail to I need you to be on

n support or time.
help, Don't let me down
disappoint this time.

let someone in allow to Can you let the

enter cat inbefore you go
to school?

log in (or on) sign in (to a I can't log in to

website, Facebook because
 database I've forgotten my
etc) password.

log out (or off) sign out (of If you don't log
a website, offsomebody could
database get into your
etc) account.

look take care of I have to look

aftersomeone/so after my sick
mething grandmother.

look down think less Ever since we stole

onsomeone of, consider that chocolate bar
inferior your dad
has looked down
on me.

look try to find I'm looking for a

forsomeone/some red dress for the
thing wedding.

look forward be excited I'm looking

tosomething about the forward tothe
future Christmas break.

look investigate We are going

into something to look intothe
price of snowboards
today.

look out be careful, Look out! That car's

vigilant, going to hit you!
and take
notice

look out be Don't forget to look

forsomeone/some especially out for snakes on
thing vigilant for the hiking trail.
look something o check, Can you look
ver examine over my essay for
spelling mistakes?

look something u search and We can look her

p find phone
information number up on the
in a Internet.
reference
book or
database

look up have a lot My little sister has

to someone of respect alwayslooked up to
for me.

make something invent, lie Josie made up a

up about story about why we
something were late.

make up forgive We were angry last

each other night, but we made
up at breakfast.

make someone u apply My

p cosmetics sisters made me up
to for my graduation
party.

mix something u confuse two I mixed up the

p or more twins' names again!
things

pass away die His uncle passed

awaylast night after
a long illness.

pass out faint It was so hot in the

church that an
 elderly ladypassed
out.

pass something o give the The

ut same thing professor passed th
to many e
people textbooks out befor
e class.

pass something u decline I passed up the job

p (usually because I am afraid
something of change.
good)

pay someone bac return Thanks for buying

k owed my ticket.
money I'll pay you backon
Friday.

pay be That bully will pay

for something punished forbeing mean to
for doing my little brother.
something
bad

pick something o choose I picked out three

ut sweaters for you to
try on.

pointsomeone/so indicate I'll point my

methingout with your boyfriendout when
finger he runs by.

put something do put what You can put the

wn you are groceriesdown on
holding on the kitchen counter.
a surface or
floor
put someone do insult, The
wn make students put the
someone substitute
feel stupid teacher downbecau
se his pants were
too short.

put something off postpone We are putting

off our trip until
January because of
the hurricane.

put something ou extinguish The

t neighbours put the
fire out before the
firemen arrived.

put somethingtog assemble I have to put the

ether cribtogether before
the baby arrives.

put up tolerate I don't think I

withsomeone/so can put up
mething with three small
children in the car.

put something on put Don't forget to put

clothing/acc onyour new
essories on earrings for the
your body party.

run meet I ran into an old

intosomeone/som unexpected school-friend at the
ething ly mall.

run drive a I accidentally ran

oversomeone/so vehicle over overyour bicycle in
mething a person or the driveway.
thing
run rehearse, Let's run
over/throughso review over/throughthese
mething lines one more time
before the show.

run away leave The child ran

unexpected away from home
ly, escape and has been
missing for three
days.

run out have none We ran out of

left shampoo so I had to
wash my hair with
soap.

send something b return My letter got sent

ack (usually by back to me because
mail) I used the wrong
stamp.

set something up arrange, Our boss set a

organize meetingup with the
president of the
company.

set someone up trick, trap The police set

up the car thief by
using a hidden
camera.

shop around compare I want to shop

prices around a little
before I decide on
these boots.

show off act extra He always shows

special for off on his
people skateboard
watching
 (usually
boastfully)

sleep over stay You should sleep

somewhere overtonight if the
for the weather is too bad
night to drive home.
(informal)

sort something o organize, We need to sort the

ut resolve a billsout before the
problem first of the month.

stick continue You will lose weight

to something doing if youstick to the
something, diet.
limit
yourself to
one
particular
thing

switch something stop the The light's too

off energy bright. Could
flow, turn you switch it off.
off

switch something start the We heard the news

on energy as soon as
flow, turn we switched onthe
on car radio.

take resemble a I take after my

after someone family mother. We are
member both impatient.

take something a purposely He took the car

part break into brakesapart and
pieces found the problem.
take something b return an I have to take our
ack item new
TVback because it
doesn't work.

take off start to fly My plane takes

off in five minutes.

take something o remove Take off your socks

ff something and shoes and come
(usually in the lake!
clothing)

take something o remove Can you take the

ut from a garbageout to the
place or street for me?
thing

take someone ou pay for My

t someone to grandparents took
go usout for dinner
somewhere and a movie.
with you

tear something u rip into I tore up my ex-

p pieces boyfriend's letters
and gave them back
to him.

think back remember When I think

(often + to, back on my youth,
sometimes I wish I had studied
+ on) harder.

think something consider I'll have

over to think this job
offer over before I
make my final
decision.
throw something dispose of We threw our old
away furniture away whe
n we won the
lottery.

turn something d decrease Please turn the

own the volume TV downwhile the
or strength guests are here.
(heat, light
etc)

turn something d refuse I turned the

own job downbecause I
don't want to move.

turn something o stop the Your mother wants

ff energy you toturn the
flow, switch TV off and come for
off dinner.

turn something o start the It's too dark in here.

n energy, Let'sturn some
switch on lights on.

turn something u increase Can you turn the

p the volume musicup? This is my
or strength favourite song.
(heat, light
etc)

turn up appear Our cat turned

suddenly up after we put
posters up all over
the neighbourhood.

try something on sample I'm going

clothing to try these
jeans on, but I
don't think they will
fit.
try something ou test I am going
t to try this new
brand of
detergent out.

use something up finish the The kids used all of

supply the
toothpaste up so we
need to buy some
more.

wake up stop We have to wake

sleeping upearly for work on
Monday.

warmsomeone/so increase You can warm your

methingup the feetup in front of
temperatur the fireplace.
e

warm up prepare I always warm

body for up by doing sit-ups
exercise before I go for a
run.

wear off fade away Most of my make-

up wore off before
I got to the party.

work out exercise I work out at the

gym three times a
week.

work out be Our plan worked

successful outfine.

work something make a We have to work

out calculation out the total cost
before we buy the
house.