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List of 390 Most Common English Phrasal Verbs and Their Definitions
List of 390 Most Common English Phrasal Verbs and Their Definitions
It’s impossible for an English speaker in the United States to go a day without
using one of those words.
If you studied the English language for years, then came to the United States
and couldn’t understand anything, this is probably one of the reasons why. If
you like this guide, check out our guide to English
Adjectives and prepositions too.
Blow Off When the wind removes something from its place. 3
Break
To make a way through a barrier or a surface. 2
Through
Chicken
To refrain from doing something because of fear. 1
Out
Come
When something happens or occurs. 1
About
Come
The way other people perceive something or someone. 3
Across
Come
When a situation is reduced to a certain outcome. 1
Down To
Come
When someone or something expected arrives. 3
Through
Come Up
When you think of a solution, idea, plan, or excuse. 1
With
Crack
To take more action than usual against wrongdoing. 1
Down
Do Away
To dispose of something. 2
With
Fool
To waste time doing unimportant or silly things. 4
Around
Get Around
To do something that needed to get done at an earlier time. 1
To
Get Back
To get revenge. 1
At
When you move your body and either stand, sit, lie, kneel,
Get On 6
etc. towards something (non-separable).
Get Over
To finish something that needs to get done. 1
With
Get
To meet and spend time together. 3
Together
Go Along
to accept or agree with a decision, rule, opinion, etc. 2
With
Go Back
When you fail to fulfill a promise you made to someone. 1
On
Goof
To waste time doing silly or unimportant things. 1
Around
Grow Out
To become too big or too tall for your clothes. 3
Of
Hang
To spend time in a place or an area. 1
Around
Head
To move in the direction where someone or something is. 2
Toward
Hold When you don’t forgive or have little respect for someone
2
Against because of something they did.
Kick Back To illegally pay extra money to someone as part of the price. 2
Knock Off To use force to cause someone or something to fall from its 6
place, whether intentionally or accidentally.
Know
To have knowledge of or be familiar with something. 1
About
Leave When you don’t take something or someone with you when
4
Behind you leave.
Look
To turn your head to see what or who is around you. 3
Around
Monkey
To try to play with or repair a device that you have no true
Around 2
knowledge about.
With
When you bring your personal belongings and stuff to a new
Move In place where you will live. Yesterday’s phrasal verb, Move 3
Out, has the opposite meaning.
Narrow
To reduce the number of options or possibilities. 1
Down
Pay Back When you return money that you owe someone. 2
Pull Over To drive your vehicle to the side of the road to stop. 1
Pull
To recover from an injury or illness. 2
Through
Put
To assemble or connect the parts of something. 3
Together
Put Up
To tolerate or accept something that you’d rather not. 1
With
When people exit a place very quickly. Run In/ Run Into is
Run Out 2
the opposite of this meaning.
Screw Out
To cheat or deceive someone. 1
Of
Settle
To begin living a stable and routine life. 2
Down
Stick
To stay in a place or with someone for any period of time. 1
Around
Straighten
To make something straight. 3
Out
Stress Out To feel very worried, nervous or anxious. 1
When you move something from the ‘on’ state to the ‘off’
Switch Off state. Synonymous with “Turn Off.” Yesterday’s “Switch 1
On” is the opposite.
When you move something from the ‘off’ state to the ‘on’
Switch On state. Synonymous with “Turn On,” while “Switch Off” is 1
the opposite.
Talk Down To talk to someone as if they are less intelligent than you by
1
To conveying a tone of voice or attitude that says so.
Think
To consider something prior to making a final decision. 2
About
Think
To think and plan carefully for a future situation or event. 1
Ahead
Track
To locate someone or something after a long search 1
Down
Wash Off To remove dirt or unwanted markings with soap and water. 1
Wear Out When something is damaged or weakened from use and age. 2
Answers to