Verb Meaning Example

Brian asked Judy out to dinner

ask someone out invite on a date
and a movie.

ask many people the same I asked around but nobody has
ask around
question seen my wallet.

Your purchases add up to

add up to something equal
$205.32.

You'll have to back up your car

back something up reverse
so that I can get out.

My wife backed me up over my

back someone up support
decision to quit my job.

The racing car blew up after it

blow up explode
crashed into the fence.

We have to blow 50 balloons up

blow something up add air
for the party.

stop functioning (vehicle, Our car broke down at the side of

break down
machine) the highway in the snowstorm.

The woman broke down when

break down get upset the police told her that her son
had died.

Our teacher broke the final

break something down divide into smaller parts project down into three separate
parts.

Somebody broke in last night and

break in force entry to a building
stole our stereo.

The firemen had to break into the

break into something enter forcibly
room to rescue the children.

wear something a few times so I need to break these shoes in

break something in
that it doesn't look/feel new before we run next week.

The TV station broke in to report

break in interrupt
the news of the president's death.

break up end a relationship My boyfriend and I broke up

 before I moved to America.

The kids just broke up as soon as

break up start laughing (informal)
the clown started talking.

The prisoners broke out of jail

break out escape
when the guards weren't looking.

I broke out in a rash after our

break out in something develop a skin condition
camping trip.

This sad music is bringing me

bring someone down make unhappy
down.

My grandparents brought me up
bring someone up raise a child
after my parents died.

My mother walks out of the room

bring something up start talking about a subject
when my father brings up sports.

He drank so much that he

bring something up vomit brought his dinner up in the
toilet.

We called around but we weren't

phone many different
call around able to find the car part we
places/people
needed.

I called the company back but the

call someone back return a phone call offices were closed for the
weekend.

Jason called the wedding off

call something off cancel because he wasn't in love with his
fiancé.

The professor called on me for

call on someone ask for an answer or opinion
question 1.

We called on you last night but

call on someone visit someone
you weren't home.

Give me your phone number and I

call someone up phone will call you up when we are in
town.

calm down relax after being angry You are still mad. You need to
 calm down before you drive the
car.

not care for

not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.
someone/something

You'll have to run faster than that

get to the same point as
catch up if you want to catch up with
someone else
Marty.

arrive and register at a hotel or We will get the hotel keys when
check in
airport we check in.

You have to check out of the

check out leave a hotel
hotel before 11:00 AM.

check The company checks out all new

look at carefully, investigate
someone/something out employees.

check out Check out the crazy hair on that

look at (informal)
someone/something guy!

She cheered up when she heard

cheer up become happier
the good news.

I brought you some flowers to

cheer someone up make happier
cheer you up.

If everyone chips in we can get

chip in help
the kitchen painted by noon.

Please clean up your bedroom

clean something up tidy, clean
before you go outside.

I came across these old photos

come across something find unexpectedly
when I was tidying the closet.

The top and bottom come apart if

come apart separate
you pull hard enough.

come down with My nephew came down with

become sick
something chicken pox this weekend.

volunteer for a task or to give The woman came forward with

come forward
evidence her husband's finger prints.

come from somewhere originate in The art of origami comes from

 Asia.

count on I am counting on you to make

rely on
someone/something dinner while I am out.

Please cross out your old address

cross something out draw a line through
and write your new one.

My doctor wants me to cut back

cut back on something consume less
on sweets and fatty foods.

make something fall to the We had to cut the old tree in our
cut something down
ground yard down after the storm.

Your father cut in while I was

cut in interrupt
dancing with your uncle.

pull in too closely in front of The bus driver got angry when
cut in
another vehicle that car cut in.

start operating (of an engine or The air conditioner cuts in when

cut in
electrical device) the temperature gets to 22°C.

The doctors cut off his leg

cut something off remove with something sharp
because it was severely injured.

The phone company cut off our

cut something off stop providing phone because we didn't pay the
bill.

My grandparents cut my father

cut someone off take out of a will
off when he remarried.

remove part of something

cut something out I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
(usually with scissors and paper)

do someone/something beat up, ransack (Br.E., He's lucky to be alive. His shop
over informal) was done over by a street gang.

My teacher wants me to do my
do something over do again (N.Amer.) essay over because she doesn't
like my topic.

It's time to do away with all of

do away with something discard
these old tax records.

do something up fasten, close Do your coat up before you go

 outside. It's snowing!

It's a fancy restaurant so we have

dress up wear nice clothing
to dress up.

Andrea dropped back to third

drop back move back in a position/group
place when she fell off her bike.

I might drop in/by/over for tea

drop in/by/over come without an appointment
sometime this week.

take someone/something
drop someone/something I have to drop my sister off at
somewhere and leave them/it
off work before I come over.
there

I dropped out of Science because

drop out quit a class, school etc
it was too difficult.

I don't feel like cooking tonight.

eat out eat at a restaurant
Let's eat out.

We ended up renting a movie

end up eventually reach/do/decide
instead of going to the theatre.

My new dress fell apart in the

fall apart break into pieces
washing machine.

The picture that you hung up last

fall down fall to the ground
night fell down this morning.

The money must have fallen out

fall out separate from an interior
of my pocket.

(of hair, teeth) become loose and His hair started to fall out when
fall out
unattached he was only 35.

I need to figure out how to fit the

figure something out understand, find the answer piano and the bookshelf in this
room.

Please fill in the form with your

to write information in blanks
fill something in name, address, and phone
(Br.E.)
number.

to write information in blanks The form must be filled out in

fill something out
(N.Amer.) capital letters.
 I always fill the water jug up
fill something up fill to the top
when it is empty.

We don't know where he lives.

find out discover
How can we find out?

We tried to keep the time of the

find something out discover party a secret, but Samantha
found it out.

I tried to get my point

get something communicate, make
across/over to the judge but she
across/over understandable
wouldn't listen.

I was surprised how well my new

get along/on like each other girlfriend and my sister got
along/on.

My grandfather can get around

get around have mobility
fine in his new wheelchair.

We worked so hard this year that

get away go on a vacation
we had to get away for a week.

do without being noticed or Jason always gets away with

get away with something
punished cheating in his maths tests.

We got back from our vacation

get back return
last week.

receive something you had Liz finally got her Science notes
get something back
before back from my room-mate.

My sister got back at me for

get back at someone retaliate, take revenge stealing her shoes. She stole my
favourite hat.

become interested in something I finally got back into my novel

get back into something
again and finished it.

We're going to freeze out here if

get on something step onto a vehicle
you don't let us get on the bus.

recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and now my
get over something
difficulty sister has it.

get over something overcome a problem The company will have to close if
 it can't get over the new
regulations.

I don't know when I am going to

finally find time to do (N.Amer.:
get round to something get round to writing the thank
get around to something)
you cards.

Let's get together for a BBQ this

get together meet (usually for social reasons)
weekend.

I got up early today to study for

get up get out of bed
my exam.

You should get up and give the

get up stand
elderly man your seat.

reveal hidden information about His wife gave him away to the
give someone away
someone police.

My father gave me away at my

give someone away take the bride to the altar
wedding.

My little sister gave the surprise

give something away ruin a secret
party away by accident.

give something to someone for The library was giving away old
give something away
free books on Friday.

I have to give these skates back to

give something back return a borrowed item
Franz before his hockey game.

reluctantly stop fighting or My boyfriend didn't want to go to

give in
arguing the ballet, but he finally gave in.

They were giving out free

give to many people (usually at
give something out perfume samples at the
no cost)
department store.

I am giving up smoking as of
give something up quit a habit
January 1st.

My maths homework was too

give up stop trying
difficult so I gave up.

My brother tried to go after the

go after someone follow someone
thief in his car.
 I went after my dream and now I
go after something try to achieve something
am a published writer.

We are going against the best

go against someone compete, oppose
soccer team in the city tonight.

Please go ahead and eat before

go ahead start, proceed
the food gets cold.

I have to go back home and get

go back return to a place
my lunch.

leave home to go on a social We're going out for dinner

go out
event tonight.

Jesse has been going out with

go out with someone date
Luke since they met last winter.

Please go over your answers

go over something review
before you submit your test.

I haven't seen Tina for a long

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

When I was young, we went

go without something suffer lack or deprivation
without winter boots.

My best friend and I grew apart

grow apart stop being friends over time
after she changed schools.

grow back regrow My roses grew back this summer.

When Jack grows up he wants to

grow up become an adult
be a fireman.

Elizabeth needs a new pair of

grow out of something get too big for shoes because she has grown out
of her old ones.

This bike is too big for him now,

grow into something grow big enough to fit but he should grow into it by next
year.

give something used to someone I handed my old comic books

hand something down
else down to my little cousin.
 I have to hand in my essay by
hand something in submit
Friday.

We will hand out the invitations

hand something out to distribute to a group of people
at the door.

The police asked the man to hand

hand something over give (usually unwillingly)
over his wallet and his weapons.

stay positive (N.Amer., Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find

hang in
informal) a job very soon.

Hang on while I grab my coat

hang on wait a short time (informal)
and shoes!

Instead of going to the party we

hang out spend time relaxing (informal) are just going to hang out at my
place.

He didn't say goodbye before he

hang up end a phone call
hung up.

I had to hold my dog back

hold someone/something
prevent from doing/going because there was a cat in the
back
park.

Jamie held back his tears at his

hold something back hide an emotion
grandfather's funeral.

Please hold on while I transfer

hold on wait a short time
you to the Sales Department.

hold onto hold firmly using your hands or Hold onto your hat because it's
someone/something arms very windy outside.

hold A man in a black mask held the

rob
someone/somethingup bank up this morning.

Keep on stirring until the liquid

keep on doing something continue doing
comes to a boil.

keep something from We kept our relationship from

not tell
someone our parents for two years.

keep someone/something Try to keep the wet dog out of the

stop from entering
out living room.
 If you keep those results up you
keep something up continue at the same rate
will get into a great college.

fail to support or help, I need you to be on time. Don't let

let someone down
disappoint me down this time.

Can you let the cat in before you

let someone in allow to enter
go to school?

look after I have to look after my sick

take care of
someone/something grandmother.

Ever since we stole that chocolate

look down on someone think less of, consider inferior bar your dad has looked down on
me.

look for I'm looking for a red dress for the

try to find
someone/something wedding.

look forward to I'm looking forward to the

be excited about the future
something Christmas break.

We are going to look into the

look into something investigate
price of snowboards today.

be careful, vigilant, and take Look out! That car's going to hit
look out
notice you!

look out for Don't forget to look out for

be especially vigilant for
someone/something snakes on the hiking trail.

Can you look over my essay for

look something over check, examine
spelling mistakes?

search and find information in a We can look her phone number

look something up
reference book or database up on the Internet.

My little sister has always looked

look up to someone have a lot of respect for
up to me.

Josie made up a story about why

make something up invent, lie about something
we were late.

We were angry last night, but we

make up forgive each other
made up at breakfast.

make someone up apply cosmetics to My sisters made me up for my

 graduation party.

I mixed up the twins' names

mix something up confuse two or more things
again!

His uncle passed away last night

pass away die
after a long illness.

It was so hot in the church that an

pass out faint
elderly lady passed out.

give the same thing to many The professor passed the

pass something out
people textbooks out before class.

decline (usually something I passed up the job because I am

pass something up
good) afraid of change.

Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll

pay someone back return owed money
pay you back on Friday.

be punished for doing something That bully will pay for being
pay for something
bad mean to my little brother.

I picked out three sweaters for

pick something out choose
you to try on.

point I'll point my boyfriend out when

indicate with your finger
someone/something out he runs by.

put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries down
put something down
surface or floor on the kitchen counter.

The students put the substitute

put someone down insult, make someone feel stupid teacher down because his pants
were too short.

We are putting off our trip until

put something off postpone
January because of the hurricane.

The neighbours put the fire out

put something out extinguish
before the firemen arrived.

I have to put the crib together

put something together assemble
before the baby arrives.

put up with I don't think I can put up with

tolerate
someone/something three small children in the car.
 put clothing/accessories on your Don't forget to put on your new
put something on
body earrings for the party.

run into I ran into an old school-friend at

meet unexpectedly
someone/something the mall.

run over drive a vehicle over a person or I accidentally ran over your
someone/something thing bicycle in the driveway.

Let's run over/through these

run over/through
rehearse, review lines one more time before the
something
show.

The child ran away from home

run away leave unexpectedly, escape and has been missing for three
days.

We ran out of shampoo so I had

run out have none left
to wash my hair with soap.

My letter got sent back to me

send something back return (usually by mail)
because I used the wrong stamp.

Our boss set a meeting up with

set something up arrange, organize
the president of the company.

The police set up the car thief by

set someone up trick, trap
using a hidden camera.

I want to shop around a little

shop around compare prices
before I decide on these boots.

act extra special for people He always shows off on his

show off
watching (usually boastfully) skateboard

You should sleep over tonight if

stay somewhere for the night
sleep over the weather is too bad to drive
(informal)
home.

We need to sort the bills out

sort something out organize, resolve a problem
before the first of the month.

continue doing something, limit You will lose weight if you stick
stick to something
yourself to one particular thing to the diet.

The light's too bright. Could you

switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off
switch it off.
 We heard the news as soon as we
switch something on start the energy flow, turn on
switched on the car radio.

I take after my mother. We are

take after someone resemble a family member
both impatient.

He took the car brakes apart and

take something apart purposely break into pieces
found the problem.

I have to take our new TV back

take something back return an item
because it doesn't work.

My plane takes off in five

take off start to fly
minutes.

remove something (usually Take off your socks and shoes

take something off
clothing) and come in the lake!

Can you take the garbage out to

take something out remove from a place or thing
the street for me?

pay for someone to go My grandparents took us out for

take someone out
somewhere with you dinner and a movie.

I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
tear something up rip into pieces
letters and gave them back to him.

remember (often + to, When I think back on my youth,

think back
sometimes + on) I wish I had studied harder.

I'll have to think this job offer

think something over consider over before I make my final
decision.

We threw our old furniture away

throw something away dispose of
when we won the lottery.

decrease the volume or strength Please turn the TV down while

turn something down
(heat, light etc) the guests are here.

I turned the job down because I

turn something down refuse
don't want to move.

Your mother wants you to turn

turn something off stop the energy flow, switch off
the TV off and come for dinner.

turn something on start the energy, switch on It's too dark in here. Let's turn
 some lights on.

increase the volume or strength Can you turn the music up? This
turn something up
(heat, light etc) is my favourite song.

Our cat turned up after we put

turn up appear suddenly posters up all over the
neighbourhood.

I'm going to try these jeans on,

try something on sample clothing
but I don't think they will fit.

I am going to try this new brand

try something out test
of detergent out.

The kids used all of the toothpaste

use something up finish the supply
up so we need to buy some more.

We have to wake up early for

wake up stop sleeping
work on Monday.

warm You can warm your feet up in

increase the temperature
someone/something up front of the fireplace.

I always warm up by doing sit-

warm up prepare body for exercise
ups before I go for a run.

Most of my make-up wore off

wear off fade away
before I got to the party.

I work out at the gym three times

work out exercise
a week.

work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.

We have to work out the total

work something out make a calculation
cost before we buy the house.