Phrasal Verbs In Everyday English

Verb

Meaning

Example

ask someone out

invite on a date

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a

movie.

ask around

ask many people the

same question

I asked around but nobody has seen my

wallet.

add up to something

equal

Your purchases add up to $205.32.

back something up

reverse

You'll have to back up your 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 up after it crashed

into the wall.

blow something up

add air

We have to blow 50 balloons up for the

birthday party.

break down

stop functioning
(vehicle, machine)

Our car broke down at the side of the

highway in the rain.

break down

get upset

The woman broke down when the police

told her that her son had died.

break something down

divide into smaller

parts

Our teacher broke the final project down

into three separate parts.

break in

force entry to a
building

Somebody broke in last night and stole

our computer.

break into something

enter forcibly

The firemen had to break into the room

to rescue the children.

break something in

wear something a
few times so that it
doesn't feel new

I need to break these shoes in before we

run next week.

break in

interrupt

The TV station broke in to report the

news of the president's death.

break up

end a relationship

My boyfriend and I broke up.

break out

escape

The prisoners broke out of jail when the

guards weren't looking.

break out in something

develop a skin
condition

I broke out in a rash after our camping

trip.

bring someone down

make unhappy

This sad music is bringing me down.

bring someone up

raise a child

My grandparents brought me up after my

parents died.

bring something up

start talking about a

subject

My mother walks out of the room when

my father brings up sports.

call around

phone many different

places/people

We called around but we weren't able to

find the car part we needed.

call someone back

return a phone call

I called the company back but the offices

were closed for the weekend.

call something off

cancel

Jason called the wedding off because he

wasn't in love with his fianc.

call on someone

ask for an answer or

opinion

The professor called on me for question 1.

call on someone

visit someone

We called on you last night but you

weren't home.

call someone up

phone

Give me your phone number and I will

call you up when we are in town.

calm down

relax after being

angry

You are still angry. You need to calm

down before you drive the car.

not care for

someone/something

not like (formal)

I don't care for his behaviour.

catch up

get to the same point

as someone else

You'll have to run faster if you want

to catch up with Marty.

check in

arrive and register at

a hotel or airport

We will get the hotel keys when we check

in.

check out

leave a hotel

You have to check out of the hotel before

11:00 AM.

check someone/something
out

look at carefully,
investigate

The company checks out all new

employees.

check out
someone/something

look at (informal)

Check out the crazy hair on that guy!

cheer up

become happier

She cheered up when she heard the good

news.

cheer someone up

make happier

I brought you some flowers to cheer you

up.

chip in

help

If everyone chips in we can get the

kitchen painted by noon.

clean something up

tidy, clean

Please clean up your bedroom before you

go outside.

come across something

find unexpectedly

I came across these old photos in a box.

come apart

separate

The top and bottom come apart if you

pull hard enough.

come down with

something

become sick

My nephew came down with a cold last

weekend.

come forward

volunteer for a task

or to give evidence

The woman came forward with her

husband's finger prints.

come from somewhere

originate in

The art of origami comes from Asia.

count on
someone/something

rely on

I am counting on you to make dinner

while I am out.

cross something out

draw a line through

Please cross out your old address and

write your new one.

cut back on something

consume less

My doctor wants me to cut back on

sweets and fatty foods.

cut something down

make something fall

to the ground

We had to cut the old tree in our yard

down after the storm.

cut in

interrupt

Your father cut in while I was dancing

with your uncle.

cut something off

remove with
something sharp

The doctors cut off his leg because it was

severely injured.

cut something off

stop providing

The phone company cut off our phone

because we didn't pay the bill.

cut something out

remove part of
something (usually
with scissors and
paper)

I cut this ad out of the newspaper.

do something over

do again (N.Amer.)

My teacher wants me to do my essay

over because she doesn't like my subject.

do away with something

discard

It's time to do away with all of these old

tax records.

do something up

fasten, close

Do your coat up before you go outside.

It's snowing!

dress up

wear nice clothing

It's an expensive restaurant so we have to

dress up.

drop back

move back in a
position/group

Andrea dropped back to third place when

she fell off her bike.

drop in/by/over

come without an
appointment

I might drop in/by/over for tea sometime

this week.

drop someone/something
off

take
someone/something
somewhere and leave
them/it there

I have to drop my sister off at work

before I come over.

drop out

quit a class, school

etc

I dropped out of Science because it was

too difficult.

eat out

eat at a restaurant

I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat

out.

end up

eventually
reach/do/decide

We ended up renting a movie instead of

going to the theatre.

fall apart

break into pieces

My new dress fell apart in the washing

machine.

fall down

fall to the ground

The picture that you hung up last night fell

down this morning.

fall out

drop from

The money fell out of my pocket.

fall out

(of hair, teeth)

become loose and
unattached

His hair started to fall out when he was

only 35.

figure something out

understand, find the

answer/solution

I need to figure out how to fit the piano

and the sofa in this room.

fill something in

to write information
in blanks (Br.E.)

Please fill in the form with your name,

address, and phone number.

fill something out

to write information
in blanks (N.Amer.)

The form must be filled out in capital

letters.

fill something up

fill to the top

I always fill the water bottle up when it is

empty.

find out

discover

We don't know where he lives. How can

we find out?

find something out

discover

We tried to keep the time of the party a

secret, but Samantha found it out.

get something across

communicate, make
understandable

I tried to get my point across to the judge

but she wouldn't listen.

get along/on

like each other

I was surprised how well my new

girlfriend and my sister got along/on.

get around

have mobility

My grandfather can get around fine in his

new wheelchair.

get away

go on a vacation

We worked so hard this year that we had

to get away for a week.

get away with something

do without being
noticed or punished

Jason always gets away with cheating in

his math tests.

get back

return

We got back from our vacation last week.

get something back

receive something
you had before

Liz finally got her science notes back

from her friend.

get back at someone

retaliate, take
revenge

My sister got back at me for stealing her

shoes. She stole my favourite hat.

get back into something

become interested in
something again

I finally got back into my book and

finished it.

get on something

step onto a vehicle

We're going to freeze out here if you don't

let us get on the bus.

get over something

recover from an
illness, loss,
difficulty

I just got over the flu and now my sister

has it.

get over something

overcome a problem

The company will have to close if it cant

get over the new regulations.

get round to something

finally find time to

do (N.Amer.: get
around
to something)

I don't know when I am going to get

round 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.

get up

stand

You should get up and give the elderly

man your seat.

give someone away

reveal hidden
information about
someone

His wife gave him away to the police.

give someone away

take the bride to the

altar

My father gave me away at my wedding.

give something away

ruin a secret

My little sister gave the surprise party

away by accident.

give something away

give something to
someone for free

The library was giving away old books on

Friday.

give something back

return a borrowed
item

I have to give these skates back to Frank

before his hockey game.

give in

reluctantly stop
fighting or arguing

My boyfriend didn't want to go to the

ballet, but he finally gave in.

give something out

give to many people

(usually at no cost)

They were giving out free perfume

samples at the department store.

give something up

quit a habit

I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.

give up

stop trying

My math homework was too difficult so

I gave up.

go after someone

follow someone

My brother tried to go after the thief in

his car.

go after something

try to achieve
something

I went after my dream and now I am a

published writer.

go against someone

compete, oppose

We are going against the best soccer team

in the city tonight.

go ahead

start, proceed

Please go ahead and eat before the food

gets 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.

go out with someone

date

Jesse has been going out with Luke since

they met last winter.

go over something

review

Please go over your answers before you

submit your test.

go over

visit someone nearby

I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think

I'll go over for an hour or two.

go without something

suffer lack or
deprivation

When I was young, we went without

winter boots.

grow apart

stop being friends

over time

My best friend and I grew apart after she

changed schools.

grow back

regrow

My roses grew back this summer.

grow up

become an adult

When Jack grows up he wants to be a

fireman.

grow out of something

get too big for

Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes

because she has grown out of her old
ones.

grow into something

grow big enough to

fit

This bike is too big for him now, but he

should grow into it by next year.

hand something down

give something used

I handed books down to my friend.

hand something in

submit

I have to hand in my essay by Friday.

hand something out

to distribute to a
group of people

We will hand out the invitations at the

door.

hand something over

give (usually
unwillingly)

The police asked the man to hand over

his wallet and his weapons.

hang in

stay positive
(N.Amer., informal)

Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job

very soon.

hang on

wait a short time

(informal)

Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!

hang out

spend time relaxing

(informal)

Instead of going to the party we are just

going to hang out at my place.

hang up

end a phone call

He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.

hold someone/something
back

prevent from
doing/going

I had to hold my dog back because there

was a cat in the park.

hold something back

hide an emotion

Jamie held back his tears at his

grandfather's funeral.

hold on

wait a short time

Please hold on while I transfer you to the

Sales Department.

hold onto
someone/something

hold firmly using

your hands or arms

Hold onto your hat because it's very

windy outside.

hold someone/something
up

rob

A man in a black mask held the bank up

this morning.

keep on doing something

continue doing

Keep on studying and you will pass the

exam.

keep something from

someone

not tell

We kept our relationship from our

parents for two years.

keep someone/something
out

stop from entering

Try to keep the wet dog out of the living

room.

keep something up

continue at the same

rate

If you keep those results up you will get

into a great university.

let someone down

fail to support or
help, disappoint

I need you to be on time. Don't let me

down this time.

let someone in

allow to enter

Can you let the cat in before you go to

school?

look after
someone/something

take care of

I have to look after my sick grandmother.

look down on someone

think less of,

consider inferior

Ever since we stole that chocolate bar

your dad has looked down on me.

look for
someone/something

try to find

I'm looking for a red dress for the

wedding.

look forward to something

be excited about the

future

I'm looking forward to the Christmas

break.

look into something

investigate

We are going to look into the price of

mobile phones today.

look out

be careful, vigilant,
and take notice

Look out! That car's going to hit you!

look out for

someone/something

be especially vigilant
for

Don't forget to look out for snakes on the

hiking trail.

look something over

check, examine

Can you look over my report for spelling

mistakes?

look something up

search and find

information in a
reference book or
database

We can look her phone number up on the

Internet.

look up to someone

have a lot of respect

for

My little sister has always looked up to

me.

make something up

invent, lie about

something

Josie made up a story about why we were

late.

make up

forgive each other

We were angry last night, but we made

up at breakfast.

make someone up

apply cosmetics to

My sisters made me up for the party.

mix something up

confuse two or more

things

I mixed up the twins' names again!

pass away

die

His uncle passed away last night.

pass out

faint

It was so hot in the church that an old

lady passed out.

pass something out

give the same thing

to many people

The professor passed the exam out her

students.

pass something up

decline (usually
something good)

I passed up the job because I am afraid of

change.

pay someone back

return owed money

Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you

back on Friday.

pay for something

be punished for doing That criminal will pay for hurting my

something bad
friend.

pick something out

choose

I picked out three sweaters for you to try

on.

point someone/something
out

indicate with your

finger

I'll point my boyfriend out when he

passes by.

put something down

put what you are

holding on a surface
or floor

You can put the food down on the kitchen

table.

put someone down

insult, make someone

feel stupid

The students put the substitute teacher

down because his pants were too short.

put something off

postpone

We are putting off our trip until January

because of the bad weather.

put something out

extinguish

The neighbours put the fire out before the

firemen arrived.

put something together

assemble

I have to put the bed together before our

visitors arrive.

put up with
someone/something

tolerate

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

children in the car.

put something on

put
clothing/accessories
on your body

Don't forget to put on your new earrings

for the party.

run into
someone/something

meet unexpectedly

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

run over
someone/something

drive a vehicle over a

person or thing

I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the

driveway.

run over/through
something

rehearse, review

Let's run over/through these lines one

more time before the show.

run away

leave unexpectedly,
escape

The child ran away from home and has

been missing for three days.

run out

have none left

We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash

my hair with soap.

send something back

return (usually by
mail)

My letter got sent back to me because I

used the wrong stamp.

set something up

arrange, organize

Our boss set a meeting up 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 prices

I want to shop around a little before I

decide on these boots.

show off

act extra special for

people watching
(usually boastfully)

He always shows off on his skateboard.

sleep over

stay somewhere for

the night (informal)

You should sleep over tonight if the

weather is too bad to drive home.

sort something out

organize, resolve a
problem

We need to sort the bills out before the

first of the month.

stick to something

continue doing
something, limit
yourself to one
particular thing

You will lose weight if you stick to the

diet.

switch something off

stop the energy flow,

turn off

The light's too bright. Could you switch it

off?

switch something on

start the energy flow,

turn on

We heard the news as soon as we

switched on the car radio.

take after someone

resemble a family
member

I take after my mother. We are both

impatient.

take something apart

intentionally break
into pieces

He took the car brakes apart and found

the problem.

take something back

return an item

I have to take our new TV back because

it doesn't work.

take off

start to fly

My plane takes off in five minutes.

take something off

remove something
(usually clothing)

Take off your socks and shoes and come

into the lake!

take something out

remove from a place

or thing

Can you take the trash out to the street for

me?

take someone out

pay for someone to

go somewhere with
you

My grandparents took us out for dinner

and a movie.

tear something up

rip into pieces

I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and

gave them back to him.

think back

remember (often +
to, sometimes + on)

When I think back on my youth, I wish I

had studied harder.

think something over

consider

I'll have to think this job offer over before

I make my final decision.

throw something away

dispose of

We threw our old furniture away when

we won the lottery.

turn something down

decrease the volume

or strength (heat,
light etc)

Please turn the TV down while the guests

are here.

turn something down

refuse

I turned the job down because I don't

want to move.

turn something off

stop the energy flow,

switch off

Your mother wants you to turn 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.

turn something up

increase the volume

or strength (heat,
light etc)

Can you turn the music up? This is my

favourite song.

turn up

appear suddenly

Our cat turned up after we put posters up

all over the neighbourhood.

try something on

sample clothing

I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't

think they will fit.

try something out

test

I am going to try this new brand of

coffee out.

use something up

finish the supply

The kids used all of the toothpaste up so

we need to buy some more.

wake up

stop sleeping

We have to wake up early for work on

Monday.

warm someone/something
up

increase the
temperature

You can warm your feet up in front of the

fireplace.

warm up

prepare body for

exercise

I always warm up by doing sit-ups 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 successful

Our plan worked out fine.

work something out

make a calculation,
determine

We have to work out the total cost before

we buy the house.

Br.E.: British English; N.Amer.: North American

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