Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb +
preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as
you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. Use the list below
as a reference guide when you find an expression that you don't recognize. The
example sentences will help you understand the meanings. If you think of each phrasal
verb as a separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it more
easily. Like many other verbs, phrasal verbs often have more than one meaning.
This list shows about 200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples. Only
the most usual meanings are given. Some phrasal verbs may have additional
meanings.
As well as learning their meanings, you can study the grammar of phrasal verbs.

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and

ask someone out invite on a date
a movie.
ask many people the same I asked around but nobody has
ask around
question seen my wallet.
add up to
equal Your purchases add up to $205.32.
something
You'll have to back up your car so
back something up reverse
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 for
blow something up add air
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 the
break down get upset police told her that her son had
died.
break something Our teacher broke the final project
divide into smaller parts
down down into three separate parts.
Somebody broke in last night and
break in force entry to a building
stole our stereo.
break into The firemen had to break into the
enter forcibly
something room to rescue the children.
break something in wear something a few times I need to break these shoes in
so that it doesn't look/feel before we run next week.
 new
The TV station broke in to report
break in interrupt
the news of the president's death.
My boyfriend and I broke up before
break up end a relationship
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.
break out in I broke out in a rash after our
develop a skin condition
something camping trip.
bring someone This sad music is bringing me
make unhappy
down down.
My grandparents brought me up
bring someone up raise a child
after my parents died.
bring something My mother walks out of the room
start talking about a subject
up when my father brings up sports.
bring something He drank so much that he brought
vomit
up his dinner up in the toilet.
phone many different We called around but we weren't
call around
places/people able to find the car part we 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 you
call on someone visit someone
weren't home.
Give me your phone number and I
call someone up phone will call you up when we are in
town.
You are still mad. You need to calm
calm down relax after being angry
down before you drive the car.
not care for
someone/somethin not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.
g
get to the same point as You'll have to run faster than that if
catch up
someone else you want to catch up with Marty.
check in arrive and register at a hotel We will get the hotel keys when we
 or airport check in.
You have to check out of the hotel
check out leave a hotel
before 11:00 AM.
check
The company checks out all new
someone/somethin look at carefully, investigate
employees.
g out
check out
Check out the crazy hair on that
someone/somethin look at (informal)
guy!
g
She cheered up when she heard
cheer up become happier
the good news.
I brought you some flowers to cheer
cheer someone up make happier
you up.
If everyone chips in we can get the
chip in help
kitchen painted by noon.
clean something Please clean up your bedroom
tidy, clean
up before you go outside.
come across I came across these old photos
find unexpectedly
something 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 her
come forward
evidence husband's finger prints.
come from The art of origami comes from
originate in
somewhere Asia.
count on
I am counting on you to make
someone/somethin rely on
dinner while I am out.
g
cross something Please cross out your old address
draw a line through
out and write your new one.
cut back on My doctor wants me to cut back on
consume less
something sweets and fatty foods.
cut something make something fall to the We had to cut the old tree in our
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 that
cut in
another vehicle car cut in.
start operating (of an engine The air conditioner cuts in when the
cut in
or electrical device) temperature gets to 22°C.
 The doctors cut off his leg because
cut something off remove with something sharp
it was severely injured.
stop providing The phone company cut off our
cut something off phone because we didn't pay the
bill.
My grandparents cut my father off
cut someone off take out of a will
when he remarried.
remove part of something I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
cut something out (usually with scissors and
paper)
do
beat up, ransack (BrE, He's lucky to be alive. His shop was
someone/somethin
informal) done over by a street gang.
g over
do again (AmE) My teacher wants me to do my
do something over essay over because she doesn't
like my topic.
do away with It's time to do away with all of these
discard
something old tax records.
Do your coat up before you go
do something up fasten, close
outside. It's snowing!
It's a fancy restaurant so we have to
dress up wear nice clothing
dress up.
Andrea dropped back to third place
drop back move back in a position/group
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.
drop take someone/something
I have to drop my sister off at work
someone/somethin somewhere and leave them/it
before I come over.
g off 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. Let's
eat out eat at a restaurant
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 of
fall out separate from an interior
my pocket.
fall out (of hair, teeth) become loose His hair started to fall out when he
 and unattached was only 35.
understand, find the answer I need to figure out how to fit the
figure something
piano and the bookshelf in this
out
room.
to write information in blanks, Please fill in the form with your
fill something in
as on a form (BrE) name, address, and phone number.
to write information in blanks, The form must be filled out in
fill something out
as on a form (AmE) capital letters.
I always fill the water jug up when it
fill something up fill to the top
is empty.
We don't know where he lives. How
find out discover
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 communicate, make I tried to get my point across/over
across/over understandable 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.
My grandfather can get around fine
get around have mobility
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.
get away with do without being noticed or Jason always gets away with
something punished cheating in his maths tests.
We got back from our vacation last
get back return
week.
get something receive something you had Liz finally got her Science notes
back before back from my room-mate.
retaliate, take revenge My sister got back at me for
get back at
stealing her shoes. She stole my
someone
favourite hat.
get back into become interested in I finally got back into my novel and
something something again finished it.
We're going to freeze out here if you
get on something step onto a vehicle
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.
The company will have to close if it
get over something overcome a problem
can't get over the new regulations.
get round to finally find time to do (AmE: I don't know when I am going to get
 round to writing the thank you
something get around to something)
cards.
meet (usually for social Let's get together for a BBQ this
get together
reasons) weekend.
I got up early today to study for my
get up get out of bed
exam.
You should get up and give the
get up stand
elderly man your seat.
give someone reveal hidden information His wife gave him away to the
away about someone police.
give someone My father gave me away at my
take the bride to the altar
away wedding.
give something My little sister gave the surprise
ruin a secret
away party away by accident.
give something give something to someone The library was giving away old
away for free books on Friday.
give something I have to give these skates back to
return a borrowed item
back Franz before his hockey game.
reluctantly stop fighting or My boyfriend didn't want to go to the
give in
arguing ballet, but he finally gave in.
give to many people (usually They were giving out free perfume
give something out
at no cost) samples at the 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 thief
go after someone follow someone
in his car.
I went after my dream and now I
go after something try to achieve something
am a published writer.
go against We are going against the best
compete, oppose
someone soccer team in the city tonight.
Please go ahead and eat before the
go ahead start, proceed
food gets cold.
I have to go back home and get my
go back return to a place
lunch.
leave home to go on a social
go out We're going out for dinner tonight.
event
go out with Jesse has been going out with
date
someone 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 time. I
go over visit someone nearby
think I'll go over for an hour or two.
go without When I was young, we went
suffer lack or deprivation
something 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 shoes
grow out of
get too big for because she has grown out of her
something
old ones.
grow into This bike is too big for him now, but
grow big enough to fit
something he should grow into it by next year.
hand something give something used to I handed my old comic books down
down someone else to my little cousin.
I have to hand in my essay by
hand something in submit
Friday.
hand something to distribute to a group of We will hand out the invitations at
out people the door.
hand something The police asked the man to hand
give (usually unwillingly)
over over his wallet and his weapons.
Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a
hang in stay positive (informal)
job very soon.
Hang on while I grab my coat and
hang on wait a short time (informal)
shoes!
Instead of going to the party we are
hang out spend time relaxing (informal)
just going to hang out at my place.
He didn't say goodbye before he
hang up end a phone call
hung up.
hold
I had to hold my dog back because
someone/somethin prevent from doing/going
there was a cat in the park.
g back
hold something Jamie held back his tears at his
hide an emotion
back grandfather's funeral.
Please hold on while I transfer you
hold on wait a short time
to the Sales Department.
hold onto
hold firmly using your hands Hold onto your hat because it's
someone/somethin
or arms very windy outside.
g
hold rob A man in a black mask held the
someone/somethin bank up this morning.
gup
keep on doing Keep on stirring until the liquid
continue doing
something comes to a boil.
keep something We kept our relationship from our
not tell
from someone parents for two years.
keep
Try to keep the wet dog out of the
someone/somethin stop from entering
living room.
g out
If you keep those results up you will
keep something up continue at the same rate
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 go
let someone in allow to enter
to school?
sign in (to a website, I can't log in to Facebook because
log in (or on)
database etc) I've forgotten my password.
sign out (of a website, If you don't log off somebody could
log out (or off)
database etc) get into your account.
look after
I have to look after my sick
someone/somethin take care of
grandmother.
g
think less of, consider inferior Ever since we stole that chocolate
look down on
bar your dad has looked down on
someone
me.
look for
I'm looking for a red dress for the
someone/somethin try to find
wedding.
g
look forward to I'm looking forward to the
be excited about the future
something Christmas break.
look into We are going to look into the price
investigate
something of snowboards today.
be careful, vigilant, and take
look out Look out! That car's going to hit you!
notice
look out for
Don't forget to look out for snakes
someone/somethin be especially vigilant for
on the hiking trail.
g
look something Can you look over my essay for
check, examine
over spelling mistakes?
search and find information in We can look her phone number up
look something up
a reference book or database on the Internet.
look up to My little sister has always looked
have a lot of respect for
someone up to me.
make something Josie made up a story about why
invent, lie about something
up we were late.
We were angry last night, but we
make up forgive each other
made up at breakfast.
My sisters made me up for my
make someone up apply cosmetics to
graduation party.
mix something up confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names 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.
pass something give the same thing to many The professor passed the textbooks
out people 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
pay someone back return owed money
you back on Friday.
be punished for doing That bully will pay for being mean
pay for something
something bad to my little brother.
I picked out three sweaters for you
pick something out choose
to try on.
point
I'll point my boyfriend out when he
someone/somethin indicate with your finger
runs by.
g out
put something put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries down on
down surface or floor the kitchen counter.
The students put the substitute
put someone insult, make someone feel
teacher down because his pants
down stupid
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.
put something I have to put the crib together
assemble
together before the baby arrives.
put up with
I don't think I can put up with three
someone/somethin tolerate
small children in the car.
g
put clothing/accessories on Don't forget to put on your new
put something on
your body earrings for the party.
run into meet unexpectedly I ran into an old school-friend at the
someone/somethin mall.
g
run over
drive a vehicle over a person I accidentally ran over your bicycle
someone/somethin
or thing in the driveway.
g
run over/through Let's run over/through these lines
rehearse, review
something one more time before the show.
The child ran away from home and
run away leave unexpectedly, escape
has been missing for three days.
We ran out of shampoo so I had to
run out have none left
wash my hair with soap.
send something My letter got sent back to me
return (usually by mail)
back because I used the wrong stamp.
Our boss set a meeting up with the
set something up arrange, organize
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 before
shop around compare prices
I decide on these boots.
act extra special for people He always shows off on his
show off
watching (usually boastfully) skateboard
stay somewhere for the night You should sleep over tonight if the
sleep over
(informal) weather is too bad to drive home.
We need to sort the bills out before
sort something out organize, resolve a problem
the first of the month.
continue doing something,
You will lose weight if you stick to
stick to something limit yourself to one particular
the diet.
thing
switch something The light's too bright. Could you
stop the energy flow, turn off
off switch it off.
switch something We heard the news as soon as we
start the energy flow, turn on
on switched on the car radio.
take after I take after my mother. We are both
resemble a family member
someone impatient.
take something He took the car brakes apart and
purposely break into pieces
apart found the problem.
take something I have to take our new TV back
return an item
back because it doesn't work.
take off start to fly My plane takes off in five minutes.
remove something (usually Take off your socks and shoes and
take something off
clothing) 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 letters
tear something up rip into pieces
and gave them back to him.
remember (often + to, When I think back on my youth, I
think back
sometimes + on) wish I had studied harder.
think something I'll have to think this job offer over
consider
over before I make my final decision.
throw something We threw our old furniture away
dispose of
away when we won the lottery.
turn something decrease the volume or Please turn the TV down while the
down strength (heat, light etc) guests are here.
turn something I turned the job down because I
refuse
down don't want to move.
stop the energy flow, switch Your mother wants you to turn the
turn something off
off TV off and come for dinner.
It's too dark in here. Let's turn some
turn something on start the energy, switch on
lights on.
increase the volume or Can you turn the music up? This is
turn something up
strength (heat, light etc) 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, but I
try something on sample clothing
don't think they will fit.
I am going to try this new brand of
try something out test
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 work
wake up stop sleeping
on Monday.
warm
You can warm your feet up in front
someone/somethin increase the temperature
of the fireplace.
g up
I always warm up by doing sit-ups
warm up prepare body for exercise
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 a
work out exercise
week.
work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.
work something make a calculation We have to work out the total cost