18/12/2014 PhrasalVerbsList|EnglishClub

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PhrasalVerbsList(EnglishClub.com)Phrasalverbsareusuallytwowordphrasesconsistingofverb+adverborverb+preposition.ThinkofthemasyouwouldanyotherEnglishvocabulary.Studythemasyoucomeacrossthem,ratherthantryingtomemorizemanyatonce.Usethelistbelowasareferenceguidewhenyoufindanexpressionthatyoudon'trecognize.Theexampleswillhelpyouunderstandthemeanings.Ifyouthinkofeachphrasalverbasaseparateverbwithaspecificmeaning,youwillbeabletorememberitmoreeasily.Likemanyotherverbs,phrasalverbsoftenhavemorethanonemeaning.

Thislistshowsabout200commonphrasalverbs,withmeaningsandexamples.Onlythemostusualmeaningsaregiven.Somephrasalverbsmayhaveadditionalmeanings.

Seealsoourpageswith1000+PhrasalVerbs,withdefinitions,synonyms,explanations,samplesentences,collocationsandquizzes(withanswers).

Aswellaslearningtheirmeanings,youneedtolearnhowtousephrasalverbs.

Verb Meaning Example

asksomeoneout inviteonadate BrianaskedJudyouttodinnerandamovie.

askaround askmanypeoplethesamequestion

Iaskedaroundbutnobodyhasseenmywallet.

adduptosomething equal Yourpurchasesaddupto$205.32.

backsomethingup reverse You'llhavetobackupyourcarsothatIcangetout.

backsomeoneup support Mywifebackedmeupovermydecisiontoquitmyjob.

blowup explode Theracingcarblewupafteritcrashedintothefence.

blowsomethingup addair Wehavetoblow50balloonsupfortheparty.

breakdown stopfunctioning(vehicle,machine) Ourcarbrokedownatthesideofthehighwayinthesnowstorm.

breakdown getupset Thewomanbrokedownwhenthepolicetoldherthathersonhaddied.

breaksomethingdown

divideintosmallerparts Ourteacherbrokethefinalprojectdownintothreeseparateparts.

breakin forceentrytoabuilding Somebodybrokeinlastnightandstoleourstereo.

breakintosomething enterforcibly Thefiremenhadtobreakintotheroomtorescuethechildren.

breaksomethingin wearsomethingafewtimessothatitdoesn'tlook/feelnew

Ineedtobreaktheseshoesinbeforewerunnextweek.

breakin interrupt TheTVstationbrokeintoreportthenewsofthepresident'sdeath.

breakup endarelationship MyboyfriendandIbrokeupbeforeImovedtoAmerica.

breakup startlaughing(informal) Thekidsjustbrokeupassoonastheclownstartedtalking.

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breakout escape Theprisonersbrokeoutofjailwhentheguardsweren'tlooking.

breakoutinsomething

developaskincondition Ibrokeoutinarashafterourcampingtrip.

bringsomeonedown makeunhappy Thissadmusicisbringingmedown.

bringsomeoneup raiseachild Mygrandparentsbroughtmeupaftermyparentsdied.

bringsomethingup starttalkingaboutasubject Mymotherwalksoutoftheroomwhenmyfatherbringsupsports.

bringsomethingup vomit Hedranksomuchthathebroughthisdinnerupinthetoilet.

callaround phonemanydifferentplaces/people

Wecalledaroundbutweweren'tabletofindthecarpartweneeded.

callsomeoneback returnaphonecall Icalledthecompanybackbuttheofficeswereclosedfortheweekend.

callsomethingoff cancel Jasoncalledtheweddingoffbecausehewasn'tinlovewithhisfianc.

callonsomeone askforanansweroropinion Theprofessorcalledonmeforquestion1.

callonsomeone visitsomeone Wecalledonyoulastnightbutyouweren'thome.

callsomeoneup phone GivemeyourphonenumberandIwillcallyouupwhenweareintown.

calmdown relaxafterbeingangry Youarestillmad.Youneedtocalmdownbeforeyoudrivethecar.

notcareforsomeone/something

notlike(formal) Idon'tcareforhisbehaviour.

catchup gettothesamepointassomeoneelse

You'llhavetorunfasterthanthatifyouwanttocatchupwithMarty.

checkin arriveandregisteratahotelorairport

Wewillgetthehotelkeyswhenwecheckin.

checkout leaveahotel Youhavetocheckoutofthehotelbefore11:00AM.

checksomeone/somethingout

lookatcarefully,investigate Thecompanychecksoutallnewemployees.

checkoutsomeone/something

lookat(informal) Checkoutthecrazyhaironthatguy!

cheerup becomehappier Shecheeredupwhensheheardthegoodnews.

cheersomeoneup makehappier Ibroughtyousomeflowerstocheeryouup.

chipin help Ifeveryonechipsinwecangetthekitchenpaintedbynoon.

cleansomethingup tidy,clean Pleasecleanupyourbedroombeforeyougooutside.

comeacrosssomething

findunexpectedly IcameacrosstheseoldphotoswhenIwastidyingthecloset.

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comeapart separate Thetopandbottomcomeapartifyoupullhardenough.

comedownwithsomething

becomesick Mynephewcamedownwithchickenpoxthisweekend.

comeforward volunteerforataskortogiveevidence

Thewomancameforwardwithherhusband'sfingerprints.

comefromsomewhere

originatein TheartoforigamicomesfromAsia.

countonsomeone/something

relyon IamcountingonyoutomakedinnerwhileIamout.

crosssomethingout drawalinethrough Pleasecrossoutyouroldaddressandwriteyournewone.

cutbackonsomething

consumeless Mydoctorwantsmetocutbackonsweetsandfattyfoods.

cutsomethingdown makesomethingfalltotheground Wehadtocuttheoldtreeinouryarddownafterthestorm.

cutin interrupt YourfathercutinwhileIwasdancingwithyouruncle.

cutin pullintoocloselyinfrontofanothervehicle

Thebusdrivergotangrywhenthatcarcutin.

cutin startoperating(ofanengineorelectricaldevice)

Theairconditionercutsinwhenthetemperaturegetsto22C.

cutsomethingoff removewithsomethingsharp Thedoctorscutoffhislegbecauseitwasseverelyinjured.

cutsomethingoff stopproviding Thephonecompanycutoffourphonebecausewedidn'tpaythebill.

cutsomeoneoff takeoutofawill Mygrandparentscutmyfatheroffwhenheremarried.

cutsomethingout removepartofsomething(usuallywithscissorsandpaper)

Icutthisadoutofthenewspaper.

dosomeone/somethingover

beatup,ransack(Br.E.,informal) He'sluckytobealive.Hisshopwasdoneoverbyastreetgang.

dosomethingover doagain(N.Amer.) Myteacherwantsmetodomyessayoverbecauseshedoesn'tlikemytopic.

doawaywithsomething

discard It'stimetodoawaywithalloftheseoldtaxrecords.

dosomethingup fasten,close Doyourcoatupbeforeyougooutside.It'ssnowing!

dressup wearniceclothing It'safancyrestaurantsowehavetodressup.

dropback movebackinaposition/group Andreadroppedbacktothirdplacewhenshefelloffherbike.

dropin/by/over comewithoutanappointment Imightdropin/by/overforteasometimethisweek.

dropsomeone/somethingoff

takesomeone/somethingsomewhereandleavethem/itthere

IhavetodropmysisteroffatworkbeforeIcomeover.

dropout quitaclass,schooletc IdroppedoutofSciencebecauseitwastoo

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difficult.

eatout eatatarestaurant Idon'tfeellikecookingtonight.Let'seatout.

endup eventuallyreach/do/decide Weendeduprentingamovieinsteadofgoingtothetheatre.

fallapart breakintopieces Mynewdressfellapartinthewashingmachine.

falldown falltotheground Thepicturethatyouhunguplastnightfelldownthismorning.

fallout separatefromaninterior Themoneymusthavefallenoutofmypocket.

fallout (ofhair,teeth)becomelooseandunattached

Hishairstartedtofalloutwhenhewasonly35.

figuresomethingout understand,findtheanswer Ineedtofigureouthowtofitthepianoandthebookshelfinthisroom.

fillsomethingin towriteinformationinblanks(Br.E.)

Pleasefillintheformwithyourname,address,andphonenumber.

fillsomethingout towriteinformationinblanks(N.Amer.)

Theformmustbefilledoutincapitalletters.

fillsomethingup filltothetop Ialwaysfillthewaterjugupwhenitisempty.

findout discover Wedon'tknowwherehelives.Howcanwefindout?

findsomethingout discover Wetriedtokeepthetimeofthepartyasecret,butSamanthafounditout.

getsomethingacross/over

communicate,makeunderstandable

Itriedtogetmypointacross/overtothejudgebutshewouldn'tlisten.

getalong/on likeeachother Iwassurprisedhowwellmynewgirlfriendandmysistergotalong/on.

getaround havemobility Mygrandfathercangetaroundfineinhisnewwheelchair.

getaway goonavacation Weworkedsohardthisyearthatwehadtogetawayforaweek.

getawaywithsomething

dowithoutbeingnoticedorpunished

Jasonalwaysgetsawaywithcheatinginhismathstests.

getback return Wegotbackfromourvacationlastweek.

getsomethingback receivesomethingyouhadbefore LizfinallygotherSciencenotesbackfrommyroommate.

getbackatsomeone retaliate,takerevenge Mysistergotbackatmeforstealinghershoes.Shestolemyfavouritehat.

getbackintosomething

becomeinterestedinsomethingagain

Ifinallygotbackintomynovelandfinishedit.

getonsomething stepontoavehicle We'regoingtofreezeouthereifyoudon'tletusgetonthebus.

getoversomething recoverfromanillness,loss,difficulty

Ijustgotoverthefluandnowmysisterhasit.

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getoversomething overcomeaproblem Thecompanywillhavetocloseifitcan'tgetoverthenewregulations.

getroundtosomething

finallyfindtimetodo(N.Amer.:getaroundtosomething)

Idon'tknowwhenIamgoingtogetroundtowritingthethankyoucards.

gettogether meet(usuallyforsocialreasons) Let'sgettogetherforaBBQthisweekend.

getup getoutofbed Igotupearlytodaytostudyformyexam.

getup stand Youshouldgetupandgivetheelderlymanyourseat.

givesomeoneaway revealhiddeninformationaboutsomeone

Hiswifegavehimawaytothepolice.

givesomeoneaway takethebridetothealtar Myfathergavemeawayatmywedding.

givesomethingaway ruinasecret Mylittlesistergavethesurprisepartyawaybyaccident.

givesomethingaway givesomethingtosomeoneforfree

ThelibrarywasgivingawayoldbooksonFriday.

givesomethingback returnaborroweditem IhavetogivetheseskatesbacktoFranzbeforehishockeygame.

givein reluctantlystopfightingorarguing Myboyfrienddidn'twanttogototheballet,buthefinallygavein.

givesomethingout givetomanypeople(usuallyatnocost)

Theyweregivingoutfreeperfumesamplesatthedepartmentstore.

givesomethingup quitahabit IamgivingupsmokingasofJanuary1st.

giveup stoptrying MymathshomeworkwastoodifficultsoIgaveup.

goaftersomeone followsomeone Mybrothertriedtogoafterthethiefinhiscar.

goaftersomething trytoachievesomething IwentaftermydreamandnowIamapublishedwriter.

goagainstsomeone compete,oppose Wearegoingagainstthebestsoccerteaminthecitytonight.

goahead start,proceed Pleasegoaheadandeatbeforethefoodgetscold.

goback returntoaplace Ihavetogobackhomeandgetmylunch.

goout leavehometogoonasocialevent We'regoingoutfordinnertonight.

gooutwithsomeone date JessehasbeengoingoutwithLukesincetheymetlastwinter.

gooversomething review Pleasegooveryouranswersbeforeyousubmityourtest.

goover visitsomeonenearby Ihaven'tseenTinaforalongtime.IthinkI'llgooverforanhourortwo.

gowithoutsomething sufferlackordeprivation WhenIwasyoung,wewentwithoutwinterboots.

growapart stopbeingfriendsovertime MybestfriendandIgrewapartaftershechangedschools.

growback regrow Myrosesgrewbackthissummer.

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growup becomeanadult WhenJackgrowsuphewantstobeafireman.

growoutofsomething

gettoobigfor Elizabethneedsanewpairofshoesbecauseshehasgrownoutofheroldones.

growintosomething growbigenoughtofit Thisbikeistoobigforhimnow,butheshouldgrowintoitbynextyear.

handsomethingdown

givesomethingusedtosomeoneelse

Ihandedmyoldcomicbooksdowntomylittlecousin.

handsomethingin submit IhavetohandinmyessaybyFriday.

handsomethingout todistributetoagroupofpeople Wewillhandouttheinvitationsatthedoor.

handsomethingover give(usuallyunwillingly) Thepoliceaskedthemantohandoverhiswalletandhisweapons.

hangin staypositive(N.Amer.,informal) Hanginthere.I'msureyou'llfindajobverysoon.

hangon waitashorttime(informal) HangonwhileIgrabmycoatandshoes!

hangout spendtimerelaxing(informal) Insteadofgoingtothepartywearejustgoingtohangoutatmyplace.

hangup endaphonecall Hedidn'tsaygoodbyebeforehehungup.

holdsomeone/somethingback

preventfromdoing/going Ihadtoholdmydogbackbecausetherewasacatinthepark.

holdsomethingback hideanemotion Jamieheldbackhistearsathisgrandfather'sfuneral.

holdon waitashorttime PleaseholdonwhileItransferyoutotheSalesDepartment.

holdontosomeone/something

holdfirmlyusingyourhandsorarms

Holdontoyourhatbecauseit'sverywindyoutside.

holdsomeone/somethingup

rob Amaninablackmaskheldthebankupthismorning.

keepondoingsomething

continuedoing Keeponstirringuntiltheliquidcomestoaboil.

keepsomethingfromsomeone

nottell Wekeptourrelationshipfromourparentsfortwoyears.

keepsomeone/somethingout

stopfromentering Trytokeepthewetdogoutofthelivingroom.

keepsomethingup continueatthesamerate Ifyoukeepthoseresultsupyouwillgetintoagreatcollege.

letsomeonedown failtosupportorhelp,disappoint Ineedyoutobeontime.Don'tletmedownthistime.

letsomeonein allowtoenter Canyouletthecatinbeforeyougotoschool?

login(oron) signin(toawebsite,databaseetc)

Ican'tlogintoFacebookbecauseI'veforgottenmypassword.

logout(oroff) signout(ofawebsite,databaseetc)

Ifyoudon'tlogoffsomebodycouldgetintoyouraccount.

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lookaftersomeone/something

takecareof Ihavetolookaftermysickgrandmother.

lookdownonsomeone

thinklessof,considerinferior Eversincewestolethatchocolatebaryourdadhaslookeddownonme.

lookforsomeone/something

trytofind I'mlookingforareddressforthewedding.

lookforwardtosomething

beexcitedaboutthefuture I'mlookingforwardtotheChristmasbreak.

lookintosomething investigate Wearegoingtolookintothepriceofsnowboardstoday.

lookout becareful,vigilant,andtakenotice

Lookout!Thatcar'sgoingtohityou!

lookoutforsomeone/something

beespeciallyvigilantfor Don'tforgettolookoutforsnakesonthehikingtrail.

looksomethingover check,examine Canyoulookovermyessayforspellingmistakes?

looksomethingup searchandfindinformationinareferencebookordatabase

WecanlookherphonenumberupontheInternet.

lookuptosomeone havealotofrespectfor Mylittlesisterhasalwayslookeduptome.

makesomethingup invent,lieaboutsomething Josiemadeupastoryaboutwhywewerelate.

makeup forgiveeachother Wewereangrylastnight,butwemadeupatbreakfast.

makesomeoneup applycosmeticsto Mysistersmademeupformygraduationparty.

mixsomethingup confusetwoormorethings Imixedupthetwins'namesagain!

passaway die Hisunclepassedawaylastnightafteralongillness.

passout faint Itwassohotinthechurchthatanelderlyladypassedout.

passsomethingout givethesamethingtomanypeople

Theprofessorpassedthetextbooksoutbeforeclass.

passsomethingup decline(usuallysomethinggood) IpassedupthejobbecauseIamafraidofchange.

paysomeoneback returnowedmoney Thanksforbuyingmyticket.I'llpayyoubackonFriday.

payforsomething bepunishedfordoingsomethingbad

Thatbullywillpayforbeingmeantomylittlebrother.

picksomethingout choose Ipickedoutthreesweatersforyoutotryon.

pointsomeone/somethingout

indicatewithyourfinger I'llpointmyboyfriendoutwhenherunsby.

putsomethingdown putwhatyouareholdingonasurfaceorfloor

Youcanputthegroceriesdownonthekitchencounter.

putsomeonedown insult,makesomeonefeelstupid Thestudentsputthesubstituteteacherdownbecausehispantsweretooshort.

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putsomethingoff postpone WeareputtingoffourtripuntilJanuarybecauseofthehurricane.

putsomethingout extinguish Theneighboursputthefireoutbeforethefiremenarrived.

putsomethingtogether

assemble Ihavetoputthecribtogetherbeforethebabyarrives.

putupwithsomeone/something

tolerate Idon'tthinkIcanputupwiththreesmallchildreninthecar.

putsomethingon putclothing/accessoriesonyourbody

Don'tforgettoputonyournewearringsfortheparty.

runintosomeone/something

meetunexpectedly Iranintoanoldschoolfriendatthemall.

runoversomeone/something

driveavehicleoverapersonorthing

Iaccidentallyranoveryourbicycleinthedriveway.

runover/throughsomething

rehearse,review Let'srunover/throughtheselinesonemoretimebeforetheshow.

runaway leaveunexpectedly,escape Thechildranawayfromhomeandhasbeenmissingforthreedays.

runout havenoneleft WeranoutofshampoosoIhadtowashmyhairwithsoap.

sendsomethingback return(usuallybymail) MylettergotsentbacktomebecauseIusedthewrongstamp.

setsomethingup arrange,organize Ourbosssetameetingupwiththepresidentofthecompany.

setsomeoneup trick,trap Thepolicesetupthecarthiefbyusingahiddencamera.

shoparound compareprices IwanttoshoparoundalittlebeforeIdecideontheseboots.

showoff actextraspecialforpeoplewatching(usuallyboastfully)

Healwaysshowsoffonhisskateboard

sleepover staysomewhereforthenight(informal)

Youshouldsleepovertonightiftheweatheristoobadtodrivehome.

sortsomethingout organize,resolveaproblem Weneedtosortthebillsoutbeforethefirstofthemonth.

sticktosomething continuedoingsomething,limityourselftooneparticularthing

Youwillloseweightifyousticktothediet.

switchsomethingoff stoptheenergyflow,turnoff Thelight'stoobright.Couldyouswitchitoff.

switchsomethingon starttheenergyflow,turnon Weheardthenewsassoonasweswitchedonthecarradio.

takeaftersomeone resembleafamilymember Itakeaftermymother.Wearebothimpatient.

takesomethingapart purposelybreakintopieces Hetookthecarbrakesapartandfoundtheproblem.

takesomethingback returnanitem IhavetotakeournewTVbackbecauseitdoesn'twork.

takeoff starttofly Myplanetakesoffinfiveminutes.

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takesomethingoff removesomething(usuallyclothing)

Takeoffyoursocksandshoesandcomeinthelake!

takesomethingout removefromaplaceorthing Canyoutakethegarbageouttothestreetforme?

takesomeoneout payforsomeonetogosomewherewithyou

Mygrandparentstookusoutfordinnerandamovie.

tearsomethingup ripintopieces Itoreupmyexboyfriend'slettersandgavethembacktohim.

thinkback remember(often+to,sometimes+on)

WhenIthinkbackonmyyouth,IwishIhadstudiedharder.

thinksomethingover consider I'llhavetothinkthisjobofferoverbeforeImakemyfinaldecision.

throwsomethingaway

disposeof Wethrewouroldfurnitureawaywhenwewonthelottery.

turnsomethingdown decreasethevolumeorstrength(heat,lightetc)

PleaseturntheTVdownwhiletheguestsarehere.

turnsomethingdown refuse IturnedthejobdownbecauseIdon'twanttomove.

turnsomethingoff stoptheenergyflow,switchoff YourmotherwantsyoutoturntheTVoffandcomefordinner.

turnsomethingon starttheenergy,switchon It'stoodarkinhere.Let'sturnsomelightson.

turnsomethingup increasethevolumeorstrength(heat,lightetc)

Canyouturnthemusicup?Thisismyfavouritesong.

turnup appearsuddenly Ourcatturnedupafterweputpostersupallovertheneighbourhood.

trysomethingon sampleclothing I'mgoingtotrythesejeanson,butIdon'tthinktheywillfit.

trysomethingout test Iamgoingtotrythisnewbrandofdetergentout.

usesomethingup finishthesupply Thekidsusedallofthetoothpasteupsoweneedtobuysomemore.

wakeup stopsleeping WehavetowakeupearlyforworkonMonday.

warmsomeone/somethingup

increasethetemperature Youcanwarmyourfeetupinfrontofthefireplace.

warmup preparebodyforexercise IalwayswarmupbydoingsitupsbeforeIgoforarun.

wearoff fadeaway MostofmymakeupworeoffbeforeIgottotheparty.

workout exercise Iworkoutatthegymthreetimesaweek.

workout besuccessful Ourplanworkedoutfine.

worksomethingout makeacalculation Wehavetoworkoutthetotalcostbeforewebuythehouse.

Br.E.:BritishEnglishN.Amer.:NorthAmerican