ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS

A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb; the combination creates a meaning different from the original Verb. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Phrasal Verb A abide by account for add up advise against agree with aim at allow for answer back

Meaning

Example

Respect or obey. (the law, If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules. a decision, a rule) explain, give a reason make sense, seem reasonable recommend not doing something Have the same opinion as somebody else. point something in the direction of a target take into consideration, include in a calculation reply rudely I hope you can account for the money you spent! Her story just doesn't add up. The doctor advised him against carrying heavy loads. I agree with you. I think she deserves the award too. The policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker. You'd better leave early to allow for traffic jams. Don't answer back your mother!

appeal to

apply for avail (oneself) of

1) plead or make an earnest request 1) The organizers appealed to the crowd to stay calm. 2) be attractive or 2) A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to me. interesting Make a formal request for something He applied for the job he saw advertised in the newspaper. (job, permit, loan etc.) take advantage of When the company is privatized, you should avail yourself of something (an opportunity) the opportunity and buy some shares.

B back away back down

move backwards, in fear or When he saw the dog, he backed away. dislike withdraw, concede defeat 1) Give support or encouragement 2) make a copy of (file, program, etc.) 1) pay money to secure someone's release 2) rescue from financial difficulties base your hopes on someone/something improve, make more substantial faint, lose consciousness Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish the building. 1) If I tell the boss we've got too much work, will you back me up? 2) It is recommended to back up all files in a secure location.

back up

bail out

1) When he was arrested, his family refused to bail him out. 2) The government bailed out the bank. Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your help. He beefed up his presentation with diagrams and statistics. When he fell off the horse he blacked out.

bank on beef up black out

block off blow up boil down to

Separate using a barrier. 1) explode; 2) be destroyed by an explosion be summarized as

The area was blocked off during the demonstration. 1) The terrorists said the bomb would blow up at 9 o'clock. 2) The car blew up but luckily there was nobody in it. The problem boils down to a lack of money.

boot up

Start a computer by loading an Just give my a few minutes to boot up the computer. operating system or program. escape from captivity A few horses broke away from the paddock.

break away

break down

1) go out of order, cease to function 1) John's car broke down so he had to take the bus. 2) lose control of one's 2) The parents broke down when they heard the bad news. emotions enter by force start suddenly escape from a place by force Burglars broke into the house around midnight. Rioting broke out as a result of the strike. Three prisoners broke out of jail.

break into break out break out of break up bring up brush up on bump into burn out

come to an end (marriage, After her marriage broke up, Emma went to live in London. relationship) raise (a child) improve, refresh one's knowledge of something She stopped working in order to bring up her children. Mary had to brush up on her Spanish before going to South America.

meet by accident or Pedro bumped into his English teacher at the supermarket. unexpectedly 1) stop (something) working 1) The fuse has burnt out. 2) become exhausted from 2) Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down. over-working It's rude to butt in on a conversation like that!

butt in (on sthg) interrupt impolitely

C call back call off

return a phone call cancel

I'll call you back as soon as possible. The meeting was called off because of the strike. I now call upon the President to address the assembly.

call on/upon sby formally invite or request calm down carry on

become more relaxed, less He was angry at first but he eventually calmed down. angry or upset continue He carried on gardening in spite of the rain.

carry out

1) do something as specified (a plan, an order, a 1) The plan was carried out to perfection. threat) 2) Tests are carried out to determine the efficiency of a new drug. 2) perform or conduct (test, experiment) postpone until later As regards holidays, can you carry over any days from one year to the next?

carry over

check in check out clam up clamp down on close down

register at a hotel or airport 1) pay one's bill and leave (a hotel) 2) investigate refuse to speak act strictly to prevent something Stop operating (company, restaurant, cinema).

For security reasons you have to check in two hours before your flight. 1) Is Mr. Blair still at the hotel? No, he checked out this morning. 2) I don't know if the address is still valid. I'll check it out. When the teacher arrived she clammed up. The government has decided to clamp down on smoking in public places. When the factory closed down, the employees lost their jobs.

come across

1) Julie came across some photographs of her grandparents in 1) find by chance the attic. 2) appear, seem, make an 2) The candidate came across as a dynamic person during the impression interview. present oneself be faced with or opposed by 1) stop working 2) stop or fall asleep (from exhaustion) The police have asked any witnesses to come forward. The project came up against a lot of criticism. 1) The car conked out on the motorway. 2) He was so exhausted, he conked out in front of the TV.

come forward come up against conk out count on cross out cut down on cut out

rely or depend on (for help) I'm counting on the taxi driver to find the theatre. remove by drawing a line through reduce in number or size 1) remove using scissors 2) stop doing something In some exercises, you are asked to cross out the incorrect word. The doctor told him to cut down on cigarettes. 1) She cut out a picture in a magazine. 2) I'm going to cut out eating between meals.

D deal with die down do without drag on draw up dress up drop in drop off drop out

handle, take care of (problem, situation) calm down, become less strong manage without last longer than expected

The manager is good at dealing with difficult customers. When the applause died down, she started to sing. The shops are closed so we'll have to do without sugar. We expected a short speech but it dragged on and on!

write (contract, agreement, An agreement was drawn up and signed by the two parties. document) 1) wear elegant clothes 2) disguise oneself visit, usually on the way somewhere 1) deliver someone or something 2) fall asleep leave school without finishing 1) Do people dress up to go to the opera in your country? 2) Children love to dress up at Halloween. I sometimes drop in to see my grandparents on my way home from school. 1) I'll drop you off at the bus stop if you like. 2) Granddad often drops off in front of the TV. She decided to go to art school then dropped out after the first term.

E ease off

reduce, become less severe or slow down (pain, traffic, work)

After Christmas the workload generally eases off.

end in end up even out

finish in a certain way; result in finally reach a state, place or action

Their marriage ended in divorce. If he continues his misconduct he'll end up in prison.

1) Eliminate differences of 1) After a long discussion they managed to even out their opinion. differences. 2) become level or regular 2) The road was evened out to make it safer.

F fall through figure out fill out find out focus on figure out

fail; doesn't happen understand, find the answer complete (a form/an application) discover or obtain information concentrate on something

Our planned boat trip fell through because of the storm. I'm trying to figure out how to assemble the bookshelves. Please fill out the enclosed form and return it as soon as possible. I'm going to call the cinema to find out what time the film starts. The advertising campaign will focus on the quality of the product.

understand; find a solution We'll have to figure out a way to deliver the goods faster.

G get along (with) get at get away get by get in

be on good terms; work well with imply escape manage to cope or to survive enter

I get along (well) with my mother-in-law. What exactly are you trying to get at? The robbers got away in a black car. It's difficult to get by on a low salary. How did the burglar get in? How did the burglar get into the house? 1) You should get off the bus at Trafalgar Square. 2) She can't get the stain off her sweater. You can pay when you get on the bus. Be quiet and get on with your homework. I get on very well with my colleagues. How did he get out? How did he get out of the house? Some husbands manage to get out of doing any housework. My grandmother had pneumonia but she got over it. It's difficult to get rid of old habits. Let's get together for lunch on day.

get into (+noun) enter get off get on get on with (something) 1) leave (bus, train, plane) 2) remove board (bus, train, plane) continue to do; make progress

get on (well) have a good relationship with (somebody) with get out get out of (+noun) get out of get over get rid of get together leave leave avoid doing something recover from (illness, disappointment) eliminate meet each other

get up give up go through grow up

rise, leave bed stop doing something experience spend one's childhood; develop; become an adult

I usually get up at 7 o'clock. Sarah gave up smoking 5 years ago. Pete went through a lot of pain after the accident. He grew up in a small village in the mountains.

H hand in hand out hang out hang up hit at hit back hit on/upon hold on hurry up

submit (report, homework) distribute spend time in a particular place, or with a group of friends end a phone conversation aim a blow at

All application forms must be handed in before the end of the month. Samples will be handed out at the end of the demonstration. Where does he hang out these days? Who does he hang out with? "Don't hang up. I haven't finished yet." He hit at the wasp with the newspaper.

retaliate; reply to an attack When he was attacked by the others, the boy hit back. find unexpectedly or by inspiration -wait -grip tightly be quick, act speedily She hit upon an idea for her new collection. - 'Hold on please. I'll put you through to Mr. Brown." - She held on to the railing as she crossed the bridge. Hurry up! We'll miss the bus.

I iron out

resolve by discussion, eliminate differences

The meeting tomorrow will be an opportunity to iron out difficulties.

J join in join up jot down

participate -engage in, become a member of - meet and unite with take quick notes

She was too shy to join in the game. - John was in the Army and Tom joined up as soon as he left school. - The two groups of tourists joined up at the hotel. I jotted down the address while watching the programme on TV.

K keep on keep up with kick off

continue doing something stay at the same level as someone or something begin, start

It told him to be quiet but he kept on making noise. Bill walks so fast it's difficult to keep up with him. The football match kicked off at 3 o'clock.

L leave out

omit, not mention

The child's name was left out of the report.

let down look after look ahead look down on look on look for look forward to look up to

disappoint take care of think of the future consider as inferior be a spectator at an event try to find something await or anticipate with pleasure admire

You promised to come to the party, so don't let me down! A babysitter looks after the children when they go out. It's time to forget the past and look ahead. He tends to look down on anyone who is not successful. Billy didn't take part in the fight. He just looked on. Jane went to the shops to look for a pair of shoes. I look forward to seeing you soon. He was a wonderful teacher and many students looked up to him.

M make fun of make up mix up move in move out

laugh at/ make jokes about The old lady dresses so strangely that the kids make fun of her. invent (excuse, story) mistake one thing or person for another arrive in a new home or office Some employees make up excuses when they arrive late for work. I don't know my neighbours' names yet. I keep mixing them up. You've bought a new house? When are you moving in?.

Leave your home/office for My neighbour is leaving. He's moving out next Saturday. another one.

nod off note down

fall asleep write something

My grandfather often nods off in front of the television. I'll call the station and note down the departure times.

opt out own up

leave a system or decide not to participate admit or confess something

I enjoy tennis but I'm so busy I had to opt out of the tournament. The boy owned up. He said he kicked the ball through the window.

pass away pass out pay back put off put on put out

die faint reimburse postpone, arrange a later date turn on, switch on extinguish

The old lady passed away peacefully. She passed out when she heard the bad news. I'll lend you 20 provided you pay me back before the end of the week. The meeting was put off because of the strike. Could you put on the light please? It took a long time to put out the fire.

put up pick up point out

accommodate, give somebody a bed collect somebody indicate/direct attention to something

We can put you up if you'd like to come for a week-end. I'll pick you up at the station when you arrive. She pointed out the mistake.

rely on rule out run away run into run out of

count on, depend on, trust Don't worry. You can rely on me. I can keep a secret. eliminate escape from a place or suddenly leave meet by accident or unexpectedly (also: bump into) Have no more of something. The police ruled out political motives. He ran away from home at the age of fourteen. Sophie ran into Maria at the shopping centre. What a nuisance! We've run out of coffee.

set off set up shop around show off show up shut up (impolite) sit down stand up stick up for

start a journey; start a business compare prices

Early Saturday morning we set off for the ski slopes . She set up her own company 10 years ago. It's always wise to shop around before buying anything.

brag or want to be admired There's David showing off in his new sports car! appear/arrive be silent, stop talking take a seat rise from a sitting position defend We expected David to come but he didn't show up. Oh shut up, you idiot! Please come in and sit down. The pupils stood up when the headmaster arrived. It's important to stick up for one's principles.

take after take care of take off take on take out tell off

resemble, in appearance or Jamie really takes after his dad. character look after leave the ground hire or engage staff remove; extract I'll take care of your plants while you're away. The plane took off at 6 a.m. Business is good so the company is taking on extra staff. She took out a pen to note the address.

reprimand/criticize severely The teacher told her off for not doing her homework.

think over try on turn down

consider

I'll have to think over the proposal before I decide.

wear something to see if it I'm not sure about the size. Can I try it on? suits or fits refuse I couldn't turn down an offer like that!

use up

finish a product (so that there's none left)

The kids have used up all the toothpaste.

vouch for

express confidence in, or guarantee something

You can give the keys to Andy. I can vouch for him.

W watch out wear out work out wipe off

be careful 1) become unusable 2) become very tired 1) do physical exercise 2) find a solution or calculate something Clean (board, table).

Watch out! There's a car coming. 1) Julie wore out her shoes visiting the city. 2) At the end of the day Julie was worn out. 1) I work out twice a week at the gym club. 2) It's expensive but I haven't worked out the exact cost yet. The teacher asked Lee to wipe off the board.