Phrasal Verbs
What is a Phrasal/Prepositional Verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb which is a combination of a verb and an adverb, a verb and a preposition, and a verb with an adverb and a preposition. It can have a literal meaning that is easy to understand because the meaning is clear from the words that are used in the phrasal verb itself. It can also have an idiomatic meaning which cannot easily be understood by looking at the words themselves.
The following examples contain a literal meaning and an idiomatic meaning:
Verb and Adverb (run + around) run around
to run around (something) - to run in a circle around something
The dog ran around the fire hydrant.
to run around (somewhere) - to go to various places to do something
I spent the day running around downtown.
Verb and a Preposition (run + into)
to run into (someone or something) - to hit or crash into someone or something
The car ran into the truck on the busy street.
to run into (someone) - to meet someone by chance
I ran into my friend in a restaurant yesterday.
Verb and Adverb and Preposition (run + along/around + with)
To run along with (someone or something) - to run beside or at the same pace as someone or something.
The dog ran along with the bicycle.
To run around with (someone) - to be friends and do things with someone or with a group
the boy is running around with a bad group of people.
Some idiomatic expressions are made with a phrasal verb plus some other words. These words are used in a fixed order to give an idiomatic meaning.
To run (verb) around (adverb) like a chicken with its head cut off - to run around with what seems to be no purpose
I ran around like a chicken with its head cut off as I tried to prepare for my holidays.
Common A to Z Phrasal/Prepositional Verbs.
Abbreviations: sby=somebody; sthg=something
phrasal verb
|
meaning
|
example sentence
|
ask sby 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 tosthg
|
equal
|
Your purchases add up to $205.32.
|
back sthg up
|
reverse
|
You'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
|
back sby 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 fence.
|
blow sthg up
|
add air
|
We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
|
break down
|
stop functioning (vehicle, machine)
|
Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.
|
break down
|
get upset
|
The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.
|
break sthgdown
|
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 stereo.
|
break intosthg
|
enter forcibly
|
The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.
|
break sthgin
|
wear sthg a few times so that it doesn't look/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 before I moved to
|
break up
|
start laughing (informal)
|
The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
|
break out
|
escape
|
The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking.
|
break out insthg
|
develop a skin condition
|
I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
|
bring sbydown
|
make unhappy
|
This sad music is bringing me down.
|
bring sby up
|
raise a child
|
My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
|
bring sthgup
|
start talking about a subject
|
My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.
|
bring sthgup
|
vomit
|
He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.
|
call around
|
phone many different places/people
|
We called around but we weren't able to find the car part we needed.
|
call sbyback
|
return a phone call
|
I called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.
|
call sthg off
|
cancel
|
Jason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fiancé.
|
call on sby
|
ask for an answer or opinion
|
The professor called on me for question 1.
|
call on sby
|
visit sby
|
We called on you last night but you weren't home.
|
call sby 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 mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car.
|
not care forsby/ sthg
|
not like (formal)
|
I don't care for his behaviour.
|
catch up
|
get to the same point as sby else
|
You'll have to run faster than that 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 sby/ sthg out
|
look at carefully, investigate
|
The company checks out all new employees.
|
check outsby/ sthg
|
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 sbyup
|
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 sthgup
|
tidy, clean
|
Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
|
come across sthg
|
find unexpectedly
|
I came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.
|
come apart
|
separate
|
The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.
|
come down with sthg
|
become sick
|
My nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend.
|
come forward
|
volunteer for a task or to give evidence
|
The woman came forward with her husband's finger prints.
|
come from some place
|
originate in
|
The art of origami comes from
|
count onsby/ sthg
|
rely on
|
I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
|
cross sthgout
|
draw a line through
|
Please cross out your old address and write your new one.
|
cut back onsthg
|
consume less
|
My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
|
cut sthgdown
|
make sthg 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 in
|
pull in too closely in front of another vehicle
|
The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.
|
cut in
|
start operating (of an engine or electrical device)
|
The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22°C.
|
cut sthg off
|
remove with sthg sharp
|
The doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.
|
cut sthg off
|
stop providing
|
The phone company cut off our phone because we didn't pay the bill.
|
cut sby off
|
take out of a will
|
My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
|
cut sthg out
|
remove part of sthg (usually with scissors and paper)
|
I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
|
do sby/ sthgover
|
beat up, ransack (BrE, informal)
|
He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang.
|
do sthg over
|
do again (AmE)
|
My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn't like my topic.
|
do away with sthg
|
discard
|
It's time to do away with all of these old tax records.
|
do sthg up
|
fasten, close
|
Do your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing!
|
dress up
|
wear nice clothing
|
It's a fancy 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 sby/ sthg off
|
take sby/ sthg 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
|
separate from an interior
|
The money must have fallen 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 sthgout
|
understand, find the answer
|
I need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.
|
fill sthg in
|
to write information in blanks, as on a form (BrE)
|
Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.
|
fill sthg out
|
to write information in blanks, as on a form (AmE)
|
The form must be filled out in capital letters.
|
fill sthg up
|
fill to the top
|
I always fill the water jug up when it is empty.
|
find out
|
discover
|
We don't know where he lives. How can we find out?
|
find sthg out
|
discover
|
We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out.
|
get sthgacross/ over
|
communicate, make understandable
|
I tried to get my point across/over 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 sthg
|
do without being noticed or punished
|
Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.
|
get back
|
return
|
We got back from our vacation last week.
|
get sthgback
|
receive sthg you had before
|
Liz finally got her Science notes back from my room-mate.
|
get back atsby
|
retaliate, take revenge
|
My sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.
|
get back into sthg
|
become interested in sthg again
|
I finally got back into my novel and finished it.
|
get on sthg
|
step onto a vehicle
|
We're going to freeze out here if you don't let us get on the bus.
|
get oversthg
|
recover from an illness, loss, difficulty
|
I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.
|
get oversthg
|
overcome a problem
|
The company will have to close if it can't get over the new regulations.
|
get round tosthg
|
finally find time to do (AmE: get around tosthg)
|
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 sbyaway
|
reveal hidden information about sby
|
His wife gave him away to the police.
|
give sbyaway
|
take the bride to the altar
|
My father gave me away at my wedding.
|
give sthgaway
|
ruin a secret
|
My little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.
|
give sthgaway
|
give sthg to sby for free
|
The library was giving away old books on Friday.
|
give sthgback
|
return a borrowed item
|
I have to give these skates back to Franz 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 sthgout
|
give to many people (usually at no cost)
|
They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.
|
give sthg up
|
quit a habit
|
I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
|
give up
|
stop trying
|
My maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.
|
go after sby
|
follow sby
|
My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
|
go after sthg
|
try to achieve sthg
|
I went after my dream and now I am a published writer.
|
go againstsby
|
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 withsby
|
date
|
Jesse has been going out with Luke since they met last winter.
|
go over sthg
|
review
|
Please go over your answers before you submit your test.
|
go over
|
visit sby nearby
|
I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'll go over for an hour or two.
|
go withoutsthg
|
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 intosthg
|
grow big enough to fit
|
This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year.
|
grow out ofsthg
|
get too big for
| |
grow up
|
become an adult
|
When Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman.
|
hand sthgdown
|
give sthg used to sby else
|
I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.
|
hand sthg in
|
submit
|
I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
|
hand sthgout
|
to distribute to a group of people
|
We will hand out the invitations at the door.
|
hand sthgover
|
give (usually unwillingly)
|
The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.
|
hang in
|
stay positive (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 sby/ sthg back
|
prevent from doing/going
|
I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.
|
hold sthgback
|
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 ontosby/ sthg
|
hold firmly using your hands or arms
|
Hold onto your hat because it's very windy outside.
|
hold sby/ sthgup
|
rob
|
A man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.
|
keep on doing sthg
|
continue doing
|
Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.
|
keep sthgfrom sby
|
not tell
|
We kept our relationship from our parents for two years.
|
keep sby/ sthg out
|
stop from entering
|
Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
|
keep sthg up
|
continue at the same rate
|
If you keep those results up you will get into a great college.
|
let sbydown
|
fail to support or help, disappoint
|
I need you to be on time. Don't let me down this time.
|
let sby in
|
allow to enter
|
Can you let the cat in before you go to school?
|
log in (or on)
|
sign in (to a website, database etc)
|
I can't log in to Facebook because I've forgotten my password.
|
log out (or off)
|
sign out (of a website, database etc)
|
If you don't log off somebody could get into your account.
|
look aftersby/ sthg
|
take care of
|
I have to look after my sick grandmother.
|
look down on sby
|
think less of, consider inferior
|
Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me.
|
look for sby/ sthg
|
try to find
|
I'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.
|
look forward tosthg
|
be excited about the future
|
I'm looking forward to the Christmas break.
|
look intosthg
|
investigate
|
We are going to look into the price of snowboards today.
|
look out
|
be careful, vigilant, and take notice
|
Look out! That car's going to hit you!
|
look out forsby/ sthg
|
be especially vigilant for
|
Don't forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.
|
look sthgover
|
check, examine
|
Can you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?
|
look sthg up
|
search and find information in a reference book or database
|
We can look her phone number up on the Internet.
|
look up tosby
|
have a lot of respect for
|
My little sister has always looked up to me.
|
make sthgup
|
invent, lie about sthg
|
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 sby up
|
apply cosmetics to
|
My sisters made me up for my graduation party.
|
mix sthg up
|
confuse two or more things
|
I mixed up the twins' names again!
|
pass away
|
die
|
His uncle passed away last night after a long illness.
|
pass out
|
faint
|
It was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out.
|
pass sthgout
|
give the same thing to many people
|
The professor passed the textbooks out before class.
|
pass sthg up
|
decline (usually sthg good)
|
I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.
|
pay sbyback
|
return owed money
|
Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you back on Friday.
|
pay for sthg
|
be punished for doing sthg bad
|
That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.
|
pick sthgout
|
choose
|
I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.
|
point sby/ sthg out
|
indicate with your finger
|
I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.
|
put sthgdown
|
put what you are holding on a surface or floor
|
You can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter.
|
put sbydown
|
insult, make sby feel stupid
|
The students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short.
|
put sthg off
|
postpone
|
We are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane.
|
put sthg out
|
extinguish
|
The neighbours put the fire out before the firemen arrived.
|
put sthgtogether
|
assemble
|
I have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.
|
put up withsby/ sthg
|
tolerate
|
I don't think I can put up with three small children in the car.
|
put sthg on
|
put clothing/ accessories on your body
|
Don't forget to put on your new earrings for the party.
|
run intosby/ sthg
|
meet unexpectedly
|
I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
|
run oversby/ sthg
|
drive a vehicle over a person or thing
|
I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.
|
run over/ throughsthg
|
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 sthgback
|
return (usually by mail)
|
My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.
|
set sthg up
|
arrange, organize
|
Our boss set a meeting up with the president of the company.
|
set sby 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 sthg out
|
organize, resolve a problem
|
We need to sort the bills out before the first of the month.
|
stick to sthg
|
continue doing sthg, limit yourself to one particular thing
|
You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
|
switch sthgoff
|
stop the energy flow, turn off
|
The light's too bright. Could you switch it off.
|
switch sthgon
|
start the energy flow, turn on
|
We heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.
|
take aftersby
|
resemble a family member
|
I take after my mother. We are both impatient.
|
take sthgapart
|
purposely break into pieces
|
He took the car brakes apart and found the problem.
|
take sthgback
|
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 sthg off
|
remove sthg (usually clothing)
|
Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!
|
take sthgout
|
remove from a place or thing
|
Can you take the garbage out to the street for me?
|
take sby out
|
pay for sby to go somewhere with you
|
My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.
|
tear sthg 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 sthgover
|
consider
|
I'll have to think this job offer over before I make my final decision.
|
throw sthgaway
|
dispose of
|
We threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery.
|
turn sthgdown
|
decrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)
|
Please turn the TV down while the guests are here.
|
turn sthgdown
|
refuse
|
I turned the job down because I don't want to move.
|
turn sthg off
|
stop the energy flow, switch off
|
Your mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.
|
turn sthg on
|
start the energy, switch on
|
It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights on.
|
turn sthg 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 sthg on
|
sample clothing
|
I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't think they will fit.
|
try sthg out
|
test
|
I am going to try this new brand of detergent out.
|
use sthg 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 sby/ sthg 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 sthgout
|
make a calculation
|
We have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.
|
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