Most commonly used PHRASAL VERBS
ANSWER SB BACK = reply rudely
ASK AFTER SB = inquire about health b)
continue with
BACK SB UP= support
BACK DOWN = admit you are wrong
BREAK DOWN = a)
stop functioning b) collapse emotionally
c) analyze
BREAK IN/INTO = enter
by force or for robbery
BREAK OFF = interrupt,
stop a speech ,meeting etc
BREAK OUT = appear or begin suddenly and spread quickly
BREAK OUT = escape
BREAK UP= separate
BRING ABOUT =cause to
happen
BRING SB UP =raise, care
for, educate
BRING SB AROUND = persuade
BUMP INTO SB = run
into,meet by chance
CALL OFF = cancel
CALL/RING SB UP
=telephone
CARRY OUT = fulfil,
complete
CARRY ON = continue
CLEAR UP = improve (e.g
Of weather)
COME ACROSS = meet by
chance
COME TO = regain
consciousness
COME ABOUT = happen
CUT OFF
=interrupt,stop
DRAW STH UP = compile
(could)DO WITH = need, want
DO AWAY WITH= abolish
DO UP= a) fasten b) repair or redecorate
DO WITHOUT = manage to
live without
FIND OUT = discover
GET AT SB = criticize
GET AT STH = imply
GET AWAY = escape
GET BY = survive
GET FOR SB = attack
verbally or physically
GET ON WITH = have a good relationship with
GET ON/ ALONG = a) make
progress b) be friendly
GET OVER = recover from or overcome sth
GET THROUGH =a) make
contact b) manage to finish
GET TO = begin
GET TOGETHER = meet socially
GET UP = rise from bed
GET/PUT ACROSS = communicate effectively; explain
GET STH OVER WITH =
finish sth
GIVE AWAY = donate b)
betray c) make known
GIVE BACK = return
GIVE IN/ UP =
surrender ;stop trying to do sth
GIVE OFF = emit
GIVE OUT = distribute
GIVE UP)= stop doing sth
GO AWAY= a) leave b) cease
GO BACK = return
GO DOWN = = become lower
GO IN = enter
GO INTO STH =
investigate
GO ON = continue
GO OVER = rehearse,
repeat
GO UP = a) increase in amount or number b) approach
HAVE / BE TO DO WITH = have a connection with
HOLD SB UP = delay
HANG ABOUT / AROUND =wait
doing nothing
HANG AROUND / ABOUT
WITH SB = socialize
KEEP AT= continue
working at
KEEP BACK = withhold
KEEP OFF = avoid
KEEP ON = a) continue
doing sth or saying the same thing
KEEP OUT = a)
stay away b) prevent sb / sth from
entering
KEEP TO= stay with or
follow an agreed plan or course of action
KEEP UP WITH = manage to go so fast
LEAVE OUT = omit
LET SB DOWN = disappoint;
not support
LET SB OFF = not
punish
LET STH OFF = postpone
LOOK AFTER =take care of
LOOK AT = turn the
eyes to see sth
LOOK FOR = try to find
LOOK FORWARD TO =
expect with pleasure
LOOK INTO = investigate
LOOK OUT= be careful,
keep watch
LOOK UP = a) find
information in a book b) visit
MAKE UP= invent
b) become friends again after a quarrel
MAKE FOR = go towards
MAKE OUT = see;
understand
MAKE UP FOR = repay, compensate
MIX SB / STH UP =confuse
PAY SB BACK =a) repay b)have revenge
PICK SB/STH OUT =
choose
PULL UP = stop ( for a
vehicle)
PULL THROUGH = recover
; survive
PUT ASIDE/ AWAY = To
save for future use
PUT DOWN = To
mock, tease
PUT OFF = postpone
PUT ON = To
pretend
PUT OUT = To extinguish something, such as a flame
PUT SB OFF = To
make someone uninterested in or discourage
PUT SB UP = To
host (someone) in one’s house
PUT THROUGH TO = To
connect someone with another person, usually via telephone
PUT UP WITH = To tolerate
RING SB OFFF = end a
telephone conversation
RUN AWAY = escape
RUN INTO = meet sb by
chance
RUN ON = continue happening for longer than planned or
expected
RUN OUT OF = a) use all one’s supplies, have nothing left
of sth b) be exhausted
RUN OVER = knock down and drive over the top of
RUN SB DOWN =criticize
RUN THROUGH = repeat
for practice; rehearse
RUN UP = cause to have
bills or debts
RUN STH IN = use a new
machine carefully
SEE TO STH =attend to;
put it right
SET UP STH=establish
SETTLE UP = pay a bill
STAND FOR STH
=represent
STEP UP STH = increase
TAKE AFTER = resemble
TAKE AFTER SB = look
or behave like sb
TAKE BACK (t)= return
TAKE STH IN = understand, absorb
TAKE SB IN = deceive
TAKE OFF = a) remove
clothes b) (of planes) leave the ground
c) give holiday from work
TAKE ON = accept work or responsibility
TAKE OVER = take
control of; assume responsibility
TAKE SB IN = allow sb to stay in your house
TAKE TO SB/STH = begin
to like
TAKE UP = start and
spend time doing a hobby/interest
TELL OFF = scold, reprimand
THINK STH OUT = find a
solution
TRY OUT = test
TURN AWAY = refuse entry
TURN DOWN = a)
refuse b) reduce the volume
TURN IN = give to the
police
TURN INTO = become
TURN OFF = switch off,
disconnect
TURN ON= switch on, cause to operate
TURN OUT (TO BE) =
happen/ prove to be in the end
TURN OVER= consider
carefully
TURN SB/STH DOWN
=refuse to do, reject
TURN UP = a) arrive ,
appear b) increase the volume
WORK STH OUT = solve
