Separable Phrasal Verbs A-B

add up
add; find the total
Would you please add my bill up?
Would you please add up my bill?
ask out
ask for a date
Ralph asked her out last night.
Ralph asked out the most popular girl in school.
back out of
walk or drive backward instead of forward
While backing out of the driveway, Jimmy drove into the mailbox.
While backing the car out of the driveway, Jimmy drove into the mailbox.
back up
when an outside force moves an item (car, chair, bicycle, etc) backwards
Back the truck up to the loading area, so we can load the lumber. (Put the back of the truck---not the front of the truck---nearest to where the loading is done.)
Back up the truck to the loading area, so we can load the lumber.
to affirm that someone else's information is true
Josh will back my story up. (He'll tell you that I told the truth.)
Josh will back up my story.
to make an extra copy for protection
It's important to back your computer files up in case your PC needs to be reformatted. (To save a copy of files on a CD, DVD, etc.)
It's important to back up your computer files in case your PC needs to be reformatted.
clogged drainage
The shower drain in the bathroom is backed up. (The water won't go out; it just stays there.)
The heavy rain backed the storm drains up.
blow up
to inflate
Who is blowing the balloons up for the birthday party?
Who is blowing up the balloons for the birthday party?
to explode or destroy by exploding
Wreckum & Sons Demolition were hired to blow the building up.
Wreckum & Sons Demolition were hired to blow up the building.
break down
list parts or sections of something separately
CC wants to break the test down into sections.
CC wants to break down the test into sections.
break in
wear or use something new for a limited amount of time, increasing the time little by little;
to treat a new product in a special way for a limited time
Nancy is breaking her new shoes in by wearing them only three hours each day.
When you break in your new car , be sure to drive it at varying speeds for the first thousand miles.
to train a person in a job
Warren will be breaking the new insurance salesman in by the end of the month.
Warren will be breaking in the new insurance salesman by the end of the month.
bring back
to return something you are dissatisfied with or have borrowed
Carl has to bring his new suit back, because there's a tear in the jacket.
Carl has to bring back his new suit, because there's a tear in the jacket.
to re-instate something from the past. It may be an activity or a pastime or a person.
Let's bring silent movies back! If they say dirty words, at least we won't hear them.
Let's bring back silent movies!
bring off
accomplish something difficult
Amy had a rough time with the test, but she brought it off.
Jack brought off the big business deal he had been working on.
bring on
cause to happen
Too much sun can bring heatstroke on.
Too much sun can bring on heatstroke.
bring over
bring to where you're going
Randy asked Shirley to bring a cake over for teatime.
Randy asked Shirley to bring over a cake for teatime.
bring to (see "come to")
to revive to consciousness
When Annie fainted, Gregory brought her to.
When someone faints, they should be brought to carefully.
bring up
mention, talk about
I asked you not to bring the subject of my accident up in conversation again.
I asked you not to bring up the subject of my accident in conversation again.
to raise children = take care of their physical and emotional needs from the day they're born, and teach them the social customs of your culture
Patricia brings her children up to be respectful.
Patricia brings up her children to be respectful.
brush out
to sweep the inside of something
I needed to brush the car out. It was very dirty.
I needed to brush out the car. It was very dirty.
burn up
to feel very angry
It really burns me up when I'm on/in line, and people get in front of me!
It burned him up that the bank teller made him stand in the line a second time.
Use only this word order.
butter up
praise someone excessively with the hope of getting some benefit
He's buttering his boss up because he wants a raise.
She's planning to butter up her boyfriend so he'll take her to a fancy restaurant.
buy out
buy a person's or company's share of something
The Ringling Brothers Circus bought out the Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Jim and Jack had a partnership in a doughnut business. When they couldn't get along, Jackbought Jim out.
buy up
purchase everything that's available of something
The next time Diet Coke is on sale, Janine plans to buy it all up. (all the Diet Coke the store had at the time)
In fact, Janine would like to buy up all the Coke in town! (all the Coke in every store in the town)
Ida bought up all the land from Tenth Avenue to Twelfth Avenue.


Inseparable Phrasal Verbs A-B
act like
behave in a certain way
Young boys sometimes act like idiots when they're around girls.
add up to
to total
The facts of the crime added up to only one thing: murder!
back out of
to change your mind about being a part of a plan; fail to keep a promise
She backed out of all the plans they'd made to get her re-elected. (change of mind)
Don't try to back out of this marriage now! (not honor a promise)
back up
moves backwards
Don't back up, or you'll step on my foot.
bear down on
to pressure someone; browbeat (to bully)
The police will bear down on anyone caught stealing.
Garrett's father bore down on him until he agreed to play football.
bear up under
to endure
Bearing up under the problems of life will make you a stronger person.
blow up
to have an angry emotional outburst
He blew up when she asked him to take out the garbage.
bone up on
review or study
If Jacob hadn't boned up on his studies, he would have failed the test.
break in on
to interrupt
Sorry to break in on everyone's conversation, but I want to watch television.
break into
interrupt
Little children break into conversations until their parents teach them not to interrupt.
enter a house or building forcibly
We could see by his behavior that he was getting ready to break into Sherry's house.
to suddenly begin singing, yelling, crying, etc.
Shawn breaks into song any time he feels like it, even during class time!
Baby Carrie broke into tears (cried) when the dog took her candy.
break up with
end a personal relationship
Teddy didn't want to break up with his girlfriend at all, but she really wanted to break up with him.
bring out
to reveal
You should bring out the main facts during your interview.
to emphasize
Green eye shadow brings out the color of her eyes.
to publicly announce a new product on the market
The cell 'phone company will bring out the new line this fall.
brush up on
review or study briefly
If you want to water ski, you really need to brush up on your swimming.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs A-B act up
misbehave (for people), not work properly (for machines)
Harry has never acted up in class, but he did yesterday!
This PC has been acting up since last night.
add up
fit together logically
The suspect gave the police an alibi for the time the crime was committed, but it just didn't add up.
back down
not follow through with a statement or a threat; retreat from a statement or opinion,
He backed down from the fight when I told him the other guy was 6'7".
Little Josie finally backed down from saying that 2+2=5, when we made her count on her fingers.
back off
to stop in the middle of physically or verbally threatening someone; physically retreat
The mugger backed off when May adopted her Kung Fu stance.
back out (same as "back out of", but no direct object)
refuse to do something that is planned, fail to keep a promise
Even though the job was dangerous, Henry didn't back out.
bear up
to endure
Gail told Clarence to bear up, because life would get better.
beg off
decline an invitation; asked to be excused
When she received an invitation to the wedding, Chrissie begged off because she had gained 50 pounds.
blow in
visit someone unexpectedly (informal use only)
I wasn't planning on having any visitors, but Peter and May just blew in.
blow up
get extremely windy, as happens before a big storm
A storm is starting to blow up now, so we better get all the horses back to the barn.
lose one's temper
Millie was afraid to tell Sam she thought he was a bad dancer, for fear he would blow up ather.
break down
to stop functioning
Max's car broke down for the fifth time this month.
to begin crying, to lose emotional control
Whenever she sees a sad movie, she breaks down and sobs.
break up
disperse, scatter
The party broke up after Wendell's parents came home. (everyone left)
end a relationship
Face it, Jeremy! We need to break up!
when a solid thing breaks into small pieces
When I dropped the plate, it broke up into 50 pieces.
audio that can't be heard clearly
The sound from his microphone was breaking up very badly, and we couldn't understand what he said.
burn up/burn down
destroyed by fire
All my books burned up in the fire.
The big building burned down to the ground after the earthquake.
(We usually refer to houses and buildings as "burning down", and everything that been inside them as "burning up".)
butt in
impolitely interrupt a conversation to give an unasked-for opinion
Whenever he makes a plan with his wife, her mother butts in!

Separable Phrasal Verbs C-E
call off
cancel something that's been scheduled
They called the game off because of rain.
They called off the game because of rain.
call up
to telephone
Bob called Corinne up last night.
Bob called up Corinne last night.
calm down
become less agitated or help someone else become less upset
Sometimes all it takes to calm someone down is soft music.
Dora calmed down all the people who had been in the burning theater.
carry over
continue to use/apply at another time or place
When I moved, the 'phone company let me carry my deposit over. (use the same deposit from my old 'phone number for the new 'phone number)
Does the tax deduction I had for the year 2004 carry over to the year 2005?
check off
mark a list to show something is completed/finished
Check all of the food you bought today off the list, and tomorrow we'll buy the rest of it.
Get your list and check off all of the food you bought today. Tomorrow we'll buy the rest of it.
check out
pay for items being bought
Said to a cashier at a store: "Is your check stand open to check my groceries out?"
"Yes sir, I can check out your items right now."
Look!!
Wow! Check out the muscles on that guy!
Wow! Check that guy out!
borrow books from a library
How many books am I allowed to check out at one time?
While you're at the library, check some books out for me too.
to look at something carefully/to investigate
Alicia checked the new boutique out, but didn't find anything she liked.
If you're looking for information on cooking snails, there's a great website you should check out.
cheer up
cause to become happier
Sweet little dogs are wonderful for cheering older people up.
Sweet little dogs are wonderful for cheering up older people.
chew out
scold severely
Lawrence's mother chewed him out when he forgot her birthday.
Lawrence's mother also chewed out everyone who hadn't sent her a birthday card.
chop up
cut something big into smaller pieces
The estate was chopped up because there were so many heirs.
After they cut the trees down, they then had to chop the wood up before they could burn it in the fireplace.
clean off; clear off
clean the surface of something; take everything that's on the surface (table or counter) off
Clean off the table. Supper is ready.
Clean the table off. Supper is ready.
clean out
clean the inside of something, taking out everything not needed
Clean out your closet because there's no room to hang anything else.
Clean your closet out because you can't find anything that's in it.
clean up
put everything back in its proper place
If you promise to clean up the house afterwards, I'll allow you to have a party.
If you promise to help me clean the house up afterwards, we'll make a party.
clear out
to make people or animals leave a particular place/to remove
They cleared all of the skunks out of that area of the forest, and brought them to a place where there was more food.
The firemen cleared out the crowd so no one got injured from the collapsing building.
to take out everything from something enclosed/to make empty
He cleared the inside of his desk out when he was fired.
He cleared out the inside of his desk when he was fired.
close down (pronounce like "close the door", not like 'close' meaning 'near')
to stop operations or business permanently
The carnival closed down when vacation time was over.
The police closed the carnival down when they found gambling at one of the booths.
close up (pronounce like "close the door", not like 'close' meaning 'near')
to stop operations or business temporarily
English Mistakes Welcome closed up while CC was moving.
to sew up an open wound
The surgeons closed the incision up when the operation was finished.
count in
include
Is Leonard coming to the picnic? Yes, count him in.
If you are having a picnic, the Smiths should be counted in.
count out
don't include
Is Arthur coming too? No, count him out. He's busy working.
When Polly made the list for the end-of-school party, she counted out all the teachers.
count up
calculate
If I count up all the people who will lend me money to buy a new car, I still won't have enough money to buy it.
If I count all the people up who said they'd lend me money for a new car , I still won't have enough.
cross out/cross off
to delete something from a list; eliminate
I'm crossing his name off my list of organ donors, because he just donated a kidney.
Simon was crossed off the Best Dressed Man list, because he'd become a sloppy dresser.
Cross out the name of that store, because they've gone out of business.
cut off
cut a portion from a solid piece
Measure four yards of material from the bolt of fabric, and cut it off there.
Cut off four yards of the fabric, and charge it to my account.
limit how much alcohol can be served/limit how much credit for gambling can be permitted
If you drink too much, the bartender will cut you off. (refuse to serve you)
The casino gave the Las Vegas gambler a $100,000 credit line, and then they cut off his funds.
power outage or cessation of power
The telephone company cut the 'phone service off when my bill was paid late.
The television didn't work because the power had been cut off during the storm.
cut down
reduce the quantity
Jon is cutting the amount of meat he eats down to three servings a week.
Jon is cutting down the amount of meat he eats to three servings a week.
to use tools or machinery to take away trees
The state is cutting all the trees down to make way for a super-highway.
The state is cutting down all the trees to make way for a super-highway.
cut out
eliminate, delete
Martin cut all white products out of his diet in order to lose weight.
Martin cut out all white products from his diet in order to lose weight.
do in
make very tired
Teaching five hours without a break really does me in.
I'm really done in after painting the whole outside of the house!
cause to die or to murder
I think his smoking four packs of cigarettes a day finally did him in. (the cause of his death)
He was finally done in by all the cigarettes he had smoked in his life.
Dictators do all the people in who don't agree with the government's views. (murder)
Dictators do in all the people who don't agree with the government's views.
do over
repeat an action
I made too many mistakes in the essay. Now I have to start from the beginning again, and dothe whole thing over.
I hate to do over the work I just finished!
draw out
prolong
Some people have to draw out everything they say until it is a boring monologue.
Some people have to draw everything they say out until it is a boring monologue.
to encourage a shy person to speak or enter into an activity
Peter and Rose finally drew Lee out, and he began speaking in class.
Peter and Rose were finally able to draw out the shyest students, and they began speaking in class.
draw up
create a written document (usually a legal one, like a contract
I had the lawyer draw up a new will when I got married.
I had the lawyer draw a new will up when I got married.
when a mode of transportation approaches and stops at a particular point
He drew up to the curb and parked the car.
He drew the car up to the curb and parked it.
When the stagecoach draws up, Tex and the posse will board it.
dress up
to wear more formal clothes, not everyday clothes; to wear a costume
Marcia hates to dress up for mass.
Her little sister likes to dress the cat up as a baby on Halloween.
To make something attractive on a temporary or superficial basis
They always dress up the table with flowers for special dinners.
A new paint job will dress the house up a little, but it won't hide the broken floor tile.
drop off
to bring someone or something to a certain point and leave them/it there
Drop me off at the corner of First Street. I'll walk to the park from there.
If you can drop off those documents before 3 o'clock, I'll have them signed before 5.
dust off
to clean the surface
Dust off the chair and sit down.
Dust the chair off and sit down.
dust out
wipe the dust from inside of something
Let me dust out that cup before you drink from it.
Let me dust that cup out before you drink from it.
eat up
eat the whole amount of something
Trent ate up the entire pizza before we even got to the table.
Trent ate the entire pizza up before we even got to the table.
egg on
to urge, to dare (usually to do something negative)
It was Megan's fault I dyed my hair green. She egged me on.
When there's trouble out in the schoolyard, Megan's always there to egg on anyone who looks ready to fight.
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs C-E
call for
require (as in a recipe or directions)
Mother's double-fudge cake calls for plenty of chocolate!
The map called for a left turn at Hooterville.
go/come and get; pick up
Lewis called for his date at 8 pm, sharp.
call on
ask someone for an answer or to speak
The teacher called on Joe to answer the question.
to visit (formal usage)
Lady Gertrude called on the new Prime Minister last Saturday.
call up
summon for military service
He was called up for active duty last week.
to search your memory, to try to remember
Calling up the details of an accident that happened 5 years ago isn't easy to do.
care for
tend to, take care of
When Ronald's cat was ill, he cared for her all day and all night.
enjoy, like
I do not care for spinach. (don't like it)
have a fondness for; love
The prince cared deeply for the princess. (loved)
carry on
continue to do things as they had been done before/persevere
Don will carry on as head of the business, after his father's funeral.
make a lot of very unpleasant noise/inappropriate behavior
Those teenagers carried on so much in the movie theater, that the manager threw all of them out.
carry on with
continue to do something without stopping
I didn't mean to interrupt. Please carry on with what you were doing.
to have a love affair, usually with someone who's married
The prince carried on with Camilla for many years while they were married to different partners.
carry out
fulfill/complete/perform (plans or orders)
The spy carried out his mission, in spite of all the danger.
catch on
develop a knowledge or understanding of something
Annie went over the lesson until everyone caught on.
check in (into)
register for an event or at a place of lodging
If we can check in to the hotel by 7 p.m., we'll still have time to attend the conference.
search for facts/investigate
I need to check into that investment. It looks too good to be true.
check out (of)
is or isn't logical, to make or not make sense
We interviewed the prisoner, but his version of what happened didn't check out.
the time one must pay the bill and leave a hotel
Check-in can be at any time, but you must check out of this hotel by 2 p.m.
slang usage: to die
The paramedics tried to save his life, but he'd already checked out before they reached the hospital.
check up on
verify or examine
Gerald wasn't sure the information he'd given them was accurate, so he checked up on everything.
chip in
each person in a group of people contributing money to buy something
If each person chips in a dollar, we can afford to buy the CD.
clam up
refuse to talk
The Mafia boss clammed up during the investigation.
come across
find by accident/to honor a deal
I came across the greatest book the other day.
She promised to pay the balance of the loan by Friday, but she never came across.
come along with
accompany
Come along with me to the store.
make progress towards a goal
He was have trouble learning Spanish, but now he's coming along very well.
come by
visit
Come by anytime. You know you're always welcome at our house.
possess a trait because of a specific reason
Bella comes by her good looks naturally; her parents are also good looking.
come down with
to begin to get sick, catch a disease
Don't kiss me, because I think I am coming down with a cold.
come out with
to say something
We asked all the children to tell us who broke the window, hoping one of them would come out with the truth.
publicly show something
Toy companies come out with their Christmas line in July.
come to
total
What did the grocery bill come to this month?
to arrive at a decision
After looking at all the options, Rod came to his decision.
become conscious after being unconscious
When she passed out, someone used smelling salts to help her come to.
come up with
generate ideas; think creatively
Joan needed a solution to the problem, but she couldn't come up with a thing.
We came up with so many great ideas for Helene's surprise birthday party.
count on
depend on someone (to help you) or something (to function properly
I can't count on Jan to help me, because she's always drunk.
Curtis says he can count on his car to get him to work every day, but I've seen him taking it to the mechanic very often. I wouldn't count on a car that needs repair all the time.
cut back on
use or do less of something
Mitzy's going to get sick if she doesn't cut back on work.
cut in
interrupt
When Harvey dances with his girlfriend, he doesn't like other men to cut in. (other men interrupting their dance, asking to dance with his partner.)
The telephone operator cut in to say I had an emergency telephone call.
cut it out
an order to stop doing something (slang usage)
You boys who are throwing food need to cut it out! (stop)
disagree with
cause physical discomfort (allergic reaction)
Denny never eats junk food. It disagrees with him, and he gets a rash.
opposite of "'agree"
Mandy disagrees with my decisions most of the time.
do away with
get rid of, abolish
If they do away with traffic laws, the roads will be chaotic.
kill
People are still hoping to see him alive, but I'm sure his enemies have already done away with him.
do without
deprive oneself
Mothers often do without to provide for their children.
drop by
casual visit with no warning
I was trying to take a nap, but friends dropped by and woke me.
drop in on
casual visit with no warning
All of Linda's friends from work dropped in on her early Sunday morning.
drop off
to fall asleep
Sidney ate so much, that he dropped off to sleep while still sitting in his chair.
drop out of
quit, stop attending a course before it's finished
People who drop out of school have a hard time in life.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs C-E
calm down
become less upset
Now, calm down! This isn't the end of the world.
came about
happened
The crisis came about because she was careless.
carry on
persevere
A brave person carries on in spite of obstacles.
behave badly
When Billy's father wouldn't buy him a new toy, he carried on (threw a tantrum) for hours.
catch on (to)
understand (I got it!)
Victor catches on to slang very fast.
catch up to
to try to move quickly enough from behind to reach something far ahead
If Bea runs fast enough she can catch up to Junior.
catch up with
Has two meanings: the exact same meaning as "catch up to", OR it's just an expression similar to "see you later". "later" doesn't mean later the same day. The expression just
means that you'll talk or see the person soon.
Go ahead. I'll catch up with you later.
check up
investigate
When you see that your children are too quiet, it's a good idea to check up on them.
chicken out
lose courage and back down from a plan
Jackie was going to ask Sarah for a date, but he chickened out.
clear out
leave
When the police came in the front door, the crooks cleared out.
clear up
talk about a misunderstanding to make it understandable
If a misunderstanding isn't cleared up, it will only get worse.
weather improves
The storm cleared up after an hour.
come along
progress, go with
The project was coming along nicely.
come back
return
Arnold came back to the house because he forgot his wallet.
come by
visit with no advance plans or notice
Come by the house any time you're in the area. We're always glad to see you.
come out
to exit from one area to go to another
Every time Michael Jackson comes out of court, his fans are waiting to greet him.
making one's debut in high-society
Allison came out in December, so her debut had a winter theme.
publishing of a book, or public appearance of a new product on the market
New spring fashions are coming out at the beginning of the month.
come over
visit, come to where someone is
When will you come over to my house to visit again?
If you need my help to tie your shoes, come over here.
come through
win/succeed/survive in spite of obstacles
The marathon lasted 12 hours, but Amy came through.
come to
regain consciousness
After 12 years in a coma, Edward came to.
cut in
interrupt
Please don't cut in when I'm speaking.
die down
become less important/lesser degree of something
decrease to the point of disappearing
The bad publicity will die down as soon as the next scandal happens.
The applause finally died down.
By the time the high winds of the hurricane died down, they had already caused a lot of damage.
die off/out
become extinct, disappear
We must protect certain animal and plant species, or they will die off.
Some religions die out, and others are born.
drag on
last longer than one expected
This speech is dragging on forever!
drive back
return by car to the original location or starting point
If Carson drives back right now, he can still be on time.
eat out
eat at a restaurant instead of in your home
Clarise didn't feel like cooking, so they ate out last night.
Bringing already-prepared food home is easy, but it isn't the same as eating out.
end up
finally arrive
arrive at a planned or unplanned place
We got lost, but we finally ended up at the right place.
When Lonny started the trip, he never expected to end up in Bangkok!
the final result, after trying various possible solutions
I had so much trouble trying to do my own car repair, that I ended up bringing the car to a good mechanic.

Separable Phrasal Verbs F-J
figure out
solve a problem; find an answer; understand another person's behavior
It took Noah six hours to figure his taxes out.
I will never figure out how men think.
fill in
add material if some is missing
Did he fill all the parts of the report in that were missing?
Did he fill in all the missing parts of the report?
repair a crack/damage in an object
All the cracks in the wall have to be filled in with plaster before the wall can be painted.
Fill all the cracks in with plaster before you paint the wall.
write information in the blank spaces on a form
Len had to fill in the blanks on several forms in order to file an insurance claim.
Len had to fill the blanks in on several forms in order to file an insurance claim.
fill out (same meaning as the last definition of "fill in", but they're not interchangeable phrases)
to write information in the empty spaces on a form
After filling the marriage license out , Mike got cold feet.
After Mike filled out the marriage license , he got cold feet.
fill up
fill completely
When Margaret runs out of fuel, she has to fill the tank up again.
When Margaret runs out of fuel, she has to fill up the tank again.
fix up
repair to make more attractive or functional
If you fix up that car, it will sell more easily.
If you fix that car up, it will sell more easily.
slang usage: fix up: to arrange a date for two people who don't know each other
How did you meet Julie? Oh, James fixed me up with her.
I like Julie, can you fix up a date for me?
get across
communicate clearly, explain something to make yourself understood
She tried to get her point across to him, but he never understood. (only this word order)
get in
enter: a car, a room, a meeting or a concert, etc.
Get in the car now, or we'll be late.
Get Granny in the car, so we can leave.
get off
excused from a regular activity
Julian tried to get off work, but the boss wouldn't let him go.
Julian tried to get a few days off from work, but the boss wouldn't let him go.
a reduction in the amount of time of a jail term
Al Capone never got time taken off his prison sentence for good behavior.
excused from responsibility (by a court judge, or some other authority)
Al Capone never got off without some kind of punishment.
The students got off easy this week, because the teacher didn't assign homework.
climb down/leave
Get off the bus at the Fifth Street stop.
Shall she be getting her luggage and her dogs off the plane by herself?

remove from a surface
Get off the table! Dancing is only allowed on the floor!
I can't get the stain off this new blouse.
get out of
leave a small vehicle
Get out of the car if you're going to be a backseat driver!
Get that dog out of the car this minute!
give back
return
Successful people have the responsibility of giving something back to society.
Give back my car keys so I can leave!
give out
distribute or spread the news
The lady who lives next door was giving flyers out to everyone in the neighborhood.
The lady who lives next door was giving out flyers to everyone in the neighborhood.
give up
stop doing something (a habit)
If she gives smoking up, she'll live longer.
If she gives up smoking, she'll live longer.
hand down
announce a decision or law
The judge handed down her verdict: guilty as charged!
The judge handed her verdict down : guilty as charged!
pass possession of an item or an estate from one generation to another
Aunt Tilly handed her grandmother's china down to my niece Priscilla.
Aunt Tilly handed down her grandmother's china to my niece Priscilla.
hand in (turn in)
submit something in person (not by mail)
The students need to hand in their tests in one hour.
The students handed their tests in, and were then free to leave.
hand out
distribute personally
Rod has to hand 5,000 leaflets out by 4 p.m.
Rod had to hand out 5,000 leaflets by 4 p.m.
hand over
surrender something/return/give back
She took my coat without my permission, and today I made her hand it over.
Hand over that coat, or I'll tell your mother!
have on
wear clothes
What did Cathy have on for the interview?
She had a yellow skirt on with a matching yellow top.
to know secret information about someone
I think Connie has something on her boss, and that's why he won't fire her.
Wow! What do you think she has on him? (What's the secret she knows about him?)
have over
invite someone to your home
Peter had some friends over for lunch Saturday.
How many friend did he have over for lunch?
to hold up
lift higher
Stanley had to hold his son up so the boy could see the parade.
Stanley had to hold up his son so the boy could see the parade.
delay
You always hold everyone up by being so late.
Cowboy Joe held up the cattle drive when he lost his spurs.
to rob
Tony wants to hold up the biggest bank in town.
He held the same bank up two years ago, and was never caught.
iron out
resolve a problem
I'm certain that Conrad and his fiance can iron their problems out in time for their wedding.
Some problems just can't be ironed out.
jack (me, you, us, them, her, him) around (very informal/slang)
lying to someone by telling them you're about to do something very soon, and then not doing what you promised
Mortimer really jacked me around for six months until he finally paid me. (He kept promising he'd pay me, but he took a very long time to do it.)
How long has the store manager been jacking you around about taking back that defective computer? (store manager keeps promising to take the computer back, but he
never does.)
(only this word order)
to jack up
lift with a jack (device used to lift a heavy object, like a car)
You need to jack the car up before you change a flat tire.
You need to jack up the car before you change a flat tire.
raise prices
The theater jacked the price of a movie ticket up again.
The theater jacked up the price of a movie ticket again.
to get jacked up (very informal/slang)
to get into serious trouble, or to get someone else into serious trouble
Mortimer really jacked me up when he told the boss I'm always late to work.
If Marshall doesn't stop flirting with my wife, I'm going to really jack him up.
(only this word order)
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs F-H
face up to
acknowledge the reality of something; acknowledge one's responsibility
After her business failed, she had to face up to owing thousands of dollars.
fall back on
depend on for an emergency
I always have some money saved to fall back on in emergencies.
feel up to
feel strong enough physically or emotionally to do something
Mario has been ill for two weeks. I wonder if he feels up to scuba diving today.
fill in
give current information to someone
The new president of the company needs to be filled in on the current sales strategy, in order to make changes that will increase sales.
fill in for
substitute for
When CC's sick, Annie fills in for her.
find out
discover
He thought his wife would never know he had a girl friend, but she found out.
find out about
discover, learn, investigate
You need to find out about someone you meet on the net before you meet them in person.
get across
move over an obstacle to get to another place
Before Andy could reach home, he had to get across the damaged bridge.
get ahead
to make progress, surpass
A hard worker almost always gets ahead.
get ahead of
get in front of
Perry got ahead of all of the other students who had started the course before he did.
get along (with)
have a relationship that has no conflict
They separated because they couldn't get along.
Norman gets along with everyone.
get around
avoid something, evade
If a politician can get around the truth, he/she generally will.
to eventually get something done
Don't worry. I will get around to doing it.
go from place to place, walking or driving
My mother is very frail now, and can't get around without help.
get away with
escape capture or punishment
Whoever vandalized the school got away with it, because there were no witnesses.
get by with/without
use little effort
Jim has gotten by with as little work as possible for the last 18 months.
survive with few creature comforts
Roy's been trying to get by without a cooking stove, until he gets his first paycheck.
get down to business/ brass tacks (informal)
become serious about something
At the meeting, the boss stopped us from chatting among ourselves. She wanted to get down to business immediately.
stop talking about peripheral issues, and talk about the essential issues
I already know how much they want to have a baby. Let's get down to brass tacks. Is her pregnancy a danger to her life?
get on
enter a large vehicle (bus, train, plane, etc.)
The train will leave without us if we don't get on right now.
get on with
continue
I don't have all day to listen to you. Get on with it!
get out of
escape from doing something
Harry tries to get out of doing housework by making silly excuses.
get rid of
give or throw away
Barbara got rid of the rusty patio furniture and bought a new set.
fire someone, get them to leave
The boss got rid of all the lazy employees.
get through with
finish
When Vannie gets through with the book, Amos wants to borrow it.
get up
change from a sitting or prone position, i.e., stand up
We all got up and clapped for the winner!
awaken
What time do you get up in the morning to go to work?
give up
to stop trying to accomplish something
After talking to him for 3 hours, I gave up trying to reason with him.
to surrender
The peace protesters gave up when the police arrested a lot of them.
to sacrifice
Most of the time, we have to give up one thing to get something else we want.

go back on
fail to keep a promise
If Ralph goes back on his word to me, he will be in big trouble!
return to doing a plan that was done before
Terry is trying to go back on her diet, but she's really having difficulty starting again.
go for
really like, be attracted to
Karen really goes for the Brad Pitt type. (is attracted to a man who looks like Brad Pitt)
plan a goal
She's going for her PhD at the end of this semester.
to go somewhere to get something
Will you go for the lunch and bring it back so I don't have to stop my work?
go in for
take part in, be interested in
Kenneth doesn't usually go in for junk food
CC doesn't go in much for sports. She goes in for reading and listening to music.
go on with
continue
Go on with your conversation. I'll wait until you are finished.
go out with
have an appointment or a date
She wouldn't go out with him if he were the last man on earth.
go over
review
Annette needs to go over the lessons in order to be prepared for class.
go with
harmonize with or match
Does this sweater go with these slacks?
accompany
If you can't find anyone else, Benjamin will go with you to the dentist office.
date exclusively
Leticia has been going with Louis for more than five years (they never date anyone else), and they're very happy not being married.
go without
to not have something
Eat your supper right now, or go without!
hang around
walking or waiting doing nothing while being somewhere
Some teenagers like to hang around the shopping malls.
wait for someone
I hung around waiting for her for 2 hours, and then I finally left.
hang up/hang up on
end a phone conversation
Sorry, Mother. I have an appointment, so I have to hang up the 'phone to get ready.
to end a 'phone conversation without saying "goodbye"
When he spoke to me so disrespectfully, I hung up on him!
have to do with
relate to, talk to, be with
William better get a haircut, or Janice won't have anything to do with him.
be related to (doesn't mean relatives in a family), be the cause or reason for something
Canceling my trip has nothing to do with my fear of flying.
hear from
receive telephone or mail communication
I haven't heard from Jane in ages.
hit on
find out/discover accidentally
James suddenly hit on the solution to the puzzle.
to flirt with (informal)
He hits on every woman who comes in the room to chat.
hold off
delay
Hold off making your plans for a trip until I can go with you.
hold on to
keep possession of
Hold on to your hat! It's getting very windy
They've been trying to hold on to the house in spite of being unemployed.
hold out against
resist
Randall can hold out against the temptation of eating chocolate for less than 3 minutes.
jump all over (informal)
scold angrily
Yes, I lost the house keys, but that's not a reason to jump all over me.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs F-H
fall behind
not progress at the expected rate/not be able to do something at the same speed as other people are doing it
Norman thought he'd be finished digging the garden by springtime, but after his operation he fell behind.
The class was up to the fifth chapter of the book, while Ben had fallen behind and had only read Chapter 1.
fall off
decrease/lessen
Sales always fall off after Christmas.
fall through
a plan or deal didn't happen, fail
They had planned to go to Brazil in the winter, but that plan fell through.
His new job fell through when the company filed for bankruptcy.
fill in
substitute
Tom Cruise was making a movie, and Jay once filled in for him.
fill out (see separable list)
gain weight
She would look healthier if her face filled out a little bit more.
find out
learn, discover
Sebastian hopes people never find out where he hid the treasure.
fly back
return by air
If I fly back tonight by 5, I can still attend the wedding.
fly over
fly to over an area/to fly to some specific point
To reach London, one has to fly over the ocean.
They're flying over to our house, instead of driving over.
get ahead
make progress
Getting ahead in business takes a lot of hard work and a little good luck.
get around
move from place to place
Since the illness, Debra doesn't get around much anymore.
get away
escape
You can't get away from your problems by running.
get by (on/with)
barely manage in a difficult situation/survive with difficulty
Lucas is having a lot of trouble getting by on so little money.
I guess he's gotten by with a little help from his friends.
get in
gain admission ( to a building, movie, play, etc.)
Jack gave us 2 complimentary tickets (free tickets), and we got in the concert without any hassle. (informal--we were able to get into the concert without any trouble)
arrive
George's plane gets in at about 10:30 p.m.
get off
to leave a bus, train, or plane
Bobby got off the plane at 11:15 p.m.
slang usage: get off
to really enjoy something a lot
Harold really gets off on rock concerts.
get on
mount a horse, enter a car, plane, elevator etc.
The Lone Ranger got on Silver and rode into the sunset.
continue doing something you'd stopped
The sooner you get on with the job, the sooner you will be done.
be compatible
Doreen gets on very well with Jonah.
get over/get past
accept something negative that happened, and not feel pain about it anymore
feel hopeful about the future
So, you had some bad luck. Get over it.
They're rebuilding their house, and trying to get past the memories of the fire.
get up
rise from a sitting or lying down position
If you get hit, just get up and keep going.
get through (with)
finish, complete
Susan should get through with the cleaning soon.
Shane is getting through school by working part-time.
give out
to die
lose all of one's energy/lose the use of some part of the body
I will give out before I give up! (I'm willing to die, rather than surrender.)
My energy is giving out. That's enough gardening for today.
She fell in the supermarket, because her legs gave out. (legs stopped functioning)
go back
return
It's time to go back home now.
go off
explode
The rocket went off in a shower of sparks.
go on
continue
Sorry I barged in. Please go on with your story.
go over
to present some kind of work and have it received by people in a positive way
The new movie script went over very well with the head of the studio.
I hope it goes over as well with the movie audiences.
travel to some point
June had to go over to the window to get a better look at the new neighbors.
goof off (informal)
be lazy, not do anything productive
Goofing off in class can be fun, until you recognize you haven't learned enough to get a job.
Greg goofs off all the time at work. He is going to get fired if he doesn't stop.
grow up
to go from childhood to adulthood
Kids can't wait to grow up.
behave maturely
Some people grow older, but they never grow up. (never show normal adult behavior)
hang in; hang on/hold on
keep waiting for conditions to improve (opposite of "give up")
Hang in there, Peter! Someday, you'll be very successful.
wait while on the 'phone (don't hang up the receiver)
Please hold on (hang on), sir. The manager will be right with you.
hold out
refuse to come to an agreement
The striking workers were holding out for more money.

Separable Phrasal Verbs C-E
call off
cancel something that's been scheduled
They called the game off because of rain.
They called off the game because of rain.
call up
to telephone
Bob called Corinne up last night.
Bob called up Corinne last night.
calm down
become less agitated or help someone else become less upset
Sometimes all it takes to calm someone down is soft music.
Dora calmed down all the people who had been in the burning theater.
carry over
continue to use/apply at another time or place
When I moved, the 'phone company let me carry my deposit over. (use the same deposit from my old 'phone number for the new 'phone number)
Does the tax deduction I had for the year 2004 carry over to the year 2005?
check off
mark a list to show something is completed/finished
Check all of the food you bought today off the list, and tomorrow we'll buy the rest of it.
Get your list and check off all of the food you bought today. Tomorrow we'll buy the rest of it.
check out
pay for items being bought
Said to a cashier at a store: "Is your check stand open to check my groceries out?"
"Yes sir, I can check out your items right now."
Look!!
Wow! Check out the muscles on that guy!
Wow! Check that guy out!
borrow books from a library
How many books am I allowed to check out at one time?
While you're at the library, check some books out for me too.
to look at something carefully/to investigate
Alicia checked the new boutique out, but didn't find anything she liked.
If you're looking for information on cooking snails, there's a great website you should check out.
cheer up
cause to become happier
Sweet little dogs are wonderful for cheering older people up.
Sweet little dogs are wonderful for cheering up older people.
chew out
scold severely
Lawrence's mother chewed him out when he forgot her birthday.
Lawrence's mother also chewed out everyone who hadn't sent her a birthday card.
chop up
cut something big into smaller pieces
The estate was chopped up because there were so many heirs.
After they cut the trees down, they then had to chop the wood up before they could burn it in the fireplace.
clean off; clear off
clean the surface of something; take everything that's on the surface (table or counter) off
Clean off the table. Supper is ready.
Clean the table off. Supper is ready.
clean out
clean the inside of something, taking out everything not needed
Clean out your closet because there's no room to hang anything else.
Clean your closet out because you can't find anything that's in it.
clean up
put everything back in its proper place
If you promise to clean up the house afterwards, I'll allow you to have a party.
If you promise to help me clean the house up afterwards, we'll make a party.
clear out
to make people or animals leave a particular place/to remove
They cleared all of the skunks out of that area of the forest, and brought them to a place where there was more food.
The firemen cleared out the crowd so no one got injured from the collapsing building.
to take out everything from something enclosed/to make empty
He cleared the inside of his desk out when he was fired.
He cleared out the inside of his desk when he was fired.
close down (pronounce like "close the door", not like 'close' meaning 'near')
to stop operations or business permanently
The carnival closed down when vacation time was over.
The police closed the carnival down when they found gambling at one of the booths.
close up (pronounce like "close the door", not like 'close' meaning 'near')
to stop operations or business temporarily
English Mistakes Welcome closed up while CC was moving.
to sew up an open wound
The surgeons closed the incision up when the operation was finished.
count in
include
Is Leonard coming to the picnic? Yes, count him in.
If you are having a picnic, the Smiths should be counted in.
count out
don't include
Is Arthur coming too? No, count him out. He's busy working.
When Polly made the list for the end-of-school party, she counted out all the teachers.
count up
calculate
If I count up all the people who will lend me money to buy a new car, I still won't have enough money to buy it.
If I count all the people up who said they'd lend me money for a new car , I still won't have enough.
cross out/cross off
to delete something from a list; eliminate
I'm crossing his name off my list of organ donors, because he just donated a kidney.
Simon was crossed off the Best Dressed Man list, because he'd become a sloppy dresser.
Cross out the name of that store, because they've gone out of business.
cut off
cut a portion from a solid piece
Measure four yards of material from the bolt of fabric, and cut it off there.
Cut off four yards of the fabric, and charge it to my account.
limit how much alcohol can be served/limit how much credit for gambling can be permitted
If you drink too much, the bartender will cut you off. (refuse to serve you)
The casino gave the Las Vegas gambler a $100,000 credit line, and then they cut off his funds.
power outage or cessation of power
The telephone company cut the 'phone service off when my bill was paid late.
The television didn't work because the power had been cut off during the storm.
cut down
reduce the quantity
Jon is cutting the amount of meat he eats down to three servings a week.
Jon is cutting down the amount of meat he eats to three servings a week.
to use tools or machinery to take away trees
The state is cutting all the trees down to make way for a super-highway.
The state is cutting down all the trees to make way for a super-highway.
cut out
eliminate, delete
Martin cut all white products out of his diet in order to lose weight.
Martin cut out all white products from his diet in order to lose weight.
do in
make very tired
Teaching five hours without a break really does me in.
I'm really done in after painting the whole outside of the house!
cause to die or to murder
I think his smoking four packs of cigarettes a day finally did him in. (the cause of his death)
He was finally done in by all the cigarettes he had smoked in his life.
Dictators do all the people in who don't agree with the government's views. (murder)
Dictators do in all the people who don't agree with the government's views.
do over
repeat an action
I made too many mistakes in the essay. Now I have to start from the beginning again, and dothe whole thing over.
I hate to do over the work I just finished!
draw out
prolong
Some people have to draw out everything they say until it is a boring monologue.
Some people have to draw everything they say out until it is a boring monologue.
to encourage a shy person to speak or enter into an activity
Peter and Rose finally drew Lee out, and he began speaking in class.
Peter and Rose were finally able to draw out the shyest students, and they began speaking in class.
draw up
create a written document (usually a legal one, like a contract
I had the lawyer draw up a new will when I got married.
I had the lawyer draw a new will up when I got married.
when a mode of transportation approaches and stops at a particular point
He drew up to the curb and parked the car.
He drew the car up to the curb and parked it.
When the stagecoach draws up, Tex and the posse will board it.
dress up
to wear more formal clothes, not everyday clothes; to wear a costume
Marcia hates to dress up for mass.
Her little sister likes to dress the cat up as a baby on Halloween.
To make something attractive on a temporary or superficial basis
They always dress up the table with flowers for special dinners.
A new paint job will dress the house up a little, but it won't hide the broken floor tile.
drop off
to bring someone or something to a certain point and leave them/it there
Drop me off at the corner of First Street. I'll walk to the park from there.
If you can drop off those documents before 3 o'clock, I'll have them signed before 5.
dust off
to clean the surface
Dust off the chair and sit down.
Dust the chair off and sit down.
dust out
wipe the dust from inside of something
Let me dust out that cup before you drink from it.
Let me dust that cup out before you drink from it.
eat up
eat the whole amount of something
Trent ate up the entire pizza before we even got to the table.
Trent ate the entire pizza up before we even got to the table.
egg on
to urge, to dare (usually to do something negative)
It was Megan's fault I dyed my hair green. She egged me on.
When there's trouble out in the schoolyard, Megan's always there to egg on anyone who looks ready to fight.
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs C-E
call for
require (as in a recipe or directions)
Mother's double-fudge cake calls for plenty of chocolate!
The map called for a left turn at Hooterville.
go/come and get; pick up
Lewis called for his date at 8 pm, sharp.
call on
ask someone for an answer or to speak
The teacher called on Joe to answer the question.
to visit (formal usage)
Lady Gertrude called on the new Prime Minister last Saturday.
call up
summon for military service
He was called up for active duty last week.
to search your memory, to try to remember
Calling up the details of an accident that happened 5 years ago isn't easy to do.
care for
tend to, take care of
When Ronald's cat was ill, he cared for her all day and all night.
enjoy, like
I do not care for spinach. (don't like it)
have a fondness for; love
The prince cared deeply for the princess. (loved)
carry on
continue to do things as they had been done before/persevere
Don will carry on as head of the business, after his father's funeral.
make a lot of very unpleasant noise/inappropriate behavior
Those teenagers carried on so much in the movie theater, that the manager threw all of them out.
carry on with
continue to do something without stopping
I didn't mean to interrupt. Please carry on with what you were doing.
to have a love affair, usually with someone who's married
The prince carried on with Camilla for many years while they were married to different partners.
carry out
fulfill/complete/perform (plans or orders)
The spy carried out his mission, in spite of all the danger.
catch on
develop a knowledge or understanding of something
Annie went over the lesson until everyone caught on.
check in (into)
register for an event or at a place of lodging
If we can check in to the hotel by 7 p.m., we'll still have time to attend the conference.
search for facts/investigate
I need to check into that investment. It looks too good to be true.
check out (of)
is or isn't logical, to make or not make sense
We interviewed the prisoner, but his version of what happened didn't check out.
the time one must pay the bill and leave a hotel
Check-in can be at any time, but you must check out of this hotel by 2 p.m.
slang usage: to die
The paramedics tried to save his life, but he'd already checked out before they reached the hospital.
check up on
verify or examine
Gerald wasn't sure the information he'd given them was accurate, so he checked up on everything.
chip in
each person in a group of people contributing money to buy something
If each person chips in a dollar, we can afford to buy the CD.
clam up
refuse to talk
The Mafia boss clammed up during the investigation.
come across
find by accident/to honor a deal
I came across the greatest book the other day.
She promised to pay the balance of the loan by Friday, but she never came across.
come along with
accompany
Come along with me to the store.
make progress towards a goal
He was have trouble learning Spanish, but now he's coming along very well.
come by
visit
Come by anytime. You know you're always welcome at our house.
possess a trait because of a specific reason
Bella comes by her good looks naturally; her parents are also good looking.
come down with
to begin to get sick, catch a disease
Don't kiss me, because I think I am coming down with a cold.
come out with
to say something
We asked all the children to tell us who broke the window, hoping one of them would come out with the truth.
publicly show something
Toy companies come out with their Christmas line in July.
come to
total
What did the grocery bill come to this month?
to arrive at a decision
After looking at all the options, Rod came to his decision.
become conscious after being unconscious
When she passed out, someone used smelling salts to help her come to.
come up with
generate ideas; think creatively
Joan needed a solution to the problem, but she couldn't come up with a thing.
We came up with so many great ideas for Helene's surprise birthday party.
count on
depend on someone (to help you) or something (to function properly
I can't count on Jan to help me, because she's always drunk.
Curtis says he can count on his car to get him to work every day, but I've seen him taking it to the mechanic very often. I wouldn't count on a car that needs repair all the time.
cut back on
use or do less of something
Mitzy's going to get sick if she doesn't cut back on work.
cut in
interrupt
When Harvey dances with his girlfriend, he doesn't like other men to cut in. (other men interrupting their dance, asking to dance with his partner.)
The telephone operator cut in to say I had an emergency telephone call.
cut it out
an order to stop doing something (slang usage)
You boys who are throwing food need to cut it out! (stop)
disagree with
cause physical discomfort (allergic reaction)
Denny never eats junk food. It disagrees with him, and he gets a rash.
opposite of "'agree"
Mandy disagrees with my decisions most of the time.
do away with
get rid of, abolish
If they do away with traffic laws, the roads will be chaotic.
kill
People are still hoping to see him alive, but I'm sure his enemies have already done away with him.
do without
deprive oneself
Mothers often do without to provide for their children.
drop by
casual visit with no warning
I was trying to take a nap, but friends dropped by and woke me.
drop in on
casual visit with no warning
All of Linda's friends from work dropped in on her early Sunday morning.
drop off
to fall asleep
Sidney ate so much, that he dropped off to sleep while still sitting in his chair.
drop out of
quit, stop attending a course before it's finished
People who drop out of school have a hard time in life.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs C-E
calm down
become less upset
Now, calm down! This isn't the end of the world.
came about
happened
The crisis came about because she was careless.
carry on
persevere
A brave person carries on in spite of obstacles.
behave badly
When Billy's father wouldn't buy him a new toy, he carried on (threw a tantrum) for hours.
catch on (to)
understand (I got it!)
Victor catches on to slang very fast.
catch up to
to try to move quickly enough from behind to reach something far ahead
If Bea runs fast enough she can catch up to Junior.
catch up with
Has two meanings: the exact same meaning as "catch up to", OR it's just an expression similar to "see you later". "later" doesn't mean later the same day. The expression just
means that you'll talk or see the person soon.
Go ahead. I'll catch up with you later.
check up
investigate
When you see that your children are too quiet, it's a good idea to check up on them.
chicken out
lose courage and back down from a plan
Jackie was going to ask Sarah for a date, but he chickened out.
clear out
leave
When the police came in the front door, the crooks cleared out.
clear up
talk about a misunderstanding to make it understandable
If a misunderstanding isn't cleared up, it will only get worse.
weather improves
The storm cleared up after an hour.
come along
progress, go with
The project was coming along nicely.
come back
return
Arnold came back to the house because he forgot his wallet.
come by
visit with no advance plans or notice
Come by the house any time you're in the area. We're always glad to see you.
come out
to exit from one area to go to another
Every time Michael Jackson comes out of court, his fans are waiting to greet him.
making one's debut in high-society
Allison came out in December, so her debut had a winter theme.
publishing of a book, or public appearance of a new product on the market
New spring fashions are coming out at the beginning of the month.
come over
visit, come to where someone is
When will you come over to my house to visit again?
If you need my help to tie your shoes, come over here.
come through
win/succeed/survive in spite of obstacles
The marathon lasted 12 hours, but Amy came through.
come to
regain consciousness
After 12 years in a coma, Edward came to.
cut in
interrupt
Please don't cut in when I'm speaking.
die down
become less important/lesser degree of something
decrease to the point of disappearing
The bad publicity will die down as soon as the next scandal happens.
The applause finally died down.
By the time the high winds of the hurricane died down, they had already caused a lot of damage.
die off/out
become extinct, disappear
We must protect certain animal and plant species, or they will die off.
Some religions die out, and others are born.
drag on
last longer than one expected
This speech is dragging on forever!
drive back
return by car to the original location or starting point
If Carson drives back right now, he can still be on time.
eat out
eat at a restaurant instead of in your home
Clarise didn't feel like cooking, so they ate out last night.
Bringing already-prepared food home is easy, but it isn't the same as eating out.
end up
finally arrive
arrive at a planned or unplanned place
We got lost, but we finally ended up at the right place.
When Lonny started the trip, he never expected to end up in Bangkok!
the final result, after trying various possible solutions
I had so much trouble trying to do my own car repair, that I ended up bringing the car to a good mechanic.

Separable Phrasal Verbs F-J
figure out
solve a problem; find an answer; understand another person's behavior
It took Noah six hours to figure his taxes out.
I will never figure out how men think.
fill in
add material if some is missing
Did he fill all the parts of the report in that were missing?
Did he fill in all the missing parts of the report?
repair a crack/damage in an object
All the cracks in the wall have to be filled in with plaster before the wall can be painted.
Fill all the cracks in with plaster before you paint the wall.
write information in the blank spaces on a form
Len had to fill in the blanks on several forms in order to file an insurance claim.
Len had to fill the blanks in on several forms in order to file an insurance claim.
fill out (same meaning as the last definition of "fill in", but they're not interchangeable phrases)
to write information in the empty spaces on a form
After filling the marriage license out , Mike got cold feet.
After Mike filled out the marriage license , he got cold feet.
fill up
fill completely
When Margaret runs out of fuel, she has to fill the tank up again.
When Margaret runs out of fuel, she has to fill up the tank again.
fix up
repair to make more attractive or functional
If you fix up that car, it will sell more easily.
If you fix that car up, it will sell more easily.
slang usage: fix up: to arrange a date for two people who don't know each other
How did you meet Julie? Oh, James fixed me up with her.
I like Julie, can you fix up a date for me?
get across
communicate clearly, explain something to make yourself understood
She tried to get her point across to him, but he never understood. (only this word order)
get in
enter: a car, a room, a meeting or a concert, etc.
Get in the car now, or we'll be late.
Get Granny in the car, so we can leave.
get off
excused from a regular activity
Julian tried to get off work, but the boss wouldn't let him go.
Julian tried to get a few days off from work, but the boss wouldn't let him go.
a reduction in the amount of time of a jail term
Al Capone never got time taken off his prison sentence for good behavior.
excused from responsibility (by a court judge, or some other authority)
Al Capone never got off without some kind of punishment.
The students got off easy this week, because the teacher didn't assign homework.
climb down/leave
Get off the bus at the Fifth Street stop.
Shall she be getting her luggage and her dogs off the plane by herself?

remove from a surface
Get off the table! Dancing is only allowed on the floor!
I can't get the stain off this new blouse.
get out of
leave a small vehicle
Get out of the car if you're going to be a backseat driver!
Get that dog out of the car this minute!
give back
return
Successful people have the responsibility of giving something back to society.
Give back my car keys so I can leave!
give out
distribute or spread the news
The lady who lives next door was giving flyers out to everyone in the neighborhood.
The lady who lives next door was giving out flyers to everyone in the neighborhood.
give up
stop doing something (a habit)
If she gives smoking up, she'll live longer.
If she gives up smoking, she'll live longer.
hand down
announce a decision or law
The judge handed down her verdict: guilty as charged!
The judge handed her verdict down : guilty as charged!
pass possession of an item or an estate from one generation to another
Aunt Tilly handed her grandmother's china down to my niece Priscilla.
Aunt Tilly handed down her grandmother's china to my niece Priscilla.
hand in (turn in)
submit something in person (not by mail)
The students need to hand in their tests in one hour.
The students handed their tests in, and were then free to leave.
hand out
distribute personally
Rod has to hand 5,000 leaflets out by 4 p.m.
Rod had to hand out 5,000 leaflets by 4 p.m.
hand over
surrender something/return/give back
She took my coat without my permission, and today I made her hand it over.
Hand over that coat, or I'll tell your mother!
have on
wear clothes
What did Cathy have on for the interview?
She had a yellow skirt on with a matching yellow top.
to know secret information about someone
I think Connie has something on her boss, and that's why he won't fire her.
Wow! What do you think she has on him? (What's the secret she knows about him?)
have over
invite someone to your home
Peter had some friends over for lunch Saturday.
How many friend did he have over for lunch?
to hold up
lift higher
Stanley had to hold his son up so the boy could see the parade.
Stanley had to hold up his son so the boy could see the parade.
delay
You always hold everyone up by being so late.
Cowboy Joe held up the cattle drive when he lost his spurs.
to rob
Tony wants to hold up the biggest bank in town.
He held the same bank up two years ago, and was never caught.
iron out
resolve a problem
I'm certain that Conrad and his fiance can iron their problems out in time for their wedding.
Some problems just can't be ironed out.
jack (me, you, us, them, her, him) around (very informal/slang)
lying to someone by telling them you're about to do something very soon, and then not doing what you promised
Mortimer really jacked me around for six months until he finally paid me. (He kept promising he'd pay me, but he took a very long time to do it.)
How long has the store manager been jacking you around about taking back that defective computer? (store manager keeps promising to take the computer back, but he
never does.)
(only this word order)
to jack up
lift with a jack (device used to lift a heavy object, like a car)
You need to jack the car up before you change a flat tire.
You need to jack up the car before you change a flat tire.
raise prices
The theater jacked the price of a movie ticket up again.
The theater jacked up the price of a movie ticket again.
to get jacked up (very informal/slang)
to get into serious trouble, or to get someone else into serious trouble
Mortimer really jacked me up when he told the boss I'm always late to work.
If Marshall doesn't stop flirting with my wife, I'm going to really jack him up.
(only this word order)
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs F-H
face up to
acknowledge the reality of something; acknowledge one's responsibility
After her business failed, she had to face up to owing thousands of dollars.
fall back on
depend on for an emergency
I always have some money saved to fall back on in emergencies.
feel up to
feel strong enough physically or emotionally to do something
Mario has been ill for two weeks. I wonder if he feels up to scuba diving today.
fill in
give current information to someone
The new president of the company needs to be filled in on the current sales strategy, in order to make changes that will increase sales.
fill in for
substitute for
When CC's sick, Annie fills in for her.
find out
discover
He thought his wife would never know he had a girl friend, but she found out.
find out about
discover, learn, investigate
You need to find out about someone you meet on the net before you meet them in person.
get across
move over an obstacle to get to another place
Before Andy could reach home, he had to get across the damaged bridge.
get ahead
to make progress, surpass
A hard worker almost always gets ahead.
get ahead of
get in front of
Perry got ahead of all of the other students who had started the course before he did.
get along (with)
have a relationship that has no conflict
They separated because they couldn't get along.
Norman gets along with everyone.
get around
avoid something, evade
If a politician can get around the truth, he/she generally will.
to eventually get something done
Don't worry. I will get around to doing it.
go from place to place, walking or driving
My mother is very frail now, and can't get around without help.
get away with
escape capture or punishment
Whoever vandalized the school got away with it, because there were no witnesses.
get by with/without
use little effort
Jim has gotten by with as little work as possible for the last 18 months.
survive with few creature comforts
Roy's been trying to get by without a cooking stove, until he gets his first paycheck.
get down to business/ brass tacks (informal)
become serious about something
At the meeting, the boss stopped us from chatting among ourselves. She wanted to get down to business immediately.
stop talking about peripheral issues, and talk about the essential issues
I already know how much they want to have a baby. Let's get down to brass tacks. Is her pregnancy a danger to her life?
get on
enter a large vehicle (bus, train, plane, etc.)
The train will leave without us if we don't get on right now.
get on with
continue
I don't have all day to listen to you. Get on with it!
get out of
escape from doing something
Harry tries to get out of doing housework by making silly excuses.
get rid of
give or throw away
Barbara got rid of the rusty patio furniture and bought a new set.
fire someone, get them to leave
The boss got rid of all the lazy employees.
get through with
finish
When Vannie gets through with the book, Amos wants to borrow it.
get up
change from a sitting or prone position, i.e., stand up
We all got up and clapped for the winner!
awaken
What time do you get up in the morning to go to work?
give up
to stop trying to accomplish something
After talking to him for 3 hours, I gave up trying to reason with him.
to surrender
The peace protesters gave up when the police arrested a lot of them.
to sacrifice
Most of the time, we have to give up one thing to get something else we want.
go back on
fail to keep a promise
If Ralph goes back on his word to me, he will be in big trouble!
return to doing a plan that was done before
Terry is trying to go back on her diet, but she's really having difficulty starting again.
go for
really like, be attracted to
Karen really goes for the Brad Pitt type. (is attracted to a man who looks like Brad Pitt)
plan a goal
She's going for her PhD at the end of this semester.
to go somewhere to get something
Will you go for the lunch and bring it back so I don't have to stop my work?
go in for
take part in, be interested in
Kenneth doesn't usually go in for junk food
CC doesn't go in much for sports. She goes in for reading and listening to music.
go on with
continue
Go on with your conversation. I'll wait until you are finished.
go out with
have an appointment or a date
She wouldn't go out with him if he were the last man on earth.
go over
review
Annette needs to go over the lessons in order to be prepared for class.
go with
harmonize with or match
Does this sweater go with these slacks?
accompany
If you can't find anyone else, Benjamin will go with you to the dentist office.
date exclusively
Leticia has been going with Louis for more than five years (they never date anyone else), and they're very happy not being married.
go without
to not have something
Eat your supper right now, or go without!
hang around
walking or waiting doing nothing while being somewhere
Some teenagers like to hang around the shopping malls.
wait for someone
I hung around waiting for her for 2 hours, and then I finally left.
hang up/hang up on
end a phone conversation
Sorry, Mother. I have an appointment, so I have to hang up the 'phone to get ready.
to end a 'phone conversation without saying "goodbye"
When he spoke to me so disrespectfully, I hung up on him!
have to do with
relate to, talk to, be with
William better get a haircut, or Janice won't have anything to do with him.
be related to (doesn't mean relatives in a family), be the cause or reason for something
Canceling my trip has nothing to do with my fear of flying.
hear from
receive telephone or mail communication
I haven't heard from Jane in ages.
hit on
find out/discover accidentally
James suddenly hit on the solution to the puzzle.
to flirt with (informal)
He hits on every woman who comes in the room to chat.
hold off
delay
Hold off making your plans for a trip until I can go with you.
hold on to
keep possession of
Hold on to your hat! It's getting very windy
They've been trying to hold on to the house in spite of being unemployed.
hold out against
resist
Randall can hold out against the temptation of eating chocolate for less than 3 minutes.
jump all over (informal)
scold angrily
Yes, I lost the house keys, but that's not a reason to jump all over me.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs F-H
fall behind
not progress at the expected rate/not be able to do something at the same speed as other people are doing it
Norman thought he'd be finished digging the garden by springtime, but after his operation he fell behind.
The class was up to the fifth chapter of the book, while Ben had fallen behind and had only read Chapter 1.
fall off
decrease/lessen
Sales always fall off after Christmas.
fall through
a plan or deal didn't happen, fail
They had planned to go to Brazil in the winter, but that plan fell through.
His new job fell through when the company filed for bankruptcy.
fill in
substitute
Tom Cruise was making a movie, and Jay once filled in for him.
fill out (see separable list)
gain weight
She would look healthier if her face filled out a little bit more.
find out
learn, discover
Sebastian hopes people never find out where he hid the treasure.
fly back
return by air
If I fly back tonight by 5, I can still attend the wedding.
fly over
fly to over an area/to fly to some specific point
To reach London, one has to fly over the ocean.
They're flying over to our house, instead of driving over.
get ahead
make progress
Getting ahead in business takes a lot of hard work and a little good luck.
get around
move from place to place
Since the illness, Debra doesn't get around much anymore.
get away
escape
You can't get away from your problems by running.
get by (on/with)
barely manage in a difficult situation/survive with difficulty
Lucas is having a lot of trouble getting by on so little money.
I guess he's gotten by with a little help from his friends.
get in
gain admission ( to a building, movie, play, etc.)
Jack gave us 2 complimentary tickets (free tickets), and we got in the concert without any hassle. (informal--we were able to get into the concert without any trouble)
arrive
George's plane gets in at about 10:30 p.m.
get off
to leave a bus, train, or plane
Bobby got off the plane at 11:15 p.m.
slang usage: get off
to really enjoy something a lot
Harold really gets off on rock concerts.
get on
mount a horse, enter a car, plane, elevator etc.
The Lone Ranger got on Silver and rode into the sunset.
continue doing something you'd stopped
The sooner you get on with the job, the sooner you will be done.
be compatible
Doreen gets on very well with Jonah.
get over/get past
accept something negative that happened, and not feel pain about it anymore
feel hopeful about the future
So, you had some bad luck. Get over it.
They're rebuilding their house, and trying to get past the memories of the fire.
get up
rise from a sitting or lying down position
If you get hit, just get up and keep going.
get through (with)
finish, complete
Susan should get through with the cleaning soon.
Shane is getting through school by working part-time.
give out
to die
lose all of one's energy/lose the use of some part of the body
I will give out before I give up! (I'm willing to die, rather than surrender.)
My energy is giving out. That's enough gardening for today.
She fell in the supermarket, because her legs gave out. (legs stopped functioning)
go back
return
It's time to go back home now.
go off
explode
The rocket went off in a shower of sparks.
go on
continue
Sorry I barged in. Please go on with your story.
go over
to present some kind of work and have it received by people in a positive way
The new movie script went over very well with the head of the studio.
I hope it goes over as well with the movie audiences.
travel to some point
June had to go over to the window to get a better look at the new neighbors.
goof off (informal)
be lazy, not do anything productive
Goofing off in class can be fun, until you recognize you haven't learned enough to get a job.
Greg goofs off all the time at work. He is going to get fired if he doesn't stop.
grow up
to go from childhood to adulthood
Kids can't wait to grow up.
behave maturely
Some people grow older, but they never grow up. (never show normal adult behavior)
hang in; hang on/hold on
keep waiting for conditions to improve (opposite of "give up")
Hang in there, Peter! Someday, you'll be very successful.
wait while on the 'phone (don't hang up the receiver)
Please hold on (hang on), sir. The manager will be right with you.
hold out
refuse to come to an agreement
The striking workers were holding out for more money.

Separable Phrasal Verbs K-M
keep up
continue, maintain the pace
If you keep that behavior up, young man, we won't take you to the movies.
If you keep up that behavior, young man, we won't take you to the movies.
kick out
expel a person
"Kick him out of the game! He cheated!"
If you cheat on an examination, you may get kicked out of school.
knock out
to hit someone and make them unconscious/be hit and made to be unconscious;
He bumped his head on the doorframe, and knocked himself out.
If you bump your head hard enough, you may be knocked out.
to remove something by breaking or destroying it
In order to make the kitchen bigger, we have to knock two walls out.
Bert threw the ball too hard and knocked Billy's front teeth out.
informal idiomatic usage: to do a task quickly and effortlessly
1) This report is overdue. How fast can you finish writing it? 2) Oh, that's easy. I can knock itout in less than an hour.
She knocked out the report in less than an hour, as she promised.
knock (oneself) out
work much harder than normal
Liz knocks herself out learning English.
lay off
to dismiss employees from a job because a company doesn't have the money to pay them
When the company lost money, they laid many workers off.
When the company lost money, they laid off many workers.
leave out
to omit
This spaghetti sauce tastes like it's missing something. Did you leave something out?
This spaghetti sauce tastes like it's missing something. Did you leave out something ?
opposite of "bring in"
You left your bicycle out in the rain.
Charley left out his bike, and it got stolen.
let down
disappoint
The government let us down when they broke all campaign promises and raised taxes.
The publicity for the movie made us think it would be great, but we were really let downwhen we saw it.
let out
allow to leave
Too many criminals are let out of jail early.
The kidnappers let two hostages out and kept the rest of them captive.
make bigger (in sewing, to open seams of a garment)
Now that Susie is pregnant, all her clothes will have to be let out.
Baby Huey is growing so fast that his mother had to let all his clothes out.
light up
light, brighten
They lit the whole town up for the holiday celebration.
"You Light Up My Life" is a song we hear very often at weddings.
live down
to do something morally wrong, and make people forget that you did it
If he lives to be 100, he'll never live down the fact that he stole money from the poor.
The people of the town won't let him live it down. (the people won't forget, nor allow him to forget)
look over
read, inspect/review
Rita looked the proposal over and found some errors.
Rita looked over the proposal and found some errors.
look up
search for a person's address or telephone number in a telephone directory
look for the meaning or spelling of a word in a dictionary
1) How do you spell the word "usually"? 2) Look it up in the dictionary.
Edwina had to look up Barry's 'phone number.
visit/call on the telephone
The head of the company told me to look him up the next time I'm in town.
We should look up the Andersons when we visit San Francisco.
make out
to understand something one sees or hears
Because the telephone reception was so bad, I couldn't make out what he was saying.
You need to speak more clearly, because I can't make your words out.
make over
redo, remake
Jill had surgery and lost a lot of weight to make herself over.
Making over an ugly house requires a lot of time and money.
make up
create fantasy, invent imaginary information, i.e., lies
Why are you late? Tell me the truth, and don't be making any stories up about it!
Johnny's father makes up a new bedtime story every night.
compensate for discomfort, or time/goods used
I know you have suffered, but we will make it up to you.
You missed three days of work, Mr. Johnson, and you have to make up the time. (work extra time)
mark up
raise the price
Some retailers, for instance jewelers, mark the prices up 300%!
Pharmacies mark up the price of prescriptions a lot, so you have to compare the prices at three different stores before you buy.
mark down
reduce the price, put on sale
All the stores at the mall have marked down everything for the big sale.
They've marked everything down at least 20%.
mix up
to be confused; put things in a different order, or the wrong order
Joseph was mixed up when he drove to the store on First Street. The sale was at the Tenth Street store.
Julie did a card trick by mixing all the playing cards up, and telling each of us to choose one.
move over
move to the side
Move over, buddy! You just sat on my little brother.
Well, move your brother over so I can sit down.
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs K-M
keep at
persevere/put time and energy into something until it's finished
To finish planting the garden before the rains come, you have to keep at it.
keep on (followed by an "ing" ending)
do something repeatedly
If you keep on teasing the cat, she will scratch you.
They kept on driving throughout the night without stopping to eat, so that they could arrive early in the morning.
keep up
maintain the pace
I can't keep up with Clara when we go jogging together. (She jogs faster than I can.)
He will never be able to keep up with the work load, because he's given more and more work to do every week.
be able to get correct and current information when it changes often
I can't keep up with the rules of the company, because the boss changes them every week.
Janice told me she was moving to Egypt, but someone just told me she's living in Spain. I just can't keep up!
lie down on
fail to take care of a responsibility because of laziness
If you're going to lie down on the job, you might as well go home.
live on
support oneself by
Simon's salary is only half the size of mine. I don't know what he lives on. (I don't know how he has enough to buy food and pay his bills.)
They're living on the money they got from the sale of the farm. (They buy food and pay bills with the money they received when they sold the farm.)
look after
take care of, tend
When two people marry, they promise to look after each other.
Morris looked after his mother until the day she died.
look back on
remember with nostalgia
She looked back on her single days wistfully. (remember longingly)
look down on
regard someone as inferior
He looks down on everyone in the office, including his boss! He won't get a raise this year, with that attitude.
look forward to
anticipate with pleasure (thoughts about something happening in the future)
Kent always looks forward to visiting his family.
I used to look forward to our annual fishing trip.
look in on
check on someone by actually seeing them
We can leave as soon as I look in on the baby to be sure he's sleeping.
We looked in on Aunt Sally at noon and she was fine, but by 5 o'clock she needed a doctor.
look into
investigate
If you say the new accountant is a drug addict, I must look into his background.
look like
resemble
Isn't it amazing to see two unrelated people who look like each other?
to seem like
It looks like it's going to rain.
look up to
respect for a person
I always looked up to my father when he was alive, because he taught me so many important things about life.
make fun of
make jokes about someone in an unkind way/insult
That boy makes fun of any classmate who doesn't have new athletic shoes.
make out
to "neck" ( lovers hugging/kissing/touching each other)
Couples like to park in dark secluded places so that they can make out without anyone seeing them.
make up for
compensate
Please forgive me, Lester. I want to make up for everything I did to hurt you.
make up/make up with
to get along well with a person after having had an argument/re-establish a relationship
Harold and Stacy made up on Monday, after that big argument they had over the weekend.
I hope Lana and Joyce will decide to make up with each other, in spite of the cruel things they said.
make for (very informal usage)
go toward
If you make for the house and I go to the garage, we should be able to catch him.
Intransitive K-M
keep on
continue
The professor's lecture was for such a long time! He kept on and on.
let up
slower or less intense
When the rain finally let up, we were able to see how much damage had been done.
lie down
recline
If you want to rest, just lie down for a half-hour while I wash the dishes.
look on
watch something that's happening, i.e., a fight, an accident, etc., but not get involved
The crowd looked on while the fire fighters struggled to put out the fire.
luck out (informal usage)
have something of good fortune occur
Chester really lucked out when his job interview was with his best friend's brother-in-law.
make out
progress, success
How did you make out on the TOEFL? Paul said he made out quite well. His score was over 800.
1) How's Richard making out on his job search? 2) I don't think he's making out very well, because he's still not working.

Separable Phrasal Verbs N-S
pass on
transmit
The spy passed on all the information he had gathered.
The spy passed all the information on that he had gathered.
pass out
distribute by personal contact
Some religious groups pass out flowers at airports.
Some religious groups pass flowers out at airports.
pass up
not be able to receive the benefit of something because you refused it
I had to pass up the free trip since I had other obligations at that time.
I had to pass the free trip up since I had other obligations at that time.
pay back
repay
Darryl promised to pay back the money he borrowed from his father.
Darryl promised to pay the money back that he borrowed from his father.
pay off
pay a debt in full
Darryl finally paid off the loan his father had given him.
"It's about time you paid it off!", said his mother.
pick out
choose
You can have any ring you want, dear. Pick it out, and I'll buy it for you.
Is it really all right to pick out any one I want?
pick up
lift
Don't pick that up. It's too heavy for you.
Pick up your shovel and get to work.
give someone a ride
Bea needs to be picked up and taken to the doctor's office.
Michelle will pick Bea up and take her to the doctor's office.
buy or get
If you are going to the store, will you pick up some milk for me?
He picked some milk up as he said he would, but it was goat's milk!
refresh/give or expend more energy
Cold lemonade on a hot day can really pick me up.
Pick up the pace, or you are going to lose the marathon!
play down
de-emphasize/minimize
It's natural to want to play down one's faults when we're trying to impress someone.
It's natural to want to play one's faults down when we're trying to impress someone.
play up
emphasize
On the other hand, we all play up our good points when we're trying to impress someone.
On the other hand, we all play our good points up when we're trying to impress someone.
point out
indicate
Cora pointed out that Doc's shoes were untied.
Doc thanked her for pointing it out to him.
point up
emphasize
The fact that Henry went bankrupt just points up the fact that he shouldn't be handling the money as Treasurer of our club.
Henry was fired from his job at the bank, and that points it up yet again that he shouldn't be handling our money.
pull down
destroy
The old building was pulled down yesterday.
"We should have pulled it down years ago," commented the owner.
pull in a downward direction
Pull down the window shade so that people can't see into the house.
Pull the window shade down gently, or it will break.
pull out
leave or remove
The troops pulled out when the battle was over.
The general pulled the troops out when the battle was over.
pull over
drive to the side of the road
Pull over, because I think we have a flat tire.
Pull the car over. I think we have a flat tire.
push through
cause to be accepted
The senators were hesitant to agree with him, but he pushed the law through.
The senators were hesitant to agree with him, but he was able to push through that law.
put away
place an item in the right or safe place
A good worker always puts his tools away.
A good worker always puts away his tools .
put back
return to the right place
Put that toy back right now!
Put back that toy right now!
(what could be said to a child in a toy store)
put off
procrastinate/delay
The lazy man's credo is: "Always put off today what can be done tomorrow."
The lazy man's credo is: "Always put things off today that can be done tomorrow."
to cause displeasure/dislike
Her taste in clothes was rather flashy, and that put him off.
He was put off by her taste for flashy clothes.
(made him not want to be with her)
put on
get dressed in clothes
Put on your coat, and let's get going!
Put your coat on, or you'll freeze out there!
to put [someone] on
to deceive or pretend (often by teasing or joking)
Hector told us he was the president of Brazil, but he was putting us on.
She told me she just won the lottery, but I'm sure she was just putting me on.
Don't put on airs! You are no richer than any of us.
put a person out
cause inconvenience
He didn't mind in the least putting me out by asking for a ride to the airport. (only this word order)
I hope I'm not putting you out by sleeping at your house tonight. (only this word order)
put up
preserve food
Granny put up 47 quarts of beans this summer.
Aunt Tilly was bragging because she had put 100 quarts of beans up last year.
place something on a higher level, out of easy reach
Put that box of crackers up on the shelf so the baby doesn't get hold of it.
That should be put up on the shelf so the baby can't reach it.
give someone a place to sleep
Celia put Zack up when his wife locked him out of the house.
Celia puts up many homeless people in the neighborhood.
quiet down
be silent
Quiet down in there! I am on the telephone.
Quiet it down in there! I am on the telephone.
ride over
go by car or bicycle to where something is
Let's ride over to the mall and do some shopping today.
Let's ride the bus over to the mall and do some shopping today.
rinse off
rinse the surface of
If you rinse off your glasses, you can see better.
You have to rinse the soap off your glasses, in order to see more clearly.
rinse out
rinse the inside of
For the millionth time, rinse out the bathtub after you are finished bathing!
Remember to rinse the clothes out with water softener.
rip off
cheat/steal from
Beware of internet money-making schemes. They will rip you off.
Roy ripped off the bookstore, but the police caught him in the parking lot.
round off
change a fraction to the nearest whole number
The bill was $3.76, so let's round it off to $4.
When making cost estimates, many businesses round off the numbers.
rule out
reject, eliminate as a choice
Just because a solution is improbable, don't rule it out.
Don't rule out a solution just because it is improbable.
run down
looks for and finds
The tax department runs down non-payers and prosecutes them.
The tax department runs non-payers down and prosecutes them.
say unflattering things about
She's always running me down to people because I stole her boyfriend.
She runs down anyone who even says 'hello' to her boyfriend.
hit with a vehicle
Mr. Ford was run down by a drunk driver.
Who is the driver that ran him down?
run off
chase someone
A guard dog will run off trespassers.
A guard dog will run trespassers off.
make copies of
Rudy ran off copies of his poem for all his friends.
Rudy ran copies of his poem off for all his friends.
save up
accumulate
When she has saved up enough money, she will take a trip.
When she has saved enough money up, she will take a trip.
see off
be with someone when they leave (for a trip)
The boss left for Ireland, and we all went to see him off. (only this word order)
see through
complete in spite of obstacles
The going was tough, but he saw it through.
A determined person can see through a tough job.
send back
return to the former place
Doris always sends back gifts she receives from strange men.
When Doris receives a gift from a strange man, she always sends it back.
send over
send to someone else
Aunt Teresa always sends over chicken soup when a neighbor is ill.
Aunt Teresa always sends chicken soup over when a neighbor is ill.
set back
a delay
When the factory exploded, production was set back six months.
When the factory blew up, it set production back six months.
the price someone paid for something when you think it's expensive (informal usage)
Nita just bought a new car. I wonder how much that set her back? (only this word order)
set up
make arrangements, plan
If John sets up the seminar, will you help him?
If John sets the seminar up, I'll send out the notices.
show off
behaving as though one is superior to other people/exhibit possessions in a boastful way
He constantly shows off, always pretending he is richer than he really is.
He constantly shows his possessions off, pretending he is richer than he really is.
show up
do a better job than
She can't help showing everyone else up. Her work is done much better than theirs.
Jamie looked upset at having been shown up at work. (someone's superior work made Jamie's work look poorly done)
shut off (same as 'turn off')
You cannot say "shut on"; only "turn on")
cause to stop working
Shut off the television and go to bed.
I can't shut the water off, and now there's a flood in the kitchen!
slow up/slow down
cause to move more slowly
The traffic slowed up until we couldn't drive at all.
The traffic slowed down to the point that we had to stop.
The traffic slowed the ambulance down, almost causing the patient to die.
spell out
sarcastic way to say something, and be sure that there definitely is no misunderstanding
Do I need to spell out what I just told you?
The boss told Gene to go home, and not to come back. Gene said, "I don't understand." The boss then said: "Let me spell it out for you. You're fired!
stand up
not keep a date or appointment
After Hilda stood Peter up the second time, he decided she wasn't the girl for him.
He looked very sad when he told me: "I've been stood up again."
sweep out
sweep the inside of
Sweep out the garage before you wash the car.
Sweep the garage out before you wash the car.
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs P-S
pass on
not accept something that's offered
No, thank you. I will have to pass on having dessert, because I've eaten too much already.
to die
His sister passed on more than a month ago.
pick on
tease
Warren! Stop picking on Esther.
play up to
insincerely flatter
Timothy plays up to every woman he meets. He's a real Don Juan.
to feel put out
to feel annoyed or angry
I felt put out when I waited for him for 2 hours, and he never showed. (arrived)
put up with
tolerate
I only put up with my brother-in-law because my sister loves him.
read up on
to research
Before Harold tried motorcycle racing, he read up on it.
ring off
hang up the telephone
I'm late, so I must ring off now. I'll call you tomorrow.
run against
compete in an election
In the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party runs against the Labour Party. (British spelling)
run away with
escape/elope
There's a very old nursery rhyme that goes "...And the dish ran away with the spoon."
run for
campaign for election
I believe the president will run for another term.
run into (also said "bump into")
a chance meeting
Gee, I'm glad I ran into you. I've missed you.
I owe him money, and running into him was very awkward.
run off
to get away quickly
When Stuart heard the owl, he ran off as fast as he could. (only this word order)
Whenever Stuart hears any strange noise, he runs off as fast as he can.
The thief was running off, but the police caught him.
run out of
use the last of something
I have to go to the store because we've almost run out of salt.
Yesterday we ran out of sugar, and we had to use honey, instead.
see about
find out about/make arrangements
If you want a big surprise party for Al, I will see about it.
threaten to keep someone from doing something you don't like
You're 12 years old, and you want to go out on a date? Well, we'll just see about that.
see through (a person or a claim or statement)
the ability to recognize when a person is dishonest
When he said he was Donald Trump's brother, I saw through his lies immediately.
see to
arrange, supervise, tend to
The water pipe burst again. See to it that it's fixed immediately.
settle for
agree to accept something that wasn't your first choice
The restaurant had no fish, so she settled for chicken.
They sued the company for $1,000,000, but settled for $500,00.
settle on
make a choice/decision
After seeing 20 houses, they finally settled on the first one they'd seen.
slow up/slow down
reduce speed
Slow up here so I can see the address on the house.
Slow the car up so I can see the address on the house.
You're driving too fast! Slow the car down so I can read the sign.
You're driving too fast! Slow down so I can read the sign.
stand for
represent
He said he stood for free trade, but he voted against it last year.
tolerate (same as 'put up with)
Yolanda won't stand for people breaking the rules.
stand up for
defend
A good friend will stand up for you when you're in trouble.
demand
The workers stood up for their right to decent health care.
stand up to
confront
If you stand up to a bully, the bully will often back down.
stick to
refuse to change/honor an agreement
If you know you're right, stick to your belief.
He stuck to the terms of the agreement, and paid off the loan as he'd promised.
stick up for
defend
Jeff stuck up for Bob when the traffic cop said Bob was speeding.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs N-S
nod off
fall asleep
Everyone nodded off during the clergyman's midnight sermon.
pan out
succeed
I started my own business, but it didn't pan out. (it failed)
pass away (same as "pass on")
die
My aunt passed away last year.
pick up
increase
Business always picks up right before school starts.
pitch in
contribute time/energy to help someone
When Tammy was ill, we all pitched in to clean her house.
pull in
arrive
Our visitors just pulled in. I want to go outside to greet them.
run away
leave quickly, escape
She always runs away when it's her turn to wash the dishes.
run off
leave, running
The sight of garlic makes a vampire run off at once.
drain
The rain was very slow to run off after a storm, so the house had to be built on stilts.
sell out
sell ownership
The bad economy forced him to sell out his shares in the firm.
sell all the merchandise in a store
The store manager told me they were all sold out of milk until next week.
settle up
pay a bill or debt
I will settle up with you on pay day.
show up
arrive/appear
He never showed up for his business appointment.
shut up
stop talking
After Sara yelled at him, he shut up and wouldn't say another word.
slip up
make a mistake
When I called Paul "Edgar", I really slipped up.
stand by
wait
You go ahead and finish your work. I'll stand by, in case you need my help.
stand out
be noticeable
A tall person always stands out in a crowd.
stand up
rise from a sitting position
It shows respect to stand up when a woman enters the room.
endure
Anyone who can stand up to hardship has a strong character.
stay over
spend one night or longer with someone
Because of the storm, we decided to stay over at Pam's.
step aside
move to one side
Step aside to let the paramedics come through.

Separable Phrasal Verbs T-Z
take back
return
The hat looked awful, so she took it back to the store.
The hat was on sale, so it couldn't be taken back.
retract
Take back what you said, or I'll never forgive you.
Take your words back, or you'll be sorry!
take down
write from dictation
A good stenographer takes down everything her boss says, without missing a word.
Her boss said, "Take a letter, Miss Jones". She took every word he said down.
take off
remove a piece of clothing
Take off those wet clothes before you catch a cold.
Take those wet clothes off before you catch a cold.
be absent from work
Benjamin took off time from work to go to the baseball game.
Benjamin took time off from work to go to the baseball game.
take up
begin or start a hobby
When Adam took up sky-diving, he stopped being afraid of heights.
Adam had always wanted to sky-dive, so he took it up last summer.
talk over
discuss
Let's talk it over before we make a decision.
We should talk over the details before we finalize our plans.
tell off
tell someone bluntly what he or she did wrong
Cynthia told me off when I picked her up late.
I should tell my boss off the next time she harasses me!
tick off
make someone angry
I really get ticked off when people call me "hun".
Rex ticked her off when he winked at another girl.
write a check mark next to items on a list
Celeste ticked off the test questions that didn't need to be studied.
Dora ticked every item off that was on her shopping list, to be sure she bought everything she needed.
throw away
discard
I hate to throw away good clothes. Let's give them to that poor family.
When will you throw that old torn sweater away?
throw out
discard
Brenda needs to throw out some of the food in the refrigerator. It is growing green fuzz.
Brenda needs to throw some of the food out of the refrigerator. It is growing green fuzz.
force someone to leave
When the boys on the football team start to party, they sometimes get thrown out of the club.
What happened to the two men who were fighting? The guard threw them out of the store.
take down
remove from a high place
Amelia took down the book from the shelf.
Amelia took the book down from the shelf.
tear down
Mock, belittle/criticize
Some people have to tear down everyone they come in contact with.
When he gave his speech, he tore everyone down, except for his girlfriend.
destroy
Okay men, tear the whole building down, and then clean up the mess.
Okay men, tear down the whole building, and then clean up the mess.
tear up
rip into pieces
James tore up his traffic tickets. Now he's really in trouble!
James said he would tear his traffic tickets up. He'll really be in trouble if he does that!
tell off
scold
Just tell your boss off the next time he makes sexual comments.
Cindy told off her boss, and then he fired her.
tell on (slang: rat on/snitch on)
report misbehavior
If you don't behave, someone will tell on you.
I'm going to tell the teacher on you!
(rat on and snitch on are only inseparable)
think over
consider something for some period of time
Think over my proposal for a day or two.
Yes, I do need to think it over before I make such a big decision.
think up
create
If Annie can think up a good excuse for her boss, she can stay home from work tomorrow.
Annie's going to think a great excuse up so she can stay home from work tomorrow.
think through
consider a decision/action from start to finish
Nate thinks everything through carefully before acting.
Nate thinks through every little detail carefully before acting.
throw away
discard
Americans throw away more waste than any other people.
Americans throw more waste away than any other people.
throw up
to remind someone (in a scolding or mocking tone of voice) of something they did wrong
Winston got a traffic ticket for speeding, and Sally throws it up to him constantly.
Jim hates it when his mother throws up every little error he ever made.
throw over
reject a person
Anita threw Patrick over for a bus driver.
"She threw over a doctor for a bus driver!" complained her mother. (She rejected a doctor, and chose a bus driver to be her boyfriend.)
tie up
bind
Tie up your horses or they will stray.
Tie your horses up or they will stray.
tire out
exhaust
A three-year-old can tire out a professional athlete!
A three-year-old can tire a professional athlete out!
touch up
repair (can also mean a woman fixing her makeup or hair)
The car only needs a little bit of touching up before it can be sold.
Marcy said she needs to touch her face up, and then she'll be ready to go.
try on
wear a garment to check the fit and how it looks
That coat is too tight. Didn't you try it on before you bought it?
Try on the coat to see if it fits.
try out
uses a machine to see if it works
Always try a car out before buying it.
We tried out the new car before we bought it.
turn around
face the opposite direction; make a radical change in things ( usually from bad to good)
Turn around to see a big surprise.
You can turn your life around if you really want to.
turn down
reduce the volume
Rod swears he will go deaf if the television isn't turned down.
Turn the TV down! It's much too loud!
refuse
Delores turned down a great job last week.
Delores turned a great job down last week.
turn in
deliver to the authorities, or someone in charge (boss, parents, teachers)
If we turn in the stolen money, we might get a reward.
Someone lost these keys, and we should turn them in.
turn into
become
The frog turned into a prince when Sleeping Beauty kissed him.
The witch threatened to turn me into a worm!
turn off
bore or repulse (informal)
Dirty fingernails really turn people off.
Marion gets turned off by rude behavior, so watch your manners.
stop the action of something by using a handle or switch
Let's turn off the front light and pretend we aren't home.
When I turned the vacuum cleaner off, the silence in the house was glorious.
turn on
activate by using a handle or switch
When Leslie turned on her microphone, the volume was much too high.
The next time she turned it on, the sound was much softer.
to be very interested in something, or enjoy something very much (informal)
Don told me that a good dance band turns him on. (only this word order)
to be turned on (only informal usage)
to feel sexually stimulated by something
He's turned on by the way she walks, and the perfume she's wearing.
She likes turning him on.
turn out
produce
The factory turned out over 10,000 computers last year.
Paige's Bakery turns doughnuts out by the dozens and dozens!
extinguish (a light)
Turn out the light. I can't sleep with the light on.
Turn the light out . It's time to go to sleep.
turn up
increase the volume
I can't hear the music unless you turn it up.
If I turn up the volume any louder, I'll ruin the speakers.
wake up
make some one stop sleeping
Getting cold water poured over your head would surely wake you up.
Wake up, sleepyhead! It's almost time for school.
wash off
wash the surface
Wash the milk off the counter before it gets sticky.
They washed off the road tar before they sent the car to be polished.
wash out
wash the inside
The garbage can needs to be washed out.
She hated washing the garbage cans out because of the stench.
to do a small amount of laundry
Wash out your jeans, they are filthy!
Wash your jeans out, they are filthy!
wear out/to be worn out
no longer useable
The tread on Eric's tires was completely worn out.
Tommy, you're wearing your jeans out, crawling on the ground.
to be tiring/exhausted
Studying all day just wears me out!
I am always worn out after mowing the grass.
wind up
finish
Let's wind up this job and get the heck out of here.
Let's wind this job up and get the heck out of here.
tighten springs of a clock/watch
It was Joseph's job to wind up the clock each morning.
Joseph wound the clock up each morning.
wipe off
wipe the surface
Wipe off the milk that spilled on the table.
Wipe the table off after we're finished eating dinner.
wipe out
wipe the inside of
When you have cleaned the table, wipe out the inside of the kitchen closet.
When you have cleaned the table, wipe the kitchen closet out with pesticide.
work out
solve a problem
We worked out all of the problems the manufacturing department had.
They're trying to work their marital problems out, but I'm not sure it's possible.
wrap up
finish
I need to wrap all my business affairs up before leaving on vacation.
Can we wrap up this business meeting right now?
write down
record in writing
Every night, Amy writes everything down in her diary.
Every night, Amy writes down what she did that day in her diary.
write out
write every detail
The officer wrote out the arrest reports at the close of each work day.
The officer wrote the report out before he went off duty.
write someone up
a negative report written by a supervisor about an employee
If the supervisor writes me up again for being late to work, I'll lose my job.
How many times have you been written up this year?
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs T-W
take after
physically resemble/inherit certain qualities
1) Concerning your talents for sports, who do you think you take after? 2) I take after my maternal grandmother, who won an Olympic Gold Medal.
take care of
help/provide for
"I will take care of you for the rest of your life," said the Prince to Cinderella.
watch your health
Take care of yourself, because there's lot of flu going around.
make arrangements for
Mort took care of the funeral arrangements.
talk back to
answer rudely
Never talk back to someone bigger than you are.
touch on
briefly mention
Last semester the professor only touched on the Civil War.
try out for
audition
My nephew wants to try out for the part of Darth Vader in the school play.
watch out for
be careful of
Shawn warned us to watch out for the boss, because she's in a very bad mood.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs T-Z
take off
leave
The spaceship was ready to take off for the stars.
take over
assume command
When Captain Kirk was captured, Mr. Spock took over.
throw up
vomit
People who drink too much alcohol at one time usually throw up.
turn around
face 180 degrees opposite to the direction you're facing
Don't turn around, but there's someone following us.
turn in
go to bed
It's time for me to turn in, because tomorrow will be a long day at work.
turn out
attend
We hope that a lot of people turn out for the swimming competition.
turn up
something or someone that's been lost suddenly appears
Have your car keys turned up yet? (Have you or anyone found them yet?)
wait for
wait until someone or something arrives or is finished
1) Why is Alan late for work? 2) He's still waiting for his clothes to dry.
wait up for
stay awake to wait for something or someone
Don't wait up for me. I'll be home very late.
wake up
awaken, stop sleeping
Jasmine woke up when she heard a noise outside her bedroom window.
walk back
return to a previous point
Let's walk back to the coffee shop, instead of driving there.
walk over
walk to where someone/something is
Andrea has to walk over to the television to turn it on, because the remote control is missing.
wash out
fail, not be up to a standard
1) Did Perry graduate from the university? 2) No, he washed out because of poor grades.
watch out
be careful
Watch out! That dog looks vicious.
wear off
fade and disappear, or lose effect through use or time
Tattoos may fade with age, but they never wear off.
The medicine takes the pain away for 3 hours, and then it wears off.
wear out
become used up
Joyce had had those jeans so long that the knees were worn out.
work out
exercise
Mickey works out every chance he gets.
be successful
Terry is sure that his plan will work out.
wrap up (also said "bundle up")
dress warmly
It is going to be very cold today, so please wrap up.
zonk out
fall asleep quickly because of being very tired
After a day at the beach, we zonked out in the car on the drive home.