PHRASAL VERBS (TWO-WORD AND THREE-WORD VERBS)

Phrasal verbs are especially common in informal English. Following is a list of common phrasal verbs and their usual meanings. This list containts only those phrasal verbs used in the exercises in the text. The phrasal verbs marked with an asterisk (*) are nonseparable.

A

ask out                                                 ask someone to go on a date

ask around                                          ask many people the same question

add up to                                             equal

B

*back up                                              (1) reverse; (2) support

*blow up                                             explode

blow up                                               add air

*break down                                     (1) stop functioning (vehicle, machine); (2) get upset

break down                                        divide into smaller parts

*break in                                             force entry to a building

*break into                                        enter forcibly

bring in                                                                wear something a few times so that it doesn’t look/feel new

*break in                                             interrupt

*break up                                           end a relationship

*break out                                          escape

*break out in                                     develop a skin condition

bring down                                         (1) make unhappy; (2) raise a child

bring up                                               (1) start talking about a subject; (2) vomit

bring about, bring on                     cause

bring up                                               (1) rear children; (2) mention or introduce a topic

C

call back                                               return a telephone call

call in                                                    ask to come to an official place for a spesific purpose

call off                                                  cancel

*call on                                                                (1) ask to speak in class; (2) visit

call up                                                   call on the telephone

*catch up (with)                               reach the same position or level

*check in                                             register at a hotel

*check into                                        investigate

check out                                            (1) take a book from the library; (2) investigate

*check out (of)                                 leave a hotel

cheer up                                              make (someone) feel happier

clean up                                               make clean and orderly

*come across                                    meet by chance

cross out                                              draw a line through

cut out                                                  stop an annoying activity

D

do over                                                                do again

*drop by, drop in (on)                   visit informally

drop off                                               leave something/someone at aplace

*drop out (of)                                   stop going to school, to a class, to a club, etc.

F

figure out                                            find the answer by reasoning

fill out                                                  write the completions of a questionnaire or official form

find out                                                discover information

G

*get along (with)                             exist satisfactorily

get back from                                    (1) return from a place; (2) receive again

*get in, get into                                               (1) enter a car; (2) arrive

*get off                                                                leave an airplane, a bus, a train, a subway, a bicycle

*get on                                                                enter an airplane, a bus, a train, a subway, a bicycle

*get out of                                         (1) leave a car; (2) avoid work or unpleasant activity

*get over                                            recover from an illness

*get through                                     finish

*get up                                                                arise from bed, a chair

give back                                             return an item to someone

give up                                                 stop trying

*go over                                              review or check carefully

*grow up (in)                                    become an adult

H

hand down                                         give something used to someone else

hand in                                                 submit

hand out                                              to distribute to a group of people

hand over                                           give (usually unwillingly)

*hang in                                                              stay positive (informal)

*hang on                                             wait a short time (informal)

*hang out                                           spend time relaxing (informal)

*hang up                                             end a phone cell

hold back                                            hide an emotion

*hold on                                              wait a short time

*hold onto                                         hold firmly using your hands or arms

hold up                                                                rob

K

*keep on doing                                                continue doing

keep out(of)                                      not enter

*keep up (with)                                               stay at the same position or level

kick out (of)                                       force (someone) to leave

L

let down                                              fail to support or help; dissapoint

let in                                                     allow to enter

*log in (or on)                                   sign in ( to a website, a database, etc)

*log out (or off)                                               sign out (to a website, database, etc)

*look after                                         take care of

*look down on                                 think less of; consider inferior

*look for                                             try to find

*look forward to                              be excited about the future

*look into                                           investigate

*look out                                            be carefully; vigilant; and take notice

*look out for                                     be especially vigilant for

look over                                             check; examine

look up                                                 search and find information in a reference book or database

*look up to                                         have a lot of respect for

M

make up                                              (1) invent; (2) do past work; (3) forgive each other

*make up                                            (1) invent; (2) lie about something

mix up                                                  confuse two or more things

N

name after, name for                    give a baby the name of someone else

P

*pass away                                         die

pass out                                               (1) distribute; (2) loss conciousness

pay back                                              return owed money

*pay for                                               be punished for doing something bad

pick out                                                select

pick up                                                 (1) go to get someone (e.g., in a car); (2) take in one’s hand

point out                                             call attention to

put away                                             remove to a proper place

put back                                               return to original place

put down                                            (1) insult; (2) make someone feel stupid

put off                                                  postpone

put out                                                 extinguish

put together                                      assemble

*put up with                                      tolerate

put on                                                   put clothing/accessories on your body

R

*run into, *run accross                 meet by chance

*run out (of)                                      finish a supply of something

*run over                                            drive a vehicle over a person or thing

*run over/through                          (1) rehearse; (2) review

*run away                                           (1) leave unexpectedly; (2) escape

*run out                                              have none left

S

send back                                            return (usually by mail)

set up                                                   (1) trick; (2) trap

*shop around                                    compares price

*show up                                            appear, come

shut off                                                                stop a machine, light, faucet

*show off                                           act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)

*sleep over                                        stay somewhere for the night (informal)

sort out                                                organize; resolve a problem

*stick to                                               continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing

switch off                                            stop the energy flow; turn off

switch on                                            start the energy flow; turn on