E-BOOK

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LET’S
LEARN
PHRASAL
VERBS
IN ENGLISH
In this e-book, you will find
a complete list with
hundreds of phrasal verbs,
their meanings, and real
examples of how they are
used in sentences.
HOW TO
LEARN
PHRASAL
VERBS?
Phrasal Verbs are formed by
joining two or more words.
Mostly, these special verbs
cannot be translated in a
literary way. Anyone who
wants to learn English
needs to understand the
context of phrasal verbs so
they can understand the
meaning in their mother
tongue.

We prepared this e-book,

which will help you in this
process of learning the
language. We spoke with
those who have English as a
native language to
understand how they learn
phrasal verbs and give us
tips that will make a
difference!

2
 E-BOOK WITH A LIST OF
PHRASAL VERBS

FROM A to Z
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE
A
I think I need to take my car to the
TO ACT UP To fail to function
mechanic because it’s acting up again.

TO ADD * UP + I added up the receipts and it totaled

To calculate a sum
$239,00.

TO ADD UP Equal an amount

The total expenses added up to $449,00.
TO +

TO ADD UP His story doesn’t add up. I think he is lying.

To make sense

TO ASK * To invite on a date

I can’t believe Mark finally asked me out
OUT + on a date.

TO ASK * To invite to someone’s Why don’t you ask your mother over
OVER + home

B
for dinner?

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

To stop defending your John never backs down. He always

TO BACK DOWN opinion on a debate wins arguments.

TO BACK Not to keep (a promise, My mom backed out at the last minute.
OUT OF deal, agreement)

TO BACK * I need good examples to back up

To give support
UP + my opinion.

TO BACK To move backwards, Could you back up a little so I can open

UP reverse this window?

TO BAWL * Irene bawled him out for arriving late.

To criticize
OUT +

4
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO BEAR I had to bear down on the leather strap

To bite while the doctor removed a bullet from
DOWN ON + the soldier’s arm.

TO BEAR To take extreme Brazil is bearing down on drugs.

DOWN ON measures against

TO BEAR This information may bear on this case.

To have to do with
ON +

TO BEAR I never tought he would bear up so easily

To withstand
UP with this situation.

TO BEAR Please, bear with me!

To be patient
UP WITH +

TO BLOW To fade away without All negative publicity will blow over
OVER strong consequences in a couple of days.

TO BLOW * To destroy using The thieves blew the bridge up.

UP + explosives

TO BLOW The bomb blew up before she left

To explode
UP the bank.

TO BOW To become very angry, When I heard the news, I blew up

UP suddenly and called Sally.

TO BREAK I need to break this problem down.

To analyze in detail
* DOWN +

TO BREAK To stop working My car broke down this morning.

DOWN properly

TO BREAK She broke down ater her son died.

To become mentally ill
DOWN

TO BREAK To wear something new until I need to break these shoes in before
* IN + it becomes comfortable the party.

TO BREAK I was talking to Sally when my mother

To interrupt
IN broke in to give her opinion.

TO BREAK To force entry The burglar broke in the store.

IN to a building

TO BREAK To interrupt My mom broke in on our conversation and

IN ON + (a conversation) told me to go to bed.

5
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO BREAK To force entry The burglar broke into the new store.
INTO + to a building

TO BREAK To interrupt My mom broke into our conversation and

INTO + (a conversation) told me to go to bed.

TO BREAK Mary broke her engagement to Bob off.

To end something
+ OFF +

TO BREAK The protests broke out in response to the

To suddenly start
OUT military coup.

TO BREAK To use something They broke out the champagne to

OUT + extravagant for celebration celebrate my promotion.

TO BREAK The thief broke out of prison.

To escape
OUT OF +

TO BREAK To break into The police broke the presentation up

* UP + pieces before it got out of control.

TO BREAK To end a Theo and Sally broke up again.

UP relationship

TO BRING * To cause to Democracy brought about great change

ABOUT + happen in Brazil.

TO BRING * Ted finally got his English degree. I can’t

To accomplish
OFF + believe he brought that off.

TO BRING * To cause something I can’t believe she got so angry. What

ON + brought that on?

TO BRING * To make something more This new shirt brings out the color of
OUT + evident your eyes.

TO BRING * To revive They used smelling salts to bring her to

TO consciousness after she fainted.

TO BRING * I didn’t want to bring up the fact that she

To mention
UP + was unemployed.

TO BRING * To raise It is how I was brought up.

UP + (a child)

TO BRUSH To ignore something or Mariah brushed her father off at the party.
* OFF + someone (inf.)

6
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO BURN * To destroy by setting The kids burned the house down by

accident.
DOWN + fire to it

TO BURN To burn completely Two buildings burnt down in the fire.

DOWN (building)

TO BURN I burning up in here. Please, open the

To be hot
UP door.

TO BURN The papers were burned up by the fire.

To consume by fire
UP

TO BURN * To destroy They broke out the champagne to

UP + by fire celebrate my promotion.

TO BUY * To buy the shares of a Massels was bought out by a chinese

OUT + company company.

TO BUY * To purchase the entire My father bought up all the beer.

UP + supply of something

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

C
TO CALL To require This recipe calls for milk, not water.
FOR + (as in a recipe)

TO CALL * To cancel something Barry and Sally called the picnic off
OFF + because of the rain.

TO CALL * To order to stop (an invasion, She called off the dogs when she saw it
OFF + guard dogs) was her neighbor.

TO CALL ON Barry called on Mary when he was in

To visit
+ town.

TO CALL ON To invite someone to speak Tutor Mark called on Bob to answer his
+ in a meeting or classroom question.

7
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO CALL * I called James up to see if he wanted to

To telephone go to the movies.
UP +

TO CALM * You can calm the baby down by rocking

To make someone relax
DOWN + him gently.

TO CARE To nurse someone My mom cared for the bird until its wing
FOR + or something healed.

TO CARE To like someone I really cared for him.

FOR + or something

TO CARRY To continue (a conversation, Please, carry on. I didn’t mean to

ON + a game) interrupt you.

TO CARRY To continue in an He kept carrying on about how much

ON ABOUT + annoying way money he makes.

TO CARRY I want you to carry on with the project.

To continue
ON WITH +

TO CARRY * To complete and/or The secret agent carried out his orders
OUT + accomplish something exactly as planned.

TO CARRY * To continue on a subsequent The meeting carried over into lunch time.
OVER + day, page, etc

TO CATCH Slowly start to He caught on after a few minutes.

ON understand (inf.)

TO CATCH To make up for lost time I will never catch up. I am too behind in
UP my work.

To speed up to be at the
TO CATCH I had to run to catch up with the others.
same place as a person or
UP WITH + thing in front of you

TO CATCH To become I need to catch up on world events. I

UP ON + up-to-date haven’t seen news in ages.

TO CHECK To leave a hotel, It`s already eleven. We need to check

OUT hospital out.

TO CHECK To leave a hotel, It`s already eleven. We need to check out

OUT OF + hospital of the hotel.

TO CHECK To make sure something Let’s check on the baby again before we
ON is OK go to sleep.

8
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO CHECK The police are checking up on the bomb

To investigate someone
threats.
UP ON + or something

TO CHEER * To make someone The party really cheered me up.

UP feel cheerful

TO CHEER Cheer up! Everything will be ok.

To become cheerful
UP

TO CHEW * To chew into The dog chewed up my shoe.

UP + small pieces

TO CHOP * To cut (a tree) The lumberjack chopped the tree down.

DOWN +

TO CHOP * To cut int small bits She chopped the meat up into pieces.
UP +

TO CLEAN * Sam cleaned the mess up before he left.

To tidy
UP +

TO CLEAR To leave Everybody clear out! We are closed

OUT today.

TO CLEAR * To tidy Sam cleared the mess up before he left.

UP +

TO CLOSE * To close a place The ice-cream shop closed down cause

DOWN + permanently they didn’t have many customers.

TO CLOSE To close permanently The bar was closed down because they
DOWN smelled alcohol to minors.

TO CLOSE IN To approach The rebels were closing in on the capital,

ON + and threaten so the government called in the army.

TO CLOSE * To close temporarily The are closing the ski resort up for the
UP + summer.

TO CLOSE To close temporarily The ski resort was closed up for the
UP summer.

TO COME To occur/happen How did the idea for the movie come
ABOUT about?

TO COME To discover by accident She came across some lost Mayan ruins
ACCROSS + in the jungle.

9
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO COME If he wants, he can come along.

To accompany someone
ALONG

TO COME To accompany He came along with me to the beach.

ALONG WITH +

TO COME How is the research paper coming

To progress
ALONG along?

TO COME To progress How is your dad coming along with the

ALONG WITH + research paper?

TO COME To return What time is she coming back?

BACK

TO COME BY To get/receive How did you come by that new car?

+

TO COME BY To visit someone I’ll come by later.

at his/her house

TO COME To become sick with She came down with the flu.
DOWN WITH +

TO COME To appear The car came out of nowhere.

OUT

TO COME To reveal you Peter finally came out last week.

OUT are homosexual

TO COME To produce and Microsoft is coming out with a new

OUT WITH + distribute a product computer next month.

TO COME TO To regain consciousness Don’t worry! She faints all the time. She
always comes to after a few minutes.

TO COME To sucede despite Mary always comes through in times of

THROUGH difficulties need.

TO COME UP Approach; to equal The job offer didn’t come up to my

TO + expectations.

TO COME UP To create He came up with a great proposal for the

WITH + (a plan, an idea) new tv show.

TO COME To visit someone at Why don’t you come over for dinner?
OVER his/her house

10
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO COUNT * You can count me in.

To include
IN +

TO COUNT To depend/rely on I really can count on my mom.

ON +

TO COUNT * Please, count me out.

To exclude
OUT +

TO COUNT * To add Count the chance up and see how much

UP + we still have.

TO CROSS * To draw a line through Why don’t you cross my name out on the
OUT + something/eliminate list?

TO CUT To decrease the You eat too much sugar. You need to cut
DOWN amount of down.

TO CUT To decrease the You need to cut down on sugar intake.

DOWN ON + amount of

TO CUT IN To interrupt He suddenly cut in and announced the

news.

TO CUT IN To interrupt He suddenly cut in on the conversation

ON + and announced the news.

TO CUT * To interrupt someone while Sally cut Mark off during his class.
OFF he/she is speaking

TO CUT * To sever (with a knife) His finger was accidentally cut off.
OFF +

TO CUT * To remove He cut the bone out of the steak.

OUT +

TO CUT * To stop an action Cut it off! You are bothering us.

OUT

TO CUT * UP To cut into small pieces He cut the beef up and put the pieces in
+ the soup.

7/9(:(3=,9):+,@Ǧ4:,3-ǦǦ33,92Ǧ;(7h0Ǟ0 11
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE
D
TO DIE The applause died away after 5 minutes.
To diminish
AWAY in intensity

TO DIE To diminish The controversy about the president’s

DOWN in intensity affair finally died down.

TO DIE OFF/ Whales are in danger of dying off.

To become extinct
OUT

TO DISAGREE Cause to feel sick due Spicy food disagrees with me.
WITH + to food or drink

TO DO AWAY To abolish Some Americans want to do away with the

WITH + death penalty.

TO DO * OVER To repeat You made some many mistakes. I want you

+ to do this report over.

TO DO To manage without
I couldn’t do without my car in São Paulo.
something one needs
WITHOUT + or wants
TO DRAW * To create Let’s draw an agreement up before we go
UP+ (a contract) any further.

TO DRESS * To reprimand The mother dressed her son down for

DOWN severely skipping school.

TO DRESS To dress I am dressing down cause we are going to

DOWN casually a barbecue.

TO DRESS * To decorate You should dress this apartment up with

UP + some bright color.

TO DRESS To wear elegant She always dresses up.

UP clothes

TO DRIVE * To repulse The invaders were driven back by

BACK + the army.

TO DROP To visit someone Beth dropped in yesterday before dinner.

IN unexpectedly

12
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO DROP IN Let’s drop in on Sally since we are very

To visit someone
close to her house.
ON + unexpectedly

TO DROP To quit an organized Mike isn’t on the team anymore. He

OUT activity dropped out.

TO DROP OUT To quit an organized It’s difficult to get a good job if you drop
+ activity (school) out of high school.

TO DROP To visit someone Drop over any time you feel like talking.
OVER casually

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

E
TO EAT Gradually destroy, to The heavy rains ate away ate at the
AWAY erode sandstones cliffs.

TO EAT * To devour Kevin ate the cookies up.

UP +

TO EAT To eat inside the home We usually eats in instead of going

IN out for dinner.

TO EAT To eat outside Bob and Sally eat out once a week.
OUT the home

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

F
TO FACE UP To acknowledge something I’ll never be able to face up to my colleagues
TO + difficult or embarrassing after getting so drunk at the work party.

13
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO FALL Ted can fall back on his degree in Biology

To be able to use in case of
if he doesn’t succeed in his acting career.
BACK ON + emergency

TO FALL To go slower than Hurry up or you will fall behind!

BEHIND scheduled, lag

TO FALL To go slower than Sam has missed several days of school and
BEHIND IN + scheduled, lag now she is falling behind in his homework.

TO FALL To decrease Interest in the project fell off when they

OFF realized it wouldn’t be profitable.

TO FALL To have an argument with I had a falling out with my sister last month
OUT WITH + and we haven’t talked to each other since.

TO FALL To fail to happen Unfortunately, my trip to Brazil fell through

THROUGH because I couldn’t save enough money.

TO FEEL * She sued her boss for sexual harassment

To grope
UP + after he felt her up.

TO FEEL UP To have the energy to do I don’t fill up to going out tonight because
TO + something I had a long day at work.

TO FIGURE To expect Where do you figure on living when you

ON + move to Canada?

TO FIGURE To solve something, I finally figure the joke out. Now I

* OUT + understand understand why everybody was laughing.

TO FIGURE To calculate I need to figure my expenses up before I

* UP + give you an estimate.

TO FILL * IN To complete Don’t forget to fill in all the blanks on the

+ application.

TO FILL IN To substitute Who is going to fill in while You’re a gone?

TO FILL IN To substitute for Simon filled in for me ate the meeting

FOR + yesterday because I was sick.

TO FILL * To complete I filled out an application to rent the

OUT + (an application) apartment last week.

TO FILL To mature, get breats Now that you are filling out honey, we need
OUT to get you a bra.

14
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO FILL * Fill the car up with gas, please.

To fill to the top
UP +

TO FIND To discover You will never find out my secrets!

OUT +

TO FIND To discover Ted’s parents are going to be so mad when

OUT they find out she got a tattoo.

TO FILL * To repair, renovate, My friends are fixing their house up.

UP + remodel

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

G
TO GET * Cause to be It’s difficult to get humor across in
ACROSS + understood another language.

TO GET Make progress I can’t get ahead even though I work

AHEAD two jobs.

TO GET Surpass You need to work overtime in order to

AHEAD OF + get ahead of schedule.

TO GET Have a good Do you and your brother get along?

ALONG relationship

TO GET Have a good Gus doesn’t get along with his two
ALONG WITH + relationship sisters.

TO GET Avoid someone or Some people get around paying taxes

AROUND + something by hiring a good accountant.

TO GET Go many It’s easy to get around town by bus.

AROUND places

TO GET Escape The bank robbers got away.

AWAY

15
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

Do something against the My brother gets away with everything.

TO GET rules or illegal and not get
AWAY WITH + caught or punished

TO GET Survive without having I lost my job, so I am having a hard

BY the things you need or want time to get by this year.

TO GET BY Survive with minimal It’s nearly impossible to get by on

ON + resources making minimum wage.

TO GET BY Manage with You don’t need a computer. You can

WITH + get by with a typewriter.

TO GET Get serious about Enough small talk. Let’s get down to
DOWN TO + a topic business.

TO GET Enter (a car, a Get in the front seat!

IN + small boat)

TO GET Get in. I will give you a ride to school.

Enter
IN

TO GET * Send (a package) I finally got my sister’s birthday

OFF present off yesterday.

TO GET OFF Remove Can you get this spider off my shirt?
+

TO GET OFF Leave (a bas, plane, We need to get off the bus at the next
boat) stop.

TO GET OFF Leave It’s dangerous to sit on the roof. Get

off!

TO GET ON Put on (clothes) You should get your jacket on. It’s
really cold outside.

TO GET ON Enter (a bus, train), mount The train is leaving. Quick, get on!
(a bike, a horse)

TO GET ON Have a good Nate doesn’t get on with his coworkers.

relationship

TO GET ON Have a good Do you get on with your neighbors?

WITH + relationship

TO GET OUT Exit I fell into the water when I tried to get
OF + out of the canoe.

16
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO GET Stop crying! Get over it!

Recover
OVER +

TO GET Complete We will never get through all this

THROUGH + boxes by 9AM.

TO GET Penetrate We need a strong drill to get through

THROUGH + this wall.

TO GET * Cause someone to rise My neighbor got me up really early by

UP turning the music up.

TO GET To rise What time do you usually get up?

UP
Give something without
TO GIVE * Why did you give all of your furniture
asking for anything
AWAY + in exchange
away?

TO GIVE * Return something When are you going to give the book
BACK + ones borrowed back to your tutor?

TO GIVE Stop trying Never give in! You can do that!

IN

TO GIVE * UP Surrender something The police told the thief to give his
+ gun up.

TO GO Return When is she going back to Mexico?

BACK

TO GO BACK Not keep (a promise) Don’t trust him. He always goes back
ON + on his promises.

TO GO FOR Try to achieve Our team is going for the gold medal
+ in the Olympics.

TO GO FOR Idiomatic phrase I could go for pizza.

– Crave

TO GO Explode The bomb could go off at any minute.

OFF

TO GO Become Mary went off last night after I told

OFF angry about her bike.

TO GO ON Continue My heart will go on.

17
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO GO What is going on?

Happen
ON

TO GO Stop burning (a fire) The fire went out after 2 days.

OUT

TO GO OVER Review Let’s go over it before we do home.

+

TO GO WITH Match (clothes) That shirt doesn’t go with this hat.

+

TO GO Abstain from something A person can go without water for 2

WITHOUT + you want or need days.

TO GROW Mature Your brother needs to grow up and

UP start thinking about his future.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

H
TO HAND * Return Is the teacher going to hand back our tests
BACK + today?

TO HAND * Pronounce The President is going to hand his decision

DOWN + formally down on health care tonight.

TO HAND * Submit I have to hand in an offer by May 12.

IN +

TO HAND * Distribute We should hand the concert fliers out

OUT + at school.

TO HAND * OVER Relinquish Hand you car keys over. You are too drunk
+ control of to drive.

TO HANG Stay in a place for fun The boys usually hang around the beach
AROUND + (inf.) after school.

18
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO HANG * She can hang her jacket up in the

Suspend (clothes on a
front closet.
UP+ hanger)

TO HANG Put down the telephone Please, don’t hang up!

UP receiver

TO HANG Stay in a place Let’s go hang out at the mall tonight!

OUT + for fun

TO HAVE * Wear Do you have your hiking boots on?

ON +

TO HAVE * Invite guests to your Why don’t we have Bobby over for dinner?
OVER house

TO HEAR FROM Receive news from Have you heard from Steve lately?
+ (letter, email)

TO HEAR Know about someone or Have you heard of chocolate covered

OF + something ants?

TO HIT Find on accident I hit on this idea while I was watching The
ON + Simpsons.

TO HIT Flirt with Marc was trying to hit on my sister tonight.

ON +

TO HOLD Not allow to advance The teacher held Sally back a year.
BACK in school

TO HOLD * Restrain Mr Simpson held the dog off while we

OFF + crossed the yard.

TO HOLD OFF Delay We should hold off on making dinner until

ON + our guests arrive.

TO HOLD Grasp tightly Hold on tight! The roller coaster is about

ON to take off.

TO HOLD Tell someone to wait on Hold on a minute. I’ll get Carol.

ON the phone

TO HOLD Not give in, continue to Stop holding out and tell us the truth.
OUT resist

TO HOLD OUT Not give in, resist They held up against the enemy attack.
AGAINST +

19
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO HOLD * The accident held traffic up for an hour.

Delay (a flight, traffic)
UP +

TO HOLD * Rob (a bank, a person) Five men held the bank up yesterday
UP + with a weapon

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

I
IRON * Eliminate We need to have a meeting this month in
OUT order to iron out the distribution problems.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

J
TO JACK To raise We need to jack up the car before we
UP * change the tire.

TO JOKE To be humorous Peter is always joking around at work.

AROUND

TO JUMP Enter a conversation Feel free to jump in at any moment while

IN we are talking.

TO JUMP Make a quick, poorly thought You shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

TO + out decision

20
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE
K
KEEP Not give up (an activity), You should keep at your studies.
AT + to persevere

KEEP Continue She kept on talking after her mom asked

ON her to stop.

KEEP Continue Everybody said she shouldn’t get married.

TO + But she kept to it until it was too late.

KEEP Stay on a required You have to keep up if you want to

UP schedule work here.

KEEP * UP Continue You are doing a great job! Keep it up!

+

KEEP UP Stay on schedule with (a I have so much reading that I can’t keep
WITH + person, workload, homework) up with the writing exercises.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

L
TO LAY AWAY Save for the future Why don’t we lay away our wedding
+ outfit?

TO LAY DOWN Establish (laws, rules) Leo lays down the law in the class.
+ English only!

TO LAY IN ON Criticize severely My dad really laid in on me when I got

+ home at 4:00AM.

TO LAY INTO + Criticize severely I saw Theo’s mom lay into him when he
came home late.

21
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO LAY * OFF The company was losing money, so they

Suspend someone
had to lay off 80 workers.
+ from a job

TO LAY + OUT Arrange Why don’t we lay the pieces of the table
+ out before we put it together?

TO LEAVE * Not include, omit Why did you mom leave you out of her
OUT + vacation plans?

TO LET * Disappoint I felt let down when I didn’t receive a

DOWN birthday card from my brother.

TO LET * Release I am so happy my brother was let out of

OUT prison today.

TO LET Weaken in intensity I told her NO a thousand times, but she

UP won’t let up.

TO LIE Rest I need to lie down before we go out

DOWN tonight.

TO LIE DOWN Rest, recline (on a couch, I’m going to lie down on that sofa.
ON + bed)

TO LIE Be decided by Whether or not you can go to the party

WITH + lies with your father.

TO LIGHT * UP Illuminate Let’s get some candles to light this room

+ up.

TO LIGHT UP To smoke Do you have to light up another

+ cigarette?

TO LIVE * Live in a way that a shameful John will never live down singing the
or embarrassing event
DOWN + song at the karaoke bar.
is forgotten
TO LIVE ON + Survive from I could live on bread and cheese.

TO LIVE UP TO Keep a standard It would be hard to live up to her

+ parent’s expectations.

TO LOOK Take cake of (a child, When my sister goes on vacation, I look

AFTER + a pet) after her cat.

TO LOOK To remember When I look back on my childhood, I

BACK ON + nostalgically often feel happy.

22
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TO LOOK She always looks down on me just

See as inferior
because I am broke.
DOWN ON +

TO LOOK FOR Seek or search for I’m looking for my keys.

+

TO LOOK Anticipate with pleasure I’m looking forward to traveling to NYC

FORWARD TO + this year.

TO LOOK Investigate The detective is looking into this murder.

INTO +

TO LOOK * Review, examine When I’m camping, I look my shoes

OVER + over before I put them on.

TO LOOK * UP Search for It takes time to look up new vocabulary

+ (in a dictionary) words.

TO LOOK UP Admire, respect She looks up to her mom.

TO + someone

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

M
MAKE * Decipher My mom can’t make out my handwriting.
OUT

MAKE * Write a check or other Who should he make this check out to?
OUT + document

MAKE OUT Succeed He really made out in the stock market

last year.

MAKE OUT Progress How is your girlfriend making out in her

new job?

MAKE OUT Kiss passionately I caught my brother and Jessica making

out in the movie theater last night.

23
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

MAKE * The teacher made me do my homework

Do again
over.
OVER

MAKE * UP Invent (a story) Don’t believe a word she says. She always
+ makes things up.

MAKE * UP Complete what was Fortunately, my teacher let me make up the

+ missed exam I missed yesterday.

MAKE * UP Put on cosmetics It takes me 30 minutes to make my face up.

+

MAKE UP Reconcile Bart and Lisa have been friends for so long
that I really think they should make up.

MAKE UP Compensate for Richard made up for being late by getting

FOR + me flowers.

MIX * UP + Confuse We sometimes mix the verb tenses up.

MIX * UP + Blend We need to mix up these different kinds

of nuts before we put them in a bowl.

MIX * UP + Make lively (a party) Let’s mix up this party with a little disco
music.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

N
NAME AFTER Name a child using another He was named after my grandfather
+ family member’s name

NOD OFF Fall sleep The play was so boring that I nodded off.

NOSE Sneak around I hate when my sister noses around

AROUND my room.

24
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE
O
OCCUR TO Pop into one’s mind, come It didn’t occur to me that you had left the
+ to one’s mind computer on.

OPEN UP Share feelings It’s good to know that you feel comfortable

P
enough around me to open up.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

PAN OUT Be successful, The trip to Vegas didn’t pan out.

turn out well

PASS AWAY Die Mark finally passed away at the age of 87.

PASS * OUT Distribute We need to pass out these flyers for the
+ show tomorrow.

PASS OUT Become unconscious I passed out because the room was too
hot.

PASS * UP + Not take advantage (of an I can’t believe you passed up the chance
opportunity) to study in Paris.

PASS * ON + Transmit Please, pass this message on, ok?

PASS ON + Not accept (an invitation Mary passed on the invitation to have
to eat or do something) dinner tonight.

PASS ON Die I am afraid Mr Johnson has passed on.

PAY * BACK Repay When will you pay me back?

+

PAY * OFF + Complete payment It will take me 3 years to pay off my credit
on a debt card debt.

25
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE
Q
QUIET * Be quiet or cause to My neighbors told me to quiet down last
DOWN + be quiet night or they’d call the police.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

R
READ UP Research a topic for a I need to read up on the company before
ON + reason I go on the job interview.

RING * UP Telephone John rung me up this morning.

RULE * OUT Eliminate I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of moving

+ to another country if I get a good job offer.

RUN Find or meet I ran across some old photos while I was
ACROSS + unexpectedly cleaning my room.

RUN Compete in Hilary ran against Trump in the 2016

AGAINST + an election elections in the USA.

RUN AWAY Escape from The little girl ran away from her brother.
FROM +

RUN * Trace Have you ever run down those phone

DOWN numbers I asked for yesterday?

RUN * Criticize My aunt runs everyone down.

DOWN

RUN * Hit with a car My cat was run down by a bus.

DOWN

RUN FOR + Campaign for a Obama is running for president.

government position

26
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

RUN INTO + I ran into my French teacher at the party

Meet unexpectedly
last week.

RUN * OFF + Make leave The police is trying to run drug dealers off.

RUN * OFF Reproduce Can you run off 3 copies of this page for me?
(photocopies)

RUN OFF Leave quickly Why did Sally run off the party?

RUN OUT OF Not have any more of He ran out of sugar this morning, so he
+ something needs to go to the supermarket.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

S
SAVE * Accumulate (money) I hope I will be able to save up enough
UP + money to buy a car.

SEE Arrange or consider My mom said she was going to see about
ABOUT + something buying me a bike.
Say good bye to someone at
SEE * the beginning of a trip (at the Did you see your son off at the train
OFF airport, train station, etc) station?

SEE TO Make sure something I’ll see to it that Mrs. Jackson gets your
+ happens message,

SEE * Finish something Are you going to see your students

THROUGH + despite difficulties through now that you have a baby?

SELL * Tell on someone His partner in crime sold him out for a
OUT reduced jail sentence.

SET * Arrange a relationship My mom set me up with her friend’s

UP daughter.

27
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

SET * He didn’t kill that man. Somebody set him

Falsely incriminate
up!
UP someone

SETTLE Make a decision after a I settled on the job at the gas company.
ON + period of time

SETTLE Pay one’s debt You need to settle up before you move.
UP +

SHOW * Show to everybody She always shows off her new things.
OFF + with a lot of pride

SHOW Boast, draw attention Boys show off in order to impress girls.
OFF to oneself

SHOW * Make someone He’s always trying to show up his

UP seem inferior coworkers in order to get a promotion.

SHOW Arrive without It was so awkward. Bob showed up at my

UP previous notice workplace yesterday.

SHUT * Stop from functioning If you don’t pay you electric bills, your
OFF power is going to get shut off.

SHUT * Make quiet Please, just shut up!

UP

SLOW * Because Macy’s English level is lower that

Make move more slowly
the rest of students, she slows the class
DOWN down.
To explain something in a
SPELL * Paul is so stupid that you have to spell
detailed way so that the
OUT + meaning is clearly
everything out for him.

STAND Wait I really need you to stand by and answer

BY the phone when my mom calls.

STAND Represent “SCUBA” stands for “self contained

FOR + underwater breathing apparatus”.

STAND Tolerate I won’t stand for people criticizing my

FOR + family.

STAND Be very noticeable Aline is so beautiful. That girl really stands

OUT out in a crowd.
Not arrive ta a date or
STAND * an appointment I don’t know why my sister stood me up
UP (inf.) yesterday. I hope she has a good excuse.

28
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

STAND Every individual must stand up for what

Defend (something
they believe in.
UP FOR + one believes in)

STAND Defend oneself against I believe you should stand up to your mother
UP TO + something or someone and tell her to stop pushing you around.

STAY Spend the night at a It’s so late! Why don’t you just stay over?
OVER person’s house

STICK * Persevere, keep trying Even though English is a hard language to

TO + master, you must stick to it!

STICK Defend oneself or Paul joined the army because he believes

UP FOR + opinions he must stick up for his country.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

T
TAKE Resemble a parent take after my father. Who do you take
AFTER + or relative after?

TAKE * Retract something I demand you take back what you said.
BACK + you said

TAKE * Return an item to a store This red dress doesn’t fit, I’ll have to take
BACK + it back and exchange it for the blue one.

TAKE * Write down what is said Would you mind taking down my messages
DOWN + while I am on vacation?

TAKE * IN Learning Are you taking in all this phrasal verbs?

+

TAKE * When a plane leaves What time did the plane take off?
OFF the ground

TAKE * Remove In many culture, it is appropriate to take

OFF + the shoes off when entering a house.

29
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TAKE OFF He took off after dinner.

Leave

TAKE Take control of If the President dies, the Vice-President

OVER takes over.

TAKE * Accompany a person on a I am taking Mary out to the movies.

OUT + date (for dinner, the movies)

TAKE * UP Begin a new hobby Has your mom ever taken up any new
+ hobbies since she moved here?

TAKE * UP Discuss (at a later date) You should take this issue up in the
+ meeting tomorrow.

TAKE * UP Shorten a garment This dress is too long, I am going to take

+ when sewing it up.

TAKE UP Occupy space The coach takes up too much space in

+ this living room.

TALK BACK Respond in an impolite Don’t talk back!

way to an adult

TALK * Discuss I hope Bob and Sally talk their relationship

OVER + problems over before they get divorced.

TEAR * The county decided to tear down the

Destroy
old library.
DOWN +
Tear or rip into
TEAR * UP I always tear up my personal papers
small pieces
+ before I throw them out.

TELL ON + Report a crime to the police If you go out, I’ll have to tell on you.
or bad behavior to a parent

THINK * Consider Think over the offer before you sign the
OVER + contract.

THINK * Consider carefully I need to think this through carefully before

THROUGH + I make a decision.

THINK * UP Create or invent a I need to think up an excuse for not going

+ false story to school.
Discard
THROW + Don’t throw away these bottles; you can
AWAY + recycle them.

30
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

THROW UP If you drink too much, you might throw up!

Vomit

TIE * UP + Tie securely When we dock, make sure you tie the
boat up.

TIRE * OUT Cause someone to Speaking English all day tires me out.
be very tired

TRY * ON + Put on to make sure a piece Try on this shirt before you buy it.
of clothe fits.

TRY * OUT Test Try out this massage chair. It feels great!

TURN * Refuse to deal with or They turned us away at the boarder cause
AWAY give service we didn’t have visas.

TURN * Refuse an offer She turned down the new job in NYC.
DOWN +

TURN * Lower the volume of a I’m reading. Please, turn down the TV.
DOWN + TV, radio

TURN * IN Submit Please, turn you essays in!

TURN IN It’s getting late. I think it’s time to turn in.

Go to bed (inf.)

TURN INTO Become something When she kissed the frog, it turned into a
+ different handsome prince.

TURN * OFF Stop the function of Don’t forget to turn off the iron before you
(a stove, a water
+ leave the house.
faucet, a car, etc.)
TURN * ON Cause to be excited The smell of cinnamon turns many people
+ sexually on.

TURN * ON Start the function of a TV, Turn on the TV, please.

+ radio, a machine.

TURN * Produce The weaver can turn out two or three rugs
OUT a month.
Switch off a light
TURN * Turn out the lights before you go to bed.
OUT

31
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

TURN OUT She turned out to be the murderer after all.

End up being

TURN UP Find unexpectedly My keys turned up in my bedroom.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

U
USE * UP Use all of something Bob used up the soap, so we need to
buy some more.

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

W
WAIT ON + Serve, service Don’t wait up!
(a table)

Not sleep because you are

WAIT UP + This red dress doesn’t fit, I’ll have to take
waiting for someone
it back and exchange it for the blue one.
or something
Not sleep because you
WAIT UP Let’s wait up for Matthew to see how his
are waiting for someone
FOR + or something
date was.

WAKE * UP Awaken someone Sally, can you wake me up at 8?

+

WASH UP Clean oneself Make sure you wash up before lunch.

32
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

WASH * UP If we work together, we can wash the

Clean
kitchen up in a few minutes.
+

WATCH Be careful Watch Out! There’s a dog over there!

OUT

WATCH Be careful of Watch out for snakes while you are camping.
OUT FOR +

WEAR OFF Disappear after a period The effects of the medicine will wear off
of time after 2 hours.

WEAR * Use until something is If you wear the same shoes everyday,
OUT not usable anymore you will wear them out.

WEAR * Cause to be very tired Kids really wear me out.

OUT

WIND UP + Finish (inf.) If she doesn’t keep her act together, she’ll
wind up in jail.

WIND * UP Tighten the spring of a Bob wound up the toy cat and set it on the
+ watch or similar machine floor.

WIND * UP Cause an animal or a child The kids always get wound up when your
+ to behave wildly brother comes here.

WIPE * OUT The rain wiped out the small village.

Destroy
+

WIPE * OUT Cause to be very tired After dancing all day, I was completely
wiped out.

WORK * Solve I hope you two can work out your

OUT problems.

WORK OUT Exercise She works out 2 times a week.

WORK OUT Be successful I am glad your business is working out.

WRITE * Record Write down the direction, please.

DOWN +
Write down every
WRITE * word or letter She wrote out the lyrics so she could
OUT + understand what Beyonce was saying.

33
PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

WRITE * UP She wrote up a business proposal in order

Prepare a report
to get a loan.
+

PHRASAL VERB DEFINITION EXAMPLE

Z
ZERO IN Discover, pinpoint I believe I have zeroed in on what has been
ON + causing the problem.

ZIP Move quickly from She zipped around town after work today.
AROUND + place to place

ZONE OUT Stop paying attention I zoned out during class.

ZONK OUT Fall sleep She was so tired after the test that she
zonk out before dinner.

ZOOM IN Focus We need good lens to zoom in.

ZOOM IN Focus on something, He zoomed in on my face while taking

ON + pinpoint the photo.

34
E-BOOK