Phrasal Verbs

What is phrasal verbs?

👉In English grammar, a phrasal verb is the combination of two or three words from different grammatical categories – a verb and a particle, such as an adverb or a preposition.

          OR

The combination of a verb with a preposition or adverb or both and that functions as a verb and meaning is different from the combined meanings of the individual words.

Examples: 

turn down, run into, carry out, look after, take off etc.

Common Phrasal Verbs:

1 To call around

To contact multiple people.

Example: Roy called around to find a nearby mechanic.

2 To call off

To cancel.

Example: We called the party off. or We called off the party.

3 To check out

To verify a person or thing. When regarding a person, this phrase can also be flirtatious. 

Example: I’ll check the contract out. or I’ll check out the contract. 

4 To clean up

To clean a general area.

Example: John cleaned the living room up. or John cleaned up the living room. 

5 To dive into

To occupy oneself with something.

Example: I’ll dive into that new TV show later tonight.

6 To dress up

To wear nice clothes.

Example: Abed dressed up for the presentation.

7 To end up

To eventually become a certain way, or find oneself in a situation.

Example: He ended up taking the job.

8 To fill up

To fill something completely.

Example: Bruce filled his wine glass up. or Bruce filled up his wine glass.

9 To find out

To discover.

Example: Let me know when you find out the answer.

10 To get back

To have something returned.

Example: Rodger got his pencil back from Lenny.

*Phrasal verbs that you should know:*

1. Call off = cancel 

2. Turn down = reject

3. Bring up = mention 

4. Come up= arise/ produce 

5. Hand over = relinquish / give a chance 

6. Take over= take control /responsibility 

7. Take up= require 

8. Get on= continue / have a good relationship 

9. Talk over = discuss / interrupt 

10. Use up = exhaust / use completely 

11. Look forward to = await 

12. Go on = continue 

13. Catch up = discuss latest news 

14. Fill in = complete 

15. Hand in = submit 

16. Look up= find/search 

17. Look into = check/ investigate 

18. Figure out = understand / solve

19. Go over = review 

20. Show up = arrive 

21. Ring up= call

22. Go back = return to a place 

23. Pick out= choose

24. chip in = help 

25. Break in on = interrupt 

26. Come apart = separate 

27. Go ahead = start / proceed 

28. Cut in = interrupt 

29. Own up= confess 

30. Figure out = discover 

31. Get back = return 

32. Get away = escape 

33. Work out= exercise 

34. Hang in = stay positive 

35. Put down = insult 

36. Pass out = faint 

37. Leave out = omit/ skip

38. Show off = boast / brag 

39. Peter out = finish / come to an end gradually 

40. Lay off= dismiss 

41. Take on = employ( someone) 

42. Cross out = delete / cancel / erase 

43. Sort out = solve 

44. Make out = understand / hear 

45. Abide by = follow ( a rule / decision / instruction)

46. Pile up = accumulate 

47. Pig put = eat a lot 

48. Pick up = collect

49. mix up = confuse 

50. Make of = understand / have an opinion 

51. Opt for = choose 

52. Pass back = return 

53. Patch up = fix/ make things better 

54. Plump for = choose 

55. Polish off = finish / consume 

56. Decide upon = choose / select 

57. Die down = decrease 

58. Get along = leave 

59. Hook up = meet ( someone) 

60. Jack up= increase sharply 

61. Kick about = discuss 

62. Talk about = discuss 

63. Kick out = expel 

64. Lay on = organise/ supply 

65. Link up = connect /join 

66. Make after = chase

67. Make away with = steal 

68. Big up = exaggerate the importance

69. Blow up = explode 

70. Book in = check in at a hotel 

71. Call up= telephone 

72. Cap off = finish / complete 

73. Care for = like

74. carry off = win/succeed 

75. Carry on = continue 

76. Add on = include

77. Ask over = invite 

78. Back away = retreat / go backwards 

79. Back off = retreat 

80. Bag out = criticize

 81. Bull up = confuse / complicate

82. Bear on = influence / affect 

83. Give up = quit / stop trying 

84. Keep on = continue 

85. Put off = postpone 

86. Turn up = appear suddenly 

87. Take after = resemble 

88. Bring up = raise (children) 

89. Fill out = complete a form 

90. Drop out of = leave school 

91. Do over = repeat a job / task 

92. Fill up = fill to capacity 

93. Look over = examine / check 

94. Put away = save / store 

95. Put out = extinguish

96. Set up = arrange/ begin 

97. Throw away = discard 

98. Cut down on= curtail ( expenses) 

99. Try out = test

100. Turn off = repulse 

101. Call on = visit 

102. Go through = use up/ consume 

103. Check up on = examine / investigate 

104. wait on = serve 

105. get rid of = eliminate/ eradicate/ erase 

106. Get through with = finish 

107. Look down on = despise 

108. Look up to = respect & admire 

109. Make sure of = verify  

110. Put up with = tolerate 

111. Run out of= exhaust supply 

112. Think back on = recall/ remember 

113. Walk out on = abandon 

114. Get by= survive 

115. Get up = arise 

116. Grow up = get older 

117. Walk up = arouse from sleep 

118. Back up = support 

119. Make up for = compensate