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PhrasalVerbsList|EnglishClub

PhrasalVerbsList(EnglishClub.com)
Phrasalverbsareusuallytwowordphrasesconsistingofverb+adverborverb+preposition.Thinkof
themasyouwouldanyotherEnglishvocabulary.Studythemasyoucomeacrossthem,ratherthantryingto
memorizemanyatonce.Usethelistbelowasareferenceguidewhenyoufindanexpressionthatyoudon't
recognize.Theexampleswillhelpyouunderstandthemeanings.Ifyouthinkofeachphrasalverbasa
separateverbwithaspecificmeaning,youwillbeabletorememberitmoreeasily.Likemanyotherverbs,
phrasalverbsoftenhavemorethanonemeaning.

Thislistshowsabout200commonphrasalverbs,withmeaningsandexamples.Onlythemostusual
meaningsaregiven.Somephrasalverbsmayhaveadditionalmeanings.
Seealsoourpageswith1000+PhrasalVerbs,withdefinitions,synonyms,explanations,sample
sentences,collocationsandquizzes(withanswers).
Aswellaslearningtheirmeanings,youneedtolearnhowtousephrasalverbs.
Verb

Meaning

Example

asksomeoneout

inviteonadate

BrianaskedJudyouttodinnerandamovie.

askaround

askmanypeoplethesame
question

Iaskedaroundbutnobodyhasseenmy
wallet.

adduptosomething

equal

Yourpurchasesaddupto$205.32.

backsomethingup

reverse

You'llhavetobackupyourcarsothatIcan
getout.

backsomeoneup

support

Mywifebackedmeupovermydecisionto
quitmyjob.

blowup

explode

Theracingcarblewupafteritcrashedinto
thefence.

blowsomethingup

addair

Wehavetoblow50balloonsupforthe
party.

breakdown

stopfunctioning(vehicle,machine)

Ourcarbrokedownatthesideofthe
highwayinthesnowstorm.

breakdown

getupset

Thewomanbrokedownwhenthepolice
toldherthathersonhaddied.

breaksomething
down

divideintosmallerparts

Ourteacherbrokethefinalprojectdown
intothreeseparateparts.

breakin

forceentrytoabuilding

Somebodybrokeinlastnightandstoleour
stereo.

breakintosomething

enterforcibly

Thefiremenhadtobreakintotheroomto
rescuethechildren.

breaksomethingin

wearsomethingafewtimesso
thatitdoesn'tlook/feelnew

Ineedtobreaktheseshoesinbeforewerun
nextweek.

breakin

interrupt

TheTVstationbrokeintoreportthenewsof
thepresident'sdeath.

breakup

endarelationship

MyboyfriendandIbrokeupbeforeImoved
toAmerica.

breakup

startlaughing(informal)

Thekidsjustbrokeupassoonastheclown
startedtalking.

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breakout

escape

Theprisonersbrokeoutofjailwhenthe
guardsweren'tlooking.

breakoutin
something

developaskincondition

Ibrokeoutinarashafterourcampingtrip.

bringsomeonedown

makeunhappy

Thissadmusicisbringingmedown.

bringsomeoneup

raiseachild

Mygrandparentsbroughtmeupaftermy
parentsdied.

bringsomethingup

starttalkingaboutasubject

Mymotherwalksoutoftheroomwhenmy
fatherbringsupsports.

bringsomethingup

vomit

Hedranksomuchthathebroughthisdinner
upinthetoilet.

callaround

phonemanydifferent
places/people

Wecalledaroundbutweweren'tableto
findthecarpartweneeded.

callsomeoneback

returnaphonecall

Icalledthecompanybackbuttheoffices
wereclosedfortheweekend.

callsomethingoff

cancel

Jasoncalledtheweddingoffbecausehe
wasn'tinlovewithhisfianc.

callonsomeone

askforanansweroropinion

Theprofessorcalledonmeforquestion1.

callonsomeone

visitsomeone

Wecalledonyoulastnightbutyouweren't
home.

callsomeoneup

phone

GivemeyourphonenumberandIwillcall
youupwhenweareintown.

calmdown

relaxafterbeingangry

Youarestillmad.Youneedtocalmdown
beforeyoudrivethecar.

notcarefor
someone/something

notlike(formal)

Idon'tcareforhisbehaviour.

catchup

gettothesamepointassomeone
else

You'llhavetorunfasterthanthatifyouwant
tocatchupwithMarty.

checkin

arriveandregisteratahotelor
airport

Wewillgetthehotelkeyswhenwecheckin.

checkout

leaveahotel

Youhavetocheckoutofthehotelbefore
11:00AM.

check
someone/something
out

lookatcarefully,investigate

Thecompanychecksoutallnewemployees.

checkout
someone/something

lookat(informal)

Checkoutthecrazyhaironthatguy!

cheerup

becomehappier

Shecheeredupwhensheheardthegood
news.

cheersomeoneup

makehappier

Ibroughtyousomeflowerstocheeryouup.

chipin

help

Ifeveryonechipsinwecangetthekitchen
paintedbynoon.

cleansomethingup

tidy,clean

Pleasecleanupyourbedroombeforeyougo
outside.

comeacross
something

findunexpectedly

IcameacrosstheseoldphotoswhenIwas
tidyingthecloset.

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comeapart

separate

Thetopandbottomcomeapartifyoupull
hardenough.

comedownwith
something

becomesick

Mynephewcamedownwithchickenpox
thisweekend.

comeforward

volunteerforataskortogive
evidence

Thewomancameforwardwithher
husband'sfingerprints.

comefrom
somewhere

originatein

TheartoforigamicomesfromAsia.

counton
someone/something

relyon

IamcountingonyoutomakedinnerwhileI
amout.

crosssomethingout

drawalinethrough

Pleasecrossoutyouroldaddressandwrite
yournewone.

cutbackon
something

consumeless

Mydoctorwantsmetocutbackonsweets
andfattyfoods.

cutsomethingdown

makesomethingfalltotheground

Wehadtocuttheoldtreeinouryarddown
afterthestorm.

cutin

interrupt

YourfathercutinwhileIwasdancingwith
youruncle.

cutin

pullintoocloselyinfrontof
anothervehicle

Thebusdrivergotangrywhenthatcarcut
in.

cutin

startoperating(ofanengineor
electricaldevice)

Theairconditionercutsinwhenthe
temperaturegetsto22C.

cutsomethingoff

removewithsomethingsharp

Thedoctorscutoffhislegbecauseitwas
severelyinjured.

cutsomethingoff

stopproviding

Thephonecompanycutoffourphone
becausewedidn'tpaythebill.

cutsomeoneoff

takeoutofawill

Mygrandparentscutmyfatheroffwhenhe
remarried.

cutsomethingout

removepartofsomething(usually
withscissorsandpaper)

Icutthisadoutofthenewspaper.

do
someone/something
over

beatup,ransack(Br.E.,informal)

He'sluckytobealive.Hisshopwasdone
overbyastreetgang.

dosomethingover

doagain(N.Amer.)

Myteacherwantsmetodomyessayover
becauseshedoesn'tlikemytopic.

doawaywith
something

discard

It'stimetodoawaywithalloftheseoldtax
records.

dosomethingup

fasten,close

Doyourcoatupbeforeyougooutside.It's
snowing!

dressup

wearniceclothing

It'safancyrestaurantsowehavetodress
up.

dropback

movebackinaposition/group

Andreadroppedbacktothirdplacewhen
shefelloffherbike.

dropin/by/over

comewithoutanappointment

Imightdropin/by/overforteasometime
thisweek.

drop
someone/something
off

takesomeone/something
somewhereandleavethem/it
there

IhavetodropmysisteroffatworkbeforeI
comeover.

dropout

quitaclass,schooletc

IdroppedoutofSciencebecauseitwastoo

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difficult.
eatout

eatatarestaurant

Idon'tfeellikecookingtonight.Let'seat
out.

endup

eventuallyreach/do/decide

Weendeduprentingamovieinsteadof
goingtothetheatre.

fallapart

breakintopieces

Mynewdressfellapartinthewashing
machine.

falldown

falltotheground

Thepicturethatyouhunguplastnightfell
downthismorning.

fallout

separatefromaninterior

Themoneymusthavefallenoutofmy
pocket.

fallout

(ofhair,teeth)becomelooseand
unattached

Hishairstartedtofalloutwhenhewasonly
35.

figuresomethingout

understand,findtheanswer

Ineedtofigureouthowtofitthepianoand
thebookshelfinthisroom.

fillsomethingin

towriteinformationinblanks
(Br.E.)

Pleasefillintheformwithyourname,
address,andphonenumber.

fillsomethingout

towriteinformationinblanks
(N.Amer.)

Theformmustbefilledoutincapitalletters.

fillsomethingup

filltothetop

Ialwaysfillthewaterjugupwhenitis
empty.

findout

discover

Wedon'tknowwherehelives.Howcanwe
findout?

findsomethingout

discover

Wetriedtokeepthetimeofthepartya
secret,butSamanthafounditout.

getsomething
across/over

communicate,make
understandable

Itriedtogetmypointacross/overtothe
judgebutshewouldn'tlisten.

getalong/on

likeeachother

Iwassurprisedhowwellmynewgirlfriend
andmysistergotalong/on.

getaround

havemobility

Mygrandfathercangetaroundfineinhis
newwheelchair.

getaway

goonavacation

Weworkedsohardthisyearthatwehadto
getawayforaweek.

getawaywith
something

dowithoutbeingnoticedor
punished

Jasonalwaysgetsawaywithcheatinginhis
mathstests.

getback

return

Wegotbackfromourvacationlastweek.

getsomethingback

receivesomethingyouhadbefore

LizfinallygotherSciencenotesbackfrom
myroommate.

getbackatsomeone

retaliate,takerevenge

Mysistergotbackatmeforstealingher
shoes.Shestolemyfavouritehat.

getbackinto
something

becomeinterestedinsomething
again

Ifinallygotbackintomynovelandfinished
it.

getonsomething

stepontoavehicle

We'regoingtofreezeouthereifyoudon'tlet
usgetonthebus.

getoversomething

recoverfromanillness,loss,
difficulty

Ijustgotoverthefluandnowmysisterhas
it.

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getoversomething

overcomeaproblem

Thecompanywillhavetocloseifitcan'tget
overthenewregulations.

getroundto
something

finallyfindtimetodo(N.Amer.:
getaroundtosomething)

Idon'tknowwhenIamgoingtogetround
towritingthethankyoucards.

gettogether

meet(usuallyforsocialreasons)

Let'sgettogetherforaBBQthisweekend.

getup

getoutofbed

Igotupearlytodaytostudyformyexam.

getup

stand

Youshouldgetupandgivetheelderlyman
yourseat.

givesomeoneaway

revealhiddeninformationabout
someone

Hiswifegavehimawaytothepolice.

givesomeoneaway

takethebridetothealtar

Myfathergavemeawayatmywedding.

givesomethingaway

ruinasecret

Mylittlesistergavethesurprisepartyaway
byaccident.

givesomethingaway

givesomethingtosomeonefor
free

Thelibrarywasgivingawayoldbookson
Friday.

givesomethingback

returnaborroweditem

IhavetogivetheseskatesbacktoFranz
beforehishockeygame.

givein

reluctantlystopfightingorarguing

Myboyfrienddidn'twanttogototheballet,
buthefinallygavein.

givesomethingout

givetomanypeople(usuallyatno
cost)

Theyweregivingoutfreeperfumesamples
atthedepartmentstore.

givesomethingup

quitahabit

IamgivingupsmokingasofJanuary1st.

giveup

stoptrying

MymathshomeworkwastoodifficultsoI
gaveup.

goaftersomeone

followsomeone

Mybrothertriedtogoafterthethiefinhis
car.

goaftersomething

trytoachievesomething

IwentaftermydreamandnowIama
publishedwriter.

goagainstsomeone

compete,oppose

Wearegoingagainstthebestsoccerteam
inthecitytonight.

goahead

start,proceed

Pleasegoaheadandeatbeforethefood
getscold.

goback

returntoaplace

Ihavetogobackhomeandgetmylunch.

goout

leavehometogoonasocialevent

We'regoingoutfordinnertonight.

gooutwithsomeone

date

JessehasbeengoingoutwithLukesince
theymetlastwinter.

gooversomething

review

Pleasegooveryouranswersbeforeyou
submityourtest.

goover

visitsomeonenearby

Ihaven'tseenTinaforalongtime.IthinkI'll
gooverforanhourortwo.

gowithoutsomething sufferlackordeprivation

WhenIwasyoung,wewentwithoutwinter
boots.

growapart

stopbeingfriendsovertime

MybestfriendandIgrewapartaftershe
changedschools.

growback

regrow

Myrosesgrewbackthissummer.

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growup

becomeanadult

WhenJackgrowsuphewantstobea
fireman.

growoutof
something

gettoobigfor

Elizabethneedsanewpairofshoesbecause
shehasgrownoutofheroldones.

growintosomething

growbigenoughtofit

Thisbikeistoobigforhimnow,buthe
shouldgrowintoitbynextyear.

handsomething
down

givesomethingusedtosomeone
else

Ihandedmyoldcomicbooksdowntomy
littlecousin.

handsomethingin

submit

IhavetohandinmyessaybyFriday.

handsomethingout

todistributetoagroupofpeople

Wewillhandouttheinvitationsatthedoor.

handsomethingover

give(usuallyunwillingly)

Thepoliceaskedthemantohandoverhis
walletandhisweapons.

hangin

staypositive(N.Amer.,informal)

Hanginthere.I'msureyou'llfindajobvery
soon.

hangon

waitashorttime(informal)

HangonwhileIgrabmycoatandshoes!

hangout

spendtimerelaxing(informal)

Insteadofgoingtothepartywearejust
goingtohangoutatmyplace.

hangup

endaphonecall

Hedidn'tsaygoodbyebeforehehungup.

hold
someone/something
back

preventfromdoing/going

Ihadtoholdmydogbackbecausethere
wasacatinthepark.

holdsomethingback

hideanemotion

Jamieheldbackhistearsathis
grandfather'sfuneral.

holdon

waitashorttime

PleaseholdonwhileItransferyoutothe
SalesDepartment.

holdonto
someone/something

holdfirmlyusingyourhandsor
arms

Holdontoyourhatbecauseit'sverywindy
outside.

hold
rob
someone/somethingup

Amaninablackmaskheldthebankupthis
morning.

keepondoing
something

continuedoing

Keeponstirringuntiltheliquidcomestoa
boil.

keepsomethingfrom
someone

nottell

Wekeptourrelationshipfromourparents
fortwoyears.

keep
someone/something
out

stopfromentering

Trytokeepthewetdogoutoftheliving
room.

keepsomethingup

continueatthesamerate

Ifyoukeepthoseresultsupyouwillgetinto
agreatcollege.

letsomeonedown

failtosupportorhelp,disappoint

Ineedyoutobeontime.Don'tletmedown
thistime.

letsomeonein

allowtoenter

Canyouletthecatinbeforeyougoto
school?

login(oron)

signin(toawebsite,database
etc)

Ican'tlogintoFacebookbecauseI've
forgottenmypassword.

logout(oroff)

signout(ofawebsite,database
etc)

Ifyoudon'tlogoffsomebodycouldgetinto
youraccount.

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lookafter
someone/something

takecareof

Ihavetolookaftermysickgrandmother.

lookdownon
someone

thinklessof,considerinferior

Eversincewestolethatchocolatebaryour
dadhaslookeddownonme.

lookfor
someone/something

trytofind

I'mlookingforareddressforthewedding.

lookforwardto
something

beexcitedaboutthefuture

I'mlookingforwardtotheChristmas
break.

lookintosomething

investigate

Wearegoingtolookintothepriceof
snowboardstoday.

lookout

becareful,vigilant,andtake
notice

Lookout!Thatcar'sgoingtohityou!

lookoutfor
someone/something

beespeciallyvigilantfor

Don'tforgettolookoutforsnakesonthe
hikingtrail.

looksomethingover

check,examine

Canyoulookovermyessayforspelling
mistakes?

looksomethingup

searchandfindinformationina
referencebookordatabase

Wecanlookherphonenumberuponthe
Internet.

lookuptosomeone

havealotofrespectfor

Mylittlesisterhasalwayslookeduptome.

makesomethingup

invent,lieaboutsomething

Josiemadeupastoryaboutwhywewere
late.

makeup

forgiveeachother

Wewereangrylastnight,butwemadeup
atbreakfast.

makesomeoneup

applycosmeticsto

Mysistersmademeupformygraduation
party.

mixsomethingup

confusetwoormorethings

Imixedupthetwins'namesagain!

passaway

die

Hisunclepassedawaylastnightaftera
longillness.

passout

faint

Itwassohotinthechurchthatanelderly
ladypassedout.

passsomethingout

givethesamethingtomany
people

Theprofessorpassedthetextbooksout
beforeclass.

passsomethingup

decline(usuallysomethinggood)

IpassedupthejobbecauseIamafraidof
change.

paysomeoneback

returnowedmoney

Thanksforbuyingmyticket.I'llpayyou
backonFriday.

payforsomething

bepunishedfordoingsomething
bad

Thatbullywillpayforbeingmeantomy
littlebrother.

picksomethingout

choose

Ipickedoutthreesweatersforyoutotry
on.

point
someone/something
out

indicatewithyourfinger

I'llpointmyboyfriendoutwhenherunsby.

putsomethingdown

putwhatyouareholdingona
surfaceorfloor

Youcanputthegroceriesdownonthe
kitchencounter.

putsomeonedown

insult,makesomeonefeelstupid

Thestudentsputthesubstituteteacher
downbecausehispantsweretooshort.

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putsomethingoff

postpone

WeareputtingoffourtripuntilJanuary
becauseofthehurricane.

putsomethingout

extinguish

Theneighboursputthefireoutbeforethe
firemenarrived.

putsomething
together

assemble

Ihavetoputthecribtogetherbeforethe
babyarrives.

putupwith
someone/something

tolerate

Idon'tthinkIcanputupwiththreesmall
childreninthecar.

putsomethingon

putclothing/accessoriesonyour
body

Don'tforgettoputonyournewearringsfor
theparty.

runinto
someone/something

meetunexpectedly

Iranintoanoldschoolfriendatthemall.

runover
someone/something

driveavehicleoverapersonor
thing

Iaccidentallyranoveryourbicycleinthe
driveway.

runover/through
something

rehearse,review

Let'srunover/throughtheselinesone
moretimebeforetheshow.

runaway

leaveunexpectedly,escape

Thechildranawayfromhomeandhasbeen
missingforthreedays.

runout

havenoneleft

WeranoutofshampoosoIhadtowashmy
hairwithsoap.

sendsomethingback

return(usuallybymail)

MylettergotsentbacktomebecauseI
usedthewrongstamp.

setsomethingup

arrange,organize

Ourbosssetameetingupwiththepresident
ofthecompany.

setsomeoneup

trick,trap

Thepolicesetupthecarthiefbyusinga
hiddencamera.

shoparound

compareprices

IwanttoshoparoundalittlebeforeI
decideontheseboots.

showoff

actextraspecialforpeople
watching(usuallyboastfully)

Healwaysshowsoffonhisskateboard

sleepover

staysomewhereforthenight
(informal)

Youshouldsleepovertonightiftheweather
istoobadtodrivehome.

sortsomethingout

organize,resolveaproblem

Weneedtosortthebillsoutbeforethefirst
ofthemonth.

sticktosomething

continuedoingsomething,limit
yourselftooneparticularthing

Youwillloseweightifyousticktothediet.

switchsomethingoff

stoptheenergyflow,turnoff

Thelight'stoobright.Couldyouswitchit
off.

switchsomethingon

starttheenergyflow,turnon

Weheardthenewsassoonasweswitched
onthecarradio.

takeaftersomeone

resembleafamilymember

Itakeaftermymother.Weareboth
impatient.

takesomethingapart

purposelybreakintopieces

Hetookthecarbrakesapartandfoundthe
problem.

takesomethingback

returnanitem

IhavetotakeournewTVbackbecauseit
doesn'twork.

takeoff

starttofly

Myplanetakesoffinfiveminutes.

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takesomethingoff

removesomething(usually
clothing)

Takeoffyoursocksandshoesandcomein
thelake!

takesomethingout

removefromaplaceorthing

Canyoutakethegarbageouttothestreet
forme?

takesomeoneout

payforsomeonetogosomewhere
withyou

Mygrandparentstookusoutfordinnerand
amovie.

tearsomethingup

ripintopieces

Itoreupmyexboyfriend'slettersandgave
thembacktohim.

thinkback

remember(often+to,sometimes
+on)

WhenIthinkbackonmyyouth,IwishIhad
studiedharder.

thinksomethingover

consider

I'llhavetothinkthisjobofferoverbeforeI
makemyfinaldecision.

throwsomething
away

disposeof

Wethrewouroldfurnitureawaywhenwe
wonthelottery.

turnsomethingdown

decreasethevolumeorstrength
(heat,lightetc)

PleaseturntheTVdownwhiletheguests
arehere.

turnsomethingdown

refuse

IturnedthejobdownbecauseIdon'twant
tomove.

turnsomethingoff

stoptheenergyflow,switchoff

YourmotherwantsyoutoturntheTVoff
andcomefordinner.

turnsomethingon

starttheenergy,switchon

It'stoodarkinhere.Let'sturnsomelights
on.

turnsomethingup

increasethevolumeorstrength
(heat,lightetc)

Canyouturnthemusicup?Thisismy
favouritesong.

turnup

appearsuddenly

Ourcatturnedupafterweputpostersupall
overtheneighbourhood.

trysomethingon

sampleclothing

I'mgoingtotrythesejeanson,butIdon't
thinktheywillfit.

trysomethingout

test

Iamgoingtotrythisnewbrandofdetergent
out.

usesomethingup

finishthesupply

Thekidsusedallofthetoothpasteupsowe
needtobuysomemore.

wakeup

stopsleeping

Wehavetowakeupearlyforworkon
Monday.

warm
someone/something
up

increasethetemperature

Youcanwarmyourfeetupinfrontofthe
fireplace.

warmup

preparebodyforexercise

IalwayswarmupbydoingsitupsbeforeI
goforarun.

wearoff

fadeaway

MostofmymakeupworeoffbeforeIgotto
theparty.

workout

exercise

Iworkoutatthegymthreetimesaweek.

workout

besuccessful

Ourplanworkedoutfine.

worksomethingout

makeacalculation

Wehavetoworkoutthetotalcostbefore
webuythehouse.

Br.E.:BritishEnglishN.Amer.:NorthAmerican
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