Phrasal Verbs

For example:
To break = to damage | Jim always breaks his toys. |
To break up = to separate, interrupt or disperse something | I’d hate to break up their lunch meeting for something so trivial. |
The word particle is sometimes used as a definition of the preposition or adverb that follows the phrasal verb. The large group of verbs referred to as “multi-word” or “multi-part” verbs includes phrasal verbs. The large variety of multi-word verbs, including phrasal verbs, are important parts of informal or casual spoken and written communication in the English language. They should not be used in formal writing, such as academic texts, where they would be considered inappropriate. For example, an article for a medical journal should use the words “to dissect” rather than “to cut up.”
Transitive and Intransitive phrasal verbs:
Some phrasal verbs are referred to as transitive.Transitive verbs always have a direct object.
For example:The police broke up the loud party. (The object of the verb is “party.”)
Some other phrasal verbs are called intransitive verbs. Intransitive verbs have no object.
For example: I cracked up when he was telling his story.
Separable or Inseparable phrasal verbs:
Transitive phrasal verbs that have the object placed between the verb and the preposition are separable phrasal verbs.
For example: I broke the meeting up at noon. (The object, “the meeting” is placed between the verb and the adverb.)
Another example : I tore the carpet up.
When transitive phrasal verbs have the object placed after the preposition or adverb, they are inseparable.
For example : Amy broke off the engagement. (The object of the verb, “the engagement” is placed after the adverb.)
There are some transitive phrasal verbs that can have an object in either place:
For example: “Amy broke the engagement off.” has the same meaning as “Amy broke off the engagement.”
If the object is a pronoun however, it can only be placed between the verb and preposition.
For example, we must say: I cracked them up.
We can not say: I cracked up them.
Verb | Meaning | Example |
add up | make sense | She knew the girls were lying because their stories just didn’t add up. |
add on | put something together with another object | We plan to add on to the house next year. |
add in | to insert | Do you mind if I add in a few more details? |
bang about | move around noisily | I love when the kids visit, but I can’t stand the way they bang about the house. |
bang something up | damage something | They always bang up my cabinet doors when they slam into them. |
bow to someone | permit someone’s will | I usually bow to my Tom’s ideas. |
bow over | be overly permissive | I don’t know why I always bow over to make you happy. |
carry on | continue | Rich will carry on the presentation despite the interruptions. |
carry someone through | provide support | Amy didn’t know how she would have made it without Jim to carry her through during her struggles. |
carry over | continue past a certain point | The meeting will probably carry over through lunch time. |
chew off | remove by biting | Emily always chews the eraser off her pencils. |
chew someone out | criticize harshly | The boss is really going to chew him out for that mistake. |
chew up | damage something | If you don’t lubricate the gears, they are going to be all chewed up soon. |
chew over something | ponder | Terry wanted to chew over the idea before he committed to it. |
eat up | consume all of something | Every time she makes apple pie, the kids just eat it up. |
eat over | have a meal at someone else’s house. | Dave is going to eat over at Jim’s house. |
eat away | erode | The water will eventually eat away at the bedrock. |
eat out | dine at a restaurant | Maybe we should eat out tonight, I don’t feel like cooking. |
eat into | use something | This renovation is really going to eat into our savings. |
fall out | stop out of exhaustion | I couldn’t run any longer, I knew I was going to fall out of the marathon. |
fall in | get in line | Fall in kids, we’re headed back to class. |
fall into something | accidentally involve | Diane is going to fall into a bad situation if she doesn’t choose her friends carefully. |
fall for something | to believe | I’m not going to fall for that old lie! |
fall for someone | to be in love with, or infatuated with someone | He loved seeing her so much, he just knew he was going to fall for her. |
fall over something | trip because of an item | Clean your mess up before someone falls over the toys. |
far out | amazing | Man, that movie was far out. |
fill in | work for someone | Dave asked Bill to fill in for him during his vacation. |
fill out something | complete a form | Just fill out this release while you wait for the doctor. |
fill up something | completely fill something | Can you believe how much it costs to fill up the gas tank? |
finish off | consume entirely | Gary will finish off the leftovers tomorrow night. |
finish with something | done using | As soon as I finish with the hammer, I will put it away. |
fish for | try to find information | Rob seemed to be fishing for something with his questions. |
flow over | move freely on top of something | The stream of water flows over the stones. |
flow over | fill over capacity | Stop pouring, the milk will flow over! |
flow in | move easily inside of | The open windows let the scent of grass flow in. |
flow through | move between points | That stream flows through three counties. |
freeze someone out | be rude to, exclude | I don’t want to freeze him out, but he’s so rude to the rest of us. |
freeze up | paralyzed with fear | Every time she has to make a public speech, she freezes up. |
freeze over | become covered with ice | They will go ice skating as soon as the lake freezes over. |
front for | represent something else | That shop is just a front for an illegal operation. |
frown on | disapprove of | George will frown on our plans. |
get up | wake in the morning | She has to get up extra early because of the commute. |
get out | leave a place | I can’t wait to get out of this boring meeting. |
get over something | heal emotionally | Bill really needs to get over Michelle. |
get into | argue | Sam and Bill always get into it over politics. |
get through | maintain presence through a time period or event | I just have to get through the next hour and then I’m free. |
get away | not get caught | The robber is going to get away with the crime. |
get by | have just enough to live on | Gene barely has enough money to get by on. |
get around | visit many places | Everyone knows him, he really gets around the night scene. |
get at someone | criticize | He is really going to get at me when he finds my mistake. |
get along with someone | have good relationship | Tara and Bill get along with each other well. |
get back to | return communication | I’ll have to get back to you a little later. |
give up something | stop or let go of something | I just cannot seem to give up cigarettes. |
give someone up | to tattle or tell on someone for doing something wrong | If I get in trouble for this, I’m going to give him up too. |
give in | collapse or no longer support | My dad is always worried the roof will give in during heavy snow. |
give into something | relent or allow something or someone | She’s finally going to give into his demands. |
give something over | release | That’s her toy, give it over. |
go after | chase | They were going to go after her, but she was long gone. |
go through | endure | You wouldn’t believe what I had to go through to get here on time! |
go around | mingle in a crowd | Just go around and introduce yourself. |
go under | fail usually in a business due to lack of money | If they can’t meet their overhead, the business will soon go under. |
go for | try to achieve something | Fred is going to go for the management position. |
go away | take a vacation | We are going to go away for the weekend. |
go away | to leave | I wish he would go away |
go over | examine or review with others | Can you go over this essay for me? |
hand something back | return | Just hand it back when you’re finished using it. |
hand something over | give an object | Just hand over the keys and I’ll drive. |
hand out | disperse to a group | They hand out free donuts every Friday. |
hand something off | pass something over | She had too many chores, so she had to hand some off to her husband. |
hang up | terminate phone conversation | Why does she always hang up before I say goodbye? |
hang out | socialize with | I’m going to go hang out with Dave after school. |
hang in | maintain or continue to do | Hang in there, it will get easier soon. |
have around | object in presence | Tim’s a good guy to have around. |
have over | entertain | Jim is going to have Tina and Bill over for dinner. |
have down | record | I have you down for an appointment on Monday. |
have out | fight | The way they were arguing, I thought they were going to have it out right there! |
have something out | take object from storage | It’s July, why do you have your winter coat out? |
have something on | to wear an item | I don’t even have my shoes on yet! |
have to | required | She will have to drop him off before work. |
jump up | rise suddenly | Dave knew he was running late, so he jumped up from his bed to get dressed. |
jump down | hop off something | Jump down off the counter and get your things ready. |
jump over something | make efforts | Jim had to jump over several hurdles to complete the project on time. |
lash something down | to tie securely | Make sure to lash down the luggage before we leave. |
lash out | react angrily | She can’t handle any criticism, she will lash out at the nearest person. |
lash into someone | attack or criticize verbally, angrily | The simple mistake did not warrant the way he lashed into his employee. |
make up | fabricate | She can make up stories right off the top of her head. |
make out | took away with | Bella always makes out like a bandit on Christmas! |
make off | to take | Burglars usually make off with their victim’s jewelry and cash. |
make of | understand or have an opinion | Bill is not sure what to make of his daughter’s fashion style. |
make over | change appearance of something or someone | Susan decided to make over her kitchen’s outdated design. |
make it | to arrive | I’m never going to make it to work on time in this traffic. |
make for | head towards | Every time Sam comes in, Ellen immediately makes for the door. |
make up to | apologetic compensation for an action | I’m sorry I have to cancel our dinner plans, I promise I’ll make it up to you. |
measure up | be good enough | She just didn’t measure up to the company’s standards. |
measure against | judge by comparison | Tim hates being measured against his brother. |
measure out | weigh the exact amount needed | Carol measures out each ingredient before she begins cooking. |
opt for something | choose | She will probably opt for the green coat instead of the red one. |
opt in | choose to be a part of | Sara will opt in the PTO committee this year. |
opt out | choose to not be a part of something | Bill says he will opt out of the PTO committee this year. |
pay someone back | return money borrowed | Tim said he’d pay me back next week. |
pay off | settling a debt | Jim was thrilled because he could finally pay off his car loan. |
pay for something | purchase | It’s Andy’s turn to pay for dinner. |
pay back | revenge | Tim vows to pay George back for the practical joke he played this morning. |
pay down | reduce debt | Hank will pay down the loan gradually over the next three months. |
pick up | clean an area | Bill has to pick up his room before he can go out to play. |
pick something out | make a choice of objects | Just pick out the dress you want so we can leave! |
pick on someone | tease or taunt | If you pick on your brother one more time today, you’re going to be punished. |
pick at | dig at or irritate | Don’t pick at those pimples, you’ll get scars from them. |
pick over | examine thoroughly | She picked over all the apples in the bin before choosing one. |
pick something apart | examine and determine flaw | She is going to pick apart my whole essay since I didn’t check my grammar. |
reel in | attract | She plans to reel investors in with her presentation. |
reel off | state facts rapidly | The way she can reel off facts off the top of her head is impressive. |
ride something out | maintain presence during | We are just going to ride out the hurricane at home. |
ride off | leave on a horse, bike, etc | Jane plans to ride off on her motorcycle and never return. |
ride up | rise on the body | Amy has a hard time finding shirts that don’t ride up on her waist. |
ride through | travel in and out of | We’ll ride through Indiana on our way to California. |
rise up | increase level of | Eventually, the water will rise up to the ceiling. |
rise up to | meet standards | Jim’s submission didn’t rise up to the magazines standards. |
rise against | protest | The whole group will rise against the government regulations. |
roll back | reduce, as in prices or expenses | They are going to roll back their expenses by laying off employees. |
roll over on someone | provide information about someone | The criminal is going to roll over on his accomplice for a reduced sentence. |
roll around | time in the future | By the time Christmas rolls around she’ll be all done with her shopping. |
roll out | launch a plan | We are going to roll out our new marketing strategy in May. |
run after | to chase | Sue didn’t run after the school bus because she knew it wouldn’t stop. |
run around | activity in a certain area | Dan had to run around and pick up the house before his guests arrived. |
run up | increase money owed | Sally didn’t mean to run her debt up so high. |
run for | vie for an elected position | I hear he’s going to run for Congress next term. |
run about | frenzied activity | The guests are nearly here, we have run about and finish cleaning. |
run in | go in quickly | I just need to run in this store for a moment. |
run into someone | accidentally meet a person | Sally was hoping they wouldn’t run into her ex-boyfriend at the party. |
run into something | accidentally hit an object | Look out! You’re going to run into that telephone pole at the end of the driveway. |
scrape by | barely manage | He barely makes enough to scrape by. |
scrape something up | manage to collect funds needed | Joe was somehow able to scrape up enough to pay for a concert ticket. |
scrape through | manage to barely pass | Jan only just managed to scrape through final exams last semester. |
set something up | to arrange something | It’s time to set up the Christmas decorations. |
set someone up | deceive, cause blame | The defendant claimed he was set up by the police. |
set something aside | postpone | You’ll just have to set your plans aside until you’re finished with your work. |
set into something | begin | I was just about to set into a new novel. |
set back | cost money | That car set Jim back $30,000. |
set something back | caused delay or demotion | That mistake set his career goals back significantly. |
set apart | distinguish from a group | Her ambition and drive really set her apart from other employees. |
set forth | begin journey | Bill set forth, headed for the Alaskan wilderness. |
set off | detonate | The mines are set off by weight sensors. |
set someone off | cause anger | Just a simple mistake is enough to set off the boss. |
set off | complements | The wall color really sets off the floor’s coloring. |
sit on something | be seated on top of | Shelly knew she wasn’t supposed to sit on the counters but she did anyway. |
sit up | rise from prone position | Every morning she has to sit up and push the snooze button on the alarm clock. |
sit in something | be seated inside of | I don’t know why the dog likes to sit in laundry baskets. |
sit in on | to observe without participating | I sometimes sit in on the morning meetings. |
sit through | be present during | Bill hates having to sit through boring presentations. |
slam into something | hit forcefully | Slow down before you slam the car into the mailbox! |
sleep in | rise late in the morning | Gary didn’t mean to sleep in and be late for work. |
sleep tight | sleep comfortably | Goodnight sweetheart, sleep tight and have sweet dreams. |
steal someone away | take someone somewhere quietly | Jim asked if he could steal her away for a week in the tropics. |
steal in | sneak into | You distract the guard and I’ll steal in the room. |
steal over | experience emotion | She felt anger stealing over her. |
take in | care for | Mary takes in every stray animal she sees. |
take something over | take authority of something | Bill is going to take over the project since I don’t have enough time to complete it. |
take off | leave a place | Jim is about to take off, you should go say goodbye. |
talk around | avoid a topic during conversation | Bill likes to talk around problems instead of addressing them. |
talk into | persuade | Sue is trying to talk Jim into going out this evening. |
talk out | discuss problem to find solution | Instead of yelling, Amber suggested they sit and calmly talk it out. |
talk through | communicated by | Sam and Ed only talk through text or email. |
talk someone/something up | offer praise to 3rd party | Jill managed to talk the product up so well, everyone bought one. |
time out | pause a game or conversation | Time out guys, I need to use the bathroom. |
tip someone off | tell someone information | Sue called the police to tip them off about the criminal activity in her neighborhood. |
tip something over | make something spill | She hit the table and made the glass of water tip over. |
think of someone | to have an opinion | Sara didn’t think much of Joe. |
think on | to consider or ponder | I’ll have to think on it a little while before I can answer you. |
think back | remember | When I think back now, it should have been easy to see my mistakes. |
think out | plan or prepare | Bill should really think out his travel arrangements before he travels. |
think up | use imagination to create an idea | Amber is trying to think up a way to leave to the party politely. |
think over | reassess, reconsider | That’s a pretty horrible idea, are you sure you don’t want to think it over first? |
throw in | give up | That’s it, I’m going to throw in the towel and let you handle it. |
throw up | vomit | Jeff had food poisoning, which made him throw up for three days. |
throw something over | toss something | Hey, will you throw the remote over here? |
throw over something | toss higher than | Just throw the keys over the car, I’ll catch them. |
throw something away | get rid of | Bill would never throw anything away. |
toss back | drink quickly | Dan can really toss back some sodas. |
toss around | discuss an idea informally | If we could just toss this around, we could come up with a few more ideas. |
toss up | undecided ending | We couldn’t agree on anything, the meeting was a toss up. |
trade something up | replace with something better | Even though it cost more, the more expensive car was a good trade up from her old car. |
trade something down | replace with something lesser | She wanted to trade down on her vehicle to save money. |
trade off | bargain or deal | They made a trade off that was mutually beneficial. |
trade something in | replace | Bill is going to trade his van in for a new one. |
turn something in | hand in assignment | Sara needs to finish her essay, she has to turn it in tomorrow morning. |
turn something off | Stop machine | Turn off the television when this show is over. |
turn to someone | ask someone for help | When I am upset and overwhelmed, I usually turn to my mother for advice. |
turn up | appear | Don’t worry, I’m sure your watch will turn up soon. |
tune in | watch t.v. or listen to a radio | Thirty thousand people tune in to our program every day. |
tune out | ignore, not pay attention | The presentation was so boring, Sara tuned out after ten minutes. |
tune something up | maintain and enhance performance | I should really tune up my car this year before winter. |
wait on someone | serve someone food or drink | The waitress didn’t have the patience to wait on the large group very well. |
wait up | hold on | Hey, wait up Jenna, you’re going too fast. |
work someone up | excite | Football games always work Jim up. |
work out | settle differences | It took a few hours, but we able to work out our problems. |
work something out | plan details | Jim said he’d work out the travel arrangements later. |
work someone over | assault violently | By the look of his black eye, I’d say someone really worked him over. |
work through | examine | Jim must work through the monthly budget each week. |
zip around | move quickly | It’s amazing the way she zips around the place. |
zip by something | go by quickly | Did you see that car zip by? |
zip it | be quiet | Zip it kids, the movie is about to start. |
zoom off | leave quickly | Right after the speaker is done, we will zoom off to the party. |
zoom in | focus closely | You’ll need to zoom the lens in for the best photo. |
zoom out | focus less closely | Zoom out so you get more of the background in the photo. |
zoom by something | go past quickly | By the way that car zoomed by, I’d say the driver was going well above the speed limit. |