Phrasal Verbs
Rules of Phrasal Verbs
1. Phrasal verbs have a different meaning from the original verb.
This combination of words forms a single unit of vocabulary expression, which gives a new meaning. Let us take these sentences as examples for comparison:We have to get the documents.
Men easily get over certain illnesses.
The original verb “get” means to obtain something. However, when added with a particle its meaning changes. In this case, the phrasal verb “get over” means to recover from an illness.
Other examples:The little girl broke down when her puppy died. (break down = to lose control of one’s emotions)
We ran out of drinking water. (run out = to have nothing left.)
My friends had to put off their trip due to the pandemic. (put off = to postpone.)
2. Intransitive phrasal verbs are inseparable because they do not need an object.
Similar to regular verbs, these verbs could be classified as transitive or intransitive. Since intransitive verbs do not take any object, it is not possible to separate the verb and the particle.
Examples:The Smith family always comes back to this place every year. (come back = come again)
My father wakes up very early. (wake up = to stop sleeping)
The players showed up during the rehearsal. (show up = to arrive and be seen)
She often shops around before finally buying the items. (shop around = to go to different shops before buying)
The color of this shirt wears off easily. (wear off = to disappear slowly)
3. Some transitive phrasal verbs can either be separable or inseparable.
Since transitive phrasal verbs take objects, it is possible for some of these to be separated or put together. Let’s check the following sentences:1st sentence: Chuck Feeney gave away his money to charity.
2nd sentence: Chuck Feeney gave his money away to charity.
3rd sentence: Chuck Feeney gave it away to charity.
Notice that in the first sentence we can keep the verb and the particle together while followed by the object. In the second sentence, it is also possible to have the verb and the particle separated by the object. However, when using a pronoun for the object, the phrasal verb has to be separated. Thus, it is incorrect to say “Chuck Feeney gave away it to charity.”
Other examples:
call off (to cancel an event or meeting)
1st: The manager called off the meeting.
2nd: The manager called the meeting off.
3rd: The manager called it off.
fill out (to complete a form or document)1st: Fill out the request form before paying.
2nd: Fill the request form out before paying.
3rd: Fill it out before paying.
put on (to wear)1st: We should put on a coat in winter.
2nd: We should put a coat on in winter.
3rd: We should put it on in winter.
4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable.
There are other transitive phrasal verbs in which the verb always goes together with the particle after it.
Examples:Students go over their answers before submitting their examination sheets. (go over = review)
Parents look after their children. (look after = take care of)
Jason ran into his long-lost friend. (run into = meet by chance)
With the way you speak, you take after your mother. (take after = resemble)
Wendy can’t get over her past relationship. (get over = recover from a bad experience)
5. Three-Word phrasal verbs are inseparable.
Some phrasal verbs are formed with two particles after a verb. In addition, these types are inseparable.
Examples:We came up with a better strategy for the upcoming project. (come up with = propose something)
Laughing can get rid of wrinkles. (get rid of = eliminate)
Children look up to their teachers. (look up to = respect)
I can’t put up with this noise! It’s too much! (put up with = tolerate)
Our childhood memories make us laugh whenever we think back on them. (think back on = recall)
Following phrasal verbs are given below.
Phrasal Verb
Meaning
Example
Act on
To take action because of something like information received.
The police were ACTING ON a tip from an informer and caught the gang red-handed.
Act out
Perform something with actions and gestures..
They ACTED OUT the story on stage.
Act up
Behave badly or strangely.
My computer's ACTING UP; I think I might have a virus.
Add on
Include in a calculation.
You have to ADD the VAT ON to the price they give.
Add up
To make a mathematical total.
We ADDED UP the bill to check it was correct.
Agree with
Affect- usually used in the negative to show that something has had a negative effect, especially is it makes you feel bad.
I feel terrible- that food didn't AGREE WITH my stomach.
Aim at
To target.
The magazine is AIMED AT teenagers.
Allow for
Include something in a plan or calculation.
You should ALLOW FOR delays when planning a journey.
Allow of
Make possible, permit.
The rules don't ALLOW OF any exceptions.
Angle for
Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting.
He's been ANGLING FOR an invitation, but I don't want him to come.
Answer back
To reply rudely to someone in authority.
Her mother was shocked when she started ANSWERING her BACK and refusing to help.
Argue down
Beat someone in a debate, discussion or argument.
The teacher tried to ARGUE the girl DOWN, but she couldn't.
Argue down
Persuade someone to drop the price of something they're selling.
She ARGUED him DOWN ten percent.
Argue out
Argue about a problem to find a solution.
If we can't ARGUE our differences OUT, we'll have to take them to court.
Ask about
Ask how someone is doing, especially professionally and in terms of health.
He ASKED ABOUT my father.
Ask after
Enquire about someone's health, how life is going.
Jenny rang earlier and ASKED AFTER you, so I told her you were fine.
Ask around
Ask a number of people for information of help.
I have no idea, but I'll ASK AROUND at work and see if anyone can help.
Ask in
To invite somebody into your house.
Jon's at the door.' 'ASK him IN.'
Ask out
To invite someone for a date.
He wanted to ASK her OUT but was too shy.
Ask over
Invite.
They have ASKED us OVER for drinks on Friday.
Ask round
Invite someone.
We ASKED John ROUND for diner.
Auction off
Sell something in an auction.
They AUCTIONED OFF their property as they were heavily in debt.
Back away
Retreat or go backwards.
The crowd BACKED AWAY when the man pulled a knife.
Back down
Retract or withdraw your position or proposal in an argument.
She refused to BACK DOWN and was fired.
Back into
Enter a parking area in reverse gear.
He prefers to BACK his car INTO the garage.
Back off
Retreat.
The police told the protesters to BACK OFF.
Back out
Fail to keep an arrangement or promise.
He BACKED OUT two days before the holiday so we gave the ticket to his sister
Back out of
Fail to keep an agreement, arrangement.
She BACKED OUT OF the agreement at the last minute.
Back up
Make a copy of computer data.
You should always BACK UP important files and documents so that you won't lose all your work if something goes wrong with the hardware.
Bag out
Criticise.
Don't bag out BAG OUT Australian English.
Ball up
Confuse or make things complicated.
The new project has BALLED me UP- I have no idea what to do.
Bargain down
Persuade someone to drop the price of something they're selling.
I BARGAINED her DOWN to half what she originally wanted.
Bash about
Mistreat physically.
If you BASH your monitor ABOUT like that, it won't last long.
Bash in
Break, damage or injure by hitting.
The burglars BASHED the door IN to enter the house.
Bash out
Write something quickly without much preparation.
I BASHED the essay OUT the night before I had to hand it in.
Be after
Try to find or get.
The police ARE AFTER him because of the theft.
Be along
Arrive.
The next bus should BE ALONG in the next quarter of an hour or so.
Be away
Be elsewhere; on holiday, etc..
She's AWAY on business for three weeks.
Be cut out for
Be suitable, have the necessary qualities.
She's not CUT OUT FOR this kind of work.
Be cut up
Be upset.
She was very CUT UP about coming second as she thought she deserved to win.
Be down
Be depressed.
He's BEEN DOWN since his partner left him.
Be fed up
Be bored, upset or sick of something.
I AM FED UP of his complaints.
Be taken with
Like something.
I WAS very TAKEN WITH the performance- it was superb.
Be up
Be out of bed.
She's not UP yet.
Bear down on
Move towards.
She spotted him on the other side of the room and BORE DOWN ON him.
Bear on
Influence, affect.
The judge's character may well BEAR ON the final decision.
Bear out
Confirm that something is correct.
Statistics BEAR OUT the government's positions on the issue.
Bear up
Resist pressure.
How are you BEARING UP under the strain?
Bear up under
Cope with something difficult or stressful.
He's BEARING UP UNDER the pressure.
Bear with
Be patient.
Please BEAR WITH me a moment while I finish this email.
Beat down
Strong sunshine.
The sun WAS really BEATING DOWN and we couldn't stay outdoors.
Beat out
Narrowly win in competition.
The marathon runner barely BEAT OUT his rival at the tape.
Beat up
Attack violently.
The mugger BEAT him UP and stole his wallet.
Belong with
Be in the correct or appropriate location with other items.
Does this disc BELONG WITH those on the shelf?
Bend down
Lower the top half of your body.
I BENT DOWN to pick it up off the floor.
Big up
Exaggerate the importance.
He BIGS himself UP all the time.
Bitch up
Spoil or ruin something.
I BITCHED UP the interview.
Black out
Fall unconscious.
He BLACKED OUT and collapsed on the floor.
Blast off
Leave the ground- spaceship or rocket.
The space shuttle BLASTED OFF on schedule yesterday.
Block in
Park a car and obstruct another car.
I couldn't drive here this morning because someone had BLOCKED me IN.
Block off
Obstruct an exit to prevent people from leaving.
The police BLOCKED OFF the road after the murder.
Blow away
Impress greatly.
Her first novel BLEW me AWAY.
Blow down
When the wind forces something to fall.
A tree was BLOWN DOWN in the storm.
Blow in
Arrive, sometimes suddenly or unexpectedly.
He BLEW IN from Toronto early this morning.
Blow off
Not keep an appointment.
We were going to meet last night, but she BLEW me OFF at the last minute.
Blow up
Explode.
The bomb BLEW UP without any warning.
Boil up
Feel a negative emotion strongly.
The anger BOILED UP in me when I saw what they had done.
Bone up on
Study hard for a goal or reason.
I need to BONE UP ON my French grammar for the test.
Book in
Check in at a hotel.
WE took a taxi from the airport to the hotel and BOOKED IN.
Call up
Telephone.
I CALLED him UP as soon as I got to a phone to tell him the news.
Calm down
Stop being angry or emotionally excited.
When I lose my temper, it takes ages for me to CALM DOWN again.
Cancel out
Have an opposite effect on something that has happened, taking things back to the beginning.
The airport taxes CANCELLED OUT the savings we had made on the flight tickets.
Cap off
Finish or complete, often with some decisive action.
She CAPPED OFF the meeting with a radical proposal.
Care for
Like.
I don't CARE FOR fizzy drinks; I prefer water.
Carried away
Get so emotional that you lose control.
The team got CARRIED AWAY when they won the championship and started shouting and throwing things around.
Carry forward
Make something progress.
They hope the new management will be able to CARRY the project
FORWARD.
Carry off
Win, succeed.
She CARRIED OFF the first prize in the competition.
Carry on
Continue.
CARRY ON quietly with your work until the substitute teacher arrives.
Decide upon
Choose, select.
Jane spent a long time looking at houses before she bought one, but eventually DECIDED UPON one near her office.
Die away
Become quieter or inaudible (of a sound).
The last notes DIED AWAY and the audience burst into applause.
Die back
When the parts of a plant above ground die, but the roots remain alive.
The plant DIES BACK in the winter.
Die down
Decrease or become quieter.
It was on the front pages of all the papers for a few days, but the interest gradually DIED DOWN.
Die for
Want something a lot.
I'm DYING FOR the weekend- this week's been so hard.
Die off
Become extinct.
Most of the elm trees in the UK DIED OFF when Dutch elm disease arrived.
Die out
Become extinct or disappear.
Some scientists say that the dinosaurs DIED OUT when a comet hit the earth and caused a nuclear winter.
Dig in
Start eating greedily.
We were starving so we really DUG IN when the food finally did arrive.
Dig into
Reach inside to get something.
She DUG INTO her handbag and pulled out a bunch of keys.
Fawn over
Praise someone in an excessive way to get their favour or something from them.
She FAWNED OVER the inspectors in the hope that they would give her a good grade.
Feed off
Eat a food as part of an animals diet.
The gecko FEEDS OFF mosquitoes and other insects.
Feed on
Give someone a particular food.
He FEEDS his cat ON dry food.
Feed up
Give someone a lot of food to restore their health, make them bigger, etc.
She's been ill for a fortnight so we're FEEDING her UP.
Feel up
Touch sexually, grope.
Someone FELT me UP in the club as I was trying to get to the bar.
Feel up to
Feel capable of doing something.
I'm so tired. I don't think I FEEL UP TO going out tonight.
Get ahead
Progress.
Nowadays, you need IT skills if you want to GET AHEAD.
Get ahead of
Move in front of.
I work at home in the evening to GET AHEAD OF schedule.
Get along
Leave.
It's late; we must be GETTING ALONG.
Give up
Stop doing something that has been a habit.
I GAVE UP taking sugar in tea and coffee to lose weight.
Hit on
Have an idea.
I suddenly HIT ON the solution
Hold off
Stop someone from attacking or beating you.
Chelsea couldn't HOLD their opponents OFF and lost the game.
Hold on
Wait.
Could you HOLD ON for a minute; she'll be free in a moment.
Hook up
Meet someone.
We HOOKED UP at the conference.
Hunt out
Search until you find something.
It took me ages to HUNT OUT the photos.
Jack up
Increase sharply.
They have JACKED UP the price of oil this month.
Jam on
Apply or operate something forcefully.
Jack JAMMED ON the brakes when the rabbit ran in front of his car.
Jaw away
Talk just for the point of talking rather than having anything to say.
That shows that your interest is not in helping the student, but in
JAWING AWAY.
Jazz up
Make something more interesting or attractive.
The show was getting stale so they JAZZED it UP with some new scenes.
Keep around
Keep something near you.
I KEEP a dictionary AROUND when I'm doing my homework.
Keep at
Continue with something difficult.
She found the course hard but she KEPT AT it and completed it successfully.
Keep away
Don't allow someone near something.
Medicines should always be KEPT AWAY from children.
Keep back
Maintain a safe distance.
The police told the crowd to KEEP BACK from the fire.
Key to
Plan things to fit or suit people or situations.
Promotions are KEYED TO people's abilities.
Key up
Make someone excited or nervous.
The noise got us KEYED UP.
Kick about
Discuss.
We KICKED the idea ABOUT at the meeting.
Kick in
When a drug starts to take effect.
Her hayfever didn't feel half as bad once the antihistamines had KICKED IN.
Kick out
Expel.
The family KICKED the au pair OUT when they found out that she was planning to move to work for another household.
Knock off
Finish work for the day.
We KNOCKED OFF early on Friday to avoid the rush hour queues.
Lash down
Secure something with ropes or cords.
We LASHED the tarpaulin DOWN to stop the wind blowing it away.
Lash into
Criticise someone strongly.
He LASHED INTO them for messing thins up.
Lash out
Suddenly become violent.
He LASHED OUT and broke the man's nose.
Lay on
Organise, supply.
They LAID ON a buffet lunch at the conference.
Lay out
Spend money.
They LAID OUT thousands of pounds on their wedding reception.
Let in
Allow someone to enter.
The doorstaff didn't LET him IN the nightclub because he was wearing jeans.
Let off
Not punish.
The judge LET him OFF with a fine rather than a prison sentence since it was his first offence.
Line up
Arrange events for someone.
We have LINED UP a lot of meetings for them.
Link up
Connect, join.
The train LINKS UP the cities.
Live by
Follow a belief system to guide your behaviour.
He tries hard to LIVE BY the Bible.
Live down
Stop being embarrassed about something.
If I fail the test and everyone else passes, I'll never be able to LIVE it DOWN.
Live with
Accept something unpleasant.
It's hard to LIVE WITH the pain of a serious illness.
Log in
Enter a restricted area on a computer system.
I had forgotten my password and couldn't LOG IN.
Log into
Enter a restricted area of a computer system.
I LOGGED INTO the staff intranet to check my email.
Log off
Exit a computer system.
When she'd finished working on the spreadsheet, she LOGGED OFF and left the office.
Log on
Enter a computer system.
He entered his password for the college intranet and LOGGED ON.
Log out
Exit a computer system.
Danny closed the programs and LOGGED OUT when it was time to go home.
Look up
Consult a reference work (dictionary, phonebook, etc.) for a specific piece of information..
I didn't know the correct spelling so I had to LOOK it UP in the dictionary.
Magic away
Make something disappear quickly.
He MAGICKED the bill AWAY and paid for us all before I could get my wallet out.
Make after
Chase.
The police MADE AFTER the stolen car.
Make away with
Steal.
The thieves MADE AWAY WITH the painting.
Make it
Arrive or get a result.
I thought you weren't coming, so I was really pleased you MADE IT.
Make it up to
Try to compensate for doing something wrong.
He tried to MAKE IT UP TO her, but she wouldn't speak to him.
Make of
Understand or have an opinion.
What do you MAKE OF your new boss?
Make off
Leave somewhere in a hurry.
They MADE OFF when they heard the police siren.
Mash up
Mix sources of audio, video or other computer sources..
She MASHED UP the songs into a single track.
Melt down
Heat something solid, especially metal, until it becomes liquid.
They MELTED the gold statue DOWN and turned it into gold bars.
Mess about
Not be serious, not use something properly.
The children were MESSING ABOUT with the TV remote control and broke it.
Mix up
Confuse.
I always MIX those two sisters UP because they look so like each other.
Move into
Start living in a place.
They MOVED INTO the house as soon as it was ready.
Move up
Move to make space.
Could you MOVE UP and let me sit down?
Nail down
Succeed in getting, achieve.
They are having trouble NAILING DOWN the contract.
Name after
Give someone a name to remember another person.
I was NAMED AFTER my uncle who died in the war.
Narrow down
Remove less important options to make it easier to choose.
I am not sure which university to apply to, but I have NARROWED my list DOWN to three.
Nerd out
Play safe and avoid taking a risk.
I'm going to NERD OUT and not go on the river trip.
Opt for
Choose.
I OPTED FOR an endowment mortgage and lost a lot of money.
Opt in
Choose to be part or a member of something.
If you want them to notify you of updates, you have to OPT IN.
Opt into
Choose to be a member or part of something.
I OPTED INTO the scheme.
Opt out
Choose not to be part of something.
The UK OPTED OUT of a lot of EU legislation on working hours and conditions.
Pack in
Stop doing something.
I'm trying to PACK IN smoking.
Pack off
Send someone away.
His boss PACKED him OFF to a regional office.
Pack out
Fill a venue.
The stadium was PACKED OUT.
Pack up
Stop doing something.
You should PACK UP smoking.
Pad down
Sleep somewhere for the night.
I'm too tired to come home; can I PAD DOWN here tonight?
Pad out
Make a text longer by including extra content, often content that isn't particularly relevant.
I couldn't think of much to write, so I PADDED the essay OUT with a few lengthy quotes.
Pal around
Be friendly and spend time with someone.
We PALLED AROUND at university.
Pal up
Become friends.
We PALLED UP when I started working with her.
Pass away
Die.
Sadly, Georgia's uncle PASSED AWAY yesterday after a short illness.
Pass back
Return.
I felt awful when the teacher started to PASS BACK the exam papers.
Pass by
Go past without stopping.
I was just PASSING BY when I saw the accident.
Patch up
Fix or make things better.
I tried to PATCH things UP after the argument, but they wouldn't speak to me.
Pay back
Repay money borrowed.
I PAID BACK the twenty pounds I'd borrowed.
Pay off
Produce a profitable or successful result.
Their patience PAID OFF when he finally showed up and signed the contract.
Peel away
Leave a group by moving in a different direction.
Some of the crowd PEELED AWAY to get out of the crush.
Peg out
Put washing outside to dry.
I PEGGED the washing OUT after it stopped raining.
Phase in
Introduce gradually.
They are PHASING IN the reforms over the next two years.
Phase out
Remove gradually.
They have introduced a compact edition of the newspaper and are PHASING OUT the broadsheet edition over the next few months.
Pick at
Eat unwillingly.
I wasn't very hungry so I just PICKED AT my food.
Pick up
Collect.
While you're in town, can you PICK UP my trousers from the Dry Cleaner?
Pig out
Eat a lot.
The food was great, so I really PIGGED OUT.
Pile up
Accumulate.
Work just keeps on PILING UP and I really can't manage to get it all done.
Pin down
Discover exact details about something.
The government can't PIN DOWN where the leak came from.
Pin on
Attach the blame to someone.
The police tried to PIN the crime ON him.
Pin up
Fix something to a wall, or other vertical surface, with a pin.
I PINNED the notice UP on the board
Pine away
Suffer physically because of grief, stress, worry, etc.
He's been PINING AWAY since his wife died and is a shadow of his former self.
Pipe down
Be quiet (often as an imperative).
The lecturer asked the students to PIPE DOWN and pay attention.
Pipe up
To speak, raise your voice.
At first, no one answered, then finally someone PIPED UP.
Play along
Pretend to agree or accept something in order to keep someone happy or to get more information.
I disagreed with the idea but I had to PLAY ALONG because everyone else liked it.
Play around
Be silly.
The children were PLAYING AROUND and being annoying.
Play up
Behave badly.
The children PLAYED UP all evening and drove the babysitter mad.
Plug in
Connect machines to the electricity supply.
He PLUGGED the TV IN and turned it on full blast.
Plump down
Put something in a place without taking care.
He PLUMPED his bag DOWN and kicked his shoes off.
Plump for
Choose.
I PLUMPED FOR the steak frites.
Point out
Make someone aware of something.
He POINTED OUT that I only had two weeks to get the whole thing finished.
Poke about
Move things around or search in a casual way to try to find something.
I POKED ABOUT in my CD collection to see if I could find it.
Poke around
Move things around or search in a casual way to try to find something.
I POKED AROUND in my desk to see if the letter was there.
Polish off
Finish, consume.
She POLISHES OFF half a bottle of gin every night.
Polish up
Improve something quickly.
I need to POLISH UP my French before I go to Paris.
Pop in
Visit for a short time.
He POPPED IN for a coffee on his way home.
Pop off
Talk loudly, complain.
He's always POPPING OFF when things don't suit him.
Power up
Turn a computer or electronic device on so that it is ready to use.
I POWERED UP my laptop and started work.
Price up
Charge more for something.
In rural areas where they have a monopoly, some garages PRICE UP fuel because there's nowhere else to buy it.
Pull ahead
Overtake, move in front.
The lorry was going slowly but we managed to PULL AHEAD.
Pull out
Move into traffic.
The traffic was so bad that it took me ages to PULL OUT.
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