Phrasal Verbs Flashcards
asksomebodyout
invite on a date [BrianaskedJudyoutto dinner and a movie.]
ask around
ask many people the same question [Iasked aroundbut nobody has seen my wallet.]
add up tosomething
equal [Your purchasesadd up to$205.32.]
backsomethingup
reverse [You’ll have toback upyour car so that I can get out.]
backsomebodyup
support [My wifebackedmeupover my decision to quit my job.]
blow up
explode [The racing carblew upafter it crashed into the fence.]
blowsomethingup
add air [We have toblow50 balloonsupfor the party.]
break down
stop functioning (vehicle, machine) [Our carbroke downat the side of the highway in the snowstorm.]
break down
get upset [The womanbroke downwhen the police told her that her son had died.]
breaksomethingdown
divide into smaller parts [Our teacherbrokethe final projectdowninto three separate parts.]
break in
force entry to a building [Somebodybroke inlast night and stole our stereo.]
break intosomething
enter forcibly [The firemen had tobreak intothe room to rescue the children.]
breaksomethingin
wear something a few times so that it doesn’t look/feel new [I need tobreakthese shoesinbefore we run next week.]
break in
interrupt [The TV stationbroke into report the news of the president’s death.]
break up
end a relationship [My boyfriend and Ibroke upbefore I moved to America.]
break up
start laughing (informal) [The kids justbroke upas soon as the clown started talking.]
break out
escape [The prisonersbroke outof jail when the guards weren’t looking.]
break out insomething
develop a skin condition [Ibroke out ina rash after our camping trip.]
bringsomebodydown
make unhappy [This sad music isbringingmedown.]
bringsomebodyup
raise a child [My grandparentsbroughtmeupafter my parents died.]
bringsomethingup
start talking about a subject [My mother walks out of the room when my fatherbrings upsports.]
bringsomethingup
vomit [He drank so much that hebroughthis dinnerupin the toilet.]
call around
phone many different places/people [Wecalled aroundbut we weren’t able to find the car part we needed.]
callsomebodyback
return a phone call [Icalledthe companybackbut the offices were closed for the weekend.]
callsomethingoff
cancel [Jasoncalledthe weddingoffbecause he wasn’t in love with his fiancé.]
call onsomebody
ask for an answer or opinion [The professorcalled onme for question 1.]
call onsomebody
visit somebody [Wecalled onyou last night but you weren’t home.]
callsomebodyup
phone [Give me your phone number and I willcallyouupwhen we are in town.]
calm down
relax after being angry [You are still mad. You need tocalm downbefore you drive the car.]
notcare forsomebody/ something
not like (formal) [I don’tcare forhis behaviour.]
catch up
get to the same point as somebody else [You’ll have to run faster than that if you want tocatch upwith Marty.]
check in
arrive and register at a hotel or airport [We will get the hotel keys when wecheck in.]
check out
leave a hotel [You have tocheck outof the hotel before 11:00 AM.]
checksomebody/ somethingout
look at carefully, investigate [The companychecks outall new employees.]
check outsomebody/ something
look at (informal) [Check outthe crazy hair on that guy!]
cheer up
become happier [Shecheered upwhen she heard the good news.]
cheersomebodyup
make happier [I brought you some flowers tocheeryouup.]
chip in
help [If everyonechips inwe can get the kitchen painted by noon.]
cleansomethingup
tidy, clean [Pleaseclean upyour bedroom before you go outside.]
come acrosssomething
find unexpectedly [Icame acrossthese old photos when I was tidying the closet.]
come apart
separate [The top and bottomcome apartif you pull hard enough.]
come down withsomething
become sick [My nephewcame down withchicken pox this weekend.]
come forward
volunteer for a task or to give evidence [The womancame forwardwith her husband’s finger prints.]
come fromsome place
originate in [The art of origamicomes fromAsia.]
count onsomebody/ something
rely on [I amcounting onyou to make dinner while I am out.]
crosssomethingout
draw a line through [Pleasecross outyour old address and write your new one.]
cut back onsomething
consume less [My doctor wants me tocut back onsweets and fatty foods.]
cutsomethingdown
make something fall to the ground [We had tocutthe old tree in our yarddownafter the storm.]
cut in
interrupt [Your fathercut inwhile I was dancing with your uncle.]
cut in
pull in too closely in front of another vehicle [The bus driver got angry when that carcut in.]
cut in
start operating (of an engine or electrical device) [The air conditionercuts inwhen the temperature gets to 22°C.]
cutsomethingoff
remove with something sharp [The doctorscut offhis leg because it was severely injured.]
cutsomethingoff
stop providing [The phone companycut offour phone because we didn’t pay the bill.]
cutsomebodyoff
take out of a will [My grandparentscutmy fatheroffwhen he remarried.]
cutsomethingout
remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper) [Icutthis adoutof the newspaper.]
dosomebody/ somethingover
beat up, ransack (BrE, informal) [He’s lucky to be alive. His shop wasdone overby a street gang.]
dosomethingover
do again (AmE) [My teacher wants me todomy essayoverbecause she doesn’t like my topic.]
do away withsomething
discard [It’s time todo away withall of these old tax records.]
dosomethingup
fasten, close [Doyour coatupbefore you go outside. It’s snowing!]
dress up
wear nice clothing [It’s a fancy restaurant so we have todress up.]
drop back
move back in a position/group [Andreadropped backto third place when she fell off her bike.]
drop in/ by/ over
come without an appointment [I mightdrop in/by/overfor tea sometime this week.]
dropsomebody/ somethingoff
take somebody/ something somewhere and leave them/it there [I have todropmy sisteroffat work before I come over.]
drop out
quit a class, school etc [Idropped outof Science because it was too difficult.]
eat out
eat at a restaurant [I don’t feel like cooking tonight. Let’seat out.]
end up
eventually reach/do/decide [Weended uprenting a movie instead of going to the theatre.]
fall apart
break into pieces [My new dressfell apartin the washing machine.]
fall down
fall to the ground [The picture that you hung up last nightfell downthis morning.]
fall out
separate from an interior [The money must havefallen outof my pocket.]
fall out
(of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached [His hair started tofall outwhen he was only 35.]
figuresomethingout
understand, find the answer [I need tofigure outhow to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.]
fillsomethingin
to write information in blanks, as on a form (BrE) [Pleasefill inthe form with your name, address, and phone number.]
fillsomethingout
to write information in blanks, as on a form (AmE) [The form must befilled outin capital letters.]
fillsomethingup
fill to the top [I alwaysfillthe water jugupwhen it is empty.]
find out
discover [We don’t know where he lives. How can wefind out?]
findsomethingout
discover [We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samanthafounditout.]
getsomethingacross/ over
communicate, make understandable [I tried togetmy pointacross/overto the judge but she wouldn’t listen.]
get along/on
like each other [I was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sistergot along/on.]
get around
have mobility [My grandfather canget aroundfine in his new wheelchair.]
get away
go on a vacation [We worked so hard this year that we had toget awayfor a week.]
get away withsomething
do without being noticed or punished [Jason alwaysgets away withcheating in his maths tests.]
get back
return [Wegot backfrom our vacation last week.]
getsomethingback
receive something you had before [Liz finallygother Science notesbackfrom my room-mate.]
get back atsomebody
retaliate, take revenge [My sistergot back atme for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.]
get back intosomething
become interested in something again [I finallygot back intomy novel and finished it.]
get onsomething
step onto a vehicle [We’re going to freeze out here if you don’t let usget onthe bus.]
get oversomething
recover from an illness, loss, difficulty [I justgot overthe flu and now my sister has it.]
get oversomething
overcome a problem [The company will have to close if it can’tget overthe new regulations.]
get round tosomething
finally find time to do (AmE:get around tosomething) [I don’t know when I am going toget round towriting the thank you cards.]
get together
meet (usually for social reasons) [Let’sget togetherfor a BBQ this weekend.]
get up
get out of bed [Igot upearly today to study for my exam.]
get up
stand [You shouldget upand give the elderly man your seat.]
givesomebodyaway
reveal hidden information about somebody [His wifegavehimawayto the police.]
givesomebodyaway
take the bride to the altar [My fathergavemeawayat my wedding.]
givesomethingaway
ruin a secret [My little sistergavethe surprise partyawayby accident.]
givesomethingaway
give something to somebody for free [The library wasgiving awayold books on Friday.]
givesomethingback
return a borrowed item [I have togivethese skatesbackto Franz before his hockey game.]
give in
reluctantly stop fighting or arguing [My boyfriend didn’t want to go to the ballet, but he finallygave in.]
givesomethingout
give to many people (usually at no cost) [They weregiving outfree perfume samples at the department store.]
givesomethingup
quit a habit [I amgiving upsmoking as of January 1st.]
give up
stop trying [My maths homework was too difficult so Igave up.]
go aftersomebody
follow somebody [My brother tried togo afterthe thief in his car.]
go aftersomething
try to achieve something [Iwent aftermy dream and now I am a published writer.]
go againstsomebody
compete, oppose [We aregoing againstthe best soccer team in the city tonight.]
go ahead
start, proceed [Pleasego aheadand eat before the food gets cold.]
go back
return to a place [I have togo backhome and get my lunch.]
go out
leave home to go on a social event [We’regoing outfor dinner tonight.]
go out withsomebody
date [Jesse has beengoing out withLuke since they met last winter.]
go oversomething
review [Pleasego overyour answers before you submit your test.]
go over
visit somebody nearby [I haven’t seen Tina for a long time. I think I’llgo overfor an hour or two.]
go withoutsomething
suffer lack or deprivation [When I was young, wewent withoutwinter boots.]
grow apart
stop being friends over time [My best friend and Igrew apartafter she changed schools.]
grow back
regrow [My rosesgrew backthis summer.]
grow intosomething
grow big enough to fit [This bike is too big for him now, but he shouldgrow intoit by next year.]
grow out ofsomething
get too big for [Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she hasgrown out ofher old ones.]
grow up
become an adult [When Jackgrows uphe wants to be a fireman.]
handsomethingdown
give something used to somebody else [Ihandedmy old comic booksdownto my little cousin.]
handsomethingin
submit [I have tohand inmy essay by Friday.]
handsomethingout
to distribute to a group of people [We willhand outthe invitations at the door.]
handsomethingover
give (usually unwillingly) [The police asked the man tohand overhis wallet and his weapons.]
hang in
stay positive (informal) [Hang inthere. I’m sure you’ll find a job very soon.]
hang on
wait a short time (informal) [Hang onwhile I grab my coat and shoes!]
hang out
spend time relaxing (informal) [Instead of going to the party we are just going tohang outat my place.]
hang up
end a phone call [He didn’t say goodbye before hehung up.]
holdsomebody/ somethingback
prevent from doing/going [I had toholdmy dogbackbecause there was a cat in the park.]
holdsomethingback
hide an emotion [Jamieheld backhis tears at his grandfather’s funeral.]
hold on
wait a short time [Pleasehold onwhile I transfer you to the Sales Department.]
hold ontosomebody/ something
hold firmly using your hands or arms [Hold ontoyour hat because it’s very windy outside.]
holdsomebody/ somethingup
rob [A man in a black maskheldthe bankupthis morning.]
keep on doingsomething
continue doing [Keep onstirring until the liquid comes to a boil.]
keepsomethingfromsomebody
not tell [Wekeptour relationshipfromour parents for two years.]
keepsomebody/ somethingout
stop from entering [Try tokeepthe wet dogoutof the living room.]
keepsomethingup
continue at the same rate [If youkeepthose resultsupyou will get into a great college.]
letsomebodydown
fail to support or help, disappoint [I need you to be on time. Don’tletmedownthis time.]
letsomebodyin
allow to enter [Can youletthe catinbefore you go to school?]
log in(oron)
sign in (to a website, database etc) [I can’tlog into Facebook because I’ve forgotten my password.]
log out(oroff)
sign out (of a website, database etc) [If you don’tlog offsomebody could get into your account.]
look aftersomebody/ something
take care of [I have tolook aftermy sick grandmother.]
look down onsomebody
think less of, consider inferior [Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your dad haslooked down onme.]
look forsomebody/ something
try to find [I’mlooking fora red dress for the wedding.]
look forward tosomething
be excited about the future [I’mlooking forward tothe Christmas break.]
look intosomething
investigate [We are going tolook intothe price of snowboards today.]
look out
be careful, vigilant, and take notice [Look out! That car’s going to hit you!]
look out forsomebody/ something
be especially vigilant for [Don’t forget tolook out forsnakes on the hiking trail.]
looksomethingover
check, examine [Can youlook overmy essay for spelling mistakes?]
looksomethingup
search and find information in a reference book or database [We canlookher phone numberupon the Internet.]
look up tosomebody
have a lot of respect for [My little sister has alwayslooked upto me.]
makesomethingup
invent, lie about something [Josiemade upa story about why we were late.]
make up
forgive each other [We were angry last night, but wemade upat breakfast.]
makesomebodyup
apply cosmetics to [My sistersmademeupfor my graduation party.]
mixsomethingup
confuse two or more things [Imixed upthe twins’ names again!]
pass away
die [His unclepassed awaylast night after a long illness.]
pass out
faint [It was so hot in the church that an elderly ladypassed out.]
passsomethingout
give the same thing to many people [The professorpassedthe textbooksoutbefore class.]
passsomethingup
decline (usually something good) [Ipassed upthe job because I am afraid of change.]
paysomebodyback
return owed money [Thanks for buying my ticket. I’llpayyoubackon Friday.]
pay forsomething
be punished for doing something bad [That bully willpay forbeing mean to my little brother.]
picksomethingout
choose [Ipicked outthree sweaters for you to try on.]
pointsomebody/ somethingout
indicate with your finger [I’llpointmy boyfriendoutwhen he runs by.]
putsomethingdown
put what you are holding on a surface or floor [You canputthe groceriesdownon the kitchen counter.]
putsomebodydown
insult, make somebody feel stupid [The studentsputthe substitute teacherdownbecause his pants were too short.]
putsomethingoff
postpone [We areputting offour trip until January because of the hurricane.]
putsomethingout
extinguish [The neighboursputthe fireoutbefore the firemen arrived.]
putsomethingtogether
assemble [I have toputthe cribtogetherbefore the baby arrives.]
put up withsomebody/ something
tolerate [I don’t think I canput up withthree small children in the car.]
putsomethingon
put clothing/ accessories on your body [Don’t forget toput onyour new earrings for the party.]
run intosomebody/ something
meet unexpectedly [Iran intoan old school-friend at the mall.]
run oversomebody/ something
drive a vehicle over a person or thing [I accidentallyran overyour bicycle in the driveway.]
run over/ throughsomething
rehearse, review [Let’srun over/throughthese lines one more time before the show.]
run away
leave unexpectedly, escape [The childran awayfrom home and has been missing for three days.]
run out
have none left [Weran outof shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap.]
sendsomethingback
return (usually by mail) [My letter gotsent backto me because I used the wrong stamp.]
setsomethingup
arrange, organize [Our bossseta meetingupwith the president of the company.]
setsomebodyup
trick, trap [The policeset upthe car thief by using a hidden camera.]
shop around
compare prices [I want toshop arounda little before I decide on these boots.]
show off
act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully) [He alwaysshows offon his skateboard]
sleep over
stay somewhere for the night (informal) [You shouldsleep overtonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.]
sortsomethingout
organize, resolve a problem [We need tosortthe billsoutbefore the first of the month.]
stick tosomething
continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing [You will lose weight if youstick tothe diet.]
switchsomethingoff
stop the energy flow, turn off [The light’s too bright. Could youswitchitoff.]
switchsomethingon
start the energy flow, turn on [We heard the news as soon as weswitched onthe car radio.]
take aftersomebody
resemble a family member [Itake aftermy mother. We are both impatient.]
takesomethingapart
purposely break into pieces [Hetookthe car brakesapartand found the problem.]
takesomethingback
return an item [I have totakeour new TVbackbecause it doesn’t work.]
take off
start to fly [My planetakes offin five minutes.]
takesomethingoff
remove something (usually clothing) [Take offyour socks and shoes and come in the lake!]
takesomethingout
remove from a place or thing [Can youtakethe garbageoutto the street for me?]
takesomebodyout
pay for somebody to go somewhere with you [My grandparentstookusoutfor dinner and a movie.]
tearsomethingup
rip into pieces [Itore upmy ex-boyfriend’s letters and gave them back to him.]
think back
remember (often + to, sometimes + on) [When Ithink backon my youth, I wish I had studied harder.]
thinksomethingover
consider [I’ll have tothinkthis job offeroverbefore I make my final decision.]
throwsomethingaway
dispose of [Wethrewour old furnitureawaywhen we won the lottery.]
turnsomethingdown
decrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc) [Pleaseturnthe TVdownwhile the guests are here.]
turnsomethingdown
refuse [Iturnedthe jobdownbecause I don’t want to move.]
turnsomethingoff
stop the energy flow, switch off [Your mother wants you toturnthe TVoffand come for dinner.]
turnsomethingon
start the energy, switch on [It’s too dark in here. Let’sturnsome lightson.]
turnsomethingup
increase the volume or strength (heat, light etc) [Can youturnthe musicup? This is my favourite song.]
turn up
appear suddenly [Our catturned upafter we put posters up all over the neighbourhood.]
trysomethingon
sample clothing [I’m going totrythese jeanson, but I don’t think they will fit.]
trysomethingout
test [I am going totrythis new brand of detergentout.]
usesomethingup
finish the supply [The kidsusedall of the toothpasteupso we need to buy some more.]
wake up
stop sleeping [We have towake upearly for work on Monday.]
warmsomebody/ somethingup
increase the temperature [You canwarmyour feetupin front of the fireplace.]
warm up
prepare body for exercise [I alwayswarm upby doing sit-ups before I go for a run.]
wear off
fade away [Most of my make-upwore offbefore I got to the party.]
work out
exercise [Iwork outat the gym three times a week.]
work out
be successful [Our planworked outfine.]
worksomethingout
make a calculation [We have towork outthe total cost before we buy the house.]
