Phrasal Verbs Flashcards
to wait on
to serve someone (usually in a restaurant)
Example:
The gentleman who waited on us at The Golden Arms restaurant was so charming and attentive!
to pass on
to give something to someone else
Example:
Please could you pass on this tip to him? He deserves it!
to put away
to save money to spend later
Example:
I hope he puts it away for a special occasion. He told us that he wanted to take his children to Disneyland
to think over
to take time to think about an idea or topic
Example:
Patty’s dad took a long time to think over her request to go to Disney World.
to run into
to meet accidentally
Example:
I ran into my best friend from primary school at the airport.
to catch on
to become popular
Example:
Do you think my bright pink shoes will catch on? I think they look really cool.
to get by
to survive
Example:
I just lost my job but I have some savings so I will get by.
to fall through
to not workout as intended
Example:
I really wanted to go to the beach. I hate it when my plans fall through.
to come across
to find accidentally
to fall back on
to use when in need
Example:
they normally fell back on one of three arguments
to watch out for
to be aware of
Example:
We had to watch out for unexploded mines.
to get on with
to proceed
Example:
how are you getting on?
to touch up
to fix
Examples:
I’d just like to touch up my makeup before we leave.
All you need to do is touch the wall up with a bit of spackle and paint, and it will be as good as new!
to pay off
to pay all of a debt
Example:
I’ve saved up enough to pay off my mortgage
to send over
to send to a new location
to turn down
to lower the volume; refuse
to run out
to exit a place very quickly
Example:
I ran out of the classroom as soon as the bell rang to end the lesson.
–
to run out = to be used up or finished
Example:
I can’t bake any cakes because I’ve run out of flour!
to call up
to make a phone call to somebody
Example:
He called up his friends to see if they wanted to play cricket.
–
bring to mind
Example:
She called up the story about her aunt when she was a kid.
–
to make somebody do their training in the army, etc. or fight in a war
Example:
He was called up to fight for his country.
to pin down
to discover exact details about something
Example:
The police can’t pin down where the thief is hiding.
–
to make somebody unable to move by holding them with force
Example:
The bouncer pinned the drunk man down because he was being aggressive.
to pile up
to accumulate
Example:
The paperwork on his desk began to pile up.
to make (something) up (to someone)
to try to compensate for doing something wrong
Example:
He promised to make it up to her after forgetting her birthday.
to pass by
to go past without stopping
Example:
I would pass by Will’s house on my way to school.
to pull off
to succeed in doing something difficult or tricky
Example:
I can’t believe you managed to pull off the presentation on such little sleep!
—
to leave the road in order to stop for a short time or to join another
Example:
I’ll pull off at Junction 13 so that we can stop for a coffee.
to burst out
to suddenly do or say something
Example:
Lucy burst out with laughter when Will said something very funny.
to wipe up
to remove liquid from a surface using a sponge, towel or cloth, etc.
Example:
We must wipe up all of the food our baby has dropped on the floor.
to block in
to park a car and obstruct another car
Example:
I was late for work this morning as my neighbour had blocked me in.
to pick up
to collect from somewhere
Example:
My mum came to pick me up from school at the end of the day.
–
to get better, stronger etc.
Example:
Business is starting to pick up after the pandemic.
–
to start again; to continue
Example:
Can we pick up from our last meeting?
to flip out
to become very mad or lose control over your emotions
Example:
My mum will flip out if she finds out I missed class!
to pin up
to fix something to a wall, or other vertical surface, with a pin
Example:
She spent the afternoon pinning up posters of her lost cat.
to lay out
to spend money
Example:
They’d laid out a lot of money on the open bar for the wedding.
–
to spread something out to its full extent, especially so that it can be seen
Example:
She laid out the receipts on the table to show how much she’d spent.
to fall out
Literally, to drop or tumble out of something.
Example:
My phone fell out of my bag last night, and I couldn’t find it in the dark.
–
To occur, result, or arise.
Example:
What fell out of your meeting with the boss?
–
To leave a particular place, often in a military formation.
Example:
All right troops, fall out!
I have to be up at 6 AM tomorrow, so it’s time for me to fall out.
–
To be revealed, often unexpectedly or by accident.
Example:
In our meeting, it fell out that she’s planning to resign soon—can you believe it?
–
To have one’s relationship with someone completely diminished, typically due to an argument or unpleasant incident.
Example:
Apparently, Gina fell out with Dave last week, and now they’re not talking to each other at all.
–
Of teeth, to loosen and fall from one’s gums.
Example:
My daughter is so excited that her two front teeth have fallen out.
–
The results or consequences of something. When used as a noun, the phrase is usually written as one word.
Example:
I suspect their displeasure is the fallout from last week’s meeting about limiting vacation time, sir.
have (someone or something) down as (something)
To view or judge someone or something in a particular way.
Example:
I worry that the other kids have me down as a nerd just because I won all of those academic awards.
to ring up
- To call someone on the phone. A noun or pronoun can be used between “ring” and “up.”
Example:
Here’s my number—ring me up sometime, and we can go see a movie or something.
I have to ring up someone about the branches that blew down in our neighborhood overnight.
–
2. To allow a retail customer to check out (complete their purchase) by recording the item or items they are purchasing and tally the amount of money they owe. A noun or pronoun can be used between “ring” and “up.”
Example:
I’m sorry, I’m closing this register. My colleague can ring you up at the next one.
You can go on break after you’re done ringing up everyone in your line.
–
3. To record the item or items a retail customer is purchasing and tally the amount of money they owe. A noun or pronoun can be used between “ring” and “up.”
Example:
The cashier had already started ringing my groceries up when I realized that I had forgotten to pick up eggs.
Would you mind ringing this croissant up first? It’s for my son to eat.
to tell apart
To be able to discern or distinguish two or more people or things that appear or seem similar.
This one is real, and this one is the counterfeit—you can tell them apart by the small holographic mark at the top corner of the genuine document.
Example:
Even our parents sometimes have trouble telling me and my brother apart.
to get across
to communicate an idea successfully, to make someone able to understand something
Example:
The book really got across what it would have been like to be a doctor during the coronavirus pandemic.
to screw (someone) out of
To con, cheat, swindle, or unfairly deprive one out of something that one owns, deserves, or has earned. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between “screw” and “over.”
Example:
The referee really screwed us out of a victory with that terrible penalty!
to be taken with
to find somebody/something attractive or interesting
Example:
You can tell Carla is taken with the guy she’s dating—she never stops talking about him!
I was so taken with this town after living here for the summer that I’ve decided to move here permanently.
to be fed up to the back teeth
To be bored or annoyed with a persistent issue.
Example:
I’m fed up to the back teeth with this weather—will it ever stop raining?
to go ahead
To proceed or move ahead of someone or something.
Example:
I’m not ready to order yet, so you can go ahead of me.
–
To bring or move something ahead of someone or something else.
Example:
You go ahead with the groceries while I pay the bill.
–
To continue or proceed, especially despite problems or challenges.
Example:
It snowed so much that the event couldn’t go ahead as planned, unfortunately.
Oh, we’re going ahead with our weekend plans—I refuse to let a little rain stop us!
–
To do something without hesitation. In this usage, the phrase is usually used to urge the listener to take some action.
Example:
Go ahead and knock on the door—I’m pretty sure she’s home.
to go around
to follow a circular path
Example:
To get to the house you must go around the roundabout.
to act out
to behave badly because you are unhappy or upset, often in ways that you are not aware of
Example:
He didn’t mean what he said - he was acting out because he felt inferior.
–
to perform or recreate a situation
Example:
Can you act out the whole incident so that we can understand what happened?
to be along
to arrive
Example:
The next train should be along in a few minutes.