Phrasal Verbs Flashcards
What does ‘add up to’ mean?
equal
Example: Your purchases add up to $24.
What does ‘ask around’ mean?
ask many people the same question
Example: I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
What does ‘ask somebody out’ mean?
invite on a date
Example: Brian asked Judy out to dinner.
What does ‘back something up’ mean?
reverse
Example: You’ll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
What does ‘back somebody up’ mean?
support
Example: My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
What does ‘blow up’ mean?
explode
Example: The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
What does ‘blow something up’ mean?
add air
Example: We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
What does ‘break down’ refer to when discussing a vehicle?
stop functioning
Example: Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.
What does ‘break down’ mean in an emotional context?
get upset
Example: The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.
What does ‘break something down’ mean?
divide into smaller parts
Example: Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.
What does ‘break in’ mean?
force entry to a building
Example: Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.
What does ‘break into something’ mean?
enter forcibly
Example: The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.
What does ‘break something in’ mean?
wear something a few times so that it doesn’t look/feel new
Example: I need to break these shoes in before we run next week.
What does ‘break in’ mean in the context of interrupting?
interrupt
Example: The TV station broke in to report the news of the president’s death.
What does ‘break up’ mean in a relationship context?
end a relationship
Example: My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.
What does ‘break up’ mean informally?
start laughing
Example: The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
What does ‘break out’ mean?
escape
Example: The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren’t looking.
What does ‘break out in something’ mean?
develop a skin condition
Example: I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
What does ‘bring somebody down’ mean?
make unhappy
Example: This sad music is bringing me down.
What does ‘bring somebody up’ mean?
raise a child
Example: My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
What does ‘bring something up’ refer to?
start talking about a subject
Example: My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.
What does ‘bring something up’ mean in the context of vomiting?
vomit
Example: He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.
