Phrasal Verbs Flashcards
Find (unexpectedly).
Come across Inseparable.
♦ I’ve lost my extra car keys. If you come across them while you’re cleaning the room, please put them in a safe place.
Make something understood; communicate something understandably.
Get across Separable.
♦ Alan is really intelligent but sometimes he has problems getting his ideas across.
Resemble; favor (in appearance, character, vehaviour, etc.).
Take after Inseparable.
♦ Both my sister and I take after our father.
Note: used for people.
Have a friendly relationship (with); be friendly (toward).
Get along (with) Inseparable.
♦ Why can’t you and your sister get along? Everyone else gets along with her just fine!
Avoid having to do something.
Get around Inseparable.
♦ Teresa got around the required math classes by doing well on a math proficiency test.
Move from place to place.
Get around No Object.
♦ She doesn’t have a car. She gets around by bicycle, bus, or taxi.
Do something eventually.
Get around to Inseparable.
♦ I really should wash the dishes, but I don’t feel like it. Maybe I’ll get around to them tomorrow morning.
Move so that you are facing the opposite direction.
Turn around Usually no object.
♦ Everyone turned around and stared when I entered the meeting late.
Move so that someone / something is facing the opposite direction. // Make changes so that something that was unprofitable is profitable.
Turn around Separable.
♦ I don’t want this chair facing the window. Will you help me turn it around?
♦ The company was doing poorly until it hired a new president. He turned it around in about six months and now it’s doing quite well.
Die.
Pass away No Object.
♦ I was very sorry to hear that your grandfather passed away.
Return something to the proper place.
Put away Separable.
♦ I just took these clothes out of the dryer. Will you help me put them away?
Discard; put in the garbage.
Throw away Separable.
♦ You shouldn’t throw those newspapers away; they’re recyclable.
Return something.
Bring / take back Separable.
♦ Yes, you can borrow my pen; don’t forget to bring it back to me when you’re finished
♦ This book is due tomorrow. I guess I should take it back to the library.
Use less of something.
Cut back (on) often without an object (with an object, cut back on). Inseparable.
♦ You drink too much coffee. You should cut back.
♦ You should cut back on the amount of coffee that you drink.
Remember; reflect on / consider something in the past.
Look back on Inseparable.
♦ When they looked back on their many years together, they realized that their marriage had been a very happy one.
Return something to the proper place.
Put back Separable.
♦ I’ve finished with these books. Do you want me to put them back on the shelves?
Cause a delay in scheduling. // Cost.
Set back Separable.
♦ We’ve had some problems with the project that have set us back at least two days. We’ll give you a progress report tomorrow.
♦ I wonder how much Bill’s new car set him back?
Visit informally (and usually without scheduling a specific time).
Drop by Inseparable.
♦ If you’re in town next month, we’d love to see you. Please try to drop by the house.
Survive, financially, in a difficult situation.
Get by No Object.
♦ It’s going to be hard to pay the rent now that you’ve lost your job, but somehow we’ll get by.
Not follow a threat. To withdraw an earlier claim.
Back down No Object.
♦ Tom was going to call the police when I told him I’d wrecked his car, but he backed down when I said I’d pay for the damages.
Separate something into component parts.
Break down Separable.
♦ We spent a lot of money at the supermarket. When we broke the total cost down, we spent more on cleaning supplies than food.
Stop working / functioning.
Break down No Object.
♦ Sharon will be late for work today. Her car broke down on the freeway.
Become destroyed / consumed by fire.
Burn down No Object.
♦ Lightning struck Mr. Kennedy’s barn last night. It burned down before the fire fighters arrived.
Note: For upright things–trees, buildings, etc.–only.
Become calm / less agitated or upset; help someone become calm / less agitated or upset.
Calm down with or without an object (with an object, separable). Separable.
♦ Why are you so upset? Suzie didn’t intend to spill orange juice on you. Calm down!
♦ I know Ralph is upset, but can you calm him down? He’s making so much noise that he’s irritating everyone in the office.
Become ill with _____.
Come down with ______ Inseparable.
♦ George won’t be at the office today. He came down with the flu over the weekend.
Disappoint.
Let down Separable.
♦ I know I let you down when I didn’t do what I promised. I’m really sorry.
Hold in contempt; regard as inferior.
Look down on Inseparable.
♦ It’s not surprising that Fred has few friends. He seems to look down on anyone who doesn’t like the same things that he does.
Reduce the price (as an incentive to buy).
Mark down Separable.
♦ These shoes were really a bargain! The store marked them down by 40%!
Decrease the volume. // Refuse.
Turn down Separable.
♦ Your music is giving me a headache! Please turn it down or use your headphones!
♦ I thought I could borrow some money from Joe, but when I asked, he turned me down.
Record something in writing.
Write down Separable.
♦ Could you tell me your e-mail address again? I want to write it down.
Like; want.
(Not) care for Inseparable.
♦ A: Would you care for something to drink? We have coffee, tea, or orange juice. B: Could I have water, please? I don’t care for coffee, tea, or juice.
Note: This phrasal verb is usually negative, though it may be used affirmatively in questions.
Take care of; supply care to; attend / watch…
Care for Inseparable.
♦ Amy’s father got out of the hospital last week. The family is caring for him at home.
Go to or toward. // Result in; cause.
Make for Inseparable.
♦ Her teen-aged children are always hungry. As soon as they arrive home from school, they make for the refrigerator.
♦ Many hands make for light work. (If many people work together, there’s less work for everyone.)
Represent.
Stand for No Object.
♦ These letters seem to be an abbreviation. Do you know what they stand for?
Tolerate; permit (usually negative).
Stand for Inseparable.
♦ I’m not surprised that Mrs. Johnson rejected your report. She won’t stand for shoddy work.
Wait until someone / something arrives or is finished with something else.
Wait for Inseparable.
♦ When will Kenny be finished with work? I’ve been waiting for him for almost an hour!
♦ I’m tired of waiting for the bus. I guess I’ll take a taxi instead.
Anticipate pleasantly; think about a pleasant thing before it happens
Look forward to Inseparable.
♦ I’m really looking forward to vacation. I can’t wait for it to begin!
Make jokes about (usually unkindly).
Make fun of Inseparable.
♦ I agree that Bob looks ridiculous since he shaved his head, but don’t make fun of him. You’ll hurt his feelings.
Enter by using force (and breaking a lock, window, etc.)
Break in often no object (with an object, break into). Inseparable.
♦ Jane’s apartment was burglarized last night. Someone broke in while Jane was at the movies.
♦ Somebody broke into Jane’s apartment while she was at the movies.
Wear something new until it’s / they’re comfortable. // Train; get someone / something accustomed to a new routine.
Break in Separable.
♦ These are nice shoes, but they’re too stiff. I hope it doesn’t take too long to break them in.
♦ I hope I can learn my new job quickly. The manager hasn’t scheduled much time for breaking me in.
Impolitely interrupt (a conversation, an action).
Butt in No Object.
♦ Hey, you! Don’t butt in! Wait for your turn!
Register for / at a hotel, conference, etc.; let someone know officially that you have arrived.
Check in (to) Inseparable.
♦ My plane will arrive around 5:00PM. I should be able to check into the hotel by 6:00 or 6:30.
♦ When you arrive at the convention, be sure to check in at the registration desk.
Contribute / donate (often money) to something done by a group.
Chip in Inseparable.
♦ We’re going to buy a birthday cake for our boss and I’m collecting donations. Do you want to chip in?
Cause to become very tired. // To kill; to murder.
Do in Separable.
♦ Those three games of tennis yesterday afternoon really did me in. I slept for ten hours after I got home.
♦ The said that the murdered man was done in between 10 and 11 o’clock last night.
Visit informally (and usually without scheduling a specific time).
Drop in (on) Inseparable.
♦ If you’re in town next month, we’d love to see you. Please try to drop in. (Please try to drop in on us.
Add information to a form.
Fill in Separable.
♦ The office needs to know your home address and phone number. Could you fill them in on this form?
Supply information that someone doesn’t know.
Fill in (on) Separable.
♦ I wasn’t able to attend the meeting yesterday, but I understand that it was important. Could you fill me in? I could you fill me in on what was discussed?
Temporarily do someone else’s work; temporarily substitute for another person.
Fill in for Inseparable.
♦ Professor Newton is in the hospital and won’t be able to teach for the rest of the term. Do you know who’s going to fill in for her?
Enter a small, closed vehicle.
Get in Inseparable.
♦ I don’t know where Carole was going. She just got in her car and drove away.
Arrive.
Get in No Object.
♦ Do you know what time Fred’s plane gets in?
Submit homework, an assignment, etc.
Hand in Separable.
♦ You’d better get started on your report. You know that you have to hand it in at 8:30 tomorrow morning!
Visit in order to check something’s / someone’s condition.
Look in on Inseparable.
♦ My father just came home from the hospital. I plan to look in on him today after I finish work.
Help; join together to accomplish something.
Pitch in No Object.
♦ We’ll be finished soon if everyone pitches in.
Give / deliver / submit to someone. // Report or deliver wrongdoers to the authorities.
Turn in Separable.
♦ I’ve written my report, but I haven’t turned it in.
♦ Two days after the robbery, the thieves turned themselves in.
Go to bed.
Turn in No Object.
♦ I’m pretty tired. I guess I’ll turn in.
Investigate / get more details about something.
Look into Inseparable.
♦ Someone said there was a meeting at 9:30 but I haven’t heard anything about it. Shall I look into it?
Meet by chance.
Run into Inseparable.
♦ Yesterday at the supermarket, Jan ran into her former roommate. Before yesterday, they hadn’t seen each other for nearly five years.
Behave in a way that’s like ____.
Act like Inseparable.
♦ What’s wrong with Bob? He’s acting like an idiot.
Note: This phrasal verb is very informal.
Resemble (in appearance).
Look like Inseparable.
♦ Does he look like his father or his mother?
Dispose of; give away or throw away. // Dismiss someone; fire someone from a job; cause someone to leave.
Get rid of Inseparable.
♦ That shirt is really ugly. Why don’t you get rid of it?
♦ The treasurer of the XYZ company was spending too much money so the company president got rid of him.
Provide care for; watch one’s health. // Make arrangements (for something to happen); take responsibility for.
Take care of Inseparable.
♦ Lois has been taking care of her father since he returned home from the hospital.
♦ You’ve been working too hard lately. You’d better take care of yourself!
Will you take care of making reservations for our flight to Boston?
Not follow a threat. To withdraw an earlier claim.
Back off No Object.
♦ Tom was ready to call the police when I told him I’d wrecked his car, but he backed off when I said I’d pay for the damages.
Decline an invitation; ask to be excused from doing something.
Beg off No Object.
♦ At first Lily said she would be at the party. Later she begged off.
Accomplish something difficult; accomplish something people had considered impossible or unlikely.
Bring off Separable.
♦ No one thought Chuck could get an A in that course, but he brought it off.
Cancel something that has been scheduled.
Call off Separable.
♦ We don’t have school today. The mayor called classes off because of the snow.
Make a mark to indicate that something on a list has been completed.
Check off Separable.
♦ Here are the things you need to do. Please check each one off when you’ve finished it.
Deliver something; deliver someone (by giving him/her a ride).
Drop off Separable.
♦ Yes, I can take those letters to the post office. I’ll drop them off as I go home from work.
♦ You don’t have to take a taxi. You live fairly close to me, so I’ll be happy to drop you off.
Leave a large, closed vehicle.
Get off Inseparable.
♦ When you get off the bus, cross the street, turn right on Oak Street, and keep going until you’re at the corner of Oak and Lincoln Boulevard.
Be excused (for a period of time) from work, class, or other regularly scheduled activities. // Make it possible for someone to avoid punishment.
Get off Separable.
♦ Some schools got President’s Day off but ours didn’t. We had classes as usual.
♦ Everyone knew he was guilty, but his lawyer was clever and got him off.
Be lazy; do nothing in particular.
Goof off No Object.
♦ A: Do you have any special plans for your vacation? B: No. I’m just going to stay home and goof off.
Dismiss someone from a job because of lack of work or money (not because of poor performance)
Lay off Separable.
♦ I feel really sorry Sally’s family. Her father was laid off yesterday.
Fall sleep (usually unintentionally).
Nod off No Object.
♦ The speech was so boring that several people in the audience nodded off before it was finished.
Postpone; delay; avoid
Put off Separable.
♦ I can’t put this work off any longer. If l don’t do it soon, it’ll be impossible to finish it in time.
♦ When will Mr. Smith agree to a meeting? I keep asking for an appointment, but he keeps putting me off.
Cheat; take advantage of; charge too much.
Rip off Separable.
♦ Don’t even think about buying a car there. They’ll rip you off.
Change from a fraction to the nearest whole number.
Round off Separable.
♦ Round all prices off to the closest whole-dollar amounts. For example, round$33.73 off to $34.00.
Remove (something you’re wearing). // Make arrangements to be absent from work.
Take off Separable.
♦ Please take your hat off when you go inside a building.
♦ Susan isn’t here today. She’s taking today and tomorrow off.
Leave; depart (often suddenly or quickly).
Take off No Object.
♦ Was something wrong with Jill? She took off without saying goodbye.
♦ When does your plane take off?
Speak to someone bluntly and negatively, saying exactly what she/he did wrong.
Tell (someone) off Separable.
♦ Julie was really angry at Bob; she told him off in front of all of us.
Irritate someone; make someone upset or angry. // Show that something has been completed by putting a tick (check) beside it.
Tick off Separable.
♦ It really ticks her off when someone is late for an appointment.
♦ Here are the things you need to do. Tick each one off when you finish it.
Stop by turning a handle or switch. // Bore; repel (very informal).
Turn off Separable.
♦ I’m cold. Do you mind if I turn the air conditioner off
♦ That music turns me off. Please play something else!
Ask someone for an answer in class.
Call on Inseparable.
♦ I don’t know why the teacher never calls on you. You always know the answer.
