phrasal verbs by topics Flashcards
Phrasal Verbs for Health, Fitness, Sickness and Death
Pass away
Meaning: Die
Example: His mother passed away last year.
Run over
Meaning: Hit by a vehicle
Example: Two children were run over and killed.
Break out
Meaning: break out in spots/a rash/a sweat etc if you break out in spots etc, they appear on your skin
exp I broke out in a painful rash.
My whole body broke out in a sweat.
Fight off
Meaning: Resist an illness
Example: I’m trying to fight off a cold.
Come to
Meaning: Become conscious
Example: When he came to, he was lying on the floor with his hands tied behind his back.
Pass out
Meaning: Faint, lose consciousness
Example: People everywhere were passing out from the heat.
Get over
Meaning: Recover from something
Example: It’s taken me ages to get over the flu.
Come down with
Meaning: Become sick (not seriously)
Example: I think I’m coming down with the flu.
Throw up
Meaning: Be sick, vomit
Example: The baby’s thrown up her dinner.
Come round
Meaning: Become conscious
Example: Your mother hasn’t yet come round from the anesthetic.
Work out
Meaning: Train the body by physical exercise
Example: I work out regularly to keep fit.
Warm up
Meaning: Begin a physical activity gradually
Example: It’s necessary to warm up before exercise to prevent injuries.
Block up
Meaning: Stop something from moving through something else
Example: My nose is blocked up.
Lay (Laid) up
Meaning: Unable to work, etc. because of an illness or injury
Example: She’s laid up with a broken leg.
Swell up
Meaning: Become large, inflated, or bulging
Example: The boy’s arm swelled up where the bee had stung him.
Clog up
Meaning: Become or cause to become obstructed
Example: High fat foods can clog up our arteries.
Dose up (UK)
Meaning: Give medicine to
Example: You should dose up with vitamin C to fight colds off.
Lay low
Meaning: Render someone unable to move or leave their bed
Example: The flu usually lays people low for five to ten days.
Let up
Meaning: Become less strong or stop
Example: A cold continues at its peak for several days, then it gradually let up.
Shake off
Meaning: Shake something in order to get something off of it
Example: She has failed to shake off her stomach injury.
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Environment Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Wipe out
Meaning: Destroy something completely
Example: Whole villages were wiped out by the floods.
Break down
Meaning: Decompose, when something slowly reduces to its smallest parts
Example: A plastic pot may take more than a million years to be broken down.
Scale back
Meaning: Make something smaller in size, amount, etc. than it used to be
Example: The British Army intends to scale back on its use of petrol-driven vehicles and soon we may seeing British soldiers going to war on bicycles.
Used up
Meaning: Exhaust of strength or useful properties
Example: We’ve already used up earth’s resources for 2016.
Throw away
Meaning: Get rid of something that you no longer want or need
Example: Don’t throw away your grass clippings; leave them on your lawn.
Run out of
Meaning: Finish the supply of something
Example: What will we do when we run out of gas?
Die out
Meaning: Stop existing
Example: This species has nearly died out because its habitat is being destroyed.
Spread out
Meaning: Cover a large area
Example: Because our population is so densely concentrated, a new disease like bird flu can spread out very quickly after the first case has appeared.
Rely on
Meaning: Need or depend on somebody/something
Example: We won’t have to rely on power companies if we use solar and wind power instead.
Cut down
Meaning: Kill trees
Example: The Rainforest is being cut down.
Family Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of phrasal verbs about the family with example sentences.
Be named after
Meaning: Be given the name of another person
Example: Albert was named after his grandfather.
Bring sb up
Meaning: Look after a child until he or she becomes an adult
Example: She brought up three sons on her own.
Fall out with sb
Meaning: Argue with sb and you are no longer friendly with them
Example: I’d fallen out with my parents.
Get along/on with
Meaning: Have a good, friendly relationship with sb
Example: I get along well with my brother and sister.
Get together
Meaning: Spend time together
Example: The whole family usually gets together at Christmas.
Go by
Meaning: Prefer to be called by a particular name
Example: When I knew her, she used to go by the name of Judy.
Grow apart
Meaning: Stop having a close relationship with somebody over a period of time
Example: As we got older we just grew apart.
Grow up
Meaning: Develop into an adult
Example: Their children have all grown up and left home now.
Look after
Meaning: Take care of someone
Example: It’s hard work looking after three children all day.
Look up to
Meaning: Respect and admire someone
Example: He’s a role model for other players to look up to.
Take after
Meaning: Look or behave like an older relative
Example: In looks she takes after her father.
Tell off
Meaning: Criticize someone angrily for doing something wrong
Example: Our parents told us off for making so much noise.
Settle down
Meaning: Begin to live a quieter life by getting married
Example: When are you going to get married and settle down?
Split up
Meaning: End a marriage relationship
Example: Her parents split up a few months ago.
Make up
Meaning: Become friendly with someone again after an argument
Example: Why don’t you two forget your differences and make up?
Break up
Meaning: End a relationship
Example: Our marriage has broken up.
Put up with
Meaning: Tolerate; accept an unpleasant situation without complaining
Example: Sarah put up with John’s violent temper.
Pass away
Meaning: To die (to avoid saying ‘die’ when you think this might upset someone)
Example: My grandmother passed away 8 years ago.
Family Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of phrasal verbs about the family with example sentences.
Be named after
Meaning: Be given the name of another person
Example: Albert was named after his grandfather.
Bring sb up
Meaning: Look after a child until he or she becomes an adult
Example: She brought up three sons on her own.
Fall out with sb
Meaning: Argue with sb and you are no longer friendly with them
Example: I’d fallen out with my parents.
Get along/on with
Meaning: Have a good, friendly relationship with sb
Example: I get along well with my brother and sister.
Get together
Meaning: Spend time together
Example: The whole family usually gets together at Christmas.
Go by
Meaning: Prefer to be called by a particular name
Example: When I knew her, she used to go by the name of Judy.
Grow apart
Meaning: Stop having a close relationship with somebody over a period of time
Example: As we got older we just grew apart.
Grow up
Meaning: Develop into an adult
Example: Their children have all grown up and left home now.
Look after
Meaning: Take care of someone
Example: It’s hard work looking after three children all day.
Look up to
Meaning: Respect and admire someone
Example: He’s a role model for other players to look up to.
Take after
Meaning: Look or behave like an older relative
Example: In looks she takes after her father.
Tell off
Meaning: Criticize someone angrily for doing something wrong
Example: Our parents told us off for making so much noise.
Settle down
Meaning: Begin to live a quieter life by getting married
Example: When are you going to get married and settle down?
Split up
Meaning: End a marriage relationship
Example: Her parents split up a few months ago.
Make up
Meaning: Become friendly with someone again after an argument
Example: Why don’t you two forget your differences and make up?
Break up
Meaning: End a relationship
Example: Our marriage has broken up.
Put up with
Meaning: Tolerate; accept an unpleasant situation without complaining
Example: Sarah put up with John’s violent temper.
Pass away
Meaning: To die (to avoid saying ‘die’ when you think this might upset someone)
Example: My grandmother passed away 8 years ago.
Cooking Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of phrasal verbs about cooking and food.
Bake off
Meaning: Finish baking partly baked food
Example: She baked off the cakes in the oven.
Boil away
Meaning: Evaporate completely during boiling
Example: The soup’s almost boiled away.
Boil down
Meaning: If a food or liquid boils down, its volume is reduced as it boils
Example: Spinach tends to boil down a lot.
Boil over
Meaning: Rise and flow over the side of the container while boiling
Example: The milk was boiling over on the stove behind her.
Bolt down
Meaning: Eat a large amount of food very quickly
Example: She bolted down her lunch and rushed back to work.
Chop up
Meaning: Cut into pieces, usually with several sharp blows
Example: Sarah was busy chopping up onions.
Cut off
Meaning: Remove part of something by cutting it with a knife
Example: You should cut the tops off the carrots first.
Cut out
Meaning: Shape or form by cutting
Example: She cut several pieces of pastry out.
Cut up
Meaning: Cut something into small pieces
Example: He cut the pie up into little pieces.
Eat out
Meaning: Eat in a restaurant instead of at home
Example: Do you feel like eating out tonight?
Eat up
Meaning: Eat all of something
Example: Eat up! We’ve got to go out soon.
Fry up
Meaning: Cook something by frying
Example: Let’s fry some eggs up for dinner.
Pick at
Meaning: Eat only small amounts of a meal
Example: Most of the time he just picks at his food.
Pig out
Meaning: Eat an extremely large amount of food
Example: Kids pigging out on junk food and soda.
Slice off
Meaning: Cut something from a larger piece
Example: She sliced off a piece of sausage.
Whip up
Meaning: Quickly make a meal or something to eat
Example: She whipped up a delicious lunch for us in 15 minutes.
Cooking Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of phrasal verbs about cooking and food.
Bake off
Meaning: Finish baking partly baked food
Example: She baked off the cakes in the oven.
Boil away
Meaning: Evaporate completely during boiling
Example: The soup’s almost boiled away.
Boil down
Meaning: If a food or liquid boils down, its volume is reduced as it boils
Example: Spinach tends to boil down a lot.
Boil over
Meaning: Rise and flow over the side of the container while boiling
Example: The milk was boiling over on the stove behind her.
Bolt down
Meaning: Eat a large amount of food very quickly
Example: She bolted down her lunch and rushed back to work.
Chop up
Meaning: Cut into pieces, usually with several sharp blows
Example: Sarah was busy chopping up onions.
Cut off
Meaning: Remove part of something by cutting it with a knife
Example: You should cut the tops off the carrots first.
Cut out
Meaning: Shape or form by cutting
Example: She cut several pieces of pastry out.
Cut up
Meaning: Cut something into small pieces
Example: He cut the pie up into little pieces.
Eat out
Meaning: Eat in a restaurant instead of at home
Example: Do you feel like eating out tonight?
Eat up
Meaning: Eat all of something
Example: Eat up! We’ve got to go out soon.
Fry up
Meaning: Cook something by frying
Example: Let’s fry some eggs up for dinner.
Pick at
Meaning: Eat only small amounts of a meal
Example: Most of the time he just picks at his food.
Pig out
Meaning: Eat an extremely large amount of food
Example: Kids pigging out on junk food and soda.
Slice off
Meaning: Cut something from a larger piece
Example: She sliced off a piece of sausage.
Whip up
Meaning: Quickly make a meal or something to eat
Example: She whipped up a delicious lunch for us in 15 minutes.
Clothing phrasal verbs with Meaning and Examples
Do up
Meaning: Fasten an item of clothing
Example: You don’t need to do up the top button.
Dress up
Meaning: Dress (oneself or another) in your best clothes
Example: You don’t need to dress up. It’s just a family get-together.
Dress up
Meaning: Put on fancy dress in children’s games
Example: For her birthday party, they had dressed her up as a fairy.
Dress down
Meaning: Wear clothes that are more informal than those you usually wear
Example: He dressed down on his first date.
Hang out
Meaning: Dry clothes outside after washing
Example: Have you hung the washing out?
Hang up
Meaning: Put something on a hook or a hanger
Example: The women hung up their coats and sat down.
Have on
Meaning: Wear an item of clothing on one’s person
Example: Melissa had her new dress on.
Kick off
Meaning: Make your shoes come off by shaking your feet
Example: He kicked his shoes off as soon as he got home.
Put on
Meaning: Dress yourself or someone else with an item or items of clothing
Example: She put on her coat and went out.
Slip on
Meaning: Put on an item of clothing easily
Example: She slipped her sandals on before she went into the sea.
Take off
Meaning: Remove any item of clothing
Example: Anna took off her sandals.
Take in
Meaning: Make clothing narrower
Example: I’ll have to take this dress in at the waist – it’s too big.
Take up
Meaning: Reduce the length of a piece of clothing
Example: I want to take this pair of pants up. It’s too long.
Try on
Meaning: Put on an item of clothing to find out whether it fits or is suitable
Example: What a lovely dress! Why don’t you try it on?
Throw on
Meaning: Put on a piece of clothing quickly and carelessly
Example: She just threw on the first skirt she found.
Turn up
Meaning: Shorten trousers, a dress or a skirt so that they fit better
Example: Her jeans were too long, so she turned them up.
Wrap up
Meaning: Put warm clothes on
Example: I could hear my mother telling me to wrap up warm.
Zip up
Meaning: To be closed by means of a zip
Example: He zipped up his leather jacket.
Let out
Meaning: Make clothing wider
Example: I’m going to have this skirt let out.
Let down
Meaning: Use the extra cloth in the hem of a piece of clothing to make it longer
Example: This skirt needs letting down.
Clothing phrasal verbs with Meaning and Examples
Do up
Meaning: Fasten an item of clothing
Example: You don’t need to do up the top button.
Dress up
Meaning: Dress (oneself or another) in your best clothes
Example: You don’t need to dress up. It’s just a family get-together.
Dress up
Meaning: Put on fancy dress in children’s games
Example: For her birthday party, they had dressed her up as a fairy.
Dress down
Meaning: Wear clothes that are more informal than those you usually wear
Example: He dressed down on his first date.
Hang out
Meaning: Dry clothes outside after washing
Example: Have you hung the washing out?
Hang up
Meaning: Put something on a hook or a hanger
Example: The women hung up their coats and sat down.
Have on
Meaning: Wear an item of clothing on one’s person
Example: Melissa had her new dress on.
Kick off
Meaning: Make your shoes come off by shaking your feet
Example: He kicked his shoes off as soon as he got home.
Put on
Meaning: Dress yourself or someone else with an item or items of clothing
Example: She put on her coat and went out.
Slip on
Meaning: Put on an item of clothing easily
Example: She slipped her sandals on before she went into the sea.
Take off
Meaning: Remove any item of clothing
Example: Anna took off her sandals.
Take in
Meaning: Make clothing narrower
Example: I’ll have to take this dress in at the waist – it’s too big.
Take up
Meaning: Reduce the length of a piece of clothing
Example: I want to take this pair of pants up. It’s too long.
Try on
Meaning: Put on an item of clothing to find out whether it fits or is suitable
Example: What a lovely dress! Why don’t you try it on?
Throw on
Meaning: Put on a piece of clothing quickly and carelessly
Example: She just threw on the first skirt she found.
Turn up
Meaning: Shorten trousers, a dress or a skirt so that they fit better
Example: Her jeans were too long, so she turned them up.
Wrap up
Meaning: Put warm clothes on
Example: I could hear my mother telling me to wrap up warm.
Zip up
Meaning: To be closed by means of a zip
Example: He zipped up his leather jacket.
Let out
Meaning: Make clothing wider
Example: I’m going to have this skirt let out.
Let down
Meaning: Use the extra cloth in the hem of a piece of clothing to make it longer
Example: This skirt needs letting down.
Party Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Blow up
Meaning: Fill something with air or gas
Example: We blew up lots of balloons and hung them around the room.
Turn up
Meaning: Increase the amount of sound, heat, or light of a machine
Example: Can you turn the volume up a bit?
Blow out
Meaning: Use your breath to make a flame stop burning
Example: He blew out all 23 candles on his birthday cake.
Pull off
Meaning: Succeed in doing something that is difficult
Example: We successfully pulled off a surprise birthday weekend for our mother.
Go out
Meaning: Leave home and go somewhere, especially to do something enjoyable
Example: For New Year’s Eve, let’s go out to a club.
Dress up
Meaning: Wear more formal or fancier clothes than you usually wear
Example: The party is at a nice place, so I will dress up.
Hang out
Meaning: Spend time relaxing, usually with friends
Example: In stead of a big party, I’ll invite a few friends to hang out at my house.
Pick up
Meaning: Meet someone at their home to go somewhere, often in a car
Example: The party is at 8:00, so I’ll pick you up at 7:30.
Eat out
Meaning: Eat in a restaurant
Example: It’s the holiday season so I will be eating out a lot.
Party Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Blow up
Meaning: Fill something with air or gas
Example: We blew up lots of balloons and hung them around the room.
Turn up
Meaning: Increase the amount of sound, heat, or light of a machine
Example: Can you turn the volume up a bit?
Blow out
Meaning: Use your breath to make a flame stop burning
Example: He blew out all 23 candles on his birthday cake.
Pull off
Meaning: Succeed in doing something that is difficult
Example: We successfully pulled off a surprise birthday weekend for our mother.
Go out
Meaning: Leave home and go somewhere, especially to do something enjoyable
Example: For New Year’s Eve, let’s go out to a club.
Dress up
Meaning: Wear more formal or fancier clothes than you usually wear
Example: The party is at a nice place, so I will dress up.
Hang out
Meaning: Spend time relaxing, usually with friends
Example: In stead of a big party, I’ll invite a few friends to hang out at my house.
Pick up
Meaning: Meet someone at their home to go somewhere, often in a car
Example: The party is at 8:00, so I’ll pick you up at 7:30.
Eat out
Meaning: Eat in a restaurant
Example: It’s the holiday season so I will be eating out a lot.
Sleep Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of phrasal verbs about sleeping in English with meaning and example sentences.
Wake up
Meaning: Stop sleeping
Example: I often wake up at 6. am.
Get up
Meaning: Stop sleeping and leave bed
Example: We had to get up at 4 and work 12 hours.
Lie down
Meaning: Rest on your back
Example: He lay down on the sofa and soon fell asleep.
Sleep in
Meaning: Sleep longer than wanted
Example: We usually sleep in on Sunday mornings.
Drop off
Meaning: Fall asleep easily, without intending to
Example: She kept dropping off at her desk sometimes.
Sleep over
Meaning: Sleep at a friend’s house
Example: Are your friends sleeping over tonight?
Lie in
Meaning: Stay in bed after the time you usually get up
Example: It’s a holiday tomorrow, so you can lie in.
Stay up
Meaning: Go to bed later than usual
Example: We stayed up half the night talking.
Go off
Meaning: Ring
Example: I’ve set the alarm clock to go off at 6 am.
Sleep through
Meaning: Sleep continuously for a long time
Example: I slept right through till lunchtime.
Sleep on it
Meaning: Delay making a decision until the following day
Example: Sleep on it and we’ll take tomorrow, okay?
Doze off
Meaning: Go to sleep especially when you did not intend to
Example: Sorry, I must have dozed off for a few minutes.
Sleep Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of phrasal verbs about sleeping in English with meaning and example sentences.
Wake up
Meaning: Stop sleeping
Example: I often wake up at 6. am.
Get up
Meaning: Stop sleeping and leave bed
Example: We had to get up at 4 and work 12 hours.
Lie down
Meaning: Rest on your back
Example: He lay down on the sofa and soon fell asleep.
Sleep in
Meaning: Sleep longer than wanted
Example: We usually sleep in on Sunday mornings.
Drop off
Meaning: Fall asleep easily, without intending to
Example: She kept dropping off at her desk sometimes.
Sleep over
Meaning: Sleep at a friend’s house
Example: Are your friends sleeping over tonight?
Lie in
Meaning: Stay in bed after the time you usually get up
Example: It’s a holiday tomorrow, so you can lie in.
Stay up
Meaning: Go to bed later than usual
Example: We stayed up half the night talking.
Go off
Meaning: Ring
Example: I’ve set the alarm clock to go off at 6 am.
Sleep through
Meaning: Sleep continuously for a long time
Example: I slept right through till lunchtime.
Sleep on it
Meaning: Delay making a decision until the following day
Example: Sleep on it and we’ll take tomorrow, okay?
Doze off
Meaning: Go to sleep especially when you did not intend to
Example: Sorry, I must have dozed off for a few minutes.
Animals Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Chicken out
Meaning: Not do something because you’re afraid
Example: I was going to go bungee jumping but I chickened out at the last minute.
Duck out
Meaning: Leave quickly and unannounced
Example: If I can I’ll duck out to get something to eat.
Fish for
Meaning: Ask for or try to get something in an indirect way
Example: The telephone caller was fishing for too much information, so I hung up.
Fish out
Meaning: Pull something out of a place
Example: She fished a piece of paper out of the pile on her desk.
Horse around
Meaning: Play in a loud/rough way
Example: He was horsing around in the kitchen and broke my favourite bowl.
Leech off
Meaning: Use someone, or cling to s.o for personal gain, often not giving anything in return
Example: He’s leeching off the abilities of others.
Pig out
Meaning: Eat a lot of food at once
Example: Kids tend to pig out on junk food.
Wolf down
Meaning: Eat very quickly
Example: Don’t wolf down an entire chocolate cake; you will get indigestion.
Monkey around
Meaning: To do things in an unserious way; to play or waste time
Example: We just monkeyed around all afternoon.
Beaver away
Meaning: Work hard doing something
Example: She was beavering away at his homework until after midnight.
Ferret out
Meaning: To find (something, such as information) by careful searching.
Example: I had to ferret out all the information for myself.
Worm out of
Meaning: Draw or manipulate information out of someone
Example: I eventually managed to worm a few details out of her.
Rat on
Meaning: Inform on (someone) to a person in a position of authority
Example: I never thought John would rat on me.
Rabbit on (UK)
Meaning: Continue talking about something that is not interesting to the person you are talking to
Example: John’s always rabbiting on about his coin collection.
Monkey with
Meaning: Bother or interfere with someone or something
Example: Come on, don’t monkey with my new laptop.
Turn turtle
Meaning: Turn upside down; to flip over
Example: A large wave caused our little boat to turn turtle.
Squirrel away
Meaning: Stash, hide or hoard something for future use
Example: He had bits of string, cans of nails and lots of other useful tidbits squirreled away throughout his garage.
Drone on
Meaning: Talk for a long time in a boring way
Example: I nearly fell asleep while he was droning on!
Clam up
Meaning: Become silent; to stop talking, to shut up
Example: She just clams up if you ask her about his family.
Ferret around
Meaning: Search for something by sorting through materials
Example: We need to know more about this new chap. Why don’t you go to his home town and ferret around a bit?
Lark about/around (UK)
Meaning: Behave in a silly way because you think it is funny
Example: A couple of boys were larking about in the pool.
Animals Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Chicken out
Meaning: Not do something because you’re afraid
Example: I was going to go bungee jumping but I chickened out at the last minute.
Duck out
Meaning: Leave quickly and unannounced
Example: If I can I’ll duck out to get something to eat.
Fish for
Meaning: Ask for or try to get something in an indirect way
Example: The telephone caller was fishing for too much information, so I hung up.
Fish out
Meaning: Pull something out of a place
Example: She fished a piece of paper out of the pile on her desk.
Horse around
Meaning: Play in a loud/rough way
Example: He was horsing around in the kitchen and broke my favourite bowl.
Leech off
Meaning: Use someone, or cling to s.o for personal gain, often not giving anything in return
Example: He’s leeching off the abilities of others.
Pig out
Meaning: Eat a lot of food at once
Example: Kids tend to pig out on junk food.
Wolf down
Meaning: Eat very quickly
Example: Don’t wolf down an entire chocolate cake; you will get indigestion.
Monkey around
Meaning: To do things in an unserious way; to play or waste time
Example: We just monkeyed around all afternoon.
Beaver away
Meaning: Work hard doing something
Example: She was beavering away at his homework until after midnight.
Ferret out
Meaning: To find (something, such as information) by careful searching.
Example: I had to ferret out all the information for myself.
Worm out of
Meaning: Draw or manipulate information out of someone
Example: I eventually managed to worm a few details out of her.
Rat on
Meaning: Inform on (someone) to a person in a position of authority
Example: I never thought John would rat on me.
Rabbit on (UK)
Meaning: Continue talking about something that is not interesting to the person you are talking to
Example: John’s always rabbiting on about his coin collection.
Monkey with
Meaning: Bother or interfere with someone or something
Example: Come on, don’t monkey with my new laptop.
Turn turtle
Meaning: Turn upside down; to flip over
Example: A large wave caused our little boat to turn turtle.
Squirrel away
Meaning: Stash, hide or hoard something for future use
Example: He had bits of string, cans of nails and lots of other useful tidbits squirreled away throughout his garage.
Drone on
Meaning: Talk for a long time in a boring way
Example: I nearly fell asleep while he was droning on!
Clam up
Meaning: Become silent; to stop talking, to shut up
Example: She just clams up if you ask her about his family.
Ferret around
Meaning: Search for something by sorting through materials
Example: We need to know more about this new chap. Why don’t you go to his home town and ferret around a bit?
Lark about/around (UK)
Meaning: Behave in a silly way because you think it is funny
Example: A couple of boys were larking about in the pool.
Phrasal Verbs for Shopping with Meaning and Examples
Bring down
Meaning: Reduce the amount of something
Examples: We aim to bring down prices on all our computers.
Pay for
Meaning: Give money in order to buy something
Examples: I paid good money for that sofa, so it should last.
Put on
Meaning: To see something is worth trying
Examples: Anna put on the coat.
Queue up/line up
Meaning: Wait for something in a line
Examples: Some people queued up all night to get into the store.
Ring up
Meaning: Record an amount of money by pressing buttons on a cash register
Examples: She rang up all the items on the till.
Sell out
Meaning: Sell the whole supply/ capacity
Examples: I’m sorry, we’ve sold out of shoes.
Shop around
Meaning: Compare prices before buying
Examples: We often shop around for the best deal.
Take off
Meaning: Remove a piece of clothing
Examples: He took off my wet boots and made me sit by the fire.
Try on
Meaning: Put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits
Examples: You should try the shoes on before you buy them.
Try out
Meaning: Test something to see if you like it
Examples: John hopes to try out his new running shoes this weekend.
Pop into
Meaning: To visit briefly
Examples: I’m going to pop into the store for a moment.
Do up (UK)
Meaning: To fasten something
Example: You don’t need to do up the top button.
Stand out
Meaning: To be very noticeable
Example: Your red dress really stands out against all those dull brown ones.
Pick out
Meaning: To choose / select
Example: Can you help me pick out a wedding dress?
Wear in (UK)
Meaning: To loosen or soften some new clothing by wearing it
Example: That sweater will feel better after you wear it in.
Set (someone) back
Meaning: To cost someone a particular amount of money, especially a large amount
Example: Anna’s new laptop must have set her back $1000.
Look out for
Meaning: To watch or check regularly for something or to search for something
Example: I always look out for deals when I’m shopping.
Go with something
Meaning: To seem good, natural, or attractive in combination with something
Example: Which shoes go best with this dress?
Splash out (UK)
Meaning: Spend money freely
Example: She splashed out on a Lexus.
Phrasal Verbs for Shopping with Meaning and Examples
Bring down
Meaning: Reduce the amount of something
Examples: We aim to bring down prices on all our computers.
Pay for
Meaning: Give money in order to buy something
Examples: I paid good money for that sofa, so it should last.
Put on
Meaning: To see something is worth trying
Examples: Anna put on the coat.
Queue up/line up
Meaning: Wait for something in a line
Examples: Some people queued up all night to get into the store.
Ring up
Meaning: Record an amount of money by pressing buttons on a cash register
Examples: She rang up all the items on the till.
Sell out
Meaning: Sell the whole supply/ capacity
Examples: I’m sorry, we’ve sold out of shoes.
Shop around
Meaning: Compare prices before buying
Examples: We often shop around for the best deal.
Take off
Meaning: Remove a piece of clothing
Examples: He took off my wet boots and made me sit by the fire.
Try on
Meaning: Put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits
Examples: You should try the shoes on before you buy them.
Try out
Meaning: Test something to see if you like it
Examples: John hopes to try out his new running shoes this weekend.
Pop into
Meaning: To visit briefly
Examples: I’m going to pop into the store for a moment.
Do up (UK)
Meaning: To fasten something
Example: You don’t need to do up the top button.
Stand out
Meaning: To be very noticeable
Example: Your red dress really stands out against all those dull brown ones.
Pick out
Meaning: To choose / select
Example: Can you help me pick out a wedding dress?
Wear in (UK)
Meaning: To loosen or soften some new clothing by wearing it
Example: That sweater will feel better after you wear it in.
Set (someone) back
Meaning: To cost someone a particular amount of money, especially a large amount
Example: Anna’s new laptop must have set her back $1000.
Look out for
Meaning: To watch or check regularly for something or to search for something
Example: I always look out for deals when I’m shopping.
Go with something
Meaning: To seem good, natural, or attractive in combination with something
Example: Which shoes go best with this dress?
Splash out (UK)
Meaning: Spend money freely
Example: She splashed out on a Lexus.
Money Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Pay off
Meaning: Finish paying money owed for something
Example: We paid off our mortgage after fifteen years.
Fork out
Meaning: Spend a lot of money on something, especially unwillingly
Example: We’ve forked out a small fortune on their education.
Run up
Meaning: Create lots of debt
Example: How had he managed to run up so many debts?
Rip off
Meaning: Charge too much
Example: Tourists complain of being ripped off by local cab drivers.
Save up
Meaning: Not spend money
Example: My parents are saving up for a trip to New York.
Put aside
Meaning: Save an amount of money Each month
Example: She puts some money aside for her retirement.
Squirrel away
Meaning: Put something away in a secret place, especially money
Example: The family had a large fortune squirrelled away.
Pay back
Meaning: Give someone the same amount of money that you borrowed from them
Example: I’ll be able to pay you back next week.
Splash out
Meaning: Buy something expensive
Example: He’s just splashed out on a brand new car.
Put down
Meaning: Pay part of the cost of something
Example: We put a 5% deposit down on the house.
Come into
Meaning: To be left money by somebody who has died
Example: She came into a fortune when her uncle died.
Money Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Pay off
Meaning: Finish paying money owed for something
Example: We paid off our mortgage after fifteen years.
Fork out
Meaning: Spend a lot of money on something, especially unwillingly
Example: We’ve forked out a small fortune on their education.
Run up
Meaning: Create lots of debt
Example: How had he managed to run up so many debts?
Rip off
Meaning: Charge too much
Example: Tourists complain of being ripped off by local cab drivers.
Save up
Meaning: Not spend money
Example: My parents are saving up for a trip to New York.
Put aside
Meaning: Save an amount of money Each month
Example: She puts some money aside for her retirement.
Squirrel away
Meaning: Put something away in a secret place, especially money
Example: The family had a large fortune squirrelled away.
Pay back
Meaning: Give someone the same amount of money that you borrowed from them
Example: I’ll be able to pay you back next week.
Splash out
Meaning: Buy something expensive
Example: He’s just splashed out on a brand new car.
Put down
Meaning: Pay part of the cost of something
Example: We put a 5% deposit down on the house.
Come into
Meaning: To be left money by somebody who has died
Example: She came into a fortune when her uncle died.
Driving Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of common phrasal verbs about driving to improve your English.
Back up
Meaning: Make a car go backwards
Example: See if you can back up a bit further.
Buckle up
Meaning: Fasten your seat belt in a car, plane etc.
Example: Please buckle up now; we’re about to land.
Cut off
Meaning: Block someone’s way
Example: A second policeman cut off his escape.
Drive by
Meaning: Do something out of a car
Example: He was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Fill up
Meaning: Put gasoline in the car until it’s completely full
Example: He filled up the tank with petrol.
Get out of
Meaning: Leave
Example: You must not get out of the car when it is in motion.
Pull over
Meaning: Stop on the side of the road
Example: She saw the ambulance coming up behind her and pulled over.
Run over
Meaning: Hit something/someone with a car and drive over them
Example: Jesica was run over by a car outside her house.
Slow down
Meaning: To decrease speed; to go slower
Example: Slow down! You’re driving too fast.
Turn off
Meaning: Stop a piece of equipment working temporarily by pressing a button
Example: You forgot to turn off your blinker after you merged.
Pull in
Meaning: Move to the side of the road
Example: We pulled in at the side of the road.
Pull out
Meaning: Move away from the side of the road, etc.
Example: A car pulled out in front of me.
Run into
Meaning: Crash into somebody/something
Example: The bus went out of control and ran into a line of people.
Knock down
Meaning: Hit somebody and make them fall to the ground
Example: She was knocked down by a bus.
Pick up
Meaning: Take someone in vehicle
Example: I’ll pick you up at six.
Driving Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of common phrasal verbs about driving to improve your English.
Back up
Meaning: Make a car go backwards
Example: See if you can back up a bit further.
Buckle up
Meaning: Fasten your seat belt in a car, plane etc.
Example: Please buckle up now; we’re about to land.
Cut off
Meaning: Block someone’s way
Example: A second policeman cut off his escape.
Drive by
Meaning: Do something out of a car
Example: He was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Fill up
Meaning: Put gasoline in the car until it’s completely full
Example: He filled up the tank with petrol.
Get out of
Meaning: Leave
Example: You must not get out of the car when it is in motion.
Pull over
Meaning: Stop on the side of the road
Example: She saw the ambulance coming up behind her and pulled over.
Run over
Meaning: Hit something/someone with a car and drive over them
Example: Jesica was run over by a car outside her house.
Slow down
Meaning: To decrease speed; to go slower
Example: Slow down! You’re driving too fast.
Turn off
Meaning: Stop a piece of equipment working temporarily by pressing a button
Example: You forgot to turn off your blinker after you merged.
Pull in
Meaning: Move to the side of the road
Example: We pulled in at the side of the road.
Pull out
Meaning: Move away from the side of the road, etc.
Example: A car pulled out in front of me.
Run into
Meaning: Crash into somebody/something
Example: The bus went out of control and ran into a line of people.
Knock down
Meaning: Hit somebody and make them fall to the ground
Example: She was knocked down by a bus.
Pick up
Meaning: Take someone in vehicle
Example: I’ll pick you up at six.
Telephone Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Break – up
Meaning: Become inaudible over the phone, usually because of a bad connection
Example: “Sorry, could you repeat that, please? You’re breaking up“.
Call back
Meaning: To telephone someone again or to return a call
Example: She said she’d call back.
Call up
Meaning: Call someone on the phone
Example: My dad called me up to tell me the bad news.
Cut off
Meaning: When a telephone call finishes because of a bad connection
Example: We were cut off in the middle of our conversation.
Get through
Meaning: To be connected to a place by telephone
Example: I finally got through to Tom on his mobile.
Hang on
Meaning: Wait for a short time (informal)
Example: Hang on – I’ll just see if he’s here.
Hang up
Meaning: End a telephone call by putting the phone down
Example: After I hung up I remembered what I’d wanted to say.
Hold on
Meaning: Wait for a short time
Example: Could you hold on a moment, please?
Pick up
Meaning: Answer the telephone call
Example: The phone rang and rang and nobody picked up.
Put through
Meaning: Connect by phone
Example: Could you put me through to the manager, please?
Speak up
Meaning: Speak louder
Example: Can you speak up a bit? It’s very noisy here.
Get back to someone
Meaning: Telephone someone later
Example: I’ll find out and get back to you soon.
Get off
Meaning: Finish talking on the phone
Example: I just got off the phone with Dad. He is keeping well.
Turn off
Meaning: Disconnect using the power button
Example: It’s good to turn off the phone while charging.
Turn on
Meaning: Connect using the power button
Example: Your own greeting is displayed instead of an animation when you turn on the phone.
Pass on
Meaning: (A message) – To communicate (to convey) a message to someone else
Example: Did you pass on my message to him?
Phone in
Meaning: Call in by telephone to a central person or central point.
Example: I have to phone in and report the changes.
Business Phrasal Verbs
Common Business Phrasal Verbs (1)
Branch out
Meaning: Expand or extend one’s interests
Example: I’m leaving the company to branch out on my own.
Break into
Meaning: to be successful when you get involved in something
Example: The company is having difficulty breaking into new markets.
Carry on
Meaning: Continue
Example: He moved to New York to carry on his work.
Close down
Meaning: Stop operating
Example: The firm has decided to close down its Chicago branch.
Look forward to
Meaning: Feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen
Example: We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Note down
Meaning: Write something down
Example: Her answers were noted down on the chart.
Common Business Phrasal Verbs (2)
Step down
Meaning: Resign or leave (a position/job)
Example: The chairman was forced to step down due to ill health.
Take off
Meaning: Become successful or popular very fast
Example: Her business has really taken off.
Take up
Meaning: Fill a particular amount of space or time
Example: These files take up a lot of disk space.
Weigh up (UK)
Meaning: Consider carefully the advantages or disadvantages of a situation
Example: I’m weighing up my options before I decide to apply for the job.
Back up
Meaning: Make a copy of information
Example: It’s a good idea to back up your files onto a memory stick.
Carry out
Meaning: Do and complete a task
Example: The building work was carried out by a local contractor.
Come up
Meaning: Happen or arise
Example: I’m going to have to cancel our meeting – something’s come up.
Common Business Phrasal Verbs (3)
Get on (UK)
Meaning: Continue or start doing something
Example: Can we please get on, because there are a lot of things still to discuss.
Keep up with
Meaning: Follow
Example: We try to keep up with what’s happening about financial news.
Set up
Meaning: Start (a business)
Example: The group plans to set up an import business.
Go through
Meaning: Experience something bad
Example: We can’t really imagine what our company’s going through.
Find out
Meaning: Discover a fact or piece of information
Example: Can you find out what our customers think of their local bus service?
Call off
Meaning: Cancel something
Example: With the weather worsening, they have called off their field trip.
Call back
Meaning: To return a call or telephone someone again.
Example: I’ll call you back when I’ve heard something about the interview.
Common Business Phrasal Verbs (4)
Deal with
Meaning: Handle (a problem)
Example: He’s good at dealing with pressure.
Drop in
Meaning: Make a short visit without making an arrangement in advance
Example: Drop in whenever you want—I’ll be at the office all day.
Fill out
Meaning: Complete (a form)
Example: It took me several hours to fill out the application form.
Hold on
Meaning: Wait
Example: We’ll hold on another minute, then we’ll have to go.
Join in
Meaning: Participate
Example: We would be eager to join in projects of that sort.
Lay off
Meaning: Fire (staff)
Example: We have no plans in the immediate future to lay off workers.
Put back
Meaning: Delay or postpone
Example: The meeting has been put back to next week.
Common Business Phrasal Verbs (5)
Run out of
Meaning: Have no more of something
Example: Many companies are running out of money.
Sort out
Meaning: Organise or fix
Example: We brought in a management consultant to sort out the mess.
Take on
Meaning: Employ (staff)
Example: We’re not taking on any new staff at the moment.
Take over
Meaning: To begin to have control of or responsibility for something
Example: He understands the business and can take over when I’m away.
Bail out
Meaning: To rescue somebody from a difficult situation, especially financial problems
Example: The bank helped to bail out the struggling company.
Common Business Phrasal Verbs (6)
Cut back
Meaning: To reduce something
Example: In times of economic hardship, firms cut back on training.
Go under
Meaning: To become bankrupt
Example: The firm will go under unless business improves.
Fall through
Meaning: If an agreement, plan, sale etc. falls through, it is not completed successfully
Example: The planned purchase of the racecourse fell through.
Pull out
Meaning: To move away from something or stop being involved in it
Example: The project became so expensive that we had to pull out.
Bottom out
Meaning: To stop getting worse
Example: Property prices are still falling, and show no signs of bottoming out.
Level off
Meaning: To stop rising or falling and become steady
Example: Inflation has begun to level off.
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Crime Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
List of phrasal verbs about crime with meaning and example sentences.
Break into
Meaning: Enter a building or car by using force, in order to steal something
Example: Someone broke into my car and stole the radio.
Break out of
Meaning: Escape from a prison
Example: Three men have broken out of a top-security jail.
Tip off
Meaning: Warn somebody about something that is going to happen, especially something illegal
Example: Two men were arrested after police were tipped off about the raid.
Stake out
Meaning: Watch a place secretly, especially for signs of illegal activity
Example: Detectives had been staking out the house for several weeks.
Bring in
Meaning: Bring somebody to a police station in order to ask them questions or arrest them
Example: Two men were brought in for questioning.
Lock up
Meaning: Put someone in prison
Example: Rapists should be locked up.
House Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples
Take out of the trash
Meaning: Remove trash from the house
Example: I’ll take out the trash daily.
Throw away
Meaning: Put something into the trash can/to discard
Example: He wanted to throw away the cup, but he couldn’t find a trash can.
Pick up
Meaning: Remove something from the floor to put into their proper place
Example: When you pick up the bag, make sure to support the bottom.
Hang up
Meaning: Put your clothes on a hanger to hang in the closet
Example: We hang our clothes up in the closet.
Put away
Meaning: Put items into their proper place (a drawer, cabinet, etc…)
Example: Please put away your clothes.
Clean up/ tidy up
Meaning: Remove the dirt, stains & unwanted material
Example: We spent all Saturday morning cleaning up.
Mop up
Meaning: Use a mop (towel or sponge) to remove liquid from the floor.
Example: I am the one who has to mop up after the mess you made!
Build on
Meaning: Construct an additional part of to the house, to add more space/rooms/etc…
Example: We’re planning to build on a conservatory.
Turn on
Meaning: Give (lamp/TV) power, to start
Example: Do you want me to turn the lamp on?
Put up
Meaning: Attach (a picture, or other object) to the wall to hang
Example: I will put up this picture to the wall.
Turn off
Meaning: Cause the power of (lamp/tv) to stop
Example: It’s too noisy. Turn off the TV please!!
Take down
Meaning: Remove (a picture or object) from the wall
Example: She made us take down all the pictures.
Stock up
Meaning: Buy a lot of something (food, drink, etc) to fill the refrigerator or pantry.
Example: We need to stock up the freezer.
Put on
Meaning: Get dressed
Example: Hurry up! Put your coat on!
Put on (music)
Meaning: Turn on the radio or some music
Example: Do you mind if I put some music on?
Put on
Meaning: Put (the pot/kettle/etc…) on the stove
Example: I’ll put the kettle on for tea.
Put out
Meaning: Extinguish/ to make a fire stop working
Example: Little fires are put out before they can do their work.
