An Extensive List of Phrasal Verbs
An Extensive List of Phrasal Verbs
An Extensive List of Phrasal Verbs
1
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
2. Don’t blow up at me. It’s not
my fault.
2
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
The soldiers carried on walking in
carry on To continue
order to get to their post before dark.
1. To do something as
1. His orders were carried out
specified (a plan, an
to the letter.
order, a threat)
carry out 2. That company does not carry
2. To perform or conduct
out tests on animals.
(test, experiment)
3
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
She didn’t get a salary this month, so
do without To manage without she’ll have to do without extra
treats.
The suspect’s trial dragged on
drag on To last longer than expected
longer than we had expected!
To write (contract, agreement, They drew up a contract and had me
draw up
document) sign it.
Their wedding gave us a chance to
dress up wear elegant clothes
dress up and get out of the house.
To visit, usually on the way Why don’t you drop in to see us on
drop in
somewhere your way home?
1. I’ll drop off the papers later
1. To deliver someone or
today.
something
drop off 2. I often drop off in front of
2. To fall asleep
the TV.
4
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
To manage to cope or to Students without jobs have a hard
get by
survive time getting by.
get in To enter When did you get in last night?
get into How did you get into your car
To enter
(+noun) without the keys?
1. You should get off the train
1. To leave (bus, train,
in Kings Heath.
plane)
get off 2. I can’t get the ink stain off
2. To remove
my shirt.
5
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
Please hand in your papers before
hand in To submit (report, homework)
Friday.
Susan volunteered at the shelter
hand out To distribute
where she handed out warm clothes.
To spend time in a particular
Which pub does the team hang out
hang out place or with a group of
at after the game?
friends
If you hang up now, I’ll never speak
hang up To end a phone conversation
to you again.
1. Please hold on and a
representative will answer
1. To wait your call.
hold on 2. To grip tightly 2. She was so scared on the
rollercoaster ride that she
held on for dear life.
6
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
If you don’t want to take part in the
look on To be a spectator at an event
game you can look on for now.
Harry went to the shop to look for a
look for To try to find something
new computer.
look forward To await or anticipate with I’m looking forward to my birthday.
to pleasure It’s in two days time.
I always looked up to my father. He
look up to To admire
was a great man.
It’s not nice to make fun of people
make fun of To laugh at/ make jokes about
in wheelchairs.
That’s a good excuse. Did you make
make up To invent (excuse, story)
up it up yourself?
To mistake one thing or person She had so many cats that she kept
mix up
for another mixing up their names.
To arrive in a new home or Did you hear? Our new neighbors are
move in
office moving in this afternoon.
To leave your home/office for When are you moving out? We need
move out
another one. your office for the new guy.
You were so tired after the game that
nod off To fall asleep
you nodded off on the couch.
Come on. Own up. We know you
own up To admit or confess something
did it!
Your grandfather passed away
pass away To die
peacefully in his sleep last night.
He didn’t drink enough water so he
pass out To faint
passed out at the end of the race.
I’ll pay you back as soon as I get the
pay back To reimburse
loan.
To postpone, arrange a later Don’t put off until tomorrow, what
put off
date you can do today.
It’s very dark in here. Please put on
put on To turn on, switch on
the light on.
The fire fighters were able to put out
put out To extinguish
fire in ten minutes.
To accommodate, give I can put you up until the weekend
put up
somebody a bed but then I’m going away.
I’ll pick you up at around 7:00 to
pick up To collect somebody
take you to the airport.
To indicate/direct attention to As I already pointed out, there was a
point out
something mistake in your calculation.
You can rely on me. I always arrive
rely on To count on, depend on, trust
on time.
7
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
Since he had a sound alibi, the police
rule out To eliminate
ruled him out as a suspect.
To escape from a place or He ran away from home and joined
run away
suddenly leave the circus.
To meet by accident or I’m so glad I ran into you. I need to
run into
unexpectedly (also: bump into) ask you something.
We’ve run out of milk. I’ll just pop
run out of To have no more of something.
next door to borrow some.
Let’s set off early to miss the rush
set off To start a journey;
hour traffic.
They set up their own company
set up To start a business
when they were still in high school.
Don’t buy that. Let’s shop around
shop around To compare prices and see if we can find something
cheaper.
He’s such a show off. He has to tell
show off To brag or want to be admired
everybody about his new computer.
I don’t think she’ll show up tonight.
show up To appear/arrive
Her daughter is sick.
shut up
To be silent, stop talking Shut up, you’re spoiling the movie!
(impolite)
I think you should sit down. It’s bad
sit down To take a seat
news.
The whole stadium stood up for the
stand up To rise from a sitting position
national anthem.
My big brother always stuck up for
stick up for To defend
me when I got into a fight.
To resemble, in appearance or Angie really takes after her
take after
character grandmother.
Please take care of my cat when I’m
take care of To look after
away.
The plane will take off as soon as the
take off To leave the ground
fog lifts.
I hear they’re taking on extra staff
take on To hire or engage staff
for this event.
Please take out your mobile phones
take out To remove; extract
and turn them off.
The coach told her off for not trying
tell off To reprimand/criticize severely
hard enough.
Take your time and think it over
think over To consider
before you decide.
To wear something to see if it
try on Go ahead, try it on and see if it fits?
suits or fits
8
Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
I asked her out but she turned me
turn down To refuse
down flat.
To finish a product (so that
use up Your parents used up all the coffee!
there’s none left)
Watch out! There’s a dog in the
watch out To be careful
road.
1. Julie wore out her shoes
1. To become unusable running the marathons.
wear out 2. To become very tired 2. Julie was worn out after all
that running.
wipe off To clean (board, table). I’ll wash up if you wipe off the table.