ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS Phrasal Verb ask someone out ask around

aim at

Separable/Insepara ble Separable

Meaning invite on a date

Example Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie. I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
The policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker.

Inseparable Separable Inseparable

ask many people the same question

point something in the direction of a target

add up to somethin g
advise against

equal

Your purchases add up to $205.32.

Separable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Separable/Insepara ble Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Separable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable

allow for
answer back avail (oneself) of apply for

recommend not doing something take into consideration, include in a calculation reply rudely take advantage of something (an opportunity) make a formal request for something (job, permit, loan etc.) 1) plead or make an earnest request 2) be attractive or interesting respect or obey. (the law, a decision, a rule) explain, give a reason

The doctor advised him against carrying heavy loads.

You'd better leave early to allow for traffic jams.

Don't answer back your mother! When the company is privatized, you should avail yourself of the opportunity and buy some shares. He applied for the job he saw advertised in the newspaper. 1) The organizers appealed to the crowd to stay calm. 2) A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to me. If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules. I hope you can account for the money you spent!

appeal to

abide by account for B

break down back away

Back down.

move backwards, in fear or dislike

withdraw, concede defeat base your hopes on someone/something improve, make more substantial faint, lose consciousness

When he saw the dog, he backed away.

Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish the building Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your help.

bank on
beef up black out

He beefed up his presentation with diagrams and statistics. When he fell off the horse he blacked out.

block off
blow up

Inseparable Inseparable

Separate using a barrier.

1) explode; 2) be destroyed by an explosion be summarized as start a computer by loading an operating system or program. escape from captivity enter by force

The area was blocked off during the demonstration.

1) The terrorists said the bomb would blow up at 9 o'clock. 2) The car blew up but luckily there was nobody in it. The problem boils down to a lack of money.

boil down to boot up

Inseparable Inseparable

Just give my a few minutes to boot up the computer.

A few horses broke away from the paddock. Burglars broke into the house around midnight. Rioting broke out as a result of the strike. Three prisoners broke out of jail. After her marriage broke up, Emma went to live in London She stopped working in order to bring up her children. Mary had to brush up on her Spanish before going to South America. Pedro bumped into his English teacher at the supermarket. 1) The fuse has burnt out. 2) Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down.

break away break into break out break out of break up . bring up brush up on bump into burn out

Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Separable/Insepara ble Inseparable Inseparable

start suddenly escape from a place by force come to an end (marriage, relationship) raise (a child) improve, refresh one's knowledge of something meet by accident or unexpectedly 1) stop (something) working 2) become exhausted from over-working interrupt impolitely 1) go out of order, cease to function 2) lose control of one's emotions 1) pay money to secure someone's release 2) rescue from financial difficulties withdraw, concede defeat return a phone call

butt in (on sthg) break down

It's rude to butt in on a conversation like that!

1) John's car broke down so he had to take the bus. 2) The parents broke down when they heard the bad news. 1) When he was arrested, his family refused to bail him out. 2) The government bailed out the bank. Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish the building. I'll call you back as soon as possible.

bail out

Separable/Insepara ble

back down call back

Separable Separable

cheer someone up call

make happier

I brought you some flowers to cheer you up. Give me your phone number and I

Separable

phone

someone up
call off call on/upon sby calm down carry on carry out

will call you up when we are in town. Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable
cancel formally invite or request The meeting was called off because of the strike. I now call upon the President to address the assembly. He was angry at first but he eventually calmed down. He carried on gardening in spite of the rain. 1) The plan was carried out to perfection. 2) Tests are carried out to determine the efficiency of a new drug.

become more relaxed, less angry or upset continue 1) do something as specified (a plan, an order, a threat) 2) perform or conduct (test, experiment) postpone until later

carry over

Inseparable Inseparable Separable/Insepara ble Inseparable Inseparable Separable Separable/Insepara ble Inseparable Inseparable Separable/Insepara ble

check in check out

register at a hotel or airport 1) pay one's bill and leave (a hotel) 2) investigate refuse to speak act strictly to prevent something stop operating (company, restaurant, cinema). 1) find by chance 2) appear, seem, make an impression present oneself be faced with or opposed by

Clam up up. clamp down on close down Come across.

As regards holidays, can you carry over any days from one year to the next? For security reasons you have to check in two hours before your flight. 1) Is Mr. Blair still at the hotel? No, he checked out this morning. 2) I don't know if the address is still valid. I'll check it out. When the teacher arrived she clammed The government has decided to clamp down on smoking in public places. When the factory closed down, the employees lost their jobs. 1) Julie came across some photographs of her grandparents in the attic. 2) The candidate came across as a dynamic person during the interview The police have asked any witnesses to come forward. The project came up against a lot of criticism.

come forward come up against

conk out

1) stop working 2) stop or fall asleep (from exhaustion)

rely or depend on (for help) remove by drawing a line through reduce in number or size handle, take care of (problem, situation)

1) The car conked out on the motorway. 2) He was so exhausted, he conked out in front of the TV.
I'm counting on the taxi driver to find the theatre. In some exercises, you are asked to cross out the incorrect word. The doctor told him to cut down on cigarettes. The manager is good at dealing with difficult customers.

count on cross out cut down on deal with

Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable

die down do without

Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable

calm down, become less strong manage without

When the applause died down, she started to sing. The shops are closed so we'll have to do without sugar.

drag on
draw up dress up

last longer than expected

write (contract, agreement, document) 1) wear elegant clothes 2) disguise oneself

We expected a short speech but it dragged on and on!

An agreement was drawn up and signed by the two parties. 1) Do people dress up to go to the opera in your country? 2) Children love to dress up at Halloween. I sometimes drop in to see my grandparents on my way home from school. 1) I'll drop you off at the bus stop if you like. 2) Granddad often drops off in front of the TV. She decided to go to art school then dropped out after the first term.

drop in

Inseparable Separable/Insepara ble Inseparable Inseparable Separable

visit, usually on the way somewhere 1) deliver someone or something 2) fall asleep leave school without finishing

drop off

drop out

drop back Eat up

move back in a position/group To finish a meal

Empty out

Separable

Even out Separable

Eat out End up

Separable Inseparable

fall through figure out fill out find out focus on

inseparable inseparable separable separable inseparable

Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike. You must eat up all of your vegetables before you can have cake. to remove everything Max emptied the refrigerator out. from a container making it empty to make something Max has trouble evening out his measure the same as sideburns since one ear is lower something else than the other. to go out to a Max was tired of eating out, so he restaurant to eat stayed home and had a TV dinner. to arrive at a Max drank so much last night that destination or result he ended up in a strange bed in a which may be strange apartment. unplanned or unexpected fail; doesn't happen Our planned boat trip fell through because of the storm. understand, find the I'm trying to figure out how to answer assemble the bookshelves. complete (a form/an Please fill out the enclosed form application) and return it as soon as possible. discover or obtain I'm going to call the cinema to find information out what time the film starts. concentrate on The advertising campaign will

something fall through figure out Fasten down fall apart separable separable inseparable fail; doesn't happen understand, find the answer Tie something so that it doesn't move break into pieces Give an animal a lot to eat to make it fat Defend yourself, resist an attack Remove something unwanted fall to the ground (of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached be on good terms; work well with imply escape manage to cope or to survive enter enter 1) leave (bus, train, plane) 2) remove board (bus, train, plane) spend one's childhood; develop; become an adult

focus on the quality of the product. Our planned boat trip fell through because of the storm. I'm trying to figure out how to assemble the bookshelves. We FASTENED it DOWN to keep the wind from blowing it away. My new dress fell apart in the washing machine. They FATTEN the cows UP before slaughtering them. The army attacked the town and the inhabitants FOUGHT BACK fiercely. It FILTERS OUT all the impurities and chemicals in tap water so that it tastes better. The picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning.. His hair started to fall out when he was only 35. I get along (well) with my motherin-law. What exactly are you trying to get at? The robbers got away in a black car. It's difficult to get by on a low salary. How did the burglar get in? How did the burglar get into the house? 1) You should get off the bus at Trafalgar Square. 2) She can't get the stain off her sweater. You can pay when you get on the bus. He grew up in a small village in the mountains.

intransitive

Fatten up separable Fight back separable

Filter out separable

fight down fall out

separable inseparable

get along inseparable (with) get at inseparable get away get by get in get into (+noun) get off separable inseparable inseparable separable inseparable

get on grow up

separable inseparable

go ahead inseparable go over inseparable

start, proceed

grow apart get around get up

H

separable inseparable separable

hang out separable

hit back hold on

inseparable inseparable

hurry up separable hang on Hack around Hand back Hide out inseparable inseparable

separable

Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold. visit someone nearby I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'll go over for an hour or two. stop being friends My best friend and I grew apart over time after she changed schools. have mobility My grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair. stand You should get up and give the elderly man your seat. spend time in a Where does he hang out these particular place, days? or with a group of Who does he hang out with? friends retaliate; reply to an When he was attacked by the attack others, the boy hit back. -wait - 'Hold on please. I'll put you -grip tightly through to Mr. Brown." - She held on to the railing as she crossed the bridge. be quick, act Hurry up! We'll miss the bus. speedily wait a short time Hang on while I grab my coat and (informal) shoes! Waste time I've been Hacking Around all morning because I can't get down to doing any revision. Return The police officer checked my licence, then Handed it Back. Go or stay somewhere to avoid being caught or found Inject drugs The police think he's HIDING OUT in the woods.

separable

Hit up

inseparable

She's been HITTING UP for years.

iron out

inseparable

Issue forth

inseparable

resolve by discussion, eliminate differences Come out of a place

The meeting tomorrow will be an opportunity to iron out difficulties. New initiatives ISSUE FORTH from the government on a daily basis.

join in join up

inseparable separable

participate

jot down Jazz up

separable separable

keep on keep up with kick off

separable Inseparable

Inseparable

She was too shy to join in the game. -engage in, become - John was in the Army and Tom a member of joined up as soon as he left school. - meet and unite with - The two groups of tourists joined up at the hotel. take quick notes I jotted down the address while watching the programme on TV. Make something The show was getting stale so they more interesting or JAZZED it UP with some new attractive scenes continue doing It told him to be quiet but he kept something on making noise. stay at the same level Bill walks so fast it's difficult to as someone or keep up with him. something begin, start The football match kicked off at 3 o'clock. omit, not mention disappoint take care of think of the future consider as inferior be a spectator at an event try to find something await or anticipate with pleasure admire The child's name was left out of the report. You promised to come to the party, so don't let me down! A babysitter looks after the children when they go out. It's time to forget the past and look ahead. He tends to look down on anyone who is not successful. Billy didn't take part in the fight. He just looked on. Jane went to the shops to look for a pair of shoes. I look forward to seeing you soon. He was a wonderful teacher and many students looked up to him. The old lady dresses so strangely that the kids make fun of her. Some employees make up excuses when they arrive late for work.

leave out Inseparable let down look after look ahead look down on look on look for look forward to look up to Separable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable Inseparable

Inseparable

make fun of make up

Inseparable Inseparable

laugh at/ make jokes about invent (excuse, story)

mix up move in move out

Separable Inseparable Inseparable

mistake one thing or person for another arrive in a new home or office leave your home/office for another one. fall asleep write something

I don't know my neighbours' names yet. I keep mixing them up. You've bought a new house? When are you moving in?. My neighbour is leaving. He's moving out next Saturday.

nod off note down

Inseparable Inseparable

My grandfather often nods off in front of the television. I'll call the station and note down the departure times. I enjoy tennis but I'm so busy I had to opt out of the tournament. The boy owned up. He said he kicked the ball through the window. The teacher passed the assignment out. We are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane
The old lady passed away peacefully I'll pick you up at the station when you arrive. She pointed out the mistake.

opt out

Inseparable

own up

Inseparable

leave a system or decide not to participate admit or confess something

Pass Out Put Off Pass away Pick up Point out Quite Down

Separable Inseperable Inseperable Seperable Seperable Seperable

to distribute Postpone die

collect somebody indicate/direct attention to something

to be less noisy

Class, please quiet down. I'm trying to think

Rack up

Separable

to accumulate in number (score) to read aloud items from a list or display

Read off

Separable

You?d better watch where you park. You?re really racking up the parking tickets. The coach read off the names of the players cut from the team

Read Over Rent out Rip up Run Into S Set back

Separable Separable Seperable Inseparable Separable

to read something thoroughly to steal something

Set up

Separable

Before you sign the contract, please read it over. Max ripped twenty dollars off from that old lady. to escape from one's Mary ran away at the age of guardians thirteen. to meet unexpectedly I was surprised when I ran into Bill on the way to the store yesterday. cause a delay in We've had some problems with the scheduling project that have set us back at least two days . We'll give you a progress report tomorrow make arrangements An inquiry into the accident has for something; been set up. You'll see Mr. Thomas establish tomorrow. I've set a meeting up for 9:30 AM to be prominent or conspicuous to resolve problems or difficulties to speak very loudly; to announce to remove hair by shaving to return something to compromise one's values for personal gain to make a mistake or do something wrong to collect money for future use to dismantle or disassemble to return to persuade to do something Max's car stands out among all of the cars in the parking lot because of its florescent green paintjob. Max tried to sort out the misunderstanding he had with Mary. Max shouted the directions to his house out. Michael Jordan first shaved off all of his hair when he was in his twenties. I sent the soup back to the kitchen because there was a fly in it. Catherine sold out. I guess power and money mean more to her than what she said were her personal values. Max screwed up his relationship with Mary Max is saving up for a brand new car. Max took the engine of his car apart, but couldn't put it back together Max took the defective radio back to the sore where he bought it. Max talked Mary into going to Mexico with him.

Stand in for Sort out

Inseparable

Separable

Shout out Seperable Shave off Seperable

Send Back Sell out

Seperable Seperable

Screw up Save up T Take Apart Take Back Talk into

Seperable Seperable Seperable

Seperable Seperable

Trade in

Separable

Try Out Turn Up Turn Over Turn off Turn down U Use Up

Separable Seperable Seperable

to exchange something (usually used) for payment or partial payment for something else. to test to see if something is suitable to increase to invert; rotate

Max traded his old jalopy in as a down payment on a new BMW.

Seperable Seperable

to disgust to decrease

I'm going to try out some new recipes for dinner this week. Please turn the radio up. I can hardly hear it. Once the pancake is done on one side, please turn it over to cook the other side. Selfish people really turn me off Please turn the radio down. It's too loud. Max used up all of the ink printing his pictures
You can give the keys to Andy. I can vouch for him.

Seperable

to use all of

vouch for

Seperable

express confidence in, or guarantee something

W Water down Wear off Write down Wipe off

Seperable Seperable Seperable

to make weaker to no longer affect someone to record in writing

Seperable

Wear down

Seperable

to clean a surface by dragging a towel or sponge across it to cause to be worn or weak

Don't go to that bar. The bartender waters down all of the drinks. Oh no, call the doctor. the drugs are wearing off. In that class, you should write down everything that the professor says. It's likely to be on the test. After dinner, please wipe off the table and wash the dishes. Your constant nagging is wearing me down