phrasal verbs

Act up

To behave badly or misbehave.

Add up

To make sense or be logical.

Ask around

To ask many people the same question.

Ask out

To invite someone to go out with you.

Answer back

To respond rudely or defiantly.

Aim at

To direct or point something towards a target.

Back away

To move away from something or someone.

Bail out

To rescue or provide financial assistance.

Bear out

To support or confirm something.

Bear with

To be patient with someone or something.

Beat down

To weaken or wear down someone’s resistance or enthusiasm.

Bear up

To endure or tolerate something difficult.

Blow up

To explode or become angry.

Bring about

To cause or make something happen.

Bring along

To bring someone or something with you.

Bring down

To cause the downfall of someone or something.

Bring up

To raise or mention a topic.

Brush up

To improve one’s skills or knowledge in a particular area.

Build up

To increase gradually in size or importance.

Break away

To leave or escape from a group or situation.

Break down

To stop working or functioning properly.

Break into

To enter a building or conversation forcefully and without permission.

Break out

To suddenly start or begin, especially in a negative or undesirable way.

Break up

To end a relationship or a meeting.

Bring in

To introduce or initiate something new.

Bring out

To produce or reveal something that was hidden or unknown.

Call off

To cancel something that was planned or scheduled.

Carry on

To continue doing something.

Catch up

To reach the same level or status as someone else.

Check-in

To register at a hotel or airport.

Check out

To leave a hotel or pay the bill.

Cheer up

To make someone feel happier.

Clean up

To make something clean and tidy.

Come across

To find or discover something by chance.

Come along

To make progress or develop well.

Come around

To change one’s opinion or viewpoint.

Come out

To be released or become available.

Come up

To arise or occur unexpectedly.

Count on

To rely on someone or something.

Cut down

To reduce the amount or size of something.

Cut off

To disconnect or stop something abruptly.

Cut out

To remove or eliminate something.

Carry out

To complete or perform a task.

Clear up

To make something clear or understandable.

Come into

To receive something such as an inheritance or gift.

Cross out

To delete or mark something as incorrect.

Deal with

To handle or manage a situation.

Die down

To become less intense or loud.

Do over

To repeat or redo something.

Draw up

To prepare or create a document or plan.

Drop off

To fall asleep or to decrease in amount or intensity.

Dry up

To become dry or to cause something to become dry.

Dust off

To clean or polish something that hasn’t been used in a while.

Drive away

To make someone or something go away by driving.

Dress up

To wear formal or fancy clothes.

Drop by

To visit someone without making an appointment.

Drop in

To visit someone briefly and without an invitation.

Double up

To share a room or bed with someone.

Drive off

To leave quickly in a vehicle.

Dry out

To become dry or to cause something to become dry after being wet.

Drop out

To quit or withdraw from something.

Dress down

To wear casual or informal clothes.

Draw in

To become dark earlier in the evening.

Die away

To become less loud or intense until it disappears.

Dig in

To start eating or to prepare for a long and difficult task.

Drive up

To arrive in a vehicle, often for a short time.

Ease up

To relax or become less intense.

End up

To eventually reach or arrive at a particular place or situation.

Engage in

To take part in or become involved in.

Enter into

To start or become involved in a formal agreement or relationship.

Even out

To make something smooth or level or to make a situation fairer.

Expose to

To make someone or something experience something new or unpleasant.

Extend to

To include or involve someone or something in a particular group or activity.

Eye up

To look at someone or something in a particular way, often with desire or suspicion.

Face up to

To accept and deal with a difficult situation.

Fall apart

To break into pieces or to fail completely.

Fall back on

To rely on something or someone for help or support.

Figure out

To understand or solve a problem.

Fill in

To provide missing information or details.

Find out

To discover or learn something new.

Finish off

To complete the last part of something or to use up the last of something.

Fix up

To repair or improve something.

Follow up

To take additional action or to check on something after an initial contact or meeting.

Fool around

To engage in idle or silly behavior.

Forge ahead

To continue making progress despite obstacles or challenges.

Freak out

To become extremely upset or agitated.

Free up

To make something available or to have more time or resources available.

Get across

To communicate or convey an idea or message.

Get along

To have a friendly relationship or to make progress.

Get around

To move from place to place or to find a way to avoid a problem or obstacle.

Give away

To donate or to reveal a secret or information.

Give up

To stop trying or to surrender.

Go ahead

To proceed or to give permission to do something.

Go over

To review or to inspect carefully.

Grow into

To develop or to become suitable for a particular role or position.

Grow out of

To no longer have an interest in something or to become too big for something.

Give in

To surrender or to yield to someone or something.

Get over

To recover from an illness or to overcome a difficult situation or emotion.

Go through

To experience or to undergo a process or procedure.

Give off

To emit or release something, such as a smell or sound.