FCE Phrasal Verbs Summary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering all 114 phrasal verbs and their definitions from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English for the First Certificate in English (FCE) for Schools preparation.

turn into (something)

To change and become something different, sometimes as if by magic.

turn (something/somebody) into (something)

To make someone or something change and become something different, sometimes by magic.

turn up

(1) To arrive at a place, especially when you are not expected or are late. (2) To be found, especially by chance, after being lost or searched for. (3) If an opportunity or a situation turns up, it happens, especially when you are not expecting it.

turn (something) up / turn up (something)

(1) To increase the sound, heat, power etc. of a machine such as a radio or an oven by using its controls. (2) To find something by searching for it thoroughly.

turn out

(1) To happen in a particular way or have a particular result, or to be discovered to be true, especially when this is unexpected (turn out to be / it turns out that). (2) If people turn out for an event, they go there to watch it or take part in it.

turn (something/somebody) out / turn out (something/somebody)

(1) To switch off a light. (2) To produce or make something. (3) To empty something such as a pocket, a drawer or a room completely, often in order to clean it. (4) To force someone to leave a place permanently, especially their home.

turn (something/somebody) down / turn down (something/somebody)

(1) To reduce the sound, heat, power etc. of a machine such as a radio or an oven by using its controls. (2) To refuse an offer, a request or an invitation, or the person who makes it.

turn (something/somebody) off / turn off (something/somebody)

(1) To stop a machine, a light or an engine working, or to stop the supply of water, gas etc., by using a switch, a button or a handle. (2) To make someone lose interest in something or feel that they do not like it or are not attracted to it.

turn off / turn off (something)

To leave the road you are travelling on and start travelling on another road.

look up

If a situation is looking up, it is improving.

look (something/somebody) up / look up (something/somebody)

(1) To try to find information in a dictionary, a book, on a computer etc. (2) To visit someone you know, especially when you are in the place where they live for a different reason.

look for (something/somebody)

To try to find someone or something that is lost or not where they should be, or a particular kind of person or thing that you want or need.

look forward to (something / doing something)

To feel excited and pleased about something that is going to happen.

look after (something/somebody)

(1) To take care of someone (or yourself) by helping them, giving them what they need or keeping them safe. (2) To be responsible for dealing with something.

look into (something)

To try to find out the truth about a problem, a crime etc. in order to deal with it or solve it.

take (something) up / take up (something)

(1) To start doing a new activity, hobby or job, or to start having a new responsibility. (2) To start to deal with a problem, a complaint or a suggestion, often by discussing it with someone in authority (take something up with somebody). (3) To accept an offer, an invitation, a suggestion or a challenge. (4) To continue a story or an activity from where you or someone else stopped, after a short break.

take up (something)

(1) To use or fill a particular amount of time or space. (2) To move into the exact position where you should be, so that you are ready to do something.

take (something/somebody) on / take on (something/somebody)

(1) To start to employ someone. (2) To agree to do some work or to accept a responsibility. (3) To begin to have a particular quality or appearance. (4) To compete or fight against someone, especially someone bigger or better than you.

take after (somebody)

To look or behave like an older member of your family.

take off

(1) If a plane takes off, it rises into the air from the ground. (2) To suddenly start being successful or popular.

take (something/somebody) off / take off (something/somebody)

(1) To remove a piece of clothing. (2) To copy the way someone speaks or behaves in order to make people laugh (British English, informal).

take (something) off

To have a particular day or period of time as a holiday from work or school (take a day off / take time off).

take (something/somebody) in / take in (something/somebody)

(1) To let someone stay in your home because they have nowhere else to stay. (2) To understand and remember new facts or information. (3) To visit a place while you are in the area. (4) To collect or earn a particular amount of money (American English).

be taken in (by somebody)

To be completely deceived or tricked by someone who lies to you.

carry on / carry on with (something)

(1) To continue doing something, or to continue moving (carry on doing something). (2) To keep talking about something in an annoying way (carry on about something) (spoken).

carry on (something)

To do a particular kind of work or activity, or to take part in it (carry on a conversation / carry on a business).

carry (something) out / carry out (something)

(1) To do something that needs to be organized and planned, such as research, a test or an investigation. (2) To do something that you have said you will do or that someone has told you to do, such as a promise, an order or a threat.

pick (something/somebody) up / pick up (something/somebody)

(1) To lift someone or something up. (2) To collect someone or something from a place, or to let someone get into your car and take them somewhere. (3) To get, buy or win something, or to catch an illness, often by chance or without much effort (informal). (4) To learn something, such as a language or a skill, by watching and listening to other people rather than by studying. (5) To notice or receive something that is not easy to notice, such as a slight smell, a sound or a radio signal. (6) To return to an idea or a subject that was mentioned earlier and develop it further. (7) To get onto a road, a train or a bus and start travelling on it. (8) If the police pick someone up, they take them somewhere to question them or lock them up. (9) To start talking to someone you have just met because you want to have a romantic or sexual relationship with them. (10) To make a room or a building tidy (American English).

pick up

(1) If a situation, a business, the wind etc. picks up, it improves, increases or gets stronger. (2) To start again from the point where you stopped or were interrupted (pick up where you left off).

pick (somebody) up

If a medicine or a drink picks you up, it makes you feel better or more energetic.

pick on (something/somebody)

(1) To treat someone unfairly, for example by repeatedly criticizing them, blaming them or being unkind to them. (2) To choose a particular person or thing (British English).

run out of (something)

To use all of something so that there is none left.

run out

(1) If something runs out or is running out, there is none left or there will soon be none left. (2) If an agreement or an official document runs out, the period during which it is valid ends.

run into (something/somebody)

(1) To meet someone by chance. (2) To start to experience problems or difficulties (run into trouble / run into problems). (3) To hit someone or something with a vehicle. (4) To reach a large amount, such as hundreds or thousands (run into thousands).

cut down / cut down on (something)

To eat, drink, use or do less of something, especially in order to improve your health, or to reduce the amount of something.

call (something/somebody) off / call off (something/somebody)

(1) To cancel a planned event, or to officially stop something that has already started. (2) To order a person or an animal to stop attacking or threatening someone.

keep up with (something/somebody)

(1) To move as fast as someone else so that you stay level with them. (2) To manage to do as much or as well as other people, or to increase at the same speed as something else. (3) To continue to read and learn about a subject so that you always know the latest facts, news etc. (4) To stay in contact with a friend by writing, phoning or meeting them regularly.

keep (something) off / keep off (something)

(1) To prevent something from touching, harming or getting onto something (keep the rain off). (2) To not get heavier again after you have lost weight (keep the weight off).

keep off (something)

(1) To not go onto a particular area (Keep off the grass!). (2) To avoid eating, drinking or taking something that is bad for you. (3) To avoid talking about a particular subject, especially so that you do not upset someone.

keep (somebody) off (something)

To stop someone from eating, drinking or taking something that is bad for them, or from going onto a particular area.

keep off

If rain keeps off, it does not fall (British English).

keep out / keep out of (something)

(1) To not enter a place (often used on signs: Keep out!). (2) To avoid becoming involved in something (keep out of trouble).

keep (something/somebody) out / keep out (something/somebody)

To prevent someone or something from getting into a place, or from becoming involved in something (keep somebody out of something).

come across (something/somebody)

To meet, find or discover someone or something by chance.

come across / come across as (something)

(1) If an idea or a message comes across well, it is easy for people to understand. (2) If someone comes across in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities (come across as confident).

come up with (something)

(1) To think of an idea, a plan, an answer etc. (2) To produce or find an amount of money that is needed (informal).

plan ahead

To think carefully about something you want to do in the future and decide how and when you will do it.

put (something/somebody) on / put on (something/somebody)

(1) To put clothes on your body, or make-up, cream etc. on your skin. (2) To make a light or a piece of equipment start working, or to start playing music. (3) To become fatter and heavier (put on weight). (4) To pretend to have a particular feeling, opinion or way of speaking, especially to get attention. (5) To organize an event such as a concert or a play, or to perform in it, or to provide a special service for people. (6) To show what you are able to do or what power you have (put on a good performance). (7) To start cooking something. (8) To give someone the telephone so that they can talk to the person who is calling.

put (something) on (something)

(1) To do something that affects or limits someone or something (put pressure on / put a limit on). (2) To add an amount of money or tax to the cost of something. (3) To risk an amount of money on the result of a race or a game.

put (something/somebody) off / put off (something/somebody)

(1) To delay doing something or arrange to do it at a later time (put off doing something). (2) To make someone dislike something or not want to do it (put somebody off doing something) (British English).

put (somebody) off

(1) To make someone wait because you do not want to see them, pay them etc. until later. (2) To make it difficult for someone to pay attention to what they are doing by talking, making a noise etc. (British English). (3) To let someone get out of a vehicle at a particular place (British English).

put (something/somebody) up / put up (something/somebody)

(1) To build something such as a wall, a fence, a building or a tent. (2) To fix something such as a picture, a notice or a shelf on a wall. (3) To raise something to a higher position, such as your hand. (4) To increase the price or value of something (British English). (5) To suggest someone as a suitable person to be elected to a position.

put (somebody) up

To let someone stay in your home and give them meals.

put up (something)

(1) To give an amount of money for a particular purpose. (2) To show great determination in opposing something or in getting out of a difficult situation (put up a fight / put up resistance). (3) To present a suggestion, an idea or an argument so that other people can discuss it.

put (something) up for (something)

To make something available for a particular purpose (put a house up for sale).

put up

To stay in a place for a short time (put up at a hotel) (British English).

bring (something/somebody) up / bring up (something/somebody)

(1) To mention a subject or start talking about it. (2) To look after and educate a child until he or she is an adult. (3) To make something appear on a computer screen. (4) To vomit food (British English).

be brought up

To be cared for and educated as a child in a particular place or way (be brought up in London / be brought up as a Catholic).

set (something/somebody) up / set up (something/somebody)

(1) To start a company, an organization, a committee etc. (2) To make the arrangements that are necessary for something to happen, such as a meeting. (3) To prepare equipment, or to place or build something (often not permanent), so that it is ready to be used. (4) To trick someone, especially to make it seem that they have done something wrong (informal). (5) To give someone the money they need, especially to start a business (British English, informal). (6) To arrange for two people to meet because you think they might start a romantic relationship (informal).

set (somebody) up

(1) To put someone in a position in which they can do something, or in which something is likely to happen to them (set somebody up for something). (2) To make you feel healthy and full of energy (British English).

set (yourself) up as (something)

(1) To start your own business doing a particular kind of work. (2) To make people believe that you have the authority or skill to do something, especially when this is not true.

set off

To start a journey (set off for a place).

set (something) off / set off (something)

(1) To make something start happening, especially when you do not intend to. (2) To make an alarm ring or a bomb explode. (3) To make something look more attractive (a colour that sets off your eyes).

set (somebody) off

To make someone start laughing, crying or talking about something.

give up / give (something) up / give up (something)

(1) To stop doing something that you do regularly, such as a habit or an activity (give up doing something). (2) To stop trying to do something, especially because it is too difficult.

give (something/somebody) up / give up (something/somebody)

(1) To give something that is yours to someone else, or let them have it (give something up to somebody). (2) To end a romantic relationship with someone, even though you do not really want to.

give (yourself/somebody) up

To allow yourself or someone else to be caught by the police or by enemy soldiers (give yourself up to the police).

give up (something)

To use some of your time to do a particular thing (give up your weekend to help).

give (something/somebody) away / give away (something/somebody)

(1) To give something to someone for free, especially because you do not want or need it. (2) To show or tell something that someone is trying to keep secret, such as where they are or what they are thinking (give yourself away).

give (something) out / give out (something)

(1) To give something to each person in a group. (2) To announce something, especially officially (British English, formal).

give out (something)

To produce something such as light, heat or a signal.

give out

(1) If a part of your body gives out, it stops working properly or becomes much weaker. (2) If a supply of something gives out, there is none left.

give off (something)

To produce a smell, light, heat, a sound etc.

figure (something/somebody) out / figure out (something/somebody)

To think about a problem, a situation or a person until you find the answer or understand them.

find out / find (something) out / find out (something)

To get information about something, after trying to discover it or by chance (find out about / find out that / find out who).

find (somebody) out

To discover that someone has been doing something dishonest or illegal (usually passive: be found out).

close down / close (something) down / close down (something)

If a company, a shop etc. closes down or is closed down, it stops operating permanently.

work (something/somebody) out / work out (something/somebody)

(1) To think carefully about how you are going to do something and plan a good way of doing it. (2) To calculate an answer, an amount, a price etc. (3) To think about something or someone until you understand it, or understand what they are really like.

work out

(1) If a problem or a situation works out, it happens in a particular way, especially it gradually gets better or ends successfully. (2) To make your body fit and strong by doing exercises. (3) If an amount works out at a particular figure, that is the result when you calculate it (work out at / work out to).

get by

To have just enough money to buy the things you need, but no more (get by on something).

get in

(1) To enter a place, especially when this is difficult. (2) To arrive at a place, especially home, or (of a train, a plane etc.) to arrive at a particular time. (3) To be elected to a position of political power. (4) To be accepted as a student at a university, a college etc.

get (something/somebody) in / get in (something/somebody)

(1) To buy a supply of something. (2) To ask someone to come to your home to do a job, especially to repair something. (3) To manage to do something even though you do not have much time.

get (something) in

To send or give something to a particular place or person (get your application in).

get off / get off (something/somebody)

(1) To leave a place, or to leave a bus, a train, a plane etc. (2) To finish work and leave the place where you work at the end of the day. (3) Used to tell someone to stop touching something or someone (Get off me!) (informal).

get off / get (somebody) off

(1) To avoid being punished or receive only a small punishment (get off with something), or to help someone avoid being punished. (2) To go to sleep, or to help a child go to sleep.

get (something) off

(1) To remove a piece of clothing. (2) To send a letter or a package by post.

get off (something)

To stop talking about a subject.

get on well / get on well with (somebody)

If people get on well, they like each other and have a friendly relationship (especially British English).

get along / get along with (something/somebody)

(1) If people get along, they like each other and have a friendly relationship. (2) To deal with a job or a situation, or to make progress (get along without somebody/something).

get rid of (something/somebody)

(1) To throw away or destroy something you do not want any more, or to take action so that you no longer have something unpleasant. (2) To make someone leave because you do not like them or because they are causing problems.

fall out / fall out with (somebody)

To have an argument with someone and stop being friendly with them.

fall out

If a tooth or your hair falls out, it comes out and is no longer attached to your body.

fall behind / fall behind (something/somebody)

(1) To move more slowly than other people so that they gradually get further ahead of you. (2) To become less successful than other people, companies, countries etc. (3) To fail to finish a piece of work or pay money you owe at the right time (fall behind with something / fall behind on something).

go down with (something)

To become ill, especially with an infectious disease (British English, informal).

go up

(1) To increase in price, amount, level etc. (2) If a building or a sign goes up, it is built or fixed into place. (3) To explode or be destroyed in a fire. (4) If a shout or a cheer goes up, people start to shout or cheer. (5) To go from one place to another, especially to a place further north or to a city from a smaller place (British English).

go down

(1) To become lower in level, amount, price, quality or standard. (2) To get a particular reaction from people (go down well / go down badly), or, of food or drink, to be enjoyed. (3) To go from one place to another, especially further south, or to a local place such as the shops. (4) If a ship goes down, it sinks, and if a plane goes down, it falls to the ground. (5) When the sun goes down, it sets, and if lights or the wind go down, they become less bright or less strong. (6) To become less swollen or, of something filled with air, to become smaller and softer. (7) To be remembered or recorded in a particular way (go down in history / go down as). (8) If a computer goes down, it stops working for a short time. (9) To be sent to prison (informal). (10) To happen (spoken, informal).

go on

(1) To continue doing something or being in a situation, or to continue talking after a pause (go on doing something / go on with something). (2) To happen (What's going on?). (3) To do something after you have finished something else (go on to do something). (4) Used to encourage someone to do something, or to agree to do something or give permission (spoken). (5) If a machine or a light goes on, it starts working. (6) If time goes on, it passes. (7) To talk too much, or to keep criticizing someone or asking them to do something in an annoying way (go on about something / go on at somebody). (8) To go somewhere before the other people you are with (go on ahead). (9) To behave in a particular way (British English, informal).

go on (something)

To base an opinion or a judgment on something (the police have nothing to go on).

catch on

(1) To become popular and fashionable. (2) To begin to understand or realize something (catch on to something).

catch up / catch up with (something/somebody) / catch (somebody) up

To reach someone in front of you by going faster, or to reach the same standard or level as other people (catch somebody up is British English).