150 Phrasal Verbs Index (B1 to C2)

A comprehensive vocabulary set of 150 phrasal verbs with definitions calibrated from Intermediate (B1) to Mastery (C2).

Abide by

Accept or comply with a rule, decision, or recommendation.

Account for

Explain the cause of something; form a specified proportion of.

Act up

Behave badly or malfunction (of a machine or body part).

Add up to

Amount to a total; lead to a particular result or conclusion.

Allow for

Take into consideration when planning or calculating.

Answer for

Be held responsible or accountable for a fault or wrongdoing.

Ask after

Inquire about the health, well-being, or progress of someone.

Bail out

Rescue someone from a difficult or financial situation.

Bargain for / on

Expect or be prepared for something to happen.

Bear out

Confirm or support a statement, theory, or premise with evidence.

Bear up

Remain strong or brave during tough times or hardship.

Blend in

Harmonize or fit seamlessly into surrounding surroundings.

Blurt out

Utter impulsively, indiscreetly, or without thinking.

Board up

Cover wooden panels over doors or windows for protection.

Bog down

Become entangled or stuck in tedious details or mud.

Bottle up

Suppress or conceal strong emotions over a long period.

Branch out

Expand business, activity, or interest into new areas.

Break through

Make a dramatic discovery, advancement, or overcome an obstacle.

Brim over

Overflow with a container's contents or strong feeling.

Bring about

Cause something to happen or come into existence.

Bring off

Succeed in accomplishing something difficult against odds.

Bring round / around

Persuade someone to accept an opinion; restore consciousness.

Brush off

Dismiss, ignore, or treat someone or something as unimportant.

Brush up on

Improve or refresh one's existing knowledge of a skill.

Buckle down

Start working hard and applying oneself with total focus.

Build up

Increase, accumulate, or strengthen gradually over time.

Bump into

Meet someone unexpectedly by chance.

Butter up

Flatter someone excessively to gain a favor or advantage.

Call for

Publicly demand, require, or necessitate a specific action.

Call out

Challenge, criticize, or draw attention to bad behavior.

Carry off

Handle a difficult task or complex situation successfully.

Carry out

Perform, conduct, or execute an order, test, or duty.

Cash in on

Exploit a situation or opportunity strictly for financial gain.

Catch on

Become popular; finally comprehend or understand a concept.

Cater to

Provide for particular tastes, desires, or demands of a group.

Chalk up to

Attribute an outcome or mistake to a specific cause or experience.

Clamp down on

Impose strict laws or measures to prevent illegal activity.

Clear up

Resolve a misunderstanding or issue; cure an illness.

Climb down

Concede a point, admit defeat, or withdraw a claim in debate.

Come about

Happen or occur (especially naturally or unexpectedly).

Come across

Find by chance; project a specified impression to others.

Come in for

Receive or be the target of criticism, blame, or judgment.

Come off

Succeed or turn out as planned; detach from something.

Come round / around

Change opinion to agree with someone; regain consciousness.

Come up against

Encounter a formidable obstacle, opposition, or difficulty.

Come up with

Produce, devise, or propose an idea, plan, or solution.

Conjure up

Evoke or bring vivid images, memories, or ideas to mind.

Cotton on to

Begin to understand or realize a truth or hidden fact.

Count on

Rely or depend on a person or outcome with confidence.

Crack down on

Enforce laws strictly to stop unwanted conduct.

Crop up

Appear or occur unexpectedly or without prior notice.

Cut back on

Reduce consumption, expenditure, or reliance on something.

Dawn on

Become evident or realized by someone for the first time.

Die down

Subside, decrease in intensity, or calm down gradually.

Dish out

Distribute freely, abundantly, or dispense harsh criticism.

Do away with

Abolish, eliminate, or get rid of a practice, law, or item.

Do out of

Cheat or deprive someone out of something by deceit.

Drag on

Continue unnecessarily or tediously for an extended time.

Draw on / upon

Utilize skills, experience, or resources to accomplish a goal.

Draw up

Draft or write a formal document, plan, contract, or list.

Drive at

Imply or try to convey an underlying message or point.

Dwelling on

Spend excessive time thinking or worrying about something.

Easel out

Gently remove or replace someone from a role or position.

Earmark for

Designate or reserve funds or resources for a specific purpose.

Eke out

Make a small supply last through frugality; supplement income.

Embark on / upon

Start a new, significant, challenging project or venture.

Explain away

Minimize or justify a mistake/fault so it seems acceptable.

Face up to

Accept and confront a difficult, unpleasant reality or truth.

Fall back on

Turn to a contingency plan or resource when primary fails.

Fall through

Fail to happen, materialize, or be completed (plans/deals).

Fathom out

Comprehend or solve a complex mystery or difficult person.

Ferret out

Search out and uncover hidden information or secrets.

Fritter away

Waste time, money, or effort on trivial, unimportant things.

Gain on

Get closer to someone or something being pursued.

Get by

Manage to survive or live with minimal resources or money.

Get round / around to

Finally find time to address a task long delayed.

Gloss over

Treat or mention an error or problem briefly to avoid attention.

Grapple with

Struggle hard to deal with or solve a challenging issue.

Haggle over

Dispute or bargain persistently over a price or conditions.

Hinge on / upon

Depend entirely on a specific contingency, factor, or event.

Hit upon

Discover or think of a solution or idea suddenly or by chance.

Iron out

Resolve small problems, details, or disagreements smoothly.

Jot down

Write something down quickly and briefly for future reference.

Key in

Enter information into a system using a keyboard or keypad.

Kick off

Begin or launch an event, meeting, or sports match.

Lash out at

Attack someone verbally or physically in a sudden fit of rage.

Lay off

Discharge workers due to economic conditions; cease bothering.

Lead up to

Precede or form a series of events resulting in a conclusion.

Level with

Be entirely frank, honest, and open with someone.

Live down

Overcome or make people forget an embarrassing error.

Live up to

Fulfill high expectations, standards, or promises.

Look down on

Consider someone inferior or treat them with contempt.

Make out

Barely discern or hear; claim or pretend falsely.

Make up for

Compensate for a mistake, deficiency, or lost opportunity.

Measure up to

Meet an expected standard, quality, or set of requirements.

Mull over

Ponder or consider a choice or plan carefully over time.

Nip in the bud

Stop a problem or plan at an early stage before development.

Nod off

Fall asleep unintentionally, especially while sitting upright.

Opt out of

Choose not to participate in an agreement, activity, or system.

Own up to

Admit responsibility for an error, crime, or mistake.