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Common Phrasal Verbs

Common Phrasal Verbs

Ask

  • Ask somebody out: Invite someone to a date.

  • Ask around: Inquire from multiple people.

Add

  • Add up to something: Be equivalent to some value.

Back

  • Back something up: Reverse or change direction.

  • Back somebody up: Provide support.

Blow

  • Blow up: Explode.

  • Blow something up: Inflate or exaggerate something.

Break

  • Break down: Cease functioning or suffer an emotional collapse.

  • Break something down: Separate into smaller parts.

  • Break in: Intrude or interrupt.

  • Break up: End a relationship.

  • Break out: Escape.

Bring

  • Bring somebody down: Cause someone to feel sad.

  • Bring something up: Start a topic or regurgitate something.

Call

  • Call around: Make multiple calls.

  • Call somebody back: Return a call.

  • Call something off: Cancel something.

  • Call on somebody: Request an opinion or visit someone.

Calm

  • Calm down: Become less agitated.

  • Not care for somebody/something: Dislike.

Catch

  • Catch up: Reach the same level or standard.

Check

  • Check in: Confirm registration, often at hotels.

  • Check out: Leave a place, typically a hotel.

  • Check somebody/something out: Examine closely.

Cheer

  • Cheer up: Become more cheerful.

Clean

  • Clean something up: Tidy up.

Come

  • Come across something: Discover unexpectedly.

  • Come apart: Break into pieces.

  • Come down with something: Become ill.

  • Come forward: Volunteer information.

Count

  • Count on somebody/something: Rely on.

Cross

  • Cross something out: Mark something as invalid.

Cut

  • Cut back on something: Reduce consumption.

  • Cut something down: Chop something down.

  • Cut in: Interfere or interrupt.

  • Cut something off: Remove by cutting; stop providing something.

Do

  • Do something over: Repeat a task.

  • Do away with something: Eliminate.

Drop

  • Drop in/by/over: Visit unexpectedly.

  • Drop out: Withdraw from school or a course.

Eat

  • Eat out: Dine at a restaurant.

End

  • End up: Ultimately do something.

Fall

  • Fall apart: Break into many pieces.

  • Fall down: Collapse.

Figure

  • Figure something out: Solve or understand.

Fill

  • Fill something in/out: Complete forms or information.

  • Fill something up: Make full.

Get

  • Get something across/over: Communicate effectively.

  • Get along/on: Be friendly.

  • Get away: Go on a vacation.

  • Get back: Return.

  • Get together: Meet.

Give

  • Give something away: Reveal a secret or donate.

  • Give up: Surrender or quit.

Go

  • Go after something: Pursue a goal.

  • Go ahead: Proceed.

Hang

  • Hang out: Spend time leisurely.

Keep

  • Keep on doing something: Continue with an activity.

Let

  • Let somebody down: Disappoint someone.

Look

  • Look after somebody/something: Care for.

  • Look forward to something: Anticipate with excitement.

  • Look into something: Investigate.

  • Look out: Be cautious.

Make

  • Make something up: Invent or fabricate.

Pass

  • Pass away: Die.

  • Pass something out: Distribute.

Pick

  • Pick something out: Choose.

Put

  • Put something off: Delay.

  • Put up with somebody/something: Tolerate.

Run

  • Run into somebody/something: Meet unexpectedly.

  • Run away: Escape or flee.

Send

  • Send something back: Return an item.

Set

  • Set something up: Arrange or establish.

Show

  • Show off: Display proudly.

Take

  • Take something back: Return something.

Turn

  • Turn something down: Decline or lower volume.

Try

  • Try something on: Fit clothing.

  • Try something out: Test something for effectiveness.

Wake

  • Wake up: Become awake.

Work

  • Work out: Exercise or find a solution.