Here are 50 commonly used phrasal verbs, along with their meanings and examples:
Act up: to misbehave or function improperly.
Example: The computer is acting up again. It keeps freezing.
Ask out: to invite someone on a date.
Example: He finally asked her out, and they went to dinner together.
Back off: to move away or retreat.
Example: The dog growled, so I backed off slowly.
Break down: to stop working or functioning; to lose control emotionally.
Example: My car broke down on the way to work. I had to call for a tow truck.
Bring up: to mention or raise a topic.
Example: She brought up an interesting point during the meeting.
Call off: to cancel something.
Example: They called off the meeting due to bad weather.
Carry on: to continue doing something.
Example: Despite the difficulties, she carried on with her studies.
Check out: to investigate or examine; to leave a place.
Example: The police checked out the crime scene for evidence. We checked out of the hotel this morning.
Cut off: to disconnect or stop the supply of something.
Example: The storm cut off the power in the whole neighbourhood.
Drop off: to deliver or leave someone or something at a destination.
Example: I’ll drop off the package at the post office on my way home.
Eat out: to dine at a restaurant.
Example: Let’s eat out tonight instead of cooking at home.
Figure out: to solve or understand something.
Example: It took me a while, but I finally figured out the puzzle.
Get along: to have a good relationship or rapport with someone.
Example: Despite their differences, they manage to get along well.
Give up: to quit or surrender.
Example: After many failed attempts, she finally quit learning the guitar.
Hang up: to end a phone call.
Example: I had to hang up because my battery was dying.
Keep up: to continue at the same pace or level.
Example: She works hard to keep up with her classmates.
Look after: to take care of or watch over someone or something.
Example: Can you look after my cat while I’m on vacation?
Makeup: to reconcile or invent a story.
Example: They disagreed, but they made up the next day.
Payback: to return money that was borrowed.
Example: I’ll pay you back when I get my paycheck next week.
Pick up: to lift or acquire; to give someone a ride.
Example: She picked up the book from the table. Can you pick me up at the airport?
Put off: to postpone or delay.
Example: They decided to put off the meeting until next week.
Run out: to use up or deplete the supply of something.
Example: We ran out of milk, so I must buy more.
Set up: to arrange or establish something.
Example: They set up a meeting to discuss the project.
Take off: to remove or depart quickly.
Example: He took off his jacket and hung it on the hook. The plane will take off in ten minutes.
Turn on: to switch on or activate.
Example: She turned on the TV to watch her favourite show.
Use up: to consume or exhaust completely.
Example: I used all the printer ink, so we must buy more.
Blow up: to explode or inflate.
Example: The balloon blew up with a loud pop.
Break up: to end a relationship; to disperse or separate.
Example: They decided to break up after dating for two years. The crowd started to break up after the concert.
Call back: to return a phone call.
Example: I missed his call, so I’ll have to call him back later.
Carry out: to complete or fulfil a task or action.
Example: The researchers carried out a series of experiments.
Check-in: to register or arrive at a hotel or event.
Example: We need to check in at the hotel before 3 p.m.
Cut down: to reduce or decrease.
Example: I’m trying to reduce caffeine by drinking less coffee.
Dress up: wear formal or unique clothing.
Example: Let’s dress up for the party tonight.
Figure in: to include or take into account.
Example: The additional costs were figured in when planning the project.
Get over: to recover from or move on from something.
Example: It took her a long time to get over her breakup.
Give in: to yield or surrender.
Example: After hours of negotiation, they finally gave in to our demands.
Hang out: to spend time together in a casual or relaxed manner.
Example: Let’s hang out at the park this afternoon.
Keep away: to maintain a distance or avoid.
Example: Keep away from the edge of the cliff for your safety.
Look up: to search for information or a word in a reference source.
Example: I don’t know the meaning of that word; let me look it up.
Make out: to perceive or understand something; to kiss passionately.
Example: It’s hard to distinguish the words in this blurry photo. They were making out in the park.
Pass out: to faint or lose consciousness.
Example: The heat was too much for him, and he passed out.
Pick out: to choose or select from a group.
Example: She picked out a dress for the party.
Put on: to wear or apply; to stage a performance.
Example: Put on your coat; it’s cold outside. They’re putting on a play at the theatre.
Run into: to encounter or meet unexpectedly.
Example: I ran into an old friend at the grocery store.
Settle down: to establish a stable life; to calm down.
Example: After years of travelling, he settled down and started a family.
Take on: to assume responsibility or a challenge.
Example: She took on the role of team leader.
Turn off: to switch off or deactivate.
Example: Don’t forget to turn off the lights before leaving.
Wake up: to stop sleeping and become alert.
Example: I usually wake up at 7 a.m. on weekdays.
Work out: to exercise or solve a problem; to result in success.
Example: She works out at the gym every morning. The plan didn’t work out as expected.
Zip up: to close or fasten with a zipper.
Example: Can you zip up my dress? I can’t reach the zipper.
Act out: to express emotions or perform actions through behaviour.
Example: The child acted out because he didn’t want to go to bed.
Back up: to provide support or assistance; to reverse a vehicle.
Example: I’ll back you up in the meeting. He carefully backed up the car into the parking space.
Bring about: to cause or make something happen.
Example: The new policies brought about positive changes in the company.
Brush up on: to review or improve one’s knowledge or skills in a particular area.
Example: I must brush up on my Spanish before my trip to Spain.
Call for: to require or demand; to visit and collect someone.
Example: This situation calls for immediate action. I’ll call you at 7 p.m. to go to the party.
Carryover: to continue or transfer something from one situation to another.
Example: Unused vacation days can often be carried over to the next year.
Check up on: to monitor or inspect someone or something.
Example: The teacher checks up on the student’s progress regularly.
Come across: to encounter or find unexpectedly.
Example: I came across an interesting article while browsing the internet.
Cut back: to reduce or decrease something.
Example: I need to cut back on my expenses to save money.
Drop by/in: to visit someone informally and briefly.
Example: Feel free to drop by our house anytime you’re in the neighbourhood.
Eat up: to consume all the food; to believe something completely.
Example: He ate up his dinner quickly. Don’t eat up everything they say without question.
Figure on: to plan or expect something.
Example: We figured on finishing the project by the end of the month.
Get across: to communicate or make something understood.
Example: She struggled to get her ideas across during the presentation.
Give away: to give something as a gift, to reveal a secret.
Example: She gave away her old clothes to charity. Don’t give away the surprise party!
Hang up on: to end a phone call abruptly or to become obsessed with something.
Example: I accidentally hung up on her during our conversation. He’s hung up on the idea of becoming a musician.
Keep on: to continue doing something persistently.
Example: Keep on practising, and you’ll improve your skills.
Look forward to: to anticipate or be excited about something in the future.
Example: I’m looking forward to our vacation next month.
Make for: to move towards a destination; to contribute to or cause something.
Example: They made for the exit as soon as the concert ended. The bad weather made for a difficult journey.
Pay off: to give a beneficial result; to repay a debt.
Example: All the hard work paid off when she got promoted. He finally paid off his student loans.
Pick on: to unfairly target or criticize someone repeatedly.
Example: The bullies always picked on him because of his glasses.
Put away: to tidy up or store something in its proper place.
Example: Please put away your toys before bedtime.
Run over: to hit with a vehicle; to review or summarize something quickly.
Example: The car ran over a stray cat. Let’s run over the main points of the presentation.
Set aside: to reserve or save something for a particular purpose.
Example: She set aside some money for a rainy day.
Take after: to resemble or have similar traits to a family member.
Example: He takes after his mother with his artistic talent.
Turn out: to result in a particular way; to attend an event.
Example: The party turned out to be a great success. Many people turned out for the concert.
Use as: to employ something for a specific purpose.
Example: You can use a screwdriver as a makeshift hammer.
Blow away: to impress greatly; to be carried away by the wind.
Example: Her performance blew the audience away. The wind blew away the papers from the desk.
Break in: to enter forcibly; to wear something until it becomes comfortable.
Example: The burglars broke in while they were on vacation. He needs to break into his new shoes before wearing them for a long walk.
Call up: to telephone someone; to summon or mobilize.
Example: I’ll call up my friend to invite her to the party. They called up the reserves for the military operation.
Carry through: to complete or accomplish something despite difficulties.
Example: With determination, she carried through with her plan.
Check out of: to leave or pay the bill at a hotel.
Example: We need to check out of the hotel before noon.
Cut in: to interrupt or intrude abruptly; to enter a line of people or vehicles.
Example: He cut in while they were having a conversation. The car cut in front of me on the highway.
Do away with: to eliminate or get rid of something.
Example: They should do away with this outdated policy.
End up: to eventually reach or find oneself in a particular situation.
Example: After getting lost, they ended up at a beautiful beach.
Get along with: to have a harmonious relationship with someone.
Example: He gets along well with his coworkers.
Give off: to emit or release a smell, gas, or light.
Example: The flowers give off a pleasant fragrance.
Hang onto: to hold tightly or keep possession of something.
Example: Hang onto this ticket; you’ll need it for the concert.
Keep out: to prevent someone or something from entering.
Example: The sign said “Keep out” to discourage trespassers.
Look down on: to view or treat someone as inferior or less important.
Example: He looks down on people who don’t share his interests.
Make up for: to compensate or provide something that compensates for a deficiency.
Example: She made up for her mistake by working extra hours.
Pass away: to die or pass on.
Example: Her grandfather passed away last night.
Pick up on: to notice or perceive something; to learn or understand quickly.
Example: She picked up on the subtle hints he was dropping. He picked up the new language very quickly.
Put off: to postpone or delay something; to cause someone to feel repelled or disgusted.
Example: They put off the meeting until next week. The bad smell put her off her food.
Run away: to escape or leave suddenly without permission.
Example: The child ran away from home but was found by the police.
Set up: to arrange or organize something; to frame someone for a crime.
Example: She set up a meeting with the team to discuss the project. He was set up by his enemies.
Take back: to retract or withdraw a statement or action; to return something to its original place.
Example: I apologize; I take back what I said. Please take these books back to the library.
Turn around: to reverse a situation; to change direction or face the opposite way.
Example: The company’s financial situation turned around after new management took over. Turn around and face the wall.
Wake up: to become aware or conscious of something.
Example: He finally woke up to the reality of the situation.
Work on: to focus effort and attention on something; to improve or develop something.
Example: She needs to work on her public speaking skills. The team is working on a new project.
Zip through: to complete or go through something quickly.
Example: She zipped through her homework and had time to spare.
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