Phrasal verbs are short phrases used as expressions. These familiar expressions replace more formal formulations.
Using phrasal verbs makes the message automatically more natural.
Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb with 1 or 2 additional words.
The added words can be:
-
an adverb
-
an adverb and a preposition
Combining the same verb with different words will affect the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Some verbs are used in many phrasal verb combinations. They create expressions with different meanings.
It is the case for the verbs to get and to go.
Some phrasal verbs can take on a different meaning depending on the context.
Buster blew up a balloon.
The balloon blew up.
Buster blew up.
Some phrasal verbs are separable: they can be split up by other words. Others are inseparable, and cannot be split up.
Separable phrasal verb:
-
keep the same meaning when they are split up.
-
can be split up, but do not have to: it is a choice.
Inseparable phrasal verb:
-
make no sense if they are split up.
-
must always be kept together.
How to find the right phrasal verb when there are thousands of possibilities?
Phrasal verbs are usually organized in 1 of these 4 ways.
-
Organized by Verbs
This way lists phrasal verbs according to the verb present in them.
|
Helpful when: |
Examples |
|
|
to take |
to go |
|
|
the expression is familiar to you. |
take in |
go away |
|
a verb by itself has a similar meaning as the expression. |
||
-
Organized by Particle
This way lists phrasal verbs according to particles added to the verb.
Generally the particles added are prepositions or adverbs.
|
Helpful when: |
Examples |
|
|
in |
away |
|
|
the particle influences the meaning of the expression. |
go in |
run away |
|
looking for synonyms. |
||
-
Organized by Meaning or Theme
This way lists phrasal verbs according to their meaning.
|
Helpful when: |
Examples |
|
|
for cleaning |
for separating |
|
|
looking to replace a verb. |
clean up |
break up |
|
looking for synonyms for other phrasal verbs. |
||
-
Organized in Alphabetical Order
This way lists phrasal verbs according to the alphabet, from A to Z.
|
Helpful when: |
Examples |
|
|
looking for the meaning of a phrasal verb. |
ask for |
note down |
|
searching by verb used in the expression. |
||
Here are some examples of common phrasal verbs, with their meaning.
|
Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
Example |
|
back up |
move backwards |
He backed the car up into the wall. |
|
come back |
return |
He’ll come back after the car is fixed. |
|
come by |
make a visit, approach |
Buster came by the garage yesterday. |
|
come in/out |
enter/exit |
It came out of the shop in great shape. |
|
drop in |
make a casual visit |
Mary will drop in to inspect the repairs. |
|
fall down |
drop to the ground |
The jack fell down and the car moved. |
|
get away |
escape, leave |
|
|
get in/out |
enter/exit |
The car quickly got out of the garage. |
|
get on/off |
embark/disembark |
Buster quickly got on a bicycle. |
|
go to |
reach a destination |
Mary goes to work on that bicycle. |
|
go up/down |
climb/descend |
The car was going down the street faster and faster. |
|
let in/out |
allow to enter/exit |
Mary asked: “Why did they let the car out?” |
|
move up/down |
go to a higher/lower position |
Buster was scared, but moved up to the car anyway. |
|
run away |
leave, escape |
He’s not one to run away from danger! |
|
run into |
have a collision |
The car stopped when it ran into a brick house. |
|
show up |
appear, arrive |
That is when Mary showed up. |
|
sit down |
take a sitting position |
Buster was sitting down, trying to catch his breath. |
|
stand up |
move to an upright position |
He stood up quickly when he heard an alarm. |
|
turn around |
change direction, rotate |
Buster turned around and hit the snooze button. |
|
wake up |
stop sleeping |
He was happy to wake up from that weird dream. |
|
Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
Example |
|
come around |
change your mind |
Douglas came around to Buster’s idea. |
|
come up with |
create, produce |
They had to come up with a film script. |
|
figure out |
understand, solve a problem |
Douglas figured out most of the story. |
|
find out |
discover, learn |
Buster just found out about it. |
|
get down to |
begin work |
They got down to work immediately. |
|
get it |
understand |
“The gag doesn’t work. I don’t get it.” |
|
give up |
abandon, renounce |
They didn’t give up and asked for help. |
|
go over |
review, practise |
“Mary, can you go over the script?” |
|
look for |
search, examine |
“Look for anything we could change.” |
|
look through |
examine briefly |
Mary looked through the pages. |
|
mess up |
create disorder |
The page order was completely messed up. |
|
move on |
continue |
Mary moved on even though the order was wrong. |
|
plan for |
make plans |
Buster had planned for the script to be done today. |
|
pull off |
succeed, achieve a goal |
“Finish the script today? You won't pull that off.” |
|
set up |
make ready |
The cameras were already set up to start filming. |
|
sort out |
arrange, place in order |
They finally sorted out all the movie structure. |
|
sum up |
make a summary |
To sum up: the story was too tangled. |
|
try out |
test, be tested |
“You should try out the gags before starting filming.” |
|
watch out |
be alert, take care |
Mary always watches out for them. |
|
work out |
solve a problem, to plan |
She also works out all the problems in the script. |
|
Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
Example |
|
blow up |
inflate, explode |
The cake blew up in the oven. |
|
break off |
remove a part from, stop |
Buster broke off the oven door to get it. |
|
chop up |
cut in smaller pieces |
He can’t use the knife to chop up the onion. |
|
clean up |
wash, make clean |
He dropped it while cleaning up the kitchen. |
|
come apart |
become separated |
The blade and handle just came apart. |
|
dress up |
put on formal clothes, disguise |
Time to dress up for the gala now. |
|
fall apart |
go to pieces |
His jacket fell apart when he put it on. |
|
fill up |
become full |
Buster wanted to fill up his coffee mug. |
|
pick up |
take and lift |
He picked up the coffee maker. |
|
put away |
place in the right location |
It was empty, so he put it away. |
|
put on |
place clothes on yourself |
Buster decided to put on a different jacket. |
|
run out of |
have no more |
He was running out of time and would soon be late. |
|
slow down |
reduce speed |
It was not time to slow down! |
|
take off |
remove clothes |
Buster took off his jacket. |
|
take out |
remove |
He took out another jacket from the closet. |
|
throw away |
discard, dispose of |
Buster threw away the old jacket. |
|
throw out |
discard, dispose of |
He will also throw out the cake later. |
|
try on |
check clothing fit |
Maybe he should try on another jacket. |
|
turn on/off |
activate/deactivate |
He turned on the lights to see better. |
|
wash off |
clean |
The mess he made will not wash off easily. |
|
Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
Example |
|
carry on |
continue |
Buster carries on even if it is tough. |
|
carry out |
perform a task |
He has to carry out many screen tests. |
|
check out |
examine, look at |
Mary checks out every movie scene. |
|
end up |
reach a situation |
They end up with a final version. |
|
finish up |
complete an action |
Once they finish up with a scene, they go home. |
|
go on |
continue, persevere |
They go on to the following scene. |
|
go over |
examine, look at |
Quickly, Mary goes over the movie scene again. |
|
hurry up |
go faster |
They need to hurry up because of the deadline. |
|
keep up |
maintain, match speed |
It can be difficult to keep up with the tight schedule. |
|
look around |
search, explore, visit |
Mary looked around for a new location for the film. |
|
look out |
be alert, look outside |
She also looks out for any possible problem. |
|
start over |
begin again |
They have to start over with every new scene. |
|
Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
Example |
|
answer back |
reply, reply rudely |
The studio hasn’t answered back yet. |
|
ask for |
make a request |
Buster asked for a bigger budget. |
|
break up |
end a relationship, separate |
He hopes it won’t break up their friendship. |
|
bump into |
meet by chance |
Buster bumped into Mary at lunch. |
|
call back |
return a phone call |
The studio called back at that moment. |
|
count on |
depend on, trust |
He’s counting on good news. |
|
get together |
gather, assemble |
They’re getting together to discuss it. |
|
hand in |
give, submit |
Buster handed in all the documents. |
|
hand out |
distribute |
An assistant handed out copies to everyone. |
|
kick out |
expel, eject |
No one got kicked out of the meeting, surprisingly. |
|
pick on |
tease, bully |
They picked on each other and laughed. |
|
rely on |
depend on, trust |
Buster relies on Mary for support. |
|
run into |
encounter, meet |
They didn’t run into any difficulties. |
|
split up |
separate |
Buster and his Mary will not split up! |