400 Most Common Phrasal Verbs in English with Examples
wake up
to stop sleeping or make somebody stop
sleeping
wake me up before you go i want to say
goodbye
clear up
to make a place clean by putting things
back where they should be
hasn’t she cleared up her room yet i’ve
asked her to do that twice this week
give up
to let the police or your enemy catch
you or somebody else
he killed all of his family and then
gave himself up to the police
let down
to disappoint somebody by not doing
something you are expected to do
i really need this report by friday so
be so kind and don’t let me down again
break into break in
to enter a building by force and
illegally in order to rob it
thieves broke into my house last night
and stole my computer in a tv
hurry up
to do something more quickly or to make
somebody do something more quickly
hurry upper will miss the train
settle down
to start living a calmer and more
organized life especially after getting
married
the famous actor and heartbreaker admits
that he’s finally settled down
look for
to try to find something
i’m looking for my mobile have you seen
it
find out
to get information about something or to
discover some facts
i have just found out that he has lied
to me
run away
to escape or try to avoid something for
example responsibilities
don’t be a child you can’t run away from
your problems forever
let out
to let somebody or something leave a
place by opening the door turning the
plug etc
i felt sick so i asked him to stop the
car and let me out
look after
to take care of somebody or something or
to be responsible for somebody or
something
my parents asked me to look after the
family business while they’re away
look at
to turn your eyes to see something or to
consider something
can you look at this exercise i can’t do
it myself
look out watch out
to be careful in order to notice
something or avoid danger
look out the tree is falling
put back
to return something to the place where
it was before
please put things back after you have
used them or else you make a mess
bring up
to take care of a person until he she
becomes an adult
she was brought up in a large family
have on
to be wearing something for example a
hat a t-shirt
she had on a light blue dress and looked
very pretty
put down
to put somebody or something onto the
floor table
etc put it down it’s too heavy for you
take away
to remove or to subtract
what will you get if you take 5 away
from 15
pass by
to go past something or somebody for
example a building or a person
i passed by a hotel in a gas station and
finally i saw the right house
break down
about a machine etc to stop working
oh no the print has broken down again
go back come back get back
to return to a place
i forgot my wallet and i had to go back
home
sit down
to take a seat for example on a chair or
to show a seat to somebody
i can see you’re upset
sit yourself down and tell me all about
what happened
get on
to enter a bus train etc
i nearly missed that train so i was very
happy when i finally got on it
go away
to leave a place or a person and move to
another direction or to disappear
oh just go away i have no more time for
you
deal with
to take action to do something
especially to solve a problem
you will have to deal with this problem
anyway you can’t escape it
take off
to remove clothes
take off your shoes please i’ve just
cleaned the floor
go on
to happen or to continue to
happen i heard strange noises downstairs
so i went there to check what was going
on
pick up
to lift something or somebody or to get
something from somewhere for example a
newspaper from a news agents
he picked his daughter up and carried
her to the car pick up some milk on your
way home
get in get into come in come into go
into
to enter a place for example a car a
house or a room
there were so many people in the
conference room that we couldn’t get in
go out
to leave a place especially your house
and go somewhere to enjoy yourself
she is a very sociable person she goes
out with her friends all the time
turn off
to stop something
for example water from flowing a tv from
working gas from flowing
turn off that horrible music
stay in
to spend time at home rather than go out
in the evening i usually stay in and
read or watch the telly i have nobody to
go out with
put on
to put clothes onto your body or cream
makeup etc on your face
put on your coat it’s getting cold
get out
to leave or escape from a place or to
help somebody to do this
he got angry and told me to get out
fill out fill in
to complete a form for example an
application a questionnaire
fill out all the entries of this
application form please
clean up
tidy up
to make something or somebody completely
clean and tidy
he’s cleaned up the whole house i can’t
believe it
giveaway
to give something for free not for money
or to reveal something like a secret
i asked my daughter to give away her old
toys
look forward to
to be excited about and impatiently wait
for something pleasant for example
holiday
she was looking forward to seeing her
lover again
go down drop off fall off
to fall to decrease for example in
amount standard
my earnings went down significantly and
i can’t afford to go on holiday this
year
go
up to rise or to increase for example in
value
food prices have gone up this year
stand up get up
to rise to your feet after sitting or
lying
he saw an elderly lady so he stood up
and gave her his seat
get
off to leave a bus train etc
get ready we are getting off at the next
station
turn on switch on put on
to make something work especially by
pushing a button for example tv light
turn on the light i can’t see anything
here
bring back
to come back from somewhere with
something you have taken with you from
there
look at these earrings aren’t they
beautiful
my father brought them back from india
for me
turn out turn up work out
to appear to happen to have a particular
result
it turned out he was right from the very
beginning
take out
to remove or to cause to leave
take the children out of the house the
fire is spreading
cut off
to remove by cutting for example a
branch
the machine cut off his left hand
hold on
two holes tight
hold on to the rope we’ll get you out in
no time
careful
to like somebody or something or to take
care of somebody or something usually
children
i’m not her boyfriend anymore so i don’t
think she cares for me
grow up
to stop being a child and become an
adult
i grew up in a large family
come up go up
to move towards somebody especially to
speak to him or her
he came up to me and asked me to dance
with him
occur to
about an idea or thought to come into
somebody’s mind
it never occurred to me until you
suggested it but you’re right he must be
in love with her
lace up
to fasten something by tying the laces
it’s a great day for a walk lace up your
shoes and let’s go
wrap up
to dress yourself or somebody else in
warm clothes
it was freezing so i wrapped up warm
bring about
to cause or produce something
the new government is expected to bring
about reforms in the health system
mistake for
to confuse somebody or something with
somebody or something else
a drunk was shot by a terrified neighbor
who mistook him for a burglar
sit around sit about
to spend time sitting and doing very
little
when you retire you can sit around at
home all day or you can go out and find
yourself something to do
add up
to make sense to lead to a logical
explanation
something doesn’t add up here he
couldn’t have been in two places at the
same time
layoff
to stop employing somebody because you
have no more work for him or her
people are still shocked after the last
week’s announcement that the company is
going to lay off 30 of the staff
tell apart
to not confuse two very similar things
or people because you can see a
difference between them
my cousins are twins i don’t see them
too often so when i meet them i can
never tell them apart
settle on settle upon
to agree about something
have you already settled on where you’re
going to live
talk back
usually about children to answer
somebody older or in authority in a rude
way
don’t talk back to me i’m your mother
and i won’t tolerate this
come up with
to have a new idea to think of something
new
he’s always late and always comes up
with silly excuses to explain why
give up on
to lose hope that somebody or something
will improve
don’t give up on me just yet i can still
surprise you
do up
to fasten something using buttons laces
or a zip for example a dress a coat etc
can you help me to do up my dress
go into turn two
to start doing something especially a
kind of work
i’m thinking of going into teaching i’ve
always enjoyed working with children
give up
to stop doing something especially
something you do regularly a habit or an
addiction
she gave up bungee jumping after she saw
one fatal accident
hang around hang about
to spend time with somebody or somewhere
usually for no reason
today’s teenagers spent their time
hanging around in shopping malls with
their friends
call back
to telephone somebody again or to
telephone somebody who telephoned you
before
look i can’t speak to you now i’ll call
you back later okay
hand out pass out
to give something to everybody in a
group
when you walk along this street there
are always dozens of people standing
there and handing out leaflets
add up tot up
to calculate the total of two or more
numbers
when i added up all the bills i’ll have
to pay this month i got depressed
knockout
to make somebody lose his or her
consciousness for example by hitting him
or her very hard
the bank clerk was attacked with a toxic
substance that knocked him out
run over
to drive over somebody or something with
a vehicle
oh no i think i’ve run over that dog
wait on
to serve food and drink to somebody in a
restaurant
do you know the girl from the donatello
restaurant who waited on us when we were
there yesterday
catch on
about an idea clothes etc to become
popular and fashionable
we had several ideas but none of them
caught on
hang
up
to end a telephone conversation
don’t hang up on me i haven’t finished
give out
to give something to a number of people
he gave out lots of leaflets to
advertise his business
put up with
to accept something or somebody although
you don’t like it
don’t put up with instances of racism
report them
throw away
to get rid of something you don’t need
anymore or to waste something good you
have
i know this sweater is old and ugly but
i could never throw it away i got it
from my grandmother
beat up
to hurt somebody by hitting him or her
the victim was beaten up because he
refused to give money to the robbers
do without
to be able to live or do something
without something else
i can do without a car but not without a
computer
run down
to drive into a person or an animal and
injure or kill him her or it
some madmen tried to run me down on a
pedestrian crossing
tie up
to fasten something together with a rope
string etc also somebody’s arms or legs
we tied the burglar up and waited for
the police
hand down
to give or leave something to somebody
who will live after you
in every country there are interesting
regional recipes handed down for
generations
go against
to be opposite to something to disagree
i can’t suddenly go against everything i
have always believed in
hold up hold off
to delay something
he was late because he was held up by
traffic jams
go off
to explode about a bomb
to fire about a gun
or to start ringing about an alarm
my new alarm clock goes off like a bum
it’s impossible not to hear it
look up to
to admire and respect somebody to treat
somebody as a role model
he’s always looked up to his father and
wanted to be like him
track down
to look for somebody or something in
several different places and finally
find him her or it
i spent weeks trying to track down the
owner of the house i wanted to buy
check
out to pay the bill and leave the hotel
we had to check out by 10 in the morning
check in
to report one’s arrival at an airport or
a hotel
you have to check in long before the
flight
use up
to use the whole supply of something
i’m afraid we haven’t any milk i used
this up yesterday
get down to
to start doing something especially some
work
i still haven’t finished the project but
i’ll get down to it at the weekend
take back
to admit that something you said was
wrong or untrue
take it back or i’ll beat you
step down step aside
to resign from an official position
he has stepped down as chairman of the
company but he’s not going to retire
live with
to tolerate something you can do nothing
about
i can’t change him so i’ll just have to
live with his forgetfulness
come down to boil down to
about a complicated situation to be
influenced by a single most important
element
it’s not that he doesn’t want to buy
this house it all comes down to money
he’s afraid he can’t afford it
go around go round
to behave in a particular way
just don’t go around telling everybody
that i’m divorcing my wife okay
go after
to follow or chase somebody or something
he left the country but the mafia went
after him and finally got him
look through
to look for something among some other
things or to read something quickly
looking for specific information
i’ve looked through all my notes looking
for his phone number but i still haven’t
found it
get through
to manage to talk to somebody on the
telephone
hi i called you before but i couldn’t
get through
pass on
to give something to somebody else
especially if you’ve only just got it
for example news
could you pass it on to sue when you
meet her i’m afraid i won’t be seeing
her
make out
to see hear or understand something
especially if it’s not easy
he tried to tell me something but it was
so noisy i just couldn’t make out what
it was he was saying
get around get about
to move within an area for example a
city
trust me it’s possible to get around
without a car the public transport is
great here
make up for
to compensate for something
he’s been extremely nice to me this week
i think he’s trying to make up for being
rude to me last week
cut down cut back
to reduce the amount of something
especially something you eat or drink
because it may be bad for you
the doctor said i should cut down on
salt
speak up
to raise your voice and speak louder
could you speak up please i can’t hear
you
eat out
to not eat at home and go to a
restaurant
i like eating out because i hate washing
up
stem from
to result from something and develop
many modern english words stem from
latin
get down
to make somebody feel bad depressed or
tired
i’m sorry i’m in such a bad mood but the
news really got me down
get down
write down take down
to write something to take notes
i can learn only from my own notes so i
am always at every lecture and i get
down everything the lecturer says
bring up
to vomit
i feel sick i’m afraid i will bring up
my dinner
slow down
to become slower or to make something
become slower to do something less
intensively
you work too much i think you should
slow down
point two
to mention something or to make
something seem probable
so far the evidence points to a murder
take from
to use something like words or ideas of
somebody else for example a writer
the motive is taken from the bible
talk out of
to discourage somebody from doing
something using persuasion
i wanted to become a vegetarian but my
parents talked me out of it
write in
to write to an organization newspaper
etc
many viewers wrote in after the
controversial tv program
take up
to become interested in something or
start doing something for example
playing the guitar
he’s never been interested in anything
for longer than six months he takes up a
new hobby every half year
show up
turn up
to appear
especially somewhere where people wait
for you
she showed up late but didn’t feel like
apologizing
hear from
to get news or information from somebody
or somewhere
i haven’t heard from her since she moved
away i don’t know if she’s alive
get back to
to talk to somebody later when you have
more information or time especially on
the phone
is it rick calling i can’t talk to him
now tell him i’ll get back to him
take in
to provide somebody with shelter
when he was little he would always take
in stray animals
point out
to comment on something or indicate
something
i hate it when he points out my mistakes
because i think he’s not competent to do
that
come up
to happen unexpectedly or very soon
i’m sorry but something has just come up
and i won’t be able to come to your
party
have over
to have guests especially for dinner
have him over for dinner and serve
something special he’ll love it
call for
to ask for something or to need or
deserve something
in my opinion this child calls for much
more attention than it gets from its
parents
bring up put forward
to start talking about something to
raise an issue
must you always bring up our past
arguments
try on
to put on clothes to see if they fit you
and look nice on you
what about this skirt would you like to
try it on
ask for
to say that you want to speak to
somebody
alice there’s somebody at the door
asking for you
end up
wind up
to arrive unexpectedly as a particular
situation or condition
at first sue hated paul but she ended up
falling in love with him
follow up
to do something more than you already
have done to complete something or make
it more successful
having published her first successful
novel she soon followed up with another
one
take in
to trick somebody into believing
something that is not true
don’t be taken in by his stories he’s a
liar
keep up
to continue doing something without
changes especially something positive
you’re working very well keep it up
break down
to lose control of your emotions and
start crying especially when other
people can see you
i didn’t want to break down in front of
all these people i’m really ashamed
show
off to be proud of something or somebody
and make sure other people can see it
often annoying for other people
she wears those expensive clothes not
because she really likes them she just
wants to show off
come out
to appear become known become published
for example about stars in the sky news
a book
she tried to keep it secret but the
truth eventually came out
make up
to invent an untrue story or an excuse
often to deceive somebody
he’s never been to new zealand he made
it up
get into
to become interested or involved in
something
since she came back from france she has
really got into wines
set up
to found a new company institution etc
he didn’t want to have a boss over him
so he set up his own company
take on take over
to agree to do something and become
responsible for it
he’s taken on some extra work and seems
very tired
result in
to cause something to make something
happen
he’s lucky to be alive such accidents
usually result in death
carry out
to complete something especially some
research or something you have been told
to do for example a mission an order etc
he carefully carried out all the
instructions
go through
to experience something especially
something difficult or unpleasant
no wonder he is so reserved after all he
has gone through
take two
to start liking somebody or something
my daughter took to her little brother
the moment we brought him home from the
hospital
go for
to try to achieve something
i think you should go for the
scholarship you’re the best
rely on count on depend on
to put trust in somebody something or to
need somebody something very much
you can always rely on him he won’t let
you down
work on
to spend some time producing improving
or repairing something
the writer is working on her new book at
the moment
sign up sign on
to put your name on a list because you
want to be involved in something
i have always wanted to learn italian
and now i have finally signed up for
italian classes
put buy put aside lay by
save up set aside
to save small amounts of money for the
future
i put by 10 percent of my earnings every
month
check out
to look at somebody or something
especially somebody or something
attractive or to get more information
about something to make sure it is true
or correct
check out his cv it seems interesting
come to
about a situation to develop usually in
a bad way
he used to be such a promising young man
and now he’s a beggar i never thought it
would come to this
pass
by
about something pleasant or exciting for
example an event or opportunity to
happen without you being involved in it
he had a feeling that life was passing
him by he couldn’t stand it so he set
off travelling
get on
get along
about people to like each other and be
friends
contrary to the stereotype i have always
got on well with my mother-in-law
scaled down
to make something smaller than it was or
was planned to be
the aid program has been scaled down due
to the lack of financial resources
figure out work out
to think of something and finally
understand it
i’ve tried to do this exercise myself
but i just can’t figure it out
pop up
to appear unexpectedly
you scared me when you suddenly popped
up
make four head four
to go in a particular direction
i think it’s high time we made for
school
back up
to support somebody also by saying that
what he or she said was true
why didn’t you back me up you knew i was
right
answer too
to give an explanation to somebody
especially because he or she is your
superior
i started my own business because i
didn’t want to answer to a bus
go with
about two things to suit each other or
to co-exist
white wine goes with cheese poultry and
seafood
put up
to post something to place something
somewhere so that people can see it
where do you want to put up the picture
get out of
to avoid doing something you should do
i will see you if you get out of another
meeting
set out set off start out head off
to leave to start a journey
we set off early to arrive there on time
hold on
to wait
hold on a second i’ve just remembered
something and i want to check it
put together setup
to make something by joining parts of it
or to join people into a group
they are setting up a completely new
team to work on the project
look up
to find information in a book or on the
computer for example a word in a
dictionary
i’ll just look it up in my notes i’m
sure i wrote it down
go ahead
to start doing something planned for
example a project
the boss said the project’s fine so i
think we can finally go ahead with it
turn to
to speak to somebody especially in order
to get help or to start doing something
because you think it will help you
stressed students sometimes turn to
drink or drugs
live on
to survive and continue to exist
especially through hard times
the memory of this wonderful person will
live on forever and she will always be
in our hearts
keep on carry on
to continue or to do something
repeatedly
he keeps on hoping one day she’ll fall
in love with him
plug in plug into
to connect an electrical device to the
supply of electricity
your mobile phone’s battery is weak plug
the charger in
put on
to start the music for example by
putting a cd into the cd player
she put on some music and started
dancing
drop in drop by come by
to visit somebody for a short time or to
go to a place for a short time
whenever you’re in town again you’re
welcome to drop in on me
line up
cue up
to stand in a row or to arrange people
or things in a
row the students lined up by the
classroom door
takeover
to become the new owner of something for
example of an enterprise
whenever she comes to visit us she takes
over the control of the whole house
shut down close up wind up
to stop operating about a shop an
organization etc or to make something
stop operating
after the new hypermarket appeared in
the neighborhood most of the small
businesses wound up
sell out
sell up
to sell all you have or most of what you
have
we didn’t get in to see the show because
all the tickets had been sold out
help out
to help somebody with his work if he or
she is very busy or to help somebody to
solve a problem
when he fell into debt his parents
helped him out
get away get off
to escape unpleasant consequences of
something wrong you have done
no one hurts me and gets away with it
get away
to leave a place to escape or to go on
holiday
i’m really tired i need to get away for
a few days or i’ll go crazy
fall in with
to accept an idea plans etc
i was surprised how quickly he fell in
with my plans
cut off
to stop supplying something for example
electricity
the device automatically cuts off gas if
sensors notice flames or smoke
catch up
to reach somebody in front of you by
going faster or to improve the quality
to reach some standards
when i came back to school after a long
break i found it difficult to catch up
with other students
give in
to finally agree to do what somebody
wants or to accept your defeat and stop
fighting
the government finally gave in to public
pressure
look into
check out
to try to find out more about something
to investigate something for example a
problem
the police decided to look into the
incident more carefully
coming into
to receive money or property
he came into a lot of money when his
wife died
keep two
to stick to something for example a way
a rule a plan a subject
we don’t have much time so please keep
to the subject of our meeting
win over win round
to get somebody’s support or to make
somebody like you
his speech helped him to win over the
judge
hang
out
to spend a lot of time somewhere or with
some people
he hangs out here i’ve seen him several
times
hand in
to give something to somebody especially
because you are obliged to do it
the teacher reminded the students that
they should hand their papers in as soon
as possible
stay up
to go to bed later than normal for
example because you work late
you shouldn’t stay up too late or else
you won’t be able to get up early
tomorrow
up rev up speed up
to increase the speed or intensity of
something
our products are selling well i think
it’s high time to step up the production
go by slip by slip away
about time to pass
the last three years went by so quickly
go by
to act according to something for
example to obey a rule or to form an
opinion about something judging from
information you have
don’t go by what he says he knows
nothing
turn into
to become something or somebody
different also by magic
i think i’m turning into my father with
age it’s spooky
open up
to become available or to make something
available especially an opportunity
this new situation opens up more
exciting possibilities
stand by
to look but not act when something bad
happens
people on the shore just stood by
watching the boy drowning
shut
up to stop talking or to make somebody
stop talking
they gave him money to shut him up and
avoid the scandal
sit on
to delay doing something especially
using something you already have
they have many good ideas but they’re
just sitting on them
take off
lift off
about a plane to rise into the air
the plane is taking off in half an hour
break up split up
about two people to end a romantic
relationship
they were such a nice couple i couldn’t
believe it when they broke up
stop by drop in
look in call in
to make a short visit especially on your
way somewhere else
i must go now but i’ll stop by on my way
back
wait out
to wait until something ends
i think we should stay in and wait the
rain out
fit in go together
to harmonize with something or to be
accepted somewhere
i was never accepted at school i had a
feeling that somehow i just didn’t fit
in with the other kids
lay out
to spread something on a flat surface or
to arrange something like a plan or
design
he laid out the map on the table so that
we could all see it
stand out stick out
to be very easy to notice especially
against the background
i noticed her immediately in her
colorful clothes she stood out very much
from the grey crowd
come across run into
to discover something by chance or to
meet somebody by chance unexpectedly
i came across him once or twice at some
parties
come across come over get over
to be clear and understood when saying
something
he may not speak the language perfectly
but he usually comes across with what he
wants to say
dress up
to put on yourself or somebody else
special clothes for a special occasion
also for fun like during a carnival
it was a zoo party so all the children
dressed up in animal costumes
look back
to remember something that happened in
the past to think of the past
looking back on it now i think it was my
fault
stick with stick to
to continue doing something according to
a plan rules etc or to continue using
somebody’s services
i appreciate your creativity but please
this time just stick to what’s planned
move in
to start living somewhere for example in
a house or a flat
they are our new neighbours they moved
in just a couple of days ago
run out
to finish to become exhausted or to
exhaust something
the teacher wanted to do more but he ran
out of time
pass away
to die
his mother passed away just a few months
after his father
blow up
to destroy something with a bomb
he got mad and blew up the house of his
neighbors
blow up
to fill something with air
you will need a lot of blown up balloons
for the children’s party
pay off
to bring a profit
studying and working at the same time
was difficult but it paid off being a
graduate i was at the same time already
an experienced worker
pick up
to collect something or somebody from a
place especially in your car
just tell me when you’re coming so that
i can pick you up
bring back
to reintroduce something also
memories i’m strongly against bringing
back the death penalty
stand for
to represent something for example about
initials to represent the whole name
the abbreviation un stands for united
nations
go over
to think or speak about something again
how many times must we go over this
won’t you ever forgive and forget
end in
to end in a particular way
the teenage party ended in tears when
neighbours informed the police that the
teenagers were using drugs
come along
to go somewhere with or after somebody
i’m going to the cinema tonight would
you like to come along
hang on
to wait
often used in telephone conversations
usually in imperative
yes jack is here hang on a second i’ll
just get him
break out
about something bad to start suddenly
my grandmother was six when the war
broke out
keep out
to avoid or prevent somebody from
entering an area or being involved in
something
the crime scene was secured to keep
people out of it
step out
to leave a place for a short time
this home museum is amazing with all the
artists personal things around you get
the impression that he has just stepped
out for a walk and will be back soon
come across
to present yourself in a particular way
to make a particular impression
he was very nervous during the job
interview and consequently he came
across as incompetent
date back
to have existed since a particular time
this beautiful building dates back to
the 14th century
live up to
to fulfill expectations or to meet
standards
advertised products don’t usually live
up to what they promise
lock in
to prevent somebody from leaving a room
or a building by locking the door
the hostages were locked in the basement
fill up
to become full or to make something
become full
it’s getting more and more expensive to
fill up your car with petrol
keep from
to not do something or to not let
somebody do something
sorry but i really must go you’re
keeping me from doing my work
go off
about a machine etc to stop working
i got really scared when the light went
off
get over
to start feeling better after an illness
or a period of feeling bad because of
something unpleasant that’s happened to
you
she left him and he never fully got over
her
try out
to test something to see if something
works or is good enough
my husband is just trying out his new
computer which is why i hardly ever see
him
put out
to make a light stop shining or a flame
stop burning by depriving it of oxygen
put out that cigarette you can’t smoke
here
wear out
to use something so often that it
becomes damaged and you can’t use it
anymore
the space buys the most worn out key on
my keyboard
calm down
to stop feeling strong emotions for
example anger or excitement or to make
somebody stop feeling them
at first i was very angry with him but
after i calmed down a bit i realized he
was quite right
bear with
to wait patiently until somebody does
something for example finishes something
or finds some information
please bear with us and we will try to
give you this information as soon as
possible
stand by
to stay loyal to somebody and support
him or her in difficult times
she stood by her husband when other
people turned their backs on him
throw out
to get rid of somebody by telling him or
her to leave or to refuse to accept
something for example a plan
finally the bullies were thrown out of
our school
dineout
to eat dinner in a restaurant instead of
your home
we only dine out if we have a special
occasion to celebrate
think out
to think carefully about all the details
of something before making a decision
i need some time to think out what i
want to do in my life
draw up
to prepare something in writing for
example an official document
plans are being drawn up to improve air
quality in cities
kick out
to make somebody leave a place job or an
organization using force
she hasn’t spoken to her family since
her father kicked her out of the house
clear up
to explain something so that it’s easy
to understand or to solve a problem
don’t worry it’s not a serious disease
and there are simple treatment methods
to clear it up
take down
to remove something especially something
that is on a wall
don’t you think it’s time to take down
christmas decorations
have out
to have something removed from your body
for example a tooth
she had the cancer tumor out
unfortunately she’s been all right since
clean out
about a person or an expensive thing to
take all money from a person
we must start using less electricity
that last bill completely cleaned us out
fall back on
to do something because you have no
other options especially because other
options have already failed
you can’t spend all your money it’s very
important to have savings to fall back
on if something bad happens
carve out
to achieve something through hard work
the company has carved out a reputation
for providing friendly and professional
service
get behind
to fail to do as much work as you should
or pay as much as you should by a
particular time
if you get behind with your payments our
debt counsellor can help you
counter in
to include somebody in an activity
we’re going out for dinner tomorrow
shall i count you in
bounce back
to feel better or become successful
again after a difficult period
the singer has already bounced back from
her recent health problems
stick around
to stay somewhere for some time for
example in case you are needed later
if you stick around for the next two
months i may have more work for you
later
hold back
to stop or delay somebody’s or
something’s development
she hasn’t let her disease hold her back
in fact she seems even more active than
before the diagnosis
set on set onto
to make a person or an animal attack
somebody or to give somebody information
that may be used against somebody else
if i see you here again i’ll set the dog
on you
over
to look at something quickly without
paying too much attention
sorry i can’t give you any feedback yet
i didn’t have time to look over your
paper
call back
to return somewhere to collect something
you left there or to do something you
couldn’t do before
i’ll call back later to collect this
report
do win
to kill somebody or make somebody
extremely tired
he didn’t want to give them the money so
they’ve done him in
vote in
to elect somebody by voting for him or
her
having been in power for four years now
the party is still very popular and will
probably be voted in again
set in
to begin and be likely to continue about
something unpleasant
people are afraid that the economic boom
is over and recession is setting in
shakeup
to give somebody a shock or to make
something like an organization work
better by reorganizing it
it took a serious accident to shake the
factory owners up but they finally
improved working conditions
run in break in
to use a vehicle carefully for some time
when it’s new because you don’t want to
damage its engine
it’s a brand new car remember that you
need to run it in first
be top
to blame oneself too much for something
don’t beat yourself up it wasn’t only
your fault
pull off
to be successful in doing something
difficult
the band pulled off an amazing show
round up
to seek or gather to bring together
it’s just a quick mail to round up all
the news i have got a new job and alice
has passed all her
exams hold down
to make something or somebody stay where
it is
competition holds prices down better
than anything else
lay in
to store something for example food for
the future
i always have a few bottles of good wine
laid in for special occasions
get ahead
to be successful in your job
it is said that women have to work twice
as hard to get ahead in politics
pack in
to put a lot of something into a limited
space or to plan a lot of activities for
a short period of time
we were packed in a bus like sardines in
a can
bring in
to introduce somebody or something new
to the environment you know or to make
money
my youngest son brought in a stray dog
yesterday and now wants to keep it
moving on
to move closer to somebody or something
especially because you want to attack
the person or take control of the thing
the king’s great army moved in on the
neighbouring countries
write up
to complete something in writing for
example a report
the results of our research will be
written up in a final report
hit on hit upon
to think of an idea or to discover
something unexpectedly
i couldn’t understand why he had left
before i came but then i suddenly hit on
the explanation he simply didn’t want to
meet me
come down with
to become ill
more and more people come down with
tuberculosis
hand
over give something to somebody also a
responsibility for something or somebody
else
when he started robbing shops to get
money for drugs his parents handed him
over to the
police stand up for
to defend or support somebody or
something that is being attacked
he encouraged workers to stand up for
their rights and not let the company use
them
stand up to
to express your opinion firmly and
refuse being treated unfairly by a
person or organization
stand up against
it may be very difficult for a kid to
stand up to bullies at school
come down on get at
to criticize somebody
the critics came down on the film but
the public liked it
play up to
to be especially nice to somebody
because you want something from him or
her
stop playing up to me just say what you
want
sort out
to order something by separating one
type of thing from another or to deal
with something for example a problem
you need a junk mail filter to sort out
spam from real email
draw on
to use your knowledge or information you
have to do something
the book draws on interviews with real
people
keep back
hold back
to not tell somebody all you know about
something or to hide your feelings from
somebody
i feel really bad keeping it back from
him but i don’t want to upset him
start off
to help somebody begin something
it was my ex-girlfriend who started me
off with bungee jumping
set aside
to decide to ignore something for some
time because you need to concentrate on
something more important
setting aside the question of time i
think we should first consider whether
we can afford such a huge project
stand in
to replace the usual person for some
time
had to stand in for my sick colleague
kick off
to start something for example a
discussion
now who kicked off this silly argument
miss out leave out leave off
to not include somebody or something
also intentionally
why have you missed me out i said i
wanted to go with you
pay off
to pay somebody for not telling others
about a wrongdoing
i know he wanted to tell the police
where the money came from but his boss
paid him off to be silent
back down back off
to admit that you are wrong or defeated
or to decide not to do something
when we mentioned all the possible
problems he backed down from his plans
pull out
about a train car etc to start moving
and to leave a place
when i reached the railway station i
only saw his train pulling out
go
about to start to do something in a
particular way or to do something as
usual
how should i go about starting my own
business can you give me some advice
run to run into
to reach a particular amount or size
the cost of the project runs into
millions of dollars
play at
to do something just for fun or to
pretend that you are somebody else
my grandmother doesn’t like it when my
children play at soldiers
drop off
nod off
to suddenly fall asleep
michael dropped off during the last
lecture and started snoring
tune
in
to watch something on tv or to listen to
something on the radio
i came home and saw my brother and his
friends tuned into the match
look on
to think of somebody or something in a
particular way
he’s not my biological father but i have
always looked on him as my beloved daddy
look on
to watch something without getting
involved in it
there were many people around but they
were just looking on nobody tried to
help us
hook up
to connect a piece of electronic
equipment to a power supply or to
another machine
millions of internet users are hooked up
to broadband
turn around pick up
to improve and become successful after a
period of not being successful
the business turned around from losses
to profit this year
hold out
to hope for something
she hasn’t got married yet she’s still
holding out for the perfect
man fall out
to have an argument with somebody and
stop being friendly with him or her
they fell out over some nonsense and
they haven’t spoke to each other since
cut in
to interrupt somebody who is speaking or
to suddenly and dangerously drive in the
way of another car on the road
her children are always cutting in on
our conversations
come on
to start improve or make progress
look at the sky it seems the rain is
coming on
cash in
to make money or take advantage of a
situation especially if it’s wrong
be careful with giving your personal
information on the internet there are
websites that can cash in on them
side with
to support somebody in an argument or a
fight
he’s been accused of siding with
terrorists and put into prison
hold up
to use somebody or something as an
example or
proof their education system has been
held up as a model for other countries
move on
to change something in your life in
order to develop for example to change a
job for a better one
i’ve been working here for years i think
it’s time to move on
opt out
to choose not to be involved in
something or to avoid doing something
you should
you are too bright to opt out of higher
education
feel for
to sympathize with somebody
i know what she’s been through and i
really feel for her
go along
to agree with or support somebody or
something
i think he might go along with your idea
if you present it in a convincing way
break out
to escape from prison or from a boring
routine
i felt i needed to break out from my
boring nine-to-five job i wanted a
challenge
bring out
to make a particular quality of
something easier to notice
the wall brought out the worst in people
free up
to let somebody do something by taking
other duties away from him or her
this project is now a priority
several people have been freed up to
deal with it
settle in
to begin to feel comfortable in a new
situation place etc
how’s your new neighborhood have you
already settled
in drop out
to stop being involved in something
especially if you haven’t finished it
she dropped out of college after two
years which we thought was very unwise
move up
to develop and move to a higher level or
rank or to a better position
my little sister has just moved up a
year at school and feels much more adult
back out
to decide not to do what you had agreed
or promised to do
if you don’t want to do it better back
out now when i can still find somebody
to replace you
spread out
to move in all directions and cover a
large area
his farm spreads out over about 100
hectares
lay down
to officially state your opinion or to
establish law
the president laid down six major
guidelines for his policy
mess up screw up
to destroy or ruin something especially
something important
she told me i’d messed up our marriage
and she wanted a divorce
feed on
to eat something or to become stronger
because of something
what does this animal feed on
get at
to attack somebody or something or to
start an argument with somebody
my wife always gets at me about tiny
things
jump on
to criticize somebody especially
unfairly or violently
strike out
before anyone jumps on me let me make my
point clear
cut in
to allow somebody to enter a business
game etc
when you finally make a fortune don’t
forget to cut me in on the profits
roll out
to launch something new for example a
new product
the government is planning to roll out
the new education system in september
call on
to ask somebody to do something in a
formal way to appeal to somebody
the european commission has called on
governments and businesses to start a
fight against spam
let in
on to explain or reveal something that
is secret or known only to few people
will you finally let me in on your plans
come
off to succeed
he was very angry that his careful plan
just didn’t come off
press on
to give something to somebody and make
him or her take it
i didn’t want to take the money but he
pressed it onto me
ride on
to depend strongly on the success of
something or somebody
the director’s reputation was riding on
the success or failure of his new film
run up
to do something that results in owing a
lot of money or having to pay a large
bill
some three weeks after her husband left
her she found out that he had run up
huge debts on her credit card
through
to realize that somebody is not being
honest with you
they think he’s such a good man and
don’t believe me when i say he’s a liar
i wish they could see through him
bring on
to cause something usually something bad
or unpleasant
i’ve got some bad news for you bring it
on
rip off
to make somebody pay more for something
when selling it
i think i’ve been ripped off with my
last mobile phone bill
pass with
to give something to somebody especially
if you don’t want to do it or if
something is very valuable
before you part with your money think if
you really need the thing they want to
sell you
wipe out wear out
to destroy something completely or to
make somebody feel very tired
for almost a week i worked 20 hours a
day and it totally wiped me out
heat up
to become warmer or to make something
become warmer
about a situation to become more
dangerous or stressful
if you’re late i won’t heat up dinner
for you
gear up
to put oneself in a state of anxious
expectation for example before going on
holiday or to prepare oneself to do
something
he likes traveling to distant and
unfamiliar places now he is gearing up
for a new expedition
fire up
to cause somebody’s excitement or anger
reading this guide has fired me up i am
all enthusiastic about going there and
seeing everything with my own eyes
look ahead
to think about what might happen in the
future and try to be prepared for that
the new year has come it’s time to look
ahead and plan for the future
mix up muddle up
rearrange things by mistake so that they
are in the wrong order or in wrong
places
don’t touch my papers will you i don’t
want you to mix them up
stock up
to buy a lot of something because you
want to save it for the future
we don’t often go food shopping when we
go we usually stock up for the whole
month
less up
about whether to improve or about a
person to become less unkind or violent
towards somebody
the rain soon let up and the sun
appeared in the sky
crack down
to take serious actions against
something for example smoking at school
there are plans to crack down on illegal
downloads but so far internet users who
illegally get films and music still feel
quite safe
come about
to start happening especially in an
unexpected way
can anybody explain to me how has this
crisis come about in the first place
cut out
to stop somebody from doing something or
sharing something
everybody ignored me so i felt totally
cut out from the meeting
in
to stop doing something because you
don’t enjoy it
one day he just jacked in his job and
disappeared
do over
to do something again especially because
you did it wrong the first time
i advise you to concentrate or else
you’ll have to do it all over
up
to make a computer show you information
on its screen
for more information call up our website
out
to fall heavily asleep because you are
very tired or to lose consciousness
he works so hard that in the evening he
just sunks out
coop up
to keep somebody or an animal in a small
area or to have to stay in a small place
for some time
i became a vegetarian when i realized in
what appalling conditions animals are
kept before they are killed cooped up in
little cages or boxes
pension off
to make somebody leave his or her job
and retire
he was pensioned off at the age of 35
due to his ill health
scrape through scraper by
to only just avoid failing
i only managed to scrape through my
final exam on my second attempt
tied over
to help somebody to survive a difficult
period
it’s just a temporary job to tide me
over until i find something i really
enjoy
hive off
to separate a part of a larger business
by selling it
the company is considering hiving off
some of its assets
fatten up
to make a person or an animal fatter by
giving him her or it food
when i visit my grandmother she is
always trying to fatten me up
winkle out
to force somebody to reveal something
for example a secret
it’s amazing but they have really
managed twinkle out her hidden talents
sponge down
to wash something with a sponge
can you sponge down the blackboard
hush up
to hide the truth about something
dishonest or immoral to protect the
wrong doer
they say the scandal has been hushed up
by the government
scrape by
to have just enough money to survive and
no more
i can scrape a buy on this celery but i
definitely won’t be able to make any
investments
fluff up fluff out
to make something soft appear larger by
shaking it for example a pillow
if a cat can’t escape its enemy it will
face it fluffing out its fur to make
itself look bigger and scare the enemy
dolop
to dress up and put on makeup to look
pretty
when you dollop for a date don’t forget
to put on some good lipstick there is
nothing sexier than kissable lips
piss about piss around mess about mess
around
to waste time in a stupid way or to
treat somebody badly
what have you been doing for the whole
day pissing around on the internet
veg out
to lie down doing very little especially
in front of the tv
when i was a student i vedged out in
front of the telly most of the time
trump up
to make somebody look guilty by creating
false accusations
i think they were trying to trump up
criminal charges against him but
fortunately they failed
scorch along
to drive very fast
i really enjoy scorching along highways
cyclop
to prepare somebody for an action by
psychological encouragement to make
somebody feel more confident
the coach has some interesting
techniques of psyching up his team
before tournaments
muck out
to clean a place where an animal lives
for example a stable of excrement and
old straw
before you start mucking out leave the
horse from the stable
ward off
to prevent something unpleasant from
happening
doctors say that vegetables ward off
alzheimer’s disease
fob off
to give somebody something that is not
what he or she really wants or to lie to
somebody just to make him or her stop
complaining
don’t fob me off with your weak excuses
tell me the truth
skirt round skirt around
to avoid talking about something
difficult or
embarrassing i know it is a problem that
everybody has been skirting around but i
really think it’s time to speak openly
and honestly about it
fend off fights off
to defend yourself from an attacker or
something unwanted for example difficult
questions
stars need their bodyguards mostly to
fend off the paparazzi
jot down
to note something very quickly to
remember it later
i was afraid that i would forget so i
jotted it down
dole out
to give something such as food money etc
in small portions to other people
my grandmother has always generously
doled out sweets to her grandchildren
toe away
to take a vehicle usually an illegally
parked car away from a place using
another vehicle
you can’t park here if you do your car
may be towed away and will only be
released when the fine has been paid
starve out
to prevent somebody or something from
getting food in order to force him her
or it to leave a place
feeding pigeons is now forbidden in our
town because the authorities want to
starve the birds out of the town centre
butter
up
to be very nice to somebody in order to
make him or her do what you want
he’s starved for compliments butter him
up and he’ll give you anything you want
i up
so look carefully at something you think
is interesting or to look at somebody
you think is sexually interesting
i hate the way he eyes women up it’s
disgusting
spruce pop
to make somebody or something look
better for example by cleaning it
don’t you think you should spruce
yourself up for your guests they’re
coming in half an hour
raining rain back
to control something and prevents it
from becoming too powerful
soaring prices forced many people to
reign in their spending
thin down
to make a liquid less thick usually by
adding water
if the dough is too thick thin it down
with a bit of water
cart away cart off
to take something or somebody using
force especially to places like prison
or hospital
he was stopped by the police and carted
off to the police station for further
inquiries
perk up
to become happier and more enthusiastic
or to make somebody feel this way
i’ve been paid so many compliments about
my work that it’s really perked me up
wall off
to separate an area from another area by
building a wall
their flat was so small that they walled
off the balcony to get an extra room
nip off
to remove something gently with your
fingers
nip off old flowers to encourage the
plant to produce more new buds
blurt out
to say something suddenly and without
thinking for example because you are
excited
i didn’t really want to say it i just
blurted it out
level off
level out
to stop rising or falling and stabilize
at one level
food prices have been rising for months
but now they finally seem to be
levelling off
drum up
to get more interest enthusiasm support
etc for something
the artist knew a small scandal would
drum up attention for his new work
dust off dust down
to remove dust from something or to make
something ready to use again especially
something you have not used for a long
time
dust off the shelves please
gobble up
to eat a lot of something very quickly
or to use a lot of something very
quickly
do you know the story of little red
riding hood that was gobbled up by a
wicked wolf
steam up
to cover something with steam or to
become covered with steam
there were so many people on the bus
that the windows soon steamed up from
their breath
worm out
to make somebody give you information he
or she does not want to give
she finally wormed out of him that he
had had an affair with his friend’s wife
rope off
to separate an area from another area
using a rope
the police roped off the crime scene
pipe down
to become quieter and calmer especially
to stop talking or shouting
the strikers piped down when they saw
their leader
dash off
to leave a place very quickly
the deer noticed us and dashed off into
the forest