Everyday grammar 2 : Phrasal Verbs

Frequently used Phrasal Verbs in British English

Bring

Bring up

1.     To mention something. He likes Politics and often brings up the subject in conversation.

2.    To be sick. She ate too much chocolate and brought it up.

Bring on

To cause something to happen, usually something negative. His illness was brought on by years of smoking.

Call

Call on

To visit someone: I’ll call on you this evening to see how you’re feeling.

Call off

To cancel something.The picnic was called off because of the rain.

                                  Come

Come up (with something)

To have an idea.  I came up with a solution for teaching English to people who cannot attend classes. SKYPE lessons!

Come in

To enter.  Come in, the door is open!

Come across

To meet someone  or find something by chance.

1. I came across David in the park.

2. I was cleaning the attic and I came across an English dictionary.

Come forward

To volunteer information about something, like a crime. The police are encouraging people to come forward with any information about the kidnapped girl.

                              Cut

Cut off

This phrase can be used in several ways, but its general meaning is to interrupt or stop something.

1.     While driving, to get in front of another car suddenly: That red car just cut me off and I almost crashed into it.

2.    To stop supplying things to or communicating with someone: His father is rich but he cut him off without any money of his own.

Cut (it) out

This phrase has the same meaning as saying “Stop it.”

“Hey, cut it out! I was watching that movie, so stop changing the channel!”

Cut in

To interrupt someone when they are speaking.

“I was about to ask that girl a question, but her friend cut in and answered first.”

                               Drop

Drop by/in

To stop by for a visit, for a short time.

Andrew is such a great boyfriend, when he heard that his girlfriend had a cold he dropped by to bring her some soup.

Drop off

To leave something or someone in their destination.

It can be separated by the object being dropped off.

“I can give you a ride and drop you off at work.”

                             Fall

Fall down/over/off/in

To drop to the ground, usually by accident.

My friend slipped on a banana peel and fell down.

I fell over the sleeping dog.

He fell off the ladder

She fell in(to) the river.

                            Fill

Fill (someone) in

To give someone the details about something.

 “Quickly, let’s go! There’s no time to explain, I’ll fill you in on the way.”

Fill up

To  eat a lot  and become completely full.

The little girl filled up on sweets before dinner, and didn’t want to eat any of the chicken.

                             Get

Get away

To escape/ take a break

He got away from work for a few days

Get around

To solve a problem by avoiding the main issue.

Some people know all the different ways to get around tax laws.

Get along (with)

To have a friendly relationship with someone.

Some people are surprised that I get along with my mother-in-law really well!

Get up

To stand up, or to wake up.

I have so much trouble getting up in the morning that I have to set three alarms.

Get back to

To return to someone or something. This phrase is often used to say that you will return with an answer to a question or a request at a later time.

He wasn’t sure what time our meeting was, so he said he’d get back to me with the time.

                            Give

Give in

To surrender, especially in a fight or argument.

Ben’s mother gave in and let him stay out late with his friends.

Give away

To offer things for free.

This phrasal verb can be separated by the item being given away.

When my cat had kittens, I gave them all away to good homes.

Give up

To stop trying, surrender.

I need to give up smoking.

                                    Go

Go out (with)

To go on a date with someone.

Sarah was so happy when Peter finally asked her to go out with him!

Go ahead

To go in front of someone, or to give permission to do or say something.

Go ahead, explain to me why there are so many phrasal verbs!

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Hang

Hang on

Used alone means wait

Hang on! I will come with you.

Hang on to something

To keep something.

When everyone else was getting fired, Paul managed to hang on to his job.

Hang out

To spend time with someone, casually.

My friends and I used to hang out in the park after school.

Hang up

To end a call on the phone, especially if it’s before the other person is ready.

I was in the middle of a sentence, and he hung up on me! How rude.

Hold

Hold on

The same as hang on (wait)

To hold on to something

You’d better hold on to your hat, it’s windy out there!

                           Look

Look at

Watch or see

Look at the beautiful flowers in the garden!

Look into

Investigate something

I am looking into the possibility of learning Japanese.

Look up

To check the meaning of something—can be separated by the item being looked up.

If you don’t know the meaning of a word, you should look it up in the dictionary.

Look out

To be careful

“Look out, there’s a big hole in the road!

                            Pay

Pay back

To give someone back money that you owe them—can be separated by the person getting paid back.

When it’s written as one word, “payback” means revenge.

Thanks for buying me lunch when I forgot my wallet at home! I’ll pay you back tomorrow.

                             Put

Put away

To keep in one place to be tidy or safe

She put her clothes away ( in the wardrobe)

Put out

 To extinguish/stop a fire

 The firemen managed to put out the fire before it spread to other houses.

Put on

To get your clothes or makeup on.

Every morning she puts on her dress, lipstick, shoes and hat—in that order.

                        Take

Take off

This phrase can mean to remove clothing, or to leave for a journey (e.g. planes take off when they begin their flights).

She was very happy when she finally got home and took off her shoes. They had been hurting her feet all day!

The plane took off from Gatwick at 2pm.

Take out

To remove something, like from a pocket or a bag.

The children sat at their desks and took out their pens and paper.

This phrase can also mean to take someone on a date. It can be separated by the item or person being taken out.

He took her out to the most expensive restaurant in the city.

                         Turn

Turn on/off

To switch a machine or light on or off.

Turn off the light, I’m trying to sleep!

Turn around

To move so that you’re facing the opposite direction.

Sam was about to get on the bus, but she turned around when someone called her name.

Turn up

When something that was lost is found unexpectedly.

Anything I lose usually turns up under the chair.

When someone visits you unexpectedly.

David turned up at my house on Sunday.

                

                           Work

Work out

To do exercise (gym)

I work out every morning doing press-ups and lunges.

Work (something) out

To come up with a solution or a compromise with someone.

Don’t worry, I’m sure we can work out a convenient time for your English classes.