PHRASAL VERBS LIST

Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. Use the list below as a reference guide when you find an expression that you don't recognize. The examples will help you understand the meanings. If you think of each phrasal verb as a separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it more easily. Like many other verbs, phrasal verbs often have more than one meaning.

As well as learning their meanings, you need to learn how to use phrasal verbs properly. Some phrasal verbs require a direct object (someone/something), while others do not. Some phrasal verbs can be separated by the object, while others cannot. Review this phrasal verbs grammar from time to time so that you don't forget the rules!

Verb Meaning Example

ask someone out invite on a dateBrian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.

ask aroundask many people the same question

I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.

add up to something equal Your purchases add up to $205.32.

back something up reverseYou'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.

back someone up supportMy wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.

blow up explodeThe racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.

blow something up add airWe have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.

break downstop functioning (vehicle, machine)

Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.

break down get upsetThe woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.

break something down divide into smaller partsOur teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.

break in force entry to a buildingSomebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.

break into something enter forcibly The firemen had to break into the

room to rescue the children.

break something inwear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel new

I need to break these shoes in before we run next week.

break in interruptThe TV station broke in to report the news of the president's death.

break up end a relationshipMy boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.

break up start laughing (informal)The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.

break out escapeThe prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking.

break out in something develop a skin conditionI broke out in a rash after our camping trip.

bring someone down make unhappyThis sad music is bringing me down.

bring someone up raise a childMy grandparents brought me up after my parents died.

bring something up start talking about a subjectMy mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.

bring something up vomitHe drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.

call aroundphone many different places/people

We called around but we weren't able to find the car part we needed.

call someone back return a phone callI called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.

call something off cancelJason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fiancé.

call on someone ask for an answer or opinionThe professor called on me for question 1.

call on someone visit someoneWe called on you last night but you weren't home.

call someone up phone Give me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in

town.

calm down relax after being angryYou are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car.

not care for someone/something

not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.

catch upget to the same point as someone else

You'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty.

check inarrive and register at a hotel or airport

We will get the hotel keys when we check in.

check out leave a hotelYou have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.

check someone/something out

look at carefully, investigateThe company checks out all new employees.

check out someone/something

look at (informal)Check out the crazy hair on that guy!

cheer up become happierShe cheered up when she heard the good news.

cheer someone up make happierI brought you some flowers to cheer you up.

chip in helpIf everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.

clean something up tidy, cleanPlease clean up your bedroom before you go outside.

come across something find unexpectedlyI came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.

come apart separateThe top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.

come down with something

become sickMy nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend.

come forwardvolunteer for a task or to give evidence

The woman came forward with her husband's finger prints.

come from somewhere originate inThe art of origami comes from Asia.

count on someone/something

rely onI am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.

cross something out draw a line throughPlease cross out your old address and write your new one.

cut back on something consume lessMy doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.

cut something downmake something fall to the ground

We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.

cut in interruptYour father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.

cut inpull in too closely in front of another vehicle

The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.

cut instart operating (of an engine or electrical device)

The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22°C.

cut something off remove with something sharpThe doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.

cut something off stop providingThe phone company cut off our phone because we didn't pay the bill.

cut someone off take out of a willMy grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.

cut something outremove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)

I cut this ad out of the newspaper.

do someone/something over

beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal)He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang.

do something over do again (N.Amer.)My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn't like my topic.

do away with something discardIt's time to do away with all of these old tax records.

do something up fasten, closeDo your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing!

dress up wear nice clothingIt's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.

drop back move back in a position/group Andrea dropped back to third

place when she fell off her bike.

drop in/by/over come without an appointmentI might drop in/by/over for tea sometime this week.

drop someone/something off

take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it there

I have to drop my sister off at work before I come over.

drop out quit a class, school etcI dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.

eat out eat at a restaurantI don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat out.

end up eventually reach/do/decideWe ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.

fall apart break into piecesMy new dress fell apart in the washing machine.

fall down fall to the groundThe picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning.

fall out separate from an interiorThe money must have fallen out of my pocket.

fall out(of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached

His hair started to fall out when he was only 35.

figure something out understand, find the answerI need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.

fill something into write information in blanks (Br.E.)

Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.

fill something outto write information in blanks (N.Amer.)

The form must be filled out in capital letters.

fill something up fill to the topI always fill the water jug up when it is empty.

find out discoverWe don't know where he lives. How can we find out?

find something out discoverWe tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out.

get something communicate, make I tried to get my point across/over

across/over understandable to the judge but she wouldn't listen.

get along/on like each otherI was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along/on.

get around have mobilityMy grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.

get away go on a vacationWe worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week.

get away with somethingdo without being noticed or punished

Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.

get back returnWe got back from our vacation last week.

get something back receive something you had beforeLiz finally got her Science notes back from my room-mate.

get back at someone retaliate, take revengeMy sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.

get back into somethingbecome interested in something again

I finally got back into my novel and finished it.

get on something step onto a vehicleWe're going to freeze out here if you don't let us get on the bus.

get over somethingrecover from an illness, loss, difficulty

I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.

get over something overcome a problemThe company will have to close if it can't get over the new regulations.

get round to somethingfinally find time to do (N.Amer.: get around to something)

I don't know when I am going to get round to writing the thank you cards.

get together meet (usually for social reasons)Let's get together for a BBQ this weekend.

get up get out of bedI got up early today to study for my exam.

get up standYou should get up and give the elderly man your seat.

give someone awayreveal hidden information about someone

His wife gave him away to the police.

give someone away take the bride to the altarMy father gave me away at my wedding.

give something away ruin a secretMy little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.

give something awaygive something to someone for free

The library was giving away old books on Friday.

give something back return a borrowed itemI have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game.

give inreluctantly stop fighting or arguing

My boyfriend didn't want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in.

give something outgive to many people (usually at no cost)

They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.

give something up quit a habitI am giving up smoking as of January 1st.

give up stop tryingMy maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.

go after someone follow someoneMy brother tried to go after the thief in his car.

go after something try to achieve somethingI went after my dream and now I am a published writer.

go against someone compete, opposeWe are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.

go ahead start, proceedPlease go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.

go back return to a placeI have to go back home and get my lunch.

go outleave home to go on a social event

We're going out for dinner tonight.

go out with someone dateJesse has been going out with Luke since they met last winter.

go over something reviewPlease go over your answers before you submit your test.

go over visit someone nearbyI haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'll go over for an hour or two.

go without something suffer lack or deprivationWhen I was young, we went without winter boots.

grow apart stop being friends over timeMy best friend and I grew apart after she changed schools.

grow back regrow My roses grew back this summer.

grow up become an adultWhen Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman.

grow out of something get too big forElizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones.

grow into something grow big enough to fitThis bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year.

hand something downgive something used to someone else

I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.

hand something in submitI have to hand in my essay by Friday.

hand something out to distribute to a group of peopleWe will hand out the invitations at the door.

hand something over give (usually unwillingly)The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.

hang in stay positive (N.Amer., informal)Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very soon.

hang on wait a short time (informal)Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!

hang out spend time relaxing (informal)Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang out at my place.

hang up end a phone callHe didn't say goodbye before he hung up.

hold someone/something back

prevent from doing/goingI had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.

hold something back hide an emotion Jamie held back his tears at his

grandfather's funeral.

hold on wait a short timePlease hold on while I transfer you to the Sales Department.

hold onto someone/something

hold firmly using your hands or arms

Hold onto your hat because it's very windy outside.

hold someone/somethingup

robA man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.

keep on doing something continue doingKeep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.

keep something from someone

not tellWe kept our relationship from our parents for two years.

keep someone/something out

stop from enteringTry to keep the wet dog out of the living room.

keep something up continue at the same rateIf you keep those results up you will get into a great college.

let someone down fail to support or help, disappointI need you to be on time. Don't let me down this time.

let someone in allow to enterCan you let the cat in before you go to school?

look after someone/something

take care ofI have to look after my sick grandmother.

look down on someone think less of, consider inferiorEver since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me.

look for someone/something

try to findI'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.

look forward to something

be excited about the futureI'm looking forward to the Christmas break.

look into something investigateWe are going to look into the price of snowboards today.

look outbe careful, vigilant, and take notice

Look out! That car's going to hit you!

look out for someone/something

be especially vigilant forDon't forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.

look something over check, examineCan you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?

look something upsearch and find information in a reference book or database

We can look her phone number up on the Internet.

look up to someone have a lot of respect forMy little sister has always looked up to me.

make something up invent, lie about somethingJosie made up a story about why we were late.

make up forgive each otherWe were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast.

make someone up apply cosmetics toMy sisters made me up for my graduation party.

mix something up confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names again!

pass away dieHis uncle passed away last night after a long illness.

pass out faintIt was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out.

pass something outgive the same thing to many people

The professor passed the textbooks out before class.

pass something up decline (usually something good)I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.

pay someone back return owed moneyThanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you back on Friday.

pay for somethingbe punished for doing something bad

That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.

pick something out chooseI picked out three sweaters for you to try on.

point someone/something out

indicate with your fingerI'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.

put something downput what you are holding on a surface or floor

You can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter.

put someone down insult, make someone feel stupidThe students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short.

put something off postponeWe are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane.

put something out extinguishThe neighbours put the fire out before the firemen arrived.

put something together assembleI have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.

put up with someone/something

tolerateI don't think I can put up with three small children in the car.

put something onput clothing/accessories on your body

Don't forget to put on your new earrings for the party.

run into someone/something

meet unexpectedlyI ran into an old school-friend at the mall.

run over someone/something

drive a vehicle over a person or thing

I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.

run over/through something

rehearse, reviewLet's run over/through these lines one more time before the show.

run away leave unexpectedly, escapeThe child ran away from home and has been missing for three days.

run out have none leftWe ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap.

send something back return (usually by mail)My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.

set something up arrange, organizeOur boss set a meeting up with the president of the company.

set someone up trick, trapThe police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera.

shop around compare pricesI want to shop around a little before I decide on these boots.

show offact extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)

He always shows off on his skateboard

sleep overstay somewhere for the night (informal)

You should sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.

sort something out organize, resolve a problemWe need to sort the bills out before the first of the month.

stick to somethingcontinue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing

You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.

switch something off stop the energy flow, turn offThe light's too bright. Could you switch it off.

switch something on start the energy flow, turn onWe heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.

take after someone resemble a family memberI take after my mother. We are both impatient.

take something apart purposely break into piecesHe took the car brakes apart and found the problem.

take something back return an itemI have to take our new TV back because it doesn't work.

take off start to fly My plane takes off in five minutes.

take something offremove something (usually clothing)

Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!

take something out remove from a place or thingCan you take the garbage out to the street for me?

take someone outpay for someone to go somewhere with you

My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.

tear something up rip into piecesI tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and gave them back to him.

think backremember (often + to, sometimes + on)

When I think back on my youth, I wish I had studied harder.

think something over considerI'll have to think this job offer over before I make my final decision.

throw something away dispose ofWe threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery.

turn something downdecrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)

Please turn the TV down while the guests are here.

turn something down refuseI turned the job down because I don't want to move.

turn something off stop the energy flow, switch offYour mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.

turn something on start the energy, switch on It's too dark in here. Let's turn

some lights on.

turn something upincrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)

Can you turn the music up? This is my favourite song.

turn up appear suddenlyOur cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighbourhood.

try something on sample clothingI'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't think they will fit.

try something out testI am going to try this new brand of detergent out.

use something up finish the supplyThe kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more.

wake up stop sleepingWe have to wake up early for work on Monday.

warm someone/something up

increase the temperatureYou can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.

warm up prepare body for exerciseI always warm up by doing sit-ups before I go for a run.

wear off fade awayMost of my make-up wore off before I got to the party.

work out exerciseI work out at the gym three times a week.

work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.

work something out make a calculationWe have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.

Br.E.: British English; N.Amer.: North American

We often use verbs with these words:

on off in out up down away

back over about round forward through along

We often use these words (particles) with verbs of movements. For example:

get on The bus was full. We couldn't get on.

drive off She got into the car and drove off.

came back Tom is leaving tomorrow and coming back on Saturday.

turn round When I touched him on the shoulder, he turned round.

But often these words (on / off / up / down etc.) give a special (an idiomatic) meaning to a verb. For example:

Sorry I'm late. The car broke down. Look out ! There's car coming. It was my first flight. I was very nervous as the plane took off. It was so tired this morning that I couldn't get up. How did you get on in your examination yesterday?

These multi-word verbs (break down / get up / get on etc.) are phrasal verbs.

Sometimes a multi-word verb has an object. Usually there are two possible positions for the object (noun or pronoun): before the particle or after the particle.

In general there are four types of multi-word verbs:

Type1: Verb + particle (no object) Intransitive Multi-Word Verbs Type2: Verb + particle + object Separable Multi-Word Verbs

The object (noun or pronoun) can come between the verb and the particle. But if the object is a pronoun, it always comes between the verb and the particle.

Type3: Verb + particle + object Inseparable Multi-Word Verbs (Transitive) The object (noun or pronoun) always comes after the particle.

Type4: Verb + particle + particle Three-Word Phrasal Verbs (Transitive) Type 4 multi-word verbs are nearly always idiomatic. The object cannot change position. It cannot come before the particles, or between the particles.

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

The following phrasal verbs are not followed by an object: "Once you leave home, you can never really go back again."

That old Jeep had a tendency to break down just when I needed it the most.

Popular songs seem to catch on in California first and then spread eastward.

Father promised that we would never come back to this horrible place.

They tried to come in through the back door, but it was locked.

He was hit on the head very hard, but after several minutes, he started to come to again.

The children promised to come over, but they never do.

We used to just drop by, but they were never home, so we stopped doing that.

When we visited Paris, we loved eating out in the sidewalk cafes.

Uncle Heine didn't have much money, but he always seemed to get by without borrowing money from relatives.

Grandmother tried to get up, but the couch was too low, and she couldn't make it on her own.

It's hard to imagine that we will ever go back to Lithuania.

We would finish one Dickens novel and then just go on to the next.

The cops heard all the noise and stopped to see what was going on.

Charles grew up to be a lot like his father.

The judge warned the stalker to keep away from his victim's home.

He tried to keep on singing long after his voice was ruined.

He had drunk too much; he passed out on the sidewalk outside the bar.

Whenever he sat down at the piano, we knew he was going to show off.

Day after day, Efrain showed up for class twenty minutes late.

I woke up when the rooster crowed.

Separable phrasal verbs

The object may come after the following phrasal verbs or it may separate the two parts: I turned off the light. I turned the light off. You have to do this paint job over.

When the object of the following phrasal verb is a pronoun (it / them / me / you / him / her / us), the two parts of the phrasal verb must be separated: I turned it off.

The terrorists tried to blow up the railroad station.

The matter brought up at the committee.

They called off this afternoon's meeting.

Do this homework over.

Fill out this application form and mail it in.

She filled up the grocery cart with free food.

My sister found out that her husband had been planning a surprise party for her.

The filling station was giving away free gas.

My brother borrowed my car. I have a feeling he's not about to give it back.

The students handed in their papers and left the room.

She hung up the phone before she hung up her clothes.

I hate to hold up the meeting, but I have to go to the bathroom.

Three masked gunmen held up the Security Bank this afternoon.

You left out the part about the police chase down Asylum Avenue.

The lawyers looked over the papers carefully before questioning the witness. They looked them over carefully.

You've misspelled this word again. You'd better look it up.

She knew she was in trouble, so she made up a story about going to the movies with her friends.

He was so far away, we really couldn't make out what he was saying.

There were three men in the line-up. She picked out the guy she thought had stolen her purse.

The crane picked up the entire house. Watch them pick it up

As we drove through Paris, Francoise pointed out the major historical sites.

We put away money for our retirement. She put away the cereal boxes.

We asked the boss to put off the meeting until tomorrow. (Please put it off for another day.)

I put on a sweater and a jacket. (I put them on quickly.)

The firefighters put out the house fire before it could spread. (They put it out quickly.)

I read over the homework, but couldn't make any sense of it .

My wife set up the living room exactly the way she wanted it. She set it up.

These are your instructions. Take them down before you forget.

It was so hot that I had to take off my shirt.

We have serious problems here. Let's talk them over like adults.

That's a lot of money! Don't just throw it away.

She tried on fifteen dresses before she found one she liked.

I tried out four cars before I could find one that pleased me.

Your radio is driving me crazy! Please turn itdown.

He applied for a promotion twice this year, but he was turned down both times.

Grandpa couldn't hear, so he turned up his hearing aid.

We turned off the lights before anyone could see us.

It was a disgusting movie. It really turned me off.

Turn on the CD player so we can dance.

The gang members used up all the money and went out to rob some more banks.

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)

With the following phrasal verbs, the lexical part of the verb (the part of the phrasal verb that carries the "verb-meaning") cannot be separated from the prepositions (or other parts) that accompany it: "Who will look after my estate when I'm gone?"

The teacher called on students in the back row.

The old minister continued to call on his sick parishioners.

I got over the flu, but I don't know if I'll ever get over my broken heart.

The students went over the material before the exam. They should have gone over it twice.

They country went through most of its coal reserves in one year. Did he go through all his money already?

My mother promised to look after my dog while I was gone.

The police will look into the possibilities of embezzlement.

I ran across my old roommate at the college reunion.

Carlos ran into his English professor in the hallway.

My second son seems to take after his mother.

It seemed strange to see my old boss wait on tables.

Three-Word Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)

With the following phrasal verbs, you will find three parts: "My brother dropped out of school before he could graduate."

I was talking to Mom on the phone when the operator broke in on our call.

After our month-long trip, it was time to catch up with the neighbors and the news around town.

I was talking to Mom on the phone when the operator broke in on our call.

The boys promised to check up on the conditions of the summer house from time to time.

After years of giving nothing, the old parishioner was able to come up with a thousand-dollar donation.

We tried to cut down on the money we were spending on entertainment.

I hope none of my students drop out of school this semester.

I found it very hard to get along with my brother when we were young.

Janik cheated on the exam and then tried to get away with it.

The citizens tried to get rid of their corrupt mayor in the recent election.

When will you ever get through with that program?

It's hard to keep up with the Joneses when you lose your job!

I always look forward to the beginning of a new semester.

It's typical of a jingoistic country that the citizens look down on their geographical neighbors.

We were going to look in on my brother-in-low, but he wasn't home.

Good instructors will look out for early signs of failure in their students.

First-graders really look up to their teachers.

Make sure of the student's identity before you let him into the classroom.

The teacher had to put up with a great deal of nonsense from new students.

The runners ran out of energy before the end of the race.

My oldest sister took care of us younger children after Mom died.

The star player talked back to the coach and was thrown off the team.

I often think back on my childhood with great pleasure.

Her husband walked out on her and their three children.

Phrasal Verbs: One Verb After Another (under construction)

Phrasal Verb: Look

Are you still looking [about] for a job?

Who will look after the baby.

Look at this picture, please.

He looks at work in a different way now he's in charge.

They look carefully at a problem.

Look at Mrs Jones; drink killed her.

Something you were looking for, but you can't find it, and you can't remember what it was. So I'll tell you. It's the monitor you're looking for, and it isn't there.

I'll look in and see you next week.

Look out! There is a car coming.

I half-expected Candy to open my door and look out to see what the fracas was, but the door stayed firmly closed.

If you don't know the word look it up in the dictionary.

Phrasal Verb: Put

Close the books and put them aside.

I'll just put the car away.

Take your notebooks and put down all the words that are on the board.

Mr. Gough put off his trip to London until next month.

She put her hat and coat on.

She put the light [the fire] out.

I can't put up with your rudeness anymore; leave the room.

Phrasal Verb: Come

I came across this book in a little store.

I want you come along (with us), or you'll miss the bus.

Come back here. I want to talk to you.

The button has come off my coat.

Come on or will be late.

Phrasal Verb: Get

They do get along (well) together.

I am getting off at the next station (stop).

How do you get on?

It was too hard for her to get over that illness.

Let's get together.

If he gets up early, he'll come on time.

Phrasal Verb: Find

She's unpleasant. She always finds fault with people.

He found himself after graduating the University.

You can't trust him until you find everything out.

Phrasal Verb: Run

Yesterday I ran into my friend whom I haven't seen since we left school.

Why are you so upset? - My kitten was run over by a car.

I'll have to go to the baker's as we've run out of bread.

Phrasal Verb: Give

They gave away their food for free.

He has given in to my views.

Give out the textbooks.

He had to give up studying because of poor health.

You should give up smoking.

Phrasal Verb: Go

I don't go in for sport.

The light went off and the film began.

Go on with your work.

You may take this book. I can easily go without it for a month.

Phrasal Verb: Turn

Turn that radio down at once.

My umbrella turned inside out.

When leaving, don't forgot to turn off the stove.

She turns on her charm whenever she wants anything.

You'll have to turn up tomorrow. It's very important for us.

Separable Phrasal VerbsThe object may come after the following phrasal verbs or it may separate the two parts: You have to do this paint job over. You have to do over this paint job.

When the object of the following phrasal verbs is a pronoun, the two parts of the phrasal verb must be separated:

You have to do it over.

Verb Meaning Example

blow up explode The terrorists tried to blow up the railroad station.

bring up mention a topicMy mother brought up that little matter of my prison record again.

bring up raise children It isn't easy to bring up children nowadays.

call off cancel They called off this afternoon's meeting

do over repeat a job Do this homework over.

fill out complete a form Fill out this application form and mail it in.

fill up fill to capacity She filled up the grocery cart with free food.

find out discoverMy sister found out that her husband had been planning a surprise party for her.

give away

give something to someone else for free

The filling station was giving away free gas.

give back return an objectMy brother borrowed my car. I have a feeling he's not about to give it back.

hand insubmit something (assignment)

The students handed in their papers and left the room.

hang upput something on hook or receiver

She hung up the phone before she hung up her clothes.

hold up delayI hate to hold up the meeting, but I have to go to the bathroom.

hold up (2)

robThree masked gunmen held up the Security Bank this afternoon.

leave out omitYou left out the part about the police chase down Asylum Avenue.

look over examine, checkThe lawyers looked over the papers carefully before questioning the witness. (They looked them over carefully.)

look up search in a listYou've misspelled this word again. You'd better look it up.

make up invent a story or lieShe knew she was in trouble, so she made up a story about going to the movies with her friends.

make out hear, understandHe was so far away, we really couldn't make out what he was saying.

pick out chooseThere were three men in the line-up. She picked out the guy she thought had stolen her purse.

pick uplift something off something else

The crane picked up the entire house. (Watch them pick it up.)

point out call attention toAs we drove through Paris, Francoise pointed out the major historical sites.

put away save or storeWe put away money for our retirement. She put away the cereal boxes.

put off postponeWe asked the boss to put off the meeting until tomorrow. (Please put it off for another day.)

put on put clothing on the bodyI put on a sweater and a jacket. (I put them on quickly.)

put out extinguishThe firefighters put out the house fire before it could spread. (They put it out quickly.)

read over peruseI read over the homework, but couldn't make any sense of it.

set up to arrange, beginMy wife set up the living room exactly the way she wanted it. She set it up.

take down

make a written noteThese are your instructions. Write them down before you forget.

take off remove clothing It was so hot that I had to take off my shirt.

talk over discussWe have serious problems here. Let's talk them over like adults.

throw away

discard That's a lot of money! Don't just throw it away.

try onput clothing on to see if it fits

She tried on fifteen dresses before she found one she liked.

try out testI tried out four cars before I could find one that pleased me.

turn down

lower volume Your radio is driving me crazy! Please turn it down.

turn down (2)

rejectHe applied for a promotion twice this year, but he was turned down both times.

turn up raise the volumeGrandpa couldn't hear, so he turned up his hearing aid.

turn off switch off electricity We turned off the lights before anyone could see us.

turn off (2)

repulse It was a disgusting movie. It really turned me off.

turn on switch on the electricity Turn on the CD player so we can dance.

use up exhaust, use completelyThe gang members used up all the money and went out to rob some more banks.

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)With the following phrasal verbs, the lexical part of the verb (the part of the phrasal verb that carries the "verb-meaning") cannot be separated from the prepositions (or other parts) that accompany it: "Who will look after my estate when I'm gone?"

Verb Meaning Example

call on ask to recite in class The teacher called on students in the back row.

call on (2) visitThe old minister continued to call on his sick parishioners.

get overrecover from sickness or disappointment

I got over the flu, but I don't know if I'll ever get over my broken heart.

go over reviewThe students went over the material before the exam. They should have gone over it twice.

go through use up; consumeThey country went through most of its coal reserves in one year. Did he go through all his money already?

look after take care ofMy mother promised to look after my dog while I was gone.

look into investigateThe police will look into the possibilities of embezzlement.

run across find by chanceI ran across my old roommate at the college reunion.

run into meetCarlos ran into his English professor in the hallway.

take after resemble My second son seems to take after his mother.

wait on serveIt seemed strange to see my old boss wait on tables.

Three-Word Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)With the following phrasal verbs, you will find three parts: "My brother dropped out of school before he could graduate."

Verb Meaning Example

break in oninterrupt (a conversation)

I was talking to Mom on the phone when the operator broke in on our call.

catch up with

keep abreastAfter our month-long trip, it was time to catch up with the neighbors and the news around town.

check up on examine, investigateThe boys promised to check up on the condition of the summer house from time to time.

come up with

to contribute (suggestion, money)

After years of giving nothing, the old parishioner was able to come up with a thousand-dollar donation.

cut down on

curtail (expenses)We tried to cut down on the money we were spending on entertainment.

drop out of leave schoolI hope none of my students drop out of school this semester.

get along with

have a good relationship with

I found it very hard to get along with my brother when we were young.

get away with

escape blameJanik cheated on the exam and then tried to get away with it.

get rid of eliminateThe citizens tried to get rid of their corrupt mayor in the recent election.

get through with

finish When will you ever get through with that program?

keep up with

maintain pace withIt's hard to keep up with the Joneses when you lose your job!

look forward to

anticipate with pleasure

I always look forward to the beginning of a new semester.

look down on

despiseIt's typical of a jingoistic country that the citizens look down on their geographical neighbors.

look in on visit (somebody)We were going to look in on my brother-in-law, but he wasn't home.

look out for be careful, anticipateGood instructors will look out for early signs of failure in their students

look up to respect First-graders really look up to their teachers.

make sure verify Make sure of the student's identity before you let

of him into the classroom.

put up with tolerateThe teacher had to put up with a great deal of nonsense from the new students.

run out of exhaust supplyThe runners ran out of energy before the end of the race.

take care of be responsible forMy oldest sister took care of us younger children after Mom died.

talk back to answer impolitelyThe star player talked back to the coach and was thrown off the team.

think back on

recallI often think back on my childhood with great pleasure.

walk out on abandonHer husband walked out on her and their three children.

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs The following phrasal verbs are not followed by an object: "Once you leave home, you can never really go back again."

Verb Meaning Example

break down stop functioningThat old Jeep had a tendency to break down just when I needed it the most.

catch on become popularPopular songs seem to catch on in California first and then spread eastward.

come back return to a placeFather promised that we would never come back to this horrible place.

come in enterThey tried to come in through the back door, but it was locked.

come toregain consciousness

He was hit on the head very hard, but after several minutes, he started to come to again.

come over to visitThe children promised to come over, but they never do.

drop byvisit without appointment

We used to just drop by, but they were never home, so we stopped doing that.

eat out dine in a restaurantWhen we visited Paris, we loved eating out in the sidewalk cafes.

get by surviveUncle Heine didn't have much money, but he always seemed to get by without borrowing money from relatives.

get up ariseGrandmother tried to get up, but the couch was too low, and she couldn't make it on her own.

go back return to a placeIt's hard to imagine that we will ever go back to Lithuania.

go on continueHe would finish one Dickens novel and then just go on to the next.

go on (2) happenThe cops heard all the noise and stopped to see what was going on.

grow up get older Charles grew up to be a lot like his father.

keep awayremain at a distance

The judge warned the stalker to keep away from his victim's home.

keep on (with gerund)

continue with the same

He tried to keep on singing long after his voice was ruined.

pass outlose consciousness, faint

He had drunk too much; he passed out on the sidewalk outside the bar.

show offdemonstrate haughtily

Whenever he sat down at the piano, we knew he was going to show off.

show up arriveDay after day, Efrain showed up for class twenty minutes late.

wake up arouse from sleep I woke up when the rooster crowed