Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs Resource



Many English verbs consist of two parts: a base verb and a preposition or an adverb particle. When the verb is used with the adverb particle, the combination is called a phrasal verb. There are a very large number of these in English, and the particle that follows the verb changes the meaning of the phrasal verb in idiomatic ways.

The meaning of the phrasal verbsis often very different from the meanings of the two words taken separately. In order to understand the meaning of a phrasal verb, you may have to refer to the dictionary.

At the same time, some particles can be separated from the verb so that a noun and pronoun can be inserted, whereas other particles cannot be separated from the verb; in addition, still others can be used in a separated formor as a unit. Moreover, phrasal verbs can be intransitive -- not followed by a direct object – or transitive – followed by a direct object. Therefore, phrasal verbs can be separable, inseparable, transitive (add object) or intransitive (no object).

Here is an alphabetical list of frequently used phrasal verbs with definitions and examples. In cases where the phrasal verb can be either separatedor used as a single unit, examples are given of both forms.



add on

(separable) – to increase

We added on another floor to our house. (We added it on to our house.)



add up

(intransitive – no object) – to result in

Your story just doesn’t add up. I think you are not telling the truth.



add up to

(inseparable) – to total

The bills often add up to more money thanshe earns.



ask for

(inseparable) – to deserve a negative consequence

Why are you asking for trouble?



ask out

(separable) – to ask for a date

Joe asked Mary out last night, and they went to see a movie.



back away

(intransitive – no object) – to retreat

When Jim saw the dog, he backed away because he got scared.



back off

(intransitive - no object) –to abandon

The bank robber backed off when he noticed two police cars parked in front of the bank.



back up (1)

(separable) – to reverse

When he backed the car up in the driveway, he almost struck the cat.



back up (2)

(separable) – to support

My sister always backs me up when I have problems.





back up (3)

(separable) – to confirm

My brother will back meup if you don’t believe what I told you.



back up (4)

(separable) – to make copies of computer files

You should back your data up at least once a week if you don’t want to risk losing any information.



bail out (1)

(intransitive -- no object) – to quit

John bailed out of the competition when he found out that Sam was also competing.



bail out (2)

(separable) – torescue

When you lent me some money last month, you bailed me out of a difficult situation.



bash in

(separable) – to break

Someone bashed in the side window of my car. (Someone bashed it in.)



beat up

(separable) – to hurt someone

He has a black eye; someone must have beaten him up last night.



black out

(intransitive - no object) – to lose consciousness

Jackhasn’t eaten anything for three days so he finally blacked out.



blend in

(intransitive - no object) – to match

When you move to a new neighborhood, you’ll blend in after awhile.



blow up (1)

(separable) – to inflate

Please blow up only the red balloons for Sally’s birthday party. (Can you blow them up?)



blow up (2)

(separable) – to explode

The contractors willblow up the old hotel tomorrow so they can build a new townhouse complex. (They will blow it up.)



blow up (3)

(intransitive - no object) – to become angry

He blew up when the opposing team won the game in the last minute of overtime.



boss around

(separable) – to order people what to do

The new supervisor likes to boss around the employees. (He likes to boss them...