Phrasal Verbs

  Phrasal Verbs - Ordered List by Verbs
 

|Phrasal Verb |Meaning |Examples |
|act like (inseparable)|behave in a way that's like _____ Note: |What's wrong with Bob? He's acting like an idiot. |
| |This phrasal verb is very informal. ||
|act up (no object) |misbehave (for people); not work properly |The baby sitter had a difficult time. The children acted up |
| |(for machines) |all evening. "I guess I'd better take my car to the garage. |
| | |It's been acting uplately." |
|Add up |(make sense) |His evidence just doesn 't add up. |
|add up (1. no object) |logically fit together Note: This phrasal |His theory is hard to believe, but his research adds up. "His |
| |verb is often negative |theory seems, atfirst, to be plausible, but the facts in his |
| | |research don't add up." |
|add up (2. separable) |find the total. |What's the total of those bills? Could you add them up and |
| | |see?|
|add up to |to total. |The bills add up to $734.96. That's more than I expected! |
|(inseparable) | | |
|Ask after |(inquire about) |Jim was asking afteryou. |
|ask out (separable) |ask for a date. |Nancy has a new boy friend. Joe asked her out last night. |
|back down (no object) |not follow a threat; yield In an argument |Tom was going to call the police when I told him I'd wrecked |
| | |his car, but he backeddown when I said I'd pay for the |
| | |damages. Shella was right, so Paul had to back down. |
|back off (no object) |not follow a threat |Tom was ready to call the police when I told him I'd wrecked |
| | |his car, but he backedoff when I said I'd pay for the |
| | |damages. |
|back up (1. no object)|move backward; move in reverse |You missed the lines in the parking space. You'll have to back|
| | |up and try again. "Thepeople waiting in line are too close to|
| | |the door. We won't be able to open it unless they back up." |
|back up (2. separable)|drive a vehicle backwards (in reverse) |You're too close! Back your car up so I can open the garage |
| | |door.|
|back up (3. separable)|confirm a story, facts, or information |If you don't believe me, talk to Dave. He'll back me up. |
|back up (4. separable)|make a "protection" copy to use if there |When my computer crashed, I lost many of my files. It's a good|
| |are problems with the original |thing I backed them up....