Phrasal verbs

Phrasal Verb | Definition | Example |
act up | behave or function improperly | I think I need to take my car to the mechanic because it's acting up again. |
add * up + | calculate a sum | I added up the receipts and it totaled $135.46. |
add up to + | equal an amount | The total expenses added up to $325.00.  |
add up | make sense | Her story doesn't add up. I think she is lying. |
ask* out + | invite on a date | I can't believe that Joe finally asked me out on a date! |
ask * over + | invite to one's home | Why don't we ask the Johnsons over for dinner? |
back down | stop defending your opinion in a debate | Jane never backs down. She always wins arguments. |
back out | not keep (a promise, agreement,deal) | Sam backed out at the last second. |
back out of + | not keep(a promise, agreement, deal) | Sam backed out of the agreement at the last second. |
back * up + | give support | You need examples to back up your opinion.  |
back up | move backwards, reverse | Could you back up a little so I can open this drawer. |
bawl * out  | criticize, reprimand (inf.) | She bawled him out for arriving late. |
bear down on + | bite | The soldier had to bear down onthe leather strap while the doctor removed a bullet from the soldier's arm. |
bear down on + | take strong measures against | The U.S.A. is bearing down on drug traffickers. |
bear on + | have to do with | This information may bear on this case. |
bear up | withstand | I didn't think he would bear up so well in that situation. |
bear up under + | withstand | How did he bear up under suchextreme pressure. |
bear with + | be patient | Please bear with me while I fill out the paperwork. |
blow in | visit unexpectedly (inf.) | My cousin blew in unexpectedly with his entire family. |
blow over | pass without creating a problem | All this negative publicity will blow over in a couple of weeks. |
blow * up + | make explode;destroy using explosives | The terrorists blew thebridge up. |
blow up | explode | The bomb blew up before they could defuse it. |
blow up | suddenly become very angry | When Joan heard the news, she blew up and rushed out of the room. |
break * down + | analyze in detail | We need to break this problem down in order to solve. |
break down | stop working properly | The truck broke down in the desert. |
break down | become mentally ill | Shebroke down after her husband died. |
break * in + | wear or use something new until it is comfortable | I need to break these shoes in before I go hiking. |
break in | interrupt | While we were discussing the situation, Terri broke in to give her opinion. |
break in | enter a place unlawfully | The burglar broke in between midnight and 3 AM. |
break in on + | interrupt (a conversation) |Jane broke in on the conversation and told us to get back to work. |
break into + | enter a house unlawfully | The burglar broke into the house between midnight and 3 AM. |
break into + | interrupt (a conversation) | Jane broke into the conversation and told us what she knew. |
break * off + | end something | Sally broke her engagement to John off. |
break out | appear violently | Violentprotests broke out in response to the military coup. |
break out + | use something extravagant for celebration | He broke out the champagne to celebrate his promotion. |
break out  of + | escape | The murderer broke out of the prison. |
break * up + | break into pieces | I broke the cracker up into pieces and put it in the soup. |
break * up + | disperse (a crowd), stop (a fight) | Thepolice broke the demonstration up before it got out of control. |
break up | end a relationship | Sam and Diane broke up again. What a rocky relationship. |
bring * about + | cause to happen | Democracy brought about great change in the lives of the people. |
bring * along + | bring with | When we go to the forest, bring your wildlife guide along. |
bring * around | change someone's mind,...