Phrasal verbs

rPhrasal 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 beseparated by the object, while others cannot.
Verb | Meaning | Example |
ask someone out | invite on a date | Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie. |
ask around | ask 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 | reverse | You'll have to back up your car so that I canget out. |
back someone up | support | My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job. |
blow up | explode | The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence. |
blow something up | add air | We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party. |
break down | stop functioning (vehicle, machine) | Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm. |
break down | getupset | The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died. |
break something down | divide into smaller parts | Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts. |
break in | force entry to a building | Somebody 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 in | wear 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 | interrupt | The TV station broke in to report the news of the president's death. |
break up | end a relationship | My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America. |
break up | start laughing (informal) | The kids just broke up as soonas the clown started talking. |
break out | escape | The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking. |
break out insomething | develop a skin condition | I broke out in a rash after our camping trip. |
bring someone down | make unhappy | This sad music is bringing me down. |
bring someone up | raise a child | My grandparents brought me up after my parents died. |bring something up | start talking about a subject | My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports. |
bring something up | vomit | He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet. |
call around | phone 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 call | I called thecompany back but the offices were closed for the weekend. |
call something off | cancel | Jason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fiancé. |
call on someone | ask for an answer or opinion | The professor called on me for question 1. |
call on someone | visit someone | We called on you last night but you weren't home. |
call someone up | phone | Give me your phone number and Iwillcall you up when we are in town. |
calm down | relax after being angry | You are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car. |
not care forsomeone/something | not like (formal) | I don't care for his behaviour. |
catch up | get to the same point as someone else | You'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty. |
check in | arrive and register at...