PHRASAL VERBS

PHRASAL VERBS

BE

be above (something) 1) to be so important that you needn’t do particular things

2) to be so good that no one can think you did something wrong

be about (something) to explain, describe or give facts on a particular subject

be about to do (something) to be ready to start to do something very soon

be after (someone) to be trying to catch someone

be against (someone/something) to disagree with or not support someone or something

be getting at (something) to be explaining or saying something important

be behind (with) to not have done as much as you should

be down to feel very sad

be (all) for (something/someone) to support an idea, plan, person, etc. very strongly

be dying for (something) to want something very much

be in 1) to be at home
2) to be popular

be in for (something) to be likely to experience something uncomfortable or difficult

be taken in (by) to be made to believe something that isn’t true

be into (something) to enjoy doing a particular activity very much

be off 1) not to be going to happen

2) to smell or be bad
be let off to be allowed to go without being punished

be on to be going to happen

be not on to not be acceptable

be out 1) to not be at home

2) to not be in fashion any more

be out of (something) to not have something in your home or shop

be over to have finished

be through (with) to be tired or bored with someone or an activity and so determined to leave

be up 1) to be out of bed
2) to have increased in price

be up to (something) to be doing something wrong or bad

be caught up (in) to be in a difficult or dangerous situation

be made up of (something) to include as its parts

CALL

call (something) off to cancel or stop something

call on (someone) 1) to visit someone as a routine

2) ask for an answer or opinion

call (something) out to say something in a loud voice

call after (someone) be named after someone

call around (round) 1) phone many different places/people

 2) to visit

call (someone) back return a phone call

call in 1) get someone to come and do sth

2) short visit

call (someone) up phone

CLEAR

clear (something) up to make a place clean and tidy again

clear away 1) leave a place

2) remove or tidy

clear off leave somewhere quickly

clear out 1) tidy up thoroughly and throw away unwanted stuff

2) leave somewhere

COME

come about to happen

come across (as someone) to seem to be a particular kind of person

come across (something) to find something by chance

come apart to fall into pieces

come back (from) to return to a place from another place

come back (into fashion) to become fashionable again

come back (to) to return to your memory

come between (someone and someone) to cause a quarrel between two or more people

come down to decrease

come down with (something) to become ill with a particular infection

come from (somewhere) 1) to be born or live in a place

2) to have started or developed from a particular animal, plant or substance

come on 1) to move more quickly

2) to begin gradually
3) to arrive somewhere after others

come out to arrive in the shops, etc

come round 1) to visit someone’s home

2) to become conscious again after fainting

come through to become known

come through (something) to survive a difficult event or period

come to to become conscious again after fainting

come up 1) to rise in the sky

2) to be mentioned
3) to be used in a test
4) to become available

come up against (someone/something) to have to deal with difficulty, opposition, etc

come up to (something) 1) to reach a particular level

2) to be as good as the level people expect

come up with (something) to produce an excuse, a suggestion, the correct answer, etc

CUT
cut down (on) to use much less of something

cut down to remove a tree or plant by cutting it near the base

cut back to reduce the amount of money being spent

cut across to take a shortcut over an area instead of going around the edge

cut in to interrupt someone when they are speaking

cut off 1) to stop supplies of something like electricity or water

2) to stop a telephone connection

cut out when an engine or piece of machinery suddenly stops working

cut through to be able to deal with the problems or bureaucracy quickly

cut up to divide something into smaller pieces

FALL

fall apart to fall into pieces

fall back on (something) to use money you kept because you need it

fall behind (with) 1) to move more slowly so that others are further ahead
2) to make slower progress then others
3) to not make the necessary regular payments

fall for (someone) to feel strong romantic feelings for someone

fall for (something) to be tricked into believing something that isn’t true

fall off 1) to become separated from an object

2) to become less gradually

fall out (of) to fall from a high place

fall out (with) (over) to have quarrel and end a friendship

fall over to fall onto the ground

fall through to not be agreed, completed, etc successfully

GET

get (something) across (to) to be successful in explaining your idea, plan, etc.

get ahead (get on (in life)) to have success in your life

get around to (get round to doing (something)) to do something you have planned or wanted to do for a long time

get at (someone) to criticise someone all the time and upset them

get away (from/to) 1) to be successful in going on holiday

2) to go from a place, sometimes because it is difficult to stay

get away with (something) to not be punished for doing something bad or wrong

get back (from) to return to a place

get (something) back to manage to have something you own returned to you

get your own back (on someone) to punish or harm someone who has done something bad to you

get by to get enough money or food

get (someone) down to cause someone to feel very sad

get (something) down to write something

get down to (something) to start doing something

get in touch (with someone) to phone, email, etc. someone

get into (something) 1) to manage to enter a place after an effort
2) to start a conversation, fight, etc. with someone

get (someone) into a trouble (with) to do something that makes yourself deserve punishment (or someone)

get off 1) to leave a bus, train, etcetera

2) to start a journey

get on (with) to have a friendly relationship with someone

get (someone) out of trouble (with) to do something so that you avoid punishment

get out of (doing) to manage to avoid doing a job you don’t like

get over (someone) to become happier after the end of a romantic relationship

get over (something) 1) to become well after being ill with a particular illness
2) to become happier after being sad, rightened, etc

get through 1) to be successful when you try to phone someone

2) to pass a test or exam

get through (something) to survive an unpleasant or difficult period

get (something) through to (someone) 1) to manage to reach someone by telephone

2) to manage to make someone understand something

get to (someone) to make you feel very angry or upset

get to (somewhere) to arrive at a place

get together (with) to join other people for a party, meeting, etc

get (someone) up to wake (someone) up and get (them) out of bed

GIVE
give (something) away 1) to give something to someone because you don’t want it or because you want them to have it
2) to tell a secret or give information

give back to return something borrowed

give in (to) to agree to something but not because you want to

give in to accept that you have been defeated and agree to stop competing or fighting

give (something) out 1) to give copies of the same thing to many people
2) to tell people something

give up 1) to admit that you don’t know

2) to leave your job

give up (sth) to stop doing something before you have finished it, usually because it is too difficult

GO

go after (sb) to chase or follow someone in order to catch them

go after (something) to try to get something

go along with (someone/something) to support an idea, or to agree with someone’s opinion

go away 1) to leave your home in order to spend time somewhere else, usually for a holiday
2) to stop being present

go down 1) to move to a lower place

2) to change to a lower, amount, price, etc

go down with (something) to start to suffer from an infectious disease

go for (something) 1) to try to have or achieve something

2) to like or admire

go in 1) to enter a place
 2) to be understood

go in for (something) to do something regularly, or to enjoy something

go into (something) 1) to start doing a particular type of work

2) to discuss, examine, describe, or explain something in a detailed or careful way

go off 1) to leave a place and go somewhere else

2) to become worse in quality
3) to ring loudly or make a loud noise (alarm)
4) to explode or fire (bomb, gun)
5) to stop working (light, machine)

go off (something/someone) to stop liking or being interested in someone or something

go on 1) to continue or move to the next thing

2) to start operating

go out 1) to leave a room or building, especially in order to do something for entertainment

2) to stop producing light or heat

go out with (someone) to have a romantic and usually sexual relationship with someone

go over (to) to move near someone

go over (something) to examine or look at something in a careful or detailed way

go round 1) to visit a place

2) to be enough for everyone or everything
3) to walk, drive round the outside of a place

go through 1) to experience an unpleasant or difficult time

2) to examine something carefully

go through with (something) to do something unpleasant or difficult that has already been agreed or promised

go together to look good together

go under to go below the surace of water

go up 1) to move higher, rise, or increase

2) to be built

go with (something) to look attractive with something

HOLD

hold against 1) have a grudge

2) show little respect

hold back not show emotion

hold back prevent from progressing or moving forward

hold back not disclose or make public

hold back from not allowed to do something

hold down keep or have a job

hold down prevent from moving by restraint

hold down retain in your stomach

hold forth state your opinions about something

hold off delay

hold off bad weather NOT appearing

hold off prevent someone from attacking or beating you

hold on wait

hold on grip tightly

hold onto keep longer than necessary

hold onto hold tightly; grip

hold out resist

hold out extend in front of you

hold out for smth wait for something better

hold out on not disclose; not pay

hold over delay

hold over go longer than planned

hold together not break up or come apart

hold up delay especially when travelling

hold up robbery (a bank hold up, etc)

hold with agree or accept