Phrasal verbs – Part 7

Phrasal verb                             meaning                              example sentence

pass away: die: His uncle passed away last night after a long illness.

pass out: faint: It was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out.

pass something out: give the same thing to many people: The professor passed the textbooks out before class.

pass something up: decline (usually something good): I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.

pay someone back: return owed money: Thanks for buying my ticket. I’ll pay you back on Friday.

pay for something: be punished for doing something bad: That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.

pick something out: choose: I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.

point someone/something out: indicate with your finger: I’ll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.

put something down: put what you are holding on a surface or floor: You can put the groceries down: on the kitchen counter.

put someone down: insult, make someone feel stupid: The students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short.

put something off: postpone: We are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane.

put something out: extinguish: The neighbors put the fire out before the firemen arrived.

put something together: assemble: I have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.

put up with someone/something: tolerate: I don’t think I can put up with three small children in the car.

 put something on: put clothing/accessories on your body: Don’t forget to put on your new earrings for the party.

Phrasal verbs – Part 6

Phrasal verb                             meaning                              example sentence

let someone down: fail to support or help, disappoint: I need you to be on time. Don’t let me down this time.

let someone in: allow to enter: Can you let the cat in before you go to school?

log in (or on): sign in (to a website, database etc): I can’t log in to Facebook because I’ve forgotten my password.

log out (or off): sign out (of a website, database etc): If you don’t log off somebody could get into your account.

look after someone/something: take care of: I have to look after my sick grandmother.

look down on someone: think less of, consider inferior: Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me.

look for someone/something: try to find: I’m looking fora red dress for the wedding.

look forward to something: be excited about the future: I’m looking forward to the Christmas break.

look into something: investigate: We are going to look into the price of snowboards today.

look out: be careful, vigilant, and take notice: Look out! That car’s going to hit you!

look out for someone/something: be especially vigilant for: Don’t forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.

look something over: check, examine: Can you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?

look something up: search and find information in a reference book or database: We can look her phone number up on the Internet.

look up to someone: have a lot of respect for: My little sister has always looked up to me.

make something up: invent, lie about something: Josie made up a story about why we were late.

make up: forgive each other: We were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast.

make someone up: apply cosmetics to: My sisters made me up for my graduation party.

 mix something up: confuse two or more things: I mixed up the twins’ names again!

Phrasal verbs – Part 5

Phrasal verb                             meaning                              example sentence

hand something down: give something used to someone else: I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.

hand something in: submit: I have to hand in my essay by Friday.

hand something out: to distribute to a group of people: We will hand out the invitations at the door.

hand something over: give (usually unwillingly): The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.

hang in: stay positive (informal): Hang in there. I’m sure you’ll find a job very soon.

hang on: wait a short time (informal): Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!

hang out: spend time relaxing (informal): Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang out at my place.

hang up: end a phone call: He didn’t say goodbye before he hung up.

hold someone/something back: prevent from doing/going: I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.

hold something back: hide an emotion: Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather’s funeral.

hold on: wait a short time: Please hold on while I transfer you to the Sales Department.

hold onto someone/something: hold firmly using your hands or arms: Hold onto your hat because it’s very windy outside.

hold someone/something up: rob: A man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.

keep on doing something: continue doing: Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.

keep something from someone: not tell: We kept our relationship from our parents for two years.

keep someone/something out: stop from entering: Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room.

keep something up: continue at the same rate: If you keep those results up you will get into a great college.

Phrasal verbs – Part 4

Phrasal verb                     Meaning                  Example sentence

get something across/over: communicate, make understandable: I tried to get my point across/over to the judge but she wouldn’t listen.

get along/on: like each other: I was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along/on.

get around: have mobility: My grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.

get away: go on a vacation: We worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week.

get away with something: do without being noticed or punished: Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.

get back: return: We got back from our vacation last week.

get something back: receive something you had before :Liz finally got her Science notes back from my room-mate.

get back at someone: retaliate, take revenge: My sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favorite hat.

get back into something: become interested in something again: I finally got back into my novel and finished it.

get on something: step onto a vehicle: We’re going to freeze out here if you don’t let us get on the bus.

get over something: recover from an illness, loss, difficulty: I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.

get over something: overcome a problem: The company will have to close if it can’t get over the new regulations.

get round to something: finally find time to do (Ame: get around to something): I don’t know when I am going to get round to writing the thank you cards.

get together: meet (usually for social reasons): Let’s get together for a BBQ this weekend.

get up: get out of bed: I got up early today to study for my exam.

get up: stand: You should get up and give the elderly man your seat.

give someone away: reveal hidden information about someone: His wife gave him away to the police.

give someone away: take the bride to the altar: My father gave me away at my wedding.

give something away: ruin a secret: My little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.

give something away: give something to someone for free: The library was giving away old books on Friday.

give something back: return a borrowed item: I have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game.

give in: reluctantly stop fighting or arguing: My boyfriend didn’t want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in.

give something out: give to many people (usually at no cost): They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.

give something up: quit a habit: I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.

give up: stop trying: My maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.

go after someone: follow someone: My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.

go after something: try to achieve something: I went after my dream and now I am a published writer.

go against someone: compete, oppose: We are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.

go ahead: start, proceed: Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.

go back: return to a place: I have to go back home and get my lunch.

go out: leave home to go on a social event: We’re going out for dinner tonight.

go out with someone: date: Jesse has been going out with Luke since they met last winter.

go over something: review: Please go over your answers before you submit your test.

go over: visit someone nearby: I haven’t seen Tina for a long time. I think I’ll go over for an hour or two.

go without something: suffer lack or deprivation: When I was young, we went without winter boots.

grow apart: stop being friends over time: My best friend and I grew apart after she changed schools. grow back regrow: My roses grew back this summer.

grow up: become an adult: When Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman.

grow out of something: get too big for: Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones.

grow into something: grow big enough to fit: This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year.