Phrasal verbs – Part 9

Phrasal verb                             meaning                              example sentence

take after someone: resemble a family member: I take after my mother. We are both impatient.

take something apart: purposely break into pieces: He took the car brakes apart and found the problem.

take something back: return an item: I have to take our new TV back because it doesn’t work.

take off: start to fly: My plane takes off in five minutes.

take something off: remove something (usually clothing): Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!

take something out: remove from a place or thing: Can you take the garbage out to the street for me?

take someone out: pay for someone to go somewhere with you: My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.

tear something up: rip into pieces: I tore up my ex-boyfriend’s letters and gave them back to him.

think back: remember (often + to, sometimes + on): When I think back on my youth, I wish I had studied harder.

think something over: consider: I’ll have to think this job offer over before I make my final decision.

throw something away: dispose of: We threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery.

turn something down: decrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc): Please turn the TV down while the guests are here.

turn something down: refuse: I turned the job down because I don’t want to move.

turn something off: stop the energy flow, switch off: Your mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.

turn something on: start the energy, switch on: It’s too dark in here. Let’s turn some lights on.

turn something up: increase the volume or strength (heat, light etc.): Can you turn the music up? This is my favorite song.

turn up: appear suddenly: Our cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighborhood.

try something on: sample clothing: I’m going to try these jeans on, but I don’t think they will fit.

try something out: test: I am going to try this new brand of detergent out.