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 can get 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
| get upset
| 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 intothe 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 inbefore 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 upbefore I moved to America.
|
break up
| start laughing (informal)
| The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
|
break out
| escape
| The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking.
|
break out in something
| 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 the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.
|
call something off
| cancel
| Jason called the wedding offbecause 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 I will call 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 for someone/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 upwith Marty.
|
check in
| arrive and register at a hotel or airport
| We will get the hotel keys when we check in.
|
check out
| leave a hotel
| You have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.
|
heck someone/
something out
| look at carefully, investigate
| The company checks out all new employees.
|
check out someone/something
| look at (informal)
| Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
|
cheer up
| become happier
| She cheered up when she heard the good news.
|
cheer someone up
| make happier
| I brought you some flowers to cheer you up.
|
chip in
| help
| If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.
|
clean something up
| tidy, clean
| Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
|
come across something
| find unexpectedly
| I came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.
|
come apart
| separate
| The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.
|
come down with something
| become sick
| My nephew came down withchicken pox this weekend.
|
come forward
| volunteer for a task or to give evidence
| The woman came forwardwith her husband's finger prints.
|
come fromsomewhere
| originate in
| The art of origami comes fromAsia.
|
count on someone/something
| rely on
| I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
|
cross something out
| draw a line through
| Please cross out your old address and write your new one.
|
cut back on something
| consume less
| My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
|
cut something down
| make something fall to the ground
| We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.
|
cut in
| interrupt
| Your father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.
|
cut in
| pull in too closely in front of another vehicle
| The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.
|
cut in
| start operating (of an engine or electrical device)
| The air conditioner cuts inwhen the temperature gets to 22C.
|
cut something off
| remove with something sharp
| The doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.
|
cut something off
| stop providing
| The phone company cut off our phone because we didn't pay the bill.
|
cut someone off
| take out of a will
| My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
|
cut something out
| remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)
| I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
|
do someone/something over
| beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal)
| He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang.
|
do something over
| do again (N.Amer.)
| My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn't like my topic.
|
do away with something
| discard
| It's time to do away with all of these old tax records.
|
do something up
| fasten, close
| Do your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing!
|
dress up
| wear nice clothing
| It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.
|
drop back
| move back in a position/group
| Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike.
|
drop in/by/over
| come without an appointment
| I might drop in/by/over for tea sometime this week.
|
drop
someone/something off
| take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it there
| I have to drop my sister off at work before I come over.
|
drop out
| quit a class, school etc
| I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.
|
eat out
| eat at a restaurant
| I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat out.
|
end up
| eventually reach/do/decide
| We ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.
|
fall apart
| break into pieces
| My new dress fell apart in the washing machine.
|
fall down
| fall to the ground
| The picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning.
|
fall out
| separate from an interior
| The money must have fallen out of my pocket.
|
fall out
| (of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached
| His hair started to fall outwhen he was only 35.
|
figure something out
| understand, find the answer
| I need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.
|
fill something in
| to write information in blanks (Br.E.)
| Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.
|
fill something out
| to write information in blanks (N.Amer.)
| The form must be filled out in capital letters.
|
fill something up
| fill to the top
| I always fill the water jug upwhen it is empty.
|
find out
| discover
| We don't know where he lives. How can we find out?
|
find something out
| discover
| We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out.
|
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 aroundfine 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 withcheating 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 favourite 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 (N.Amer.: 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 awayold 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 withLuke 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.
|
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 (N.Amer., 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 backbecause 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 fromour 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 upyou will get into a great college.
|
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 for a 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 forsnakes 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!
|
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 outwhen 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 neighbours put the fire outbefore the firemen arrived.
|
put something together
| assemble
| I have to put the crib togetherbefore the baby arrives.
|
put up with someone/something
| tolerate
| I don't think I can put up withthree 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.
|
run into someone/something
| meet unexpectedly
| I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
|
run over someone/something
| drive a vehicle over a person or thing
| I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.
|
run over/through something
| rehearse, review
| Let's run over/through these lines one more time before the show.
|
run away
| leave unexpectedly, escape
| The child ran away from home and has been missing for three days.
|
run out
| have none left
| We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap.
|
send something back
| return (usually by mail)
| My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.
|
set something up
| arrange, organize
| Our boss set a meeting up with the president of the company.
|
set someone up
| trick, trap
| The police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera.
|
shop around
| compare prices
| I want to shop around a little before I decide on these boots.
|
show off
| act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)
| He always shows off on his skateboard
|
sleep over
| stay somewhere for the night (informal)
| You should sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.
|
sort something out
| organize, resolve a problem
| We need to sort the bills outbefore the first of the month.
|
stick to something
| continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing
| You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
|
switch something off
| stop the energy flow, turn off
| The light's too bright. Could you switch it off.
|
switch something on
| start the energy flow, turn on
| We heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.
|
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 apartand found the problem.
|
take something back
| return an item
| I have to take our new TV backbecause 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 outto the street for me?
|
take someone out
| pay for someone to go somewhere with you
| My grandparents took us outfor 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 turnthe TV off and come for dinner.
|
turn something on
| start the energy, switch on
| It's too dark in here. Let's turnsome lights on.
|
turn something up
| increase the volume or strength (heat, light etc)
| Can you turn the music up? This is my favourite song.
|
turn up
| appear suddenly
| Our cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighbourhood.
|
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.
|
use something up
| finish the supply
| The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more.
|
wake up
| stop sleeping
| We have to wake up early for work on Monday.
|
warm someone/something up
| increase the temperature
| You can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.
|
warm up
| prepare body for exercise
| I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I go for a run.
|
wear off
| fade away
| Most of my make-up wore offbefore I got to the party.
|
work out
| exercise
| I work out at the gym three times a week.
|
work out
| be successful
| Our plan worked out fine.
|
work something out
| make a calculation
| We have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.
|