Phrasal Verbs
A combination of words that perform the function of a verb is called phrasal verbs.Phrasal verbs necessarily include a verb and either an adverb or a preposition (or both). They form a complete meaningful unit because the words that comprise a phrasal verb together describe one action. Let us take a look at some examples given below to get a better idea of what phrasal verbs are:
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentences |
ask around | To ask the same question from many people | I did not see him here but I will ask around.
I don’t think there are vacancies, but I will ask around the office |
add up to something | To equal/corroborate a fact | She explained why the work was not ready, but her story does not add up.
The clues we found at the house and the museum must add up to something. |
ask someone out | To invite someone on a date | I want to ask her out but she is dating someone.
I wish I could muster the courage to ask her out. |
blow something up | To exaggerate | The girls in school always blow gossip up to huge proportions.
My mother blows my achievements up in front of guests. |
back someone up | To support | The captain will not back him up just because he is his son.
You may be wrong but I will back you up because you are my brother. |
blow up | To explode | The army is going to blow up that building with a bomb.
Our calculations were wrong and the rocket blew up just after liftoff. |
break down | To stop functioning (usually for vehicle, machine, etc.) | The old train is certain to break down if it is not maintained properly.
He was driving recklessly and the old car broke down. |
break something down | To divide and subdivide | They broke the students down into groups of four.
The detective said they were still breaking the information down to make sense of it. |
break into something | To enter forcibly/ interrupt | The newspaper reported a break-in at the bank.
Last night, two thieves broke into the house next door. |
break up | To end a relationship | A break up can lead to emotional trauma.
After being together for five years they have decided to break up. |
break out | To escape | The Taliban helped 500 inmates escape from the Afghan jail.
Ten inmates broke out of prison in the southern town yesterday. |
break out | To spread | There was a world panic when SARS broke out in China in 2002.
The news about the adulterous affair will break out in tomorrow’s newspaper. |
bring someone down | To upset someone or to make someone unhappy | The boss manages to bring down my mood every day.
His pessimistic comments bring down the whole group. |
bring someone up | raise a child | I was brought up in a conservative Hindu family.
After being abandoned by his parents in Ghana he was brought up by an Italian couple. |
bring up | To initiate a conversation on a subject | My sister walks out of the room when I bring up the subject of sports.
I will bring up the issue of cleanliness in the meeting today. |
call around | To phone different places/people | We called around but we could not find the spare part we needed.
I have not seen him today but I will call around and inquire. |
call someone back | To return a phone call | Please call me back when you get this message.
I could not answer your call earlier but I will call back shortly. |
call something off | To abandon or cancel | The referee has decided to call off the game due to bad weather.
They have decided to call off the wedding due to financial troubles. |
call someone up | To phone someone | The boss wants you to call up the client now.
She will call you up later to discuss the issue. |
calm down | relax after being angry | It is going to be okay, please calm down.
The crew asked us to calm down during turbulence. |
catch up | To get to the same point as someone else/ or to work hard in order to equal with someone | You will have to walk faster if you want to catch up with Maya.
You have studied a lot more and I need to catch up. |
check in | To reach and register at a hotel or airport | When you arrive at the airport, you have to check in at the airline desk.
At a hotel, check-in is normally required in order to obtain a room key. |
check out | To leave a hotel | You will have to return the room when you check out of the hotel.
Please ensure that you are in possession of all your belongings before checking-out of the hotel. |
cheer up | Used as an expression to ask someone to be happy | She cheered up when she heard that the result was positive.
Cheer up, it is your birthday! |
chip in | To contribute/help | If everybody chips in, we can get a bottle of the most expensive wine.
I do not have enough money for a pizza so all of you need to chip in as well. |
clean something up | To tidy a place | They need to clean up the platform because it is really dirty.
You must clean up the room before the president arrives. |
come across something | find unexpectedly | I came across these books when I was tidying the cupboard.
While reading this book I came across new information regarding dinosaurs. |
come apart | To separate/ fall down/ break down | The flimsy decorations came apart halfway through the celebrations.
The group of friends came apart once they went to different colleges. |
come down withsomething | To become sick | Her son came down with the flu last weekend.
My throat is sore; I think I am coming down with a cold. |
come forward | To support/ to take an initiative | The hospital is anxious for more donors to come forward.
Who will come forward and take the responsibility? |
come from somewhere | To originate in | He resides in Brazil although he comes from Spain.
Most of the stench comes from the open drain behind the house. |
count on someone/something | To rely on a person or thing | Can I count on you to complete this essay by tonight?
I could not complete the task so I am counting on you to do it. |
cross something out | To draw a line through something | Kindly cross out your old telephone number and write the new one.
That word is wrong and you need to cross it out as soon as possible. |
cut back on something | To use or consume less of something | My financial advisor has asked me to cut back on unnecessary expenditure.
We need to cut back on driving since the price of petrol is at an all-time high. |
cut into | To interrupt in between something or someone | He cut into the argument with a point of his own.
He asked if could cut in on the dance between Tim and me. |
cut something off | To cut something with something sharp | The butter is frozen. Cut off a small blob and let it rest outside so that it melts faster.
He cut off a small piece from the large slab of cheese using a knife. |
cut something off | To stop providing/to break all relations with someone | The cable company cut off our connection because we did not pay our bill.
After he was convicted, his family decided to cut him off. |
cut something out | To remove pieces or part of something | She looked at the article and cut the introduction out and rewrote it.
She cut a piece out of the chunk of cheese and placed it on the counter. |