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Verb
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Meaning
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Example
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ask someone out
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invite on a date
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Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.
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ask around
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ask many people the same question
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I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
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add up to something
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equal
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Your purchases add up to $205.32.
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back something up
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reverse
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You'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
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back someone up
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support
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My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
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blow up
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explode
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The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
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blow something up
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add air
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We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
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break down
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stop functioning (vehicle, machine)
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Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.
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break down
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get upset
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The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.
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break something down
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divide into smaller parts
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Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.
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break in
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force entry to a building
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Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.
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break into something
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enter forcibly
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The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.
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break something in
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wear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel new
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I need to break these shoes in before we run next week.
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break in
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interrupt
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The TV station broke in to report the news of the president's death.
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break up
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end a relationship
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My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.
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break up
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start laughing (informal)
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The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
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break out
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escape
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The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking.
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break out in something
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develop a skin condition
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I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
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bring someone down
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make unhappy
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This sad music is bringing me down.
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bring someone up
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raise a child
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My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
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bring something up
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start talking about a subject
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My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.
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bring something up
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vomit
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He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.
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call around
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phone many different places/people
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We called around but we weren't able to find the car part we needed.
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call someone back
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return a phone call
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I called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.
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call something off
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cancel
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Jason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fiancé.
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call on someone
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ask for an answer or opinion
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The professor called on me for question 1.
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call on someone
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visit someone
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We called on you last night but you weren't home.
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call someone up
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phone
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Give me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in town.
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calm down
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relax after being angry
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You are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car.
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not care for someone/something
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not like (formal)
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I don't care for his behaviour.
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catch up
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get to the same point as someone else
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You'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty.
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check in
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arrive and register at a hotel or airport
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We will get the hotel keys when we check in.
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check out
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leave a hotel
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You have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.
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check someone/something out
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look at carefully, investigate
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The company checks out all new employees.
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check out someone/something
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look at (informal)
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Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
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cheer up
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become happier
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She cheered up when she heard the good news.
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cheer someone up
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make happier
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I brought you some flowers to cheer you up.
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chip in
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help
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If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.
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clean something up
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tidy, clean
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Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
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come across something
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find unexpectedly
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I came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.
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come apart
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separate
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The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.
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come down with something
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become sick
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My nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend.
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come forward
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volunteer for a task or to give evidence
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The woman came forward with her husband's finger prints.
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come from somewhere
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originate in
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The art of origami comes from Asia.
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count on someone/something
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rely on
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I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
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cross something out
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draw a line through
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Please cross out your old address and write your new one.
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cut back on something
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consume less
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My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
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cut something down
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make something fall to the ground
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We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.
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cut in
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interrupt
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Your father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.
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cut in
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pull in too closely in front of another vehicle
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The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.
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cut in
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start operating (of an engine or electrical device)
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The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22°C.
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cut something off
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remove with something sharp
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The doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.
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cut something off
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stop providing
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The phone company cut off our phone because we didn't pay the bill.
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cut someone off
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take out of a will
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My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
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cut something out
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remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)
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I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
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do someone/something over
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beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal)
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He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang.
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do something over
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do again (N.Amer.)
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My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn't like my topic.
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do away with something
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discard
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It's time to do away with all of these old tax records.
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do something up
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fasten, close
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Do your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing!
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dress up
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wear nice clothing
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It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.
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drop back
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move back in a position/group
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Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike.
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drop in/by/over
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come without an appointment
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I might drop in/by/over for tea some time this week.
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drop someone/something off
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take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it there
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I have to drop my sister off at work before I come over.
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drop out
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quit a class, school etc
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I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.
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eat out
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eat at a restaurant
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I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat out.
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end up
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eventually reach/do/decide
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We ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.
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fall apart
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break into pieces
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My new dress fell apart in the washing machine.
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fall down
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fall to the ground
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The picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning.
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fall out
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separate from an interior
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The money must have fallen out of my pocket.
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fall out
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(of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached
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His hair started to fall out when he was only 35.
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figure something out
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understand, find the answer
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I need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.
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fill something in
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to write information in blanks (Br.E.)
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Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.
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fill something out
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to write information in blanks (N.Amer.)
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The form must be filled out in capital letters.
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fill something up
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fill to the top
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I always fill the water jug up when it is empty.
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find out
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discover
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We don't know where he lives. How can we find out?
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find something out
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discover
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We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out.
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get something across/over
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communicate, make understandable
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I tried to get my point across/over to the judge but she wouldn't listen.
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get along/on
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like each other
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I was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along/on.
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get around
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have mobility
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My grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.
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get away
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go on a vacation
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We worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week.
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get away with something
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do without being noticed or punished
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Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.
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get back
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return
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We got back from our vacation last week.
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get something back
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receive something you had before
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Liz finally got her Science notes back from my room-mate.
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get back at someone
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retaliate, take revenge
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My sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.
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get back into something
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become interested in something again
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I finally got back into my novel and finished it.
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get on something
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step onto a vehicle
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We're going to freeze out here if you don't let us get on the bus.
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get over something
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recover from an illness, loss, difficulty
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I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.
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get over something
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overcome a problem
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The company will have to close if it can't get over the new regulations.
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get round to something
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finally find time to do (N.Amer.: get around to something)
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I don't know when I am going to get round to writing the thank you cards.
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get together
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meet (usually for social reasons)
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Let's get together for a BBQ this weekend.
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get up
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get out of bed
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I got up early today to study for my exam.
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get up
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stand
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You should get up and give the elderly man your seat.
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give someone away
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reveal hidden information about someone
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His wife gave him away to the police.
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give someone away
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take the bride to the altar
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My father gave me away at my wedding.
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give something away
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ruin a secret
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My little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.
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give something away
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give something to someone for free
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The library was giving away old books on Friday.
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give something back
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return a borrowed item
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I have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game.
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give in
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reluctantly stop fighting or arguing
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My boyfriend didn't want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in.
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give something out
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give to many people (usually at no cost)
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They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.
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give something up
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quit a habit
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I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
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give up
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stop trying
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My maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.
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go after someone
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follow someone
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My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
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go after something
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try to achieve something
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I went after my dream and now I am a published writer.
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go against someone
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compete, oppose
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We are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.
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go ahead
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start, proceed
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Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.
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go back
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return to a place
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I have to go back home and get my lunch.
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go out
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leave home to go on a social event
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We're going out for dinner tonight.
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go out with someone
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date
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Jesse has been going out with Luke since they met last winter.
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go over something
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review
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Please go over your answers before you submit your test.
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go over
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visit someone nearby
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I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'll go over for an hour or two.
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go without something
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suffer lack or deprivation
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When I was young, we went without winter boots.
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grow apart
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stop being friends over time
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My best friend and I grew apart after she changed schools.
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grow back
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regrow
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My roses grew back this summer.
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grow up
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become an adult
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When Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman.
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grow out of something
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get too big for
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Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones.
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grow into something
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grow big enough to fit
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This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year.
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hand something down
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give something used to someone else
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I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.
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hand something in
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submit
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I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
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hand something out
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to distribute to a group of people
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We will hand out the invitations at the door.
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hand something over
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give (usually unwillingly)
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The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.
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hang in
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stay positive (N.Amer., informal)
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Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very soon.
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hang on
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wait a short time (informal)
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Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
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hang out
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spend time relaxing (informal)
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Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang out at my place.
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hang up
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end a phone call
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He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.
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hold someone/something back
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prevent from doing/going
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I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.
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hold something back
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hide an emotion
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Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather's funeral.
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hold on
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wait a short time
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Please hold on while I transfer you to the Sales Department.
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hold onto someone/something
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hold firmly using your hands or arms
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Hold onto your hat because it's very windy outside.
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hold someone/somethingup
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rob
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A man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.
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keep on doing something
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continue doing
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Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.
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keep something from someone
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not tell
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We kept our relationship from our parents for two years.
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keep someone/something out
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stop from entering
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Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
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keep something up
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continue at the same rate
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If you keep those results up you will get into a great college.
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let someone down
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fail to support or help, disappoint
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I need you to be on time. Don't let me down this time.
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let someone in
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allow to enter
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Can you let the cat in before you go to school?
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look after someone/something
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take care of
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I have to look after my sick grandmother.
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look down on someone
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think less of, consider inferior
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Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me.
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look for someone/something
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try to find
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I'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.
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look forward to something
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be excited about the future
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I'm looking forward to the Christmas break.
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look into something
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investigate
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We are going to look into the price of snowboards today.
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look out
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be careful, vigilant, and take notice
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Look out! That car's going to hit you!
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look out for someone/something
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be especially vigilant for
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Don't forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.
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look something over
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check, examine
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Can you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?
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look something up
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search and find information in a reference book or database
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We can look her phone number up on the Internet.
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look up to someone
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have a lot of respect for
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My little sister has always looked up to me.
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make something up
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invent, lie about something
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Josie made up a story about about why we were late.
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make up
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forgive each other
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We were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast.
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make someone up
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apply cosmetics to
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My sisters made me up for my graduation party.
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mix something up
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confuse two or more things
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I mixed up the twins' names again!
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pass away
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die
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His uncle passed away last night after a long illness.
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pass out
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faint
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It was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out.
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pass something out
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give the same thing to many people
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The professor passed the textbooks out before class.
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pass something up
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decline (usually something good)
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I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.
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pay someone back
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return owed money
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Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you back on Friday.
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pay for something
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be punished for doing something bad
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That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.
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pick something out
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choose
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I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.
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point someone/something out
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indicate with your finger
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I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.
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put something down
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put what you are holding on a surface or floor
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You can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter.
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put someone down
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insult, make someone feel stupid
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The students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short.
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put something off
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postpone
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We are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane.
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put something out
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extinguish
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The neighbours put the fire out before the firemen arrived.
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put something together
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assemble
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I have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.
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put up with someone/something
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tolerate
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I don't think I can put up with three small children in the car.
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put something on
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put clothing/accessories on your body
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Don't forget to put on your new earrings for the party.
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run into someone/something
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meet unexpectedly
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I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
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run over someone/something
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drive a vehicle over a person or thing
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I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.
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run over/through something
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rehearse, review
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Let's run over/through these lines one more time before the show.
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run away
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leave unexpectedly, escape
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The child ran away from home and has been missing for three days.
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run out
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have none left
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We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap.
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send something back
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return (usually by mail)
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My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.
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set something up
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arrange, organize
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Our boss set a meeting up with the president of the company.
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set someone up
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trick, trap
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The police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera.
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shop around
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compare prices
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I want to shop around a little before I decide on these boots.
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show off
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act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)
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He always shows off on his skateboard
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sleep over
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stay somewhere for the night (informal)
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You should sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.
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sort something out
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organize, resolve a problem
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We need to sort the bills out before the first of the month.
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stick to something
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continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing
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You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
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switch something off
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stop the energy flow, turn off
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The light's too bright. Could you switch it off.
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switch something on
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start the energy flow, turn on
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We heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.
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take after someone
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resemble a family member
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I take after my mother. We are both impatient.
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take something apart
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purposely break into pieces
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He took the car brakes apart and found the problem.
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take something back
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return an item
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I have to take our new TV back because it doesn't work.
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take off
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start to fly
|
My plane takes off in five minutes.
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take something off
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remove something (usually clothing)
|
Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!
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take something out
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remove from a place or thing
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Can you take the garbage out to the street for me?
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take someone out
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pay for someone to go somewhere with you
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My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.
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tear something up
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rip into pieces
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I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and gave them back to him.
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think back
|
remember (often + to, sometimes + on)
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When I think back on my youth, I wish I had studied harder.
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think something over
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consider
|
I'll have to think this job offer over before I make my final decision.
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throw something away
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dispose of
|
We threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery.
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turn something down
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decrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)
|
Please turn the TV down while the guests are here.
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turn something down
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refuse
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I turned the job down because I don't want to move.
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turn something off
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stop the energy flow, switch off
|
Your mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.
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turn something on
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start the energy, switch on
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It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights on.
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turn something up
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increase the volume or strength (heat, light etc)
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Can you turn the music up? This is my favourite song.
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turn up
|
appear suddenly
|
Our cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighbourhood.
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try something on
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sample clothing
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I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't think they will fit.
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try something out
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test
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I am going to try this new brand of detergent out.
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use something up
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finish the supply
|
The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more.
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wake up
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stop sleeping
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We have to wake up early for work on Monday.
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warm someone/something up
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increase the temperature
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You can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.
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warm up
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prepare body for exercise
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I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I go for a run.
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wear off
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fade away
|
Most of my make-up wore off before I got to the party.
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work out
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exercise
|
I work out at the gym three times a week.
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work out
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be successful
|
Our plan worked out fine.
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work something out
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make a calculation
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We have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.
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