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Phrasal Verbs
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Phrasal Verbs with Examples:

Source: Dixit Handbook of BA and B. Com. I Core English

Back

Back onto (to be near or be at the back of): Mr. Verma's house backs onto my garage.

Back out (withdraw from promise or undertaking): I am sure she will not back out at this moment.

Back somebody/something up (support, especially in argument): I would have lost the argument if you had not backed me up.

BEAR

Bear away (win; carry away): Rajan bore away all the prizes in the Athletic Meet.

Bear down (crush): Ravana bore down all opposition with brute force.

Bear with (suffer; tolerate): Please, bear with us.

BREAK

Break away (go suddenly away from): My father broke away from our family tradition.

Break down (knock down; collapse; fall; fail): The enemy's resistance soon broke down.

Break even (make neither profit nor loss): the company has broken even this year after the period of lockdown last year.

Break in (enter a building by force; train an animal): The thieves broke in through a window.

Break out (spread; begin suddenly and violently): Covid-19 broke out and soon destroyed the lives of many people.

Break through (make a new advance; force a way through): The sun broke through the clouds after the rain.

Break up (cause to break into small pieces; stop being together): His marriage with Palash broke up last month.

Break with (end a friendship or connection): Naman has broken with his girl friend.

BRING

Bring about (cause to happen): His career has brought about a change in his life-style.

Bring around/ round (persuade to change one's opinion): Mother brought him round to accept the marriage proposal.

Bring forth (give birth to): You do not know what the future will bring forth.

Bring forward (cause to be seen or discussed): He brought forward a proof of his innocence.

Bring out (cause to appear, publish): Dixit Publishing House is bringing out many good

books.

Bring up (rear; educate): He was brought up by his grandmother.

CALL

Call at (make a short visit): He called at my house yesterday.

Call back (pay another visit): I shall call back next Monday.

Call for (demand): The people are calling for an inquiry into the disappearance of the Sarpanch

Call forth (be the cause of): His misconduct called forth many protests.

Call (somebody) in (ask to come to help): Please call in the doctor because the patient is restless

Call off (stop; cause a planned event not to take place): The meeting has been called off.

Call on (pay a short visit to): We should call on John today.

Call out (officially order): The Government has called out the army to restore law and

order.

Call up (telephone): I shall call you up later.

CARRY

Carry on (manage): His son carried on his business during his absence.

Carry out: (obey; fulfil): You must carry out the orders of your officer.

COME

Come about (happen): How did this come about?

Come across (meet by chance): I came across a friend of mine at the post office.

Come along (develop; advance): How is the project coming along?

Come around (be persuaded; change sides): At last he has come round to our viewpoint.

Come by (get; come into possession): How did you come by this camera?

Come down on/upon somebody/ something) (punish or reprimand):

The Principal came down on all the ring leaders.

Come down to (equal; come to mean): It comes down to a cut in real the wages of the

workers.

Come down with (catch an infection): I am afraid you are coming down with influenza.

Come forward (offer oneself for a job; offer help): No one has come forward to provide

a clue about the murder.

Come from (have as a place of origin): She comes from a reputed family.

Come in for (receive; be given blame, etc.): The police force has come in for severe criticism for mishandling the situation.

Come into (receive something after someone's death): She came into a fortune after Ashok's death.

Come of (result from): This is what comes of buying cheap things.

Come off (take place; happen): When did the marriage come off?

Come out with (say something suddenly) She came out with a strange explanation about the theft.

Come under (be categorized): What section of the Indian Penal Code does this offence eine under?

Come up (come to attention or consideration): Your proposal did not come up in the meeting

Come up to (be equal): Your essay has not come up to your own high standard.

Come up with (think of a plan, reply, etc.): The theatre owner has come up with a new

plan to stop black-marketing of tickets.

CRY

Cry down (depreciate): There is no point in crying down religion. What should be cried down is communalism.

Cry out against (raise one's voice against): The workers cried out against hours.

Cry up (be praised): The new novelist is cried up to no end.

CUT

Cut across (go beyond fixed limits): The debate cut across party lines.

Cut back (prune, shorten): The members opposed the Government's plan to cut back on industrial investment.

Cut down (reduce): We must cut down our expenditure.

Cut in (interrupt someone who is speaking): The teacher asked them not to cut in while

he was speaking

Cut off (disconnect; be dead): The promising actress was cut off in the prime of

her life.

Cut out (eliminate): He cut out his rivals one by one.

Cut out for (have the ability): He is cut out for a career in the army.

Cut up (afflict, distress): The death of his mother cut him up.

DEAL

Deal in (trade in): Her father deals in ready made garments.

Deal with (attend to; tackle): It is not easy to deal with her.

DO

Do away with (abolish; cause to end): We must do away with formalities and come to business directly.

Do in (tire completely): He felt quite done in after a long walk.

Do without (dispense with): I can do without your advice.

Get through (pass): He got through his examination in the first division.

Get up (rise from bed): She does not get up until ten in the morning.

GIVE

Give away (give something, prizes, etc. ceremonially): Who gave away the

prizes?

Give back (return): You must give back my history book.

Give in (yield): The management gave in to the demands of the workers.

Give off (emit; send out): This pond gives off bad smell.

Give over (hand over, deliver): The building has been given over to the municipal

corporation.

Give up (abandon): You must give up your bad habits.

GO

Go about (move from place to place; set about): This is not the way to go about

it.

Go after (try to obtain; chase): Amit is now going after that pretty dress designer.

Go ahead (begin): You can now go ahead with your project.

Go along with (support): I shall go along with you as far as you want me.

Go around (be often out in public): He goes around with some people of dubious reputation.

Go by (pass): Time goes by unnoticed.

Go down (be recorded): This day will go down in history as the day of women's rights.

Go down with (catch an infectious disease): They all went down with cholera.

Go for (be accounted as; attack): Virat Kohli went for the West Indian bowling in the first test match played at Antigua..

Go in for (take part in; have or take as one's object): He is going in for the marathon

Race.

Go into (enter a profession): Her brother has gone into business.

Go off (explode): The gun went off while he was cleaning it.

Go on (continue; happen): What is going on in the next room?

Go round (be enough for everyone): I think there are enough chairs to go round.

Go through (suffer, experience; read/discuss): They went through the report carefully.

Go with (accommodate; match): I am afraid this tie will not go with your suit..

Go without (do without something): In his childhood he went without a meal every day.

HOLD

Hold against (allow something bad done in the past to influence present opinion): Rohit's bad record during his school days should not hold against him.

Lay out (spread out): The magnificent scene laid out before them really enchanted them.

Lay up (be in bed due to illness): He was laid up with malaria for a week.

LET

Let (something/someone) down (put or take down; lower): Don't let your friends down.

Let in (allow to enter): He opened the door and let her in.

Let (somebody) into (admit; allow to enter): Who let you into my office

Let on (tell, reveal): I knew what he had done, but I preferred not to let on.

Let out (allow to go or flow out): Let some air out of the tube.

Let out at (aim a violent blow): Beware of this horse; he is in the habit of letting out at

strangers.

Let up (lessen; become less strong): When will this rain let up?

LOOK

Look about (examine one's surroundings): We were in a hurry, so we had no

time to look about...

Look after (take care of): You must look after your aged parents.

Look at (regard; judge): She refused to look at his proposal.

Look back (turn one's thoughts to the past): The old man looked back at his youth with

nostalgia.

Look down on/upon (show a low opinion of): Don't look down upon the poor people.

Look for (search for): Is he still looking for a job?

Look forward to (expect with pleasure): I am looking forward to her visit next week.

Look into (investigate): We will look into this matter when we have more

time.

Look on (be a spectator): Why don't you play cricket instead of simply looking on?

Look out (keep watching): Look out! There is a bus coming.

Look out for (be watchful; await): You can look out for a big profit this year.

Look round (look at a place): Before taking this building on lease, I would prefer to look around.

 

Look through (revise; study): You must look through your notes before you appear in

the examination,

Look up (see, read: consult): Look up the meaning of this word in the dictionary.

Look up to (consider; regard): They all look up to Rajesh as their role model.

MAKE

Make after (pursue): She made after him.

Make away with (steal; kill): The thieves made away with all the cash.

Strike off (remove): If you are not regular, your name will be struck off the rolls.

TAKE

Take after (look or behave like): She has taken after her father.

Take apart (separate into pieces): He took the watch apart to find out what was wrong with it.

Take away (remove): How many books has he taken away from the library?

Take away from (lessen the effect/value of): His belonging to a poor family does not take away from his merit as a teacher.

Take back (admit that one was wrong): I take back what I had said.

Take down (note down; record; take apart): We took down what the teacher said in the class.

Take in (receive; admit; carn): We took a traveller in for the night.

Take into (not ignore/neglect): We must take into account all his good qualities.

Take off (remove): I took off my coat as it was very hot.

Take on (undertake the charge): You will have to take on some additional

Take out (bring out): He took his wife out to dinner once or twice a week. work.

Take out on (express one's feelings by making another suffer): He took out his anger on his son.

Take over (gain control/responsibility): He has taken over the charge of construction work.

Take to (feel a liking for): Kunal took to Seema as soon as he saw her.

Take up (interest oneself in; adopt as a practice/hobby): She took up acting in her spare time.

Take up with (somebody) (become friendly with):: He has taken up with people.

THROW

Throw away (discard): My advice was virtually thrown away on him.

Throw out (reject): His proposal was thrown out by the committee.

Throw up (resign): Sumit has thrown up his job.

TURN

Turn about (face in a new direction): The soldiers turned about as soon as they were told to do so.

Turn against (become opposed to): The witness turned against his counsel.

Turn away (refuse to let in; refuse to give help): The beggar was turned away from the

Turn down (reject; reduce the force of); He turned down my offer of help.

Turn in (return; produce profit): You must turn in your revolver when you leave service. rather strange

Turn off (stop the flow of water/gas, etc.): When you do not need water, turn the tap off.

Turn over (consider carefully and in various ways): She turned this problem over in her mind when she was alone.

Turn round (face to): Turn round so that I can see your face.

Turn to (go for help): In times of difficulties, she turned to her brother.

Turn up (make one's appearance; increase the force/speed/volume Her father promised to come but she has not turned up so far.

Work on (influence): Let her work on them for a little time.

Work out (solve). I can not work out this problem.

Some more Phrasal Verbs:

Source: https://www.hitbullseye.com/Vocab/Phrasal-Verbs-List.php

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

Abide by

respect or obey. (the law, a decision, a rule)

If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules.

Account for

explain, give a reason

I hope you can account for the money you spent!

Add up

make sense, seem reasonable

Her story just doesn't add up.

Advise against

recommend not doing something

The doctor advised him against carrying heavy loads.

Agree with

have the same opinion as somebody else.

I agree with you. I think she deserves the award too.

Aim at

point something in the direction of a target

The policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker.

Allow for

take into consideration,  include in a calculation

You'd better leave early to allow for traffic jams.

Appeal to

1. plead or make an earnest request

2. be attractive or interesting                                        

1. The organizers appealed to the crowd to stay calm.

2. A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to me.

Apply for

make a formal request for something, (job, permit, loan etc.)

He applied for the job he saw advertised in the newspaper.

Avail (oneself) of

take advantage of something (an opportunity)

When the company is privatized, you should avail yourself of the opportunity and buy some shares.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

Back away

move backwards, in fear or dislike

When he saw the dog, he backed away.

Back down

withdraw,  concede defeat

Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish the building.

Back up

1. give support or encouragement

2. make a copy of (file, program, etc.)

1. If I tell the boss we've got too much work, will you back me up?

2. It is recommended to back up all files in a secure location.

Bail out

1. pay money to secure someone's release

2. rescue from financial difficulties

1. When he was arrested, his family refused to bail him out.

2. The government bailed out the bank.

Bank on

base your hopes on someone/something

Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your help.

Boil down to

be summarized as

The problem boils down to a lack of money.

Boot up

start a computer by loading an operating system or program.

Just give me a few minutes to boot up the computer.

Break away

escape from captivity

A few horses broke away from the paddock.

Break down

1. go out of order, cease to function

2. lose control of one's emotions    

1. Nitish's car broke down so he had to take the bus.

2. The parents broke down when they heard the bad news.

Break into

enter by force

Burglars broke into the house around midnight.

Break out

start suddenly

Rioting broke out as a result of the strike.

Break out of

escape from a place by force

Three prisoners broke out of jail.

Break up

come to an end (marriage, relationship)

After her marriage broke up, Seema went to live in London.

Bring up

raise (a child)

She stopped working in order to bring up her children.

Brush up on

improve, refresh one's knowledge of something

Meena had to brush up on her English before going to America.

Bump into

meet by accident or unexpectedly

Padma bumped into her English teacher at the supermarket.

Burn out

1. stop (something) working

2. become exhausted from over-working

1. The fuse has burnt out.

2. Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

Call back

return a phone call

I'll call you back as soon as possible.

Call off

cancel

The meeting was called off because of the strike.

Call on/upon

formally invite or request

I now call upon the President to address the assembly.

Calm down

become more relaxed, less angry or upset

He was angry at first but he eventually calmed down.

Carry on

continue

He carried on gardening in spite of the rain.

Carry out

1. do something as specified  (a plan, an order, a threat)

2. perform or conduct (test, experiment)

1. The plan was carried out to perfection.

2. Tests are carried out to determine the efficiency of a new drug.

Carry over

postpone until later

As regards holidays, can you carry over any days from one year to the next?

Check in

register at a hotel or airport

For security reasons you have to check in two hours before your flight.

Check out

1. pay one's bill and leave (a hotel)

2. investigate

1. Is Mr. Kumar still at the hotel?  No, he checked out this morning.

2. I don't know if the address is still valid. I'll check it out.

Clam up

refuse to speak

When the teacher arrived she clammed up.

Clamp down on

act strictly to prevent something

The government has decided to clamp down on smoking in public places.

Come across

1. find by chance

2. appear, seem, make an impression

1. Veena came across some photographs of her grandparents in the store room.

2. The candidate came across as a dynamic person during the interview.

Come forward

 present oneself

The police have asked any witnesses to come forward.

Come up against

be faced with or opposed by

The project came up against a lot of criticism.

Count on

rely or depend on (for help)

I'm counting on the taxi driver to find the theatre.

Cross out

remove by drawing a line through

In some exercises, you are asked to cross out the incorrect word.

Cut down on

reduce in number or size

The doctor told him to cut down on cigarettes.

Cut out

1. remove using scissors

2. stop doing something

1. She cut out a picture in a magazine.

2. I'm going to cut out eating between meals.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

Deal with

handle, take care of  (problem, situation)

The manager is good at dealing with difficult customers.

Die down

calm down, become less strong

When the applause died down, she started to sing.

Do without

manage without

The shops are closed so we'll have to do without sugar.

Drag on

last longer than expected

We expected a short speech but it dragged on and on!

Draw up

write (contract, agreement, document)

An agreement was drawn up and signed by the two parties.

Dress up

1. wear elegant clothes

2. disguise oneself

1. Do people dress up to go to the opera in your country?

2. Children love to dress up at Halloween.

Drop in

visit, usually on the way somewhere

I sometimes drop in to see my grandparents on my way home from school.

Drop off

1. deliver someone or something

2. fall asleep

1. I'll drop you off at the bus stop if you like.

2. Granddad often drops off in front of the TV.

Drop out

leave school without finishing

She decided to go to art school then dropped out after the first term.

End in

finish in a certain way; result in

Their marriage ended in divorce.

Ease off

reduce, become less severe or slow down  (pain, traffic, work)

After Christmas the workload generally eases off.

End up

finally reach a state, place or action

If he continues his misconduct he'll end up in prison.

Even out

1. eliminate differences of opinion.

2. become level or regular

1. After a long discussion they managed to even out their differences.

2. The road was evened out to make it safer.

Fall through

fail; doesn't happen

Our planned boat trip fell through because of the storm.

Figure out

understand, find the answer

I'm trying to figure out how to assemble the bookshelves.

Fill out

complete (a form/an application)

Please fill out the enclosed form and return it as soon as possible.

Find out

discover or obtain information

I'm going to call the cinema to find out what time the film starts.

Focus on

concentrate on something

The advertising campaign will focus on the quality of the product.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

Get along (with)

be on good terms; work well with

I get along (well) with my mother-in-law.

Get at

imply

What exactly are you trying to get at?

Get away

escape

The robbers got away in a black car.

Get by

manage to cope or to survive

It's difficult to get by on a low salary.

Get in

enter

How did the thief get in?

Get into (+noun)

enter

How did the thief get into the house?

Get off

1. leave (bus, train, plane)

2. remove

1. You should get off the bus at the main market of the town.

2. She can't get the stain off her sweater.

Get on

board (bus, train, plane)

You can pay when you get on the bus.

Get on with (something)

continue to do; make progress

Be quiet and get on with your homework.

Get on (well) with (somebody)

have a good relationship with

I get on very well with my colleagues.

Get out

leave

How did he get out?

Get out of (+noun)

leave

How did he get out of the house?

Get out of

avoid doing something

Some husbands manage to get out of doing any housework.

Get over

recover from (illness, disappointment)

My grandmother had pneumonia but she got over it.

Get rid of

eliminate

It's difficult to get rid of old habits.

Get together

meet each other

Let's get together for lunch on day.

Get up

rise, leave bed

I usually get up at 7 o'clock.

Give up

stop doing something

Rajesh gave up smoking 5 years ago.

Go through

experience

Priya went through a lot of pain after the accident.

Grow up

spend one's childhood; develop; become an adult

He grew up in a small village in the mountains.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

Hand in

submit (report, homework)

All application forms must be handed in before the end of the month.

Hand out

distribute

Samples will be handed out at the end of the demonstration.

Hang up

end a phone conversation

"Don't hang up. I haven't finished yet."

Hit at

aim a blow at

He hit at the wasp with the newspaper.

Hit back

retaliate; reply to an attack

When he was attacked by the others, the boy hit back.

Hit on/upon

find unexpectedly or by inspiration

She hit upon an idea for her new collection.

Hold on

1. wait

2. grip tightly

1. "Hold on please.  I'll put you through to Mr. Khanna"

2. She held on to the railing as she crossed the bridge.

Hurry up

be quick, act speedily

Hurry up! We'll miss the bus.

Iron out

resolve by discussion, eliminate differences

The meeting tomorrow will be an opportunity to iron out difficulties.

Join in

participate

She was too shy to join in the game.

Join up

1. engage in, become a member of

2. meet and unite with

1. Deven was in the Army and Shekher joined up as soon as he left school.

2. The two groups of tourists joined up at the hotel.

Jot down

take quick notes

I jotted down the address while watching the programme on TV.

Keep on

continue doing something

It told him to be quiet but he kept on making noise.

Keep up with

stay at the same level as someone or something

Karan walks so fast it's difficult to keep up with him.

Kick off

begin, start

The football match kicked off at 3 o'clock.

Leave out

omit, not mention

The child's name was left out of the report.

Let down

disappoint

You promised to come to the party, so don't let me down!

Look after

take care of

A babysitter looks after the children when their parents go out.

Look ahead

think of the future

It's time to forget the past and look ahead.

Look down on

consider as inferior

He tends to look down on anyone who is not successful.

Look on

be a spectator at an event

Billu didn't take part in the fight.  He just looked on.

Look for

try to find something

Seema went to the shops to look for a pair of shoes.

Look forward to

await or anticipate with pleasure

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Look up to

admire

He was a wonderful teacher and many students looked up to him.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

Make fun of

laugh at/ make jokes about

The old lady dresses so strangely that the kids make fun of her.

Make up

invent (excuse, story)

Some employees make up excuses when they arrive late for work.

Mix up

mistake one thing or person for another

I don't know my neighbours' names yet.  I keep mixing them up.

Move in

arrive in a new home or office

You've bought a new house? When are you moving in?

Move out

leave your home/office for another one.

My neighbour is leaving.  He's moving out next Saturday.

Nod off

fall asleep

My grandfather often nods off in front of the television.

Note down

write something

I'll call the station and note down the departure times.

Opt out

leave a system or decide not to participate

I enjoy tennis but I'm so busy I had to opt out of the tournament.

Own up

admit or confess something

The boy owned up.  He said he kicked the ball through the window.

Pass away

die

The old lady passed away peacefully.

Pass out

faint

She passed out when she heard the bad news.

Pay back

reimburse

I'll lend you Rs. 20 provided you pay me back before the end of the week.

Put off

postpone, arrange a later date

The meeting was put off because of the strike.

Put on

turn on, switch on

Could you put on the light please?

Put out

extinguish

It took a long time to put out the fire.

Put up

accommodate, give somebody a bed

We can put you up if you'd like to come for a week-end.

Pick up

collect somebody

I'll pick you up at the station when you arrive.

Point out

indicate/direct attention to something

She pointed out the mistake.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

Rely on

count on, depend on, trust

Don't worry.  You can rely on me.  I can keep a secret.

Rule out

eliminate

The police ruled out political motives.

Run away

escape from a place or suddenly leave

He ran away from home at the age of fourteen.

Run into

meet by accident or unexpectedly (also: bump into)

Sheetal ran into Meera at the shopping centre.

Shop around

compare prices

It's always wise to shop around before buying anything.

Show off

brag or want to be admired

There's Devesh showing off in his new sports car!

Show up

appear/arrive

We expected Deepak to come but he didn't show up.

Shut up  (impolite)    

be silent, stop talking

Oh shut up, you idiot!

Sit down

take a seat

Please come in and sit down.

Stand up

rise from a sitting position

The pupils stood up when the headmaster arrived.

Stick up for

defend

It's important to stick up for one's principles.

Take after

resemble, in appearance or character

Jagat really takes after his dad.

Take care of

look after

I'll take care of your plants while you're away.

Take off

leave the ground

The plane took off at 6 a.m.

Take on

hire or engage staff

Business is good so the company is taking on extra staff.

Take out

remove; extract

She took out a pen to note the address.