Common English Phrasal Verbs: Definitions and Examples

Break down

If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working. E.g. My car broke down on the way to Motril.

Catch sb out

To surprise someone and put them in a difficult position. E.g. The exam is designed to catch you out.

Come across

To find by accident. E.g. I came across my old school reports when I was clearing out my desk.

Count on / Rely on

To trust someone.

Cover up

To hide, try to stop people knowing. E.g. It was a real scandal, but the school tried to cover the whole thing up.

Find something out

To discover a fact or piece of information. E.g. We may never find out the truth about what happened.

Get back

To return to a place after you have been somewhere else. E.g. If you get back in time, you can come with us.

Get on / off

To enter (get on) or leave (get off) a bus, train, plane, etc. E.g. We got on the train at Plymouth and went up to London.

Get over

To recover.

Give sth back

To return something to the person who gave it to you. E.g. Has she given you those books back yet?

Give up

• To stop doing something that you do regularly.
• To stop thinking or believing in something.
• To surrender.
• To allow someone to sit in your chair, take your place, etc. E.g. His wife finally persuaded him to give up smoking. E.g.2. It was a difficult time, but we never gave up hope.

Join in

To do an activity with people who are already doing it. E.g. Pat didn’t feel like joining in the celebrations.

Look after / Take care

To take care of someone or something and make certain that they have everything they need. E.g. It’s hard work looking after three children all day.

Look for

To hope to get something that you want or need. E.g. We are looking for a partner in a new business venture.

Look sth up

To search in the dictionary/book. E.g. If you don’t understand a word, look it up in a dictionary.

Look up to

To respect someone.

Make up

To invent (a story), often to deceive someone. E.g. They made up an excuse for being late.

Pick somebody up

To go somewhere in your car and collect somebody who is waiting for you. E.g. I'll pick you up at five.

Run out of

To finish all of something.

Run over

To hit with a vehicle. E.g. The driver couldn't stop in time and ran the fox over when it ran in front of his car.

Stand by

To support someone. E.g. He stood by her throughout the trial as he believed her to be innocent.

Take after

To be like someone.

Turn down

• To reduce volume or temperature.
• To reject an offer, invitation, etc.

Turn up

• To appear or arrive.
• To be found.