Common English Phrasal Verbs: Get, Take, Look, Put, Set, and Give

Common English Phrasal Verbs

Get

• Get Up: Rise to your feet.
• Get Across: Make something understood.
• Get Along: Have a friendly relationship.
• Get Away: Go on vacation or escape.
• Get By: Manage to survive despite difficulties.
• Get Down: Become serious about something.
• Get In: Enter a place or arrive.
• Get Out: Become known or leave a place.
• Get On: Start or continue an activity.
• Get Off: Leave a vehicle or stop an activity.
• Get Over: Recover from or overcome something.
• Get Through: Finish something successfully.
• Get Rid Of: Throw something away.
• Get Around: Avoid a problem or difficulty.
• Get At: Criticize repeatedly.
• Get Wound Up: Become angry or agitated.
• Get Good At: Improve through practice.
• Get About: Move from place to place.
• Get After: Reprimand or pursue someone.
• Get Back: Return, recover, or retrieve.

Take

• Take Something Back: Retract a statement or return an item.
• Take Down: Gain control or write down information.
• Take Over: Assume control.
• Take Away: Remove something.
• Take Someone Aback: Surprise someone.
• Take In: Understand or absorb information.
• Take Off: Leave the ground (for flights) or remove clothing.
• Take Up: Begin a new hobby or activity.
• Take Up With Somebody: Become friends with someone.
• Take Up On: Accept an offer or suggestion.
• Take After (Somebody): Resemble someone in appearance or behavior.
• Take Something Apart: Disassemble something or thoroughly search a place.
• Take Care Of: Be responsible for someone or something.
• Take Somebody Through Something: Explain something to someone step-by-step.

Look

• Look Out: Be careful or pay attention.
• Look For: Search for something.
• Look In: Make a brief visit.
• Look Through: Read something quickly.
• Look Forward To: Anticipate with pleasure.
• Look Back: Reflect on the past.
• Look Up: Search for information in a reference source.
• Look After: Take care of someone or something.
• Look Ahead: Plan for the future.
• Look To: Rely on someone or something.
• Look Round: Turn around to see something.
• Look On: Observe as a spectator.

Put

• Put Somebody Down: Criticize someone to make them feel inferior.
• Put Something Out: Extinguish a fire or light.
• Put Something Up: Attach something to a wall or ceiling.
• Put Something Off: Postpone something.
• Put Someone Off: Discourage or repel someone.
• Put Something Aside: Save for later use.
• Put Something On: Pretend to have a certain feeling or identity.
• Put Up With Somebody or Something: Tolerate something unpleasant.

Set

• Set Off: Cause an explosion or begin a journey.
• Set About: Begin a task.
• Set Down: Allow passengers to disembark.
• Set Back: Cause a delay or cost money.
• Set In: Become established and likely to persist.
• Set By: Use something as a reference for setting a watch.
• Set Up: Establish or prepare something.
• Set On: Attack someone or something.
• Set Out: Begin a journey.
• Set Apart: Reserve for a specific purpose.

Give

• Give In: Surrender or yield.
• Give Off: Emit a smell, light, or heat.
• Give Back: Return something or restore a quality.
• Give Onto: Lead to or overlook something.
• Give Out: Distribute, announce, or become exhausted.
• Give Over To: Dedicate time or energy to something.
• Give Up: Quit or abandon something.
• Give Away: Give as a gift, reveal information, or distribute.