Common Phrasal Verbs and Their Meanings

A

• ask someone out: invite someone on a date
• ask around: ask many people the same question
• add up to something: equal

B

• back something up: reverse
• back someone up: support
• blow up: explode
• blow something up: add air
• break down: stop functioning (vehicle, machine)
• break down: get upset
• break something down: divide into smaller parts
• break in: force entry to a building
• break into something: enter forcibly
• break something in: wear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel new
• break in: interrupt
• break up: end a relationship
• break up: start laughing (informal)
• break out: escape
• break out in something: develop a skin condition
• bring someone down: make someone unhappy
• bring someone up: raise a child
• bring something up: start talking about a subject
• bring something up: vomit

C

• call around: phone many different places/people
• call someone back: return a phone call
• call something off: cancel
• call on someone: ask for an answer or opinion
• call on someone: visit someone
• call someone up: phone
• calm down: relax after being angry
• not care for someone/something: not like

D

• catch up: get to the same point as someone else
• check in: arrive and register at a hotel or airport
• check out: leave a hotel
• check someone/something out: look at carefully, investigate
• cheer up: become happier
• cheer someone up: make someone happier
• chip in: help
• clean something up: tidy, clean
• come across something: find unexpectedly
• come apart: separate
• come down with something: become sick
• come forward: volunteer for a task or to give evidence
• come from somewhere: originate in
• count on someone/something: rely on
• cross something out: draw a line through
• cut back on something: consume less
• cut something down: make something fall to the ground
• cut in: interrupt
• cut in: pull in too closely in front of another vehicle
• cut something off: remove with something sharp
• cut something off: stop providing
• cut someone off: take out of a will
• cut something out: remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)

E

• do someone/something over: beat up, ransack (informal)
• do something over: do again (N.Amer.)
• do away with something: discard
• do something up: fasten, close

F

• dress up: wear nice clothing

G

• get something across/over: communicate, make understandable
• get along/on: like each other
• get around: have mobility
• get away: go on a vacation
• get away with something: do without being noticed or punished
• get back: return
• get something back: receive something you had before
• get back at someone: retaliate, take revenge
• get back into something: become interested in something again
• get on something: step onto a vehicle
• get over something: recover from an illness, loss, difficulty
• get over something: overcome a problem
• get round to something: finally find time to do (N.Amer.: get around to something)
• get together: meet (usually for social reasons)
• get up: get out of bed
• get up: stand
• give someone away: reveal hidden information about someone
• give someone away: take the bride to the altar
• give something away: ruin a secret
• give something away: give something to someone for free
• give something back: return a borrowed item
• give in: reluctantly stop fighting or arguing
• give something out: give to many people (usually at no cost)
• give something up: quit a habit
• give up: stop trying
• go after someone: follow someone
• go after something: try to achieve something
• go against someone: compete, oppose
• go ahead: start, proceed
• go back: return to a place
• go out: leave home to go on a social event
• go out with someone: date
• go over something: review
• go over: visit someone nearby
• go without something: suffer lack or deprivation
• grow apart: stop being friends over time
• grow back: regrow
• grow up: become an adult
• grow out of something: get too big for
• grow into something: grow big enough to fit