Phrasal verbs are common in informal English. The following below is a list of some common phrasal verbs and their usual meanings :
A
ask out ........................................................ ask someone to go on a date
B
bring about, bring on ..................................... cause
bring up ........................................................ (1) rear children; (2) mention or introduce a topic
C
call back ....................................................... return a telephone call
call in ............................................................ ask to come to an official place for a specific purpose
call off ........................................................... cancel
call on ........................................................... (1) ask to speak in class (2) visit
call up ........................................................... call on the telephone
catch up (with) ................................................ reach the same position or level
check in, check into ........................................ register at a hotel
check into ...................................................... investigate
check out ...................................................... (1) take a book from the library; (2) investigate
check out (of) ................................................. leave a hotel
cheer up ........................................................ make (someone) feel happier
clean up ........................................................ make clean and orderly
come across ................................................. meet by chance
cross out ..................................................... draw a line through
cut out ........................................................ stop an annoying activity
D
do over ....................................................... do again
drop by, drop in (on) .................................... visit informally
drop off ..................................................... leave something/someone at a place
drop out .................................................... stop going to school, to a class, to a club, etc
F
figure out ................................................. find the answer by reasoning
fill out ..................................................... write the completions of a questionnaire or official form
find out ................................................... discover information
G
get along (with) ........................................ exist satisfactorily
get back (from) ....................................... (1) return from a place; (2) receive again
get in, get into ........................................ (1) enter a car; (2) arrive
get off ..................................................... leave an airplane, a bus, a train, a subway, a bicycle
get on ..................................................... enter an airplane, a bus, a train, a subway, a bicycle
get out of ................................................ (1) leave a car; (2) avoid work or an unpleasant activity
get over .................................................. recover from an illness
get through ............................................. finish
get up .................................................... arise from bed, a chair
give back ............................................... return an item to someone
give up .................................................. stop trying
go over .................................................. review or check carefully
grow up ................................................. become an adult
H
hand in ................................................... submit an assignment
hang up .................................................. (1) conclude a telephone conversation; (2) put clothes on a hanger or a hook
have on ................................................. wear
K
keep out (of) .......................................... not enter
keep up (with) ........................................ stay at the same position or level
kick out (of) ........................................... force (someone) to leave
L
look after ............................................... take care of
look into ................................................ investigate
look out (for) .......................................... be careful
look over ............................................... review or check carefully
look up ................................................. look for information in a reference book
M
make up ............................................... (1) invent; (2) do past work
N
name after, name for .............................. give a baby the name of someone else
P
pass away ............................................ die
pass out ............................................... (1) distribute; (2) lose consciousness
pick out ................................................ select
pick up ................................................. (1) go to get someone (e.g in a car); (2) take in one's hand
point out ............................................... call attention to
put away .............................................. remove to a proper place
put back ............................................... return to original place
put off .................................................. postpone
put on .................................................. put clothes on one's body
put out ................................................. extinguish a cigarette or cigar
put up with ........................................... tolerate
R
run into, run across ............................. meet by chance
run out (of) .......................................... finish a supply of something
S
show up .............................................. appear, come
shut off ................................................ stop a machine, light, faucet
T
take after .............................................. resemble
take off ................................................ (1) remove clothing; (2) leave on a trip
take out ............................................... (1) take someone on a date; (2) remove
take over ............................................. take control
take up ............................................... begin a new activity or topic
tear down ........................................... demolish, reduce to nothing
tear up ............................................... tear into many little pieces
think over .......................................... consider carefully
throw away, throw out .......................... discard; get rid of
throw up ............................................. vomit
try on ................................................. put on clothing to see if it fits
turn down ........................................... decrease volume or intensity
turn in ................................................ (1) submit an assignment; (2) go to bed
turn off ............................................... stop a machine, light, faucet
turn on ............................................... begin a machine, light, faucet
turn out ............................................. extinguish a light
turn up .............................................. increase volume or intensity
