top100phrasalverbs

1、Phrasal VerbDefinitionExampleact upbehave or function improperlyI think I need to take my car to the mechanic because it's acting up again.add * up +calculate a sumI added up the receipts and it totaled $135.46.add up to +equal an amountThe total expenses added up to $325.00. add upmake sen

2、seHer story doesn't add up. I think she is lying.ask * out +invite on a dateI can't believe that Joe finally asked me out on a date!ask * over +invite to one's homeWhy don't we ask the Johnsons over for dinner?back downstop defending your opinion in a debateJane never backs down. She

3、 always wins arguments.back outnot keep (a promise, agreement,deal)Sam backed out at the last second.back out of +not keep (a promise, agreement, deal)Sam backed out of the agreement at the last second.back * up +give supportYou need examples to back up your opinion. back upmove backwards, reve

4、rseCould you back up a little so I can open this drawer.bawl * out criticize, reprimand (inf.)She bawled him out for arriving late.bear down on +biteThe soldier had to bear down on the leather strap while the doctor removed a bullet from the soldier's arm.bear down on +take strong measures

5、againstThe U.S.A. is bearing down on drug traffickers.bear on +have to do withThis information may bear on this case.bear upwithstandI didn't think he would bear up so well in that situation.bear up under +withstandHow did he bear up under such extreme pressure.bear with +be patientPlease bear w

6、ith me while I fill out the paperwork.blow invisit unexpectedly (inf.)My cousin blew in unexpectedly with his entire family.blow overpass without creating a problemAll this negative publicity will blow over in a couple of weeks.blow * up +make explode;destroy using explosivesThe terrorists blew the

7、bridge up.blow upexplodeThe bomb blew up before they could defuse it.blow upsuddenly become very angryWhen Joan heard the news, she blew up and rushed out of the room.break * down +analyze in detailWe need to break this problem down in order to solve.break downstop working properlyThe truck broke do

8、wn in the desert.break downbecome mentally illShe broke down after her husband died.break * in +wear or use something new until it is comfortableI need to break these shoes in before I go hiking.break ininterruptWhile we were discussing the situation, Terri broke in to give her opinion.break inenter

9、 a place unlawfullyThe burglar broke in between midnight and 3 AM.break in on +interrupt (a conversation)Jane broke in on the conversation and told us to get back to work.break into +enter a house unlawfullyThe burglar broke into the house between midnight and 3 AM.break into +interrupt (a conversat

10、ion)Jane broke into the conversation and told us what she knew.break * off +end somethingSally broke her engagement to John off.break outappear violentlyViolent protests broke out in response to the military coup.break out +use something extravagant for celebrationHe broke out the champagne to celeb

11、rate his promotion.break out  of +escapeThe murderer broke out of the prison.break * up +break into piecesI broke the cracker up into pieces and put it in the soup.break * up +disperse (a crowd), stop (a fight)The police broke the demonstration up before it got out of control.break upend a rela

12、tionshipSam and Diane broke up again. What a rocky relationship.bring * about +cause to happenDemocracy brought about great change in the lives of the people.bring * along +bring withWhen we go to the forest, bring your wildlife guide along.bring * aroundchange someone's mind, convince someoneSh

13、e doesn't want to go, but we'll eventually bring her around.bring * awaylearn or gain (from an experience)My trip across the Sahara was difficult, but I brought a new appreciation for life away from the experience.bring * off +succeed at something difficult or unexpectedYou robbed the bank!

14、I can't believe you brought that off.bring * on +cause somethingI can't believe she got so angry. What brought that on?bring * out +highlight, stressYour new shirt brings out the color of your eyes.bring * over +bring to someone's houseWhen you visit me, why don't you bring over your

15、 son.bring * torevive consciousnessWe used smelling salts to bring her to after she fainted.bring * up +mentionI didn't want to bring up the fact that she was unemployed.bring * up +raise ( a child)Sam was brought up in South Carolina.brush * off +ignore something or someone (inf.)Mary brushed h

16、er ex-boyfriend off at the party.burn * down +destroy by setting fire toThe children burned the house down while playing with matches.burn downburn until completely gone (building)Two buildings burnt down in the fire.burn upbe hotI am burning up in here - open the window.burn up consume by fire

17、The papers were burned up in the fire.burn * up +destroy by fireHe burnt up the files.buy * out +buy the shares of a company or the shares the other person owns of a businessPacific Inc. was bought out by a company from Oregon. buy * up +purchase the entire supply of somethingWe bought up all t

18、he beer in the store.call for +require (as in a recipe)This recipe calls for milk, not water.call * off +cancel somethingThey called the picnic off because of the rain.call * off +order to stop (an invasion, guard dogs)He called off the dogs when he saw it was his neighbor.call on +visitMark called

19、on Naomi while he was in town.call on +invite someone to speak in a meeting or a classroomProfessor Tanzer called on Tim to answer the question. call * up +telephoneI called Sam up to see if he wanted to go to the movies.calm * down +make someone relaxYou can calm the baby down by rocking her g

20、ently.care for +nurse someone or somethingHe cared for the bird until its wing healed.care for +like someone or somethingI don't care for sour cream on my potato.carry on +continue (a conversation, a game)Please, carry on. I didn't mean to interrupt you.carry on about +continue in an annoyin

21、g way He kept carrying on about how much money he makes.carry on with +continueI want you to carry on with the project while I am out of town.carry * out +complete and/or accomplish somethingThe secret agent carried out his orders exactly as planned. carry * over +continue on a subsequent

22、day, page, etc.The meeting carried over into lunch time.catch onslowly start to understand (inf.)He caught on after a few minutes.catch upmake up for lost timeI will never catch up. I am too behind in my work.catch up with +speed up to be at the same place as a person or thing in front of youI had t

23、o run to catch up with the others.catch up on +become up-to-dateI need to catch up on world events. I haven't seen the news in ages.check backreturn to see if everything is OKWe will check back tomorrow to make sure the project is finished.check by +go to a place to see if everything is OKWe nee

24、d to check by the office to see if the documents are ready.check for +try to findThey checked for termites before they bought the house.check inenter a hospital, hotel etc.They need to check in before noon.check into +enter a hospital, hotel etc.They checked into the hotel at 11:00 AM.check into +in

25、vestigate, look for (often through a service)We are checking into discount flights to London.check * off +make a mark next to (an item on a list)Check each name off the list.check on +make sure something is OKLet's check on the baby again before we go to sleep.check * out +investigate, take a lo

26、ok atHe checked out the new restaurant down the street.check outleave a hotel, hospitalIt's already eleven. We need to check out.check out of +leave a hotel, hospitalWe checked out of the hotel before ten.check * over +closely examine the condition of somethingHe checked over the old car to see

27、if it was worth buying.check up on +investigate someone or somethingThe police are checking up on the bomb threats.check * throughsend luggage through (to a destination)Your luggage will be checked through to Paris.check with +ask a person for confirmationHe needs to check with his parents before he

28、 goes.cheer * upmake someone feel cheerfulThe party really cheered me up.cheer upbecome cheerfulCheer up. Everything will be all right.chew * up +chew into small piecesThe dog chewed up my shoe.chop * down +fell/cut ( a tree)The lumberjack chopped the tree down.chop * up +chop/cut into small bitsHe

29、chopped the meat up into little pieces.clean * up +tidySusan cleaned the mess up before she left.clear outleave ( inf.)Everybody clear out! We're closed.clear * up +tidySusan cleared up the mess before she left.close * down +close a place permanentlyThe corner market closed down because they did

30、n't have many customers.close downclose permanentlyThe bar was closed down because they served alcohol to minors.close in on +approach and threatenThe rebels were closing in on the capital, so the government called in the army.close * up +close temporarilyThey are closing the ski resort up for t

31、he summer.close upclose temporarilyThe ski resort is closing up for the e aboutoccur / happenHow did you idea for the book come e across +discover by accidentThey came across some lost Mayan ruins in the e across +initially seem or have the appearanceHe comes across as r

32、ather rude, but he isn'e alongaccompany someoneIf you want, you can come e along with +accompanySam came along with us to the e alongprogressHow's the research paper coming e along with +progressHow are you coming along with the research e awayleave a

33、 place with a particular feeling or impressionI came away from the meeting feeling like the presentation was a e backreturnWhat time are you coming back?come by + get, receiveHow did you come by that new Mercedes?come byvisit a person at their houseI'll come by later this afterno

34、e down with +become sick withHe came down with the e into +inheritHe came into a large sum of money when his aunt e off +fall off, break offThe handle came off the suitcase when I picked it e outappearI didn't see the car at first. It came out of e outreveal

35、 you are homosexualSam finally came out last e outturn out, end upThe pictures came out e out with +produce and distribute a productMicrosoft is coming out with a new video game system next e overvisit someone at their houseWhy don't you come over after work for dinner

36、.come toregain consciousnessDon't worry! She faints all the time. She always comes to after a few e throughdo what is needed or expectedTerry really came through for us in the e up to +approach; to equalThe job offer didn't come up to her e up with +produce

37、or create (an idea, a plan)She came up with a great proposal for the new advertising e with +include (an accessory)The computer system doesn't come with a printer.count * in +includeDid you count expenses in?count on +depend/rely onYou can really count on Sarah.count * out +excludeYo

38、u can count James out. He hates playing poker.count * up +addCount the change up and see how much we have.crack down on +become tougher on, better enforce laws onThe police have been cracking down on drunk driving.crack up laugh uncontrollably, laugh a lotWhen I told the joke, they all cracked up.cr

39、ack up at +laugh uncontrollably about, laugh a lot aboutI cracked up at his joke.cross * out +draw a line through something, eliminateWhy did you cross my name out on the list?cut downdecrease the amount ofYou eat too much fat. You need to cut down. cut down on +decrease the amount ofYou need t

40、o cut down on your fat intake.cut ininterruptShe suddenly cut in and delivered the newscut in on +interruptShe cut in on the conversation and delivered the news.cut * offinterrupt someone while they were speakingShe cut him off before he said something he would regret later. cut * off +sever (

41、with a knife)His finger was accidentally cut off in an industrial accident.cut * out +removeHe cut the bone out of the steak.cut * outstop an actionCut it out! You're bothering me.cut * up +cut into small piecesHe cut the beef up and put the pieces in the soup.die awaydiminish in intensityThe ap

42、plause died away after 5 minutes.die downdiminish in intensityThe controversy about the president's affair finally died down.die off/outbecome extinctWhales are in danger of dying off.disagree with +cause to feel sick due to food or drinkSpicy food disagrees with me.do away with +abolishSome Ame

43、ricans want to do away with the death penalty.do * over +repeatYou made many mistakes, so I want you to do the report over.do without +manage without something one wants or needsI couldn't do without a car in California.draw * up +create ( a contract)Let's draw an agreement up before we go a

44、ny further with this project.dress * downreprimand severelyThe mother dressed her son down for skipping school.dress downdress casuallyI am dressing down because we're going to a barbecue by the beach.dress * up +decorateYou could dress this house up with some bright colorsdress upwear elegant c

45、lothesShe always dresses up at work.drive * back +repulseThe invaders were driven back by the army.drop invisit someone unexpectedlyMeg dropped in yesterday after dinner.drop in on +visit someone unexpectedlyLet's drop in on Julie since we're driving by her house.drop outquit an organized ac

46、tivityYuri isn't on the team any more. He dropped out.drop out of +quit an organized activity (school)It's difficult to get a good job if you drop out of high school.drop overvisit someone casuallyDrop over any time you feel like talking.eat awaygradually destroy, erodeThe heavy rains ate aw

47、ay at the sandstone cliffs.eat * up +devourKen ate the cookies up.eat ineat inside the homeWe usually eat in instead of going out for dinner.eat outeat outside the homeThey eat out once a week.face up to +acknowledge something difficult or embarrassingI'll never be able to face up to my colleagu

48、es after getting so drunk last night at the work party.fall back on +be able to use in case of emergencyYuki can fall back on her degree in biology if she doesn't succeed in her acting career.fall behindgo slower than scheduled, lagHurry up or you will fall behind!fall behind in +go slower than

49、scheduled, lagCheryl has missed several days of school and now she is falling behind in her homework.fall offdecreaseInterest in the project fell off when they realized it wouldn't be profitable.fall out with +have an argument withI had a falling out with my sister last month and we haven't

50、talked to each other since.fall throughfail to happenUnfortunately, my trip to Indonesia fell through because I couldn't save enough money.feel * up +gropeShe sued her boss for sexual harassment after he felt her up.feel up to +have the energy to do somethingI don't feel up to going out toni

51、ght because I had a long day at work.figure on +expectWhere do you figure on living when you move to the the U.S.A.?figure * out +solve something, understandI finally figured the joke out. Now I understand why everybody was laughing.figure * up +calculateI need to figure my expenses up before I give

52、 you an estimate.fill * in +complete Don't forget to fill in all the blanks on the application.fill insubstituteWho is going to fill in while you're gone?fill in for +substitute forMiguel filled in for me at the meeting yesterday because I was sick.fill * out +complete (an application)I

53、 filled out an application to rent the apartment last week.fill outmature, get breastsNow that you're filling out honey, we need to get you a bra.fill * up +fill to the topFill the car up with unleaded gas, please.find out +discoverYou will never find out all my secrets!find outdiscoverVicky'

54、;s parents are going to be so mad when they find out she got a tattoo.fix * up +repair, renovate, remodelMy neighbors are fixing their house up.get * across +cause to be understoodIt's difficult to get humor across in another language.get aheadmake progressI can't get ahead even though I wor

55、k two jobs.get ahead of +surpassYou need to work overtime in order to get ahead of schedule.get alonghave a good relationshipDo you and your sister get along?get along with +have a good relationshipGiovanna doesn't get along with her two brothers.get around +avoid someone or somethingSome people

56、 get around paying taxes by hiring a good accountant.get aroundgo many placesIt's easy to get around town with public transportation.get awayescapeThe bank robbers got away.get away with +do something against the rules or illegal and not get caught or punishedMy sister gets away with everything!get bysurvive without having the things you need or wantI lost my job, so I am having a hard time getting by this year.get by on +survive with minimal resourcesIt's nearly impossible to get by on making minimum wage.get by with +manage withYou don't need a computer. You can get by with t