Phrasal Verb

Phrasal Verb A

Phrasal Verb
Definition
Example

act up
behave or function improperly
I think I need to take my car to the mechanic because it’s acting up again.

add * up +
calculate a sum
I added up the receipts and it totaled $135.46.

add up to +
equal an amount
The total expenses added up to $325.00.

add up
make sense
Her story doesn’t add up. I think she is lying.

ask * out +
invite on a date
I can’t believe that Joe finally asked me out on a date!

ask * over +
invite to one’s home
Why don’t we ask the Johnsons over for dinner?


Phrasal Verb B

Phrasal Verb
Definition
Example

back down
stop defending your opinion in a debate
Jane never backs down. She always wins arguments.

back out
not 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 support
You need examples to back up your opinion.

back up
move backwards, reverse
Could 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 +
bite
The 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 against
The U.S.A. is bearing down on drug traffickers.

bear on +
have to do with
This information may bear on this case.

bear up
withstand
I didn’t think he would bear up so well in that situation.

bear up under +
withstand
How did he bear up under such extreme pressure.

bear with +
be patient
Please bear with me while I fill out the paperwork.

blow in
visit unexpectedly (inf.)
My cousin blew in unexpectedly with his entire family.

blow over
pass without creating a problem
All this negative publicity will blow over in a couple of weeks.

blow * up +
make explode;destroy using explosives
The terrorists blew the bridge up.

blow up
explode
The bomb blew up before they could defuse it.

blow up
suddenly become very angry
When Joan heard the news, she blew up and rushed out of the room.

break * down +
analyze in detail
We need to break this problem down in order to solve.

break down
stop working properly
The truck broke down in the desert.

break down
become mentally ill
She broke down after her husband died.

break * in +
wear or use something new until it is comfortable
I need to break these shoes in before I go hiking.

break in
interrupt
While we were discussing the situation, Terri broke in to give her opinion.

break in
enter a place unlawfully
The 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 unlawfully
The burglar broke into the house between midnight and 3 AM.

break into +
interrupt (a conversation)
Jane broke into the conversation and told us what she knew.

break * off +
end something
Sally broke her engagement to John off.

break out
appear violently
Violent protests broke out in response to the military coup.

break out +
use something extravagant for celebration
He broke out the champagne to celebrate his promotion.

break out of +
escape
The murderer broke out of the prison.

break * up +
break into pieces
I 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 up
end a relationship
Sam and Diane broke up again. What a rocky relationship.

bring * about +
cause to happen
Democracy brought about great change in the lives of the people.

bring * along +
bring with
When we go to the forest, bring your wildlife guide along.

bring * around
change someone’s mind, convince someone
She doesn’t want to go, but we’ll eventually bring her around.

bring * away
learn or gain (from an experience)
My trip across the Sahara was difficult, but I