Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are not students’ favourite topic, are they? There are so many in the English language and each one has many different meanings.

This is why it’s important to begin memorising the most important ones. Are you ready? Excellent!

It might seem like a lot, but these 25 phrasal verbs will improve not only your written communication, but also your ability to understand conversations. Native speakers use phrasal verbs all the time in conversation!

Most of these phrasal verbs have several meanings, make sure you remember them all!

 

 

Bring up

a- To take care of and teach (a child who is growing up).
Example: “Their grandparents brought them up because their parents were always travelling”

b- To mention (something) when talking : to start to talk about (something).
Example: “Don’t bring up the fight again, please!”

Call off

a- To stop doing or planning to do (something) .
Example: “Maria called off the wedding, she decided she didn’t love him”

b- To cause or tell (a person or animal) to stop attacking, chasing, etc.
Example: “Call off your dog! He’s attacking my cat”

Carry on

a- To continue to do what you have been doing
Example: “Sorry I interrupted, carry on talking!”

b- To behave or speak in an excited or foolish way.
Example: “The little boy was carrying on: shouting and kicking all day long”

Come across

a- To seem to have a particular quality or character : to make a particular impression.
Example: “Julia came across as a bit bossy”

b- To be expressed to someone.
Example: “I tried to sound happy but it came across as over-excited”

c- To meet or find (something or someone) by chance.
Example: “Luis was leaving the fruit shop and he came across Tom, what a coincidence”

Come up with

a– To get or think of (something that is needed or wanted).
Example: “We finally came up with a solution to the problem!”

Get along

a- To be or remain friendly, it means to have a relativively good (but not VERY) relationship with somebody
Ex: “We’re not together anymore, but we get along great”. "I'm getting along with my boss".

b- To make progress while doing something.
Example: “How are you getting along at playing the guitar?”

c- To become old.
Example: “Her grandma is getting along; she’s almost 99”

Get away

a- To go away from a place.
Example: “I cannot wait to get away from the city”

b- To avoid being caught : to escape
Example: “The thieves managed to get away in a stolen car”

Get away with

       To not be criticised or punished for (something).
       Example: "The murderer got away with his hideous crime". “Yvonne is always lying, I can’t  

       understand how she gets away with it". 

Get over

a- To stop being controlled or bothered by something, such as a problem or feeling.
Example: “I got over my fear of flying”

b- To stop feeling unhappy about (something).
Example: “Finally, Kylie got over her ex-boyfriend”

c- To become healthy again after (an illness).
Example: “Have you heard? Dave has got over the flu”

Give up

a- To stop an activity or effort : to admit that you cannot do something and stop trying.
Example: “We all gave up smoking on January 1st”

Go along with
       a- permit, consent to.
       Example: "I usually just go along with what she says to avoid any arguments".
       b- support, agree with. (but not wholeheartedly).
       Ex: "Rachel is happy to go along with Harry's suggestion". "I went along with that decisión"
Go on

a- To continue.
Examples: “They landed in Paris and then went on to Montpellier”. "Go on with your story".

"She went on talking about her illness for hours".

b- To go or travel to a place before another person or group that is with you.
Example: “You go on to the restaurant, I’ll come in 10 minutes”

c- To happen
Example: “What’s going on? What’s happening?”

d- Used in speech to urge someone to do something
Example: “Go on! Try it, it’s delicious”

Look after –

a- To take care of (someone or something).
Example: “The nurse looked after the patient for months, until he was better”

Look forward to

a- To expect (something) with pleasure.
Example: “William is really looking forward to going on holiday”

Look up

a- Improve.
Example: “The economy is finally looking up”

b- To search for (something) in a reference book, on the Internet, etc.
Example: “Let’s look up his number in the yellow pages”

Make out –

a- To write down the required information on (something, such as a check).
Example: “Who shall I make the check out to?” "Please make your cheque out to "J. Smith"

b- To hear and understand; to see or perceive (something)
Example: “I can’t make out what you’re saying, can you speak louder?” "I can't make out the sign from this far away".

c- To kiss and touch for a long time in a sexual way.
Example: “We made out in the back of his car”

Put off

a- To decide that (something) will happen at a later time : postpone.
Example: “Graham was so tired he put the shopping off until next week”

b- To cause (someone) to dislike someone or something
Example: “You’re putting me off my food, stop talking about insects!” That put me off studying, once and for all" "It was only the lack of money that put me off studying Law in USA in the first place".

Put up with

a- To allow (someone or something unpleasant or annoying) to exist or happen.
Example: “My mother won’t put up with my sisters or I swearing” "I refuse to put up with smoking in my house" "I will not put up with your whining any more. Go to bed this minute!"

Watch out

a- To be aware of something dangerous.
Example: “Watch out in the mountain, there are bears there!”