25 USEFUL PHRASAL VERBS

1. Add up

a- To be added together and equal the expected or correct total.Example: “We added up the apples: there were 12″

b-To make sense : to seem to be logical or true.Example: “Her story didn’t add up, I think she was lying, it didn’t make sense”

2. Blow up

a- To fill (something) with air or gasExample: “Please could you blow up those balloons?”

b- To explode or to cause (something, such as a bomb) to explode.Example: “The building was blown up by a bomb”

c- To become very angry.Example: “When I said I couldn’t go to her party, she blew up”

3. 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!”

4. 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”

5. Carry on

a- To continue to do what you have been doingExample: “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”

6. 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”

7. 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!”

8. Fall apart

a- To break into parts in usually a sudden and unexpected way,Example: “My cake fell apart when I tried to cut it”

b- To become unable to live in a normal way because you are experiencing a lot of confusion or emotional painExample: “After the divorce, she fell apart”

9. Get along

a- To be or remain friendlyExample: “We’re not together anymore, but we get along great”

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

c- To leave a placeExample: “It was lovely to see you, but my friend has to get along, she has class”

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

10. Get away

a- To go away from a place.Example: “I can0t wait to get away from the city”

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

c- To not be criticized or punished for (something).Example: “Yvonne is always lying, I can’t understand how she gets away with it”

11. 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 gotten over the flu”

12. Give up -

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

13. Go on -

a- To continue.Example: “They landed in Paris and then went on to Montpellier”

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 happenExample: “What’s going on? What’s happening?”

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

14. Hold on

a- To have or keep your hand, arms, etc., tightly around something.Example: “Hold on to the railing, that way you won’t fall”

b- To succeed in keeping a position, condition, etc.Example: “I will hold on to my job until May”

15. Look after -

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

16. Look forward to

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

17. 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”

18. Make out -

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

b- To hear and understand (something)
Example: “I can’t make out what you’re saying, can you speak louder?”

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

19. Pass out

a- To fall asleep or become unconscious.Example: “Lisa was so tired, she got home and passed out on the sofa”

b- to give (something) to several or many people.Example: “I passed out leaflets with information on our course”

20. Pull over -

a- To move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop.Example: “That looks like a lovely restaurant, can you pull the car over and park?”

21. Put down

a- To place (someone or something that you have been holding or carrying) on a table, on the floor, etc.Example: “You can put the suitcases down in the bedroom”

b- To write (something) : to record (something) in writingExample: “He put down his memories to write a book when he was older”

c- To give (an amount of money) as a first payment when you are buying something that costs a lot of moneyExample: “My husband and I are going to put down some money to buy that house in the centre of town”

d- To kill (an animal) in a way that causes it little pain usually because it is injured or sick
Example: “Jessica had to have her rabbit put down; it was very sick”

22. Put off

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

b- To cause (someone) to dislike someone or somethingExample: “You’re putting me off my food, stop talking about insects!”

23. 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”

24. Turn up

a- To be found usually unexpectedly.Example: “Oh! My phone turned up in my bed!”

b- To arrive at a placeExample: “As always, Julian turned up late”

c- To increase the volume, temperature, etc., of something by pressing a button, moving a switch, etc.Example: “Please turn the music up, I love this song!”

25. Watch out

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