What are phrasal verbs?
A phrasal verb is a verb followed by one or two adverbs or prepositions, which together make a meaning that is usually impossible to guess from the meanings of the words on their own.
A abide by : respect or obey. (the law, a decision, a rule)
If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules.
account for : explain, give a reason
I hope you can account for the money you spent!
add up: make sense, seem reasonable
Her story just doesn't add up.
advise against: recommend not doing something
The doctor advised him against carrying heavy loads.
agree with: have the same opinion as somebody else.
I agree with you. I think she deserves the award too.
aim at: point something in the direction of a target
The policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker.
allow for: take into consideration, include in a calculation
You'd better leave early to allow for traffic jams.
answer back: reply rudely
Don't answer back your mother!
appeal to :1) plead or make an earnest request
2) be attractive or interesting
1) The organizers appealed to the crowd to stay calm.
2) A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to me.
apply for: make a formal request for something (job, permit, loan etc.)
He applied for the job he saw advertised in the newspaper.
avail (oneself) of : take advantage of something (an opportunity) When the company is privatized, you should avail yourself of
the opportunity and buy some shares.
B
Back away: move backwards, in fear or dislike
When he saw the dog, he backed away.
back down: withdraw, concede defeat
Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish the building.
back up: 1) give support or encouragement
2) make a copy of (file, program, etc.)
1) If I tell the boss we've got too much work, will you back me up?
2) It is recommended to back up all files in a secure location.
bail out: 1) pay money to secure someone's release
2) rescue from financial difficulties
1) When he was arrested, his family refused to bail him out.
2) The government bailed out the bank.
bank on :base your hopes on someone/something
Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your help.
beef up: improve, make more substantial
He beefed up his presentation with diagrams and statistics.
black out: faint, lose consciousness
The area was blocked off during the demonstration.
blow up: 1) explode;
2) be destroyed by an explosion
1) The terrorists said the bomb would blow up at 9 o'clock.
2) The car blew up but luckily there was nobody in it.
boil down: to be summarized as
The problem boils down to a lack of money.
boot up: start a computer by loading an operating system or program.
Just give my a few minutes to boot up the computer.
break away: escape from captivity
A few horses broke away from the paddock.
break down: 1) go out of order, cease to function
2) lose control of one's emotions
1) John's car broke down so he had to take the bus.
2) The parents broke down when they heard the bad news.
break into: enter by force
Burglars broke into the house around midnight.
break out: start suddenly
Rioting broke out as a result of the strike.
break out of: escape from a place by force
Three prisoners broke out of jail.
break up: come to an end (marriage, relationship)
After her marriage broke up,Anitha went to live in London.
bring up: raise (a child)
She stopped working in order to bring up her children.
Brush up on: improve, refresh one's knowledge of something
Mary had to brush up on her Grammar before CRT
bump into: meet by accident or unexpectedly
Rita bumped into her English teacher at the supermarket.
burn out: 1) stop (something) working
2) become exhausted from over-working
1) The fuse has burnt out.
2) Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down.
butt in: (on sthg) interrupt impolitely
It's rude to butt in on a conversation like that!
(Revise them daily)
block off: Separate using a barrier.
A phrasal verb is a verb followed by one or two adverbs or prepositions, which together make a meaning that is usually impossible to guess from the meanings of the words on their own.
A abide by : respect or obey. (the law, a decision, a rule)
If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules.
account for : explain, give a reason
I hope you can account for the money you spent!
add up: make sense, seem reasonable
Her story just doesn't add up.
advise against: recommend not doing something
The doctor advised him against carrying heavy loads.
agree with: have the same opinion as somebody else.
I agree with you. I think she deserves the award too.
aim at: point something in the direction of a target
The policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker.
allow for: take into consideration, include in a calculation
You'd better leave early to allow for traffic jams.
answer back: reply rudely
Don't answer back your mother!
appeal to :1) plead or make an earnest request
2) be attractive or interesting
1) The organizers appealed to the crowd to stay calm.
2) A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to me.
apply for: make a formal request for something (job, permit, loan etc.)
He applied for the job he saw advertised in the newspaper.
avail (oneself) of : take advantage of something (an opportunity) When the company is privatized, you should avail yourself of
the opportunity and buy some shares.
B
Back away: move backwards, in fear or dislike
When he saw the dog, he backed away.
back down: withdraw, concede defeat
Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish the building.
back up: 1) give support or encouragement
2) make a copy of (file, program, etc.)
1) If I tell the boss we've got too much work, will you back me up?
2) It is recommended to back up all files in a secure location.
bail out: 1) pay money to secure someone's release
2) rescue from financial difficulties
1) When he was arrested, his family refused to bail him out.
2) The government bailed out the bank.
bank on :base your hopes on someone/something
Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your help.
beef up: improve, make more substantial
He beefed up his presentation with diagrams and statistics.
black out: faint, lose consciousness
The area was blocked off during the demonstration.
blow up: 1) explode;
2) be destroyed by an explosion
1) The terrorists said the bomb would blow up at 9 o'clock.
2) The car blew up but luckily there was nobody in it.
boil down: to be summarized as
The problem boils down to a lack of money.
boot up: start a computer by loading an operating system or program.
Just give my a few minutes to boot up the computer.
break away: escape from captivity
A few horses broke away from the paddock.
break down: 1) go out of order, cease to function
2) lose control of one's emotions
1) John's car broke down so he had to take the bus.
2) The parents broke down when they heard the bad news.
break into: enter by force
Burglars broke into the house around midnight.
break out: start suddenly
Rioting broke out as a result of the strike.
break out of: escape from a place by force
Three prisoners broke out of jail.
break up: come to an end (marriage, relationship)
After her marriage broke up,Anitha went to live in London.
bring up: raise (a child)
She stopped working in order to bring up her children.
Brush up on: improve, refresh one's knowledge of something
Mary had to brush up on her Grammar before CRT
bump into: meet by accident or unexpectedly
Rita bumped into her English teacher at the supermarket.
burn out: 1) stop (something) working
2) become exhausted from over-working
1) The fuse has burnt out.
2) Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down.
butt in: (on sthg) interrupt impolitely
It's rude to butt in on a conversation like that!
(Revise them daily)
block off: Separate using a barrier.
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