Common phrasal verbs – A list of common phrasal verbs includes pairs like “break down” (to stop functioning) and “bring up” (to mention a topic). Other examples are “call off” (to cancel), “figure out” (to understand), “get up” (to stand up), “look for” (to search for), and “put on” (to wear or apply).
Common phrasal verbs
Act up: To behave badly or strangely. (“My computer is acting up again.”)
Add up: To make a mathematical total. (“These numbers don’t add up.”)
Back off: To move away or stop interfering. (“You need to back off a bit.”)
Blow up: To explode; to fill with air. (“The racing car blew up after it crashed.”)
Break down: To stop functioning (for a machine or vehicle). (“Our car broke down on the way home.”)
Bring up: To mention a topic. (“He always brings up that topic.”)
Call off: To cancel. (“They called off the meeting.”)
Calm down: To relax after being angry.
Carry on: To continue. (“They must carry on despite the difficulties.”)
Catch up: To get to the same point as someone else. (“She needed to catch up with her work.”)
Check in: To register at a hotel. (“They checked in at the hotel.”)
Come across: To find by chance. (“I came across an old photo.”)
Come up with: To think of an idea. (“He came up with a brilliant idea.”)
Cut off: To interrupt or stop something. (“The phone call was cut off.”)
Do over: To do something again. (“You might need to do the task over.”)
Drop off: To take someone or something somewhere and leave them. (“He dropped off while watching TV.”)
Eat out: To eat at a restaurant. (“They often eat out on weekends.”)
Figure out: To understand or solve a problem. (“I can’t figure out this math problem.”)
Give in: To surrender or stop resisting.
Give up: To stop trying. (“She gave up smoking.”)
Go ahead: To start or proceed. (“You can go ahead and start without me.”)
Go out: To leave one’s home. (“We went out last night.”)
Go over: To review something. (“Let’s go over the report before submitting it.”)
Grow up: To become an adult. (“I grew up in a small town.”)
Hang out: To spend time relaxing, usually with friends. (“We’re going to hang out at the mall.”)
Hold on: To wait. (“Hold on a minute; I’ll be right back.”)
Complete Phrasal Verbs List
| 1. Break down-stop working | 201. Write down-record on paper |
| 2. Carry on-continue | 202. Back down-withdraw/surrender |
| 3. Give up-quit | 203. Bring in-introduce/earn |
| 4. Put off-postpone | 204. Call back-return a phone call |
| 5. Look after-take care of | 205. Cut out-remove/stop doing |
| 6. Turn up-appear / increase volume | 206. Dress up-wear formal clothes |
| 7. Run out-have none left | 207. Fall for-be tricked/fall in love |
| 8. Get along-have a good relationship | 208. . Fill in-substitute/complete |
| 9. Pick up-collect / learn | 209. Get out-leave/escape |
| 10. Set off-start a journey | 210. Go ahead-proceed |
| 11. Call off-cancel | 211. Hold back-restrain/hide emotions |
| 12. Take off-remove/ airplane leaves | 212. Keep out-prevent entry |
| 13. Look into-investigate | 213. Look over-examine quickly |
| 14. Bring up-raise a topic / child | 214. Make out-understand / kiss |
| 15. Hand out-distribute | 215. Pass by-go past |
| 16. Hold on-wait | 216. Pay off-finish paying / succeed |
| 17. Figure out-solve / understand | 217. Put aside-save/ignore |
| 18. Go through – experience | 218. Run down-hit/criticize |
| 19. Cut off-disconnect | 219. Set back-delay progress |
| 20. Keep on-continue | 220. Stand out-be noticeable |
| 21. Work out – exercise/solve | 221. Stick up-rob with weapon |
| 22. Carry out-perform / complete | 222. Take over-gain control |
| 23. Look for – search | 223. Tear down-demolish |
| 24. End up – finally reach a situation | 224. Throw away-discard |
| 25. Point out – indicate | 225. Turn around-change direction |
| 26. Turn down-refuse/decrease | 226. Watch out-be alert |
| 27. Break up-end a relationship | 227. Work on-try to improve |
| 28. Come across-find by chance | 228. Break in-interrupt/wear in |
| 29. Check out – examine/leave hotel | 229. Bring about-cause to happen |
| 30. Show up- arrive | 230. Come off-succeed/detach |
| 31. Look forward to- anticipate | 231. Cut back-reduce |
| 32. Make up – invent/reconcile | 232. Fall behind – be slower |
| 33. Bring out-publish/release | 233. Get ahead-progress |
| 34. Put up with- tolerate | 234. Go after-pursue |
| 35. Run into- meet by chance | 235. Hand over-give control |
| 36. Drop out-quit school/course | 236. Keep off-avoid touching |
| 37. Put on-wear / gain weight | 237. Lay out-arrange/explain |
| 38. Take care of-look after | 238. Look around-explore |
| 39. Go on-continue / happen. | 239. Make up for-compensate |
| 40. Back up-support/copy files | 240. Put out-extinguish/publish |
| 41. Break into-enter illegally | 241. Run through- repeat quickly |
| 42. Fill out – complete a form | 242. See off-say goodbye |
| 43. Carry away-get excited | 243. Stand up-rise/defend |
| 44. Come up-arise / appear | 244. Stick with-remain loyal |
| 45. Break off-end suddenly | 245. Take apart-disassemble |
| 46. Get back-return | 246. Throw up-vomit |
| 47. Look back-remember past | 247. Turn over-flip/transfer control |
| 48. Pass away – die | 248. Write off-consider useless |
| 49. Pick out – choose | 249. Break through- overcome barrier |
| 50. Turn out result / attend | 250. Bring along-take with you |
| 51. Go over-review | 251. Catch on- become popular |
| 52. Let down-disappoint | 252. Check over-review carefully |
| 53. Run over-hit with vehicle | 253. Come around – change opinion/visit |
| 54. Hang out spend time socially | 254. Do away with-abolish |
| 55. Take up-begin a hobby | 255. Drop off-deliver/fall asleep |
| 56. Put through-connect on phone | 256. Get around-travel/ avoid |
| 57. Call up-phone someone | 257. Give in-surrender |
| 58. Look up search information | 258. Go down-decrease/ happen |
| 59. Come down-fall/ decrease | 259. Hold out-last/resist |
| 60. Blow up-explode / become angry | 260. Keep away-stay at a distance. |
| 61. Fall apart-break into pieces | 261. Knock down-demolish/hit |
| 62. Hand in-submit | 262. Let out-release/ allow to leave |
| 63. Keep up-maintain same level | 263. Look in-make a short visit |
| 64. Put away-store | 264. Move in-start living somewhere |
| 65. Turn in-submit/ go to bed | 265. Put up-provide accommodation |
| 66. Get over-recover | 266. Run across-find by chance |
| 67. Move on-continue forward | 267. See through-detect truth |
| 68. Take in-understand / absorb | 268. Set out-begin a journey/explain |
| 69. Go off-explode / alarm rings | 269. Stand for-represent / folerate |
| 70. Break out-escape / sudden start | 270. Take out-remove/invite on a date |
| 71. Check in-register at hotel | 271. Throw out-expel/discard |
| 72. Check on-see if safe | 272. Turn back-return/stop |
| 73. Drop in-visit unexpectedly | 273. Wake up to-realize |
| 74. Get through-succeed/contact | 274. Work up-develop/excite |
| 75. Go by-pass (time) | 275. Back out-withdraw from agreement |
| 76. Bring back-return/remind | 276. Break down into-divide into parts |
| 77. Knock out – hit unconscious | 277. Call in-request help |
| 78. Lay off-dismiss from job | 278. Check up on-investigate |
| 79. Run away – escape | 279. Come up with-invent/produce |
| 80. Sort out-organize/solve | 280. Cut in-interrupt |
| 81. Take back-return/withdraw words | 281. Drop back-fall behind |
| 82. Come in-enter | 282. Fallout-quarrel |
| 83. Come along-accompany/progress | 283. Get away with- escape punishment |
| 84. Cut down-reduce | 284. Go over to-switch sides |
| 85. Fall down-collapse | 285. Hang on-wait/grip tightly |
| 86. Find out – discover | 286. Keep at-persist |
| 87. Get in-enter | 287. Let off-release without punishment |
| 88. Give away-donate / reveal | 288. Look up to-admire |
| 89. Hold up-delay/rob | 289. Pass on-give/die, |
| 90. Let in-allow to enter | 290. Put down to-attribute to |
| 91. Look out-be careful | 291. Run by explain for opinion |
| 92. Pass out-faint/ distribute | 292. See to-handle/take care of |
| 93. Pay back-return money | 293. Set apart-distinguish |
| 94. Pull over-stop vehicle at side | 294. Stick around-remain nearby |
| 95. Set up-arrange/establish | 295. Take down-write/remove |
| 96. Stand by-support/wait | 296. Think over-consider carefully |
| 97. Stick to-follow strictly | 297. Turn off-stop/disgust |
| 98. Switch off-turn off | 298. Watch over-guard/protect |
| 99. Put down-criticize / place something | 299. Work through-deal with problem |
| 100. Wake up – stop sleeping | 300. Break away-escape/leave |
| 101. Write down-record on paper | 301. Bring off-succeed in doing |
| 102. Back down-withdraw/surrender | 302. Call out-shout/challenge |
| 103. Bring in-introduce/earn | 303. Check back-return to see again |
| 104. Call back-return a phone call | 304. Come down with – become ill |
| 105. Cut out-remove/stop doing | 305. Cut off from – isolate |
| 106. Dress up-wear formal clothes | 306. Drop behind – lag |
| 107. Fall for-be tricked/fall in love | 307. Fall back-retreat |
| 108. Fill in-substitute/complete | 308. Get by-survive / manage |
| 109. Get out-leave/escape | 309. Give off- emit (smell, heat, light) |
| 110. Go ahead-proceed | 310. Go for choose/ attempt |
| 111. Hold back-restrain/hide emotions | 311. Hold on to keep tightly |
| 112. Keep out-prevent entry | 312. Keep back-not reveal |
| 113. Look over-examine quickly | 313. Look through-read quickly |
| 114. Make out-understand / kiss | 314. Make for – head toward |
| 115. Pass by-go past | 315. Pass over-ignore |
| 116. Pay off-finish paying / succeed | 316. Pay up-pay fully |
| 117. Put aside-save/ignore | 317. Put together – assemble |
| 118. Run down-hit/criticize | 318. Run off-flee / print copies |
| 119. Set back-delay progress | 319. Set against- oppose |
| 120. Stand out-be noticeable | 320. Stand down-resign/withdraw |
| 121. Stick up-rob with weapon | 321. Stick out-protrude / be obvious |
| 122. Take over-gain control | 322. Take over from – replace |
| 123. Tear down-demolish | 323. Throw in- add something extra |
| 124. Throw away-discard | 324. Turn up with- arrive bringing |
| 125. Turn around-change direction | 325. Break with- separate from tradition |
| 126. Watch out-be alert | 326. Bring forward – suggest earlier date |
| 127. Work on-try to improve | 327. Come apart – separate into pieces |
| 128. Break in-interrupt/wear in | 328. Do without-manage lacking |
| 129. Bring about-cause to happen | 329. Drop away- diminish |
| 130. Come off-succeed/detach | 330. Fall into-begin / belong |
| 131. Cut back-reduce | 331. Get through to- make understood |
| 132. Fall behind – be slower | 332. Give back-return |
| 133. Get ahead-progress | 333. Go under- sink / fail |
| 134. Go after-pursue | 334. Hand back-return |
| 135. Hand over-give control | 335. Keep down-control / repress |
| 136. Keep off-avoid touching | 336. Lay down-establish rules |
| 137. Lay out-arrange/explain | 337. Look down on – despise |
| 138. Look around-explore | 338. Mark down-reduce price |
| 139. Make up for-compensate | 339. Put forward – propose |
| 140. Put out-extinguish/publish | 340. Run into debt- borrow excessively |
| 141. Run through- repeat quickly | 341. See about – arrange / deal with |
| 142. See off-say goodbye | 342. Send out – distribute |
| 143. Stand up-rise/defend | 343. Set off against – balance |
| 144. Stick with-remain loyal | 344. Stand over-supervise |
| 145. Take apart-disassemble | 345. Stick to it- not quit |
| 146. Throw up-vomit | 346. Take off from – leave place |
| 147. Turn over-flip/transfer control | 347. Think through-consider fully |
| 148. Write off-consider useless | 348. Try on-test clothes |
| 149. Break through- overcome barrier | 349. Turn up at – arrive at |
| 150. Bring along-take with you | 350. Work out at – result in amount |
| 151. Catch on- become popular | 351. Break into laughter – suddenly laugh |
| 152. Check over-review carefully | 352. Bring round-revive/persuade |
| 153. Come around – change opinion/visit | 353. Check off-tick items on list |
| 154. Do away with-abolish | 354. Come out-be published/revealed |
| 155. Drop off-deliver/fall asleep | 355. Do up-fasten 7 decorate |
| 156. Get around-travel/ avoid | 356. Drop over-visit casually |
| 157. Give in-surrender | 357. Fall off-decrease |
| 158. Go down-decrease/ happen | 358. Get at-mean/reach |
| 159. Hold out-last/resist | 359. Give out-distribute / stop working |
| 160. Keep away-stay at a distance. | 360. Go through with-complete by difficulty |
| 161. Knock down-demolish/hit | 361. Hold in- restrain feelings |
| 162. Let out-release/ allow to leave | 362. Keep off weight-prevent gaining |
| 163. Look in-make a short visit | 363. Look after yourself – take self-care |
| 164. Move in-start living somewhere | 364. Make up to- flatter for gain |
| 165. Put up-provide accommodation | 365. Pass around-distribute |
| 166. Run across-find by chance | 366. Pay out-spend/ disburse |
| 167. See through-detect truth | 367. Put across-communicate clearly |
| 168. Set out-begin a journey/explain | 368. Run up-accumulate (debt) |
| 169. Stand for-represent / folerate | 369. See out-accompany to exit |
| 170. Take out-remove/invite on a date | 370. Set down-write/land |
| 171. Throw out-expel/discard | 371. Stand in for- substitute |
| 172. Turn back-return/stop | 372. Stick together – support each other |
| 173. Wake up to-realize | 373. Take to-start liking |
| 174. Work up-develop/excite | 374. Throw back- hinder progress |
| 175. Back out-withdraw from agreement | 375. Turn against- become hostile |
| 176. Break down into-divide into parts | 376. Break out of- escape from |
| 177. Call in-request help | 377. Bring in on- include in plan |
| 178. Check up on-investigate | 378. Come before – be judged |
| 179. Come up with-invent/produce | 379. Do in-kill/exhaust |
| 180. Cut in-interrupt | 380. Drop down-fall lower |
| 181. Drop back-fall behind | 381. Fall short-not reach expectation |
| 182. Fallout-quarrel | 382. Get on-board transport/progress |
| 183. Get away with- escape punishment | 383. Give in to-yield to pressure |
| 184. Go over to-switch sides | 384. Go along with – agree |
| 185. Hang on-wait/grip tightly | 385. Hand around – stay nearby |
| 186. Keep at-persist | 386. Keep pace with-match speed |
| 187. Let off-release without punishment | 387. Let down gently-reject softly |
| 188. Look up to-admire | 388. Look around for- search for |
| 189. Pass on-give/die, | 389. Make away with-steal |
| 190. Put down to-attribute to | 390. Pass through – travel across |
| 191. Run by explain for opinion | 391. Pay down-reduce debt |
| 192. See to-handle/take care of | 392. Put in-contribute/install |
| 193. Set apart-distinguish | 393. Run along-leave (childish) |
| 194. Stick around-remain nearby | 394. See into-escort inside |
| 195. Take down-write/remove | 395. Set forth-explain/begin journey |
| 196. Think over-consider carefully | 396. Stand aside-step to the side |
| 197. Turn off-stop/disgust | 397. Stick in- insert |
| 198. Watch over-guard/protect | 398. Take over as – become new leader |
| 199. Work through-deal with problem | 399. Think ahead – plan in advance |
| 200. Break away-escape/leave | 400. Work against – hinder |
