What are phrasal verbs and why every English learner hates them?
DEFINITION:
Phrasal verb is a phrase that indicates an action and consists of two or three distinct but related constructions = verb, particle and preposition. Together they form a single semantic unit.
Types of phrasal verbs with examples:
| 1. verb + particle | (pay off – to return a debt; sneak out – silently leave the place) |
| 2. verb + preposition | (stop by – to make a quick stop, run into – meet someone unexpectedly) |
| 3. verb + particle + preposition | (put up with – to endure negative experience, watch out for – be careful about something) |
particles: up, down, in, out, over, on, off
prepositions: after, into, for, by, with, at
prepositions: after, into, for, by, with, at
So far it seems pretty easy. However, here is the problem:
Phrasal verb usually cannot be understood based on the meanings of its individual parts, but must be taken as a whole.
What does it mean in real world?
Firstly, it means that if you hear phrases like “hold off“, “work out” or “give in“, you usually can’t guess what that particular additionally phrase means. You have to understand the meaning and learn it like a new word.
The most annoying thing is, however, that native English speakers use phrasal verbs very often. So except for learning standard English vocabulary, you also have to learn a lot of phrasal verbs.
Confusing theory
The theory around English phrasal verbs is also quite confusing. In some sources, only particle phrasal verbs (e.g. bring up, figure out, break down) are considered as “real”. In contrast, other sources include both prepositional and particle phrasal verbs.
If you want to dig deeper into this topic, more information can be found on Wikipedia.
Anyway, theory is nice, but you can’t have a good conversation, if you just don’t understand what the native speakers are saying to you. So the only thing that matters is to learn them and know how to use them.
It’s good to have a resource, where you can systematically learn all most important phrasal verbs that are commonly used in everyday English.
We are trying hard to be such a resource. 🙂
Our 2-step method:
In order to help you to understand correctly when somebody uses a phrasal verb in a speech or conversation, we have created a concept based on examples from movies.
As you probably know, you can hear lots of these phrases in American movies and TV shows. In fact, they are really frequently used in spoken English.
The method is very simple, yet very effective.
STEP 1. Listen to phrasal verbs in short video samples in real-life situations
to cheer up
to figure out
These are the examples of some of them, which you will certainly hear in many conversations with English speakers on a daily basis.
So the best way to master them is to learn them in context in real sentences. And I am pretty sure that the best context is your favorite movie or TV show 🙂
STEP 2. Practice them in short exercises
Some examples of sentences with phrasal verb, where you might not understand the meaning
1. Don’t hold out on me. I know too much.
2. WILL: And why did you think that, Marcus? MARCUS: Suzie said we hit it off.
3. Jack’s attitude towards his job really puts me off!
4. That’s so nice. See what they do, they fight, then they make up and it’s good.
Collocations | Idioms | Phrasal verbs | Words
LIST OF PHRASAL VERBS WITH MEANINGS
| (224 terms) | |
| move out | to move to a different place |
| look around | to look in all directions in order to search for something |
| pay off | to bring a profit or benefit |
| mop up | to clear with the mop |
| dig up (something) | to get something from under the ground by digging, to excavate |
| go along (with someone or something) | to follow, to cooperate |
| crack up | to amuse |
| tone down | to make something more moderate |
| set up | to prepare a trap |
| get off | to remove |
| beat down | to attack physically |
| mull over | to think carefully about something over certain period of time |
| let out | to let somebody go/leave |
| leave out | to exclude |
| live up to | to fulfill the expectations or standards |
| change out | change something for something else |
| tuck in | to hide something (by tucking) |
| slack off | to slow down or decrease an effort |
| leave behind (something) | to remain as a result of something |
| take off | to remove dress and get naked |
| give up | to stop trying |
| get out | to reach the public attention (information) |
| boil up | to cook by boiling in water |
| pass by | to move around or past something or someone |
| lean up against somebody | to rest the body against someone else |
| pass along | to deliver information to other person |
| figure out | think about something thoroughly |
| show around | when somebody introduces new places to other person |
| take away | to steal |
| messed up | confused |
| throw out | to force to leave |
| be fed up | to have enough of something |
| go ahead | phrase used to encourage someone to do something or to move forward |
| cheat on somebody | to be unfaithful, having another relationship |
| throw around | to talk about something without meaning it |
| find out | to discover, to gain some kind of knowledge |
| mark down | to reduce an amount on a price tag (in store) |
| chase off | to drive somebody or something away |
| zone out | to lose control under the influence of alcohol or drugs |
| storm out | to angrily leave a place |
| give in | to stop fighting and accepting that he/she cannot win |
| hang out | to spend time |
| hold out | survive in difficult circumstances |
| go by | to pass (time) |
| to be stood up | when girlfriend or boyfriend does not come to a date |
| freak out | to be excited, to lose control of emotions |
| stay away from | to avoid somebody |
| stand by | to be alert and awaiting further instructions |
| grope away | to touch another person with hands |
| get around | to bypass |
| screw up | to make a big mistake |
| work out | when things go OK at the end |
| screw up | to make a terrible mistake causing the things go wrong |
| turn into | change to (something else) |
| weird out | to become nervous, to start panicking |
| show up | to arrive, to visit |
| work out | to find a solution |
| make out | to suggest something, to make a false impression |
| track down | to find somebody after longer search |
| scope out | to examine thoroughly, to inspect |
| hang up | to end a call |
| stop by | to make a quick stop |
| slap around | hit someone's face with a palm |
| go through | to experience a long difficult times |
| live off | to receive money from some source |
| stop by | to make a quick stop |
| shut down | to cancel, to force to stop |
| figure out | to think about a problem to solve it |
| scare away | to make someone to run away with fear |
| hone in on (something) | to focus and move towards a target |
| screw around | to cheat a partner, to have sex outside relationship |
| wig out | to become very excited after using drugs or alcohol (slang) |
| bring out of | to overcome some negative emotions |
| run through | to quickly look at several options |
| color up (slang) | in casino, to change lower denominated chips for higher denominated chips |
| put out | to place |
| look over | to quickly explore, to examine |
| man up | to develop characteristics typical for man, such as courage, decisiveness |
| let out | to rent |
| hook up | to start dating somebody |
| tone down | to make something more moderate |
| wiped out | totally destroyed |
| cut out | to leave in a hurry |
| pay off | to bring a profit or benefit |
| blow out | to extinguish |
| stumble over | to come closer walking like a drunk |
| move out | to move to a different place |
| sneak out | silently leave the place so that nobody knows about it |
| gobble down | quickly eat large quantities of food |
| fall out | to fall from some place downwards |
| pull out | to get something or someone from previous place |
| help out | to help out of some problem |
| listen up | listen carefully |
| flash by | go (fly) very quickly |
| color out | in casino, to change lower denominated chips for higher denominated chips, color up |
| go through with | to survive a difficult situation |
| kick off | to start |
| squeeze out | to push somebody out from a position in order to get someone's benefits |
| cap off | to conclude or finish something |
| drag away | move someone to a different location by force |
| fire up | to start the engine |
| turn out | when something finally shows how it is |
| tuck away | to eat a lot of food |
| bring together | to put together, to unite |
| turn out | when something finally shows how it is |
| pick up | to take someone to a vehicle |
| pissed off | angry |
| turn off (something) | switch off, disconnect the power |
| Get off me! | Leave me alone! |
| break up | to end a relationship |
| turn down | to reject, to refuse |
| take out | to remove from a packaging |
| come over | to visit somebody |
| drop by | stop by, to visit |
| chilled up | calm, relaxed |
| racked up | under the influence of alcohol or drugs |
| track down | to find somebody after longer search |
| plan on (something) | to have something planned |
| make it up to | to compensate or repay a favor to somebody |
| blow off | to ignore (slang) |
| count on | to rely on, to trust |
| run down | to trace, to find, to chase |
| cash in | in casino, to change chips for cash |
| turn on | to prepare for intimacy |
| rip off | to rob, to steal |
| doll up | to dress nicely for a special occasion |
| get off mind | to stop thinking about something |
| firm up | to confirm agreed information |
| get down | to make depressed |
| spy on (somebody) | to secretly watch somebody |
| mess around | to kill time by doing unplanned activities |
| hit on (somebody) | to start a conversation with someone in order to establish a sexual relationship |
| throw down | to do something in a big way, to contribute a lot of money |
| keep it down | to talk quietly |
| finish up | to complete, to finish |
| kick out | to throw out by kicking |
| load up (something) | to put a lot of stuff in certain place |
| carry out | to accomplish, to perform |
| come along | slowly making progress, moving towards the goal |
| book in | to make a reservation |
| cut off | to separate by cutting |
| frown upon | disapprove something with a frown |
| squeeze in | to do something, even when there is not much time |
| Cut it out! | Stop doing it! |
| move in | to start living in a new place |
| go at something | to start doing something |
| bring up | to mention some topic |
| sack up | to gather courage or energy for a difficult task |
| heat up | to reheat |
| mess up | to make a big mistake |
| take up with | to discuss |
| pull off | to achieve or make something happen |
| make something up | to lie about something using false explanation |
| pay back | to return a debt |
| clean up | to make oneself neat and presentable |
| ring up | to record the amount of sold items on a cash register |
| throw around | to talk about something without meaning it |
| sort out | to solve a problem |
| go out | to meet somebody as a girlfriend or a boyfriend |
| come by | to visit, to show up |
| keep something up | to continue doing something (usually well) |
| turn down | to fold or prepare the bedsheets |
| run out | when supplies get exhausted |
| put on (something) | dress something |
| write down | to write something on a piece of paper |
| blown away | to be amazed, impressed |
| work off | to repay a debt by working |
| numbers check out | numbers are exactly as expected |
| hang out | doing nothing, killing time |
| screw around with | to play with emotions in a negative way |
| step over (something or someone) | to take a step in order to avoid something on the ground |
| knock off | to reduce a price |
| carry around | to have a memory inside of an unpleasant experience |
| break up | to end a relationship |
| boil off (something) | evaporate by boiling |
| pull up | to bring closer |
| gross out | to have a feeling of disgust |
| dry up | to become dry, to get old |
| Piss off! | Angrily saying someone to leave, Get away, Get lost |
| shut up | be quiet |
| lock (oneself) in | discontinue contacts with people around you |
| suck out | to remove by sucking |
| get down | to unleash emotions and do things without control |
| hold off | to wait some time, to delay |
| back down | to withdraw from the position or opinion |
| be up to | planning to do something |
| watch over | to protect someone making sure they are safe |
| pay off | to return a debt |
| hold out | to wait |
| close in | to enclose, to come to an end |
| take over | to assume responsibility |
| throw up | to vomit |
| put up with | to endure negative experience |
| pull (oneself) together | regain control of emotions |
| tied up (at work) | busy at work and unable to leave from office |
| tear up | to destroy by tearing |
| stay away | to keep away at a distance |
| be into something | to like something |
| let down | to disappoint |
| come up | getting closer, approaching |
| psyche into | convince oneself into certain thoughts |
| go away | to leave |
| go through (something) | to browse or search through something |
| cramp up | to suffer cramps |
| lay out | to say something straight and clearly |
| make up to | to compensate something to someone |
| map out | to make a detailed plan, to plan something thoroughly |
| get over | to recover from a difficult situation |
| look forward to (something) | to anticipate/await something eagerly |
| pass on | to transfer something to someone else |
| freak out | to lose control of emotion due to a fear |
| get over (something) | overcome hard obstacles |
| freshen up | to regain vitality |
| wait out (something) | wait until something (usually negative) is over |
| root for (someone) | to support, to applaud, to cheer for somebody |
| boot out | to expel from a position, to force to leave |
| drive apart | to divide |
| come over | to visit somebody |
| work out | to solve an issue, to find a solution |
| spout off | to talk about something in a very boring and annoying way |
| act out | to act and repeat behavior according to some pattern |
| pile up | accumulate |
| play out | to finish a play |
| ask out | to ask someone for a date |