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) | |
| racked up | under the influence of alcohol or drugs |
| get down | to make depressed |
| keep it down | to talk quietly |
| come along | slowly making progress, moving towards the goal |
| go along (with someone or something) | to follow, to cooperate |
| pull off | to achieve or make something happen |
| drop by | stop by, to visit |
| turn on | to prepare for intimacy |
| freak out | to lose control of emotion due to a fear |
| throw around | to talk about something without meaning it |
| get over (something) | overcome hard obstacles |
| suck out | to remove by sucking |
| screw up | to make a terrible mistake causing the things go wrong |
| pay off | to return a debt |
| take off | to remove dress and get naked |
| throw up | to vomit |
| wiped out | totally destroyed |
| hold out | to wait |
| hone in on (something) | to focus and move towards a target |
| put on (something) | dress something |
| gobble down | quickly eat large quantities of food |
| let out | to let somebody go/leave |
| boil off (something) | evaporate by boiling |
| give up | to stop trying |
| get off mind | to stop thinking about something |
| work out | when things go OK at the end |
| tear up | to destroy by tearing |
| help out | to help out of some problem |
| pass by | to move around or past something or someone |
| turn down | to fold or prepare the bedsheets |
| wig out | to become very excited after using drugs or alcohol (slang) |
| live up to | to fulfill the expectations or standards |
| go at something | to start doing something |
| be into something | to like something |
| carry around | to have a memory inside of an unpleasant experience |
| map out | to make a detailed plan, to plan something thoroughly |
| knock off | to reduce a price |
| live off | to receive money from some source |
| break up | to end a relationship |
| move in | to start living in a new place |
| weird out | to become nervous, to start panicking |
| spy on (somebody) | to secretly watch somebody |
| crack up | to amuse |
| take away | to steal |
| kick off | to start |
| figure out | think about something thoroughly |
| Piss off! | Angrily saying someone to leave, Get away, Get lost |
| tuck away | to eat a lot of food |
| stop by | to make a quick stop |
| hang out | doing nothing, killing time |
| stand by | to be alert and awaiting further instructions |
| put up with | to endure negative experience |
| sort out | to solve a problem |
| stop by | to make a quick stop |
| give in | to stop fighting and accepting that he/she cannot win |
| storm out | to angrily leave a place |
| make up to | to compensate something to someone |
| pick up | to take someone to a vehicle |
| turn out | when something finally shows how it is |
| put out | to place |
| figure out | to think about a problem to solve it |
| hook up | to start dating somebody |
| play out | to finish a play |
| find out | to discover, to gain some kind of knowledge |
| turn off (something) | switch off, disconnect the power |
| pass along | to deliver information to other person |
| grope away | to touch another person with hands |
| blow off | to ignore (slang) |
| pass on | to transfer something to someone else |
| man up | to develop characteristics typical for man, such as courage, decisiveness |
| go through with | to survive a difficult situation |
| let out | to rent |
| ring up | to record the amount of sold items on a cash register |
| throw down | to do something in a big way, to contribute a lot of money |
| hit on (somebody) | to start a conversation with someone in order to establish a sexual relationship |
| tone down | to make something more moderate |
| pay back | to return a debt |
| tuck in | to hide something (by tucking) |
| come by | to visit, to show up |
| leave out | to exclude |
| turn into | change to (something else) |
| color up (slang) | in casino, to change lower denominated chips for higher denominated chips |
| make it up to | to compensate or repay a favor to somebody |
| track down | to find somebody after longer search |
| make something up | to lie about something using false explanation |
| numbers check out | numbers are exactly as expected |
| lock (oneself) in | discontinue contacts with people around you |
| go out | to meet somebody as a girlfriend or a boyfriend |
| act out | to act and repeat behavior according to some pattern |
| mess up | to make a big mistake |
| fall out | to fall from some place downwards |
| shut up | be quiet |
| stay away | to keep away at a distance |
| go away | to leave |
| sack up | to gather courage or energy for a difficult task |
| bring up | to mention some topic |
| hang up | to end a call |
| get around | to bypass |
| carry out | to accomplish, to perform |
| doll up | to dress nicely for a special occasion |
| squeeze in | to do something, even when there is not much time |
| psyche into | convince oneself into certain thoughts |
| stumble over | to come closer walking like a drunk |
| pull up | to bring closer |
| cramp up | to suffer cramps |
| zone out | to lose control under the influence of alcohol or drugs |
| tied up (at work) | busy at work and unable to leave from office |
| change out | change something for something else |
| spout off | to talk about something in a very boring and annoying way |
| kick out | to throw out by kicking |
| slack off | to slow down or decrease an effort |
| blow out | to extinguish |
| rip off | to rob, to steal |
| come over | to visit somebody |
| look around | to look in all directions in order to search for something |
| Get off me! | Leave me alone! |
| mull over | to think carefully about something over certain period of time |
| slap around | hit someone's face with a palm |
| set up | to prepare a trap |
| root for (someone) | to support, to applaud, to cheer for somebody |
| move out | to move to a different place |
| messed up | confused |
| dry up | to become dry, to get old |
| pissed off | angry |
| squeeze out | to push somebody out from a position in order to get someone's benefits |
| take up with | to discuss |
| run through | to quickly look at several options |
| screw around | to cheat a partner, to have sex outside relationship |
| flash by | go (fly) very quickly |
| move out | to move to a different place |
| work out | to solve an issue, to find a solution |
| finish up | to complete, to finish |
| throw around | to talk about something without meaning it |
| run down | to trace, to find, to chase |
| run out | when supplies get exhausted |
| work out | to find a solution |
| be fed up | to have enough of something |
| color out | in casino, to change lower denominated chips for higher denominated chips, color up |
| boil up | to cook by boiling in water |
| get out | to reach the public attention (information) |
| chase off | to drive somebody or something away |
| firm up | to confirm agreed information |
| hold off | to wait some time, to delay |
| keep something up | to continue doing something (usually well) |
| pile up | accumulate |
| screw up | to make a big mistake |
| track down | to find somebody after longer search |
| Cut it out! | Stop doing it! |
| take over | to assume responsibility |
| come up | getting closer, approaching |
| cap off | to conclude or finish something |
| get over | to recover from a difficult situation |
| show up | to arrive, to visit |
| sneak out | silently leave the place so that nobody knows about it |
| listen up | listen carefully |
| bring out of | to overcome some negative emotions |
| write down | to write something on a piece of paper |
| lean up against somebody | to rest the body against someone else |
| come over | to visit somebody |
| take out | to remove from a packaging |
| pull out | to get something or someone from previous place |
| fire up | to start the engine |
| look over | to quickly explore, to examine |
| let down | to disappoint |
| tone down | to make something more moderate |
| show around | when somebody introduces new places to other person |
| pay off | to bring a profit or benefit |
| go through (something) | to browse or search through something |
| ask out | to ask someone for a date |
| heat up | to reheat |
| boot out | to expel from a position, to force to leave |
| wait out (something) | wait until something (usually negative) is over |
| leave behind (something) | to remain as a result of something |
| bring together | to put together, to unite |
| drive apart | to divide |
| beat down | to attack physically |
| drag away | move someone to a different location by force |
| be up to | planning to do something |
| clean up | to make oneself neat and presentable |
| cut out | to leave in a hurry |
| pull (oneself) together | regain control of emotions |
| scope out | to examine thoroughly, to inspect |
| mop up | to clear with the mop |
| screw around with | to play with emotions in a negative way |
| break up | to end a relationship |
| stay away from | to avoid somebody |
| shut down | to cancel, to force to stop |
| throw out | to force to leave |
| gross out | to have a feeling of disgust |
| chilled up | calm, relaxed |
| hold out | survive in difficult circumstances |
| back down | to withdraw from the position or opinion |
| get down | to unleash emotions and do things without control |
| cut off | to separate by cutting |
| scare away | to make someone to run away with fear |
| turn down | to reject, to refuse |
| make out | to suggest something, to make a false impression |
| mark down | to reduce an amount on a price tag (in store) |
| hang out | to spend time |
| freak out | to be excited, to lose control of emotions |
| frown upon | disapprove something with a frown |
| load up (something) | to put a lot of stuff in certain place |
| go by | to pass (time) |
| watch over | to protect someone making sure they are safe |
| go ahead | phrase used to encourage someone to do something or to move forward |
| get off | to remove |
| mess around | to kill time by doing unplanned activities |
| freshen up | to regain vitality |
| look forward to (something) | to anticipate/await something eagerly |
| close in | to enclose, to come to an end |
| turn out | when something finally shows how it is |
| count on | to rely on, to trust |
| work off | to repay a debt by working |
| lay out | to say something straight and clearly |
| cash in | in casino, to change chips for cash |
| book in | to make a reservation |
| cheat on somebody | to be unfaithful, having another relationship |
| go through | to experience a long difficult times |
| dig up (something) | to get something from under the ground by digging, to excavate |
| blown away | to be amazed, impressed |
| pay off | to bring a profit or benefit |
| step over (something or someone) | to take a step in order to avoid something on the ground |
| to be stood up | when girlfriend or boyfriend does not come to a date |
| plan on (something) | to have something planned |