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