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